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The Great Plains, Our Summer Trip in 2021

The Great Plains

Our 2021 summer trip was to the Great Plains and focused on six states in which we have never camped. Those states are Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. It was a long trip—five and a half weeks and over six thousand miles in our vehicle.

We were traveling in our NuCamp T@B 400. It is a fine camper and I am happy to say it performed beautifully. The only issue we had was that the air conditioner did not cool as much as we would like when in direct sun and 100 plus degrees in high altitudes.

Mountain View Campground in Sundance, Wyoming

It was a long trip, but was worth the effort because each state was beautiful and a joy to experience. Also, our map of states we have camped in is filling up nicely. So, we now have thirty-eight states.

National Parks

This Great Plains trip included four major National Parks: Theodore Roosevelt, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Badlands. These iconic parks have been on my bucket list for a long time.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park was our first encounter with the Badlands. The desolate landscape of the Badlands was exquisite and was filled with creatures, great and small. For example, we saw hundreds of bison and thousands of prairie dogs.

While in Medora visiting the Roosevelt National Park, we saw the Medora Musical. It was a fantastic show and the best evening of our entire trip! I am so glad we were able to see it.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone in Wyoming was the pinnacle of National Parks for us. The park is enormous, encompassing 3,471 miles. It has an abundance of wildlife, geysers, a Grand Canyon, rolling hills, rivers, and lakes. We completed the south loop, but did not have time to see the north loop.

Grand Tetons National Park

Grand Tetons is a much smaller National Park at 485 square miles. It is located directly south of Yellowstone in Wyoming . We stayed in a Jackson Hole campground, which is in a deep valley surrounded by mountains. There was not an abundance of wildlife, but it was breathtakingly beautiful.

Grand Tetons in the Great Plains — Grand Tetons Jackson Lake

Custer State Park

Custer State Park in South Dakota is large for a state park at 114 square miles and has all sorts of wildlife. Two of the most exciting times on our trip occurred while at Custer. Firstly, we had an up close and personal encounter with many bison when at the dump station. After we left, they were all over the spot as you can see in the photo below.

Secondly, we traveled through Needles Highway. It is considered one of the most epic routes in South Dakota. Portions of the highway only exist because workers in 1922 blasted holes through several solid granite “needles”. The road is extremely twisty with multiple narrow tunnels. I was on pins and “needles”, but my husband loved it.

Great Plains Memorials and Monuments

The Great Plains has many iconic memorials and monuments. So, we tried to see as many as possible.

It was so cool to see Mount Rushmore in South Dakota after seeing it in in photos or prints for so many years.

Mount Rushmore in the Great Plains — Mount Rushmore National Memorial

I hiked the 1.3 miles around the Devils Tower in Wyoming and was able to enjoy some astonishing views.

Devils Tower in the Great Plains — Devils Tower

Wyoming’s Little Bighorn Battlefield was a sobering place to visit. The countryside is very beautiful and it is sad to imagine all the lives lost in that famous battle.

The Crazy Horse Monument is near Mount Rushmore and is a work in process. The vision for the completed monument is of epic proportions.

Crazy Horse Monument in the Great Plains — Crazy Horse Monument

Presidential Libraries

We tried to visit the Truman Library last year, but it was closed because of Covid and renovations. While in Topeka, Kansas, we made a day trip to Independence, Missouri to see the library. Truman was an amazing president and the newly renovated library was wonderful to visit.

Abilene, Kansas was a stop for us to see our next presidential library, the Eisenhower Library. Unfortunately , it closed before we arrived because of a spike in Covid cases. We did, however, walk the grounds. Ike was an incredible president and I would love to know more about him.

Great Plains Capital Buildings and Museums

I love visiting capital buildings because of the history and architecture. We saw the outside of three state capitals and toured one while in the Great Plains.

The museums we visited were all compelling in different ways. Each contributed to an understanding of those earlier times in our history.

Capital Buildings

We took a tour of Nebraska’s capital building in Lincoln, which was completed in 1932. It is a beautiful building with a very ornate foyer with arches, mosaics on the walls, and magnificent marble.

We checked out two other capital buildings (Bismarck, North Dakota and Topeka, Kansas), but it was on weekends and they were closed.

Moss Mansion

Moss Mansion Museum showcases a house built in 1903. The cost of the home was $105,00 at a time when the national average cost was $5,000. The home was extremely opulent and there is a room in the house that looks much like the Palace of Versailles. It was used exclusively as the home of Preston Boyd Moss and his family until it became a museum.

Seelye Mansion

Seelye Mansion is an impressive old home built in 1904 in Abilene, Kansas. It is still intact with all the original furnishings. Most importantly, it has connections to a young Dwight D. Eisenhower. The story of the home, its residents, and current ownership is fascinating.

Durham Museum

The Durham Museum in Omaha, Nebraska was delightful! It is an old train station and has some actual old trains inside. It was like a walk back in time to old movies I have seem.

Hjemkomst Center

The Hjemkomst Center is actually in Moorhead, Minnesota. But, it was less than ten miles from our campground in Fargo, North Dakota. The centerpiece of the museum is a replica of an actual Viking ship dating back to 800 AD. The ship was actually sailed to Norway and at great risk to those on board. This museum is a must see, if in the area.

Fort Casper Museum

Fort Casper Museum is a replica of an actual fort and the original was key to the westward movement in the 1800s. The fort is furnished as it was in those days. It is an educational and extremely interesting place to visit. Also, check out those mountains in the background. The area is so beautiful!

Challenges of a Long Trip with a Puppy

Sophie, our puppy has been on several camping trips with us and is a great little traveler. But, those trips were only two weeks long and did not involve more than two or three stops This trip was five and a half weeks and twenty-two different campgrounds.

