Tips for TC Boondocking
DW and I have been TCing every year, starting with a 2003 trip to Alaska. Not counting Wal-Mart, we have never boondocked. Now we are considering renting a self-contained hardside as an experiment. Af...
Forum Discussion
I had a PM with a question... but thought that I might answer it briefly on this thread.
I'd like to ask some questions first.
If I stay on a beach for 77 nights... is that a good thing?
If I stay on indian reservations for 6 weeks during a trip... do many people do that?
If I go into the canadian maritimes and stay remotely... for days at a time...who'd question that?
Janet and I have done all of the above and much more. When we stay one night in a Walmart parking lot we hear whineing
If we stay out in the boonies for 6 weeks during a 4 1/2 to 6 month trip...thats more than most go out all year.
.... did you stay on BLM land for 6 weeks... or 6 months? Really?
Now, how many nights a year are you boondocking?
How many days are you traveling?
And, I hate to ask... how many days are you staying in campgrounds and trailer parks (ZERO for us.)
===================================================
Let me explain... I am the only one that gets to define the word boondocking as it applies to me.
East of the Mississippi River there is very little government land available... but there are many beautiful parks, museums, art gallerys, and even theme parks that are fantastic.
We do them all.
We have been in 49 states, and most of Canada, at leastthe parts that we are interested in.
We NEVER look for a place to park, we never schedule any thing... when it feels like it's time to stop we often see the "perfect place" in short order.
Google earth... you have to be kidding. That would put us on a schedule.
When we do stop... we may change our minds and move on... or we may stay a few days. we don't have any money invested in a parking spot... We might do some of the local attractions and return to a good parking spot at night (boondocking if you will)
What is the limiting factors... for me and you.
==================================================
What limits you boondocking? no matter where you are?
Its potable water, and it's the amount of waste that your tanks can hold. How long did you stay out in the boonies???? Really?
==================================================
Janet and I do have guide lines for where we don't park...
No grafitti, no check cashing places, no pawn shops, no tattoo parlors, no comercial blood banks, no homeless people... you get the idea... you wouldn't want to live beside them. I'd add for people that stay in campgrounds... avoid long term residential camp grounds.
We avoid gang bangers if obvious... and mary jane growers in the forests.
==================================================
So... where do we stay? just about anywhere... when we close the drapes... we are home.
Over the years we have changed as we age:
At 30 years old we parked our TC where the kids would enjoy a momth... usually in Florida beach camp grounds, WDW, WV mountains, VA Beach... etc.
When we were 60 years old Janet and I were still boondocking at trail heads... hiking, canoeing, white water rafting... sometimes with our grand kids. At the end of the day when others left, we didn't. No one ever bothered us....
When we were 65 years old Janet and I still hiked and canoe'd... but also spent more time in museums and art galleries... splitting our time between remote areas and urban areas. We started parking over night at state capitals, friends driveways, city residential streets (stealth... no slide out), casinos, libraries, the service area of auto dealerships, hospital parking lots, staging areas for river trips, boat ramps, wharfs, ferry terminal parking areas... road side pull-offs for snow equpment, logging roads, marinas, yaght basins, enen at San Quinten Prison with our very special friend Wayne and his wife.
At 70 years old... our bones are wearing out... more surgery time than travel and boondocking... our bodies are limited but our hearts and minds are willing. Walmarts are easy for us.. and we do use them if available. They serve a lot of our needs, Walgreens are essintial, and dump stations are the hardest work I do.
At 73 plus... I'm still dreaming I know that my stamina is waining... that I won't be hiking long ways... that bycycling is a no, no. because breaking brittle bones will have to be avoided... healing is just too hard. I take care of Janet and she takes care of me. We look out for each other.
Those of you that make hard fast rules for yourself (or for others) just don't realize how fast you and the conditions around you are changing.
Advice:
Don't be afraid of the dark
Do your own thing... call it what you want... have fun...
And do it now, while you can.
Find a balance between your life and work...
That said... work as long as you can so that money will never be a problem.
Take care of your health as much as possible. You'll need it to take care of your camper and each other.
