Setting Up Camp

How you go about setting up camp will depend on several factors, mostly what kind of RV you have, if any, and where and when you are camping. Other factors include weather, terrain, what kind of optional equipment you have and how many people you have to help you and to keep track of. It will make a difference whether you are group camping with other people or camping solo. Camping and RVing are great family activities. There will be many benefits to sharing responsibilities for setting up camp with other family members, including children. One major advantage is they will feel more a part of the excursion if they are involved. They will also have the opportunity to learn responsibility and gain valuable camping and survival skills. On top of that, setting up camp will be a lot easier and go a lot faster when tasks are divided among several campers instead of all falling on one person. Admittedly, teaching children will initially take more time than doing it yourself, but the investment will pay great dividends in their personal development and eventually will take some of the load off you.  Besides, it is fun to watch them!  While tent camping may mean a lot more setup, just positioning and leveling an RV and getting camp equipment unpacked and set up will take some time. The better and more practiced your routine, the faster it will go. Many campers, especially children, are super anxious to begin the planned recreational activities so it is easy to put off some aspects of setting up your camp. Try not to fall into the trap of rushing off to play without getting setup. You will almost always find your stay more enjoyable if you are organized to start with. Setting up camp can be a fun activity in itself.  Some of us are perfectionists and prefer to do things ourselves. We each like things done in a specific way and often have difficulty delegating tasks to others. True, the first time it may actually take more time to show them what to do than to do it ourselves, but with a little practice and patience, we can give others an opportunity to learn and share in essential tasks, taking off some of the load and getting everyone on to the other fun stuff faster.  Getting everything setup when you arrive leaves you free to enjoy the rest of your stay.  Putting it off until later often introduces extra work and takes extra time.  You might find  yourself trying to do a lot of things in the dark!  Better to be well organized to start with.  I even like to prepare my campfire so all I have to do is light it when I'm ready.

A primary consideration for both RV and tent campsites is finding a level spot to set up. In most established campgrounds this isn't a problem, but it can be a serious issue when boondocking. The closer the spot is to level, the better. RVs need to be level for comfort and so the refrigerator will work properly. Tent sites need to be level so you don't roll or slide down the hill while you're sleeping. If you MUST set up in a location that isn't level, try to orient your RV so the front wheels are down hill. That way it is easier to drive up on leveling blocks or, if you're lucky enough to have hydraulic levelers, they won't lift your back wheels off the ground. The back wheels are usually where your parking brakes are and lifting them off the ground lets the RV roll. If you can't level your RV, try to orient it so your feet will be downhill when you're sleeping. If you have to set up your tent on an sloping side, orient it so your feet will be downhill. If you lie across the hill you will roll. If your head is downhill, stomach bile will creep back up your throat during the night and that is definitely not a good way to get night's sleep.  Dinner doesn't taste so good that second or third time around!  Stomach acid creeping up in your throat will also give you a sore throat. 

Motorhomes are about the easiest to setup in camp. Often all you have to do is pull into your assigned space and, if you're in a campground with hookups, connect your water, power and sewer. You probably won't need to hook up the sewer hose until you are ready to dump you tanks.  Setting up right away leaves it out in the sun longer causing it to deteriorate faster and it may be a trip hazard or might be damaged if someone steps on it.  You won't need it until the black water tank is at least 1/2 to 2/3 full. If the space isn't level you may have to do some leveling and you will want to activate any stabilizing system you may be using. Automatic levelers make leveling and stabilizing really easy. Automatic levelers usually work in two stages. When you first activate them, the leveling jacks swing down. This allows you to place "jack boots" under the jacks to spread the load and keep them from sinking into softer surfaces. The second stage senses the position of the RV and lowers each jack as necessary until the RV is level. If you have a manual leveling system you will have to operate each jack as needed until the RV is level.

Trailers may need to be disconnected from the tow vehicle to be leveled and stabilized. Other than that, setting them up is very much like setting up a motorhome. Sometimes a space may be too short for your tow vehicle to remain connected to the trailer and you'll have to park beside the trailer or in another designated location. Even if there is enough room, you may need to disconnect in order to be able to adjust the height of the front of the trailer in order to level it.  You can usually achieve front to back leveling raising or lowering the tongue jack.. Side to side discrepancies will required the use of jacks or leveling blocks.

Once you have parked, leveled, and stabilized your motorhome or trailer, connect to park facilities (if available), extend your awning(s), and roll out and stake down your awning mat. If you plan to use your own picnic table or BBQ, get it out and set it up. You will probably want to close all the curtains, shades, or drapes both for privacy and temperature control. Closing window coverings keeps the interior cooler in summer and warmer in winter.  Start your water heater and make sure your refrigerator is working. If the weather is cool, start your furnace. If it is hot, start your generator and turn on your air conditioning. Unload fire wood and stack it somewhere convenient to your fire pit, but at a safe distance so it won't be ignited by sparks or blowing embers.  If you plan to watch over the air TV, raise the antenna and aim it in the direction of the station.  If you use a satellite system, align your dish.   If you weren't traveling with the water heater on, turn it on now.

Tent Camping. We'll start with the basics. Many aspects of tent camping will apply to camping in an RV as well. First, locate your camp site. If you're in a developed campground, your site will be assigned at check-in time. Sites are usually identified by numbered posts or signs where you park. Most sites in developed campgrounds will include a picnic table and fire pit. Park your vehicle, taking care to stay within the bounds of your assigned paved or graveled parking area. Do NOT drive over grass or landscaping unless instructed to do so by your camp host and NEVER allow your vehicle to intrude into another camp site or public area or hang over into the roadway or pathways. Inspect your site and decided where to put your tent. Ideally it should be upwind and uphill from the fire pit and from any nearby toilet facilities. An appropriate "pad" is usually provided in developed campgrounds -- a fairly level area cleared of major debris.  Usually it will be a nice grassy spot.  When in remote locations you'll have to identify and clear your own pad.  Unload your tent and other major components, such as ice chests and stoves. Survey your chosen or assigned site to determine how to make the best use of available features and improvements. Your options may be limited when you are in a developed campground but when camping in a primitive site you may be able to design your own camp layout. Find a safe place for your fire pit and try to place it downwind of your tent and your vehicles if possible. In a developed campground, set up your tent upwind from the permanent fire pit. I would set up my camp kitchen near the fire and close to any sources of water if I can. Choose a level spot within your designated site, clear of rocks, twigs, and other debris to set up your tent. Make sure you have enough overhead clearance if you choose a spot under trees. Lay out a ground cloth if you are going to use one beneath your tent. Ground cloths help protect tent floors from dirt, punctures and ground moisture. Tarps are usually sturdier than the thin fabric of tent floors. Just be careful that your ground cloth does not extend beyond the edges of your tent. If it does, it will collect and funnel any moisture (rain, dew, melted snow) under your tent! Personally, I like to use a ground cloth inside my tent too. That way I am sure my sleeping bags will be protected against ground moisture but it doesn't protect the tent floor from stuff on the ground the way one beneath the tent will. Using both gives maximum protection against unwanted moisture from the ground reaching your sleeping bag and spoiling your night's sleep as well as protecting the tent floor. Roll out the tent and stake down the corners. Then erect the poles according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you can set up the poles without staking down the corners, do so. Then crawl into your tent, roll out your sleeping bag, and make sure there aren't any sticks or stones beneath you. It is a lot easier to move the tent and clear the obstacles before you stake it down. Weather permitting, open windows and/or doors to allow the tent to air out. It will probably be a little musty from being in storage since your last trip. Set up your air mattresses or roll out your sleeping pads or install foam floor tiles if you're using them, then roll out your sleeping bags on top of them. Rolling out your sleeping bags in advance allows the compressed filling to expand and restore "loft" and insulation before you need it. If they have been rolled up for a long time, it might be a good idea to hang them outside where the breeze can help freshen and fluff them up. It may also help "air out" any musty odors that may have accumulated in storage. Hopefully you can leave room in your tent to store other items and for undressing and dressing. If you are using a small pup or pop-up tent, there may only be room for your sleeping bags and any other gear will have to be stored elsewhere. In good weather you may be able to leave it outside, but if the weather is bad or if you suspect your gear may be subject to theft or tampering, cover it with a tarp or put it back in your vehicle. I like to use a tent sized for one more person than will be occupying it so we have extra room for dressing and undressing and for gear.

Next, set up your camp kitchen. You want this to be safe, convenient, and easy to use. It should be downwind from your tent and your vehicles. You may want to use one end of the site picnic table (if available) as a convenient place to put your stove, ice chest, and water jugs. Lacking a table you might use the tailgate or trunk of your vehicle. You should keep your non-perishable foodstuffs in plastic tubs that can be easily stored back in your vehicle along with coolers for perishables when you're done with meals to prevent animals from getting into them. Even metal coolers aren't enough to stop bears from helping themselves to your goodies. Old-timers sometimes hang their provisions high in a tree to keep them safe, but putting them back in your vehicle is much easier, although bears have a been known to break into vehicles in search of food. There are portable camp kitchen support systems that can also be used if you have room to transport them. They usually fold up into a compact bundle and are made of aluminum so they are light weight and easy to transport and relieve your dependence on having a picnic table available when you arrive. These stands often include a place for your camp stove, racks for utensils and condiments, some (usually limited) counter space, sometimes a portable sink, and maybe even a spot for your ice chest. Set up and check your camp lanterns. If you have battery powered lanterns you need only verify battery and bulb condition. For gas-powered lanterns, you will need to check the fuel level and the condition of the mantles. Be careful fueling liquid gas lanterns. Use a funnel and stay far away from any open flames, including the pilot lights on your water heater and fridge! Mantles in gas lanterns, once installed, are made of ash and are very fragile and easily damaged in transport so bring plenty of spares. If the mantle is damaged, replace it before it gets dark. Also be sure to make sure you have a trash can or trash bag convenient to your cooking area. I sometimes bring along a portable sink when tent camping. It is made of plastic and has a built in reservoir and pump for the water. It isn't large enough for doing dishes, but it is great for personal hygiene, such as brushing your teeth, shaving, and washing your hands and face.

