RE: Phantom Walmart horn blower
I know, calling a quick pit-stop for shuteye in a parking lot 'boondocking' is misleading... but I haven't found a better term, yet. Anybody?
I've had more than a few conversations with LEO's regarding 'boondocking' a parking lot for a short overnight stay. Without exception, they've all told me basically the same thing: they're not going to roust a camper in a Costco, Walmart, Cracker Barrel, etc.. if it's well off-hours.
I actually had one Deputy tell me he's aware of local CG proprietors who have either pushed ordinances through, or regularly call in complaints; he made a point to mention that he resents the idea of being some CG owners 'shylock'. A 'trespassing' citation for a quiet rig taking up a half-dozen parking spots out of a 1000 that are empty, isn't worth most LEO's time (and in some muni's trespassing wouldn't apply to the parking lot, anyway)
Same goes for 'disturbing the peace', I suppose. Getting a 'call' about some bozo honking his horn in a parking lot probably won't get a response.
Anyhow, who's complaining? A minor annoyance for 'free'. Come to think of it, I've had worse in CG's that I paid good money for...
In the meantime, it's pretty easy to get creative with asphalt boondocking- especially with satellite view in google maps.
I love saving yuan's.
RE: Phantom Walmart horn blower
I don't really sleep when we asphalt boondock. The stop is more for my wife and crumbsnatchers, and they sleep like the dead.
Yeah, it's free. I'm not complaining anymore than I would if it were 6 am and I was there shopping. If it was a donut shop parking lot, this turd would get a 'disturbing the peace' or something.
Anyhow, until CG's start offering 'quickie' rates...
I pulled the trusty smart phone, in the event a confrontation got unpleasant, but only got a second or two of video as he drove away.
https://plus.google.com/photos/112506409241970765751/albums/5864633307302048273?authkey=CMCSyKmwrpDvKA
Phantom Walmart horn blower
Here's a new one for me.
Boondocked overnight in a Dalton, GA Walmart
It's about 0600, fam's back in the truck, ready to roll, and I see this red Honda? SUV driving past all the boondocked motorhomes blaring his horn. He's getting right up next to them, driving real slow, and wailing the horn.
I Just drove 650 miles, and got about 5 hours of interrupted sleep, so I was a little foggy. My first thought was something was wrong, so I get out of the truck, and start jogging over to him, when he turns and exits around the back of the building. At this point it dawns on me he's just being an inconsiderate jackhole for whatever reason.
Figure he's either:
- a reprobate who gets his kicks annoying tired campers
- a proactive CG owner, looking to dissuade folks from boondocking
Anybody ever had this experience?
St. George Island or Anastasia?
As luck would have it, we've got the opportunity to camp at either over Easter break.
My brother (who's been camping much longer than I) says SGI has bugs that blot out the sun. Says the beach is gorgeous, but the campsites are basically located in a swamp.
We love St. Augustine. The only time we've camped there, we stayed at Bryn Mawr and were really disappointed. It's on the beach, but that's about all I can say.
So staying at Anastasia is best of both worlds; great campground and location.
Here's the rub: we like exploring, going to new places. We've never been to SGI. Actually, never been to gulf side of FLA, so the kids are really pushing for it (as am I). But the DW needs a hassle free vacation.
What do you think?
RE: Unfriendly Welcome Center
I had that happen one time at the eastbound rest area near Pensacola FL on I-10. I told the rent-a-cop to summons the FHP as I was NOT leaving until the FHP or local SO Deputy told me to. Never heard another word from him and we spent the night.
NO LEO in their right mind, is going to tell a tired motorist to go back on the road. Now, rent-a-cops on a power trip, are a totally different bunch.
Right on... right on.
Maybe the jerk was just trying to give you and your family some reasonable security/protection, since it was after dark, and the rest station was closed. On the side of a major well traveled national interstate highway. You know there are all kinds that travel that road. Even some of those dreadful Canadians. And I'll bet he knows the rules applied to parking there for more than two hours.
It never ceases to amaze me that some jerks actually do their job. Maybe his job title should be changed from 'security guard' to 'jerk security guard'.
Sorry, but police have no legal obligation to provide citizens with any protection; and a security guard making minimum wage, has even less.
Not buying your 'just doing his job' routine, either. 'After dark' it was 'closed'? Really? Does that go for the freeway, too?
Rest areas, welcome centers don't have 'hours of operation' in the parking areas.
AFA protection goes? That's my responsibility, and I take it a hell of a lot more seriously than some random security guard.
RE: I don't think the police let it go
One thing might be missed by all of us in commenting. This could have been in the U.P. of Michigan and the Officers are helping load the truck on the trailer.
FYI.
Again sarcasm on my part.
Nope, in the U.P., they would have been pulling it over for looking like a meth lab... with the covered over windows and all...
RE: changing a tire
I helped a camper change a tire on his single axle. He had no car jack.
Dropped the tongue jack as low as it would go, so the rear of the trailer was higher, then took a section of 4x4 wood that I used for chocking the tires, and stood it up under the frame, just rear of the axle. Then we raised the tongue jack to max height.
Got plenty of clearance to pull and replace the flat tire.
RE: Fall foliage camping in Michigan, Ludington SP?
'competitive sport' LOL, exactly
I definitely second Ludington. Wilderness is another, but at around 5 hours, you might be pushing it.
Love fall camping.. much quieter, more laid back
RE: Disney
Thanks for all the help.I booked Ft Wilderness tonight.There was only about a $60 difference (for 4 nights) between the preffered and premium sites.We are in the 400 loop so we are close to the docks and the settlement area.We can't book the Hoop de Doo Revue until April 30th because you can only book 180 days out.
We've been a few times, last time was 04/2010, but each time they wouldn't take site specific reservations... have they changed that?
I put up a quick post on our visits at my blog here: http://boondockdad.com/?p=738
RE: Disney
We were there over Halloween, once. It definitely was not as crowded as summer months. They had a 'not so scary' party promo going on, and the parks were open late for those ticket holders. I recommend doing it, if its an option when you're there. I've never seen the park so wide open. There were NO lines. Actually, Haunted Mansion had a line, but it went quick!
Have a great time!
RE: Cons of 30' + travel trailer
We've been to 17 states, and probably 100 different CG's, more SP, NP, BLM, NF, than private; and we've never been "too big"
RE: Cons of 30' + travel trailer
We've only owned 31' TT's, so I can't compare to smaller units; but we've never not been able to access a campground, due to length... and that's towing with a Suburban, too (I think the overall combined bumper to bumper is somewhere over 55')
RE: Thumb Area, Michigan
Port Crescent is one of our favorites. Tip of the thumb.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mrI1yPR9lZY/Th-LMNRUCAI/AAAAAAAAG7A/P2EiBA-pHbQ/s608/IMG_0405.JPG height=640
http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=486&type=SPRK
RE: Backup Camera
Another vote against wireless... I posted my wired install here:
http://boondockdad.com/?p=251
It's the RVS system. Very happy with it. One neat feature is the audio.. I was a little skeptical about it's value, but turns out it's kinda handy.
RE: TST Tire Monitors for Jeep. Steel vs rubber valves
I had the TST monitors on my aluminum rims, rubber stems. The stems flexed enough to make a crescent shaped gouge in the rim clearcoat, and caused them to leak.
I'd definitely recommend metal stems
RE: Cooking underway
My 8.1L 'burb runs so dang hot, I bet a roast wrapped in tinfoil tucked under the hood would work nicely...
clicky here :D
Very tasty!
Thanks
