Camping and Retirement Blog - Page 9 of 18

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!

A New Mattress for Our T@B 400

Why a New Mattress

The mattress was okay when we first purchased our T@B 400. The bed was comfortable despite being smaller than the one in our T@G XL. It offered decent support because of the Froli spring system, the new mattresses, and the 2” foam topper we added from our old camper.

But, after almost two years of use, the bed had become quite uncomfortable. The thin mattresses were not holding up well and the now four-year old foam topper had split where the mattresses tend to separate. We needed an upgrade!

The IKEA Option

I asked a T@B Facebook group for recommendations. Mimi, a very helpful lady, shared her solution: an IKEA foam mattress trimmed to fit the 400. She was so helpful that she also gave me a link to a current IKEA mattress similar to the one she had purchased. It was $189, which I felt was a reasonable price. I especially liked that it had a very well-made zippered mattress pad that is machine washable.

The Trim Process

The mattress came very tightly rolled and we transported it in the back of our SUV while returning from a camping trip. We removed the foam from the cover and allowed it to sit for a few days to allow it to totally open and the smells to dissipate. (This was recommended, but it did not have an odor to us.).

Earlier, in our camper, we had removed the old foam topper and measured the dimensions of the bed. Below are my notes. We did three cuts, one for length (78”), one for width (55”), and one 10” cut for the corner near the refrigerator (starting at 49” width and 71” length). My note says the corner is 9”, but I decided to cut 10”. It worked well. My husband used a serrated knife to make the cuts. We marked places along the path on the smooth side of the foam and he cut using a straight edge as a guide.

The foam has an egg crate pattern on one side and I verified that it should be on top. It was important to remember this when making the corner cut. It is described as 3 7/8” thick and below is a photo of the it.

After the cuts, we zippered the foam into the mattress pad and installed it in the camper on top of the older mattresses. It is a little higher than our previous bed because the new foam is thicker, but it works for us. Note the corner cut in the photo below.

A new Mattress in our 400 — View of the Corner

The Sliding Mattress Solution

Our old foam tore because there was excess space between the three mattresses. We opted to insert a 2×4 along the back wall under the window. This forced the mattresses to sit flush against the two wall areas on the other side of the bed. We don’t yet know if this will have the desired effect of keeping them still, but felt it was worth a try.

Hindsight Thoughts

We are very happy with our new IKEA addition! It is comfortable so far and the bed does not shift like it did before.

We measured very carefully to adjust the size to our specific bed. However, I wish we had taken an additional inch off the height and width because it is a little tight. But, I don’t think it would be worth the effort to cut again.

Our New, Comfortable Bed

Lastly, here is our made up bed, which is always a chore!

If you would like to see some other ways we have attempted to improve our camping experience, please check out Camping Resources for New Teardrop Campers .

Wishing You Happy and Comfortable Camping!

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

Phoenix, A Winter Getaway in the Desert

Phoenix in January

In retirement, we have tried to take a short trip during January. Last year, we visited Los Angeles, Escape from the Cold to Los Angeles. This year, to get away from the cold and dreary that seems to go on forever, we spent a few days in Phoenix. It was our first time to stay in the city, though we have visited nearby Tucson.

The weather was beautiful—clear blue skies with daytime highs in the mid sixties. Above all, it was 10 to 15 degrees higher in the daytime than at home in Alabama. The sunsets were incredible from the rooftop bar at our hotel and the bartender makes an incredible Old Fashioned, our new favorite drink!

Phoenix Sunset — Sunset view from the hotel rooftop

A Downtown Hotel

We chose the Downtown Hilton Garden Inn because of its location and great reviews. There are many nice restaurants nearby and the Phoenix light rail is just a few blocks away.

Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Phoenix — Hilton Garden Inn Downtown

The hotel is a newly remodeled historic landmark building, the 1931 Professional Building. Though the building is historic, its interior is modern and comfortable. Also, the Art Deco building was in the opening scene for the movie, “Psycho”, and there are references to the movie on several hotel walls. A lighted revolving sign, once atop the building, was said to be the country’s largest revolving sign.

Phoenix Attractions

We wanted to see all the highlights of the Phoenix area. Most of our travel is in an 18-foot camper, but we only pass through large cities. It was nice to be in the heart of downtown.

Desert Botanical Garden

The garden is one of the most popular attractions in Phoenix and it was truly beautiful. It is located in Papago Park. There were two other attractions in Papago we did not visit, the Zoo and Hole in the Rock. For younger, more active visitors, they would be something to consider.

Camelback Mountain View from Desert Botanical Garden

Arizona Capital Museum

This free museum devoted to the history of Arizona was worth the time. It is in the 1901 State Capitol Building. It has information on the history of the Arizona Constitution, an enormous model train, some touching artifacts from the USS Arizona, and some really cool petrified wood.

