Category: Comfort at Camp
DO I REALLY NEED TO TAKE THAT? Must have tools and parts for RV Camping
March 17, 2012 by Professor95 · 4 Comments
Packing or stocking your RV for an extended camping trip can sometimes be more like a game of chance than a science. The problem is that when you are 90 miles from nowhere at 10 p.m. on a Sunday night and the need for a specific tool or part arises you are up that proverbial creek without a paddle – that is, unless you stock for every imaginable need. Well, let me share with you one of my most inner, deep, dark secrets – this is one of those secrets that only my closest friends and family know. I have an extremely vivid imagination. Couple that with a guy who is an admitted tool junkie and president of his local Tools Anonymous help group along with my passion to fix anything and everything that “might” go wrong and you end up with a big, big box of tools and RV parts that could serve as initial inventory for a new Camping World Store. Anyway, to get to the point, these are the items packed away in that big, dark warehouse of parts, tools and accessories that DID prove... [Read more...]
Another Delicious Camping Meal–Lentil Soup!
February 29, 2012 by Diane Berry · 2 Comments
In a previous post, I wrote about using Bear Creek or some other commercially prepared soup mixes to create some hot and filling camping meals. Today, I want to tell you about another great soup, but one that’s made from scratch: Lentil Soup. I am a great fan of the Bear Creek soups; but still feel the need to make a good pot of lentil soup several times a year. It is every bit as tasty as the commercial soups and takes only a bit longer to prepare as the lentils cook up pretty quickly. Ingredients are as follows: Start with some fresh and dried vegetables... 1 lb. bag of lentils Olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 2 stalks celery, chopped 5-10 small carrots, chopped Add lentils and ham bone... dried mushrooms, if desired 1 can petite diced tomatoes 6 cups water (to start, I always add a cup or two more) 3-6 tsps chicken soup base (1 use 3-4 to maximize And some tomatoes and spices, and voila! taste and minimize sodium) ham bone 1 ham slice, cubed 1 tbsp parsley 1 tsp basil salt... [Read more...]
Coffee On The Go…
February 3, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · 4 Comments
So, what is your favorite way to crank out a hot cup of coffee while traveling, camping or RVing? I have used various methods and tools over the years. Yes, simply poking the button on my electric coffee maker in the kitchen of my travel trailer is my favorite way to brew when we are camping. It’s simple and convenient. And, I can do it without having to start a fire in the campsite fire ring! When we have camped at more remote locations or at sites that didn’t have full hookup, I often boil water on my gas stove and then use my insulated French press coffee pot purchased at REI. This method was really useful when we camped at Madison Campground at Yellowstone National Park. I am considering another option now that I have discovered the collapsible coffee filter cone. Made by Classic Kitchen Basics, the silicone filter is compact and holds a paper filter. You simply place the cone over a cup, add the filter and the coffee and the pour boiling water over the coffee. The... [Read more...]
EVERY RV TOOL BOX SHOULD HAVE THEM
February 2, 2012 by Professor95 · 4 Comments
Next to a roll of duct (or duck) tape, a package containing an assortment of zip-ties is one of the most important “fix-it” items you can put in your RV toolbox. First introduced under the name of Ty-Rap in 1958 by Thomas & Betts for assembling airplane-wiring harnesses, the zip-tie has evolved to include every conceivable function – including handcuffs often used by law enforcement. Today they may also be called zap-ties or cable-ties, About the only thing you cannot fix with either duct tape and zip-ties are hot exhaust or tail pipes. Zip-ties usd by law enforcement as hand cuffs (Don't try this at home!) Good quality zip-ties are made of nylon. The black ties are UV protected and suitable for outdoor use over an extended period. White and other colors generally do not have the UV protection chemical added and are designed for indoor use. Unfortunately, many companies have made cheap copies of nylon zip-ties using plastic. These are subject to easy breakage and... [Read more...]
Beating the Winter Blues…
January 29, 2012 by Diane Berry · 5 Comments
As the daylight gets shorter when winter approaches and out sunlight decreases in November and December, many of us in northern climates (and even some in more southern climes) start to experience what is commonly known as the “winter blues.” Add to this, the fact that many of us are not engaging in our favorite pastimes of camping and RVing during this time of the year and things can get downright depressing! While the medical term is “Seasonal Affective Disorder” or SAD, most of us just know this as the blues. Further, many feel they just need to suffer through it; that there is nothing they can do to minimize the symptoms they are experiencing. But there is much you can do if you are affected by this loss of light. First of all, many medical people report that increasing your intake of vitamin D, either in the form of food or by supplement, can make up for the loss of sunlight that winter brings. While you will always want to be sure to check with your physician or other medical... [Read more...]
