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.
Little Red Retro
Our blog is all about life as seniors, our love of camping and so much more. It's named after our sweet little red Riverside Retro RV - our very first camper. We hope to share ideas, campground info, recipes and just thoughts and feelings. At this stage in life we are going through so many changes and we hope to share our journey and learn from others as we navigate this time in our lives.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
On the Road.....
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| Tybee Island Lighthouse |
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.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Can We Talk....Potato Soup and More....
I have some frustrating and complicated health issues that make camping .....um....somewhat interesting Lets say that. I have some structural problems like a lot of people our age - I'm 60. Moving and manipulating can be a slow process but for the most part we do fine. But...and this is a big one...I also have MCI. Now if you don't know what that is then I am so happy for you because if it has entered your life through a parent, sibling, spouse or even yourself then you know what the deal is. MCI stands for mild cognitive impairment. I'm sure there could be a better name for it because for many of us mild just doesn't cut it. Anyway, in my case it can make for frustrations that just don't make sense and Greg has to deal with that. So far so good.
Greg surprised me when he moved ahead and ordered Little Red. We had looked at vintage campers for years and had dreamed of owning one once he retired. Last year I think he realized that we needed to do it now....while we still can. For me, I can tell you that camping has been the best thing I could do for myself and for Greg. It has brought me back to living in the now and truly helps me stay focused and moving forward. Prior to getting the camper I had become a rocking chair Grannie ---- and I don't even have grandchildren. 😊 I can't explain it but I would recommend it to anyone dealing with any of these types of issues. Get out there and enjoy life...don't waste a minute.
Okay ..now for main reason for this post. Potato Soup....we are dealing with a cold snap here in SC and I'm not complaining because I know it's much worse in other parts of the country. All kinds of potato soup is a staple around here. We love it and it also gives us a break from meat once in a while.
This is my recipe and I just change it up depending on what I have on hand. I made it today with just potatoes and carrots. There are a few things that make it so much easier. I try to keep gravy mixes like these on hand. They are great for thickening so many different things and they add so much flavor. This type of bullion also makes a huge difference in taste and I love it. You have to refrigerate it after opening but it is so worth it.
With these two ingredients you can make lots of good stuff and they are great for camping if you like to cook. I have thrown in chicken and corn and made chicken chowder. Another thing that goes with the soup so well are Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuits. They turn out crisp and you can even break them into your soup. Oh My!!! Pot pies turn our great using these and crescent rolls. Use your imagination and enjoy!!If you've made it this far, thanks so much for listening to my rambling on. The post on the Florida trip will be up soon. Our next destination is Table Rock at the end of this month. Looking so forward to this beautiful area!
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Goulash for the Road
Last week we made a big ole pot of goulash and it turned out pretty good. This is the kind I grew up with and its so simple and is considered by most as American Goulash. It's not the Hungarian recipe but just an old southern one my mother used. There are lots of variations - my Grannie made it with potatoes, we make it with pasta - usually macaroni but I will use whatever I have on hand. This stuff freezes really well so it's a great make ahead for camping. Full disclosure - I forgot to take a picture of mine so this is a google image. Ours looked very similar - I promise. 😀 You can make it more brothy (is that a word?) by adding more liquids. We like ours a little juicy. So here goes.
Goulash
2 cups Pasta (we use macaroni but any will do)
1 pound hamburger or ground turkey
1 large can of diced tomatoes
1large jar spaghetti sauce - which ever your prefer
1 small chopped onion
2 tablespoons of jarred garlic
1/2 stick butter or margarine
Olive oil
Seasonings
Boil macaroni or pasta according to package instructions. I normally keep mine firm as it will cook more once you add it into the Goulash. Brown the onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons butter and olive oil until soft and translucent. Remove from the pan and add the meat and brown well and drain if necessary. Add salt, pepper, garlic salt, parsley, and Mrs. Dash to taste.
