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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Colorado SP Camping Trip Plans, Opinions?
If you get bored at Mueller SP, you could spend a night or two at 11-Mile Canyon. It's just west of Mueller, off US24 at Lake George. No hookups, but gorgeous scenery, great trout fishing, and rock climbing.
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bluegypsy
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08/08/09 08:15am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: What questions do we ask?
".... I was told verbally we'd definitely be placed; however, we needed to contact them a month prior, as this is when scheduling is done...."
We were told the exact same thing last year (happened to be for a job at a Texas State Park in central TX), and at the "month prior" time we were told "No, we only meant you were eligible to interview for the position, not that you had the job." Well, we interviewed over the phone and guess what? We wintered in Florida.
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bluegypsy
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07/12/09 06:36pm |
Workamping Forum
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RE: Stipends for volunteers
I think we're considered "volunteers" since we have no hourly wage or salary, and hence no income tax liabilities. As I said in my original reply, we are paid a modest stipend, and reimbursed for our fuel expenses. In what way is this different than volunteering at a place which provides a FHU site? SOMEBODY is paying the electric and water bill for that FHU site! Looked at from that standpoint, there are NO pure "volunteer" workamping jobs. You're getting something for your labor, in the form of a place to park, electricity, water, and sewer.
Believe me, I'm not "working for pay" - I figure we're barely breaking even as it is, when you take into account wear and tear on my generator, inverter, and batteries.
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bluegypsy
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07/04/09 09:12pm |
Workamping Forum
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RE: Stipends for volunteers
Many places with no or limited hookups provide stipends or pay "expenses." We're camp hosting at at NFS campground with no hookups (through a concessionaire). As well as a stipend, they reimburse us for propane, generator fuel, and cost to dump our tanks as needed.
I've noticed that many (if not all) campground hosting jobs with Utah State Parks include a stipend.
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bluegypsy
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07/03/09 07:53am |
Workamping Forum
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RE: digital tv conversion
I'm also having problems with digital conversion of my analog TV set.
I got the leaflets and brochures, and read them to the TV for 48 hours straight. It wouldn't convert, it stayed analog.
I then called in the digital conversion specialists, they stood around my analog TV for days, and despite all their incantations, they couldn't get my TV to convert from analog to digital.
Since it won't convert, I'll be burning my analog TV at the stake on midnight on the 12th.
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bluegypsy
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06/04/09 06:57pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Enclosed Trailer or Toad or Car Trailer?
How about "none of the above"? We full-time without a car. We have a pair of bicycles with electric motors for "pedal assist", which gets us short distances. For longer distances, Enterprise rent-a-car.
We did the math, and renting a car two weekends a month actually works out cheaper than car payments + car insurance + car upkeep + decreased MPG of the rig.
Do the math yourself, you might agree with us.....
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bluegypsy
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05/25/09 02:30pm |
Full-time RVing
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RE: THANK YOUR HOST
We cleaned bath houses at a state park in Florida. Got some "Thank You"'s from campers, but the majority of thanks came from the rangers. They went out of their way to show their appreciation for our efforts. After all, if we're not here to clean the restrooms, it's the rangers who have to do it.
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bluegypsy
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05/22/09 12:32pm |
Workamping Forum
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RE: Help, generator cleanout plug stuck
Had a heck of a time getting mine loose the first time. Same for the oil plug and oil filter. I think the Onan factory must be manned by gorillas! Not looking forward to the fuel filter replacement in a couple of years!
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bluegypsy
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05/17/09 06:34pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Camp Host, is it for you?
Just completed our first week at a NFS campground in the Colorado Rockies, working for site plus small stipend, at a 19-site campground. Want to pass on our thoughts on this, our first rustic campground hosting job.
