Camper Decor....Oh My....

We have decided to agree to disagree on this topic.  Greg likes things clean and clutter free with no or few doodads.  I love knickknacks and all sorts of goodies - especially anything retro/vintage.  One of the things that drew me to RV camping was all of the pictures on blogs and Pinterest of beautifully decorated campers..by the way I admit to being Pinterest obsessed!! A link to mine is above.  You can find all sorts of things like this one on Etsy.  Sadly for Greg - I have a Cricut Machine and I'm not afraid to use it!!  Even when we tent camped I liked to make the tent homey and the kids loved to set up their little space too.

So we now have a garage full of the contents of Little Red.  He has already been dropped off at the dealer and we should be picking up the Premier next week.  While I don't want to clutter the new guy up, I do want him to feel as homey as Little Red did.  If you've ever had the opportunity to walk in one of the Retro RV's then you know there is the smell of wood and the cozy factor is way up there.  I will admittedly miss that and I want to compromise in getting the "cozy" into this new camper.  Our kids have given us so many amazing camping goodies and they will be put to good use in the new guy.

Then there's also the issue of a new name.  We obviously can't call this guy Little Red although I do plan to keep that name for this blog and Instagram for Lucy Loo.  We will always be Little Red because that's how we started our RV life.  So what do we name this big guy?  That may take some time and we may have to try him out first to come to a conclusion.  It's fun coming up with ideas and hopefully we can agree on one.  😊

Well we are getting more excited each day to get back out on the road.  We're thinking our August trip will be to Savannah and the new CreekFire Campground.  If you haven't heard of this campground do check it out.  It looks like a really fun option.  I'll keep you posted and update here as soon as I know more. See you on the road....

Camping With Pets...Camp Ramblings and Such.....

This is our little thinker Lucy Loo Lee.  She is just the best camper - she loves the campgrounds, the other dogs and meeting and greeting.  Her very favorite thing is taking walks and meeting all of the other camper dogs.

But...she absolutely hates the ride in the car.  We have tried medications, etc. and they don't help and some even make it worse.  The one thing we have found that helps a little is her little car seat and fastening her in tight.  If she has any leeway she will get angsty and hastles herself into a fit.  Camping without her is just not an option so we keep trying to figure out ways to help her through this.  We make lots of stops and walk her as much as we can.  She gets lots of treats and goodies along the way too and hopefully that makes it worthwhile.  Now that she is our only little four legged cutie we keep thinking that maybe another pet that could camp too might help.  I would love to know if anyone has had luck with that.  We see lots of campers with multiple cats and dogs.  Now that we will have more room it may be a consideration.

In changing to a different type of camper we are trying to figure out what kind of set-ups we need. We currently have a sway bar which has been necessary for our little guy to keep him from weaving like a balloon on a string.  We aren't sure if we will need this with the larger camper.  Also with a double axle we are researching different chocks to be sure we have it secured when parked.  Thank heavens for YouTube....don't know what we would do without it.  Also we definitely need a back-up camera for the camper.  With an additional 11 feet to worry about that is non-negotiable.  The Keystone is wired for the camera so we plan on ordering it before we pick it up.  We'll have to practice backing with it and not coming to blows on the right way to do it.  Parking a camper under any circumstances can be stressful so this is another new learning experience.

Can we talk about all of the STUFF we campers take with us.  Greg just finished cleaning out Little Red to get him ready for his ride to the dealer.  Oh my gosh...so much stuff.  I truly didn't realize.  I know there are things that you take just in case you might need them and there are things that are just unnecessary. We're working on honing that kind of clutter down and be more mindful about what we take inside the camper.  With more space to fill up it will be a challenge to not do the same thing.  I'm watching lots of videos and perusing Pinterest.  Click on the graphic to read an awesome article on storage tips.  More ideas to come.

We are busy planning our first outing in the Keystone and I will post more info on that as we get closer.  Getting excited...hopefully the week of August 6th will be our delivery date.  Yay!!

See you on the road.....

Upgrading....Changing...???

