Without understanding what she would become for us, we picked the perfect RV name.
Realization hit like a slap
We let The Burrow go today. It was time. I did not want to sell her but knew that it was the best thing. We have been in our new, still un-named coach, for three months. I wanted to find someone capable of appreciating The Burrow and how much she still has to offer. I feel like we found that person and he is now her new owner. But I was not prepared for the realization and emotion I felt as I followed Ken while he drove The Burrow to her new home. The realization and emotion her sale invoked made me realize we had given her the perfect RV name.
Our Beginning
When Ken and I started our journey in The Burrow, I was both mentally and physically broken by chemo and radiation. It was a slow process to trust her. Post-traumatic stress disorder manifests in odd ways. For me, every mile was an expectation that something terrible would happen. I had no mental strength and a complete inability to advocate or defend myself. Anxiety was a constant companion in our early travels.
Things did go wrong. Like the tire debacle or our Walmart parking ordeal. These, and other events, were more than we expected. I can laugh now but when happening, it was overwhelming. Ken, ever my rock, managed it all and I helped when I could. As we added the miles, it gradually became okay. I could muster the energy to manage two hundred-forty square feet of living space. I could make it three hundred miles down the road, albeit slowly, without becoming a panicked, babbling mess.
I improved physically too. Early attempts at hiking were arduous. We would repeatedly stop to rest because I did not have the strength to walk a half mile. Ken was so patient with me while I struggled to be normal again. But each difficult hike ended with a cozy night, safe and comfortable in our Burrow.
A refuge for healing
The Burrow provided an opportunity to stay engaged in new sights and sounds. To breath in and heal in awe inspiring nature. I saw ancient trees, painted deserts, volcanos, pristine caves, waterfalls, wildlife, beaches, and sunsets. She gave me the opportunity to forget the dreaded diagnosis of stage IV cancer and to marvel at what I could have missed.
Goodbye
The Burrow has been my security blanket for five years. And today I am giving her up. My sentiment may be silly to others, but she has played a key role in allowing me to heal. I will always treasure the memories we made with her and the sense of safety she gave me until I could achieve a better mental and physical place in my life. What a perfect RV name we gave her.
The Burrow was the perfect RV name Art Credit Jessica Boehman
The Aura frame sits silently, automatically changing the view every five seconds. First, a wildflower strewn meadow and flowing creek … flip … a thunderous and glittering waterfall …flip … giants called Sequoia trees that smell like life and command reverence … flip … acres as far as the eye can see of washed reds, pinks, blues, and greens in the Painted Desert … flip … a fog shrouded art deco bridge along the rocky Oregon coast … flip … acres of flowers pop with color in an Iris Garden … flip …
Were we really there?
Memories of RV Life
Our RV life became surreal. The only proof is in our memories and the digitally shifting pictures on the Aura frame. There was a modern day journal too. Armadillo Tails, a blog page, shared when filled with gratefulness of life still lived and enthusiasm to share our travels.
perched on her bedroll throne
Our little Reef Fish
Ken and I were back-country canoe campers in the early years of our relationship. Most weekends would find us somewhere on a river or at least looking for a new one to paddle. The memories are fading as well as the old pictures printed from 110 film cartridges. He remembers some events, I remember others. The pictures are harder and harder to find. Then we had another daughter. The canoe was too small so we purchased a sailboat and continued making memories with both our girls. My wish is we had kept a journal of those wonderful canoe and sailboat trips. It would be a reminder for our oldest daughter, who as a three-year-old perched on her throne of bedrolls, made memories of rope swings and alligators, clear tannin-stained rivers, and large-mouthed bass. And for our second daughter, of being rocked to sleep by the gentle lap of waves on the boat hull at night and days in the sun, skin turning golden while she snorkeled the reefs of the colorful Florida Keys.
Our Country in Chaos
By mid-March of 2020, along with the rest of the country, our lives became chaotic when Covid halted us at Medina Lake RV Campground in Texas. Here we must give a shout-out and thank you to Thousand Trails. Other full-timers struggled to find an RV park amid closures and varying state laws. Thousand Trails members, currently in place, were able to stay.
Pandemic information and state rules changed weekly, so after three months, we made safety plans and with our small but mighty tribe, left Texas to continue traveling.
Armadillo at Lake Medina
Hard Decisions
Life was brewing chaos for Ken. His doctor said he needed to return to South Florida for surgery. We made arrangements and returned in October of 2020, spent the holidays with family then moved back into our stick and brick to prepare for Ken’s surgery in January of 2021.
A piano, RV life, and goodbye
Did I mention we moved back into our stick and brick home? A Piano, RV Life and Goodbye was posted to the blog as we prepared for Ken’s convalescence. The decision to move back into our home was a good call. He could have never come back to the Bigfoot (our class C RV) for a recovery that required the first month in an assisted-lift recliner. His recovery continues as I write this post. New full-time nomads often ask, “What about medical care while you travel?”. Our answer, you need to plan and prepare for all contingencies because life can quickly go sideways.
Joey, older but still playing
The housing market was on fire, and it was a good time to make repairs and put the house up for sale. In addition, we were anticipating the birth of a new grandbaby and knew continued travel would require a larger coach for an aging pet and his parents. With plans made, we felt good about how all these happy events would play out. And they did. Albeit not as easily or happily as we anticipated and not on the projected timeline.
RV Life Became Surreal
Even in the best of times, these life events would be challenges. Add that life is one big curve ball to plans and expectations, throw in a little Covid lockdown, and it explains our current state of wonder about how RV life became surreal and the explanation for why we are still in Florida, sitting in our new coach, looking at amazing pictures flip past on a digital screen.
Were we there?
Yes, we were there!
Armadillo Tails’ blog is there to re-read and remind us of the feelings and emotions, the mouthwatering restaurants, stunning views, and the experiences we had while traveling our big, beautiful country. I am happy to have chronicled the journey. And sorry to have stopped.
Going Forward
Ken and I will remain in Florida for the rest of this year and polish off the details of the major changes to our lives. We are learning about our new coach, spending precious time with grandbabies, healing, and organizing for retirement. The plan is to travel again. But we want to start with peace of mind about our health, our new to us Newmar diesel pusher, our family, and our future life plan.
