Need the advice of those who've already done this!

[cindycurtis]

Hi everyone!
I'm Cindy from Indy (Indianapolis), and have just bought my first travel trailer...a little Jayco Jay Feather Sport, and a Pathfinder to pull it. I have pretty much mastered hooking and unhooking the whole thing, which a week ago looked scary. Small steps!
In June, am going to head out on the road for a year- I teach 3rd grade and am taking a year's leave from my job- want to do this before I retire, and my youngest son finishes college in May, so the time is right.
Any words of wisdom you might give to someone in this position?
I am very interested in state and national parks, and doing outdoorsy things...hiking, biking, etc. I have found an over-abundance of information and don't know how to weed through it to know which places are good, or great...and which I should avoid.
My first three months are going to be Minnesota, Montana, Washington, and Oregon...so anything specific to those states would be great.
I'll be traveling with my 2 dachshunds for the most part, and my 3 sons and other family and friends will meet up with me here and there for my Big Adventure.
I look forward to hearing back from members of this cool little club!

[longdog2]

Welcome to the forum. Woohoo, good for you girl. First you might want to take a look at the forum map so you can see where some of the members are located. They will have good info. You might want to read some blogs especially from some single RVing women. They are all a little different. Some make full use of state parks, national parks, RV parks, etc. with at least water and electric, others prefer to boondock because they have generators or solar. Here are some off the top of my head.

http://wheresliz-2012.blogspot.com/2012

http://ontheroadwithbeth.com/blog/2012

http://dewelldesigns.blogspot.com/2012

http://lifeontheopenroad.blogspot.com

http://rvsueandcrew.wordpress.com

http://sassysondaroad.blogspot.com

http://travels-with-emma.blogspot.com

http://www.horizonseeker55.blogspot.com (forgot one of our good bloggers who is traveling around)

Be sure to take your time traveling. Most people say they tried to go to far too fast and missed out on a lot.

[HorizonSeeker]

Somehow I'm not surprised that your first response came from Traveling With the Long Dogs. If you're not a geocacher I suggest giving it a try as I have often learned of local history and unusual sites taht only the geocachers have pointed me to. Also try Roadside America. And don't overlook the Corps of Engineers parks. They are usually very good.

[mitch5252]

..

Welcome, Cindy! This a great forum and I'm sure you can learn a lot from all these knowledgeable and experienced women.

I have nothing to offer (not much experience), but encouragement at your ambition! YOU GO!!!

..

[longdog2]

This from one of the women getting geared up to go to Alaska. I think you have some trips under your belt as well. I have a pain in my side from laughing so hard.

[mitch5252]

This from one of the women getting geared up to go to Alaska. I think you have some trips under your belt as well. I have a pain in my side from laughing so hard.

With a great deal of fear and trepidation, I might add!

[Bethers]

Welcome, Cindy.... I don't want to scare you - but I started out by taking "a year off work" in June of 2005 and never went back. There are so many places/things to do and see. My biggest thing - when you start out you're going to travel like you're on a one week vacation and have to cram everything into each day. While that works for a week or two - remember when you'd get home and need a vacation from your vacation? You will need to slow down and take the time to enjoy the travels - sometimes sit 2 days instead of one someplace just to catch your breath. Make the days travels shorter - and plan your route to stop and see things along it whenever possible.

I'm a state park/federal park, boondocking kind of person - much prefer them to the big rv parks. But I belong to passport america and when I want laundry, etc - then I look for a cheap rv park to spend a night or two and get that caught up - although I will on occasion go out to a laundomat instead. And I don't dislike all rv parks. When my back was bothering me once, I found a really wonderful resort with a great hot tub - stayed a week and went to the hot tub for 15 minutes or so 3 times a day. It did the trick after a couple days- but I continued for the entire week.

Enjoy - ask questions - and it's good to have you with us. (I'll be in AK all summer, but if you're in the OR area in the fall - I'll be workamping there - maybe a meet up with some of us then? Chances are you'll already be headed south by then, but you never know.

