Boondocking & Bridges

[bluepinecones]

Boondocking
Someone asked that I make boondocking a separate topic when I got around to documenting my first experience so here it is.

If you are lucky enough to be able to park at your house, I’d recommend trying this even before you get on the road. It would be a good way to get to know some of your systems and what you can and cannot do. I was fortunate enough to get to learn with a couple of real pros – Liz and Carol. That’s even better.

I had not planned on ever needing to boondock so had skipped quite a bit of the useful items I have. No water in fresh water tank, never turned pump on and the only use generator had seen was exercising it now and then. No more – this was much easier than I imagined. Basically you just need to be sure your generator and water pump are in good working order and have a little faith that all will perform properly.

I do not have an inverter so my three biggest concerns were:
Using my CPAP all night
Making coffee in the morning and
Staying warm overnight

I bought a 12-v cord for CPAP after last tornados but was advised by tech not to use it in my van, as the battery would not handle it. (No RV at the time.) Cord was with me on trip but never been taken out of package. Liz convinced me with 2 house batteries fully charged there would be no problem and she was correct. From what I could tell, don’t think it would have depleted single battery either.

Next morning turn generator on; plug in coffee pot – good to go (probably don’t want anything else on at the time, even a little coffee pot draws a lot.)

Yes you can run your furnace off and on to chase away the chill but it uses propane pretty fast and it is noisy. Okay if just cool overnight but I would not want to do if really cold.

I did not sleep well the first night – just nervous that something would fail I guess plus I was cold. However by second night all was fine.

Those first two nights were deep in a dark, quite National Forest. So for a totally different experience, the third night was in brightly lit, noisy Wal-Mart parking lot. Other than pointers about being a little more careful going in and out of rig – mostly common sense cautions – no different than boondocking alone anywhere else.

From just that tiny bit of experience, I would not hesitate to do it again alone. And it is comforting to know you can if necessary even if you don’t think you will be camping/traveling that way.

Bridges
I love admiring big bridges from distance but am not a fan of driving over them, especially in an RV. Think the bridge over TN River at Huntsville was the biggest bridge Magic had encountered prior to this MI trip. The bridges over to FL keys are low and while long are not so intimating. The Mackinaw Bridge appeared monstrous and of course there was construction while we were there. One lane traffic in both directions and not always the same lane.
Initial crossing into UP was without incident.
On the way back I got stopped smack dab in the middle for about 10 minutes due to the construction. No a pleasant feeling.
Thought all was well when they finally started traffic flowing but next thing I knew a truck door flew open slamming my driver’s side mirror up against the side window. Nicky and I both nearly had a heart attack.
With no place to stop, I drove blind on that side all the way into Mackinaw City and on to our next campground.

[mitch5252]

..
Way to go, Sarah!!!

I'm so glad you're now comfortable with boondocking and you sure had a couple of GREAT teachers!

CONGRATULATIONS!!
You should be VERY proud of yourself.
..

[Rufflesgurl]

You go girl - you knew you could do it!! Now you must know almost everything about your Magic??

Linda

[grammynmaggie]

Great job ...I did my first boon dock on the way to PA
in May at a Wal Mart...I was alone no other rigs...I was
nervous...the next night..there were more rigs and I was ok
now to tackle the bridges...I don't do high places very well
at all...so not sure how to handle that...donna

[SoCalGalcas]

Sarah, that boon docking experience was wonderful!!! So glad you were in good company. Donna, I've gone to bed in a Wal-Mart lot, alone, and awakened in the morning surrounded by rigs!!!! lyn

[Yakn1]

"I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar"!

Good job Miss Sarah!

[BirdbyBird]

Wheeeee...Magic is free to roam far and near! Great job. Knew you could do it. Are you also enjoying using the water tank, etc?

[VickieP]

Great job, Sarah! I've told you before, but I am so proud of you for jumping in & doing it.

[sharon]

Go Sarah!! Coming out to SoCal now???

[JoanE]

Congrats on achieving this milestone.

[Bethers]

Sarah you know that Jean is watching you and laughing her butt off. But you know she's proud of you. I don't think either of you thought when you joined the forum to follow her travels hat you'd end up with a rig and doing it yourself. You go!

[Redwahine]

I didn't sleep very well either my first night boon docking. I was nervous about running the generator all night for the a/c. But all was well. So now you can go anywhere and feel OK. You GO!!

[carold]

Congrats! I had no doubts but it certainly worked out having 2 experienced boon dockers to get u off and running

[IrishIroamed]

High five being sent! Good job Sarah, you had great teachers.

[Liz]

I think we nagged her into it, but she did great. Now for some pots and pans and using the gas stove to cook...one thing at a time .