Some of the nicest campgrounds don’t have hook ups and watching your grey water becomes an issue. Here are some ideas on making an outdoor shower stall. Thought it was worth posting again for those new to my blog.
We have only had our travel trailer for one camping season but have quickly realized that gray water is one of the biggest challenges, especially when dry camping. We didn’t experience this problem in our tent trailer because we didn’t have hot water nor a holding tank. Now that we have both, I like the idea of showering at my site but with 2 teenagers and no hookups the gray water will fill up quickly. The solution: an outdoor shower stall at the back of the trailer. The problem: finding a way to make it private. I headed out to research this and here are my findings.
Solution 1
2 boat station mounts are screwed to the exterior wall, which allows pipe and shower curtain to be attached to it creating a quick and easy outdoor shower.
Solution 2
Buy an outdoor shower kit to attach to the outside of…
As part of the A to Z Challenge I need to post every day in April,except Sundays. Today I am at H and what represents relaxing better than sleeping in a hammock. Who knew there were so many kinds of hammocks. Well in keeping with my last few posts here are my top 5 picks for kinds of hammocks
1. Your basic rope hammock: There are several varieties of these hammocks. You can choose a single or double and they often come in fun summer colors. They can range from very inexpensive to a bit more luxurious but for the purpose of camping I would opt for the lower end. All you need is some rope and 2 trees. If you can find two trees with a view, all the better.
2. Nylon Hammocks: great for sleeping in, napping in or just enjoying an afternoon book. They are light weight, pack up into a small space and are easy to clean up. Due to the nylon they do not breath as well but are the choice of campers looking for sleeping quarters.
3.Hammock Swings: Great for morning coffee, reading or just enjoying an afternoon drink. These require only one hanging point so they are much easier to place in a campsite. They come in several styles and colors to meet your needs. We bought one during a trip to Mexico and now every time we hang it we are reminded of those great memories.
4.Hitch Hammocks: great if you don’t have any trees or just want to back in somewhere for a picnic. You will need a trailer hitch but after that you are on your way. You can find single or double option, covered or uncovered and with a foot rest or without. Fun option to buy if you have the storage room.
5. Pet Hammocks: for those dog lovers here is a great hammock for the back seat. Help keeps the family pet comfortable and your back seat clean and odor free. Great option of you travel with pets.
Update: here is a link to a neat hammock and a review to go with it. http://thecampsiteblog.com/2015/09/25/review-tribe-provisions-adventure-hammock-shona-marie/#comment-25657
D = dogs, so for the A to Z Challenge I have decided to make my D post about camping with dogs.
Go to any RV Park or campground and you will find a variety of campers from young couples, to families and often empty nesters enjoying their freedom but in all cases you will likely find a dog in most units. Yes we campers love our four legged friends and all the work that goes along with them. For that reason I am always surprised at how pet unfriendly many campgrounds are. It seems hotels are more accommodating to dogs than campgrounds. Hotels often offer dog bones and beds at check in, maps to dog parks and dog daycare services. It’s time that campgrounds took note and started adding pet services to their list of facilities.
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What should you look for in a campground when you are traveling with dogs.
1. An off leash option: I agree all dogs should be required to be on a leash at all time but campgrounds would do well to offer an off leash area for dogs to run. If there is no room for an off leash area then provide a map to where the nearest off leash area is.
2. A dog friendly beach: Dogs love the water as much as people, we always check to see if a campground has a dog beach. It is a much more relaxing day if we don’t have to worry about our pets sitting in a hot trailer.
3. Reasonable dog fees: An extra buck or two each night is the average rate for your four legged friend. If a campground wants more, it is likely they don’t want your dog at all, so make another choice.
4. I have never seen this but a doggie daycare service would be great. We would pay a premium if we could find a campground that offered this service. It would be great for those days that you were heading off white water rafting or to an amusement park for an extended period. The dog and your neighbours would both appreciate.
What should you take if you are camping with a dog.
Recently I did a blog, Great Camping Items For Fido, and it gave some cool gadgets for your pet but here are a few more tips and options.
1. Vaccination records, always have this on hand. You never know when your dog may need to be taken to a local vet but also if you decide to put your dog in a day care for some reason, they will require this information.
2. Extra leashes, one for the RV, one for the truck and then one for good measure. We arrived in Leavenworth one year only to discover the leashes were packed in the back of our tent trailer. It seemed easier to buy a new set even if we were paying tourist prices.
3. A radio or a fan – if you have to leave your dog in the trailer for the day put on the radio or a small fan. The white noise will help drown out the outside noise reducing unnecessary stress for Fido.