Ugh.....Ive been dreading this post but looking forward at the same time.  We have been going back and forth for a couple of years now about moving up to a little larger camper.  We are so very emotionally attached to our Little Red Retro and the brand.  One minute we tell ourselves that we have to find a larger camper in the brand and the next we are looking and ogling less expensive options with more room for the money.  Our biggest challenge where we live is finding the Retro we want in our area without going through a long order process and again getting a camper that we have never seen up close and personal.

If you have ever traded a camper - just like a car, there is a lot of depreciation and of course a dealer has to make money reselling.  For some reason the idea of selling our little camper to someone else was making me feel a little sick but trading it made the idea some how easier.  But you loose a fair amount on a trade versus selling on your own.  We have been working with the same dealer - John's RV in Lexington, SC and they were able to work the numbers out in our favor so that we aren't really loosing much by trading our little guy over selling it ourselves.  Shout out to Caleb Gillette!  He is the best.  Good News!! 

Well yesterday we pulled the plug and signed all of the paperwork to purchase the camper pictured above and we traded out little guy.  He's still here with us until they have our new unit ready to pick up.  We have to get out belongings out and clean him up a bit before we take delivery of the new camper.  This is bitter sweet but we are excited about the possibilities. 

We decided on a Keystone Premier 22RB.  He's almost 27 feet long - 26 feet 11 inches to be exact.  It checks off everything on our list of wants...and then some.  As older/senior campers the bed placing is so important and this guy had a walk around bed with a spot for Greg's sleep machine.  For the past 3 years we have been leaving it at home and that's a real no no!!  The color scheme is just perfect with white cabinetry making it feel open and spacious.  The ceilings are high with the rounded top which gives Greg more head room and also adds to the open feel.

The u-shaped dinette is perfect for so many things and gives the kids a full size bed if they ever decide to camp with us.  I love the easy raise shades and no more bumping into mini blinds in the middle of the night on both sides of the bed.  The bathroom is a dream and just what we wanted.  Having a dry bath with a contained shower and an actual sink is so exciting.  No more brushing my teeth in the kitchen sink.  😆

So here he is in all his glory.  As hard as this decision has been we are excited to move on with this guy and enjoy all that our travels have to offer.  We plan to continue to be Little Red Retro in honor of our first little RV and we will sprinkle lots of red and aqua around this camper as well as lots of retro types of gadgets.  Before we know it I'm sure we will feel at home and enjoy the ride.  See you on the road.  

Mountain Traveling, Life and More...

In June we visited Devils Fork, SC again - one of our favorite places to travel to in the summer and fall.  This campground is located on Lake Jocassee and offers some of the best scenery in the state.  It's cooler there than where we live in the middle of the state.  This beautiful lake never disappoints!  We hung out there for two days and would have stayed a third night but there was a good bit of rain and storming so we decided to move on up to our next destination ----- Bryson City, NC!!!

Oh my gosh - I have been dreaming of this trip for a good while.  I have read so much about the area and I follow a local celebrity - Ashley Hackshaw - AKA Lil Blue Boo!  She is a local artist and she and her husband have been such a boon to the area since they moved there.  We visited their store Bryson City Outdoors and its just as the name implies - everything you need for doing the outdoor life!! Go over and follow Ashley on Instagram - she is amazing and takes you along on her adventures of living in Bryson City and raising chickens, rescue pets and their beautiful daughter along with Bret.  They also restored an amazing property available to rent during your stay at Sixty One Park.  That's on my bucket list too!!!

While visiting Bryson City we camped at a small campground in Almond, SC called Turkey Creek!  I can't recommend this little gem enough.  Its run by Mike and Ramelle Smith.  It's very wooded and natural. The bath house and laundry room are clean and spacious and the campsites are remarkable well cared for and clean.  They have been running this special campground for many years and their touch is very evident in every square inch. Their dog, Huey, the best concierge and retired trail guide, is a friendly greeter and always available for a head pat.  Lucy loved him and couldn't wait to give him a kiss.  This campground is perfect for tent campers as well as RV's.  We will definitely be back. It's about 5 minutes from the lake and Bryson City.

Another gem we found there was the Mountain Perks Espresso Bar and Cafe!  Oh wow - don't miss this little bit of awesomeness when you visit the area.  We had a delicious lunch there followed by the best cappuccino I've ever sipped on.  The owners are so friendly and gave us so much info on the area and places to visit.  We truly didn't want to leave when we finished up.  The atmosphere is quaint and cozy and the food is so yummy.  I had the cheesy potato soup.....drool worthy!  If we lived in the area this would definitely be a regular stop. 

