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Fatted Rabbit Part Two on AO3

Contents

Bearshifter!Price x reader | explicit

Normally, John settles into his human life like an old, worn blanket: cozy, familiar, the very smell of it relaxing. This year, his bear is slow to recede, grumbling in the back of his mind for whole days, eager and anxious by turns.

content warnings: alcohol consumption

The locals think he winters down south, tease him about Brits not being built right. He lets them, allows himself to remain a tourist in their lives, essentially. Just one more impermanent face in a sea of seasonal relationships. It's better that way. Less questions. Makes it harder, though, when he returns to town already on the lookout for someone. Normally, John settles into his human life like an old, worn blanket: cozy, familiar, the very smell of it relaxing. This year, his bear is slow to recede, grumbling in the back of his mind for whole days, eager and anxious by turns. He hasn't caught hide nor hair of the little rabbit about town, and he's distracted every moment. It's never easy preparing for the high traffic tourist season, but it makes his life particularly difficult when he can't properly taste this year's batch of bourbon for the cloying scent of rabbit which now lives in his maw. Simon says it's good which is good enough for John. He usually waits until May to open the pub so as not to tank on profits during the slower months, but the possibility she may wander in one day looking for a nice drink drives him to desperate measures. He mans the bar himself to save money. If Simon thinks it's strange, he doesn't comment; not that Simon ever comments on much, the brooding bastard.

Weeks go by without seeing her. John gets grumbly, only placated by her unrelenting scent in the air. She's here, somewhere. Hasn't skipped town yet. His bear rages every time the sun goes down without John having set off in search of her. He resists at first, not wanting to scare her further somehow, but bears are not known for their patience, and the very real fact that there's no way she could know he was the oversized grizzly that terrorized her eventually draws him out of hiding.

The bar is closed on Mondays. John usually spends them high in the mountains, reaffirming his turf, but when Monday dawns slow and golden, John knows instantly what he'd rather be doing with his day off. He starts slow, savors it. Spends his morning at a hole-in-the-wall diner which caters to locals more than tourists. Her scent is strong here, but not fresh. A dinner patron, maybe. Clever little rabbit, avoiding the pricier spots downtown. John sits at the counter where her scent is strongest and sips his tea, resisting the urge to ask the waiter if they served a sweet little lamb the night before. The last thing he needs is this local going around telling everyone their resident Brit is a creep. But his bear is discontent with the slow hunt so he moves on shortly after finishing his plate.

Next is the local gym. He doesn't have a membership so he doesn't enter but neither does he need to. The scent of artificial strawberries is stronger here and he surmises she's already showered and left. He finds no trace of her near any of the lodges, which makes sense if she's made a bed of her car, but makes his job harder. No matter, he's got all day.

NFS is less strict during the off season, but John doubts she will have gotten away with parking in the same place for weeks so he hops in his car and takes a long drive by all the roadside stops east of Lake McDonald. He finds her Jeep somewhere out by Fish Creek but she's nowhere in sight. That's alright. There's a short trail leading back to the campground nearby, mostly thawed out and muddy. John wanders along, lets instinct take control. She's here, scent subtle amongst the mud and heady smell of actual small game, like sniffing out an overflowing beehive amidst scraggly squirrel and pungent pine. Hard to come by, worth the effort.

He finds her scrambling along a small ridge, chest puffing with the effort of the short climb. Good girl, better suited for a slow hunt. Mate, his bear decides, and he has to bite his cheek to stop from chuffing at her.

"'Morning," He calls from the top of the rickety stairs NFS has kindly provided for soft creatures like her. He'd meant to announce his position so as not to scare her, but her head whips up at the sound of his approach like a deer that's caught his scent anyway. Smart rabbit.

"Uh, 'morning." She's short of breath, self conscious about it. John knows what he looks like in the spring, all lean muscles. He hates it, is embarrassed by it under normal circumstances but especially when it sets round little sows like her on edge. Human women who look like her aren't accustomed to men who look like him being nice, he's learned.

"Early start of it?"

She frowns up at the clear sky. "Not really?"

"Meant for the season, sorry. You local?" He's descended to her level now, the smell of honey and her exertion nearly lethal. His tongue grows heavy.

She raises a brow at him, doesn't answer the question. "Are you?"

He laughs, knows she's referring to his accent. "Seasonally. John, by the way."

She eyes his hand warily but accepts it. She introduces herself and John rolls it around on his tongue, testing. She must like the way it sounds with his accent because she blushes prettily at that. "What do you mean by seasonally local?"

"Winter down south," he lies, hoping maybe it endears him to her nomad way of life.

Instead, her grin borders on cruel. "Can't hack the cold?"

"Ah, so you are a local."

She laughs and John is instantly addicted. "Not quite, but I'm no stranger to a hard winter."

His bear can't help but appraise her broad figure again, appreciating how full she's kept herself despite that. Good mate, good girl. Fatted rabbit. It's hard to speak past the saliva pooling on his tongue. "Where you from, then, honey?"

If she finds the pet name odd, she doesn't comment. Probably not in her best interest, as his bear preens at that. "New York, originally," she tells him easily. "But like. Very far upstate. Up in the mountains. But I've been living in Dallas for… a while."

She's rambling. It's cute. "Missed the hard winters, did you?"

"Something like that. What brings a Brit up this way?"

"Money. Got a distillery, and a bar back in Columbia Falls. Tourists go crazy for that shite."

She laughs again. John tucks it away between the flavors of his favorite cigars and his mother's name. "Are you admitting your product is tourist trap trash, then?"

"Admitting it? That's what I named the company." His grin is all teeth, but she doesn't seem to mind.

"Well, can't say I visited a place unless I fall into a trap at least once, can I? I'll have to check it out."

He can't deny the mental image has its appeals. "Look forward to it." He hopes his smile is more inviting this time. He's already planning what he'll serve her.

"Nice to meet you, John," she grins and then carries on her way. John can be patient when needed, but his bear is displeased by that.

***

He's even less pleased when a week passes without a visit. John falls to pieces a bit when he steps onto his roof one night and notices a distinct lack of honey on the breeze. When his bear demands a walk through the forest, he doesn't fight it, letting instinct drag him half across the park in search of the Jeep he'd marked. He doesn't find her. He opens the pub late the next day, too tired to make it in on time. Simon eyes him critically, but again doesn't comment.

The next day finds him nursing his hurt pride, consoling the upset beast which resides in his chest with a frankly absurdly large lunch in the kitchen when the bell announces a visitor. It is, however, redundant. John is already ferrying his food to the shop front, working a massive bite between his strong jaws to abate the hunger the breeze has carried in: honey and strawberries. She smiles at him shyly when she spots him, sidles on up to the bar and chooses a seat a safe distance from him, as if she's afraid he's going to pull her over the bar and eat her too. Smart rabbit.

He waits until he's worked through his bite before speaking, white knuckling his hold on humanity. "Nearly gave up on you," he says by way of greeting. His voice is gruff and deep; for a second he's worried he's slipped into his other form.

"Your own fault. Thought you'd given me the slip, giving me the wrong name," she teases. He's about to protest when she waves a coaster at him. Last Resort Bourbon Bar. Of course.

He smirks. "Turned out the other name was bad for business."

"And calling yourself a last resort option is better?"

"It's a pun! Cause we're-."

"So close to the border, yeah. Would make more sense if you offered lodging, though, eh?"

"You saying you wanna spend the night?"

She blinks owlishly, drops the coaster, stammers, "That's not - uh -."

John smiles indulgently, winking. "Right, I'll buy you a drink first," he offers as he washes his hands and pours her a glass. He picks a lighter line, sniffing out the sweet notes. "We recommend on ice for your first taste, that good?"

"Y-yeah." She's blushing up to her ears. He nearly growls in contentment.

"Lunch?" he asks as he supplies her drink.

She takes a sip like it's a lifeline. He gives her the moment to recover without comment, waits for her nod of approval before smiling back. "Sure. What've you got going on over there?" She asks, nodding to his heaping pile of meats, cheeses, and fruits. She's probably asking for a charcuterie board of her own but he chooses to believe she wants his. He desperately wants to share it with her, see her picking the food from his own plate, but he'd rather get her something more filling.

"Nothing good. You like fish?"

She does an adorable little wiggle: a motion with her head as if weighing her options, but carried on through her whole body. "What kind of fish?"

"Trout. Squash puree. Goes good with that lighter blend," he points to her glass.

She squints at him, feigned affront. "You starting me off with the easy stuff?"

"You don't seem like much of a bourbon girl," he shrugs.

She smiles, nods in defeat. "Not much of a drinker, to be honest."

"I can fix that."

She scoffs, surprised. "Well you'll have to do better than this," she teases, shaking her glass at him and he laughs happily.

"Told you it was shite."

"Let's hope your fish is more appetizing, eh?"

John can't help but grin happily, shoving a handful of grapes into his maw as he wanders back into the kitchen, savoring the way they pop under his teeth, coating his jowls in their juices. Simon is in the kitchen because of course he is. He leans back against a counter, arms crossed, gaze just as silent and skeptical as always. John gets to work starting the food.

"Thought you were supposed to be at the distillery today?"

"Why are you offering food if you didn't think I was back here?" When John ignores him, he continues blandly, "Bit early for the dinner menu."

