Are you going?

[Cudedog]

Have read about the summer plans made by forum members quite a bit over the last few months (I myself had many reservations at the wonderful Oregon state parks).

Just wondering. . . are you/have you gone forward with your plans? Or (like me) have you cancelled you plans, and just decided to stay home?

And why? The current 'situation' - or some other reason?

Thanks!

Anne

[Bethers]

Well you know I came to my job in SD. Had I not, I would have found a job by my casita in Arizona. As for when I leave here in Oct, no plans yet. I'd feel safe boondocking in Arizona. Or I might stay at my casita more this winter. I'd like to spend more time in NM again, but everything rides on the virus and what's open. My decisions will probably be last minute.

(I did have a cg wanting me to workamp, but they wanted me too many months. I haven't heard back since I told them my maximum time frame to even start talking.)

[JudyJB]

Well, as a full-timer, I have to be somewhere. I am trying to stay in places where it is more isolated, but will end up in California in November and December.

I'll be in Idaho and Oregon with my son and family the last part of July, and then in Oregon the first part of August. I am going to be in Idaho the rest of August and the first half of September, then head to Utah and Zion and Grand Canyon. I think camping is safe as long as you use your own bathroom and shower and do not congregate with a lot of other people. After all, you are sleeping in your own bed and eating your own food. And I never use campground bathrooms or showers. I'd rather move and dump my tanks than do that.

I do see some big family groups camping--one next to me with two trailers and three pickup trucks--about 12 people sitting around and boating and eating together. I don't think THAT is safe.

If they start shutting down state and COE campgrounds, I will have to find a commercial campground to stay at for a while, but I am hoping that does not happen. Might end up moving to a state where things are not shut down to wait things out.

[OregonLuvr]

I just got back from a great camping weekend at a Joseph Stewart state park. Went with about 8 other people and we had no problem social distancing. Sites are really large there and everyone was very respectful of our own space. We had masks when needed (ie: when some went kayaking in the same vehicle). I didnt go, I stayed around the campground enjoying the relaxing scenery. A couple of us stayed behind. We played Corn Hole so that was easy to distance ourselves. I felt very safe using my own facilities. I dont have any more camping trips scheduled for this year but we will see what happens.

[Bethers]

Karen, isn't that the park we had a gtg at several years ago. I loved that park and would truly enjoy another visit there. Maybe an hour or less from Crater Lake, right?

[OregonLuvr]

No Beth we were at Valley of the Rogue. This one is up by Lost Creek Reservoir on the same road you took to go to Crater Lake. It is about 34 miles out of Medford. It is called Joseph H Stewart state park. You actually went right past it. Great big sites and lots of shade, open grassy areas, also a dog park. In fact a couple of the gals from Portland went to Crater Lake it was a great day for them but it was super busy they went on a Sunday and took them 45 minutes just to get into the park. I dont know if it is that busy during the week right now. Everyone is eager to go somewhere safe right now.

[mtngal]

That was a fun gtg! Laura roasted a humongous turkey in her RV!

[BirdbyBird]

Ask me again when/after I am successful at selling my Vegas and finding the right used Class B that feels just right to me and for my pocket book. Until then I will be only going out around here on the summer days that don't melt me for some local hiking and kayaking. We got two trips in this week before the summer on steroids turned up the thermostat again.....

[Irmi]

Yes, we plan on going to Webster FL, about 36 miles south of Ocala. We are in the middle of the state of FL and Miami/Dade County, in the most southern part of FL, is the hot spot for the virus. That is about 200 miles south of us. Since the virus started, we practically live in quarantine, other than grocery shopping and going to church.

[Bethers]

That was a fun gtg! Laura roasted a humongous turkey in her RV!

Best turkey ever!

[Bethers]

No Beth we were at Valley of the Rogue. This one is up by Lost Creek Reservoir on the same road you took to go to Crater Lake. It is about 34 miles out of Medford. It is called Joseph H Stewart state park. You actually went right past it. Great big sites and lots of shade, open grassy areas, also a dog park. In fact a couple of the gals from Portland went to Crater Lake it was a great day for them but it was super busy they went on a Sunday and took them 45 minutes just to get into the park. I dont know if it is that busy during the week right now. Everyone is eager to go somewhere safe right now.

I'll have to try this one. Sounds great.

[Colliemom]

I have been having so much fun doing projects around outside my house this summer, that I haven’t really cared if I go anywhere or not. I have canceled choose my reservations for next month because I’m not in the mood for driving across the UP right now. I do however have a reservation coming up within the next week and I am planning to keep that one.

I am however doing a day trip once in a while like I did take one last week. Sometimes I need a break just to get away for a day or so. Day trips or a few hours a day trip is easy, because you can find places to go you don’t have to be around a lot of people.

I figure when the mood strikes I can always grab a couple camping reservation someplace especially as August wears on.

[JudyJB]

Just wanted to give everyone a Canadian update.

I have had reservations for Lake Louise and Banff in Alberta Canada starting in September since last fall, and since the western and southern states have had increasing numbers of Covid-19 patients and deaths, I was pretty sure Canada was going to keep its borders closed to Americans, so I have been busy making back-up reservations.

Well, I got the official notice this morning that they were cancelling all my Parks Canada reservations and sending me a full refund. So, I am disappointed, but I really expected the cancellations. Don't blame them for not wanting Americans in their country.

Also, something interesting. My 15-year-old grandson was really sick in February, but his parents didn't think much of it because that was before the virus really starting spreading. Well, a couple of weeks ago he mentioned to his mom that he was glad he finally got his sense of smell back!! But he had never mentioned this before, so when they get back home in a few days, they are going to get him tested for antibodies, and also try to get the rest of the family tested. One of my DILs aunt's husband and daughter's husband were sick a few months back, and not only have the two men tested positive for antibodies, but so have the wives and all the kids, even though they did not have symptoms!!

I also extended my Christmas holiday reservations for Napa. Originally, I was planning on flying to Ohio to see that son and grandkids from Dec 23 to 28 and then visiting with California kids from 28th to Jan 3, but I am wondering if it will still not be safe to fly by then. So, if I need to, I can stay in Napa over the entire holidays.

Anyway, I have not had any problems finding a place to stay, but I am keeping my options open and thinking about what I will do if they start closing federal and state parks again. I am in Idaho, and almost no one is wearing masks, even in stores! And almost everything is wide open. I am heading to Oregon and then back to Idaho in August, before going to Utah and Arizona. Glad California is shutting stuff down for a while, as are some other states.