As I write this post I'm dreaming of returning to both places we visited.  At some point we hope to take longer trips and spend more time in areas we really love.  These two are definitely on our list.

Life here at home with no kids is flying by.  We are learning to make food for two - not an easy feat after so many years of making way to much.  Unfortunately when we returned from this trip our cat was not feeling well and after a vet trip we had to put her down.  She was 14 and lived a great life but I sure do miss her.  Greg was her favorite but she was great company to Lucy and I even though she was a grumpy curmudgeon most of the time.  We miss you Jessie Kiki and hope you are frolicking away over the Rainbow Bridge. 

Update on our research into a bit larger camper.  We hung out at John's RV Center - the place we bought out Retro, for a couple of hours last week.  They are very heavy on Airstream right now and we were surely tempted but for the same money we could get the Retro or our dreams - the 189R - Silver Edition and have so much left over for awesome travels.  We'll keep you posted on the journey. 

We aren't sure of our next destination but hopefully it will be in August.  Maybe a beach landing this time.  Take care and we'll see you on the road.

Our Favorite Campground, Empty Nesting, Meal Planning and More....

Well we did it again....if I'm counting right this was our fourth trip to Myrtle Beach State Park!  This has become our favorite place to camp and our go to for relaxation.  If you haven't been you may want to put it on your list.  It's wooded, lots of cool breezes, short walk to the beach and so much more.  If you are not a fan of the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach but love the beach this is a great choice.  Once you are in the park you won't even know you are in the middle of a tourist city.  It's just amazing.  There are trails for adventuring and in the off season there are beautiful horses that you can ride on the beach.  Pets are allowed all year, different times in the busy season, but they are allowed all day in off season.  Lucy loves it and being with all of the other pups is so much fun for her.

Greg works a lot of hours and getting away to a place where we can actually relax is so important. We talked to our neighbors and they visit this campground for two weeks twice a year.  They also had a sweet dog that Lucy made friends with.  She loves the screened room with a breeze where she can dog watch. 

 I'm looking forward to Greg retiring so that we can take trips like that. Working towards retirement is something I would like to touch on here too.  Greg will more than likely need to retire at 62 due to his health.  He may be able to do some part time things that I hope will be mobile so that we can travel and he could still be able to work.  Life is short and we know so well how fleeting it can be.  After the last year and a half, we look at things differently and our priorities have definitely changed.

Meal planning is something important that I need to focus on.  Since I am already retired I hope to take on that project with Greg's help.  I've never been good at planning - I would just wing it and we ate out way too much which is such a huge expense.  So...I hope to share some of what I learn on that subject.

We are now empty nesters and for the first time in our lives we are living alone together.  I had two little boys when Greg and I got together and we raised them along with the two we had after we married.  This is so new and different for us and we are celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary in May and we have been together 36 years.  Holy cow...I have not lived without at least one of our kids since 1978.  Truly!!!  It's an adjustment for sure but we are going to be fine....I hope.  If we can just figure out the thermostat and WIFI.....😊  Oh and scrabble matches are saving our brains ...at least we can hope!

Huntington Beach State Park.....and COLD Weather!

We made a quick trip down to Myrtle Beach in January while we were having a little spurt of warmer weather.  We had reservations at Huntington Beach State Park. We have visited this park many times but never camped here.  It is a beautiful campground with lots of trees, wildlife, trails and more. Of course the beach is the main attraction here and it is absolutely beautiful.

Unfortunately the day we left home, it was rainy but that normally doesn't slow us down.  When we arrived at the campground it was so dark and we had a little trouble finding our site.  After rounding all of the loops about 10 times I talked Greg into talking to one of the campground hosts.  They were awesome and actually had an extra site map that we used and quickly found the spot.  The temperatures had dropped considerably and getting into our site in the cold rain with me on flashlight duty was not exactly fun.  However, it made our cozy little camper with some tasty homemade vegetable soup that much more appealing.  Those frozen meals sure do come in handy.  Miss Lucy was so happy to snuggle and get warm.  She did good on the ride down but as always it's not her favorite thing to do. I can't recommend the car seat and seat belt enough for those who have puppers who don't like riding in cars.  It keeps her from pacing and climbing all over the car.  The most important part of this is the seat belt clip.  We clip it to her harness and she is safe and sound. 