"Repeat customer potential."

"Oh? She local?"

"Seasonal," John lies. Honestly she could hop in her mobile little burrow and disappear from his life tomorrow. The thought makes his chest hurt so he ignores it.

Simon hums noncommittally and moves to peek out the window to the bar. "She's cute."

John can't help the low growl that builds in his chest. Thankfully, it's too bass for human ears. "Yes."

"Want I should take over back here so you can get back out there, cap?"

Simon only ever calls him that sarcastically. Means he's teasing John's obvious crush. Well, jokes on him, John has no shame when it comes to the sweet little treat sitting pretty at his bar. "Sure do, thanks. Give a shout if you need help."

Hard to tell when Simon frowns behind that mask, but John takes sick pleasure in the way his shoulders fall the slightest bit. It's short lived though; Simon is never on his back foot for long. "Same to you, cap."

John bares his teeth at the man, passes it off as a nasty grimace when he remembers that's not a normal human reaction. Simon's laugh follows John out into the bar but any lingering annoyance he may have felt dies in his chest when he finds his sweet, soft girl picking at the plate he's left behind. She blushes up to her hairline at being caught, but it settles something deep within him to see her sharing in his feast, trusting him enough not to snarl and snap over what should be his, but what his bear is very rapidly designating theirs.

Good mate.

John's lived through plenty of rut seasons by now. He's been enamored many times, but this is different. Mainly because he isn't in a rut, sure, but also because his bear isn't usually so focussed on one singular potential mate. A parade of half the fat, fertile women in the state could wander by outside his bay window right now and John doesn't think he'd so much as lift his nose in beastly assessment. Why would he? He's got the juiciest rabbit he could ever dream of right here, eating off his plate like a good, docile little creature.

She's still flustered about being caught eating his food, poor thing. He doesn't really know what to say about that, brain still grinding gears, trying to climb up out of basic animal instinct. Instead, he smiles warmly and slides the plate closer as he comes to stand in front of her, leans into her space a bit as he shoves a pretentiously thin sliced piece of ham into his mouth. Honestly, if you're going to eat a pig, you'd best be prepared for a mouth full. Humans drove him crazy sometimes. The rabbit is blushing less by now, but doesn't make a move to steal another bite until he tells her to try the provolone. He's immensely satisfied when she does.

"You know, you said this was shit but it's pretty good."

"Better with company."

She blushes again. "Sorry about that. I skipped breakfast. Didn't realize how hungry I was until I was staring down a pile of berries."

John shakes his head. "I don't mind, honey."

She's wary again, though getting more curious. A deer with a salt lick, clever thing. "You said this place was seasonal? Aren't you open a bit early?"

He spreads some jam on a bit of bread and pushes it at her, preens when she nibbles at it. "Stumbled my way back a little ahead of schedule this year, figured I may as well be social."

"Hmm. Not much else to do, is there?"

"Still a bit early for most places, yeah, but the trails are usually pretty empty this time of year which can be nice. If you're into hiking, that is."

"I used to go all the time, back home. Haven't had much opportunity lately. Trying to get back into it, but I may have set my sights a bit high," she laughs, "Probably should've stuck with the bunny hills back east for now."

"Nonsense. I think you're in the perfect spot," he winks.

Her smile is warm, but maybe a little thinner than it had been. "It's been pretty good to me so far. You're a snowbird, you said? Where do you go in the winter?"

"Phoenix." It's the same lie he tells everyone. He's only ever been there once. He lives in constant fear of stumbling upon a chatty native one day blowing up his spot.

"Never been. Is it nice?"

He shrugs. "Well it doesn't drop to Mars temperatures so it has that going for it."

She just laughs, rolls her eyes at him. "You're a baby. I'd rather Mars temps than Mercury, personally. I hated living in Dallas. Not built right for those summers."

"Now who's the snowbird?" He teases.

"Never denied being a nomad."

He panics, thinking about how she could up and leave the state at any moment. "What brings you out this way, then? Just good trails?"

Suddenly, all the syrupy warmth he'd slowly been coaxing out of her freezes up. She's locked tight, a deer with his scent again. "Yeah. Never been, so, thought I'd give it a shot."

John frowns at her, is about to comment on the obvious lie when Simon rings the order bell about twenty times just to be an arse. John sighs, excuses himself. Simon doesn't grin as a rule, but he does manage to look quite smug anyway when John enters the kitchen. "Order up," he grumbles, and John inspects the dish critically.

It looks better than how he would've made it, honestly. "Thanks, Si."

The large man hums, nods at a bottle of white wine he'd placed on the counter by the door. "Recommended pairing." Then, in a quieter tone, "'Least for little babies who don't drink bourbon."

John isn't familiar with the label, but Simon has an acute sense for these things so he accepts it anyway. "Owe ya one."

Simon grunts. "We'll talk about it at my quarterly review, yeah?"

"Sure. You actually gonna sit for one of those?" Simon has always maintained quite firmly that if John ever had a problem with his performance, he could tell him right then and there instead of compiling a list for months. John, of course, had never needed to.

"Course not. Get back to y'bird, Price, 'fore she starts to think we're getting cozy back here."

"You just wanna get back to eavesdropping."

"Do love watching you crash and burn, yeah."

John splutters. "Am not."

"She was clamming up like an oyster with vaginismus 'fore I pulled you outta there."

"How long has this been ready?"

Simon shrugs. "Couple'a minutes. Didn't want to interrupt, given she'd basically told you to ask her on a date."

John blinks. "Huh?"

"Christ you're an idiot. She asked what there is to do around here socially, and you told her to take a hike."

"I didn't," John protests, but of course, he did in fact do that. Shit, since when was Simon better at socializing than him?

"You did. Now get out there, pretend the wine was your idea, and invite her to that fancy coffee place like a normal person, cap."

"You gonna be in here listening the whole time?"

"Depends. You plan on bungling it bad enough you need exfil again?"

John frowns. "Best stay on, yeah. She's got me reduced to animal noises out there."

Simon laughs, low and terrifying as always. He shoos John out the door but John can hear him lingering, washing dishes. It should be annoying, but Simon was right, he'd mucked it up. He'd put up with a whole peanut gallery if they could at least help him secure another meet up.

The rabbit seems less on edge when John returns, thankfully, though it looks like she hasn't picked at his plate anymore. At least her glass is empty.

"Smells good," she comments as he places the dish in front of her.

"Got the hoity toity ingredient source spiel if you wanna hear it, or a wine recommendation if you don't. Promise you'll like it better than the bourbon," he adds when she raises her brows at the bottle.

"Well it's about time you bring me something worth coming back for," she jokes, motioning for him to open the bottle.

John feigns hurt. "I thought you liked my plate of scraps?"

"Mm. It was better with company." She waits until he grins at her to continue with a blush, "That wine the same way?"

"Let's find out, eh?" John asks as he slides her glass to her and retrieves his own. Softly, he thinks he hears Simon say something about a good lad in the kitchen.

She stays for a few hours after that, gets good and flushed. He worries about her returning to her car, but of course he's not supposed to know she's living out of it so he can't comment. He asks if she needs a ride anywhere and is relieved when she says she'll hang out and sober up. He can't stay rooted in front of her the way he'd like because he does eventually get some real customers, but he lets her commandeer the remote to put some hockey match on. Playoffs, apparently. He asks her which team she's supporting and she tells him the one that is currently down three goals. "Well, they made it further than my team, at least," she laughs when he makes a sympathetic face at her. Eventually, she asks for her bill and pouts when John only shakes his head at her.

"Us early starters gotta watch out for each other, no?"

"I ate directly off your plate like an animal, at least charge me for a drink so I can tip you."

"Let me get you a coffee sometime and we'll call it even."

She gapes like a fish for a moment, recovers when the woman a few seats down gives her a look as if to say girl, get your shit together. "So there is sociable stuff to do around here, eh?"

"Had to go bounce some ideas off my chef cause I was so tongue tied earlier, but I got some things in mind now," he admits with a warm smile, and the woman down the bar makes a face like she just saw Richard Gere snap a jewelry box on Julia Roberts' hand for the first time.

The rabbit's blush is tamer this time, a light dusting as opposed to the deep stain he's seen creep up to her ears. "I'd like that."

He gives her the biggest smile he can muster, can't help it. He fishes out a sharpie from the tin by the register and writes his name and number on a fresh coaster. The rabbit smiles as she zips it into her breast pocket for safe keeping. He doesn't hide the way his eyes linger, and she doesn't seem to mind. "Have a good night, John," she says as she slides off the stool.

"Get back safe, honey." She waves sweetly and gives a friendly parting smile to the lovesick woman who can't stop watching their little display.

Simon has the grace to wait until the bell has announced her exit to emerge from the kitchen.

"Don't fucking even, Simon," John begs, but it's the woman at the bar who starts in first.

"Well, I'd best be invited to the wedding. That was more action than I've seen in ten years," she gripes, elbowing the sleepy man next to her.

"What?" The man huffs, just as Simon starts cackling.

Next>>

[sunmarketing]

Dr. Mary Travelbest - National Park Service and Foundation 2024

Today’s Mistake- I was a stunt woman at Universal Studios and ended up in the hospital.

Travel Advice:  Always pack a bathing suit.

