Why To Avoid Campsite Cancellations

Above, Lightner Creek Campground in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Prior to two years ago, I never made a campsite cancellation. A friend came down with what we thought was COVID-19 just before we were to head up to Colorado for some camping.

I contacted the campground and explained the situation and they were good about it, but held the deposit money for when we could reschedule.

It turned out my friend didn't have coronavirus, but Legionnaire's Disease. Once that cleared up, we rescheduled the trip and I contacted the campground and rescheduled. The held deposit was applied to that.

RV Life says that campers should avoid campsite cancellations and gives several reasons why.

They begin with:

Much like 2021, 2022 is seeing a record number of people reserving (or trying to reserve) campsites. Reservations must often be made months in advance to be successful in state parks or national parks (or provincial parks if you are reserving in Canada). 

But who knows exactly what’s going to happen in life, months down the road? Nobody plans to cancel a campsite reservation, but life has its own way of making us change our plans.

With the pandemic, natural disasters, and all the other unpredictable life events, campsite cancellations can be impossible to avoid. Even with all that in mind, canceling a campsite can cause problems. 

There are a few great reasons to avoid campsite cancellations. 

To read more, go here. 

By the way, the travel trailer pictured above is for sale in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. My friend wants to get a Class C motorhome. To view the for sale listing, go here.

Trailers: Things To Check

Above, at Lightner Creek Campground in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before heading out on the road in an RV, it is best to check everything, inside and out, first. This is to ensure that the journey will be as trouble-free as possible.

Digital Journal posted an article on what to check. This applies specifically to trailers, but some of the things to check also can apply to motorhomes.

They begin with:

Taking a road trip to an exciting new destination is always fun. And while it would be great to hop in the RV and go, it isn’t that simple. One of the most important aspects of taking a trip is checking that everything is as it should be before hitting the road. Not only does this ensure a smooth, hassle-free journey, but it keeps passengers safe and prevents problems from occurring along the way.

So, let’s dive in and take a look at what Black Series recommends checking before heading off in a camper trailer!

 To read more, go here.

6 Tips of Travel Trailer Advice For Newbies

Above, at Lightner Creek Campground in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many people are jumping into the RV lifestyle for the first time. Some are buying motorhomes. Some are guying fifth wheels. Some are buying travel trailers.

Since everything is new to them, they need to learn about what to do. 

First off, they should have been given a detailed walkthrough at the dealership before driving it off the lot. One cannot emphasize the necessity of paying close attention on what the dealer technician is telling you. It is a good idea to video the walkthrough for future reference as I did when I bought my first motorhome.

But you'd be surprised at what the dealer doesn't tell you during the walkthrough. I found that out last year when a friend and I traveled to Colorado in his new travel trailer. It is his first RV. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You may save yourself a lot of anguish and headaches later on.

RV Life has posted six tips of travel trailer advice for newbies.

They begin it with:

So you’re the proud new owner of a travel trailer. You saved up, researched, and bought your new RV. Now what?

RVing is a great way to see places, meet people, and spend time with friends and family. Owning a travel trailer is not all campfires and hot showers though. There are things you need to know and responsibilities you must accept.

Here is some travel trailer advice for newbies out there.

To read more, go here. 

Tips For Happy RV Outings

Above, camping at Lightner Creek Campground in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's a lot of people who have purchased motorhomes and trailers since the pandemic began. 

The rise in RV sales has not abated and shows no signs of doing so.

But many of the new RV owners are new to the RV lifestyle and are (hopefully) learning. One person I know (I'm not naming any names) bought a travel trailer last year and was not aware of some of the features of it. This made for a miserable first camping trip with it.

He and his wife were dry camping in the desert and it got cold at night. Not knowing that the trailer had a built-in propane heater, they about froze. A friend arrived the next day and after hearing their story, pointed out the propane heater. (I would blame the dealer for not pointing this and other features out during the walk-through, if they got a walk-through.) They had a better second night.

Joshua Gunter at Cleveland.com posted an article on tips for happy outings that he learned from personal experience. 

The article begins with:

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The COVID-19 pandemic created a huge surge in travel trailer sales over the past year. People were desperate to get away safely. Forced to work from home, some discovered they could be productive from just about anywhere with some connectivity. So why not hit the road and see the country.