The next morning it was beautiful and sunny although very cold and brisk outside.  I'll take dry cold any day.  Miss Lucy stayed behind in the warm camper while we ventured out and about.  We rode down to an RV store and looked at a little larger camper made by Gulf Stream and checked out the Vintage again as well.  Sadly neither can match the quality of craftsmanship of the Retro so we will be working to figure out how we will order one when we are ready to move up to a bigger size.  The closest place to find one near us is Florida.  I surely don't mind venturing down that way to camper shop.  (Big smile!)  We are thinking 180 or in the 190 range but we are researching models before we make a decision.

Next we dropped off the deposit for a summer rental for the family vacation in July.  There are 10 of us and by then we will be 11 when our sweet little Grandson will have arrived.  We plan to take Little Red and we will use that space as necessary.

For dinner that night we rode down to Murrels Inlet where we found many of our favorite restaurants were closed until February or March.  We didn't think of that as we haven't been to this area in January before.  We finally found a great choice - Wahoo Fish House.  Oh my gosh - this restaurant was excellent.  It has a very cozy rustic atmosphere and we were able to sit on the side by the water and watch wildlife as we ate.  The food was excellent and we enjoyed every bite with the exception of the few morsels we saved for Lucy Loo.  I ordered the seared scallops over cheese grits and Greg had a stuffed fish special that they featured that night.  Although this restaurant was a little more expensive that we would normally try, it was well worth it.  We thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

We will definitely visit this campground again when it's warmer.  The only drawback we saw is that many of the sites don't have shade so you will need to choose wisely in the summer months.  There are shady spots available.  This is a great campground for all ages and is very senior friendly.  The bathhouses were clean and well kept.  WIFI is available and this state park is pet friendly. They have a very nice gift shop and store with a gigantic Adirondack chair out front which makes a great picture prop.  This park is also the home of a National Historic Landmark, Atalaya, the winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington.  There is an arts festival held here each year in September.  If you like the Myrtle Beach area, I would put this one on your bucket list for sure.

Little Red Returns to Myrtle Beach State Park

We traveled back to Myrtle Beach State Park last week and we thoroughly enjoyed our trip!  This time we stayed on site #19.  It was right across the street from the bathhouse and a short distance from the campground store.  This time of year the park is very busy and bustling with campers.  I loved that, and from our little dinette we could watch campers heading out and see all the different sorts of rigs - one of my favorite things.  You can check out our last visit here.

 The weather was good for the most part with a few evening storms but that didn't slow us down. We were able to enjoy sitting on the beach two days and it was so relaxing.  Greg was able to swim a good bit while I relaxed and enjoyed the view.  Dogs can visit the beach after 5:00 PM so we took Lucy down and let her watch the waves and sit with us.  She was a little nervous but she enjoyed it too.

We set the screened room up on this trip and it was so nice to sit out there and eat and enjoy the breeze.  We always take a big outdoor fan and it made it just perfect.  We had very few bugs and no need to bring out the deet.  That's always a good thing.

We made a real effort to eat all of our meals at the campsite this trip except for fast food on the way down and on the way home.  It worked out great.  With the grill we were able to cook some delicious steaks one night and we brought along our rice cooker and made Zataran's Jambalaya one night with kielbasa.  Our oldest son and his wife gave us the cooker and it is just perfect for camping.  It's lightweight and makes an entire meal. Here is the one we have.  I would definitely recommend it!! You can saute meats and veggies right in the pot and it gives you options for different kinds of rice.  The handle makes it easily portable.

If you decide to visit this campground be sure to make reservations well ahead of time.  During in season it is really full and hard to find a spot.  We only saw a handful of empty sites.  We also visited Huntington Beach State Park which is not far and it was completely full.  These beaches are very popular.

If  you like the busy side of Myrtle Beach, this is a very inexpensive way to visit.  There are excellent restaurants, water slides, great shopping and so much more in this area.  We also love Murrell's Inlet which is close by and a must see when you come to the beach.  We have to put this campground at the top of our list for summer camping and we also loved it last year when we were there in December.  That was an awesome way to do our Christmas shopping.  This area really does Christmas big!

