camping info, the stuff you need to know

Cleaning the Awning

2011-08-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

I hadn't used my awning for several trips, last time I used it in the spring, it was clean and I put it up dry. Guess it got wet while traveling because it was a mess when I rolled it out. Cleaning about once a year usually keeps it in good shape, I just let it get in bad shape this time.

Unroll the awning and release the bottom, let it slide under the camper, go about half way with one side then go to the other so it doesn't get twisted. I let it all the way down flat against the camper to wash the top side then raise it back up to do the under side. The vertical braces will have to come apart to let it all the way down, they can be a little trouble to get back together, might take two people to do it.

I use about a 1/4 cup of car wash, 1/4 cup of bleach and a couple of gallons of water. Wash a section down good, then take a Magic Eraser and scrub it. Rinse it and start another section. The top side is easier than the under side and you get plenty wet doing the under side. You'll also need a 6 or 8' step ladder.

The car wash soap gets the dirt, the bleach kills the mildew and the Magic Eraser gets all kind of stuff off without too much elbow grease (I ain't sure how they work but they do).

Blue Bluff COE Campground, Aberdeen, MS

2011-04-16T12:17:00.001-07:00

Site 18 in the lower loop. On Aberdeen Lake (Tenn-Tom Waterway). Typical COE campground, no sewer hook-ups. See earlier post for a little more info.

Fort Wilderness, Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL

2010-11-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

There's about a 1000 books and web sites that'll tell you how to "do" Disney World so I won't bother other than a couple of tips. I will say that Fort Wilderness is the only place to stay as far as I'm concerned. They don't offer and discounts on camping (no meal plans either but I'd suggest you eat somewhere else anyhow) but our site ended up around $55 per night, not bad for Disney. The sites have 3 levels (I think, it's kinda hard to figure out), premium, preferred and standard. The premium sites are closer to the back of the campground, nearer the boat dock, but I don't know where they consider the cut-off. The preferred sites have a larger pad (premium have the same size), some standard sites have a paved drive and the camping unit will be set up on gravel/sand. The preferred site pad are plenty large enough for but the largest rigs so I wouldn't let that be the deciding factor. When you reserve a site, you can ask for a certain site or loop but they won't guaranteed that you'll get it. They don't assign you a site until about a week before the date you're suppose to arrive so until then they can't even tell you what site you'll get. I'd suggest calling the week before you get there and make sure of your site, espescially if you requested a site that allows pets.

We stayed in site #552 (in the 1600s last time). It's a nice site but they're kinda close together. My first choice of sites would be in the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s or 1900s. They're spaced out a little, just not as close to the dock, the restaurant and the tavern. These are all pet loops, 100s and 200s are not pet loops but I don't know about the rest. It's a short walk to a bus stop or easy bike ride to the restaurant from anywhere in the park.

There are bus stops everywhere and seems like the buses are always running. It's not a problem to ride the bus to any of Disney's properties but driving can be a little quicker, parking at the parks is free because you're staying at the Fort. If you're going to the Magic Kingdom from Fort Wilderness, use the boat, it'll take you right to the front gate. You can rent a golf cart (or bring your own) for about $65 a day but biking is best/cheapest way to get around. They don't encourage a lot of driving around in the park, mostly just want you to enter or leave then bike or cart around the rest of the time. There are two stores, a restaurant, a bar and a dinner show at the campground, if you wanted a single beer (you couldn't buy it by the six-pack), it would run you $5.25, about a ten minute drive to Wal-Mart will save you a lot of money.

All sites are full hook-up with cable TV, fairly level and mostly shady.

These are sites 552 (left) and 550, right behind them and across the road is a fairly nice fenced dog park.

FYI If you're using a GPS, it may try to take you to Wilderness Lodge (mine did anyway), just remember to follow the signs. Right after you go through the big gate to the Magic Kingdom, you'll be turning right in a couple of hundred yards.

Everybody should see the fireworks at the castle but you can get a pretty good view of them from the beach at the campground. If you want a seat, go early.