  Today’s destination: National Park Foundation and Service

  I support the National Park Service in the USA by purchasing a yearly wall calendar. The images are beautiful. I also have a Senior Pass, which you can get for your lifetime, starting at age 62. Buy it at any park or online. Don’t lose it. It’s worth a lot for your traveling. Membership has its perks! That includes free admission.

  Have you been to Yosemite? Yellowstone? Are there any other parks? Which are your favorite?

Here are some tips on getting in and having a great visit.

  Making reservations and listening to park guides will help. You might even want to get a job working at a national park someday. 

National parks offer many experiences, from serene hikes through lush forests to breathtaking vistas atop rugged mountains.

To begin your journey, it's essential to establish communication with the national park you're interested in visiting. Most national parks have dedicated websites with comprehensive information about park amenities, activities, and contact details. Additionally, you can contact park authorities via phone or email for personalized assistance and guidance. The show notes have websites to visit.

When contacting the park or websites, consider inquiring about the following:

Accessibility: As a mature traveler, it's crucial to ensure that the park's trails and facilities are accessible and accommodating. Inquire about wheelchair accessibility, availability of senior-friendly trails, and any other amenities tailored to older visitors.

Health and Safety: Prioritize your well-being by seeking advice on health and safety measures within the park. Ask about potential hazards, such as steep terrain or extreme weather conditions, and gather recommendations for staying safe during your visit.

Lodging and Accommodations: Depending on the duration of your stay, you may require lodging within or near the park. Explore your options for accommodations, including campgrounds, lodges, cabins, or nearby hotels, and make reservations in advance to ensure availability.

Activities and Attractions: National parks offer many activities catering to diverse interests and physical abilities. Whether you're keen on leisurely nature walks, scenic drives, photography, or wildlife observation, seek recommendations for activities that align with your preferences and mobility.

Guided Tours and Programs: Consider joining the park's guided tours or educational programs to enhance your experience and gain insights into its natural and cultural heritage. These tours often cater to individuals of all ages and provide informative commentary from knowledgeable guides.

https://www.nationalparks.org/explore/parks

In addition to seeking guidance from park authorities, here are some general travel tips.

Pack Wisely: Be mindful of the weather conditions and pack appropriate clothing, footwear, and gear for outdoor adventures. Consider carrying essentials such as water, snacks, a first-aid kit, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

Plan Your Itinerary: While spontaneity adds charm to travel, having a rough itinerary can help you make the most of your time in the park. Prioritize your must-see attractions and activities while allowing flexibility for serendipitous discoveries. I planned my visits the day or two before for most parks, but if you are heading to a trendy destination like Yosemite or Yellowstone, you must plan months ahead.

Stay Hydrated and Rested: Maintaining hydration and adequate rest is crucial, especially when engaging in physical activities at higher altitudes. Pace yourself, take breaks as needed, and listen to your body's signals to avoid exhaustion or dehydration.I love my rest time. You should build it into your day, even if it is just to read your notes for the next day’s adventures.

Embrace Nature's Pace: In the serene tranquility of the wilderness, time seems to slow down, allowing for introspection and appreciation of the natural world. Embrace the slower pace of nature, savoring each moment and immersing yourself fully in the present experience. I keep track of the animals I learn about, the geology, and even the smells of the air and flowers.

Capture Memories: Don't forget to capture the beauty of your surroundings through photographs or journaling. These souvenirs will serve as cherished reminders of your adventures in the national park for years to come. Even solo, you can still take a selfie with you and your favorite tree, flower, or campsite at the park. Share your memories on our Dr. Mary Travelbest Private Facebook Group pages.

Safe travels, and may your exploration of America's national parks be filled with wonder and discovery.

Today’s Mistake- stunt woman at Universal Studios, California

I ended up in the hospital. I was offered a role in a fake movie we would make on the tour. I was given instructions on what to do, wear, and act. We were bank robbers, and we jumped into the raging river. Only I jumped in and hurt my foot on the bottom of the river because it was about 4 feet down. I was unable to walk, so I was given a wheelchair and brought to the nearby hospital for a check-up. I did not want to stay there, so I asked to leave, and my friends drove the car home for me. That’s the only time I went to Universal Studios. If you are asked to be a stunt woman, think twice before you raise your hand.

Today’s Travel Advice-Always pack a bathing suit.

It’s the most miniature outfit you will pack; you never know when you need one. Buying one on the road is hard, especially in a National Park.

Connect with Dr. Travelbest

Drmarytravelbest.com

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Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page

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Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram

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Dr. Travelbest on TikTok

Dr.Travelbest onYouTube

  Check out this Dr Travelbest episode!

[ourcrazyrvlife]

Cheryl's Kitchen Potato Boats - Restaurant Review - Fair Play, South Car...

We decided to try a local restaurant near our campground in Fair Play, South Carolina, for carryout! It is called Cheryl's Kitchen Potato Boats... interesting name, right? How did we like the food? Watch our review to find out! Address: 272 Herring Rd, Fair Play, SC 29643 We make these videos primarily for our own pleasure, and hope that you enjoy them as much as we do making them! Please don't forget to Subscribe, Like, Comment, and Share! ▶︎Would you like to help support our projects? Even small amounts help! We use this money to purchase new equipment (we are currently in desperate need of a new computer for editing and a cellular booster). Thank you for your generosity! https://www.paypal.me/ourcrazyrvlife ▶︎ WHO WE ARE We are the Nichters, and this is Our Crazy RV Life! We sold everything we could, and gave away the rest, just so we could live in a 28' RV travel trailer with our dog, Bailey. You see, we had a dream. We wanted to be free of the "normal" expectations that most Americans have. You know, that so-called American dream of owning a beautiful home on a cul de sac, going on expensive vacations once a year, and otherwise living to work. We wanted to turn that into living in a home on wheels, being able to pick up and go whenever we wanted, and working to live life the way we want. This way, we can plan on Jeff retiring in just a couple of years instead of working until he can't physically do it anymore. Come along with us as we immerse ourselves in Our Crazy RV Life! ▶︎ SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS http://www.Instagram.com/OurCrazyRVLife http://www.Facebook.com/OurCrazyRVLife http://www.Twitter.com/rv_our https://www.rvillage.com/profile/OurCrazyRVLife ▶︎ MEMBERSHIPS AND PRODUCTS WE LOVE Harvest Hosts 15% OFF Membership http://harvesthosts.refr.cc/ourcrazyrvlife Boondockers Welcome http://www.boondockerswelcome.com/referrals/32389/ Thousand Trails Get out and camp with $100 off a Thousand Trails Camping Pass. Start exploring by clicking this link! https://mbsy.co/LWWlG SW Florida Water Management District https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ ▶︎ Our Crazy RV Life, All Rights Reserved *This channel is for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and are not making recommendations. We share our opinions and what works for us, but you should do your own research and make your own decisions.

[azizi-kellerfamilyadventure]

Reflection of the last 6 weeks of travelling on the road....

Yay! I'm finally getting around to starting my blog all about our travelling adventures around the US.! This is a my first time blogging so my kids would definitely call me a "noob" (thank you Minecraft!). I personally prefer the name "newbie" instead...lol

So here it goes......after a lot of persuasion on my part (close to 2 years of trying to convince my husband to tap out of this rat race with me and the kids to slow things down and enjoy our life together while travelling the US) and a lot of planning on both our parts (another year once he agreed to my crazy plan), we began on our Epic Travelling Adventure on March 15th!

6 weeks into it we have really truly only explored Arizona but we are not complaining because oh my goodness......Arizona is absolutely beautiful! It's so nice to know that since we live in CA we can come back and explore again and again! Plus we did get to spend some wonderful quality time with family from both sides 2 of those 6 weeks!

Next we are heading to Utah. We made a pit stop near 4 corners hoping we could have the kids take pictures while being in all 4 states at once. But unfortunately, it was still closed due to Covid. While that was a bummer, the kids still thought it was cool that they could go from Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado all within 5 minutes of each other! We haven't explored Utah before so Michael and I are super excited about the next couple of weeks!

This trip has already been so wonderful for our kids. Not only have they been able to spend time with some quality time with their cousins on both sides of the family but they have also really enjoyed getting to meet and play with other kids from all over the country. Surprisingly, our idea is not as novel as I originally thought....lol. We have met SO many families who are doing what we are doing. A lot of them do have one parent who is still working remotely while the other parent focuses on home schooling their children. There are not many families where both parents are not working so we know we are truly fortunately! Really the only people we meet who are not working are those who have retired and their kids are grown up.

Another thing that I have enjoyed seeing is that my kids can stay connected to most of the kids they meet virtually through games like Roblox or Minecraft! And while I'm not a huge proponent of games and many aspects of our new "tech world" (for example my kids wanting to get on youtube to watch other people live their lives!), I'm happy to report that this is one aspect of the virtual video game world that I'm ok with....lol

So I was never really worried about my kids not having opportunities to socialize with other kids since I know that my kids are super social and make friends easily both with kids and adults, the real surprise for me was how wonderful the camping community has been! Everyone is just so kind, friendly and helpful. We have learned so much and received so many great tips from so many amazing people at almost each campsite we have been too. I would say that we have felt the community vibe at almost all of the Thousand Trails campgrounds and would highly recommend anyway interested in camping to sign up for a membership! (Btw....if you are interested in learning more about a membership just reach out and I can give you some information on it)

After avoiding people for so long due to Covid, it's been so wonderful for all of us to connect with people again! While we started off strong wearing masks every where we went, we have loosened up quit a bit each day. Since Michael and I have been vaccinated and we don't see my parents often while travelling, we seemed to be less worried about it. Plus, many people that we meet have been vaccinated so that's always a good thing too!

