Forest Service Motorized Vehicle Restrictions: An end to forest service boondocking as we know it?
Order No. 11-10-12 of the USDA Forest Service, Plumas (California) National Forest, entitled MOTORIZED VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS, includes this restriction: “Possessing or using a motorized wheeled vehicle off National forest System roads, except for the routes, open areas, and National Forest System trails shown on Exhibit A.
“The effective dates are January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. But this is the scary part: “A violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.” Read that line again.
It exempts “Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.” Does that mean we now have to get a permit to boondock--and designate the exact spot in which we are going to boondock?
This, if enforced, could be used as a tool for an individual forest service official to control and even prohibit boondocking in the national forests where it is now legal. The critical wording is: “except for the routes, open areas, and National Forest System trails shown on Exhibit A.”
The rule formerly permitted boondocking anywhere on public lands unless expressly prohibited by signs or fences. Now it appears that an official can define specific spots as "open areas . . . shown on Exhibit A" (i.e. boondocking campsites) thus eliminating all those NOT on Exhibit A.
This would subject all unsuspecting boondockers, who for years have had favorite spots or who knew that they could drive forest service roads until finding a legal and suitable boondocking site, to a huge fine and possible imprisonment if they didn't pick the right route or right campsite. What!
Who defines these open areas, routes, and trails that are placed on Exhibit A? Can you really be fined $5,000 or thrown in jail because you camped--or drove--somewhere that was not on Exhibit A?
This raises a lot of questions and calls for more research.
From: http://www.rvboondockingnews.com/2011/04/forest-service-motorized-vehicle.html
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Boondocking tips with Bob Difley
How to find overnight spots when away from public lands
"When traveling through areas where there are no public lands for boondocking, check out state recreation areas such as fishing access points, wildlife reserves, and regional and local campgrounds.
In small towns check with the local police whether it is permissible to spend a night in the town plaza or park, and whether overnighting is permitted at the police station, a church, or business park on weekends. You are more likely to get positive response if they get a chance to check you out first, rather than by just finding you already parked."
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Also check: http://freecampgrounds.com/
and when you just need a place to overnight, if you are too tired to go on, check Dean's List, founder of http://groups.yahoo.com/group/boondocking/ for US and Canada at:
http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/UHHSTQwB4dH0lx5YePlaT2EICIvQSBjvHRLILY2fTv0eE5afqZ-Y52gIKsCRiLKnYn8vwxLn0Zi4yKoTh1MEl4D5K5DIYGGGqY2DrJJr/Boondocking%20Information/deanslist.htm
or:
"Sam's Clubs are a great place to park overnight. They're easy to find, they welcome RVers, they have free wifi, and
they have night time security. The signal is usually strongest near their Tire and Battery service department. Just perfect for a quick overnight stop. If you need a place to just rest for one night, keep Sam's in mind."
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Picking your own fruit and veggies is healthy and saves money
"Find a pick your own farm near you! This website provides local listings of pick your own (also called U-pick or PYO) farms in the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries.
There are are crop calendars for each local area to tell you what is available to pick throughout the year, local weather forecasts and really easy illustrated directions to show you how to make jam, jelly, salsa, pickles, spaghetti sauce, applesauce, apple butter and 150 other recipes with step-by-step directions to can, freeze, dry or preserve the harvest."
More at: http://frugalrving.blogspot.com/2011/04/u-pick-orchards-and-farms.html
Global List added to daily: http://www.pickyourown.org/index.htm#states
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Fire Safety Tip from Mac McCoy "A pinhole-size leak in a radiator or heater hose can spray antifreeze on hot engine parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol concentrate and water. When the water boils off, the remaining ethylene glycol can self-ignite at 782 degrees F. During your monthly fire inspection, check all hoses for firmness, clamp tightness, and signs of leaking."
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RV Tips:
"When you leave your trailer unattended for extended periods, roll up the awning."
"Keep in mind that one of the best places to get information is in the campground laundry rooms. Talk to the people you meet there. Chances are someone in that laundry room has just come from the place you are headed toward. Ask them about road conditions, find out their recommendations for restaurants, campgrounds and interesting attractions. We've gotten some of our best information by talking to people in campground laundry rooms."
"Make a habit of stopping at each state's welcome center. They will be located in a rest area just after you cross the border into that state. Wander among the racks of brochures that have been placed there for the tourists. Ask the attendant for a copy of the state map."
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Yesterday:
The night before, I had cut Misty down, ready for a bath and the rest of her grooming. My own animals seem to get their groom in installments. Her hair was fairly long as I had her in sort of show pattern where she was all bushy in the front. Being a tidy groomer, I periodically scoop the cut hair off the table into a trash can under the grooming table.
I wanted to cut some of Misty's top knot, before her bath, but I couldn't find what I call my 'dirty dog' scissors. I won't use my $200 "finish" scissors on a dog that has not just been bathed and dried. (I have 2 different sets of clipper blades, too, for 'dirty' and 'clean'.) Couldn't find them any where. I put Misty back in the house while I looked for them, as the kittens were loose in the grooming room. I don't trust Misty around the kittens, she couldn't really hurt them, as she only has four back teeth, but she sure would scare them.
After half an hour of moving furniture in the grooming room and hunting in the house, I finally found the scissors, I had taken them down to Jay's to trim some hair off little Maddie, the Yorkie's face, and left them in my fanny pack.
BUT… in the meantime, the kittens found the cut hair in the trash can, and had it scattered from one end to the other, all through the grooming room and Middle Room. Pal even had some in his mouth, and I had to fish it out. Oh, what a mess they made. The little stick vac would have filled up in a minute, so Jay brought the big shop vac in from the workshop, and we got it all sucked up. The kittens, locked up in their cage, didn't like the noise it made at first, but that's life, and they have to get used to different things.
Then we tackled the rest of the cabinet doors in the cargo trailer, even the little one next to the fridge.
They all open so you have access from the kitchen, except the bottom one by the door, and it opens towards the door. I thought that would be good to have a place easily reached from outside without having to go up the steps.
We are leaving the one under the sink off for now, until the plumbing is completed.
As we starting to see progress, it was a pretty good day.
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