I'd be happy if we were parked in a Walmart somewhere way down south right now :B
We have 1032 nights Boondocking since Jan 2005, and none in campgrounds
sleepy
I'd like to ask some questions first.
If I stay on a beach for 77 nights... is that a good thing?
If I stay on indian reservations for 6 weeks during a trip... do many people do that?
If I go into the canadian maritimes and stay remotely... for days at a time...who'd question that?
Janet and I have done all of the above and much more. When we stay one night in a Walmart parking lot we hear whineing
If we stay out in the boonies for 6 weeks during a 4 1/2 to 6 month trip...thats more than most go out all year.
.... did you stay on BLM land for 6 weeks... or 6 months? Really?
Now, how many nights a year are you boondocking?
How many days are you traveling?
And, I hate to ask... how many days are you staying in campgrounds and trailer parks (ZERO for us.)
===================================================
Let me explain... I am the only one that gets to define the word boondocking as it applies to me.
East of the Mississippi River there is very little government land available... but there are many beautiful parks, museums, art gallerys, and even theme parks that are fantastic.
We do them all.
We have been in 49 states, and most of Canada, at leastthe parts that we are interested in.
We NEVER look for a place to park, we never schedule any thing... when it feels like it's time to stop we often see the "perfect place" in short order.
Google earth... you have to be kidding. That would put us on a schedule.
When we do stop... we may change our minds and move on... or we may stay a few days. we don't have any money invested in a parking spot... We might do some of the local attractions and return to a good parking spot at night (boondocking if you will)
What is the limiting factors... for me and you.
==================================================
What limits you boondocking? no matter where you are?
Its potable water, and it's the amount of waste that your tanks can hold. How long did you stay out in the boonies???? Really?
==================================================
Janet and I do have guide lines for where we don't park...
No grafitti, no check cashing places, no pawn shops, no tattoo parlors, no comercial blood banks, no homeless people... you get the idea... you wouldn't want to live beside them. I'd add for people that stay in campgrounds... avoid long term residential camp grounds.
We avoid gang bangers if obvious... and mary jane growers in the forests.
==================================================
So... where do we stay? just about anywhere... when we close the drapes... we are home.
Over the years we have changed as we age:
At 30 years old we parked our TC where the kids would enjoy a momth... usually in Florida beach camp grounds, WDW, WV mountains, VA Beach... etc.
When we were 60 years old Janet and I were still boondocking at trail heads... hiking, canoeing, white water rafting... sometimes with our grand kids. At the end of the day when others left, we didn't. No one ever bothered us....
When we were 65 years old Janet and I still hiked and canoe'd... but also spent more time in museums and art galleries... splitting our time between remote areas and urban areas. We started parking over night at state capitals, friends driveways, city residential streets (stealth... no slide out), casinos, libraries, the service area of auto dealerships, hospital parking lots, staging areas for river trips, boat ramps, wharfs, ferry terminal parking areas... road side pull-offs for snow equpment, logging roads, marinas, yaght basins, enen at San Quinten Prison with our very special friend Wayne and his wife.
At 70 years old... our bones are wearing out... more surgery time than travel and boondocking... our bodies are limited but our hearts and minds are willing. Walmarts are easy for us.. and we do use them if available. They serve a lot of our needs, Walgreens are essintial, and dump stations are the hardest work I do.
At 73 plus... I'm still dreaming I know that my stamina is waining... that I won't be hiking long ways... that bycycling is a no, no. because breaking brittle bones will have to be avoided... healing is just too hard. I take care of Janet and she takes care of me. We look out for each other.
Those of you that make hard fast rules for yourself (or for others) just don't realize how fast you and the conditions around you are changing.
Advice:
Don't be afraid of the dark
Do your own thing... call it what you want... have fun...
And do it now, while you can.
Find a balance between your life and work...
That said... work as long as you can so that money will never be a problem.
Take care of your health as much as possible. You'll need it to take care of your camper and each other.
I'd be happy if we were parked in a Walmart somewhere way down south right now :B
We have 1032 nights Boondocking since Jan 2005, and none in campgrounds
sleepy