Now add tomatoes and sauce and return meat back to the pot along with the onions and garlic. Stir well and add drained macaroni/pasta. I don't rinse so that a little of the pasta water carries over to the pot. Stir well and simmer with the lid on for about 20 minutes. If you like it to have more broth, I have actually added one can of V8 - I know it sounds funny but it works great. Enjoy!
Coming up...our week long camping trip through Tibee Island and down through parts of Florida and back. So awesome and Little Red did so well!!
Goulash
2 cups Pasta (we use macaroni but any will do)
1 pound hamburger or ground turkey
1 large can of diced tomatoes
1large jar spaghetti sauce - which ever your prefer
1 small chopped onion
2 tablespoons of jarred garlic
1/2 stick butter or margarine
Olive oil
Seasonings
Boil macaroni or pasta according to package instructions. I normally keep mine firm as it will cook more once you add it into the Goulash. Brown the onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons butter and olive oil until soft and translucent. Remove from the pan and add the meat and brown well and drain if necessary. Add salt, pepper, garlic salt, parsley, and Mrs. Dash to taste.
Now add tomatoes and sauce and return meat back to the pot along with the onions and garlic. Stir well and add drained macaroni/pasta. I don't rinse so that a little of the pasta water carries over to the pot. Stir well and simmer with the lid on for about 20 minutes. If you like it to have more broth, I have actually added one can of V8 - I know it sounds funny but it works great. Enjoy!
Coming up...our week long camping trip through Tibee Island and down through parts of Florida and back. So awesome and Little Red did so well!!
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Little Red's Fifth State Park
This past weekend we traveled to Cheraw State Park and Campground and it was awesome! We found out that this state park is one of the largest in the country with a little over 7 thousand acres! This wooded campground sits on Lake Juniper which provides a beautiful view and great fishing as well as space for canoeing and kayaking. We would definitely recommend putting it on your list of must see SC State Parks!
This was also another dog friendly park. They are welcome everywhere with the exception of the cabins. Lucy loved it and enjoyed walks and scoping out other four legged friends and there were lots.
nice. During peak months there are canoes and kayaks for rent. They also have a loaner program for fishing - something we had not come across before. If you don't have rods and such they will loan them to you for use on the lake. There is a beautiful walk between the office and campground which takes you across the spillway and we estimated it to be a couple of miles total there and back.
This was our set up and we had a nice level space on site 4. We could access the lake through a short walk through the woods to put the canoe in and Greg really enjoyed a paddle across the lake and back. The campground is in a circle shape with only about 17 sites - very cozy. It was fairly full for January and we loved that. We walked through and checked out the sites and most were level and a good size with fire rings and picnic tables with gravel. No Wifi here but we were fine and got fairly good reception with air TV during this stay. There is a hot spot up at the camp office if you need to do any quick checks. There are picnic sheds and tables scattered around.

One thing we would caution is to be careful when following your GPS to find this campground. There is a Cheraw State Park Road which is the back side of the park and a very locked gate. We were told this was the old entrance but since we arrived after dark we thought the park was locked up for the night and we wouldn't be able to get in. Lucy and I got adventurous and stepped over the gate and started walking while Greg was making phone calls. We got a good ways down the road when we saw a sign facing away from us and when we got to it, it read "For Park Staff Only". Okay that freaked us a bit and it was getting darker by the minute so we hoofed it back to the car quickly! After making calls to the park ranger and local sheriff's office we found out that the real entrance was a few miles down the road and was not locked at night. Some state parks have locked gates and require a code to get in which they will give you if you are arriving after dark. We have found that a phone call to request the code in advance usually takes care of that problem and saves an argument upon arrival. 😀 .
As I mentioned in my previous post about Cheraw, there is a beautiful golf course within this state park. When Greg went up and talked to the golf pro he actually offered a free golf cart to tour the course. We ran into quite a few groups golfing during our stay. The guys are planning a trip back to check out the course.
