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The next morning we went to the Buena Vista area and found a very nice spot that was large a secluded. We spent the next couple of days there and took a couple of day trips to look at the crowds.
Our first night out was in Boiling Springs State Park. This was the first night of our trip to New Mexico. We then went on to Black Mesa State Park where Aspen and I hiked to the north end of the lake.
Our next day we driving. We made it to New Mexico but the wind was so high to blew us back to Oklahoma where we spent the night at Lake Hall, an Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Reservoir. We had a couple and their wedding photographer invade our camp spot which delayed dinner somewhat. We also had some partiers across the lake from us but we were tired and it was not a problem to sleep. We headed home the next moring.
Terri and I took a few days to travel to Angola, Indiana to camp with her daughter's family and spend some time with all her kids and grand kids. We also stopped by Hiker Indiana and pickup a propane tank holder. We found several nice places to camp and traveled mostly on back roads on our trip back home....
After the very long COVID hiatus, we took the Hiker out for a few days. During several day trips earlier this year we found several good boondocking camp sites in the Ouachita Nation Forest in eastern Oklahoma. We decided on a campsite that had access to a spring fed creek with a pool not far from where we set up the trailer. We spent most days driving forest service roads, recording the GPS locations for future boondocking sites. The days were hot and the flies around camp provided us with challenges as their death became a game for us. Needless to say we won out.... We stayed five days and even with the heat enjoyed ourselves. We did leave one of the flyswatters that we purchased tied to a tree so the next campers could also entertain themselves...... I also have to mention how cold the water was in the creek. It was about chest deep and (Brrrrrrrr) you could tell it was spring fed... There were a few small fish in the pool and at least one rather large crawdad. This crawdad got me from behind and then came up to my feet. I grabbed him before he got my toes but one of my fingers paid the price for invading his space...... Yes, he is still alive....
We are planning a trip to Padre Island Nation Seashore.... Should happen sometime next month. Since Covid-19 hit Terri and I have been doing projects and working very hard. We decided that we would take Sunday's off and relax. So for the last few Sundays we have been traveling the state fishing (drinking beer) and having a blast. This weekend Terri's daughter came to visit from Arizona so today we went to a couple of farm ponds... Fish and beer were plentiful.... We enjoyed the Mud the Blood and the Beer....
Terri and I took a trip to Indiana to visit her friends and family.
We left out on October 7th and returned on October 22nd. On our first morning we stopped and had breakfast with Mo (Hunter 2) in Bixby. We stayed there until just after noon and then got on Historic Highway 66 and headed to Missouri. We boondocked the first night at Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area east of Cathage, MO. We had a bonfire and talked to a bow hunter that had pulled into the parking area. The next morning we continued follow Route 66 into Illinois. We spent the second night camping at Eldon Hazlet State Park on Lake Carlye. We had another bonfire and relaxed under the stars. On our third morning we jumped on I-44 and made good time going to Fort Wayne Indiana. We took the trailer out to a friends farm, parked it and stayed with friends. We visited, watched deer in their backyard and I discovered Black Squirrels. On the Monday the 14th we took the trailer north into Michigan. We spent two nights camping at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, located just north of Grand Haven, MI. We traveled up and down the coast of Lake Michigan. This was the first time for me to see any of the Great Lakes. We visited a couple of lighthouses and a lighthouse museum. After the second night, very cold and strong wind a rain ran us out of Michigan. Since I had never been to Ohio, we made a quick rainy trip to Napoleon, OH. October 17th Here we stayed in a motel and left out the next morning for Fort Wayne again. We took the trailer back to the farm and spent four days visiting and then headed south to Indianapolis. We stayed in Indy for a couple of days visiting with Terri's family. On the last morning I got up early and drove the two hours back to Fort Wayne to get the trailer. When I got back to the motel Terri' had packed up and secured breakfast for me. We headed out and spent the night in Springfield Missouri before making it back home. All in all it was a great trip and I saw a lot of interesting sites and had a good time while I checked a few things off of my bucket list. On top of all of that Terri and I did not kill each other....... One side note: A few days after I got home I checked my credit card account online. I found a $336.00 charge from CCI Hotel Res. It was made after I returned home. I turned this into my credit card company. My point is always check your transactions, especially after travel.... It was time for some cool weather, so on Wednesday September 4th we loaded up and headed to Colorado. Our first night was spent at Black Mesa State Park in NW Oklahoma. It was hot but we had electricity so the AC was used and we slept comfortably. I have stayed here before while tent camping. This was the first time in the Hiker. It is a nice campground but the flies were a problem. Our next stop was one of my favorite places in Colorado. Boondocking at Twin Lakes just South of Leadville. We used this location as our basecamp as we traveled around until we left for New Mexico on Sunday. We took the train tour in leadville in which we encountered rain and hail on the trip and had to relocate from one of the open cars to an enclosed one to avoid the hail. We also went to the Leadville Mining Museum where we helped a couple from Tahlequah, Oklahoma start their car with my battery pack. We drove around a lot and tried out a few restaurants but mostly enjoyed the cool temperatures. In fact some of the nights were downright cold..... but that is why we were there. Sunday we drove to Coyote Creek State Park in New Mexico. I have stayed here in the Hiker before. It is off the beaten path and is well maintained. It rained on us almost everyday while we were on this trip. At this camp we were able to get a site with a covered picnic table which worked great as we were able to pull right up beside it. The next trip will likely be to the Hiker Trailer Campout - East in Indiana...
