(Part 3) Best camping books according to redditors

Could be a long post but here it goes:

My dad has been voluntarily homeless for more than 10 years (His words: My wife told me to fuck off and I've been doing that ever since.) He has been this way since he was 57 years old. He learned it from his father...who retired and then traveled until he died when he was 72.

My father started with a fifth wheel camper...my grandfather's camper and truck he inherited upon my grandfather's death. He used this book: https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Free-Campgrounds-Don-Wrights/dp/0937877522

This was pre smart phones ... but he had a GPS.

Then he got tired of the fifth wheel and got a pop up slide in camper. He maintained a seasonal route where he made friends. Some really good friends...friends who have since settled down and now have a door yard for him to sleep in and an outlet for him to plug into.

He collected social security disability and now he collects social security and a pension.

His route is (was...he's now on dialysis and in one place) Slab City Salton Sea/Holtville CA from November until March. Then he'd move east to South Carolina to stay at Don's for a month. Then he'd move up to Virginia to stay on Bob's sister's farm. Then May he'd come to Connecticut then up to NY or Maine until September. Then he'd move back down to VA then to SC and then across to Cali. Some times he'd go to Yellowstone. He has the golden pass. Staying at National Parks was easy for him.

Now, I'm 43 and I've traveled over 70k miles these last 7 summers. I bought a copy of that book and got a homeless guy to come with me the first time. I paid his way for the security. I'm female and needed someone to keep an eye on things. We traveled by car and we tented, slept in ditches, in squats, etc.

Second year my now ex wife and I did the car and tent thing.

Third year my dad and I traveled in the dolphin. Some walmart parking, some boondogging. Some parks.

Fourth through seventh I've traveled with my new wife. We used www.freecampsites.net but the first two summers we traveled mainly to places I've already been. It took time to learn things and ways and how much time it took to get to places.

If you must insist on a book then Camping: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Started on your First Camping Trip but it really isn't rocket science if you are car camping.

Might be worth looking at so called "tiny campsites" like so - https://coolcamping.com/campsites/tiny-campsites

there is even a book full of them https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tiny-Campsites-Small-Perfect-Places/dp/0749578483/

Though this book has more information than I'll ever need based on the type of camping I do, it still has a ton of valuable advice for most any camping situation. I first borrowed the book from my library, and realized it was a fantastic resource to always have, so I bought a copy for myself. It goes in alphabetical order, so it's easy to find things, and you can skip the parts that won't apply to you.

My girlfriend and I are in the middle of a year-long RV trip (with, apparently, a six month gap while we winter in Savannah).

I think your first step has to be deciding what it is you want to see. Make a wishlist of all the places you want to visit. You won't hit them all (and you shouldn't even try), but having a list helps you plan your route. (I used and use Google maps to plot where we've been and the places we'd like to go.)

Once you've plotted all the things you'd like to do on a map, you can start thinking about rough routes. (I'd encourage you though to keep your plans fluid. One of the best parts about traveling by RV is that you can change your itinerary on the fly.)

Not sure why you'd want to rent an RV in North Dakota (or anywhere) else and then drive it to the Northwest. Start in the place you want to explore, otherwise you'll waste days getting to your destination.

Finding places to park isn't tough. There are tons of RV parks, obviously. Plus, the West is filled with public lands where you can park. We spent $15 to buy this catalog of low-cost campgrounds and we've used it tons. Highly recommended.

The best way to figure out how much space you need and what kind of RV is to get hands-on experience. Go to an RV show. Go to an RV dealership. (Or several.) Browse around. See what's different about different models. If you can, borrow one from a friend and spend the night somewhere near your home. I have no idea what kinds of motorhomes are available to rent (there are links to rental sites in the sidebar to this subreddit), but we were glad we did so much hands-on experimentation before we bought.

Most of all, have fun!

