Where We Are Now

We landed this afternoon at Ely KOA Journey, pretty much right in the middle of Nevada, elevation, 6500 ft. This is just a stop-over for a night, but it really is a nice campground. We plan to drive around this after and check out the town.

   Ely KOA our site

Where We Are on the Map

Where to Next

From here we're heading north to Idaho. Our first stop is a place called Anderson Camp. We plan to spend a couple of days there so we can check out Shoshone Falls and what's left of Twin Falls

 Anderson Camp Stock Photo

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Monday, 20 May 2019 19:33

Cultus Lake RV Campground

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Cultus Lake 1000 Trails RV & Camping Resort

     As luck would happen, we arrived at the campground on a Sunday of a three-day Canadian holiday, so the campground was quite full.  We drove into the campground and found no place to disconnect the dinghy and had to squeeze through the maze of cars and RV with the coach, car attached.  Working our way to the back of the campground we didn’t find a single site deep enough to fit us until we got to an area that was backed up to the storage area which was previously designated for tents.  The site was in a zoo of cars, boats, tents, and RVs, I was about to pass it up when Jackie decided it would be our spot.  She had walked ahead of the coach to find a site while I was working my way through the maze.  The campers around the site offered to move cars and boats and even guide us in.  Based on the friendliness of the people around, we took a very tight spot with only 15 amps.

     The campground was such a zoo and with a lack of phone and internet, we contemplated leaving the next morning.  We didn’t.  For a fee, the campground offered the internet and gave us a password that was good for just one device and 24 hours.  On our second day, I got smart and set up my directional antenna and connected with a repeater and a router, which allowed us to connect any of our devices.  On the last day of the holiday, the campground had thinned out a bit and it was more welcoming.  We took advantage of the pool and explored the area a bit.

      Our first venture out we went to Bridal Veil Falls and then to Hope to see the Othello Tunnels (being that it was BC Day, the tunnels were so crowded we passed on visiting them.  Jackie wanted to do lunch at a real authentic Canadian restaurant, so she picked Tim Hortons, where we were expected to have a donut with our sandwiches.  From there we headed to Harrison Hot Springs which was a neat touristy town with a beach, swimming lagoon, shops, and restaurants.  Because of the smoke, we couldn’t see much of the beautiful landscape also, I had hoped to visit Devil’s Gate, but it was too close to the fires.

      On a second outing, we drove just a mile or two from the campground to Teapot Hill trailhead.  Round trip to the top and back was just over three miles and a thousand foot elevation change.  The hike was very enjoyable because, on your way up the hill, previous hikers had left teapots of every variety semi hidden along the trail.  I don’t really know what I’m going to do with 50 plus teapot photos, but oh well. We passed people of all ages, everyone having fun spotting teapots, forgetting the steepness of the climb.  We even met one young lady with a teapot of her own to hide. 

      The visit turns out to be a success, smoke, holiday, and all.  Most of the people we met in the campground loved it and come back to it over and over.  On our way back across the border, we got some extra fun when we were detained for a half hour or so,  while the border guards decided that even with a common name, I was safe to allow back into the states.

 

   A Fraser Valley RV campground providing a fun getaway for all ages

     Come to Cultus Lake RV Resort and we'll make sure you have an outstanding time! From endless nearby hiking trails, water activities and the picturesque location of Fraser River Valley, Cultus Lake RV Resort is the perfect retreat for all ages. Avid fisherman can try their hand in the renowned Vedder River, the mighty Fraser River or Cultus Lake. Excursionists will love the shopping, miniature golf, water parks, ice cream and more found a short drive away in town.
     On-site activities won't disappoint, as swimming in the heated outdoor pool and enjoying the indoor game room are great for both children and adults. Additionally, this Fraser Valley RV campground offers a diverse set of sites, ensuring each guest will enjoy their experience to the fullest. Take your pick! Be close to the pool, near the river, in a wooded area or away from it all. Even better, our 24-hour ranger is always on site to take make your stay better in any way possible.
     Less than 20 minutes down the road is the city of Chilliwack. Here you can enjoy the perks of a big city without the big city crowds. Catch a movie, watch live entertainment, dine out or pick up some groceries to take back to the resort. Book your Cultus Lake RV Resort camping trip today!
Monday, 20 May 2019 19:31

Crystal Isles RV Resort

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Crystal Isles RV Resort

     Crystal Isles was planned as just a stopover, but because of the manatees nearby, I thought it best to at least stay a couple of days.  It is a really nice resort and there are plenty of sights to see close by.  As always we take some time on the day we arrive to walk the resort.  Along the way, we did notice a good number of grasshoppers, but they seemed to be in only one small section of the park.  As I walked up to take a photo of a site with its own dock, the couple at the site next door said hi.  Ten minutes later, we were all drinking margaritas and talking like we've known each other for years.  (this is my favorite part of full-time RV'ing)  Meeting great people just makes the park!  During our chat, Jackie and I got acquainted with no-see-ums.  (who knew there would be bugs in Florida?)  

