Thanks!

When I started this blog five and a half years ago I never imagined I would still be blogging in 2018, mainly because I wasn't convinced I'd still be full-timing.  Back in 2013 there were way fewer resources for the newbie full-timer to rely on to get campground ideas than there are today.  Some of the ones I rely on most often are:

Freecampsites.net

Campendium

PassportAmerica

Ultimate campgrounds

Any of the above can lead you to great campsites and most of them give reviews of the campsites that are at least as detailed as the ones I provided in the Technically Homeless blog so I'm kind of redundant nowadays.  By now I guess you can see where I'm going with this post -- this is going to be my last entry, at least for a long while.  Google only charges me $10 a year to keep the blog up so I'll leave it up for at least the foreseeable future, there probably is some useful stuff in the last five years of posts that could help folks out but I won't be regularly adding posts anymore.

If you're just dying to read a camping blog you could go here:

Hitch Itch

where there are dozens of people blogging about their camping experiences (and here you thought I was the only one....awww!)

I'll say it one more time and I really mean it!

Thanks for reading!

Campground Review: Bo Woods Campground Sullivan, IL

I'm relocating back to Texas for my annual November truck license sticker and to vote.  Heading south from Chicago I stopped at the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) Bo Woods Campground on Lake Shelbyville south of Sullivan, IL.  For those who've never stayed at a COE campground, they are always very well kept campgrounds with lots of amenities that are extremely reasonably priced, especially if you have a Senior Pass that cuts the posted daily cost in half.

The Bo Woods boat ramp into Lake Shelbyville.

Bo Woods consists of over 140 spaciously laid out campsites, all with electric hookups and also several walkin tent campsites.  The campground has flush toilets, showers, a laundry and even a outdoor theatre.

The shower / laundry facility.

Here's the data sheet on Bo Woods Campground:

Hookups:                                             20, 30, 50 amp                                                                       

Fire ring:                                              Yes                                         

Water Access:                                     Yes                             

Fresh Water:                                        Yes                 

Trash Service:                                      Yes                 

Toilets:                                                 Yes (flush)                 

Showers:                                             Yes                             

Dump station:                                      Yes                 

WiFi:                                                    No                  

Level sites:                                          Yes                 

Laundry:                                              Yes                             

Store:                                                   No                                          

Pool:                                                    No                  

Shade:                                                 Yes                 

Verizon reception:                               4G. 2 bars                   

Internet reception                                2 bars

Cost:                                                    $18 / night ($9 / night with Senior Pass)

The outdoor theatre at Bo Woods.

The weather was perfect as I checked in to the campground so I decided to extend my stay to a full week, for a total stay cost of $63!  $9 a night for hookups is almost unheard of.

The Mini's campsite.

It was a great seven days at Bo Woods.  I wish I could always find COE campgrounds to stay at.  Usually they are fully occupied (especially on weekends and holidays) but if you can find one along your route it's worth checking on an opening.

Thanks for reading!

Campground Review: Wilton Campground Wilton, WI

As I made my way through central Wisconsin I decided to spend a couple days at Wilton Campground in the tiny village of Wilton, WI (Pop.503).

The campground is near a famous biking trail along a converted rail line.

Given the tiny size of Wilton the campground and it's facilities are pretty impressive.  It boasts a swimming pool (closed for the season when I was there):

The pool, covered for the winter.

A laundry with a washer / dryer combo:

The laundry thru the center door $2.50 wash $2.50 dry.

Twin sanded volley ball courts:

One of the 2 volley ball courts.

Along with a covered pavilion, a kiddie playground and a fenced softball field.