Sophie was wonderful on the trip, but there was very little room in our camper. As you can see in the photo above, dog and crate leave very little room for other inhabitants. It was very, very close in our camper, but we managed.

Also, we were traveling during a terrible heat wave. Most days it was quite hot, but we encountered highs between 100-105 degrees a few days. On one of the hottest days, we couldn’t let our pup walk on the ground because we were afraid it would burn her feet. So, on stops that day, my husband had to carry her.

Dogs hiking in the Great Plains — Sophie with a Rover Sitter

Lastly, some of our activities could not include a dog. We needed a dog sitter three times on our trip because we had to be away longer than we could leave her in the crate. Fortunately, we had three excellent Rover sitters and our girl had some fun times.

Great Plains State Posts

Lastly, there is a separate post for each of our new states in the Great Plains. If traveling to any of these areas, you might want to review.

Kansas, A New State on Our Long Summer Trip

Montana, a New State on our Long Summer Trip

Nebraska, a New State on Our Long Summer Trip

North Dakota, a New State on Our Summer Trip

South Dakota, a New State in Our Long Summer Trip

Wyoming, a New State on Our Long Summer Trip

In Conclusion

This was a trip of a lifetime for us and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a long trip, but we saw so many beautiful and interesting places.

Happy Camping!

How to Dewinterize the T@B 400

Ready to Dewinterize the T@B 400

So, you winterized your 400 and allowed it to rest during the cold weather. Perhaps, you read my post, Winterized our Camper Water System. Now, you are ready to get out there and go camping again. Fortunately, it is quite easy to dewinterize the T@B 400. For the water system, you basically just flush out the antifreeze.

Adding Water to the System

The 400 was thoroughly drained to winterize, but now is the time to add water back to the system. First, ensure the drain to the fresh water tank is closed. (It is located under the camper, near the wheel on the driver’s side.) Fill the fresh water tank about half full. The tank holds 30 gallons, so half filled is approximately 15 gallons. Do not leave the camper unattended while adding the water as damage can occur if it is overfilled.

It is best to flush the antifreeze using the water holding tank and pump because it enables the identification of leaks in the system. If the pump continues to run while faucets are closed, there is a leak somewhere.

Flushing the Antifreeze

Next, turn on the pump. Then, one at a time, turn on each water source and let it run till you can no longer see any pink antifreeze. Start with the cold water faucets in the kitchen and bathroom sinks, shower, and outside shower. Then flush the toilet until pink antifreeze is no longer visible. Lastly, turn on the hot water in kitchen sink, then bathroom sink, shower, and outside shower.

Once clear water flows through all water sources, you have flushed the antifreeze from your fresh water system. The antifreeze is now in the black and grey holding tanks and is ready to be dumped into a sewer or dump station. Do not allow it to drain into your lawn as it will kill plants.

Adjust the Bypass valve

The last step for the fresh water system is to adjust the bypass valve. It kept the antifreeze away from the hot water heater on Bypass. It needs to be set to normal to fill the hot water heater. Move the lever on the Bypass Valve from “Bypass” to “Normal”.

Other Steps to Prepare for Camping

The detailed steps above merely addresses preparing the water system for camping. Owners should also check tires, battery, propane tank, condition of safety chains, tightness of the hitch, proper seating of windows and doors, and condition of the camper exterior.

Additionally, wheel bearings should be lubricated once every year or at least every 10,000 miles. See our post, Wheel Bearing Maintenance-A Safety Necessity.

Lastly, NüCamp recommends owners to sanitize the fresh water system annually. A good time to do this is during dewinterization. A link to the nüCamp manual follows, T@B 400 Manual. The section on sanitation of the water system is on page 23.

We have Dewinterized the T@B 400

You are now ready to get out there camping in your T@B! Enjoy!

Edisto Beach with SE T@Bs, T@Gs, and Friends

Edisto Beach

Edisto Beach is a small island town on the South Carolina coast. There was a large gathering of members of Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs, and Friends (SETTF) at Edisto Beach State Park and we were happy to be among them. The group met there last year as well, but we missed that one. We were blessed with great weather and a wonderful group of people to enjoy the time there.

Camping with Sophie

Sophie is our five-month old goldendoodle and she is a big part of our camping these days. This was her third camping trip and she is getting pretty comfortable with the whole thing. She is a great little traveler in the car, which is very fortunate because Edisto is 443 miles from our home.

A Stopover in Georgia

Firstly, we stopped halfway on our journey at A.H. Stephen’s State Park in Georgia to break up the trip. It is right off the Interstate and has nice shaded lots. I took a long walk around the campground and, unfortunately, injured my knee. It remained slightly swollen and sore for the rest of the trip.

Edisto Beach Campground

Above all, the Edisto trip was about being with all our friends who were camping with us. There were more than a dozen T@Bs and T@Gs at the campground. It was great to see all the like-minded campers. We had a big campsite across from the bathhouse and the only negative was a very weak cell signal.

This trip, we spent more time at the campground than usual. It is harder to get away for an extended time with the puppy and my knee was also limiting activity a bit.

Botany Bay

Botany Bay is just a few miles down the road from the campground. It is a wildlife preserve located on the site of two old plantations.

The beach at Botany Bay is a boneyard beach, much like the one on Hunting Island. It is an area where the sea has reclaimed a portion of the forest.

Sadly, we did not get to fully explore the preserve. Dogs are not allowed, so our time was limited. There is a driving tour and some historic buildings . We plan to be there again next year, so I want to explore it more fully.

Edisto Beach

The campground has a lovely stretch of beach and we visited it a couple of times. It was April and the water was cold. However, it was nice to feel the sea air and walk along the beach.

The beach is dog-friendly, so our pup was able to experience it too.