     We picked the wrong time of year to visit Crystal River because the manatees come up the river to its 72-degree springs to keep warm.  Just a few miles from the resort is Homosassa Springs Wildlife, State Park.  It has to be one of the best wildlife preserves in the country.  Well worth the $13 dollars to visit.  First and foremost are the manatees.  During the summer, the manatees there are rehabilitating from boating accidents and things.  Also, there is a large assortment of birds there along with alligators, a hippo, and various other animals.  

    Bugs withstanding, this is a really great resort, that we should have planned to stay a bit longer.  The park has most of the amenities that you would expect to find in a resort (and they're well maintained). I'm sure that we will revisit here in the future.  

 

 A perfect blend of peace and pleasure at a Nature Coast RV resort

    Experience a beautiful retreat that offers something for the whole family at Crystal Isles RV Resort. Located on Florida's scenic West Coast with nearby Gulf beaches, restaurants, golf courses, fishing and shopping, Crystal Isles RV Resort is the perfect camping location for enjoying the Florida sunshine.

    Crystal Isles RV park offers a mix of peace, tranquility and plays to create the Florida vacation you've been waiting for. Walk on the beach, rent a boat, fish in the local streams and lakes or test your hand at golf. We offer a wonderful experience for your next vacation.

Monday, 20 May 2019 19:30

Coronado Campground

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Coronado Campground, Bernalillo, New Mexico

     Coronado Campground is located a few miles northeast of Albuquerque in a town called Bernalillo.  It is within walking distance of an archeology site and a casino.  The first thing that I noticed about the campground was how much pride the owner had in it.  Each sited had an adobe shelter built over its picnic shelter and each shelter had hand-painted walls.  The campground was laid out nice and was set up with the customer in mind.   Our site had 50 amps and water, but the campground has a one airconditioner rule.  We walked around and found that there was a good view of the Rio Grande river and away from the RV section of the campground was a tent campground with facilities and some sheltered picnic tables.  There was a group tent camping area with groomed laid-out out spots for tents.  Overall, I was very pleased with our visit and it was also pretty inexpensive as well.  I will make an effort to return for a longer visit one day.

 

Coronado Campground doesn't have a website, but here is a link to reviews of the campground.

Monday, 20 May 2019 19:29

Colorado River RV Campground

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Colorado River RV Campground

     Colorado River RV Campground is just outside of Columbus, Texas.  It is on the Texas Colorado River as opposed to the Colorado River flowing through the Grand Canyon.  (Who knew? there are two Colorado Rivers)  We were immediately impressed with how green the park is. It had some damage from Hurricane Harvey, but you couldn’t tell other than the bathrooms have been rebuilt and the banks of the river have fallen some, eating several campsites. The campground is divided into two sections, one being near the pool and courts while the other near the river. Both sections are equally nice. The sites vary from 50 amps with full hookups (where you have to pay $3 per night extra), to 50/30 with full hookups with the option of using the 50 or not and 30 amp sites with water only. Since we were only staying for three nights and the weather wasn’t too hot we opted for the later. The park has a small pool, and indoor hot tub, a mini-golf course, a basketball court and a pickleball court. The rec. facilities are in the welcome center at the park entrance. The Campground is well maintained and has a beautiful park-like setting, with lots of birds and deer. If you’re looking to get away from it all, this is the place to go. Nearby is the town of Columbus that is very picturesque with some historic buildings. An hour of walking around will cover it.  Unless the Confederate Museum is open (pictured left).  It cost a dollar looks like it may take some time to tour.  Overall, we love the feel of this park and will definitely return here in the future.

 

Stay among riverside pecan groves at a Houston RV campground

Located midway between Houston and San Antonio, Colorado River RV Campground lies along the shores of the Colorado River. This Houston RV campground is nestled amid green fields and pecan groves. Colorado River RV Campground offers an abundance of outdoor camping activities such as hiking, canoeing, fishing and wildlife watching. With easy access to the freeway, guests can enjoy a trip to the big cities then return to the quiet sanctuary of this Houston RV Campground.

Monday, 20 May 2019 19:27

Cleer Creek Campground

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Clear Creek Campground, Golden Colorado

     Clear Creek Campground is where Jackie and I stayed while we visited with our Niece Carrie and watched her graduate from the Colorado School of Mines.   The campground is in the perfect location, walking distance to everything in town.  We couldn't have gotten a better spot.  I would highly recommend this campground for anyone who wants to visit beautiful Golden, Colorado.   

From their website

This small, friendly RV park, owned and operated by the City of Golden, is located at 1400 10th Street. It offers a relaxed country-like setting within walking distance of historic downtown Golden.

The RV park is open year-round, equipped with 22 full hook-ups, 11 50-amp electric only, 3 tent campsites, large clean restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and a dump station.

Come for quiet seclusion along the banks of Clear Creek, with easy access to downtown via the Clear Creek Trail.  The Clear Creek RV park is located just 20 minutes from downtown Denver, with easy access to Central City and Black Hawk.
Reservations
Visit the Clear Creek RV Park website to make your reservations online.