Truly a spectacular setting, and the campground is pretty easy to keep clean. People, as usual, are the main challenge. Campsites here are clearly marked with a numbered sign, a cleared area, a picnic table, a metal fire ring. Camping fees are clearly displayed at the campground next to the toilets and dumpster (along with a "NO BACK COUNTRY CAMPING" sign. Still, the other day, we see some youngsters park at the walk-in parking lot and walk up the hill, where 6 tent sites can be found. Later, we noticed a tent perched high on the hill, past all the marked campsites. We climb the hill, and find 4 tents, one of which is on the other side of a barbed-wire fence, in private property. When I asked "What site number did you put on your payment form when you paid your $12 fee?" The answer was "What $12 fee?" Explained the rules (which they must have seen), and they eventually moved down to the marked sites (which they must have seen, since they walked past them on their way up the hill).
The other day, a gentleman in a pickup truck with camper shell asked how many sites he and his friends would need to pay for. We explained the "2 Vehicle and/or 4 tents maximum per site" rule. Later, two camper pickups and a jeep are all crowded into one site. We repeat the 2-vehicle rule to the "gentleman" - but the beer he'd been drinking all afternoon answered, with unprintable responses. We left it alone, life's too short.
And nobody thinks the "Dogs MUST be on leash" rule applies to THEIR dog. "Don't worry, he/she is so sweet/good-natured/old/young/small/well-trained, he/she won't be a problem." It's always the OTHER guy's dog that needs a leash!
Last night, we turned off our lights at 10:30 and hit the sack. Within 15 minutes we began hearing shouts and laughter from behind our rig, in a tent site we hadn't noticed was occupied. Three big, middle-aged, hard-drinking men, one 2-man tent, a cooler, and a bottle of JD on the picnic table. Explained the quiet hours, heard profuse apologies and promises of silence. Went back to bed, awoke to noise again at 2:00. Explained, heard apologies and promises. Awoken again at 5:00, so at 6:00 we walked up the road to get a cell signal to phone police and management. As we departed, the men appeared to be unconscious (finally), one in tent, one half in tent, one outside tent. So we decided to just call our manager, didn't want to be dialing 911 unnecessarily on our first week. While we're gone, the good-ole boys woke up and started attacking each other, so another camper called 911. One is now in detox, his buddies ordered to leave, but they didn't have a car! Wife of one had dropped them off last night, "coming back this morning at 10:00 with the kids for the weekend." So when the wife shows up, they load up all they can (car is too small for all the gear plus kids), and they are coming back later to pick up detox-man's gear. No day-use or camping fees paid, of course.
(While police, ambulance, and our manager were here, several campers from tent sites up the hill "suddenly" appear at the pay station to pay their camping fees - "we got in late last night" - Right!)
But you know what? In spite of all this, we're having a great time! Wouldn't want to live any other way.
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bluegypsy
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05/16/09 05:45pm |
Workamping Forum
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RE: Maine "parking" - Can we try again?? ON SUBJECT ONLY!
The text of the bill reads, in part:
“A person may not park or occupy a recreational vehicle, as defined in Title 10, section 1432, subsection 18, in a commercial parking facility overnight. For purposes of this section, ‘commercial parking facility’ means a parking structure or area open to members of the public for the purposes of parking their vehicles while patronizing one or more commercial establishments, but does not include a mobile home park or recreational vehicle park allowed by a municipality or a camping area licensed by the department. A person who violates the provisions of this section commits a civil violation subject to a fine of no more than $100, which must be suspended for the first violation and may be suspended for subsequent violations.”
..."must be suspended for the first violation" means that the first time (the first night you spend in a particular parking lot) is free, the most you will get is a "suspended" ticket, i.e. a warning. So your first 24 hours is free. By then, if you are truly there just to rest en route, you'll be gone. So what's the problem?
Also, "OVERNIGHT" is not defined, so individual jurisdictions will have to "figger it out" for themselves. A 3-6 hour "power nap" in a parking lot will probably be considered "sin-free" in many towns and cities.
All the interstate rest areas in Georgia (that I've seen) have "No Overnight Parking" signs. I, along with numerous RVers and truckers, have stopped in them to sleep with no hassles from the police (hence the term "rest area"). I assume the sign is there so the police can move along the 24-hour plus folks.
So, to quote many disaster movies, "Let's not panic yet"
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bluegypsy
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05/08/09 05:01pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Maine "parking" - Can we try again?? ON SUBJECT ONLY!