Man with dog at Edisto Beach — Sophie is allowed on the beach

Sophie seemed unsure about the incoming waves, but must have liked the overall time there because she didn’t want to get in the car when it was time to go.

Puppy enjoying Edisto Beach — Testing the water

Hanging with the Group

The wonderful group of SETTF campers was the best part of this trip. We have camped with several of them many times and consider them good friends. Also, we always meet new people who are fun to get to know.

Mexican Train was fun with Lois, Gary, Joyce, and David. We played it at one of our earlier gatherings and it is becoming a bit of a tradition.

Nightly gatherings around an expertly-built fire are also a tradition. In this Covid-19 era, potlucks have gone away, but everyone brings their drink of choice. So, it is a no-pressure, relaxing experience. With the isolation that Covid has brought, it has been so great to have this relatively safe social interaction.

This was a great trip and we were happy to see all our fellow NüCamp owners. There are other group gatherings coming up that we will have to miss, but we will camp with the group again in September.

Edisto has two campgrounds, and we were in the Live Oak Campground this trip. We have also stayed in the beach campground on our T@B 400’s maiden voyage, South Carolina Camping, First T@B 400 Trip.

Happy camping!

Hunting Island with SE T@Bs, T@Gs, and Friends

Hunting Island

Hunting Island State Park is a beautiful park with so much to offer. Some highlights are gorgeous beaches, a historic lighthouse, incredible marshlands, and a comfortable campground. We were there for four nights with our Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs, and Friends group. There was a very large turnout and we really enjoy the people in this group. Consequently, we had a great time!

Getting There Via Harvest Hosts

The campground was a seven hour drive for us, per Google Maps. So, it was realistically at least nine hours with stops along the way. Therefore, we planned a one-night stopover with our first Harvest Host, Lane Orchards near Macon, Georgia. It was a good experience, overall because the store was unique and our lunch was good. Lane Orchards is on a beautiful piece of property. The only negative was a substantial amount of highway noise.

Hunting Island Campground

This was our first trip to Hunting Island. We had a nice, large spot in the campground near several of our friends from the SE group. Sites are equipped with electric and water. The biggest negative was virtually no garbage cans anywhere in the park except for dumpsters at the exit. This was also the case at the Florida campgrounds we visited last month. It was very inconvenient, but a sign of the times.

A little bird visited the campsites and seemed to have no fear of humans. He would get very close. He was a brave, little cutie!

This was the second camping trip for our puppy, Sophie. She is adapting well to the campground environment. Her trainer has us walking with her using cheese as an incentive. It was working great, but not all the time. She is very excitable.

Raccoon Invasion

After time around a campfire with our friends, we were walking back to our site when I noticed movement near our car. Suspecting raccoons, I walked to the other side and shone my flashlight around. To my shock, a raccoon was inside our car! Inexplicably, I released a blood-curdling scream that was heard back where the group was assembled. A couple of our friends came to check on us. (It’s so good to know there are people who will look out you.)

We opened the car doors and the raccoon emerged. He was able to get into the car because my husband had left the windows cracked because of a seafood smell that was in the car earlier. The raccoon left footprints all over our interior and had unzipped a bag with some dog food. He urinated on the seat and there was a wild animal smell.

It was very fortunate that we discovered the raccoon before we went to bed. A park ranger told my husband that a raccoon got into a car through a sunroof the prior year and could not get out. It completely tore up the seats of the vehicle and the headliner.

Hunting Island Attractions

There is so much to do on the island! Trails abound for hiking and biking. Several of our friends biked the island trails. It has the only South Carolina lighthouse that visitors can climb. I climbed it and was rewarded by spectacular views. Though there are about 170 steps, many platforms with information about the lighthouse break up the effort.

The Lighthouse

The Atlantic Ocean

It was just a short walk to the beach and it is a really great beach for two reasons. Firstly, it was not at all crowded. The area is a bit remote and I believe that part of the beach is just for the campground. Secondly, a portion of the beach allows dogs. So, it was a special treat for our pup.

Marshland

The island has an abundance of marshland, which has its on special beauty. The boardwalk was a really nice trail and we saw several birds.

Boneyard Beach

Because Hunting is a barrier island, its landscape is subject to many changes. Boneyard beach is an area of forest that has been reclaimed by the sea. It is a very haunting reminder of what a force of nature the sea can be.

Hunting Island Boneyard Beach — A walk among the “bones”

Creekfire RV Resort

South Carolina was a fairly long drive for us, so we tacked on a stop in nearby Savannah on our way home. We camped at Creekfire RV Resort for three nights. It is a very nice campground! One thing that was especially nice was the concrete pad—no rocks for our pup to put in her mouth and no digging.

The resort has some awesome amenities. For instance, it has a heated pool, hot tub, store, gym, and sauna. There is also a lazy River. However, it was not currently operating. We spent an afternoon at the pool and sauna and ended it with ice cream from the store. So relaxing for a warm, sunny day in early March!

Creekfire RV Resort Pool — Enjoying the pool

Savannah was just a short drive away. So, on one afternoon, we took our pup and had lunch with outdoor seating at Vic’s on the Waterfront. It was another beautiful, sunny day. Vic’s was amazing—delicious food and great service. They were also very sweet to our pup. On the way back to the campground, we purchased macaroons from a downtown store. It was a very good day!

In Conclusion

This trip had so many wonderful things. The campgrounds were stellar and we had the opportunity to spend time with friends. Our pup was still a handful, but is adapting well to camping. We are so fortunate to have experienced this trip! Lastly, if you would like to read another post about South Carolina camping, check out South Carolina Camping, First T@B 400 Trip.

Happy Camping!

Illinois Camping During a Pandemic

Illinois Camping

Illinois was a new camping state for us. Previously, we visited Chicago, but were not camping. So, we camped five nights at three different campgrounds: one was a state park and the other two were private.

