Nomad95336
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Post by Nomad95336 on Dec 12, 2013 0:20:09 GMT -8
While planning a recent trip down the CA Coast, I found a couple websites that can be very helpful in planning a trip.
This may differ from other places, but in CA, the lost art of getting up early and staking your claim for the primo spot at the campground is a thing of the past.
Constant budget issues have pushed most campgrounds to rely on a reservation system. The logic being that the spot is already paid for, so if there is incliment weather or change of heart by the camper. either the entire fee will be kept else a cancellation fee charged. (on top of a reservation fee).
The sad part is that drive-ups are often excluded from this model, so the days of just putin' down the road and stopping at a campground cold-turkey might not pay out for you.
www.reserveamerica.com/ is used by CA State Parks for reservations up to 6mo in advance. Be wary about hi-demand seasons and facilities, so plan ahead. In example, Seacliff Beach (just south of Santa Cruz) spots went on sale Dec 1 for campsites in June!!. The whole month sold out in <5min
maps.google.com/ is, of course, an excellent tool for viewing satellite images for overhead campground layout, directions, and nearby attractions.
Maybe the biggest find I made was Campsite Photos, a website that features pictures of individual campsites in various parks. This is GREAT for seeing ground level layouts, obstacles, etc that can't be seen on Google Maps. The only downside is that the pictures are taken from the driveway side of the campsite, so in some cases the actual View available FROM your site might be hard to determine.
www.campsitephotos.com/
Once arriving, the popular app Around Me will quickly locate your position and allow you to search for entertainment, supplies, restaurants, etc.
itunes.apple.com/us/app/aroundme/id290051590 for Apple(iOs) products
play.google.com/store/apps/details?id...android.findaroundme for Android products
speaking of useful apps, I love the various Bubble Level phone apps out there.
Especially @ night, it's great to pull in somewhere, slap the phone on the trailer tongue and not only have an illuminated bubble level working for you, but most will emit an audible tone when the bubble is centered.
Pretty slick.
Add a Bluetooth speaker system to the mix and I can transmit my entire song library to the trailer speakers without the bother of wires.
Netflix, Hulu, Pandora add to the entertainment possibilities
Anyone else have favorite related websites or apps to list?
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txoil
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Post by txoil on Dec 12, 2013 6:40:29 GMT -8
We have a UE Boom Bluetooth speaker for music and hands free phone calls while camping, and it is the same size as a soda can so we can put it in a drink holder on our bikes while we ride. Also, we use a Roku device with our flatscreen TV so that we can, when in range of Wi-Fi, watch movies and tv shows.
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Post by bigbill on Dec 12, 2013 7:38:26 GMT -8
For years the main reason for going camping was to not hear the phone ring or the TV blasting. If I am going to sit inside an watch TV I can stay home a lot cheaper and sit in my king size recliner watching my 55 inch TV and keep my favorite beverage right at the perfect 34 degrees.  |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Dec 12, 2013 8:47:22 GMT -8
I use apps traveling. I really like the Rest Stop locator app. It will tell you how far to the next rest stop when you are traveling major interstates and highways. We also enjoy the Star Walk stargazing app. when camping. It names constellations for you according to where you are, among other things. And National Park app is free app with some useful info, but free version is limited. I also use the Passport America members app which locates half price campgrounds for members. Not always the best campgrounds, sometimes awesome campgrounds, but they make cheap one night stops on the way. And then there's the Coleman campers cooking app. Good and fun camping recipes for different types of camp cooking, dutch oven, open fire, gas stove, etc. |
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Dec 12, 2013 10:19:20 GMT -8
This sounds fun, but I am just really frustrated now... I can't get any of this stuff to work at all on my phone....!  |
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61 Shasta
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Post by 61 Shasta on Dec 12, 2013 10:47:21 GMT -8
Interesting information but not for me. I am forever amazed at the technology out there and its abilities. Wonder how in the world we lived without it? I travel with my weather channel equipped CB radio, my laptop to check in once in awhile,and each of us has a cell phone. They don't text or have apps but they do talk. Our mh has 2 TV's but they don't work most of the time because we don't have traveling cable. Don't get me wrong, I am one of those that loves new technology and try to keep abreast of it just to amaze my grandkids. I am just old school I guess and still like to write cursive in my journal, which I am religious about and speak on my phone.
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pathfinder3081
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Post by pathfinder3081 on Dec 12, 2013 11:14:28 GMT -8
Old School...  My wife and I use to speak about our kids which are grown and everybody else out there with the "Iphones".. Phone in the lap, head down.. Yata yata, then my step Daughter bought my wife an Iphone 5. Now I get to look at my wife.. phone in lap, head down. Jeepers! LOL.. I quit smoking a couple of years ago and said wow.. I wasted so much time smoking over the past 20 years... I think the phones are just as addictive, but easier on the lungs.  |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Dec 12, 2013 11:14:56 GMT -8
"My name is Susie Q and I'm a geek." And I spawned a geek who at the age of 12 is into computer programming, gaming, astronomy and anything NASA.