Again we loved camping in Little Red and have no complaints so far.  He is a trooper with a little over 3,000 miles traveled and still working like a champ.  Our only desire would possibly a walk around bed just because we are getting old and making up this one is a little bit of a challenge.  Even so we still love it!!  In September of this year we will have been on this journey for one year and it has flown by.  What a wonderful difference this sweet little red camper has made in our lives!

For our August trip we have reservations at Hunting Island State Park.  This will be our first visit since it reopened in June of this year.  We were there just before Hurricane Matthew hit so we are anxious to see how it's coming along.  Stay tuned for an update on this beautiful campground. 

Simplified Camping Trip...James Island

We just took a three day trip to James Island County Park and we really loved it!! It was our first time visiting a county park. This time we made an effort to take as little as possible and since it was a short trip it was much easier. We have a bad habit of bring way too much food and then buying more along the way.  There is just not enough room for this ridiculousness!  Also we were having too much waste and just plain clutter.

We also were bringing too many clothes and we just don't wear them.  We are definitely old tent campers when it comes to changing clothes.  As long as they are clean, we will wear shorts several times and just change shirts.  We dress simple and comfortable and bring some nice things which we leave in the car on a hanger.  A while back we found one of those big suction sturdy hooks (see it here) and we keep it in the bathroom and hang things there that we don't want to wrinkle.  So far that is working well.

Okay - now back to the actual trip. 😊 We really loved this campground.  It is one of the only campgrounds in the vicinity of Charleston and it's beautiful.  There were swings like this scattered all around the campground, lots of trails and things to do.  They have a splash zone water park, dog park, challenge course and so much more.  There are full hook-ups and wireless which worked fairly good outside and in scattered areas.

One of my favorite things are always clean restrooms and these were awesome with ample shower areas which were private.  The lighting was also really good.  So many times we find campgrounds to be very dark at night and that is great unless you have to make late night bathroom trips.  This one very easy to manipulate at night.

We loved the onsite store and the staff was very friendly and helpful.  We spent one day in downtown Charleston and loved walking all around one of our favorite places.  We also ate at a local restaurant and had the freshest seafood which was absolutely delicious.  If you are ever in the area it's a must try.  The name is Roadside Seafood.  Its a tiny little dinner style restaurant, family owned, and everything is fresh and hot.

An also must see for us every time we visit Charleston/Mt. Pleasant area is the Kitchen & Company!  We found this place a couple of years ago and they have everything you could dream of for your kitchen including beers and wines.  We also get more forks or spoons since we are always loosing some - tell me we are not the only ones.  This is a must see and their prices are excellent!

As always, Lucy did not enjoy the ride but loved camping.  She walked, walked and walked some more and truly enjoyed it.  We did add the seatbelt clip to her car seat this time and it made a huge difference.  Since she couldn't climb all over the car trying to hide she would sit quietly in her seat and look out the window a bit.  She didn't pant furiously or seem sick so this was a win win for us!! She can still move and lay or sit anytime she wants.  She always has a stuffed animal and her blanket close by. 

We are working on a slide show of the pictures Greg took in Charleston around the Battery and I will get them linked up as soon as I can. 

As always we are loving our Little Red Retro and get away as much as we can with Greg still working.  Our next trip is a return visit to Myrtle Beach State Park - one of our favorites!!

Update on Life with Little Red

We have owned Little Red for about 8 months and we have been on seven trips and visited 10 campgrounds.  We feel a little more seasoned now but still learning with every outing.  Usually we learn by mistakes but at least none have been too serious so far.  Crossing fingers and holding breath.....😌  So after having a little experience under our belts we still love camping in Little Red and we are still so enjoying the journey.  Our only regret is that we can't go more often.  We have been able to go every 4 to 6 weeks so that's not too bad.  We skipped the month of April this year because we have a week long trip planned back to Devils Fork in May.  The kids will be coming in and out during the week so we are very excited!

