Camping with Pets

 Camping with Pets 

According to data provided by Statistica https://www.statista.com/statistics/416001/share-of-campers-traveling-with-pets-us/ up to 53 percent of people always or sometimes camp with pets. While dogs are the most common travel companions, we have seen cats and even a pet duck.  Most campgrounds are well aware of the popularity of camping with your pet and have certain accommodations and rules concerning these very important travel companions. A list of simple do’s and don’ts should make your camping trip with pets more enjoyable and safe for all concerned.

1.       Do know your pet and their preferred travel habits. Our dog has a place in the motorcoach she likes to ride that also works well for us. We have found she does not have a queasy stomach so feeding the day of the trip is fine. She expects to go outside every time we stop, so we are most careful to have her on lead before we open the door.

2.       Do pack for your pet like any other member of the family. While animals will not need an extra pair of PJs they may need a longer lead, bedding, a new chew toy, medication and food for the journey. Items from home help your pet feel more secure in new surroundings. While you are at it consider what activities, you will be doing on the trip. A pet friendly dining location or a local hiking trail may add to everyone’s enjoyment.  

3.       Do practice safety first. Pets have no business in the driver’s lap or under their feet near the brakes. Riding harnesses or pet carriers are a good option if your pet likes to roam when you are driving. Remember the risk of hot vehicles when you stop for a needed break. Keep pets on lead and under control in a new location and around areas with lots of traffic.  

4.       Do think about the reason your pet is part of your trip. Are they a first line of defense against intruders at the campground or in the woods? Are they hunting with you or a foot warmer in the middle of the night? Do they enjoy hiking in the woods off lead and does your destination allow for this activity? If you are taking your pet along because you have no one to watch them, it’s expensive to board them, or they are unmanageable with strangers, you may need to make plans to minimize the problems they might cause when camping. It’s important not to leave these pets alone for long periods of time. That may impact some of your planned activities.  

5.       Do be familiar with rules in place in most camping areas. The most basic include cleaning up after your pet relieves themselves and keeping animals on lead.   While this rule may not always be posted, you should not plan to leave your pet tied up outside when you leave the campground. Excessive barking is also something that can generate a visit from the campground host. If a campground restricts certain breeds or large animals find a different option for your stay and avoid the disappointment of being asked to leave.

6.       Do look for dog parks-both on your trip and at your final location. Although not all pet owners are great at cleaning up in these areas, most parks have good parking and offer a safe place for your pet to run, explore and get some exercise. We also have found that finding parks can make the trip more interesting when your GPS takes you through historic downtown or a place for lunch away from traffic. Meeting local people is rewarding well.

7.       Do consider using a tracking devise or having your pet micro chipped.  While a pet may not need tracking in their own backyard, these options can help if your pet gets lost in the woods.  

 

 

 

As to the Don’t’s  Here are a few suggestions we have found helpful.

1.       Don’t expect children to be able to handle a larger pet in a strange location. Other dogs, a squirrel or even an unfamiliar human can get a relatively docile pet excited in a hurry.

2.       Don’t assume other animals are friendly or will welcome advances by your pet. It’s better to steer clear and ask for permission to approach. This is also true for people who want to touch your animal or avoid them completely.  

3.       Don’t take untrained or high maintenance animals into crowed situations. Holiday weekends are some of the busiest times of the year at campgrounds. If your large dog tends to bark at every stranger this may not be the weekend to bring this pet along.

4.       Don’t leave animals unattended in a tent. Tents are not designed as a space of confinement and you do not want to return to a structure that is ripped or has a broken zipper not to mention that your animal is now on the loose.

5.       Don’t be afraid to ask for help or get information prior to your trip. If your animal gets loose and does not return quickly having others keep an eye out for them is a good idea. If your animal gets ill during the trip campground owners and managers likely know a good vet in the area. By calling ahead you may find a location has a place to park your stock trailer or they may even have a barn.  

6.       Don’t plan on taking pets into a pool area or allow them to swim in a pool with out permission.

7.       Don’t assume all animals like water. They may not want to go over a bridge or spend time on your boat. They may even need a life jacket if there is a good chance they might go overboard or end up in the water.

After your trip you may need to check your animal for fleas, ticks, injury, rashes  or matted hair. They may be out of their normal routine and it can take a bit of time to adjust to the regular work-day again. Camping with your pet is in general very rewarding and they are great subjects for pictures with their owners and along the trail. Happy camping everyone.

If you liked this blog, check out conkercamping.com for pod casts and blogs about the great outdoors.

