Camping and Retirement Blog - Page 3 of 18

Oregon Camping, Summer 2023

Oregon Camping

Oregon camping trip far exceeded my expectations! We were looking forward to this new state, but had no idea how wonderful it would be. For instance, Oregon State Parks (Fort Steven’s, Cape Blanco and Ainsworth) were great because there was so much to see within and near the parks. Also, Crater Lake and Multnomah Falls are a couple of the most beautiful places we have seen in the United States. Lastly, temperatures were cool while much of the country was under extreme heat.

Fort Steven’s State Park

Fort Steven’s State Park was our favorite park on this trip. It is on the coast and is just across a bridge from the quaint town, Astoria. There are a few small municipalities very near the park, so the location was convenient. We actually got an oil change there and a guy servicing our truck gave me a cutting of a spider plant. It made it back to our house alive after sixteen stops.

The campground is enormous with sixteen loops. We had an electric and water site on loop O. The campground includes a historic fort, a lake, an interesting shipwreck, and a beautiful beach.

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

Our campground was just a short drive from Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. It was a small park that has a Visitor Center with some nice exhibits and a film. The park included a replica of a fort built by Lewis and Clark to survive the winter. A ranger, dressed in period clothing, told a story related to the time there.

The Oregon coast was the final destination of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition and the park commemorates it. It also has a lot of interesting information about the expedition. Travel is so educational!

“Arrival”. They accomplished their goal!

The Historic Fort

The historic fort included old military buildings and some exhibits. There were gun batteries in position towards the water. I had never heard that the Japanese fired upon the US during WWII, but Fort Steven’s is where this occurred. The land and water around the fort was beautiful and we saw about four or five elk in the wild.

The Beach

The beach in the park is rocky and lovely near the jetty. It was also quite windy.

There is an area where the coast includes a sandy beach and quite a few people were there. It is also where a very large ship, the Peter Iredale, wrecked on the coast in 1906. The sea has certainly done much to reclaim the ship.

This was probably the best campground during our entire trip. The only downside was that we heard some strange noises one morning and it appears that one of the many strange-looking squirrels in the park was somewhere in the engine of our truck. It freaked us out! My husband examined it. The squirrel had pulled out a piece of insulation, but no other issues arose. For our next several stops, we put lights out around the perimeter of the truck.

Ainsworth State Park

We had three nights booked at Ainsworth State Park in Corbett, Oregon to visit Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge. As we drove through Portland on our route, we were astounded to clearly see the enormous mountain in the photo below. I learned that it was Mount Hood, elevation 11,250 feet. I thought we would be able to enjoy seeing it for the next couple of days. Sadly, driving through that day was the only sighting.

Mount Hood was very visible as we headed for Multnomah Falls

The Falls

Multnomah Falls was just a few miles from our campground and it did not disappoint. We couldn’t see it on our first attempt because we didn’t start early enough. It was the weekend before July 4th and we began at 10 am. However, there was no available parking near Multnomah Falls or the popular Vista House. We were able to see some of the less popular views and waterfalls, but not those two spots. So, we got up early the next morning and were able to enjoy the falls and Vista House without the crowds. It was wonderful!

Oregon camping near Multnomah Falls — The majestic Multnomah Falls

Historic Columbia River Highway

The Historic Columbia River Highway opened in 1916 and was designed like the great scenic roads of Europe. One goal was to recognize the natural beauty along the route. A modern highway, Interstate 84, has replaced it for transportation, but sections of it remain open and it draws hoards of visitors every year.

The early morning photo below was the view from Vista House, at Crown Point. It was built in 1916 originally as a rest stop for travelers on the historic highway. Much care was taken to make it beautiful with an outstanding view. The Columbia River and valley below were mesmerizing.

The vast Columbia River in the early morning

Vista House is in the distance in the photo below. It was taken from the Women’s Forum Viewpoint. The photo was taken on the day that crowds made it impossible to see. It was closed the next day when we visited.

Oregon Camping in Eugene

Our stay two night stay at Deerwood RV in Eugene was on July 3rd and 4th. It had been getting warmer as we traveled south and while in Eugene it was in the mid-nineties. Fortunately, they switched us to a shady site that helped tremendously with the heat. The campground was very nice with so many beautiful flowers.

Oregon camping at Deerwood RV in Eugene — Shady site at Deerwood RV

Eugene Activities

We had hoped to do some things in Eugene, but most attractions and many restaurants were closed for the holiday. So, our experience with Eugene included a popular noodle restaurant and a grocery store.

Mount Pisgah Aboreum

Mount Pisgah Aboreum was open though and was nearby. It was nice, but very hot. We took a walk on a shady trail to the water where many locals were swimming.

The holiday proved to be relatively quiet in the campground. We had a nice meal with our next door neighbors, Marty and Becky from California. That plus doing some laundry was our holiday.

Cape Blanco State Park

Cape Blanco was our third Oregon State Park and it was excellent as well. We had moved further south, but back to the coast. I was thinking that we could be laying on the beach there. Not!! It was actually cold, windy, and raining. We did not expect weather like this! Our site was nice, shady and near the bathhouse and we were warm and cozy in our Lance. The campground is tucked well into the forest.

The Beach

The beach was equally unexpected. We first visited an area accessible inside the campground. Great amounts of driftwood lay against the bottom of the cliffs like a massive stack of bones. People can drive their vehicles down there and my husband initially considered it. But, I dissuaded him by telling him how dirty it would get. A truck was down there and, for a moment, it looked like they might become stuck. But, they finally made it back up. A host told us that it costs $1,000 just for someone to come out there if a vehicle gets stuck. We certainly didn’t need any of that.

The Lighthouse

It was incredibly windy at the lighthouse. This part of the Oregon coast is the most westerly. Perhaps this explains why it is colder and much more windy than the more northern shores. The lighthouse is the oldest standing one in Oregon, dating back to 1870. It is still operational. We took a tour and went inside, but could not go to the top.

The shore around the lighthouse is very rocky and windy, but quite beautiful.

The Hughes Homestead

The Hughes Historic Homestead is also within the park. We took a tour and learned that the Hughes settled the land that they obtained through the Homestead Act. They were very successful dairy farmers. Most importantly, their land became what is now Cape Blanco State Park.

Crater Lake National Park

We spent two nights at Crater Lake RV in Prospect, Oregon to visit Crater Lake National Park. The campground is very convenient to Crater Lake and the small town of Prospect was fun to visit. While we were there, we did laundry at the campground and had meals at Prospect Pizza and Beckie’s Cafe. It was an awesome stop and included the most natural beauty we saw on our trip.

The Lake

Crater Lake was breathtaking to see. The deep blue color is like no other I have encountered. The lake is almost two thousand feet deep and is the deepest lake in the United States. It is only feed by rain and snow. It gets plenty of snow because Park Headquarters averages 42 feet of snow per year. The lake is actually the shell of a collapsed volcano that erupted almost eight thousand years ago.

We arrived early in the morning to beat the crowds. I highly recommend going early because we got a sense of how crowded it becomes as we were leaving. It was also wonderful to see the lake in the early morning light.

Though we were visiting in mid-July, there was still snow in the area. The lake elevation level is approximately six thousand feet and any time I was very active, I was reminded of the high elevation.