4. Stainless steel dog bowls – stainless steel cleans better and does not absorb food odors. You should always bring your pet bowls in each night or when you leave the site. Even the smell of an empty dog bowl in your tent can lure unwanted visitors.
Dogs are part of the family and with the right research and planning your camping trip can be enjoyable for all of you.
Here is a link to how to make a Swedish Log Candle. It is great for cooking over and burns for hours. You can cut the log ahead of time and take it with you.
I came across this site that sells a hook to help you tarp your campsite. If you camp in BC or the Pacific North West you will need this tool. How many times have you walked by other sites and wished your tarp looked like that. I have not tried this but it sure looks like it would work. Let me know if you have seen or used this.
When in doubt, use duct tape! That has always been a safe motto when something breaks but who would have thought of all these great uses for duct tape when camping.
Camping First Aid.
Blisters: if you catch it before the blisters form apply the duct tape directly to the skin. If the blisters have formed then protect them with a piece of gauze before applying the duct tape. Be sure the tape is flat and free of wrinkles. Duct Tape will with stand sweat and dampness. Great for camping and hiking.
Lacerations: cut duct tape into thin strips and they can act as steri strips.
Sling: need to immobilize a sprain. Use duct tape for a temporary sling.
Tourniquet: another immobilization option when your in a pinch.
Stretcher: if you are really desperate you can even make a stretcher with a couple if sticks and some duct tape.
Campground Hacks
Repair tear: Duct tape is great for fixing tears in tents, awning, sleeping bags or camping chair. Be sure to apply tape to both sides of the tear for added strength.
Temporary Rope: forgot your rope at home, no problem. Twisted duct tape works for light jobs. It’s not suggested for load bearing but you can wrap a couple of pieces together for extra strength.
Seal Packages of Food: didn’t finish the chips, no problem. Seal the opening with a strip of tape to keep food fresh.
Keep Your Tent Closed: don’t be caught with a broken tent zipper, duct tape can hold it closed long enough to get you through the trip.
Fix a Broken Tent or Fishing Pole: again this is only a temporary fix but it can save your shelter or allow you to finish your fishing trip.
Fix a Leaky Water Bottle or Milk Jug: Place a thick strip of duct tape over a crack in your bottle or jug. Reinforce the patch with two or three strips to be sure there are no leaks.
Keep the Cold Out: Wrap duct tape around the seams of your tent windows. On an especially cold night, this will help keep as much of the chill outside as possible.
Glow in the dark: wrap pieces of awning rope or low hanging items with a strip of glow in the dark duct tape. This will prevent night time accident. Also great to wrap around the dog collar at night. You can keep an eye on Fido even around the camp fire.
Leaky Hose: your water hose is giving you an added shower. Wrap it with a couple layers of duct tape and fix it once you get home.
If you have any other ideas please share them in the comments for other campers to use.
During our trip to Yellowstone National Park we became familiar with what “bear aware” means. Now, you would think that being from British Columbia, we would be very bear aware, but in truth, really we were not. At check in we were given very strict instructions of what to do to make our site “bear aware”. The list included thing like, dispose of any berry flavored lip balm or cosmetics, make sure all food items were stored in a hard sided vehicle and leave nothing out in your site. Our first problem, we were camping in a tent trailer and the only thing separating our food from the great outdoors was a thin piece of canvas, but we did our best. We thought we were following these rules until one day we returned to our site, after a day exploring, to find a note from the park ranger. We had left the empty dog water dish on the ground and it was note reminding us of the danger to leaving these items out. A danger not only to us but to the bears. Lesson learned and we were very careful after that. Here is a summary of the “Bear Aware” tips offered by the Canadian and US Park Boards.
What is “bear aware”
A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear: Don’t contributor to food-conditioning of wild animals.
Bears that scavenge food begin to associate food with humans, and become “food-conditioned.” They become desensitized to humans and no longer see us as a threat. The problem occurs when they enter parks and campgrounds looking for an easy meal.
There is little or no chance of correcting a food-conditioned bear resulting in the animals being destroyed because they are a threat to humans. This problem is 100% avoidable and it is up to us, as campers, to do our part.
Avoiding Dangerous Encounters with Bears:
Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife.
Reduce or eliminate odours that attract bears. At the campground, store food in air-tight containers in your RV or car trunk.
Bear caches must be used if they are available at the park. (see photo)
Pack out all your garbage. Store garbage with your food, out of reach of bears and at a safe distance from your sleeping area.
Dispose of all garbage as per park/campground instructions. At no time should any garbage be burned, buried or put in pit toilets.
Cook and eat well away from your tent. (see photo)
Clean up as soon as you are done eating. Never leave cooking utensils, coolers, grease or dish water lying around.
