First Trip to The Fort

[Goofy14sure]

I have been inspired by all the great information and reports on the Camping Boards to try a report on our trip down to Fort Wilderness.

I'm going to put as many tips as I can remember into practice (with my memory that may be few) So, here goes!

Today is the day that the pretrip begins, We keep the travel trailer ready all the time so our pretrips are pretty short (we are heading down on Friday). Of course the planning started a couple of months ago, my wife and I wanted to do a Disney Trip in February and decided to try something new and take our camper.

I started looking for a Friday to Sunday 10 day reservation, but the weekends were full! Found a Sunday to Saturday, then checked back regularly and picked up the 2 Saturdays, could never get the first Friday so added a day on the backend to fill the trip. Four reservations for Full Hookup sites, and lots of magicbands!

Today DW got the camper hooked up. She does all the hitching and towing, all I get to do is back up where she tells me! We both call our GMC "MY TRUCK", sounds like the same name, but its definitely not. I must confess that it really is her truck tho.

Here is our camper "Bella" during a trip last month. It's a 2002 Areolite Areo and we love it!

[/URL][/IMG]


Today we loaded some essentials, and tomorrow we will make a grocery run.

[/URL][/IMG]

We will be at the Fort on Saturday, so if you're around give us a wave

 

[snowmedic]

You got the picture posting down so already you are off to a great start. Have a safe trip and enjoy the Fort. Will be checking in to see how things are going for you. Safe travels.

 

[bama_ed]

Great job so far on the Trip Report. Where is home?/Where are you towing from?

I would make a joke about the box of 48 rolls of toilet paper but I hope it's just a packing box.

Carry on.

Bama Ed

PS - so first trip, huh? Hope the Fort meets expectations.

 

[Teamubr]

I was having a little with drawl after all the RunDisney trip reports wrapping up. Thanks for starting this.

Sounds like you are in the south if the camper is always ready. Mine is winterized, drained, emptied, battery removed and everything wrapped up to keep the field mice out trying to keep warm.

Have you requested a loop? If so, why that loop?

Tentative plans for your 10 days?

j

 

[4077]

I was having a little with drawl

Get all of our southern bred pals down there at once and you can have a lot of "with drawl"

....sorry bad joke...carry on....nothing to see here...guess I'm still tired this AM

(And please take this as a very friendly joke southern pals )

Really looking forward to the trip report! Have a great time!!!

 

[Goofy14sure]

Thanks for the replies!

I AM from the south, northwest Georgia hollerin' distance from Alabama. Its a great place, north of the Gnat line and far enough south that the prediction of snow flurries will cause a run on bread and milk

We keep the camper on shore power and in cold weather blow out the pipes, put some pink stuff in the traps and drain the low points and water heater. I have been lucky with mice so far, the only one I've had trouble with lately is a big one in Florida who keeps after my pockets. The ants were trying to come out yesterday tho, have to keep an eye on those rascals!

Ed, we going down the Big Road this time. I-20 to 285 to I-75, The Turnpike and the Disney Cut Off to Western Way. We are going to overnight in Lake City, Ga at Eagles Roost campground. If any one has stayed at Eagles Roost let me know what you think, we've never been there.

and, about that box, as Momma always said "Be Prepared" (that may have been someone else).

 

[North of Mouse]

Today DW got the camper hooked up. She does all the hitching and towing, all I get to do is back up where she tells me! We both call our GMC "MY TRUCK", sounds like the same name, but its definitely not. I must confess that it really is her truck tho.

Here is our camper "Bella" during a trip last month. It's a 2002 Areolite Areo and we love it!

Wow, as life long campers, I am duly impressed with your dw's expertise!!!
That is one area of camping that I do not do (hookups, etc.). I have towed our trailers, but that is the extent of it. It's hands off, otherwise, for the mechanical part! Will not drive our mh.

Y'all have a safe and happy trip to the Fort!

 

[Teamubr]

And please take this as a very friendly joke southern pals )

HEY! I may just resemble that remark.

Today DW got the camper hooked up. She does all the hitching and towing, all I get to do is back up where she tells me!:

Can I borrow her? My DW is very similar to N of Mouse. She won't drive the truck without anything attached much less with a trailer. I've tried to show her how to hitch. She sort of knew how to do the 5th wheel hitch, but I went to a gooseneck adapter with the new truck. No interest once she saw it was harder than just backing into the 5th wheel plate.

I asked her what she would do if something happened to me. She said, sell it! Ouch.

And we also fight the ants, but this time of year, they better be several feet under ground or they would be frozen ants.

j

 

[bama_ed]

Get all of our southern bred pals down there at once and you can have a lot of "with drawl"

....sorry bad joke...carry on....nothing to see here...guess I'm still tired this AM

Gee, your attempt at humor was a little.....well....



