by DearMissMermaid » Tue Nov 26, 2013 7:34 pm
I've been wandering around for almost 4 years. I am on an "efficient" budget so I focus on drop dead gorgeous campgrounds and visiting dog parks when I can, since my little monkey dog loves to run wild now and then in an off leash doggy park. So sometimes when I travel, I plan a rest stop at a dog park. This has been rather fun and a unique way to do things.
Since I don't tow anything, I do my shopping before I end up at the campground, so I can then tour on foot and paw. Sometimes I use a bicycle, but I am new to the bike and not real strong yet, but I am working on that. My puppy dog rides on the bicycle too in a little basket.
I typically stay in public parks (state, national, county) because most all of them are on some form of water (river, ocean, lake, swamp) and many of them I get a discount. I love to walk around snapping pictures, other times I am just out soaking up nature, thanking my lucky stars I am not trapped in traffic somewhere. Some pics come out great, others need work.
One day I found a huge turtle laying eggs. I was able to keep my distance but quietly snap away pics of her step by step progress and post them on my blog. So I look for off beat subjects like that. Sometimes when I hear a creature nearby, I freeze in place as quiet as I can be with my camera, as often they come wandering around for me to snap a quick pic.
When I am traveling, since I am not towing, I am able to pull over and study beautiful places or check out vistas. Sometimes the back roads have old fashioned picnic stops, these too are typically in a beautiful spot or by a stream or lake. I don't do many miles per hour. Some of my trips average out to 20 miles per hour for the day because of my frequent stops along the way to the next campground.
I like to spend 2 nights minimum in a campground and often stay much longer so I don't have to drive every day or even every week. My efficient budget doesn't get me into the trendy touristy spots, but I'm done with crowds pretty much. There are many free attractions, like I spent the day at Niagara Falls and didn't spend a dime. I found free street parking and picnicked in the RV, then hiked around with my dog and friend, photographing the falls and the park area.
My "souvenirs" are being able to buy local foods, whatever is unique to that area. Like Beaufort SC is known for the wonderful jumbo fresh shrimp, so I stop by the boats and load up the fridge with shrimps and other fresh seafood delights before I head out to camp in the Sea Islands. I spent 3 weeks camped at the beach, 20 miles from the grocery store, but I never left the island, just spent every day walking the glorious unspoiled beach, photographing the driftwood art.
When the fridge was bare, I opened up my pantry and ate out of that. I had picked up dented can specials whenever I found them, all part of the efficient budget.
It's a big beautiful world out there. I belong in nature. I feel at home.
I post daily on my blog most days. Sometimes I am camping where the phones and internet don't work, and I love the break of having the computer untouched. Life is oh so beautiful. I get up most mornings before the sun, just so I can watch it come up and see a new dawn. I am still fascinated by this.