Camping Off-Grid

Are you one of those people that like camping off-grid? If so, what do you do for power? Do you have electronic devices that need charging? Do you have a fridge? Do you have lights that need electricity, how about an electric cooktop?

In order to live off-grid or camp off-grid for an extended period of time, you must have a power source of some type unless you have nothing that requires electricity.

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Converted Van Camping Off-Grid

I travel in my van a lot and 99% of my camping is done on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Land or free campsites. That means I don’t pay, but there are no facilities either. In my travels I’ve met a lot of like-minded people that travel and camp as I do, but they all have some sort of power for their comforts.

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Camping Off-Grid

Personally, I have an RV or boat type house battery which is an AGM, deep cycle battery that is stored inside my van. My house battery supplies all my power needs when I’m off-grid. When driving, my van’s alternator will keep my house battery charged. When camped for a period of time and my house battery needs recharging, I have portable solar panels that I place in the sun and hook to my house battery.

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Portable Solar Panel

The solar panels will keep my house battery charged while camped. I have what is called, Portable Suitcase Solar panels. The name comes from the fact that these solar panels fold up and fit in a large case with a handle resembling a large suitcase. They are not too heavy and can be moved around to follow the sun and when not in use, fold them, place them in their case and store them away. They don’t require a lot of space when storing. My house battery then powers my refrigerator, my laptop, cell phone, lights at night, etc.

I also carry a portable generator just as a backup.


Generator

I might add that I’ve used it only once when camping. The reason for that was, I bought it new and wanted to make sure it worked ok. I haven’t used it since that one time. I find that when my house battery runs low, it’s easy to set up my solar panels and they provide all the (free) energy I’ve ever needed.

Like most folks that camp or live off-grid, we don’t want the noise of a generator running for hours. Plus, if you don’t have solar, you will have to carry enough gasoline to operate your generator for a long time. Not only could that be dangerous, but expensive, not to mention the noise factor. I’m not trying to discourage you from having a generator. My generator is a great thing to have. It only weighs about 50 pounds so is easy enough to handle and it’s rated as one of the quietest portable generators on the market. The decibel level is about the same as a normal conversation, so it’s nice to have as a backup. I’m sure I’ll eventually be camped at a location where the sun may not come out for a few days and I may have to use my generator for a few hours, but that’s why I say I’ll only use it for backup as I wouldn’t want the food in my fridge to spoil.

I’ve heard of some that use wind power. I’m not that familiar with that, so I’ll reserve judgment on that source until I know more about it. I just don’t see how that would work for off-grid camping.

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Boondocking – An Alternative to Traditional Camping

Boondocking may not be a familiar word to a lot of RV’ers, Van Lifers, Tent Campers and the rest of the camping public, especially “newbies”… but it will be soon as more and more people are finding it can be a pleasant alternative to expensive RV parks and resorts.


Boondocking in the desert

Boondocking is sometimes referred to as dry camping or dispersed camping and is becoming more popular because people want to go camping in the great outdoors without being squeezed into small camping spaces in RV parks. Aside from that, the cost at most of these parks is comparable to a motel room and boondocking for the most part is free. If you are traveling from one destination to another, a stop-over at an Interstate rest area could be considered boondocking. Many of us living or traveling in our RV’s will spend the night in a WalMart parking lot, a Sam’s Club or a Truck Stop. Providing of course that there are no signs posted prohibiting such overnight parking. It’s always best to check with management. If I park overnight at any establishment such as WalMart, I always make it a point to purchase something while there and never leave any litter about. There is certain protocol you should follow; the first of which is common sense. Please don’t set out your lawn chairs and roll out your awning and slide outs and begin cooking your dinner. Actions such as that can ruin it for the rest of the folks that appreciates these establishments for letting us park there overnight.

I have been traveling in my converted van for years and have travelled across this great country several times. Boondocking to me is finding a nice secluded parking spot on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Land. BLM Land is owned by the Federal Government and is open for all of us to enjoy free of charge. BLM Land is not that plentiful on the east coast, but out west there are literally millions of acres. For example, I normally travel to southern Arizona and boondock in the Sonoran Desert during the winter, along with thousands of other boondockers.


