Getting Around, Maps and Camping Spots;
Navigating our way around
Navigation is the most frustrating thing for us about our lifestyle. No matter where we go, it’s all new to us and we’ve never been there before. We don’t know if we can get our 13.5 meter (45 ft) 7 tonne rig into a campground or even into some of the smaller townships, whether we can turn it around if we go the wrong way or even if it’s a one way street coming back at us.
Although other couples do it differently, we find that it’s best if Robyn drives and Graeme navigates. This is because Robyn is a good driver and Graeme is a good navigator and it’s really dificult to drive and navigate at the same time.
- Something we’re still struggling with is the basic sense of direction that we assimilate from the sun. Let me explain, coming from the Southern Hemipshere, when we walk outside at midday and face the sun then that is North. But in the northern hemisphere we face South when we turn towards the sun at midday.
This sounds all very logical and shouldn’t present any problems if we adjust to the sun being in the other quadrant of the sky.
But actually the real problem arises with east and west; when on facing the sun in the southern hemisphere then east is to your right, but west is to your right when you do the same thing in America. Do you see what I mean? Confusing isn’t it.
I still have to use a compass when I’m navigating as it’s still not automatic to be turning left to go east when we’re heading towards the sun. And all this while we’re driving on the wrong side of the road, no wonder we make mistakes.
Anyway, we always take time the night before to plan our route and make mental notes about possible difficult areas. Where possible we travel with two or three different maps of the same route as each map will often give slightly different information. We find that the maps here are not all that accurate and leave out a lot of information that we are used to using in New Zealand. For example, most road maps here will not show railway lines, power lines or even many smaller rivers. They don’t even show contours so there is no telling if the road you are on should be going up, down or across a river or even beside a railroad line. These are all reference points that are very useful in plotting your way long a journey but is missing here.
However, the roads are extremely well sign posted and we are getting used to relying on signs and not the geography for our references.
Maps
The first and formost map we use is the Wal*Mart version of Rand McNally Road Atlas. This gives a full state by state map covering all of the USA, Canada and Mexico. Cost $5.95.
This map gives a huge amount of information that very useful; for example it shows th position of each State Information Kiosk, points of interest, suggested scenic routes, camping locations and populations of cities to name a just a few.
Most importantly this atlas also lists all the Wal*Marts with addresses and proximity to freeway exits in every location across the continent. That’s over 5,000 localities to shop and park over night at. Remember that all Wal*Marts allow RVers to overnight in their carpark (except if it’s banned by local body bylaw) and that makes for a lot of places we can park up for the night free of charge. For more information click ‘Wal*Mart‘ to read more.
The next most important map is ones that we’ve been able to pick up for free at the many State Information Kiosks. Each State has a huge Information kiosk just inside their own border with full off freeway parking, clean toilets and usually a pet run area for those traveling with their cat or dogs.
The maps, brochures and helpful staff at each of these places can provide additional information about any of the attractions in the area. This even includes maps of bike riding trails, skiing, hiking, snow mobiling, tennis venues or any other specialised interests you may have.
The next most important place for information are the Chamber of Commerce buildings in the towns we visit. These are usually well sign posted and have good parking. They have more detailed information about things to do, places to stay and restaurants etc within their immediate surrounds. The staff are usually very helpful and will even telephone ahead to enquire about vacancies at camp grounds etc on your behalf.
Camp Grounds
The best reference book we have to guide us on most of our camping spots is called the Don Wright’s Guide to Free Campgrounds (Western version and Eastern version). Cost about $18.50 per edition.
This catalogue is a State by State listing (but not of Canada or Mexico) of all the places that anyone can camp at for $12 or less. It used to be for free camping only but they expanded it to include cheap camping but there is plenty of free camping included.
This catalogue is nearly 1,000 pages in total with about 25 listings per page and no advertising. This represents literally tens of thousands of places across the States with directions on how to get there, the type of facilities and cost per night. Considering that approxiamately one third of the whole of America is actually composted of public lands; be they National Parks, National Forests, State Parks, Municipal Grounds, Bureau of Land Management or whatever, this represents a huge array of camping choices from the full wilderness dry camping to the sophisticated Parks that abound everywhere.
None of the above includes the many thousands of privately owned campgrounds that adorn America, Canada and Mexico with their plush surroundings, full hook ups, swimming pools, recreation rooms, fully gated and secured commumities that are everywhere. From the franchised K.O.A. (Kamp of America chain) to the one off five star communities that are more like luxury subdivisions than camp grounds, there is a wealth of choice and nightly rates to pick from.
Must Buy: We have found that the US National Park Annual Pass at $50 is an absolute bargin. This pass allows us, as a couple, to enter any National Park or National Monument Park any number of times over the year when each entry is otherwise charged at about $8.00. This is a great buy.
Each State in America has a State Park Pass for around $50 but we have not bothered with these as we are not in any one state long enough. The Canadian National Park Pass equivalent costs $120 so we have not purchased that either.
Internet
Last but not least is the Internet. We have a wireless connection to the web using Verizon as a service provider on a monthly plan. So long as we’re within cell phone coverage we have internet connection from the lap top within our rig.
We use the internet for a lot of our research for camping, speciality stores, dealerships, points of interest, you name it, it can be searched for on the web. And the great thing about the web is that most places we want to visit have a detailed map of where they are included on their web site. This is especially useful in the big cities as the road network can be clogged and difficult to negotiate for out of towners like us.
Then there is the Map Quest service now available on the web at www.mapquest.com
Simply go to this site, follow the prompts to enter your starting point and destination and you will be given printable instructions on how to get there from your starting point complete with mileage and an estimate of the time the journey will take.How good is that!
GPS
GPS (Ground Positioning Device) is available and very good we’re told but we haven’t invested in one yet. They start at around $399 and go to over $2,000. One day when I’m really frustrated we might get one but we can buy a lotta maps for that sort of cash.
Telephoning Ahead and Asking Locals
Don’t bother, don’t even begin to go there. These are the two least reliable ways to get information; one beause the place you are phoning usually puts you into some sort of holding patteren telling you how valuable your call is and even if you do get a real person it’s like asking a local; and two, never ask a local as they have little idea how to explain anything to an outsider (this is true anywhere in the world, not just America)
“….. Oh yeah, Camping World Huh!.. Well humm, go down past Charlie Brown’s old work shop then turn right where the saleyards used to be…….Huh, you don’t know where Charlie Brown’s old work shop was…. well it’s now the Tire Place I think, No, actually it’s been torn down and now it’s a used car lot…… and the saleyards, well I think that’s now a new subdividision been all torn up and it’s a mess………….”
Anyway, the journey is half the fun. And even if we do get lost it’s all new and interesting to us so we might have missed this if we had gone our planned route.