If I were forced to pick a favorite campground so far, I would have to say that River's End in Tybee Island would have to be my absolute favorite.  Sadly it's not a state park he so it's a little more expensive but the cost it worth it to me.  I love the close sites, the cute family style bathrooms, the cable and wireless....um yes please!!  The gravel on the sites help keep things clean and it's a really a family atmosphere.  The beach is within walking distance and I absolutely love the swings on the beach...really!!  The lighthouse is right beside the campground and Tybee Island is so much fun!  Good food and entertainment.

Greg likes the state parks better and we both love Hunting Island State Park here in SC.  We camped there on our Honeymoon and went back there last September right before Hurricane Matthew came through and ravaged it.  We just found out that it has opened back up and we have reservations for August of this year.  Hopefully it won't be too sad to see how much has changed.

Here is our list  so far and we keep track of this on the left side of the blog.  We will add on as we go.  Let us know if you have questions about any of the campgrounds we have visited.  We love sharing our experiences and love hearing about others.  See you on the road....

Campgrounds Little Red Retro Visited

• Table Rock State Campground
• Fort Clinch State Park - Florida
• Blue Springs State Park - Florida
• Tamoka State Park - Florida
• River's End Campground
• Cheraw State Park - SC
• Myrtle Beach State Park -SC
• Devils Fork State Park - SC
• Hunting Island State Park - SC
• Calhoun Falls State Park - SC

Little Red Travels to Table Rock State Park...SC

We had heard many things about Table Rock State Park for years but never made it there. Its approximately 3 hours from where we live so it's not a bad trip at all.  We left late on a Thursday so that we could be set up and ready to enjoy the day on Friday.  This was another set up in the dark and not without it's unique set of issues.  But....what's a camping trip without some fun troubles....Right???

So we left around 6:30 PM and with a few potty stops for Miss Lucy and a quick run through Bojangles we arrived at about 9:45.  This park is in the mountains but not too bad if you come in through the correct entrance.  😏  I should mention here that I am horribly afraid of heights.  I can enjoy the view somewhat but can't look down..ever!!!  This campground had two ways to come in and one is not for those towing or driving RV's.  That's because the road gets very narrow and sharp..I mean extremely sharp curves.  But luckily Greg was familiar with this after talking to the office before we left home and we made it in on the right side on our first try.

During set up on the pull through site we had, we got really close to the box that provides power but couldn't really see that when we set up.  Anyway after getting level and working inside to set up I got the shock of my life when somebody (Greg) forgot to take the chains off before pulling forward.  I thought Lucy and I were taking the short way home via the mountain.  But it was all good - we just lurched forward off of the lego block he had used to level up.  No harm done....except that Miss Lucy was significantly shaken up.  She just glared at us for the rest of the night.  She hates the ride in the car and thought she had snugged up in her bed to relax so this was particularly upsetting to her little system.  Poor baby...we have to work on her issues with riding in the car.  I have ordered her a car seat for dogs so we will see how that works.  More on that later.

The next morning we had an awesome view of the side of the mountain - our site was sort of down in a little valley.  We were on 43 and it was fairly level with the usual amenities of a fire ring, water and power.  This campground was fairly large with sites down at the bottom for larger rigs and camp hosts and the area we were in was mainly for travel trailers, etc.  This is a very busy state park and we really loved that.  There are so many trails and of course you can hike up to the top of the mountain.  We made it to the the second level and would love to be able to go to the top but I'm just not sure the ole knees could make it.  😆 It's a wonderful meandering path with different trails that are different difficulty levels.

The weather was nice for the whole weekend with the exception of Saturday night when the rain came in - it was very late though.  We prepped for this by putting away everything outside that night so that we wouldn't be putting away soggy wet chairs, etc.

While there we met the campground hosts which were some of the nicest we have met so far and they have a real community there.  Lucy met lots of dogs and especially loved Big Otis who was one of the hosts...he was a pit bull mix and just so sweet!!  We met some snow birds from Canada and all sorts of kiddos.  We also spotted something I have been looking at but had not see other than pictures.  It was the new Vintage travel trailer and its made very much like the Retro but bigger.  It would be too heavy for towing with our car but it was so nice.  We will have to watch those and see how they do.

