Campground Diary

Yes, we have found Waldo (not the cartoon character but the village). But where are we now and where have we been and where are we going next? The tables below lists where we have been with the most recent place at the top.

I have created a separate post with our 2023 excursions.

Camping 2022

Arrival	Location	Comments
Nov 18	Rincon Country West RV Resort Tucson, AZ	Based on recommendations from neighbors where we camped last winter we made reservations here for this winter. This park offers a great pool and dozens of activity groups as well as proximity to numerous interesting places to visit. Other than being in the flight path for military and commercial jets landing and taking off, this park is quiet. The WiFi was slow and erratic. The sites are very close together.
Nov 17	Sunny Acres RV Park Las Cruces, NM	Fortunately the park rules warn guests about the Oleander. We had 2 of these large ornamental bushes on each side of our site. While the park guide warned pet owners it neglected to describe the bush and neglected to mention that sap from these bushes could be fatal to people with certain health concerns.
Nov 13	Trailer Village RV Park Roswell, NM	The campsites at this park have been recently renovated with curbs protecting the utilities and separating the closely spaced sites. Yes, we came here to visit the UFO Museum and other local attractions.
Nov 12	Palo Duro RV Park Canyon, TX	This campground is close to the highway and offers full hookups at the site. We did visit the state park 10 miles up the road with a spectacular canyon. Again we left earlier than we initially planned due to snow in the forecast.
Nov 11	Oak Glen RV Park Chandler, OK	We left here a day earlier than we initially planned as winds were expected to be gustier on Sunday, Nov 13. Knowing we would only spend a night here we kept the trailer hooked to the truck and left early the next morning for along drive.
Nov 6	Blowing Springs RV Campground Bella Vista, AR	We chose this campground because of its proximity to Bentonville where we toured the Crystal Bridges Art museum. This campground has beautiful walkways and hiking/mountain biking trails.
Nov 4	Ozark Estates RV Park Lebanon, MO	This campground is brand new. Easy access from I-44 via US-66. We stayed here long enough to do laundry.
Nov 2	Meramec State Park Sullivan, MO	We were not the only people in this campground. There were two other RV’s when we arrived in our section of about 100 sites. They left the following morning and three different RVs arrived later that afternoon. Yes, it was very quiet; almost too quiet.
Oct 31	Double J Campground Chatham, IL	Twenty days after dropping our trailer at Camping World they had completed the repairs. We returned to this campground to get organized and restock. Many campgrounds closed for the season on October 1st or November 1st. The owners of Double J had just added a playground and were about to plant several red maples to add some color to their canopy.
Sept 20	Prairie Pines Campground Rantoul, IL	We returned to this is pleasant and inexpensive campground as it is about 90 minutes south of the RV repair facility that awaits parts we need for two repairs to our Travel Trailer.
Sept 13	Wolfe’s Leisuretime Campground Lafayette, IN	Bumpy sites are nestled between the trees. Numerous signs warn what not to do especially near the pool and office. Seasonal campers have their trailers parked in many of the sites. Mid week we were among the few present.
Sept 5	Kankakee South KOA Chebanse, IL	The city’s name stems from a Native American word meaning little duck. The owners diligently cared for the park.
Aug 31	Prairie Pines Campground Rantoul, IL	Previously this may have been a mobile home park associated with the adjacent Air Force Base. When the Air Force left, the City converted it to a campground. Site are wide, flat, and partially shaded.
Aug 29	Cedar Lake Ministries Cedar Lake, IN	Road construction complicated our arrival and departure. It offered proximity to our dentist.