Boondocking in a Class B or converted van

Not to worry though, because there are millions of acres in Arizona that belong to the BLM. During the summer months, I’m somewhere in the mountains in the National Forest.


Boondocking in a National Forest

Boondocking also means that you’ll be off grid all or most of the time, therefore you won’t have access to water and electricity hookups. In this regard, you must carry plenty of water and food and have a means for electricity. I have an AGM, deep cycle RV battery that is charged by my alternator when driving. When off grid and my battery needs recharging, I have solar panels that I hook to my house battery and the sun charges my house battery. My house battery is adequate to keep my refrigerator running and power my lights and charge my laptop and other electronic devices. I also have a Honda portable generator but rarely use it. I carry enough food and water to last me 2-3 weeks so I can be totally off grid for that amount of time. I have a portable shower that fastens to the side of my van with a magnet or over a tree limb and I have a 5 gallon bucket for my shower water.

The shower has a built in motor and pump that gives me a good shower. If it’s cold, I heat water on my portable cook stove and mix it with cold water to have a very nice shower. I found it on Amazon for something like $35.00. I also have a gym membership to Anytime Fitness. They have gyms in most cities throughout the country so keeping clean is not an issue. I can also stop at a truck stop and get a shower for 8-10 bucks and also do my laundry while there.

Boondocking might sound a little scary to someone that’s never done it but spending a couple of nights out in a familiar area might get you more comfortable with it. When my kids were young, we used to camp a lot, but mostly at traditional campgrounds. Now that my kids are grown, I’m basically a solo traveler and I love boondocking. I can’t remember the last time I stayed at a paid campground and I have no intentions of ever doing so again.

Since the Covid-19 Pandemic began, getting outdoors to go camping and RV’ing has become very popular. It’s next to impossible to find high top vans like my RAM Promaster, because the demand is so high right now with people buying them and converting them as I’ve done. Finding any RV, whether it be a Class A, Class C, Class B or travel trailer is becoming more difficult as inventory is very low.

Source: Most of the photos in this blog are provided courtesy of unsplash.com.

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Why a Camper Van May be a Better Choice than a Motorhome

If you like getting out and exploring nature and all this great country has to offer, but you do not want to do it while sleeping in a tent, then a camper van may be the answer.

A camper van will keep you warm and dry during inclement weather and offers much more in terms of comfort. And, unlike their larger brethren; the Class A or Class C, are much more budget friendly.

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A Class B Camper van is self-contained and comes with most of the amenities of the larger motorhomes, including comfort. Camper vans today, during the Covid-19 lockdown have become popular with consumers who are buying them up and converting them themselves or having the conversion done by professional van builders. The van build-out business is booming now as more folks want to get out and away by themselves. The shortage of cargo vans has also caused a spike in prices, partially because of supply and demand.

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Fuel costs and ease of driving are also reasons folks are choosing vans over larger RV’s. You can easily park a van in your driveway, at your office or apartment, but larger RV’s are limited as to where they can be parked.

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Obviously, the camper van (Class B) will have a smaller kitchen area as well as bathroom and sleeping area compared to the larger RV’s, but for one or two people, it’s adequate. Even the home built camper van has all the amenities one needs including a refrigerator and a porta-potti or small bathroom. These vans usually have a house battery which is a deep cycle, sealed battery suitable for keeping indoors without fear of it discharging gasses. These house batteries can be charged by the vans alternator while driving and by portable or permanent solar panels when off grid. The house battery then becomes your source of power when off grid. It powers your refrigerator, lights and charges all your electronic devices. Some folks even carry portable generators in case of no solar panels or if they want to use an air conditioner or microwave, which few house batteries can adequately power.

Some carry a portable shower when off grid. Some have gym memberships to nationwide gyms such as Anytime Fitness or Planet Fitness. If these gyms are not nearby, truck stops have showers and laundry facilities.

The ease of driving a van is much like your family car. This is one of the big draws to vans. They are easy to drive and can be parked in a regular parking space.

