Have been waiting for a dry weekend since mid-Sept. for a final trip out. Have never gone camping in Nov. due to bad weather. It's been unusually mild lately tho. so we decided to do a last chance, final trip out on the weekend. In Dec.! The Thousand Trails CG we frequent in Birch Bay, Wa. has about 300 sites but there was only around 10 other RVs - kinda eerie. Pretty wet and windy but the rain stopped for a while on Sat. and got to take the dog for a long walk and off-leash run in the empty half of the CG. Worst part was no OTA TV reception due to the weather and too much trouble to set up the sat. dish. The weather people have been talking over the past week about a major cold front coming down from Alaska starting this week. Supposedly we'd see some snow this week. Lately they've been way off - it's rained when it was supposed to be sunny, and the sun has been out when it shoulda rained. Missed a couple of weekends of nice camping weather as a result. Got the TT winterized yesterday afternoon. DW wanted to put the cover on another day when it was a bit warmer and drier but I insisted. So it was a bit of a surprise this morning when I woke up to find some white stuff coming down heavily, just one day after winterizing the TT. Good thing we got the cover on. Guess we'll see ya'll in a CG somewhere out there next season.

I'm jealous. You got to go camping AFTER our last trip of the season.See you in the spring at some campground or another.

myredracer wrote:Have been waiting for a dry weekend since mid-Sept. for a final trip out. Have never gone camping in Nov. due to bad weather. It's been unusually mild lately tho. so we decided to do a last chance, final trip out on the weekend. In Dec.! The Thousand Trails CG we frequent in Birch Bay, Wa. has about 300 sites but there was only around 10 other RVs - kinda eerie. Pretty wet and windy but the rain stopped for a while on Sat. and got to take the dog for a long walk and off-leash run in the empty half of the CG. Worst part was no OTA TV reception due to the weather and too much trouble to set up the sat. dish. The weather people have been talking over the past week about a major cold front coming down from Alaska starting this week. Supposedly we'd see some snow this week. Lately they've been way off - it's rained when it was supposed to be sunny, and the sun has been out when it shoulda rained. Missed a couple of weekends of nice camping weather as a result. Got the TT winterized yesterday afternoon. DW wanted to put the cover on another day when it was a bit warmer and drier but I insisted. So it was a bit of a surprise this morning when I woke up to find some white stuff coming down heavily, just one day after winterizing the TT. Good thing we got the cover on. Guess we'll see ya'll in a CG somewhere out there next season. You were waiting for a "Dry" weekend WHY??? About the only thing that will keep me home is Freezing rain!

Yep, at least you got out! Mine has been in storage since mid October!!!!We were supposed to get 2 inches of snow on Sunday, ended up with 6-7"!!!! I wish it would've been Saturday, then we could've gotten the snowmobiles out!

Keep the snow talk down. I'm trying to sneak in one last trip this weekend

Still using ours in the drive way. Slides are in, camper winterized, waiting on our trip to South Carolina Christmas week. No snow yet, temps nearing 32, but not gone below yet. I guess I could have delayed winterizing, but didn't want to take chances. Still, this is not stopping us from using the camper.We use to cover our previous camper. I'd leave it accessible so we could still sleep in it at night, even with snow on the ground. Maybe you can run an electric line to yours, unzip the size of that cover, lift the cover where the furnace vent is and fire it up and spend some more nights in there. We use to do that, but don't cover any more, especially since we use it too much. And the last thing I want to wrangle is a cover with snow on it to get ready to go to South Carolina on December 23 and then having to figure out how to get that cover off! Snow is heavy.What I'm saying is... why not keep using your camper right there at home all winter long! Put a port-a-potty in the bathroom so you don't have to run water, dump it ever morning, and snuggle in bed with ... well ... someone! And get a good night sleep!

Did a final trip on the weekend. Didn't expect this.

20 Replies

rhagfo
Explorer III
Dec 06, 2016
:h
Well this year should be like the last three years where the last trip on 2016, will be the first of 2017!
We will be down on the Oregon Coast at South beach SP.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Dec 06, 2016
gwh1bass wrote:
No TV, time to read a book!

I agree. I don't watch much TV while in the camper.

