Rightsizing

Rightsizing is a kind of new buzzword being tossed around in corporate circles and by the RV industry.  It is often a polite way to disguise downsizing, which is often the case in the business world.  While RV manufacturers wrestle with demands for ever more amenities, higher performance, and better fuel economy, they try to create new packages under the title rightsizing.  By utilizing lighter materials and improved drive trains they have, to some extent, succeeded, but you still won't find humongous luxury motorhomes getting compact car fuel economy, though some smaller diesels are pushing 20 mpg these days, rivaling the impressive fuel economy of the 1960's Corvair powered Ultravans.

Rightsizing is perhaps an even more important concept for consumers.  Buying more or less RV than you need -- or want -- is not a good value nor a good investment.  The key is matching your unit to your needs -- and your budget. You might save a lot of money buying a 19' class C mini motorhome but it won't be of much real value if your family doesn't fit in it comfortably.  A big luxury RV might seem desirable until you discover it doesn't fit where you have to park it, it costs a fortune for insurance and fuel, and it is too big to go some of the places you want to go.

Rightsizing might mean adding a utility trailer or a small travel trailer instead of buying a bigger motorhome.  Take a look at why you need a bigger unit. If it is only to haul more "stuff", either lighten your load or get a utility trailer.   If you need more beds, perhaps an inexpensive travel trailer will fill the bill without giving up the comforts and familiarity of your current motorhome.  We found that our Smuggler toyhauler made a good extra bedroom for some of our boys on our dirt bike outings.  Small travel trailers (or even tent trailers) are pretty inexpensive and could provide significant additional living space in camp without a large investment.   A properly equipped travel trailer would also expand your other conveniences giving  you more cooking space, a second bathroom, more fresh water, and additional holding tank capacity.  Just make sure your motorhome has sufficient Combined Vehicle Weight Rating to handle the trailer.

Rightsizing for tent campers might mean changing the size of their tents, adding tents, or changing the number and content of the tubs of supplies they bring along.   It may also be applied individually to each outing.   Having the right size tent for the number of people on any given trip is going to make it more convenient and more comfortable.   You don't need that big family tent for a couples outing.

Sometimes rightsizing may mean downsizing.  As the kids leave home, you may not need a big bunkhouse RV or huge family tent anymore.  When you retire your budget and your travel plans may change. Your interests and activities may be different.  Match your equipment to your current needs, wants, and budget.

Very often rightsizing means upsizing.   As you mature and your wants and/or needs or family grows, you may need a bigger RV or a bigger tent, or an extra tent or extra beds in a travel trailer to pull behind your motorhome. 

Make it right!

Downsizing

Downsizing is going from a large RV to a smaller one.  Or from a large tent to a smaller one. Downsizing  isn't as common as upsizing.  Sometimes it makes sense but the typical path of RV and tent ownership over time is usually to larger equipment with more space, luxuries, and conveniences so the downward move is somewhat unnatural.  However, there may come a time when upsizing is no longer appropriate and you may need to downsize.  Now that all our kids are grown and gone they are encouraging us to downsize.   I could see the practical side of it but for a long time I wasn't sure I was ready to give up the luxuries and conveniences of our 40' diesel pusher just yet.  We tried a 23' Class C for a while after the kids had all left home, but we soon found it didn't fit our acquired needs.  The 25 gallon fresh water tank was not enough for a long weekend in the desert for even the 2 of us, let alone when some of the kids tagged along.  Downsizing your tent may make sense if you no longer need to lug around that big family tent once all the kids have grown up and left home and a smaller tent will be easier to set up and easier to keep warm in cold weather.

Why would you ever want to downsize? As your family grows up and moves out you may not need as large a facility.  Changes in employment, including retirement, may reduce your disposable income.  Or you may simply change the kinds of activities you participate in and the destinations you choose to frequent.   Smaller units are usually more fuel efficient and can negotiate some roads and fit in some campgrounds where big motorhomes are prohibited or impractical.  A smaller, more fuel efficient unit, might be better suited to retirement than a big fuel guzzler.   Smaller units are also easier to drive and can go places the big ones can't.   As you mature you might simply get tired of driving a behemoth RV or setting up a big heavy tent.

Our first attempt at downsizing wasn't very successful.  The kids were mostly grown and gone and we figured that with just the two of us we could get by very comfortably with a 23' Class C instead of the 35' Class A we had when the kids were growing up.  Several factors made it a less than perfect decision.  We soon discovered that the limited water and holding tank capacities were inadequate for extended weekends in the desert, even for just two people.  Our Class A had about 100 gallons of fresh water. The Class C had only 25.   The second problem was that we underestimated how many of the kids would still be going with us on typical outings.   A big part of why it didn't work out was we hadn't evaluated our needs and our expectations correctly.  Had we done so we might been able to better adapt our behavior to the more limited resources and been able to manage the transition better.  As it was, our solution was to move back up into a Class A motorhome with increased capacities and, frankly, we've never regretted it.  In fact, we upsized again one more time after that.

