Just back from the Fort

[ftwildernessguy]

We just rolled in from 8 days at FW. By the looks of it, we got out just in time, since they are evacuating the fort today.

For those of you who have been frustrated trying to reserve preferred spots lately, loops 100 and 200 are closed for rehab. I have no idea how long they are going to be closed.

I was appalled at the number of "boondockers" using the overflow lot by the kennels for a free campground. After about three nights of seeing the same motor homes (that's right, these were expensive class A's) running their generators (one guy even had his awnings out!) I called the front desk and asked if this was being allowed. The manager assured me that it was not, and he would look into it. The next morning when I took my dog to the kennels, the lots were cleared and they never returned.

As John said in another thread, Trail's End just wasn't up to par as far as quality and selection. This was a decline since our last visit in April. Hopefully it will not be that way from now on.

While FW was pretty full when we arrived on the 14th, it emptied out pretty quickly that Sunday and there were empty spots all last week. A lot of people left early because of Wilma. We kept an eye on the weather reports, though, and the kennel staff printed out weather maps for me daily, so we stayed our full time. Weather was great, especially compared to here in PA.

Met Campingcorgi Friday night while she and her sister biked around the loops. Nice to put a face to a name. Hope her stay was as good as ours.

Highlight of my stay - I got to be the Burgermeister at the Biergarten for the keg tapping ceremony.

 

[John VN]

We tried Trail's End for our 32nd in June and it wasn't too good then but figured that it might be better this time. No such luck, it was even worse. Going back next month and will not try it at all. Prefer my own cooking.

The boondocking has got to stop.

We planned on coming in very early Friday morning so I called on Thursday to see what could be done since we would be arriving earlier than normal. Wanted to beat the evac. mess that might have been. CM said no parking in overflow for sure but they would try to do something. Turns out our spot was open so we backed in real quiet and hooked up water and electric and slept for a couple of hours before I finished setting up all the way. They were really great for letting us get in so early.

Still have a shot at a hurricane in Nov. but keeping fingers crossed that nothing will happen.

Good for you on the tapping.

John

 

[campingcorgi]

ftwildernessguy, glad you made it home safely! We enjoyed meeting you, too, and we had a great time at the Fort, too.

John VN, you hurry up and get ready for Wilma!! We've done what we can here and I'm out of school tomorrow so I don't have to drive in a mess.

Sad about missing school, though, because it may mess up my Thanksgiving trip!! We were to be out Wednesday and were going to check in on Tuesday. But now we'll have to work Wednesday. I'm going to try to add to my trip but I haven't been able to yet.

 

[John VN]

.....John VN, you hurry up and get ready for Wilma!! We've done what we can here and I'm out of school tomorrow so I don't have to drive in a mess.....

Weather Channel just showed us to be in the power outage likely area so we still have refrigerator running in RV and full of propane and fuel if we loose power. In process of filling water tank to give plenty of flushes and hot showers.

Stay safe up there.

John

 

[We4mickey]

To our fellow campers in Florida stay safe!

 

[dsneygirl]

I was appalled at the number of "boondockers" using the overflow lot by the kennels for a free campground. After about three nights of seeing the same motor homes (that's right, these were expensive class A's) running their generators (one guy even had his awnings out!) I called the front desk and asked if this was being allowed. The manager assured me that it was not, and he would look into it. The next morning when I took my dog to the kennels, the lots were cleared and they never returned.

DH and I were at FW for 2 nights last week before SSR and I commented on the RVs in the parking lot. I thought they were maybe people who had checked out but not left. I didn't realize they actually stayed for several nights that is low.

 

[Whosemom]

hmmmmmmm
wonder if they would notice my popup in the parking lot


LOL just kidding!


Stay safe!

 

[SamRoc]

I never realized people would park their RV's for free in the parking lots there. Does that mean they also use the free Disney busses that go to the parks?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I would guess yes.

 

[BALAMAV]

We are new to the RV world. We bought a new camper this summer. Hopefully we can come down when we are better and more comfy in towing through the W. Virginia and Virginia mountains. Anyway what is Boondocking. I have never heard this term used with RVing. Thanks Brenda

 

[msbegin]

It is when people, rather than paying for a site, park there RV in the parking lot. Sometimes people are forced to stay in a parking lot overnight if they arrive very late(when office is not open), but some moochers take advantage and use parking lots as campgrounds

 

[NHcampers]

Boondocking is free camping generally out in the boondocks without hookups.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Boondocking is free camping generally out in the boondocks without hookups.

While that is how the term started, it has expanded into this network of people who will camp anywhere for free, so now the definition has become, loosely, wherever you can camp for free, whether it be the wilderness or a parking lot.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Check out this site for a good idea of what today's boondockers believe is okay: http://www.phrannie.org/boondock.html

 

[BALAMAV]

Thanks this is what I kinda figured.

Ftwildernessguy: That website was very interesting. Is this real rules or is this someones opinion. Thank you Brenda

 

[ftwildernessguy]

There aren't any real rules, this guy just tries to lend some credability to what he does by implying that he is providing a service by squatting in someone's parking lot. If this was indeed an acceptable practice, as he implies, then there would be no reason to be discreet, as he states.

 

[Nevergrowinup]

There aren't any real rules, this guy just tries to lend some credability to what he does by implying that he is providing a service by squatting in someone's parking lot. If this was indeed an acceptable practice, as he implies, then there would be no reason to be discreet, as he states.

Good Point. Walmart does allow this and in some cases encourages it. I have mixed feelings about a lot of this and also suspect it is often just a way to beat the system for many people. It is nice to be able to pull over late at night if you need to, but taking advantage just for the "free" camping takes it a bit far.