Another lesson learned - don't use your expensive cell phone as a flashlight! I really can't see well in the dark and I was trying to make my way to the bath house before we set up. I had Lucy on her leash and when she bolted to catch up with Greg I ran smack into the picnic table which I absolutely could not see. Not sure what actually transpired but I looked down to find my five month old phone on the ground face up with a hole right through the screen and a spider crack all across the face. Bummer!! Luckily I have insurance but getting a refurbished replacement was not cheap.
We had a short but very enjoyable visit to this state park and we definitely give it a big ole 5 out of five campers. It hit all of our important points and we would absolutely recommend it and we will return.
We are still definitely enjoying our Little Red Retro and the more we use it the more we love it. It is just the perfect size for us and Lucy of course and she feels very at home in it. If anyone out there has any questions about it or wants to see anything specific, just let us know.
I apologize for the spacing in this post - I just could not get it to work right. Hopefully next time. 😉
This was also another dog friendly park. They are welcome everywhere with the exception of the cabins. Lucy loved it and enjoyed walks and scoping out other four legged friends and there were lots.
nice. During peak months there are canoes and kayaks for rent. They also have a loaner program for fishing - something we had not come across before. If you don't have rods and such they will loan them to you for use on the lake. There is a beautiful walk between the office and campground which takes you across the spillway and we estimated it to be a couple of miles total there and back.
This was our set up and we had a nice level space on site 4. We could access the lake through a short walk through the woods to put the canoe in and Greg really enjoyed a paddle across the lake and back. The campground is in a circle shape with only about 17 sites - very cozy. It was fairly full for January and we loved that. We walked through and checked out the sites and most were level and a good size with fire rings and picnic tables with gravel. No Wifi here but we were fine and got fairly good reception with air TV during this stay. There is a hot spot up at the camp office if you need to do any quick checks. There are picnic sheds and tables scattered around.

One thing we would caution is to be careful when following your GPS to find this campground. There is a Cheraw State Park Road which is the back side of the park and a very locked gate. We were told this was the old entrance but since we arrived after dark we thought the park was locked up for the night and we wouldn't be able to get in. Lucy and I got adventurous and stepped over the gate and started walking while Greg was making phone calls. We got a good ways down the road when we saw a sign facing away from us and when we got to it, it read "For Park Staff Only". Okay that freaked us a bit and it was getting darker by the minute so we hoofed it back to the car quickly! After making calls to the park ranger and local sheriff's office we found out that the real entrance was a few miles down the road and was not locked at night. Some state parks have locked gates and require a code to get in which they will give you if you are arriving after dark. We have found that a phone call to request the code in advance usually takes care of that problem and saves an argument upon arrival. 😀 .
As I mentioned in my previous post about Cheraw, there is a beautiful golf course within this state park. When Greg went up and talked to the golf pro he actually offered a free golf cart to tour the course. We ran into quite a few groups golfing during our stay. The guys are planning a trip back to check out the course.
Another lesson learned - don't use your expensive cell phone as a flashlight! I really can't see well in the dark and I was trying to make my way to the bath house before we set up. I had Lucy on her leash and when she bolted to catch up with Greg I ran smack into the picnic table which I absolutely could not see. Not sure what actually transpired but I looked down to find my five month old phone on the ground face up with a hole right through the screen and a spider crack all across the face. Bummer!! Luckily I have insurance but getting a refurbished replacement was not cheap.
We had a short but very enjoyable visit to this state park and we definitely give it a big ole 5 out of five campers. It hit all of our important points and we would absolutely recommend it and we will return.
We are still definitely enjoying our Little Red Retro and the more we use it the more we love it. It is just the perfect size for us and Lucy of course and she feels very at home in it. If anyone out there has any questions about it or wants to see anything specific, just let us know.
I apologize for the spacing in this post - I just could not get it to work right. Hopefully next time. 😉
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Peppy's First Trip in Little Red
We are planning Trip Number 5 in our Little Red Retro this weekend. We are pretty excited to visit Cheraw State Park. We had hoped to travel down to Edisto but that campground filled up pretty quickly. We are thrilled to visit this very unique site on our quest to hit all SC State Parks and surrounding areas.
