On the Fast Track

While I wish I could say this post is about finishing Stellar at light speed, it’s still about making progress. We’re now at the point where we’ll pretty much celebrate any project that gets finished. Re-hanging the curtains, and getting them out of the house, certainly falls in that category.

The above photo is of the curtains at the back of the trailer. This area is the bedroom. When we purchased it, the curtains in the bedroom area wrapped from one side to the other. They covered both side windows and the back window. We decided not to do that. For one thing, I wasn’t 100% certain all the original panels were still there, since at least 3 panels were missing from the large curb/street side windows. The side windows each got a new blind instead. (See “Low Tech Blinds”) Out of 7 panels, I put four back in. The new curtain hardware is aligned with the trim piece which can be seen above.

Out with the old, in with the new…

The debate of restoration vs. renovation can be a hot one. In the end, there really isn’t a right or wrong. It’s personal preference, and if most people are being honest, sometimes original equipment, installed by the manufacturer, isn’t always the best. That even includes Airstreams. Since we plan to spend a significant amount of time in our trailer, anything we’ve decided to change was for better ease of use or increased comfort. (Our  new Deluxe MaxxFans are a good example. Our trailer didn’t come with fans. It had light fixtures with roof vents.)

G Glide

T Glides

I didn’t care for the old, dinky aluminum curtain tracks. We’re talking about an RV which is 37 years old, so it’s reasonable some things have seen better days. The old tracks were on that list. Their mountings were mostly secure, but in the bedroom the bottom track had been bent in a few places. It was also a pain in the rear to remove and rehang the curtains from them. The curtains were originally attached, top and bottom, from itty bitty T and G glides which were inserted into a small groove in the track. (Named for their shapes). The T glides were in the top tracks and the G glides in the bottom. Depending on where the curtains were hung, the glides were attached with fabric tabs or elastic. While I was in the process of turning the curtains blue and re-sewing some pleats, I discovered more than a few glides from the bedroom curtains had been broken. It was not particularly surprising. The side windows actually sit a bit higher on the walls than the back window, and the top curtain track was mounted directly under the back trim and upper storage lockers. The curtain panels weren’t deep enough to reach both tracks on their own. The glides had to be attached with elastic. Over time, many of the glides broke from the amount of tension applied to them. As I’ve mentioned before, the curtains are made from a heavier fabric, and lined to boot. The old glides weren’t suitable for their weight over the long term.

Rather than mess with the fiddly glides and elastic, I decided to find a new system to re-hang the curtains and began searching for a flexible curtain track, which could be mounted on our trailer’s curvy walls. The search was general rather than RV specific. Justified or not, anything labeled “RV” often comes with a higher price tag, and I wasn’t looking for an exact replacement of the old system anyway. Besides being flexible, I had a list of requirements and happened to find them in a system called Streamline. It appears to be a British product, but I found the PVC version of it on Amazon (sold by Curtains2Bedding). I bought 4 kits. The following links for YouTube and a website both belong to the British vender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ4xa9lO0CU

http://www.speedy-products.co.uk/products/brands/streamline-track/

Because of the shape of our trailer walls, hanging a single track doesn’t work if you want privacy or to keep the sun out. Tracks at the top and bottom of the curtains are necessary. This product is designed for residential use, so the while video gives you a good idea how the system works, there are a few things you’ll do differently in an Airstream.

Since Airstreams have an interior aluminum skin, the first thing you do is remove the drywall supports for the screws and set them aside. You won’t need to use them. Pilot holes will still need to be drilled for the screws which mount the key lock supports to the wall, but you’ll need to use a smaller bit than the one recommended in their video. It should be the same size or just slightly smaller than the screws. The way the key locks are designed I wouldn’t recommend trying to rivet them to the walls. It might prove to be more frustrating than necessary. While we’re discussing the key lock supports, the video mentions wall or ceiling mount. There are two screw holes, one in back and another on top. It was this versatility which influenced my decision to purchase, along with the track end supports to keep the curtains from bouncing off the end of the tracks.  I used the wall mount option in the bedroom, and both top and bottom tracks were mounted the same way. At the front of the trailer, I needed to use the ceiling mount option for the top track.  (The top track has been installed, but the bottom won’t be installed until after construction under the window is finished.) As you’re determining the locations of the key lock supports, you’ll want to make small marks for the pilot holes before doing any drilling. The trickiest part of hanging curtains in an “egg on wheels” is keeping the track level. Everything may look straight when you’re right in front of it, only to be uphill at one end when you step back.

The new gliders on the curtains are not attached with any elastic. To make sure both my top and bottom tracks were in the correct locations, I had to start with the bottom track. It was mounted pretty much in the same place as the original. (This is one of those occasions when you shouldn’t trust your memory. I kept picturing the curtains as being deeper than they were. After I realized the curtains didn’t quite cover the back window from the upper trim, I needed to make adjustments to track installation.) If you look closely at the above photo, you will see a 12V and 120V outlet beneath the back window. The bottom track needed to be placed between the outlets and window frame. After the bottom track was installed, a curtain panel was attached to it and used to determine the location of the top track. The gliders have a clip which secures them to drapery tape. I had left-over bias tape from the blinds, so I used it instead. When I put the gliders on the curtains, I thought the top track would still be mounted just below the trim. As a result, the gliders are right below the top edge of the curtain panels, and the top track and key lock supports aren’t completely hidden. It’s not exactly a deal breaker since most of the bedroom won’t be seen from the front, once the interior is re-assembled. It also doesn’t interfere with function. Speaking of function, I used a button stitch on the rings at the bottom of the gliders and sewed them to the curtains. It was done as insurance to make sure the gliders stay where they belong.

