Man, the prices of RV parks and fuel is taking the fun out of Rv'ing .Sonja wants to go to the ocean in May and I agreed to take her for weekend to Malibu, damn $377.00 a day with all their add ons.The bright side is I can fill up in AZ and come back on the same tank of fuel,Prices are just crazy on everything, a working family with kids cannot pay those high prices lol I probably won't sleep. :( :( the 10 bucks extra a day for a 10 year grandkid doesn't set well with me.
Hi Clifford, is that the Malibu Beach RV Park on top of the hill across from US101 and the beach? Great park! Every park in SoCal is obnoxiously priced...
Quote from: lvmci on February 10, 2023, 07:12:02 PM
Hi Clifford, is that the Malibu Beach RV Park on top of the hill across from US101 and the beach? Great park! Every park in SoCal is obnoxiously priced...
Yes it is Tom, the place stays booked years in advance.LOL they offered me a deal by the week for $1835.00 or a month for $7333.00 + the 15% occupancy tax I declined the deal .The last time we were there it was close to $100.00 a night which I thought was outrageous then.It is a easy drive from here is about all I like.
Some big company is buying up all the RV parks on the Delmarva Peninsula and raising the prices. I don't really use RV parks much since we stay with family, friends, or at the church we are ministering in. My son and family and a bunch of their friends have been camping as a group for a while though. They are reconsidering how many trips they are going to take this year because of the increased prices. I think they should buy a piece of land somewhere they like and all camp together there.
TOM
Quote from: oldmansax on February 11, 2023, 05:35:57 AM
Some big company is buying up all the RV parks on the Delmarva Peninsula and raising the prices. I don't really use RV parks much since we stay with family, friends, or at the church we are ministering in. My son and family and a bunch of their friends have been camping as a group for a while though. They are reconsidering how many trips they are going to take this year because of the increased prices. I think they should buy a piece of land somewhere they like and all camp together there.
TOM
Adjustments need to be made now for sure,We have property on the Gulf Coast in Texas but the price of fuel for a 3,000 mile round trip. I will pay the outrageous in Ca and take her there,fuel alone would cost me around $2,000.00 which I don't mind if I was staying for a few months but I do not like Texas summers and the humdity
The 2nd residence we established in Alaska with our primary in FL was to have a place on both ends for living &/or long term camping. We shy away from RV parks and now with the high cost of diesel the bus may not compete with a flight instead.
Interesting to hear the view of old timers and the very real and basic in personal recreational bus economics. I'm fiscally conservative which should prevent me from owning a bus but hey..
In just the few years I have owned a bus just the fuel economics have changed a lot. Travelling in your own home on wheeels was more costly than other means but it has gotton so far out of whack it required a call to the CPA to decide if you can fire it up and head onto the open road.
Personally, the actual dollars are not so much the issue but the alternatives available for the same dollars. Like spending two grand on fuel alone, insane. Two round trip tickets to Thailand cost less than that. Once you get there you can stay for 40 bucks a day and eat for 10. I love taking the bus out but if I can travel internationally for a two week trip and come back with a wallet full of money, why do I want the bus? It is pretty hard to drive to Hawaii? lol
Quote from: dtcerrato on February 11, 2023, 07:52:11 AM
The 2nd residence we established in Alaska with our primary in FL was to have a place on both ends for living &/or long term camping. We shy away from RV parks and now with the high cost of diesel the bus may not compete with a flight instead.
I flew for many years (American Airlines Million Mile Club),now it is too much hassle and time involved for me.Plus they are wanting you to have a federal approved drivers license or ID card. I am not giving them all the crap they ask for lol and I am not alone they keep extending the date for the crap now it up to May 25 2025. It has many years since I had to show my birth records and it is not happening now with me for some government BS tracking, I don't need no friggn star on my drivers license for $25.00 extra rant over
Clifford, drive a few miles up Highway 1 to Rincon Beach and camp for $43/night peak season!!! Right on the ocean!!! Just kidding, I think you wouldn't care for this type camping.
https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/beach-front-parks/rincon-parkway/ (https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/beach-front-parks/rincon-parkway/)
Quote from: usbusin on February 11, 2023, 10:21:24 AM
Clifford, drive a few miles up Highway 1 to Rincon Beach and camp for $43/night peak season!!! Right on the ocean!!! Just kidding, I think you wouldn't care for this type camping.
