Good Choice – Boondocking in Anza Borrego Desert State park. The park offers 600,000 acres of great places to explore. When the sun sets just pull the RV off the main road and away from any water source and set up camp. Dispersed camping is allowed throughout the park at no charge. The scenery is priceless, the stargazing is awesome and you are not likely to have many neighbors.
Bad Choice – Deciding to camp in a forest of cholla cactus in the park. Cholla cactus (aka jumping cholla or teddy bear cholla) are beautiful, but nasty plants. They are notorious for the very loose joint attachment of their limbs, the joints with their many barbs attach to unfortunate by-passers with the slightest touch. The joints readily break off falling to the ground, so if you manage to avoid brushing against them you still have to be very careful where you walk as they will grab hold of your shoes, socks, RV tires, dog paws, RV mat, etc. Needless to say we kept the dog on a very short leash, left our shoes outside and became very proficient with pliers at pulling the barbs out of the dog and our gear.
Being attacked by the native vegetation, just another adventure in RVing!
Boondocking in the cholla forest
Endless views and great stargazing
Cholla cactus (Note the fuzzy balls on the ground, they are little land mines waiting to attack!)
Sticks in your boots
Sticks to your tires too!
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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