Another item of note is the track itself. The company video shows it as being a well behaved, flat piece which slides easily onto the key lock supports. Don’t get me wrong. Getting the track on the supports really isn’t complicated. But the track is coiled up in the packaging and secured with zip ties. (Makes a compact package good for shipping.) It doesn’t become flat immediately after you remove the ties. The front of the track is on the outside of the coil, and I needed it to curve in the opposite direction. It was easier to get the track secured with a second pair of hands. When those hands aren’t available, it is possible to make the track more cooperative by bending it in the opposite direction before installing. Since accurately measuring a curved wall can be tricky with a construction tape measure, we just started with the track at one end and trimmed off the excess. Instead of a hacksaw, the sheet metal shears in the toolbox worked fine. Just make sure the cut is straight for the track end supports.

I also did the supports differently from the video. I attached them to the ends of the curtain panels first. Just pay attention to the placement of your curtains on the track. There are left and right supports, so you want to ensure you’re applying the correct supports at the outside ends of the appropriate panel.  After the curtains were secured to both tracks, I just released the last key support so I could pull the track far enough from the wall to tighten the back screw on the supports.

Unlike the old system, the curtains now zip along the new track. The only area that requires just a little patience is going around the curved corners. It doesn’t take much persuasion to bring them around, though. The last tweak I need to make is adding large hooks/eyes. They will connect the curtain panels to each other and close gaps between them. (The old Velcro that connected the panels to each other was getting ratty.)

Only time, and a few miles, will tell how this product holds up. As far as I know, it hasn’t been used in an RV before. However, I will have plenty of spare parts, including leftover track, which will get consolidated into one container and stashed in the trailer. At the moment, I’m quite pleased with my curtain hanging solution. Even though I didn’t see the company video before using the product, the instructions weren’t difficult to follow. I also had a pretty good idea how I was going to make it work for my needs before purchasing. While it did take some time to remove the old glides and sew bias tape onto the curtains, attaching them to the tracks was easy.

There is a point to this post which goes beyond curtain hardware. Stretch your creative problem solving “muscles” and keep an open mind when looking for solutions. (Before buying the Streamline kits for our trailer, I had no idea the product existed.) If you want to take on a major project like a vintage RV, they’re skills you’ll use frequently. Trust yourself occasionally, and don’t let the possibility that someone else hasn’t done it first (or shared their experience) stop you from trying.

Bumble, the Abominable Snow Van

A few months ago we did a post about our tow vehicle, a 1999 Ford Expedition. While there was nothing majorly wrong with it, we kept having discussions about getting something which would suit our circumstances better. We kind of set a precedent with our first trip last year, when we took our unfinished trailer away for 3 weeks. While you’re away from home with a large “family”, every bit of space you have, including what’s available in your vehicle, starts to matter.

Last year, we traveled with 5 dogs. The largest is a 55lb. Cattle Dog, and the smallest is a 23lb. Sheltie mix. Crating everyone in the Expedition really wasn’t an option. We ended up trying harnesses designed for seat-belt attachment, but it wasn’t an ideal solution. No one wanted to stay in their designated spot, which meant untangling everything before the canine passengers could take potty breaks or join us in the trailer. Our Cattle Dog, who considers it her God-given right to be wherever the people are, doesn’t care much for riding in vehicles. During the last 2 days of our return trip home, she was no longer willing to stay in the 3^rd row seat. At first, we kept tucking an errant leg back in her harness, then we tried moving her to the middle seat so she was closer to the people. On our last day, she figured out how to escape the harness entirely and spent the last 2 hours in Kristal’s lap. It’s a good thing we got home before rush hour and missed most of the crazy traffic.

This year, as our younger daughter’s graduation got closer, she kept asking how long we were going to be staying up north. Even before her after-graduation plans really starting taking shape, the likelihood of being gone at least a month was a good possibility. We knew, though, that the Expedition wasn’t going to be convenient for another long trip.

For those of you who are vintage RV lovers, but haven’t actually purchased anything yet, do yourself a favor and look at new RVs currently on the market. With the exception of some of the smallest trailers (like teardrops), many new RVs can come with a respectable amount of storage. Before you buy anything, it might be a good idea to gather any items you currently own which you insist on bringing with you. How much storage space do you need? Vintage trailers, many of which are smaller, don’t come with lots of storage space. Even our 31’ Airstream doesn’t have massive amounts of storage. Still, we understand when something speaks to your heart. Since you only live once, settling just isn’t an option sometimes. When you’re not willing to give up your heart’s desire, it might become necessary to find a compromise which makes your first choice more user friendly.

