• The trip to Giant City State Park part 1

    From sticks@wolverine01@charter.net to rec.outdoors.rv-travel on Tue Oct 28 09:45:00 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

    Well, another great 3 day trip. Again, had just about perfect weather
    for this one. Hiking temps were right about 70F with a nice breeze. No
    bugs at all. This place is about 6 hours south of where I live, and the
    drive was not easy as the crosswinds were pretty strong. Halfway down I
    just set the cruise to 61 mph and let everyone pass as they wished.

    The campground didn't have a lot of people and I would say was about 1/4
    full. The place has adequate shower facilities, but no water for
    individual sites. Just 30/50 amp hookups, which worked fine for me. Of course, they do have a dump station for campers use.

    <https://postimg.cc/tZh3gjyw>

    First night on arriving was perfect with no neighbors. Enjoyed a nice
    grilled dinner and a fire and cigar after. Love being unsupervised
    again. Where I had the hunters moon in the Kettle Moraine 2 weeks ago,
    it was very dark the three nights I was here. I do prefer camping with
    good moonlight as it kinda gives off a good vibe.

    <https://postimg.cc/HcQwLgdL>
    <https://postimg.cc/k6xQ5mqV>

    First hike was nice. Did a leisurely 6.53 miles with 507 feet of
    ascent. Trails were very good and markings were just about right. I
    did some hiking alone, and some shared horse trails. Didn't have spider
    webs across the trails on either type. Just a very pleasant day hiking.
    Never saw either another hiker, or any horse people all day. Had it
    all to myself.

    <https://postimg.cc/phNQxTbx>
    <https://postimg.cc/MMy7GSxh>
    <https://postimg.cc/XGwfvb4n>
    <https://postimg.cc/wyhXBpgT>

    On the second night, I did get a neighbor who had a handful of kids.
    They were all very nice and not loud and annoying. But, they left this
    damn blue light string on until about 10 PM that was very annoying as I
    was trying to sit out by my campfire. Gosh I wish people would figure
    out how much all that light disturbs other people.

    <https://postimg.cc/1nx0Pth1>
    --
    Science doesn't support Darwin. Scientists do.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Ted Heise@theise@panix.com to rec.outdoors.rv-travel on Tue Oct 28 16:02:15 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

    On Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:45:00 -0500,
    sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:
    Well, another great 3 day trip. Again, had just about perfect
    weather for this one. Hiking temps were right about 70F with a
    nice breeze. No bugs at all.

    Sounds great!

    ...This place is about 6 hours south of where I
    live, and the drive was not easy as the crosswinds were pretty
    strong. Halfway down I just set the cruise to 61 mph and let
    everyone pass as they wished.

    Lol. That's almost exactly my standard, I just go 60 and let
    others pass. I do try to stay off very busy interstates, and to
    pull off from time to time if a line develops on 2-lane highways
    with speed limit >55 (or sometimes 60).


    The campground didn't have a lot of people and I would say was
    about 1/4 full. The place has adequate shower facilities, but
    no water for individual sites. Just 30/50 amp hookups, which
    worked fine for me. Of course, they do have a dump station for
    campers use.

    <https://postimg.cc/tZh3gjyw>

    Oh, good. I was hoping it wasn't a dump station photo. ;)


    First night on arriving was perfect with no neighbors.
    Enjoyed a nice grilled dinner and a fire and cigar after.
    Love being unsupervised again. Where I had the hunters moon in
    the Kettle Moraine 2 weeks ago, it was very dark the three
    nights I was here. I do prefer camping with good moonlight as
    it kinda gives off a good vibe.

    <https://postimg.cc/HcQwLgdL> <https://postimg.cc/k6xQ5mqV>

    First hike was nice. Did a leisurely 6.53 miles with 507 feet
    of ascent. Trails were very good and markings were just about
    right. I did some hiking alone, and some shared horse trails.
    Didn't have spider webs across the trails on either type.
    Just a very pleasant day hiking.
    Never saw either another hiker, or any horse people all day.
    Had it all to myself.

    <https://postimg.cc/phNQxTbx> <https://postimg.cc/MMy7GSxh> <https://postimg.cc/XGwfvb4n> <https://postimg.cc/wyhXBpgT>

    Sounds excellent all around. :)


    On the second night, I did get a neighbor who had a handful of
    kids. They were all very nice and not loud and annoying. But,
    they left this damn blue light string on until about 10 PM that
    was very annoying as I was trying to sit out by my campfire.
    Gosh I wish people would figure out how much all that light
    disturbs other people.

    <https://postimg.cc/1nx0Pth1>

    Grr. Some people got no couth. I think I told here about our
    night at Merritt Reservoir, a certified dark sky location. When I
    got up for my 2-3 am pee, I stepped out the trailer door to look
    at the stars. I didn't try for long because the trailer next to
    us had a bunch of exterior lights blazing away.