Here's the data sheet on Wilton Campground:

Hookups:                                             20 & 30 amp                                      

Fire ring:                                              Yes                                                                             

Water Access:                                     Yes (Kickapoo River)                                                

Fresh Water:                                        Yes                                                     

Trash Service:                                      Yes                                                     

Toilets:                                                 Yes                                                     

Showers:                                             Yes ($.50 for 4 minutes)                                            

Dump station:                                      Yes                                                     

WiFi:                                                    No                                                      

Level sites:                                          Yes                                         

Laundry:                                              Yes                                                     

Store:                                                   No                                                                  

Pool:                                                    Yes (Open Memorial day to Labor Day)                   

Shade:                                                 Yes                             

Verizon reception:                               4G, 3 bars                               

Internet reception                                3 bars

Cost:                                                    $7 / adult, $3 for electric per site

So using the above costs I camped at this great campground with electric for $10 per night, a great value! 

The park's fee sign.

My first night there was one other camper in the park, the second night I had the park completely to myself, I regretted having to continue on south towards Chicago.

The Mini's shaded site at Wilton Campground.

The park has an off-site attendant who comes by about 6 PM your first night there to collect the camping fee and offer plastic trash bags if you need them.  He cleaned the laundry, bathrooms and  showers promptly at 8 AM both my days there.

Like I mentioned I would have stayed at least a few more days at Wilton Campground if my niece's wedding outside Chicago didn't beckon.  Why turn down my own "private" $10 a nite campground?

Thanks for reading!

Leaving Michigan

It's been a great summer here in Michigan, I'm really glad I decided to spend so much time here.  However the nights are starting to venture into the upper-40's here in the Upper Peninsula which is Michigan's way of telling me it's time to start south.  I've got one more night here in Wakefield Park, which I reviewed here:  Wakefield Park Review then I cross south into Wisconsin on the way to my niece Carly's wedding this Saturday in Illinois.

I got the best site in the park, right on Sunday Lake!

The wedding concludes all my midwestern commitments for this year and then I will start meandering south with the eventual goal of arriving in Livingston, TX for voting in November.  No big rush to get there, obviously!

Thanks for reading!

Return of Football Season

In the six summers I've been full-timing I've never spent a whole one in Michigan until this year.  It's been kind of nice, Michigan has (mostly) great weather and temperatures in the summer and I hope I've documented all the great places there are to camp in the state. 

One thing I do each summer before ending my Michigan stay is attend one of my alma mater's (Michigan State) football games.  This year it was the season opener versus Utah State.

My friends Gary (left) and Steve (seated) at one of the tailgates we attended.

The game was played under perfect weather conditions and ended up being a lot more exciting for Spartan fans than it was supposed to be!

We went to the game hungry but the multiple tailgate parties cured that.

Sometimes early in the season we get up so far ahead of our opponents many fans leave early.  Not this year, Michigan State trailed by one point with time running out in the 4th quarter!

Getting ready for the winning score, right in front of our seats!

We scored to go up 38-31 but there were still two minutes left in the game and Utah State had moved the ball on us all night.  Fortunately, a Michigan State linebacker intercepted a Utah State pass with a minute left and we held on to a hard fought victory!  One of the most exciting MSU games I've seen in years!

Thanks for reading!

"Glamping"on Lake Charlevoix

The term "glamping" refers to glamorous hi-end camping and readers of this blog know I've never come close to glamping, usually pretty much the polar opposite.  Until last week that is.  My college buddy Scott has a friend and business acquaintance who owns what is probably best described as a "compound" on Lake Charlevoix and the friend graciously offered it to Scott and friends to use for five days in the middle of August--we graciously accepted!

The main house in the compound we stayed at.

Not only did we get a beautiful house to base out of there were also "toys" that came with the site!

Waverunners and a Boston Whaler!

I only got my Waverunner up to 36 mph, Scott's wife Ann got her's up to 51!

I parked the Mini in front of the compound's barn where it fit nicely.

Spartans:  Me, Gary, Steve, Scott (L to R)

It was a real blast cooking meals together although we hit some of Charlevoix' great restaurants for wonderful whitefish dinners too.

Too many cooks?  Nah!

To gas up the water craft we had to go clear to the other end of Lake Charlevoix but nobody complained!