Sales continue to be high.

To read the full article, go here.

RV: Questions To Ask Before The First Trip

Above, Lightner Creek Campground in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Once the pandemic got into full throttle last year, the RV industry saw a record demand in RV rentals and sales. 

Due to this, there are a lot of newbies in the RV lifestyle and there's a few questions to ask before taking the first RV trip.

The Napa Valley Register posted an article on what things newbies should know.

They start with:

Creative, cost-effective, and a guaranteed adventure: it’s no wonder family RV trips are seeing a recent spike in popularity. If you’re looking to make the most of nature and quality family time on your next getaway, the RV vacation might be for you! 

But before you start your trip, here are a few important considerations to think about. RV veterans tend to agree that preparation before departure is the key to smooth sailing on the road–especially for families. Here are a few essential preparations to check off before rolling down the driveway from our friends at Outdoorsy.

To read further, go here. 

Off To Durango

Above, I'll be picking up another bottle of this. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Later today, I'll be heading off to Durango, Colorado to see Godzilla vs. Kong.

As I mentioned previously, the two nearest places to screen the movie is in either Show Low, Arizona and Durango. I decided to go to Durango, even though it is a little bit further away. At least the drive is more direct and is only 3 hours long and the scenery is great. Durango is home of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. We rode it last September.

Above, the Animas River from the Durango train. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While there, I'll also snag another bottle of rum and jams at Honeyville. The bottle of rum I bought last September there is almost out.

I am going to try out another RV park. Lightner Creek Campground, where we stayed last year, is open, but it only has dry camping available.

Useful Tips For RV Beginners

Above, camping at Lightner Creek Campground in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since there's many new members joining the RV community, useful tips for newbies will help make their new adventures much easier and enjoyable.

The Springfield News-Sun posted some useful tips for them.

They begin with:

Road trips are a unique way to travel that afford travelers the freedom to stop and take in sights and scenery on their own time. Traveling the highways and back roads gives people a chance to slow down and really enjoy an adventure. Such trips can be made even more special by traveling in recreational vehicles, often referred to as “RVs.”

The RV industry has been consistently growing for years. The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association says the RV industry creates $50 billion in economic impact in the United States, with roughly 23,000 businesses currently in operation. More than 504 RVs were shipped in 2017, and in Canada the industry is responsible for more than $7 billion in retail sales, states RVIA and Statista.  

Roughly 40 million Americans go RV camping each year, and millennials make up approximately 38 percent of campers, according to a report from CNBC. New RV enthusiasts are getting on the road every day, and such travelers can benefit from the wisdom and experience of those who have blazed trails before them.

To see what the tips are, go here. 

 

Morning In Durango

It has been raining in Durango, Colorado overnight and it is still raining.

But, I still took a step outside for some fresh air.

Mitch has some LED mini lights on his trailer and I took a couple of photos. The top one is without flash and the second is with flash.

We'll be heading off to Rockwood (about 17 miles) to catch the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for today's ride to Cascade Canyon.

I spoke with a cashier at the train station in town yesterday and she said that repairs to the section of track that was washed out a couple of months ago are in progress. That's good news.

Now In Durango

Above, Lightner Creek Campground & Cabins in Durango, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, Mitch Geriminsky and I made it to Durango, Colorado.

We left Jamestown about 7:50 this morning and we got into Durango at around 11:00. It was a pleasant ride and Farmington, New Mexico wasn't what I expected, but in a good way.

It rained most of the way to Durango from the freak winter storm. Thankfully, no snow to have to contend with. At this writing, while everyone out west is sweltering, it is a pleasant 50° here in Durango.

Above, Mitch's new truck and trailer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The last time I was in Durango was four years ago during my Metropolis, Illinois trip. I was amazed then at how much the town has grown since I had vacationed there in the 1980s.

Above, another view of Mitch's trailer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We are camped at a nice campground just a couple of miles from town. It is Lightner Creek Campground and Cabins. It is in a narrow canyon surrounded by forest hills and and ranches.

After setting up camp and relaxing, we went into town and wandered on Main Ave. near the train station and did some grocery shopping.

Above, Mitch making some temporary repairs to the trailer due to shoddy workmanship.
From what I've seen, I would not recommend Jayco RVs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We will be riding the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad tomorrow.