Take your deer camp in the road

Take your deer camp in the road
Parks cater to hunters

Many of us enjoy fall camping – finding that perfect, peaceful spot to watch squirrels scurry through fallen leaves gathering their winter supply of food, or strolling through nature’s beautiful color palette. But there are others among us campers, who use fall camping time to experience deer hunting in other areas of the country – deer camp on wheels.

Now, I grew up in northern Michigan, so deer season was always like an extra holiday for us. Opening day of gun season was a school holiday when I was kid, although that’s changed a little now and it’s an excused absence with a copy of a deer license. It also meant family coming in to hunt, eat, tell stories and hunt some more. My grandma and mom may have liked it more if these hunters had considered taking their hunt to the road with their campers.

Today, there are several parks that welcome the fall hunters. And for those non-hunters who enjoy the fall season and camping out in the brisk weather, there’s still plenty to do at the campground or RV park while the hunters are out.

Here are a few ideas from which to choose:

• McCaslin Mountain Campground, Silver Cliff, Wis. – The 300-acre campground borders the Ncolet National Forest in northeastern, Wis., making it an idea spot for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Trout streams and the nearby Governor Thompson State Park also make it an outdoor haven. In addition, there are nearby ATV and snowmobile trails, as well as hiking and biking trails. And hunters can find guide service for guided deer, bear and turkey hunts. For the times when you are not out and about or hunting during season, the park also offers a game room and mini golf course. The campground offers 80 primitive sites, both wooded and open, and 48 water and electric hookup sites.
• Four Seasons RV Park, Herrin, Ill. – This park offers peaceful, spacious shaded sites, with full hookups. With an abundance of wildlife, the family-owned park welcomes hunters and fishermen. For those times you are back at camp, there is WiFi access available and laundry for the 30 sites.
• Moosehead Family Campground, Greenville, Maine – Located in the heart of Maine’s north woods and just minutes from Moosehead Lake, this campground welcomes hunters, as well as nature lovers who can watch the deer and moose walk freely. Just minutes from Greenville with its golf, public beaches, restaurants and shopping, the campground is nestled in a stand of apple, spruce, fir and pine trees. With 20, 30 and 50-amp sites, RVers are also offered a game room, playground and modem hookup at the camp store.
  

So, whether you enjoy hunting or enjoy watching the wildlife, get out in your camper before the snow flies and enjoy the third season for camping!

Reservations are a requirement in today’s camping

Reservations are a requirement in today’s camping
What happened to those first-come, first-serve days for procrastinators like me?

Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, has come and gone. But it wasn’t unnoticed. Although AAA reported fewer people would be traveling for the holiday weekend, the roads we traveled were filled with RVs and campers.

The weather was wonderful for camping, but sometimes if you leave the planning to someone else, it doesn’t get done and then you’re scrambling at the last minute. Earlier this year, we had planned to be in Tennessee camping and partaking in a family reunion. However, a death in the family that brought everyone from around the country together earlier, kept them from making the same trip in September. So, we were going to change our plans.

The problem is, we didn’t get the changes made in time. And, as often as I remind everyone here to make reservations early – we didn’t get ours made. And calling around just days before the holiday weekend left my husband and myself looking at each other knowing that for the first time in years, we had no camp site for Labor Day weekend.

We frantically called around to private and public parks, only to get the same message – no open sites. Finally, we found one, but there was a problem, the only open site couldn’t accommodate our 29-foot travel trailer.

So, you guessed it; we had no place to go. There used to be a time when reservations were considered odd in the RVing and camping sector of the industry. People got out of work on Friday and took off to the nearest or most desirable campground and put up camp. For the most part, those days are gone.

It makes sense that campground owners and operators want to know they have a full park for any weekend, but especially the holiday weekends. But planning too far in advance takes the thrill out of the open road and finding a destination by chance. While that can be done, for the most part, on other weekends throughout the summer, don’t leave the holiday weekends to chance. Learn from my lesson – MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY!

Now here are some campgrounds that take reservations and would love to open their sites to you:

• River Trail Crossing RV Park, Butler, Ohio, is on the Clear Fork Mohican River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The campground offers 44 total sites, from primitive tent sites to full hookup sites with 50-amp service for “big rigs.” Amenities include fishing, biking and hiking, a playground and even the chance to pan for gold in the river.
• My Brother's Place Campground, Houlton, Maine, is just two miles from New Brunswick, Canada. With 80 total sites, guests can stay in tents or RVs, or rent a cabin or 5th-Wheel Travel Trailer. WiFi is also available in the park, along with fishing, hiking and biking trails and nature trails, and swimming in a lake, pond or the ocean.
• Pioneer Trails RV Resort & Campground in Anacortes, Wash., is located among tall evergreens and including an adult spa, sports courts and 60 campsites. There are also six cabins and 24 RV rentals. WiFi is available throughout the resort, as well as a playground, basketball courts, regulation horseshoe pit and covered picnic areas.
• Indian Point RV Resort, Gautier, Miss., is surrounded by the Sioux Bayou that leads to the Escatawpa and Pascagoula rivers, leading to the Gulf of Mexico. There are 100 total sites and 16 cabins for guests without RVs. Amenities include cable TV, Internet access in the park, fishing, mini-golf, a playground and a swimming pool.
  

Barefoot on the beach

Each summer as with a lot of families, we have our annual summer vacation.

As you would have guessed, ours is a camping vacation. This time we choose St. Augustine, Florida, and stayed at Anastasia state park.

The sites were very tropical, small but cozy. Once settled in we felt as if we were on a tropical island. The history of St. Augustine is rich in culture as in the picture above, this quarry was worked by Native Americans and enslaved Africans. The coquina stone mined from this quarry was then used to build the Castillo De San Marcos fort.