A second downsizing occurred a few years later. This time we didn't replace our big Class A motorhome, we added a truck camper we could use for limited activities and have access to smaller campgrounds and be able to negotiate narrow mountain roads that were too tight for the motorhome. Buying the camper was also cheaper than replacing all tires on our big motorhome to meet short term camping 'needs'.   This turned out to be more successful, mostly because we had adjusted our expectations and weren't trying to use the camper as full replacement for the luxury motorhome.  By adjusting our activities to those appropriate to the truck camper we were able to enjoy outings not suitable for the big motorhome and we avoided the disappointment and limitations that plagued our first attempt at downsizing.

We recently faced another (involuntary) downsizing when our 40-foot Class A was damaged in an accident.   It was a rare model that could not be replaced.   We looked at hundreds of online ads, visited at lest a half dozen dealers, and examined more than a half dozen private party sales.   Over time we developed a list of "must have" features that helped us narrow our search.   We found that at least some of the luxury features on our big motorhome, while sometimes nice to have, weren't critical to our desired camping lifestyle.   We settled on a much smaller, 27' Class A that still provided many of the creature comforts we had come to enjoy in our bigger unit.   Downsizing required carefully choosing the items, gadgets, and supplies we could fit into the smaller unit.  While a general rule for the big motorhome was "If you think you might need it, bring it along" the rule for the smaller unit is pretty much "If you aren't sure you'll need it, leave it home."  For example, I had a 12 volt chain saw I'd carried in the big motorhome for years and seldom used but there isn't room for it in the "new" motorhome.

If you attempt downsizing, you should plan to make adjustments.   Manage your expectations and realize you will be giving up some of the luxuries and conveniences you've become accustomed to.  Alter your activities to take advantage of the smaller size.  You may have access to smaller campgrounds and other remote locations you didn't have with your big unit, but you may also have to limit duration and modify your activities to match the capabilities of your smaller unit.  That may mean more frequent trips to the dump station and/or bringing along extra water.   And don't forget doing what you can to make your smaller unit as comfortable as possible.  Explore what features the big motorhome or trailer had that you really liked.  Can you add similar features to your replacement? Can you adjust your activities and/or the gear and equipment you carry to fit the smaller unit?   Can you adjust your expectations and accept that not all your "wants" are needs?  If, after considering all your options, you don't think you'll be happy with the smaller unit, forget it!  Any changes you make are intended to improve your enjoyment, so don't do something that isn't going to make you happy.

Trial runs are a good idea if you can make it happen.  Most RVs represent a significant investment so you don't want to be jumping from one to another without good reason and careful planning.  If you think you want to downsize, consider renting or borrowing a unit similar to the one you're considering and take a few short trips in it.  That way you'll know if you will be comfortable BEFORE you get rid of your old tried-and-true behemoth . It will probably be an expensive proposition if you downsize and then have to upsize again.   It was for us.

Bigger is not always better.

Best and Worst Camping Experiences

How do you define your best camping experience? You can't really set a particular set of criteria to evaluate your outings. Each one has its own special features and memories. Even outings where things went wrong may qualify among your best experiences while some that were "perfect" may get left behind because they weren't particularly memorable. Some that were particularly difficult may one day be remembered as "adventures".  Almost never is it considered an adventure when its happening!

Since we're an avid dirt-biking family, it is no surprise that our best outings were dirt-bike outings.  The trips up Nine Mile Canyon (a driving adventure in itself) to Troy Meadows, have to be among our top favorites.  So, what gives them such status?   Well, getting up Nine Mile Canyon is an accomplishment in itself, especially driving a motorhome towing an enclosed dirt bike trailer.  Nine Mile Canyon is essentially a single-lane dirt logging road cut into a steep hill side.   There are many times when your left front wheel is right on the outer edge and you can't see ground out the driver's window for about 1200' down the canyon.  In the meantime, the right hand side of your motorhome and/or trailer is scraping the rocks on the uphill cut.  Now imagine meeting a logging truck coming down that road!  It was always a relief to reach the summit and the paved two-lane roads at the top safely.  Another major factor in giving these outings high marks is the quality of the campground.  It is nestled among giant Sequoia trees, which provide shade and create a very serene environment.  The trails in the Sequoia National Forest were a real delight to ride, especially in their original pristine state before environmental closures shut down looping trails, forcing riders to back-track. This doubled the traffic on the remaining trails and created two-way routes that turned pristine single-track trails into two-lane trails resembling fire roads. The excess traffic soon had the trails whooped out and dusty or muddy.   The summer weather was usually very pleasant, with warm days and cool nights that made for comfortable riding in the day and perfect campfire activities in the evening. Another major factor was the company of fellow riders who were among our best friends.  The trails themselves were picturesque and generally offered just enough technical difficulty to be interesting without being downright scary or dangerous.  Of course for the hard core enthusiasts there was something called Machinery Creek that required lowering and raising the bikes with ropes to get past some of the obstacles.  Some other good memories include trips to the Mojave Desert. Riding a route called The Trail of Tears to the Husky Monument comes immediately to mind.  The Husky Monument is an old Husky dirt bike set in concrete out in the middle of nowhere.   It was placed there by friends of a fallen desert racer who wanted his ashes spread in the desert he loved.  Since then dozens of additional plaques and small monuments have been added honoring other riders. There is no telling how many funeral urns have been emptied there.  Several of my riding buddies have expressed their desire for that to be their final resting place.