The pandemic was definitely a concern, but we considered the risk and had planned ways to reduce our chance in infection, Travel Amid Covid19 for At-Risk Campers. Covid-19 greatly hampered our ability to do what we most love—taking in the local sights and experiencing local cuisine. However, we still managed to do a few things that were high on our priority list.

Eldon Hazlet State Park

Our first Illinois camping site was in Carlyle. The park was lovely with large sites and lots of shade. Unfortunately, we had one of the few that were in full sun and it was during a heat wave. Setting up our camper in that blistering heat was most unpleasant. We were drenched in sweat in no time.

Our site was very large though, with a shady backyard on the lake. Carlyle Lake is an enormous reservoir which covers 25,000 acres. Carlyle is the largest lake in Illinois and the largest lake located solely in one state. If fishing or boating is your thing, this campground is for you.

We were at Hazlet for two nights and pretty much stayed in the campground. I saw a groundhog for the first time in the wild. There were all over the campground, but they are shy creatures who would not let you get too close. I thought they were kinda cute!

Illinois camping and wildlife — One of the numerous groundhogs in the campground

Nearby Eldon Hazlet State Park

We drove to a nearby beach on the lake, but did not go swimming. I did, however, dip my toes in the water.

After the beach, we drove into nearby Carlyle, a very small town. The town was cute, but pretty much shut down. We got ice cream through the drive through at the local Dairy Queen.

Our camping experience at Hazlet was good overall. Our neighbors on one side were very nice and friendly, but on a Friday night we had very noisy neighbors on the other side that were up till wee hours in the morning. I had to restrain my husband from going to talk to them. You never know what kind a person you might encounter. We wore masks the few times we were briefly indoors and practiced social distancing. I feel we were safe.

The Land of Lincoln

We seek Presidential Libraries in our travels and were very happy that the Lincoln Library was open. For that reason, camping near Springfield was a must.

Illinois Camping at Double J Campground

Our favorite Illinois campground was Double J Campground in Chatham, which is about ten miles south of Springfield. Full hookups with lots of shade trees was nice. Immaculate bathhouses, large pool, well-appointed laundry, and Route 66-themed carpet golf sealed the deal. We loved this campground!

We had an afternoon free to enjoy the pool. Though we kept our distance, we had some nice interactions with some Illinois residents. They were very friendly.

After the pool, we took the opportunity to do a little laundry. So, we were ready to spend the next day in Springfield.

Lincoln Presidential Library

Abraham Lincoln’s life and presidency is probably the best known of all American presidents. It is certainly true for me. Because of this, there were fewer new insights at this library than there would be in one where I did not know very much about the president. I did feel a great sense of sorrow for all he went through and gratitude for what he accomplished.

There were multiple wax figures and portraits and a couple of shows.

The Lincoln Home

The Lincoln home was where he lived for seventeen years while he practiced law. It was where his children were born. I suspect he was very happy during those years. Many of the homes of his neighbors are still standing on the street, which is closed to traffic. There is information provided about his neighbors and their relationships to the Lincolns.

Sadly, the home was not open for tours because of the pandemic. I would have loved to tour it. Hopefully, we will have an opportunity to take the tour one day.

Illinois Camping at Blackhawk Valley Campground

Blackhawk Valley Campground was a one night stopover to break up the miles to our next stop. It was a pleasant campground with full hookups, but no pool.

There is a river and a tiny little beach area.

Meals in Illinois

Most of our meals were in our camper, which is not our norm. We did not eat inside any restaurant, but we did have a couple of meals where they offered outside dining. Our first meal was in Camden at a strip mall. It was hot outside, but still nice to not have to cook. Service was excellent, but we were not crazy about the food.

Our second and favorite meal was at Obed & Issac’s. It is located in the house below and we were able to snag a table on the front porch. There were only two other people on the porch and they were at least twelve feet away.

I had chicken and waffles and my husband had an omelet. The food was very good and the service was excellent. We were grateful to have been able to have this dining experience, given the circumstances.

Illinois Camping Conclusion

Overall, Illinois camping was good for us and the people were friendly and accommodating. I mourn some of the things we were unable to see and do, but am grateful for this opportunity to visit this state and travel with my sweet husband.

Retired couple — At the Governor’s Mansion

The Florida Coast is Great Winter Camping

Camping Along the Florida Coast

This winter trip camping along the Florida coast was more than a year in planning because we tried to reserve in the more popular Florida state parks. We also camped at three campgrounds last year, Florida Campgrounds, Three Highly-Rated Parks.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Topsail is one of the nicest state parks we have visited. It is on Santa Rosa Island in a beautiful resort area. We paid $46 a night for an immaculate pull-through shaded site with a concrete slab and full hookups. However, you must book extremely early to snare a spot at this popular park.

A gorgeous, isolated beach is a 3/4 mile walk or a free tram ride away. The tram runs every hour from 9 to 5.

Boardwalk at Topsail Hill Preserve — The boardwalk to the beach

The Florida coast at Topsail Preserve — Enjoying the beautiful Topsail Beach

The park and the beach were wonderful, but our weather was not the best. It rained the first full day we were there and it was very cloudy and humid with drizzle the next. But, we enjoyed it because we went to see the movie, 1917, on the first day and some friends drove in from Port St. Joe to visit us on the second day. Overall, our stay at Topsail was very nice.

Manatee Springs State Park

Manatee Springs is a very special park. For a very economical nightly rate of $25 a night, we had a large, level site with full hookups.

Within the park, we had many sightings of deer and we saw manatees on two separate occasions.

