Blog – Boondockers United

Going from home to homeless – tips

Many full time nomads or boondockers or wheeled travelers, however you want to call them, are on the road because they choose to be. Their are many others who have had the choice forced on them and it is to these that I write this for.

When the only option is going homeless, you have to get your priorities in order and the very FIRST thing to think about is downsizing to fit your mode of travel (living). I have seen people full timing it in everything from a honda, a prius, a small sedan and various vans, SUV’s, buses and everything else. The fact is that you can do it in just about anything if you are determined enough. Let’s discuss what you need, what you MUST have, what you absolutely don’t need and how to comport yourself on the road.

First, what will you need?

Clothing: How much room do you have that can be allocated to clothing? Only have enough to get you through the time it will take you to get to a laundry or hand wash your clothes. When you are “homed” you probably have many options for clothes but on the road you will need to trim that down significantly.

Bedding: Depending on your mode of travel this may be simply a pillow and a blanket if you will be sleeping in your vehicle. If you will be sleeping in a tent you may want to invest in a cot (they can fold up pretty small) or an inflatable air mattress (watch out for sharp rocks, twigs, stickers, etc).

Food Storage: I know of people who have been on the road full time for years and still use a cooler and ice. Of course your needs will depend on your eating habits. I use a small 12v Dometic refrigerator.

Food: Keep it simple. Your dietary needs will tell you what you need. Only buy what you need until you can get back to a store if you don’t have a means to cook yet, then keep it finger food for now.

Stove/Cooker: NEVER cook inside your vehicle unless it is made for that purpose!!!! You can kill yourself!! Cooking over a fire is always nice but many times it is impractical. Using a 1 burner Butane stove is certainly doable and there are other options based on your needs. I know of a Boondocker who only eats finger food – absolutely no cooking. She eats fresh veggies, canned tuna, etc. Not for me, but it is an option.

Personal Hygiene: You can put all of your personal hygiene into a small plastic container hopefully and keep it stored easily. Baby wipes are a MUST on the road – they are useful for a great many reasons.

Water: You can buy individual purified water bottles or larger water containers, it just depends on your storage area.

Charging your gadgets: Depending on your situation, you can use your vehicle cigarette lighter plug to plug in an inverter. Truckers use these on the road. I have one that I can plug in and it has 3 USB ports as well as 3 sockets which I use for my GPS, camera and a small inverter to charge my laptop. Be VERY careful that you do not run your vehicle battery down.

If you have the room, you can get a 12volt battery, 100 watt portable suitcase solar kit and a small 450 watt inverter. I have one that I always take with me. The panel folds open and you set it outside, hook it up to your battery and then hook up your inverter and wa-la, you’re ready to go! Make sure that it put it where it gets the most sunshine it can get and that means you will be moving it from time to time. If the wind is up make sure you either lay it down flat on the ground or put it where it won’t get knocked over and broken. If the day is cloudy the panel will still pull in energy, it just won’t be 100% of what you are used to.

Battery management is CRITICAL!! I use Walmart 29 series Everstart Lead Acid Marine battery. I have since I began doing this in 2015. The key is knowing when to turn everything OFF so you don’t run it down too far to ruin it AND when to start using it again. I love having “options” so I keep a spare battery always fully charged. I alternate between them. Once my battery gets down to 12.4 I stop using it. I wait until around 10am to start using it again so I am using a fully charged battery and not sucking out what is coming in (which means I get zero charge).

Let me explain a little more…. Do you have a cell phone that you have to keep replacing the battery (which usually means replacing the phone)? I have never had a cell phone that I had a battery problem on – do you know why? Battery Management! I use it until the battery shows red and then I charge it 100% before using it again and I never charge it overnight. Over charging a cell phone is just as bad as not charging it. Using it while charging it just sucks out what you are putting into it. Over time your battery will fail because of misuse. Vehicle batteries aren’t as sensitive, but the premise is the same. If you continually draw it down to 12.0 or lower and then immediately start using it when you hook it up to solar you will eventually ruin it.

Basic Information:

Organization is paramount!! Use containers wherever and whenever you can. Keep your surroundings clean – that means inside and outside. Just because you are unhomed doesn’t mean you have to prove it to everyone else. If you have to stealth live, you cannot look like you are doing that. Putting up curtains, setting camp chairs out or putting up tables and having trash around you are definitely NOT going to help you stealth camp. Keep it simple.

Finding a place to park when there are no public lands available can be difficult but not impossible. Ask your employer if you could park in the lot where the company is. If you do this make sure you keep your vehicle looking like a “normal” vehicle as much as possible. Even if you have it packed to the top, as long as it is organized and looks good people will leave you alone. Another option is parking where others park overnight and only you will be able to see what that means – Walmart, Home Depot, Cabelas, Casinos, Gas station parking areas, Churches, etc… IF you stay at a commercial parking area, please use it to PARK – not camp. That means no chairs outside, no cooking, nothing like that. If you cannot do that then keep looking for a place that can accommodate you. When I was in Montana last summer I hung out at the local city park during the day and then at sundown I went over to Cabelas and parked for the night.

Now that you don’t have any rent to pay, you should be able to afford a membership in a national fitness club where you can go to get showers and work out. I use Planet Fitness.

What if you get bored or are forced to stay inside because of outside circumstances (including the weather): Have you thought of knitting or crocheting? Don’t laugh if your a guy – I happen to know of several boondocker males who do a great job of crocheting! You can make all sorts of blankets from full bed to lap, caps, socks……. You may want to get a booklet that identifies leafs so you can tell what plant or tree they come from. Bird identification books are great as well. Stargazing even from your window can be fun as well. Insect identification can be fun as well. There are several apps you can get that can help with any of these. The thing is – make it fun! You’re next adventure is just a key turn away. Enjoy!!

How to comport yourself on the road:

There actually are camping courtesies that you should know about. Giving others space is one of the most respectful thing you can do. That means try to park at least 50 feet from another nomad. There is no need to camp right next to someone when there are literally thousands of acres of land all around you. Most of us appreciate “Breathing Room” so try to keep that in mind.

One of my biggest peeves is when I am setting up or trying to leave. I have a certain way to do what I need to do and interruptions seem to always mean that I forget to do something important. No matter how much you want to talk to your friend or even someone new, please wait until they are all set up and “ready” for you. I pull a trailer. When I am ready to leave, many people want to come over and “help” me hook up – even though I do appreciate the thought – I prefer to do it myself because I know exactly how to do it and it is very hard to work with someone trying to guide me to my hitch and hookup. If I DO need help, I will certainly ask you to help me.

Be respectful of others “space”. That means that walking right through someone elses campsite is very rude. Please just keep an eye out for the space that your neighbor has claimed and they will do the same for you.

The only time I want a knock on my door is when it is “THAT” knock (that’s a lie.. I NEVER want that knock! LOL). You know, the one that tells you to move on. So, either text me or give a shout out. A good way to know if I am available is this: If my door is closed, I am not available (unless it is weather related and then I may put a green or white ribbon letting others know I am available). If I am sitting outside, come on over – everyone is welcome. If my door is open but I am not outside – shout out to me first. Also, ALWAYS bring your own chair. This is a BIGGIE! Bring your own chair, drink and snacks.

I appreciate a clean campsite. In fact I cannot stand trash laying around in any form. If you bring anything that will be trash please either take it with you or put it in my trash bag if I have one out. Many times I hang a plastic grocery bag from a tree to put trash in. In fact those are the only trash bags I use – they are easier to dispose of at the gas station.

Please be respectful of my space. Even though I said “everyone is welcome” it is respectful to ask before charging into someones space. Also, there has been times when I have found a nice little “sweet spot” and a friend will text me and ask where I am. I don’t mind giving someone directions to my spot, but that doesn’t mean I am inviting you and all of your friends. ASK FIRST. Be respectful and polite!

When chatting with others there is a golden rule: NO POLITICS OR RELIGION! Period. ’nuff said

If you have a pet, please keep your pet on a leash. Mine is always leashed and he has a food aggression. If another pet gets near his food bowl he will attack. I warn people of this but sometimes they don’t listen and I have had to break up several dog fights. It’s no fun being bitten. Even though you think your pet is the nicest in the world, others may not be.