[urlQuote from: usbusin on February 11, 2023, 10:21:24 AM
Clifford, drive a few miles up Highway 1 to Rincon Beach and camp for $43/night peak season!!! Right on the ocean!!! Just kidding, I think you wouldn't care for this type camping.
https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/beach-front-parks/rincon-parkway/ (https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/beach-front-parks/rincon-parkway/)
Quote from: usbusin on February 11, 2023, 10:21:24 AM
Clifford, drive a few miles up Highway 1 to Rincon Beach and camp for $43/night peak season!!! Right on the ocean!!! Just kidding, I think you wouldn't care for this type camping.
https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/beach-front-parks/rincon-parkway/ (https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/beach-front-parks/rincon-parkway/)
=https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/beach-front-parks/rincon-parkway/]https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/beach-front-parks/rincon-parkway/[/url]
Gary we have stayed there a couple of times in the past lol it was 10 bucks
Yes, I remember that. We have stayed there many times, just to be right on the beach for a few days. To get away from it all when my fabricating plant was in Ventura and we lived in Carpinteria foothills.
Quote from: luvrbus on February 11, 2023, 08:14:29 AM
I flew for many years (American Airlines Million Mile Club),now it is too much hassle and time involved for me.Plus they are wanting you to have a federal approved drivers license or ID card. I am not giving them all the crap they ask for lol and I am not alone they keep extending the date for the crap now it up to May 25 2025. It has many years since I had to show my birth records and it is not happening now with me for some government BS tracking, I don't need no friggn star on my drivers license for $25.00 extra rant over
Actually you do not need to get the special "real ID" driver's license to fly. You can use your passport. Since we did not want to have to carry the book passport, we got passport cards. They are nationally valid, wallet size ID's. They are good for a couple of countries also but certainly not most. If you already have a passport, the card costs something like $30. I also found that getting the passport care was easier than getting the "real ID" license in California.
Quote from: Lin on February 11, 2023, 11:41:18 AM
Actually you do not need to get the special "real ID" driver's license to fly. You can use your passport. Since we did not want to have to carry the book passport, we got passport cards. They are nationally valid, wallet size ID's. They are good for a couple of countries also but certainly not most. If you already have a passport, the card costs something like $30. I also found that getting the passport care was easier than getting the "real ID" license in California.
My passport is valid for 4 more years,but I am still not using it to fly to from point A to point B in the US ,I don't want a national ID card of any shape , Google can track you without a card lol we are all in government data base what the hell do they need with real ID
Having a book passport or a card passport gives the government the exact same info. Of course, it is likely true that if you travel by plane anywhere, that information can be shared with the government. However, it is more likely that booking and boarding alone accomplishes that. The type of ID used doesn't change much. Anyway, I am just pointing out that those that have a passport do not need an enhanced state ID, and that having it as a card makes it more convenient.
As far as a national ID card goes, you already have one from the social security department, which stopped being mostly about social security a very long time ago. I recently could not find my SS card and went online to order a replacement. Although I could get one, the website informed me that I do not need the card-- the number was enough. Anytime that you use a credit card, make a deposit/withdrawal from a bank, pay a bill, or whatever, it is all tied to your SS#. I am not saying that the government is actually keeping such records, rather that they could if they really wanted to. Who knows, maybe the time will come when they institute such programs (for our own protection, of course).
A passport was never issued for travel in US,it was international travel and all countries have passports for that reason. My Social Security card is so old it has written not for Identification Purposes now when you visit a doctor they ask for it. Things changed with 911 and not for the better IMO ,Lin I never use my passport going across the border towns in Mexico when I come out our side asked for it and I tell them I left it in the RV all they do is ask me my name and push a few keys and tell me bring it next time. I disklike check points a lot when a person who hardly speaks English asks are you a American Citizen I just look at the person sometimes and never answer. And they flag me through
Clifford, I bet you love being told to "Press one for English".
Quote from: Lin on February 11, 2023, 05:45:22 PM
Clifford, I bet you love being told to "Press one for English".
You push two and let the person on the other end try and figure out what you are saying.