    Thanks for the report!
    --
    Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> Gretna, NE, USA
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From bfh@redydog@rye.net to rec.outdoors.rv-travel on Tue Oct 28 22:17:54 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

    sticks wrote:
    Well, another great 3 day trip.-a Again, had just about perfect weather
    for this one.-a Hiking temps were right about 70F with a nice breeze.
    No bugs at all.-a This place is about 6 hours south of where I live,
    and the drive was not easy as the crosswinds were pretty strong.
    Halfway down I just set the cruise to 61 mph and let everyone pass as
    they wished.

    The campground didn't have a lot of people and I would say was about
    1/4 full.-a The place has adequate shower facilities, but no water for individual sites.-a Just 30/50 amp hookups, which worked fine for me.
    Of course, they do have a dump station for campers use.

    <https://postimg.cc/tZh3gjyw>

    First night on arriving was perfect with no neighbors.-a Enjoyed a nice grilled dinner and a fire and cigar after.-a Love being unsupervised again.-a Where I had the hunters moon in the Kettle Moraine 2 weeks
    ago, it was very dark the three nights I was here.-a I do prefer
    camping with good moonlight as it kinda gives off a good vibe.

    <https://postimg.cc/HcQwLgdL>
    <https://postimg.cc/k6xQ5mqV>

    First hike was nice.-a Did a leisurely 6.53 miles with 507 feet of
    ascent.-a Trails were very good and markings were just about right.-a I
    did some hiking alone, and some shared horse trails.-a Didn't have
    spider webs across the trails on either type.-a Just a very pleasant
    day hiking. -aNever saw either another hiker, or any horse people all
    day.-a Had it all to myself.

    <https://postimg.cc/phNQxTbx>
    <https://postimg.cc/MMy7GSxh>
    <https://postimg.cc/XGwfvb4n>
    <https://postimg.cc/wyhXBpgT>

    On the second night, I did get a neighbor who had a handful of kids.
    They were all very nice and not loud and annoying.-a But, they left
    this damn blue light string on until about 10 PM that was very
    annoying as I was trying to sit out by my campfire.-a Gosh I wish
    people would figure out how much all that light disturbs other people.

    <https://postimg.cc/1nx0Pth

    I strongly suspect that they think it's cool and that you appreciate it.
    --
    bill
    Theory don't mean squat if it don't work.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From sticks@wolverine01@charter.net to rec.outdoors.rv-travel on Wed Oct 29 08:39:59 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

    On 10/28/2025 9:17 PM, bfh wrote:

    On the second night, I did get a neighbor who had a handful of kids.
    They were all very nice and not loud and annoying.-a But, they left
    this damn blue light string on until about 10 PM that was very
    annoying as I was trying to sit out by my campfire.-a Gosh I wish
    people would figure out how much all that light disturbs other people.

    <https://postimg.cc/1nx0Pth

    I strongly suspect that they think it's cool and that you appreciate it.

    I agree there are people who think their fancy lighting is as you say
    cool. I too have those blue lights on my awning, not as bright as the
    ones in the picture, but I only use them occasionally when I need to see something clearer, and turn them off as fast as I can. I get the
    feeling some people are just used to having a security light on at
    night. They probably have them all around their house, too.

    Odd, I just tried to go to that link and for some reason it's not
    working today. Oh, you cut off the last 1 in your reply

    <https://postimg.cc/1nx0Pth1>

    If you look, the park also had a ridiculously bright white light just
    ahead of there that stayed on all night. The check in station was an
    unmanned shed like building just to the left with even more lights that
    stayed on. The host site is right there and I don't know how they could
    sleep under all that light. With campsites all around the area, I would change them to something a little less bright, but I suppose some lawyer
    told them then need to protect themselves.
    --
    Science doesn't support Darwin. Scientists do.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Ted Heise@theise@panix.com to rec.outdoors.rv-travel on Wed Oct 29 14:43:47 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

    On Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:39:59 -0500,
    sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:
    On 10/28/2025 9:17 PM, bfh wrote:
    On the second night, I did get a neighbor who had a handful
    of kids. They were all very nice and not loud and annoying.
    But, they left this damn blue light string on until about 10
    PM that was very annoying as I was trying to sit out by my
    campfire. Gosh I wish people would figure out how much all
    that light disturbs other people.

    <https://postimg.cc/1nx0Pth

    I strongly suspect that they think it's cool and that you
    appreciate it.

    I agree there are people who think their fancy lighting is as
    you say cool. I too have those blue lights on my awning, not
    as bright as the ones in the picture, but I only use them
    occasionally when I need to see something clearer, and turn
    them off as fast as I can.

    The awning on our Lance 1475 has LEDs along the edge, I think
    they're basically white. We haven't had the awning out much, so
    they don't get used a whole lot. I'll turn them or the LEDs on
    the front of the trailer (or the light above the door) if the wife
    has gone to the bath house--so she can see where we are coming
    back. Other than that, I don't turm them on much. Kinda feels
    like showing off to just leave them on.
    --
    Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> Gretna, NE, USA
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From sticks@wolverine01@charter.net to rec.outdoors.rv-travel on Wed Oct 29 10:55:26 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

    On 10/29/2025 9:43 AM, Ted Heise wrote:
    On Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:39:59 -0500,
    sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:
    On 10/28/2025 9:17 PM, bfh wrote:
    On the second night, I did get a neighbor who had a handful
    of kids. They were all very nice and not loud and annoying.
    But, they left this damn blue light string on until about 10
    PM that was very annoying as I was trying to sit out by my
    campfire. Gosh I wish people would figure out how much all
    that light disturbs other people.