I personally have a RAM Promaster HighTop Van (see photos above) that I built out myself and I love driving it. I’ve crisscrossed North America several times and never tire of driving my van. The only thing I can’t do with my van, because it’s a high top, is park in parking decks and underground park areas. I average 19.5 miles per gallon on road trips. Around town, I average around 16 MPH. Not bad at all for a full sized high top van with a heavy load. I can get it serviced basically anywhere, which is another plus.

Get a van and get out there and enjoy life.

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Today’s Camper Vans

The camper van’s roots can be traced back to the Volkswagen bus that was so popular with the hippie movement in the 1960’s.

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Volkswagen Bus (Courtesy of Unsplash)

It has however, undergone many design changes, various power plants and a ton of amenities to include various levels of comfort, ease of navigation and ready to hit the road at a moment’s notice.

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My RAM High Top Camper Van

The experience one gets from living and traveling in today’s camper van can be likened to living and touring in a small motorhome.

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Finishing the interior build out of my camper van

The interior space, however, is lacking compared to its larger brethren, but the smaller footprint affords one the ability to wander the country and camp or boondock practically anywhere one can drive a vehicle.

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My Camper Van in The Black Hills of South Dakota

Bonuses of owning a camper van is that it can be used as a daily driver and gas mileage is great compared to a full-size motorhome.

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Camper van can be driven almost anywhere. My camper van at White Sands, New Mexico

Today’s camper vans can and are being lived in; not only by the single, free spirited, fun seekers, but couples and even some families. Some live in them out of necessity and others for the nomad types that don’t wish to be tied down to a single location. Some use today’s camper van as a week-end getaway while others use them for mobile offices. With access to the Internet, more and more young people use them for traveling and experiencing the country while they work remotely.

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My camper van in the Arizona Desert

Over the years, more manufacturers, such as Mercedes Benz, Ford, RAM and Nissan began entering the market with larger and high-top vans. The high tops, with their stand-up room caused even more demand for the camper van.

Today’s recreational van market coupled with the lengthy Covid virus has seen a huge spike in the demand for camper vans as people are tired of being on lockdown in their homes. They are buying high-top cargo vans, converting them and working remotely while maintaining social distancing. This has caused prices of high-top cargo vans to spike and difficult to find at a decent price as of this writing. More and more build out companies are charging upwards of $60-80K just for the build out; not including the van. These build outs can include bathrooms with showers, full kitchens, entertainment centers, and plenty of sleeping areas.

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My camper van in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado

Most of today’s camper vans have the ability to tow a good amount of weight. This opens up the possibility of bringing along your toys such as a motorcycle, a boat or even a small travel trailer.

How about you? If you’re looking for a vehicle that can double as a camper and family transportation, a camper van may be what you’ve been looking for to satisfy that nomadic lifestyle you crave.

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Until next time…

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South Dakota, Wyoming & Colorado

Cabin fever was taking a toll on me and I decided that the pandemic was not going to hold me hostage any longer. I needed to get out, breathe some fresh air and stretch my legs a bit. So, I elected to head out on a road trip.

I left my home in Georgia, heading west toward Memphis to visit my sister. From there, I headed north to St. Louis then west toward Kansas City; stopping in Independence, Mo. to visit the Presidential Library of Harry S. Truman.

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President Harry Truman Library

Unfortunately it was closed for renovations.

I then head north again passing through Omaha, NE and on to Sioux Falls, SD.

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Once out of Sioux Falls heading west, there is not much but blowing wind, the prairie and signs of all sizes, colors and shapes advertising Wall Drugs… and motorcycles. Literally hundreds of motorcycles heading to Sturgis for the largest bike rally in the country.

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Sturgis Bound

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Dignity – A sculpture on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River near Chamberlain, SD. The 50′ high stainless steel statue by South Dakota artist laureate Dale Claude Lamphere depicts an indigenous woman in Plains-style dress receiving a star quilt. According to Lamphere, the sculpture honors the culture of the Lakota and Dakota peoples who are indigenous to South Dakota. (source-Wikipedia)

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Missouri River as seen from the base of Dignity.

