So, what is geocaching you ask?  Geocaching combines elements of hiking, orienteering, a scavenger hunt, and handheld technology (what’s not to like?) in a cross country search for a hidden “cache” located at or near GPS coordinates you find at geocaching.com.  Caches can be anything from a plastic film container (you do remember what film is, right?) up to an ammo can.  Inside the cache you might find trinkets from previous visitors, a log book, or even a travel bug.  A travel bug?!? No we’re not talking about stomach discomfort from something you ate.  A travel bug is a coin, a toy, or some other object that is tagged with a serial number.  When people find a travel bug in a cache they are free to take the travel bug a move it to another cache, hence they “travel”.  Geocaching is an international sport, so it’s possible for a travel bug to be picked up and travel the globe.  The Kousin’s Kitty is one travel bug that Chris and I picked up and moved between caches.  Since we had the Kitty it’s moved to Central America and all around Europe.

Geocaching is something you can do pretty much anywhere.  Caches are located in urban areas, in rural areas and all places in between.  We have looked for geocaches near our home, along hiking trails, behind a retail shopping center in a drainage ditch, and next to a fast food drive through.  In Texas geocaches are permitted in State Parks so it is easy for Chris and I to add geocaching to our camping adventures.  Finding geocaches is a great way to be active but it also takes you to places you would have never gone – off the hiking trail, out of the campsite, and down roads you would not normally travel.  The discoveries that await you, not just the discovery of a geocache, are fantastic!  We’ve taken more than a few of our most popular and unique photographs while looking for a geocache.
Getting started with geocaching is not difficult.  There are two things that you will need: 1) a free user account on geocaching.com; and, 2) a handheld GPS unit to help you find the caches.  If you have a navigation system for your car or a portable GPS that you use for driving along the highway, you probably will not be successful at geocaching.  Geocaching involves navigating to GPS coordinates and often walking off road quite a distance to find a cache.  Navigation systems typically will not support this type of use.  Instead, opt for a handheld GPS unit designed for use by hikers.  These battery powered devices can range from the simple with text information displayed on an LCD screen, to units with color screens and maps.  We like the Garmin GPS 60Cx for our geocaching.  If you have an iPhone or other smartphone, you can also geocache using the onboard GPS receiver and geocaching software.  We like the iPhone geocaching app for its ability to identify geocaches near our campsite, but we switch to our Garmin handheld GPS as we start our hike to locate the cache.  The handheld GPS unit has far better sensitivity than the iPhone and does not consume the battery like the geocaching app does.

If you enjoy hiking or camping, give geocaching a try.  You will add variety to your hiking or travel adventure and you will discover some interesting and amazing places.  Who knows, maybe you will even pick up a world traveling travel bug like we did.  See you on the trail!

Landa RV Park & Campground has good location going for it. It is in New Braunfels, right on the Comal River, and directly across the Comal from Landa Park and the Wursthalle. You could probably walk to the downtown square (though there are not a lot of sidewalks in some areas) or easily bike there. The square has a coffee shop that was open pretty much any time we drove past except late at night as well as many little boutique type shops and a few restaurants.

When I called to confirm the reservation I had made online, the campground host had not heard of us, so we redid the reservation. That should have been the first red flag, but, it was Thanksgiving week, so I thought things might be a little out of sync due to holiday plans and such. The campground price is a steal in the off season at $20 per night and that is one of the reasons I picked it. We did have to pay an extra $5 the night of Thanksgiving, which seemed a little silly to me, but, okay. It was still cheaper than nearby places.

We arrived at the campground around 11pm and found our reservation packet on the door of the office. It had the gate code so we could get in which was important. The gate is closed at all times, though there is a small pass through for people walking in. You can’t open the gate from your vehicle, you have to get out to be able to reach it. The campground host told me over and over on the phone that we would have to stay to the right when we arrived, even though the map said otherwise, or we wouldn’t make it under the train trestle. That probably should have been a red flag too. The train tracks run, literally, right through the campground. The trestle bridge over the Comal River was a stone’s throw from our campsite. The train engineer’s are very thorough and blow the horn a lot, even at night. I cannot imagine being there in a tent.

