I'm free!

[RowanFae]

I made it!  Sitting in the Mark Twain National Forest at a free campsite I found online. The campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, a vault toilet and even a pressurized water pump. I brought 15 1/2 gallons of water for 15 days so I should be good, but never hurts to have a water source.  

Gotta say, having a toilet close by came in handy when my dog woke me up to go potty. No, the dog didn't need the toilet, but I did after being woke up!


Looks like we might get a little am shower so I have to set my Ridgelines and hang my tarps. I'd post pictures, but my phone won't let me resize. 

It was over 90 yesterday, but a think anfront came through and this morning it isn't even 70. Nice breeze. Feels great. Hope the sun comes out brighter though. Luci needs some rays.

 

[Van-Tramp]

Nice... enjoy!

 

[RoamerRV428]

Sweet. Sounds like you are loving your campsite! Fingers crossed big sun comes your way!

 

[travelaround]

How wonderful to wake up in a forest! I had to look "Mark Twain National Forest" up on Google - I'd never heard of it before, but Mark Twain spent some time in California, and I'm a west coast person, so I know a bit about his activities in the Golden State. Did you know Mark Twain set fire to the forest next to Lake Tahoe in 1862? I guess they decided not to name that forest after him. I've been to the site of a cabin he lived in for a while, on Jackass Hill near the town of Columbia. At one time that hill was a resting place for pack trains, thus the name. The cabin is now a CA historical landmark. Well... a replica of the cabin is there - with the original fireplace, which was all that was left of the original, apparently.

 

[QinReno]

Not remembering that story, but the book "Roughing It" was a fun read. I think MT invented the "Whopper". His books are fun to read, as he traveled all over the place. Good reading for on the road.
https://wildfiretoday.com/2010/09/18/mark-twain-started-a-fire-at-lake-tahoe/

MT lived in the area for some time and was newspaper editor in Virginia City. The city still looks much like it did in the late 1880s. Big draw for visitors. Well worth seeing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain_in_Nevada#Correspondent

Rowan is heading in this general direction, footloose now and anchor free.

 

[RowanFae]

It is NOT all quiet and peaceful in the Forest like I remembered it.

Last night a horse was running wild at 2:00 am, ran right into my camp!
The horses owner was running wild(ly) frantic at 2:30 am with a flashlight calling, "Harley," (cool name for a horse!) until 3:30 am. All the this riled up my dog and every dog in the nearby forest.

Loving the peace and quiet hahahaha.

Note that o self: maybe avoid the campsites, even if free and pull off the road and camp in the NF instead.

The Blue Jays are making a ruckus too, but it's a fun ruckus. Come to think about it, they sound a lot like the couple from the other day who were fighting.

Wild horses and attempted vehicular manslaughter all in a 48 hours .

 

[QinReno]

Loud music and drunks are more common. Some people can't sit quietly and just enjoy nature.

 

[RowanFae]

Took a 2 1/2 - 3 hour hike. Found chicken of the woods mushrooms, black walnuts, hazelnuts, acorns and Wild Ginseng. Lots of Wild Ginseng, which has been on my "too find" list for a while now.

 

[QinReno]

Cool, are you free to roam now, or do you need to go back home and settle things first?

 

[RowanFae]

I'm semi-free

I has plans! Kentucky in October, Michigan in Nov & December and Texas/Arizona in January and February (maybe Mexico too) then back to Michigan and up into Canada spring and summer of next year.

 

[Cammalu]

Where are you thinking of traveling in Mexico Rowan?

 

[RowanFae]

Where are you thinking of traveling in Mexico Rowan?

I'm not sure, still looking into Mexico. I haven't been there since I was a kid.

 

[travelaround]

I've never been to Mexico so one of these days, I will hopefully be visiting there too. I'm willing to test the waters!

 

[Cammalu]

There is a face group called “On the road in Mexico” if you want to learn more

 

[RowanFae]

There is a face group called “On the road in Mexico” if you want to learn more

Thanks,  I'll look into that. 

Wow, everyone pulled out on Sunday, so I l literally have the entire place all to myself. I've slept great the last 2 nights. No crazy peeps and wild horses to keep me up.

 

[RowanFae]

My 2 week camping trip is almost over. I have to say, being alone in a campground in the forest is a wee bit creepy. Especially when every so often, in the middle of the night, someone drives through.

So, a little info about me. I have a tiny smidge of arachnophobia. I also have a phone that butt dials this one number in my home town. The number isn't programmed into my phone, so I don't know who it keeps calling but they received a very strange voicemail from me the other night.

It happened like this: I was preparing my tent for the evening when I noticed a spider in my tent. I also heard a beep and "please leave a message..." on my phone but I was otherwise involved hunting down and assaulting the unwelcome guest. That bugger was quick, and it didn't want to die. Which is why the voicemail to said stranger has me yelling, "Die damn you. Why won't you die! Oh god no, get away....die die die..." Toss in some colorful expletives and you get the picture. I'm fairly sure I will be returning home to some questions from the police.

 

[tav-2020]

too funny, no offense intended! hopefully it's nobody you know at the number.

lone cars in the night? ultra creepy, unless it's a through road if some kind.

 

[RowanFae]

Nope, no through road. Down a few gravel roads, tucked away in the National Forest. I figure it was either kids cruising or couples looking for a place to park. Kids still park right?

Well, I'm all loaded up and hanging around a town in Missouri until I head out for Kentucky. My son decided to take off from work and take a bus to Kentucky and ride back with me so I have to rush my timetable (sighs) straight there and back home to get him back to work on time.

It seems to me that I realized 2 weeks in one spot is a bit too much, so I think I'm going to break things down into 1 week stays. Either that, or stay where there's more to do and see. I love the solitude, but it did get to me after a bit. I admit it, I'm looking forward to checking into the hotel room I reserved and taking a looong hot shower and ordering in.

Finally, I brought WAY too much stuff. I need to work on minimalizing. My backseat it jam packed, as is my trunk. I really can't wait to get a van.

 

[Cammalu]

Oh no!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dawnann7]

That bugger was quick, and it didn't want to die.  Which is why the voicemail to said stranger has me yelling, "Die damn you.  Why won't you die!  Oh god no, get away....die die die..."  Toss in some colorful expletives and you get the picture.  I'm fairly sure I will be returning home to some questions from the police.

Ha ha! That is too funny. Thanks for the chuckle!