Deer at Manatee Springs State Park — Deer at Manatee Springs

Manatees at Manatee Springs — Manatees in the Springs

The Springs are beautiful and you can experience them up close in one of the canoes that are offered for rent. Bikes are also available. If you are hungry, barbeque is sold on site daily. There is very little cell reception in the park, but there is WiFi in the rental area.

Hillsborough River State Park

We had three nights in site #26 at Hillsborough River, which is near Tampa. Our new awning was up for the second time and we liked the bit of privacy it provided. The park has nice hiking trails and a large pool. However, we did not utilize either on this trip.

camping near the Florida coast — Site #26

Our first full day was cold and rainy. So, our camping friends went with us to Tampa where we visited the Tampa Bay History Center and had lunch at Columbia Restaurant. At Columbia, the White Chocolate Bread Pudding was amazing and so was its 1905 Salad.

Lunch at Columbia Restaurant at Riverwalk

Our next day, we really enjoyed a visit to a small museum in Zephyrhills, the Museum of Military History. It has many artifacts from several wars. The museum is free, but is only currently open on Saturdays. Strawberries were in season in Plant City, so we ended our day with strawberry shortcake from one of the local farms. Timing was with us for these two special treats.

Museum of Military History at Zephyrhills — Museum of Military History

Florida Coast at Collier-Seminole State Park

Collier-Seminole is about twenty miles southeast of Naples and it has vegetation and wildlife typical of the Everglades. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. There are multiple bathhouses which were very nice for a state park.

The park began in 1924 to build the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) which crosses the Everglades, linking Tampa and Miami. The Walking Dredge was used to build the road and is now a National Historic Landmark.

National Historic Landmark, the Walking Dredge

Access to the Blackwater River is within the park. It is a beautiful place to canoe and the park offers them for rental. Tours are also offered on certain days.

Blackwater River at Collier-Seminole Park — Blackwater River

Because we only had one full day at this park, we just stayed onsite. In addition, the park had bikes for rent at $10 for two hours. It was a beautiful, breezy day—perfect for biking. So we really enjoyed it!

The Florida Coast, Camping in the Lower Keys

Sadly, we could not get a spot at a state park for the Keys. We actually booked at an RV park almost a year in advance because there were not many options. Lazy Lakes RV resort in the lower keys proved to be a nice place to stay, but it was expensive. We had full hookups and a heated pool, but it was $100 a night. Not your typical camping rates.

We had a partial day of beautiful, sunny, and warm weather. This part of the Florida coast was astounding to see—so much gorgeous water everywhere. We drove around and just took in the atmosphere.

Florida camping in the Keys — View from a boat launch

Old Railroad Bridge in the Florida coast — Old Railroad Bridge

An huge (to me) iguana was a frequent visitor at our site. My husband gave him some sweet potato. I stayed away.

Florida Keys Iguana — Our Visiting Iguana

Dinner was at our campsite with our friends who were camping with us, followed by a game of Mexican Train. It was a rainy evening, so we did not leave the campground.

Key West

We drove to Key West for our next full day. The weather had turned cold and wet. We stood in line for about 15 minutes to get a photo of the marker for the Southernmost Point in the continental U.S. Cuba is only 90 miles away and we were told that on a clear night you can see its lights. A couple in our campground planned to take a flight there that included meals and a tour for $900 each. That’s a little too rich for my blood.

The Southernmost Point of the Florida Coast — The Southernmost Point

The Truman Little White House

My favorite part of the day was a visit to the Truman Little White House, but getting there was quite challenging. Parking was nonexistent except for a few lots and traffic was very heavy. Then, there was quite a walk through a neighborhood to get to the house, which has a very interesting history. However, I really loved what we learned about Truman on the tour. We have not yet visited the Truman Library, so it was good to learn about him personally and his accomplishments. The guide was excellent! Also, it was inside and away from the cold and rain.

We had a delicious lunch at Blue Heaven. Though it was late in the afternoon on a cold, rainy day, there was still a wait of about 20 minutes. The food was good though.

We tried to visit the Hemingway House, but they only accepted cash, which we did not have with us. So, we walked around a bit and bought some macaroons at a nearby bakery. We were back at our campsite before dark. Old folks!

The next morning, we said goodbye to our camping friends and were on our own for the remainder of the trip.

The Everglades

Our Everglades home for three nights was Long Pine Key Campground in Everglades National Park. Though it was dry camping, the campground was excellent. The roads were paved and the sites were roomy with pretty vegetation. The bathhouse and separate restrooms were nice and well-maintained. There is also a dump station and fresh water available. It was inexpensive at $24 a night. So, on our first afternoon, we cooked hot dogs and enjoyed all the birds that came to visit, including a pair of cardinals. It was so peaceful!

The Miami Connection

Last year, we visited Miami on a non-camping trip and I got a short haircut that I loved. Wanting to obtain another magical cut, I contacted the same hairdresser and arranged for her to cut my hair again. So, we drove approximately an hour to Miami Beach and I had the same lady cut my hair. It was not the worst haircut I have ever had, but still, it was pretty bad. So disappointing!

Afterwards, we had a nice Italian meal outside at Mercado Della Pescheria on lively Española Way. The meal was good and the people watching was pretty interesting as well.

Lunch on Española Way — Late lunch at Mercado Della Pescheria

Exploring the Glades

Our second full day was all about exploring the National Park. We took a short walk on a nearby trail. It would be great for bikes, but was a little boring to walk. There were bikes available for rent in the campground.

However, we decided our time could best be spent driving the 35 miles south to Flamingo, which is at the bottom of Florida and the Everglades. There is a campground there and we checked it out. It has full hookups, but is not nearly as nice as Long Pine.

Along the way, stopped at Mrazek Pond, one of many in the area. It was teaming with wildlife.