❤️️❤️️
❤️️❤️️Precious granddaughters
There hasn’t been much time to write throughout all this chaos and change. Maybe that is an excuse, maybe not. Our memories will start remembering less. But digital photographs, with newer technology, will help us. It seems important to start again.
We look forward to marking off a few from the bucket list, as Armadillo Tails explores our fabulous home state of Florida and readies for further travels. Until the next post…we are…
Always grateful 👫
Edit. Bitsy and Butter, our feline fur babies, both suffered a fatal cancer diagnosis and are no longer with us. We miss them both.💔
Has it really been two and a half years of nomadic life? It was an amusing reminder the other day when a young man approached us and asked what was the routine at Jefferson County Fairgrounds Campground. He was either new to RVing or had never before ventured from the pricey, pristine campgrounds that make RV life sooooo simple. But for a steep price. Everyone can use a few extra dollars in their pocket. Here are a few places that we use for Thrifty RV Camping.
7 Cedars Casino
Our list will include places like fairgrounds and casinos that are free or inexpensive, listed by state. These are the good ones folks. The places that Ken and I would return to and that we felt safe. Safety is always important. Read why we won’t be using Walmart anymore.
Traveling within a small budget requires you to look a little further than the fancy places that are catering to a vacation style camping experience. We have found a few of those places and continue to add them to our list. My Google map is starting to look like one solid 📌 I need a list and the perfect place to keep it is here in our website so you can take advantage of these places too.
Site information is not guaranteed but will try to keep it updated and accurate. We would love to read your favorites too. Please comment with places that you feel fit the criteria for this list. If you tried any of these, tell us what you thought. You can reach us at janetandken@armadillotails.com or post in Facebook comment section.
The beautiful seaport city of Port Townsend should be on everyone’s travel bucket list.
Are you looking for a destination that ticks all the boxes for a great vacation or weekend getaway? We get to experience a lot of small towns but this town is certainly one of our favorites. And others agree. Port Townsend is named one of the most beautiful small towns to visit by several publications, including Travel & Leisure and National Geographic. Put Discover Port Townsend at the top of your list. Clubbing may be best explored in Seattle but if you are ready for history and nostalgia, romance and dining, boating or outdoor adventures, then you should look at Discover Port Townsend.
Water Street viewed from Bell Tower Park
Port Townsend is a boom-town that never boomed. And that is why the stunning Victorian-era architecture has been preserved for you to enjoy. A visit here is to experience what an 1800’s seaport may have been like. Temperatures hover in the 70s during summer months so exploring by foot or bike is easy and pleasant. And if you don’t have your own bikes, they can be rented at Recyclery or PT Cyclery
Getting here.
By car, you head to the Olympic Peninsula, traveling North on scenic Highway 101. The more scenic route is from Olympia to highway 101 and through Hoodsport. Don’t stop — even though you will be tempted — or you will not get to Port Townsend. This drive is one of the most beautiful stretches of this famed highway. I highly recommend this route if you have the time. Mists roiling down from the Olympic Forest mountains. Vast views of Hood Canal (an underwhelming name for such a picturesque place), and narrow, historic bridges spanning bay sloughs. This road, on a warm summer day, is what convertibles are made for. You can also come through Tacoma and connect to Highway 101. Though faster, the drive is not quite as scenic.
No car? No worries. The Washington State Ferry System can get you here from several points on the mainland or from Seattle. You can bring bicycles and motorcycles, cars and RVs, on the ferry but make sure you have reservations well in advance of your trip. The Ferry fills up fast and traveling standby can quickly become disappointing. The ferry to Port Townsend is from Coupeville on Whidbey Island. The scenic ride is about one hour, so you have time to climb up top of the boat to enjoy the view.
Boating is hugely popular (understatement) at Port Townsend and marina facilities are available if you arrive by private boat at Point Hudson Marina and RV Park.
Where to Stay
Camping
Bring your own camp gear or RV and you have at least four different options.
There is a campground at Fort Worden Historic State Park. Ft. Worden has beachfront and wooded campsites and can be booked online.
Point Hudson Marina and RV Park is another choice for your RV. This park is in the heart of town and has sites directly on the water.
Jefferson County Fair Campground is a simple, inexpensive town option. It is an open field near Glass Beach, has some hookups and is within bike riding distance of downtown. These sites are first come first serve with a few full hookups.
The fourth option for camping is Fort Townsend Historical State Park. It is a few miles outside of town. This is an excellent option for easy access to wooded hike trails. There are only a few RV sites but loads of tent camping sites. These can be booked online.
Hotels
Hotels for every price range and type are in Port Townsend. Modern, historic, rustic, boutique, romantic are all available. Listed below are a few that we have seen but not stayed in. Be aware that some of the old buildings have stairs and no lift.
You may have a fabulous view from your hotel room but there is so much to pick from in Port Townsend that you probably want to explore some too.
What will catch your attention first is Water Street. As the port of entry for Puget Sound in the late 1800s, it is easy to imagine the scene. Sailors and businessmen, brothels and taverns, all teeming with activity. History claims Port Townsend was an easy place to be shanghaied. Today, a walk down Water Street is an enjoyable stroll filled with fabulous Victorian architecture. Buildings erected in anticipation of a railroad that never came, unique shops and eateries, pubs and inns.
Parks
Port Townsend is teeming with parks and open spaces. There is a park to enjoy the waterfront, a park to enjoy gardens, and walking trails crisscrossing the entire city. Surrounding the town are areas for hiking, biking, and birding. Here a few of our favorites.
Mt. Rainier viewed from Whidbey Island hike
Fort Worden Historical State Park
Difficult as it may be to leave Water Street, you would be remiss to skip Ft. Worden. Walking tour pamphlets are available at the Friends of Fort Worden Visitor Center. You will learn about the oldest building, Alexander’s Castle, built in 1883 and available for overnight stays. This building was used to film scenes in the movie An Officer and a Gentleman. You can dine in the Guard House Pub, or picnic on the parade grounds. Children (and grown husbands) will especially adore climbing on the concrete gun batteries that remain where placed over 100 years ago to protect Puget Sound.