Cliff, you can stay at my campground for free. Well, it might cost you a can of beer or two. Tecate, right?
Cliff,, You can afford it or you wouldn't even consider it,, so quityourbitchin....You ain't taken any with you..>>>Dan
$377 a night, $1835 a week, $7333 plus 15% is $8432 a month, a year would be $101,195. I am surprised that the place isn't deserted at those prices, but as they say, "location,location, location. Don't ever bother looking for me there! ;D
Quote from: Ed Hackenbruch on February 13, 2023, 03:53:54 AM
$377 a night, $1835 a week, $7333 plus 15% is $8432 a month, a year would be $101,195. I am surprised that the place isn't deserted at those prices, but as they say, "location,location, location. Don't ever bother looking for me there! ;D
May thru Sept is the peak season lol so the prices come down a little for the off season, I don't care for back-end spaces myself
We drive the coach anywhere that we have to spend the night. I sleep in a recliner, not a bed, so that is the first problem with hotels/motels/friends/family. I don't care for bedbugs or strange people/bathrooms/food. My wife is the best cook I know and she cooks what I like, how I like it. I don't fly because I refuse to let my wife be groped by anyone, and especially anyone who speaks English as a second language.
And people can call me what ever they like. I already know I am biased, prejudiced, mean, ugly, uncaring, hard, worthless, and a hater. I don't care. I am also healthy, happy, unconcerned, well fed, content, and blessed. LOL!
TOM
I hope you take her to a nice restaurant frequently to treat her for having to del with an old cranky sob all these years.😂
Quote from: chessie4905 on February 13, 2023, 07:18:36 AM
I hope you take her to a nice restaurant frequently to treat her for having to del with an old cranky sob all these years.😂
Amen brother LOL!!!
For the rates in the better hotels you can drive the bus,in Scottsdale a night at the Princess will cost you over a grand for two people for a plain room,a suite will cost you from 5 grand up,where do people get that kind of of money to spend on a room ? Our son lives in the Princess resort and took us out for Mexcian food that wasn't that good IMO cost him $900.00 for 4 people. I have had better from a food truck
If you have any form of military history, there are RV sites available on many bases across the country. We just stayed on Moody AFB campground going to Florida last week. $25 a night for full hook ups. We like them because we just feel safe with other military guys around, we can shop at the commissary and B/X, and they usually have spaces.
Some think it is for only active duty and 20 retired guys that have an ID card, but at Moody a guy told me he did 5 years and just uses his discharge paperwork to check in! Just shows his DD 214 and they rent him a spot. I have not heard of that before so it would be good to ask the places you want to stay but worth a shot.
Speaking of shot, since the shooting on Pensacola Naval Air Station, some bases are now saying "No Firearms" on base. I have not been asked if I have a firearm so far, and seem to forget that I might have one with me...
I would be more compliant if they could realize when I leave the base, I might be going where bad things happen. Just another nibble at the gun thing I guess, but I blow it off. If they ask at any gate and say I can be searched I expect I'll just leave.
But I meant this be a positive thread so lets just leave it there.
Quote from: chessie4905 on February 13, 2023, 07:18:36 AM
I hope you take her to a nice restaurant frequently to treat her for having to del with an old cranky sob all these years.😂
Well, I don't.. She won't go! She is almost as picky as me! And besides that, if I took her to a restaurant for every meal for the rest of her life, it still would not be worth putting up with me. LOL! I told her about 30 years ago, if I had been her, I would have killed me & told God I died! And she has still put up with me for another 20+ years. Some people just enjoy misery! ;D
I don't believe in reincarnation, but if I did, I would wonder what kind of hellion my wife was in her former life to be saddled with me in this one! ;D ;D :(
TOM
On the other end of the spectrum we stayed at awesome BLM campsites in Alaska, heavily forested on rivers with plenty of free firewood, arctic grayling, grizzly bear, and wild blueberries for $3/nite using the senior passport. No highways or people. The only masses are land & wildlife. :^ Rant over carry on...
Quote from: Tedsoldbus on February 13, 2023, 09:11:04 AM
If you have any form of military history, there are RV sites available on many bases across the country. We just stayed on Moody AFB campground going to Florida last week. $25 a night for full hook ups. We like them because we just feel safe with other military guys around, we can shop at the commissary and B/X, and they usually have spaces.