Enter Bumble, our new tow vehicle. As you can see from the included photo, he’s definitely a bit larger than the old Expedition. We bought him at the end of March, and now feel like enough time has passed to share our initial impressions. While we were traveling there were a few people who were curious and wanted to know what kind of vehicle he is. Most of the time we were tempted to say BAV for “big ass van”. Technically, Bumble is a Nissan NV3500 SL HD, a vehicle cross which is half pick-up, half van. He sits on a Nissan Titan chassis. Nissan put the NV into production 3 years ago.

Some people do like vans for towing because they find their interior space more convenient than the bed of a pickup. However, there can be a compromise on the tow rating. It is pretty difficult to beat the heavy duty pickups when it comes to weight capacity, but those vehicles are also becoming increasingly expensive since many people use them as their everyday driver. Pickups of all sizes are getting pretty darn fancy these days. While we wanted an increase in towing/cargo, a pickup doesn’t suit the needs of someone traveling with several animals (or families with a few kids). Keeping them safe and comfortable was going to require a bed topper with AC. While researching options, Karl discovered the NV. To say he was intrigued is an understatement. Here was something offering many pickup advantages with a large amount of interior space. (Even more than the traditional van. Yes, yes, we know Bumble looks a bit like a giant Nissan Cube.)

Here are some of the details.

Our NV is a passenger model. Because we do long distance travel, the options available in the passenger version were more important to us. The one thing we don’t need so much right now are all the additional seats. However, they can be removed completely, leaving enough space to put a 4’x8’ sheet of plywood on the floor. To aid with loading larger items the rear doors can be folded to the sides of the van. Because Bumble has a pickup nose, his engine sits in front and doesn’t take any interior space. A center console sits between the front seats instead. It’s set up to be used as a hanging file cabinet, but offers plenty of storage space for any number of items you need out of the way or out of sight. There are also 12V ports, a USB port, and a 110V outlet in the back (400 watt converter to run it). This is a vehicle with a built-in towing option. It has a tow mode setting and extra-large side mirrors which can be extended from the vehicle. Each side view has two separate mirrors, one large and one small. Bumble does have big blind spots, but those mirrors, especially the small ones, allow you to see what’s around the vehicle. We definitely recommend potential owners of the NV get used to using all the mirrors and the back-up camera.

After traveling more than 4,000 miles on our trip, we can confirm there are some adjustments when you switch from a passenger vehicle to something designed for work. (Bumbles bounce!) The pickup chassis/heavy duty suspension, which makes him a suitable candidate for towing our trailer, also means a stiffer ride. Bumble isn’t actually the first vehicle we’ve owned with coil suspension, so the occasionally bouncy ride wasn’t a surprise. While RV travel allows you to bring a bit of home with you, there will still be trade-offs, unless you have an unlimited budget. Especially, if you want or need to go larger in size. The big Class A and C motor homes usually come with air-ride systems (think semi-truck type). Air-ride suspension in a vehicle used to pull a large trailer might be an option, but you have to do your research on its long-term suitability. There is generally a lot of wear and tear on a tow vehicle, and we had to factor in the weight our sway prevention/distribution hitch adds to the trailer A-frame. (You can read about our issues with the Expedition’s aging airbag suspension in our post, “The Other Set of Wheels.”) Own any vehicle long enough and eventually the suspension will need work. With proper maintenance heavy-duty coils could go longer, though. They’re also a bit less expensive to replace because parts are less complicated.

Did Bumble meet our expectations for fur kid family travel? He did give us room to crate all the dogs, and four more travelers became a part of our party, too. Kristal has 4 high-maintenance long-haired rabbits, and finding someone to care for them during longer periods of time isn’t easy. 2 Xtra large wire crates (42’ long) and 1 large crate (36”) kept the dogs contained. The big crates held 2 dogs each. Kristal’s rabbits traveled in 4 stackable cages, 16” x 24”. They were stacked 2 each. Once the animals were all in, there was still some room to squeeze in two patio rugs and a two-room tent (also known as the Rabbit Romper Room.)

You can read about our traveling rabbit experience here. http://royalhouseofcrafts.blogspot.com/2016/06/ramblin-rabbits.html

In the future, there will be a reduction of animals traveling with us. The Cattle Dog is 8 years old, and Kristal’s oldest rabbit is 6. Beyond any of them eventually leaving us due to old age, our younger daughter is taking 2 of the Labrador Retrievers once she is settled. That doesn’t mean Bumble’s usefulness will be at an end, though. We gained an additional 1,000 lbs. capacity over the Expedition, and while more cargo space is useful, making the change wasn’t so much about bringing more stuff than we already have. (A vehicle with larger tow capacity doesn’t mean you can over-load your travel trailer. It was manufactured to hold a certain amount of weight. Exceeding that is never a good idea.) It was about an increase in safety and a place to put our anti-gravity lounge chairs, other than the floor of our trailer. During our first trip with him, Bumble was more than able to do what we needed. He comes in handy for DIY projects at home, too.