Many communities have denied Walmart planning permission in order to help "local businesses" - it's the community's call, that's what democracy is all about. I'm not sure if parking enforcement should be a state issue, though.
It's possible that the lawmaker who proposed the legislation has their heart in the right place, but failed to look at the "big picture". The idea was to help the local campgrounds. The result might be that the other businesses in the area will suffer, because the overnighters will not be in the town to buy from the (for example) local IHOP or Sizzler.
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bluegypsy
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05/08/09 09:14am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: No Overnight Parking--Make Campgrounds Open to All
For those of us who are travelling in our RVs from one fun place to another, and just looking for a free night somewhere on the way, I say "Dust off your bucket of change, or clear the cobwebs out of your changepurse, and shell out $10 (maybe a little more, maybe less) for one of the many BLM, NFS, state, or county campgrounds your government has already set up for you throughout your country."
Quit pretending that if you can't overnight at Walmart, you've got nowhere else to go.
Posts like this are as much an attempt to control others actions as the original post in this thread, and show no insight to the different ways people travel.
I make a fairly quick, straight dash to a destination, generally I have time constraints. I stop when I am tired in any place that looks safe.
For a trip 4 years ago I decided I would plan stops. First stop I drove around narrow back roads looking for the campground, which I never found. That night I stayed in a small park I found when stopping for gas.
One other campground was an un-mowed unused area between a dive motel and a run down trailer park, and well rated by Woodalls. I felt safer in any rest area or Walmart lot I have stayed in.
Your suggestions of BLM, NFS, state and local parks that are very seldom convenient to an expressway exit is ridiculous. I have gotten off at a ramp with a campground sign, driven for miles and never seen another sign. When stopping en-route to a destination I want convenience, not a sightseeing trip.
What works for you doesn't work for me. Because it doesn't don't ridicule me or tell me why I travel and stop as I do. I realize my style of travel wouldn't work for you and don't insult you, have the same respect I am sure you expect to receive.
I apologise if you took offense to what I said. I often use Walmart myself, but unlike the OP, I respect the rights of the residents and city councils throughout this fine country, and if they pass a law limiting or banning overnight parking, I respect their viewpoint. There are numerous other options available, including truck stops, interstate rest areas, etc, etc. I have often pulled into a Walmart late in the afternoon, seen a "No Overnight Parking" sign, and simply moved on. No harm, no foul, the community has their rights, and I respect them.
Perhaps I have an advantage over you, because I paid a few dollars for a large, folded piece of paper, which has marks printed on it to show locations of rest areas, truck stops, and, wow, even campgrounds! It's called a map. In conjunction with a telephone, used to phone campgrounds if I feel it's necessary to make reservations. If you are travelling with "time constraints", as you say, I would suggest (no controlling intended) that you plan ahead and make reservations or ensure your chosen "rest areas" are legal.
Unlike you, my original post did not insult anyone, IMHO. However, you managed to call my ideas "ridiculous", say I have "no insight", and that I want to "control others". I find all these statements offensive, but I respect your right to your opinion, and would not expect an apology, nor would I try to change your mind. The point of these forums is to share information and opinions, which is what I was doing.
BTW, I have found several BLM or NFS campgrounds within 1 mile of freeway exits in several states. Most have beautiful views and friendly neighbors (some of them 4-footed).
Happy travels.....
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bluegypsy
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05/08/09 08:32am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Anyone else despise Reserve America?
"It sets up a system where you need to know how to play the game."
- For example, I discovered (while volunteering at a state park)that there were two sites which were always shown on ReserveAmerica as "Reserved", but were actually the ranger's "discretionary sites" - basically if you know the ranger, you can get in!
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bluegypsy
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05/07/09 09:41pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: No Overnight Parking--Make Campgrounds Open to All
Hey, Mowermech, is your spelling of "Kampground" possibly a hint as to the instigator's franchise affiliation?
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bluegypsy
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05/07/09 09:13pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: TV interlock 2001 National
My satellite box is plugged into a different outlet to the TV, so I don't understand why you would need to bypass the TV outlet. Just plug the SATELLITE BOX into a different outlet!