Campfires are great!! We all love sitting around the campfire at night. Be sure you have a 5 gallon jug of water close by so that when the last person leaves they can put the fire out completely. This is mandatory at all times.

Everyone needs a quiet time. I normally get up and down with the sun. Many of us prefer an unsaid courtesy of a 10pm-7am quiet time. If you need to be noisy for any reason during these times, please park as far away from others as possible. That includes music and generators.

Finally – Please obey the rules of the land you are on or we will not have them much longer.

Solar Control Notebook

I have designed a solar control notebook that is available for purchase on Amazon. I created it so that everyone who has a solar setup, whether you installed it or not or plan to ever work on it, it’s a fantastic resource book. It allows you to map your entire system.

It’s an easy process to simply put identifiers on each of your components and then reference them in the booklet. Here are some examples of the pages:

Charge Controllers and more…

If you’re like me the whole solar thing can be very mind boggling. I am NOT an expert. Let me hopefully help you understand what the solar setup and the charge controller does and why by adding an analogy:

Let’s imagine you have a 5 gallon water container with a spigot on it and you use that water for giving your pet water or other small things. When it gets low you fill it back up with a water hose that has a spray gun on the end and is connected to a limited supply water system that turns off at night and supplies water on a sliding scale during the day with noon being the peak time. You go over, turn on the water spigot and then you press on the spray gun to fill the water jug. It’s almost empty so you open ‘er up and let water surge into it and as it gets full you let off until the water level is where you want it. Then you turn off the water spigot until the next time. Weather will affect if your water supply system has water available or not.

So, in this analogy the water container is your battery (batteries), the spray gun and your hand controlling it is the controller, and the main water spigot at the source is the sun. The small water spigot on the water container is whatever you have connected to the battery(ies) that you need to use them for (as well as your inverter if you need to use 110 power). Please keep in mind that the larger your inverter is, the more power it takes to just run it alone so keep that in perspective to your needs.

When you use your batteries, they (of course) run down and you have a charge controller hooked up to them and to the charge controller the solar panel(s) are also hooked up. When the sun comes up in the morning and the solar panels kick in, the controller looks to see what shape your batteries are in (how depleted they are) and then it opens the “nozzle” all the way so it can fill them back up (charge them). The only problem is that the sun is not all the way up so it can only use what it has available. As the sun rises and the panels have more access to more solar energy the more of that energy can be passed on to the controller and the batteries. The controller will flood the batteries with as much power as it can and just like our analogy above, it’s pushing it in so fast that the battery meter will read much higher than it actually is (just like filling a bucket as fast as you can, you really don’t know how much you have until you slow down the flow and look). Mine will normally read 14.4 during the flooding process and then as it gets fully charged and the controller slows the flow of power to them they will read 13.4 (which is my benchmark – or full water container indicator).

My charge controller will then pass through power little by little as I use it but if I use more than it’s passing through then when it hits 12.8 or lower it will start pushing more power to get it back up to 13.4.

I don’t normally use more than my panels can keep up with except when the sun goes down and there’s no more power to get. So, the biggest key to solar power is battery management.

What if, in the above analogy, you were trying to water a garden? That 5 gallon container would never work. That’s what you have to figure out, are you watering a garden or a dog? How big is your dog? How big is your garden? You have to have some sort of an idea what you will be using your batteries for and how often before you can decide what size system you need. Only YOU can figure that out.

Are you watering a horse trough all at one time? (aka: a microwave) or are you on a drip system (aka: a 12v refrigerator)? Is the 5 gallon water container going to be enough to give you the water you need during the time when there is no water available? Batteries are not water containers which are endlessly refillable – if you continually deplete your batteries and then use them before they have had a chance to recharge, your batteries will not last a year – no matter what type you have. Get the right number of batteries you need for what you need them for (do you need a 5 gallon container, a 2 gallon or a 100 gallon?)

I hope this helps in some small way. If you find this helpful, please consider contributing to our efforts: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=H96NJ87QSD3YG

Solar – K.I.S.S. Method

When I first started using Solar in February 2015 I didn’t know one thing about it. I was so pleased with myself when I impulsively ran out to Harbor Freight and bought a Solar Panel kit. The picture on the front depicted this big Class C with the same panel sitting outside of it. It sure looked big enough for me to charge my Laptop and telephone and probably a few other things as well.

I said I did it impulsively because I had spent days researching online and all the information made my eyes cross. I didn’t understand any of it.

So this panel was only 45 watts and it was 3 large15 watt panels that I had to put together each time I needed to use it. I bought 2 deep cell marine batteries and a 750 watt inverter as well. Of course it was nowhere near what I needed – too little wattage in the panels and more than I needed in an inverter and batteries for those panels to charge.

Now, today, in 2021 I have learned a great deal and I hope my experience can help you in some small way. This is not a “How to” conversation. Everyone’s needs are different and there are MANY MANY variables in order for you to figure out YOUR needs.

My needs were simple. I wanted to charge my phone, my tablet and my laptop. A guy who I met along the way told me that the best rule of thumb for my simple needs was to figure that I would need 100 watts of solar power for each `12v deep cycle lead acid battery I had. I realized that I really only needed 1 suitcase 100watt solar panel with a charge controller included and 1 12v deep cycle battery and a 400 watt inverter or less.

This is the setup I have been using when tent camping. I have a different setup in my converted school bus, but this handles my needs.

I hope this helps some of you. Please consider contributing to our efforts: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=H96NJ87QSD3YG

Bureau of Land Management Federal land policy

The Bureau of Land Management (aka: BLM) is governed by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 and it’s subsequent amendments. You can read more on their website here: https://www.blm.gov/about/laws-and-regulations

The first paragraph of the 2016 presentation of the amended FLPMA reads: ” The Federal Land Policy and Management Act is central to everything we do at the Bureau of Land Management. All of the actions we take rely on the authorities that were built into this law by Congress and the President. We use FLPMA every day to guide our management of over 10 percent of the land in the United States and one-third of the nation’s minerals .”

The next paragraph says: ” FLPMA defines our mission as one of multiple use and sustained yield. This means thoughtful development in the right places to drive economic opportunities for local communities. It also means protecting natural, cultural, and historical resources that are simply too special to develop. And above all, it means working with a changing nation to make decisions that are balanced and forward looking. “

After reading many parts and sub-parts of the Act, it’s a little confusing to try and quote certain areas because of the legalese used and other references shown. I would encourage you to go to the BLM website for more information.

Federal regulations

We think it is important that people know what the Rules and Regulations are for the National Forest on a Federal level. A link to the entire document is provided at the end of this blog. These R&R’s are nationwide, but as the following paragraph states, it may be different in the national forest you are curious about:

“The Chief, each Regional Forester, each Forest Supervisor, and each District Ranger or equivalent officer may issue special-use authorizations, award contracts, or approve operating plans authorizing the occupancy or use of a road, trail, area, river, lake, or other part of the National Forest System in accordance with authority which is delegated elsewhere in this chapter or in the Forest Service Manual. These Forest Officers may permit in the authorizing document or approved plan an act or omission that would otherwise be a violation of a subpart A or subpart C regulation or a subpart B order. In authorizing such uses, the Forest Officer may place such conditions on the authorization as that officer considers necessary for the protection or administration of the National Forest System, or for the promotion of public health, safety, or welfare. “

Another worthy paragraph under 261.1 Penalty:

” Any violation of the prohibitions of this part (261) shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than six months or both pursuant to title 16 U.S.C., section 551, unless otherwise provided.“

Under 261.2 Definitions, we find this clarification as well:

“Person means natural person, corporation, company, partnership, trust, firm, or association of persons.“

“Permission means oral authorization by a forest officer.”

“Permit means authorization in writing by a forest officer.”