All in all we loved this campground and would definitely return.  Because it's located in the mountains, we did have issues with our cell phones but awesome television reception.  Go figure.  Some of it was caused by the fact that our site was lower down.  If we walked outside we could get a little better reception.  I have a Samsung and was just able to send text messages and receive them but Greg has an IPhone and he got much better results.  Not sure why.

We are still loving our Little Red and would recommend the brand to anyone.  We still get lots of questions and comments and we are normally the only retro in the parks that we visit.  We have been told so many times that seniors with huge big rigs want to downsize because it just so much to haul and handle.  We will be doing an update on things we have learned after 6 months of use and our travels to 10 campgrounds.  More gadgets to come also. 

Camping Gadgets and Goodies...We Got Em.....

Since we began this journey with Little Red last September, we are learning all about the need for gadgets..and goodies.....and there are lots of them.  Some are just fun and others really make so much difference in your camping experience.  I thought I would take a minute to review a few things that we have found invaluable for us. Everybody who camps has their own personal preferences but these are our favorites.  Let us know some of yours.  We love hearing about and trying new things.  So here's our list so far.

Wagon - We looked at these for years and we received this one as a gift from our Son.  We love it and it's just perfect for our car.  Ours is the blue color which works perfect with our other stuff.  😄  We actually leave it open with the wheels down in the back of our car and store things in it for the road.  Lucy also uses it as a place to hide under when she is afraid on the ride.  Really...we need to work on her car issues but that's another post.  This wagon is so easy to use I can even do it and the wheels turn so it's very east to steer.  We are so looking forwarding to using it this Spring and Summer for the beaches and lakes we visit.

Flip Flops - Now I'm not sure these qualify as a true gadget but they are on the top of our list.  We just call them flippers or floppies but as old tent campers who took many bathhouse showers, they are an essential and we have lost more pairs than I can count as well as just plain worn them out.  They become our go too shoes because they can be hosed off, thrown in a bag etc and they are just comfy.  Our new favorites are the Okabashi which I originally found at the gift shop at a campground.  Then I found them on Amazon so we both have a pair.  For us they are hands down the most comfortable flips we have ever had and they are solid one piece construction.  Check these out and you may never go back to the old style.  They are also very reasonably priced.

Collapsible Bag - These bags are indispensable and we use them for several functions every trip.  These sides snap and they stand up.  The elastic strap  wraps over it to flatten it when not in use.  We pack them and put them on the bed during travel.  One our last trip I even used one to pack my clothes and stored it at the end of the bed.  It worked perfect for me.  This one is a little different from the link but there are so many choices on Amazon.

Dog Bowl - We found this little dog bowl when we were on a camping trip and we have been amazed at what a difference it makes.  Lucy cannot spill it and so far we haven't either. 😄 This is the bottom side and it has sections for her food and water and the little feet really work.  We had tried different bowls but always spilled.  I forgot to empty it on one trip home and not a drip ended up on the floor.  It was very inexpensive.  We have such limited floor space in the 166 but this one fits right by the fridge beside the bathroom door.  We are able to squeeze a small trash can there too.  This link is not the exact one but it is very close.

Hooks - I can't say enough good things about this hook.  It attaches with an adhesive type rubber backing and is easily removable just like Command hooks.  But....you can reattach it by wetting and reapplying.  This particular one holds up to 20 pounds.  We put it up in the bathroom and it was the perfect place for hanging clothes.  It worked great and has not slipped a bit.  Love it and we will get more of these.  If you camp in a small camper or any camper, then you know that hooks are so important. 


Okay - these are just a few of our favorites and we are learning each time we go out what works and what doesn't.  We have more to talk about like our portable grill which is just awesome and our tag along potty tank - AKA the pooper.  We will be trying it out on our week long trip to Devils Fork in May.  Next up is the round up and pics from our trip recently to Table Rock State Park.  It was awesome and so much to do there.  Definitely on our return list.

On the Road.....

Tybee Island Lighthouse

At the end of February we made a week long trip in Little Red.  I was a little apprehensive but we so thoroughly enjoyed it.  We pushed ourselves to see if we could make it through 4 different campgrounds within the week.  We started out with Tybee Island and camped at Rivers End.  From there we traveled down to Tamoka State Park in Florida and then to Blue Springs and finally Fort Clinch.  It was so much fun and we will definitely do this again.  This trip also taught us more about packing up and setting up in short order and making adjustments for each campground.  We set up and visited Blue Springs in full pouring rain but still enjoyed every minute.  Warning this may be a long post.

