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Camp set-up and daily operations

Compact Bedding Finds for Campers: The Tab 400

Finding bedding for campers seems to be a common challenge. While we don’t have plans to take the Tab out til spring, I started thinking about finding the right linens for the new nuCamp Tab 400.

I found my first two items at Costco and wanted to share them here, as they likely won’t be around for long.

Sized-Right Blanket for the Tab 400

My first find was lightweight, colorful blanket. The problem with camper blankets is that they tend to be too big, especially when the bed is surrounded by walls on three sides. They end up difficult to spread neatly and are just too bulky for the limited space. I wanted something foundational that could be part of the set up year-round, knowing I can always add to it when the temperatures dropped.

The Tab 400’s bed measures 55″x79″. A typical full-sized mattress is 54″x79″. The Tab mattress is also just a few inches high, reducing the fabric needed to drape over ends (besides there is only one side where there is any room for drape at all and you also have drawer there to consider.)

Most blankets are cut short in my opinion, not leaving too much extra for a common bed. I found an exception when looking a the dimensions on this Pendleton Plush Blanket at Costco. It wasn’t offered in a full size, the obvious first place to look. But then, looking at the guide, the Queen would be much too big, but would a twin size actually work?

Dimensions:

  • Twin:    66″ x 92″ (167 cm x 233 cm)
  • Queen: 98” x 92” (248 cm x 233 cm)
  • King:   112” x 92” (284 cm x 233 cm)

By golly, it seemed too good to be true. Just eleven extra inches wide and thirteen inches long. So I bought it. For $24.99 and a great return policy, it seemed like a great find.

Continue reading “Compact Bedding Finds for Campers: The Tab 400”

Choosing the Perfect Camper

Our search for a new camper took us in all kinds of directions. We waffled back and forth on several options and landed on one that wasn’t even on our list when this all started. When we narrowed it down, owning a camper would be best for us if as many of the following criteria could be met:

Our Criteria

  1. We wouldn’t need to get a larger vehicle to tow it. We currently have a 2020 Honda Ridgeline.
  2. It had a bathroom. A wet bath was okay, as we don’t expect to need the shower often since we mostly plan to use campgrounds with facilities. When those are available, we’re comfortable using them.
  3. It had a table and bed that could exist simultaneously.
  4. It had heat and air conditioning.
  5. It had adequate storage— we needed places to put things so we could reduce setup time by storing items in the camper.
  6. It had a nice fridge.
  7. It had a propane hookup outside so we could eliminate taking an extra propane tank for our griddle.
  8. It could be stored in our garage at home.
  9. It was on the higher end of the quality scale.
Continue reading “Choosing the Perfect Camper”

While so many new people took up camping as a way to get out during the pandemic, we did the opposite. We were already having doubts that our bathroom-less Aliner was going to be with us for much longer and, boom! The RV market exploded. While normally numb to economic conditions, we posted it for sale on RV Trader, sold it in less than a week, thanked if for its service, and delivered it halfway to its new owners.

Whoo hoo! (Happy dance.)

Continue reading “Goodbye Aliner: Back to the tent for now”

Internet Access at Raystown Lake

While remote work is a thing, can you reliably get Internet access at Raystown Lake? We recently tested this using a Verizon MiFi for several days. Here’s how it worked…

It was a spur of a moment decision…feeling a bit stir crazy and knowing the weather was only going to be friendly to be outside for a short period of time, a Sunday discussion turned into a spontaneous remote work week. Our first step was to secure an Internet connection. We headed to our local Verizon Wireless store and walked out with a Verizon 
Jetpack® MiFi®
and an unlimited data plan. Forty-eight hours later, our camper was packed with just our essentials and we headed out to one of our favorite spots, Seven Points Recreation Area in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, lucky enough to snag a reservation for a lake-front site.

With the sun out on a nice fall day, I settled in for a long day of online meetings in my old REI Zero-Gravity recliner (which didn’t make it home by the way) with a view of the lake.

Lake view while working from camp.

We also had the table in the Aliner set up as a desk and between two of us, we moved back and forth between working spots based on noise levels and task at hand.

Lake view while working from Aliner Classic at campground.

The day went off without issue! Two laptops stayed connected the entire day without the MiFi being plugged in. By 5 o’clock, it was ready to be charged. In the evenings, we were able to freely access streaming services.

Day two was a repeat of the positive experience including the wonderful weather.

Completely loved the change of scenery! It was a great mental health break from our walls of home and opens up lots of opportunities for spring. Now, about the packed parks and struggles to even get a spot… not sure that is getting better any time soon.

Twin Knobs Campground Review

On our way home from Tennessee after watching the eclipse, we headed north into Kentucky and stopped for the night at Twin Knobs Campground. We were sorry we were only there for one night. It was not crowded and the sites were wooded and clean.

Twin Knobs sits amidst the Daniel Boone National Forest, north west of Lexington, Kentucky of KY-801.

Continue reading “Twin Knobs Campground Review”

Davy Crockett Campground Review

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Davy Crockett Campground

After a very long drive we arrived at Davy Crockett Campground, our home for then next  couple nights as we visited to take in the eclipse. Located in Crossville, Tennessee, this campground is about halfway between Nashville and Knoxville.

The campground was very crowded that weekend and they had people packed in where they could.

Continue reading “Davy Crockett Campground Review”

KOA Buckeye Lake Campground Review

Review of KOA Buckeye Lake

KOA Buckeye Lake

We headed west for a quick weekend with the Aliner in tow. The weekend before, a quick search located a campground about 40 minutes east of Columbus, our final destination for Saturday. KOA Buckeye Lake seemed to sit right off of I-70, accessible easily, as we would possibly arrive after dark and the farm roads in eastern Ohio can be curvy and dark.

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Modifying the A-Liner Bed…Again

A few years ago, we outfitted our A-liner bed with a foam mattress topper and cover. Well, a few years have past and, after a few restless nights, one of us decided that it was time for another revamp. We headed to Ikea and invested in the Sultan Hanestad mattress. This comes rolled.

Continue reading “Modifying the A-Liner Bed…Again”

Top O’ the Caves Campground Review | South Bloomingville, Ohio

In mid June, we headed west – destination: Hocking Hills, Ohio. First timers, we had only heard stories of the caves and hills of this region. We needed to see for ourselves. Living in Pittsburgh, we found it hard to believe that Ohio actually had the type of topography described by visitors instead of the plains that we tended to see miles before us just before crossing the Pennsylvania border.

Continue reading “Top O’ the Caves Campground Review | South Bloomingville, Ohio”

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