Here are the prohibitions listed under 261.3 – Interfering with a Forest officer, volunteer, or human resource program enrollee or giving false report to a Forest officer:

(a) Threatening, resisting, intimidating, or interfering with any forest officer engaged in or on account of the performance of his official duties in the protection, improvement, or administration of the National Forest System is prohibited.

(b) Giving any false, fictitious or fraudulent report or other information to any Forest Officer engaged in or on account of the performance of his official duties knowing that such report or other information contains false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry.

(c) Threatening, intimidating, or intentionally interfering with any Forest officer, volunteer, or human resource program enrollee while engaged in, or on account of, the performance of duties for the protection, improvement, or administration of the National Forest System or other duties assigned by the Forest Service.

Disorderly Conduct prohibitions under 261.4:

(a) Engaging in fighting.

(b) Addressing any offensive, derisive, or annoying communication to any other person who is lawfully present when such communication has a direct tendency to cause acts of violence by the person to whom, individually, the remark is addressed.

(c) Make statements or other actions directed toward inciting or producing imminent lawless action and likely to incite or produce such action.

(d) Causing public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm by making unreasonably loud noise.

The Fire prohibitions are shown in 261.5:

(a) Carelessly or negligently throwing or placing any ignited substance or other substance that may cause a fire.

(b) Firing any tracer bullet or incendiary ammunition.

(c) Causing timber, trees, slash, brush or grass to burn except as authorized by permit.

(d) Leaving a fire without completely extinguishing it.

(e) Causing and failing to maintain control of a fire that is not a prescribed fire that damages the National Forest System.

(f) Building, attending, maintaining, or using a campfire without removing all flammable material from around the campfire adequate to prevent its escape.

(g) Negligently failing to maintain control of a prescribed fire on Non-National Forest System lands that damages the National Forest System.

Among other things, the following are part of section 261.10 Occupancy and use as prohibited:

(a) Constructing, placing, or maintaining any kind of road, trail, structure, fence, enclosure, communication equipment, significant surface disturbance, or other improvement on National Forest System lands or facilities without a special-use authorization, contract, or approved operating plan when such authorization is required.

(b) Construction, reconstructing, improving, maintaining, occupying or using a residence on National Forest System lands unless authorized by a special-use authorization or approved operating plan when such authorization is required.

(c) Selling or offering for sale any merchandise or conducting any kind of work activity or service unless authorized by Federal law, regulation, or special-use authorization.

(e) Abandoning any personal property.

(f) Placing a vehicle or other object in such a manner that it is an impediment or hazard to the safety or convenience of any person.

(g) Commercial distribution of printed material without a special use authorization.

(i) Operating or using in or near a campsite, developed recreation site, or over an adjacent body of water without a permit, any device which produces noise, such as a radio, television, musical instrument, motor or engine in such a manner and at such a time so as to unreasonably disturb any person.

(j) Operating or using a public address system, whether fixed, portable or vehicle mounted, in or near a campsite or developed recreation site or over an adjacent body of water without a special-use authorization.

(k) Use or occupancy of National Forest System land or facilities without special-use authorization when such authorization is required.

And the next item is Sanitation under 261.11:

(a) Depositing in any toilet, toilet vault, or plumbing fixture any substance which could damage or interfere with the operation or maintenance of the fixture.

(b) Possessing or leaving refuse, debris, or litter in an exposed or unsanitary condition.

(c) Placing in or near a stream, lake, or other water any substance which does or may pollute a stream, lake, or other water.

(d) Failing to dispose of all garbage, including any paper, can, bottle, sewage, waste water or material, or rubbish either by removal from the site or area, or by depositing it into receptacles or at places provided for such purposes.

(e) Dumping of any refuse, debris, trash or litter brought as such from private property or from land occupied under permit, except, where a container, dump or similar facility has been provided and is identified as such, to receive trash generated from private lands or lands occupied under permit.

There are many more topics and I urge you to check them out by following the link here and also be sure to drop down to the area that is titled: Subpart B – Prohibitions in Areas Designated by Order. Title 36: Parks, Forests, and Public Property of the Code of Federal Regulations can be found here: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=1b5d5cf8ac6152eaa74f3994b92605ca&ty=HTML&h=L&r=PART&n=36y2.0.1.1.20#36:2.0.1.1.19.1.33.13

Boondocking with family and friends

Getting out into the “Boonies” as my father used to say when I was growing up cleanses my soul and recreates my personality more so than a cup of coffee! (Yes coffee has that effect on me – without it I am sad, agitated and have no sense of humor!)

So, Boondocking it is, adventure it is. Getting OUT there, away from it all. What makes it better is when I can do it with friends and/or family. As my next blog post shows, I very much enjoy doing it solo but there are times when others are a necessity also. Nowadays boondocking refers to dispersed camping in out-of-the-way places. No hookups. For me electricity is generated by my solar panels. I bring water with me and I use a compost toilet. When I leave nobody will ever know I was there or it will be cleaner than when I arrived.

Boondocking is so much more than just camping. When I mention camping to someone I realize that their definition may be very different than mine. For instance as I grew up my parents took us camping at every chance they had. We almost always stayed in campgrounds or state parks where there were designated areas for people who needed hookups (water and electricity) or not. We mostly went in tents. There was generally a picnic table and a firepit and an area just for that space and we paid a nightly price to be there. Others consider camping to be going to RV Parks, hooking up to all of the services, playing in the pool and recreation area and then returning home. I guess that’s as good as a getaway as anything else, it just seems more fun to sit around a camp fire and make smores or cook scrambled eggs and bacon over the fire in the morning or….. ahhhh, the smell of that stake on the grill!!! yummmmm

Boondocking with others is a lot of fun. Of course there is the comradery, the joking, the falling down drunk or just falling down because! LOL. Goofball sort of stuff. I gotta pick my “Others” to camp with based on my frame of mind.

Sometimes I just want to know that someone I know is around – not that I want to spend time with them or anything (lol), it just comforts me knowing they are there.

Then there are the times when I want to turn up the music, make a roaring fire, dance, get drunk and fall out of my chair! I’ve been known to do that and it has it’s own fun (except in the mornings after).

And then the in between of them both where you share your campfire, your stories, your dreams, etc. where you are with others not as a separate person but as a group who care for one another on a personal basis (not a physical – or maybe that too). A group not predefined but perhaps recreated as the adventure rolls along.

When I boondock I do it far away from city life because I don’t want the lights of that city messing with my view of the stars and I don’t want the city noise or smell – or hassles. I camp in either my RV, my truck or my converted school bus.

As a side note: Many of you know that I am raising my granddaughter (I adopted her after my daughter passed away). Of course that means she is very much a part of Boondocking and she loves it as much as I do. I do not mention her for safety sake but she is always a very joyous part of it all. (of course that means that I don’t drink anymore but that’s probably for the best!)… (ok, ok, ok – I have been known to drink twice since she has been with me – since April 2018 – but that was with very dear and trusted friends. oh my)

Everyone worries that changes to laws surrounding our public lands may make dispersed camping impossible or limited. My vision of Boondockers United is to see it grow as big as the ARA and give us a voice where there is none now. Do you know that there is a National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds? (arvc.org) Do you know that they are a massive voice advocating for the use of RV Parks and Campgrounds as the ONLY solution for campers? Did you also know that Hotel and Motel associations are advocating for LESS camping because of the loss of income to their members?

WHO do we have? Dispersed camping needs a voice – BOONDOCKING needs a voice! Let’s do it! Join us now.

Boondocking….. Ahhhh what a relief!

Many people ask me, “What is Boondocking?” One aspect of it is to ME a relief….. It is that quiet place in nature where I am one with my surroundings. Your surroundings will probably look different than mine, but mine are normally in the forest or desert, in fair weather and few people or none around. Let me paint you a picture of one day in this life:

I arrive at a place of my choosing, walk a short ways and then make myself comfortable. Sometimes that will be a blanket on the ground where I can lay on it and look up at the sky. Other times I may just sit in the lotus position or, if I am feeling my bones, it will be a comfortable lounge chair.