Rogue River

The Rogue River is the most beautiful river I have ever seen. Our viewing of it included waterfalls and a natural bridge. The water is a tropical looking aqua color and is crystal clear. It is in the Siskiyou National Forest and there is a lovely area that has multiple easy-to-access places to view the river. All I can say is, “Wow!” The beauty of Crater Lake and the Rouge River made this the best overall stop on our Oregon camping adventure.

Oregon Camping in Burns

Our last stop was just a one night travel stop in Burns. We did not see anything in the city or have any meals there, but we did enjoy the countryside along the way. The roads were still curvy and mountainous, but the green of the forest was no longer present. Still beautiful though, just different.

We weren’t crazy about our site at the RV Park because it was awkward to park and near a pretty grungy bathhouse with some stored rvs. There was a nicer area, but they were full hookups, which we didn’t need for one night.

Oregon camping in Burns — Site #14 at Burn RV

The best thing about our time at the RV park was the sunset. This was across the street from us. It wasn’t a bad end to our Oregon camping adventure.

Oregon camping with a beautiful sunset — A beautiful sunset

Oregon Camping Conclusion

To sum up our Oregon Camping experience, it was perhaps the best state we visited on this trip. The State Parks were all above average and Crater Lake was perhaps the most spectacular natural beauty that I have seen. The people we encountered were all nice and the weather was more comfortable than many places on our journey. The driving, however, was very challenging with curvy mountain roads, relatively high speed limits, and a few crazy drivers. But, all things considered, we highly recommend a visit to this beautiful state! Check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource if interested in more of our travels.

Happy and safe travels!

Washington Camping, Summer Trip 2023

Washington Camping

The thought of camping in Washington seems like being on the other side of the world to us because we live in Alabama. Parts of it are over 2,600 miles from home, so we tried to see everything possible during our time there. We camped in two state parks, two National campgrounds, and a Harvest Host. The highlights of our time in Washington were its two National Parks, Rainier and Olympic. We visited cities of Seattle, Tacoma, and Federal Way, plus the small towns of Packwood, Orchard Bay, Bremerton, and Kitsap. It was a whirlwind, but we loved our time in this beautiful state.

Trinity Gardens Lavender Farm

Our first night of Washington camping was a one-night stopover in the small town of Quincy at a Harvest Host. It was a pleasant with rows of lavender and mountains as our view. The hosts provided a flat gravel site and we were the only ones there. It was dry camping, but we managed fine as it was not hot. We purchased a few lavender products as repayment for our stay.

Washington camping in Quincy — Flowing Fields of Lavender

It was very windy while we were there, but the area was lovely. They also are a venue for weddings.

Dash Point State Park

Next, we visited Dash State Park, located on Puget Sound. It is very lush and green. The park was quite shady and the temperatures while we were there were nice. The park is located next to several cities, so there was a lot to do.

Washington camping at Dash State Park — Tall, green Douglas Firs made this park special

There is a very shaded trail to the beach that I did with our pup. The trail was wet and slippery in places. Going down wasn’t bad, but I called my husband to pick us up instead of hiking back.

The beach was a surprise to me. It appeared that the water was low. It was too cold and windy for the water, despite it being mid-June.

Because the campground is close to Seattle, we took a day trip and visited Pike Place Market. It is massive with much of it underground. We had the best New England chowder ever at Pike Place Chowder. They have won lots of awards and there was quite a line.

A day trip to Seattle and Pike Place Market

Next, we had a scenic dinner on the water. I had some wild-caught salmon, which is a Washington must have.

Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier was on our bucket list and we stayed two nights at Silver Springs Campground near the park. It was dry camping in the middle of the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Big trees and lots of shade made it cool in the daytime, but we needed heat at night.

Washington camping at Silver Springs Campground — Dry camping at Site #45 Silver Springs Campground

There wasn’t much nearby and it was nice to spend a couple of days away from crowds and concrete.

Washington camping near Mount Rainier — Majestic Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier, at an altitude of 14,411, is the most glaciated mountain in the lower 48 states. It is also an active volcano with 25 named glaciers. The Paradise Visitor Center was the highest elevation that we could access. Another area has a higher altitude, but it was not yet open while we were there.

We saw several waterfalls. I hiked to the bottom of Narada Falls. It wasn’t bad, but I was wishing I had my hiking poles because it was slippery. Since I didn’t fall, it was worth it.

Rainier and the surrounding peaks were all around, so it was a very scenic drive. Temperatures were mild to chilly, depending on the altitude.

Manchester State Park

Our next Washington camping was at Manchester State Park,also on Puget Sound. It was the nicest Washington campground on our trip because it was very well-maintained and beautiful. It seemed somewhat tropical with enormous trees and ferns. We had a dry camping site one night and water and electric for the next.

There wasn’t a lot to do in the area, but we enjoyed a slower pace for a couple of days.

The water on the sound was very pretty and there were lots of wildlife.

We saw some really cute geese.

Olympic National Park

Lastly, Olympic Park was our last Washington stop. We just had one night in the area, but it was enough time considering we are not able to do any serious hiking.

One problem was happily solved. We didn’t fit into our site in the campground where we had reservations. Miraculously, a spot was available in the RV Park. Disaster averted! It was tiny, but it worked for us.

Washington camping at Sol Duc. — Our smallest site ever #3

Crescent Lake is a big attraction at Olympic Park. It is very beautiful.

The Lodge is right next to the RV Park. We spent a couple of hours in the saltwater pools there. We also had a delicious breakfast there.

Hot Springs and a delicious breakfast were had there

Washington Camping, In Conclusion

Washington wasn’t exactly what I was expecting because it was more beautiful than I had imagined. It was so green! But, the driving was far worse than expected with weary curvy, mountainous roads and locals who are accustomed to going faster than we felt capable towing a trailer. My poor husband had to do it all because he is a much better driver. Despite that, I am so glad we had the opportunity to see this beautiful state!

If you would like to read about our other adventures, check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Safe travels!

Trip Interrupted – Winter 2023

Trip Interrupted

Until it was was interrupted near its end, our Winter 2023 trip was wonderful. We were revisiting very nice campgrounds and having a fantastic time. After more than six years of traveling without incident, I guess we were due for a bit of heartbreak. We missed the last three stops. More about that later, but first, the good part of our trip.

The Good Part

We had five weeks of smooth sailing in five campgrounds that we have previously visited. Though the weather wasn’t always great, it was good overall and we loved our time camping.

Topsail Hill State Park

Two weeks in site #55 at Topsail State Park on Santa Rosa Island was glorious! The weather was almost perfect and there was lots to do in the area.

Kith and Kin, a coffeehouse at the park, had live music on one of the nights we were there. The music was pretty good. The place also had some killer pastries and we frequently stopped there.

One great thing about Topsail was that is is fantastic for riding bikes. We rode our bikes almost every day and the frequency got me much more comfortable on my bike.

We bought our pup a trailer made by Dutch Dog with high hopes of her enjoying biking with us like she enjoys camping. It did not quite work out that way. She didn’t like it, so her trips had to be sort with bribes of bully sticks.

A day trip to nearby Eden Gardens State Park was a nice break. It was lovely with a historic house, beautiful grounds, and gorgeous flowers.