Our first stop on this almost week long trip was Tybee Island and Rivers End Campground .  This was our first visit to a non-state park in Little Red and we just loved this campground.  All sites are covered with gravel which helps to keep things clean.  They have full hookups, cable television and wireless all through the campground.  The bathhouses are all family style and very clean.  The beach is just a short walk and you can visit the lighthouse on the way.  This beach is so beautiful and there are actual swings set up right on the beach so that you can sit and relax and watch the waves.  I wish had gotten a pic of them..they were just awesome.  This is a quaint little

campground and the sites are very close together.  This is our little site and each one comes with a picnic table and fire ring. We were there the weekend before President's Day so it was absolutely full.  We really enjoy that and it was so much fun.  This one will definitely be on our return list.  While we were in Savannah, we visited Wilmington Island which is where we spent our honeymoon almost 32 years ago.  Back then we stayed at the Savannah Inn and resort for two nights and then camped at Huntington Island for the rest of the week.  We were able to visit the location but now it's condominiums.  We also visited Fort Pulaski and it is a must see if you get to this area.  We were able to get a picture of us in the same place that we took one on our honeymoon. So much fun!!

From there we headed further south to Tamoka State Park and Campground in Florida.  I have to say the campgrounds in Florida were a great surprise.  All 3 we visited on this trip had big clean newly refurbished bath houses and they were very clean and enjoyable.  Tamoka reminded us a lot of Hunting Island here in South Carolina.  We love Hunting and its closed right now for repairs from last year's storm Matthew so this was perfect. This is the view from the outpost - so relaxing and calm here.  There is boating, fishing and more in this area.  Campsites include the usual with a table, fire ring as well as an area to hang your trash. etc.  We drove into Ormond Beach and it did not disappoint!  It is so clear and the water is so blue and you can actually drive on the beach!!  This is a foreign concept for us but we really wanted to try it....but we didn't.  There is a big picture of the aqua lifeguard station on the left border of the blog. Of course that is one of my favorite colors and one of my favorite pics from the trip!

We then headed on to Blue Springs State Park and Campground and of course it was beautiful!!  It was pouring rain the entire day when we arrived so we didn't put out our full set up.  This is one of the fantastic bath houses with washer and dryer included along with a drink machine.  I know not everybody cares about the that but I do.  😊 The manatee were running while we were there and we were actually able to see a few swimming and spouting water.  We couldn't actually get a picture from where we were but it was awesome anyway.  Fish were jumping

high in the air and coming back down on their side.  I had never seen anything like it.  The next day we walked back down to the springs before we left and it was sunny and bright.  The area was full with kids and dogs everywhere - we loved it.  Lucy quite enjoyed meeting several other doodles who were visiting. The sites there were wooded and included fire rings and a large picnic table.  There is much to do here with boating, kayaking, canoeing, along with boat tours of the springs.  We would love to spend a few days there when we go back.

Our last stop was Fort Clinch State Park and Campground.  I wasn't really thinking I would like this one but it was great.  It's unusual in that the fort is in the campground or vice versa...not sure which.  We actually saw an armadillo on our camp site several times during our stay.  He was so cute but he didn't take to Lucy and he would start burrowing as soon as he saw her.  The drive into this campground is just beautiful and the tree branches drape across and
meet in the middle.  The bath houses were newly refurbished and fit right into the fort setting.  The sites included the usual picnic table and fire ring and were wooded and clean.  The fort was just a short walk and the campground has about 22 sites right on the beach.  They were amazing and we would definitely like to try one of those next time. There is a long pier and boardwalk out onto the beach as well.  It was closed for repairs while we were there.

Well that was it and from there we were headed back home.  If we had not needed to be home, we would have definitely stayed longer.  We got into a rhythm of setting up and just staying one night was not bad at all.  We can set up Little Red in about 30 minutes now and get ready to move in about the same amount of time.  We are still loving our little guy and still would greatly recommend a Retro to anyone looking for a small light weight camper.   The only issues we have had so far were totally user error.  Since this post has grown way too long I will save those stories for another day.