Weekend Getaway II

I starred up at the stars till my neck began to feel stiff and then I tried to pull up anything to entertain me on my phone, nothing doing!! One bar of service. 

Anyways I wanted to watch Chrome of Vancity Vanlife,  but nope it would not load.  So I tucked myself under my quilt, sleeping bag, and wool blanket...since I brought no heat source with me.  I was plenty warm overnight.  And in the morning, I watched the sun rise with a hot cup of coffee.  

I had packed up camp the night before so I only had to restash my cooking gear, I had some oatmeal with banana and toast for breakfast.  Just had to boil water!

After a quick clean up I drove the long road out of the Preserve and headed North up highway 17  for Huntington Beach State Park, about 30 miles up the road.  

I arrived at 9 am...paid my $5 day use fee and parked in the visitors parking and headed for the Mullet Ponds to check for whatever birds were out and about. 

The expected waders, were out but not in huge numbers, and some fishing birds like the Anhinga

Caught one, 

Get it in position...

GULP....

the Gr blue Heron

The great Egret

The Snowy Egret

On the other side of the road is the pond and a flock of Lesser Scaup about half way out
50-ish 

And farther out by the bank is a flock of Gadwall.  

And a small count of 8 or so Green winged Teal too far out for a decent photo...meanwhile this Gr Blue Heron nearly landed on top of me...

Not long after that a flock of Hooded Merganser sailed out of the reeds...

Im totally digging the hair...

Mallards at the Sandpiper Pond

The Heron moved back to a safer place...I didn't see any shorebirds and that was my hope so I moved the van to the North Beach parking lot and headed up the beach toward the North Jetty normally a good spot for shorebirds, but I got here a little early a front had just passed and birds had not moved to the beach...  Even the Sanderlings were holding still...

My legs were tired  from all the walking I did the day before at Santee Coastal, but I had about a two mile hike in the sand to get to that Jetty..so no use whinning just go!!  Next time I go I want to take my bike, to make this walk a quick ride instead...especially on the two mile walk back after walking all day on and around the jetty. 

it's up there somewhere

It was still to early and chilly for sunbathers but there was plenty of action in the water...

and above the Beach...

Brown Pelican 

and on the sand...

It's like a garage sale you never know what you're gonna find...

Horned Grebes were fishing in the surf...

When I finally got on the Jetty there was a lot of people and boat action in the cove and no shorebirds.. 

These people had fun on their own island for a few minutes...

Common Loon was out in force...

And a few Red Throated Loons as well...

And I found one Long Tailed Duck diving out in the cove...So I reported the rare bird!! YEAH. 

I didn't see everything I had hoped for but there is no such thing as a bad day at the beach...

Ringed Bill Gull

It was a fun trip and I look forward to the next visit.  

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

More How to Videos?

Well why not?

It's been raining daily and unbearable hot so I'm trying to stay busy doing small projects and using my old desktop to create these how to videos!   I whipped up a little intro Using Windows Movie Maker, and found some royalty free music, so I'm learning!  I really should name my effort "rough cutz"  I've been revving up my You Tube Skilz! I now have 18 subscribers, I'm no Bob Wells, I do projects out of necessity so may as well share the info, someone may stumble over these and it could be useful.  The problem is I need a video editor that works with MPG4, my Panasonic makes MPG4 clips...while My Kodak makes AVI and that works well with Windows Movie Maker but lately it won't stay on... the online editor I used hammered the quality of the video.  Hopefully I can figure something out on that, if I was more organized to make the entire video in one clip..but that's hard it's like TAKE ONE, now TWO, now THREE...etc.

Casey somewhere in TX

I had to do some reworking of my bug screens.  Mainly because the plastic magnet holders I originally used kept falling apart and losing the magnets. While on the road I repaired a couple using duct tape and it worked so well I figured wtheck, I'd just do all of them that same way! It's not glamorous and nothing about my life is so it fits right in.  Meanwhile here's the 2 clips I made on van screening needs.  I had to combine 4 clips to get this video together. You Tube discontinued the ability to combine clips I suppose that happened when Google bought them?

Tools needed: 2 sheer curtain panels, 6 heavy duty bar magnets, 12 light duty disc or bar magnets,  2 in wide duct tape, (you can tear or cut the duct tape into pieces) 

The cabin window screens are a no sew project so even if you don't have a sewing machine, or sewing skills you can make these screens. I fiddled up some illustrations using my PSP to illustrate how I did it...I've had these about 3 yrs and I decided to remove the plastic magnet holders and use the duct tape on these so this is a remake....and here is how I did it, and these are simply for utility if you want yours to look great then you can finish the edges better than I did.  I have been using these screens for about 3 yrs They work perfectly.  In this video I totally forgot to attach my intro..like I said Rough Cutz! 

