RV Unfreindly

[WyoJim]

We stay in Walmart or road side rests or where ever we can when traveling. Never ever in a campground. Different story when we arrive where we are going. 3 weeks in Alaska and we spent 7 nights in campgrounds.



The worst abused Walmart I have seen was in Anchorage, AK. 30 sme RV's there if I remember right. Some looked abandoned and some had for sale signs on them.



Gallup, NM also had 30 or 40 RV's if you included the 18 wheelers in the Walmart lot. Indian kids going RV to RV nocking on doors asking for food, and this was at eleven o'clock at night. Litter was every where.



Cody, WY gets 10 or 12 a night and it seems to stay neat and orderly, but the newspaper ran an editorial that Walmart should pay a couple million dollars a year to the city for the bed tax that they claim Walmart is beating the city out of. However the campgrounds look full to me all summer and the editer of the paper is a jerk.



Sheridan gets about the same as Cody and I have heard of no problems.



A Campground at Rock Springs, WY raised hell about Walmart, but I don't know how it turned out.



We spend about $10,000 a year at Walmart for groceries and what not, so I don't feel guilty about pulling in there after dark and leaving about daylight when I am on the move, but I don't think setting up camp there would be the right thing to do.

 

[snapshot]

On several occasions while traveling to and from Alaska we have spent a night or two at the Wal-Mart in Anchorage. I have counted as many as 275 rigs camped there counting also the Sam's Club lot across the street. Wal-Mart then was open 24 hours so if you couldn't sleep you could shop. Our main purpose in stopping was to pick up supplies before heading out of town. It was fun to do and you met a ton of nice people. I was always impressed with how clean everybody left their parking spot. On the other hand day shoppers buying auto supply items were always installing their purchase in the lot and leaving the boxes, sacks, bottles and cans on the spot. Wal-Mart has since been persuaded to no longer allow overnight camping and has also stopped staying open 24 hours. I am not sure how much the area campground operators benefited from all of this but I for one no longer stop in Anchorage except for fuel. Most of the other people I know that did as I did also no longer stop overnight there. As they say, all good things always come to an end.

If any of you folks that "don't plan well" find yourself in Anchor Point, Alaska you are welcome to boondock here for a few days at no charge. You will have to drive down 2. 5 miles of dirt road but the price is right. You are welcome to share our campfire so don't forget to pick up some hot dogs, marshmallows or whatever on your way here. I am listed as a "travel companion" on line. The bad news is no WalMart, in fact we don't even have TV. Sorry about that.

 

[nps]

Thanks for the offer Snapshot. I've been known to "don't plan well" from time to time. :-laf



No Walmart - that's actually good news. How is it that you don't have TV but you've got internet?

 

[snapshot]

No Walmart - that's actually good news. How is it that you don't have TV but you've got internet?[/QUOTE]

We are off the grid here so we make our own elect. No TV reception except via satellite but have not gotten around to installing one yet. We do have a phone line but only good enough for slow dial up service. Too many other things to do to worry about TV. For example it's still fishing season and moose season opens at midnight tonight.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Walmart/truck stop/rest area for me. I have no interest in Canada anyway, never have, never will.



We use campgrounds at the destination and the above listed ones the the trip. It is impossible to schedule (for us) a campground everynight. How would you schedule such a trip?



Pull off the road, start the genset, A/C on, water heater on, walk the dogs, hunt for a snack/beer, shower then bed... Lovely way to live

 

[Buffalo]

I have stayed in Walmart/Sam's Club lots from Southern Cal. to Toronto, Can. & many stores in between. I have never seen a mess left behind by an RV'er. That doesn't mean that it can't or doesn't happen, though.



Personally, I really appreciate the fact that Walmart/S. C. let us stay on their properties. I never set up camp in their lots, just stay over night and always try to buy something, while I'm there.



If we were forced to stay in established RV parks, all the time, it would take a lot of the economy out of travelling. If you factor in the cost of *having* to stay in an RV park, every night, along with the costs of a specialty type of truck and/or RV, you might as well just buy a car and stay in motels/hotels, on your trip. I much prefer to travel in my RV. It's always an adventure &, like some have said here, you don't have to plan where you are going to be, every evening. Life is very regimented. RV'ing allows you to be somewhat more spontaneous. For me, that's fun!