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bluegypsy
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05/07/09 08:52pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: No Overnight Parking--Make Campgrounds Open to All
I notice that the OP is from Los Angeles, California.
My nephew refers to California as the "Peoples Republic of California"
I now understand why.
How can you possibly believe that privately owned campgrounds should build campgrounds in other areas just because there isn't a campground there, and somebody might want to stay in a campsite there sometime? Wow!
I believe the state or local government may want to step in and provide an area with basic water and sewage for those needy who have nowhere else to go. However, please see my previous post about "Hoovervilles"
For those of us who are travelling in our RVs from one fun place to another, and just looking for a free night somewhere on the way, I say "Dust off your bucket of change, or clear the cobwebs out of your changepurse, and shell out $10 (maybe a little more, maybe less) for one of the many BLM, NFS, state, or county campgrounds your government has already set up for you throughout your country."
Quit pretending that if you can't overnight at Walmart, you've got nowhere else to go.
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bluegypsy
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05/07/09 08:46pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Extended Warranties for Mechanical Breakdown
INSURANCE vs EXTENDED SERVICE WARRANTY
Insurance: Whether home, auto or RV, pays for repairs caused by "accidents" or similar events. Your home insurance won't pay to replace a worn out fridge or air conditioner, nor will your RV insurance pay for a failed generator, unless there was an accident/incident.
Extended Service: SHOULD pay for repairs NOT caused by an accident, but when things "just happen". HOWEVER, the ones I've seen so far have so many exclusions that it seems they can squirm their way out of paying most claims. For example, many have an exclusion for "abnormal use" as well "normal wear and tear", and also state that the determination of "abnormal use" or "normal wear and tear" is EXCLUSIVELY done by the insurance company. With them in the driver's seat, it's no wonder people have so much trouble getting claims paid!
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bluegypsy
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05/07/09 05:20pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Skype
If using Skype over verizon wireless broadband you are in violation of your terms of use with vzw. They explicitly bar (or did the last time I looked) the use of voip (that is ANY voice over internet protocol).
Of course first they have to catch you.
Thanks for the needless panic! Just double-checked my Verizon Terms and Conditions, and the following is a direct quote:
Data Plans and Features: Permitted Uses. You can use our Data Plans and Features for accessing the Internet and for such uses as: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) e–mail; (iii) intranet access (including accessing corporate intranets, e–mail and individual productivity applications made available by your company); (iv) uploading, downloading and streaming of audio, video and games; and(v) Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
Once again, a reminder that everything on these forums (as well as anything you read on the Interweb) should be double-checked before being taken as Gospel....
FYI, we use Skype, especially to talk/see relatives in the UK. Also call my son on his UK mobile phone for pennies a minute (load skype credit $10 at a time, automatically). Works great, as long as broadband signal is good.
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bluegypsy
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05/05/09 08:31pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Insurance: "Agreed Value" for Total Loss?
Does anyone have actual experience of "agreed value" claims? 'Cause if what I was told is true, "agreed value" almost sounds like a scam.
That was my original question. Reading the policy isn't usually possible until you have actually paid for it and get all the "fine print" sent to you, and even then there's probably loopholes. I've already checked a couple of insurance info websites, so I know all the definitions. My question is:
Has anyone had a real-life claim for their total-loss motor home, with "agreed value" insurance, and what was your experience?
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bluegypsy
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05/02/09 09:01am |
Class A Motorhomes
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Insurance: "Agreed Value" for Total Loss?
We currently have "Total Replacement Cost" as part of our MH insurance, since we are full-timers and don't want to have to downgrade if we have a total loss accident.
Shopping for new quotes (renewal time), and another carrier said they don't provide "Total Replacement Cost", but they could insure us for "Agreed Value" - That sounded OK until I heard from another carrier that "Agreed Value" doesn't mean that we would get that value for a total loss accident.
The other carrier says that a claims adjuster would still give his estimate of the rig's value, and that's what we would get, regardless of any "agreed value".
Does anyone have actual experience of "agreed value" claims? 'Cause if what I was told is true, "agreed value" almost sounds like a scam.
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bluegypsy
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05/02/09 08:27am |
Class A Motorhomes
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