Another favorite area for us was Searles Station near Randsburg in the Mojave Desert.  It is a large open camping area within the Spangler Hills Off Highway Vehicle Area. OHV opportunities abound, with sand washes, hill climbs, roller-coaster hills, and open desert.  There is enough room for our annual "Turkey In the Dirt" outings at Thanksgiving. W e attracted up to 175 people our peak year.  There is enough space that OHV traffic on the trails isn't too bad, even on busy holiday weekends, even though the collection of motorhomes and trailers made the desert look like a sprawling city.  While we go camping to get away, it is also close enough to the little historic mining town of Randsburg to ride into town for lunch one day or a little further into Ridgecrest for supplies.

Worst camping experiences are actually a little harder to define, believe it or not.  I've seen a bumper sticker that says "The worst day fishing beats the best day working" and that definitely applies equally well to camping and OHVing.  Pretty much the worst day camping does beat the best day working. I can recall specific incidents that were less than happy at the time -- like having a hitch break and drop our trailer in the middle of the road as we were preparing to go home.   But all in all, that was still a pretty good outing -- up 'til then.  And it was a recoverable problem.  Guess I sound a little like the optimist who falls off a 30 story building.   As he passes the 15th floor someone shouts out a window "How's it going?"  The optimist replies "So far, so good!"  We've had times when one or more of our family were injured and we have made more than one trip to the emergency room, but even those weekends wouldn't qualify for being listed among "worst" experiences.  We have had some "less successful" outings, like the time I left the keys for our dual-sport bike at home and we had to tear apart the ignition switch and hot-wire it.  I think that may have been the same trip that I brought lots of canned foods but no can opener.   Both of those circumstances were frustrating and inconvenient, but overall, the weekend was still quite enjoyable.   And, if nothing else, we learned some valuable lessons and it makes for a good story today.  We've had our share of flat tires and other equipment failures, but for the most part those are just minor inconveniences and not enough to put a whole outing in the "worst" category.  I've witnessed situations that may qualify for a "worst" outing for the individuals involved (and their families).   One young man went over the bars of his dirt bike hard enough that he was knocked out and when we got to him he was twitching as if he'd had an epileptic seizure.  That one was scary, but ultimately he was OK.  The teen age son of one of my riding buddies road down into a steep ravine. When he hit bottom, it was too sharp of an angle and his front wheel stopped suddenly instead of going up the other side.  The young man snapped both wrists.  I've seen an adult do the same thing and have helped splint broken bones on more than one injured rider for transport to the emergency room.  That is one reason I carry a big first aid kit and maintain my first aid and CPR certifications.  I broke a collar bone on one dirt-bike outing, but I still don't consider even that enough to put the whole outing into the "worst" category, even though it was quite uncomfortable (down right painful actually!) and somewhat challenging driving a big class A motorhome pulling a dirt bike trailer home with a broken collar bone.   I had little choice. My only companions, my son and my nephew, were too young to drive.  Other adults on the same outing had their own vehicles to get home.

The worst day camping does beat the best day working!

Truck and SUV Tents

Truck tents are an interesting variation of tent camping.  You need a pickup truck and a special tent designed to fit in the bed of the truck.  Truck tents get you up off the ground so they have advantages over ordinary tents in putting you on a flat surface and, when properly installed, in keeping you up out of any rain runoff that can get under a regular tent.   Having a mostly flat surface without rocks and sticks is usually more comfortable than sleeping on the ground, even with the ribs that most pickup beds have.  Truck tents are usually made of light weight nylon and held up by springy fiberglass poles like a dome tent.  The top part usually extends over the edge of the bed so rain runs off onto the ground, keeping the bed dry under the tent.  They are especially advantageous if you are camping in an area where you might encounter poisonous snakes, insects, or other unwelcome critters on the ground.   Other aspects of truck tent camping are pretty much the same as for regular tent camping.  You'll need to set up your camp kitchen etc the same way.   However, you will want to avoid using the tailgate as a food preparation and cooking area because of the proximity to the tent fabric.  Even if you don't catch your tent on fire, smoke and cooking odors may contaminate your tent and even permanently damage the fabric.  Bacon smells good when its cooking, but is won't smell so good coming from your tent fabric as you try to sleep the next night and you probably won't want to live with the residue in your tent fabric as it ages.  Rancid cooking odors are NOT a culinary delight.

Why not just set up an ordinary tent in the back of your truck?  You might be able to get away with this using a self-supporting style tent if it will fit inside the truck bed and you can figure out a way to secure it.  Truck tents are designed specifically to fit the bed of a pickup truck.  They usually have straps that run down the outside of the bed and hook underneath to secure the tent in place.  The top part of the tent slightly overlaps the bed rails with the lower part slightly recessed so if it rains the rain runs off onto the ground instead of into the bed and under the tent.  The bottom part is narrower, to fit inside the bed and between or sometimes over the fender wells.  Truck tents are available in sizes to fit most standard bed sizes.  Make sure you buy the right size for your truck.  A tent that is too large or too small for your truck will be difficult to use and will lose many of the advantages of using a truck tent.  We have used truck tents successfully in full-size, long-bed trucks and in short-bed mini trucks.  As long as you get the right tent for your truck you'll be fine.  If you're more than 6' tall you'll need to bend your knees to lie down in any short-bed truck.