The private beach at Topsail is our favorite thing about the park. The water was clear and beautiful. The sunsets were spectacular! We rode our bikes to the beach at sunset on one occasion and it was our first ride in the nearly dark. Slightly scary for me.

While in the area we shopped at Bealls and had some excellent meals. Our favorite restaurants were Shunk Gully, Dewey Destin’s, Stinky’s Fish Camp, and Cappriccio Cafe.

Port Saint Joe

Though it was weeks before our trip was interrupted, our week in Port Saint Joe at Presnell’s was a mixed bag because of the weather. We like the area because it is not highly developed and has a lot of natural beauty. Also, our site was right on the water.

Every morning, we were able to see egrets from our back window. This was true in good and bad weather.

A storm came through while we were there that made a couple of our days merely a hunker down experience. But, the storm free days were glorious.

The storm brought 30 mph winds, gusting to 50 mph. Opening the trailer door was a real challenge because it felt like the wind would tear it out of our hands. I have to say, two days with that kind of weather and being confined to a small trailer was not our best time.

Biking in the campground was somewhat limited, but we really liked riding the bike lane at Cape San Blas. We actually rode our bikes along Highway 30A to get to the cape on one of our rides. The speed limit was 55 with lots of traffic. It was very much a white-knuckle ride for me! The next time, we drove to the area with the bikes.

There are some nice restaurants in the area. Our favorites were Peppers Mexican Grill, Shipwreck, and Provisions Restaurant.

Eastbank COE

Eastbank COE is located near the intersection of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. There is not a lot to do in the area, but the campground is top-notch. The sites are large and our site was right on Lake Seminole. We were there for six nights.

The sunsets are beautiful on the lake and we had a great view from our campsite.

Most of our time was spent in the campground. We rode our bikes and took Sophie on lots of walks.

We made a day trip to Tallahassee to visit the State Capital. Florida has preserved its historic capital that was built in 1845 while having an ultra modern building across from it that serves the state’s business today. Lunch was at nearby Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grill. Delicious! We also had a couple of excellent meals near our campground at The American.

Manatee Springs State Park

We had absolutely no cell service at our campsite at Manatee Springs, no phone calls-nothing. I was going into electronic withdrawal. But there was a great signal at the concession stand. So, phone calls and e-mail made me feel better. We had a nice site with a bit of shade.

There is a beautiful boardwalk that overlooks the Suwannee River. We rented a couple of kayaks and were able to see two manatees.

Kayaking before our trip was interrupted — Kayaks and a close view of a manatee

The park has some great bike trails and we had a bit of an adventure. We took a wrong turn on a late afternoon ride and it was beginning to get dark. I always go to worst case scenario and was imagining spending the night in the woods. A dog chased us too! Happily, we made it out while there was still some light and saw a group of about ten deer.

Hillsborough River State Park

Hillsborough River is a frequent stop for us because it is near our family in St. Petersburg. We left the camper for a couple of nights and stayed in St. Pete with our family. It was a great visit with them.

While in the area, we checked out the new Rad store. It was new and shiny and we got to see all the Rad bike models.

Our son and daughter-in-law took us on a boat ride on the Intracoastal Waterway. It is a beautiful area and was so much fun to be out on the water. The day was perfect with clear skies.

It was so nice to feel the sea air on our faces. While on the boat, we had Cuban sandwiches from Barracuda Deli. They were absolutely the best I have ever tasted.

While in St. Pete, we also had a great lunch at The Lure and a fantastic dinner at Thai Prajamm.

Our stop at Hillsborough River was great, mostly because of the quality time we were able to spend with family. However, our time in the campground was also good. We rode bikes and had a very peaceful stay.

Good times before our trip was interrupted — Our pup loves being on the water

Trip Interrupted- The Bad Part

The bad part of our trip was not all bad, but we had a very stressful experience that ended up being very costly.

Ocala North RV Park

We had a two night stay booked at Ocala North. The park is very nice with lots of amenities, including a heated pool, multiple dog parks, pickle ball courts, bingo, etc. We didn’t think we would have much time to enjoy the amenities, but our interrupted trip morphed to eight nights and three different sites in the park.

This is where our trip was interrupted

It was to be a “take care of business” stay. On our one full day, we did laundry, gave the dog a bath, and I got a haircut. Then a “Check Engine” light came on in our 2021 2500 Ram.

Phillips Dodge Ocala

Phillip’s Dodge Ram was surprisingly a very good part of this stop. We rolled into their service center in the late afternoon. They were kind enough to check and see what our code’s indicated. We dealt with Derek and Ryan and they were fantastic! The codes indicted three parts, including the engine computer. They ordered the parts and when they arrived a few days later, they immediately began to install them.

We were preparing to head home when we got a call from them. When they pulled the transmission pan to install the parts, they discovered metal fragments that indicated that the transmission needed to be replaced. Phillips was great in filing a claim for a transmission under warranty. We only had 22 thousand miles on the truck.

Getting Home

So, we had to figure out a way to get our 25 foot trailer home. Manny at Enterprise Truck had a truck we could rent. It was a Ram2500, but a gas burner. He first wanted us to bring it back to Ocala because he needed it there, but as we talked, he decided to let us turn it in to the Birmingham location. This made our difficult situation much better. Enterprise Truck Rental at Ocala and Birmingham were very helpful and professional.

Canceled Stops

We had stops at Hanna Park Campground, Skidaway Island State Park, and Hunting Island that had to be canceled. Hunting Island was especially sad because it was with a group we have camped with for many years. Instead, we headed home with our rental truck.

The Good in the Bad

There was a lot not to like because of the issue with the truck. It was extremely stressful and expensive. The stress was ongoing for a couple of weeks and we both had elevated blood pressure. We lost funds on campground cancellations and had significant fuel costs and hotel bills coming back to pick up the Ram.

Despite the negative aspects, we dealt with really nice people and businesses. Our experience with Phillips Dodge was above and beyond our interactions with other dealerships. Enterprise Truck was also good and Ocala RV found spots for us as we extended our stay.

Lastly, we met some really nice people. Our last neighbors, Michael and Angie were wonderful. They gave us two rides into Ocala. We had a lot in common with them, including our sweet doodles. Sophie and Cali played so well together.

New friends on our interrupted trip — Our great neighbors, Michael and Angie

In Conclusion

Our past trips have not had the stress and drama of this one though I think we have always feared something like this happening. But, this interrupted trip makes it more scary now thinking about going far from home. We just have to get out there again and not let this deter us! If you would like to read about other places we have camped, check out our web page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Happy and Safe Travels Everyone!

Retired couple on interrupted trip

New Interests, Retirement Year Six

New Interests

New interests has been the theme of this sixth year of our retirement and at this stage in our life, it is exciting to be doing something new. When I first retired, how to fill the time was a concern. Fortunately, camping and our sweet girl, Sophie, kept us mostly busy and engaged. However, it is nice to have a couple of new interests.

Biking

Biking is one of our new interests and I have to give my husband credit for making it a thing for us. It’s an obsession for him and I was more of a reluctant participant. He has been wanting an ebike for a year or so, but I was always cool on the idea. But, we finally pulled the trigger and bought a couple of Rad Rover 6 bikes.