Our First Motorcoach -REVA

 

Our First Motorcoach- REVA

For several years I was practical- buying a motorcoach for recreational use makes no sense financially. Adding up the cost of the unit, gas at 5 miles per gallon, insurance, maintenance, and campground fees you could go to a resort twice a year and probably still be ahead financially. But you do not really buy a motor coach as a practical matter. Our purchase was related to perfect storm. I got a large bonus from work, our daughters each lived over 1000 miles away and we found the type of unit we were looking for- it just all came together.

We decided on a motor coach primarily because I did not enjoy long trips in a car or truck. Being the mom, I always seemed to have important items at my feet and there was never enough room to really spread out. In addition, we always tend to travel with our dog. When the animal takes up much of the back seat and their head is at your shoulder, it leaves one feeling anxious. I liked the idea that in a motorcoach, I could stand up or go to the back if I needed something.

When it came to style and layout, we had a few definite ideas. Having gone to many RV shows over the years, we knew the difference between a class A motor coach that was a large bus like vehicle that ran on diesel or gas and a class C that was more like a large van. My husband had a diesel driven pick up previously and wanted gas due to the lower purchase price, noise and the easy of finding fuel. Class C models are generally smaller and more truck like up front leaving little room for maneuverability. Campers and fifth wheels offer lots of space. They are less expensive than vehicles containing engines but have none of the advantages of riding in a motor coach.  

We spent much of our shopping focus on the layout. Did we want a captain’s chair up front? Where was the best location for the bathroom? I really liked the unit we found. It had a pull-out sofa and futon style love seat facing each other that made for good conversation when travelling with guests. The unit had three tv’s. The kitchen area was across from the table. There was one large slide that increased the space for the kitchen and living area. The bathroom was further back and opposite a large closet. The bed was in the back. Although the unit was used, it had only 30,000 miles and did not smell bad when you walked through the door. My mother always contended that smells in campers were from cooking indoors. She may have been right, but I knew that an off putting smell in a used camper was a deal breaker for me.

 While we were selling ourselves on this great option, we were mostly unaware of a major consideration when buying a motorcoarch- driving the darn thing. They are big, boxy, and noisy. Gas units, in particular, have the engine up front and insulation from the noise is not idea. Roads in many parts of the country are rough, which was different from our original test drive. So, with little experience in the area, we took our new RV home. We named her REVA because we knew we would be talking about the new purchase often.  Motorcoach was too long and RV too impersonal. My husband jokes I wouldn’t let him name it REBA because I would get jealous.

REVA inspired all kinds of new thoughts and ideas. We thought of at least 20 places we would like to visit including many of the larger state fairs. There were trip ideas about autumn leaves in New England, trips to the beach and a tour of Texas. We kept a journal account of our early trips and it was fun writing about what we saw and did.  I do remember that one of our early trips to a nearby state park took us on a route through winding back roads to reach the freeway. More than once, we hit low lying branches and the mailboxes seemed very close, particularly from the passenger side.  I can drive the RV and found it easier to drive than a truck with a large trailer,  but I limit myself to freeway driving with minimal turns. We bought a dolly to tow our small jeep behind REVA. It really is nice to have a tow vehicle with you to accommodate a quick trip to town or area sightseeing. The dolly was sometimes very low to the ground. Our new set up is with a tow bar that we much prefer.

After getting our feet wet on a few local trips we were ready for our first cross county drive. Our daughter in Colorado was engaged and this trip was to make wedding plans and shop for “the dress.” It would take about three days to travel. We did not plan to do much on the way but once we arrived there would be a good campground close to her location.

We were all set for the big day having scouted out several bridal salons in the Denver area. My husband was the designated driver with the bride, two bride’s maids and mother- in- law on board. We had champaign and a variety of brunch like snacks. It was going to be great. Looking back, I don’t know how my husband managed to take us where we wanted to go. The first location was not too bad- he dropped us off and found a large school parking lot further up the road. Location two was in a very trendy area- lots of lovely plants, narrow streets and plenty of traffic. Somehow, we got to and from the location. As we might have guessed the dress was in the last store we visited. The parking lot was the first one of reasonable size and we made quite an impact when we pulled up out front. The dress was just what our daughter had been looking for made all the more special by her Dad’s gift of driving the RV through Denver that day.

We returned to Colorado several months later for the wedding in the mountains near Estes Park. Flooding meant most guests had to travel an hour out of the way to get to the venue, but we were able to find a spot close by for REVA giving us a base camp for the day’s events. One of the nice things about having a motor coach is lots of people being able to travel in one vehicle. We used this feature when initially visiting the wedding venue. It has also been great for tailgating and trips to the beach.  I also love the big front window with its wide views and sitting high above traffic with the dog at my feet.