For this picture I have chosen the forest just south of Flagstaff, Arizona in the Coconino National Forest and I am alone. In Arizona the forest is pretty much open where I can see around the trees and into the distance which is pretty nice because if there is an Elk or deer out there I will probably see it as it moves through them. (I have seen them many times, but not today). The pine trees are very tall and majestic with very few dead ones standing. The evidence of a past forest fire shows in the burned bark of many trees.

As I find a comfortable spot to relax I notice that my steps are cushioned by the thick layer of pine needles and a small crunch of fallen pieces of limbs. The pine cones are many and the sizes are varied.

My whole body seems to thrumb to the quietness around me and a feeling of profound happiness envelops my whole being. I almost feel like dancing or singing or shouting – but that would be against all that is right now – maybe later, but right now I just want to chill, I don’t feel like being scolded by squirrels or birds.

The first thing that comes to me is the openness around me, It makes me feel limitless – no walls, no people, no noise, no judgements, no thoughts. Just me and the world around me. It makes me feel very insignificant in a profound way.

In this space in time I feel only deep and all consuming love – I don’t have to identify it, it just is and it’s all the way to my core and makes me smile that inner and outer smile that transforms me. Oh if only the world and my life would allow this feeling to follow me every moment of my days!

As I relax I notice the sun moving across the sky by seeing the shade of the trees move inexorably across the ground. A squirrel is foraging just over there as it readies itself for winter. A crow greets another as they weave through the trees and a songbird serenades all there is.

You may ask me what this has to do with Boondocking? To me, it is the CORE of what Boondocking is. It doesn’t matter to me how I arrived or where I have chosen or anything else – it is the peace and quiet and profoundness of it all. I may do this for an hour, a day, a week, 2 weeks or a lifetime.

Sometimes when I go Boondocking I find trash littering the area I have chosen. I always take it with me and dispose of it as it should be. It is not a natural part of the surroundings so I remove it. I’m confused as to why anyone would want to leave unnatural things in a natural setting, but I do what I can when I can.

Maybe some people who enjoy being in nature don’t understand about keeping nature natural. If I find an area where there was obviously a manmade campfire pit, I will use it. I mean it is disconcerting to want to build a small campfire in one of those pits and find where it is full of burned nails, aluminum cans or melted metal. I use a magnet to get the metal and nails out and then use a small shovel to dig the rest out. Why do people leave these messes? I honestly don’t understand it. Luckily this is not a common problem, just an annoyance that comes up along the way.

TO ME this is one aspect of Boondocking and it is a necessary part of my life. This picture of today many times will be different tomorrow or next week as I seek the varying beauty that life and nature has to offer.

Everyone worries that changes to laws surrounding our public lands may make dispersed camping impossible or limited. My vision of Boondockers United is to see it grow as big as the ARA and give us a voice where there is none now. Do you know that there is a National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds? (arvc.org) Do you know that they are a massive voice advocating for the use of RV Parks and Campgrounds as the ONLY solution for campers? Did you also know that Hotel and Motel associations are advocating for LESS camping because of the loss of income to their members?

WHO do we have? Dispersed camping needs a voice – BOONDOCKING needs a voice! Let’s do it! Join us now.

National Forest Trash

We are ALL ambassadors for the continuation of free public land dispersed camping. When one of us leaves trash it reflects on all of us. Let’s do our part!

Please look at the end of this post for the link to an article that All About Arizona News recently published.

I have emailed them the following comment:

I would like to comment on the article you wrote: “Visitors Are Trashing Coconino National Forest Campgrounds”

I do believe you mean “dispersed camping areas” instead of campgrounds because that word implies that the are is improved camping areas with slabs, trash bins, picnic tables and bathrooms whereas dispersed camping areas are none of the above. Perhaps you should hear the “rest of the story”:

Dispersed camping areas are open to all people who wish to camp in a natural setting and the rules are that 1 camping unit may stay for up to 14 days. A camping unit is normally a family or a single person staying in a dispersed camping area. It is open to all people including those who walk in for whatever reason.

The ones who walk in do not have the means to take all of their trash with them so they leave it all behind and that means EVERYTHING including trashed tents, human feces, cooking utensils, unused food items, bedding, etc….

The “Visitors” as they are referred to in your article are actually the ones who are cleaning up the forest and then putting it beside the road for the forest service to take care of. They feel like they are doing their part. Why do they do that you may ask. The reason they are doing it is because the forest service will not try to do anything related to cleaning up the forest. They say it is not their responsibility.

Perhaps the forest service for Coconino National Forest and Prescott National Forest should contact Ranger Bill Anderson of the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) office in Yuma. He works with local concerned citizens, volunteer groups and non profits every single year to help keep Quartzite* dispersed camping areas and surrounding city areas clean and trash free. The BLM office arrives with 2 trucks and one large flat bed trailer. They also supply trash bags and long handle grippers as well as gloves for those who don’t bring their own. They haul the trash to the local dump once the area is clean. Did you know that Quartzite can grow to 1 million people every winter as snowbirds flock the area from all across the USA and Canada?

Let me tell you first hand what has happened when I have contacted the local forest service. I called on one occasion and asked if my friends and I could clean up the area outside of Thousand Trails campground in Cottonwood (on the way to the bignotti Picnic Site) and could they haul off what we got together (there were multiple areas of trash all around which were from those people who walk in). They told me that they do not do that and they don’t have the means to haul it. So my friends and I cleaned it up and called a local landscaper to come and haul it off and we paid for it out of our pockets.

The next year a friend called the same office and was told, “then the prisoners wouldn’t have anything to do”. The next year they had closed the area completely off to all campers because of trash that they refused to help anyone try to clean up.

“Those who walk in” are often those who have no other option nor a vehicle to leave in. Many times a local “help” organization will give them a free tent, food supplies, a small amount of water and then they further help by giving them a ride out to our National Forest and tell them they must leave within 14 days. They never return to check on them. The local campers who don’t walk in find the trash left behind and the only option they have is to leave it beside the dirt access road because they don’t have the means to haul it off.

This feels like a no-win situation. Responsible campers (which the majority are) find trash left on our National Forests repulsive and they can only do what they can do. If the forest service would put together a system whereby campers can help with or participate with them, I think the trash problem would diminish considerably. A way to do that would be to contact an organization like ours, a visiting camper facebook group or website and put out there that help is needed or even put a notice in the local paper or online that on this date and at a given time a clean up will be scheduled and that volunteers are needed. If the forest service would handle it much like the BLM, I think the outpouring of help will be unforgettable.

Let’s try to work together as a positive unit instead of “them” against “us”attitude.

*The traditional notion of “home” has little meaning here in Quartzsite, AZ. During January and February, homes on wheels outnumber permanent houses by about 500 to 1. The sleepy town of less than 4,000 year-round residents receives a winter migration of nearly 2 million humans and their mobile dwellings each year” Jan 22, 2020

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+average+population+of+quartzsite+in+the+winter&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS783US783&oq=what+is+the+average+population+of+quartzsite+in+the+winter&aqs=chrome..69i57j33.29848j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Visitors Are Trashing Coconino National Forest Campgrounds

Homeless Solution #1 – Let’s create a TLC – Temporary Living Center!

There is a lot of talk about the homeless crisis in America. I don’t have all of the answers but I DO have some ideas.

Let’s begin by talking about what Homelessness is, sort of defining what we are trying to address.

There are varying ideas of who the homeless are and how to handle “them”. You would think “the homeless are those without a home” but what is a home? Is it a sticks-and-brick affair only? I know many people who will tell you that their vehicle (van, car, bus, truck or motorcycle) is their “home” or the tent they have with them to put up each night is their home. What is the saying, “Home is where you hang your hat”? Then bring in all of the full time RVers and their respective homes. Many of these I mention in this paragraph will never say they are homeless, in fact they will vigorously disagree with that. They are very happy in their “homes” and in their chosen way of living.