According to Google Cheraw is ( /tʃərɔː/ chə-raw, local /ʃərɔː/ shə-raw) is a town on the Pee Dee River in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,524 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 9,069. It has been nicknamed "The Prettiest Town in Dixie." More info is available on the SciWay website.
This will be our Camper Elf Peppy's first ever road trip. We are excited for him to travel with us and hoping that Lucy Loo will allow him to survive the trip. Maybe they will decide to get along. She is very fond of removing the face of his kind (stuffed toys...shhhh don't tell Peppy) and chewing it into non-existence. Silly girl... His job is to watch over our little camper and it's inhabitants.
Cheraw State Park is unique in that it also has a golf course on site and it is quite popular. Hubby is going to bring his clubs along and check it out. It also sits on the beautiful Lake Juniper and fishing is popular there as is boating and kayaking. We will probably take the canoe along too and see how it goes. Lucy still needs to try out her little life jacket. She won't be happy about that. Temps are supposed to be up this weekend so hopefully we can go out for a little canoe ride.
We will keep you posted on our visit and let you know how this campground stacks up. Lucy and Peppy are quite excited. 😉
According to Google Cheraw is ( /tʃərɔː/ chə-raw, local /ʃərɔː/ shə-raw) is a town on the Pee Dee River in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,524 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 9,069. It has been nicknamed "The Prettiest Town in Dixie." More info is available on the SciWay website.This will be our Camper Elf Peppy's first ever road trip. We are excited for him to travel with us and hoping that Lucy Loo will allow him to survive the trip. Maybe they will decide to get along. She is very fond of removing the face of his kind (stuffed toys...shhhh don't tell Peppy) and chewing it into non-existence. Silly girl... His job is to watch over our little camper and it's inhabitants.
Cheraw State Park is unique in that it also has a golf course on site and it is quite popular. Hubby is going to bring his clubs along and check it out. It also sits on the beautiful Lake Juniper and fishing is popular there as is boating and kayaking. We will probably take the canoe along too and see how it goes. Lucy still needs to try out her little life jacket. She won't be happy about that. Temps are supposed to be up this weekend so hopefully we can go out for a little canoe ride.
We will keep you posted on our visit and let you know how this campground stacks up. Lucy and Peppy are quite excited. 😉
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Happy New Year and Gifts for Campers
We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year around here and we received some awesome camping goodies!! Most of our family members are well aware that we love camping....probably because we talk about it all the time and there is this cute little red camper in our drive way and all. The kids were so thoughtful and really set us up for our next trip.
This is the gas grill that we had hoped for and of course it's red. It folds down and you can actually pull it along like a wagon. I don't know if we will be able to wait to use it. We had seen one of these in action several years ago and knew it would be perfect. They gave us the converter so we can hook it right up to the extra gas bottle we travel with. We love it!!! You can find them here.

Also on our wish list was the portable black water collector or as we affectionately call it "the Pooper". In a small trailer having extra holding space for black water really helps out if we're camping more than a few days. That way we don't have to take the whole shebang down to the dump station or worse, risk an over flow. Not fun by the way. The only color I have seen these in is usually a poopy brown so I was pretty excited that our son found this blue/grey one. It has a nice strong handle for pulling and he also grabbed a neat box of gloves that has a dispenser that adheres inside the storage area. This guy is going to make for less trips to the bath house.....and believe me old people have to go a lot. 😀 These are located here.
Next up were warm Snuggies for us both. In our small space we try not to take anything unnecessary inside the trailer and big coats stay out in the car. I would never have thought of these but we just love them and they are lightweight and easy to carry and just perfect for hanging out in our camper during colder months. They even have a little pocket up front which is perfect for the remote or any needed snacks. So much fun at home too. You can find them here.