Truck tents may fare better in bad weather than ordinary tents.   Being up off the ground keeps them away from ground water.   Properly designed truck tents will have sides that come down over the sides of the truck bed so rain runs off to the ground instead of under the tent.   The metal sides of the bed add protection against wind and the way the tent is anchored to the truck makes it more stable in wind than ordinary tents.  Having that metal bed around the lower part of your tent can minimize the way the wind sucks the heat out of your tent.  As mentioned before, it also keeps you up out of the reach of crawling insects and other critters that you might not want to share your tent with.  The ribbed metal or wooden floor of the bed won't be soft as grass or sand, but is flat and it will provide even support for your sleeping pad or air mattress and, unless you leave gravel or debris in the bed you won't be sleeping on a randomly bumpy surface.   If you level your vehicle you will have a level surface to sleep on instead of rolling over or sliding down like sometimes happens in ordinary tents set up on uneven ground.   I've waked up in the morning and found myself almost entirely outside the tent when the ground sloped.   NEVER sleep with your head downhill!  Stomach acid will run back up into your mouth during the night and it isn't pleasant!

SUV tents are kind of like an "add-a-room" for your SUV.  They may attach to the side or to the rear of the vehicle.  The expectation is that you will sleep in the back of the SUV and will use the attached tent as expanded, stand-up dressing area, sitting area, and living space.  You will usually use the back of your SUV for sleeping.  If your family or group is too large to all sleep in the SUV some people can certainly sleep in the attached tent.  Sleeping in the back of your SUV gives you a nice flat, often carpeted surface to roll out your sleeping bags.   You have solid steel and glass all around you to protect you from the elements and animals.  If it gets too cold you might run the engine and heater for a while to take the chill off.  Make sure the exhaust pipe is clear so it won't melt or ignite the tent fabric or send fatal fumes into the tent or SUV. SUV tents are usually less susceptible to wind than ordinary tents for a couple of reasons.   First of all, they are attached to a heavy vehicle which increases stability and secondly, the vehicle usually provides some protection from the wind if it is oriented with the tent on the downwind side.  Keep that in mind when parking your SUV in camp. Many designs include straps to attach the tent to the roof rack or to the top of the doors, providing high anchor points not found in normal tents and increasing stability.  The normal interior lights of your SUV can be used at night to illuminate the part of the tent adjacent to the SUV and in the SUV for bedtime preparations.  Just be judicious about the use so you don't run down your battery. Curtains or some kind of shades on the SUV windows will help control both light and temperature and add a degree of privacy most people will appreciate.  SUV tents are often designed for a specific make and model so take care when purchasing one to be sure it will fit your vehicle.

Roof top tents can be used on just about any car, truck, SUV, or trailer.  See Roof Top Tents for some examples.   Roof top tents get you up off the cold ground and out of the reach of most animals or other pests (except the 2-legged variety).  You usually need a ladder to get in and out of them. Some are designed to fit on existing roof racks; some can be adapted to ordinary sedans.  Be sure to get the right configuration for your vehicle.  There are many accessories available to enhance their use, including winter covers and ground floor dressing rooms.  Roof top tents can range from under a couple hundred bucks to more than $2000, depending on size, features, and quality, so be sure to shop around if you're interested in getting one.   I've seen them on Amazon and even on ebay and craigslist.  Be sure the one you buy is designed to fit your vehicle.

You can use a truck tent just about anywhere since it doesn't take up any extra room.   Because SUV tents attach to the side or rear of the vehicle you will have to consider that when parking your SUV. Make sure there will be room for your tent.  Watch out for trees, bushes, poles, and rocks or other markers that designate your parking area that might interfere with your SUV tent.

Get off the ground!

Spontaneous RV or Camp Outings

One of the nice things about having an RV -- or being set up to "grab and go" for tent camping -- is the ability to take spontaneous outings.  Just grab some provisions and take off for a weekend whenever you feel like it.  Or pick up what you need along the way.  That is one reason I like to keep my RV ready to go -- or keep tent camping items well organized and accessible in 'grab and go' containers.  You don't need any particular reason, just the desire to "get away from it all" for a little while is more than sufficient justification.  Keeping everything ready also gives you a buffer in emergency situations.  If your neighborhood was hit by an earthquake, tornado, or other natural or man-made disaster, your RV and/or your camping equipment could become your personal relief center as did our motorhome following the 1994 Northridge Earthquake in southern California.

Where to go for a spontaneous outing depends on where you live, what you like to do, and how much time you have.   A quick overnight trip to a local beach or park can be a welcome break from the hectic pace of our normal lives.  Small county or state parks are often overlooked and under utilized yet can provide a nice option for a quick get-a-way without having to drive too far.  If your preferred activities include OHVs you'll need to go somewhere you can ride, but just getting out in nature for a few hours of relaxation at a park or beach can be surprisingly rejuvenating.