Then we have the “down and out” sort of homeless.The DaO’s are the ones who, for whatever reason, have only the option of living on the streets or in the surrounding forests, under bridges or wherever they can find to sleep for the night and put their meager belongings (changes of clothing, medicine, etc). Many of these unfortunate persons are struggling with drug addictions, alcoholism or mental and/or medical issues. Others are forced into these situations because of a loss of income, family or other reasons including legal issues. The people in this paragraph are the ones who I feel like could be helped by giving them back their dignity.

How do we do that? I’m glad you asked. I believe that if we can construct and maintain a place I will call a “Temporary Living Center” it will help with the homeless situation across America and possibly beyond. I propose this as a place which could be described as a transitional point for persons to acclimate themselves before returning to a “normal” life. It is not intended as a permanent, long term answer. I see it as a peaceful, safe and relaxing space full of opportunities for them to grow mentally and physically. Just by giving them safety it can ease their mind out of “frantic” mode and into a more creative place where they can become productive members of society once again. Imagine yourself in their places right now: On the street worrying about theft, abuse or other personal issues. Trying to find a bathroom and food to eat all the while protecting yourself and what’s yours. Maybe one answer to one part of the problem is to just throw a million compost toilets at them and hope they maintain them correctly.

I see this village as a wonderful solution or a sort of jumping board from the streets to main stream society. I think it is necessary for them in so many ways.

I can imagine that once each person is welcomed into the village they are given an identification card with a ribbon on it to keep around their neck. That ribbon can be an identifier to management in lots of ways. When they first enter a blue ribbon could indicate male, a pink one female and a purple one transgender. Entwine a yellow one to indicate they have a medical marijuana card and a red one may tell us they have some emotional issues and would need to be handled differently. A dark blue one may indicate they take medications and will have access to the medication facility. A green one may indicate that they are a volunteer at the facility. You get the idea. It’s a simple and efficient concept agreed to when they are accepted into the community.

Imagine if we were to add a workshop for wood and metal training as well as a place for crafting. Just imagine what those newly unfrantic minds could create!

An Overview of what the village would look like and then a detailed discussion to follow:

I see a transitional village as a very large piece of land surrounded by a fence (to keep the inhabitants safe from Coyotes, Foxes, Wolves, Javelinas, wild donkeys and horses as well as other critters of the night). Inside this fence would be many spaces with varying sizes where there is a 10×10 cement building on each lot which will serve as a shower, commode, sink, and charging station (Solar energy via a solar panel on the roof) and electronic storage area (for the solar system). The rest of the space would be for personal use. Some lots may be large enough to park a vehicle on or an RV or even to put up a tent or two if so desired. As a revision, I believe the shower should be a small extension out the back of the 10×10 accessible by a doorway to keep mold and other humidity issues out of the main area.

I challenge you to put up a 10 x 10 canopy and just imagine a cot in one corner, a 2.5 x 6 countertop on the opposite wall with a sink and storage area. At the foot of the bed would be a 2.5 x 3 area with multiple shelves (probably built into the structure with cement blocks and a door on it). On the far wall from the entry is an area they put a work table/desk and chair and beside that would be the entrance to the outside shower which is 2 x 6. beside the sink area and shower would be the restroom. the last wall would be the entrance door and then open area for moving around in. Outside you could put a picnic table or built in bench on each lot. The solar storage which includes 2 lithium batteries, 1 inverter which is wired to several outlets in the room and the solar controller. This area would only have access from the outside via a vented and locked doorlet accessed for maintenance. Around the top of the structure walls could be separated opaque glass squares that let light in during the day and you could also put those in the bathroom area and/or down a wall in the main area. Look at the diagram above for what I “see”:

I further see a complete common kitchen and eating area where meals are prepared in a cafeteria type style for everyone to enjoy and many outdoor picnic tables. This area could also house a small library and a board game area. It would be great to have this area with lots of small trees and a nice walking path and personal space areas. this could also be a family visiting area if a larger space is needed. In warmer climes this could be an open type area whereby the walls are 3 ft high and then the rest is a screened in room with a palapa style roof. This is very Mexican traditional.

This village would also need to have a medical room that perhaps has covey spaces for each lot where medicines can be housed safely and given out as required to those who need them. This would cut down on overdoses or theft or illegal distribution. An onsite staff Nurse would be in attendance or available.

The village would not be complete without a full garden area where the habitants can help grow their own food and enjoy the exercise and pride in their accomplishments. Over production could relate to income via a vegetable stand outside.

It would also be great to have an animal husbandry area where their are goats for goat milk, cows for cow milk, chickens for eggs and other great animals to help keep our village organic and well fed. I think the population may enjoy the interaction as well.

I think a small commissary onsite would be beneficial and purchases would be based on a per person allotment delegated by approved funds through our funding options and managed by the Village. This would allow the villagers to get needed personal items like Soap, toilet paper, personal hygiene items, tooth paste and tooth brushes, etc.

Admittance to this private village would be based upon need. Each person would need to be personally approved by the approval committee and would sign an agreement to the terms of living in this village. That may include a clause that no drugs or alcohol are allowed under any circumstances and if found that person would be immediately evicted indefinitely. The approved person would then receive a Village issued identification card with their picture on it. This is the card that they would keep on themselves at all times.

Maybe you want to know about where the water will come from and how will the waste water be handled. My vision is of a main well that is attached to a tall water tower. From the water tower lines are run to each and every lot where an on-demand hot water heater is used for the sink and shower area. The wastewater is easy. My son is in the Air Force and he has been tasked many times with setting up new encampments with wastewater systems. One idea of this is to use an underground container where up to 3 lots can be emptied into it for the black water and it is leached out or pumped out regularly. The grey water could be tubed to the garden area for treatment and recycling.

So, you say, this all sounds very grand but how would it pay for itself? Again, I’m glad you asked! By helping cities, counties and states with their homeless they could be charged a per person fee for the ongoing care of the individuals helped. The Federal Government also has grants, etc. to help fund this type of establishment. Private funds would be needed as well and fundraising events could be held. This would be a nonprofit establishment.

To get something like this started, it would take a considerable amount of investment money and there is a lot of land available in certain tax-free zones. It CAN be done and I think it should be done. What do you think? Email me: Boondocker16 @gmail.com

Let’s help give people back their dignity!

January 2020 Medical Update

Update on my medical stuff:

On September 26th I got out of bed and walked to the restroom. At about half way back to my bed I went to take a breath and it just wasn’t there. Nada, nothing, just absolutely no breath available. I did not panic as my mind told me that I probably just needed to take a puff on my albuterol inhaler (it didn’t occur to me that I couldn’t DO that). In order to do that I had to first find it – (it was in my bed, after looking through my purse. At which time I was sweating profusely) and then I needed to shake the inhaler a few times prior to it’s use. I did that, aggressively shaking my arm up and down (which probably saved my life) and then I shot two quick puffs into my mouth. I did that two times and at the second time I all of a sudden had a gasping breath. SO SWEET!!

I called my sister to tell her what happened and I went to the sink to start my coffee and had to sit right down because I was having a hard time breathing. I told my sister I would probably need to drive to the hospital to have myself checked (it’s only a mile away). She said, ” No hell you are not, you are going to call 911 right NOW!” LOL, gotta love your sister!

So, it was raining and I really didn’t want to bother the 911 operator or the ambulance crew but I did. They arrived and I apologized for bothering them as they took me to the hospital. I felt good, I just couldn’t breathe very well.

The doctor came in and asked me to tell him exactly what happened and how. I related the story. He asked if there was anything else going on and I said no. Then I remembered that in the night my upper left leg had started hurting like I had been kicked by a horse. It went away but I was cognizant that my left leg had been sore and throbbing for a few days. When I told him that he immediately stood up straighter, his eyes became pinpointed and he said, “Now you’re talking! I have to get you to CT quickly because I’m concerned that you may have a PE.” I looked at him blankly and he explained that it meant a Pulmonary Embolism which is blood clots in your lung. So, lo and behold and after the CT scan I found out that I not only had a PE but I had a SADDLE PE which means that both of your lungs are filled with blood clots. I later found out that the survival rate of those are not really great. They put me in the hospital and I was released Saturday with Eliquis pills (blood thinners). They explained that they could not keep me in the hospital unless I had an IV in me. He had told me originally that I would be going to ICU but my insurance must have not allowed that. As a side note about my leg: They did an ultrasound on it and found that I had blood clots all the way from my groin to my ankle and I never knew it. My leg did not swell or bruise or anything like that. It was sore and throbbed from time to time but I had no indication of a blood clot. The clots in my lungs came from my leg.