Gassing up the Boston Whaler.

It was really generous of Scott's friend to let us use his place for five days.  We had perfect weather and everyone had a great time.  We spent the last morning cleaning the house and the water craft to get them into pristine condition like when we arrived and also left a couple of nice house gifts for the owner to show our gratitude for a great five day stay.  I'd go back in a minute!

Thanks for reading!

Campground Review: Whiting Park Advance, MI

People familiar with vacationing in Michigan's lower peninsula generally recognize the Charlevoix area as one of the most desireable camping/vacationing destinations in the state.  Specifically, anywhere on beautiful Lake Charlevoix.

Lovely Lake Charlevoix.

During my previous camping itineraries I had purposely avoided the Charlevoix area due to crowding and high priced campgrounds, the most desirable area equals the highest pricing, or so I thought.  This year three college buddies and I were planning on spending five days at a lake side house and being in the area three days early I ventured to Whiting Park, a county park on the southeast side of Lake Charlevoix.

The park sits on both sides of the lakefront road.

 I expected to pay through the nose for the privilege of camping on Lake Charlevoix during the height of the season but was pleasantly surprised at the reasonable rate of $25 per night.

Here's the data sheet on Whiting Park:

Hookups:                                             20, 30 Amp                                                                

Fire ring:                                              Yes                                                     

Water Access:                                     Yes                                         

Fresh Water:                                       Yes                             

Trash Service:                                     Yes                             

Toilets:                                                 Yes                             

Showers:                                             Yes                                                     

Dump station:                                      Yes                             

WiFi:                                                    No                                          

Level sites:                                          No                                          

Laundry:                                              No                                                      

Store:                                                  No                                                                  

Pool:                                                    No                                          

Shade:                                                Yes                                                     

Verizon reception:                               4G, 3 bars                                           

Internet reception                                3 of 5 bars

Cost:                                        $25 per night

You get electric hookups at Whiting Park but no water or sewer although fresh water is available at the dump station or the bath house.

The Whiting Park bath house.

The campsites themselves all have a rather pronounced slant towards Lake Charlevoix so be prepared to work on leveling your RV.

I had to add blocks under the front jack to reach level due to the slope.

For me, the best feature of Whiting Park was the miles of forest trails traversing it's 136 acres, I got my steps in every day on really great hiking trails.

A sunlit trail in Whiting Park.

For most people though the sandy beach on Lake Charlevoix is the premiere attraction at the park.

A section of the large sandy beach at Whiting Park.

Given the high demand area Whiting Park is in $25 per night during peak season is a pretty good value!  The hiking trails alone would probably get me back next year.  Sometimes I need to challenge my pricing assumptions about camping locations and Whiting Park was definitely one of them.

Thanks for reading!

Campground Review: Soldier Lake Campground Raco, MI

In the heart of the Hiawatha National Forest I "discovered" a small camping gem, Soldier Lake Campground.  I camped there for a week in August and will definitely be adding it to my "Will Return" list.

Administrated by the National Forest Service.

Soldier Lake is a tiny fresh water lake about two miles south of M-28 and twenty miles east of Newberry.  The campground stretches around three sides of the lake and includes a day use public beach and picnic area with a nice sandy beachfront.

Soldier Lake seen from the public beach area.

Here's Soldier Lake Campground's data sheet:

Hookups:                                             None, dry camping                                                    

Fire ring:                                              Yes                                                                 

Water Access:                                     Yes                                                     

Fresh Water:                                        Yes                                         

Trash Service:                                     Yes                                         

Toilets:                                                 Yes (Vault)                                        

Showers:                                             No                                                      

Dump station:                                      No                                          

WiFi:                                                    No                                          

Level sites:                                          Yes                                         

Laundry:                                              No                                                      

Store:                                                   No                                                                  

Pool:                                                    No                                          

Shade:                                                 Yes                                         

Verizon reception:                                4G, 1 bar                                            

Internet reception                                 1 bar

Cost:                                                     $16/night, $8/night with Senior Pass

Coming into the campground on a Tuesday I was fortunate to get a lake front site with probably one of the best views in the whole place as a lot of the lakefront sites have their view of the lake blocked by thick stands of trees.