Ft. Worden also is home to the photogenic Point Wilson lighthouse (no tours but great photos) as well as the Marine Science Center. Canoes are available to rent here.
Point Wilson Lighthouse
Chetzemoka Park
Chetzemoka Park is a labor of love and it shows. Established in 1904, Chetzemoka Park is the oldest city park in Port Townsend. Hedges of antique roses greet you as you enter to lush plantings of Rhodedendrons, mature trees, brick pathways and a stunning view of Admiralty Bay and the mist covered Cascade Mountain Range.
Potting Shed – Chetzemoka Park
Relax and enjoy the view in the wooden swings or bring a picnic and use a provided grill and table. There is plenty of room for children to run in this park and is easily accessed by foot or bike if you are staying in town.
A small dog park is available here.
Bell Tower Park
Make sure to visit the tiny Bell Tower Park, a seventy-five foot fire tower built in 1890. A brass bell in the top, still there, would signal where a fire was located. The view here is pretty impressive too.
Jefferson County Fairgrounds
Joey
If you are traveling with a pup and need room for them to run then this is where you want to head. Plenty of open space is available here to play fetch or let your pet stretch their legs.
Dining
Port Townsend is a tourist town and because of this boasts a wide assortment of restaurants to choose from. You won’t find much fast food so keep that in mind for a busy day. Here are a few that we have eaten in and would return to.
In addition to restaurants, there are brewery tours and cider tours. Spend a laid back day sampling their wares. Deli fast food is available at Safeway and the Organic Co-op.
So much more
There is so much more in Port Townsend than I can list. Better writers than me have sung the praises of this little city. Ken and I are so thankful that we stumbled into this lovely little place in our first year of RV life and have returned each year since. If I haven’t convinced you to Discover Port Townsend then let me give it one more try.
Balmy summer weather; lunch on a high deck overlooking Puget Sound; deer nibbling in lush grassy yards; a quiet hike along the shore; a wooden boat festival; market-day with delicious homemade treats; sailboat tours; visiting a fragrant lavender field; fresh seafood; picturesque marina; driftwood covered beaches; wild blackberries to pick; unique and interesting shops; over 300 Victorian homes; a quiet shore-side coffee; a secluded picnic; Glass Beach; a steampunk festival; a romantic dinner.
Want to learn more about traveling the Olympic Peninsula? Read our previous blog post, RV the Olympic Peninsula.
Till next week…….
Always Grateful👫
Tips and links
Before booking a hotel stay, be aware the older buildings may only have stairs to the upper floors, so no elevators. Make sure someone will be able to help you with your luggage. Pets may ride on the ferry but must stay in your vehicle for the entire ride. If you have time to kill before the Coupeville ferry on Whidbey Island, there is a small restaurant within walking distance. And if you want a little casino action, there are two available, the Suquamish Casino in Poulsbo about an hour away, and 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim about thirty minutes away.
After spending time in stunning Big Sky and a few days in the western chic of Bozeman, Montana, we were excited to continue our travels to Thousand Trails Crescent Bar in Washington, one of our favorite states. The first year RVing we spent time in the wheat fields of eastern Washington at harvest time. The experience was uplifting. We felt thankful to the farmers for their hard work and grateful for our country’s bounty.
Washington barn
Camping near the Apple Capital of the World, Wenatchee, was our next stop. Just like the tourists who flock to Florida –oohing and ahhing over orange groves — I couldn’t wait to see big, beautiful apple orchards. To stand amid the fruit trees, see their bounty, and experience their grandeur. So what if someone was going to laugh at me.
West from the Rockies
Bozeman, MT to Crescent Bar, WA route
Motoring west from the beautiful Rocky Mountains on Highway 90, we anticipated our next destination. The road was in good repair. The mountain passes not too difficult for the Burrow’s Banks Power assist. Guessing the types of crops planted by the highway kept us entertained. Identification signs started appearing on the fences and proved how hilariously wrong we were.
Arriving at the road to Thousand Trails Crescent Bar you encounter a short, steep, three miles of twisty descent to the valley floor with an awesome view of the Columbia River. My foot was pressing the imaginary brake and we made it safely down. At check-in, the park appeared to be clean and tidy. I knew from photos there were river-view spaces and asked about any open ones. The ranger said he only had two spaces that were appropriate for our size and amperage. We took our map, unhooked Armadillo, and went to our assigned campsite.
Membership
Thousand Trails path to Columbia River
The ranger’s idea of appropriate space is a small-site, backed up to the major road into the recreation area. There is no shade or noise barrier. This campsite was going to be our home for the next three weeks. The idea of listening to traffic noise for that amount of time sent me postal. The usual procedure at Thousand Trails campgrounds is to go and locate whatever spot you would like and return to the ranger and inform them. A drive through the park revealed many open and nicer campsites.
We returned to the check-in gate and discussed our placement with a different ranger who told us they needed those nicer spots for people with fifty-amp requirements. Excuse me? Thousand Trails membership entitles you to thirty-amp service. There is an additional nightly charge if you require fifty-amps. We offered to pay additional charges for a better campsite. But there is no additional charge at Thousand Trails Crescent Bar. I was angry at that revelation and went back to the Jeep. This needed to be Ken’s problem to negotiate.
Customer service
Janet photographs the Columbia River at Crescent Bar
Everyone who is a member of Thousand Trails has purchased a membership and pays roughly the same amount of dues. We informed the ranger of our unhappiness at being treated as second -class members because of our size and amperage requirements. She politely showed us a few alternative sites. Was it river-view? No. Shaded? No. Quieter? Yes.
Is this the wave of the future with Thousand Trails? There have been a lot of changes to the company recently. Reducing dues for RVs that use fewer resources should be included if this is the new procedure. I guess you have no chance of ever being situated at a river-view location in Thousand Trails Crescent Bar if your rig is only thirty-amp. Maybe you get lucky if no one with fifty-amp requires them. There were a few tent campsites located with a view.
The park
Thousand Trails gazebo and recreation room overlooking the Columbia River
Thousand Trails Crescent Bar sits high above the Columbia River. The park commands stunning views for those lucky enough to have those campsites. The recreation building is situated on the bluff, as is a gazebo for watching picturesque sunsets.