Flamingo

Flamingo was rather lively. There was a a marina and you could take boat rides. We got hamburgers at a food truck. When I got up to throw away the containers, a large crow grabbed the strap on my camera and attempted to fly away with it. He didn’t get far and my husband was chasing him, but my camera dropped on the concrete. It seems to be working though.

The excitement continued when we had the opportunity to see a crocodile pretty close. He was just sunning himself on the shore. I personally think my husband was a little too close.

Lastly, we visited the beach. The water was very shallow and calm. The color was different from what we have seen elsewhere along the Florida coast. It was kind of a mint green—rather strange, but pretty in its own way.

The weather was fabulous while we were in the Everglades, so we did not miss having an air conditioner. Mosquitos were my biggest fear, but they were not bad at all. That was probably because we were there at the end of February. In conclusion, we loved this stop on our trip.

Tomeka State Park

Our last stop along the Florida coast was Tomeka State Park at Ormond Beach. It has an amazing canopy of live oaks nestled between the Tomeka and the Halifax rivers. The campground was beautiful and there was a lot to do and see nearby.

We had an excellent meal at nearby Hulls Seafood. Another winner in the area is Donnie’s Donuts. Both were recommended by the park ranger. Needless to say, we both gained some weight on this trip.

The Casements

Sadly, we only had one full day in the area. The summer home of John D. Rockefeller, the Casements, was our first stop. The tour was free, donations requested. We really enjoyed it. The house has an interesting history and there was also lots to learn about Rockefeller.

We had Thai food for lunch and spent our afternoon at the Battle of Dunlawton Plantation. It was another free activity that offered the history of a plantation during the second Seminole War in 1836. Some of the equipment used for sugar production still stands. This eclectic site also has lovely and whimsical gardens.

This was a wonderful stop on our trip and the community of Ormond Beach spoke to me. I would like to return someday.

Conclusion

We were so blessed to be able to take this trip along the Florida coast! But, when it was time to go, I had been sick for months with a respiratory infection. I was on my sixth round of antibiotics and my doctor said if I didn’t get better, I would need intravenous antibiotics in the hospital.

We departed with just a few days of antibiotics remaining and me with a considerable cough, not knowing if we would have to return early. I am happy to say that steadily I became better in the warm, sunny Florida climate. It was such a great trip!

Sanitize the Fresh Water System on the T@B 400

Why Sanitize the Fresh Water System

You should sanitize the fresh water system in your camper at least once a year. It is important for several reasons.

Firstly, it helps keep the lines and tank fresh.
Secondly, it discourages the growth of bacteria that can contaminate the water supply and create illness.
Lastly, it is important to protect the water pump. NüCamp recommends annual sanitation of the water system as well in the T@B 400 Manual.

When to Sanitize the Fresh Water System

This is a task that can be performed anytime, however, developing a routine is good so that it doesn’t get forgotten. I think a good time is when getting the camper ready for a new season. We plan to do this annually as we dewinterize our camper.

The Sanitation Process

All you need is a large flexible funnel, a one-gallon container, and some household bleach. Oh, and lots of water!

Sanitation of fresh water — Pour diluted bleach using a funnel

Begin with an empty water tank and ensure that the hot water heater is not on.
Pour 1/2 cup of bleach into a gallon container and then fill the container with water. (One quarter cup of bleach is needed for every 15 gallons of water and the T@B 400 water tank holds 30 gallons.). Pour the diluted bleach mixture into the fresh water tank using a funnel.
Fill the fresh water tank with water. Next, turn on the water pump and turn on each of the faucets to allow the bleach mixture to distribute to all areas. Then, turn off the pump and faucets.
Allow the bleach mixture to sit in the fresh water system for a minimum of three hours or as long as overnight. You need this because it takes time to sanitize the system.
After allowing the mixture to sit in the system, fully drain the fresh water tank.
Next, refill the water tank with fresh water and turn on the water pump. This will refill the hot water tank.
Now you are ready to turn on all the faucets to bring the fresh water through.
Continue to flush water through the faucets even after the bleach smell has subsided. More is actually good in this case.
Finally, you have sanitized your fresh water system!

While camping, we always take a Brita water filter. It removes several undesirable elements from the water, including the odor and taste of chlorine. I highly recommend using something like the Brita to eliminate any residual bleach effects.

The Hot Water Bypass Valve

While you should bypass the hot water tank when pumping antifreeze into the fresh water system, it is not needed for the sanitation process. In fact, you want to include the hot water tank in the sanitation process. Therefore, the valve should not be set to bypass.

Conclusion

We hope this post has been helpful to you! Check out our page, Camping Resources for New Teardrop Campers for more tips on teardrop camping.

Happy Camping!

Year Three of Retirement, Still Loving It

Year Three of Retirement

Year three of retirement looked a lot like one and two. The time went by so quickly! It is a bit scary how easy it has been to adapt to a very relaxed lifestyle. I still love that we can basically sleep as much as we like. However, we do like getting up early to maximize sunshine. I can’t seem to get enough of that.

My husband and I are together 24/7 and most of the time it is fine, but sometimes we get on each other’s nerves. But, he is still my best friend and I can’t imagine doing this retirement thing with anyone besides him.

Family

It is good to be able to spend as much time as possible with family. Our grandchildren are in their teens and beyond now. We had another grandson graduate high school this year. Even our great grandchildren are no longer babies. The passage of time is so easily seen through our grandchildren and especially our great grandchildren.

Our son got married, so we have a new daughter. But, they moved out of the country this year. They are happy and we are happy for them, but hope we will continue to see them often. This year, they visited several times and we were very grateful.

Travel

Our favorite retirement pastime is traveling. This year we traveled by plane, train, coach, and camper. All were a blast! We know that our ability to travel can end abruptly at any time, so we cherish this time of mobility and exploration.