To be fair, honest and realistic about our experiences, I'm going to include my top 5 "not so fabulous" things about our travelling adventures.

5) Not having enough space for cooking! OMG! Even the simplest dinners are challenging to make because there's just not enough counter space on our kitchen. And did I mention that I have to constantly take out or put back our air fryer, blender, toaster oven....and the list continues! And I still haven't used the instapot! It's so big I don't know where to put it...lol

4) Making my bed! So I love making my bed in the morning. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and I just like to look at a clean bed. While our bed is SUPER comfortable so no complaints there, it's a King Size bed but there's not a King Size space for the bed. I literally have to get on my bed to make my bed. I know that doesn't even make any sense but believe me when I say it sucks and I'm not how sure how long the "daily making of my bed" is going to last...lol

3) So...one of the main reasons of this trip was to spend more quality time with the kids. Umm...I'm now thinking it would have been smarter if we could have traveled throughout the US in our actual house. I mean literally take our house on the road. My kids seem to think it's an actual home. They still want to play hide and seek, tag, and the boys constantly want to wrestle. I keep reminding them that our RV is at max 240 sq. ft of living space so we can't treat it like our house back in Temecula. But I'm confident it's going in one ear out the other.

And I'm not quite sure how I forgot but I did... the arguing! It's kind of driving me a little crazy. And of course it mostly happens on our travelling days or when it's raining outside but oh my goodness! I think I used to just walk away and let them figure it out on their own but now I don't really have a place to hide. Did I mention that we lack space?!? LOL

On a positive note, almost every adult with kids whom my children have played with have literally made a point to come and tell us how well behaved, kind and wonderful our kids are. I smile and thank them for their kind words. But I can't lie....every once in a while really I just want to show them the video of them arguing about 30 minutes earlier....lol

2) Laundry! Ugh! I wish we would have purchased an RV with a washer and dryer. We are considering purchasing at least a washer but we need to find room for it first! Did I mention that we struggle with a lack of space...lol. In the meantime, I've literally been having the kids wear there clothes two days in a row (easier for Milah to do than the boys...ugh!) But don't worry, they are still changing their underwear and socks everyday...lol

1) Wifi! Where is this 5G network I've been hearing about because I can't seem to find it! When I was thinking of a name for my blog I was highly considering "wifi hunter extraordinaire". This has been my #1 thorn in my side. We decided to let the kids finish off their school year at their traditional public school since online was an option. Our thought was that it would make for an easier transition for them and it was only 8 weeks after spring break. Can we say "hindsight is 20/20"! I plan on homeschooling them next school year and should have just made the switch when we left. Don't get me wrong, the kids teachers are awesome! Super supportive and really try to be flexible but we still feel tied to being online at certain times for the zoom classes. I'm definitely counting down the days until they are done with school this year (29 days!)

But the most difficult thing about being on the road has been being away from my parents, brothers, sister-in-law, nieces and cousins in southern CA. Family has always been so very important to me and have always been a part of my "happy place". I wish I could take them all of with me on this epic journey. But for now, I'm once again thankful for technological advances like face time! (if only I could get reliable connection while on the road or at our campsites I would be much more thankful...ugh!)

Okey Dokey Artichokey....that's it for today! The good, the bad and the ugly for our first 6 weeks on the road. This took me longer than I expected to reflect upon our travelling experiences on the road so I will definitely be posting more often and not as lengthy....I think...lol

The rain has let up and the kid's movie is almost done so it's time to get the kids outside to burn off some energy then shower up and make some dinner...

Signing off for now....

~Durana

[thismightbeaterribleidea]

FAQ

Hello! So, during a global pandemic and at the beginning of what will probably be a long and severe recession, at the age of 40 and with basically no knowledge of how automobiles work, I’m going to live in a van.

This might be a terrible idea. Hence, I’m calling my blog This Might Be A Terrible Idea.

If you’re reading this, I imagine it’s because you know me, so I’ll skip the introduction. I like a good FAQ, so let’s start there.

FAQ

Where are you going? Short answer: I don’t know!

Long answer: I’ll probably primarily split my time between Colorado/northern New Mexico, Maryland/Pennsylvania, and Florida. I want to stay as low-budget as I can and also avoid crowds during the pandemic. So whenever possible, I’ll opt for free, dispersed sites in national forests, state forests, BLM (which I now read as Black Lives Matter but here it’s the less-important acronym, Bureau of Land Management), state game lands, etc. I’ll pop into a developed campground every now and then to refill the water tanks, empty the portable toilet, and take a shower.

What kind of van do you have? In late June, I bought a 2007 Ford E250 with a high roof. In its first life, it was actually an Embassy Suites hotel shuttle, so when I got it, it had SO MANY SEATS. After it retired from the hotel biz, it went to a guy who owned a brewery and used the van for ski trips. Then he eventually traded it to a friend’s college-aged son in exchange for lawn-mowing work. This young man was actually going to make it into a camper too but didn’t have time, so he sold it to me.

I got the van for a very low price ($2000) because it’s really high mileage — almost 300,000. It also has a few issues: the dashboard, power windows, and radio only work sometimes. The doors are creaky and don’t like to close. There are splatters of paint (?) on the inside of the driver’s door. The air conditioning wasn’t working. And the interior is pretty beat up.

With help from my brother who actually knows about cars, I recharged the air conditioning. A new, functional instrument cluster is on the way. And the type of engine in this van (5.4L V8) supposedly has a reputation for being extremely durable. If I get a couple of good years out of this vehicle, I’ll be happy.

How are you going to afford this? A few years ago, I paid $4200 for an acre of land in the San Luis Valley, a few hours from Denver. I hoped to eventually put a little camper on it and make a very low-budget part-time home. But a few months after I bought the land, the county changed its rules to prohibit living in campers or mobile homes for more than a couple of weeks at a time. So the camper idea went out the window, and in June, I sold that land for $5000. This was my funding to buy the van and associated stuff. I’m going to try to keep the initial total cost of the van (vehicle, repairs, materials for the interior, solar installation) to about $6000.

I’m incredibly fortunate to be in a position where I don’t have to choose between my job and a weird nomadic lifestyle. About a year ago, I went full-time freelance as an editor and writer. So I’m self-employed and I work from home. I don’t even need the internet that much — aside from checking email, file downloads/uploads, and occasional googling for research and editing questions, I can be mostly offline. Also incredibly fortunate: the pandemic hasn’t affected my work, at least not so far.

I’ll have new and unexpected expenses: food will be more expensive, I’ll have to pay for campgrounds sometimes, the van will need gas and repairs and oil and new tires, and then I’ll want to make livability improvements (like insulation). But I hope that I’ll be able to cover all of that while still living within my means.

Aren’t you selling your condo? Why don’t you get a newer/lower mileage/already converted van? Yes, I am (fingers crossed that the sale goes through) selling my condo in Denver. But I also have no savings, no retirement fund, no emergency fund. And the recession is just getting started… the whole future seems pretty uncertain. I’d feel better if I kept as much of the condo money in the bank as possible, even if that means having a crappier van.

Don’t you worry about safety? Absolutely. I’m a worrying person. I worry a lot! But if I responded to those worries by not going anywhere alone, staying in only developed campgrounds, etc., then I’d have missed out on some of the best experiences in my life, and I’d never go much of anywhere at all.

To stay safe in a van, I’ll use the same approach I use for solo car camping. If a place feels sketchy, I go somewhere else. To avoid trouble from bears, I try not to get food on the ground, do food prep and brush teeth away from the vehicle, and keep the car doors locked when I’m away and at night. To avoid trouble from bros, I try to stay out of sight. I pick spots and set up my campsite so that people passing by mostly just see the vehicle and not me or my single chair or small tent. I have bear spray, which stays in arm’s reach when I’m out hiking and at night, and I have a sharp knife, which is always pretty accessible too.

In fact, safety is why I chose a van over a truck with a camper, which actually would have been preferable. If a truck ever had recurring or expensive mechanical problems, I could just get a new truck and put the camper on it — but with a van, I’ll either have to do the expensive repairs or get a new van and re-do the whole interior. And if I wanted to stay in one place for a while, I could take the camper off and just drive the truck around, saving on gas and wear and tear. But with a truck camper, if I were ever inside the camper and felt unsafe, I’d have to *go outside* and then get into the truck cab in order to leave. With a van, if things start feeling sketchy, I can just hop in the driver’s seat and go.

(Side note: It’s upsetting and frustrating to me that these safety concerns and choices are so linked to gender. Of course men also need to think about safety when they’re out camping alone, but I’m pretty sure I’ve had to think about it at least 200% as much as my equivalent 40-year-old non-threatening-looking out-of-shape single dude.)

If we’re talking about safety from non-sentient threats — bad weather, injuries, mechanical breakdowns, etc. — then I…

a) try not to get into situations that I can’t get out of — whether it’s a too-rugged road, a too-steep trail, or a spot that is likely to turn into a mud pit if it rains. I also think about whether I could walk to get help if I needed to. b) have some basic safety and first aid stuff. Tape, gauze, and a mylar blanket for me; jumper cables and a portable air compressor for the car. c) have a Triple A membership in case I need a tow.