I took the Hiker Trailer on a solo trip to Southeastern Oklahoma for a few days. Temperature during the day was oppressive but tolerable. Sleeping at night was no problem since I had the fan in the trailer and at Beavers Bend I had electricity so I used the AC.
This was my first time to be at the Wildlife Management Area of the Blue River. I will be going back. I have been to Beavers Bend several times but this was the first time to stay there in the Hiker. Saw deer and other wildlife and enjoyed the camp fire. The battery operated chainsaw continues to make cutting wood a breeze. I went north out of the Park and traveled the Talimena National Byway and made several short stops. I then went to a boondocking location near Purcell and spent the night before returning home for an OKC Dodgers game Thursday night... I am ready for cooler temperatures. Camping will be more enjoyable then...... We planned a trip to Ruidoso New Mexico and Corpus Christi, Texas. We made it to Ruidoso and stayed in Terri's brother's cabin. We went to Brewdoso on Saturday and then toured the area and enjoyed the cool temperatures.
On Sunday we had a surprise visitor! He entertained us by eating the two hummingbird feeders that we had filled when we arrived. He then answered the question, "Do Bear's Shit in the Woods?" YES they do.... Sunday I discovered that the main 12-volt feed wire to the Hiker Trailer had shorted where it leave the electrical box and entered the trailer frame. This knocked out all 12-volt power to the trailer. We had planned to camp on the beach but plans change and so Monday we made the long journey home. I will work on the trailer and we will see when we can continue our camping trip to the Gulf... Terri and I make a trip to New Mexico with no agenda or specific place to go.
We left out Wednesday May 15, 2019 and returned Monday May 20th. Below are some of the photos that we took during the trip. We camped in weather from 90° heat to mountain snow flurries. We also stayed at Coyote Creek State Park just South of Angel Fire, NM (no photos). Due to weather forecast both in New Mexico, Colorado and Texas as well as the treat of severe weather at home we cut out trip short and headed home. We did spend the night in Boiling Springs State Park in Oklahoma (no photos) and broke camp Monday morning just in time to beat the rain. We drove back home most of the way in the rain but were able to unload and put everything up before the weather caught up with us. We would recommend any of the camp grounds that we stayed in with the exception of Sweetwater Lake Campground. It's location to the lake was not good and the restroom facilities were not good. I will be sending the City of Sweetwater a complaint letter about this campground...... Terri and I went to Raymond Gary State Park this week. Fish were not very active but the quiet, scenery and the people we met made the trip worth while. Cold front cut the week short but it was another great shake down trip.....
This was a pay site. $20.00/night with a $2.00/night Senior discount but we had plenty of room and the showers were hot and clean and we had shore power for the AC unit which made for great sleeping. First time to use the ClimateRight AC/Heat unit and also the ARB add-on room. A few more modifications to the trailer and accessories and we will be ready for an extended multi state trip.... Terri and I took the Hiker out to Black Kettle National Grasslands Sunday for an overnight trip. We checked out the Black Kettle Campground but found that the area was laid out for tent camping so we went to the Spring Creek Dispersed Camping Area. We found this area to be perfect for our needs. We were able to find a site that was protected from the south wind.
I did a little fishing and we roasted hot-dogs for dinner. The campfire was perfect. The battery operated Dewalt chainsaw was again proven to be one of the best purchases I have made. We cut a tree that had fallen across one of the access roads, so we got firewood and cleared a road at the same time. We had plenty of wood for both days and left some for the next campers.. I used the generator and the Climateright heater to warm up the trailer before bed time. The temperatures got down into the low 30's but we were comfortable all night. So far so good. I think our setup of the Hiker is complete. I can't think of anything else we need to do. Now we will work on the back of the camper shell and racks.... Terri and I took the Hiker Extreme Off-Road (EOR) to American Horse Lake for it's first camping trip. The set up is perfect. I have some changes to make as far as marking containers and rearranging storage but everything worked great and we were warm and comfortable in camp and in the trailer.
Woke up to dense fog and left out after cooking breakfast. Can't wait for the next trip... I drove all night Sunday December 30th to go to Denver to pick my trailer up... Weather was great until I got just north of Colorado Springs about 5:00 a.m. Snow started and temperatures dropped significantly. The further north the more snow/ice. When I arrived at Hiker there were still working on my trailer. After a few hours the trailer was finished and I started the return journey home. I was surprised to see a lot of Denver drivers that were struggling to drive in the snow/ice conditions.
At around 10:00 p.m. I was stopped at a roadblock just south of Colorado Springs on I-25 for about 2-hours while a semi truck wreck was cleared from the road and snow removal could take place. Once we were allowed to proceed I followed snow plows all the way to New Mexico, I stopped a few times for a quick nap and made it home about noon on New Years Day. Now the modifications begin..... |
"of all of the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt"!
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