Site #552, the awning side was not to close to the neighbors but the folks on the site to the right were right up against our RV.

The best place I know of to get information about Disney is mousesavers.com. The only place to get any discounted tickets is undercovertourist.com and don't expect too much of a discount.

Where to eat...

Here's some videos of some of the campground:

100s Loop

200s Loop

400s Loop

500s Loop

1500s Loop

1600s Loop

I didn't have time for a lot of pictures but the videos give you the idea, they're just kinda jerky. This is also not nearly all of the campground, it's to big to cover without a lot of time. One more tip, skip Universal. It's not worth the time and money plus the folks at Disney go out of their way to be nice to you, not so much at the other park.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Gregory E. Moore RV Resort, Destin (Santa Rosa Beach), Florida

2010-10-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a state park where the rednecks sit around the campfire, drinking beer, with the radios in their trucks blasting country music for half the night, this aint the place for you. If you want an RV resort with full hook-ups, cable TV and about 1/2 a mile from the beach, Topsail can't be beat.

Got a new video camera so I tried a quick "bike" tour of the campground. Just remember, it's unedited and it's me riding around on a bike so be sure to take your motion sickness medicine. (about 15 minutes long)

View Larger Map

It's just east of Destin and the entrance is from hwy 30A. A short 1/2 mile bike ride (on a bike path) will get you to the beach. A 10 minute drive west and you're in Destin and the public beaches or you can drive a couple of miles down 30A to a small public beach that's usually not crowded. There is also a tram that runs between the campground and the beach, every hour during peak season and every two hours other times. Check the bottom of the page for links to some places to eat in the area.

They have a lot of rules: no parking on the grass, no clothes lines, don't tie anything to trees and others but just to keep the park as nice as it is. It's really laid back Florida style, one of the rules is: alcohol only in designated areas and your campsite is a designated area (by the way, don't lay your rug on the grass, they'll ask you to move it and the sprinklers will wet your chair if you don't watch were you put it). Don't worry about the rules, just be aware of them.

The campground can be divided into four sections; the entrance section (sites 1 to 24), the older/open section (sites 25 to 56), the older/shady section (sites 57 to 91) and the new section (sites 101 to 168). I'll separate the pictures that way anyhow.

The Entrance Section

I consider these the least desirable sites, just because they're really open and all the traffic comes right down the middle of them. Don't get me wrong, I'd take one if that was all they had open and not complain. The worst sites at Topsail are better than most parks.

The Older/Open Section

The sites here are fairly shady, just not much between them. The small pool is in this section.

The laundry is also here, this is the butterfly garden on one side of it.

The Older/Shady Section

We've stayed in this section two or three times. The larger pine trees and some privacy between sites make it nice. Most all the sites in the park have some shade but these are shaded for more hours of the day. Some of these sites are close together but generally staggered so your not right in your neighbors doorway. They are also fairly long if you need the space.

The New Section

I think this section was completed in 1999 or 2000. It is really nice, landscaped and all. Very neat and level sites, some greenery between the sites, except for a few of the pull-throughs right at the entrance to this section. The sites in the corners are more private but they are all great sites. All the pictures were taken about noon (I think) so you can see the shade they get. Some have more in the AM and some more in the PM, but most have some shade.

Tram Stop at the campground.

The tram leaves from the parking lot at the campground entrance, I think anyone can park there and ride it to the beach but don't know what it costs. If you take a bike, it's an easy ride, only one small hill. You could walk it if your really into walking.

The Cabins

The older cabins (I think they call them bungalows) look nice with a screened in porch and carport.

The new cabins were just finished this year, they're nice but kinda wide open around them until the trees grow in.

Tent Area

The tent area just opened this year with the new cabins. FYI, they don't allow tents anywhere else in the park. They sell firewood at the store, I guess you can have a fire in the tent section, no fires allowed at the RV sites. There is a new bath house here and all the bath houses are air conditioned.

You park and then there is a trail (very short) to the site. The tent sites are $24 a night, best I can remember.