2018 Clear Creek RV Park Rates
Site Type Price (pre-tax)
*Rates listed are for 2 people and 1 RV. Additional guests may stay for $4 per person per day.
**A maximum 14-day stay is in effect from May 1 through Sept. 30 (3 day limit in tent site)
***A monthly rate of $800 for electric sites and $850 for full hookup sites is available from Oct. 1 through April 30.
Full Hook-up Creekside - $55 / daily
Full Hook-up - $45 / daily
Electric Site - $40 / daily
Tent Site - $27 / daily

Park Amenities
Free wifi (no cable)
Large clean restrooms
Showers
Laundry facilities
Dump station – $10 fee for non-registered users but free to park guests.
Walking distance to downtown Golden

Monday, 20 May 2019 15:32

Chehalis RV Campground

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Chehalis RV  & Camping Resort, Chehalis, Washington

      We arrived at Chehalis Campground on a Friday morning which was fortunate because the ranger said they were expecting seventy more campers that day.  Not the best planning on my part to arrive on a Friday, but sometimes it happens.  Chehalis is Thousand Trails’ oldest campground, however, it didn’t show it.  It was clean and most of the facilities were well kept.  The campground lacks cell service in most place and for us, that means no Internet as well.  The connections at the clubs were limited as well.  The adult lodge, pool, & hot tub, as well as the tennis courts and horseshoe pits, were located at the bottom of the campground not close to anything, but they were all in good condition.  There is also a couple of racket ball courts that look as if they hadn’t been used in years, complete with graffiti.  Next to the entrance gate was the miniature golf course that looked to be a great course in its day.  It was closed for construction that didn’t seem to be ongoing.  Upon the hill were the family lodge, pool, and store.  They too were in good condition.
     The campground was a campground and not a parking lot.  Most sites were in the trees and gave more of a camping feeling.  The best part of our time there were the people we met.  One couple at the pool, one camping across from us and another that we met in Long Beach.  We all got together a few miles down the road for Bingo at the local grange.  This was a first for me.  Personally, I thought the game went on too long and there wasn’t much time for socializing.  I don’t understand how Bingo is different from any other kind of gambling.  We bought packets of scorecards for $13 and had the chance to win as much as $500 on some cards and yet it was open for kids as young as nine to play.  Oh well, not losing sleep over it. 
      Chehalis is a campground that we will definitely return to.  There seemed to be plenty of helpful staff on hand so that everything ran smoothly.  We found plenty of trails around the campground to give the dogs room to run, (always a plus).  Also, it’s within a hundred miles of Vancouver, which allowed us a day trip into the city for appointments and to collect our mail.
From: Thousand Trails
        Spectacular views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens are no stranger to this Puget Sound RV campground. With over 300 acres, Chehalis RV Camping offers the ultimate camping experience. Amenities such as beautiful hiking trails and local area attractions provide entertainment to our guests, while tranquil scenic views offer the perfect place to sit back and relax.
       Come out and explore Chehalis RV Camping! Where an umbrella of maple alder and Douglas fir trees line the paths to private campsites and a gorgeous scenery of lush green ferns adds aesthetic appeal to this Puget Sound RV campground.
 
Monday, 20 May 2019 15:27

Caverns of Sonora

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Caverns of Sonora

      While following I-10 through western Texas, there isn’t a whole lot to see.  However, we did find that just seven miles off the freeway was Sonora Caverns.  Along with a cavern full of geological formations, they had a small campground.  It isn’t a large campground, but it did have 50amp pull-through sites for $25 a night.  The $20 hour and a half walk through the caverns was well worth it.  There is also a nice gift shop with high-quality items and not just your typical junk.  There’s a nice picnic area, a tent area, campsites for smaller RV’s, and a theater (for plays I guess, we didn’t get a chance to see it) and lots of whitetail deer.  At the end of the day the guides dump a bag of deer corn out and I counted well over 20 deer feeding.  Overall, I was very impressed with the campground and the hosts.  It is a great place to overnight along a long boring highway.
From their website:
“Its Beauty Can Not be Exaggerated, Even by Texans.”
     Where the Texas Hill Country meets the Chihuahuan Dessert sits thousands of acres of limestone-rich ranch country. Found below the boots and hooves of those who inhabit and work the land is one of Earth’s most revered underground treasures, The Caverns of Sonora. The Caverns of Sonora is internationally recognized as one of the most beautiful show caves on the planet. Located 15 miles southwest of Sonora, Texas on I-10, the Caverns of Sonora marks the halfway point between San Antonio, TX and Big Bend National Park. Visitors come close and personal with this highly decorated cave system on intimate guided tours. The ranch inspired grounds and gift shop offer a place to relax in nature, pan for gemstones, hike, or even indulge in homemade fudge. We invite you to bring your tent or RV and rest atop our crystal kingdom.
 

 

Our Route

Travels 05 08 19 fast Click on map for a larger, slower view.

 

Our Travels

5 31 19 mappClick on map for a larger view.