camping
Tips for Toddler’s bedtime when camping
The first time you camp with a toddler make it a practice run. Remember, most of camping, but especially sleeping outside in a tent, under the stars, away from the familiar, is a new and, for some, scary. Pick a place close to home, such as a nearby campground or, perhaps, your backyard. And be Read More >>
Making Bug Free Moments and Memories
Next to bad weather, nothing spoils a camping trip faster than swarms of bugs. They bite, it hurts, itches, than swells, and turns red. And that is if you don’t have an allergic reaction and the insect isn’t carrying some illness like West Nile or Lyme. While there isn’t much you can do about the Read More >>
Solitude of Thunder Basin NG
“Pushing cows ain’t easy like the movies said” from Garth Brooks’ songThe first thing is the topography of Thunder Basin National Grassland. It has a rolling landscape with huge grass covered swells and an occasional cluster of trees, mainly cottonwoods. The Black Hills NF is almost all vertical with pines and spruce growing out of Read More >>
OMG – The dog has met up with a skunk!
It’s that time of year when we’ll have visits from feral skunks. Once the sun goes down, our dog begs to be let outside. This wouldn’t be a problem but you would think after being sprayed a couple of times, our dog would avoid repeating the stinky experience. Apparently, our dog thinks skunks are Read More >>
Twin Lakes’ Pork and Mushroom Recipe
The chefs on television show “Chopped” have nothing on me when it comes to developing a recipe from unknown items. I don’t think I’m unusual in that defrosting a freezer isn’t a favorite activity. Therefore, my motorhome’s freezer can tend to get deeply encased in ice before I defrost it. It is rather satisfying once Read More >>
Packing for six months on the road – it isn’t easy
As our departure date approaches, all the big decisions have been made. By big, I mean we have a departure date, selected the national forests will be visiting and campgrounds to survey, our route is mapped, and all that stuff. I have my lists of what we need to take like laptops, medicines, files, etc. Read More >>
Alternative to the Crowds and Congested Camping in a National Park
There is little doubt that national parks located west of the Mississippi River attract lots of visitors. According to the Department of Interior, national parks in this area received 331 million visits in 2017 and the number are only increasing year after year. Anyone who has visited a national park has experienced the cheek-to-jowl crowds Read More >>
Cold Weather Camping
Cold weather camping requires an RV have a dependable and adequate source of heat, reliable batteries with enough amperage for your needs and a way to charge them, full propane tanks, plenty of warm clothes, extra food for “just in case” situations, and some way of receiving weather reports. Winter is a beautiful time of Read More >>
Birdwatching is work!
One of the highlights of our camping at the Catalina State Park was the birdwatching walk we took with a group of experienced birdwatcher. Now I know the names of a few birds. Here is a Red-Tail Hawk and a Mourning dove. The hawk is easy to id with its Georgia red clay colored tail Read More >>
Alternative uses of everyday things
I try to never pack “single-use” items when we go camping. Here are some uses for a few everyday things that I have found. They might be good for your next camping trip. Use an inverted colander to cover food and keep bugs off. If you have young children, put those “keep-bugs-away” candles inside a Read More >>