However, high-temperatures prompted me to undertake a project for outside window covers, as a heat-wave smothered the northwest. We hope to share the project with our readers after a few more refinements to the covers.
We had no further problems during our stay at Thousand Trails Crescent Bar. Covid19 makes using park restroom/shower facilities risky so we don’t do that. Campsites appeared to have plenty of space for even the largest rigs with slide-outs or extra tents. ATT and Verizon cell service were both three bars.
We love Thousand Trails and will continue to sing their praises. Read why in our blog post Affordable RV Travel. See how you can receive a $100.00 discount to dip your toes into Thousand Trails membership by clicking our link in the Tips and Links section at the bottom of this page.
Things to do
Biking, walking, jogging path through the recreation area.
Joey at play
The feature that keeps campers coming back again and again to Thousand Trails Crescent Bar is it’s proximity to the Grant County Recreation Area (See Tips and Links for additional camping info if you are not a Thousand Trails member). From the campground, you can access a shade dappled, wide, paved path that winds along the Columbia River for about three miles. Along the path are dog-friendly beaches for you and your pooch to enjoy a swim, mounds of blackberries to pick, a boat ramp, and golf course. Picnic tables invite you to spend the day on the clear waters of the river. Thousand Trails Crescent Bar also has parking for your boat or jet skis, so bring your toys along with you.
Golf course in the Grant County Recreation Area
Crescent Bar area has two small restaurants, an ice cream parlor and pizza joint near the RV park. There is also a small, well stocked camp store at the golf course clubhouse.
Bavaria in the Cascade Mountains
Leavenworth, Washington
This is how we roll
Need a change from playing in the Columbia River? Head up the road about a forty-five-minute ride to Leavenworth, Washington where you feel as if you have stepped into a Bavarian village. Shops and restaurants are plentiful in this delightful, pedestrian-friendly town nestled in the Cascade Mountains. In addition to the shops and restaurants, there is a city park that borders the Wenatchee River where you can walk or bike the shady paths, picnic, and swim. Several companies offer rental kayaks, paddleboards, or tubing down the river. Leavenworth Outdoor Center, RiverRiders, and Osprey Rafting Co. are among several local companies that rent equipment and transportation.
Apples, peaches, cherries and more
Thousand Trails Crescent Bar is near Wenatchee, the self proclaimed Apple Capital of the World. The farmland is rich and irrigated by the mighty Columbia. There are apple orchards, peach orchards, vineyards and vegetable fields. It is truly a cornucopia. You would be wise to take advantage of what is fresh at the time of your visit. The peaches were abundant and sweet at the time of our visit. We enjoyed them daily in salads, as snacks, in smoothies and grilled. Enjoy wine? Then make time to visit the many local wineries for a tasting.
Candy in Cashmere
The Liberty Orchards Company has been in business since 1912 and produces Aplets and Cotlets. Aplets and Cotlets are apple and peach fruit gels with nuts and a sugar coating, similar to Turkish delights, or lokum. We have loved them for years and routinely buy them for holidays. The company offers a tour of their kitchen and packing room, which we did and enjoyed. We then purchased, in their ample gift shop, a few candies for the road.😋 Really. Only a few candies.
Crunch Pak sliced apple snacks, who many people are familiar with, are also produced in the town of Cashmere.
Supplies and stuff
The town of Wenatchee is about twenty-eight miles away and can provide just about anything you may need as far as supplies and groceries. They boast Costco, Walmart, Home Depot, Fred Meyer and Safeway, as well as a mall and various restaurants. The Pybus Public Market is permanent and pleasantly situated along the river. You can shop for fresh produce, handmade items, and satisfy your appetite at several of the restaurants available. We also would recommend a wonderful, small pub around the corner, called McGlinn’s Public House.
If you are interested in hiking, there are many trails to choose from near Thousand Trails Crescent Bar. Alltrails is an excellent phone app to see what is nearby wherever you may be camping.
Apple orchard near Crescent Bar
My biggest disappointment in the area……apple orchards. My expectations were of grand old trees covered in fruit. Reality is trees pruned so severely I actually felt sorry for them. They are pruned to a V shape, only two branches remaining and wired to metal frames. According to our research, this is how you make an apple tree produce more fruit. I will never look at an apple the same way again.
Until next week…We are
Always Grateful👫
Tips and Links
Golfers will love this Crescent Bar facility. This county golf course is just a short stroll or cart ride away, with views of the Columbia River. Others courses are available nearby.
Crescent Bar gets to extremely high temperatures. It is dry. Visit during spring or fall weather unless you are bringing your boat and will spending the days in the cool waters of the Columbia. Your pup will love it here because all the water access points through the recreation area are dog-friendly.
Thousand Trails Membership – Get out and camp with $100 off a Thousand Trails Camping Pass. Purchase in the next two weeks to reel in this deal!
Perfect days or moments pop up in tiny towns throughout our travels.
On Our Road to Bliss
Dipping our toes in the chilly water of Deloris River
Cottonwood seeds float on a gentle breeze as the waters of the Deloris River ripple past. It’s a balmy 72 degrees and the sun is shining. You hear young girls laughing in the distance. You see them next, braving the chilly waters as they ride their raft downriver on a swift current. This is where we currently are on our Road to Bliss.
Birds flit through dappled shade, off to tend newly feathered fledglings. Deer step to the waters’ edge for a cool drink. The day is crystal clear. Perfect. I want to hug it close and never let go.
Unexpected Surprises
Ken and I feel privileged to spend time in some awe inspiring places. National Parks that portray the majesty of our country. State Parks and forests that protect some of our country’s greatest treasures. But perfect days, those come unexpectedly. Those are the days you want to bottle like fireflies. To tuck away for safekeeping until they can be savored again in the winter years of life.
Perfect days or moments pop up in tiny towns throughout our travels. These small towns struggle valiantly to get you to see them. They beg you to stop and experience the town through their eyes. They beckon with natural resources, creativity, and sometimes even with a little bit of gonzo and flair. The results can often be more perfect than they know.
