Walkindude goes Car camping

“Yep, It's true! We are loading up and going to the beach this weekend. Complete with a New 7 x 7 Coleman tent, New folding chairs, fishing poles, grill, and whatever else carcampers and typical tourist bring. Susan will bring some Beer so I recon I'll bring some Coke.
We are renting a Mini Van for the trip and staying at a KOA (for 3 days).

I'm not real wise to this kinda lifestyle so can anyone tell me what else I'll need? Lizs?


This thread should make Crazy Mike launch a SCUD missle my way.”

“I'll post pictures after we get back.”

“The tent itself weighs more than my whole pack for 3 days in the woods. Matter of fact, it's packed up size is bigger than some packs I've used.”

“It's also possible we'll get one of them Queen sized blow up beds.”

“Which KOA ya going to dude?
You'll be about 15 feet from giant motor homes with very noisy ac units. The sat tvs will be going strong also.
Be prepaired for a very high cost per night, around $20 plus.
I have a travel trailer I pull over to Gulf Shores AL, Destin, ect. Several good state parks in the area.”

“walkindoood...lanterns...battery or propane..maybe a few citranella candles for the table more for ambience..lol towels for the showers..a small tarp, towel or doormat for the front of the tent..or make sure you take your shoes off.”

“phhhhhhhhhht, walkindude! lol...

Man, I'd wonder about a KOA. You'll be right on top of other people, me thinks.

The past week I was at a National Forest recreation area campground in southern Illinois. There was some space between the spots. Then, Friday night, the father with three boys pulled in. The boys liked to aim their night lights all over the woods (THIS DRIVES ME FREAKIN' NUTS!) And then I found my tent door, even with vestibule staked up partially, opened right in line of view with their campsite. AAAAAACK! At least it was only one night.

Overall, that campground wasn't soooo bad. There was space, like I said. Still,it was noisy, with night lights bouncing all over.

On the way home I overnighted at Wakonda State Park near Hannibal, Missouri. It was even more awful, and probably like a KOA. Just one area of campsites between two rows. People immediately beside you. People immediately to the far side of your tent (with parking space on other side)

DOUBLE AAAAAAAACK!! Really awful. I might as well have moved in with any of them.

Soooooooo... good luck with your experience. (Ummmm, maybe try for a campground with a few less people??)”

“What ya say that I just run by your house in the morning and abduct you to SIERRAPALOOZA.. :~ )”

“I always new you were a redneck”

“Aw man, I've heard of car campers switching to backpacking but not backpackers to car camping. Good Luck with your endeavors. Have a nice 4th.”

“You know what the say, once you go pack, you never go back.”

“It's almost like putting a racehorse out to stud.”

“I figured some of yall would get a kick out of this! LOL!!

Stove stomper
We're going to be ate Perdido Bay KOA. We tried Gulf State Park and they were full. This was the only place where we could get a patch of grass to stay. Everyplace else is booked. At least we're not paying $200 a night for a motel (that's the price this weekend for anything left).

Lizs
Sorry to hear ya had the neighbors from Hell. I hope that don't happen to me.

Opie
Thanks for the check list.

Sirpete
At least I'm not a YANKEE!
hehehe

Rockman
Don't worry bro, This is just a temporary thing. I'm a Die Hard backpacker (except in the Summer).

Trekkngirl
Better hurry up and get me. We leave tommorrow afternoon! YIKES!!!”

“Buddha Bear
I prefer the term "Trail Ho".”

“didnt you get enough koa and motel (along with leaky firetower)camping when you were in s. dakota?”

“Aparently not. This trip will be different. We're not using BPing gear. I'm not familliar with this kinda stuff.”

“walkindude, I'm really lloin' forward to the trip report. I'm laughing to myself here just thinking of you in some lounge chair surrounded by folks who think they are outdoorsman.”

“I'm gonna puke.”

“Hey dude, I got my wood at the BP station, $3.99 a bundle, how bout' you?”

“I'm just going to dismantle that big A frame building.”

