A Question Are you limited to life on pavement

[down_home]

How many Americans and others ,how many RVers have not touched a blade of grass, went fishing or hunting or exploring or gotten more than 200 ft from the pavement, sidewalk etc, or tourist spot. How many have ventured beyond the noise of the road and the airport, flight paths and the train and heard and experienced only themselves and nature?
Our daily lives do not involve much except from our Rvs to Wal Mart and restaurants and life in our vehicles. The only recreation available to many is jumping i the car and to the store, stop at fast food ,or restaurant and back home or to the RV.
When I was young and Dad's Cousins families in Va now live life such that the house is a place to get out of the rain and snow, sometimes, a place to sleep sometimes..The out of doors was for living not inside under the tv or in the car to and from a store, since there are few parks, in the urban landscape or cityscape, or even in the country today.
THIS IS NO WAY TO LIVE, limited by ho much money can we sped to recreate.

[Cloud_Dancer]

I had a choice, do it my way OR work harder and smarter all the time AND make MORE money. So, I was a boy scout and learned to camp, I qualified for Eagle while in high school, learned to fly, built 2 street rods, had a Triumph motorcycle (my Dad was a Harley guy), worked for 3 years, started college (ME), worked on-campus, led a life full of LIFE and adventures, took the kids camping, fishing and RVing,....on my 6th motorhome and getting old, but still going. Sure, I have a couple of regrets, but I push that sorta thing out of my mind. BTW, I never had a business or job that I didn't like.
My flying jobs were my favorite, and it's the thing a miss the most.

[afidel]

I've spent nearly 2 years of my 41 years on this ball of dirt in a tent. I've camped in more states than most people have visited. I've been an hour away from the nearest Walmart. So no, I'm not limited to life on pavement 😃

Best of all I've instilled that love of the outdoors in both my boys, the older is an Eagle Scout and the younger is on his way there.

[fj12ryder]

kellertx5er wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Being a bit judgemental today aren't you? Why should the way you want to do things be the best way? When did "Do it my way, or you're wrong" become the mantra for so many people?

Pretty much describes most of what I see in here.

Shoot, it describes pretty much all opinion forums. Heck, check out Facebook if you want to see rabid believers in "My Way is the Only Way", or "Do It My Way or Die".

[kellertx5er]

fj12ryder wrote:
Being a bit judgemental today aren't you? Why should the way you want to do things be the best way? When did "Do it my way, or you're wrong" become the mantra for so many people?

Pretty much describes most of what I see in here.

[T18skyguy]

Fizz wrote:
Different strokes.
Sometimes all you need to get away is an overnight in your own driveway.

I sleep in my Greyhawk every night at home. My wife likes it that way. My snoring is similar to a Mount Saint Helens eruption. The queen shorty mattress did not last long.

[philh]

I'm hoping to learn

[cummins2014]

fj12ryder wrote:
Being a bit judgemental today aren't you? Why should the way you want to do things be the best way? When did "Do it my way, or you're wrong" become the mantra for so many people?

I think the big question is ,who cares what others do. To me do what you like , if that is limited to the pavement, then so be it.

I have always said I hunt, and fish, and if you want too ,and don't ,its a BIG mistake. But if not then no mistake at all .

[mountainkowboy]

Fizz wrote:
Different strokes.
Sometimes all you need to get away is an overnight in your own driveway.

We called it "redneck" camping....and the kids were NOT allowed to bug us....lol.

[Fizz]

Different strokes.
Sometimes all you need to get away is an overnight in your own driveway.

[colliehauler]

Elk traveler It's actually great that some want private parks with all the amenities. Could you imagine how crowded state campgrounds would be if they didn't?

