Roving Reports by Doug P: 23-08 On the Road Again: Colorado

Friday, August 29, 2008

23-08 On the Road Again: Colorado

Moving Time

23-08

I’ve had a wonderful time here in the mountains of Colorado, Pagosa Springs. But it’s time to move on down the road. I’ve been full-timing it now for 5 years and it seems just like yesterday that I started out on my journey to explore the country. This past week has been a time of reflection and thanksgiving that I am able to enjoy this lifestyle.

While sitting outside in the late afternoon and evening, the fireplace going, watching the last light hit the tops of the pine trees on top of the ridge. Little puffs of white seed pods floating by on a gentle breeze against the rich green of the spruce trees. Seeing the first star come out each night, I can’t help but think about the wonderful friends I have all across the country. I so look forward to seeing everyone down the road in the next year or two. But remember, I’ll be traveling to Alaska in 2009, a trip I can’t wait to start on.

I only have one project this weekend and that’s to attend the Pagosa Springs Folk Festival on top of Antenna Hill overlooking the town. It’s a three day affair, but I’ll only be attending the Saturday performances. Really looking forward to hearing some great music. Heading out on Monday.

I’ve been here in Pagosa for two months and I can feel the urge to get on the road again. My truck is in tip-top shape and the campers been cleaned and ready to go as well. I’ll be heading to Mesa Verdi and Moab Utah, two places I’ve been before, but this time I’ll be exploring areas I didn’t see the first time around. That’s the wonderful thing about being a full timer, I can revisit areas I enjoy as well as see other parts of the country. After those adventures, I’ll be heading into Arizona. I’ve been invited to a ballooning festival in Page Az and I’m going to see how that works out. Who knows, I may be flying high again in a hot air balloon. My final destination will be Tucson Az for the winter.

As always, I’d love to hear from you and what’s going on in your lives. I don’t phone people very often, but prefer to send out e-mails and receive them. That always gives me more time to enjoy the thoughts you send my way and gives me time to answer back. Besides, I usually miss calls, as I don’t always keep my cell phone connected to my hip. Lorraine, sorry I keep missing your calls. So call me if you like, but know you’ll always get an e-mail back from me.

The adventure continues….

ps: thanks Bill for some great conversations around the campfire.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: I lived out in that country for a year. Mesa Verde is worth a trip west all by itself. We liked to travel north of Durango to camp in the San Juan Mts. but didn't venture into the Mts. much after Oct. for fear of getting caught in a blizzard, having 550 closed, and not be able to return to Farmington, N.M. for work. My wife and I are looking forward to a trip west(our first since 01)and want to explore some areas of N.M. that we couldn't before due to budget constraints, etc.
I envy your travels and admire your energy, curiousity to see new places, and do enjoy your posts!
Best Wishes,
Bill (on the shores of Keweenaw Bay); August 30, 2008 at 5:26 PM
Mexanese said...: Tucson is where we were living before we moved back here. There is sooo many wonderful things to see and full of culture there and south... I hope you get to see and do a bunch of great things, and in the best climate of the year!!!; September 19, 2008 at 11:15 PM

Favorite Camping Resource Books

Camping on a Shoestring, 3rd Eastern Edition by Don Wright (Great list of free and cheap campgrounds eastcoast, lists many city and county park/campgrounds)
Camping with the Corps of Engineers by S.L. Hinkle (a complete guide to campgrounds owned and operated by the US Army Corps)
Coleman, National Forest Campground & Recreation Directory (A detailed list of all the campgrounds in National Forests)
Don Wright's Guide to Free Campgrounds, Western Edition (Great list of free and cheap campgrounds, lists many city and county park/campgrounds)
GOOGLE SEARCH (Don't forget to use the Internet to search: use (city name, campgound, camping for your search)
Military Travel Guide USA (Lists all the Military campgrounds for DoD and retired military)
Passport America book (lists all the half price campgrounds)
RV Camping in State Parks, D.J Davins (A listing of all state parks)

Camping Club Info:

CAMPING CLUBS:

Joining the various camping clubs can be a great help. Each makes their own mark on camping and building communities within the camping world.

Many of the camping clubs I've listed are 1/2 off clubs. By joining, you get 1/2 off the camping rate for one night, a week and some are unlimited stays at their campgrounds.

Also, most everyone who plans on camping for part of the year or is thinking about full-timing get either the Motor Home or Trailer Life magazine. Both offer tons of helpful hints and trips to take throughout the year. Good Sam’s has Highways magazine which you get free with your membership.