If you are tent camping in a primitive area without any restrooms you'll need to choose an area for a latrine. For a short stay you may just dig individual holes as needed but if you're going to be there for several days or have a bunch of people in your group, you might want to dig a trench latrine for added convenience. Make sure all latrines are downwind from your camp site and at least 200' away from any lake, stream, pond, spring, or well.

Set up your campfire. If it is cold, you may want to get the campfire going sooner rather than later so you have a place to warm up during other camp chores, but for ideal camping weather you probably won't need it until evening, long after everything else is ready to go. Even then, I like to set mine up when I set up camp so all  I have to do is light it when I'm ready to use it.  If you are in a developed or even a previously used primitive campground, there will probably be an existing fire pit. If you are in a remote area, you may have to build your own fire ring or use a portable fire pit. In any case, you'll want to get your fire set up and ready to light before it gets dark so it will be ready to just light when you need it most. Unload your firewood and stack it neatly where it will be convenient to use by safe from sparks.   Clean out and repair rock fire rings, then set up your fire for later lighting.  See my previous post on Campfire Safety for additional tips on campfires.

Set up optional camp equipment. You may have camp chairs, a dining fly to shade your picnic table and protect it from rain and bird droppings, and games or recreational equipment to be unpacked and set up.  If your activities include OHVs or other motorized toys you will want to get them unloaded and prepared for use.   If there is a likelihood of bad weather, cover outside equipment with tarps and secure them so they won't blow away.   If the weather is TOO bad, consider postponing getting things out until it clears up a bit.   If you're using a Sun Shower, fill the bag and hang it or lay it out in the sun to heat. If you have an awning mat, roll it out and stake it down so it doesn't blow away if the wind kicks up.

If you are RV camping in a remote or primitive area, try to use a previously used camp site. This will avoid unnecessary environmental damage and will make setting up your camp easier for you, especially if there is an existing fire pit. Sometimes you can see where other RVs have been parked and this may save you time and effort locating an appropriately level spot.  Most group camps are set up around a central fire pit, so locating the fire pit may help you identify potential camp sites.  Then follow the same procedures as you would in a developed campground (except you won't have any hookups), once again taking care not to encroach on any neighboring campers. If you must set up in a pristine area, do your best to minimize the footprint you leave and take advantage of level areas and any natural features that may provide protection from wind or rain. Avoid camping in depressions or dry washes, especially if there is any chance of rain. Even if the rain is many miles away, flash floods can arrive with surprising speed and force in a previously dry creek bed or wash and quickly inundate low lying areas.

RV Camping with hookups. Setting up camp with your RV is a mostly matter of locating your assigned space, properly parking and leveling your vehicle, and connecting to the camp ground hook ups. Some campgrounds don't offer full hookups so you will have to adapt to what is available and hook up what you can. Always keep all of your vehicles on the paved or graveled parking areas unless otherwise instructed by the campground host. Once you have parked your vehicle, proceed to block it securely and stabilize or level it. Then connect shore power, water lines, and sewer hoses. It is a good idea to carry a volt-meter with you to check voltage at camp sites. Low or high voltage can damage your converter and any electronic equipment you may have on board. It is also surprising how often you may find sites that are mis-wired.  Sometimes extension cords are mis-wired also.  I once had a brand new heavy duty extension cord that was cross wired, so be sure to test your cords as well as the receptacles.  There is a simple, inexpensive device you can plug into any standard 15 or 20 amp 120 volt outlet to confirm the wiring is correct. They are available at some RV stores and in hardware stores and home centers. A combination of lights indicate the status of the outlet and can warn you of wiring errors before they can damage your RV's electrical system or equipment. If the voltage is low or high (below 110 volts or over 130 volts)or the receptacle is mis-wired, DO NOT plug your RV into the camp receptacles. Report the problem to the campground manager. Connect your fresh water hose (use only a white, potable water hose -- ordinary garden hoses will give your water a plastic taste) to the faucet at your campsite. Make sure you are using YOUR faucet, and not one intended for a neighboring site. Sometimes hydrants are placed between sites and shared by more than one site. Use an inline pressure regulator to protect your RV plumbing from excessive city water pressure. Water pressure can vary significantly from place to place and even from time to time during the day and you want to be sure you are protected from unexpected surges that might rupture lines or damage faucet seals inside your RV. I like to put mine between the faucet and the hose so it protects the hose as well as the RV plumbing. Connect your sewer line. If your RV has separate dump valves for the gray water and black water tanks, connect the sewer line to the gray water tank and to the dump pipe and then open the gray water valve completely. If you have a single dump port, connect the hose from that dump port to the dump pipe and then open ONLY your gray water dump valve. You need to leave the black water valve closed to let the black water tank fill at least half full before dumping it to prevent the accumulation of solid wastes that are left behind when liquids quickly drain off if the valve is left open. Some people recommend letting the gray water tank also fill before dumping it, but that usually isn't necessary. Some commercial campgrounds offer extra-cost cable TV and telephone hook ups. If your RV is so-equipped and the campground offers these service, connect the cable TV and Phone lines. Make sure all your electrical lines and hoses are flat on the ground or mark them with bright ribbons so passersby won't trip over them, which could disconnect them or cause someone to be injured. Many campgrounds these days offer wifi Internet service. You won't need a physical connection, but you will need to get the login information from the campground host to be able to use your laptop in your RV. You should try out your Internet connection so you can seek assistance from the host before you really need access if you have any problems. Now turn on the faucet and verify that you have water at all fixtures inside your RV. Make sure your main propane valve is opened. Start your water heater. Most modern heaters have an electronic ignition that only requires you to turn on the switch at the control panel. Older units may require you to light the pilot light. Be sure to carefully follow the lighting instructions on the water heater to avoid injury to you or damage to the water heater. If the weather is cool, start your furnace. Like water heaters, most only require you to turn on a switch and set the thermostat. Some use the thermostat alone, in which case just setting the desired temperature is all that is desired. In hot weather, turn on the roof A/C. If the inside of your RV is warmer than it is outside, air it out before turning on the A/C. Open a few windows to allow cross-ventilation and/or turn on any powered roof vents to evacuate hot air. Remember that hot air rises, so powered or even unpowered roof vents will let the hottest air out the fastest. Check the status of your refrigerator to make sure it is functioning. Light the stove briefly to ensure it is operating correctly. This gives you a chance to diagnose and correct any problems prior to dinner time! It also clears air from the propane lines. If you weren't running the refrigerator in transit (which I normally do), turn on the fridge. If you have a problem with any appliance and do not have the knowledge, skills, or tools to diagnose and correct it, check with the campground manager. Often these folks are able to help you resolve problems themselves or can put you in contact with local mobile RV technicians who can come right to your RV to fix things for you on the spot. If your RV doesn't have a permanent bed, unpack your bedding so it can air out and restore loft to sleeping bags so they'll be ready to crawl into when bedtime rolls around. If the campground offers Internet service either connect a cable to the port on the pedestal or obtain the wifi password from the office.  Wifi is more common than hardwired Internet in campgrounds.

You may now want to roll out your awning mat and open your awning. Awning mats help catch dirt, mud, sand and debris before it gets tracked into you RV and helps define a pleasant patio sitting area. Even if you don't have a full size patio mat, even a small welcome mat outside your rig will help keep dirt outside. If the mat is on gravel or grass you can stake it down with spike-type tent stakes to keep breezes from attempting to relocate it. When camping on asphalt, I use a Hilti style rim-fire nail gun to literally nail the mat down. In either case, you will want to have prepared your mat by installing grommets at appropriate locations (all 4 corners, appropriate spacing along long sides, and on either side of where your RV steps hang out over the mat). In a pinch you can drive stakes or nails directly through the mat, but the grommets will protect the mat from tearing. I usually use large washers on the stakes or nails to secure the grommets and reduce the potential for tearing the mat if the wind kicks up. It also gives you a better way to remove them later when the time comes to go home.  Weather permitting, you may want to extend your patio awning and window awnings if you have them. The awnings will help keep your RV cooler and the patio awning will provide shelter from sun and light rain and further define a pleasant outdoor living area.  Never open your awnings when there are high winds and avoid using them during heavy precipitation.  If it starts to rain after you've set up, lower one corner of the awning to encourage run-off and avoid puddling.

Welcome mats are useful for both tent and RV camping.  Having a place to wipe your feet before entering your abode will reduce tracking dirt inside.  An old burlap bag makes an excellent door mat.  The rough texture is good at scraping sand, dirt, snow, and mud off your shoes.  It folds up small so it takes up little room in transit and you can easily wash it out when it gets dirty.  Usually all you have to do his hose it off and hang it up to dry.

You may then want to proceed with preparing your campfire and any optional camping equipment you have brought along as describe above for tent camping.

