Do you share?

[Iggy]

I'm pretty new to this lifestyle, a little car, van, and pickup camping now and then. But fulltime as of a month ago. My question is, When you find a great place to park (stealth or not), are you inclined to talk about it on here? It takes me some effort to find those great spots and it would be disturbing to write about them and have them overrun by readers. I'm a generous guy (except with my beef jerky) but not sure if I should share. For instance, I'm in Ventura Ca right now and have found one awesome spot on the street close to the beach and another close to a gym that I workout at and shower at. In two weeks here, I haven't found any others as good. Any thoughts?

 

[WheelEstate USA]

We're usually willing to share around here, but some places a member might PM you about to keep it a bit more private.
Lots of know common places we share openly, as well as "new" finds.

I'm not a left coaster, so I don't have current info other than what's been offered here.
Others might have some new thoughts for you tho.

 

[rvwandering]

I share but if you've found a spot in the city I can understand not sharing. A perfect place like that is kind of rare and might be spoiled by too many people using it.

 

[Lucky mike]

some I share in general.......others like Jay said ....PM by invitation only.

I have had places trashed by people I know.....that being said , its no longer a good spot if everyone learns about it!

of course I wander about New England and the upper east coast so Boondocking is a limited premium!!!!

 

[akrvbob]

It's a great question with no easy answers. I've wrestled with it a lot because I write to a quite a few people.

Here's what I've decided for myself, and for myself alone: there are a lot of truly desperate and hopeless people who are forced into vandwelling because it's either that or a cardboard box under a bridge. Even worse, quite a few of them have children who might be in that cardboard box also.

I'll do anything I can do to try to make their lives better. And if that means they get my secret spot, so be it.
Bob

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I can't think of a place on earth, no matter how secret, that is worth hiding from a family with kids, nor someone in need.
If I report being in a nifty place that I don't reveal here, just shoot me a PM if you're in that part of the country.

 

[compassrose]

Ssssshhhh! :dodgy: Don't tell anyone! :dodgy:

Corpus Christi Beaches where a yearly $12 permit (buy at any Stripes convenience store) will get you unlimited beach camping. You can get free water from various places on Flour Bluff. Every few days (three nights is what was suggested to me when we were living on Flour Bluff) MOVE farther up/down beach about 300 feet. The cops WILL move you if you don't move yourself. Stay above the high tide mark (plus a little extra for storms or higher tides). Stay on hard packed sand. These are mine... stay sober. Do not get drunk or high while beach camping. Sorry to say this but there are plenty of two legged preditors out on the beaches. They WILL rob you and worse. Be careful whom you befriend and do not show off your valuables or leave them unattended. We were living on Flour Bluff for a tad over 6 months. I asked a lot of questions about beach camping from locals working on the beach as well as those camping on the beach (saw an RV going under water too!). Beaches that you could drive on were a novelty to me. In FL, hard pack beaches were rare. I grew up with "sugar sand" beaches. So this was so new to me. We ran up/down the Corpus Christi beaches in my 4WD jeep often on my days off. Fun! Padre Bali Campground (public park $25/night for w/e) has a dumpstation and showers/toilets. I don't know what the tent sites cost. FARRRRR down the beach is the National Seashore (Malaquite Beach Campground) where you can take cold showers, use a toilet and camp in a campground sans utilities for $8/night (plus park entrance fee). They have water station and I think a dumpstation. Long way to a grocery store so stock up before you head down that way. We took the Jeep as far as we could before we couldn't go any farther. You cannot drive all the way down Padre Island as a channel cuts across the island.

add www. to "cctexas.com/government/parks-recreation/programs-services/beaches/beach-parking-permits/index" for info on beach permits and where required.

add www. to "cctexas.com/government/parks-recreation/programs-services/beaches/index" to get PDF maps of the beaches.

BEACH TIPS to ensure the safety and fun of beach visitors

Traffic will be able to enter the beach areas on Padre and Mustang Islands at all access roads.