The closer I got to western South Dakota, the more motorcycles I saw. Rapid City was alive with the sound of Harley’s. After spending the night in Rapid City, I headed out for Mount Rushmore. The highway leading to the Black Hills was packed full of motorcycles. Finding a parking place at Mount Rushmore became a major challenge. Not only is this summer vacation time, but the Sturgis Rally brought in thousands and thousands of bikers from all over the world.

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Mount Rushmore

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A side view of Washington’s face from outside the park

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Driving through the Black Hills

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Deadwood, SD

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Welcome to Wyoming

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Devil’s Tower Wyoming from 5 miles out

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Devil’s Tower with Buffalo peacefully grazing nearby

After spending several wonderful days in South Dakota and Wyoming, I headed south into Colorado and the beautiful town of Buena Vista nestled high in the Rocky Mountains.

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A perfect and free camping spot way above and overlooking the town of Buena Vista

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Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado. Like being at the beach with no water. Note the people so far away. People trudge through this burning sand and climb to the top of the dunes and slide down on waterboards, cardboard or other makeshift items.

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Lake Meredith, north of Amarillo, Texas. Free camping in this beautiful location that also includes showers and facilities.

I then make my way down through New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and finally back home in Georgia.

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Until next time…

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Sundown in the Desert

Boondocking in the in the desert is a wonderful experience and is especially beautiful at sundown. During the winter months, it has been reported that snowbirds from the northern states and Canada number close to a million visiting the sunny climes of the Sonoran Desert in southwest Arizona.

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Sundown in the Sonoran Desert

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The sun is slipping behind the mountain range in southwest Arizona

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Boondocking as the sun sets in the Sonoran desert

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Until next time…

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Living and Traveling in a Converted Van

During the years I’ve traveled this great nation by RV, I’ve met many people traveling and living basically the same as me. They travel in large Class A motorhomes, medium sized Class C motorhomes, smaller Class B motorhomes and some in converted vans of various sizes.

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Converted Van

If you follow my blog, you’ll recall that I’ve written about beginning my “nomadic” adventures in a large motorhome. Being a solo traveler, I found it was just too big for my minimalistic needs. I sold that RV and bought a van and converted it to a very comfortable small home on wheels. The primary advantage of transitioning from a large RV to a van is the ease of navigating this wonderful country. It drives much like a car and can be parked in any space a car will fit in excepting parking decks and underground parking. It’s also quite easy on fuel.

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Class A Motorhome

I’ve met numerous people who also travel as minimalists; living in various van type vehicles. They range from soccer mom vans, to VW popups,

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VW Pop Up Van

box type vans, cargo vans, converted school buses (skoolies), converted ambulances and several other types from 4 to 8 cylinders, gas and diesel, 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive. Regardless of what these folks were living in, they were, for the most part, a very happy and positive minded group of people who were enjoying life. They all said basically the same thing; they had all they wanted and needed.

Some were living this lifestyle in their retirement years while others were younger and were using the Internet to earn a living while roaming North America. Others were just tired of the cubicle, fighting traffic and working what they felt were dead-end jobs. All in all, they were all embracing their God-given freedom to do what they wanted to do when they wanted to do it. Some that I’ve talked with had a little money saved while some had hardly any but were true nomads. They would do odd jobs where they happened to be to earn enough to sustain themselves and move on to greener pastures, so they say. It may not be the American dream the way most envision it, but to these folks, they were living their dream and being happy in the process.

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Van Life

In my opinion, these people living in converted vans or other types of converted vehicles are pursuing their dreams of happiness without some authority telling them how to live.

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Until next time…

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Tombstone

October 26, 1881, the Earp Brothers and their friend, Doc Holliday face-off against the Clanton-McLaury Gang in a legendary shootout at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.

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Tombstone, Arizona

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A portion of the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona

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Statues erected to depict where all the participants were positioned in the short, 30 second gunfight at the OK Corral.

Until next time…

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Freedom

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Living in a van means Freedom!

This is by far the answer I hear over and over when I ask van dwellers why they chose to live in a van.

I’ve been living in my van off and on for several years now. I don’t do it out of necessity as some do, I live and travel in my van to experience the real America. So yes, I agree with the majority of van dwellers, I do it for the freedom as well. I don’t want to stay in hotels or motels or paid camp grounds or camping resorts, but to sleep in my van where and when I please.