It was a big deal to figure out how to transport these heavy bikes when camping, but we discovered that they transport quite well on the front of our truck. See Hauling Bikes Camping With Lance 2075 for details on how we carry them. Once we had an easy way to haul them, we have taken them everywhere.

New interests, one is in biking — Riding the Santos Trail in Ocala

Kayaking

I wasn’t sure that kayaking was something I could do because of a bad shoulder. So, we never gave it a try until a camping trip with a favorite group at Silver Springs State Park. They made it look like so much fun that we had to try it. I loved it and my husband was the one who was not so enthusiastic. He seems to be coming around though and I think a purchase of a couple of kayaks is in our future.

Family

The most important time that we spent this year was with our family. I am happy to say that our children are doing well and we have a close relationship with them.

Our son and daughter-in-law live in another state, but we were able to visit them a couple of times in 2022. They are doing well and have just bought a beautiful condo. We enjoyed their company for several days.

Our oldest daughter lives near us and we are able to see her and her husband more often. She hosted us for Christmas this year and really made it special. She is so sweet and always works hard to make birthdays and holidays nice for us. We really enjoyed seeing them and the grandkids.

Our youngest daughter and her husband live nearby as well, so we are able to see them frequently. They took great care of our pup when we were in Alaska for a couple of weeks. We always have fun with them.

Long Winter Trip

We were fortunate to be able to spend several weeks in Florida during the winter and it was an amazing trip. Topsail State Park, near Destin, was our home for two weeks. The weather was nice and the sea air was good for my underlying lung condition. Our pup loved it too!

Port Saint Joe was our second stop and it was a wonderful week . Our friends from Michigan were also there, so that made it a lot of fun.

Our last stop, was Gamble Rogers State Park. It was a wonderful week that included meeting our friends and having a few days on a beautiful site with an ocean view. We were there for Valentines Day and our friends hosted us for a delicious steak dinner. A day trip to St Augustine and another to Ravine Gardens State Park kept us entertained.

Not a new interest, camping — Gamble Rogers State Park

New States

Our summer included a trip to New England. That trip added six new states to our effort to camp in all fifty. We camped in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. While in Maine, we had lobster on multiple occasions. It was fabulous! If interested in reading about this trip see New England Camping.

A favorite in Newport, Rhode Island was Cliff Walk. It is a gorgeous trail by the sea with enormous old-money mansions on the other side. So beautiful!

Vermont was a standout because of the many quaint covered bridges. Really, each of the states we visited was special in its own way. I hope we get to come back to the area again.

Alaska

Our trip to Alaska included a rental camper and a train trip to Denali National Park. The weather was great, but a little cool on some of the days. We were camping right on the water at Resurrection Bay in the photo below.

Homer Alaska was another beautiful spot and the shot below was taken from the beach below our campground. It felt other worldly with very large rocks on the shore.

Our rental camper was from Great Alaskan Holidays. They were a pleasure to deal with and the camper was a current year model that was in great shape. We highly recommend this company.

One of our new interests is Alaskan Travel — Rental camper for our 10 days in the Kenai Peninsula

A highlight of our trip was seeing the Aialik Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. The glacier was calving while we were there, meaning big chunks were falling off. If interested in more details about our Alaskan adventure, see Alaska Camping in a Rental RV.

Aialik Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park one of our new interests — Aialik Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park

Other Camping

We made it to three camping events with Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs and Friends. It is a great group and we have known many of its members for several years. They are a lot of fun and they allow us to hang around even though we are in a bigger camper now.

Lastly, there was one short solo trip to Tupelo, Mississippi and Tombigbee State Park. It was a nice campground and Tupelo is a nice city. Elvis tributes are everywhere.

Downtown Tupelo, one of many guitars — One of many guitars in Tupelo

Dance and the Vikings

Dancing is not one of our new interests. In fact, we have been dancing for more than ten years. When in town, we still dance with our Viking Dance Club. There were two Viking-sponsored lead outs this year and we were happy to be able to attend both.

Dancing is not one of the new interests — Tuxedo Junction Lead Out

In Conclusion

It was an incredible year for us and we were so blessed to be able to have lived it. At this stage of our life, we are trying to live life to its fullest. Our new interests give us something to look forward to that will be a bit of a challenge. However, we will have to stay as healthy as possible to be able to enjoy them.

Be happy and healthy!

Hauling Bikes Camping With Lance 2075

Hauling Bikes Camping

Hauling bikes and camping goes hand-in-hand. Campers travel to places with roads and trails that make bikes very enjoyable, yet a good method for hauling them isn’t always available. We personally like having our bikes on camping trips. However, we didn’t have a great method to haul them.

The Lance Rear Receiver

We were excited when we ordered our new 2021 Lance 2075 travel trailer. One main reason was because we planned to haul our bikes on the back. We added the receiver as an option to the build of our camper.

So, we happily prepared to utilize the Lance Receiver. First, we contacted eTrailer for a new bike rack. Unfortunately, information we learned from eTrailer eliminated the Lance receiver as an option for us.

Lance specifications limit the 1 – 1/4” receiver to 130 pounds.
Hauling behind a trailer requires a trailer-rated bike rack because its normal motion fatigues bike rack metal over time. The motion results in fine cracks and ultimately breakage.
No trailer-rated bike rack is available that also fits a 1 – 1/4” receiver.

I know that several Lance 2075 owners haul bikes on the back. But we did not want to take the risk because a travel trailer-rated bike rack is not available that fits a 1 – 1/4” receiver. An adapter to a two inch receiver would cut the capacity to 50% (65 pounds).

However, one Lance owner had the back of the camper reinforced and a 2” receiver installed. This option appears to safely enable hauling bikes on the rear of the 2075 trailer.

Trailer Tongue Option

Some people haul bikes on the tongue of their trailers. Some teardrop trailer owners successfully use this option. However, we were looking for something that would work with the heavier ebikes. I am not aware of anyone using this option on these much heavier bikes.

Bikes in the Back of the Truck

Before we got our ebikes, we laid our regular bikes down in the bed of our truck under the tonneau cover. It was a pain to get them in and out, but it worked. However, our ebikes are larger and heavier and would not fit well under the cover. So, we tried hanging them over the back of the tailgate using the Yakima Gatekeeper Tailgate Pad. We also tried hauling them anchored upright in the bed. Our bed is 6’4”, so the bikes had to travel with the front wheels turned.

Hauling Bikes over tailgate for Camping — Bikes hanging over tailgate

Hauling Bikes in bed of truck for camping — Bikes anchored inside the truck

This was doable, but there were some disadvantages.

It was very time consuming and quite exhausting to get them in and out of the truck.
There was little room for the things we normally carry in the truck.
Nothing in the truck was covered when it rains.

Front Receiver Option

While visiting Yellowstone National Park, my husband saw a truck with a bike rack and bikes on the front of a truck. He spoke with the owner and learned that he was happy with the option. It is extremely rare to see anyone with bikes on the front of a tow vehicle, but it got us thinking about trying it.

We talked to a local truck accessory shop and got a quote for installation of a front receiver. We asked if others use that option for hauling bikes and were told that a few do and they seemed satisfied with it. It was not cheap, parts and labor were $418. Our 2021 Ram 2500 Front Receiver has a 2” receiver and a 1,000 pound vertical and horizontal capacity.

