In the last entry we looked at the many benefits of boondocking.
Well, boondocking is fine and dandy, but it only takes care of the campsite side of the RVing equation. What good is being camped out in the boonies if there is nothing to see and do? After all, an adventurous RVer wants to be exploring during the day and retreat to the RV and an awesome campsite in the evening.
That is exactly what led me to boondocking. You see, my wife and I like to explore unique and forgotten places which are never listed in the AAA Travel Guides. Ghost towns, unusual geological formations, native American ruins, slot canyons, mining camps, caves, old forts, etc. are all on our list of places we like to visit and explore. By definition these places are not located in major metropolitan areas that contain RV parks. If an old forgotten seldomly visited mining camp was located next to a KOA it would hardly be forgotten and seldomly visited. Thus, if we were to camp in and around the areas we wished to explore, boondocking would become a necessity for us.
For a couple of years now, via my Boondocking 101 seminar, I have been sharing tips on boondocking and how to find boondocking sites. Many in attendance have shown an interest in visiting the special places my wife and I enjoy so much. Based on this interest, I felt it was time to share how I find these out of the way places rarely known to Joe Blow tourist so you, too, can enjoy these backroad treasures along with boondocking.
I am working on a new seminar entitled “Boondocking & Backroads” with the subtitle “How to Plan the Ultimate RV Adventure” in which I will share how I go about planning a RV expedition to the wild places of the west. The seminar will debut at the 2014 Puyallup RV Show – May 1-4, 2014 at the Washington State Fair & Events Center. I would like your help in creating this seminar by hearing your suggestions on what subtopics you would find most useful. There are two ways you can share with me. One is to use the comment box at the bottom of this page. The second is to attend my Boondocking 101 seminar at The Seattle RV Show – February 6-9, 2014 and share your comments with me after the formal conclusion of the seminar. I hope to meet/hear from you soon!
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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