Right now we’re satisfied with our choice, but we are talking about a still-new vehicle. Bumble was purchased with the long view in mind, meaning we’ll drive him until the wheels fall off. As a commercial vehicle, he does come with a different level of support from Nissan and their dealerships. The passage of time will tell us how much of a difference it makes in his longevity. The support was definitely a tipping point in his favor. It doesn’t hurt to look at a company’s new concept and give it a try while they’re highly motivated to find markets for it. Like it or not, cost of ownership, beyond monthly payments and insurance, has to be factored in to determine compatibility with a budget. It also doesn’t hurt that we have a bit of a rebellious streak, and have a tendency to do the exact opposite of everyone else.  Despite being a big box, Bumble is actually an out-of-the-box idea. Not denying that was part of his appeal for us. Now that we have an NV, we’re starting to see more of them in the Houston area. We also had an encounter with a silver one in the oversize parking lot at Wall Drug in South Dakota. They were towing a travel trailer too. They were leaving as we were pulling in. We, and the other NV owners, were both excited and amused with our brief meeting. Considering it was the only one we saw while traveling, it felt a little bit like belonging to a very exclusive club.

Big Bend Park, Canton Lake

We saw one of the prettiest sunrises during our trip at Canton Lake.

Though to be fair we had a lot of overcast and rainy mornings

while we were away from home.

As you will see from the web pages included at the end of this post, Canton Lake (Canton, OK) is another USACE project. It has five different campsites around the lake, all managed by the Corp.

We stayed in Big Bend Park for two nights, and got lucky enough to snag a site on the shore. (It was the closest site to the bathrooms, too. Sweet!) That’s one of the nice parts about camping during the week before travel season really heats up. There can be more availability in desirable campsites. Our only complaint? More shade would have been nice. We’re not griping too much, though. Sometimes, you can’t have everything.

For those who are asking, “Would you stay here again?” the answer is, “Yes.” The facilities around Canton Lake include paved roads, and Big Bend has paved RV sites. Despite our site lacking a bit in shade, there are trees around the lake, and we made note of other campsites we liked. (Campground maps don’t show you where the shade is.)  Besides checking in campers, the hosts patrol the campground a few times a day, and campground maintenance employees keep everything tidy.

Are there things you should know before you go? Yes, indeed. First of all, you will reach Canton Lake from 2-lane highways. There are no interstates in the area. Road maintenance can vary depending on the government agencies responsible for them, so you won’t always encounter highways as smooth as glass. This lake is situated in the NW quadrant of Oklahoma, an area where semi-arid farming and ranching is practiced. We saw a lot of winter wheat farms, many of whom were harvesting in early June.  Traveling in rural areas when farm work is underway? Be prepared to encounter slow-moving equipment on the roads. This part of the country will also be hot and dry during the summer. The temps were getting into the 90s while we were there.

Like many rural areas in the US, most of the communities in this part of Oklahoma are small. Don’t expect to find lots of provisions, though many of the little towns you might pass thru may have a Dollar General or Subway Restaurant. Sometimes they even have both. We did pass thru one community large enough to have a Wal-Mart, but we had restocked before starting the return trip home. You might find a convenience store along a highway, or in some towns. Otherwise keep an eye out for the farmer’s co-ops if you need to refuel. (All the above info is true for rural travel in most Mid-western states, not just Oklahoma.)

In case anyone is wondering, neither of the Corp lakes we visited, are near our usual route when we’re traveling between Texas and our relatives in Iowa and South Dakota. It’s our belief that the joy of RV travel comes from slowing down and getting off the beaten path. As former small town/rural residents, we have to admit big-city living started losing its thrill for us a few years ago. Rural travel, and escaping the crowds, is a pleasant change of pace for us. While we enjoyed our visits to the Badlands and Mt. Rushmore during our last trip, our favorite parts were being on highways where you might see another vehicle and campgrounds which were almost empty. Try it yourself sometime and see if you don’t agree.

http://www.recreation.gov/camping/big-bend-ok/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73081

http://www.cantonlakeoklahoma.com/

http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.1057

Take lots of photos when you have a spectacular sunrise or sunset.

From beginning to end, they keep changing.

For this post, Kristal chose 2 of her photos, but it wasn’t easy to pick her favorites.

Lucas Park, Wilson Lake

This photo was taken in the morning, shortly before we left for Oklahoma.

There was nice shade on this site early in the day,

but it was going to disappear by noon.

When we’re not in a terrific hurry to get anywhere, we like nightly stops a bit off the beaten path. Since we’re usually only staying a night or two, it’s a great way to check out different campgrounds and locations.  The facilities we like, along with our favorite campsites, get added to our list of places we would enjoy visiting again. Not to mention staying longer the next time.

Wilson Lake isn’t too far north of I-70 in central Kansas. We got there by traveling on two-lane highways from Nebraska. While it may be true in other states too, we’ve noticed that reservoirs which are Kansas Army Corp of Engineers projects have both state parks and Corp campgrounds. Wilson Lake has both. (3 USACE, 2 state)

We haven’t stayed in any Kansas state parks yet, but especially while we’re traveling, the Corp campgrounds are emerging as our favorites. Generally, Corp properties have a day use fee or camping fees. Campers usually aren’t charged the day use fee. They also seem to be pretty consistent in keeping everything maintained. If you qualify for one of the various passes offered by the Federal Government, you might even get a discount. There are links to some PDF brochures at the end of this post, including one explaining the different Federal access passes. When looking for campsites, do a fee comparison between Corp campgrounds and nearby state parks to determine which is the best value for you.