Preparing for spontaneous outings.  Does that sound like a conflict in terms?  I suppose you could look at it that way, but there is also good reason to make plans ahead of time that will allow you to be spontaneous.  That includes keeping your RV and/or camping equipment clean and in good condition and ready to go at a moment's notice.  You don't have to plan any specific outing way ahead, just keep yourself set up so you CAN take off when the spirit moves you.  It is also helpful to identify some nearby destinations that can accommodate drop ins.  Most well used developed camp grounds are going to need advance reservations, so you should identify some "boondocking" locations where you don't need reservations.  Have your RV prepped and ready to go so all you have to do is throw in last minute provisions and hit the road.   If you're a tent camper, have all your camping gear well-organized and ready to toss in the car and take off.  Nothing will take the spontaneity out of a spontaneous outing faster than getting bogged down getting going, rounding up your gear, making overdue repairs, or restocking depleted provisions.   You will usually prepare for planned outings well in advance and take time to inspect all of your equipment and gear and to develop your shopping list and acquire provisions.  If you keep your equipment at the ready, you'll be prepared for spontaneous outings.  You get home from work some Friday evening and decide "Let's spend the weekend camping."  Just grab the perishable food you'll need or stop at the market on the way out of town and you're on your way.

Spontaneous activities.  There are lots of things you can have ready to go to provide fun things to do on a spontaneous outing.   Horseshoes, badminton, volleyball, toss around a football or softball, take a hike -- or just DO NOTHING.   For most of us, doing nothing is very hard to do.  Maybe you need to label it "nap time" or "time out" or "R&R" to satisfy that inner drive to be doing "something" all the time.   Sometimes "nothing" is exactly what we need to do, even though it has been said doing nothing can be vey tiring -- because you can't stop to rest!   Modern lifestyles are busy -- often TOO busy. So taking a little time off for real rest and relaxation is a good thing.   Just sit and watch the clouds drift by or let the babbling of a brook lull you to sleep.  We found it a good thing to bring our bicycles along and take a ride through local attractions.  Sure, you could take a walking tour, but you can cover more ground on a bicycle and it feels more like you're doing "something" healthy and you can cover more ground than you would on foot, giving you access to more remote destinations. Bicycle riding lends itself well to the spontaneous atmosphere.   You can go fast to burn calories or go slow to enjoy the scenery; follow a pre-determined route or go exploring.  Best of all, you don't have to adhere to any set schedule and you can go just about anywhere.   Bicycles are great for exploring scenic and historic locations.  And they're pollution free.

Spontaneous meals.  Your meals don't have to be fancy. In fact, the simpler, the better.  Hot dogs are usually far from gourmet fare, but freshly roasted over a campfire they are delicious and don't require a lot of preparation or cleanup.   A tub of potato salad and/or a can of pork and beans and some potato chips will turn hot dogs into a pretty complete meal for lunch or dinner.   How about breakfast?  We often picked up a dozen donuts on our way out of town to have for breakfast the next morning. Granted, donuts are not on the top of any health food diet, but they are quick, easy, inexpensive, and tasty and pretty much always a hit with the kids (of all ages).  Still want something healthy?  How about some fresh fruit?  Thanks to a global supply system apples, bananas, and oranges are pretty much available year round along with a growing variety of exotic fruits.  Or stop by a roadside stand for some seasonal fresh picked local produce. What better snack to fit with a spontaneous outing?

Pot luck dinners are a fun form of spontaneity.  Organize a put luck lunch or dinner in your campground.   Just invite fellow campers to bring whatever they have that they can share.  You get to meet a lot of new people and often get to discover a lot of fun food you might not have otherwise encountered.  Try to be diplomatic if you come across something you don't find palatable and don't take it personally if your contribution is under appreciated.

Just do it!

Hot Winter Camping Refreshements

Winter camping calls for warm treats.  A nice hot cup of tea, coffee, or cocoa on a cold morning or a winter evening is as pleasant as an ice cold drink on a hot summer afternoon.  Preparing warm winter treats is really easy, even without today's modern conveniences.  You can heat water for cocoa or coffee right on the campfire or on your camp or RV stove.   If you have an RV with a generator and microwave you can make a cup of instant tea, coffee or cocoa in about 1 minute. Lacking a generator, you may want to keep a pot of water on the campfire or stove so its always ready when you are.  Wrapping cold fingers around a hot cup of your favorite beverage is almost as enjoyable as drinking it.

Warm winter treats are more than just nice to have, they can be an integral part of your comfort and even your health.  It is no fun being cold and it can be hazardous to your health, so having plenty of warm refreshments to keep you going is essential to your well being.  Warm food helps maintain core temperatures; holding a cup with a hot drink in it can help warm cold hands.  Inhaling the warm vapor from a steaming cup of your favorite beverage can help defrost your cold nose and may even deliver some heat into your core through your lungs.  Warm drinks probably provide more psychological benefits than actual heat for warming your core, but they certainly don't hurt.