I also received the most wonderful socks. I wear socks all the time in cold months and try to take my shoes off whenever I'm in the trailer. Two types that I completely recommend are the Cuddle Duds pictured here and also the Fireside Socks which are aloe infused and lined with fleece. They are super comfy and it doesn't hurt that really cute too!
We also received our little Camper Elf, Peppy, and we are excited to see what he and Lucy will get into on our next adventure. We are hoping to get down to Edisto Beach Campground sometime in January. It's a beautiful area and beach and should be be peaceful this time of year. Our wish list for trips this year include Tybee Island, Asheville, some upstate campgrounds and hopefully some along the North Carolina coast as well. Wishing all a Happy New Year and many wonderful camping adventures.
This is the gas grill that we had hoped for and of course it's red. It folds down and you can actually pull it along like a wagon. I don't know if we will be able to wait to use it. We had seen one of these in action several years ago and knew it would be perfect. They gave us the converter so we can hook it right up to the extra gas bottle we travel with. We love it!!! You can find them here.
Also on our wish list was the portable black water collector or as we affectionately call it "the Pooper". In a small trailer having extra holding space for black water really helps out if we're camping more than a few days. That way we don't have to take the whole shebang down to the dump station or worse, risk an over flow. Not fun by the way. The only color I have seen these in is usually a poopy brown so I was pretty excited that our son found this blue/grey one. It has a nice strong handle for pulling and he also grabbed a neat box of gloves that has a dispenser that adheres inside the storage area. This guy is going to make for less trips to the bath house.....and believe me old people have to go a lot. 😀 These are located here.
Next up were warm Snuggies for us both. In our small space we try not to take anything unnecessary inside the trailer and big coats stay out in the car. I would never have thought of these but we just love them and they are lightweight and easy to carry and just perfect for hanging out in our camper during colder months. They even have a little pocket up front which is perfect for the remote or any needed snacks. So much fun at home too. You can find them here.
I also received the most wonderful socks. I wear socks all the time in cold months and try to take my shoes off whenever I'm in the trailer. Two types that I completely recommend are the Cuddle Duds pictured here and also the Fireside Socks which are aloe infused and lined with fleece. They are super comfy and it doesn't hurt that really cute too!
We also received our little Camper Elf, Peppy, and we are excited to see what he and Lucy will get into on our next adventure. We are hoping to get down to Edisto Beach Campground sometime in January. It's a beautiful area and beach and should be be peaceful this time of year. Our wish list for trips this year include Tybee Island, Asheville, some upstate campgrounds and hopefully some along the North Carolina coast as well. Wishing all a Happy New Year and many wonderful camping adventures.
Monday, December 19, 2016
Camper Elf Has Arrived....
Look who showed up here this past weekend!! This is Peppito aka Peppy and he is a Camper Elf. He came to live in our camper and watch over us but we are keeping him inside where it's warm for now. He is quite mischievous and gets into lots of things. Our main goal will be keeping Lucy Loo from eating him up. She thinks he came for her and she stalks him all day.
This morning we found him riding on the back of the Campground Truck ~ Lucy
thought that was quite curious. 😀 We will keep you posted on his antics and Lucy's trail not too far behind. Love our little Elf and of course our Lucy Loo. Stay tuned.
This morning we found him riding on the back of the Campground Truck ~ Lucythought that was quite curious. 😀 We will keep you posted on his antics and Lucy's trail not too far behind. Love our little Elf and of course our Lucy Loo. Stay tuned.
Monday, December 12, 2016
Myrtle Beach State Park
We took Little Red down to Myrtle Beach State Park last week and it turned out to be an awesome campground! I wasn't really expecting much but hubby had faith. 😃 We had not seen this one in many years and I have to admit as younger tent campers our expectations were very different. Also we were camping with kids back then and activities for them ranked high on our list.
