Caravans

[LargeMarge]

re -- joining a caravan
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We caravan with long-term chums probably at least three-quarters of the time.
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How did we find such scalawags?
Anyplace we boondock, we look for other weirdos.
From a safe distance, we determine their probable reception to discussing hanging-out.
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Around 11am, we set-up a pot-luck type of table.
We fire the BBQ with some fragrant mesquite pellets.
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With the breeze just right, we saute some juicy onions in the cast-iron skillet.
We lay some pineapple rings on the grill.
We watch the reaction of our neighbors.
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We set a brisket or such on the mesquite, and close the lid.
We sit back, watching the clouds, telling tall-tales, sharing some tea from the jug on the table.
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Usually, one of our elder females -- tiny in stature and non-threatening -- wanders over toward the other campers.
A friendly non-threatening question -- weather?, road conditions?, tires? -- eventually establishing some common-ground, some trust.
An invitation... 'join us around the campfire ring?'
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By the second day, we are pretty good chums, exchanging contact information, and honestly truly hoping to share time again.

 

[maki2]

HOWA does not have any person in charge at the caravans. No camp host, no group leader either. No rules other than the federal ones for the location.

They send out a volunteer scout to a reasonable general location that meets a few basic criteria. That volunteer post a flag and a a sign with arrows at the turn in from the main road and records the GPS coordinate. That location gets posted on the website the day before the move.

It is up to the people who show up to organize any get together gathering events such as campfires, potlucks or introductions to each other.

Not unusual to arrive and find no one camped there as there is no HOWA designated greeter who arrives first. It seems like the first person to arrive is often too scared to hang in there until more people show up. Makes sense given that newbies are often afraid of camping alone so tend to just bolt out instead of camping solo for even a few hours. A half dozen people could have arrived ahead of them but they would never know that or how many might be just a half hour away from arriving.

 

[LargeMarge]

re -- building then maintaining potential caravan chums
.
Although this may seem the impossible dream -- organizing random bunches of what amounts to 'anarchists' -- we discovered a lot of individuals can short-term tolerate each other to accomplish a clear goal.
That goal may include:
* food (always a good idea!)
* outdoor activities -- kayak, SCUBA, bird-watch
* for the stay-in-camp folk -- cloud-naming contests, windshield worshing contests, stuff like that
* festivals, conventions, derbies, sitting on the bank pretending to fish
* informal classes -- vehicle PM, compass, massage, rig tours and changes.
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And I think the key phrase to remember -- don't take it personal if the answer is 'no'.
Occasionally, not always but sometimes, an individual might prefer being alone to being along.
.
"Hey, we are thinking of doing (x).
Would you like to join us?
As always, any answer is OK."

 

[rvwandering]

I deleted a bunch of posts. I'm sorry that posts with good information were deleted but the thread was going way off-topic. Some of the posts still in the thread may be off-topic to some extent but they still address the subject of this thread - Caravans.

 

[graycurlsvanning]

re -- building then maintaining potential caravan chums
.
Although this may seem the impossible dream -- organizing random bunches of what amounts to 'anarchists' -- we discovered a lot of individuals can short-term tolerate each other to accomplish a clear goal.
That goal may include:
* food (always a good idea!)
* outdoor activities -- kayak, SCUBA, bird-watch
* for the stay-in-camp folk -- cloud-naming contests, windshield worshing contests, stuff like that
* festivals, conventions, derbies, sitting on the bank pretending to fish
* informal classes -- vehicle PM, compass, massage, rig tours and changes.
.
And I think the key phrase to remember -- don't take it personal if the answer is 'no'.
Occasionally, not always but sometimes, an individual might prefer being alone to being along.
.
"Hey, we are thinking of doing (x).
Would you like to join us?
As always, any answer is OK."

I love this!!