In the desert-like area around Yakima, Washington this campground is an oasis of trees and animals, and a quiet, calm spot for people to camp and relax. This large leaf may be from the "big leaf maple" native to Washington State - Acer macrophyllum
I've just returned from a two-week camping and visiting trip. My first two days were camping days. I stayed at the lovely Yakima Sportman State Park. I'd hoped to have additional camping days during my trip...but Winter intervened...
My first two days were in the mid-50's and the nights in the 30's. I was cozy in my Jeep bed. Click the following link to see how I made my Jeep serve my RVing and camping needs without buying another vehicle, and instead using the one I already own and how I made my car bed!
https://heartseasecottage.typepad.com/gails-garden-at-heartsea/2019/08/car-camping-my-way.html
Tall trees, and hedged in on three sides by wild roses, made my campsite a private Eden.
Not all the campsites were screened from view of other campers, but some where. There were a few other campers in the park due to the lateness of the season. Most were in RV's where privacy is maintained by the RV itself. There are also spots for tents, van and car camping. As many of my activities such as cooking, clothes changing, and sitting occur outside my car, I found a very private, secluded site.
With the hatch up and the car backed into my campsite I have a view from my car bed into the rose hedging and trees where I can relax and read or watch the varieties of birds that inhabit the park. Behind the car, out of site, is my folding camp chair and table. My "booth" sits between camp table and car.
I've erected my "booth", a changing room/potty tent for privacy when doing these things. The booth has an open top for ventilation or a solar shower (though nothing to hang the solar shower from...a tree limb would serve or a shepherds hook?) so I've put a tarp over it in case of rain.
To use the booth one side unzips for stepping into it. I keep a collapsible stool inside of it so I have a place to sit to put on shoes. The stool also raises the collapsible potty to a comfy, usable height. The potty may be moved into the car at night for those pesky nighttime nature calls and is the right height for in-car use where it sits next to the middle of the bed. It has a lid that securely covers it. Thankfully. Kitty sand has a part to play, but I will get into that subject in more detail another time.
Reading, relaxing, knitting, and sleeping, this car bed is eight-inches-thick comfort! I have a down sleeping bag, a wool blanket, and an afghan I'm crocheting - mostly done - for cozy comfort on chilly nights.
I have three bins that I take on my trips. A small one, and two larger ones. One holds pots, pans, eating utensils, knives, towels and wash cloths, plates, cutting board, glasses and cups, matches, and lighter, and fire starting sticks for recalcitrant campfires. It's a kitchen in a bin! I have a set of two plates, cups, utensils, cups, and glasses.
My kitchen set up occupies one end of the camp table at my site.
On the camp bench is a small bin that holds spices and tea bags. The larger bins holds my kitchen items. On top of the table is my old Coleman single burner stove. The kitchen towel is draped over a one gallon bottle of water so it can dry. A can of chili is at hand for making Frito Pie. My insulated cup keeps beverages hot or cold and I can re-hydrate dried veggies in it by adding hot water.
Not in the photo is my utility bin. It's the same size as the kitchen bin and serves dually as a bedside table in the Jeep. The utility bin holds tent stakes, a 5'x7' tarp, wet wipes, a roll of plastic bags for my collapsible potty (I will do a post on potty use), and the collapsible potty, an ax, a hammer, a tent stake puller, cording, a roll of duct tape, spring clamps and other odds and ends.
Under the front seats of the car I keep a folding table, a folding shovel, and a first aid kit. On the passenger side floor I store three gallons of water, food bags, the stove when traveling.
The passenger seat holds my small, rolling suitcase and my personals bag for hygiene, washing up, medications, etc.
My mobile pantry consists of a large bag in which I keep a variety of dehydrated foods and homemade soup and meal mixes. Also I carry minute rice, quick cooking barley, dehydrated pinto, black, and white beans, some "minute" grain mixtures, powdered milk, chicken bullion, and arrowroot.
I also use those sectioned wine totes from the market. One holds my canned goods and small 8-oz cartons of almond milk, packets of tuna, antiseptically packaged tofu, soy sauce, Tabasco, toasted sesame oil, and olive oil. Another, with the two end sections opened up carries spare propane canisters, while the intact mid sections hold batteries for flashlight and camp lantern and candles for my backpack lantern.
My old Igloo Playmateice chest totes things I need to keep cold for a few days such as meats, cheese, beverages. Ice from my ice maker at home will last for about three days.
Future posts will describe how I prolong my ice supply, why I store and carry my water in vinegar bottles, my "potty Protocol" and other things I've learned from past camping exploits and new things I'm learning about car camping in an SUV!
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