I did begin Radiation on my breast in October and had to go every work day for 4 weeks. I completed that mid November. I didn’t have any signs of the radiation until the last week and that’s when it turned very red and bruised looking and even though I only wore a sports bra it rubbed the entire underside of my breast raw to the point that I could not wear anything but a loose shirt for about 3 weeks. I was surprised that the actual radiation treatment only took about 15 minutes each time and I never felt a thing while it was going on and had no adverse reaction to it other than the topical issues which have now passed.

So here it is January 2020 and I am doing good. I will be on blood thinners for the rest of my life because of the PE and I have had no ill effects or blood clots that I am aware of (more on that to come).

On December 18th I got up and took a couple of steps and then felt dizzy but a weird sort of dizzy. I covered one eye with my hand and I didn’t feel dizzy any more. I uncovered the one and covered the other eye and the image I got was about 4 inches to the right and about 7 inches higher. With both uncovered my vision was off and made me feel dizzy. That lasted about 5 minutes and corrected itself. I called my neurologist and they told me they could not get me in until January and if it happened again I should go see an Ophthalmologist.

On January 3rd at about 5pm I was laying in my bed playing games on my tablet and all of a sudden I went blind in my right eye (for about 5 minutes). I called a fellow boondocker who is a nurse and she insisted that I go to the ER. So I drove myself to the ER. They did 2 CT Scans (one with contrast one without) and the tele-neurologist said it was probably not neurological and I should see an ophthalmologist. They wanted to transport me to Phoenix for that but because I was not having any other signs of anything, they let me go home.

I did see an ophthalmologist last Monday and he didn’t see anything imminent and they made me an appointment for January 16th to do a more in depth study to check for glaucoma (which runs in my family) and to see if I had a stroke (which would show as damage to my eye). They did an ultrasound on my neck yesterday and that came out good (they were looking for plaque build up in my carotid artery). They have said it could be a loose blood clot that got into my eye and they are concerned about that but I thought the Eliquis would take care of all of those so I have no idea. Update: There is NO glaucoma and the ophthalmologist said that I certainly did have a TIA (which is a transient mini-stroke) but not a full on massive stroke and it was probably caused by plaque that came from my carotid artery (they are 20% plaque). My neurologist has ordered 2 brain scans (with and without contrast) that we can check against the one they did last April prior to Chemo.

On a lighter note, I DO feel good! I started doing Silver Sneakers workouts at the Recreation center yesterday as well as light aerobic water sports. Today is a rest day and I will start going to the Rec center every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. YAY!!!

For those of you who are familiar with my blue “Kathy” truck, here is an update on her:
In February of last year (the same month I found out I had cancer) the transmission went out on that truck. In December I had it towed to a local mechanic and paid for a new transmission in her. I have that truck back now and am enjoying having it up and running again. I LOVE that truck!

On a side note: Rebekah is doing very well in school and is an absolute delight to have with me!

September 19, 2019 Update

Hello Members and Wanna-be Members!

My last post stated that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since that date I have gone through Chemotherapy and surgery and am now waiting on Radiation therapy. I met with my surgeon and oncologist yesterday and they confirmed what all of the test show: I am now 100% cancer free!!! YAY!!!

I did try to get out of Radiation but they told me that for safety sake I must go through with it. So in about 3 weeks I will begin Radiation for 4 weeks and then I’m done. I also have to have an infusion of a drug called Heparin for a year every 3 weeks.

My spirits are up, my body is down (very weak right now) but the future looks GREAT!!!

Medical Issues and Insurance on the Road

Hello everyone! I have put off posting this for various reasons but thought I should address now.

Last month (March 2019) I had my annual exam and mammogram and it came back suspicious. After an ultrasound and subsequent biopsy I learned that I have an aggressive form of Breast Cancer. I am currently waiting for the first Chemotherapy treatment and then surgery. But that is not what this post is about, it’s about getting/having health insurance.

I haven’t much worried about health insurance since I started on the road 3 years ago but after adopting my granddaughter last year I decided that if I had to have it for her, I should get it as well. In Colorado I went to the state health agency and applied for and received health insurance for the both of us due to the fact that my income falls within the guidelines for free medical. We used my Mother’s address and were living with her at the time.

Then we went to Arizona and I put her in school in Quartzsite. The state (and any agency) wants proof of a street address for you with the date on the proof being within 10 days of the date you are applying for whatever. The way I handled that was by #1 – getting a PO box using the address on my drivers license. To get a PO Box I used my Passport as the photo ID and my drivers license as the photo/proof of address (even though it was Colorado) and a copy of my current Vehicle Insurance as the 2nd proof of address (they want 2 forms with the same address on them). Then I went straight to my bank, Wells Fargo and changed my address on my account to the new PO Box and went to the counter to get 3 temporary checks that had my name and current address on them.

The next step was to get a street address. I went to an RV park and paid for 1 night ($42) which gave me a receipt with a street address and space number. I took all of that to the state registry for insurance (In Arizona that is DES) as well as my 1099 from 2018 and my 2018 taxes. With all of that information I was able to apply for and get accepted into the agency for both of us.

I hope this helps you. I’m sure glad I have insurance!! You just never know what’s going to happen.

Quartzsite LTVA and it’s TRASH Bins

Yesterday, January 17th, 2019 we put out a call for help online through our website and with some Facebook groups including Quartzsite Chatter and RTR Chatter. This was a call for volunteers to come help haul off the trash that was collecting at the LTVA known as La Posa South just south of Quartzsite, AZ

This is not a political story. This is not a bashing story. This is a story about community and what can happen when good, caring people come together to make a difference. This story is based on what I personally witnessed and what was told to me by others. THANK YOU to EVERYONE who participated in this!

Here is a photo of what the bins looked like before we started:

At 8:45 in the morning I arrived and backed up to the bins, ready to start loading trash and waiting for volunteers to arrive. While I waited several people arrived and threw their trash on top of the trash on the ground. I just shook my head. A lady walked across the street from the RV dump station with a small bag of trash in her hand. I said to her, “There’s no room for that here, please take it with you”. She said, “The hell there isn’t” as she tossed her small bag onto the heap and then resolutely walked back and got into her large Class A RV.

Another person told me that he had paid for his permit and that included trash and so he was putting his trash there. Another chuckled as he threw his large bag in and said, “I hope the strike is over soon.” (Strike!?!) A man walked up taking pictures and said he was sending it to the White House. I suggested that he return in an hour and take some pictures of what we Boondockers do! As far as I know he did not. Then another person walked towards the dump with his phone and I snapped. I said something to the effect of: “Are you here to help or be part of the problem?” He laughed and said he was there to help. That was RVerTV!! Oh my. I’ll tell more about this amazing person in a few more paragraphs.

Let me pause here and explain what an LTVA is to those who don’t know so they can understand. LTVA stands for Long Term Visitors Area and it is public land that is managed by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management – a division of the US Department of the Interior).

Quartzsite, AZ is a small town that becomes a mecca for RVers mostly referred to as “Snow birds” (those who escape colder climes for the desert warmth during the winter months). They come in droves and can (some say) swell this area to up to a million people. There are more RV parks in this town than any other in the US and there are over 11,000 acres of public lands that are being utilized as well. The LTVA here is broken into 4 areas, 2 on each side of Hwy 95 going south out of town. This is a permit area which means that you purchase the right to use it because it has water, pit toilets, trash bins and RV and BlueBoy dump stations (only La Posa South has the water and dump stations). The rest of the BLM land around Quartzsite is just open land with no services at all. (there are dump stations in town as well as all other services that a camper needs).

