Keeping a Journal

[Margos_]

Rather new to RVing, only 2 years but was wondering how people journal each trip. I'm not talking about blogs but personal logs on milages, site info or whatever info you might want to remember. What layout do you use.

[padredw]

It is interesting how varied our different experiences are. I have designed a very simple checklist/log. It fills a letter sized page. On one side I have the checklist for "take off" from each campsite. On the other side there is a corresponding number for that campsite where I enter the location, site number, any comments about that site and campground. I keep the original, but enter a summary into an Excel spreadsheet where I keep up with the total mileage on the RV. I have used this same system for four different fifth-wheels which we have owned and used over almost 20 years.

I do not keep the mileage records as we travel, but work up the mileage based on the actual route we have taken as I enter into the spreadsheet. Not a conscious decision, just the routine I've fallen into.


I have also begun to keep copies of an annual calendar on which I have brief notations. I wish I had begun this sooner. I produce the calendars with Microsoft Publisher.

BTW, in writing this post I checked my Excel logs. On our present HitchHiker we have 59,421 miles. I won't go into the others, but I did come up with a total of 146,359 miles.

[Dog_Folks]

This appears to fit what you are looking for and what we used for years before going full time.


http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/campers-daily-log-binder/2152


Hope this helps.

[scrubjaysnest]

We write it on a calendar and then transfer to our waypoints, poi's, in the comments section for the GPS. Mileage and gas use go into a spread sheet.

[4runnerguy]

We're old school. Allison keeps a "diary" or "journal" of our travels in our PUP. She doesn't write anything for any other days of our lives, just camping. No mileages, no gas or expenses, just a recap of the highlights of our day.

[toedtoes]

I have a basic excel spreadsheet to track preferred campsites, fees, etc. I use one worksheet to identify all the campgrounds I like (or want to try), and then a second worksheet to list my trips for the year (dates, when reservations were made, cost of reservations, etc.). This stays on my laptop as it's only used beforehand.

For mileage, I keep a small notebook in my visor. On one page, I list the miles driven per tank, on the second page, I list the amount of fuel filled per tank.