After looking over the map, we actually went left instead of right. The campsite we were going to was angled and had we stayed to the right, we would have gotten to it quickly, but been facing the wrong direction to back in. So we took a hard left turn, up a steep hill and drove through the campground to get to our campsite. The roads were in good shape in some areas and not so good in other places. It looks like there has been some flooding in the lower portion of the campground in recent years causing damage to campsites and roads that just hasn’t been repaired yet.

The lower portion of the campground that is right on the river is mainly a big gravel area so, you just kind of park in the general vicinity of the electric pole and get things set up. We had no big issues getting level, or getting our electric plugged in. We did have to use both of our hoses to reach the water hook-up and the sewer connection was too far back for us to reach it easily. We ended up waiting until the morning we left and just backing up to it to dump the tanks before we hit the road.

Imagine yourself backed into a campsite, the water and sewer were diagonal to the two back corners of the camper, on opposite sides. It was a different set up, to be sure. Had we not back-in in the dark, we might’ve noticed and been able to back up further to accommodate it all. But when we were backed up far enough to empty the tanks, there was just enough room to walk around behind the camper. In a place that shows obvious flood damage, that was a little too close for comfort.

The main recreation at the campsite is the ability to rent tubes and float on the river. November is not exactly the season for that though. I’m sure the place is packed in the summer with families enjoying that aspect of it. We did not visit the bathhouse because it was up a long, steep flight of stairs from the campsite and didn’t look to be all that well maintained.

We use a little voltage monitor in the camper, to make sure we have a solid electric supply. Our power fluctuated from 106 to about 119 volts depending on what was going on. We didn’t have any problems, but I wonder if a lot of breakers get tripped with air conditioners going in the summer months.

Here’s the thing. For $20 per night, it wasn’t a bad place. Our site was relatively level, no one bugged us or complained we let our dog walk around off-leash. We were out exploring most days and not just hanging around the campground. After the first night, we were used to the trains going by too so they weren’t a problem. If you’re going camping to be at your campground relaxing, go somewhere else. If you’re need a place to hook up that’s acceptable and affordable, go to Landa RV Park.

First up, and the app we’ve had the longest is the Eukanuba Off-Leash Dog Park Locator. It’s a simple database that pulls your current location and then tells you the closest dog parks to where you are. It’s great when you need to find someplace for your dog to play while you’re traveling. We have found some definite holes where there is no information – that could be because there are no dog parks in the area or because they just haven’t been entered yet. If you do find a dog park not in the system, it’s easy to hit the “suggest a park” button and email off the information to get it listed.This is a free app.

Via Twitter we recently learned of the Fido Factor iPhone app (thanks @FidoFactor!). It’s full of dog-friendly places in San Francisco and users are adding new dog-friendly locations every day. It’s pretty easy to go to the website and set up an account that you can then use on the iPhone to suggest places you find or check for dog-friendly stuff where you are. Overall, the service features all kinds of dog-friendly stuff, not just dog parks. That is always great if we are on the road and need a place to eat lunch where we can bring our dog on the patio or something. The part we really like is that in the lodging section, there is a category for campgrounds.

Most campgrounds are technically dog-friendly but some have restrictions on sizes and/or breeds or advertise having a “dog park” that is really just a tiny fenced in area (and I do mean tiny). A heads up on those with really nice dog areas or that really are welcoming to dogs is a nice thing to have. Fido Factor doesn’t have a ton of stuff entered yet, but we’ll certainly be entering anything we find in our travels and we hope you will too. This is a free app.

Finally, I’m going to suggest you use the notes feature of your iPhone or another notetaking app that you like, and keep important dog information handy. There are apps you can buy for a few dollars to do this but, you don’t really need to. You want to have the name and address of your vet (keep the phone number in your contacts), the dates of shots your dog has received, names and dosage information for any medications they take, the microchip ID number if you have one and anything else you might need to know in an emergency. Also, make sure you have a photo of your dog in your camera roll.

It may seem silly, but if your dog is hurt and you can’t remember what types of meds he takes or the last time she had shots, you may have trouble at a new vet. And if your dog wanders away from your campsite, that photo is going to help you find him much sooner. For an extended trip you should consider having actual photocopies of vaccination records in the car with you, especially rabies shot information. If something happens it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your dog.