The fee as of this year is $180.00 and it allows you to stay from September 15th until April 15th, after April 15th there are other fees (read more about that in our menu item about this topic). So right there, once you pay that you are “entitled” (I sorta dislike that word) to the services and land use for any time during the 7 months permit period.

The company who has the contract for emptying the trash bins at the 4 LTVA locations is C&D Disposal. It is my understanding that they have been prepaid for their services and the government shutdown has nothing to do with them and their contract. (If they would like to comment on this, please send me an email-kathy@boondockersunited.com). I was told that they are contracted to empty the bins 3 times a week.

Let me ask you a question: Would you put your trash on the ground outside your home if the trash company couldn’t get there on time for some reason? If you DO, do you think they would pick it up and take it? I mean you paid your bill, you are entitled to the pick up so the only answer is to just pile up your trash outside to teach them a lesson, right? Come on people!!!! That is the attitude that we saw yesterday at the cleanup. How can you expect the trash company to get in there and empty the trash if they can’t even get to the bin?

I think many people do not realize that there is a FREE waste transfer station just north of Quartzsite and instead of adding to a massive problem, they can take their trash there.

So, let’s get back to what we did and why we did it. I, known as Kathy Boondocker on Facebook, put requests for help on two groups, Quartzsite Chatter and RTR Chatter and it was shared to others. The request asked for volunteers to come help haul away the trash to begin at 9am on the 17th.

So, it’s 9am on the 17th and I am backed up to the bins in my silver truck waiting for others to arrive. The first truck got there just at 9am and others quickly followed. Some of the people arriving to help were fellow Boondockers and I knew I could count on them because that’s what we Boondockers do – we clean up the messes others leave behind because we care about our public lands and appreciate the use of them. One of those Boondockers was Seth Knight – he’s the owner of the BIG white flatbed truck in the pictures. He is a mover and shaker who put together the big Ehrenberg cleanup. We really appreciate him joining us and helping out.Their were people who stopped to help us load the trucks – they were passing by, saw what we were doing and jumped right in. I believe a few volunteers were from town responding to the call for help. Just as others were passing by, tossing their trash onto spots just emptied by us and with an attitude, kept on going.

I saw Russ with RVerTV arrive but I didn’t know him. I found out soon enough who he was and I’m telling you – he’s a force to recon with. Here’s a link to the video he put out: RVerTV. He calmly made phone calls and sent text messages and got the City of Quartzsite involved as well as the Desert Messenger (Quartzsite’s FREE Community Paper – Quartzsite news, events and entertainment published 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, Sept. thru May). I had already texted my BLM contact in Yuma and tried to contact C&D Disposal. I was able to contact the La Paz county landfill to let them know we were coming their way and I tried to get the Quartzsite transfer station opened up for us. The manager, Dean Pankowski, explained that the company who owns the two locations, Republic Services, did not have the contract to empty the bins and every year they are overwhelmed by people from the LTVA’s bringing their trash to them at the free transfer station. He went on to tell me that they have been trying to get that contract for years but haven’t been able to get it. He stated that the charge for us to dump was going to be $26.50 per ton. I asked if I could just give him my card number and have it all put on the card but he said I would need to come in person with the first load. So I did and I instructed them that only vehicles who had one of our “11 Courtesies of Camping” cards could be put on my bill. I used those because it was the only thing I had available.

We arrived with the first 5 vehicles and I got the bill arranged for and met with Dean in person. He asked me to tell the public that if their company had had the contract, they would NEVER have allowed this to happen. It is something that many LTVA frequent visitors complain about year after year and everyone tries to blame the government when there is a shutdown.

When I returned to the LTVA, which is where I am camped, I was shocked to see the place cleaned up, a tractor and a dump truck, several city workers and yellow tape being put up to cardon off the area until the trash company could empty the bins. I was told of the heroic efforts of everyone who arrived after we left and the amazing people with the horse trailer who hauled out 1,800 pounds alone! THANK YOU! I was told that the Chief of Police had arrived and that the Chamber of Commerce had donated $100 and the Mayor was also aware of it all. They said calls were made over and over and over again to C&D Disposal but nobody was answering the phones.

I left for about an hour and then ran back down there to make sure nobody was using the bins and OMG!!!! The orange cones were down, the tape was streaming out, the signs we had made asking people to take their trash elsewhere or hold it were on the ground and their were vehicles inside the area and people throwing trash in the bins we had just topped off. As my friend, Jacqueline and I were running around trying to put everything back in place people were still trying to throw their trash away! We tried to tell them it was closed and we got a lot of nasty remarks about they paid their permit fee and they were entitled to use the bins, etc. Finally a BLM Volunteer known as Wile-e showed up on his ATV and stayed there until sundown. He fixed all of the tape and put up the signs and kept people from abusing the site again. He was amazing! I tried to buy him supper but he refused. He alone kept that place from being overrun again. (and I don’t have a picture of him!) THANK YOU!!

At 5am this morning, January 18, 2019 C&D Disposal emptied the bins. Wile-e told me that when I dropped by at 7:30am. Yep, he was right there, taking down the tape, moving the cones and everything else. He is a BLM Volunteer and even though the Government is shut down he still did his part. I wish their more people like him!

The rest of the story is that with the Government shutdown, the entry station where you pay for your permits is closed and nobody can pay to be here. That means absolutely every person staying at one of the LTVA’s without a sticker is there using all of the facilities absolutely free. It also means that anyone and everyone is coming in and using the facilities. There was a sign at the entrance that said the area was closed and told people to use the 14 day free land but that sign disappeared within 2 days.

I must say that I am VERY PROUD to be a Boondocker! WE CARE and WE CLEAN up after others. To clarify, a boondocker is someone who camps in out of the way dispersed areas mostly on public lands and you will hardly if ever find one snuggled into an RV Park (it’s a PARK you know-not camping). We very often come into locations where trash has been left behind and we pack it out with us.

Quartzsite cleanup Postponed

Due to the US Government closure we have had to postpone our cleanup. This area will get cleaned up by us, just not on the 29th. The BLM notified me on Friday the 21st that they will contact me as soon as they are back in the office again.

Keep an eye out here for more updates.

If you’re in the Quartzsite area on (To be announced), please join us at 10:00 am at these coordinates to help clean up a BLM site:

33.654041, -114.239984 (enter them like that in your Google Maps and the location will show up).

It is just behind the Love’s truck stop at the end of Joshua Tree Row. We will meet there at 10:00 am with a BLM officer who will talk to us about safety and what type of things we will be cleaning up (no tires, batteries, hazardous chemicals or motor oils). He will have bags and a trailer for us to load the trash into. Please be sure to wear gloves and bring water or whatever your preference is for hydrating yourself.

The more people we have the better. Pass this on to others and let’s make a difference!

Remember: Any member who shows up for a cleanup gets their first membership renewal free!

11 Courtesies of Camping

Give me space – 50 feet between campsites works best
Give me peace – Quiet time between 10pm-7am
Give me a break – Don’t bother me while I’m setting up or taking down
Give me respect – Walking through my camp is like walking through my yard
Give me consideration – Don’t knock on my door – a shout out works
Give me a clean camp area- Pack out your trash, nails or broken glass
Give me honor – If I invite you to my camp, I am not inviting all of your friends
Give me peace of mind – No political or religious discussions
Give me security – Keep your animals on a leash and clean up after them
Give me safety – Be sure your fire is completely out before you leave
Give me my lifestyle – Obey the rules of the land you are on, or we won’t have use of it in the future

written by: Boondockers United

NFS Closes Cottonwood, AZ camping for 2 years (2019)

Here is the information and map:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/prescott/notices/?cid=FSEPRD605536

Here’s the story:

PRESCOTT, AZ (December 13, 2018) – As cooler weather approaches Arizona, visitors begin to flock to the Verde Valley to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities. Many of these visitors enjoy dispersed camping in the Verde Valley on forest lands. Over the past few years, dispersed camping in these areas has become a major safety concern due to high use, overstay violations, abandoned property, trash, and illegal activities.