The Bike Rack

Our bike rack decision was based on eTrailer’s recommendation. Our ebikes are on the heavy side at sixty-six pounds each without the battery. We needed one that would hold heavy bikes and also work with a front receiver and fat tires. We settled on the Hollywood HLY64FNR . It will carry two bikes weighing up to 80 pounds each.

The rack weighs 58 pounds and has the longer straps that are required for fat tires. It also works with a rear receiver, so we can use it on the back of our SUV when not towing a trailer.

The Extender

We needed one more item to make this solution work for us, a hitch extender. The receiver does not come out far enough to work with the bike rack without it. We got the Curt 8” Hitch Extender from eTrailer. The issue with using an extender is that it reduces the capacity of your setup by 50%. Our extender has a maximum tongue weight of 350 pounds.

The math works in this case. The receiver normally has a capacity of 1,000 pounds, but 500 in our case. The extender is the weakest link at 350 pounds tongue weight. The bikes weigh 66 pounds times two which equals 132 pounds. Adding the 58 pounds for the rack, we are at 190 pounds and well within our limits.

Our Solution for Hauling Bikes Camping

Of all the options, the front hitch offered the best camping experience. It is relatively easy to get the bikes on and off the rack and we have the covered bed of the truck for camping accessories.

The Issues

While the front receiver is good in many ways, it isn’t a perfect solution.

The bikes are exposed if it rains, but that was true for the other methods as well. However, the bikes could be covered in the bed of the truck. They can’t be covered in the front because the air must flow through the grill of the truck.
Bugs get on the bikes because they are on the front. We minimize this by not driving as it begins to get dark.
The bikes are visible on the lower part of the windshield. They don’t seriously obstruct the view, but they are in the line of sight.
Turning requires accommodation for the extended front. A tight turn would have to be done more carefully. In all situations, the front of the truck has a longer profile.
There is reduced clearance on the front of the truck. We lost approximately four inches of clearance with the front bike rack installation.

While at the campground, we leave the bike rack on our vehicle. It folds up, which makes it not stick out so far in the front.

Hauling Bikes Camping Conclusion

We are happy with our current method for hauling our bikes while camping. For information on other things we have learned regarding camping, check out Camping Resources for New Campers.

New England Camping

We were happy to finally be able do a New England camping trip that was cancelled in 2020. The trip lasted 4 1/2 weeks and covered six states in the northeast corner of the country: Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island. Those six states were new states in which we have not previously camped.

Stops and Miles

We towed our camper approximately 3,188 miles with a total of 18 stops. Also, there was a good bit of driving without the trailer attached because the Ram traveled 3,600 miles. Our focus was getting to the New England camping areas, so it was longer drives and one night stops until we got there.

New England camping path — Our New England part

The States

Connecticut

First, we camped on the western side of the state, near the charming town of Litchfield. Our campground was Cozy Hills, the most friendly of all our stops. We were near Hartford which allowed us a day in there. The majestic Connecticut State Capital was a highlight, made more enjoyable by a tour. Our Sophie stayed with a sitter who lived in Hartford, so we had plenty of time to enjoy the city.

After the capital tour, we had a delicious lunch at Pepe’s Pizza and then a tour of Mark Twain’s home. It was interesting and informative about his later years.

On our way home after many more stops, we camped on the eastern side of the state, but it was only an overnight stop. I really love Connecticut. More on our time there is at Connecticut Camping Summer 2022.

Maine

The highlight of our trip was Maine. We camped in three different cities in Maine: Bangor, Bar Harbor, and Kennebunkport for a total of eight nights. Each city was special in its own way, but Acadia National Park was unparalleled. We camped two nights at Hadley’s Point campground with full hookups in Bar Harbor and two nights of dry camping in the National Park at Blackwoods Campground. Inside the park was my favorite! The terrain in Bar Harbor was mountainous and rugged.

Bangor

Firstly, Paul Bunyan Campground in Bangor was our home for two nights. We used our time there to check out Stephen King’s house and the Cole Transportation Museum. It was cool to see Kings house, but the Transportation Museum was amazing. For example, it has tractors, snowplows, and vehicles that are over a hundred years old.

Bar Harbor/Acadia

Acadia National Park is small, but so very beautiful. It and Bar Harbor are on an island called Mount Desert. I wish we could have done more hiking, but am glad we were able to do a little.

New England camping at Acadia National Park — View from the top of Cadillac Mountain

We stumbled upon the beautiful garden below in Bar Harbor and just stopped for awhile to enjoy its serenity.

Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport is a beautiful, small coastal town. Most importantly, it is known as the summer home of the George H.W. Bush family for over a hundred years. We saw the home from afar, but we mostly enjoyed checking out the small town and the amenities at our nicest campground on our trip, Sandy Pines Campground.

This was the only time to get in a pool during our trip. It is a saltwater pool and it was exhilarating—the perfect temperature and no chlorine smell. Sandy Pines was our favorite campground because of the nice amenities.

All of our stops in Maine were great. The only regret was no autumn leaves. For more details, check out Maine Camping Summer 2022.

Massachusetts

Traveling through the Berkshires, our first Massachusetts stop was in Pittsfield at Bonnie Brae Campground. We were there two nights. We spent our free day at the Hancock Shaker Village and we stopped at a nearby winery for a tasting. Both were fun, especially the Village. The Berkshires was so beautiful and the weather good except for an afternoon shower.

When we came back down the eastern coast, Gloucester was our next Massachusetts destination with camping at Cape Ann Sites. It was very mountainous there with narrow roads. We didn’t like it at first, but our three nights there gave us a great appreciation for the area. So much was this that we would like to visit again. More photos and details about our Mass stops are at Massachusetts Camping Summer 2022.

New England camping in Gloucester — Fisherman’s Memorial

New Hampshire

The White Mountain range is in New Hampshire, so we got to see a lot of them. Our only stop in the state was in Wolfeboro at the Wolfeboro Campground. It was a nice, inexpensive campground in a lovely town with lakes all around. We took a day to ride the Cog Railroad to the top of Mount Washington, elevation 6,288. The railroad was a couple of hours away from Wolfeboro, but worth the trip.

We had three nights in Wolfeboro and stayed in town our other free day to take in the scenery and nice weather. I especially loved this small town! More about this stop is at New Hampshire Camping Summer 2022.

Rhode Island

Our worst weather was in Rhode Island. It was cloudy or raining during our entire stay. The goal was to take the ferry into Providence for a day, but there was actually some flooding there. So, it was a no go.

Despite the weather, we had a few hours to drive around a bit and enjoy Cliff Walk, a 3 1/2 mile walk alongside the ocean and the famous Newport mansions. I absolutely loved it! The views were stunning and the salt air felt rejuvenating for my lung condition.

New England camping near Cliff Walk — Cliff Walk

Our other free day was a visit to The Breakers, one of the most famous Newport mansions. I loved it and my husband tolerated it. I would have liked to visit others, but marriage does involve compromise. More on this rainy stop is at Rhode Island Camping Summer 2022.