Another site that's rich in history is Fort Mose (pronounced mo' se) the first settlement for freed Africans in North America.

The town is adorable. We toured around on a rented scooter, which was an adventure on it's own.

We followed the path of the tour buses which lead us to the tour sites. We visited the Ponce De Leon fountain of youth (and looking younger for it!), The Castillo De San Marcos fort, just to name a few.  And what a way to top off a day by visiting a local winery for a tour and a wine tasting, a really good wine tasting!

The beach at Anastasia campground was unbelievable, on this visit our footprints were literally the only ones. The beach is breathtaking, the white sand so soft underfoot.
The entire week as we toured various sites around St. Augustine, we listened to one of our favorite cd's Barefoot on the beach.

Where Micheal Franks talks about the beach and the Fountain of youth.  A couple that we've known for decades was coming down to spend the rest of the week with us.
Being from Boston, whenever we go anywhere near the ocean we try to get in a deep sea fishing trip. So we were excited.
Remember camping can be more than roasting marshmallows, It's a inexpensive way to travel and explore new places.
Never underestimate the power of camping, the possibilities are endless.

Stay tuned for part two, our adventure at sea, and what an adventure it was!


The Camping Consultants

How to scale and clean a panfish

This video shows you just how easy it is to scale and clean a panfish.
Panfish taste great, their light and sweet. Their usually the first fish you or your children may catch.
Just use a small hook and a worm and your ready. check out the link for pictures of different types of panfish. So get the frying pan ready.

The Camping Consultants

Have school rules gone to far? (boy gets suspended for camping utensil)

Has political correctness gone too far?
This is the story of a six year old who loves to camp, and took his camping knife( the kind with a fork and spoon) to school to eat lunch. This little boy loves camping so much he eats meals at home with it.

Now he is suspended and faces reform school.

Nature is so lacking in society today. Are the people who make these types of decisions lacking a understanding of nature? Could he be a future science teacher ?

Teachers and school administrators need the flexibility to judge a situation on it's on merit.

Not just a one size fits all or zero tolerance for this type of infraction. We understand the need for safety in our schools.

Here's a quote from the article on msnbc,

"Zachary was suspended immediately for five school days. At the end of the suspension, he and his mother appeared before the district’s disciplinary action committee, where his principal and others spoke up for his good character. It didn’t matter. The committee’s hands were tied. The rules said he had brought a knife to school and would have to spend 45 days in the reform school."

The national publicity seems to be making inroads. Now the school board says it may rescind that policy. let's hope that they do. 

 

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Here's another example of going to far, from Fox News

A 17-year-old Eagle Scout in upstate New York has been barred from stepping foot on school grounds for 20 days — for keeping a 2-inch pocketknife locked in a survival kit in his car.
Let's try to encourage the love of the outdoors and nature in our children.


The Camping Consultants

How to filet and skin a fish

As the sea of green foliage begins to change into it's autumn colors.
Patrons of the campgrounds slow, which for us, as a party of two begins our time to enjoy romantic weekends.
Swimming season is all but behind us. Replaced by bike rides, bird watching, and brisk walks, others will enjoy a mix of day and evening temperatures. None the less, it's the beauty of the fall colors that await.
With splashing children, and jet skis out of the lake.
Fishing is at the top of the list. Sitting by the waters edge with a rod or two, and a cold beverage is a great way to relax. 
So you've caught a bunch of fish, now what?
Only keep what you will eat!
And watch our video on how to filet and skin a fish.

The Camping Consultants

Lost and Found

While writing the last blog it brought back special memories of a trip taken long ago.

We camped a lot in western Massachusetts, There were never any other African Americans. We never understood that. There was natural beauty and friendly people everywhere. And we still find that to be true when camping today.

Many years ago while camping, we had a most profound experience that we wanted to share with you.

It was the summer that our only child married and moved out of state. 
That was the beginning of our lives as empty nesters. Camping has always been a big part of our lives as a family. Making the transition without her was a new stage for us. 
We remember the trip well. First because of the group that came with us, four siblings, three sister in laws and their children. It was august, the days were warm enough to swim, the nightfall came early and the air cooled quickly. I'll never forget walking the trails that were filled with wild blackberries, which were so delicious.

The evenings by the campfire hold memories of detailed conversations of childhood antics. Boy, did we all learn a lot about our husbands! It was truly a time of bonding for all of us.

The weekend came to it's end and we packed up to head home.  
We were just about to pull off in our caravan of cars, when the sound of a mom frantically calling out for her son stopped us.

Apparently the very young boy had wondered off their site and was missing, We immediately joined the search. Dusk was upon us, and the campground was surrounded by woods. Everyone fanned out to search. All of a sudden, it was as if something came over me...

I began walking into the dense foliage, not knowing where it was heading, the fate of this young boy was driving me.

Walking through scratchy brambles and low hanging branches, a glimpse of movement off in the distance caught my eye. There, in what appeared to be a shallow animal hollow, was the little boy!!!

It was a bit chilly and he was cold and scared. I picked him up and turned to realize that I wasn't absolutely sure of my whereabouts. I began calling out to the group, who's voices helped guide us out the the forest area. The father grabbed his son and held him tightly without saying a word. The mother thanked us.

We returned to our cars to head home. All were still shocked and shaken. No one can explain the events of that day. One can only believe it was divine intervention.

But the most important thing to note is that campers are a family and always stick together.

We have never experienced anything like that day, and hope we never will... We have always felt safe and secure in the environment of campers. Remember Life is precious
and family is priceless. So get out, enjoy nature and go camping in color.

The Camping Consultants