Tell me what I should call you - Jim (from your DIS sign), Jimmy (from your signature), 4077 (from your avatar), or Mr. Seinfeld (from your comedy).























just kidding, brother.

Seriously, for our OP, be careful on Western Way. Even towing it's tempting to lead foot it through there since you are SO close to arrival. The Orange County Sheriff Department uses WW as a fundraising opportunity so resist the temptation to exceed the speed limit.

Bama Ed

 

[KristinU]

I'm in for a new TR!

 

[jamescorey]

Ed, we going down the Big Road this time. I-20 to 285 to I-75, The Turnpike and the Disney Cut Off to Western Way. We are going to overnight in Lake City, Ga at Eagles Roost campground. If any one has stayed at Eagles Roost let me know what you think, we've never been there.

We are in middle Georgia, near Macon, and camp at Eagles Roost when were down on the N Florida rivers. Nice place, and a good place to overnight. I am from NW Georgia originally (Calhoun), and moved here for college, got married, and stayed! My folks are still there!

 

[Goofy14sure]

Well I packed up my socks today and we made a trip to the grocery store. L (aka DW) packed the provisions and they all fit!

L has hauled horses for a long time, started with a bumper pull and worked up to a gooseneck with living quarters, I saw a picture of one at the Fort in another thread. She pulled most places by herself and got really good at it. She learned how to hook up the travel trailer hitch and never looked back. If I'm not ready to go when she is she will just leave me!

The camper has been sitting in the yard and I resisted the temptation to post pictures of my Mickey Mouse boxers, but I'll have some 'on the road pictures' tomorrow.

We will watch for the Law on western way, don't need no ticket!!!

Thanks for the replies and the tips

 

[2goofycampers]

The camper has been sitting in the yard and I resisted the temptation to post pictures of my Mickey Mouse boxers,

We'll actually take any pictures. We love pictures.

 

[jbrostek]

Pictures and lots of them. I selected some during my TR, but I have probably 3-400 total.

 

[PaHunter]

Pictures and lots of them. I selected some during my TR, but I have probably 3-400 total.

I hope I can control myself that much. Limiting myself to that many will be hard. I doubt it will happen.

 

[jbrostek]

I found at times I would just forget about the camera and enjoy the experiences.

 

[Goofy14sure]

Someone once said "I always keep my camper ready". Well that evidently does no good for camper karma!

My trailer lights that were so pretty and bright just yesterday were dead today. "I'll just wiggle the connections" I said, that just seemed to
Make it worse!

L says we should take it to the shop, and half hour later I finally agreed (that upset the L karma).

After a slight 4 hour delay and new connectors on the truck and the camper we headed south and made it to I20



Then to 285 and under the airport



Saw the sunset from I75



And arrived under a beautiful moon at Eagles Roost around 9. Only 5 hours late




The good folks had assigned us a site and left our info in the night box and we got settled in.

Like mama said "nothins easy". Or maybe that was someone else

 

[garneska]

Glad you made it goofy. Let me know how you like eagle roost, we are west of atlanta and eagle maybe a good half way stop. We currently stop at river park in Valdosta but all depends on when we leave.

Since you are close, any other campgrounds you enjoy? We are new to camping but have spent our time at Disney. We are trying to branch out. We have some things planned but looking for some weekend spots that are with a couple hours of Atlanta.

 

[Goofy14sure]

I was having a little with drawl after all the RunDisney trip reports wrapping up. Thanks for starting this. Sounds like you are in the south if the camper is always ready. Mine is winterized, drained, emptied, battery removed and everything wrapped up to keep the field mice out trying to keep warm. Have you requested a loop? If so, why that loop? Tentative plans for your 10 days? j

J
The shop kept saying that the mice had gotten into my wires! I told him maybe but surely not over night. This wasn't mice but now I'm paranoid about mice and looking for everywhere.

We've requested loop 1600 or 1800. Of the full hookups I hope they would be the quietest We will find out later today what site. Hope it has good trees for my hammock

We've got some ADRs and a few fastpasses and I'm going to try to fish some. I'm getting too old to go from rope drop to close!

 

[Teamubr]

J
The shop kept saying that the mice had gotten into my wires! I told him maybe but surely not over night.

That does seem a little strange to happen over night, but you never know. From what you described, it sounded more like a plug or main junction box issue or likely a ground problem. My 5're is 11 years old now and the grounds seem to be the biggest issue. Rust and age take hold.

We stumbled on a mouse fix (besides going to Disney ). I read somewhere (Trailer Life maybe) several years ago to put dryer sheets all over the camper, especially inside cabinets and under the beds. Apparently the mice don't like the smell or chemicals in them. Haven't had any evidence of mice since then. The 2 years prior, they chewed up anything soft. Toilet paper, bed spreads, sheets, all the towels and plastic things under the sink. You name it. Nothing since we started throwing a whole box of sheets throughout the camper when we winterize.

j