Just so you know, during the week there might be a day or two when the hosts are off. This was our experience at Wilson Lake and was the first time we encountered it. The hosts were off on Tues. and Wed. At Lucas Park, where we stayed, they did provide envelopes for self-check in. There are three sections in Lucas Park, and since it was mostly empty on the Tues. we arrived, driving thru each section helped us decide on a site. Lucas wasn’t our original destination, but there wasn’t a self-check in option at the campground below the dam where we were planning to stay. If you’ve made a reservation before arrival, a host’s day off probably won’t matter to you. But for us, reservations don’t always make sense, because we need some flexibility while on the road. The USACE and Recreation.gov websites might not inform if campground hosts have certain days off. The only way we knew Lucas Park was USACE was by exploring it. (Corp campgrounds will have the castle logo on the entrance signs.) Moral of the story? Look at the map for an entire Corp project (usually reservoirs) when making your plans. It will show you all the campgrounds which utilize the project. Call the numbers provided for each and verify the hosts will be there when you arrive. If not, just make sure there is a contingency for people who want to use those sites when the hosts aren’t present.

Lucas Park is a nicely maintained campground with a modern section (hook-ups/bathroom facility), and we would stay there again. If our self-containment work had been completed, the undeveloped section interested us too. Now, here’s what you need to know before visiting.

The roads and campsites are gravel. You will travel a bit from the paved highway before you reach the campground. Just follow the signs. Wilson Lake is a reservoir on the prairie grasslands of the Great Plains. There aren’t a lot of trees in the campgrounds. The sites that do have shade go fast when the weather warms up. Naturally, sites on the lake shore are popular, too. While the campgrounds are mowed, don’t expect to find fancy, civilized grass. Native just makes more sense in a place where the grass isn’t watered by man. Those natives include cockle burs (or stickers, depending on where you’re from). Take a short-cut to the bathroom? Check your shoelaces. If you get them in your socks, you’ll feel them. For those who own a dog with a long silky coat, keep your grooming tools, including scissors handy. Check their coat immediately after a potty break. Any cockle bur not removed right away will work its way to the skin eventually, not to mention creating a big knot. Regardless of breed or coat type, all dogs can get cockle burs between the pads of their feet. It’s a good idea to check feet after each trip into the grass.

While native prairie plants might include cockle burs,

there could also be wildflowers if you’re visiting in the spring.

We stayed at Lucas Park during our trip home to Texas during the first week of June.

Despite summer heat and sun, you may not be able to open your awning. Like most of the Plains states, Kansas is windy. A few trees in Lucas Park means there isn’t much protection from the wind. In case you do use your awning, keep a close eye on it, especially if you don’t have an electric one with a wind sensor. No need to let the wind spoil your fun, though. Spend a little time studying your campsite, and you’ll have a decent idea where you want to position things like your grill and camp chairs. The wind is often the strongest from mid-morning to early evening, so you might find it more enjoyable to do your outdoor activities earlier or later. Use the hottest, windiest part of the day for napping. (That’s our preference, but then, we’re old people.) Secure long hair and keep some lip balm handy. It’s also a good idea to protect your skin and eyes from wind/sun burn.

Some people might find the conditions on the Plains not to their liking. Not to worry. The USACE has 450+ projects and campgrounds in many states. Between our trip last year, and the trip we took in May/June, we’ve stayed at 5 different Corp campgrounds in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Since they’ve met our definition of “value” so far, it’s pretty safe to say we’ll keep seeking Corp campgrounds during our travels.

Want to do some comparisons between Kansas state parks and Corp facitilities? Besides camping, you’ll find the lake’s various rec. opportunities at both sites, too.

http://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Wilson

http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Wilson-Lake/

These PDF documents can be found through the above site. But we’ve made the links available here in case you prefer to go straight to them.

http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Portals/29/docs/lakesites/wilson/Wilson-Lakemap.pdf

http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Portals/29/docs/lakesites/wilson/73266-%20Lucas%20park.pdf

This is the 2016 fee discount chart. Planning to travel in 2017? Check in January for updates or changes.

http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/pdfs/discount-chart.pdf

To make reservations at any Federal facility, go to recreation.gov. The following link is specifically for Lucas Park.

http://www.recreation.gov/camping/lucas-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73266

This site also gives info about the Corp campgrounds and making reservations through Reserve America.

http://www.rv-camping.org/coecampgrounds/

Clay County Campground

Sometimes a smaller campground can be one of the nicest places to stay, and  Clay County is one of our favorites. It’s just a little bit southwest of Vermillion, SD, but beyond that, we’re not sure we want to tell you how to find it.