Oh, come on, I bet you all have GPS's.
10, that's funny!
61, I'm with you on handwritten journals. I tried keeping up with my last trip in a blog, and it totally didn't work for me. I regret that I don't have a daily handwritten journal of our trip to pass on to my son. There were so many unforgettable moments that I have forgotten!
I'm also addicted to XM radio. That was my only connection with world events while we were camping in the desert, even when I had no cell or internet. And I plan on renting a satellite phone when we drive to Alaska just in case of emergency.
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Post by bigbill on Dec 12, 2013 19:26:47 GMT -8
I want to clear things up here I have 4 computers 2 smart phones and 1 9" tablets plus 1 I pad and 2 GPS units and xm radios in both of our everyday vehicles But when I go camping I can be reached by a cellphone if it is a emergency and I will have a flat screen with a DVD player in the Shasta in case its raining otherwise I like to be outside meeting people or just enjoying nature. I made my living tied to my watch and a phone, it took me two years after I retired to toss the watch and now sometimes I don't even realize the phone is ringing. So when camping most of it stays behind.
Have you ever sat real still and have a deer walk up and stick it head in your truck window to see what is there or had a bird land on your out stretched hand to nibble seed or stood real still and had a bull moose walk up to with in 5 feet then slowly walk away. That won't happen when the stereo is blasting. These are the things that you will remember forever.
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Dec 12, 2013 19:54:42 GMT -8
Okay...just to also clear things up...we do NOT have a stick phone. We have four cell phones on one plan, that very very seldom talk to each other; mine is so advanced that every once in a while it rings AND has this magic texticle thing that sends 160 characters at a time for someone to read, assuming anyone still reads; a laptop (or 2, but she does not really internet all that much) a tv with 1.000.000.000 channels, all but 11 of them are blocked, and one fond memory:
My Dad and I were camped in a two man pup tent on Easter vacation when I was ten. We were on the Delaware, bullhead fishing on a cool evening with a lantern and some hot dogs that were cooling off fast. It was time to turn in and Dad snuffed the lantern as I softly turned on my AM transistor radio. In a rather feeble attempt to tune in WKBW from that far away, my Dad said, "Ya know, I don't know why anyone would want that transistor radio going when you are camping..."
I never forgot that quiet serene feeling of being out there together...
Nor did I forget the 8" of snow and rain overnight, because we turned it off before the news and weather at the top of the hour....
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Post by bigbill on Dec 12, 2013 20:18:28 GMT -8
But you ended up with a memory that lasted a life time and being ten you probably thought you were having fun.
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Nomad95336
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Post by Nomad95336 on Dec 13, 2013 0:31:21 GMT -8
Nor did I forget the 8" of snow and rain overnight, because we turned it off before the news and weather at the top of the hour.... Now THAT'S funny!!!!!!!!! 8) |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Dec 13, 2013 0:46:49 GMT -8
I don't have a crank telephone, but I do have a crank weather radio You are funny, 10. And my posts are getting lost in cyberspace or I'm not hitting send because I sent this hours ago, so sorry if it pops up again or if I just can't see it! |
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timeout1
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Post by timeout1 on Dec 13, 2013 12:19:06 GMT -8
When we camp, and if we have wi-fi or if Linda creates a wi-fi hot spot for me, my choice of entertainment is Old Time Radio Shows. www.dumb.com/oldtimeradio/ is loaded with Radio Shows and much more! This is the Bluetooth speaker that I use to listen to Old Time Radio. The sound is so clear and loud that Linda actually gets caught up in some of my shows. Listening to a great Detective Show on my smart phone and over this speaker while sitting around a campfire after dark...well, it just doesn't get any better that that!!  AUVIO Bluetooth Portable Speaker Yes, Nomad, finding a good campsite here is CA can at times be a challenge, but we manage. We're getting a little anxious to get on the road with our Retro 150 when the weather warms up a bit. We will have to camp sort of local here in CA until we can purchase a new pickup with better towing capabilities. Then we want to plan some longer trips. I'm enjoying everyone's 'Geek Camping' stories! |
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Nomad95336
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Post by Nomad95336 on Dec 13, 2013 12:42:04 GMT -8
Squaw Valley?
Me thinks your backyard is probably more scenic than a lot of campgrounds.
God's country up there, Timeout!!
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My wife and I use to speak about our kids which are grown and everybody else out there with the "Iphones".. Phone in the lap, head down.. Yata yata, then my step Daughter bought my wife an Iphone 5.