Harvest Salmon Chowder for Chilly Winter Days
January 13, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · 2 Comments
If you travel and camp throughout the chillier months of the year, then you might find yourself craving foods such as chili, stew, soups and chowder. Last fall, I created a round of recipes for the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association. Their consumer website, Bristol Bay Sockeye, features numerous salmon recipes. One of the recipes I tested, tweaked, and photographed was Harvest Salmon Chowder. The recipe comes from Rose Fisher who is married to a Bristol Bay fisherman and lives in Dillingham, Alaska. When Rose gave me the recipe she quietly told me that the secret to the recipe was…canned salmon and all the juices!! She told me that she had made it with cooked salmon, but it just wasn’t the same. Aha! I am not afraid to use canned salmon, so I was pleased to try the recipe. Indeed, it is a simple awesome recipe that is satisfying and warming. I think this recipe is particularly relevant for our Woodall’s readers because it uses many basic pantry items,... [Read more...]
A Really Nasty Bug
December 28, 2011 by Professor95 · 6 Comments
A winter-night’s dream finds me walking through the middle of a tall grassy field ablaze with warm sunshine, songbirds singing, and butterflies darting about. Nearby is a brook overflowing with large rainbow trout hungry for the fly on the end of my line. As the sun sets, we will dine on trout cooked over glowing campfire embers. . My dream excludes the reality of chiggers, ticks, mosquitoes, gnats, wasps, spiders, and biting flies also enjoying the habitat and dining on me as I reach out for my dream. Like it or not, we share the world with bugs and their presence can make our real life experiences a lot less pleasant if control measures are not taken. Adult EAB with wings open One insect, or bug, that has recently changed the landscape of at least fifteen eastern states and parts of Canada is the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire – an exotic beetle that was first discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. By exotic, I mean... [Read more...]
Get ‘em While You Can!
December 9, 2011 by Professor95 · 4 Comments
My guess is you are probably not associating the holiday decorating items displayed on merchant shelves with your summer camping adventures. STOP! Think about this a minute – many desirable items will not be as inexpensive or available later on as they are right now. Most all of us enjoy putting “patio lights” on our awning, screen room or around our campers during the summer. They not only give off a welcome light on a dark night but also give our camp site a distinct personality. What better lights to use than colorful LED strings of Christmas tree lighting? LED lighting is not only energy efficient but it is also cool to the touch and less likely to “burn out” than conventional incandescent light strings. Decorative lights are also available as rope lights in clear, red, blue, or mixed colors. These store away easily and are extremely durable – not to mention waterproof. Those fancy ice-sickle lights with LEDs that chase up and down are great camping lights. Who... [Read more...]
‘Twas the Feast of St. Nick…
December 1, 2011 by Diane Berry · 5 Comments
I published a post last year about this time, talking about St. Nick ideas for the avid RVer. My focus last year was on items new on the market. As it is that time of year again, I want to, again, focus on St. Nick ideas, but will be addressing a combination of both the old and the new; some items upon which you rely, most likely need to be replaced and this is a good excuse to trade up for a few of them. We always have a need for a new flashlight and those other items that we use everyday but seldom give much thought to. This year, my husband is in sore need of two items, both of which have been improved since we last purchased them, so these will be my first two suggestions: Our "new addition" 1. To replace our old generic flashlight from 15 years back, he is getting a new Maglite model that will provide a high intensity light beam. The light has two settings and a krypton bulb and is able to provide either a spot light or a flood light with the flick of a switch. Also,... [Read more...]
Valdez is for Campers, RVers, and Adventurers!
November 30, 2011 by Melissa A. Trainer · 2 Comments
Photo by Michael De Young/ATIA Are you planning a road trip to Alaska? Are you thinking of traveling to and camping in America’s Last Frontier next summer? If so, then I would like to suggest adding Valdez to the itinerary. I must admit that I haven’t been there myself, but it was on my “to do” list when we lived in Anchorage about five years ago. Unfortunately, we got sidetracked with other destinations that summer, but when I was at the Alaska Media Road Show in Santa Barbara about a month ago, I was fortunate to meet with Colleen Stephens while I was there. Colleen is from the Valdez Convention and Visitors Bureau. She seemed to know exactly what I was interested in! Colleen explained that Valdez caters to campers! I was really happy to hear this because camping in Alaska can take a fair amount of initiative and organization. I know this because I’ve done it many times myself! Colleen explained that Valdez has many RV sites around town and that many... [Read more...]