Just kidding!  The following link will give you more info.

http://www.vermillioncvb.com/camping.php

For us, some of the appeal might be nostalgia. Karl grew up in Vermillion, and we met each other there. He remembers the campground and going fishing on the Missouri River, which is just down the road. (He remembers doing some other things on the river during the winter, too. It’s probably a miracle he survived to adulthood.) When he was a boy, the Clay County Recreation Area was a primitive place to camp.

Now you will find a modern, well-maintained campground, with flush toilets and plenty of hot water in the showers and sinks. There is currently one bathroom building right now, but they were beginning another bathroom facility on the north side of the campground while we were there in May. The majority of their campsites are RV friendly, with electrical hook-ups. Want to use your own “facilities”? When you enter the park, the potable water hydrant is on the right (curb) side of your rig. The dump station is on the opposite side of the entrance. Besides making it relatively easy to camp there, we also like this site because it sits in the middle of an old cottonwood grove (AKA very tall trees). It’s not that you won’t feel a breeze there, but the surrounding trees provide a significant amount of protection from the ever-present wind. They also give you a sense of being removed from civilization, even though the rec area is surrounded by farms and close to town.

Just so you know, cottonwoods are well dispersed in the US, especially in the Midwest. They’re messy in the spring, starting with sticky buds that will land on all your gear. Following those you will see green clusters which burst open a week or two later. The seeds are very similar to those of dandelions, only bigger. There are probably a few still wrapped up in our awning.

This is the kind of campground you come to just for the sheer joy of camping. Which in it’s purest form is about being outdoors, eating “fun” food, and hanging out by the fire with your favorite people.  If some of those favorite people are your kids, there is a playground. We’ve also seen other campers bring bicycles. The recreation area does have walking trails. Make sure to apply your mosquito and tick repellants before a hike.

No one has confirmed it, but we suspect putting fun lights on your awning

is a right of passage.

You can take a boat down to the river and/or do some fishing (with the proper license of course). It bears saying, however, that you shouldn’t let your children go to the river without supervision, despite what Karl did as a kid. The Missouri may look slow on the surface, but it has some very deep channels with fast currents. There are also sandbars and dead timber that tend to shift locations. The old girl is tricky, to say the least. Even people who thought they knew the river very well have found themselves in trouble if they didn’t stay vigilant.

In case you’re wondering, yes, there are some reasons you may enjoy going into town.  Many of the big events in Vermillion will be associated with the University of South Dakota (ex. D-Days). But you can find year-round attractions too, such as museums, galleries and institutions which might be of interest to visitors. Vermillion is the county seat with the accompanying court house and fair grounds. Need more marshmallows? There is a Hy-Vee grocery store on Cherry Street and a Wal-Mart on Princeton. They’re basically around the corner from each other (NW corner of town). I guess you could say Cherry is the main drag. Coming from the east on Hwy 50, if you continue into town you’re on Cherry. It will take you past gas stations, fast food restaurants, laundromats, the center of the USD campus, a liquor store, TruValue Hardware, the fair grounds, hotels, and Campbell’s Supply. For those who find their way onto Main Street, this will take you downtown. We highly recommend Café Brulé, a bakery and bistro. (Our daughter took Kristal there for Mother’s Day.) There are some other restaurants, two movie theaters, and  a bar or two (Duh! College town). Carey’s Bar has live music. Karl’s oldest brother plays there on Friday nights. Our daughter seems rather fond of the Char Bar.

The following websites are for Vermillion’s tourism  and USD. To learn about USD’s museums, etc. go to the left column and look under “Our Campus”.

http://www.vermillioncvb.com/

http://www.usd.edu/

History buffs and naturalists might appreciate a visit to Spirit Mound, which is north of town. When we were growing up, this site was owned by a few farms. It is now a state park and prairie restoration site. Last year, our daughter went there to observe the Perseid Meteor Showers. It’s also a nice place to watch a sunset.

http://www.spiritmound.com/index.htm

Part of the appeal of RV ownership is going on grand adventures. Nothing wrong with that. But there is a lot to be said for just slowing down, and soaking up some peaceful moments you might not always find in your everyday life. Even though our last 2 trips took us more than 1,000 miles from home, we pretty much camped all the way there and back. We have fond memories of this activity, which might be why, accumulatively, we have spent more than 3 weeks in Clay County Campground. Whether it’s near, or far away, get out there and go camping. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll meet you somewhere in a campground.

Rock Island Park

The old train trestle is on the south side of the park.

It’s part of the walking/biking path.

In our “glamping” post, we mentioned being gone 5 weeks. You might say our daughter had an after-graduation bucket list of things she wanted to do while we were visiting. (And we had time to kill before helping her move anyway.)

If you would like to attend some festivals while on your RV travels, Orange City, IA has a Tulip Festival the third weekend in May. Our daughters were born in Orange City, then we moved to Texas when the girls were in elementary school. The older daughter got to participate in the festival once, but the younger one missed out. This year was the first time we were in the area during the festival, so it was on her list of activities.

Find out more at this link.

http://www.octulipfestival.com/

One of Orange City’s municipal parks does have RV spaces, but we didn’t want to stay there while the festival was underway. This is a town of less than 10,000 people who entertain more than 100,000 in 3 days. Instead, we left the Black Hills for Rock Rapids, IA. It’s approximately an hour north of Orange City, and we have family who lives there.