Warm winter snacks.   One of our favorite hot treats are camp fire pies.  They're really easy to make if you have the right pie cookers.  These are little metal clam-shells with long handles.  You simply put a slice of bread on each side, spoon in your favorite pie filling, close the cooker, and place it in the coals.   In a few minutes you'll have a fresh baked, personal-sized pie.  It will take some practice to figure out how long to cook it so it is golden brown and the filling heated all the way through, but is well worth the effort.  You might think the bread would just taste like toast, but it actually tastes remarkably close to real pie crust.   Be sure to coat the inside of the cooker with butter, cooking oil, or cooking spray to prevent the bread from sticking.  We borrowed another cold weather favorite from a fellow camper.   Instead of ordinary chips and cold dips, mix a can of heated chili with cream cheese.  It is best served with "Scoops", the big, spoon shaped corn chips.  It really hits the spot on a cold evening.   Of course, anything you can cook on your campfire and eat warm makes a good cold weather treat.   S'mores are the campfire classic, but for variety you might try ash cakes or bread twists, served hot from the campfire with butter and honey or jam or cinnamon sugar.  Cold weather makes breakfasts more important than ever.  Nothing quite like bacon and eggs or some fresh pancakes to take the chill off a cold morning.  The smell of bacon frying over the campfire is camping tradition that is sure to stimulate appetites.

Speaking of something that sticks to your ribs, a nice hot bowl of oatmeal or Cream of Wheat is a great way to start the day.  Instant versions of these traditional breakfast staples make them ready in a jiffy.  You can heat them in the microwave in your RV or fix them with boiling water from pot heated over your campfire when tent camping.   For a pioneer touch, try corn meal mush instead.  Cook corn meal like you would oatmeal until it has softened into a gruel consistency.   I like mine with lots and lots of butter and honey.   Another popular breakfast treat is fresh baked cinnamon rolls.  With a Coleman stove-top oven you can even fix these when tent camping.  Refrigerated dough will give you a fast and easy start but you should be able to make them from scratch using basic ingredients from your camp provisions without having to worry about keep the dough refrigerated until you're ready to use it.  Of course, if it cold enough outside you might be able to keep things cool by just keeping them outside.  A snow bank makes a pretty cool refrigerator.

Winter beverages. Warm drinks are always nice on cold days. In addition to traditional brews like coffee, tea, and cocoa, you might want to try spiced cider or something called "wassail", a mulled cider made with sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and topped with slices of toast.  Modern recipes sometimes begin with a base of wine, fruit juice, or mulled ale, sometimes with brandy or sherry added.  Apples or oranges are often added to the mix.  Be sure to check your campground rules for alcohol before creating an alcoholic punch.  By the way, "wassail" is derived from a middle English phrase, "wæs hæil", that means "good health", so those heavily laced with alcohol might not qualify!  Cocoa or hot chocolate can be easily dressed up with extra flavors.   I like to add French vanilla coffee creamer or vanilla or caramel syrup.   Or ordinary vanilla extract will do the trick. Cinnamon and nutmeg are fun variations too.   Carmel syrup always adds a sweet taste.  And don't forget to top it with whipped cream, marshmallows, or marshmallow creme.  A really easy and tasty hot beverage is spiced cider.  Simply heat some cider (or apple juice) together with several cinnamon sticks.  The aroma will fill your RV or campsite with a holiday scent and the hot drink is delicious -- and relatively healthy. In addition to warming your insides, hot beverages are good for warming your hands as you hold them and even defrosting your nose as you sip.  Hot or warm beverages are also helpful in restoring your inside warmth if you get too chilled.

Meals to keep you warm.  Your body needs more calories to maintain your body temperature in cold weather.  Carbohydrates are a good source of those calories.   They are usually quick to be absorbed by the body.   Some friends of mine got caught dirt-biking in a snow storm and by the time they reached civilization they were getting close to becoming hypothermic.  In addition to huddling around the restaurant fireplace they consumed plate after plate of roast beef and hot mashed potatoes and gravy.  Soon they were feeling warm and cozy.   In addition to the physical warmth provided by a hot meal, the best winter meals provide fuel for your body to maintain its own warmth.  Chili is always a hit on cold evenings and hot soup or stew is a close second.  I personally prefer stews and thick soups over the watery kind.  Feels like it will "stick to my ribs" better although thin soups also contribute to maintaining proper hydration.  As I mentioned above, a couple of my dirt biking buddies wolfed down plate after plate of hot roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy after a long, cold winter ride in the snow while sitting in front of the restaurant fireplace to warm up.

Here are some basic food guidelines that will help you stay warm:

    # Root Vegetables - Potatoes, carrots, white radish, onion and garlic (dry and spring varieties).
    # Leafy greens -  Green beans and peas form a part of high energy and high-protein vegetables.  Even adding some celantro to your tacos or burritos will give you a little of the benefits of greens in your diet.   By the way, coriander is what you get when celantro goes to seed.
    # Whole Grain Cereals  - High energy and protein foods provide the required fuel to combat the cold.
    # Fresh and Dried Fruits - Papaya and pineapple are believed to provide warmth. Dates are warm in nature and are highly recommended in the winter months.
    # Spices - Mustard, black pepper, and dill seeds are all warm spices to be used freely. Mustard, ajwain and suva seeds are a valuable remedy for winter coughs and flu, stimulating appetite and digestion and increasing blood circulation.  And, yes, hot chili peppers warm you in more ways than one.

Herbs and Seeds - Basil  is an herb that protects against colds and fever and helps strengthen immunity.  Ginger, (fresh and dry varieties) is very warming.  Sliced ginger with lime and salt is a common accompaniment with meals, while ginger can be added to tea, soups, stews, and vegetables.

