Thirty Years and Still Excited !!!

Myrtle Beach  State Park

Still excited about camping and our lives together!

We are looking forward to the final holiday of the summer. 

Excitement is building as we prepare, hence the title of this blog.

We are lucky to have a site. 

Getting a campsite on on a holiday weekend can be very difficult,

unless you book far in advance. So don't procrastinate

  

This time we didn't have a site reserved, and from past experience we knew the only way to get one would be to go there early Wednesday or Thursday, and try to find a walk up site.

Walk up sites can be like what Forrest Gump said "Momma always said life was like a box a chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." 

But we hit the jackpot, a previously booked site became available. Because we didn't give up we kept searching on recreation.gov.

Not only did we get a site, we got a prime waterfront site!

The Camping consultants prefer the Army corp of engineer parks because most are on lakes.

Most sites have electricity and water. That makes them one of our favorite places to camp.

So now we prepare for our trip, after thirty plus years of camping we still use a camping list.

Where there's organization, there's relaxation!

Here's our camping checklist, no list is complete we recommend that you customize a checklist for your needs.
The Camping Consultants

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Camping checklist

Food and related items

food (shop at home first) plan meals ahead and multiply times the # of days camping
seasonings (some things can be seasoned at home
condiments
pots, pans
foil
coffee/tea pot
utensils for cooking
plates, cups and napkins
knives, forks,spoons
dish liquid
can-bottle opener
bin for washing dishes
paper towels
storage containers/storage bags
ice/ice packs (you can make ice blocks in bowls or large storage bags)
trash bags/plastic bags from the grocery store
beverages/drinking water
coolers
camping stove or griddle, hotplate (for sites w/electricity
fuel for stove
extension cord
charcoal and lighter fluid
grill (most campgrounds have grills)
grill brush (or use crumbled alum foil)
coolers (one for meat, the other for beverages)
smore's stuff
marshmallows
snacks (healthy)

Tent and Sleeping
tent (or camper of your own or rented)
sleeping bags or sheets and comforter
pillow?
Air mattress, foam or cot (your choice)
don't forget pump for your air mattress
lantern- fuel and/or batteries
hammer or mallet for staking tent

Camping Gear
lantern (yes it's listed twice) So important!!!
fuel or batteries for lantern
extra lantern mantles
flashlights/extra batteries
long handle lighter
waterproof matches/wooden matches (place in a storage bag)
fire starter sticks/or build your fire from scratch
folding saw (for cutting wood)
folding knife or multi tool
tarp (great if it rains and great under your tent)
rope, or cord (for clothes or hanging tarp)
shovel or folding shovel
whisk broom and dust pan
work gloves
firewood (if camping locally)

Recreation
camera/batteries
swim gear
life jackets
fishing gear
sun screen
insect repellent
first aid kit
sunglasses
rain suit (about 10-12 dollars)

Personal
towels
toiletries
baby wipes can be very useful
medicine