We arrived after dark in the wet and cold so set up was a little challenging but hubby did an amazing job. I stood outside with a flashlight beamed on the tree that lived very close to the hookups and he was able to line up perfectly. 😅Unfortunately this site was not level and we have not purchased anything to put under the tires to level up so we were leaning a bit but it wasn't bad. We had a full hookup along with picnic table and fire ring. We found all of the sites to be fairly good size and clean. We were on number 29 and it was roomy with grass and we could have set up a tent with no problem. Also there were a good many campers in that particular area of the campground which was nice. We weren't sure if many would be there for cold weather camping.
This was our set up and even though it was too cold to spend a whole lot of time outside, we still enjoyed it. This campground has a boardwalk that runs from the entrance of the campground all the way to the beach. It's awesome and makes the walk such a pleasure. It is also really good for dogs - helps get their little paws all free of sand by the time you get back to your camper. Lucy really enjoyed the beach and visiting with other dogs and walking the board walk. I am sure this state park is very popular during the summer.
Another really neat thing here is that they provide horse rides on the beach for a fee. They bring them in each day and it looks amazing. We didn't try it but we so enjoyed watching them glide across the sand...it was magical. Of course Lucy thought they were big dogs and she was none too impressed.
We went Christmas shopping a couple of days on this trip and found some great deals and loved the decorations. At Bass Pro Shop Santa was visiting and they invited us to bring Lucy in for a picture. She loved walking through the store and sniffing things and talking to people. Of course she got lots of attention too. This is she and Greg waiting in line with a reindeer in the background. We always visit this location when we are at the beach. We also checked out Red Robin for lunch and it was delicious. I know lots of people say it's over rated but we truly enjoyed it. Lucy loved the burger bite we took back to the car for her. It was very cold that day so she was fine waiting for us there and she was wearing her jacket. 😁
The campground was very clean and updated with wireless throughout the park. It was a little weak in some areas but worked well on our phones to save us a little data. The full hook-up worked really well and we didn't make many trips to the bath houses. However they were very clean and looked like they had recently been updated. The shower stalls were large and included a place to hang towels and clothes. Greg took a couple of showers there and said the water was nice and hot.
There is also a legendary pier in the park and it is pictured on the left side bar as well as on the state park
web site. There are trails to walk and both the pier and the registration area have stores that include all sorts of t-shirts, mugs and other goodies as well as necessary staples and camping supplies.
Our son gave us a Star Shower for us to take with us to decorate our campsite. We so love it. We had seen these at Halloween when we camped at Devil's Fork and during the summer at Hunting Island. For this trip we used the red and green lights and it was very festive. I wish we had been able to get it to show up on camera. You can find them on Amazon and at Target as well as lots of other places. It looks like you put up hundreds of little lights and it only takes a minute. We have them set up here at home too. The campground was festive as lots of other campers had decorations and lights.
So on our list of campgrounds this one goes up at the top end of the list. It was so much better than we expected and had very little damage from Hurricane Matthew. The rates, location, campsites as well as dog friendly park along with the beach made it a perfect fit for us. The camp customer service representative even called us on our way down to be sure we had the gate code to get in since we were running late. We give it a big ole five!!! While we were in the area we visited Huntington Beach State Park. This was another great surprise and we really loved it. We will definitely try and camp there next year.
Cost: $ (Snowbird rates are excellent!)
Location: 5 out of a possible 5 - this is one of our favorites!
Service: Excellent
Overall Rating: 5+ out of a possible 5 Campers
Update on our Retro - we are still loving it and enjoying spending time in it on every trip. The heat worked well in the cold weather on this trip and with full hook ups it was great. We love being able to stock the fridge when we pack and not have to worry about moving the food when we get to our destination. Hubby says the camper is very easy to pull and he can barely tell it's back there when driving. We still get lots of comments and horn honks every where we go. A guy actually stopped us in traffic on this trip to talk about it. Of course we love talking about our Little Red Retro!!!
