RAMBLIN' RALPH'S RV ROAMINGS

RAMBLIN' RALPH'S RV ROAMINGS
(2009)

VISITS

2006 GMC 2500HD w/2001 Lance 845 States Visited Map (plus BC and AB in Canada)

Check out my interview in Truck Camper Magazine! Original Interview Sep '07 Follow-up May '08 Follow-up Road Trip 2009 Report

RAMBLIN' RALPH'S SPORADIC BLOG (last entry 6/25/08 "And the Deer Listened Intently")

Previous years' travels: 2006 2007 2008

I bought my truck and camper in late October of 2005. After taking a few short trips in it, I "hit the road" full-time May 2006 for 6 months. Did it again for 6 months in 2007 & 2008. Now it's 2009 and I'm doing it again! Not all of my nights are spent camping, but most are. I'm not making entries that are repeats of previous campgrounds for this year or when I stay with my kids or friends. Campsite fees are for one night with no discount (and no hookups). However, being the old geezer that I am, I get 50% off at U.S. Guvmint CGs with the valuable Golden Age card, plus free entry to National Parks.. One of the few ways (in addition to retirement) it pays to get older.

CHECK IT OUT:: Google Map of all campsites this year. Note: The "Ref #" in the table below corresponds to the number on the "pinheads" in the map.
You can email me at nomad@hogtimemusic.com. If you're interested in music, click the piggie to go to my Hog Time Music home page.

Note: Click on small photos for a larger one. Click on the USA map/flag () to see the actual camp location on a map (+/- 50 ft).

Photo Albums: 2006 - Lassen National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Crater Lake National Park, Montana
2007 - Bristlecone Pineforest, Oregon Coast

Ref #	Date	Location	Campsite & Other Photos (click links)	Comments
14	6/30/09	Crescent Creek CG (USFS) 3.4 mi SE of Crescent Lake Junction, OR on hwy 58 and 3.3 mi E on Crescent Cutoff Road. 4400 ft.	Me at Crater Lake, OR Crater Lake View #2 Crater Lake View #3 Crater Lake View #4	Small CG with 10 gravel, level sites in scattered tall, skinny pines. Mosquito City! Creek alongside, but hidden by dense bushes. Moderate road noise from trucks. Only one other here Down to 34F at night. $14. Visited the spectacular Crater Lake, OR today. Yowee! Maybe I'll make a photo album later.
13	6/29/09	Rogue Elk CG (County) 27 mi NE of Medford, OR on hwy 62. 1500 ft.	Mt. Not Sure Rogue River Rafting Rogue River Fishing Rogue River Gorge	Small CG between the highway and the fast flowing Rogue River. About 30 paved, level sites. I'm right by the river ... yeah! Children's playground. Busy hwy results in moderate road noise. $18.
12	6/28/09	Boondocking site (USFS). Not a developed campground. 8 mi N of Cave Junction, OR on hwy 199, then 3 mi E on Eight Dollar Road. 1200 ft.	Dredging for Gold? Duck Family River Downstream River From on High	A popular river access area right alongside the clear & beautiful Illinois River. Not many level spots for an RV. Vault toilet onsite. Got this site from the travels of the supreme RVer Tioga George. $0
11	6/26/09- 6/27/09	Patrick Creek CG (USFS) 26 mi NE of Crescent City, CA on hwy 199. 800 ft.	Coast View Open Field Swimming Hole Mighty Clear Water Peaceful River	Nice small CG on the beautiful Smith River. 13 paved, level sites, well apart and well shaded. Right on a busy hwy, so quite a bit of road noise. However, the peaceful river music offsets it some. River access difficult from campground, but easy from picnic area about 100 yards away. Flush toilets. $14.
10	6/25/09	Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, 6 mi S of Crescent City, CA on hwy 101, then 2.5 mi "downhill" to the campground. 600 ft.	Avenue of the Giants Gun Barrel Stump Huge Stump Mossy Stump & Ferns	Wow, like camping in Jurassic Park! 145 dirt sites in tall, tall trees and heavy vegetation (including ferns). Sites well apart. Many HUGE old tree stumps (some at least 10 ft in diameter). No hwy noise, since over 1 "crow mile" from the hwy and down in a hole. $20.
9	6/24/09	Richardson Grove State Park, 60 mi N of Willits, CA off hwy 101. 500 ft.	Eel River Campground Trees	Very nice CG in tall, tall trees (redwoods and others). Forget the solar panel. 170 paved sites in 3 separate areas. Plenty of open sites. Slight hwy noise. $20.
8	6/22/09- 6/23/09	Clear Lake State Park, 3.5 NE mi from Kelseyville, CA. 1300 ft. My first night on the road for my annual trip to Montana!	Napa Valley Vineyards Mossy Creek Wild Turkey Family	Nice CG with 147 paved sites in 4 separate areas. I'm in the 26 site Cole Creek area, nearest the entry gate. No lake view. Only about 6 others here. Lots of shade and very quiet at night. Flush toilets and showers. Saw deer and wild turkey from my chair. $20.
		Note: I don't really start heavy ramblin' until mid June. Until then, I'm usually in a campground already listed or visiting friends & relatives. Until then, check out last year's ramblin' here.
7	5/29/09	Santa Margarita Lake Park CG (County). 9 mi SE of Santa Margarita, CA via hwy 58 and Pozo Road. 1200 ft.	Lake View Deer Feeding	Parking lot type CG, but a nice view of the lake and wide sites. 60 sites (incl. tent) in four locations. I'm in the small Osprey section. Tried to find a USFS CG in the area, but gave up. OK 2nd choice. $23.
6	5/28/09	Islay Creek CG, Montana de Oro State Park. 7 mi SW of Los Osos, CA (via Los Osos Valley Rd and Pecho Valley Rd). 100 ft.	On Coast Bluff Spooner Cove	Nice CG in a beautiful State Park on the coast. 45 paved sites in two sections in a canyon. Loads of hiking available along with a beautiful beach cove (see pic). $15.
5	5/25/09- 5/26/09	Cerro Alto CG (USFS) 7 mi NE of Morro Bay, CA off hwy 41 via about 1 mi of one lane, curvy, paved road. Campground sign at entry road. 1000 ft.	Entry Road Other campsites	22 very secluded paved campsites along a narrow road, mostly well apart. Small wet weather creek alongside road. Popular hiking trail accessible from campground. $18.
4	5/6/09- 5/7/09	Doheny State Beach CG in Dana Point, CA. 40 ft.	Harbor Entrance Beach View	My usual campground when visiting Orange County. 100+ sites. Very popular. Some campsites right on the sand. I'm the next row back to save $10 (4+ gal of gas). $25.
3	5/4/09	McGrath State Beach CG 4 mi S of Ventura, CA off Harbor Blvd. 40 ft.	Coast View Sand Flowers	Very nice 145 site CG. Beach a few hundred yards away over sand dunes. $25.
2	3/26/09- 3/27/09	Jalama Beach CG (County). 4 mi S of Lompoc, CA on CA 1 then 14 mi off hwy 1 via 2 lane curvy, paved road. 40 ft.	Beach View - South Beach View - North	Very nice, isolated CG on the beach. 100+ sites. Even has a small store and famous hamburgers available. You get to hear the choo-choo train some. $20.
1	3/20/09- 3/21/09	Temecula (CA) Bluegrass Festival.		Campsite just a dirt lot with other music fans on the main street of old town. Had lots of fun pickin' & grinnin' with my friends.