RV Camping "off-grid". Camping without hookups, also known as boondocking, dry camping, or being off-grid differs from camping with hookups in that you have to rely on the self-contained features of your RV and you probably won't have a graded parking area. The initial steps are basically the same as for camping with hookups. That is, locate your site and park, level, and stabilize your unit. If you are truly boondocking in a remote area, there will not be designated camp sites and you will have to select an appropriate place to camp. I recommend searching first for areas that have been previously used. That way you avoid unnecessary damage to the environment and save yourself some work setting up your camp. You may also take advantage of the effort someone else has already gone to to find the most level place to park and will probably have already discovered any unseen obstacles and found a way around them. Parking under trees is appealing, especially in warm weather, but if it is now or gets windy, broken and falling branches may seriously damaged the roof of your RV and birds may roost above your unit and make unpleasant deposits on it and you! Since you have no water, electric, or sewer hookups, at this point you need only turn on your water pump and verify you have water at your fixtures and start your water heater. Then check the fridge, stove, and furnace or A/C. To run the A/C you will need to start the generator. Let it warm up for 5 minutes or so before starting the A/C. If the generator shuts off or gets shut off while the A/C is running, wait at least 5 minutes for the "head pressure" in the compressor to bleed off before restarting the A/C to avoid damage to the A/C and reduce stress on the genset. Now proceed to set up the rest of your camp as described above for tent camping. I have seen some campers in remote locations connect a garden hose to special cap on their gray water tanks to allow gray water to be drained some distance away from their vehicles. In most places this practice is forbidden or even illegal and should be avoided. It might be permitted in some very dry desert situations. Care must always be taken to route the hose far away from ANY vehicle or equipment and where the water won't run back into any area where there is a vehicle, people, or equipment. I have seen people stick the end of the hose into a hole in the ground, but remember, something had to make the hole and is probably still living down there! Stuffing a hose into it might stir up a rattlesnake and that could spoil your whole day! At the least you will be creating an unpleasant hazard for the occupants and may even drown them! Your holding tanks are designed and intended for holding waste water. Except in very unusual circumstances you should use them. NEVER, EVER drain black water onto or into the ground. It MUST properly disposed of in an appropriate dump station.

OHV Considerations. If you are on an OHV outing, you will want to unload your OHVs and prepare them for use. Top off fuel tanks, lubricate cables and drive chains, check all lights, check tire pressure. Do a quick check for any loose fasteners. Better to spend a few minutes tightening screws now than losing parts on the trail! You may find it helpful to rope off or mark off a parking area for your OHVs near your RV or trailer so you'll have a convenient place to put them to park and service them again when you return from your ride. I have an awning on my enclosed motorcycle trailer I like to park my bikes under. It defines my parking space and helps protect the seats and plastic components from the sun and will keep off any unwanted moisture, like rain, snow, or dew. Most OHV seats are a dark color and can get very hot if left in the sun. If you can't park in the shade, you may want to throw a tarp or at least a towel over the seat.  If its breezy out you may need to tie it down to keep it from blowing off.  Unpack your riding gear and inspect and organize it so it is easy to put on when you're ready to ride. Fill your canteens or hydration packs. Be considerate of fellow campers. Push your OHVs some distance away from other campers before starting them early in the morning and never "hot dog" or show off in or near camp. Ride slowly in and out of camp to prevent stirring up dust that will annoy other campers and foul your own outdoor gear and equipment. Dust seldom enhances the view and is not a very desirable condiment for hamburgers, steaks, or any meal and never enhances breathing! When leaving your OHVs outside overnight, be sure to secure them with chains or cables and locks. Personally I have never had any problems or seen any among my fellow riders, but we all pretty much lock up our rides at night and it is always better to be safe than sorry. There was one time when anti-OHV folks sabotaged some of our bikes while we were performing volunteer trail maintenance with the U.S. Forest Service, so it is always a good idea to secure them where someone can keep an eye on them.

Winter Camping. Setting up a winter camp requires some special consideration. You may find it helpful to shovel the snow off your site and from around your picnic area before parking. Even finding the proper parking area in a developed campground or locating a safe parking place while boondocking can be made more difficult when the ground is covered with snow. If you are using hookups, you will need to bring heat tape to prevent your hose and the campground faucet from freezing. It is a good idea to get out and walk the space and look for obstacles or holes that may be hidden in the snow and could cause damage to your vehicle or cause you to get stuck before you enter the site. If you are tent camping in the winter you may need to clear away the snow to create a smooth and solid place to set up your tent. Tent pegs may not hold well in snow so you'll need to be able drive them into the ground (which may be frozen!) or devise an alternate form of anchor you can bury in the snow. I carry some large nails (about 10"-12" long) to use in hard or frozen ground. They are sturdier and easier to drive than regular tent pegs. You may also face dangers from accumulated snow falling from overhead branches so it is not a good idea to set up your tent under branches where snow could accumulate. Heat rising from campfires, camp stoves, and even your tent or RV or any little breeze that happens to come along can also cause overhead snow to melt and fall into the fire or stove, so seek an open spot for your campfire or using your stove.

Now, have fun!

End of Season Camping Sales

I love End of Season Sales!  End of Season and Year End sales can be good opportunities to get great bargains on brand new camping equipment.  Stores need to clear out seasonal summer merchandise to make room for winter products.  Expect markdowns of 25-50%, except on big ticket items like RVs.  But you can still save thousands of dollars on RVs during year end sales.  Who doesn't like to get a bargain?   It may seem early, but some stores are already starting to markdown their camping items in July and August!  I've been keeping an eye on the markdowns on camping stuff at a local farm and ranch store and have snagged several good finds.  I'm seeing half price on many different items, ranging from fishing lures to huge family tents.  Getting a $330 tent for $165 definitely qualifies as a bargain in my book!  Some other good buys included pot danglers and other campfire cooking accessories, camp stoves, lanterns, fishing lures, sleeping bags, and first aid kits.  I picked up several first aid kits.  Its always good to have them for vehicles and home use as well as for camping.

But bargains are not bargains, no matter how low the price, if it isn't something you need or will use.  I left that $165 tent on the shelf because I already have all the family tents I need, at least for now.  On the other hand, getting a pot dangler for half price was too good to pass up.  What the heck is a pot dangler you might ask?  It is a support system to dangle your coffee pot or dutch oven over your campfire at a different height than your grill -- or without using a grill.   Basically it consists of a steel post you drive into the ground and a cross member you can set at different heights and different extensions out over the fire.   Pretty clever and handy device!  Since it is optional and not absolutely necessary, I never bought one at full price, but at half price it is a nice addition to my campfire accessories and something I look forward to trying out.

Some stores start out right away with great markdowns to move inventory quickly.  Some take it in increments to maximize their profits.  Waiting for a great price sometimes means missing out on a fairly good price as clearance stock often sells quickly.  You'll want to decide for yourself whether a 25% savings is enough to warrant a purchase or if it is worth risking them all selling out before the next markdown.   In my personal experience, I find I usually regret waiting for a better price and finding items I'm interested in sold out.  My philosophy is "get them while you can". If I buy something and come back to find a significant additional markdown, I may by a second one, but, in case they sell out, at least I got the first one at a discount.  So, how can they afford to sell items at 50% or more off?   Well, I worked in retail several years ago and ultimately the store looks at things from a broader perspective than individual items.  For example, let's say they buy 100 RV widgets at $50 each and begin selling them for $90 each.  They paid $5000 for 100 of them. When they have sold 80 of them at $90 each they have brought in $7200 for a $2200 profit.   They don't have to make a profit on each and every individual item, just on the whole batch. So when they offer the remaining 20 products for 50% or even 90% off, they're not marking them down because they are defective or don't sell.   Let's say they sell the other 20 for 50% off or $45 each.   Now their total profit on the whole lot is another $900 so they made a total of $8100 on a $5000 investment for a $3100 profit. Ultimately, at the end of the year they will probably wholesale a bunch of outdated merchandise to a liquidator and get only pennies on the dollar, so selling them to you at 50% off is a good deal for both you and the store.  I used to feel a little guilty when I would go into a store and buy only sale merchandise, but now that I understand how it works, I can enjoy my savings -- over and over without feeling at all guilty or worrying that there is something wrong with the items I'm buying or that I am somehow taking unfair advantage of the seller.

Different stores have different clearance techniques.   Some take wide markdowns across whole categories of merchandise (e.g. 30% off all patio items) and then keep lowering prices until the clearance has done its job and the merchandise is gone.  Others may start off marking down only some items, then adding more items as the season progresses.   Either way, it pays to check back often to see either what else has been added or how much more the prices have been reduced.   Each time you check back you may find either new items that have been added or prices that have been further reduced, perhaps reaching your personal break point to purchase.   Remember that $330 family tent for $165?  If it comes down to, oh, say, $50, I might buy it as a backup or a gift for a family member or as an addition to my emergency preparedness cache.   I did snag an extra two-person tent for $10 which we've already found useful.   I suspect that in a disaster situation, there will be a lot more people needing help than I'll have supplies to take care of.  Having extras to share or use to barter for things I may need could be advantageous.  And with 6 kids and 17 grandkids, there's always someone who needs some additional camping gear.

Camping equipment is very seasonal, so year end closeouts are common.  Stores need to clear out summer camping merchandise that doesn't sell well in winter months to make room for stuff that does.   Even sporting goods stores will shift their inventory and display space from summer camping to winter sports.  It is a great time to upgrade your equipment or stock up on supplies for next year.  RV stores usually aren't as motivated to liquidate accessory items because a lot of their merchandise tends to sell year round, but they may still have seasonal sales on some items so watch for their ads and brochures and look for "manager specials" and clearance signs when you're in the store.  And, of course, year end is always a good time to get a good deal on a new or used RV.

Low end of season prices can also affect used gear and equipment.  You may find bargains on used stuff at thrift stores, in classified ads, and online sources like ebay and craigslist.  People sometimes dispose of duplicates or unwanted items so they don't have to store them again.  Prices on used equipment will probably be higher in the spring and early summer when demand will increase as people hit the road.  People may put their unused stuff up at the end of the season so they don't have to store it or they may have taken advantage of year end sales themselves to upgrade their equipment and are ready to liquidate what was replaced.  Often they need to dispose of old stuff to make room for their new stuff.