Camping in the 400

Most of our traveling time was in our T@B 400, which we had for the entire year. We took one fabulous 3,000-mile trip, Long Summer Trip 2019, with Friends Old and New , that included a üCamp Rally, five new states to add to our map, an island with wild horses, Shenandoah National Park, and the gorgeous Outer Banks.

Year Three of Retirement Big Camping Trip — Our Big Camping Trip

We attended our second üCamp and it was so much fun despite quite a bit of rain and muddy conditions. This rally left us even more impressed with nüCamp as an RV brand.

Winklepleck Grove Campground — Winklepleck Grove, the site of üCamp 19

The T@B 400 really increased our comfort while camping. It performed beautifully for our five week long trip and some smaller ones. We sold our T@G early in the year and it was sad to see it go, but we love the 400. No regrets whatsoever!

Third year of retirement camping — Comfortable in our 400

A highlight of our trip was seeing wild horses in our campsite at Assateague Island. It was so exciting to see them.

Wild horses at Assateague Island — Wild horses in our campsite

The Outer Banks were even more beautiful than anticipated. We were in a small campground in Rodanthe and were blessed to experience the most beautiful sunsets over the sound.

Many of our camping trips were with groups. We camped a couple of times with our friends from dancing and a couple of our camping trips were with the Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs and Friends. We also attended the Tiny Christmas Campout for the third time.

Winter Getaway to Miami

Miami was our winter getaway for this third year of retirement and it was more fun than we could have imagined. We stayed at the Dream Hotel in Miami Beach, which was in a fabulous location. It was a couple of blocks from legendary Ocean Drive and the Beach. The weather was clear, warm, and sunny during our entire stay.

Tear three of retirement in Miami Beach — Beautiful Miami Beach

We tried to take in all the local sights of interest to us including Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Wynwood Walls, the Holocaust Memorial, Little Havana, and the Wolfsonian Museum. We also took a bus tour of the city and one to the Everglades for an airboat ride.

Lastly, Miami gave me one of my favorite short haircuts ever. I spent the rest of the year trying in vain to find someone local to replicate it.

The United Kingdom

This was our first trip to Europe since retirement and it did not disappoint. We booked a Collette tour through Alabama Public Television. Collette Tours has become our favorite guided tour company. This tour had two spectacular inclusions that are not always available, Highclere Castle (the Downton Abbey site) and the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, Scotland. Both were wonderful beyond words.

Military Tatoo — Military Tattoo in Edinburgh Scotland

I have wanted to visit the UK for many years and this was truly a dream vacation.

A Train Ride to NOLA

We traveled by train to New Orleans in May with our Viking Dance Group. It was our first time to travel by train in the United States. We loved being able to hang out with our Viking friends while visiting this historic city. It was quite lively because our hotel, the Saint Marie, is in the French Quarter.

Year Three of Retirement in Jackson Square — Jackson Square

Dancing

I am sad to say that our ballroom dancing has fallen by the wayside a bit. It declined over the years as my husband’s knee issues progressed and we have forgotten much of what we knew. I hope to revive it some in 2020.

Fortunately, we did attend some dances, including our Viking group’s Leadout. The theme this year was “Around the World in 40 Songs.” Everyone dressed to represent a country and ours was Scotland. My husband’s legs were the focus of much attention. He is a bold man!

Third year of retirement Viking 2019 Leadout — Viking 2019 Leadout

Year Three of Retirement Health Issues

This year was our healthiest one to date because I fought respiratory issues for three months the first year and my husband’s had knee issues and then pulmonary embolisms which made it quite challenging. In year two I was good, but knee replacement occurred for my husband and it was not easy.

While this year provided more mobility for my husband, I learned that bronchiectasis is the reason for my decades old respiratory issues. I started getting sick in late October and ended the year still trying to get over the repeated infections. However, I have high hope for a Kirklin Clinic specialist I am seeing in January.

Conclusion

This third year of retirement, 2019, was truly wonderful. It was not perfect or without its challenges, but it was wonderful to be able to live this year as we did and especially to be together. Time is passing though and nothing is guaranteed for tomorrow. As a plaque of mine says, “Dream as if you’ll live forever, Live as if you’ll die tomorrow.”

Three Years of Retirement — Anniversary Dinner

Cold Weather Camping in North Carolina

Cold Weather Camping

Cold weather camping can be tricky because of uncertain temperatures and the necessity to prevent water from freezing in the camper. Our trip was in mid-November to North Carolina with the Southeast T@B group. Ironically, we experienced temperatures in the high nineties just a couple of weeks prior.

We had been tracking our local weather and the weather in Apex, where we would be camping. It became clear that temperatures in the teens would be occurring in our home area a couple of days before we left, so we had to winterize our camper. However, we wanted to use our water system camping in Apex and it would be above freezing while we were there. So, we used the blowout method for winterization and filled our fresh water tank while on the road. If freezing temperatures had continued on our trip, we would left our camper winterized.

Crosswinds Campground

Our group had a nice representation at Crosswinds Campground, despite the weather. There were approximately 10 campers from our group. The campground is very nice with an immaculate, heated bathhouse. We kept our campsite pretty basic because rain and high winds were expected.

Cold weather camping at Crosswinds — C Loop Site #27

Southeastern T@B Group

It was good to see several friends with whom we have camped before and to meet new people. The weather impeded some activities, but we were still able to spend some quality time with group members. There was a meet and greet by a campfire one night and a potluck on another. We also met several in the group for an early dinner out at nearby Al’s Burger Shack. The weather was good enough one day to allow for a brief hike with a few from the group. We really enjoy camping with these people!