The van came with a handy fire extinguisher strapped to the driver’s seat. To reduce the possibility of being unable to call for help if I get stuck somewhere, I eventually plan to get a cell phone signal booster.

The fire extinguisher or even my bear spray won’t keep me safe from COVID-19. But like I mentioned, I’m trying to stay as far away from crowds as possible. To cut down on contact when resupplying, I’ve got storage for 10 gallons of water (I’m actually going to expand this to 15) and plan to carry enough food for a month. Unless there’s a mechanical problem or breakdown (definitely my biggest concern), I should be able to drive coast to coast while remaining in a relatively firm bubble. The riskiest thing I’ll *have* to do is refuel at gas pumps, but I can pick gas stations that seem less crowded, refuel in smaller towns rather than busy highway rest areas, and go at quieter times of day.

Does your van have air conditioning? Nope! Well, it has the standard vehicle AC, but that only works while the van is running, and most of the time I’ll be parked. There are AC units that can go on top of campers and vans, but they use a ton of power: either you have to be plugged in to shore power at a campground, use a gas-powered generator, or have a million solar panels and batteries. I’m going to get a good roof vent and fan installed, plus maybe put some smaller battery-powered fans in the windows, so that will hopefully keep me from getting heatstroke in the summer.

Does it have running water? Nope! Right now, I have a portable foot-pump sink and a self-contained portable toilet. I plan to eventually build a nicer/bigger sink. I’m also going to order a collapsible tub so I can do sponge baths or use a solar shower (a black vinyl bag that heats up in the sun and has a hose attached). Swimming in freshwater lakes will need to become a bigger part of my life. I’ll probably be a little stinky at times, but people should be social distancing anyway, so if anyone can smell me, they’re way too close.

Does it have electricity? It will! I’m planning to have one large solar panel and a lithium battery installed. (For those who are curious, it’s a 315 watt solar panel with a 100 AH battery.) This will power the roof fan, my laptop, my phone, some plug-in lights, and eventually also built-in lights, the cell phone signal booster, and maybe a small fridge or cooler. The solar power system is going to outlast the van and will be easily switchable to my next vehicle.

Wait. “Maybe” a fridge? What are you going to eat? Ummm… I’ll figure it out? I eat like a scavenging raccoon, so I’m not too picky. I bought a bunch of freeze-dried legume-based soup and stew mixes from Harmony House, some high-protein shake mix from Huel, and I plan to stock rice, quinoa, peanut butter, oatmeal, hard cheese, packaged salmon and tuna, and dried fruit. If I’m driving, I’ll probably also keep an eye out for farm stands and grab some produce that will keep unrefrigerated for a few days. During the pandemic, I’ve been using support for local businesses as a way of justifying takeout or delivery once or twice a week, so I’ll probably keep doing that when I pass through developed areas.

Can you poop in your van? Does it smell? Yes to the first! I haven’t, um, tested it out yet. But after road trip in my sedan in May, when I had to go into a scary (no one wearing masks or social distancing) gas station in Colorado Springs, bathroom and hand-washing facilities for the van became a priority. Right now the portable toilet is just sort of hanging out in the open, but I’m going to build a plywood box to contain it. I did pee in it a bunch during my inaugural camping trip, and I’m happy to report that the chemicals I added to the tank made it not smell gross while also not producing an overwhelming chemical smell.

How will you get the internet? Unlimited data plan FTW! I recently figured out that I can use my phone as a mobile hotspot and connect to it with my laptop. It’s not fast, but it’ll do what I need it to. And I should be able to have connectivity even in more remote areas after I get a signal booster.

Won’t you get tired of living in a tiny space? Maybe. I do have some good practice, though. In the last decade, I’ve gone from living in a 700-square-foot condo (Denver) to a 400-ish-square-foot studio apartment (New Jersey; grad school) to my childhood room in my parents’ house (Maryland; post-grad-school student loan debt). Each time, I’ve gotten rid of stuff, even things it’s painful to get rid of: old books, childhood knickknacks, cassette tapes, drawings, horse show ribbons I remember winning, cutlery and glassware I got as housewarming gifts.

I also tend to feel really at home in my car. I’ve napped in my car, drafted novels in my car, had long and meaningful conversations in my car, had existential crises in my car, eaten hundreds of meals in my car. Car = house makes sense to me. And I hope to be staying in places where I have access to big and engaging outdoor spaces.

What will you do after you live in a van for a while? I have no idea. There are definitely things that I want to do — write fiction, build my career, be more involved with community/communities, get healthier, be a better human — but all of those things are geographically nonspecific. And everything both personally and nationally feels so up in the air. I could end up living in a van for a year, or five, or ten. I might eventually buy a house or a boat or a farm, or settle down somewhere (I don’t know where) in a more permanent way. But I’m not making plans for any of that, and I’m not making plans for an “after.”

I think that’s it for the FAQ! If you have any questions, let me know and I will address them in a later LFAQ (Less Frequently Asked Questions).

Also, please bear with me because I don’t really know how Tumblr works. If you want to start reading, start FROM THE BOTTOM.

[cricketneedsabath-blog]

Park here: Pacific Dunes Thousand Trails

Pacific Dunes Ranch RV Resort [Oceano, CA]

• Dog Life: On leash, in the campground (for safety!) and then walk on over to...

THE GINORMOUS NEVER ENDING SAND DUNES OFF LEASH AREA 😍

Plus many near-by dog beaches. I was a very happy girl. A tired girl, but a very happy girl.

• As far as signal: workable!

AT&T worked well, human got a fancy MiMo Antenna (“the NetGear one”) and it for sure improved. Not hugely. But improvement of any scale is always apresh.

Verizon had signal but deffo too weak to work, maybe would have been okay for light social media and streaming.

• Discounts: Thousand Trails + $20/night.

Didn’t ask about anything else considering if you’re in an area for a bit, the zone pass really makes the most sense if you don’t want a full in membership. This park BOOKS UP though so plan your stay as early as you can... it is beautiful.

• The Park: Fairly clean shower stall in a bathroom house with a few toilets. Semi private, no locks - just a curtain for dressing and another curtain for the shower. All sites looked like FHU on the upper level so if you brought your own shower, use it.

Fairly level gravel sites; most are pull-through, perimeters were back-ins. There’s an upper and lower level, and this TT actually asigns your spot which was actually nicer than having to figure it out on your own. Not super spacious, but enough room to have awnings out and not be touching your neighbor.

The sunsets were incredible. Those sand dunes... I mean, come on.

There are no trees in the loops, so be wary that this is Southern California - pups and humans will both want air conditioning If home during the day. Make sure yours works well! 🥵🥶

🐾 ••• ⭑

TL;DR - We very much look forward to coming back.

:: post-zooms

[barndoorhostel]

HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to support @Rumney_Climbers Association this weekend. What an absolute blast! Y’all raised $700 directly for the RCA. They (and @accessfund ) are the reason we can climb at #RumneyRocks . The RCA are doing their best to keep up with the massive demand and wear/tear on the crag. These donations (and new memberships!) help with trail stability, flora/fauna protection, area stewardship, rebolting, and human impact. Thank you to Ladd at RCA, to @cafe.monte.alto serving up delicious coco and #coffee, to @talcottrocks for donating a @bluewaterropes to our raffle (and to @marshalldavis120 for winning it!). Thanks to the @accessfund for hooking us up with some swag (and helping climbers protect our favorite areas). Thank you @pdcthepianist for rockin out, @grotto_italiano_taverna for the pizza, and for everyone crazy enough to join in Dave’s morning “Barn Door Brook Dunk” (the water was 42°F!) Y’all are AWESOME and this weekend is why we’re so proud to be a part of this #community. Happy climbing! 🤙🧗‍♀️🪢 (at Barn Door Hostel and Campground) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkEHn1ROvLT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lomoexclusive]

Dino pets sphere

#Dino pets sphere plus#

#Dino pets sphere free#

#Dino pets sphere free#

If you are not signed up for this free program yet, see all the details at HERE. You'll get special savings and early access to sales and more. The Target Circle loyalty program allows members to earn 1% on every Target trip to redeem at Target later.

