Calling all nomads in the East

[vgilbert]

Hello All,
My home state is Florida and my family lives in Indiana, I spend a lot of time in the Eastern US. 
I have noticed in Bobs weekly live feed that the question of East coast Caravans and RTR's has been coming up on a regular basis. Bob's response is always this- "if we can find someone to organize them we will do them, I cannot take on the extra work"

I would love to see East coast caravans and meetups! The problem with the eastern US is there is not much public land. I do think it is possible yo organize but feel there would be way to much for 1 person to do.
Just putting this out there. I would love to help, would be willing to devote a lot of time and effort to make this happen. But.... I cannot and would never attempt to do it alone.
If there are nomads out there interested in exploring what we could do together please fee free to post comments or send PM. If we start now we may have something going as COVID becomes a memory  :thumbsup:

 

[nature lover]

IF Covid becomes a memory. I’m all for you. Bob and Suanne called a meeting in Florida last February, year ago, to discuss this very thing. I’m sure they would tell us who was there so we know who else is interested.I couldn’t make it although I was trying and then Covid came in and stepped on us. I have been keeping a list of people who say that they would be interested in getting together. I will go back and find that list and email them to you or PM them to you. I can’t do a lot with my health the way it is but like you I’d like to help. It doesn’t have to be real organized. In fact if you organize it and you end up with liabilities for the organizer. One of my goals here in Florida this year was to look around for places where we might caravan together. Of course with the foot surgery I haven’t got anything done. One thing I was thinking is the land between the lakes up on the Kentucky and Tennessee border. It looks like we would be dispersed for the nights but we could get together during the day and evening. I’ve never been there I’m just going by what I’ve seen on the Internet. We have a nice little state park in the mountains of south central Pennsylvania that surrounded by thousands of acres of forest that have free camping sites in the forest. Same thing we can get together during the day at the park and into the evening and eventually go off to separate sites to camp. I think there could be 3 to 5 vans on one campsite so you wouldn’t be alone any time and it’s all within a few miles. These are just ideas that I’ve been floating around in my head. I’m better at ideas than I am at putting together things. But I encourage you, let’s do it I’m hoping my life will change soon when I get out of this special boot I have to wear and be able to walk a little better. I’ve walked with a walker or two canes for years but this boot thing has really thrown me for a loop. I’ve gained 10 to 15 pounds since middle December when I have to be sitting on my behind all the time. I’m ready for something positive to happen.

 

[vgilbert]

Hello Nature lover and thanks for your reply.

I feel strongly this can be done, at least the caravan part. However, there are challenges in the East that do not apply in the West. The biggest challenge is distance between free camping places. Another is culture, Homeless (including nomads) are looked upon differently in the East. But, if enough of us can come together and find a way to make it work I'm all in. 

Please fee free to Pm that list or just PM me and I will be happy to share my number e-mail with you.

 

[vgilbert]

And I forgot COVID..... How could I forget??

I really feel that by fall of 2021 all the caravans will be back and COVID will not be a concern in regards to groups gathering. 
I personally do not plan to be back in the East until fall myself. Plans can change but there are a lot of sights I am set on seeing in the West and plan to do so spring and summer before going back East in the fall.

 

[mattvei]

Not a lot of free camping back East, but what is everywhere there is Indian reservations. Bob has tried it out West with no success. What inspired me to think of it was a tribe in the Hamptons on Long Island that has 1200 acres. Reservations are sovereign nations so they make their own rules, ala casinos. Since get togethers are on primitive land, seems feasible. But the white man has screwed over the native Americans so many times, there is righteous cultural distrust. Would have to establish "diplomatic" relations with tribe influencers. And listen to what's really needed. If anyone is a tribe member or has a good relationship with one, maybe we could start there.

 

[vgilbert]

In the East National Forest camping would be the primary. The difference from West to East is the free land is spread out in the East.
Examples would be Florida in the south with 3 National Forest, and Michigan in the North with 5 (2 in lower and 3 in the UP). 
I have personal experience with all of the above and really like all of them. Take Florida, making a loop and moving every 14 days from Ocala then to Osceola, then to Apalachicola would make the 14 in 30 rule but the drive every 14 days would be a couple hundred miles.

Another issue is space. It would be tough in my opinion to have groups larger than 10 as we would be spread out even with 10. There just isnt wide open space like the southwest.

 

[GypsyJan]

East coast caravans would make females traveling solo feel much safer. In 2023, I plan to leave FL April 1, and slowly make my way to UP MI, than back again by that November. In 2024 there will be a total eclipse of the sun and I want to be in TX for that by April 8th and then head northerly for the summer, again returning to FL by Nov.

 

[vgilbert]

The trip from Fl to MI is one that I know well. Northern Michigan has great National Forest land but I cannot do it anymore in the winter. In my younger days I would ride snowmobiles in the UP for days on end. 
Last fall I made the trip from central Fl to Copper Harbor MI then down to Iowa, back into Indiana, then to Key West Fl all without paying the first night to camp. It can be done but I'm thinking the group size would have to be small.
The longest trek between National Forest is from Southern Indiana to mid Michigan but there are places like truck stops along the way. 
Traveling with like minded people is always good for men as well as women. Like living in sticks/bricks, a trusted neighbor or friend close by is always a great thing. 
I plan to be back East in October or November of this year. I am hoping a few of us can come together and get this started by then. 
Good Luck
God Bless

 

[JDub]

^^^

VG,

I'll be ready to get on the road then for a couple months. I'd be interested - especially if we could hook up and start in the Panhandle area.