Parking permits are required in designated areas. Beach visitors are encouraged to buy their $12.00 permit before getting to the beach.

As always, beach visitors must follow the few simple rules so that everyone has a safe and enjoyable trip:
> No glass containers
> Dogs must be on a leash
> Dispose of litter in trash receptacles
> Speed limit is 15 MPH

If you will be heading to North Beach:
> Driving on the beach is prohibited
> No glass containers
> Dogs must be on a leash
> Dispose of litter in trash receptacles
> No camp fires

---

You NEED a beach permit even if you only plan to park on the beach. You WILL get a ticket if your vehicle is caught on the beach STOPPED without a permit.

---

http:// nuecesbeachparks.com/index.html Padre Bali and I.B. Magee Beach Park on Mustang Island are the campgrounds. Mustang Island has pay showers open to the public.

http:// nuecesbeachparks.com/padreballiparkactivities.html Padre Bali rates
http:// nuecesbeachparks.com/ibmageebeachparkactivties.html IB Magee rates

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Haven't been to Corpus in years. Might be a place Margie would like to visit sometime. $12 for a permit is too good to pass on for beachfront property.

 

[caseyc]

Ummm......no. But I would for a good friend though or someone I like.

 

[Iggy]

Thanks for all the replies. All for one and one for all, right? I think for me it is going to depend on a number of factors. Like do I plan to return to this town, is there room enough to share, is it a open secret already, do I like the person who privately messaged me? lol I did notice that the Motel 6 on Johnson here in Ventura has a fair amount of campers and RVs in their parking lot. See, I am sharing a little! I suppose I do need to post this in the proper thread. Maybe someday, there can be threads for particular states or cities. That could get cumbersome though. Just thinking out loud.....carry on!

 

[Reducto]

It depends on the spot - if it's a legal or tolerated one that can handle more traffic I'll share it openly. If it's a stealth spot I tend to do it only by PM and only after I'm no longer using it. I guess that makes me greedy but oh well.

I don't know if being overrun is really a big danger in most cases. There aren't THAT many of us here and we're so spread out with different needs. I'm actually more worried about authorities or locals seeing a post on a google search and deciding to crack down than I am about a bunch of vans suddenly showing up.

 

[David]

If it's a stealth location, then posting it's location on the internet will likely ruin it as others are sure to abuse it, if it's in a high population area. People abuse it then the cops get on to it and it's done.

 

[franqmichele]

I'm pretty new to this lifestyle, a little car, van, and pickup camping now and then. But fulltime as of a month ago. My question is, When you find a great place to park (stealth or not), are you inclined to talk about it on here? It takes me some effort to find those great spots and it would be disturbing to write about them and have them overrun by readers. I'm a generous guy (except with my beef jerky) but not sure if I should share. For instance, I'm in Ventura Ca right now and have found one awesome spot on the street close to the beach and another close to a gym that I workout at and shower at. In two weeks here, I haven't found any others as good. Any thoughts?

Hi Iggy, it's been a couple years now. Where are you now?

I don't share when I've been referred to a place, and asked to keep it private.

http://www.franqgoesontheroad.com/2...not-to-tell-great-parking-in-protected-areas/

 

[Iggy]

I'm in Minnesota for the month, where I have so many relatives that I never lack for a place to park. [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH] But I'm heading back toward Oregon soon and will be back in Cali in December. Are you asking because you are curious about my favorite Ventura spots?


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[highdesertranger]

I have been burned by sharing. so I will not share on the open internet, but if you are extra special I will share. highdesertranger

 

[franqmichele]

I'm in Minnesota for the month, where I have so many relatives that I never lack for a place to park. [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH] But I'm heading back toward Oregon soon and will be back in Cali in December. Are you asking because you are curious about my favorite Ventura spots?


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I didn't frame my question well.  But I read through this thread and got clarity on the subject matter.  Thanks Iggy!