In the last 10 years multiple strategies have been used from providing volunteer hosts, improving signing to ensure understanding of Forest Camping Policies and Regulations, to intensive monitoring and compliance in an attempt to keep the areas open. These strategies have been ineffective as overstay violation, trash dumping, abandoned property, resource degradation and human waste issues continue to occur creating an unsafe environment for other forest users and continued resource degradation.

In order to address the issue of overcrowding and overuse in these areas on the Verde Ranger District, Forest Officials are issuing a 2-year temporary closure which will start January 7, 2019. During this closure period camping will be prohibited within the restricted areas adjacent to Highway 260 from Cottonwood to Camp Verde and Salt Mine Road in Camp Verde from the intersection with Highway 260 to Beasley Flats Day Use Area.

Over the next two years the district will be analyzing current dispersed camping corridors, areas of overuse and look at the long term management of these areas. This process will provide opportunity for public involvement and input.

For more information please contact Todd Willard, Verde District Ranger at (928) 567-4121.

How to find us (2019)

It seems like this time of year practically everyone arrives in Quartzsite for the winter. We’re no exception.

We have a base camp set up just outside of Quartzsite, AZ in the LTVA South area. You can read more about LTVA’s on our website.

To find us, head south out of Quartzsite on Hwy 95 towards Yuma and go about 3 miles. You will be turning left off of 95 and once you pass the main entrance keep going on the main dirt road until you see the first pit toilet on the right and we are right across the street from it. Our banner is up and it’s hard to miss right now but that may change as more people arrive.

You do not need a permit to enter or visit with other campers but if you plan to stay the night you must have a permit on your vehicle. You can purchase a permit at any of the entrance buildings during normal hours or online. If you arrive after hours you can purchase your permit the following morning.

We look forward to meeting you and talking about our future and what we can and are doing together as a united voice.

The beauty of Boondocking

Here we sit, myself and my granddaughter, in a gorgeous forest just south of Flagstaff, AZ. There is a meadow in front of us and a small water hole that will soon be gone. The water hole is about 150 feet from us. The meadow is full of small yellow and white flowers and short green grass. The pine trees tower all around us as we wait for our turn in the sun to power our solar panels.

2 nights ago, after we closed up the trailer for the night, our puppy began barking. I looked outside to see a herd of about 30 Elk literally playing in the water hole. Some were drinking from it, others were running through it and at least one was rolling in it. Young and old were running and twisting their bodies in weird directions and kicking up into the air with their hind feet in pure delight. The young Bulls were play fighting with their antlers and some of the calves were standing on their hind feet with another playing around.

We were awestruck!! I have NEVER in my life seen Elk play! We tried to get pictures or a video but it was too dark. So we just sat and watched in such a state of peace and contentment that it surprised me.

THIS is what Boondocking is ALL about!

Getting and Giving Directions

When I first started out on the road I had no idea what “drop me a pin” meant. You may not either but it is a common way to share your location with others. I have an Adroid phone so those are the directions I can give you.

Pull up Google Maps on your phone. You will see a circle with a dot and 4 lines (marking N, E, S, W) on the right hand side of your screen. Mine is blue. Touch that circle and it will zero in on your location and show you a solid blue dot on the map. That is your location!

Touch (long touch or maybe I should say, “Press down and hold”) the Dot and you may get one of two options:

at the top of the screen you will see your gps location points. Let go of the dot and use your finger to scroll from the bottom of your screen up and then you will see more options. Choose “Share”. At the next screen you will see a bunch of icons of your apps. This is where you choose how to share it. If you want to use Facebook, click on that icon. I normally use Messenger (not Facebook messenger) and send it directly to someones cell phone. The app will automatically insert the gps location and send to whomever you chose to receive it.
You may have an option right on your screen that says “Share your location”. Click on that and it may ask you how long you wish to share it for. Choose the app you want to use for sharing and enter the name(s) of the recipients.

I hope this helps. The receiver of the coordinates will only have to touch a link on the message they receive and it will automatically pull up Google Maps and give them driving directions.

I hope this helps.

Life Changes

We all know about life changes and how it can happen in an instant. Poof – snap your fingers – blink your eyes and there ya go – a whole new life or perspective. My how quickly that can happen.

It doesn’t have to be negative, it can just be another phase of your life on this earth. It could even be exciting. Sometimes “exciting” comes AFTER you go through the “I’m scared” stage. It IS stages you know.

My own “snap your fingers, etc” moment that happened in the past year began on December 5, 2017 when, while in camp, I got a phone call that instrumented the next moment. My only daughter passed away suddenly. Thank goodness I had close friends in camp with me and they helped me so much! Then came the long drive to Tennessee from California and all that came next.

In April, 2018 I got the second call. The placement of my granddaughter had not worked well for both parties. In the blink of an eye and without hesitation I agreed to take my granddaughter and to fully adopt her. I packed up again and drove off to retrieve her. What a delight it is to have a 12 year old around again! Oh my. The final adoption took place on June 27, 2018. I am now Grandma/ma. LOL. I absolutely LOVE having her in my life! I look so forward to sharing her youthful energy with all of you.

Unfortunately what all of this has meant is that Boondockers United had been put on the back burner. I am almost to the point of getting it revved up in full force again. I sold my small camper and am now looking for one with bunk beds to accommodate her and her needs. As soon as I get that (of course I have to consider towing capacity of my 1/2 ton truck and available cash so it takes a little bit of time to get the right one) I will be on the road again. I look forward to “Roadschooling” her and she’s pretty excited about it as well.

Stay tuned because there is excitement in the air and life is good and things are looking up! You will see a Forum come onto the site very soon and notices of educational gatherings as well as social ones.

Click on this link to see all active fire restrictions for Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Dakotas, Texas and Oklahoma:

Current Fire Restrictions

For Colorado:

Current Colorado Fire Restrictions

For California:

Current California Fire Restrictions

National Forest Notices

The Members Only page associated with National Forest Notices is almost done. This is a VERY important part of what we do.

We urge ALL members to check out the page because there are some Notices related to Arizona – fee proposals.

New website launched

We just launched the new website! We are still working on it and have a lot of information to put in, but we’re one step closer.
Continue reading New website launched →

This is what we do as members!

We received this email today and want to congratulate anyone who does this. Pictures help, too.

“After hearing about and joining Boondockers United, I was feeling pretty fired up, so I cleaned up a dispersed site on BLM land near Virgin, UT. There are a couple aspects of it that illustrate a general template for success.
Continue reading This is what we do as members! →

CheapRVLiving Interview: https://youtu.be/iMAXWs8rhAI
Teardrop RV Interview: https://youtu.be/rTioumZab5k
American Lands Access Assoc: http://www.amlands.org/

CheapRvLiving does a video on us!

Bob Wells has uploaded an interview he did with me about Boondockers United and the outpouring of support is overwhelmingly positive. We ordered more bumper stickers and they should arrive by the 8th. We do have some email addresses that are being returned to us so if you have not received your “Welcome” email please email us directly. We are in the process of obtaining our 501c(3) non-profit status and plan to have that in place within the year.

Watch the vido here: CheapRVliving Video

American Lands Access Assoc meeting

On January 19, 2018 I was invited to join an organization for their annual meeting and I am SO GLAD that I did! They are called American Lands Access Association and their website is: www.amlands.org.
Continue reading American Lands Access Assoc meeting →

Quartzsite cleanup with the BLM

On January 18, 2018 Boondockers United members and others came together and helped the BLM clean up a site in Quartzsite, AZ. There were around 19 volunteers and 3 Rangers who spread out and picked up an entire trailer load of trash! There were mattresses, abandoned clothes and tents as well as a lot of trash strewn over about 5 acres of public land. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Continue reading Quartzsite cleanup with the BLM →

Update on Quartzsite cleanup

Hello Everyone! We hope you all had a great holiday season! We’re gearing up for 2018 and looking forward to doing some awsome things! As you know, our members are ready, willing and able to lend a hand and help out the BLM and the National Forest Service with cleanups and site service. We do this voluntarily because we cannot stand seeing our public lands being treated unkindly.
Continue reading Update on Quartzsite cleanup →