Phoenix Art Museum

The museum is one of the largest in the Southwest. A bonus for my husband, there was a temporary exhibit devoted to race cars, Legends of Speed. I was happy there was something he really liked.

Legends of Speed Exhibit in Phoenix — Legends of Speed

Taliesin West

Taliesin West was the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright, certainly the most famous architect ever in North America. Our tour guide, Jane, was very entertaining and shared lots of personal details about the architectural legend. It was quite a distance from downtown Phoenix, but I would have regretted not seeing it while in the area. Today, the building houses an accredited master’s degree program in architecture.

Scottsdale

We took the light rail to Scottsdale, a nearby city that is east of Phoenix. It is known for spa resorts and golf courses. While we did neither, we enjoyed walking around Old Town, which has an abundance of restaurants and shopping. We had a delicious lunch at Barrio Queen, rode the trolley around the area, and checked out some of the shops.

Fantastic Food

We had several outstanding meals while in Phoenix. The absolute best meal as at Harumi Sushi, which was just a few blocks from our hotel. It was also the best sushi ever for both of us.

“Oh My God” sushi at Harumi Sushi in Phoenix — “Oh My God” Sushi at Harumi Sushi

We also visited MacAlpine’s Diner and Soda Fountain, which is like stepping back in time. A 1928 pharmacy and soda fountain was sold to Fred MacAlpine in 1938 and it has continued in the same location ever since. It has wooden booths with juke box selections, 50s-style food and drinks, and vintage decor. Additionally, there is an antique store in the building and it spills into the restaurant. The food was good, but the ambiance was excellent.

MacAlpine’s Diner in Phoenix — MacAlpine’s Diner and Soda Fountain

We also had excellent breakfasts at Breakfast Club (delicious Herve Rancheros) and Centrico, located in the historic San Carlos Hotel.

Getting Around

Uber was our primary mode of transportation and we loved using it because all our drivers were amiable and helpful. However, I wish we had utilized the light rail earlier in our trip. The stops were just a few blocks from our hotel. One can ride all day for $4 ($2 for seniors). We took the light rail to Tempe on our last full day and got off at Mill Avenue and Third. This stop is at the main shopping and restaurant area in Tempe.

Conclusion

Phoenix was a nice break from winter in Alabama because it offers warm temperatures, great food, and plenty of interesting things to do! Everything about our trip was positive except for the impact the dry climate had on our sinuses. We both had sinus issues during our stay. If visiting, I strongly advise the frequent use of a saline nasal spray.

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!

Camping at Pigeon Forge with Friends

Camping at Pigeon Forge

This was our first time camping at Pigeon Forge or anywhere in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. We have visited several times in the past though, staying in a cabin or chalet. This was a trip planned by our friends from ballroom dancing. We stayed at Kings Holly Haven RV, which is in a great location near Pigeon Forge attractions. Holly Haven offered full hookups for only $40 per night, which was good considering the location. Our friends have much larger RVs and the campground can easily accommodate large rigs. We were the only small camper there.

Tennessee is a beautiful state for camping. We have also camped in Crossville and following is a link to that post: Camping and a Total Eclipse of the Sun.

Cades Cove

We visited Cade’s Cove many years ago, but wanted to see it again. It is an 11-mile scenic loop located within the Smoky Mountain National Forest. The establishment of the park was in 1934. There are several hiking trails along the road, but we were with non hikers, so we just checked out the buildings. The road is one way and even though it was a weekday after school has started, it was quite crowded.

Camping at Pigeon Forge — Blue Ridge Mountain View from Cade’s Cove

The park has several buildings dating back to the 1800s, built by European settlers.

The establishment of the Primitive Baptist Church was in 1827, but the building below replaced the original in 1887. Some early settlers are buried in the cemetery. However, we saw graves dating from the early 1800s to as recent as 2019.

We made several stops along the loop and while at the Methodist Church, a bear cub whizzed by and crossed the street into the woods. So exciting!

The Methodist Church at Cade’s Cove — The Methodist Church

We stopped at the Cable Mill Area and saw several old buildings including a blacksmith’s shop, grist mill, and the large Gregg-Cable house. A park ranger provided a lecture about how life was in the Cove so long ago.

Grist Mill at Cade’s Cove — John P. Cable Grist Mill

Gatlinburg Skybridge

The Skybridge is relatively new to Gatlinburg and was on the top of my list of things to do. A few of our friends went while we were at Cade’s Cove and one couple was a bit nervous crossing the bridge. I still wanted to do it, but was prepared for a little uneasiness.