Cold weather camping and potluck — Group Potluck

Cold Weather Outside Activities

Cold weather camping also means that it is more likely to be unpleasant outside. Two of our days were windy, cold and/or rainy. We went to nearby Raleigh one of those days. I needed a refill on antibiotics for an upper respiratory issue and Raleigh’s CVS took care of my meds. I was happy to have that done as I was beginning to feel quite unwell.

Because we have visited this area before, North Carolina Camping, Mountain, City, and Coast, we had seen several of its major attractions. So, on this very cold and windy day, we visited one of its lesser attractions, the City of Raleigh Museum. It is a small museum, but indoors and free! I enjoyed a display on “A History of Political Cartoons”, featuring the career of Dwane Powell. It gave me a new appreciation for the craft.

Political Satire — “Mom Begged Aunt Myrtle”, November 2000

Dinner in Raleigh

We topped off our day in Raleigh by meeting Kevin and Gloria, a couple we have known for a couple of years, at a new trendy Raleigh Food Court, Morgan Street Food Hall. They have just about every food you can imagine. The food was good, but pricey for what you get. It was good to spend time with Kevin and Gloria.

Camping Drama

Our last day camping, most everyone from our group had left and it was a rainy day. We planned a movie and dinner out. Leaving the campground, we encountered a truck whose driver was behaving suspiciously. The driver was going slowly through the campground and stopping as various campsites. We felt that our campsite was at risk in this mostly deserted campground, so we followed the truck. The driver continued to behave suspiciously and because the entrance to the park was not manned, we called the number associated with the park. The said they would send someone. When we returned, we met a ranger and we told him we were the ones who called. Was it paranoia or a real threat? We will never know.

What’s Next

While we enjoyed this trip with our SE camping group, it was a long way to travel and the weather was far less than ideal. However, it was a bit of an adventure.

Our next trip is Pensacola and the Tiny Christmas Campout.

Happy Camping!

T@B 400 Modification and Third Year Camping

T@B 400 Modification

We began our third year of camping with a nüCamp T@B 400 Boondock Lite and we love it! I have provided a link to the NüCamp T@B 400. It is fantastic camper, as was our previous nüCamp product, a T@G MAX XL. The 400 was designed with a lot of input from owners. Consequently, we did not need much in the way of T@B 400 modification. We only made a few changes and most were in the front storage compartment.

Lever on Storage Compartment

My husband saw a Storage compartment lever on a later 400 model that was not on ours. It holds the lid open with a shock. We obtained the part at ùCamp 19 and my husband installed it. It makes it much easier to use the storage compartment.

400 modification Lever for Storage Lid — Storage Compartment Lever

Enclosed Back of Compartment

The front storage compartment was totally open on the back, which could allow small items to slip through. We don’t carry a lot of small items in there, but wanted the option to do so. My husband added a piece of metal with holes throughout so the area would be ventilated.

400 Modification Back Panel — Back Panel for Storage Compartment

400 Modification, 2nd Propane Tank

For future boondocking, we wanted an additional propane tank, especially since our storage compartment is large enough hold it. We had our dealer, Bankston, add the tank and holder while our camper was there for a replacement to a window shade.

400 Modification Extra Propane Tank — Extra Propane Tank

400 Modification-Zamp Connector

We purchased a Zamp Solar Suitcase when we had our T@G. However, the T@B 400 does not come with a Zamp connection. Because we hope to do more boondocking using the Zamp, my husband installed the connection. I was very worried about putting a hole in our brand new camper, but he did an amazing job. We have a separate post with step-by-step photos on how he did it: Zamp Connector Added to our New Camper.

New United States Map

We attached our previous United States map to our T@G and we sold it last year. So, we bought a new one just like our old one and filled in the states in which we have camped in both of our campers. Somehow, I find it gratifying filling in that map.

States visited — States Visited by Year Three

Camper Name

Our new camper has the same name as our first camper. The T@G was named Endeavor, so the 400 became Endeavor II. The T@G’s name was on the back , but that did not work with the 400. We settled on the front of the 400 for the name and I think it looks pretty good.

I ordered the letters from DIY Lettering . It was easy to install and only $25. We also added the blog’s URL in smaller letters on the side of the camper for $24.

400 Modification, Endeavor II — Endeavor II

400 Modification Not Done

In life, you can’t have everything. We wanted the platform that we see on many T@Gs and T@Bs because it is really nice for storage. I asked the experts at nüCamp about adding it to our 400 while we were in Ohio. Sadly, they did not recommend adding the platform to our model despite the fact that our vehicle can handle a tongue weight of 900 pounds.

We can’t install the platform because our air conditioner is at the front of our camper, which could make the tongue weight too heavy relative to the overall weight of the camper if we added much weight on the platform. The air conditioner for the 2020 model 400 was moved to the back of the camper and it allows the platform to be added. The tongue weight of our 2019 model is 465, while the 2020 model is only 372 pounds.

Warranty Replacement

This was not a modification, but it is something altered on our camper. The shade on our front window became somewhat difficult to close soon after we bought the camper. It bunched up in one side at the bottom. It would only close correctly if done very slowly.

Our dealer, Bankston RV, confirmed that our shade had some issues and a different one was currently being used. Bankston ordered the replacement and installed it. It lowers much easier now. However, because the shade is so large and we want to keep the folds crisp, we keep it down when in our storage facility.

Camping Trips

All of our trips were in our new T@B 400 for this third year of camping. We took five trips and traveled 5,988 miles for a total of 63 nights in the camper. One trip was quite long with 35 nights and we took two trips each at ten and four nights. All our camping was with groups except the trips to new states. This was great because we really like camping with friends.

We have a goal to camp in all fifty states. I am happy to say that we added six new states this year to our map: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland. Additionally, we camped in Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, and Florida, though not for the first time. Can you tell I was an accountant?

Now Camping Year 4 Begins!

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