Our family favorite for cold nights is my wife's home-made chili.  We fondly refer to it as Marilyn's (or Mom's) Marvelous Mojave Mild Chili.   It is definitely not a "3-alarm chili".   She even won "Sweetest Chili" at a church chili cook off one year.  I'm don't know her exact recipe and I'm not sure she even has one.   She just makes it to taste.  She often makes it with ground turkey instead of ground beef, allowing us to at least pretend it is somewhat healthy.   It is simple to make: mostly ground meat (brown the meat before adding the other ingredients), red beans and tomato sauce and seasoned to taste, primarily chili powder.  I sometimes like to add some brown sugar to enhance the already "sweet" flavor.  To lower the fat content, pour off excess grease before adding the other stuff. The longer it simmers, the better and it is very good as a leftover, so make it in large batches.  We often freeze bags of it for later.  It reheats really well and almost tasted even better.  It is really good topped with shredded cheese and served with sliced oranges.   I sometimes like to add corn chips (Fritos or "Scoops" are my favorites).  You can start it early in the day and let it simmer all day long. It is an ideal dish to let simmer in a Dutch oven while you're out participating in recreational activities.  If you have some frozen leftovers and a microwave it can be ready to take the chill off in a jiffy for subsequent meals too.   No doubt the chili pepper helps warm things up in more ways than one.  Just about any soup or stew will taste good on a cold night and help warm you up.   I prefer thick stews and chowders over the watery kinds of soup.  Sort of feels like it will "stick to my ribs" better.  However, a bowl of hot, thick tomato soup is a nice companion to a grilled cheese sandwich and any hot soup will help warm you when its cold outside (or you're cold inside!).   I prefer not to add the full amount of water the instructions usually call for in order to make it thicker and (to me) more satisfying.

Bon appetite!

Cool Summer Camping Refreshments

There is nothing like a cool refreshment on a hot day. J ust look at the lines at the snow cone and shaved ice stands around town!  But what about cool refreshments when you're out camping?  Well, thanks to RVs and portable generators, you can have a variety of cool treats in camp.   If you have a freezer compartment in your RV fridge you can bring along Popsicles, which have been a summer favorite for generations.  You can make your own mini Popsicles in ice cube trays using your favorite flavor Kool Aid, sports drink, or other beverage and toothpicks.  Cool treats can be healthy if you choose carefully.  Smoothies and treats of frozen fruit juices or sports drinks don't have the calories that ice cream and commercial Popsicles have.   Frozen treats are a little harder to manage when tent camping, but with a really good ice chest, it is possible.  You can't freeze new ice cube treats, but you may be able to bring along some frozen goodies.

Cool refreshments are more than just nice to have:  they can be essential to your health as well as your comfort.  Dehydration and heat related illness are a real threat in hot weather.  Cool beverages are more appealing so you will probably drink more of them.  Proper cool refreshments can help regulate body temperature and help maintain liquids.  To help maintain electrolytes, make some ice cubes using sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade.

Snow cones.  We felt really luxurious when we first started making snow cones on our dirt bike outings to the Mojave Desert.  At first I just tried crushing the ice in a standard blender.  The results were passable, but would be more accurately describe as crushed ice cones,  They were pretty crunchy and left something (a lot, actually) to be desired.   I found an inexpensive portable snow cone maker on the Internet.  It uses its own specially shaped ice disks so I have to plan ahead, but the results are practically professional -- it produces a fluffy shaved ice "snow" that distributes the flavoring evenly and yields a texture that is a delight on the tongue.   I also found a Rival brand snow cone maker that used regular ice cubes or crushed ice.  I found several flavors of sno-cone syrups at a local restaurant supply store or you can make your own "syrup" using KoolAid or Jello.

Ice cream cones and sundaes are another long time summertime tradition.   And all the equipment you need is an ice cream scoop -- along with a freezer compartment in your fridge or an ice chest adequate to keep the ice cream frozen until you're ready to use it.   Because they're portable and require no cleanup (unless you drip!) ice cream cones are an ideal treat for camping.  You can choose between traditional "cake" cones or fancier "waffle" or sugar cones.  With a little searching you can find chocolate flavored waffle cones and cake cones that come in various festive colors besides the standard wheat color.  Sundaes are a little messier but if you loath doing dishes you can serve them in disposable bowls and use disposable plastic spoons.  Sundaes can be as simple or as elegant as you want them to be.  I was amused by a local ice cream store who offered a "Topless Sundae".  It consisted of two scoops of vanilla ice cream with a half a maraschino cherry on top of each scoop. More traditional sundaes include your favorite chocolate, butterscotch, cherry, strawberry, or caramel syrup plus nuts and whipped topping.  Or, for a really rich sundae, hot fudge!  Most ice cream "nut toppings" are mostly peanuts but, if anyone in your group has peanut allergy or if you just don't like peanuts, chopped almonds or cashews are also delicious.  (Almonds are MY favorite!)  Various forms of candy "sprinkles", including crushed candy bars add a sweet touch.   For the health-minded, real fruit makes a healthy and tasty topping too.   Sherbets offer a lighter alternative to ice cream and are often more refreshing since they have a crisper taste.  Home made ice cream is always a campground favorite.   You'll need a good recipe, an ice cream freezer, lots of ice and rock salt, and plenty of strong arms.   If you're short on strong arms but have power available you could use an electric ice cream maker, but wouldn't that be cheating?