Some think it is for only active duty and 20 retired guys that have an ID card, but at Moody a guy told me he did 5 years and just uses his discharge paperwork to check in! Just shows his DD 214 and they rent him a spot. I have not heard of that before so it would be good to ask the places you want to stay but worth a shot.
Speaking of shot, since the shooting on Pensacola Naval Air Station, some bases are now saying "No Firearms" on base. I have not been asked if I have a firearm so far, and seem to forget that I might have one with me...
I would be more compliant if they could realize when I leave the base, I might be going where bad things happen. Just another nibble at the gun thing I guess, but I blow it off. If they ask at any gate and say I can be searched I expect I'll just leave.
But I meant this be a positive thread so lets just leave it there.
A lot of Military bases allow civilian camping call ahead to be sure.I had a pass they sold MWR guest card 30 bucks a year ea and we stay at bases in Texas except Ft Hood it was always full with a waiting list.I met a retired military guy one time and we become friends one day he walks out with 2 shot guns and said let's go bird hunting signs everywhere saying no fire arms or hunting, I said read the signs he told me they mean nothing, I didn't go but he did and I ask a young man what is up with that,the young guy told me when you are a retired full Bird Colonel you can do about anything you want too
We joined a campground membership deal last year. It's called KM Resorts. We have stayed in their park at Ocean Shores WA several times now. We will be trying the one they have near Packwood WA soon. I can't remember what the price to join was, I think around $8000, then the annual dues are around $450 (don't quote me on that). It was a lot of money, but we are hoping to use it enough to justify it. The Ocean Shores one is about 200 miles and the Packwood one is about 100+. Not too far away, so the fuel isn't too bad at those distances. I can't wait to take the bus and leave the pull trailer home.
Quote from: dtcerrato on February 13, 2023, 09:55:40 AM
On the other end of the spectrum we stayed at awesome BLM campsites in Alaska, heavily forested on rivers with plenty of free firewood, arctic grayling, grizzly bear, and wild blueberries for $3/nite using the senior passport. No highways or people. The only masses are land & wildlife. :^ Rant over carry on...
Sound almost as good as Idaho,I love to watch the big horn aheep or the mountian goats standing on ledge in the mountains, and the bears fishing for Salmon lol wish I could catch Salmon as good as a bear
Quote from: luvrbus on February 13, 2023, 05:03:13 PM
Sound almost as good as Idaho,I love to watch the big horn aheep or the mountian goats standing on ledge in the mountains, and the bears fishing for Salmon lol wish I could catch Salmon as good as a bear
You can at Fast Eddies restaurant in Tok AK! :^
Quote from: dtcerrato on February 13, 2023, 05:31:34 PM
You can at Fast Eddies restaurant in Tok AK! :^
Been 25 or 30 years since I was in Tok
Tami and I loved the Rincon Pkwy/Coast Hwy between Ventura and Carpenteria, also not far from where Jack lives. There also is the camping area just south of the Rincon, where there is RV spots in Ellen Wood state park, but more money, here's pictures of both spots in my MCI5A. its all first come first served, locals get there Tuesday or Wednesday and park the RVs then lock them up till the weekend ends, lvmci...
Good tip on the military bases Ted. I plan to check that out. I wonder if there's a mapping app of some sort that shows all the military installations? That might be helpful.
Jim
Try this site:
https://www.armymwr.com/programs-and-services/outdoor-recreation/camping-rv-parks (https://www.armymwr.com/programs-and-services/outdoor-recreation/camping-rv-parks)
Some Military parks are full all the time,you cannot make a reservation more that 30 days out at most of the bases, that has been a problem for me sometime.They wave the 90 day stay limit for military when housing is expensive or base housing is full in the area.When I got my MWR guest pass they gave you a list of the Campgrounds,there are 5 military campgrounds in San Antonio alone
Check with a China app. They've got them all listed.
;D
Quote from: Tedsoldbus on February 13, 2023, 09:11:04 AM
Some think it is for only active duty and 20 retired guys that have an ID card, but at Moody a guy told me he did 5 years and just uses his discharge paperwork to check in! Just shows his DD 214 and they rent him a spot. I have not heard of that before so it would be good to ask the places you want to stay but worth a shot.