Topsail is by far the best campground close to the beach. At $42 a night it's not cheap by state park standards but it puts other state parks to shame. We go at least once a year, sometimes twice but 4 or 5 times wouldn't be to much. I'd recommend getting reservations, especially during the summer.

Topsail/FL State Park Site

Eating places:
Fudpucker's
Jordano's Pizza
Country Folk's Buffet, Florala, AL
Bayou Bill's
The Crab Trap
The Donut Hole

Tyler State Park, Tyler TX

2010-09-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

Tyler State Park

"Tyler State Park is 985.5 acres in Smith County, north of Tyler. The park includes a 64-acre lake. The land was deeded by private owners in 1934 and 1935; original improvements were made by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The park opened in 1939." Quoted from the park web site. Some of the campsites haven't had much done to them since 1939. Most all sites have sewer and the electric was upgraded a few years ago but most of the pavement is gone and no gravel, lots of red sand. The newer loop of the campground (section with all pull-thrus) looks like it was added in maybe the 70s.

The park is located about 3 miles north of I40 with Tyler being on the south side of the interstate. It'd be a good stop-over if traveling on 40. The bath house was redone 3 or 4 years age but no A/C and small. They are in the process of more upgrades to the sites but it looks like the progress is slow. This was our second time here and we'll go back but if you like nice paved/level sites, you might not like it. Be sure to check out the links at the bottom to some local eating places.

'newer' loop, all pull-thrus.

'older' section, more hills, sites not as level but several water front sites.

Park Map

Mamaw's Fried Pies

Alba's Kitchen

East Texas Burger Company

Town Creek COE Campground, West Point, MS

2010-09-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

Town Creek is a small COE campground on the Tenn-Tom waterway. It's a few miles off highway 50 between West Point and Columbus. This is the view from our site, I think it was number 36, backed up to a bluff, over the water, shadey, and other sites not to close.

They have up-graded electic (50 amp) but very few sewer hook-ups. There are two small bath houses, fairly clean but no A/C. Nice place for a quiet week-end or stop-over if passing through.

White Oak Creek COE, Eufaula, AL

2010-08-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

White Oak Creek is a COE campground on Walter F. George Lake just south of Eufaula, Alabama. It's right on the Georgia line and less than an hour from Dolthan. Eufaula is advertised as the "Bass Fishing Capitol" of the state or world or something. The campground is maintained very well. It's been upgraded to 50 amp on all sites. I think there are around 160 sites, large for the corp campgrounds I've been to. A lot of the sites are reservable but the ones that are do not have sewer hook-ups, I don't think there are many with sewer anyhow. All the bathhouses have been airconditioned.

Our site with a lake view, most all have a lake view, just a row or two off the water. Most of the sites have at least some shade. This site was listed as completely shaded on the Reserve America website but was one of the less shaded in the park.

Just some assorted site pictures.

We picked 36, 51, 52, 53, 59,62, 96 & 100 as some of the sites we liked. They're shadey and not right up next to other sites.

Blue Bluff COE Campground, Aberdeen, MS

2010-07-24T15:33:00.001-07:00

Blue Bluff is on the Tenn-Tom Waterway, about 6 or 8 miles off Hwy 45. It's a typical COE campground, maybe not quite as well maintained as some but still pretty nice. There are 2 small bath houses, no a/c. The electricity has just been upgraded, all sites have 50 amp hook-ups but only 4 or 5 sites have sewer. Most sites have some shade and a third are right on the water. You pick your own site if you don't have one reserved, they do pretty much fill up on holiday week ends, most other times there are plenty of empty sites.

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Port St. Joe, FL

2010-07-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

If you do a lot of research on the internet about this place, you'll hear that it's isolated, it's got rats, the beaches are dirty and there are lots of bugs. Well, it is about an hour to the nearest Wal-Mart (Panama City) but there are a few smaller stores in Port St. Joe, less than 30 minutes and a couple of convienence stores on the peninsula. Don't worry about the rats (some kind of endangered beach rats), they mind their own business and have other things to worry about than the campers; that would be the rattle snakes, I saw one about 4' long in the campground along with deer, crabs, birds and lots of other wildlife. The beaches are not groomed like the ones near Destin, if sea weed and stuff washes up, that's where it stays. It's not trash, just the way it is. As far as the bugs, yep, there's lots, carry some bug spray.