Tools:

Screening, scissors, 2" wide duct tape, tape measure, and 3 magnets for each door, 

this should only take 1/2 an hour or less to do 2 screens!  I saw some people paid up to $20 each for professionally made screen..why do that when you can Do it Yourself??

             

Once I get to traveling again I hope to make more videos on location! I do see people are interested in locations and I'm sorry now I didn't do many location videos...I probably won't get back to many of the places I've already been!  Something to look forward to and give me hope!!  Stay cool if you can!

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

Independence is Priceless

SO this last trip was long if you recall I left home on about March 15th driving and camping across  GA, FL, AL MS, LA, TX, AZ, NM, UT, and finally to CO, and on the return add NE, IA, IL, TN, NC, SC returned on June 8th around 6,500 miles I didn't get exact mileage, that's a pretty good estimate.  I ended up camping 30 days out of the 2 1/2 months I was away...

One thing I get asked a lot when I'm in campgrounds is "how do you like camping in  your van?"  So I thought I'd answer that question here on my blog.  First off I love it!  It's so simple.  I pull into my spot, hang my screens, get my chair out, tie the dogs up in the shade...and we're done!

Yes If I had the budget I'd buy an awesome class B with all the super bells n whistles, but that is not in the cards.

I feel lucky that I found this van back in 2011 and (knock on good wood) I've been able to put 60,000 miles on it and a lot of that has been traveling miles.  I actually have less stuff I take along now than I did in the beginning because I found I really don't need much!  And it depends on whether the dogs are with me, and I have some ideas on new plans for traveling with dogs IF I continue to take them along...it's not that they are not good dogs they are, but it's 3 individuals each with different needs, may as well be traveling with 3 babies!  I did swear this was their last long cross country trip but one thing I've learned is:

 never say never!  

I'd like to see a 5th wheel or travel trailer get in this spot that was built around a lava flow!

So my 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 has a 5.2 liter engine, it is 8 cylinders and it still runs good.  One thing I know is this; I can take it anywhere you can take a regular truck! SO I'm not limited to just highway and paved campgrounds.  I take more risk than I should and it certainly is not a 4 x 4...I nearly got stuck in deep loose gravel on this past trip so it's a matter of not pushing the envelope...I have gone up steep narrow mountain dirt roads and had to keep going till I could find a spot big enough to turn  around without falling off a cliff!  It is not good in mud or deep sand, so if it's muddy I'm not going there. For the most part I can get into tight small spots, and I have had to cross more than one creek in it.  If I was towing any type trailer I would not be able to do that.  If I had a big high thing like a Sprinter, I would probably cave the top in on low hanging limbs...

Goose Island, TX April 2017

I have been using an air bed, but that is changing! I have plans to order a 6" or maybe thicker...high density foam rubber mattress I can order a piece 54" wide by 70 inches long  to put over my fold down bed.  

the bed is 69 inches long and 48" wide  May 2014 Lake Hartwell, SC

I'm tired of a couple things. 

 # 1 the noise of the squeaky air bed when I move around on it.  It rubs against the vinyl trim of the walls and its like when you rub a balloon against something!  (that creepy clown with a balloon sound)

#2 it makes my hair stand up in cold dry air, and I am constantly getting shocked, and look like a pinhead! ZAP!!~~

#3 It deflates or goes flat in the middle of the night!  

#4 It's like sleeping on an ice cube when the air is cold!

#5 And it's very uncomfortable to sit on it's like a bouncy house..lol If Annie is on one end and I sit down she nearly flies up into the air...lol that part is kinda funny tho. 

I will enjoy NO more pumping up! 

With Annie Otter Creek, VA Aug 2016

I loved my Coleman SUV Airbed, never had any of those issues with it, but it died, and  they don't make those anymore....I hate the one I replaced it with. 

So no more! I can make a nice cover for the foam mattress. Hopefully it will be an easy find.  I saw a 10" one on overstock but I'd rather find one I can cut to the exact size I want.  When it's not in use I can store it in a big vacuum bag! Stay tuned for that change. 

My van has lots of pockets for storage of small stuff...

The bins are along the top, these 2 captain seats are removed and in storage since I don't need them.  They snap in and out pretty simple but they are heavy! 

