Yurts in WA State Parks (pix)

We recently "camped" in Kanaskat-Palmer State Park, a few miles nearer the Cascade foothills than our home is.  While there, we saw that a pair of their yurts was grouped at the end of a long, double-wide, RV place.  We inquired, and were told that we might be able to have two trailers on the gravel _and_ two non-RVing, ordinarily-tenting, friends occupying the yurts.

Such an arrangement could make for a nice outing.

Pix of the yurts:
<https://goo.gl/photos/UJxgbJMfxpymiDFT8>

Mark_

ARCADIA Departs

Friday, 19 June 2015, we sold Arcadia to a very nice man who wished to experiment with some travel-trailering.  He had several very reasonable questions, and I promised to answer more as they arose.  The transaction resulted in smiles all around.

The neighbors are likely to be pleased, as well; the Casita's departure means that I can look into the issue of putting its replacement into my yard instead of taking up 9' X 25' of precious pavement in the street in front of my house.

Arcadia was great, and we used it in the course of quite a number of really great big trips (cruises) and many excellent weekenders (rendezvous).  It had virtually everything we needed to be fairly comfortable for weeks at a time.  Even so, when we began discussing and then actually planning a months-long cruise to the U.S. NE and Canadian Maritimes, we realized that we were going to need more comfort than any 17' trailer was likely to be able to afford us.  The 25' Bigfoot Serenity promises to be the platform we need for extended cruising: nice seating, a pleasant galley, and a walk-around queen bed in its own space--all protected by real 4-season insulation.

We are very pleased.

Mark_

Battery stolen from _Arcadia_.

Cindy found our tongue battery missing this morning. The sheriff has been summoned.

Dammit.


Mark_

RVing Links

RVing Information-
130923

Containing links to information about plastic travel trailers, boondocking, fulltiming, RVing cheaply, and other topics.

I have not vetted these.


Forums
......

• An online index ("guide"): <http://www.doityourselfrv.com/guide-rv-forums-message-boards/>

• Camping in Oregon @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/campinginoregon/info>
• Camping RoadTrip: <http://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums>
• Cheap and Free RV Travel @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cheapandfreervtravel/info>
• Cheap RV Living: <http://www.cheaprvlivingforum.com>
• East Coast RVing & Travel @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/EastCoast_RV_Traveling/info>
• Escapees: <http://www.rvnetwork.com>
• Fulltime RVing: <http://www.fulltime-rving.com>
• Full-time RVing Seniors.... @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FulltimeRVingSeniors/info>
• Gizmo @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/gizmo/info> (Wintering inexpensively)
• Gypsy Journal: <http://gypsyjournalrv.com>
• iRV2: <http://www.irv2.com/forums/>
• Open Roads @ Good Sam: <http://forums.goodsamclub.com>
• RV Camping @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/camping_rv_style/info>
• RV Fulltime WannaBes: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/rvfulltimewannabes/info>
• RV Travel...Shoestring @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/rvtravelonashoestring/info>
• RVForum: <http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?board=10.0> 
• RVNet: <http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/21.cfm>  (Good Sam?)
• RVUSA: <http://www.rvusa.com/forum/vbulletin/forum.php> 
• Trailerlife @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Trailerlife/info>
• Travel...Shoestring @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/travelonashoestring/info>
• Wal-Mart RVing: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/walmartrving/info>
• Weapons @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RV_SAG/info>
• Woodall's: <http://forums.woodalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/21.cfm> 


Casita, etc.
............

• Casita Club: <http://www.casitaclub.com/forums/>
• CasitaForum: <http://www.casitaforum.com/invboard/> (Membership required.)
• Fiberglass RV: <http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/>
• Tiny Travel Trailers @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TinyTravelTrailers/info>
• UHaulCamper: <http://www.uhaulcamper.com> (Several GRP trailers are covered.)


Boondocking
...........

• USFS <http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/finder.shtml>
• <http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm>
• <http://cheaprvliving.com/Boondocking.html>
• <http://www.loveyourrv.com/love-your-rv-boondocking-basics/>
• <http://www.thegoodluckduck.com/p/boondocking-resources.html>
• <http://www.uscampgrounds.info> Mobile: <http://www.campfone.info>
• Boondocking RV Camping @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/boondockingrvcamping/info>
• HOW TO LOCATE BOONDOCKING SITES <http://roadslesstraveled.us/boondocking/>-
<<The US National Forest Service <http://www.fs.fed.us>, Bureau of Land Management <http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en.html>, and National Park Service <http://www.nps.gov/index.htm> all manage vast tracts of land.  Each agency oversees its land with a different mission and reports to different government branches.  Maps are available from each agency, but we've found that the Delorme state map books <http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10042&minisite=10020> are excellent and they are our primary mapping resource (Amazon does not seem to carry the most recent editions).  The map books clearly show where the public lands are, and although it is sometimes hard to see the detail of the forest roads in these books, once you are on them with your bike or truck it's easy to decide what is passable with an RV and what isn't.  Benchmark <http://www.benchmarkmaps.com> also sells an excellent series of topographical atlases.