Smoothies can provide a healthier hot weather alternative to ice cream treats.  They can be made with a variety of fruits and vegetables.  You can find many good recipes on the Internet, but the basic formula includes ice cream or yogurt, sliced or diced fruit(s) of your choice, ice cubes, and some liquid such as water, fruit juice, milk or soy milk.  You can add protein powder for extra energy.  Fruit can be fresh or frozen.  Need extra fiber?  Add a spoonful or two of your favorite fiber additive -- this a tasty way to disguise fiber supplements.  Just combine all the ingredients in your blender and run it until it is thoroughly mixed.  Leave the skin on fruits for added fiber and nutrition.  You don't need a special blender to make smoothies.  Any high speed kitchen blender will do.  Recipes do not have to be exact and you can make up your own using what you have on hand and whatever sounds good to you and flavor to taste.  The more liquid you add and the longer you blend your smoothie, the smoother and fluffier (and more liquid) it will be. If you prefer having a little ice to crunch on or like them thicker, use less liquid and blend it less. If it is TOO crunchy for your taste, blend it more. Leftover smoothies can be poured into an ice cube tray to make mini smoothie popsicles or can be re-blended for later.

Cool drinks.  Cool drinks of just about any kind are always welcome on a hot day.  Plain old water is one of the most refreshing -- and one of the healthiest.  Sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade help replenish electrolytes that are lost through perspiration.  Cold soft drinks are tasty, but because of the high sweetener content in most of them, they have a lot of calories and are not the best at quenching your thirst.  Alcoholic drinks and caffeinated drinks like coffee and colas can contribute to dehydration so avoid them if you can or drink them only in moderation.   Fruit drinks can be a refreshing and fairly healthy source of hydration.  Lemonade is a traditional favorite -- jazz it up a bit with fresh strawberries or raspberries or mint leaves.  Or try limeade for a change. It is a bit tangier and crisper than lemonade and I find it more refreshing on a hot day.   It is especially good with slices of fresh lime in it.  Speaking of limes, try adding a slice of lime to your favorite lemon-lime soda or ginger ale.   Gives it an extra bit of tang that makes it especially tasty and refreshing.  Various summer punches can also be a refreshing alternative to sodas.  One of our favorites is a Cucumber Punch.  It is made with ginger ale, frozen limeade, and sliced cucumbers.  It is surprisingly tasty and refreshing.  I like to make it up in a washtub style container and ladle it over ice, making sure to include a cucumber slice in each glass.  A bit of green food coloring gives it extra character.  You might choose other colors to match holiday themes but green seems to suit the flavor.  There are a number of refreshing punches that can be made with clear sodas and sherbet.  A personal favorite of mine is 7-up and Raspberry sherbet. Y ou are limited only by your imagination, your budget, and your taste buds.  Iced drinks are very tempting and tasty, but are not necessarily the healthiest thing to drink when you're hot.  Many health nuts will recommend drinking room temperature water, but I don't particularly enjoy it myself.   Even the Bible criticizes that which is neither warm nor cold but is luke warm and is spewn out of the mouth.   And whatever you drink, don't guzzle!   Sipping a little a time will be better for you and avoid the stomach cramps that can come from drinking a lot of cold stuff when you're over heated.

Plain old water is actually one of the healthiest and most refreshing thing you can drink in hot weather.   Drink plenty of it.  Add a slice or wedge of lemon or lime to give it a little fresh, tangy feeling on your tongue.  Ice water is often a favorite on hot days but having it at room temperature is often thought to be healthier by some.  Cool tap water is a good compromise.   Don't wait until you are thirsty to start drinking.  By then you are already starting to get dehydrated.  Take a few swallows of water frequently throughout the day to stay hydrated and stave off thirst.  Many times, people who are getting dehydrated may feel hungry instead of thirsty.  Sedentary men in temperate climates need about 3 quarts of water a day.  Women need about 2 quarts. Your requirement will increase significantly with activity and with hot weather.   Wearing a "Camelbak" hydration pack or carrying a water bottle and sipping from it frequently is one of the best ways of staying hydrated.

RV refrigerators make having cold treats easy.  You'll need a good ice chest and plenty of ice to maintain cold treats for more than a day or two when tent camping.  I've seen ice chests that promise to keep things cold for up to 5 days.  Tests I've read about and personal experience say they actually work.  Of course the performance of any ice chest will depend on outside temperature, sun exposure,  length and frequency of opening, and how well you pre-cooled what you put in it.   Keep your ice chest in the shade as much as possible and limit opening it.  Don't drain off the melted water right away.  The cold water will continue to cool the interior of the ice chest for some time even after the ice has melted.   Both the ice and the water will be at 32 degrees until all the ice is gone.  If water is soaking the contents and it is necessary to drain some of it off, you might pour it over another ice chest or back over the one it came out of to cool the outside and postpone further heating of contents or use it to cool the bandanna around your neck or even to soak your shirt for extra cooling on a hot day.   If you have sufficient battery reserve you could use a 12-volt cooler instead of or in addition to an ice chest to keep things cool.

Bottoms up!