While you're at it, always look for CLEARANCE merchandise all year round.  There are often significant markdowns on a few remaining items in a product line.  CLEARANCE sales can occur any time of year.  I make it a practice to look for the clearance signs every time I visit Home Depot or Walmart.  Sometimes they'll be labeled "Manager Specials".  In any case you might be able to take advantage of markdowns to stock up.   CLEARANCE merchandise may include odds and ends, open packages, or "dent and scratch" items that have minor damage.  Inspect open items carefully to make sure you are OK with whatever damage there might be and check for missing pieces.  Missing pieces are not necessarily a serious problem.  You may be able to get or make the parts you need.  I picked up a 7' umbrella tent for $10 because the crosspiece that held all the poles together at the top was missing. I was able to make one out of 1/2" thin wall conduit for just a few dollars.   I once bought a Camp Chef 2-burner stove with a missing regulator.   Regulators are not very expensive so I took a chance and spent $25 for a $125 stove.   Then I was pleasantly surprised when I called Camp Chef to buy the correct regulator and they sent me one at no charge!  By the way, that Camp Chef stove works really well and I love the available accessories, like a BBQ box and grill/griddles. It is a great way to cook for a large family or other group. See the Camp Chef web site for more information about their great products.

Clearance merchandise may include overstock, end of run, one of a kind, or returned or damaged merchandise.   Overstock, end of run, and one of a kind items are normally brand new and in the original packaging.  You may get amazing bargains on "dent and scratch", returned, or damaged merchandise.  Sometimes the only thing that is damaged is the packaging.  Most "dent and scratch" items have minor imperfections similar to what is likely to occur the first time you use it.  Severely damaged merchandise usually doesn't make it into the "dent and scratch" category but is occasionally offered "for parts only" and you may be able to use some components to repair a similar piece of equipment or even repair it yourself if you are particularly handy at such things.   Returns may occur for many reasons.  Sometimes the item is damaged or has missing parts, but most returns are because the buyer decided they didn't want the item and it may still be in brand new condition.  Always check open packages for missing parts or damaged merchandise to decide if you can repair or live with the damage.  As I mentioned before, I picked up a 7' umbrella tent for just $10 because the "spider" fitting that connect all the poles at the top center was missing.   I was able to make one out of 1/2" rigid conduit for a few dollars and had a fully functional tent for a fraction of its original retail price.

Clearance sales may give you a chance to try out new gear.  It may be something that has been on your "wish list" or it might be something you've never even thought about, but getting it on sale may make it cost effective to check it out.   If it turns out you it doesn't live up to your expectations, put it in your next garage sale or sell it online and get part of your investment back.

End of Year sales can also be a good time to buy an RV.  You are likely to find significant markdowns on left over current year models as dealers need to make room for the new models coming in.   Year end sales can also prompt reductions on pre-owned units as the arrival of new year's models signals all existing units are now a year older.  For once, depreciation works FOR you!

You may not see them advertised as end of season sales, but you will see better prices on pre-owned items when end of season sales are in progress too.  Thrift stores and garage sales face the same seasonal marketing pressures as retailers.  Camping equipment sells better in the spring and summer so prices are usually lower toward the end of the season.  It is also a time when people often review their inventory and get rid of excess items, both increasing the selection and bringing prices down.  So be sure to shop your local thrift stores, garage sales, ebay, and craigslist for end of season bargains.

Happy bargain hunting!

Camp Cooking

My wife should probably be writing this one. She is a whiz at creative cooking and does most of our cooking in camp. She can make frozen corndogs into a gourmet meal. I can't even come close to matching her culinary skills, but I'll do the best I can.  Fortunately, glamorous, appetizing presentation isn't a prerequisite for camp cooking.

One of the basic principles of successful camp or RV cooking the K.I.S.S. principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). We go camping for fun, so camp cooking should be fun too.  One of the advantages of RVing and modern tent camping facilities is the ability to bring a good hint of home with you -- and that includes mealtimes.  Here are some ideas to get you started.

Camp cooking can be fun.  Even if you're preparing the same things you normally cook at home, doing it in camp adds a little bit of adventure.  My wife and daughter-in-law were giddy as a couple of school girls while fixing breakfast when we went tent camping while my son and I got a nice fire going using flint and steel.

Here are some of our favorite meals, accumulated over years of RVing, OHVing, and camping:

Breakfasts. When the kids were young and (over) anxious to start their day riding, we'd often bring along a dozen fresh donuts (well, they were fresh when we bought them the night before) to get everyone off to a quick start the first morning. Not the most nutritious of breakfasts, I'll admit, but quick and easy and provided lots of sugar-energy.   And what kid every turned down donuts?  Add a glass of milk or orange juice and you can feel good about at least part of the "meal". We noticed that some donuts developed a somewhat rancid smell overnight if they weren't refrigerated. We never had that problems with Foster's brand donuts in California, but I don't think the Foster's chain is still in business.  Too bad.  Refrigerating donuts is a way to keep them fresh and avoid having them smell up your RV, but  you may need to warm them up before you eat them.  Since they tend to be best when eaten fresh,  you will probably want to snack on any leftovers the same day rather then try to keep them for another breakfast.  If you need to warm them up and have a microwave oven in your RV, pop them in for a few seconds to take off the chill.  If they're getting particularly dry, put a damp paper towel over them during microwaving.  When tent camping you might try frying them in butter over the campfire or on your trusty Coleman stove.  We found that is a good way to restore day-old pastries to really tasty treats.   Sometimes we deliberately buy day old treats with that in mind, often at substantical savings.

Once you're settled into camp you may find time for more traditional breakfasts. There isn't anything quite like the smell of bacon cooking on an open campfire. A standard breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast provides much better nutrition than donuts and is not all that hard to fix, even on an open fire. And if you're not up to building a fire first thing in the morning, the RV range, microwave, or trusty Coleman stove will have breakfast ready in a jiffy.

Another favorite, with an almost a pioneer flare, is pancakes. Again pretty easy to make and can be cooked up on the RV or Coleman stove or even over the campfire on a griddle or just in a frying pan. Add some sausage and eggs and you've got plenty of protein to start your day.

Waffles may take a bit more effort, but are even an option when tent camping and campfire cooking using cast iron waffle pans.

Cold cereal is an old standby, however it is not something I enjoy out on the road, especially on cooler mornings. But it is easy, fast, and economical and with appropriate selections is usually a hit with kids.  It is easy to store and transport.   It might be just what you need for warmer desert mornings.

Hot cereal may take a few extra minutes, and since even summer mornings in the desert or mountains can be quite cool, it is a welcome way to start the day. Today's instant packets make it pretty fast and easy, especially if you have a microwave. They may cost a little more than bulk packages, but the convenience is well worth it.  I especially like the instant Cinnabon Cream of Wheat I buy at Dollar Tree --  a box of 3 packages for $1.00.  Pretty good and tasty breakfast for 33 cents a serving!   If you have a microwave in your RV they can be ready in about 1 minute. If you don't have a microwave or don't want to run the generator that early in the morning, boil some water in a teakettle or pan for mixing with instant cereal pouches. If you are feeling a little more adventurous and want to add a pioneer experience to your outing, try corn meal mush. Just cook corn meal in water with a little salt on medium heat for 5-7 minutes. Then serve it with butter and honey.

Lunches. Lunches should always be simple affairs, quick and easy to fix, and with little cleanup. You really don't want to stop what you're doing in the middle of the day to fix or even eat a fancy meal. and then have a lot of clean up to do afterwards. Sandwiches and hot dogs are favorites around our camp. Add some chips and macaroni or potato salad, perhaps some pork and beans, and you've got quite a complete meal without a lot of fuss. Serve it all up on paper plates and you don't even have many dishes to do. Hot dogs can be cooked over the campfire, grilled, fried up in a pan, or boiled. Campfire dogs taste best.  You can even toast your hotdog buns on a stick over the campfire if you're careful. I only boil hotdogs if I have to do a whole bunch of them at once to serve a large group all at the same time.

Dinners. Here's where you may want to invest a little more time and make cooking fun. Old standbys, like hamburgers are almost always a hit. French fries are a bit messy and time consuming in camp unless you microwave some frozen fries.  Steaks are great if you have the budget for them and have a special flavor when grilled over the campfire. Be sure to wrap some potatoes in foil and bake them in the campfire to round out the meal in gourmet fashion. Chili and beef stew are nice on cold nights. With the availability of unbreakable acrylic stemware, you can serve up a quite elegant dinner in your RV, including a touch of the bubbly. Your "bubbly" may have to be sparkling cider as alcohol is prohibited in some campgrounds so make sure to check the rules before you get into trouble. Preparing and serving dinner, as well as consuming it, can be a family affair, a chance for teaching and learning and sharing more than just recipes. There are plenty of tasks to go around. Preparing specific dishes, getting the fire going or the BBQ set up, setting the table. You can bake potatoes right in the coals of the campfire and, of course, they are a perfect side to a fire-broiled steak. Wrap them in aluminum foil and bury them in the coals so they will cook evenly all around. I like to brush mine with butter before wrapping them up. Hobo stews are easy dinners too. Wrap meat, potatoes, carrots and (optionally) onions and other favorite vegetables and seasoning in aluminum foil and bury the packets in the coals. We like to pre-cook the meat in the microwave or on the top of the stove to speed cooking in the campfire and ensure the meat is nicely browned and sufficiently cooked to prevent botulism.