I joined a number of clubs and magazines the first couple of years before I became a full timer, just to get an idea of what the community was like out there. After a couple of years, I’ve kept my favorites and dropped the rest. Listed in no particular order.

TIP: Always call ahead and inform them you are a member of a particular CLUB. Sometimes campgrounds drop out or change their policy. It's always good to call ahead and confirm they are still members in the club you've joined.

Escapees: It’s one of the best communities of Rv’ers you’ll ever find. With great support groups and individual clubs with just about every interest and hobby a person could think of. They own a number of campgrounds that you can get really great rates for camping and they provide a 10-15% discount at other campgrounds throughout the country.

http://escapees.com/index2.asp Membership: $60.00 + $10 enrollment fee.

Good Sam’s Is good, but personally I haven’t had much need for them, and their 10% off campground fees has not been much of an incentive. They do have lots of Rally’s and caravans if you have the inclination and are willing to pay for the trips. The trips can be very pricey.

https://www.goodsamclub.com/Membership: $29.95

Passport America: My favorite club!!!!!!!!

It’s a 50% off camping club that gets you 50% off the campgrounds that have signed up with Passport America, (1,800+ campgrounds) good online web site and book for browsing campsites.

If you join, please let them know your were recommended by:

D Palosaari C-271417

http://www.passport-America.com/main/default.asp

Membership: $44.00

Happy Campers: Another 50% off camping club and mirrors Passport America with perhaps a few different campgrounds than what Passport has. Their camp book is small and doesn't have good maps for directions.

http://www.camphalfprice.com/Membership: $49.95

Camping Club USA: recently merged with Passport America

Recreation USA:

I found this club on the Internet and it advertises that all of it’s campgrounds go for $10.00 a night. They also have a half/off section as well. I have been a member for two years, and though I've stayed at a couple of campgrounds on their list, many are no longer available or haven't heard of Rec. USA and I end up not being able to use the camping club discount. Always call ahead on this one to confirm that they are still participating. I've met the owners of the club and they are nice, it's just that they don't seem to keep up with the campgrounds who are supposed to be participating.

http://www.campingandcampgrounds.com/member_updates.html Membership: $44.00 per year.

Brief History

I grew up in the Copper Country's Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I started working from age 13 at the Copperama during the summer as a dishwasher. I remember being so small that I had to stand on two wooden pepsi crates to put the dishes in the dishwasher. After highschool, I attended Suomi College (a Finish oriented college) renamed to Finlandia University a couple years ago.

I had a chance when I was around 20 to travel to Florida with a co-worker from the Copperama (after our usual layoff in the fall) and upon arriving in Fla, I sent a letter home the second day and said, "I'm Staying". My Mom wrote back and said, "Stay, it's the best decision you made in your life.... and when you get settled, we'll come visit".

It worked out well, having moved from one peninsula in the U.P. to Florida, another peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. I love water.

Mom gave very little advice, but reminded me that no one would ever be able to take care of me after I left home, that I could not come back home after I left (except for a weeks vacation), and that I should never ask for a loan, because they didn't have the money.

What she did give me though, was some advice. And that was to look at the years my Dad struggled with making a living. Getting layed off from his construction work every winter until he finally got a job with the State of Mich. at MTU as a maintenance worker. Life was good after that.

So when I got to Florida, I got the hint and after a short period of working at 7-11 and a couple other small jobs, I started to apply for any Gov. job. City, County, State and Federal.

I finally got a job with the Navy starting out as a GS-2 temporary part time not to exceed 90 days putting cans of beans on the shelves at the commissary. My foot was in the door and a career that eventually spanned 31 years ending up as a Logistics Manager.

my desire to travel was realized after years of camping and enjoying the great outdoors. I got started camping just to save money and it became a lifelong source of joy.

Hint to those just starting out in the working world: Every job has it's fringe benefits, some are written down, some aren't. Learn what they are and take advantage of them.

Example: If I got on committees that required travel, I could travel at the Goverments expense. Plus, I could extend my stay after the work as vacation. The Gov. paid my way out and back for my job and for my vacation!

Dreams do come true. Stay focused and keep working on them and one day, yours will come true too.

Roving Reports by Doug P

Friday, August 29, 2008

23-08 On the Road Again: Colorado

2 comments:

Provinces traveled in w/camper

States traveled in w/camper