I’m on my 3rd van since I retired and decided this was the way I wanted to travel and see North America. In the beginning, I wasn’t really sure as to what type of van I wanted or or needed for living in. I chose a mini-van or as some refer to them; “soccer mom vans.”

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I removed the seats and built in a bed and put all my camping gear inside and off I went. This lasted a year and I decided it was too small. I sold that van and purchased a RAM Promaster City. This is a small cargo van.

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I had it converted into a mini RV so I could travel in more comfort than I had in the mini van. After a year of that, I decided it too was too small. I wanted to be able to stand erect in it.

I had seen and talked with many other van dwellers by this time and it seemed the van of choice for converting to an RV was the RAM Promaster High Top. I sold the Promaster City and bought a RAM Promaster High Top. I had learned a lot as to what I wanted in a van and did the conversion myself. I now have a very comfortable van that I can stand erect in and move around quite freely. I have running water, a very comfortable bed, a refrigerator, roof fan and enough room for all I’ll ever need for anything I want to carry with me as I travel.

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Vans, as opposed to the larger motor homes provide the flexibility of a lifestyle that’s becoming more popular every day. They cost much less than a larger motorhome, less costly to operate, easier to maneuver, especially in towns and can be parked in a regular parking space. I’ve met several people that have as many as 4-5 family members living in a van. Since I’m a solo traveler, I have all the room I will ever need.

In addition to what I just mentioned, there are other benefits to living in a van. Location independence is huge. You would be surprised to learn the number of people who live, travel and work out of their vans. They have the means to work online to sustain themselves. A much lower cost of living means: no mortgage or rent payments, no fighting traffic to and from home to work every day, no utilities, you can boondock and simply park where you want (for the most part) at no cost. Basically your costs have now been reduced to food, your phone bill and gas when you feel the need or want to travel from one location to another. You’ll also find you will save lots of money by not buying impulse items. Living in a van means you don’t have extra room for storing needless items; you’ll find yourself becoming a minimalist.

This is just a small sampling of benefits you’ll realize by living in a van.

If living in a van appeals to you, I’m sure if you’ll just give a little thought to this article, you too, will be able to think of many more possibilities that the van living lifestyle has to offer.

Source: Most of the photos in this blog are provided courtesy of Unsplash and pixabay.

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Camping During COVID-19

THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS PROVIDED COURTESY OF CAMPENDIUM.COM AND BUSINESS INSIDER.

I’m reposting here as information only.

State by State Campground Closures & Responses to COVID-19 **

** Last updated: 4/15/2020

Recreational camping is not advisable during this time.

Campendium Information On COVID-19

Campground Closure Stats This Week

  • Over 44% of RV parks, campgrounds and dispersed camping locations in the United States listed on Campendium are closed or operating with restrictions.
  • Most National Park campgrounds in the U.S. are closed and thirty-two states have closed their all of their state park campgrounds.
  • Over 20% of campgrounds in Canada are closed, including National Park and most Provincial Park campgrounds.
  • Over 20% of campgrounds in Canada are closed, including National Park and most Provincial Park campgrounds.

In addition to the National Parks closing, I’m also seeing that some BLM Land is closing to boondockers.

I’m also hearing from folks I’ve met on the road that some National Forests are still open

SEE CAMPGROUND CLOSURES BY STATE

https://www.campendium.com/camping/covid-19-state-by-state-campground-closures-responses/

Below is an excellent article from Business Insider regarding van lifers coping with COVID-19.

https://www.businessinsider.com/van-lifers-help-each-other-find-hosts-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-3?amp&fbclid=IwAR2L6rSynG1QUuAIJzVVRgwm7jLPigLBStUOdIc0sWYq7hECb6DKmQ6WvfQ

While most of us are ordered or at least advised to stay home and self-isolate during this pandemic, I think we are allowed to get out for some fresh air and exercise as long as we maintain social distancing. In this regard, how about enjoying a hike with our loyal dog.

Most importantly, stay safe and maintain social distancing to protect yourself and others as well.

Until next time.

 

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