RV and camp stove cooking provide an almost home-like cooking experience in camp. I say "almost" because even though RV and camp stoves approximate our residential ranges functionality, they aren't quite the same. If nothing else, they are more compact so you have to make some adjustments in how you use them.  Ovens and burners aren't quite as large.  The temperature control may not be quite as responsive as it is at home, especially on camp stoves (its pretty good on the propane stoves in RVs, but the ovens are kind of picky). You'll need to watch what you're doing more closely and be prepared to remove things from the heat or make adjustments as necessary. Cooking may take longer and you may have to work with smaller portions and do things in shifts.  the large pans you may like to use at home might not fit on RV or camp stoves.

Campfire cooking can be a fun, rewarding and exciting experience. Give yourself time to experiment and to develop your skills. It takes time to get used to cooking on an open fire. About your only way of controlling temperature and cooking speed is by how close you hold the pan to the fire. Things will continue to cook for some time after removing a heavy cast iron pot or pan from the fire. But with a little practice it can be fun. Obviously it can be done successfully. After all, man has survived by cooking on open fires for tens of thousands of years. We just don't know how many burned or raw meals they had to endure before getting it down.

Dutch oven cooking can provide a single dish meal and is great for stews, pot roast, chicken, soups, and a variety of main dishes. Dutch ovens also are a great way to bake breads and desserts. If you are interested in trying this time-proven method, check out one of the many dutch oven cook books or search for recipes and tips online. Charcoal is the preferred fuel for dutch oven cooking, so you need to prepare ahead of time and leave time to get the coals ready if you want to try out this form of camp cooking. I think of Dutch ovens as a pioneer crockpot.  You can toss in all the ingredients, set the coals, and let them cook for hours without any further attention while you enjoy your activities.

Beverages. There is something special about hot beverages prepared on the campfire. You might keep a pot of boiling water ready all the time to prepare instant hot drinks when needed.  Although I'm not a coffee drinker, the smell of it brewing is pleasant and appealing. Even "ordinary" hot chocolate takes on a special flavor prepared on and served around the campfire, but added flavors (caramel, vanilla, hazelnut, cinnamon, mint etc) can make it really special. Try dropping a fire-toasted (not burnt!) marshmallow on top for a super special treat. For warm summer days, a cooler full of cold beverages is almost a requirement. Water and sports drinks are healthier and better at quenching thirst and preventing dehydration than sodas and beer. Alcohol and caffeine can speed dehydration.  We have experimented with a few summer punch recipes over the years. A favorite we found very refreshing is cucumber punch. It is made from ginger ale, frozen lime concentrate, and sliced cucumbers. I like to add a touch of green food coloring. Served over ice, it is incredibly cooling and refreshing, without the sticky aftertaste of many sodas. It is fun to make it up in a wash tub for large groups. For the ultimate presentation, be sure to ladle a slice of fresh lime into each glass.

Novelties. I have previously mentioned one of our favorite campfire novelties: instant pies. You need bread, pie filling, and, obviously, the pie-makers. Campfire pie makers are long-handled clam shell cookers.  You put a slice of bread in one side, add a scoop of your favorite pie filling, put a second slice of bread on top, close it up and put it in the fire.  In a few minutes you have fresh baked pie.  It was surprising how much ordinary white bread tasted like pie crust when cooked this way.  Of course don't forget the traditional S'mores. Just be prepared for plenty of pyrotechnic entertainment and sticky marshmallow everywhere! On hot days, snow-cones are an instant hit and very refreshing. You'll need lots of ice and a grinder plus various flavors of syrups. Snow-cone syrup can usually be purchased at restaurant supply stores like Smart and Final.  In a pinch make your own from Kool-Aid mix or even dry Jello.

Baking in camp.  RV ovens are a little more than half the size of the one at home.  That puts the burners closer to the cooking platform, sometimes resulting in over-cooked bottoms and raw tops on baked goods.  Baking in camp is going to take some practice  Also pay attention to elevation and follow the special high altitude instructions on the package for things like cake mixes.  Convection ovens are helpful in providing more even heat distribution and reduced cooking times.  Coleman makes an oven that sets on top of your camp stove so even tent campers can do some baking.  They're only about 1' square, so you may have to make smaller portions and bake in shifts.

The availability of microwave ovens to many RV campers gives you a lot of options for quick and easy meals in camp.  There are microwave version of just about every meal or snack.  Frozen meals might be a bit more expensive than those made from scratch, but the added convenience might be worth it. 

Cooking adventures. I've seen Scoutmasters with special wilderness training prepare a whole breakfast in an orange peel. If that kind of experimentation appeals to you, do check it out.  It can be fun.  I've seen it done but never tried it myself. It really looks to be quite fun and tasty as well as ecologically sound. We've cooked up rattlesnake on a couple of desert outings, and, yes, it does taste like chicken. Anyone who has watched Survivorman has seen him cook rodents on a stick. I'm not sure eating rodents appeals to me, but it might be worth trying if you think you'll need the skill for survival. Not sure I could stomach it under normal circumstances, but it would probably be good practice and might be critical in a survival situation.

Speaking of adventures, there are some you WON'T want to experience, such as spilling grease into the fire. This is not uncommon when cooking bacon in a fry pan on a campfire. The resulting flare-up will likely ruin a lot more than your breakfast fare! I've seen more than one unhappy camper go home sans eyebrows and missing hair on their hands and arms. Flare-ups may also catch your clothing on fire. If that happens, DON'T PANIC! About the worst thing you can do is run when you're on fire. The best thing is to drop to the ground and roll to put the fire out. Of course, if you're exercising proper fire safety procedures, you will have a bucket of water and/or sand close by to assist with putting the fire out. If you are burned, by either hot grease or by the flames, immediately cool the burned area with clean cool water. You may minimize your chances of spilling grease into the fire in the first place by using a cooking grid to support your frying pan instead of placing it directly on uneven and unstable wood and coals. Lacking a steel grid, you might make a temporary one from green tree limbs, but it won't last long over a hot fire. Rocks can sometimes be arranged to support pans. Just make sure they aren't porous.  Porous rocks may contain moisture than can expand with explosive force!  A frequent mistake of novice campfire chefs is grabbing the handle of a pot or pan with a bare hand. Bad mistake! The handles get very hot, so use gloves, hot pads, pliers or oven mittens to grasp the handles. Dutch oven lids have special "lifters" or you can use a pair of pliers (I find Channelock style slip-joint pliers work best because of the angled jaws). More than one camper has been badly burned trying to rescue his dinner from the fire. Very few meals (none I know of!), are worth the agony of blistered fingers or burned hands, so if you must retrieve something, use a utensil or a stick, and not your bare hands. Better to drag that steak out into the dirt and wash it off than end up with the flesh of your hands more cooked than your dinner!

Bon appetite!

Mid-week Camping

Mid-week camping isn't an option for everyone. Most of us are stuck in the Monday-Friday grind. Its too bad that making a living gets in the way of living.  But if you're retired, independently wealthy, or can take some time off during the week now and then, you may be able to enjoy relatively light traffic and short lines for activities. However, you may still need reservations for developed camp grounds and scheduled events. If you can get away during the week you may be pleasantly surprised at how serene your favorite camp site is without the hustle and hassle of the weekend crush.  Beginning a week-end outing mid-week can avoid traffic and sometimes secure you a better camp site.  We often went out on Tuesday before Thanksgiving to reserve our group camping area in a BLM staging area in the Mojave Desert for our annual "Turkey In The Dirt" Thanksgiving ride.  By Thursday the once deserted desert had sprouted enough motorhomes and trailers to look like a small city.  Of course, if you prefer the social atmosphere of being with lots of people, mid-week camping might not be your cup of tea.

Preparation for mid-week camping isn't much different from preparing for any other outing, except you probably don't have to allow extra time for holiday traffic and long check-in lines. Do call ahead to make sure any special attractions you want to see are going to be open. Not all venues are open during the week, especially in their off season. If you enjoy the excitement of crowds, stick to holiday weekends. But if you'd like a little peace and quiet, make a few mid-week trips. You may find camp stores that are only open on weekends or have limited hours during the week so it is a good idea to find out in advance so you don't rely on being able to buy anything you need any time.

You may find limited access to some resources, such as park rangers or law enforcement during weekday outings to remote areas and some concessions might be closed. If you are boondocking, you will really need to be able to count completely on what you bring with you, so make sure you are prepared.  You may find yourself alone at campgrounds, which can be both a blessing and a curse.  If you like solitude, you'll be in good shape but if you're more socially minded you might find it a little lonely.  Some folks feel a little vulnerable when boondocking alone.  If you happen to be in that group you might want to coordinate your outings with some friends or prepare some extra security measures to ensure your comfort level.

You will probably find road traffic lighter going to and from your camp ground, fewer campers when you arrive (giving you a better selection of camp sites), and fewer people on the trails, lakes, and streams.  Local shopping will probably be less crowded.  On rare occasions you may find some campgrounds that are only open weekends, so it is good to call ahead or check the camp ground's web site.  Seasonal closures are quite common and some places may "ease into" the off season with restricted availability.

Enjoy the serenity!

Camping and RVing -- Keep It Interesting

Will you ever get tired of camping, RVing, or OHVing?  Probably not!   Partly just because every outing is different and it is so darn much fun but another contributing factor is the variety of activities and destinations that are available to you.  You might get tired of your outings if you always go to the same camp ground, eat the same meals, participate in the same activities, and ride or hike the same trails.  For more than 30 years we camped and rode our dirt bikes in the Mojave desert without getting bored. We chose a different base camp for each holiday weekend, which automatically varied the scenery and the trails we would be riding.  Although there were a handful of families that made up the core of our "Desert Rat" group, the rest of the group varied at each outing, further adding variety to the event.   Meals were planned uniquely for each outing so dining was never dull.   We got to know the trails around each base camp pretty well, but never tired of riding them.  Sometimes riding or  hiking a familiar trails is just what you need.  And it was always fun to share favorite trails with new comers to the group.  If nothing else it can be entertaining watching them learn to negotiate some of the trickier spots you have mastered over time.