The Skybridge is 680 feet long, consequently, it is North America’s longest pedestrian suspense bridge. It opened in 2019. Because it is a suspension bridge, it wobbles a bit as you move across it. A section of the bridge has a glass bottom and you can see the drop of 150 feet below.

I was a little nervous, but it was not too difficult to manage. We arrived at a time just after a rainy morning and the bridge was not at all crowded. However, I did see a few people who appeared quite uncomfortable crossing it. I just walked it without holding on to the side except for glass bottom. I could just imagine the glass cracking under my weight. My husband had no qualms whatsoever.

Man on Skybridge — My Big Guy on the Skybridge

View From the Top

The view from the top was so worth the effort. The entire Skybridge area is new and attractive. More noteworthy, the view of the mountains from the bridge was breathtaking.

Gatlinburg From the Skybridge — View of Gatlinburg

Camping at Pigeon Forge and visiting the Skybridge — The Mountain View from the Skybridge

Our senior discounts made our trip to the top plus access to the Skybridge cost only $46.82 for both of us. The price of a ticket also allows as many trips to the top as you wish for the day. I doubt we will do this again, but am so glad we were able to do it once.

Camping at Pigeon Forge Activities

We had two potluck meals with all the couples in our group that included games after dinner. On another night we had an amazing time at the Smoky Mountain Opry. It is a variety show that was surprisingly good. My favorite was the aerialists, but the juggler/comedian was also very good. I highly recommend the show.

My husband also had the opportunity to visit Smoky Mountain Knife Works and also was able to fly his new DJI drone near the campground. We stayed busy our four days in Pigeon Forge.

Restaurants in the Area

We had two very good meals in Pigeon Forge. My favorite meal on our trip was at The Old Mill Restaurant. We had a 30 minute wait, but it was worth it. Be aware that the meals are huge. We shared an entree and it was still plenty of food. The Local Goat was also quite good. Everything is fresh and homemade. The Goat also has an extensive offering of craft beers. We tried an oddity for me, fried deviled eggs. They were quite tasty.

In Gatlinburg, we ate at Blaine’s Grill and Bar. The food was good and reasonably priced for being in the center of Gatlinburg. The only thing to be aware, the restaurant is on the second floor and there are quite a few steps.

Lunch at Blaine’s Bar and Grill — Lunch at Blaine’s

It was a wonderful four days camping at Pigeon Forge with our friends!

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!

Alabama Camping with a SE Camping Group

Alabama Camping at Cheaha

Alabama offers great camping opportunities. We often use our camper to travel to far away places and consequently, our home state’s campgrounds have not been extensively visited. However, Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs and Friends, a camping group for owners of smaller campers like ours, held a meetup at Cheaha State Park. So, we were happy to have the opportunity to camp with them so close to home.

The State has made a good many recent improvements to Cheaha State Park. The campground is really quite nice now because two loops offer full hookups. We had Site #5 and it was a wonderful, shady site. The shade was needed because temps were in the high 80s. The sites included nice picnic tables and a fire ring.

Alabama Camping at Cheaha State Park — Site #5 at Cheaha State Park

Alabama Camping with a Camping Group

We had a fabulous time camping with Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs and Friends, which is a Facebook camping group. Everyone was friendly and fun to be around. It is a very laid back event, which we like. There was a potluck that everyone attended and several hikes with varying group members. I really love that there are so many opportunities to camp with this group because there are about five or six meetups per year.

View Above Bald Rock — View above Bald Rock and SE Camping Group

Hiking at Cheaha

I really enjoyed hiking with our friends with the SE camping group. My husband is not a big fan of hiking so I don’t often have others with whom to hike. It was a real treat for me. I participated on three small hikes and my husband was on two of them.

CCC Observation Tower, Highest Point In Alabama

Cheaha CCC Observation Tower and Alabama camping — Cheaha Observation Tower

Cheaha State Park was built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Observation Tower at its highest point (2,407) was dedicated to the park on April 4th. The hike from the upper improved campground to this spot was pretty easy except for a small area with big rocks over which you had to climb. Also, the last bit of the hike had a pretty good incline.

I climbed to the top of the tower and the view was not outstanding, but the tower and surrounding area was pretty nice.

Pulpit Rock

My husband passed on this hike and I was very glad he did. It was very steep in places and since he has had a knee replacement. The hike is only .3 mile, but the terrain makes it a workout. There is a big payoff in the end though, that makes all the effort so worth it. Pulpit Rock was my favorite view at Cheaha.

Bald Rock

Bald Rock was the easiest hike that I did at Cheaha because the incline was not steep. There are two options: a trail or a boardwalk. I did the boardwalk with my husband and it was a very easy .3 mile hike.

Bald Rock Overlook Alabama Camping — Bald Rock Overlook

Cheaha also has several other trails that were taken by members of our camping group.

