Boondocking is easier now.

We have been staying, boondocking, in Spokane Washington at my moms house. She doesn’t have hookups for us and the spot was tight for us to back into. We knew we couldn’t haul our rig to Camping World every week to empty the sewer so we started researching other ideas. The Blue Boy Tote ( aka Baker Portable Tote) doesn’t work for us; one, because the stinky slinky hose is lost somewhere on some highway in some state somewhere, and, the sewer connection dump spot is in my moms flower bed in the front yard, right next to her house, under the window.  Then Scott found the solution…The Flojet 18555000A 18555-000A Portable RV Waste Pump

The RV Macerator

We were able to run a hose from our sewer, through the bathroom window and right down the toilet. Scott just pushed the end of the hose into the toilet hole so it would drain down the pipes and not fill the toilet bowl. DO NOT PUT IT IN THE TANK PART = bad idea!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Users beware anything besides toilet paper and  pee/poop can not go into your tank. Not even cherry seeds!! We know this from experience.

So the macerator is simply just a motorized grinder that turns your tank stuff into a mushy liquid that is pumped through a garden hose. Easy!!! No smell!! Can dump into any toilet, even had one guy say they dumped into an outhouse. Now I don’t know how you would go about asking a boon-docker host if you can run a black tank garden house through a window to their toilet to dump in; but hey, if you are comfortable with that conversation then go ahead. So far I have only asked my mom. LOL.

* Oh man my video isn’t working.

Rhodes Island and Pennsylvania.o

We only got a picture of the welcome sign in Rhode Island. All we did was drive through it. We did go back while in PA to do the Cliff Walk in Newport. The trail goes along the backside of many mansions. They were impressive but in our opinion didn’t measure up to the coast scene .

In Pennsylvania, New Bedford, we stayed at an amazing Boondockers spot. The guy was a semi driver and ensured us he could guide us down his long driveway and pull through in front of his house. Thanks to his expertise we made it with out taking out any trees, or bushes or dents to our rig. Their house is beautiful with a great porch we were invited to sit at and enjoy. The kids loved the grandkids toys especially the sandbox and swing set.

We went to The Buzzards Bay Brewery. It was so peaceful with the sun just setting, kids and families all outside enjoying the warm sunset. One evening we took a walk along a jetty that has waves breaking on both sides. It was neat to be out in the dark and see the stars and hear the waves, occasionally getting some spray from them. We met a family there that invited us over for dinner another evening. They are fun and very hospitable to us and our crew. We grilled out in their yard and just spent a evening relaxing and talking.

While there Scott redid 22 bushing on our rig. We had 1 tire wearing faster then the rest. It was a lot of work but he likes doing the work himself so he knows what happens and how it all goes. God protected him and us a few times as we helped. https://adventureforth.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/img_7803.mov

Onto Connecticut to meet Cousins!

We drove through a little corner of NewYork and all we did there was get a NY Bagel!Then we made our way across Connecticut to met up with my cousin Stacia and meet her family. We also go to see my Uncle and Aunt. It had been over 10 years since we have seen each other.

It was one of the hottest and most humid weeks they have experienced in a while. We were parked at the Casino on asphalt. It was so hot. Our trailer would get up to 97 degrees during the days. We spent a lot of time wondering the casino/mall or being at my cousins.

It was a great week. We got to spend 4th of July with them. We went to a small town parade then had a backyard BBQ and then went to small group at my Uncles Church. We went my my Aunt and Uncle to see the submarine. We all went down below for the cramped hot tour. We went to Mystic CT and got ice cream and watched the draw bridge open. Scott and the boys got in trouble by 2 people for climbing a tree. Lol. We told them we are from Montana.

All the kids loved playing together so much. We had a great time and made memories to last us until next time. Hopefully it won’t be 10 years again.

Delaware

We boondocked at a great spot with great hosts. It was a fun little farming area. Jay taught me how to cook corn on the cob and shrimp in the instant pot.

We also stayed at Killens Pond State Park and the Harrington Fair Grounds.

It was a quick trip in the state. We also drove into Maryland because a brewery we went to was on the border line. We even drove back to Pennsylvania to go to a summer camp that our friend Luke told us about and to meet his friend Ben. It was a fun camp, Ben even let us all go zip lining. We went tandem with Shane and Aveyah. They were not even scared and wanted to go again.

Took mostly fun pictures of the kids and the fields and farms.

Tennessee- May

Knoxville – We went to a church in a coffee shop down town. We went to a blue grass folk festival. We also went to a NSRA car show and got to do ride alongs in the auto rally cross track.

Pigeon Forge- Grandparents and a cabin stay. Touristy town with a lot of amusement activities but we spent time in the Great Smokey Mountains ⛰

It’s been 11 months since we have seen family. We FaceTime and talk on the phone a lot but it’s not the same as being together. We sure miss them. The comfort being at our parents house, the kids being with their grandparents and cousins. Scott and I getting to be with our siblings and nieces and nephews. Staying in contact is hard and especially for the kids. They grow so fast and are always changing. BUT we get to see our family soon!!! I (Cari) will be flying to Spokane we met my new niece. I will get to be with by family. I will have Aveyah with me so they will get to see her and toddlerhood ways. Scotts parents will fly to Tennessee to be with the boys and Scott. When Aveyah and I fly back his parents will still be there so we get to see them and they get to see Aveyah and get their hugs and snuggles.

I made a separate post about being home and my niece. Find that here Plane ride=meet Niece

Virginia

What a unique place. For starters it’s mottos is “Virginia is for lovers”. What? Want to know the story behind that. Also it’s such a mix of historical events, centuries old, original colonies and modern shopping, eating and tourism. It’s green and humid, It has swamps, rivers and beaches and thick trees, farm fields, giant industries and manufacturers . And we have only seen the eastern part of it.

We stayed in Newport News and went to Yorktown and Jamestown. We will do Williamsburg when we come back someday.

JamesTown with The Chicks Life

We stayed at Pocahontas State Park which is an amazing campground with access to a pool with slides, toys, kiddie pool and all other swimming options. We met a family that was camping there who has 5 girls. They we’re there for a homeschooling convention. The kiddos all connected and played non stop. Riding bike around and around, playing at the pool and around the campground. We went to an historical settlement that re-enacted the 1700s way of life with farming tobacco, home life, gardening and cooking. The kids weeded the tobacco crops, moved dirt to cover the potatoes and moved fire wood into the house.

I don’t remember how it all happened but I know we went between Virginia, WaDc and Maryland a few times. We had to get new truck tires and have some other work done. We went back to DC to do the zoo and the Air and Space Museum super quick. It was a busy day with a lot of walking. We saw a mama gorilla with her baby, a tiger swimming, and pandas being super lazy inside where it was cool. We watched an elephant ? taking a dust bath and another one itching itself the hanging tires

Georgia ??

Savannah is awesome to tour at night amongst all the squares and statues and old churches illuminated by light. The cobblestone streets, the carriages, the architecture and the parks have a majestic ancient feel.

We also went to Jekyll Island where we first saw the Atlantic Ocean on a beach full of living sand dollars. We went to Driftwood Beach that is unique and beautiful. Caution. Do t be barefoot the shells and mussels slice your feet open. Poor Blake had some major cuts that required days of bandages and extreme care. I guess infections from those cuts can be really bad and require hospital care. We saw historical buildings that were used in the 1700’s for the wealthy prestigious folks of the time.

Some other things we did:

-Augusta during the Masters Golf Tournament. Didn’t know it was going on.

-Rice plantation where we got to tour the house, servants quarters, farm buildings and rice fields.

-Boondocked at a great couples house and went to Easter service with them at their church.