<<It is relatively easy to locate beautiful places to camp.  It just takes a little time.  If we don't have information on boondocking sites in an area, we sometimes stop at the ranger's office for the agency that manages the land.  They often have maps and suggestions of places to go.  If we can't find the ranger's office (sometimes they are in a distant town), we will set up camp for a quickie overnight somewhere nearby and then explore the area on our bikes or with the truck.  It's a lot easier to decide whether the rig will fit into a particular site when we don't have it with us. And there's nothing worse than going down a narrow dirt road with the rig -- only to find there is nowhere to turn around.

<<Day's End Directory-
<<A lot of times we will hear about places by talking to other travelers.  But the best source of information we've found for boondocking sites is the Day's End Directory <http://daysenddirectory.com>, available [only] to members of the Escapees RV Club <http://www.escapees.com>. This is, without doubt, the most comprehensive list of boondocking sites available, and is an incredible value for the money.  In 2009 it filled two one-inch 3-ring binders and has expanded dramatically since then.  We use the Day's End Directory as our only travel guide, rather than relying on any campground books, Lonely Planet guidebooks or anything else.  Annual membership in Escapees is about $70, and an annual subscription to the Day's End Directory is about $10.>>


Other
.....

• Many topics of interest: <http://www.rvlifestyleexperts.com/index.php> 
• Mountain road grades: <http://www.mountaindirectory.com>

• Pleasure-Way @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Pleasurewayownersgroup/info> 
• Class B: <http://www.classbforum.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=35&sid=35fe0826be2c49f87ca50af2089e1434> 
• Woman RVers: <http://www.womenrv.com/forum/index.php?sid=6236264f2bb4965fd9f775b4ec49d51a> 


Mark_
22 September 2013

RVing Resources Online: Not Trailers

• Pleasure-Way: Comfortable and pretty, but may not be suitable for rough roads.  
• RoadTrek: Sleek and luxurious, but may not be suitable for rough roads.
  UPDATE: There is a 4x4 version.
• Chinook 4x4: Baja & Quest. 
• Airstream coaches: New models are based on the Mercedes/Chrysler Sprinter, which, although very nice, may not be suitable for rough roads.
  The old "B-Van" conversion (B-190) may be suitable for upgrade to 4WD. 
• Great West Vans.
• Leisure Travel Vans.
• Sportsmobile: Off-road (4WD) van conversion; well equipped, seriously functional, and unpretentious.
  (These guys apparently did early VW Microbus camper conversions!)
• Volkswagen Westphalia camper: Some of the later Vanagons came with a type of all-wheel- or four-wheel- drive. Lots of them are still taking their owners along moderately rough roads, but alas, VW no longer imports (U.S. or Canada) the most recent of their van-type vehicles, the EuroVan.
  Pictures of a very whizzy Microbus update have been displayed on the Internet--with a "transforming" camper version. I don't know the status, but I think I have heard that it has been killed. (I'm not certain that everything I saw illustrated was possible, anyway.)
  Update: Planned, then killed in 2005: Microbus Concept (Wikipedia).
• Bigfoot: Molded fiberglass truck campers (as well as travel trailers).
• Northern Lite truck campers. Similar to Bigfoot?
• Lance truck campers. At one time their web site was quite nice.
• Monaco Motor Coaches. Not Beavers or Prevosts, but nice. 
• Tiger Off-Road RVs. Class C space on a Class B footprint.
• UniMog: Odd-looking but extremely capable Mercedes military vehicle privately adapted to expedition RV use. Basis for (i.e., inspiration for) the MaxiMog*.
• Xplorer Xcursion: An example. 
• EarthRoamer: Perhaps the ultimate expedition vehicle; every little component is the no-compromise, no-expense-spared, best available. (May have been discontinued.)
  [I saw one! Extremely impressive! 05 June 2006] 
• MaxiMog: Oh, wait--this is the ultimate expedition vehicle. 
• Unicat: Or is this it? 18 June 2007 
• Action Mobil: Or this? 18 June 2007
• Terra Wind: I hardly believe it, and you may not, either.

Etc.

(Some of this may be stale.)

Mark_
19 April 2013