The beautiful lake view from campsite #8.

I really picked site 8 because it was relatively open to the sky vs. most of the heavily shaded sites and I knew I'd be relying heavily on my solar setup with no hookups.  The second half of my stay turned rainy and it was a challenge to keep all my devices and the Mini's house battery charged with the dearth of direct sunlight.

There are several marked hiking trails through the thickly treed forest surrounding the campground.

A trailhead near the campground.

The road through the campground is paved which was nice when it rained so hard, it was still possible to get walks in without wading through a river of mud.

I loved the camping experience at Soldier Lake!  For $56 I got seven days of great lakefront camping and the rain at the end was free of charge.  If you're in the Upper Peninsula near Newberry I'd strongly recommend staying at Soldier Lake Campground!

Thanks for reading!

Air Force

I recently acquired a drone with a HD camera to help better document the campgrounds I camp in.  Here's a demo from the Pickford Township Park:

A little "bouncy" I guess but it was just my second day of flying it and at least a part of it gives a feel for the park.  It also can take stills:

That's me by the picnic table.

The Mini's campsite from 100 feet.

Maybe I can find some video editing software to give a more polished look,  I'll do some research into it.

Thanks for reading!

Too Big Breakfast of the Week

I've been in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for the last ten days or so enjoying not being in the Southwest's triple digit temperatures.  Here in Pickford it gets to the low 80's in the day and the low 50's at night -- great sleeping weather!  Whenever I camp in Pickford I eat one (and only one) breakfast at Big D's Diner.  Why only once?  Check out the portions.

Big D's Southern omelette.  I couldn't finish it.

I also got to attend another Spartan wedding this month.  My lovely niece Rachel got married on the Spartan campus and my daughter and I had a great time at the reception at MSU's Kellogg Center.

Two lovelies.  My daughter Nickelle (L) and cousin Rachel (R).

Got a blogging enhancement coming (foreshadowing) that I'll intro in my next post.

Thanks for reading!

Solar Water

One of the few quibbles I have regarding the Mini is a problem with the water heater.  When I have hookups the electric side of the heater works great, heating 6 gallons of water quickly.  My problem is the propane side of the heater, it worked originally but doesn't anymore.  Don't know if I managed to crimp the propane line going to it or what and it's such a small problem it wasn't worth dragging the Mini back to Ohio to the dealer to get warranty work done on it.  Plus they'd probably  keep the Mini for a few days so I'd get to pay for staying in a motel during that time.  So I researched solar water heaters and found this one:

It works for the same reason you don't wear black on a hot sunny day.

You pour about a gallon or so of water into it then set it in the sun (here it's on the hot hood of the pickup) and about 3 hours later you have water that's up to 120 degrees.  I touched the bag to determine when it'd be comfortable to shower with then took it onto the Mini's shower and had a decent shower!  I only used about half the water in the bag.  Simple and effective, just like me!  Beats driving to Ohio!

I got back to my campsite in the Lake Michigan Rec area as quick as I could and, fortunately it was unoccupied so I jumped on it.

"My" campsite!

Why keep coming back to the same site?

Hard to beat this backyard!

No mosquitoes (surprisingly), great hiking, almost ideal temps, almost total quiet (except for birds), usable Verizon (with a cell booster) oh, and it's free for up to 14 days!

This was my second stretch at the site this summer and I'm not ruling out a third!

Thanks for reading!

Happy 242nd, America

A nice big steak to celebrate the 4th in the Manistee National Forest!

Got my work cut out for me.

I'll need more than my usual hike along Greens Road to burn these calories!

Shady Greens Road.