Rock Rapids has two municipal camp grounds. If you come into town from I-90 on Hwy 9/Hwy 75, you’ll pass one of them in the smaller park on the west side of town. Since we didn’t want to be next to the highway (Semi traffic), it was bypassed in favor of Rock Island Park, at the NE corner of town. Continue east into town. Hwy 9 becomes 1^st Ave. Rock Island Park’s address is North Boone Street. Look for Sunshine Foods grocery store on 1^st Ave. and the street just east of the parking lot. Turn left and drive north 2 blocks. North Boone becomes Park Street inside the park. The campsite registration envelopes are at this entrance. Get your envelope and follow the gravel road to the campsites. (There is another entrance into the park on 2^nd Ave, but you wouldn’t want to take an RV on this rout. This entrance is below a steep, cobblestone covered hill.) Here is the city’s webpage concerning camping.

http://www.rockrapids.com/index.php?pageid=737562746f7069635f69643a3539

If asked how we would rate the different places we’ve stayed so far, Rock Island Park would get an honorable mention. It’s a pretty park sitting next to the Rock River. Some of the campsites are close to the playground and a branch of the river that flows thru the middle of the park.

This is the entrance to the walking path bridge.

Once you've crossed the bridge, this is the view of the path above the river

Several varieties of plants along the path were blooming, including the lilacs.

We can’t grow them in Texas and were happy to be there while they were flowering.

This section under water was closed.

Though the water over the path wasn’t very deep, it was moving fast.

The old railroad depot has some interesting architectural features.

This caboose is part of the Lyon County Museum.

The following are things to do in and around the park. Starting at the old train depot above the park, you will find the paved walking/bike path. It utilizes the old train trestle that crosses the park and river. On the other side, the path follows the river to the north side of the park. It was Kristal’s favorite place to walk the dogs. (Leave the park from the 2^nd Ave. entrance. Go one block west to the post office and turn right on N. Storey St. Turn right on the sidewalk at the south side of the depot. There is also a section of the path that crosses the river in the park, just below the biggest dam, which takes you directly to the north side. The river was flowing over it while we were there, so it was closed.) History buffs may enjoy visiting the complex of buildings, including the old depot, which make up the Lyon County Museum. The community swimming pool is open during the summer months. There is also Smokin’ Hos Pig Time BBQ, located next to the park’s 2^nd Ave. entrance. We camped in the park for 1 ½ weeks, thru Memorial Day Weekend, and the BBQ joint didn’t appear to be open yet. Since it’s an outdoor operation, seems a safe guess to say they’re seasonal. The following link is for their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/Smokin-Hos-Pig-Time-BBQ-384194645120366/

Northwest Iowa, including Rock Rapids, was hit by major flooding in 2014. The campsites in Rock Island Park were under water. As a result, there are new electrical hook-ups, including 50 amp.

The city website mentions water and sewer. We saw water hydrants near some of the campsites, which means you can fill your fresh water holding tank. As for sewer hook-ups or a dump station, we recommend calling the city before you plan to stay there. Since our trailer wasn’t fully functional, yet, that was a service we weren’t using. We’re not certain it’s still available after the post-flood restoration. To accommodate our BAV and 31’ trailer, the campsite next to the playground ended up being our best choice, because it was long enough, and one of the sites closest to the bathrooms in the park. (The pool complex sits on the hill above the park. Not as convenient for a disabled veteran. There were still plenty of thunderstorms, too. Our hail photo was taken in Rock Rapids. Best to be close to the potty when it’s raining.) While the bathrooms aren’t fancy, they do have flush toilets. The city employees check on them and tidy up almost every morning. For showers and dish washing, we went to the relatives’ house. Karl enjoyed the time he spent with his mom, but overall the park just wasn’t as convenient a place for us to stay. When our trailer is finished and completely self-contained, we’ll probably find it easier to camp there.

You should also be aware the park has plenty of activity. Weather permitting, the playground is popular with the daycare near the pool, and area families. The locals either like to take a slow cruise around the park or do some fishing on the river. It can be a little quieter on a weekday, but gets busier in the evenings and on weekends. The campsites filled up for Memorial Day weekend. We’re not sure how busy they are during the summer, but 4^th of July and Labor Day are probably in-demand dates too. One other thing that might affect your stay in Rock Rapids would be the speedway races held on Friday nights. They can get loud, and how late they run depends on the schedule. For those who might find the races interesting, the link follows.

http://www.rockrapidsspeedway.com/

An advantage municipal parks can offer is price. Rock Rapids was charging $15.00 a night while we were there. Not bad for a campsite with electricity. Sometimes RVers will boondock overnight in shopping center parking lots while on the road. If you’re comfortable staying overnight in a community, why not see if a municipal campground is available instead? Or perhaps you need an inexpensive near-cation. While we enjoy state parks and army corps campgrounds, visiting small towns can be an interesting change of pace, especially if you time your visit with an event peculiar to the community.

Newbie’s Guide to South Dakota

This photo was taken while we were at Mt. Rushmore.