#Dino pets sphere plus#

If you have a Target REDcard, you'll save an additional 5% every day (with some exclusions) plus you get free shipping and extras like early access to promotions, a longer period to make returns and exclusive Target Circle offers with the REDcard. No membership fee is required for these services. There are multiple ways to shop at Target including same-day fulfillment services, Drive Up, Order Pickup and same-day delivery with Shipt. See all the sales on the Target website HERE! Shopping Options 544/1 Sukhumvit Road EM Sphere at Emdistrict, Bangkok 10110 Thailand. * PowerXL Air Fryers are on sale up to 50% off at Target right now! You'll find some great buys on the 3 qt, 5 qt and 7 qt air fryers, the grill air fryer combo and more. Dinosaur Planet, Bangkok Picture: To cute to be a pet, lol - Check out Tripadvisor. * Kitchen and dining sale including a mini fridge, microwaves, water bottles and more * Select maternity clothing is on sale up to 50% off! * Men's jeans starting at $22 and chinos starting at $25 * Men's tees starting at $6 and graphic tees starting at $9.99! Dinosaurs give you coins and experience and makes a sound if you tap them. Pets are allowed on the following trails along the Harpers Corner Road (Colorado side): Plug Hat Butte and other trails at the Plug Hat Picnic Area, Canyon. The Dinosaurs tab is found at the bottom right corner of the screen and can be used to purchase Dinosaurs. You may walk leashed pets within 100 feet of developed areas such as roads, parking lots, campgrounds, day-use areas, and river launches. $28.49)! Plus, there is a Target Circle offer for an additional 30% off! Where Pets Can Go in Dinosaur National Monument. * Hanes Men's Comfort Soft Super Value 10pk of Crew Neck T-Shirts in white is on sale for only $19.99 (reg. * School supplies starting at $0.25 including glue, glue sticks, and crayons for $0.25, notebooks starting at $0.35, folders, markers, colored pencils, pencils for $0.50 and more!

[campgroundo]

Campground Membership Outlet showcases Travel Resorts of America, offering a diverse range of premier camping destinations across the U.S. From serene coastal retreats to majestic mountain getaways, each park promises a unique outdoor experience. Discover luxury camping and create lasting memories with Travel Resorts of America through Campground Membership Outlet. If you want to purchase or sell a membership, Contact us at 800-272-0401.

[ourcrazyrvlife]

S4:E6 Christmas Lights In Our Section of The Campground! Merry Christmas!

We decided to take some video of the Christmas lights we encountered during our evening walk! Merry Christmas, everyone! We make these videos primarily for our own pleasure, and hope that you enjoy them as much as we do making them! Please don't forget to Subscribe, Like, Comment, and Share! ▶︎Would you like to help support our projects? Even small amounts help! We use this money to purchase new equipment and fund fun things to do that you would enjoy seeing, too! We also use this money to help bring the Gospel to those who need to hear it! Thank you for your generosity! https://www.paypal.me/ourcrazyrvlife ▶︎ MEMBERSHIPS AND PRODUCTS WE LOVE Harvest Hosts 15% OFF Membership http://harvesthosts.refr.cc/ourcrazyrvlife Thousand Trails Membership Here are the best Membership Specialists we know! Warren and Sharon Lewis 772-217-1851 or 804-366-0798 warren_lewis@equitylifestyle.com ▶︎ WHO WE ARE We are the Nichters, and this is Our Crazy RV Life! We sold everything we could, and gave away the rest, just so we could live in a 28' RV travel trailer with our dog, Bailey. You see, we had a dream. We wanted to be free of the "normal" expectations that most Americans have. You know, that so-called American dream of owning a beautiful home on a cul de sac, going on expensive vacations once a year, and otherwise living to work. We wanted to turn that into living in a home on wheels, being able to pick up and go whenever we wanted, and working to live life the way we want. This way, we can plan on Jeff retiring in just a couple of years instead of working until he can't physically do it anymore. Come along with us as we immerse ourselves in Our Crazy RV Life! ▶︎ SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS http://www.Instagram.com/OurCrazyRVLife http://www.Facebook.com/OurCrazyRVLife http://www.Twitter.com/rv_our ▶︎ Our Crazy RV Life, All Rights Reserved *This channel is for entertainment purposes only. We are not RV experts and are not making recommendations. We share our opinions and what works for us, but you should do your own research and make your own decisions.

[sonomaoak]

Repost from @sonomacountyparks Have you seen our gift guide? It includes more than 150 miles of trails, 200 campgrounds, 60,000 acres of parkland, beaches, and marinas – plus loads of fresh air, beautiful vistas and family memories! Give the gift of the outdoors this holiday season with a Regional Parks gift membership. Annual membership also includes a free night of camping, free parking and free boat launching! At $69 general / $49 senior, it pays for itself in less than 10 visits. Play more, pay less. Purchase now at one of our participating retailers (link in bio). #sonomacountyparks #holidayshopping #givethegiftofoutdoors #sonomacounty #giftideas #taylormountainregionalpark #doranbeachregionalpark #delriowoodsregionalpark @oliversmarket @rei @copperfieldspetaluma https://www.instagram.com/p/CIaZa6glpHe/?igshid=1wpx4hbafdmap

[barndoorhostel]

FREE CAMPING October 22nd! ——————————————————————— If you’re a new or current member of @accessfund and support @rumney_climbers association, camping is 100% free October 22nd here at @barndoorhostel ….. Not sure if you’re a member? Not a member? No problem! Y’all can become a member, or renew your membership with @accessfund / RCA right at our office. ….. We’ll also be collecting donations that directly benefit the area we all climb at and love. Rebolting, route development, staging/belay area conservation, trail work, waste management, flora/fauna protection is all made possible by members and their gracious donations. If you love #Rumney, this is your chance to show it. ——— Make a reservation to the campground by clicking the link in our bio. ——— This evening will be filled with live music, an artist village, climbing gear for sale by @talcottrocks , and a community fire. (at Barn Door Hostel and Campground) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ciu-xbIus8h/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[pukkatravellers]

What to Know Before Traveling to New Zealand

Overview

Welcome to the most beautiful country we ever saw in our life. New Zealand is truly remarkable place. Combination of outstanding nature and western country all in one place. New Zealand requires some travel planning if you want to see all good locations because the wather change fast (some people says you can all the 4 sessions in one day).

Besides, the travel distance between the locations is big, that’s why you need to plan in advance. In this post, we are going to cover everything you need to know before your arrival. 

Weather

since it is on the other side of the world – it could be different weather within your country, so pay attention. The weather is quite tricky. Some people say it’s ruined their trip. So you need to be flexible.

How long to Travel?

Well, it depends how much time you have? Many travelers go for 3 months. This is the best time to see the country and to take some side trips. If you don’t have lots of time (like myself), you can go for one month of traveling. It’s enough time to see both islands. Again it really depends what kind of travelers you are? ( if you like tracks – you need more time, some of the trails takes days). If you have less than 15 days to travel – you need to focus exclusively on one island.

this trip require planning

Flights

The flight to New Zealand is quite expensive – the best TIP here is to order the tip in advance. When I say in advance at list nine months or more, otherwise you are going to pay a high price for the tickets. Furthermore, if you are traveling for Europe, it’s better to stop for one day (or for a few hours) on Thailand or hong kong. Take a break; the flight is hard ( we travel for 37 hours!! & 3 connections). 

Transpositions in New Zealand

New Zealand has really poor public transportations, so don’t count on it. The best way to travel is by car. the main question is which rent or buy? (you can see more about it here in this post ). In New Zealand, they drive on the left side, so if you’re not used for it, practice in the parking lot a bit. They don’t have lots of cars on the road + the local people are really nice . So don’t sweat if you took the wrong turn. In New Zealand, you have a verity of different vehicles to choose from, again the main question is rent or buy? The answer is another question how must time you have? Until 1.5 months, in my opinion – the best option is to rent a car. Why? It takes time to sell it, and you need to be in one spot when you sell it (3-5 day minimum), so if you don’t mind doing that, buy a car. More than 1.5 months go to the second category – buy a car only! 

Our Campervan

To recap:

Pros of buying a car vs. rent a car :

Price – it will be the cheapest option.

Ownership – the car is yours so that you can change the infrastructure of the vehicle.

Cons of buying a car vs. rent a car:

Time-consuming: when you buy the vehicle and when you sell.

Comfortable: If a car is rented, you have no worries when the vehicle is broken, someone will replace it for you.

Major Tip: take the screen protection insurance. It saves our life twice!

Second major Tip: drive at the right speed, there are lots of speed trap ( we got a speed ticket)

Communication

not the strongest in New Zealand. Most of the places don’t have good reception, and in some areas, it completely blocks. Usually, you are going to use the Wifi in different hostels and campground – but you need to know that in most places, the Wifi is limited (or cost money). The best option, in this case, is to buy a local sim if Vodaphone or spark. And you need to buy a data package with an internal call. Both companies have stores at the airport.

Where to Travel?

New Zealand has 2 islands, the north islands and the south. in my opinion both of them are incredible and very different. The north island is the smallest one. The travel distance between place is shorter (huge advantage), and this island has a lot of geothermal and volcanic activities. You can also find the Maori culture in different places on this island. Furthermore, here you can find the glow worm cave ( there is plenty of these caves in new Zealand, but the one here on this island is really impressive). The south island is different. He’s much bigger and has wild nature. There are plenty of different trails and landscapes to see, like lakes, glaciers, and wild animals. In my opinion, the south island is much more beautiful, but the north island has a diversity of attractions. 

We visited both islands (and we add a short side trip to cook islands).

We started in Auckland and moved south. we pick all the primary area that we thought we couldn’t miss: 

Auckland -> Netherland -> Coromandel -> Hobbiton -> Waitomo caves -> Rotorua -> Taupo -> Tongariro -> Turangi -> Wellington -> Nelson & Golden bay -> Abel Tasman -> the west cost -> Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers -> Wanaka -> Queenstown -> Milford sound -> Catlins -> Dunedin -> Mount cook -> Christchurch -> Hanmer Springs -> Kaikora -> Christchurch.

Some countries don’t have a direct flight to Auckland, so they start from Christchurch.

