new "old" camper

[Miriam C.]

Hi there retiredcamper, I would love to view your pictures but dont seem to be able to get any on your site, am I doing something wrong.
Sounds good that, being able to camp out so many days.
Good look in your quest to view all the things you have planned.
Tim

Last I checked the link was still working. You do need a yahoo account to see the pictures though. If I can figure out how to post them here I will.

RC--to get the photos here you need to upload them to your album. Or put them in a photo place that allows hot linking like photo bucket.

Go to albums (up in the menu) then "your personal gallery and upload. There is a size limit so you have to reduce most and can do that in paint or any photo software. I make most of mine 400 to 500 wide for easier veiwing.

Help with pictures
http://www.mikenchell.com/pichelp.html

Albums
personal gallery

If you need further help just ask.

[retiredcamper]

I hope this works.

thanks for the help

[pgwilli]

Hey Neighbor!
Welcome to the board! I'm a few years away from the retired designation, but I wouldn't mind getting in some practice...soon - I hope, I hope...
How does the volunteer host thing work? If I see you at one of the WSPs, I'll stop by (Deception Pass would be my favorite posting).

[retiredcamper]

Hey Neighbor!
Welcome to the board! I'm a few years away from the retired designation, but I wouldn't mind getting in some practice...soon - I hope, I hope...
How does the volunteer host thing work? If I see you at one of the WSPs, I'll stop by (Deception Pass would be my favorite posting).

I've stopped at Deception Pass State Park many times but have never spent a night there. One of the reasons is none of the sites have power and I usually stay for 10 days at a time in the peak season and 20 days in the offseason. I don't think my batteries would last that long. Besides I like the warmer waters of Lake Chelan and other parks east of the mountains.

Anytime I would be at Deception Pass would be in the Winter and the power is even more important then. Snohomish County Parks honor the State Pass and I can camp there for free also. I've spent several months at Kayak Point in two week increments.

Some of my other favorites are in the San Juan Islands and I've spent several weeks there also. Steamboat Rock, Lincoln Rock, Lake Wenatchee Confluence, and Sun Lakes State Parks are also high on my list. I usually spent a week or so at Lake Easton just because its so close to huckleberry picking.

To be a host and get free camping you have to work 4 hours each day and I'm not up for that. I get free camping anyway because I'm a disabled veteran so I just "volunteer" for two hours each day except for arrival/departure days. Since its all free labor for them they let me do it. I can set my own hours and the usually duty for me is to pick up trash. Last Fall at Fort Worden State Park I did some trail maintenance which I liked. For me the important part is I don't have to deal with people.

My summer is already booked up through September but after that we might be able to get together if you have the time.

Do you have pictures of your teardrop posted? I'd like to take a look if you do.

[bledsoe3]

Besides I like the warmer waters of Lake Chelan and other parks east of the mountains.

My family loves Lake Chelan. We've been several times but never camped there. Usually do a week at Wapato Point in May.

[pgwilli]

Hi R.Camper,
I think they've added a bunch of electrified sites at D.Pass, but I like the older section nearer the saltwater beach.
Fort Warden is another gem. We've been there for the West Coast Kayak Symposium a few times.
We really enjoy the San Juan Island Parks as well. We have been fortunate enoughh to run into the resident pods of orca in Haro Strait off San Juan County park in the last several years.
I have a few pictures in my album. Click the "album" button below this post

[retiredcamper]

I was looking at your pictures before but didn't realize where they were taken. I was going to ask you about your rainfly, its one of the best designs I've seen.

I also liked your picture of the "tree".

[pgwilli]

The pic doesn't begin to do the tree(s) justice. We took that at the IRG last summer. Hope to get better ones at IRG 2.0 on 2008.

The rainfly I think you are talking about is a size large Kelty Carport. Thanks to a tip I got on this board, I bought that puppy for $50 + shipping.

I was disappointed at first because I thought it might work for a side/privacy tent, but it was way too big. I didn't return it because the quality for such a small price was amazing to me. I had an EZ-up for over the galley, but still carried the Carport on trips because it packs small and is pretty light.

At the Spring Fling Gathering last year (you should try to make it Memorial Day weekend) our neighbors forgot a tarp and it was pouring down rain. We broke out the Carport and I found it was a great light weight alternative to an EZ-up as a Galley/table & couple of chairs cover.

The bad news about this story is I haven't seen it on sale for less than ~ $160 since then. In fact, I just bought a medium sized Carport for the side tent duty for almost that much. Still the weight savings over the EZ-up is going to be around 25# and they have a nice shape to my eyes.

[retiredcamper]

I think they've added a bunch of electrified sites at D.Pass,

Your right about Deception Pass. I was thinking of Camano Island.

[retiredcamper]

My family loves Lake Chelan. We've been several times but never camped there. Usually do a week at Wapato Point in May.

I've spent 10 days at Lake Chelan every summer for the past few years. When I was younger I've taken the Lady of the Lake uplake and camped at all the camps on the shore.

This year I will be spending 30 days at Chelan but only 10 days at a time with other State Parks in between.

To get reservations at Chelan I called nine months in advance at 7 am. One time I forgot to call and remembered at 7:15 and got the last site available. Chelan is that popular.

Your family must own a house at the point.

[Geron]

Hi Donald,

Welcome,

Awesome Pics on Yahoo. Couldn't stop till I viewed them all.

Will Retire in 14 months, 1 week and 3 days -- but who's counting!!

You certainly stirred the wander lust in me. Thanks for sharing.

Geron

[retiredcamper]

Thats 430 days, or 10,320 hours, or 619,200 minutes, or 37,152,000 seconds. But like you said, "who's counting".

I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. My wife retires in about 18 months and we have 8 more payments left on our house. All is good.

[bledsoe3]

Thats 430 days, or 10,320 hours, or 619,200 minutes, or 37,152,000 seconds. But like you said, "who's counting".

I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. My wife retires in about 18 months and we have 8 more payments left on our house. All is good.

I'm jealous.

[marvmmarv]

Retiredcamper,
I just joined your Yahoo group. Great pictures and it looks like you have had some great trips. Some of the places look familiar (especially those in the SW) and others would be great destinations for the future.

Have you done anything special to your Little Guy to equip it for those long stays?

Marv

[retiredcamper]

Have you done anything special to your Little Guy to equip it for those long stays?

Marv, no I didn't have time to make any "improvements" as I picked the trailer up in Middlebury, IN and continued on my way. I would run an extention out the back for electricity and had a power strip just laying on the floor. When I got home I hard wired the 110V, put in an inverter, and ran the electric cords along the corners and floor and then permenantly attached the power strip to the wall.

I'm still making improvements like installing a custom fit mattres, an ice cooler that fits better, and put in plastic containers to orangize all my stuff.

This Friday I leave for 10 days at a local state park to test all my improvements and to take pictures of how I have it set up.

I think looking at pictures sure helps as I've viewed hundreds of pictures others have posted.