Have you found a dog-friendly iPhone app that works for you? Please share it in the comments. We’re always looking for more options.

Map link

We’re really looking forward to attending Schlitterbahn’s Hill Country Christmas which is what is bringing us to New Braunfels.  Since we have four days in town for the holiday weekend we’re also planning a stop at Gruene Hall to get our picture taken with Cowboy Kringle.  Also, who could go to New Braunfels without stopping at the Smokehouse?  The delicious smoked meats and sausage are something we’ve really enjoyed.  Finally, we’re likely to take in some hiking at either Colorado Bend State Park or Enchanted Rock State Nature Area.

We’re still open to suggestions, so if you have any hot spots in or around New Braunfels, Gruene, Fredricksburg or even Austin or San Antonio be sure to hit the comment button and let us know what else is a can’t miss in the Texas Hill Country.

We started out both searches without a clear idea what exactly it was we wanted. We had an idea about the number of people we wanted to be able to sleep, some amenities we wanted to have and the weight our truck could pull. We kept ourselves open to folding trailers, pop-ups, pop-outs, fifth wheels and we even looked at a motorhome or two. We really covered the gamut of options.

A 33 foot trailer with a slideout was great but really pushing what the truck could handle. A tiny Toyota class C motorhome was interesting but the top speed was 55 mph and the ceiling was about half an inch over Robert’s head. We looked at something called a hi-lo which is the height of a pop-up when closed, but when you push a button the roof raises, giving you the feel of a more traditional travel trailer (interesting but not so useful if you want to stop and have a sandwich along the way). We looked at trailers with bunkhouses, trailers with only one bed, and pretty much everything in between.

There is so much to think about and look at it’s hard to stay focused and not just fall in love with a nice kitchen or pretty upholstery. These are some things we saw that were definite no’s in our book. Any sign of water damage. A camper that obviously had not been well cared for – stains, not cleaned before we saw it, dirty outsides are signs that maybe the owners aren’t so great at the regular maintenance stuff either. Campers with obvious broken stuff – sometimes we were told and other times we could see, but we wanted something road worthy, not something we had to take home and fix first.

Some things to make sure you do – have the owner or dealer plug the camper in so you can turn on anything electric and make sure it works. Ask if there is propane in the tanks. If there is, try out any propane appliances (oven, stovetop, water heater, fridge). If there is not propane, you can ask that they either fill at least one bottle up so you can try things out or give you a guarantee if things don’t work. Walk all over the floor, and even step in corners checking for soft spots. If you know you want to use the awning, you might have them open it up so you can see that it is in working order. Open drawers, unfold sofa beds, get in and try stuff out.

You can also look for things like if the closets are deep enough to actually use a regular, standard hanger if hanging clothes up is important to you. If you have a tall person in the family, have them see if they can stand up in the shower if you plan to use it instead of campground bathhouses. If there are no towel bars in the bathroom see if there is a place you can put some (again if you plan to use the shower). They are easy enough to add and not necessary for the first trip but if there’s no space, they can’t be added on. Make sure even if the layout is not perfect or the cabinets are not just what you hoped for that there are good bones. You can do a lot with good organization and some creativity but only if the space (and the price) are right.

And finally, if you have saved cash or gotten financing and you are buying a used trailer, try not to spend every penny on the purchase of the trailer. There may be maintenance that needs to be done right away, propane tanks to be filled, a few odds and ends to buy and many little costs for things you’ll want to have done before you go camping the very first time.

Apparently, the RV industry believes we have the need to cook outside. I’m good with that, as we have a whole outdoor kitchen we can set up leftover from our tent camping days. We still use it on occasion. But here’s the thing, while this seems like a great idea, this cute little stove that slides out of a compartment in the RV – is it really the most practical? The little propane stove is certainly no raging campfire, but, if you slide it out at the same time you have the awning out on the RV, you will have an open flame under your awning. I am sure the RV manufacturers have tested this and I am sure that it was deemed safe or it would not be included. But still. It makes me uncomfortable.