Other Alabama Camping Activities

When my husband and I are camping by ourselves, we spend a lot of time visiting surrounding areas. Because we had our camping group friends to hang out with, we stayed at the campground the entire time. We had lots of campsite chats, shared drinks and snacks, plus the big potluck. Lastly, we had a very rousing game of Mexican Train Dominos with a few friends.

There are quite a few activities that would be fun in the surrounding area of Anniston. Cheaha is a beautiful park and with the surrounding area attractions, it is a very desirable place to camp.

Previous Alabama Campgrounds Visited

Alabama is a beautiful state with great areas in which to camp. The following are other Alabama campgrounds we have visited with links to the posts:

Deerlick Creek Park, Tuscaloosa

Desoto State Park, Fort Payne

Gulf State Park

Happy Camping Y’all

How to Use Your Phone to Watch TV

Using Your Phone to Watch TV

It enhances our camping experience to have the ability to use our phone to watch TV. While we love camping and the freedom of being outdoors and visiting new areas, we really like to watch a little television before going to sleep at night. Unfortunately, there are little or no options in some of the lovely, remote areas we like to visit. That is where having the option of entertainment via our phone is so nice.

The Jensen TV in our camper is not a smart TV and I believe this is true for many campers. However, any television can display content like a smart TV using the process described in this post.

Actually, it is quite easy to use a phone to watch TV and it is particularly useful when there is no cable and poor cell/Internet/air antenna reception. I am specifically addressing the use of the iPhone or iPad with the Jensen TV. I suspect there are similar options with android phones, but I am not familiar with them.

Here is What You Need

It is a very simple process, but a few essential components are needed.

1) Content on Your Phone or Device

The foremost thing needed is access to a streaming source. Netflix is probably the most popular streaming source and many watch Netflix on smart televisions. With a Netflix subscription, one can also download shows and movies to their phone or tablet to watch later when no cable, Internet, or even cell signal is available.

We dropped cable many months ago and now all our viewing is through streaming services. This link covers our conversion, Cable Cutting, A Retirement Cost Savings Strategy. However, we had Netflix and Amazon Prime long before dropping cable, both of which allow downloads to view when there is no cell/Internet service. Just be sure to do a little planning to download a few shows/movies you like before arriving in remote areas.

When Internet or cell service is available, we also use our phone to watch TV through YouTube TV. It provides live television and many channels, including local. So, it essentially gives us as many options as we have at home! The only concerns are the strength of the signal and data plan limits.

2) Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter

The next item needed is this handy little adapter to connect the Apple device (iPhone or iPad) to an HDMI cable. This link takes you to the adapter on Amazon, Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter. The cable currently sells for $49 and also has a receptacle to allow charging of the iPhone or iPad while using the phone to watch TV. It is also available through Apple and other retailers.

Use phone to watch TV with adapter — Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter

Adapter for phone to watch TV — Receptacle for HDMI Cable and Apple Charging Cable

We use this cable to listen to music on a stereo at home that does not have Bluetooth as well. It is quite handy!

3) HDMI Cable

The HDMI cable is the same on both ends—one connects to the Apple adapter above and the other connects to the television’s HDMI port.

For the Jensen TV on our camper, I wanted a short cable to keep the area around the television neat. The following link is to a 1 ft HDMI cable that is only $7 and does a great job: HDMI Cable .

Optional Equipment

After we began using our phone to watch downloaded shows and streaming channels, we discovered it was a pain to have to unhook cables between watching with an air antenna and the phone. If we were in an area with good air antenna reception, we liked to use it for local stations. So, it would be very beneficial to have the the ability to use both options without having to access the back of the television. Our air antenna is just a piece of coaxial cable, but it does a remarkable job picking up channels if there is a good signal.

Air antenna on teardrop camper — Air antenna

Our solution was a splitter to switch between antenna and phone. The item sells for approximately $10 and a link follows to the item on Amazon: Signal Splitter.

Signal Splitter to use phone to watch TV — Signal Splitter

For this option, two short HHMI cables are used. One end goes into the top of the splitter and the other end goes into the back of the television, as in the photo below.

HDMI cable inserted in Jensen Television — HDMI Cable inserted in back of Jensen Television

Now for the bottom of the splitter: insert the television cable into one side of the splitter instead of into the back of the television. Next, plug the other short HDMI cable into the other side of the bottom of the splitter. Lastly, attach the other side to the Apple Lightning to AV Adapter, which attaches on the other side to the phone.

Splitter for Jensen Television — Splitter and cables attached

With this configuration, the signal can be changed from air antenna to phone by pressing button one or two.

If you are interested in the basic operation of the Jensen TV/ DVD player, check out my post, Jensen TV and DVD Player—Basic Use .

Please let me know if this is helpful. Happy camping!