If you take the Presidential Walk, while you’re on the higher elevations,

be sure to point your camera away from the memorial

and towards the surrounding scenery.

You may have noticed we have more than a passing familiarity with the 40^th State. Karl grew up there. Kristal’s parents moved to the southeast corner of the state in 1985, while she was in high school, then moved to the Black Hills in the late 1990s. Her mom died last year, but she still has some family members there. Even without family visits, we enjoy returning. The residents are usually friendly, and the wide-open spaces make you feel free. It’s a nice change of pace from living in a large urban area.

As you would imagine, the peak time for travel in an upper Great Plains state is late Spring to early Fall, basically May thru September. Most of the tourist attractions in the Black Hills are open during this time period, but we recommend visiting the websites for those which interest you and verify the pertinent information yourself. Some things open earlier and stay open later, while others may be available year round.

For those planning trips during peak season, you may need to start making reservations a year or more in advance for state parks and private RV parks/resorts. That pretty much applies to the entire state. Quite a few Midwesterners own RVs. Some of the state and local campgrounds might be fairly empty during the week, but will be completely reserved for weekends and holidays. (Don’t forget tourists traveling to/from the Hills. Campsites along the way might be filled all week.) The super-popular Black Hills state parks, like Custer, will pretty much be booked the entire season. Many of the private RV parks, such as Hart Ranch Camping Resort, cater to folks who come to stay for the summer. For the intrepid fall/winter traveler, state parks and RV resorts may be open year round. But some amenities, like water hookups might not be available. Those are often turned off, and drained, to keep pipes from freezing and bursting during extreme cold spells.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is probably one of the best known events in South Dakota. It occurs in early August. You don’t have to own a motorcycle to see the races, shows and concerts; visit the venders; or be entertained by the first-class people watching. More than a few RV owners enjoy attending. If you plan to go in the future, do your research on all the lodging/camping options and start making your plans. Many rally attendees come every year and either have long-standing reservations, or make the next year’s before they leave. We’ve never made a deliberate trip to attend Sturgis, but happened to be visiting family a few times while the rally was underway. Before going to the Black Hills during Sturgis keep this in mind. More than 3 million people visit the Hills every year. At least 1 million of them show up during the week of the rally, and they don’t stay confined to the Sturgis area, or the official rally events. Such a large number of visitors are big business not only for all the tourist attractions, but hotels, restaurants and retailers as well.

Traffic throughout the area will be heavy during the rally. I-90 and Hwy. 79 are the major, multi-lane highways in the area.  Most of the scenic roads in the Hills are two-lane. A large part of the rally’s attraction is enjoying those scenic roads from the seat of a motorcycle. If non-riders don’t picture themselves enjoying the spectacle of so many motorcycles in one place, and going with the flow, it’s definitely better not to visit during the rally.

(Here’s a secret for you. Want that bad-ass Sturgis T-shirt without the rally price? After it ends, and probably even during the last day or two, merchandise designed for specific years or anniversaries starts getting pretty nice discounts.  Leftover dated items are harder to sell the next year.)

To learn more about the Sturgis Rally, pay a visit to the official rally website below.

http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/

Here are other rally related things to be aware of.

Even if you’re visiting another part of the state during Sturgis, keep in mind those attending don’t just magically appear there. Sturgis attendees come from all over, so there will be lots of motorcyclists traveling throughout South Dakota, and neighboring states, a week or two before, and after, the rally. Some of them might be in large groups or traveling alone. Motorcycles coming up behind you can be difficult enough to spot when you’re not towing something. But for RV travelers with limited visibility, the larger volume of motorcycles can complicate things further, especially on the hilly two-lane highways.

Another thing we’ve noticed during rally time is the weather. It could be bone dry most of the summer, then kick up some really big thunderstorms, including hail, while the rally is underway. Since there are approx. 1 million people riding about on motorcycles, it might have something to do with Murphy’s Law.

While on the subject of weather, the wind is pretty much constant in the Plains states, especially during daylight hours. This was mentioned in our last 3 posts. Do your best to be prepared for it, both with appropriate clothing and proper auxiliary equipment to maintain towing safety, such as keeping your RV in its own lane. (Our Pro-Pride is going to need some maintenance before our next big trip, so we’ll do a post on this topic later.) An acquaintance recently mentioned she was nearly blown off the road once, while riding her motorcycle in Wyoming. Such incidents are another reason to keep a sharp eye on everything around you, and both hands on the steering wheel.

South Dakota also has a split personality. East of the Missouri River you will find higher humidity and precipitation. West River is considerably drier. East River has more farms. West River has more ranches. The below-zero Canadian cold fronts can hit the east side of the state pretty hard, along with plenty of snow. The southwest corner of the state may have more reasonable temps and less snow in the winter. Of course, this information is mostly general. It can vary from year to year. South Dakota is also one of 14 states in 2 time zones, Central and Mountain.

This is South Dakota’s official tourism website. Check it out and start planning your adventure.

https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/

The state’s official slogan is something about great faces and spaces. I think it’s safe to say we agree. Even though we’ve lived in Texas more than 16 years now, South Dakota still feels a bit like home.