We cook outside pretty much every time we go camping. Cooking inside heats up the RV, and frankly, the picnic table has more prep space than any RV kitchen we’ve seen. But, we use our Coleman campstove, our Dutch ovens or our Coleman griddle – all three of which could possibly fit into the space that fancy roll out campstove is using. If you don’t have any outdoor cooking tools, this might be a good option. But, if you are moving up from tent camping to an RV, this will most likely just be a redundant piece of equipment.

Here is an even more elaborate outdoor kitchen. This features the “RVQ” grill which attaches to the side of the camper (again, open flame, under the awning and attached to the camper), an extendable work area, a sink, cabinet space, a flat screen TV, a microwave and off to the left, a small fridge. This would be a great set up for tailgating or NASCAR, which is the intended market I presume. For general camping, it seems like a bit of overkill. I mean, a microwave outside in addition to the one inside? And one fridge inside and one outside? What happened to just having a cooler for the beer? It gets colder when it’s all snuggled into ice anyway.

I think that these are nice ideas for some people but to Robert and I, they seemed to take too much away from what we enjoy the most about camping – getting away from our daily life. We, so far, do not camp with a television (though we do have our laptops along). We are considering installing one in the camper, mainly for something to do if we get a really rainy weekend or we’re just really in the mood to watch a movie one evening. But, to have one outside as well? Overkill for us definitely. We don’t go camping to watch TV. Now, as I said, for NASCAR or tailgating, sure, it makes sense.

I think the best plan before going to an RV show, or even to look at RVs being sold by individuals is to think about what it is you want to be doing when you go camping. For us, time to relax without the distractions of home (like the TV) is very important. And we want to cook simple, homemade food. We need a comfortable place to sleep, room for our dog, maybe a spot for some friends to sleep and a place to put a laptop and type up a blog post if we’re in the mood. We like trailers so we can set up camp and go explore nearby areas in our truck if we want to. We knew these things before going in and looking at all of the RV options. This made it easier to skip past things like elaborate outdoor kitchens (that cost extra in the option packages) and instead focus on things that would fit our idea of camping – and not that of an RV manufacturer.

We considered going to Bonham State Park a few times during the summer but it is frequently full, so it’s best to save it for spur of the moment trips after school starts or get a reservation. There are 14 water and electric RV sites ($18) and 7 water and electric tent sites ($15). With only 21 campsites available, the park stays relatively quiet in the evening. The daytime is hit or miss – there are lots of picnicking areas and a nice lake for swimming so there are a lot of day visitors to the park. By Sunday afternoon it’s pretty quiet, so if you can go for a Sunday night, or during the week in the fall you might have the place to yourself.

Our favorite moment at the park? After wanting to go swimming most of the day, but staying away because of the many families and screaming kids that were there, we got our chance as the sun was setting. The water was surprisingly warm, due to the small size of the lake, and we had the beach to ourselves. It’s hard to resist the romantic notion of a sunset swim with your sweetie.

There were flocks of ducks and geese to watch and photograph while we were there, all relatively tame and not afraid when we got close to them. You can also take a hike all the way around the lake or on some of the other trails.

Bonham is not a park with a big visitors center, nature center or lots of activities but it is a great place to sneak away for a few days, relax and just enjoy some time together.

The campsites are a good size – I could hear the people camped next to us talking on their cell phones when we were all outside, but not well enough to know what they were saying. So, you won’t have a giant area to roam in, but you will have some privacy from your neighbors. Each campsites has a shelter area – a concrete pad with a picnic table and a roof overhead. A few sites have a screened shelter, but most are open to the elements.

The bathhouse was a little off-putting at first when I walked in and discovered the stainless steel toilets (they always make me think of prisons) but the showers were hot and everything was clean which is always a good sign. The doors to each side were kept open – I assume for good ventilation – and Robert learned the importance of entering with caution when he found a snake in the men’s room in the early morning. It’s one of those things that happens when you’re out in nature, so just take a moment to pay attention when you walk in to be on the safe side.

