“Home is where we park it” is a term often used by folks who live full time in RV’s. As full timers, we have a number of choices where we can park it: commercial or private RV Parks and resorts, public parks such as national parks, state, county, Army Corps Of Engineers parks, and even some city parks, and also boon-docking or dispersed camping on public land.
Private RV parks are popular since they are most often located close to highways and attractions. They usually have full hookups (hookups: water, sewer, electric, sometimes cable TV and even possibly WiFi, though the WiFi is most often not very good). Private RV parks run the gamut from simple gravel lots with hook ups to paved communities with lovely landscaping, community centers, fitness centers, laundry facilities, pool and hot tub and even well stocked stores.
Private RV parks can sometimes offer a community experience with pot luck dinners, club and sports activities, community centers with a band or Karaoke, and sometimes even dances.
Public parks often feel more like a camping experience than in the private parks. Sites can range from “primitive” to sites with full hookups. There is usually a dump station located in the park where holding tanks can be emptied and water tanks can be refilled, if those things are not available at each site.
While we have experienced city parks, county parks and even county fairgrounds within city limits, most public parks are usually located out in a country setting. We really like that these parks are often in woodlands near lakes and rivers and have nice hiking trails. This is where we have taken some of our best wildlife and landscape photographs.
Boondocks/ rough, remote, or isolated country.
There are those that refer to spending the night in a Walmart parking lot as boondocking. Parking in a parking lot is known as “lot docking”. Parking in the yard of friend or family is known as “mooch docking”. Boondocking is really parking out in the wild, or boondocks, usually on public land such as BLM land.
Before we hit the road we installed solar panels and solar charging equipment on the coach so that we have sufficient electricity when off grid. The coach has a large propane tank so we can run the furnace, stove/oven, fridge (with ice maker) and water heater for quite a while. The biggest limiting factor to our boondocking is water. We carry about 100 gallons so, if we are conservative, we can stay out in the wild for a couple weeks.
We found a fair amount of BLM land in the deserts of the south west and even found open beaches on the Gulf Coast. There is something quite special about being isolated and able to step out our front door and enjoy a hike in wilderness or on the beach. We developed a great appreciation for the desert, its flora, fauna and landscape. And falling asleep and waking to the sound of waves crashing on the beach is something we will never forget.
Travel day in a motorhome is part of the adventure. We sit as high above the road as the big rig drivers and the whole front of our coach is a windshield, so we have a great view of the world as we travel the back roads of America. Sometimes we have been able to stop to enjoy an attraction such as a museum or visit the world’s largest ball of twine on travel day.
Even stopping for lunch can be a memorable experience.
Everywhere we’ve been, we have found things to appreciate and enjoy. Hopefully we will be able to continue to explore the wonders of our country and share them with you for some time to come.