New England camping in Newport — The Breakers

Vermont

The Green Mountains of Vermont were very beautiful. The state is crystallized in my mind for its incredible scenery, rich history, and covered bridges. Of all the states we visited on this trip, I think Vermont would be the most beautiful for the turning of the leaves.

Our time in Vermont was only at one stop, Camping on the Battenkill in Arlington. Most importantly, there were three nearby covered bridges that we got to enjoy. For more about our Vermont experiences, see Vermont Camping Summer 2022.

New England camping and covered bridges — Paper Mill Bridge

New England Camping in Conclusion

This trip was long awaited and delayed by COVID, but it was an incredible experience. We loved each of the new states we visited because each was special in its own way. So, we now have camped in forty-five states!

Happily, our New England camping had no snags and we certainly had gorgeous weather most of the time. Fall leaves would have been nice, so we have to go back!

Maine Camping Summer 2022

Maine Camping

Maine camping for us covered eight nights and four campgrounds. It was the apex of our trip because it was the farthest north we went and Acadia National Park was the highlight of our trip.

Bangor

Bangor was our first Maine stop. I have been aware of Bangor most of my life because of all the Stephen King books I have read. I so hoped we would run into him. Silly, huh? Despite not seeing King, Bangor was such a nice place. It has a huge Paul Bunyan that is recognized as the most handsome Bunyan for its finally detailed features. The fiberglass over steel Bunyan structure can also withstand hurricane winds.

Paul Bunyan Campground

The Bunyan theme extended to our campground and we had a pleasant stay there. There was a pool and laundry and our site was beside a large pond.

Steven King’ House

Stephen King’s house was a must see. It looks somewhat like you would expect a home of his to look. The gate and fence includes bats, spiders, and gargoyles. Sadly, no sign of the great man.

This is where the writing magic happened

Land Transportation Museum

The Cole Land Transportation Museum surprised and delighted us. It has all sorts of things used for transportation in Maine dating back to more than a hundred years. Old fire engines, wagons, cars, campers, motorcycles, wagons, and snowplows are there.

The bridge below was constructed to represent bridges of the past. Unlike Vermont, there only a few covered bridges in Maine today and we did not get to see any of them.

I was particularly interested in the museum’s snowplows because they are not a part of my world in the South. I think the machine in the photo below looks like something from a King novel.

Lobster!

We discovered a grocery store that we love, Hannaford. It was founded in Maine in 1883.

The Hannaford location near our campground was reputed to occasionally be frequented by Stephen King. I hoped we might see him, but instead found a store we loved. Fresh produce covered a huge portion of the store that comes from local farms and they will cook the live lobster of your choice for $8.99 a pound. Our lobster picnic by the pond was so delicious!

Maine camping at Paul Bunyan Campground — Lobster from Hannaford

Mount Desert Island

Mount Desert is an island of Maine that includes Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The terrain is very hilly and rocky, but is quite beautiful. We spent two nights in Bar Harbor and two nights in Acadia National Park.

Bar Harbor

Our first two nights were at Hadley’s Point Campground. It was a full hookup campground on the northern part of the island and we were comfortable there.

We arrived on a Friday afternoon and headed to the town. It was very picturesque with gorgeous views of the coast and many boats and yachts. The streets are very narrow and lined with restaurants and shops that cater to tourists.

Amazingly, we snagged a parking spot right on Main Street. We had our pup with us and got some ice cream at Mount Desert Ice Cream and ate it on the Village Green. Our favorite was The Dude, which tastes like a White Russian.

We took a walk down Main Street to Agamont Park. There is a shore path that I wish I could say we hiked. Just didn’t get it in.

We returned to the town of Bar Harbor a couple of days later thinking crowds would be less on a weekday. However, it was worse and we couldn’t find any parking. There is a free bus shuttle, The Island Explorer, that transports people to Bar Harbor from local hotels, inns, and campgrounds. We didn’t try to use it because we thought dogs wouldn’t be allowed. However, we later learned that “well-behaved” dogs are allowed, but not on the seats. It would have made our last trip to Bar Harbor much more enjoyable if we had ridden the shuttle.

We just happened upon the lovely spot above and stopped for a photo. Everything was so lush and green!

Acadia National Park

I have heard many times how beautiful Acadia is and now know it is true. It is a relatively small National Park, but uniquely lovely. The big thing to do at Acadia is to go to the top of Cadillac Mountain. The park requires reservations to drive to the summit during peak season. We were lucky that the day and time we chose was clear and sunny.

The Porcupine Islands are several small islands are visible from the top. It was not too crowded on the summit because of the limited access and I do think it enhanced the experience.

Another popular spot is Otter Cliffs. There is a walkway and you can climb down to a stunning view of the rocky shore. You can’t see it in this photo, but there were tons of lobster traps in the water.

Jordon Pond is a centerpiece for the park and there is a restaurant there. They specialize in popovers and tea. We actually had a meal there, including popovers. Our meal was there because you can take dogs if you eat on the lawn.

Our pup hung out below the table while we had our meal. The atmosphere was very nice, but the meal was overpriced for what you get.

Blackwoods Campground

Our two nights in the park were in Blackwoods Campground and we loved it. Most importantly, our spot was level and shady with a nearby bathroom that was immaculate. We were dry camping, so no electricity. However, the weather was mild and we didn’t really need the air conditioner. Our camper is equipped with a solar panel and it was enough to keep our battery going because we were frugal using electricity.

There are no showers in the campground, but there was a place just outside the park that is coin-operated.

Maine camping at Blackwoods Campground — Site A45

One thing we especially liked was a path to the ocean from the park. It was an easy downhill path that led to a bench and a ledge above the water.

It was a popular spot and we met other campers there. The view of the water and rocks below was gorgeous.

Kennebunkport

Sandy Pines in Kennebunkport was our last Maine camping stop. It was the nicest campground we visited on our trip.

This campground had a heated saltwater pool and an extremely nice laundry. So, I went for two birds one stone and did laundry while we hung out at the pool.

Kennebunkport’s big claim to fame is that it is where the summer home of George H. W. Bush family is located. It has been a Bush family retreat for more than a hundred years. We got close enough to get a shot of the compound. Check out the Texas flag under the U.S. flag.

Downtown Kennebunkport is so beautiful with the Kennebunk River flowing through the center of town and flowers everywhere. We only had one full day to explore, so we just drove around and took in the sights. Next, lunch was at Federal Jack’s—delicious fish and scallops. Maine seafood is the best!

One quirky attraction is The Wedding Cake House, built in 1825. It has been called the “most photographed house” in Maine. We checked it out, but couldn’t tour it because it was undergoing renovations. However, it looks pretty good for an almost 200 year-old house.

Maine Camping in Conclusion

We had high expectations for our Maine camping trip and it certainly did not disappoint. It is a beautiful part of our country and its people were friendly. It was also nice to be in an area with such a rich history. Oh, and the seafood was incredible!

Lastly, check out our visits to other states on our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Connecticut Camping Summer 2022

Connecticut Camping

Our four nights camping in Connecticut were very pleasant because the people were very friendly and there were fun things to do.

Cozy Hills Campground

Cozy Hills Campground is a fantastic family campground because it has lots of activities for children. There is so much going on that there is an itinerary with each day’s activities. It has a small restaurant on site and a large, but shallow swimming pool. However, it was a bit more expensive than many campgrounds on our trip at $85 a night. One thing we liked about it was its location—just outside of Litchfield and an easy drive from Hartford.

