Here'n'There wrote: DW & I fulltime and typically stay at least 1 month at a time, often 2 or 3 months so we don't stay in a lot of State / Federal Parks due to limits on length of stay but when we do....
1. We expect a LOT of in/out traffic, especially weekends / long holiday weekends.
2. We expect and are particularly careful in and about the CG because we know that many of these folks are coming from hectic lives and just don't have the time to "SLOW DOWN".
3. We try to be as helpful and as accommodating to the weekenders as possible - a smile goes a long, LONG way
4. We love watching kids at play and as DW is an excellent baker - we favor neighbors (especially those with kids) with baked confections. Those goodies go even further than #3 above.
5. We HAVE stayed at Valley of the Rouge SP and it, along with many other OREGON SP's is a wonderful place.
6. As fulltimers you should EXPECT the weekend bedlam - especially in state parks so just sit back, enjoy the frenzies, pop the top of your favorite, and be thankful that YOU don't have to HURRY to get back to work on Monday!
I have to say I don't enjoy the crowds so I try to find places off the beaten path ... BUT when I do stay in crowded places - I always wander about & say hi Maybe even offer to throw some food on the grill with them - and enjoy a meal I don't like eating alone - and seeing a single person (me) - some folks just kinda take me in So thank you - I always learn alot! BUT again, still like to travel less on busy weekends - maybe someday I'll get a MONTH of traveling - and be a fulltimer but I still have 20 years to work!
Normally we know better than to camp on a holiday, but here we sit on the beach in Florida for 4th of July. A packed campground, packed campers, packed beach. People, kids, and more dogs than you can count. They walk right through our site area, use our area because they have filled theirs up with their junk. More dogs than kids. Just pray that our patience holds out. Hubby says "I told you so!"
Hammerhead wrote: We began avoiding the holiday weekends a few years ago.
Too many drunks at the campground and our cats might like us being around while our neighborhood is being assaulted with illegal fireworks around Independence Day.
Just a weird note about Fireworks - here in Florida it's legal to sell Fireworks - FW stands pop up all over the place around the holiday. BUT, when you buy them, you have to sign an agreement that you will take them to another state before you light them off. THAT"S RIGHT FOLKS, it's okay to BUY them here, just don't USE them here.
One the the true bonehead state laws I've ever seen.
We stay home for the three big summer holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day). We live on a lake but we don't go out on the lake during those holidays either due to erratic behavior of the boaters. One year I watched from my kayak as a very fast (and VERY loud) speedboat went by me at 70mph about 50 feet away. Later I talked to him at the launch ramp and mentioned that his boat looked good when he want by me. "By you?", he said, looking confused. "I don't remember even seeing you!"
Just a weird note about Fireworks - here in Florida it's legal to sell Fireworks - FW stands pop up all over the place around the holiday. BUT, when you buy them, you have to sign an agreement that you will take them to another state before you light them off. THAT"S RIGHT FOLKS, it's okay to BUY them here, just don't USE them here.
One the the true bonehead state laws I've ever seen.
Its the same in Ohio...silly law
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Here'n'There wrote: DW & I fulltime and typically stay at least 1 month at a time, often 2 or 3 months so we don't stay in a lot of State / Federal Parks due to limits on length of stay but when we do....
1. We expect a LOT of in/out traffic, especially weekends / long holiday weekends.
2. We expect and are particularly careful in and about the CG because we know that many of these folks are coming from hectic lives and just don't have the time to "SLOW DOWN".
3. We try to be as helpful and as accommodating to the weekenders as possible - a smile goes a long, LONG way
4. We love watching kids at play and as DW is an excellent baker - we favor neighbors (especially those with kids) with baked confections. Those goodies go even further than #3 above.
5. We HAVE stayed at Valley of the Rouge SP and it, along with many other OREGON SP's is a wonderful place.
6. As fulltimers you should EXPECT the weekend bedlam - especially in state parks so just sit back, enjoy the frenzies, pop the top of your favorite, and be thankful that YOU don't have to HURRY to get back to work on Monday!
I have these same camping rules I adhere to myself.
When you camp on Holiday weekends, being realistic goes along way and it helps your own sanity, because if you are expecting nothing but peace and quiet, and that everyone will always be polite, you end up having a really bad time.
Everybody knows that on holidays camp grounds are a madhouse Kind of defeats the purpose of getting away don't you think? I personally stay home during these times to avoid this conflict!!!! All is well and good until I get on this forum and get loaded up with all the complaints from RVers who go year after year and complain year after year LOL
We were in a state park over the Fourth and it was quiet, no fireworks, no drinking, no loud parties. I have always assumed it is because most of the sites you need a reservation for and the loud people do not get their reservations in on time. The fact that the rangers drive thru every hour as do the hosts probably has something to do with it as do the lots we pick out that are surrounded by trees and bushes.
We had a goup of a dozen teenage boys next to us for the 3rd thru the 5th and the only time they made noise was when they were setting up their tent. God bless their parents.
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