Camping Dogs

Camping has gone to the dogs...literally....

I think many dog owners like to camp because they can take their beloved pets with them on vacations ... I know that is one of the reasons Garland and I like camping. I tried to get some pictures of these pets without invading their privacy...

1st Camping trip of 2011

Our first camping trip of the season was back to

Cherrystone on the eastern shore of Virginia.

The campgrounds overlook the Chesapeake Bay.

I think every site is good. Most have shade.

The section we like has all pull throughs.

These are especially nice for larger RV's, 5th wheels and trailer campers.

This was the first trip for our new camper as well.

We did have a couple problems with the camper, nothing major but annoying..

1st, while Garland was getting us ready to leave, the front landing gear motor stopped so he had to crank the gear up by hand...later he found out that the wires were just loose.

2nd, on the last full day of camping while I was taking a shower the water was not emptying. The tank monitor said that grey tank #1 was full, but when we went to empty it, the level still registered full.. Garland spent 5 hours trying to figure out the problem...come to find out that the manufacturer labeled the tanks outside wrong. The waste water was actually grey...so we were pulling the wrong lever. Once we figured it out all went well, except Garland had to replace all the screws he took out under the camper when he was looking for the problem.

Tornado hits Staunton River State Park 04/16/11

Yesterday, 4/16/11 Garland was attending a SAR navigation course at the Staunton River State Park, Scottsburg, VA when a tornado ripped through the park missing Garland and others attending the class by 300 yards. The damage was significant. Garland said he heard the tornado and it sounded like a train. He said you could smell the pines where they had been snapped by the force of the winds.

Garland and several other men were actually sent out to look for 5 missing campers.

They were all accounted for thankfully.

The park has now been closed until early May, for the staff and volunteers to clean up. The guard building at the entrance of the park was totally destroyed.

We had reservations for Easter weekend to camp there with many friends, but that has been cancelled.

Our Second Home on Wheels..

Here it is the new home on wheels, a 36' Heartland Greystone.

Let's take a look inside....

Here you find Ruby (mother-in-law) relaxing with Sandy (sister-in-law).

Sandy has been camping for over 12 years and

she is the one responsible for

Garland and I spending all this money on campers...

only kidding..

Nephew Ryan is chilling in the contemporary European recliner

watching the flat screen tv with the electric fireplace underneath..

Sandy & Ryan checking out all the storage space

in the state of the art kitchen...

with a microwave, which my family knows I will probably never use,

well maybe for popcorn!

Sandy really likes the kitchen with the wrap around island.

Plus a full bathroom with shower and bedroom with queen size bed...

I don't even have a queen size in the cabin!

Plenty of room now for Garland & I plus 2 border collies...

Evolution of the Newton Campers

Most campers graduate slowly from smaller campers to larger ones, but not the Newtons!

Since 2009 we have grown from a Lance truck camper, which I dearly loved to a 26' Forest River Surveyor fifth wheel, which I also dearly loved to a 36' Heartland Greystone luxury fifth wheel, which I probably will dearly love! I did not think I would enjoy camping as much as I do. But I do. I look forward to spring time when Garland & I plus pets can head out to the local campgrounds for that first spring weekend. I don't care if it still is cold. I bundle up in the morning to go take a walk with the dog(s) or get the breakfast started in the electric fry pan that I set up outside. It is just so peaceful. I can take walks, read, knit, walk some more or of course nap!

Lance truck camper that Garland purchased in Maryland 2009. He said that the camper was too heavy for the truck (the one pictured is not ours), we have a o5 Dodge Ram 2500 4 wheel drive with a Cummings turbo diesel. This is the 26' Forest River Surveyor. Now she was one pretty camper. White cabinets inside with light green upholstery. She had a beach feel to her. Gonna miss this one!!!!! And on to the luxury suite! Electric fireplace, kitchen island....but we needed the room for the two border collies that will be accompanying us. Some excuse!!! I'll post some pics of the inside with the next installment.

Ready to go camping 2011

Camping time is upon us.

Garland & I did not get out for our first of the season weekend trip in March,

as I was getting ready to start a new job

and we had so much to do here at the cabin.

But, now that I am officially working at

DeGraw Chiropractic,

we can concentrate on the upcoming camping season.

Joining us this year will be Pepper, our 9 month old blue merle border collie.

Our first trip will be to Staunton River State Park.

I love to walk with the dogs on the many wooded trails there.

It is a very well maintained state park and the staff are all so helpful.