    <https://postimg.cc/1nx0Pth

    I strongly suspect that they think it's cool and that you
    appreciate it.

    I agree there are people who think their fancy lighting is as
    you say cool. I too have those blue lights on my awning, not
    as bright as the ones in the picture, but I only use them
    occasionally when I need to see something clearer, and turn
    them off as fast as I can.

    The awning on our Lance 1475 has LEDs along the edge, I think
    they're basically white. We haven't had the awning out much, so
    they don't get used a whole lot. I'll turn them or the LEDs on
    the front of the trailer (or the light above the door) if the wife
    has gone to the bath house--so she can see where we are coming
    back. Other than that, I don't turm them on much. Kinda feels
    like showing off to just leave them on.

    My awning lights work either extended or retracted. There is also a
    white light you can turn on outside the door, but that is also too damn
    bright for my tastes. What I usually do is just leave the blackout
    shades up on the awning side of the RV while I'm out. That gives me
    enough light to see just enough to not run into things. Once I pull
    them down, it gets very dark.
    --
    Science doesn't support Darwin. Scientists do.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From bfh@redydog@rye.net to rec.outdoors.rv-travel on Wed Oct 29 16:58:47 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

    sticks wrote:
    On 10/28/2025 9:17 PM, bfh wrote:

    On the second night, I did get a neighbor who had a handful of
    kids. They were all very nice and not loud and annoying.|e-a But,
    they left this damn blue light string on until about 10 PM that was
    very annoying as I was trying to sit out by my campfire.|e-a Gosh I
    wish people would figure out how much all that light disturbs other
    people.

    <https://postimg.cc/1nx0Pth

    I strongly suspect that they think it's cool and that you appreciate
    it.

    I agree there are people who think their fancy lighting is as you say cool.-a I too have those blue lights on my awning, not as bright as the
    ones in the picture, but I only use them occasionally when I need to
    see something clearer, and turn them off as fast as I can.-a I get the feeling some people are just used to having a security light on at
    night.-a They probably have them all around their house, too.

    Odd, I just tried to go to that link and for some reason it's not
    working today. Oh, you cut off the last 1 in your reply

    I allege that I have no conceivable idea how that happened, but pardon
    me very very much. If it happens again, I assure you that I'll find
    someone to hold accountable for the inefficacousness of the reported
    incident.

    <https://postimg.cc/1nx0Pth1>

    If you look, the park also had a ridiculously bright white light just
    ahead of there that stayed on all night.-a The check in station was an unmanned shed like building just to the left with even more lights
    that stayed on.-a The host site is right there and I don't know how
    they could sleep under all that light.-a With campsites all around the
    area, I would change them to something a little less bright, but I
    suppose some lawyer told them then need to protect themselves.

    That's something that I very very much dislike in campgrounds. I
    allege that streetlights belong in cities, towns, suburbs, and Walmart
    parking lots - not campgrounds.
    --
    bill
    Theory don't mean squat if it don't work.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Ted Heise@theise@panix.com to rec.outdoors.rv-travel on Fri Oct 31 16:34:10 2025
    From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel

    On Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:55:26 -0500,
    sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:
    On 10/29/2025 9:43 AM, Ted Heise wrote:
    On Wed, 29 Oct 2025 08:39:59 -0500,
    sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:

    I agree there are people who think their fancy lighting is
    as you say cool. I too have those blue lights on my
    awning, not as bright as the ones in the picture, but I
    only use them occasionally when I need to see something
    clearer, and turn them off as fast as I can.

    The awning on our Lance 1475 has LEDs along the edge, I think
    they're basically white. We haven't had the awning out much,
    so they don't get used a whole lot. I'll turn them or the
    LEDs on the front of the trailer (or the light above the door)
    if the wife has gone to the bath house--so she can see where
    we are coming back. Other than that, I don't turm them on
    much. Kinda feels like showing off to just leave them on.

    My awning lights work either extended or retracted.

    Ours are along the outer edge, and end up under many layers of
    awning when it gets rolled up. The dealer warned us not to turn
    it on when rolled up, stating it would burn them out. Doesn't
    sound like good design, if true.


    ...There is also a white light you can turn on outside
    the door, but that is also too damn bright for my tastes.

    Ours has both a white and a yellow mode--think the yellow may be
    to reduce bug attraction.


    What I usually do is just leave the blackout shades up on the
    awning side of the RV while I'm out. That gives me enough
    light to see just enough to not run into things. Once I pull
    them down, it gets very dark.

    Huh, they must work really well. Our trailer is not that dark
    inside with everything closed. It has covers that can be snapped
    onto the underside of the vents, but I've never bothered with them.
    --
    Ted Heise <theise@panix.com> Gretna, NE, USA
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2