A Delightful Carousel
A special day could be at the historic 1909 carousel in Albany, Oregon where children and adults ride wooden, hand carved zebra, bison, a giant frog, or other fantastical menagerie. Where the community has come together as volunteers to create this one special, beautiful thing that everyone and anyone can enjoy because the last ride of the day is always free.
Dining
Other times, we find these moments in an outstanding restaurant like Little Brown Hen in Florence, Oregon or Little Gretel in Boerne, Texas. Many come to mind. Places where the chef/owners take pride and pleasure in serving mouthwatering and memorable food.
Flower Farms & Festivals
There are flower farms like Schreiner’s Iris in Salem, Oregon or Purple Haze Lavender in Sequim, Washington that work all year to open their businesses to offer you a day of meandering garden delight. Imagine musicians playing and flowers perfuming the air as you sip wine and stroll acres of floral beauty.
Hot springs, ghost towns, festivals, historic hotels, market days, swan boats or a simple meal by the campfire. You never know where your perfect moment will happen.
Conveyance for Finding Your Bliss
This is what traveling in an RV is. It is the conveyance for finding your bliss. Your perfect moment. Your perfect day. If you slow down and look, it is there in offerings from small towns across the country. Towns that may never have been discovered if you flew over them on your way to that other, fabulous destination.
There is an RV for every age, ability, price and comfort level. Have you ever dreamed about what it would be like? Would RVing be hard? Expensive? Can I (we) do it? It is worth exploring as an option. Everyone deserves to find their bliss and to tuck away some perfect moments. Maybe yours can be found in the destinations you uncover while traveling in an RV.
It has been on my mind to write about this for a while. The incident I’m going to share happened last year and changed our thoughts about our overnight stays when on the road. I do not want to frighten anyone. I am not trying to cast a bad light on Walmart, or Wallydocking. The ability for weary travelers to pull in and sleep at participating Wallmart locations is a boon. But here is why we will not be utilizing their generosity anymore.
Self-defense
It is not necessary for this blog post, nor do I do think it is prudent to share our methods of self-defense. However, I will say Ken is a military brat and Vietnam combat veteran. I’m a Florida Saltwater Cracker. Neither of us has any aversion to defending ourselves.
Happy Valentine’s Day❤️️
Vidor, TX location – between Louisiana and Beaumont, TX
On February 14th we pulled into Walmart at Vidor, Texas around eight o’clock in the evening. Walmart management required us to park in a certain area of the lot so we motored to that side. Ken parked with the driver’s side along the curb, leaving about ten parking spaces in front of us to the next curb that formed the corner.
When we entered the Walmart parking lot we saw a battered, black pickup truck with writing all over it proclaiming God, guns, and country. We mentioned the truck to each other but otherwise, ignored it. I will say now that it is always a bad idea to ignore gut instincts and red flags.🚩
Per the usual routine, Ken and I went into the Walmart to pickup a quick dinner. It was Valentine’s Day so we went to the card isle, made our selections for each other and exchanged them. (Yes, the aisle exchange is how we give cards to each other now. After we exchange and read the cards, we put them back on the shelf. It is another expense cutter for Affordable RV Travel. Our spending and celebration complete, we went back to the Burrow to have our dinner and settle in for the night.
Too close for comfort
At around eleven pm we heard a car pull up directly beside our entry door. It seemed odd that someone needed to pull up so close beside us when we were the only RV in the parking lot. Ken opened the door and stuck his head out to be certain that everything was okay and saw a truck with two men sitting inside the cab. The men looked at him and said, “What do you want?”. Ken explained that he was just checking to make sure everything was okay. The men told Ken, in a threatening voice, to “Get back in your RV and mind your own business.”.
Oooookay. We looked at each other, our danger meter ratcheting a little higher. We decided it was probably a drug deal and they were using our RV as a shield from the road. Just let it go we decided, and they will probably be on their way in just a few minutes.
We were wrong
Soon after, another truck pulled up. This drug deal seemed to be taking a really long time. Ken decided to check our backup camera to make sure the bikes we carry on the Jeep were not being stolen.
Bikes carried on Jeep tire rack
To utilize the backup camera, the engine must be running. As soon as Ken started the engine, one of the trucks immediately pulled in front of us at a horizontal angle and blocked us. This completely hemmed us in and blocked our ability to leave — you cannot back up with a tow vehicle attached. The danger level now sky-rocketed and Ken reached for the phone to call 911.
911 What is your emergency?
If you have ever had to call 911 then you may have experienced what we did. Since Vidor is a small town, they share the 911 switchboard with other small towns. This means the 911 operator has no idea where you are if you say, for instance, the Vidor Walmart. The operator didn’t seem to understand what the threat was. Ken had to keep repeating what was happening. We were growing completely frustrated with 911.
The truck with the two men in it then turned floodlights onto our RV which enabled them to see our movements through the blinds. At this point, I brought our dog Joey to sit down in the rear of the RV, on the floor, to make myself a smaller target.
The 911 operator dispatched the police but before they arrived, the truck beside us left. The truck in front who had been blocking our forward movement, pulled into a space correctly. End of scary story? Not even close.
The cavalry has arrived – wrong
The police department arrived, listened to our complaint and then proceeded to treat us like idiots. Like we were being alarmists. But if you know Ken and I, you know that we don’t rattle so easily. The police spoke to the person in the truck which had parked in front of us. The woman claimed that she too was camping in the parking lot and that the two “gentlemen” were checking on her safety. What a load of bull…..t. We realized it was the graffiti truck. The one advertising their love of God, guns, and country. Apparently God is okay with liars.
The police told us that she was the local crazy lady. That we shouldn’t be concerned about her at all. No one had an explanation for the two men who threatened us or why the local crazy lady needed to sleep in the Walmart parking lot. Crazy lady had committed no crime, therefore, the police could not do anything. They also implied that we were being ridiculous to be afraid of a crazy lady.
We asked the police to have “crazy lady” move her truck and at approximately twelve am, we threw things into sinks and cabinets and rolled out.
Where is Bitsy?
We were about 1 mile from the interstate on-ramp, on a four-lane highway, through the middle of Vidor. Everything had happened so fast. The animals were anxious. I looked around and couldn’t find Bitsy, our oldest kitty. I panicked and made Ken pull over into a large, strip mall parking lot so I could locate her.