The white sand beaches go on for miles. Each campground has it's on section of beach so it's not crowded at all. The Gulf Breeze campground is a little closer to the beach but it's an easy walk from the Shadey Pines campground.

Just through this shelter and over the dunes and your on the beach, it's part of the campground and there are boardwalks between the campgrounds and over to the beach.

This is the public beach in the park (bay side).

Gulf Breeze camping area from the road going to Shadey Pines. Gulf Breeze is not as shadey and more open, we liked Shadey Pines better. Gulf Breeze was almost like a group camp in some areas.

Our site, #60. From the camper you could not see another camper even though we were on the inside of the loop and an occupied site about 30' to the right. There are two bath houses in each campground, fairly clean but no A/C (HOT). The roads are paved but the sites are not (only 98 thru 103 are paved). Pay attention to the max lengths on the website, a lot of the sites will only hold a tent or a pop-up and all the hook-ups are 30 amp (no sewer).

Some of the paved sites, more room for big rigs but not as shaded.

Path in center of loop to bath house.

Deer, sorry but didn't get a picture of the 4' rattler or the rats.

These are pictures of the Gulf Breeze section.

A great place to camp if you want to kick back and enjoy the beach.

St Joe State Park

eatin' places

Road Wrap

2010-06-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

I hate bugs all over the front of my camper. The only thing worse than bugs on the camper is getting them off. I don't care how easy anyone else says it is to get them off, it's a pain in the butt. I've washed them off as soon as I get to the campground but who wants to wash a camper while you're in Destin. I've tried using dryer sheets to scrub'em off, yea they work OK. I've tried waxing the front cap before every trip, that's about as hard as scrubbing them off. If you've ever driven through love bugs, you know that if you don't get them off quick, the acid in their evil little bodies will eat into the decals on your camper.

About a month ago I came across 'Road Wrap' and ordered a roll that day. It is the coolest stuff ever. The answer to a prayer. You might think it's a little expensive but if you consider your time (and I got better things to do with my time than scrub bug guts) it's aint bad at all.

It comes on a roll, about like plastic wrap only a little larger, 18" wide by 50'. Nothing but a thin clear film with a slightly sticky backing. They even send you all the tolls you need to put it on. I spent about 20 minutes on a ladder putting it on the front of the camper. I didn't go from side to side like the directions say, I went from top to bottom, that way I could apply it as I climbed down the ladder and move the ladder over to the next section. This was my first time to use it and like I said, I only spent about 20 minutes putting it on so with some practice, I'm sure I can make it look a little better. It didn't really look bad, just had a few more wrinkles in it than it should but the wrinkles didn't affect how it worked. Here's some pictures after a 3 hour drive across northern Alabama. I thought I'd try it out on this short trip just to see how it did.

Not a lot of bugs but several love bugs even this far north and this early in the year. Only time I've ever been glad to see bugs on the camper, I wanted this stuff to work and it did. The following pictures are about 5 minutes later:

Is that cool or what?

Peel it off and camper looks like I just washed/scrubbed the heck out of it. No problems with the decals, the stuff is just sticky enough to stay on (even in the rain) but not damage the decals. Just so you know, the directions say not to leave it on for more than 7 days, well the first thing I did was leave it on for two weeks. Seven days wasn't going to get it, that would mean that I'd have to put it on twice in a trip. I'd rather not scrub bugs or apply Road Wrap while I'm on vacation.

Next trip will be to Florida, so it'll get a real test then, unless the oil slick changes our plans. I'll post more info as I get it and anything else I figure out to do with this stuff. Postage and all, it was less that 30 bucks and I figure that's enough to do the camper twice. It's a lot cheaper by the case and I think that's the way I'll be ordering it next time. From the looks of it, I won't be going anywhere without getting "Road Wrapped" first. Their web site has a lot of info and some videos to show you how to apply it and other things you can use it for.

