Hello from Southern Illinois

[Jiff]

I'm John and I'm new to the teardrop scene and to the board, though I lurked for a long time last year as I considered buying/building. Since I live in a rectory and don't have a lot of workshop space (or skill), I decided to get my feet wet by buying a used Lil Guy. I've been on a couple of short outings, but I'm really just getting started.

I live near Rend Lake and Crab Orchard Rec areas in Southern Illinois. I'm about an hour from the Shawnee National Forest and the same distance from St. Louis. I'm a parish priest (Catholic) and my ideal time away is a time to relax and see something new. I plan to use my teardrop more as a "travel trailer" than as a camper; basically a hard-shell tent that will get me off the ground. I travel alone and I'd rather see something interesting and eat out than spend time setting up a campsite and preparing meals.

My first big excursion is likely coming up in February. I hope to spend about three weeks moving around the central and gulf shore part of Texas--Austin, San Antonio, Galveston, & Corpus Christi. Any recommendations out there for great campgrounds that will be friendly to me and my teardrop; or about events/sites I might otherwise overlook. In terms of campsite, cleanliness, safety, decent showers, and location near neat stuff are most important to me.

Thanks for any good advice!

[kayaklover]

Hi John and welcome to the fun of teardropping.
You will love your trailer and it sounds like you have a great start to your travels. I think you will like it for traveling as you can pull over at any rest stop and sleep for a while in your own bed and hit the road refreshed and ready to go. for free.
Look into some of the gatherings in the area your going to be traveling in so you can meet other teardroppers. We will be having several in our Tearjerkers chapter this summer and would love to have you join us.

Happy travels.

Lori

[Shadow Catcher]

John you might want to join the Tearjerkers (see link at top of page) they are quite active. Rectory does this mean Sunday is your busy day ?

[canned o minimum]

Welcome to the forums John ! "I" travel all over the Southwest to VW car shows and my Little Guy is just the ticket ! When I'm on a long road trip to a show( or back from ) I can jus pull over at a gas a station or where ever and take a nap.

Drivin tired is as bad as drivin drunk..impaired is impaired.

Have fun and live like it MATTERS !

[bc toys]

WELCOME John from las vegas While you down that way you might want to go on over to south padre island it is great to see and im sure you can fine some where to stay for a night

[honeask]

Hello John,
I do know about Galveston. There is Galveston Island State Park that should be able to accomodate you quite easily. About 10 miles outside of Galveston and there are two places I can recommend to eat at, Nates is just down the road on the beachside and also Blue Water Grill on the bay side. Both are good and not expensive. A neat store for supplies is Seven Seas, next to Nates, I love to go there and all the locals use it to stock up so they don't have to go back into town unless they want to. Have fun and you never know, I might see you on the beach, that's where I go beachcombing.

[WhitneyK]

"I plan to use my teardrop more as a "travel trailer" than as a camper; basically a hard-shell tent that will get me off the ground. I travel alone and I'd rather see something interesting and eat out than spend time setting up a campsite and preparing meals."

I agree with you on that. My wife and I are more on the lines of stick and move, gotta see the sites. Welcome aboard John, I will warn you, this stuff is addictive!
(I had to use "" because I couldn't figure out how the rest of ya'll do the light colored box thingy)

Whitney

[Wild Bill]

Welcome Father John. Have you ever been to Lake Carlyle? I hear that is a nice area and if gas prices do not skyrocket I plan to go there this summer. Enjoy your time away, and your camper. Bill Holy Angels Aurora, Il. Heck even priest get vacations!!

[T@Baker]

Welcome, John. We live in your neck of the woods. We're an hour NE of Benton, IL (the southern part of Rend), and 45 min. from the north end of the lake. We camp there often, as well as Carlyle Lake. I sometimes work in Benton, as well.

Be sure to share pictures of your trip with us!

Here are some a pics of our site at Rend this fall on my birthday, Nov. 11. (Site 126, Look out point, Wayne Fitzgerrell SP, Rend Lake)