Vary your routine.  There is no good reason to keep doing the same thing over and over until you tire of it.  There are always alternatives.  Try out a different camp ground or base camp.  Check out some new camp cuisine.  Ride or hike some different trails.  Sometimes just riding or hiking the same trails in the opposite direction you usually go makes them more interesting (of course, don't do that on trails designated as one-way trails!).   Leave time in your travels to take some side trips.  It is very likely you pass a number of interesting historical or geological sites on your way to your favorite camp ground or riding area.  The same is true for OHV rides: try out some side trails and alternate routes now and then.  Consider hiking some of the trails you normally ride on your OHV.   Albert Einstein said that insanity is repeating the same actions and expecting different results.  The same might be said of camping -- doing the same thing over and over and expecting things to be different isn't going to work.  But there are plenty of ways of modifying your routine to keep things interesting and fun -- and even educational.

Try out some new toys.   There seems to be a never-ending list of new camping and RV gadgets coming on the market.  A new camp stove can make meals an adventure.  Try your hand at Dutch oven cooking or give a shot at some pioneer meals like ash cakes.  New games are often a great hit with your fellow campers as well as your family.  Horseshoes is popular with many campers, but I suspect few have tired the "bolo" style game where you throw balls tied together at a goal made of PVC pipe.  The winner is the one who gets the most tosses to wrap around the goal.  The game is available at sporting goods stores or you can make your own using golf balls and string and building the goals from common PVC pipe and fittings.   Most any campground lends itself to learning about local flora and fauna.  Desert outings are particularly good for astronomy lessons. An unobstructed view of clear skies and few lights makes star-gazing particularly amazing, giving you a view you will never see from an urban or even suburban environment.

Vary your activities. If your main activity is riding OHVs, plan an afternoon or evening of skeet shooting now and then -- if shooting is allowed where you are camping.  Check out local ranger-led hikes and lectures.  A general store in the area where we rode dirt bikes in Sequoia would borrow classic films from the local library and show them for free in a make-shift amphitheater outside the store every Friday night.  Campers would come from miles around.  I'm sure they sold lots of popcorn, candy, and soda to reward them for their effort, but they also provided free enjoyable entertainment.  Have your own talent show around the camp fire.   An old fashioned hootenanny or singalong is campfire tradition enjoyed by almost everyone.  Organize service projects to maintain and improve the areas you frequent.  Or even try an entirely different activity, like fishing or boating or hiking.  Look for local museums or historic sites to explore.  I found a monument for an X-15 crash site within an easy ride of one of our favorite Mojave Desert OHV base camps.   Sharing it with other riders who didn't know about it was always fun.   Some of them had ridden past the marker but never knew what it was.  I also did some research on old railroad water tower that was a popular landmark in one of our riding areas and discovered it was all that was left of  small town that once supported the famous 20 Mule Team Borax wagon trains and later the railroad that took over the hauling.  Campfires are a good opportunity for singing songs and telling stories.  It is always good to know a few of the old favorites, but adding some new material on each trip helps keep things interesting.  Encourage everyone to participate.  Our Desert Rat group had a few guitarists to start with but an another enterprising member of the group learned to play the harmonica which added a lot to many folk songs.  Almost anyone can play a tambourine.

Learn more about your destinations.  You can almost always find interesting information about the ecology, geology, or history of the area around your camp ground.  What kind of trees are those? How old are those rocks?  What are they made of and how did they get here?  By the way, most rocks fall into one of three categories:  sedimentary, ignious, or metamorphic.  Sedimentary are created in the bottom of lakes as streams as sediment accumulates and becomes compacted.  Ignious are generally the result of cooled magma pushed up from inside the earth.  Metamorphic rocks are created from any of the three types of rock when they are exposed to heat and pressure which causes chemical changes in the composition.  Everyplace has geology and anyplace there has been human habitation has the potential of yielding interesting history.   Sometimes the trash previous inhabitants or users have left behind yields a bit of insight into their involvement with the area.

If you get bored camping, RVing, or OHVing, it is because you choose to let it happen or even make it happen.

Tent Camping Equipment: New vs Used

It would be nice if we could all start out with brand new equipment, but that isn't something most of us can afford and even if it were it might not be cost effective. After all, people who have money didn't get it by squandering it.  You may be able to make judicious use of year end clearances and liquidations to pick up some good deals on new items, but most folks will find it more economical to settle for some good used camping equipment. If it is used, but not abused, it should serve you well for many years at a fraction of the price of new stuff. Check your local classified ads, supermarket bulletin boards, web sites (like ebay and craigslist), thrift stores, and garage sales. Many times people accumulate extra equipment over the years and will dispose of their excess at cents on the dollar. A lot of used stuff is practically, and sometimes literally, brand new. Since camping is usually a part time leisure activity for most people, their camping equipment gets light use. People often purchase or receive as gifts items they never get around to using or only use once or twice.  And keep in mind it is only new until you use it the first time anyway.  I am a bit of a bargain hunter and seldom pay retail for any camping equipment, preferring to take advantage of sales or buy pre-owned gear.

Used tents. Tents are one of the largest expenses for tent camping. Here is where you can probably save the most by buying used equipment. And, since tents are not intimate items, there is relatively little danger of serious or offensive contamination unless they are really badly soiled and/or have a foul odor. Be sure to examine all the poles to make sure they are the right ones for the tent and are complete and in good condition. Count and inspect the stakes. You will need to replace bent, broken, or missing stakes. Check all the stake loops. Torn loops can sometimes be repaired, but make sure you know what you're buying and that you have the skills and tools to make any necessary repairs. For cabin tents, check the grommets where the tent poles connect to the fabric. If these are missing or damaged you may have to reinforce those spots before you can install new grommets. Check the sleeves where the poles go on dome tents to make sure they aren't ripped or the seams coming apart. Check the floor to make sure it isn't ripped or punctured or the seams along the walls coming apart. Check the zippers and screens on all doors and windows. You might be able to patch small tears in screens but zippers are difficult to replace. Sticky zippers might be fixed using a product like EZ-Snap lubricant.  However, if the zippers are damaged, keep looking. Don't forget to check the rain fly if it has -- or should have -- one. Make sure you have some idea of the new price of similar tents so you don't get ripped off. Anything at or below 50% of new retail is probably an acceptable price. I might be willing to pay slightly more if the tent is in nearly new condition and meets my requirements. Some brands will command higher resale prices because of the reputation and quality of the products, so do some price comparisons online or via the classified ads. Unless you urgently need a tent right now, take time to look around to obtain the best price and value. Watch the flyers from sporting goods stores. They often have special promotions that deliver exceptional value on new tents and camping packages, especially at the beginning and end of the camping season. Carefully check what is included in any packages to make sure you aren't paying for a lot of stuff you don't need or want and that the package price really is less than the sum of the cost of the individual items from other sources.  I got used 14' cabin tent for under $40 and a new 7' umbrella tent for $10 at a year end sidewalk sale.  I had to patch a hole in the roof of the cabin tent where the previous owner had installed a chimney for a tent stove and had to fabricate the crossover connection that held the 4 poles together for the umbrella tent, but both were things I could easily handle and I got many years of  use out of both tents.

Used sleeping bags. Since sleeping bags are rather intimate items, some people are reluctant to purchase used ones which can hold down prices. Keep in mind they can be dry cleaned, which will sanitize them, and usually will come out like new, if they haven't been abused. Consider the kind of weather you will be using them in. 10 degree bags won't keep you warm enough in sub-zero weather, but will be too warm for typical summer evenings in most camping areas. Consider the style. Mummy bags are good for keeping individuals warm but they limit movement and some people get claustrophobic in them. Rectangular bags can usually be opened and zipped together to form double sleeping bags for couples, good for added warmth as well as comfort and intimacy.

Used camp stoves. Used camp stoves can save you a bundle. The old fashioned white gas (Coleman fuel) stoves are plentiful and reliable. It is typical to find the pump may not work because the leather washer in it has dried out. Many times all that is needed is a few drops of oil to get it working again. If that doesn't work, the pumps can be easily and inexpensively rebuilt. A second major component is the generator. This is a tube-like structure that converts liquid fuel to vapor for the burners. If the generator is defective, it must be replaced. Again, this is a fairly easy and inexpensive DIY project (under $20). If the fuel tank is leaking, keep looking. Damaged fuel tanks are dangerous and cannot be easily repaired. If the burners are clogged they can usually be cleaned with a wire brush. Used propane powered stoves don't have pumps or built in fuel tanks; they use replaceable pressurized propane canisters. Be sure to keep an eye out for sales on propane canisters to keep your operating costs down. Another option is to get an adapter so you can use a bulk propane tank like the one for your home BBQ. The fuel is a lot less expensive than buying individual 1 # cylinders.  The last time I filled up my motorhome I paid $2.79/gallon -- compared to about $2.88 for two 1-quart portable canisters.  Thrift stores and garage sales are good places to look for used camp stoves.  I've seen 3-burner Coleman stoves for $8.00.  Even it it needs some work, it would probably be well worth that!  Even if  you already have a good camp stove, you might want to pick up another good used one as a backup or in case you host large group or need it in a disaster scenario.

Used lanterns. These days there are many options for camp lanterns. The old Coleman gas lantern is a time-proven staple but there are many battery-powered alternatives available today, including LED lights that minimize battery drain and even lanterns with built in solar chargers. You may luck out and find battery lanterns at garage sales etc, but the venerable Coleman lantern is a more likely find. Just like camp stoves, steer clear of lanterns with damaged fuel tanks. Faulty pumps and generators can be easily and inexpensively replaced. You may even be able to buy a replacement for a missing or cracked glass globe. These are not universal or one size fits all, so do some research into availability before buying a broken lantern.  Now that LED lanterns have been around awhile you'll start seeing them on the used market too.  But even new ones aren't terribly expensive.  I've seen some very nice ones around $10.  LEDs use SO much less power than the old incandescent bulbs!  I left an LED lantern with 17 LEDs on overnight in my barn and it was still bright the next morning and for months afterwards!  A regular incandescent lantern would have killed battery about half way through the night.