“lol!”

“I can't wait to see the pictures of such amazing things as the Yellowstone RV and the Sequoia SUV...not to mention the drunken pop-up camper guy with the deerskin rug on his porch.”

“dude - Don't give up on Gulf State Park! I go over there quite a bit and several times they have SAID they were full, but when I got there, they had sites available. They have lots and lots of tent spaces. The RV sites DO fill up.
Also check out
Big Lagoon State Park, Pensacola, FL. A very nice FL park just down the road.

I live on the MS coast about a hour and half away from Gulf Shores. The Gulf State Park Resort has a really good seafood buffet.

Hope y'all have fun! Bring lots of DEET and sunscreen!”

“Should be an Adventure.
.............hehehe! I used a the "A" word!....

.....ROTMFFLMMFAO!!!!!!!!!!”

“Thanks for the heads up StoveStomper. I'd rather stay at Gulf State Park. Perdido Bay is about 20 miles from Gulf Shores.”

“Hey Dude...I've been to that KOA. It's on the Bay. Just walk down to the water and throw your fishing line in...I've seen several dolphins from the pier there. And, yep, it's a good drive to the beach. It's a good place to camp if you're gonna be out seeing the sites. The pool there ain't bad either and they have a kitchen that's open to the public...you can cook there if ya need to.

Have fun !”

“Thanks MDS Hiker!
I sounded like a pretty cool place to base camp from.”

“Hell has froze over!!!!!!



8o”

“I wondered when you'd show up!

LOL!!!!!”

“I have no bottem jaw!!!!!


8o”

“He seemed like a great guy. I'm sorry I never got a chance to meet him.”

“I love it when the RV's roll out the astroturf. Make sure to get a pic of that.”

“what happen to your jaw?”

“LOL @ Pepsi!!!!!!”

“have to change your name to carcampindude.......doesn't have the same ring to it....


i carcamp whenever i can't hike, it's fun if you know where to go!

rock on WD!”

“Not much for carcamping. And a minivan?!?!? You are depriving some soccer mom of her rentable ride for the day. Have a happy fourth anyway!

I just somehow see you in a group of kids and noise shaking your head and heading for the closest trail stiffly packed with whatever plastic wall-mart bag you can find and saying screw this!!!!!!!”

“this is a must when using a KOA campground and its facilities. hehe. BTW I actually won this in a spades tournament on the internet.

bumper dumper”

“screwed up that link here ya go:

bumper dumper”

“ahhhhhhhhhh if you cant get to it go here:

www.bumperdumper.com/bumper2.htm”

“Now that's fuct up! It's hard to believe stuff like that is even on the market.”

“LMAO - one of the funnier "products" I have ever seen - love the name "Uncle Booger's Bumper Dumper"”

“EARPLUGS, Dude, b sure to take a picture of Susan in that itsy bitsy teeny weiny string bikini, for ME! LOL Enjoy. Yo beach!”

“Just what Jerbear said, alond with one of those blackout thingys for your eyes at night. (Minus the part about Susan in her bikini though, lol).

I freaked out last weekend at the car campground, trying to think of ways to exact revenge on the inconsiderate morons who were up and noisy at 1:30am. My daughter took care of the revenge part for me. Sweet little thing got up at 7am and began talking in her high, excited two year old voice and I did not shush her. =) Heehee.

Have fun Dude and just remember, everything's different in car camping.”

“The world is coming to an end.


As a side note, the best stretch of beach along there is half way between Perdido Pass and the FloraBama.”

“Louisiana Lagniapppe is right at Perdido Pass and is a really good restaurant. It's on the high end though.

chili - I heard the Lulu's is moving. Have you heard this?”

“No, but I will call today and find out.

That would be a shame. If it goes to the coast.....goodbye atmosphere and hello commercial setting.”

“I heard that the government is taking over that piece of land. I'm not sure what the person meant by government though. That term is usually a catch all for "Some SOB is making them move" I really hope they don't go commercial either. Surely they can find another dive type location in the stix.”