As far as Nova Scotia, goes. They just kissed my tourist dollars Good Bye!!! So will any other community, State or Province. Maybe, letting our tourist dollars, or lack of them, will make a bit of an impact on their local economy's. BTW, I have relatives in Nova Scotia. I'll either fly there (probably not), or they can come visit me, in AZ. I certainly won't take my RV there.



Once again, Thank You to Walmart/Sam's Club and whom ever else allows overnight parking for RV'ers. Many of us appreciate the opportunity you provide for us.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Texas Diesel]

Yes, appreciation is due.



Forgot one little step, go into WalMart and buy needed supplies while the RV cools off.

 

[snapshot]

Thanks for the offer Snapshot. I've been known to "don't plan well" from time to time. :-laf

You are quite welcome, and that offer is good for any TDR member that finds themselves in this part of the world. I have no problem with good people in my "yard".

 

[Texas Diesel]

I have a full hookup, 30A site in my yard, only need some TDR members to fill it

 

[snapshot]

I have a full hookup, 30A site in my yard, only need some TDR members to fill it

Is that 30 amps or 30 Acres?

 

[Texas Diesel]

Good point... 30 Amps, 14 acres

 

[snapshot]

Good point... 30 Amps, 14 acres

14 Acre Yard!!..... now would that be your front yard or your back yard?

 

[Stretch]

The ordenance/law in Nova Scotia is valid, but leaves little wiggle room for bonafide emergency/critical situations. The beauty of their ability to enact a law of this type is directly akin to them being part of a socialist leaning country. (Needs of the community out-weight the rights of an individual). This is not unique to Canada however. I have witnessed this 'oversight' starting to take place more and more in communities across the U. S. as well. Frightening!!



I also believe, in the interest of fairness, that restrictions do need to be placed on some areas. However, case-by-case situations should also be taken into account. I would hate to see somebody killed because they could not pull off the road.



My two cents.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Both and 3 RV hookups. In Texas we overdo everything!!

 

[snapshot]

Both and 3 RV hookups. In Texas we overdo everything!!

Yes you do... that's why we here in Alaska are proud to have Texas as the # 3 state !!

 

[Texas Diesel]

Alaska is a territory and not officially recognized as a State :-laf



Plus we have more BBQ and better looking beavers :-{}

 

[snapshot]

Alaska is a territory and not officially recognized as a State :-laf

Plus we have more BBQ and better looking beavers :-{}

Going back to being a territory might not be so bad. The last time I was in your area it looked like Texas was close to becoming Texico, and I don't mean to oil company. Most of our beavers are nocturnal creatures and so only come out at night. Makes it hard to say if they are better lookin or not.

Of course you have more BBQ, you have a ton more people. Most of our BBQ is a little different. We seldom use any BBQ sauce on our meat or fish. A Moose steak tastes great grilled on an open fire with just a bit of garlic butter and salt on it, or not. Fresh Sockeye Salmon done the same way is real hard to beat also.

If you ever get up this way we will show you what we mean.

 

[Texas Diesel]

I would like to get up there but is there a way to drive around Canada?



Moose steak huh? Hmmmmmm, sounds good!



Between Clinton and Bush giving away the Country (and Texas) I'm surprised we arent paying war reparations to Mexican decendants.

 

[snapshot]

I would like to get up there but is there a way to drive around Canada?

Moose steak huh? Hmmmmmm, sounds good!

You could always take the Ferry but that is pretty spendy. In our experience the people get a lot nicer the further north you get from the US/Canada border. You may as well drive their roads, we paid for most of them.

Take my word for it, Moose steak is good and so is Caribou. Mt. Sheep is some of the best.

 

[Jetson]

Thats because you can't pump yer own gas up thar!

I deliberately avoided buying fuel in Oregon during my recent pass through there from Seattle to Houston. Couple 5 gal. cans and I didn't pay any of their taxes or have to let anyone fill my tank.