Another note on Hunting Island - we heard on this trip that it more than likely won't reopen until 2018. This makes us very sad and we are hoping that things will move along a little faster. We will keep you updated on anything that we hear.
We arrived after dark in the wet and cold so set up was a little challenging but hubby did an amazing job. I stood outside with a flashlight beamed on the tree that lived very close to the hookups and he was able to line up perfectly. 😅Unfortunately this site was not level and we have not purchased anything to put under the tires to level up so we were leaning a bit but it wasn't bad. We had a full hookup along with picnic table and fire ring. We found all of the sites to be fairly good size and clean. We were on number 29 and it was roomy with grass and we could have set up a tent with no problem. Also there were a good many campers in that particular area of the campground which was nice. We weren't sure if many would be there for cold weather camping.
This was our set up and even though it was too cold to spend a whole lot of time outside, we still enjoyed it. This campground has a boardwalk that runs from the entrance of the campground all the way to the beach. It's awesome and makes the walk such a pleasure. It is also really good for dogs - helps get their little paws all free of sand by the time you get back to your camper. Lucy really enjoyed the beach and visiting with other dogs and walking the board walk. I am sure this state park is very popular during the summer.
Another really neat thing here is that they provide horse rides on the beach for a fee. They bring them in each day and it looks amazing. We didn't try it but we so enjoyed watching them glide across the sand...it was magical. Of course Lucy thought they were big dogs and she was none too impressed.
We went Christmas shopping a couple of days on this trip and found some great deals and loved the decorations. At Bass Pro Shop Santa was visiting and they invited us to bring Lucy in for a picture. She loved walking through the store and sniffing things and talking to people. Of course she got lots of attention too. This is she and Greg waiting in line with a reindeer in the background. We always visit this location when we are at the beach. We also checked out Red Robin for lunch and it was delicious. I know lots of people say it's over rated but we truly enjoyed it. Lucy loved the burger bite we took back to the car for her. It was very cold that day so she was fine waiting for us there and she was wearing her jacket. 😁
The campground was very clean and updated with wireless throughout the park. It was a little weak in some areas but worked well on our phones to save us a little data. The full hook-up worked really well and we didn't make many trips to the bath houses. However they were very clean and looked like they had recently been updated. The shower stalls were large and included a place to hang towels and clothes. Greg took a couple of showers there and said the water was nice and hot.
web site. There are trails to walk and both the pier and the registration area have stores that include all sorts of t-shirts, mugs and other goodies as well as necessary staples and camping supplies.
Our son gave us a Star Shower for us to take with us to decorate our campsite. We so love it. We had seen these at Halloween when we camped at Devil's Fork and during the summer at Hunting Island. For this trip we used the red and green lights and it was very festive. I wish we had been able to get it to show up on camera. You can find them on Amazon and at Target as well as lots of other places. It looks like you put up hundreds of little lights and it only takes a minute. We have them set up here at home too. The campground was festive as lots of other campers had decorations and lights.
So on our list of campgrounds this one goes up at the top end of the list. It was so much better than we expected and had very little damage from Hurricane Matthew. The rates, location, campsites as well as dog friendly park along with the beach made it a perfect fit for us. The camp customer service representative even called us on our way down to be sure we had the gate code to get in since we were running late. We give it a big ole five!!! While we were in the area we visited Huntington Beach State Park. This was another great surprise and we really loved it. We will definitely try and camp there next year.
Cost: $ (Snowbird rates are excellent!)
Location: 5 out of a possible 5 - this is one of our favorites!
Service: Excellent
Overall Rating: 5+ out of a possible 5 Campers
Update on our Retro - we are still loving it and enjoying spending time in it on every trip. The heat worked well in the cold weather on this trip and with full hook ups it was great. We love being able to stock the fridge when we pack and not have to worry about moving the food when we get to our destination. Hubby says the camper is very easy to pull and he can barely tell it's back there when driving. We still get lots of comments and horn honks every where we go. A guy actually stopped us in traffic on this trip to talk about it. Of course we love talking about our Little Red Retro!!!