[BirdbyBird]

Welcome...so glad that you found your way across our road here..... Join us when ever you can feel free to share and participate. It won't be long before you end up meeting some of us down the road or at least around our imaginary campfire.

[avalen]

welcome from Arizona
I'm jealous

[WickedLady]

Welcome from Washington. A friend and I will be running around Oregon in July. Oregon has some of the finest state parks around and some have off-leash areas for your dogs. You can check them out on the web.

[Birdie]

Welcome Cindy! This can get into your blood and once you are infected with the 'hitch itch' it just never goes away.

Definitely look at the Corp of Engineers (COE) parks as they are usually in wooded areas and many times near lakes or rivers. The longdogs will love it and will probably make you hike all the trails. If you are 62 and have your Senior Pass (or whatever they call it now) it is half price at the COE, National parks and forests. Here is the link to the Corp gateway: http://www.recreation.gov/unifSearch.do ... dex=Search

I, too, am a Passport America card holder. It is a 50% off participating campgrounds. Some have restrictions like holidays or number of days you can stay. And that's okay cause sometimes you just want to overnight. In the State of Texas, stop at a Visitors Center and get the Texas Association of Campground Owners book as it has a coupon that provides 15% off participating cgs...this is called a TACO card.

If you can dry camp (boon dock as it is called) check WalMart, Home Depot, Lowes, Cabela's, Bass Pros and large shopping centers for permission for overnight stays. Not fun but if you are traveling from point A to point B it works.

For safety, lots of pros and cons to this item. But listen to your gut, it has served you well as you are now still alive! I have a can on wasp/hornet spray....now where did I put that?....and I always look out the door before I unlock it to talk with someone. You have the added protection of the longdogs letting you know someone or thing is around....probably. Just use your common sense. If you don't feel secure/safe/comfortable, your trailer goes forward and backward, just move it on out.

Keep an eye on the GTG thread and stop visit with some of us there and then the map, just see where we are and let us know when you are going to be in our area. We can tell you about all of our good local places. You have fun girlfriend and stay in touch here with us. Just go Do It!!!

[cindycurtis]

Thanks for all of the responses! You all seem like such a nice group of women...and gave me some good info...and some things to think about too. I will need it all!

Another question has occurred...when traveling with dogs, as it seems most of you do (and I will too)- are the parks strict about not leaving dogs alone in the rv when you're out running around? Do any of you use anything to help your dogs "not bark"?

I am looking at some of the blogs you all suggested, and will continue to follow along with you all.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

[mitch5252]

...Do any of you use anything to help your dogs "not bark"?

For this trip to Alaska, I am planning on the Bacon-Collar to work wonders with Miss Abby, my barking fiend...we'll see how The Barking Beast reacts to a Bear Bent On Bacon! Badly, I would imagine.

..

[Bethers]

Thanks for all of the responses! You all seem like such a nice group of women...and gave me some good info...and some things to think about too. I will need it all!

Another question has occurred...when traveling with dogs, as it seems most of you do (and I will too)- are the parks strict about not leaving dogs alone in the rv when you're out running around? Do any of you use anything to help your dogs "not bark"?

I am looking at some of the blogs you all suggested, and will continue to follow along with you all.

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Living in my rig, I best be able to leave my dog alone in the rig. This is our home - and I don't believe I'll accept any place that will tell me my animals that live in my "home" can't stay there without me. The only place I know of with a rule against it is the Michigan State Parks - so I won't stay in them. Most places don't allow dogs left outside unattended, which I totally agree with. Some have rules against certain breeds, and most simply have rules that your dogs can't cause a disturbance. So if they bark excessively when you're gone, that could be a problem. I don't have that problem, so haven't had to use any of the "not bark" options.

Don't get me wrong - I don't believe I should be allowed to be a nuisance - with or without dogs. I'm just not accepting of places that make senseless rules. I'd rather they say you can't bring dogs at all.

[Sandersmr]

Texas State Parks say no animal left unattended period. But as long as the animal behaves, the rule is pretty much interpreted as unattended outside. Fortunately, in the state parks, they are allowed on most trails and most areas of the parks on leash - just not in any buildings or in some beach areas.