Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 06:58:09 -0800
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: $6: Stealth Camping, Big Springs, Texas
In-Reply-To: <31972669.46157.1257435169762.JavaMail.mcneely4@127.0.0.1>
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Dave,
Thanks for all the good tips. I'm at a Starbucks in Austin, catching up. Stayed at a Texas State Park (McKinley Falls?) last night, $16 plus $5 entrance (yes, stealth camping at McDonalds is cheaper!), but a nice place, good hot showers, gave me a chance to do general cleanup. Need to stop at Home Depot for some JB Weld; one of my fittings in my homemade camper setup broke loose. So always something to take care of. Van is running perfect. Must've killed 10,000 butterflies yesterday...maybe they're migrating or something; front of the van looks like a war zone. Had my first real Texas BBQ yesterday for lunch; tasty....vinegar-based thin sauce....interesting.
My "route" is a meandering one, intentionally not too efficient. Just want to drift around and see what's here, but generally heading towards the Gulf. I've noticed the temperatures and humidity increasing as I lose altitude and approach the ocean. May make it there tonight.
Not expecting much out of Brownsville, border towns are always junky, but just want to see it...and fun to look at a big USA map and remember I was there. That will be my turnaround point, and will generally follow the Rio Grande up to Big Bend National Park, then westward back home. I've done lots of roadtrips across the USA, and it's becoming a challenge to not be on the same road as I once was.
Thanks again for all the tips. Roadtrips are sure fun, a nice escape. Rich
--- On Thu, 11/5/09, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET> wrote:
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: $6: Stealth Camping, Big Springs, Texas
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Thursday, November 5, 2009, 7:32 AM
Hi Richard, I lived in Big Spring (not Springs) Texas where you are stopping when I was a kid and again for two years in the 1970s. I taught high school there, and my daughter was born there.
If you are at a McDonald's there, you are within 3 or 4 miles of that state park you missed. Sounds like you like the McDonald's better anyway. There is also a campground at Moss Creek Lake east of town. Some interesting stuff around Big Spring, but I'll bet you're gone from there by the time I'm typing this.
I also lived in the RGV where you are headed, years and years and years there, where I taught at The University of Texas at Brownsville. You'll find lots of neat stuff, but actual camping is hard to come by. Nice to camp on the beach, though. Avoid camping at Boca Chica Beach at the mouth of the Rio Grande, as drug runners frequent it (better controlled now than when I lived there) but be sure to visit it during the day. It is the best beach down there (you can't get onto the King Ranch except for guided day tours only) that is accessible by road. Well, if you were in a Syncro, you could drive up SPI on the beach toward what is called the Mansfield Cut (where Padre Island was cut through for navigation purposes), or S on NPI from Port Aransas on the Padre Island National Seashore. Some people do make the SPI beach drive in 2WD, but you have to be very aware of the tides, as driving on dry sand as you might have to at high tides is a guarantee
for getting stuck. The NPS enforces the 4WD only rule on the National Seashore.
Once you get S. of the Edwards Plateau, the colder nights will be gone. Expect the weather in the RGV in November to be as warm as in San Diego in summer. BTW, there is a tiny town down that way, west of Corpus Christi, called San Diego. It is the county seat of Duval County. Look up the history of Lyndon Johnson's political career sometime.
Curious why you took the route you are on, rather than having stayed on I-10 or even taking U.S. 90 and then cross country part of the way on local roads, saving a lot of miles? I likely would have avoided I-20 at all cost. Lots more traffic, for sure, and just a much longer drive.
David McNeely
On Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 9:43 PM, Richard Koerner wrote:
> Hi, List--
>
> I'm on a 4,000 mile roadtrip from San Diego to the southern tip of Texas (just because it's there) and back (assuming my 85 Vanagon with 176,000 miles makes it). Running smooth, should be OK. Actually, since I repaired that leaky vacuum hose hidden underneath the air cleaner, better than smooth; I think about 22 MPG at 65 MPH on my GPS.
>
> The days are getting shorter, the nights colder. About sunset, pulled into a McDonalds in Big Springs, Texas. Am writing this from the parking lot. The advantage of a converted 7 passenger Vanagon (as opposed to a Westy) is that you are almost invisible--I hope. The bright lights of the McDonalds make a supreme cover for using the computer inside the van; double thick curtains and no pop top help me look just like another normal car. Hopefully, no one will notice; I imagine I'm not a top security priority with the staff inside; if I were a motorhome, maybe not.
>
> Also, had a nice, hot shower INSIDE my Vanagon, just after I pulled in. I still owe The List pictures and text about that setup; but, it works SO awesome. Actually took my hot shower at this McDonalds...can you believe that?!!!
> I was trying to make it to a Texas State Park here. As the sun was setting, I gave up. Instead, this parking lot is my home for the night. The clean restrooms are a plus, as is the nearby Pizza place...getting tired of McDonalds.
>
> So, here is the story: safe and secure and clean and well fed at a parking lot at the McDonalds. (Earplugs will solve any noise problems from the drive-up window or those nasty diesel duely pickup trucks, in abundance in these here parts.) Free WiFi (I have SBCGLOBAL.net) and am within 100 feet of the building. Power to the computer is via a second battery (relay kit from GoWesty). A cheap inverter to turn 12 VDC to 120 VAC. Food was the Pizza joint, $6 for all you an eat salad and pizza. Entertainment tonight is via the computer...TV shows or something, still figuring that out. Got to catch up on email and all the Vanagon List happenings.
>
> Aside from dinner, it would basically be free. That's why we own these vehicles...yes, we can do the "normal" camping routine, and be right at home with a MultiHundred Thousand Dollar Motorhome, or we can "blend in" as I'm doing tonight, or we can find that off trail place where no one goes. Or, we can stealth camp for free, like tonight. We can do it ALL. And, on a low budget. Like I said, my total expenses for tonight are $6. If I were to expose any of this truth to anyone other than The List, I'd be deemed nuts, so keep all this in confidence. Ha ha!
>
> Good night from the good state of Texas...hopefully, this McDonalds won't even have noticed that I parked here or used their restrooms (maybe a free night in the local slammer if all goes bad!!)
>
> Rich
> 85 7Passenger Converted Camper
> From San Diego, but soon to be in Brownsville Texas, just for the heck of it
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