Connecticut Camping at Cozy Hills — Camping at Cozy Hills

The people who run the campground were so nice and it was very well-maintained. It is one of the cutest and friendliest campgrounds we have visited. We also enjoyed beautiful weather every day during our three-day stay.

Connecticut camping at Cozy Hills Campground — Lots of things to do at Cozy Hills

Our site was large and level and we were so comfortable while there. The only negative was the dog park. They had one, but it had artificial grass and our pup refused to go on it.

The other campers were also very friendly, particularly one family that gave us a package of Def for our truck. I costs almost $20 and they wouldn’t let us pay for it.

Litchfield

The nearby town of Litchfield was founded in 1719. It was very charming with historic buildings and lots of nice restaurants. We had a delicious outdoor lunch at Difranco’s with our pup and did a little walk around the town. One of the buildings I really liked was the Superior Court pictured below. It looks great for over a hundred and thirty years old.

Bellamy-Ferriday House

We did a tour of the nearby Bellamy-Ferriday house. It has an interesting history of two separate families. Reverend Joseph Bellamy built the main portion of the house in approximately 1754. The tour included artifacts from the time and information about the family and how they lived.

Many years later, the house was occupied by Carolyn Woolsey Ferriday. She was a philanthropist who provided support to women subject to experimentation by the Nazis in Ravensbrück concentration camp. She is one of the characters in Martha Hall Kelly’s book, Lilac Girls.

Hartford

Hartford was only fifty miles from us and we spent one of our days there and got a Rover sitter for our pup. It was a fun and relaxing day!

State Capital Building

Firstly, we headed to the Connecticut State Capital. We try to tour capital buildings on our travels because they are so grand and you can learn a lot about a state’s history. We were happy to be there on a weekday because there was a tour available. The building is a gorgeous Gothic Revival structure that opened in 1879.

Connecticut camping near Hartford — Connecticut State Capital Building

It was very grand on the inside as well. One of our tour guides demonstrated the unique echo acoustics on the spot pictured below. The man on the right in the photo is U. S. Senator Richard Blumenthal doing an interview. However, we did not get an opportunity to speak with him.

There were many beautiful and interesting things in the Capital Building, but I thought Lafayette’s Bed was a most unusual artifact, dating back to battles with George Washington. This type of bed led to the phrase, “Sleep Tight.”

Frank Pepe Pizzeria

Friends who formerly lived in Connecticut told us about Pepe’s pizza. We visited the West Hartford location and it was in a modern building with phenomenal food and extraordinary service.

We ordered a medium pizza and it was enormous. There were leftovers so we had a snack later at the campground. My husband’s half was Amanti Della Carne (meatball, pepperoni, sausage, and bacon) and mine was Fresh Tomato Pie. So delicious!

Mark Twain House

After that, we managed to squeeze in a visit to the Mark Twain House where he lived with his family from 1874 to 1891. Twain’s biographer described the house as “part steamboat, part medieval fortress, and part cuckoo clock.” I can see it.

The tour provided lots of information I didn’t know about Twain in his later years. He was quite a character.

The Visitors Center is very modern and has several cute Twain images. I loved the Lego Mark Twain.

There is also a bench where you can sit beside a bronze Mark Twain.

Clinton

Clinton is on the eastern side of the state and we were there for one night as we made our way home. Riverdale Farms Campground was a nice campground near New Haven with full hookups at a reasonable price.

Connecticut camping at Riverdale Farms campground — Riverdale Farms Site # 61

New Haven

Frank Pepe’s pizza was our main draw to New Haven, which is the original location, established in 1925. Operations are in a building beside this original building. The pizza was very good, but I preferred the Hartford location. Surprisingly, the pizza and service was better there.

We also wanted to check out Yale University as some university campuses are quite beautiful. It turns Yale is a urban campus and parking was very challenging. We didn’t get a photo of any of the buildings because of traffic and limited time.

Connecticut Camping In Conclusion

Beautiful weather, great campgrounds, friendly people, and phenomenal pizza made our Connecticut camping a wonderful experience. Therefore, Connecticut is a place that we would like to visit again. Check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource to read about other places we have been.

Rhode Island Camping Summer 2022

Rhode Island Camping

Rhode Island, the smallest state in the Union, was another new camping destination for our summer trip. Interestingly, Rhode Island is not a true island, but it does have islands as part of its boundary as do many states. Our campground was on its biggest island, Aquidneck.

Aquidneck Island

Aquidneck Island contains the cities of Newport, Portsmouth, and Middletown. We planned to spend one day in Newport and one day taking the ferry to Providence. However, there was a high probability of heavy rain for both of our full days there. Also, we saw that Providence had some flooding. So, we decided to just stay on the island.

We were camping in Portsmouth at Newport RV Park. It was the most expensive campground on our trip at $122 a night, but it did not have the most amenities. So, we definitely were paying for location.

Rhode Island camping at Newport RV Park — Site # 122

We had a nice, level site on gravel, but it was nothing special. Our site was at a low point on the campground, so we were concerned about flooding. However, the girl in the campground office assured us that the island doesn’t flood. She was right; even though weather radar showed a large mass of bad weather, we had no flooding and less rain than one would expect.

The Newport Mansions

The Newport mansions are a popular tourist destination. American industrialists built the lavish mansions from 1870 to approximately 1910. The owners referred to the mansions as summer “cottages”. It was called the Gilded Age. Mark Twain coined the phrase to draw attention to the excesses of the era. Personal income tax began in 1913 and , consequently, the mansions became white elephants. Many were torn down, a few were donated to The Sisters of Mercy for Salve Regina University, eleven are currently managed by Newport County’s Historical Society, and a few are still privately owned.

A tobacco heiress built Vinland Estate, pictured above, in 1882. A family member donated it to Salve Regina University in 1955. Today, it is classrooms and office space.

Ochre Court is the second largest Newport mansion. It was built in 1892 at a cost of 4.5 million. The owners donated it to the Sisters of Mercy in 1947 for the university. I liked that the mansion appeared in the movie, True Lies.

The Breakers

The Breakers is the largest Newport mansion and we toured it on one of our rainy days. Cornelius Vanderbilt II built the mansion in 1895 as a summer home for his family. The 70-room, Italian-Renaissance Villa utilized forty servants for its upkeep. It was built with all the latest conveniences of the day, including plumbing, central heat, and electricity.

The tour provided an app with information on the house and how it’s residents lived. Photographs were for personal use only.

I loved the tour because it was like a time capsule of the era. While we don’t have royalty in this country, these folks sure lived like they were. The house appealed to me because of same reasons that I like Downton Abbey. They are a reflection of the times and mores of the privileged.

We saw all of three of these mansions from Cliff Walk, my favorite thing in Newport.

Cliff Walk

I absolutely loved Cliff Walk! It is a 3.5 mile National Recreation Trail in a National Historic District. It was designated in 1975 and about two-thirds of it is very easy walking. Cliff Walk is wonderful because the trail winds around the eastern shore of the island with spectacular views of the shoreline and several of the mansions.