Hobbiton-New-Zealand

Few things to Consider:

Distance – the travel distance is quite big from area to area. Sometimes you want to see 2-3 places in one day, so it’s better to check in advance. Use google maps to check the distance between the 2 points ( some days we drive more than 4 hours ).

Opening hours – New Zealand is for morning people’s life start very early, approximately 8 and end at 16-17.

Where to fall asleep?

well, there is plenty of options since we rent a campervan, we slept on a different campground. but again it depends on what kind of trip you want:

If you’re renting a mini car/ family car – so most of the time, you’re going to sleep on hostels or hotels. Our recommendation is YHA BBH’s best hostel we saw there ( slept there twice at the beginning and at the end). Most of the time, we parked in TOP 10 facilities – they are wonderful and equipped with everything you need (you can rent a room if you want the price is not high). 

Top10 has facilities around new Zealand, and they have a member card. You can get tons of discounts on different attractions, and when you stopped over to sleep there, you get another 10% discount. In total, you can save lots of money ( the membership cost 49 NZ money – in my opinion, it worth the price).

Supermarkets 

the 3 top one that we use are:

The Warehouse – the best place for camping gear, they have excellent pricing.

Pac ‘N’ save – the cheapest supermart in new Zealand. They also have a membership card, and they have the own gas stations, so if you buy there and fuel, you can have lots of points on your card (look for the yellow sign).

Countdown – one of our favorite – it’s a bit expensive, but they have everything. Countdown has a membership card (under the AA group).

So you can get a discount for gas stations.

Applications & Coupon sites:

Well, there is a few you need to know:

Campermate– one of our favorite we can live without it. In this app you can where to stay , where to park your campervan. Point of interest, things like that. The application is free of charge.

Bookme – Well, if you want to save money, this app if for just for you. We found tons of discount coupons for all the main tourist attractions.

Download it to your phone and plan ahead (don’t try to order the attraction on the same day, check 3-5 days before your arrival).

Viator – another coupon website, they have outstanding customer service.

Groupon – the popular coupon website – sometimes, you can find outstanding deals there.

TOP10 – one of favorite, buy their membership cards for 49 NZ money. 

With this card, you get a discount for there holidays park and for the main attraction in every area – Recommended. 

We use this card almost every day.

Visa

Since the end of 2019, you should file a NezTa request for tourists.

Check if your country is on the list.

Cost 29$. the process is simple – usually, you get an answer within two weeks.

New Zealand Custom rules.

Another thing that is important to know is that you don’t allow to bring food to New Zeland (like: fruits). Also, they will check your camping and hiking gear (especially the boots) to make sure they clean. they will scan your bags so don’t try to play with them (unless you want to get a fine

)

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If you love the post, please share it – and if you need help with your trip, reach out to us via the contact page. 

The post What to Know Before Traveling to New Zealand appeared first on Klara&Yoni.

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Best RV Clubs: Save Money & Make Friends

How Can You Find the Best RV Clubs? 

It might be tempting to join whichever RV club has the lowest membership fees, but you should also consider other factors.

Savings

Instead of looking for the cheapest RV clubs, you should be investigating which clubs will offer the most significant savings during your membership. Many RV clubs offer discounts between 10 percent and 50 percent on camping fees, so if you’re using your RV every weekend, you might save more money than you’re spending on membership.

Passport America leads the list in this category, offering 50 percent savings at many of its campgrounds across the country. 

Thousand Trails also gets a mention here, because their (admittedly expensive) membership includes free stays at any of their luxury campgrounds!

Boondockers Welcome also offers free overnight stays by connecting you with other recreational vehicle owners who are willing to host you in their driveways. You can even get around the annual membership fees if you’re ready to host other RV campers in your driveway!

Wide Selection

While saving money is obviously a great thing, make sure that these discounts apply to your traveling habits. Even if they boast that they offer discounts on thousands of campgrounds, it’s a good idea to check if these campgrounds are:

Nearby. 

Highly rated by other customers.

Close to other tourist destinations that interest you.

The Good Sam Club boasts more than 2000 affiliated RV parks to take the prize in this benefit category! But both Passport America and Escapees also have extensive networks of partnered campsites, each with about 1600 locations to choose from.

Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has a wide selection of RV parks, but in addition to their full list, they also have the largest selection of 4-star and 5-star campsites. KOA has been in business the longest, giving them the most time to assemble the best list of quality camping locations.

Community

Of course, you should also consider the less-monetary benefits of all of the RV clubs before making your choice. RV clubs can provide valuable advice, so you may want to choose the club with the largest community, or the oldest club with the most experienced members. Your savings won’t be much of a comfort if your club community doesn’t help you with your urgent issues.

Escapees stands out among all of the RV clubs on this list with a vibrant, helpful community. Their community activities, which include ongoing education opportunities as well as on-the-road job opportunities, are a benefit that really can’t be measured with a price tag.

Honorable mentions in this benefit category are Boondockers Welcome and Harvest Hosts. While they don’t have such a passionate member community, these two clubs are designed for host-sharing and cost-free opportunities to connect with other RV owners. 

Boondockers Welcome gives you RV parking for free in another camper’s driveway, or even host RV campers in your driveway. Harvest Hosts lets you camp in farms and vineyards to add a little agricultural tourism to your camping experience.

Reliable Support

Reliability is also an important factor. The good RV clubs will offer towing services or even other on-site repair professionals. If your RV battery dies in the middle of your trip, or your hot water heater stops working, then you will appreciate the handyman that your RV club can send out to fix your problems.

The Good Sam Club also wins this category, offering several customizable plans for trip insurance that will fit your family’s travel needs and ensure a worry-free vacation.

Best Camping Experiences

Face it, unless you’re fully enjoying your camping experiences, you’re going to question the value of joining an RV club. With that in mind, it’s important to find a club that will show you a good time when you’re out with your RV.

Some clubs offer meet-ups and other ways to get to know similar RV campers like yourself. Other clubs try to make sure that every camping experience is a great one, providing top levels of comfort.

But a third way to make your camping unique and enjoyable is to complement your journey with an enjoyable agricultural tourism experience. Whether you’re a gourmet chef at home or a wine aficionado, you’ll return from every camping trip with Harvest Hosts with new and exciting memories.

Honorable mentions in this category are Escapees, with their calendar of community events, and Thousand Trails, with their luxury glamping campgrounds.

Taking a Look at the Best RV Membership Clubs

We checked out seven of the best RV clubs to join so that we could showcase them here for you. Read on to find out which RV camping club offers the best discounts and services so that you can choose the best membership for your lifestyle.

Passport America

Best Discount

Membership with Passport America offers a stunning 50 percent off when visiting their associated campgrounds. And with more than 1600 campgrounds across the country on their list, you are pretty likely to find one near you or your vacation destination. 

With a 50 percent discount, a Passport America membership pays for itself in no more than three to four nights. If you’re a regular RV camper, taking monthly or bi-weekly trips with your RV, your savings could be considerable. They also have a customer referral program for additional savings.

Passport America has a mobile app to help you book reservations and find your campsite without any hassle, even if arriving after hours.

Be wary; however: many of these RV parks have limitations on this discount. Some of them do not accept the discounted rate on holidays, and some don’t accept it even on weekends. The discount campground list is also full of some of the less-maintained and poorly-managed sites.

But since the Passport America website and campground list doesn’t allow customer reviews, it’s difficult to know whether other campers truly find this membership valuable.

PROs

Low membership cost: $44 annual fee.

Significant discounts: 50 percent.

Extensive list of discount camping club partners: Over 1600 campgrounds.

CONs

Discount not always applicable on weekends/holidays.

No available member reviews for associate campgrounds.

Bottom-Line: If you are a high-frequency camper and looking for incredible savings during the off-season, Passport America provides the best savings in the industry.

CHECK PRICE ON Passport America

Escapees RV Club

Best Community

Escapees is a different kind of RV club. Rather than focusing on discounts and services, they have created a vibrant sense of community with scheduled meetings at various participating campgrounds. These meet-ups include many networking opportunities.

Some of the great community resources that Escapees offer include: ongoing education and training courses, a job-posting board for full-time RVers so that members can offer each other work while on the road, and even discounts on club memberships in other RV clubs!

As far as direct services go, Escapees might be somewhat limited. They do provide roadside assistance and discounts at many camping grounds, although their lists are not quite as extensive as other clubs’ associations. Their list, however, includes 18 five-star RV parks that membership will get you access to for less than $15 per night.

Younger members, and members who are still working full-time, might be initially disappointed with Escapees. This RV camping club tends to focus on retired members and members who go RV camping during the workweek. As such, it might be difficult for working members to get involved and stay involved with the community.

However, Escapees has recently started up a new subset of their club called Xscapers, which is targeted toward this younger and fully-employed demographic. Keep an eye on Xscapers to build a new community for those groups of people, featuring all of the same perks and benefits.

PROs

Low membership cost: $39 annual fee.

On-the-road job posting boards.

Community activities calendar.

CONs

Inconveniently-scheduled opportunities for members with full-time jobs.

Not many youth-oriented services.

Bottom-Line: Escapees is your best choice if you are retired and ready to hit the road and meet many other like-minded RV travelers and friends.