REVA is now retired from the road having found a new home at our campground as an accommodation for longer term guests. As a used unit she has needed certain major and minor repairs during her years of service. Air conditioners and leveling mechanics have been the major expenses. It also turns out she needed a major engine repair. We have been told this may have been from lack of regular time on the road since sitting unused for a long period of time is not easy on engines. At one point we even repainted the swooshes on the sides of the unit since they had faded with time. We had to tape off each area and spray paint each space. It took several days to complete the project, but we did a good job at staying in the lines.  I also must admit, it was hard not to have motorcoach envy when shiny newer units would be parked alongside us at the campground. I coped by remembering the cost of our unit and how much I liked the floor plan.   

For us REVA was much more than a major purchase. The coach inspired us to pursue owning a campground and building remarkable family memories. Thanks to our early experience, we now  own a new motorcoach that has been great for long distance trips and weekend getaways. Camping with grandkids has worked out very well. I have my modern conveniences; they have new places to explore and Mom and Dad get some good down time.   So, if you are up for a new adventure where getting there is part of the fun, a motorcoach could be your ticket to the open road. Enjoy.

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Conker Camping

Conker Camping

 The plan has always been to develop our campground as a family business. This year, the newest member of our team- Beth- is now working at the campground fulltime. She and her husband Joey bring a new energy to the campground as well as many new ideas for us to explore. Among them is their social media presentence as Conker Camping. They do weekly pod casts and publish camping blogs. Instagram is  also a platform for fun photo's and posts. There is still a lot we want to do with video, but we are taking one each project one step at a time. 

One of the ways we will be using this space is to post the Conker Camping blogs our guests are likely to enjoy. We will also sharing the link to the Conker Camping Podcasts( Conker camping)
.  We are excited to include new camping perspectives in this space as well as sharing past camping experiences. Whether we are working on a new project or taking a trip to see what others are doing, the camping industry is a dynamic place to work and enjoy the outdoors. 

 This spring we are taking advantage of the good weather to determine what we like to do best and think more about what still needs to be done here at Lake Eufaula Campground. For me a new passion is landscaping. We have lots of wooded areas to enjoy and explore but we also have several spaces that would look better with new plants. shrubs and bushes.  Not everything grows well in sandy soils with very warm summer months but we are slowly discovering what works best. 

Rick and Joey are all about building and other projects that improve the facility. Visitors will notice a clearer path to the creek down by the point, more definition at the prayer labyrinth and soon a new look to the office and shed areas. 

Beth is bringing to the campground her love of design and style. She has an appreciation for clean lines and open spaces. She made the decorating choices for the new tiny house and has a new vision for the current office space. 

We have already had a very busy spring and we expect this trend to continue as more people get a COVID vaccine and life gets more mobile again. Scheduling our own campground get- a-ways has become more important as reservations are filling up quickly up at nearby campgrounds.  So plan ahead if you plan to come see us. Happy Spring!

The Tiny House

 

The tiny house project at Lake Eufaula Campground has in many ways been a labor of love. It starts with the love of creating something- having an idea and seeing it come to life. Those of you that enjoy woodworking, crafting or sewing appreciate the creativity involved in competing such a a project. A project well done is a work of art. Art is food for the soul.

This project in particular involved bringing the family together. Whether it was sharing expertise related to carpentry skills or collaboration on interior design, each of us played a part in bringing this little house to life. We imagine who might live here and how each part of the design will meet their needs. We are focused on the details and building something that is beautiful both inside and out. Our world,  especially online, is filled with images and information. Building this house is something concrete- something to share with others. 

Soon we plan to have an open house for the community- with social distancing of course - and there will be online videos. We are discussing  how people can try it out for a weekend retreat or options for renting longer term.  Given all the projects involved in running a campground, the house took longer than anticipated to complete, but it did come in on budget. It has several interesting features from a conduction stove top to a modular air conditioning system. The porch design provides for more functional outdoor space. The lot on which it currently sits is midway between the pool area and the back fishing ponds. We want to showcase it's design. 

 As to next steps, if you are interested in tiny house living please contact us at the campground. We are discussing the option of putting together a tiny house village on the property. We have space in mind and our team would love to build more tiny houses. To anyone new to RV camping a RV is your home away from home. Life is less about stuff and more about location. It's a shared experience. Tiny house living takes that option to the next level. We have found that what we heard about living in a campground is true. It's not your big house that is the center of everything- your pool is in one location, your porch someplace else and living outside is a major benefit. Rick likes to point out that wherever you go is where you are. While that is certainly true here's hoping you love where you live.  