Corps of Engineers campgrounds have a few specific things to keep in mind – at Jim Hogg or any other property. Frequently the gates are staffed by older, retired folks who work in exchange for a campsite. We experienced one gentleman who had a pretty difficult time hearing us and another that moved a little more slowly that expected. Relax, take a deep breath and be patient. Smile and just don’t worry about it. Five extra minutes at the gate shouldn’t ruin your plan and because they are willing to take on the job, we can have the benefit of a campsite (with water and electric) for $18 per night.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the campgrounds have gates. And those gates are closed at 10pm. If you aren’t in by 10pm, you’re going to be out of luck unless your camper is already inside and you feel like hiking. We were having a really nice visit with friends in North Austin one of the days we stayed at Jim Hogg. I happened to look at the time at 9:15. We grabbed our stuff and got going as fast as we could and we arrived at the park just as the person on duty was getting ready to close the gate. Considering our camper was already inside and we had our dog with us, it would have been a frustrating situation if we had missed the gate. If you’re going to be out late, this type of campground might not be for you.

It all worked out well for us. We were happy to have an inexpensive campground available with a nice view of Lake Georgetown, some hiking trails nearby and hot showers when we wanted them. If you can compromise and make sure you will be in by 10pm, Jim Hogg Park, or any Corps of Engineers campground, really offer a good value, usually in a very nice, natural surrounding.

As I sit in my cheap folding chair, I can feel a slight breeze hitting the back of my neck. It’s welcome since the temperature is climbing. I’ve found a spot, between a tree and the little screen shelter that’s still in the shade at 10 a.m. And, even better, it overlooks an open field instead of other campsites. I can see cacti everywhere, and at one point, two deer wander across the edge of the campsite. Even on this holiday weekend, Fort Richardson State Park is calm and relatively quiet.

We always have to debate going camping on a holiday weekend. On the one hand, for me especially, it’s almost a given. Something I’ve done since I was a kid. The extra day leaves more time for relaxing or elaborate outdoor cooking experiments. On the other hand, everyone else is going camping, so, will it just be loud and annoying, with everyone packed in together?

This weekend we took the chance. I figured we would never find a spot at a state park because of the holiday. But, after choosing a few possibilities, I called Fort Richardson State Park in Jacksboro. There were campsites available. The park has history, hiking and is near some small towns with potential so, I made the reservation.

We arrived late Friday night. I called earlier in the day, so we knew the two site numbers we had to choose from, which definitely helped. State Parks usually have non-site specific reservations, which means you can choose the amenities you want (water, electric, sewer) and they give you a spot when you get there. If the campsite isn’t crowded, you usually pull in and choose a spot that looks good. For this particular weekend there were only two spots available meeting our criteria, that were available for the entire weekend, so I was glad I called ahead and asked about it. If you have a reservation (or even if you don’t) and you know you will be arriving late, it is always a good idea to call. It helps to ensure that the campground or park holds the site for you, and gets you important information like gate entry codes and campsite numbers if you’ve been assigned a certain one.

Fort Richardson has 11 campsites that feature screened shelters. It is a normal campsite for a tent or RV, with water and electric hook-ups, grill, picnic table and fire ring as well as a small wooden shelter with screened windows and a picnic table inside. The shelters are a nice place for eating if the bugs are out, doing some cooking on the camp stove or even sleeping if you have an air mattress and it’s cool enough outside. If it was a rainy weekend it would also be a good place to hang out and have a little more space than we do in the camper. The park has 73 campsites overall, as well as 7 overflow campsites.

Campsites at Fort Richardson come with a variety of price tags, depending on what you’re looking for. A hike-in primitive campsite is $5 and the premium shelter sites with water, sewer and electric are $24. RV sites with at least water and electric are all between $20 and $24 depending on specific site amenities.

Campsites at Fort Richardson are very large. Picnic tables and fire pits have some distance between them and many sites have areas behind the RV or tent pad that are secluded from nearby campsites because of tree cover or the shelters. Our specific site has a long asphalt parking pad (very level) for the camper and the truck. Off to the right of the rear bumper about 30 feet is our picnic table and grill area. Off to the left of the bumper is the shelter. Directly behind the shelter is our fire pit, with a view of an open field. Just outside the camper door is a screen of trees, with a small opening near the shelter where we can look out over another open field. The campsites are far enough apart that you don’t have to worry about being on top of your neighbors at all. There was definitely some good thought put into the campsites here.