And guess what? It still wasn’t over.
The graffitied truck with the “crazy lady” followed us. We watched as she passed by and turned into a gas station about a quarter-mile down the road as we pulled over into the parking lot. Thank goodness Ken suspected her behind us and was paying attention. I located Bitsy. Ken called 911, once again.
Our old girl – Bitsy. Passed this year.
Maybe the police will believe us now
As we waited for the police to arrive, the truck came past us in the opposite direction, turning into another business about a quarter-mile past. We clearly saw her.
The police arrived and again scoffed at us. Of three officers, two didn’t believe she was following us at all. We laid out several scenarios where we may be the targets of a hit-and-run, theft, or worse. We are from south Florida for goodness sake. These kind of things happen all the time down there. Texas is an open carry state. “Crazy lady” could shoot us as well as anyone else and we said so. And they continued to dismiss the two men as irrelevant.
Now we are angry
Really?
Again, the police said, “she has not committed any crimes.”. We understood that. We were both angry and disheartened by their dismissal. One officer did, however, offer to let us stay at the police station parking lot.
We thanked the officers but let them know we felt it was prudent to leave their lovely town. They left and we proceeded to pull out.
Before we even made it out of the parking lot, the “crazy lady” who loves God, her country, and guns, came into the parking lot, driving directly at us. Almost as if she wanted to play chicken. Ken gunned the RV and we kept going. Immediately after we got out of the parking lot, we saw the blue lights and the police pulled her over. Finally.
Adrenaline fueled night
We didn’t stop. Not at the next town. Or the town after. Ken continued to drive through the night. He drove through downtown Houston and we didn’t stop until the adrenaline wore off and there were enough miles between us and Vidor, Texas.
We may have been targets of racism. It is what Ken and I suspect. After a small amount of research, we found that Vidor, Texas indeed had and may still have a reputation for racism and hate.
That is the story. Now that we have had time to digest the situation a little better, I would like to give a few tips to anyone who will be boondocking at Walmart, or anywhere else.
What we did right
The RV had a full tank of gas. We had been on the road all day and the tendency is to stop, then wait until first thing in the morning to fuel up. We don’t wait anymore. We were able to get on the Interstate and keep moving for as far and fast as necessary.
We had permission from Walmart to be there. I always call and check. This gave us a small amount of credibility with the police officers.
We did not make ourselves at home by placing anything outside, opening any slides, etc..
What we did wrong
Whiteboard with current address
When we parked, we pulled up next to the curb. That left us no where to pull out but to the front and right. Our position left us vulnerable to their blocking maneuvers. If you are going to overnight in a parking lot, leave plenty of space forward and on both sides of you.
Telling 911, Walmart in Vidor, was not enough. Always have a physical address in case of emergency. A white board is at our entry door now where we write the address of any location where we overnight.
Parking the RV under a parking lot flood light may have discouraged them.
Some considerations
You are not in a stick-and-brick home. My point? Gunfire would have gone straight through thin RV walls with no protection.
Police can do nothing unless a crime has been committed. You are an outsider in any town. Police will treat your claims with skepticism.
Gun laws vary from state-to-state and unless you spend a lot of time studying them you won’t know what is legal. Waiting until someone enters your domicile puts you at a distinct disadvantage.
And finally, you are sitting on top of gallons of gas and propane. Even if some idiot with a gun had no intention of directing a shot at your person, their stupidity could still kill you.
I loved being able to rely on Walmart when we were moving from one location to another. Now we use Harvest Host and Passport America to fill in the gaps. We may use Walmart again if the circumstances warrant it. But I know I won’t ever be able to relax and sleep soundly if we are Wallydocking.
Shelter in place is over but how do we move around the country safely? How to navigate covid and summer RV travel.
Quarantine at Thousand Trails Medina Lake has been pleasant. We have enjoyed the wildlife, trails, and atmosphere. Temperatures are rising lately and people are becoming frustrated with distancing rules. Face masks are second thoughts if at all.
Deer at rest in Thousand Trails Medina Lake
Get Ready for covid and summer RV Travel
It’s time for a change. Time to get rolling and start living our traveling lifestyle again. We started talking about leaving quarantine safety and realized traveling using our typical routine was not going to work. The four of us, traveling as a tribe in two RVs, put our heads together and came up with a safe traveling plan. Here are our tips for a safer Covid and Summer RV Travel.
Plan your destinations
We love dining out, visiting historical buildings, museums, and enjoying all types of city attractions. This year, we are avoiding indoor activities and focusing on hiking and canoeing. With that in mind, we looked closely at the available outdoor activities in the areas that interested us. We needed answers for these and other questions.
Armadillo ready for new adventures
Are the state parks open for visiting? Camping?
What is open to do in the National Parks in these area?
What about Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas and State forests?
Are dump stations open?
Many answers can be found on the state websites with jurisdiction for that park. A great starting point is Wikipedia. The Wikipedia site provides information on State Parks in each individual state. It includes an interactive map and is a good first stop in your planning research. State Park List
For National Parks and Monuments, the National Parks System provides you options by State. Choose a state from a drop down list. A list of all National Parks and Monuments for that state will open. Some National Parks even have apps available for download to your smartphone. National Parks & Monuments
To learn about the many varied activities available on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, the Bureau provides listings by state. Bureau of Land Management
If your decision is to be a little bolder, you may want to try restaurants, bars and other more crowded venues. A quick call will verify the business is open and ready to serve you; most restaurants are now offering curbside pickup, delivery, and dine-in. We are trying to find restaurants with outdoor patios.
Plan Your Route
Planning the first leg of our journey
After the destination has been decided, it is time to plan your route. This year takes a little more consideration. Here are a few examples of the type of questions you may want to ask.
Are quarantine rules in place for arrival from a different state?
Will restaurants and non-essential services be open?
Is the RV park you would like to go to taking new reservations?
This link will tell you how each state is currently handling the Covid19 pandemic and what services are partially or fully open. Covid19 Guidelines by State
After determining state guidelines, you can decide to stay or not. Please be sure to follow each state’s safety guidelines – or yours if they are more stringent.