Glad you got in one last weekend In December! I thought I was doing good when I snuck out one weekend in early November.
garyhaupt
Explorer
Dec 06, 2016
For those that call Birch Bay 'close enough', the state park keeps a ring open year round. I do believe they all have a power outlet, so no matter what the temps..it's all good.

There is a group that always spends New Years there and probably some over Christmas too.

Gary Haupt
myredracer
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2016
blofgren wrote:
Beautiful property you have there, BTW. I would be very tempted to build some sort of carport or garage to put the RV in if I had that much room. We covered our unit in the backyard last year and had tons of condensation inside and outside of the trailer so we went back to indoor storage this year.

Thx, bought 5 acres back in '03 just before prices skyrocketed. Should have bought a few more! Built a custom house with attached workshop/garage in an authentic 100 year old Arts & Crafts style. I did build a foundation for a separate carport for the trailer 5+ years ago. But at my age now, I have sort of run out of steam and motivation for any more construction and besides we're now away about 2 months every summer. I would so love to have a carport to be able to just back the TT into. I spent quite a few years living in Victoria and forgot how much it rains here over the winter. :M When we got our current TT, over the 1st winter most of the interior trim around the doors warped like crazy from humidity and had to be replaced. Have now been using a couple of dessicant dryers which *seem* to be working okay. May get an electric dehumidifier. If I were to redesign the garage, I'd probably have made it taller to be able to put the TT inside.

westend wrote:
Color me jealous of the BC campers. You guys have some of the most beautiful places on the planet. I've travelled North to Dawson creek and BC is begging me back, lol.

Have been around BC a lot on business and holidays and yes it is beautiful with all the mountains, lakes and greenery everywhere. Have only been to a BC CG with our TT 4 times! We much prefer the US as there's such a diversity in scenery, culture, climate, attractions, people, etc. Can't wait to eventually take the TT around the eastern and southern areas of the US. Have been told many times to avoid the southeastern states in the summer tho. due to high humidity - as long as it's not rain, that's okay. :) A trip to the Yukon & Alaska would def. be fascinating.
romore
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2016
We had a dusting of snow but nothing like the coast. Moved from there a year and a half ago after retiring and don't miss that a bit. At -12C it's a little cool for camping though so the trailer is parked for the winter.
PawPaw_n_Gram
Explorer
Dec 06, 2016
naturist wrote:
I'm jealous. You got to go camping AFTER our last trip of the season.

See you in the spring at some campground or another.

You should come to Texas. There we camped from September to May - and did't camp in June, July or August most years.

Too danged hot with low temps on July and August nights at or above 90, and highs over 100.

Since going full-time, summers have been rough if we have to be near Texas. That last 100 degree day I experienced this year was Sept 20. The last 90 degree day was Oct 19.

Been in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Nevada since then - and have only see temps down to 32 degrees once.
westend
Explorer
Dec 05, 2016
I kinda' love me some Winter camping but I doubt it's going to happen this year. The DW is loaded down at work and just keeping the Casa Westend in order takes up some time. I can't wait until we can snowbird out of here for the Winter.

Color me jealous of the BC campers. You guys have some of the most beautiful places on the planet. I've travelled North to Dawson creek and BC is begging me back, lol.
FLY_4_FUN
Explorer
Dec 05, 2016
We camped the last weekend in April till the last weekend in Sept and consider that a pretty good season for Alberta. Who knows what 2017 will bring but I shall be ready for the thaw!

Cheers to all those still on the road

Daryll
blofgren
Explorer
Dec 05, 2016
Yes, this storm was worse than predicted for a change. Our fifth wheel has been in indoor storage for almost 2 months (put it in on the Thanksgiving weekend before the large rain and windstorm set in that week). We don't enjoy camping in the off season too much with a 6 year old cooped up in the camper!

Beautiful property you have there, BTW. I would be very tempted to build some sort of carport or garage to put the RV in if I had that much room. We covered our unit in the backyard last year and had tons of condensation inside and outside of the trailer so we went back to indoor storage this year.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Dec 05, 2016
Roy&Lynne wrote:
I love Birch Bay in the late fall/winter. I love the solitude.

What park do you stay at? Camped with family when young at Birch Bay, can't remember the campground.