Used cookware. Used camp cook ware and mess kits can be a good bargain. Even if they are blackened or dirty, they can usually be cleaned and sterilized and safe to use. Small, individual mess kits are not terribly expensive, even when they are brand new, so be aware of the price and value before you buy up a bunch of used stuff for your kids. You might be able to get new kits for not much more.  In choosing any cook ware, seek sets that are designed for camping. These will usually stack together for storage and will have multi-use components, such as a lid that also doubles as a frying pan. Camp cook sets often include plastic plates, cups, and flatware as well as pots and pans.  These types of kits save space and weight without sacrificing functionality. Cast iron cook ware is heavy to tote around but is practically foolproof and indestructible. It can be used directly in a campfire and even the worse burned on, sticky mess can usually be burned off and scoured and the pan re-seasoned. New or heavily cleaned cast iron cookware does need to be seasoned before using. Seasoning consists of coating the cooking surface with cooking oil and heating it until the oil burns away, leaving a coating on the surface. This applies to cast iron grills and griddles as well as frying pans and dutch ovens. Anytime a piece of cast iron cookware as been scoured or washed with detergent, it should be re-seasoned. To avoid re-seasoning, remove all food residue from the item, then rub it with crumpled newspaper or paper towels until all traces of grease and residue have been removed. Ordinary kitchen pots and pans can be used for camping. Thrift stores are a good place to look. Light weight aluminum pots and pans may melt if used directly in a campfire but they should be fine on a camp stove. Seek cast iron if you plan to cook directly on the fire.  It is heavier to lug around but it will last a very long time and stand up to plenty of hard use.   You won't want it for back packing or hiking in any distance to your  camp site, but it will be nice to have for RVing and car camping.

Used ice chests. There is little that can go wrong with ice chests. Make sure they don't have any holes or cracks in either the liner or the outer skin. Make sure the hinges and latches work. And make sure they don't smell bad! Some plastic liners absorb odors that can be very difficult to remove. You sure don't want your food smelling like dirty socks or like something that died! There have been many improvements in insulation and durability over the years. New ice chests are not too expensive, so you might want to check out your local Walmart before grabbing up older "bargains". For short term use, light weight styrofoam chests are really inexpensive, but they aren't very durable. Plastic ice chests are the next least expensive permanent solutions. Painted steel models used to be common but you don't usually see a lot of new ones these days. I picked up a couple of nice older Coleman steel ice chests on ebay. New stainless steel models are durable and often keep food colder than plastic models but they're somewhat expensive -- plastic chests can be found for $20-$50. Expect to pay around $100 for stainless steel. Size matters! Consider the space you have for transporting your equipment. Huge ice chests can hold lots of food and drinks but they may take up your entire cargo area and are very heavy to carry when fully loaded. Sometimes having a number of smaller chests will be more convenient (and less expensive) and the ice will last longer. Separate chests for drinks and perishable foods is a good idea. You will be getting into the drink chest more frequently and if it should run out of ice, the drinks won't spoil although they won't be as appealing if they are warm. Smaller chests are also easier to carry. Keeping perishable foods separate avoids exposing them to frequent opening of the chest and will protect them longer. Sometimes having a few inexpensive styrofoam chests is a good solution for separating and transporting items. They are also good for keeping your frozen or cold foods cool on the way back from the grocery store. Get the right size chest for you needs. You don't need a huge, $150 marine cooler to keep a six pack cold for an afternoon picnic and it probably wouldn't even do the job without filling it with many bags of ice whereas a small cooler and 1 bag of ice would easily and conveniently handle a six pack.

Camp chairs are not terribly expensive when they are new and to some extent are designed to be disposable.  That being said, you might still pick up some good used camp chairs.  Be sure to inspect them for bent or broken frames or damaged fabric or netting. Like so many other pieces of camping equipment, people tend to accumulate more than they need and you may snag a great deal on some good used ones.  At one time folding aluminum chairs with woven fiberglass straps were the norm.   Today the collapsible "bag" or "quad" chairs seem to dominate the market. 

Used camping tools.   Things like axes, hatchets, mallets, and folding shovels are handy to have when camping and used items in good condition will be just as serviceable as new ones.  You might have to sharpen an axe or clean and paint a shovel, but it will probably save you quite a bit over buying new.  Other candidates in the tools category might include knives and mallets.  Camp chairs and cots are pretty durable and used ones could save you quite a bit of cash you could use on something else.  Folding tables and "camp kitchens" are also nice additions if you come across them.

Save away!

Preparing Meals In Camp

Meal preparation in camp should always be at least easy and convenient.  Ideally it should be downright fun!  You definitely don't want meal preparation to be time consuming or onerous and interfere with your planned activities.  If we do it right, meal preparation can and should be fun.

Preparing meals in camp, whether you're camping in a tent or on a boat or in an RV, will be a little different than your normal routine at home.  When cooking in an RV you usually have a range that is similar to the one at home -- but somewhat smaller.  Cooking on a boat you may have to deal with having your galley rocking.  When tent camping, you'll likely be cooking on a Coleman stove or campfire, unless you opt for one of the newer portable ranges that gives you  stove resources similar to those you would have in in RV.  But even then, or when cooking in an RV, the differences in size and performance will require some adjustments to your normal procedure.  No matter what you're cooking on, it is going to be different than your gas or electric range and oven at home.

Camp cooking should be fun!  After all, we go camping for fun, so cooking should be fun too and usually it is.  One of the things that will make it more fun, especially for the primary cook, is for everyone to participate.  Plan your meals with that in mind so you have appropriate and productive things for everyone to do.  Plan simple meals that don't require a lot of elaborate preparation or cleanup.  Take advantage of outdoor cooking opportunities (BBQ or campfire) to add variety and distribute the labor.  Cooking on a campfire can be fun and quite an adventure and is a good way to involve many family or group members.

Your first step toward successful camp cooking starts even before you leave home.  That is to plan an appropriate menu.  Think "simplicity.  Plan simple meals that will require minimum preparation:  hotdogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, foil dinners, stew, chili, cold cereal, etc.  One of our traditions is to have donuts for breakfast the first day in camp.  Yes, I know, it isn't the most nutritious meal, but we aren't exactly making a habit out of as rarely as we get to go camping and it lets us get going quick!

Setting up your camp kitchen or RV or boat galley properly will have a big effect on the efficiency -- and fun -- of camp cooking.  RV cabinets and counter tops are much smaller than their residential counterparts so you may not be able to have everything at your fingertips like you are used to having at home.  You may have to get things out in advance and have them staged "at the ready" so you don't waste time and energy digging in the backs of cupboards for what you need.  Have your utensils and all ingredients needed for the current meal gathered up and ready to use.   Boat galleys are often even more limited than RVs plus you probably have to deal with the boat rocking while youre cooking.  When tent camping, all your stuff is going to be in a back pack, duffle bag, tub, or chuck box so the same practice applies, perhaps even more so.  Set up your camp kitchen so all ingredients and necessary cooking implements are organized for easy access.   Have a dishpan ready for rinsing or soaking dishes, spoons, etc.  Make sure your campfire is properly formatted for cooking or that your camp stove is fueled and ready to go.  You may need to set up a wind screen around your stove or even around your campfire on windy days.

When preparing meals in an RV or on a boat you will want to be as efficient as possible.  That means more than just minimized use of the stove to conserve fuel.  You need to reduce use of water consumption, generation of trash, and restrict how often and how long you open the refrigerator.   Also, conserve your time.  You need so think carefully about how long it takes to prepare each dish and schedule cooking times to try to get everything ready at the same time.  Avoid messy dishes that make for a lot of cleanup.  All of that comes down to planning.  First, plan your meals in advance, way in advance.  By planning your menu long before you hit the road you can make sure you have all the right provisions and you have a chance to organize them so they'll be handy and easy to use on the road.  You may even want to pre-measure some ingredients and put them in labeled plastic bags so they're ready to use.  Sometimes  you can also pre-mix dry ingredients to reduce preparation time.  You don't want to have to search through cupboards or boxes of supplies to find a bottle of cooking oil after you've already lit the stove.  If you are accustomed to cooking at home, you probably have routines that work for you there but you may have to make adjustments when cooking in an RV.  A smaller stove may mean you can't cook as many things at the same time as you do at home and the smaller burners may mean it will take longer.   Think about what things can be prepared first without becoming unappealing if they sit for a while.  Baked potatoes hold their heat pretty well but mixed veggies cool pretty quickly, so keep things like that in mind when you structure your meal preparation.  Sometimes you can augment your cooking resources by shifting some of it, like steaks and burgers, baked potatoes and corn on the cob, to an outside BBQ or to the campfire.   This also lets you share the work by recruiting a companion to take charge of that part of the meal and outdoor cooking can even be fun.   And always plan ahead. If you're planning on having baked potatoes for dinner, you might want to wrap them in aluminum foil and tuck them in the coals of your campfire an hour or so before dinner time.  A potato baked in the campfire for an hour makes an tasty side dish.  A potato baked in the campfire for 3 hours makes an excellent hockey puck!  Taking advantage of the campfire also helps you conserve propane and creates some opportunities for several people to participate in some old fashioned pioneer type experiences.  You can let everyone cook their own hotdogs but you'll probably need a designated burger flipper to do hamburgers on the grill or campfire.