Dispose of dish water by straining it and then throwing it into a gray water pit or pit toilet. Solids should be packed out with the garbage.
The odours of cosmetics, toothpaste and insect repellent can attract bears. These should be stored out of reach with your food and garbage, never in your tent. The best option is to avoid brining these items with you.
Obey all closures and warnings..
When Fishing: Fish have a strong odour and are a key food source for bears. You do the math!
Do not store your catch or bait in your tent. Store it following the same bear aware guidelines as above.
Giving bears plenty of room. If you see a bear, leave, it is their home and you are the uninvited guest.
If approached by a bear, reel in, and leave the area. Cut your line if playing a fish.
Clean the fish at the fishing spot or stream, not at your campsite. Dispose of the fish guts in fast moving water or in a bear safe garbage can.
Do not handle any fish bait or guts at your picnic tables. Wash your hands afterwards, do not wipe on clothing or camping rags
While staying in Bear Country
Keep children and pets in your sight.
Sleep in some kind of shelter, a tent or RV, not under the stars.
Obey and follow all park signs.
Hike, fish and canoe as a group. Do not let children or pets run ahead on trails.
Keep pets leashed or if possible at home. Free-running pets can anger a bear and provoke an attack.
If you see a bear or fresh evidence of a bear, leave the area, and report it to park staff as soon as possible.
Bear Facts
Bears are as fast as racehorses, on the flats, uphill or downhill
Bears are great at swimming.
Bears have good eyesight, good hearing, and an acute sense of smell.
All black bears and young grizzlies are agile tree climbers; mature grizzlies are poor climbers, but they have a reach up to 4 meters.
How to Identify a Bear: Identifying bears is important if you are ever approached by one.
Black Bear
Black Bear
Colour: Varies. Black, brown, cinnamon or blond, often with a white patch on the chest or at the throat.
Height: Approximately 90 cm at the shoulder.
Weight: 57 kg to more than 270 kg. Females are usually smaller than males.
Habitat: Prefers forested areas with low-growing plants and berry-producing shrubs (e.g. small forest openings, stream or lake edges, open forest).
Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis Ord)
Colour: Varies. Black (rare), brown or blond. Fur often white-tipped or “grizzled”.Light-coloured patches may occur around neck, shoulders and on rear flanks.
Height: Slightly above one metre at shoulder; 1.8 to 2.0 metres when erect.
Weight: 200 kg to more than 450 kg. Females are usually smaller than males.
Characteristics: Dished or concave face long; curved claws; prominent shoulder hump
Habitat: Semi-open spaces preferred. High country in late summer and early fall; valley bottoms late fall and spring.
If the Bear Approaches
If the bear is standing up, it is usually trying to identify you. Talk softly so it knows what you are. If it is snapping its jaws, lowering its head, flattening its ears, growling or making ‘woofing’ signs, it is displaying aggression.
Do not run unless you are very close to a secure place. Move away, keeping it in view. Avoid direct eye contact.
Dropping your pack or an object may distract it to give you more time. If it is a grizzly, consider climbing a tree.
What to do if a Bear Attacks
What to do will depend on the kind of bear and if it is on the offensive or defensive. The best bet is usually to do nothing to upset the bear. It is also important to remember to respect the distance a bears needs to not feel threatened. Often people want to get a great photo and put themselves and the bear at risk. Be smart and buy a postcard.
Every encounter is unique and the following are offered as guidelines only to deal with an unpredictable animal and potentially complex situations.
Grizzly Attacks From Surprise (defensive)
Do nothing to threaten or further arouse the bear.
Play dead. Assume the ‘cannonball position’ with hands clasped behind neck and face buried in knees.
Do not move until the bear leaves the area. Such attacks seldom last beyond a few minutes.
Black Bear Attacks From Surprise (defensive)
Playing dead is not appropriate. Try to retreat from the attack.
Grizzly or Black Bear Attacks(Offensively, including stalking you or when you are sleeping)
Do not play dead. Try to escape to a secure place (car or building) or climb a tree unless it is a black bear. If you have no other option, try to intimidate the bear with deterrents or weapons such as tree branches or rocks.
Remember, this is their home and we are the visitors. We must follow the guidelines set out by park staff in order to make our visit safe for the wildlife. The greatest part of camping is getting away to the great out doors, spending time in the crisp, clean air and enjoying all the forests have to offer. This includes bears and although many people think it would be exciting to see one, in truth, we are only doing our job as visitors if we take all the precautions necessary to not encounter a bear. Not sighting a bear often means you have done your job as a visitor and the wildlife thank you.
Camp That Site 