Another note on Hunting Island - we heard on this trip that it more than likely won't reopen until 2018. This makes us very sad and we are hoping that things will move along a little faster. We will keep you updated on anything that we hear.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Pot Pie for the Road...
Since we have a camping trip scheduled in early December, I was hoping to make something out of our leftovers that could be frozen and kept till then. While perusing Pinterest as I do, I found the perfect idea....a pot pie! Our Dad used to make something called ice box soup so this just fit right in. The idea is to make the pie from your leftover turkey, gravy, veggies and add a crust. Simple and yummy! Full disclosure - this picture came from Google Images because I once again forgot to take a picture of mine. If I do say so myself, it turned out pretty cute. (Smile)
This recipe is really flexible and you can switch out the meat, etc. and make it your own - even if you don't have leftovers. I plan to make it with chicken next time. Frozen peas or green beans work great in this too. It freezes up well and can be reheated in the oven or microwave. When camping you could also reheat it over the fire after it's thawed completely. This would work awesome in an iron skillet. It's great for pack and go.
Turkey Pot Pie
2 cups cooked chopped turkey or chicken
1 cup gravy - I used leftover but you can grab a pack of gravy mix which makes about a cup
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped carrot
3 medium potatoes cubed
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 cup creamed corn - I used homemade but any kind will work
1 small onion
1 package crescent rolls
1/2 stick margarine or butter
3 teaspoons corn starch
1/4 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic parsley salt
Start by sauteing the onions, potatoes, celery and carrots in butter/margarine until softened. Then add the chicken broth to the pan and stir well. Let this simmer until the veggies are tender. Then add the gravy and turkey and corn and mix well. Heat until warm through. Mix corn starch and water well and add to the mixture. Stir completely and simmer until the sauce is thickened. You will need to stir regularly to keep the sauce smooth. Add water if needed to keep the sauce from being too thick.
Next roll out the crescent rolls on a floured surface. Use a rolling pin to smooth the package into one sheet of dough. Pour the filling into a baking dish sized to fit and carefully lift the dough over the pie filling. Tuck in any ends and butter the top well. I used spray butter but any softened butter or margarine will do. Sprinkle garlic/parsley salt over the top and place in a 375 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes. Keep a close watch as this browns up pretty quickly. Cool and enjoy!
This recipe is really flexible and you can switch out the meat, etc. and make it your own - even if you don't have leftovers. I plan to make it with chicken next time. Frozen peas or green beans work great in this too. It freezes up well and can be reheated in the oven or microwave. When camping you could also reheat it over the fire after it's thawed completely. This would work awesome in an iron skillet. It's great for pack and go.
Turkey Pot Pie
2 cups cooked chopped turkey or chicken
1 cup gravy - I used leftover but you can grab a pack of gravy mix which makes about a cup
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped carrot
3 medium potatoes cubed
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 cup creamed corn - I used homemade but any kind will work
1 small onion
1 package crescent rolls
1/2 stick margarine or butter
3 teaspoons corn starch
1/4 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic parsley salt
Start by sauteing the onions, potatoes, celery and carrots in butter/margarine until softened. Then add the chicken broth to the pan and stir well. Let this simmer until the veggies are tender. Then add the gravy and turkey and corn and mix well. Heat until warm through. Mix corn starch and water well and add to the mixture. Stir completely and simmer until the sauce is thickened. You will need to stir regularly to keep the sauce smooth. Add water if needed to keep the sauce from being too thick.
Next roll out the crescent rolls on a floured surface. Use a rolling pin to smooth the package into one sheet of dough. Pour the filling into a baking dish sized to fit and carefully lift the dough over the pie filling. Tuck in any ends and butter the top well. I used spray butter but any softened butter or margarine will do. Sprinkle garlic/parsley salt over the top and place in a 375 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes. Keep a close watch as this browns up pretty quickly. Cool and enjoy!
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