I like having the plastic lightweight 3 drawer units! I normally have 3 with me 

# 1 for clothes and it doubles as a bedside table, 

#2 for food storage, stored in the back cargo area 

#3 cooking kit and stove gas bottles storage. also in the back cargo area facing the back.   Each of these provides good flat storage on top for other "things". Like extra blankets, big beach towel, dirty laundry bag. 

Back yard 2011 the day I bought it.

The back cargo area, when the seat is laying down in bed position there is actually MORE room at the back since the bed slides forward about 10 inches when it's laying down. 

I didn't take the shelf units on this last trip because I needed the floor space for the dogs...so I felt very disorganized....I had my pots n pans in a storage bin strapped to the cargo rack that attaches to the trailer hitch...That was handy but I hated having to deal with securing it to the carrier every day for travel...and it was always covered with road crime and dirt. 

with the cargo carrier on the back Routt NF, CO Sept 2017

Sept 2016 Upper Peninsula, Michigan Heating up bath water

                                             

... idea: is dog carrier cages that flatten and can be assembled so the dogs have their own space and can be put outside the van when in camp!  Of course they would have covers for any weather issues!  I have a good system with screens on my windows and the door openings side and rear...this works really well 

Screens in place, a folding step to make getting in and out easier
Big Bend, TX May 2017

I am considering putting a swivel on the passenger seat so it can become my inside chair for relaxing, computer working, watching DVD's, journaling etc or for visitors.  Most of the time I'm out of the van , life happens outside, I don't want to cook in my van, if I had a second car yes, but I don't right now.  So I will continue to cook outside.  

OH and nap taking!

Pancake Bay, Ontario Canada Sept 2016 

If I'm going to stay in one spot a few days I take all kinds of things with me...and that is fun, but not necessarily fun to do alone, on this trip I had a friend along, notice the "spare bedroom". (tent)

canopy and tent  Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, NC June 2015

My normal set up is just my chair! I can cook right at the back by placing my folding table on the bumper and extending only one set of legs, this is the fastest method and I don't have a lot of set up or take down to do. 

Big Cypress Swamp FL Feb 2016

Mainly what I do inside is dress, work on the  laptop, watch a DVD, sometimes eat if its cold or buggy, relax if its cold, and sleep.  I'm pretty much inside once it's dark and outside as long as the weather is nice the rest of the time.   I can charge my phone, camera battery, DvD player, and computer as I drive daily but I'f I'm not driving then I use my Battery Pak, it's 1012 AMP...

 I  have the Coleman electric ice chest but it will drain my battery if I'm not careful. Meaning I need to be driving at highway speeds to keep the battery fully charged...if I end up sitting in traffic, or taking a slow cruise down a dirt road, I have to unplug the electric ice chest.  I'd like to go back to using a regular ice chest with a drain tube, when it's cold weather I don't even need an ice chest...stuff just gets cold overnight!

this simple set up is when I'm going out for a short trip like a week or less...Dupont State Forest NC 2014

And as mentioned I normally cook outside and set up my folding table if the picnic table is missing or grungy. 

Veggie Links when I first got the butane in Sept 2015,
Craters of the Moon, Idaho

Another very tight camp spot, Blue Ridge Parkway
Rocky Knob Campground Oct 2014

And the same site in Rocky Knob, VA Aug 2017 here is my normal set up

My stove, folding table, folding chair, and small ice cooler.  

It only takes minutes to set this up and put it away at the end of the day...

Sometimes it's just a quick snack in a pull out like here at Crater Lake with Casey...

Just grab something out of the cooler like humus, cucumbers, and crackers....and sit on the bed or set up my chair inside the van, its within easy reach at all times. 

Crater Lake Oct 2015

the no cook  are my favorite meals....and especially when shared with my buddy....

Flickr Ate My Photo

This was my first camp trip with the Van June of 2012,  Edisto Beach, SC.  My son borrowed the van for about 6 months right after I purchased it, so that is why it took so long for me to get in my first trip....I was still working full time my boss closed down for a week so she could take a vacation so it was off to the Beach for 3 or 4 days.  AND 

Mom and I took so many wonderful day trips in the van, my forever shotgun rider....

SO when people ask that intro question "how do you like camping in your van", all these wonderful trips and many more pop into memory and so I would say I've had 6 great years of camping with my van, and I wouldn't trade anything for it, and can't wait till the next time!

Happy Independence Day!

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.