Plan your expected activities
Some people enjoy sitting by the campfire or stargazing. Some enjoy dining out at new places. Other people love a strenuous hike or bike ride. Whatever comes to mind as perfect camping for you, make sure, through research, you will be able to do it and what special requirements you need to follow.
By making advance arrangements, we were able to enjoy a lovely dinner of Tafel Spitz prepared by chef/owner Denise at our favorite restaurant, Little Gretel in Boerne, Texas. It was a wonderful evening with great food, great friends, and in a lovely outdoor patio setting. If you are in the Austin/San Antonio area, be certain not to miss this restaurant.
An enjoyable evening with special dinner at Little Gretel
Plan and make your reservations
We are living in different times. Ken and I don’t usually bother with reservations. Now, reservations and confirmations are necessary for each leg of your journey. Here are a few tips.
Call the campground to make your reservation. You can ask if there are any special operating procedures and what amenities may be open or closed. Some campgrounds are using a remote check-in process similar to a late arrival check-in.
Note whom you speak with and get a confirmation number. Get a backup email confirmation.
Keep copies of all pertinent information and payments regarding your reservation.
Pay as little down for a deposit as you can. Stay flexible.
ReserveAmerica is the booking agent for most state parks. Be careful. A closed park does not mean an automatic refund from the park, or their agent.
Plan for your safety
Costco shopping in my safety gear
Follow all safety measures designated by the state you are in. It is your responsibility to know.
Stick to your own devised safety procedures. It is easy to get tired or complacent and let down your guard. Don’t do it.
Review your insurance policies and be aware of their requirements should you need medical attention.
Review all state Covid19 statistics. The numbers can be used as a guideline for determining where a little extra caution may be necessary.
My portable washing machine is coming in handy. It keeps me out of small cramped laundry rooms and saves considerable money. Read about this rugged little machine in The Laundry Experiement .
Covid and Summer RV Travel
Let’s get rolling. Ken and I are anxious and excited to start our Covid and Summer RV Travel. There are new states and parks planned and, our long-time friends, Kaye and Tim are traveling with us again. The lineup is full of great new adventures. Don’t be discouraged about what you cannot do. Be inspired by what you can.
The peninsula’s beauty is protected and available for you to explore. Some folks may not appreciate the remoteness but others will revel in what this area has to offer.
Getting to the Olympic Peninsula
This is the second summer we have explored the Oregon and Washington coastlines. This year we were able to dig a little deeper and RV the Olympic Peninsula, an often overlooked gem.
Bordered by Puget Sound on the east, the Salish Sea on the north, and the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Olympic Peninsula is almost entirely covered by Olympic National Park and the National Forest. The peninsula’s beauty is protected and available for you to explore. Some folks may not appreciate the remoteness but others will revel in what this area has to offer.
The primary RV route to the Olympic Peninsula is by scenic highway 101, from either Olympia to the east or the Pacific coast to the west. However, you can also enter by highway 16 from Tacoma , or ferry your RV in from northern mainland Washington.
The map pictured contains a link to all the areas that are dog friendly. For more information, click the description at the bottom.
Quaint small towns line the shores of Puget sound. Lavender fields scent the northeast breezes. And Ken’s favorite, oyster farms cultivate their bounty in the clean waters of Willapa Bay. The drive into the peninsula is scenic and beautiful so allow yourself plenty of oooh and ahhh time.
Camping on the Olympic Peninsula Port Townsend
❤️️Honor system veggie stand near Jefferson County Fair campground in Port Townsend
We began our month in the Olympic Peninsula with a move up coastal highway 101 from Long Beach, Washington to the town of Port Townsend, where we met up with longtime friends from Texas, Kaye and Tim.
Located on the northeastern tip of the peninsula, Port Townsend boasts a historic waterfront with fabulous turn of the century architecture. The town is a ferry stop for the Washington ferry system bringing tourists to Port Townsend’s historic downtown and Fort Worden Historical State Park.
What to do in Port Townsend, Washington
Point Wilson lighthouse at Fort Worden
You can enjoy great restaurants. Stroll or bike through beautiful scenery where deer wander freely through town. Or tour the outer islands like Bainbridge or the San Juan Islands. Take a whale watching tour. You can even take your bike and catch a ferry to Victoria, B.C. for a day trip.
Lift a pint on the deck of Siren’s Pub & Restaurant and enjoy the scenic waterfront. Or visit one of our favorite Thai food experiences in all our traveling at Khu Larb Thai or their Little Rose Takeout. Good dining choices are available throughout the town. Port Townsend also boasts an extremely satisfying Jefferson County Farmers Market on Saturdays. They offer all manner of fresh farm products, entertainment and food. One other tidbit about this area, Port Townsend has one of the best organic food co-ops that we have found, The Food Co-op.
Port Townsend waterfront shops
Camping on the Olympic Peninsula Sequim
The next stop on our peninsula tour was Sequim (pronounced Sqwim). We stayed at the Seven Cedars Casino where you are welcome for three days without charge and there are even some 15-amp electrical hookups available.
We stayed the three-day limit and enjoyed their hospitality, gaming and restaurants. It was long enough too to enjoy one of the local farms during lavender festival, Purple Haze Lavender Farm.
What to do in Sequim, Washington
If you are considering a trip to the Olympic Peninsula, I would encourage you to time your visit with the Lavender Festival in July. Blooming fields, live entertainment, lavender flavored everything from margaritas to ice cream and beautiful hand-crafted items. And each farm offers something different.
Purple Haze Lavender Farm
Another memorable dining experience was the Alder Wood Bistro. They have an eclectic menu, including pizza. Of the six in our party, all six were happy with their dinner choices! A few days later, Ken and I returned for my birthday celebration with another helping of their crispy duck and Shaker Lemon Pie.
Shaker lemon pie – Alder Wood Bistro
Sequim is a
good location to position yourself for exploring if you do not want to continue
into more remote locations. There are RV
parks available, beautiful scenery and plenty of restaurants. Sequim is large enough to supply most of your
needs.