The Moody guy might not have been correct. If you are retired or active duty you are set, but service for less than twenty years qualifies only if you were a Medal of Honor winner, Prisoner of War, 100% disabled, or Purple Heart awardee. If you dodged all the bullets and didn't get any big medals or designations, you are not qualified. I was in for six years and in Korea and Vietnam, but I'm not a candidate for any military campground.
Quote from: DoubleEagle on February 19, 2023, 10:04:30 AM
The Moody guy might not have been correct. If you are retired or active duty you are set, but service for less than twenty years qualifies only if you were a Medal of Honor winner, Prisoner of War, 100% disabled, or Purple Heart awardee. If you dodged all the bullets and didn't get any big medals or designations, you are not qualified. I was in for six years and in Korea and Vietnam, but I'm not a candidate for any military campground.
Talking to people at the desk when we stay with our guest pass, the military campground has a management co. like Thousand Trails and others running those RV parks ,lol I hate dealing with Thousand Trails on the national parks, some are booked up for 2 years, I wish we were back to 1st come basis reservations to a US National Park suck most of the time,when people reserve a space for 2 weeks just to be sure they have a spot for holiday or weekend
Quote from: luvrbus on February 19, 2023, 11:04:35 AM
Talking to people at the desk when we stay with our guest pass, the military campground has a management co. like Thousand Trails and others running those RV parks ,lol I hate dealing with Thousand Trails on the national parks, some are booked up for 2 years, I wish we were back to 1st come basis reservations to a US National Park suck most of the time,when people reserve a space for 2 weeks just to be sure they have a spot for holiday or weekend
If they don't show up on the first day of their reservation then it should automatically be canceled and they should be on the hook for the full reservation and pay a penalty for the next one.
Though that doesn't really help us as we have to plan our travels.
That is the part I hate Walter. I did 25 years active and somehow I never got shot at. YOU and others on this site were on the varsity. You went to the two way firing range. YOU deserve the campsite, the Home Depot discount, and, and, and.
A friend gave us a book, I think they got from FMCA that lists all bases. We have found that useful and it tells us about commissary and PX/BX and if the gas station sells diesel. We just feel safe parking on a base, but if they start asking at the gate if I have firearms, I'll throw that FMCA book away. 25 years in the military and 8 as a police officer, I think I understand about the use of force.
Well at least Lowe's gives me a dedicaded parking spot and 10% off everything. You might not have been on a two-way shooting range, but 25 years of exposure to military activity (especially in Marine Fighter Jets) certainly exposed you to risk of injury. Every year, even in peace time, hundreds of military personnel are killed during training exercises. All who served, served.
And I thank you gentlemen - & I used that term loosely around bus nuts and all who serves, has served in military and civilian 1st responders for keeping our freedoms and daily lives safe. :^
It is a honor to me to have Vets as close friends. Some of my friends came home from Vietnam standing and some were shipped home in cargo planes.Looks like we may be headed for another Vietnam if we are not careful with today's politian's in DC,all to protect a guy our government put in control in 2014 makes no sense,118 billion dollars in 1 year and still going on
There has been a new approach that is growing. Even when I retired in 2005 it was in the wind. That trend is growing exponentially. It goes something like
"Never send a Man to do a Missile's job.".
You can't take and hold ground that way, but with drones and satellite imagery, it is a new world.
And I got to fly when you had a fighting chance. Anti air has become very very lethal.
Glad that now I just have to "out fly" idiots when I am driving my bus. Pretty good chance a guy can live through that.
Gotta keep up revenue to our defense companies from govt. coffers. Those companies need steady revenue source to stay in business. Same reason we bought aircraft from several companies during WW2 and after to keep them in business.
Chessie is right. They still do it. When the F-16 and F-18 and even the Abrams M1 tank got "awarded", the "losers" got to build part of it to stay in business. My friend in procurement says it is less about not wanting a contractor to get a monopoly that makes all others fold so they can then "rape" us for the next invention.
It is about the fact all of those companies have smart guys and next time THEY might have the best toy.
They win that contract, but again, don't get to build all of it. More of a "maintain the inventiveness" than spread the wealth. Makes sense I guess.