Mealtime when tent camping is usually quite a bit different than at home.  You may find yourself having to prepare your meals in adverse weather -- rain, wind, even snow.  Never try to cook in your tent.  That is a recipe for disaster!  If you;'re in a campground with canopies or pavilions, try to take advantage of them to protect you and your food from the weather.  If all else fails you might be able to stretch a tarp between some trees or poles or anchor it to the roof of your vehicle to give you a little shelter from the storm.  Just make sure it is high enough that it won't melt or catch on fire when you're cooking.  Depending on how much shelter you have around your camp kitchen, you may have to exercise special care to avoid getting rain in your flour or pancake mix or blowing debris adding unwanted variety to the taste and texture of your creations.  Rain falling into a frying pan filled with hot oil can be especially hazardous.  Water is heavier than oil and will sink to the bottom of the pan where it quickly becomes superheated and can virtually explode, scattering hot, possibly, flaming, oil all over the place.  As with cooking in an RV,  your cooking space is limited and planning is key to success.  You will most likely want to plan different meals than you usually prepare at home, choosing things that are appropriate to the season, are easy to prepare, serve, and clean up.  And, again, take advantage of campfire resources when you can.  As you gain experience cooking in camp you may discover you want to upgrade from a 2-burner stove to a 3-burner stove or perhaps even bring more than one stove.  Extra cooking facilities is especially helpful (and necessary) when you are cooking for larger groups.  How you organize your camp kitchen will have a significant effect on how convenient preparing meals will be.  Plan ahead and have ingredients well organized and close at hand. Some campers find it helpful to build a "chuck box" to organize their kitchens.  This is a tried and true option, one that goes back at least to American pioneer wagon trains and the chuck wagons on cattle drives.   For a modern variation, check out the little kitchens in the back of teardrop trailers. Lacking a chuck box or room to transport one, organize your provisions and utensils logically in plastic tubs.  Use dividers or smaller containers inside large tubs to protect individual items and make it easier to find what you need when you need it.   If everything is simply tossed into one large tub you'll find yourself digging through a foot or two of odds and ends to find a spoon or a spatula. Proper storage of foodstuffs is especially important.   No matter how careful you are, things are likely to get spilled in transit.  Loose ingredients like flour, sugar, and salt, get all over everything if the bag or box breaks . Escaping liquids will seep through and into unprotected packages of dry ingredients and soon you'll have to pretty much throw everything out and start over.   Proper storage can prevent a lot of problems.   Make sure caps are tight on all containers, then store bottles of liquids in their own plastic storage boxes so if they crack or the cap comes off, the contents will be contained and the rest of the bin or cupboard not contaminated.  Keeping dry ingredients in their own sealed plastic containers protects the packages from damage, prevents them from being contaminated by external spills, seals them from environmental moisture so they don't absorb moisture from humid air, and keeps the bugs out.

Campfire cooking is a fun way  to prepare your meals in camp.  But it requires proper preparation, special equipment, and careful procedures.  Get your fire started about an hour before you want to start cooking.  It is best to cook on the coals, not the flames.  You can even cook most meats directly on or over the coals without the need of a grill or pan.  Special equipment might include a grill, "pot dangler", or cast iron skillets and pots.  For a pioneer type experience, cook your meat or bread on a stick like you would hotdogs or marshmallows.  Twist bread is easy.  Start with a stiff dough, roll it into a rope shape, wrap it around a stick, and bake it over your campfire.  Keep an eye on what you're cooking.  Temperatures in a campfire are much different and more likely to change without warning than the temperatures on your stove at home or even your trusty Coleman stove in camp.  Check out these Ten Commandments for Campfire Cooking for more helpful tips.

 No matter what you are cooking or where, clean up as you go instead of setting dirty dishes and utensils aside to be washed later.  Usually cleaning things right away avoids having to deal with scrubbing dried or cooked on residue and will save you a lot of time in the long run.  And, since you probably have limited items, it may make things you need available when you need them again instead of having to stop and clean them before you can use them when you need them.

Tin foil dinners, such as hobo stew, are handy ways to have tasty, nutritious campfire meals.  They can be assembled from basic ingredients (usually meat and vegetables) and cooked right on the coals.  We like to make ours up ahead of time at home, sometimes even pre-cooking the meat in the microwave before wrapping them in foil.  They don't take up a lot of room in the fridge or cooler, they don't spill, they are really easy to cook on the campfire, and they really taste great!  And they don't dirty up a lot of pots and pans.

If you're camping in a developed campground, there may be a roofed area that will at least get you out of the rain or snow but usually these are open-sided so you may still have to deal with the wind.  Sometimes each site has its own canopy; sometimes there are larger shared pavilions.  If your camp site doesn't have one you may want to set up your own portable canopy, maybe a dining fly or an EZ-up.  I've seen campers set up tarps to protect their campsites, stretching them high enough between the trees and leaving a small opening in the middle so they can even have a protected campfire.  That will help keep rain out of the hot grease in they frying pan, but having anything overhead brings its own risks, so be careful!   Tarps will sometimes collect significant pools of water in low spots.  Eventually the weight may cause the tarp to tear or pull loose, dousing everyone and everything beneath with copious amounts of cold rain water.   Monitor water accumulation and periodically dump the pools before they dump themselves in the most unpleasant and untimely way.   Some additional tarps hung along the windward side may help shelter you from the wind.  Exercise special care when cooking under a canopy.  An unexpected flareup could catch your roof or walls on fire!

Meal schedules are likely to be modified when camping.   Hey! One of the reasons we go camping is to get out of the daily 9-5 grind!  The variety of activities and the potential for unforeseen circumstances to impact mealtimes pretty much dictate you have to be flexible.  Most times that isn't a problem, unless you make it into one.  You will find it is best not to try to maintain a fixed meal schedule tied to the clock when camping.  Don't worry about setting an alarm clock.  Have breakfast whenever you finally roll out of bed in the morning.  Although some people don't usually eat breakfast at home,  normally do try to start each day camping with a more or less nutritious breakfast (donuts the first morning are one of the more fun and less nutritious breakfasts).  Lunch works just about anytime you might think of as "mid day", but it doesn't have to be at a specific time.   Wait for a natural break in activities.  And have dinner in the evening after you've finished your day's activities and are ready to settle in for the night.  Having dinner at that time also lets you cook on the campfire, if you like, then just relax around it after dinner.  You meal schedules should be more governed by the sun, your body rhythms, and your activities than by the clock.  However, if you find benefit in keeping a regular schedule, by all means do so!  People with special diets or medical requirements may need to keep to a fixed schedule.

Clean up is far more important in camp than at home.   It is ALWAYS a good idea to clean up as you go, but if you don't keep up with it in camp there can be larger consequences than you normally experience at home.  Dump some water into pots and pans a soon as you're removed the food so they can begin soaking right away before stuff dries and bakes on.   If you're cooking on a campfire, you may want to leave the pots and pans on the fire with water in them for a while to loosen deposits, but don't let them boil dry.  Dispose properly of scraps before they can attract pests.   Even in an RV, you are likely to be surrounded by more potential pests than you have at home and when cooking outside you are smack in the middle of their environment.  Flying and crawling insects are usually among the first to arrive, but larger (and more dangerous) critters like raccoons and bears may also be drawn to unattended (and sometime attended) scraps.  While unwanted creatures are less likely to be a problem in an RV, spills and scraps left around contribute to unsanitary conditions and may produce unpleasant odors that are hard to escape or eliminate in the small space inside an RV.   Cooking fumes and odors can also be a problem in an RV, so try to maintain adequate ventilation.  Open some strategic windows and take advantages of the fan in your range hood (if you have one) to expel odors as quickly as possible.  Roof vents, especially those with fans than can be used to evacuate air from inside the coach, are also helpful in getting rid of odors before they saturate carpet, curtains, and upholstery or cling to walls and windows.   Give cloth upholstery a shot of Fabreze and vacuum them now and then to minimize the accumulation of cooking odors.   Clean interior glass and vinyl surfaces to remove the build up of film from cooking fumes.   Meal preparation in camp should at the very least always be easy and convenient.  Ideally, it should even be fun!

Presentation is often a big part of meals at home.  My wife can whip up some frozen corn dogs and make it look like a gourmet meal.  Options for elaborate presentation in camp are probably going to be much more limited than at home, but you may still want to spiff up some meals.   And remember, just eating off paper plates around the campfire or at your RVor picnic table is perfectly acceptable.  Fancy dinnerware or serving containers are definitely NOT required when camping.  Consider that billionaire William Randolf Hearst served all condiments in their original containers at his "ranch" at San Simeone (better know as Hearst Castle), even when entertaining VIPs like politicians, Hollywood celebrities, and even royalty.   If you do want to add some decoration, sometimes you can put some wild flowers in a plastic cup for a centerpiece at dinner (just be sure picking the flowers isn't against the rules where you're camping!).  A single candle, even a little votive light, can add a touch of ambiance to the table without taking up much room in your cupboards and if its a citronella candle it will help keep insects away.   Even a little LED faux candle looks nice and you can often get them at dollar stores.   And they don't present a fire hazard if used in tents.  I've seen RV advertisements in magazines and displays at trade shows with lavish flower arrangements and even live plants.  That is OK for a trade show or a commercial, but, personally, I don't think it is very practical for real  camping.  I would prefer to give the space and weight consumed by such items to things that add more convenience or functionality.  In most places we go camping, the location itself provides more than enough "eye candy".   You can always do something fun like learn fun and spiffy ways to fold paper napkins or add a little pretty garnish to your meals.  Sometimes you may even be able to find suitable garnish in the wild (one of my favorites is water cress), but be sure you know what you're picking and that picking it isn't prohibited or the food is contaminated.

Now you're cooking!