Cheers!

 

[vgilbert]

I am assuming you are referring to the panhandle of Fl.? If so I agree this would be a great place to start. Osceola National forest is nice and there is a good sized 14 day camp called West Tower near Lake City, Fl. Lake City has everything one could need in regards to shopping. The campground also has drinking water and pit toilets as well as trash removal.

 

[JDub]

I am assuming you are referring to the panhandle of Fl.? If so I agree this would be a great place to start. Osceola National forest is nice and there is a good sized 14 day camp called West Tower near Lake City, Fl. Lake City has everything one could need in regards to shopping. The campground also has drinking water and pit toilets as well as trash removal.

Been to Lake City but not the campground. Sounds good for a starting point, I live 3 hours N of PCola and I'm very familiar w the area after working there for years. Too bad I sold my property in Navarre, 6/10th of an acre 2 min from the beach. Would have been a good meet-up point.

Cheers!

 

[JDub]

I have a buddy who used to have a chunk of land by the lake in DeFuniak Springs. I'm going to have to check and see if he still owns it.

 

[vgilbert]

This would be great!!

Brainstorming on potential camp sites is a good start. The camps would need them to meet some basic criteria.
1) free 

2) within 20 miles or less of a town / city for shopping etc.

3) Cell phone service / internet coverage

4) distance from camp site to the next camp site

5) size- How many rigs can we group together or at least within walking distance of each other. If I remember right the caravans in the West are limited to 25 each. Personally I think 25 would be way to large in the East. My thoughts are 10 or less.

 

[WanderingRose]

From my experience, I think it may be difficult to find multiple places for caravans of up to 10 rigs to travel to and camp for free east of the Mississippi.

Particularly with those criteria, tho necessary, in place.

I haven’t been in all the federal lands out east, but I’ve been in a lot of them, and I suspect many prohibit camping outside of designated areas.

Which leaves established campgrounds, with limited space, only.

It may be easier to try to form a gathering, such as in Osceola’s West Tower.

Just my two cents.

 

[WanderingRose]

The other thing is, there are already homeless living in the national forests in the east, just like they are doing on public lands in the west.

They stay their limit in one campground, then move the required distance for the required period of time, rotating around.

There were a lot of these campgrounds closed due to Covid, as well, so that would be something to check on.

It might be possible to get a special permit for a gathering in an other than designated camping area, but I don’t really know.

 

[cyndi]

There is a fb group that camps and travels loosely together, in the SE, in the winter. Checking their page might give you ideas for locations. The most recent post is from 10/20. At least a few of these guys made it to an RTR or two. I made their acquaintance out west
https://www.facebook.com/SE-GTG-931565530233197

 

[vgilbert]

From my experience, I think it may be difficult to find multiple places for caravans of up to 10 rigs to travel to and camp for free east of the Mississippi.

Particularly with those criteria, tho necessary, in place.

I haven’t been in all the federal lands out east, but I’ve been in a lot of them, and I suspect many prohibit camping outside of designated areas.

Which leaves established campgrounds, with limited space, only.

It may be easier to try to form a gathering, such as in Osceola’s West Tower.

Just my two cents.

Hello Wonderingrose, Welcome to the tread
I believe most, if not all of the National Forest offer dispersed camping. Some also have established campgrounds like West Tower in Osceola which is great (and free). Ocala for instance has a few campgrounds that are $10-$15 per night and also offers dispersed "tent camping". I found in this instance if I put a tent outside my rig that satisfied the requirement and therefore camped for free.
The only issue with dispersed camping is the group would be spread out some, all sites would be first come first serve. But with that said, we would still be in the same general area. 
There are also hunt camps in Florida which are free and only require getting an online permit. I have never stayed in one and would have look into them. 
I have no doubt this can be done but It will not be the same as the caravans in the West. 
Again, planning for Fall of 2021, 6-7 month away. I really believe groups gathering will not be an issue by then.

 

[vgilbert]

There is a fb group that camps and travels loosely together, in the SE, in the winter. Checking their page might give you ideas for locations. The most recent post is from 10/20. At least a few of these guys made it to an RTR or two. I made their acquaintance out west
https://www.facebook.com/SE-GTG-931565530233197

Hello vandella and welcome,
I do not use facebook. If you would like to do some digging and offer potential sites please feel free to list them.
Thanks!!

 

[vgilbert]

The other thing is, there are already homeless living in the national forests in the east, just like they are doing on public lands in the west.

They stay their limit in one campground, then move the required distance for the required period of time, rotating around.

There were a lot of these campgrounds closed due to Covid, as well, so that would be something to check on.

It might be possible to get a special permit for a gathering in an other than designated camping area, but I don’t really know.

I stayed in West Tower from Nov 28, 2020 to Jan 16,2021 without issues due to covid, there were 12 of us there (4 in my group). During hunting season you can stay the duration of hunting season, the 14 day does not apply. (only in designated camps which West Tower is one) COVID was not an issue as only the forestry ran campgrounds were closed.

 

[travlin man and wife]

West tn and west ky land between the lakes has a grassy group camp with 18 tables dumpster pit toilet. $50 for one week  $100 for two weeks . can hold 200 campers but only about 100 vans.