Aug 26	Nashville / Brown County KOA Nashville, IN	The new owners were enhancing this quiet campground atop a hill.
Aug 20	Muncie RV Resort Anderson, IN	This former KOA campground met all our needs while visiting our daughter.
Aug 14	Forest River Owners Group Rally Goshen, IN	This was the epitomy of campgrounds: Sites so close that fully opening one’s awning was impossible. Nearly hourly trains rumbling beside the camping sites all day and and all night more than compensated for the lack of trucks grinding up/down a steep grade. 30 Amps and low water pressure. While our site lacked full hookups the Rally organizers provided a mid week cleanout service. The FROG Rally was enjoyable. We met many delightful people whom we hope to see again.
Aug 11	Potato Creek State Park Liberty, IN	State and City parks consistently offer spacious sites. This site offered only electric hookups. We can carry up to 60 gallons of freshwater and twice that in sewage. Here we walked the campgrounds and generally relaxed.
August 3	Various hotels in NE Illinois	We took a brief vacation while our vacation home received a maintenance inspection.
July 29	Country Roads RV Park Wisconsin Dells, WI	Sites at this campground lay on concentric circles with vehicles oriented towards the central office.
July 24	Skillet Creek Campground Baraboo, WI	We reprised a previous visit to Devil’s Lake State Park while at this pleasant campground.
July 19	Hixton / Alma Center KOA Alma Center, WI
July 7	Minneapolis NW KOA Maple Grove, MN	Typical KOA with full hookups. While here we visited my nephew and his wife.
July 4	Log Cabin Resort Trego, WI	Two busy roads border this campground. Truck noise flowed down hill to the campsites. We had hoped to go canoeing/Kayaking, but the river was low.
July 2	Frontier Bar and Campground Saxon, WI	Holidays draw campers and campsites fill months in advance. Thus we happily made a reservation here. And were pleasantly surprised to find a clean, quite, shaded park.
June 30	Union River’s Big Bear Campground Ontonagon, MI	Across the street from entrance we watched the sun set over Lake Michigan. We hiked in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
June 26	City of Hancock Recreation Area Hancock, MI	This park gave us immediate access to the Keweenaw Peninsula, actually an island, connected to the UP via a bridge on the south side of Hancock. We had a nice site. Some of the sites were spectacular with either a view of the canal or nestled into a narrow glen.
June 20	Baraga State Park Baraga, MI	According to my brother, Father Baraga was significant figure in UP history. This small park is immediately adjacent to the main road across the northern side of the UP. From this park we saw Michigan’s highest peak, an inactive cinder cone.
June 11	Pictured Rocks RV Park Pictured Rocks, MI	We took a cruise to the adjacent National Park and enjoyed a drive to Grand Marais where we had a delicious dinner of lake trout. This is a new campground with negligible shade but good hookups.
June 8	Kritters Campground Newberry, MI	On June 8th we crossed “The Bridge” and arrived safely in the UP. When the winds are strong The Bridge may be closed or truck traffic limited to much lower speeds, or perhaps given an escort across. On June 8, 2022 the winds were light and our crossing uneventful. Kritters was the first place we experience with sites arranged radially on concentric circles. This campground also offered a nature trail. We hiked to both the upper and lower Tahquamenon Falls and drove between the two sections of the park.
June 5	Camp Pet-o-sega Alanson, MI	This city park has paved roads and concrete pads. Sites were nearly private thanks to brush between each.
June 4	Irons RV Park Irons, MI	Apparently Irons attracts off road vehicle enthusiasts who spend much of the day riding dirt trails in the woods. The campground was nice. We left early to avoid packing up and unpacking on a rainy day.