:)
Quote from: Tedsoldbus on February 21, 2023, 08:43:41 AM
Chessie is right. They still do it. When the F-16 and F-18 and even the Abrams M1 tank got "awarded", the "losers" got to build part of it to stay in business. My friend in procurement says it is less about not wanting a contractor to get a monopoly that makes all others fold so they can then "rape" us for the next invention.
It is about the fact all of those companies have smart guys and next time THEY might have the best toy.
They win that contract, but again, don't get to build all of it. More of a "maintain the inventiveness" than spread the wealth. Makes sense I guess.
They waste a lot of money too if the depts of all the military branches don't spend their budget that part gets taken away on the next budget ,what happens is they dump spare parts in the ocean to keep their budgets, that has been going on years.Then the prices they pay is out of this world
Well not exactly. I was in supply for 4 of my 25 years. They held back requested repair parts money until September first. Then we got most of what we asked for all at once.
I said WHY?
Answer was they hold back in case of a major conflict. They appropriate the money expecting Peace on Earth. When things go to heck in, oh say, the Sudan, the Navy gets plussed up, the Air Force gets 2 more satellites, and things needed to transport supplies there get all the fuel they need and, and , and. So if a tank is broken or a jet is grounded for parts stateside. They wait. It is congresses tool of reallocating money if suddenly needed without having to try to get "new" money on the floor of Congress.
I heard my procurement buddy who had been doing it 23 years tell me that.
I said "Oh". They don't tell us that in boot camp. They don't tell the maintenance guys why they can't get parts.
But you are a little correct. When September hits, if your supply guy does not hit the get me this button and he has obligated ALL of his budget, they are happy to give it to another base or snatch it back for whatever they want. And they will short him that amount the next year.
But I'd have to see the Navy throw repair parts overboard to believe it.
Quote from: Tedsoldbus on February 21, 2023, 12:15:28 PM
Well not exactly. I was in supply for 4 of my 25 years. They held back requested repair parts money until September first. Then we got most of what we asked for all at once.
I said WHY?
Answer was they hold back in case of a major conflict. They appropriate the money expecting Peace on Earth. When things go to heck in, oh say, the Sudan, the Navy gets plussed up, the Air Force gets 2 more satellites, and things needed to transport supplies there get all the fuel they need and, and , and. So if a tank is broken or a jet is grounded for parts stateside. They wait. It is congresses tool of reallocating money if suddenly needed without having to try to get "new" money on the floor of Congress.
I heard my procurement buddy who had been doing it 23 years tell me that.
I said "Oh". They don't tell us that in boot camp. They don't tell the maintenance guys why they can't get parts.
But you are a little correct. When September hits, if your supply guy does not hit the get me this button and he has obligated ALL of his budget, they are happy to give it to another base or snatch it back for whatever they want. And they will short him that amount the next year.
But I'd have to see the Navy throw repair parts overboard to believe it.
My son was in the Navy and showed me some photos of shafts,bearing,and electric motors being tossed before docking,I have a grandson that is a Chief Petty Officer says it still happens.
When then clearly it does! I know on one Army base they got caught hiding paper products so they got full budget on that the next year, but never heard of throwing away repair parts. They are already purchased? Maybe if not installed on a machine, they are excess? So toss them in the ocean so you don't lose budget money for the new ones the next year...?
I believe it now. And didn't even see it. You don't want to know how much bombs cost that get pickled into the ocean when a jet returns to a carrier without having dropped them on bad guys. You never see footage of a jet coming back with bombs on the wings. Too many things can go wrong coming aboard ship with those.
Lots of dead fish...
My grandson is linguist of 5 languages he told me sometimes they dump all their electronic equipment before leaving a surveillance mission costing 100's of thousands of dollars, equipment so sensitive you can hear a mouse pissing on a cotton ball 50 miles away. He is mostly into teaching now for the last five years,he just got transferred to San Antonio and I cannot picture a Navy base in San Antonio Tx
The Rio Grande runs through San Antonio, might need some fresh water Navy for that one maybe?
Quote from: Jim Blackwood on February 22, 2023, 10:52:14 AM
The Rio Grande runs through San Antonio, might need some fresh water Navy for that one maybe?
Wrong river Jim,the San Antonio River flows through San Antonio, there are several major breweries on that river I would visit in my younger days