Camping on the Olympic Peninsula Into the woods we go
As you continue west, there are several options for stays. However, there is only one town with many supply choices and that is Port Angeles. We kept moving west but noted there were fewer opportunities for gas or groceries beyond Sequim.
If you require cellphone/wifi service, proceed with caution as it gets much more difficult to find hot zones. Our attempt at the Salt Creek Recreation Area was a bust, and since everyone in our tribe required service, we had to say a sad bye, bye to this beautiful and peaceful campground.
We use Campendium to check on cell-service before we travel to a campground, and recommend it. But you can’t absolutely rely on the reviews to be accurate.
Camping on the Olympic Peninsula Sekiu
Our next
stop was Sekiu and I’m almost tempted to keep this one to ourselves. But since our readership is not in the
thousands, we’ll share.
Eagle waiting for salmon scraps on Clallam Bay
You can’t go much further west than Sekiu, Washington on the Juan de Fuca Highway, almost to the peninsula’s northwestern most point. Most of the RVers here have come for one thing. Salmon. The salmon swim up the strait to the smaller streams for spawning and the fisherman are there to catch them and fill the freezers they brought along.
Campsites & boat docks on Clallam Bay
Sekiu rests on the western edge of Clallam Bay. It is a fish camp. But it is one of our favorite RV stops in this region. Peaceful and quiet with abundant wildlife, we could even see Vancouver Island across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It punches our happy ticket.
What to do in Sekiu, Washington
Commercial fishing boat in Sekiu
There are several campgrounds available around the bay and most all the camp spaces back up to or overlook the water. We camped at Van Riper’s Resort with full hookups, waterfront sites and a small store. Salmon fishing guides can be hired here too. Verizon service was very good, but ATT was non-existent.
Janet & Kaye enjoying campsite lunch at Van Riper’s Resort
Our time in Sekiu was a wonderful respite and a good location to launch exploration of Olympic National Park. But the remoteness and atmosphere at a fish camp may not be for everyone. If it is for you and you decide to go, be aware that there are only a couple of restaurants nearby (one that was not so great) so you will need to bring food and supplies with you. It is a good distance back into a town. Wild blackberries abound throughout this region and there are plenty of places to go picking. We enjoyed blackberry cobbler nightly, courtesy of Kaye.
What to see and do on the Olympic Peninsula
Cape Flattery
A visit to Cape Flattery will reward you with some of the most staggeringly beautiful scenery the continental United States has to offer. It is our northwest most point and is located on Makah tribal lands. Luckily they generously share this beauty with everyone. You arrive to a paved parking area and then hike to the point. It is a 1 1/2 mile round trip hike. Don’t pass this by if you visit the Olympic peninsula.
Restaurant stop on Makah tribal land
tribal cemetery totem
Olympic National Park
Wild lily in Olympic National Park
I’m embarrassed to say that we were enjoying our camping at Sekiu so much that we didn’t get into Olympic National Park as often as planned. What we did see made us commit to coming back again. Snow capped mountains (in July, shocking for us Floridians!), glaciers, marmots, and fields of wildflowers including beautiful wild lilies. It is a precious and spectacular place.
View from Hurricane Ridge hikeJanet & Ken at Olympic National Park Visitor Center
There are so many recreational activities that anyone can find something to do here. There are hot springs, challenging mountain hikes, bike paths, and the Hoh Rainforest. And if camping in State and National Parks is what you love, several are situated on stunning Pacific coastline
RV the Olympic Peninsula Conclusion
Several challenges exist if you are interested in visiting this area but all of them are easily overcome with a small amount of planning. That would be our best piece of advice. It is well worth your time to see Olympic National Park and to RV the Olympic Peninsula. Highway 101 is in good condition throughout. This is not a place you can easily just “wing it”. A little preparation will go a long way toward a fun and memorable experience when you RV the Olympic Peninsula.
Thanks to our friends and travel companions for the summer, Kaye & Tim. It was great sharing it all with you. Always grateful.👫
April was our last blog post as The Burrow shivered her way north to Bend, Oregon. The posts have been pushed to the back burner as we grasp every spare moment to explore our new surroundings.
Nomadic life is our new normal. We relocate our RV “home” every three weeks or so and it seems to be the travel schedule that works best. Two weeks is too little but after three weeks, it’s time to go.
Home
Armadillo & The Burrow at rest
With two years on the road under our wheels, our RV truly feels like home. The kinks are mostly worked out and the past year has allowed us to relax and enjoy the ride. “La Dolce Vita” is a phrase we embrace.
We met up with longtime friends in Port Townsend, WA, who have embarked on a nomadic lifestyle too. Our tribe is small but mighty and it has been truly fun to share these experiences with friends. I will admit though, traveling with three engineers can be challenging at times and the squirrels are still running rampant.
Where have we been since the last blog?
“I’ve been everywhere, man I’ve been everywhere, man ‘Cross the deserts bare, man I’ve breathed the mountain air, man Of travel, I’ve had my share, man I’ve been everywhere. “
The Burrow is sporting a brand-new refrigerator and all the orchids have set spikes (they love their skylight). The animals are doing well although Bitsy is now wearing diapers. She decided that urinating on the floor was a good way to indicate unhappiness. As with most of the animal issues since moving aboard, diapering a cat was surprisingly easier than expected.
Upcoming Content Focus
I think I’ll tease these destinations out a few at a time. Maybe try to give my readers an idea what is
there to see or what may be remarkable in the area. As my friend said, “how many times can you
say beautiful and awesome?”. Everyone has
different ideas about the perfect travel destination so maybe we can offer you some
planning ideas.
Going forward, Ken and I would like to review the Thousand Trails campgrounds that we stay in. Membership in Thousand Trails can help stretch your camping budget and we are happy to be affiliated.
New ideas are perking and plans are being made for 2020. This need for new challenge, sights and experiences isn’t leaving us. The past two years have fed our wanderlust and the nomadic life is our new normal.
We are back in Las Vegas. When our friends say “goodbye” and head back to Austin for their holidays and we travel to Florida for ours, the tribe will be dismantled. We’re snowbirds now, enjoying the best weather and destinations. But stay tuned. There is so much more to experience as we share with you how nomadic life is our new normal.