Here's a link or click the add at the top of the page, I put the adds there so no redirects or anything:

ROAD WRAP

If I were ranking this on the "Redneck Beer Review", it would get an: ICE COLD SIX-PACK WHILE SETTIN' ON THE BEACH, for anyone that reads my other blog.

Joe Wheeler State Park, Rogersville, AL

2010-05-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

Joe Wheeler is on Highway 72, just west of Rogersville, AL. There are 116 campsites and all but 4 have sewer hook-ups. Most of the sites have some if not all shade but it is kind of hilly in the campground. The lodge is fairly nice with a resturant and a large marina. A 30 minute drive west gets you to Florance, less than an hour east and you're in Huntsville.

View Larger Map

Our site for this trip, B9.

The campground is divided into 3 sections, A, B, and C, A being closest to the entrance.

The sites with the yellow numbers are section A, green is B and C is orange.

There is a bath house in each section, usually clean but they are kinda old.

There are a few pull-thrus, avoid the lower numbered ones in section A, too much incline.

There are only 3 or 4 sites that are really on the water and they are in section C. Some of the other sites that look like water sites on the campground map are up hill and a little piece off the water but still nice sites.

http://www.alapark.com/joewheeler/Camping/

If you reserve a site at Joe Wheeler, you just get a site, not a specific one. They will assign you one when you check in or if they're not crowded, you can just pick your own.These pictures were taken on a Tuesday, by the weekend they were about 2/3s full.

Joe Wheeler is a nice place to spend a few days relaxing, not a lot to do in the area but within 30 minutes you can be in Florence or less than an hour you can be in Huntsville. Fishing and boating are the main attactions to the park.

Places to eat:

Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, AL

2010-04-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Small gators at the campground.

View Larger Map

The park is over 6000 acres with about 2 miles of beach and 450 plus camp sites. They do have cabins but the lodge was destroyed by Ivan in 2004. Before Ivan, the campground was mostly shaded and had a lot of undergrowth between the sites. After Ivan, it's all wide open. In 2003, they started upgrades to the park. All sites now have 50 amp service and sewer hook-ups. Now it's very poular with snowbirds, fills up in January and Febuary. They take reservations but not site-specific, about 90% can be reserved, that leaves about 50 or more that are first come-first serve. It does fill up at times. One year I couldn't get a reservation and went any way. We got there right after lunch time, they had 3 sites left. You enter the campground from Park Road 2 onto Campground Road, just look for the blue water tower. Water front sites are a little more expensive and are on the lake (not gulf), we usually skip the water sites, they're hard to get anyway.

This is site #228, in the loop just past the pool, on the right side of Campground Road. The 1st loop on the right is fairly popular and has a lot of traffic, it also leads to the newer sites (450>), most sites in the new section are pull-thrus, the other pull-thrus are on the main entrance road, so someone is always driving right by your site. All sites on the left side of the entrance road are a little quieter but I'd avoid the 1st loop as it's right behind the dump station.

I didn't number the sites, they're all about the same.

There are several bathhouses, improved in 2005. New roofs, air conditioning and they are cleaned everyday. They are always clean unless a bunch of kids have trashed them.

The beaches are only about 1/2 mile away by bike, there are plenty of bike trails, or you can drive to the state park beach or the public beach in town. You do have to pay a dollar or two for parking if you go to the state park beach. At the park beach there is a pavillion with restrooms and a small store.

The new/old activity center and camp store, laundry will also be in this building when they are done. Website says they'll have WIFI here also.

New docks on the lake with canoe rentals.

New pool and pool house, rumor is that will open in May of 2010, they been working on it for 5 years. Once it opens there will be kids everywhere all summer long.

Sue and Sam enjoying camping.

Site #333

Site #334

Gulf State Park Website

Places to Eat

Mikee's

Shrimp Basket

Lambert's Cafe

Original Oyster House

Other stuff: the Outlet Mall, Coleman Outlet and Tool Outlet in Foley. Burris Farm Market in Loxley.