June 2	Bazan Baldwin Oaks Campground Hudsonville, MI	A few years ago this campground was out from town among the trees. Now subdivisions border it on both sides. While here we visited Meijer Gardens. The gardens are diverse beautiful. Awe inspiring sculptures are spaced throughout the gardens. Some of the sculptures are by famous artists including two by Rodin. An art gallery adds to the site. We spent a full day, leaving only when we could walk no further.
May 20	Holiday RV Campground Grass Lake, MI	This campground was convenient for visiting my brother and his family. Sites were clean and well spaced.
May 13	Sauder Village Campground Archbold, OH	We had an end site that gave us much room out our front door.
May 11	Indian Lake State Park Lakeview, OH	Nice full hook-up site on an algae saturated lake.
May 8	Deer Creek State Park Monroe Township, OH	I love waking up with the birds singing from trees surrounding our site. With Spring just arriving the trees are sweet with blossoms. Electric only and nearby trails were very wet with low hanging branches.
May 5	Air BnB Loveland, OH	We spent Mothers’ Day weekend with our children at a house with a very long driveway.
May 2	Whispering Hills RV Park, Georgetown, KY	We chose a Premium site hoping for better spacing on our return to this campground. Well at least the site has a patio and nicer furniture. This site was merely very close.
Apr 29	Wilderness Road Campground, Columbia Gap National Historic Park, Ewing, VA	Here we camped between the trees in a forested campground. A naturalist led an evening walk from our campground. With only electric at the site, we needed to hitch up to dump and refill our water tank after three days.
Apr 28	Lakewood RV Resort, Flat Rock, NC	Our site was relatively flat. The road in and was steep. Fortunately they placed a curved mirror opposite their driveway so we could see when the exit road was clear.
Apr 25	The Barnyard RV Resort, Lexington, SC	We came here to kayak on Cedar Creek in Congaree National Park. The campers include those staying only for a night or two, seasonal campers, and longer term residents in RVs. The campground is clean and immediately adjacent to a grocery store and flea market.
Apr 21	Lake Jasper RV Village Hardeesville, SC	Google Streetviews of this campground showed it under construction. The sites are well spaced, close, but not tight. One section had more trees than the one where we stayed. The sites are gravel. From a corner of the campground a trail connects with Sargent Jasper Park with additional trails and a disc golf course.
Apr 16	Jekyll Island Campground Jekyll Island, GA	Genuine camping with full hook-ups. Our campsite was within a mile of Driftwood Beach and, in a different direction, an historic home site. A sea turtle rescue organization has their hospital and visitor center adjacent to the Jekyll Island historic center two miles further away. All of the campsites are among the trees, with very little noise, and dark skies for star viewing.
Apr 08	Kelly’s Countryside RV Park Callahan, FL	This quiet, older park has been adequately maintained.
Apr 01	Starke-Gainsville KOA Starke, FL	Sites here are spacious and shaded. Gainsville has several interesting places to visit.
Mar 01	Travelers Rest RV and Golf Resort Dade City, FL	More appointments in Temple Terrace and Tampa.
Feb 16	Moonshine Acres RV Park Fort White, FL	Yes, moonshine was once distilled on this location and the site numbers are posted on brown jug images. Adjacent State Parks provided places for us to walk in the woods and kayak on a fast moving spring fed stream.
Feb 09	Newport Campground Crawfordville, FL	We came here to visit the Gulf of Mexico. We also visited Tallahassee and witnessed several items of legislation being enacted.
Jan 26	Florida Caverns State Park Marianna, FL	While many of Florida’s caverns are filled with water, the caverns at this park are merely moist. We also visited the second tallest waterfall in Florida and watched the water cascade into a sinkhole.
Jan 21	Suwanee River Rendezvous Mayo, FL	Small state and county parks near this facility provided places for us to walk in the woods.