Have a Great 4th!

Thanks for reading!

End of the Month Catch-up

I'm back at the Lake Michigan Recreation Area for the week leading up to July 4th boondocking in some great weather, although kind of warm.  I originally reviewed the Rec Area here:  Lake Michigan Rec Area Review .

Lake Michigan

I got here early and snagged the last campsite that has open views of the sky with only a few blocking trees so solar and DISH TV are both working really well!

Even running the DISH and TV while charging my phone the battery stays at 100%.

On a sadder note my 35 year old Ibanez electric guitar finally gave up the ghost.  I loved that old guitar but over 35 years I really beat the Hell out of it.  So I got a new one!

It even came with a nifty guitar stand.  Thanks Amazon!

This campground is one of my all-time favorites and it's pretty packed which isn't surprising given the holiday next week.  My campsite is nicely isolated from the sites to either side so I can't see or hear my neighbors which is great.  You can even get decent Verizon reception if you use a cell booster.

Part of the Manistee National Forest.

Thanks for reading!

Breakfast at Big D's Pickford, MI

I'm spending a week at the Glen Gough Memorial Park in Pickford, MI.  I previously reviewed the park here:  Picford Township Park Review.  When you stay in Pickford eating at least one breakfast at Big D's Diner is MANDATORY.

The Meatlover's Omelette!  About a pound of goodness.

One of the daily specials is the Meatlover's Omelette which must have at least a half pound of cheese, meat and eggs in it -- I challenge you to finish it!

As far as I got.

Fortunately Big D's provides "To Go" boxes because as you can see I have another meal left over.  Diet, what diet?

Thanks for reading!

Campground Review: Midland County Fairgrounds Midland, MI

When I visit my family in Midland, MI I used to park the Mini at the Four Seasons RV Park and bite the bullet and pay their $38 per night camping fee because there really isn't a lot of RV parks in the Midland area.  This year I wanted to visit my Dad for Father's Day so I did some research on non -$38 per night venues and found that the Midland County Fairgrounds charged only $20 per night so I tried the fairground camping out.

87 degrees!  So much for escaping the Southwest heat.

The RV sites at the Fairgrounds are informally laid out on grass pull-thru's where the electric hookups are supplied by centrally located poles where about 6 to eight receptacles are hung.

The Mini parked near a "power pole", water is available from spigots like in the foreground.

Here's the Midland County Fairground data sheet:

Hookups:                                             20, 30 & 50 amp, water                                             

Fire ring:                                              No                                                                              

Water Access:                                     No                                                                  

Fresh Water:                                       Yes                                                     

Trash Service:                                     Yes                                                                 

Toilets:                                                Yes                                         

Showers:                                             Yes                                                     

Dump station:                                      Yes                                         

WiFi:                                                    No                                          

Level sites:                                          Yes                                         

Laundry:                                              No                                                      

Store:                                                   No (Across the street from a Mall)                            

Pool:                                                    No                                          

Shade:                                                Yes                                         

Verizon reception:                               4G, 4 Bars                                          

Internet reception:                               4 bars

Cost:                                                    $20 per night

There are several very well cleaned bathrooms around the Fairgrounds, one has showers for campers.

The flower-lined shower house at Midland County Fairgrounds.

As I mentioned in the Data Sheet you could not be any closer to shopping when you stay at the Fairgrounds, the Midland Mall is right across the street along with a Walmart, Home Depot and a bunch of other stores.  The Fairgrounds is also only about a half mile from my Dad's house so that was also convenient.

The campground office is thru the glass doors then immediately left.

The county really does a nice job of keeping the Fairgrounds up and litter free, it really enhanced the camping experience.

Even the Dump Station is lined with flowers!

I enjoyed my 3 days camping at the Midland County Fairgrounds and I enjoyed saving $54 dollars over what I would have spent at Midland's "other" RV park even more.  The Fairgrounds is now my default Midland campground!

Thanks for reading!