Greetings from another Newcomer

[T.L. Ryder]

Hey all!

I'll be 54 soon, and I currently live far down in South Texas. My husband and I have talked for years about hitting the road once our kids were grown. Well, they're both mostly out of the house. I was a homeschooling mom for the last 15 years and I'm feeling really restless. My husband currently has a career position that he adores and so he wants to stay put for a little while longer. I'd like to head out part time, even if I have to go solo a lot. I have a lot of solo camping experience, so that part is fine! I have a Kia Soul and a Very Large Tent, a SoulPad. I've lived in the very large tent a week at a time on occasion, but I'm feeling a little nervous about boondocking in a tent. 

On one hand, I want to throw my gear in the car and drive to Flagstaff to meet up with some of you all.  OTOH, I probably don't have all the crucial supplies for boondocking lined up. Though I have done primitive camping with no facilities in a tent previously, it's been a while.  Recently I went camping with my 19-year-old daughter in Davy Crockett National Forest at a paid site, and we even had electricity on a pole. All we did with it was charge our cell phones and run a small fan, but still. I felt quite spoiled. 

I tried it out and with a lot of finagling, I can arrange the Kia so that I could sleep in it but for the most part I'd rather not unless bears are going to eat me if I use my tent. I would love any advice from other car/tent dwellers.  Tent living is not our long term plan. We've got a few years before we can launch our escape plan and a lot of planning to do. We're still debating the van/camper/rv options. But for now, it would be me and the tent and the Kia, visiting our potential lifestyle and learning the ropes.

Best wishes and Happy Travels to you all!

Theresa (Resa)

 

[Queen]

Hello, and welcome, Resa!

I'm a fellow tent camper, and while it's not ideal it seems to work just fine.  I always figure people did it for a few millennia before vehicles came along, so I can do it for a while longer.  

 

[lenny flank]

I too am a long-time backpacker (spent a LOT of time on the Appalachian trail in my younger days).

Now I am more of an urban camper though--I travel the country from one Walmart lot to another.

Spent this past winter in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas. Great cities with lots of cool things to see. Had a great time.

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard TLR!
All you really need are the basics that you probably already have.
Who is your cell provider?
Have you ever used a bucket for a toilet?
A paper atlas is a good thing.

Your previous experience should have prepared you for this.
I'd head to Flag and take it one day at a time to see what else you might need.
The group members (the tribe) will be happy to guide you.
And you can post any specific questions here too.

 

[highdesertranger]

Welcome Resa to the CRVL forums! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you. highdesertranger

 

[Txjaybird]

 Hello Resa and Welcome!  I'm from Dallas and have traveled down to Laredo and Brownsville several times in the past.  I too wish I could meet with some others here and hope to eventually. 

 It's been over 30yrs since I was in the Flagstaff/Kingman Az area.  The last time as we pulled off the highway near Kingman there were several Gypsy Wagons parked under trees.  I thought then and still think "what a great way to Travel" My wagon is a 14yr old Aliner whose transformation will included a more colorful exterior as well as more changes to the interior than what I have already done.

I hope you are able to do some solo travelling while waiting for your husbands retirement.  I know what it's like just wanting to go somewhere and for various reasons and commitments not being able to get more than 100 miles away from home.

Jewellann

 

[T.L. Ryder]

Thanks so much for the warm welcome.
I need a new paper atlas. Mine's pretty outdated. Anybody have a favorite large print atlas? I'm already in the Bifocal Years, and man, I sure love Google Maps zoom in feature.
I have T-Mobile. Down here on the beach in Texas, it's one of the more reliable providers. Elsewhere, it's full of meh.

 

[DLTooley]

Delorme and Benchmark make topographic atlases on State by State basis. Not every line on the map is still in condition to drive, but they are always worth checking out. They also show public lands for free camping.

Smartphone internet while camping is great. It's also good to get away from it for awhile. Do you have a car charger? I use a lot of AA and AAA devices, including a radio and an LED headlamp. The rechargeable batteries are great and you can run those from a car charger as well. (But I wouldn't do it for two weeks without moving!).

 

[Gardenias]

"... but I'm feeling a little nervous about boondocking in a tent.

Hey Theresa (Resa)!
My children learned at home too!

Same here...even though I plan to get a tent that attaches to the vehicle...I think when it's time to retire for the day, the hatch we'll probably remain closed.
Besides predatory animals, TICKS creep me out, especially with the Powassan virus which I read has a 15 minute rather than 24 hour window for removal. Additionally, how does one do a solo tick check with small mirrors?