Church Parking Lot Camping

Mickeyfan0805 wrote:
That said, I do, sometimes, get rubbed the wrong way by the "I'll make a donation" offers. If I can do something to help, I will. If I can't, I won't. I will never do it, however, because someone is willing to make a donation. If you want to make a donation for their generosity, that would be wonderful, but do it afterwards as an act of gratitude instead of pre-arranging it as a type of compensation.

Thanks for the heads up. I would not have thought of that. There is a bit of a "bribe" factor inherent in the offer. I'll get permission first, then ask where to drop a donation.

rk911 wrote:

cekkk wrote:
I seem to remember mention of overnighting in church parking lots. We have not found a decent place to stop overnight between Albuquerque and our home. There is just one Walmart and it is too far away for comfort. I'm thinking a call to the local pastor and a promise to keep it clean and drop a donation off sounds reasonable. Has anyone tried this?

yup. it was a saturday evening and we were somewhere in Minnesota on a backroad and had stopped to look at the CG directory for an overnite spot. we were in a wide spot off the road with the 4-way flashers on when a car pulled up in front of us and an older gentleman got out and walked back towards us. he asked if we were in need of assistance and when we told him we were looking for a spot in which to overnite he offered us the use of his church parking lot. turns out he was the senior pastor. he gave us permission to use the genny and even offered us the use of his shower. the only condition he gave us was we had to be gone before the congregation started arriving for the 9am service. he did not ask for a donation but when we arrived home we sent a check along with a letter of thanks.

He told you that you had to be gone before the congregation started arriving? If it had been our pastor, he would have invited you to the services!

As a Minister, I would have no problem with someone calling and asking for this. If the church were in a place it would work, I'd have no problem welcoming them. If I were in a place that would be disruptive, I'd have no problem saying, 'Sorry, but no.'

That said, I do, sometimes, get rubbed the wrong way by the "I'll make a donation" offers. If I can do something to help, I will. If I can't, I won't. I will never do it, however, because someone is willing to make a donation. If you want to make a donation for their generosity, that would be wonderful, but do it afterwards as an act of gratitude instead of pre-arranging it as a type of compensation.

Old cemeteries are fascinating, at least to me. We have a small one outside of town, two levels. If you walk up to the top there's one marker that reads Here Lies X Y, Kilt by Injuns."

At least you have quiet neighbors. :)

That's what my wife says about her childhood home next to a cemetery.

micpib1 wrote:
I have found mortuary parking lots very RV friendly. They are rarely used after hours, the directors like having someone around that they can actually get a reply from during a conversation and most thugs prefer to hang out in more lively areas, etc. well enough of that line of thought. :) I have always been welcomed when I ask to park at mortuary's. JH

pkunk wrote:
Alamosa WM is on your way. Only a little over 3 hrs from Alb.

And they will let us park. I called and they asked we park by the Wendy's. I've been there before so i know where it's at. A good stopping distance. There is an RV park about two miles south of there, but it's really, really bad. We stayed one night a few months ago. Most of the people there were workers who lived there. They were very nice, but nothing worked.

Alamosa WM is on your way. Only a little over 3 hrs from Alb.

noe-place wrote:
I only did it once and that was many years ago. I only did it because it was late and DW wanted me to stop so everyone could get some sleep. I noticed a nice church with a large, well lit lot and parked in the corner under one of their lights and we were gone after a few hours before anyone knew we'd been there.

We did the same a month ago after DW had driven thru Chicago. I told DW find the next church lot once away from cities. She did and we were gone early the next AM.

I only did it once and that was many years ago. I only did it because it was late and DW wanted me to stop so everyone could get some sleep. I noticed a nice church with a large, well lit lot and parked in the corner under one of their lights and we were gone after a few hours before anyone knew we'd been there.

Here's the deal. We're at the east end of south Park. I-25 adds an additional 80 miles to our usual destinations, so we prefer 285. There is much of nothing on that route all the way to Albuquerque. The Relief Route around Santa Fe to I-25 has nothing right along the highway. The first RV parks we've seen aren't seen until 9 miles west of ABQ on I-40. We like a couple of those, but they are a longer drive than we care to make these days.

Espanola's WalMart allows parking by Wendy's. We've never done a WM but just may try it. So it's slim pickins in good weather. Throw in bad weather, which we've encountered more than once, and I'm going to be looking for those churches. There are several of them along the way.

As for putting pressure on the pastor, isn't there something in Luke about no room at the inn? I'm sorry about your neighbors, bigdoggers.