[Elk_traveler]

Well I agree with the "different strokes for different people and that's ok for them but we have a different take on this subject. Been RV for nearly four decades and we are wedded to the state parks. After more than three decades from tents, popups, trailer, 5th wheel we have move up to motorhome but we still primarily camp in state parks. Why, because the experience is still similar to what it was when we started out years ago. We simply are not happy with the close confines of private parks where your unit is within arm distance of another and there is no outdoor experience in the private campground sitting around a pool or just sitting around talking. Don't get me wrong we stay in a private parks only when we are on the road going someplace and on long trips to the western part of country because of modern facilities needed when on road for lengthy periods. America has some incredible states parks throughout the country where the experience is very similar to what it was more than 30 yrs ago. I guess you could say we are from the old school because we still carry our old Coleman stoves and lanterns for lighting and we are very happy in the phrase "Dare to be modern". To us many so called campers miss out on what we call a real outdoor camping experience by hanging around private parks because they have a pool, club house or even a restaurant. Of course, if that is your idea of camping, that's fine but certainly not for us. We have visited so many state parks throughout the country so cannot say which one we like better another than to say we have enjoyed so many places and hopefully will continue to enjoy them. It just seems most private parks exist on three to five acres of land with everything crowded and cramped together. Kids have no place to play, no trails to visit nature, etc. Many barely have enough room to stretch out an awning without rubbing the next camper. That's not good.

[colliehauler]

pnichols wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
I camp next to the BWCA wilderness area. Notice I say next to not in. Hard core nature lovers get a limited number entry permit and camp using a tent and canoe carrying in and out all their supplies. I stay in my RV with HVAC and gel memory foam mattress. I take the pontoon boat out on the lake that permit motorized boats not a canoe. The difference no man-made structures and limited number of people allowed to enter into the wilderness area and no motorized vehicles permitted.

BWCA is over one million acres in size along the Canadian border for a hundred and fifty miles and adjacent to Canada's Quetico Provincial Park.

FWIW, the state and/or the NFS have set a great example by doing it right at our favorite Northern CA lake to RV camp at:

- Three beautiful campgrounds in the trees with no hookups (just centralized water faucets) and all sites are blacktop surfaced ... there is one centralized shower building shared by the three campgrounds for tenters or RV'ers who don't want to shower in their rigs.

- Campsites are well spaced apart for a wide open feeling when camping.

- Two of the three campgrounds are on the shore ... where you can leave your boat pulled up right on the beach for easy access day after day.

- A couple of boat ramps.

- Motorized boats permitted, but speeds must be kept slow.

- No water skiing or other water sports permitted ... sightseeing and fishing only.

- A beautiful pristine forested shoreline with no developments permitted on or near the shoreline anywhere.

- A lot of bird life everywhere along the the shores.

- Several little coves along the shoreline to anchor in and fish or just sit in the boat and enjoy.

- A beautiful mountain view in the skyline opposite the campgrounds.

- Fishing is carefully groomed and maintained to be for trophy trout ... my most recent catch while trolling in our small boat included a trout of over 22 inches.

- The lake's altitude is not too high or too low at just under 6K feet ... this provides mild temps combined with clear air and deep blue skies.

- The surroundings are super quiet on the lake and around the lake.

The lake and it's setting may be unique in the state - or in several states at least with respect to RV camping use ... the camp hosts know of no lake in CA with this unique set of characteristics.

California has lots of beautiful areas when you get away from the large cities and major attractions . It sounds like you have found a gem.

[down_home]

pnichols wrote:

Cloud Dancer wrote:
pnichols, that's too perfect. I would've kept it a secret. Don't mention the name.

Willie ... thanks for the encouragement to keep it's name and location under wraps ... I will!

I posted about it A) as proof that "getting out in real nature" is indeed possible without having to backpack or tent camp (which we have done plenty of), and B) as proof to CA-bashers that one doesn't have to leave CA in order to experience spectacular places to get away from it all without having to make reservations.

By the way the last time we went this past June, we fired up a generator and used an electric deep fat frier to cook some of our large trout fillets, along with potatoe slices, so as to have Fish and Chips for dinner right there in the campsite next to the lake where the trout came from that day.

Fresh trout aqnd you didn't invite us?

[mountainkowboy]

We boondock 90% of the time and have a TC for that reason. NE Oregon in the Whitman National forest...no hookups, just solar.