Camping 2021

After a few more shake-down cruises in June we began RVing full-time! The map shows our travels from June through December.

Arrival	Location	Comments
Dec 15	Travelers Rest RV Resort Dade City, FL	We returned to this campground because it was familiar and convenient to appointments in Temple Terrace. Previous reservations precluded our staying her for the full winter pushing us to explore the Florida Panhandle.
Dec 01	Manatee Hammock Park Titusville, FL	On our return visit to this park we visited NASA and the seashore north of Cape Canaveral.
Nov 27	Ocala Sun RV Resort Ocala, FL
Nov 23	Madison RV and Golf Resort Madison, FL	How do RVers spend Thanksgiving? Much like any other day. We had celebrated Thanksgiving early while in Nashville.
Nov 20	Dothan RV Park Dothan, AL	We were assigned a site in a new section far from the road that ran adjacent to the park office. Our site was quite, adequately spaced, flat, and paved.
Nov 18	Gunter Hill Park Montgomery, AL	Very nice and very quiet Corps of Engineers campground.
Nov 15	Cullman Campground Cullman, AL	This is a hidden gem. Spaces are nicely spaced and very quiet. The owners live on site. Look for the short hike into the woods.
Nov 10	Nashville KOA Nashville, TN	Our children met us at this campground and stayed in an adjacent cabin. During the day we visited sites in Nashville.
Oct 14	Tween the Lakes Campground Grand Rivers, KY	We came here to visit the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. We also visited Paris which has a smaller replica of the Eiffel Tower. A hill shelters this campground from the road noise from I-24. An adjacent county park also offers a place to hike or mountain bike.
Oct 07	Hilltop Campground Goreville, IL	Several Illinois State Parks are within a day’s ride of this quiet campground. Many of these parks feature interesting geological features related to a sharp drop in the terrain.
Sep 30	Double J Campground Springfield, IL	We got our kicks on Route 66. While the historic highway runs between this campground and I-55 we got our kicks playing putt-putt golf on a course shaped like the historic route sign. We also visited the Lincoln museum in Springfield. Plus I got my hair cut for the first time in over 19 months!
Sep 26	Kamp Komfort Carlock, IL	Wedged between I-74 and a railroad track this nice campground was almost as noisy as Peaceful Waters. While here we found an interesting winery with a delightful red wine that we both enjoyed.
Sep 23	Peaceful Waters Campground Bloomingdale, IN	These sites were very close to a noisy road. We had an enjoyable visit adjacent Turkey Run State Park.
Sep 12	White River Campground Cicero, IN	We had to move several times while staying at this campground to fit between other reservations. The spacious sites allowed us to visit with our adult children. On our last day heavy rains up river forced the campground to close.
Sep 09	Whispering Hills RV Park Georgetown, KY	Most sites at this park are tightly spaced. Fortunately neighboring sites were empty on our arrival giving us room to back in. The window next to our dining table was nearly atop our neighbor’s fire pit. Various neighbors moved their tow vehicles so we could pull out.
Sep 08	Indian Mountain SP Jellico, TN	Had we allowed more time, this could have been a great place to spend a few days.
Sep 01	Over-Niter RV Park Athens, TN	Our neighbors at this park shared many helpful hints about becoming full-time RVers. Most important was that winter campgrounds fill early. We made several reservations while here.
Aug 29	High Falls SPJackson, GA	Hiking in these woods we found several interesting mushrooms.
Aug 25	Reed Bingham SP Adel, GA	Ready to get moving, we traveled to southern Georgia, 259 miles in one day then spent the next three days recuperating.
Aug 11	Lazy Days RV Park Seffner, FL	The part arrived sooner than expected. We stayed a few extra days planning our next steps while they changed a couple of tires.
Jun 10	Lazy Days RV ParkSeffner, FL	We came here to get a bent axle on our trailer fixed. Eleven days later we left the trailer here for an eight week car trip while Lazy Days waited for a part.
Jun 07	Hillsborough River SP Thonotosassa, FL	Here we started referring to our Travel Trailer as “home.” During our stay here we finished cleaning out our former home in Temple Terrace and completed the sale of that house.
Apr 06	Manatee Hammock Brevard County Park Titusville, FL	We came to visit the Atlantic Ocean and also saw a couple of rockets lift off from Cape Canaveral across the river from the campground.
Mar 18	Silver Lake State Park Brooksville, FL	Before this park, each cruise was out and back. We stopped here to prove that we could travel from place to place.
Mar 14	Stephen Foster State Park Fargo, GA	A dark sky location in the Okefenokee Swamp
Feb 22	Lake Griffin State Park Fruitland Park, FL	We enjoyed the trails at this park and visited The Villages.
Jan 15	Three Lakes RV Resort Hudson, FL	We chose this park to visit a nearby tourist city. Instead we walked the roads of this resort for three days.

Camping 2020

We called our first several trips shake-down cruises as we figured out if we could manage to live in a Travel Trailer for a few days.

Arrival	Location	Comments
Nov 22	Kissimmee Prairie Preserve Okeechobee, FL	A dark sky location. But we saw only a few stars those three nights. We did make a brief visit to Florida’s largest lake.
Oct 25	Mill Dam Lake Silver Springs, FL	This private park is located within Ocala National Forest. All but a few of the sites were filled with permanent residents living in RVs or Park Models.
Oct 18	Travelers Rest RV Resort Dade City, FL	For our second shake down cruise we chose this park in the county immediately north of our home as we had visited it decades earlier.
Oct 07	Lazy Days RV Resort Seffner, FL	For our first shake down cruise, we stayed two nights this park as it was close to our home and has a parts store. We needed neither.