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July 2012

Cub Run, KY
Dog Creek – Nolin Lake

We spent the weekend at Dog Creek Campground in central KY, on the east end of a sprawling valley flooded to create Nolin Lake.    View Map

Did Ya Know – There are no natural lakes in Kentucky. All are man-made.

There are many campgrounds on Nolin Lake, but lovely little Dog Creek is just the right size to suit us. There are only about 50 electric campsites, each generous in size, with plenty of green space between and thoughtfully angled so you’re not wedged against the neighbors’ clothesline of wet bathing suits.

Dog Creek campground wraps around a cove, and there is direct access to the lake everywhere.  You can slip out your camper door and go jump in the water.  Plenty of folks bring a boat as well.

Half a dozen miles away, motor scooting along serene country roads, we found Webb Mart – a genuine country store with creaky wood floors and old-timers behind the counter. Stacked on shelves, or hanging  from the ceiling you can find “a little bit of everything” from groceries and tackle, to hardware and clothes. There’s even a yard sale aisle and a case of dressed dolls. We bought ice cream cones and a used DVD of 20 western movies.

Not to be missed is nearby Cub Run Cave. Discovered in the 1950’s by a couple of curious boys, ownership was disputed for 50 years by farmers on the properties above the cave. In 2006, the land rights were finally figured out and the cave was opened for public tours.

This is a wet cave, about a mile long, with a spring running throughout. Inside is a delicate ecosystem, replete with spotted salamanders, cave crickets, and tiny brown bats half the size of your thumb.  The tour takes you on wooden walkways built by local Amish to protect the cave floor.  We spent a deliciously cool hour gawking at the fabulous formations.

On the way home our speed was slowed to a charming trot behind several Amish buggies. They tend to make abrupt turns with nary a notice, so keep your distance!


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There was a time when we were dedicated tent campers, back when we were young and thin, say about 3 years ago. We’d carry a minimum of equipment, sometimes on our back, and enjoy the sights & sounds of the great outdoors for a week or a weekend. More often than not, those nightly sounds included screaming kids, irate parents yelling at the kids, and a dog or two added to the decibels. But hey, we were out in the woods, getting some fresh air and exercise.

We’d make a point to scoff at the RV’s with their televisions and microwaves, and all manner of ridiculous electric appliances and lights spilling out under awnings twice the size of our tent. That’s not camping, we’d say. That’s just moving your living room to the woods. We couldn’t understand why anyone would need to haul around so much stuff if you’re just camping, for pete’s sake.

Then something changed. Maybe it was age, maybe it was the weather getting more unpredictable. But somehow we saw the light, literally a glow, of the usefulness of electricity and permanent walls. The RV world was calling, and its song was irresistible. No more sleeping with rocks and roots jammed into our backs. We could stand up indoors to get dressed in the morning. And a private toilet! With a shower! And hey, looky here, they have air conditioners and furnaces. Whoa.

It was a done deal nearly as soon as it occurred to us that this could be the way to extend our camping season beyond only the clement months of May and September.

We’d always been enamored with Class B van conversions, and with relatively little thought, other than the fact that we weren’t comfortable towing a trailer, that’s the direction into which we plunged. I started shopping around for a used unit within our budget, scrutinizing photos online, talking with dealers, and randomly picked a older Coach House 23′. Best guess I ever made.

 

That little coach got us started, and we’ve never looked back. We’re RVers now. We’ve left the bugs and dirt behind, and our old tent is neatly wrapped up in the basement. I’ve got to say, I don’t miss it a bit.

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We’re counting the weeks until our big Wild West Tour begins. In the meanwhile, we’re reviewing all our supplies & equipment to make sure everything is ready to go.

Last weekend we discovered our George Foreman electric grill is a big energy hog!
1400 watts to be exact, which is a large draw on our power system.
We rely on that grill for cooking indoors when it’s raining, or when there’s a ‘No Fires’ policy at the campground (especially during the drought this summer), or sometimes we’re just too lazy to drag out the charcoal grill.

So yesterday we stood in the aisle at Target for a long while, mulling over options. Ended up buying a smaller George, less wattage, but still plenty big for burgers & steaks. Should be easier to store, too -and space is always an issue with a coach our size.

 

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Lincoln State Park

by Richie

Lincoln City, Indiana
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A State Park & National Memorial Park all together in one handy scooter-ride area.
This was our second trip to this lovely area, and we enjoyed it just as much as last year!

We walked the lake loop trail until we thought the dog would expire from heat exhaustion.
Fortunately, an afternoon storm arrived – giving us all an excuse to nap in the coach for a few hours!

The campground sites are a bit close together for my liking, but there’s plenty to do around the park. Saw a darling little camper – the smallest Fifth Wheel we’ve ever seen. More like a 1/5 wheel!

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