CHECK PRICE ON Escapees

Good Sam Club

Largest Campground Membership

The Good Sam RV Club is perhaps the most popular among the RV clubs in this list, with more than 2 million members enjoying benefits. They also have an affiliate campground list with more than 2000 participating campgrounds on it.

But this club is much more than a discount RV club. With membership, you get access to their trip-planning apps, which can help you calculate distances and driving times, fuel costs, and finding rest stops along the way.

Good Sam RV club offers various trip insurance plans to cover you and your family in case of unforeseen troubles. These insurance plans could be as simple as towing, and roadside assistance, or they can even help your family continue on their trip without you if your attention is required to fix up your RV.

The only problem with a club this size is that you will encounter a lot of disagreement among the members. This has led to unreliable ratings at many of their affiliate RV parks, with some locations getting swamped with bad ratings, and other sites receiving fake, flattering reviews.

PROs

2 million members.

Trip planning tools and apps.

Membership includes trip insurance options.

CONs

10% discount is less than other clubs offer.

Unreliable campground ratings.

Bottom-Line: Good Sam is an excellent club for campers who already know their favorite campgrounds and want peace of mind from their club’s excellent insurance and emergency services.

CHECK PRICE ON Good Sam Club

Boondockers Welcome

Best Dry Camping Experience

Boondockers Welcome is a unique kind of club. Unlike other RV clubs, they are an RV parking network. You might think of them as an AirBNB service, where members offer to host one another.

As far as service goes, you’ll be dealing with other RV club members rather than hospitality professionals. Of course, sometimes, your experience will be great, sometimes less than you hoped for, but in general, you can count on other RV owners to treat you right.

Since you’re staying with other RV owners who live locally in your vacation destination, you can be sure to get the best local tourism advice, including restaurants and sight-seeing. Your hosts might even be able to help you with maintenance or troubleshooting if you have any problems with your RV, especially for easy-to-solve problems like jumpstarting your battery.

If you offer to host other RV travelers on your home property, you can sometimes take advantage of the Boondockers Welcome network without paying the annual membership fees.

Now, because you are dry camping (or boondocking), you may have to sacrifice some of the amenities that you’re accustomed to enjoying in your RV. Your hosts may not provide electrical or water hook-ups. However, you’re getting to stay overnight for free in exciting new locations!

PROs

Super economical: $30 per year.

Local advice and expertise.

Opportunities to host and meet other club campers.

CONs

No guaranteed hook-ups at camping sites.

Not a discount membership RV club.

Bottom-Line: Boondockers Welcome is an exciting experience and a great (free!) way to enjoy the hospitality of other RV owners if you enjoy occasional dry camping.

CHECK PRICE ON Boondockers Welcome

Harvest Hosts

Best for Specialized Locations

Harvest Hosts is also a private property hosting network, but for very specialized locations. Unlike Boondockers Welcome, who will park you in the driveway at their homes, Harvest Hosts will park you in their farms, vineyards, or open land.

If you love agricultural tourism, this is the club for you. Harvest Hosts has exciting and unique locations around the country where you can explore and investigate the local produce industries and see what farmers and vintners like to grow in other parts of America.

This club is also specifically appealing to wine tasters and connoisseurs. If RV camping and wine discovery are your two greatest hobbies, then you will certainly want a membership with Harvest Hosts so that you can combine your favorite pastimes. Best of all: camping at these locations is free.

Because of the limited number of farmers and vintners who also love to host RV campers, this club’s affiliate list is much smaller than the other clubs can boast. Moreover, these camping locations are only for boondocking and rarely offer electrical or water hookups.

This club is also not a service or discount club, so they don’t offer much in the way of roadside assistance or other discounts. 

PROs

Low membership cost: $40 per year.

Free camping.

Exciting locations include farms and vineyards.

CONs

Limited list of 470 locations.

No other services or discounts offered.

Bottom-Line: This is the top club of choice for any camper who wants to take an RV and visit some of the hospitable farmers and vintners of America.

CHECK PRICE ON Harvest Hosts

Kampgrounds of America (KOA) Value Kard Rewards

Largest Network of Top Quality Sites

Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has the largest and oldest network of campground sites in the United States. With this kind of history and popularity, you know that you’re connected to quality service and top-rated locations.

The KOA Value Kard isn’t as much like an RV club, but more like a discount membership to a nationwide chain. Since KOA manages so many of the most popular campgrounds around the country, their Value Kard is probably going to give you the best discounts at the best locations.

Some people choose to avoid KOA participating campgrounds because of the prices they charge, but those prices indicate quality service and well-maintained grounds. You are almost sure to find the electrical and water hookups you need, as well as camping alongside other seasoned RV veterans and experts.

The annual cost of membership is pretty reasonable, also. If you are a regular camper or even use your RV for about four weekends each year, you’re sure to make up the cost of membership in your savings.

PROs

Great value: $30 per year.

KOA campgrounds are consistently rated the best.

Discounts apply at the most reserved spots and times of year.

CONs

10% discount is not as valuable as many other clubs offer.

Discounts only at KOA campgrounds.

Bottom-Line: If you only camp at 4- or 5-star campgrounds with full service and hookups, then you’ll genuinely enjoy the savings that come with a KOA Value Kard.

CHECK PRICE ON KOA

Thousand Trails

Free Camping All Year

This club might be the most expensive one on the list, but it’s also the only RV club on this list that offers free camping without restrictions at all of their branded luxury campgrounds.

If you are looking for the best, most relaxing experience in your RV, then look no further than one of the Thousand Trails campsites. They helped define the term “glamping,” or glamour camping. You will find well-kept grounds at every site, as well as all of the electrical and water hookups you need. You might even find other on-site recreational activities and utilities at many campsites.

It’s a particular comfort to know that you won’t pay any hidden reservation fees, connection fees, or have to worry about any other lodging budgeting when you have a membership with Thousand Trails. Even if you go camping during peak season or holidays, your stay with them will be covered by your annual membership fees.

Because their campgrounds are so spacious and luxurious, it’s understandable that their selection is limited. They maintain the highest standards at their sites, and that means less choice. Make sure you find a campground that suits your needs at your destination and make a reservation before hitting the road.

PROs

Membership offers free year-round camping.

Campgrounds are luxury-level experiences.

CONs

Expensive annual membership: $575.

Limited selection of campgrounds.

Bottom-Line: If you are a “glamper” and regularly stay at the most comfortable luxury campsites, then a membership with Thousand Trails will be worth the extreme price for annual fees. 

CHECK PRICE ON Thousand Trails

Conclusion

We hope you benefitted from our carefully-reviewed comparisons in this article. We’re sure that you will enjoy membership with any of the RV clubs in this list, especially with Escapees or their up-and-coming Xscapers community.

As always, feel free to add comments or questions below and share your RV club experiences with other readers on our website. If you have friends and family in the RV community, please forward and share this article with them, and happy discount camping!

source https://www.calloftheopenroad.com/best-rv-clubs/

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Explore the Nature’s beauty with Chehaw Park in Albany GA

Chehaw is a zoo-park located in Albany, Georgia. It was officially dedicated and opened to the public in October 1977. The wild animal park officially became the zoo in 2016. With over 700-acre of conservation land and a wild animal park dedicated to education, Chehaw is a unique attraction for Georgia. The Park is devoted to the three areas, like conservation, preservation, and education. From the home to wild animals to endless recreational opportunities, Chehaw has an activity for every visitor. It offers summer camps for both adults and children. They also offer Mountain Bike trails, an 18 hole golf course, a BMW track, a large play park, campgrounds, nature trails, a fully stocked catfish pond, and MORE!

Chehaw has a rich history, skill and diverse staff, strong city support, and an outstanding organization and a new vision for the future. You can get an opportunity to visit the animals including, Cheetahs, Rhinos, Lemurs, Wolves, Meerkats, and more, then share a picnic with family and friends at the Chehaw Park in Albany GA. You may also get a chance to see some of the wild Birds and Reptiles. You can become a member of Chehaw, whether you are an individual, couple, or a family and make lasting memories and enjoy new family discoveries the whole year through. Members also receive discounted or free admission to many of the exciting events, such as the Frontier Festival, the Native American Cultural Festival, and the festival of lights. Being a member, you will experience amazing benefits, and your support will allow you to touch the hearts and minds of school children as well as support species survival programs and events to save the endangered species and their habitats.  All memberships include different levels that include admission to the park and zoo for the whole year.

And if you have the membership, you may receive free or discounted passes to zoos and aquariums throughout the US. The different types of associations you can avail are basic membership and the Supporting membership. The zoo and park opened for seven days a week, which is the plus point. If you don't have the ease to visit on weekdays, you can visit on weekends too. Zoo tickets are available with supplementary cost, which is not included in the zoo passes. The zoo-park hosts a variety of events throughout the year, from conservation Lecture to music concert series, fundraisers to tournament series, there's a unique event for everyone. Club programs are targeted, especially for children ages 3 and 4. Join the zoo with your little ones for hands-on animal experience, a craft, and an animal-related story. Cubs programs are free for members with zoo admission for the whole year. These programs specially tailored to fit the attention and interests of children ages 3 to 4 years.

So if you want to explore the Things To Do In Georgia, then Chehaw Park must be on the head of your priority list. You can get more information at the official website visitalbangya.com. Their dedicated staff will let you know the detailed information about the events, programs, and memberships. Come see what nature has to offer you.