COVID 19

 As we think about our world forever changed for the near future, the idea of balance seems even harder to come by than usual. There is a tendency to trust that those in charge are taking care of things and all we need to do is take everything one step at a time. On the other hand, it seems like now may be the time for action. Perhaps we need to make some bold moves in order to be better positioned for what lies ahead.

The campground is open. It is open now because being outdoors and staying in your camper is one way to practice social distancing and avoid the crowds, We are open because some RVer's need to drive home to be with family and others will need places to stay as they travel to do important work. The weather is cooperating so far. It is a beautiful spring and the kids home from school and daycare can spend much of their time outside.

Since we are in a small town, the national news is not reporting what is going on here. People travel through all the time on their way to more important destinations. That means like it or not we are at some point going to be exposed. We are lucky indeed to have a local hospital that is still open, a newspaper that is in print twice a week and a Chamber of Commerce that is in touch with small business. Not everyone here gets their news in the same way and so we have reached other to others to make sure we are keeping up to date.

Like you we wonder what bills to pay and whether we or those we love will become ill. We are glad to have community and thankful that we can be port in the storm for people that find themselves on the road. Many of our proprieties are changing as we decide what work needs to be accomplished and how best  to enjoy certain aspects of this new normal. It comes down to balance, and having faith and making good decisions. We can do this people and we are all in this together.

Tenting Anyone?

Back in my Girl Scout days our family had a four person tent. My sister and I would each hold a corner and mom and dad would have the other two. We could move our tent to get to the most level spot for a good nights sleep or we placed it on an open hay bale for extra cushioning. Two teams of one parent and one child were formed for most trips. One team cooked - the other cleaned up and we would alternate the next meal. One of the last memories our family had with my dad was recounting those good times in the  Rocky Mountains.  We also went on trips with other families- rain or shine- but there is nothing like a group of kids unleashed to use their imaginations in the woods.

Sites near the creek 

At Lake Eufaula Campground we now have  three tent areas for your use. The area by the creek is a great location for your group. It has a community campfire ring and lots of room for parking. We can launch kayaks from this area water level permitting. .

These Tent sites are across from the office 

The area by the pool is best on warm summer days when you will be in and out of the pool a lot. These sites have great shade and are close to the rest rooms for folks with small children or older adults. The sites are across from the office so they are not quite as isolated as the other two areas.

Now open are 3 sites by our large fishing pond. We are only allowing one vehicle back to these sites but they do provide more privacy than the other two areas. Be sure to bring shade cover for these new sites. They are recommended for older children since restrooms are not close by.
We can also accommodate smaller pop up tent campers on all of these tent sites if guests are not looking for sewer hook up or cable TV. 

. Thanks for tenting with us-Karen

Only one car allowed at pond sites

Milestones

 Five years into the adventure of owning a campground we have reached many milestones- some significant, others not so much. Starting in April a main milestone was reached when our son -in-law, Joey Conklin, was able to start working at the campground full time. Joey had been working in the steel building industry full of deadlines and time behind a desk. Campgrounds are different- in a good way.

It has been good for us to see the campground through fresh eyes and make a new list of priorities. We do admit having saved a few projects for him that required extra help, but we are also open to new ideas to make the campground even better. Because the newness has not yet worn off, simple tasks like cutting grass and solving a plumbing problem are completed with a bit more enthusiasm. There are lots of things to learn to keep a campground running smoothly, as we transition from him help us to us helping him. An extra pair of hands is always welcome.

One new project close to completion is the development of four new tent sites out by the first fishing pond. The campground will be hosting its first wedding in June and we soon will have power and water to that site. For those of you that have not been to the campground recently, our bathrooms are now fully renovated and we have new tile floors in the laundry and rainy day room. The pool has new fencing and a fresh coat of paint for the summer season.

This past year most of our guests were working in the area and work was progressing on renovations. Now that the work projects are completed we have more space for our weekend visitors. We have more cabin availability as well. Another big change is that Eufaula now has a Bowling Alley. Weekend guests will have something else to do indoors when there is a passing summer shower.
We have had some luck at jug fishing this spring but still need more practice at bass fishing. Joey has 3 sons that are always looking for things to do from swimming to bike riding to playing catch. The oldest is five so he has lots of help on weekends especially if it involves riding on the golf cart.
Everyone is invited to come visit us this summer- get away from your routine and enjoy the outdoors. Family makes it all worth it.