We took our pup with us and she loved seeing the people and all the sights and smells.

Rhode Island camping near Cliff Walj — Our pup loved Cliff Walk

The shoreline was very rugged in places and quite beautiful. It was very overcast that day and we were glad to see it before the rain began.

It was so exhilarating to walk along the easy pathway with the sea air blowing from below. We did not get to do the entire walk, but I was grateful we got to see some of the best parts, including the mansions referenced above.

Redwood Library

Libraries have been a passion of my my entire life, so, I was happy to get to visit the nation’s longest continuously operating library that is in its original structure. Redwood Library was founded in 1747 and has been continuously operating ever since.

An annex is across the street that dates to 1863. It was so cool to see these old buildings that were in operation so many years ago and are still used today.

Clams

On a lighter note, I was in search of New England clams. We had fresh lobster a couple of times, but we had missed eating fresh New England clams. Apparently, Flo’s Clam Shack is an iconic place for clams in Newport. We had our pup and couldn’t go inside, but Flo’s has an outdoor area that allows pets.

Rhode Island camping near Flo’s crab Shack — Outdoor Dining at Flo’s

I learned that New England’s most popular clams are belly clams. Instead of just the strips, you also get the bellies. They taste a bit like fried oysters and I understand they are an acquired taste. I liked them right away, but my husband was not a great fan.

Dealing with a Dirty Dog

We had been traveling for almost four weeks and our pup was in great need of a bath. I met a couple at a State Park earlier and they told me about Rumford Pet Express. We went to the Middletown store on Labor Day and they offer all you need to give your pup a bath for only $12. Additionally, the staff was fantastic. It was a wonderful experience and so nice to have a clean pup again.

Rhode Island Camping in Conclusion

Our Rhode Island camping didn’t go as planned because of excessive rain, but we still had a good time. It would have been nice to take the ferry to Providence, but it just wasn’t in the cards. However, I am grateful we got to visit lovely Newport. Check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource to read about our adventures in other states.

Massachusetts Camping Summer 2022

Massachusetts Camping

We have never done any Massachusetts camping before, but we have been to Boston. This visit began in the Berkshires on the western side of the state and ended on the eastern coast. Camping in the Berkshires was easy, but there is a story to tell about our coastal camping.

Bonnie Brae in Pittsfield

It was smooth sailing at Bonnie Brae because we had a nice, shaded, level site and the campground had a pool and laundry. We used the laundry, but did not have time for the pool.

Massachusetts camping at Bonnie Brae — Bonnie Brae is a cute little campground

The campground is on a steep hill. Consequently, it gave Sophie and me a workout coming back up on our walk. It was a friendly area and we interacted with several neighborhood residents below and they gave us tips on restaurants in the area.

Hancock Shaker Village

We had one full day to explore the area and we spent most of our time at the Shaker Village. Shakers inhabited the village from 1783 to 1836. Today there are twenty historic buildings. The countryside was so beautiful and the village was quite interesting.

The Shakers believed in communal living, equality, obedience, humility, simplicity, and perfection. Their work was of the highest quality. All those traits led to a harmonious and simple life. However, they also believed in celibacy. I think that was an unsustainable aspect of their survival as a congregation.

Massachusetts camping ear the Shaker Village — Shaker Village

This round barn was built in 1826 and was an engineering marvel for its day and stabled 52 milk cows. We attended an interpretive talk and were amazed at how innovative they were and how they lived. People traveled from all over when this barn was being used to see it.

Walking around enjoying the beauty of the Berkshires was another thing we loved about being at the Shaker Village.

Hilltop Orchards

Our rainy afternoon was spent at Hilltop Orchards Home of Furnace Brook Winery. We did a wine tasting and purchased a bottle of ice wine, which is unique and something we have never tried. They also had the best cider doughnuts we had on our trip. It was a good way to spend an afternoon.

Gloucester

It was a couple of weeks later when we reached the coastal side of the state. Our first impressions were not the best. The roads in the Gloucester area were very narrow and curvy. The speed limits were low, however, which helped. Unfortunately, my husband had a bit of a bad attitude about the area before we even turned into the campground.

Cape Ann Camp Site

The campground was all uphill and again with the narrow roads. The staff checking us in were very friendly though. The road up to most of the campsites is in the picture below. It is steep with a pronounced curve. When my husband saw it, he said, “Oh, hell no!” He turned down an alternative road to the left, but you couldn’t get up it. A camper who was there said a woman tore up her camper trying to go up that way. So, we turned around and braved the big hill. I got out and watched from all sides as my husband drove up. We made it!

Massachusetts camping at Cape Ann — The road up to the camp site

An added risk was the huge rocks and protruding trees all along the road. The rocks were everywhere, but there was a path for a careful driver. We saw campers that were our size, but none any larger in that top area. Finally, we made it to our site and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Ironically, this was one of our favorite stops on our trip. The area was beautiful and there was a lot to do. Also, the other campers were very friendly. This part of our Massachusetts camping turned out to be extraordinary.

Massachusetts camping at Cape Ann Camp Sites — Site 196E

The Overlook

An added bonus of the campground was a trail that led to an overlook. We walked up the trail several times and enjoyed the view and the discussions with the other campers. Cars and boats get trapped by the tides in the water below because the level varies by as much as six feet daily.

Massachusetts Camping at Cape Ann Camp Site — View from The Overlook

My husband and dog really liked going to the overlook in the early morning. Unfortunately, they never quite made it for the beginning of sunrise.

The Harbor and City

We were in Gloucester over Labor Day weekend and there was a lot going on. Everything big was happening the Saturday before Labor Day. There were schooners racing in the harbor and that evening a large live band would be playing. A parade of boats with lights would be on the harbor at dusk and later there would be a big display of fireworks. I say “would be” because we only spent the afternoon there. We were worried about the loud noises having a negative impact on our pup. In fact, the fireworks were quite loud in our camper, which was miles away.

We did see the boats going through the drawbridge. I think they were practicing in the daylight. It looked like it would be grand evening.

However, we got to enjoy the beautiful harbor with its monuments, flags, and flowers.

Stage Fort Beach

Stage Fort Beach is near the harbor and it enabled us to get close to the shoreline to see how different it is from the southeast. Half Moon Beach had just a small area of beach and many rocky cliffs.

There was more beach at Cressy’s Beach but what I found most interesting was the big rocks and the house on the cliff. I tried to find out information about the house, but was unsuccessful.

We were impressed with how long Gloucester has been around. Tablet Rock below has a commemorative plaque dedicated to the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony by the Dorchester Company in 1623. It also states that Tablet Rock was used by native Americans as an alter to invoke the Great Spirit.

Salem

We took a short drive to Salem for our other free day in Gloucester. It is a cute town that embraces its dark history. We learned the specifics of what happened at the Witch History Museum and had Thai food in the Witch City Mall.

Salem is also the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote The Scarlet Letter. The House of the Seven Gables, which was inspirational to him, is available for tours, but we didn’t have the time to see it. However, I plan to check out the book from the library when we return home.

Massachusetts Camping Conclusion

After settling in, both of our Massachusetts camping stops were wonderful. I am so glad we were able to camp in this beautiful state with such a rich history. Check out our visits to other states on our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.