Testing the Limits by Boondocking

Boondocking is a term RV’ers use to describe camping without external support normally found at campgrounds.  In contrast, a “Full Hook-up” is camping with electric, water and sewer on-site.  Many people prefer to camp at locations where amenities are not offered such as public lands and even urban environments.  This may be to just get away from it all, to save money, or both.  Howard and Linda Payne held a rally mid-March at the North Florida Fairgrounds in Tallahassee to teach others how to boondock for extended periods.  Howard and Linda author the web site www.rv-dreams.com which Pattie and I reference often; so, we registered and made our way toward Tallahassee.

We had a few days before the rally started, so we stopped at Emerald Lake campground along the way near Colquitt, GA.  The campground is privately owned and has a restaurant on site with friendly owners who are constantly improving the grounds.  I was able to fish in their lake and caught bass and brim every day.  Pattie and I took time to visit Colquitt and Camilla, GA where her father grew up.  We found several gave sites with her relatives in Camilla.  Colquitt is a pleasant town with detailed murals adorning the old buildings.  Nearby is the Kolomoki Mounds Historic Site.  We took a day trip over to learn about the ancient people who once lived here and vanished.

On Sunday March 13^th, we arrived at the North Florida Fairgrounds with our fresh water and diesel tanks full and our waste tanks empty.  Howard met us and asked a few questions about how we wanted to align our rig with the sun to capture solar energy and we selected a spot next to another Allegro Bus like ours.  Howard arranged the nearly 40 RVs in a circle and placed a fire pit in the center.  

Monday morning Howard and Linda began seminars after everyone introduced himself or herself.  There were people new to RVing, some about to begin full-timing, and other who were already full-time.  There were many fifth wheel trailers, all classes of motorhomes, and several travel trailers.  The seminars conducted over seven days included topics like knowing your equipment, water conservation, tank management, power management, solar options, water replenishment, waste management, and places to boondock.  Below are some highlights:

• Knowing your equipment: Never trust your factory gauges. They are not very accurate. Learn your tanks by keeping track of how much you use them until the fresh water tank is empty and the waste tanks are full.  It is best to do this at a place where you have full hook-up for a couple weeks.
• Water conservation: Military showers (ON-Get wet, OFF-soap up, ON-rinse), hand sanitizer instead of water, baby wipes for touch up cleanings, capture cold water when waiting to get hot water, reduce toilet water.
• Tank Management: Listen to toilet flush (sounds closer as it gets full), when gray water backs-up in shower you are full, chemicals are not necessary for full-timers (not sure I’m ready for that just yet!), clean tanks with white vinegar, gray tanks can be flushed with simple add on device to push water in through dump valve or run faucets until ¾ full.
• Power management: Don’t try to fully charge batteries by generator. Get them to 80-90% then top them off with solar. Draining below 50% can shorten battery life. Residential refrigerators can be turned off overnight.

Really short hair is easier to manage:  Pattie joined a group of six ladies that decided ultra-short was the way to go.  One of the ladies broke out the clippers and free haircuts were performed by truck light (insert "You might be a boondocker if…" here).

Pattie and Linda with new buzz cuts

The Boondock Rally was a great experience for learning how our systems really work. It was an honor to meet Howard and Linda. We may not have tired this lifestyle without their knowledge and group of followers.

On day seven, we headed to Jacksonville, FL to stay at the Mayport Naval base and visit some old friends.  As we drove away, I told Pattie that I believe our Boondocking experience is one of those events where the Lord is preparing us for something.

Thanks for keepingupwiththejonesrv.