Here's the true bible: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Camping-Woodcraft-Guidebook-Wilderness/dp/1468051792/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1453759997&sr=1-1&keywords=horace+kephart

The guys over at /r/skoolies would love to help you! There are also a ton of books on conversion. :)

Here are a couple, though they can be kind of expensive.

Camper Van Conversion

[Build Your Own Dream Camper Van for less than $1000]
(http://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Dream-Camper-%C3%BA1000/dp/1845845242/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_z)

My Minicamper Conversion

How to Convert Volkswagen Bus or Van to Camper

VW Camper - The Inside Story: A Guide to VW Camping Conversions and Interiors

I also suggest browsing /r/shoestring and /r/onebag for minimizing purposes.

Yes! Baja sur is a camper’s paradise. Wide open beautiful beaches everywhere.

First and foremost — https://www.amazon.com/Travelers-Guide-Camping-Mexicos-Baja/dp/098231017X/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=baja+camping&qid=1574986072&sprefix=baja+cam&sr=8-3
is an excellent guide to camping and driving la baja. Also, check out the iOverlander app for detailed reviews on camping spots. I’d download a google map offline of the whole area too, as cell service is super spotty.

And yes, bringing tents and sleeping bags should be no problem. Flying into La Paz?

Highly recommend camping at tecelote beach near La Paz. Also check out balandra beach nearby. They are two of the most beautiful beaches in baja sur.

Snorkeling at cabo pulmo is also a great idea. Good variety of fish and possibly turtles this time of year. Check the wind before you go. Too much wind makes for bad snorkeling.

Santa Rita hot springs are better than el choro in agua caliente. Be aware, you will smell like rotten eggs due to the sulphur content. Very beautiful here. Also the waterfall sol de Mayo is closeby.

Haven’t done much hiking in Todos Santos, but TS is an interesting small town with lots of charm. Head up the hill to el mirador for the absolute best sunset in baja sur. And perhaps see some whales too.

There is a large park in San José del cabo that is very nice. The playground equipment can be deadly during the day due to the intense sun. Much nicer in the early morning or evening.

Finisterra Park
Campo de Golf Fonatur, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
https://goo.gl/maps/u6sbggXS9aRYQfr39

Feel free to hit me up with any questions. I drove down la baja a couple years ago and liked it so much I decided to stay!

[Hammock Camping: The Complete Guide to Greater Comfort, Convenience and Freedom] ( http://www.amazon.com/Hammock-Camping-Complete-Greater-Convenience/dp/0971859442/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331401336&sr=1-4&tag=bookforyouru-20)

Something that may help find the story; a possible source of inspiration for it. In 1984 there was a non-fiction article by Dr. Robert A. Freitas Jr., “Xenopsychology” in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact [Vol. 104, April 1984, pp 41-53]. In it, he cites an experiment by Dr. Bernard Aaronson, at the Bureau of Research in Neurology and Psychiatry in Princeton, New Jersey.
>Dr. Aaronson gave posthypnotic suggestions to human subjects to test their reactions to expanded or contracted time frames, such as: "Do you know how we divide time into the three categories of past, present, and future? When I wake you, the future will be gone. There will be no future." Subjects with no future experienced a loss of identity and a profound euphoric mystical sensation–one person reported that he "found himself in a boundless. immanent present." Expanded futures canceled all fear of death, inducing serene calmness and happiness. Elimination of the present was found to be most disturbing (subjects were inordinately depressed and behaved almost schizophrenically), whereas deprivation of the subjective past produced drowsiness, memory loss, speech difficulty, and a vague sense of meaninglessness.

This is the kind of small, obscure reference that sf writers seem to latch on to for a story idea.

That was all very sound advice by purpnurp.

Before i went on any kind of back country trips i bought a few books like this one.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0517887835?pc_redir=1407658277&robot_redir=1
And learned all i could. Happy camping!

This guy's book was a bible on one of my cross country trips. This is a little old but may help. http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Free-Campgrounds-West-13h-Campgrounds/dp/0937877492/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418330815&sr=1-11&keywords=guide+to+free+camping+in+the+us