The Fort itself offers some interesting historical perspective on the local area and the Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway is an almost 10-mile multi-use trail that begins in the park. There are several other hiking trails available, a camp store, plenty of places for both kids and adults to ride bikes and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities if you have some patience and can get up early.

The one major downside to the park is the lack of showers. We prefer bathhouse showers to trying to cram into the tiny RV shower we have. Fort Richardson has exactly two showers. One for men and one for women. Even at 11 p.m. there was a line for the shower. If we were here at a less busy time, it would probably be a non-issue.

Fort Richardson is a great place to come for a day hiking trip or a visit to the Fort, but if you have a few days, make sure to experience the campground. Because of the large, well laid out campsites, this has been one of my favorite Texas State Park campgrounds so far. If they would add a few more showers, it would be perfect.

Brian Dewitt from Flickr

Commercial first aid kits typically include only a few band aids, one or two gauze pads, and a topical disinfectant like povidone-iodine.  These convenience kits are great when you have a minor cut or abrasion, but what if you face a more significant injury? If you are ten miles from the nearest help, how can you ensure your first aid kit meets your needs? Here are some suggestions to help you select the items you should include in your own kit.

Hiking and other wilderness adventures can include to everything from minor discomforts like blisters, ticks, and sunburn up to more serious traumatic injuries such as dislocations and broken bones.  Not all of these ailments require something in your kit, but think about some of the more serious things that could happen.  A sprained ankle or a broken bone while out exploring might require you to hike out to meet up with help.    Here are the items in my hiking kit to address traumatic injuries: Several 4×4 gauze pads, a couple of gauze bandages (I prefer Kerlix), at least two triangular bandages, an ACE bandage, 1 inch cloth tape, mole skin, tweezers and a flexible aluminum splint (SAM splint).

Be sure to include some disposable nitrile gloves in your kit as well for major emergencies.  Next time you’re at your doctor’s office ask them for a pair or two of gloves to toss in your kit. For the worst kind of emergency, a cardiac arrest, consider adding a CPR pocket mask.  Chances are, you will never need it, but if you do you will at least be prepared to deliver critical rescue breathing.  Most individuals do not travel with an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) for sudden cardiac arrest, but ask if the park has an AED when you make campsite reservations

Here in Texas where Chris and I do a lot of camping, summer camping means really hot weather.  When you are focused on having fun you might not drink enough fluids (or too much alcohol) which results in dehydration.  In high altitude dry climates like Utah or Colorado getting dehydrated  is a year round concern because of the low humidity and the persistent sun.  Including a powdered sports drink to mix with water at half strength is a good way to be prepared for heat exhaustion and dehydration.  Although it does not taste as good as full strength sports drink, the electrolytes are better absorbed and retained by your body at half strength.

Have a special medical condition like angina, diabetes, or allergies? Be sure to keep emergency medications prescribed by your physician on hand.  For example, take your epi-pen with you when you go trekking if you’re allergic to bees.  If you have angina or a heart condition and your doctor prescribes nitroglycerin or baby aspirin be sure to pack them in your camping gear.  Even if you only occasionally use a medication, like an inhaler for asthma, bring it along.  Experiencing a medical emergency because you forgot to pack your medication is a sure fire way to ruin your camping trip.

Every first aid kit should also have a few convenience items.  These are not necessarily life saving tools, but can improve your quality of life.  Over the counter medications like ibuprofen and immodium are probably things you have at home, toss a couple into your camping gear to make sure a minor problem doesn’t ruin your trip.  Triple antibiotic ointment helps speed healing and prevents infection with simple cuts.  Vitamin E and aloe preparations are a necessity for sun burn.  You don’t necessarily need to bring these along on your hike but keep them in your camper or tent if you need them.

Finally, to be prepared to handle a medical emergency at any time, take a first aid class.  Having the right equipment is only the first step in being prepared.  Ensure that you have the knowledge and skills to use your equipment effectively.  Check your local community center or fire department to see when they offer their next first aid or first responder course.  You will be glad that you made the effort to get prepared.