Rewards For A Tour

[Jim 2011]

We were camping in the Carpinteria Beach State Park (about 10 miles south of Santa Barbara, California) two weeks ago and, as always, our shiny new 560 received a lot of attention. This park is right on the beach so it is a major attraction for camping families and the campground was full by late Friday night. We got there Thursday and had a few people come up to see it, many more on Friday and then came Saturday. We were in a site next to one of the pathways to the beach and it seemed like an never ending stream of people wanting to stop and look at it and to chat about it. Sitting under our canopy quietly enjoying the beach while reading was not a wise option. Nonetheless there we were when a large group of 6-8 people walked up with large plastic cups full of what looked like Bloody Mary's. One asked "how to you like your trailer"? to which I answered "I guess just a bit more than I like Bloody Mary's". With a laugh up stepped two men with an extra cup in each hand and said "we thought you might". They got the full-blown "premium" tour. I may be on to something here.

As an aside, the Rangers and some other guests warned us of two things while at the campground. The raccoons are prolific and unafraid of people. They will get into anything left out and are not to be aggressively confronted if you come up or out and surprise them. Each morning I found raccoon tracks on the chairs and tables so it was not an idle warning. The second thing is that only a low fence separates the camp ground from a frontage road and the railroad tracks. "Kids" have been coming into the campground at night, primarily when it is not very crowded, and quietly stealing ice chests, presumably looking for beer. The chests are generally found a short distance away and no other thefts or damage has been noted. Just a heads up but it would seem prudent to put your ice chests away at night anytime you are in a "populated" area anyway.
Jim & Mary Anne

 

[jfocallag]

It may sound silly but I put the frig in the galley each night and lock it up. I also have one of those collapsible containers that I use for garbage. I zip it up each night and either put it in the galley or the back of the car just so I won't have little visitors in the middle of the night.

 

[Jim and Sue L.]

Jim and I always lock up everything at night too, especially the cooler (with you on that one, Joan). It's a habit from tent camping in bear country. You're so right, Jenn, everything fits beautifully in the galley. So quick and easy. This is a darned handy little trailer.

Jim and Mary Anne,

Liked the sound of you fringe benefits in Carpinteria. Anybody else get free booze for a tour?

Jim and Sue

 

[eileenpaine]

Nice to hear about Carpenteria State Beach. We made the mistake of camping at Gaviota State Beach. We should have heeded the "no refunds for wind" sign. But it was calm and and we are sailors thinking wind is our friend....
It blew like stink.
We were fine -just looked out the window and watched the tents literally summersault by, collapse or worse. It was total chaos from 5PM to 3AM. there were traumatized families huddled in their cars in the AM. Not one we ever plan to return to.
Eileen

 

[Betsey]

"Kids" have been coming into the campground at night, primarily when it is not very crowded, and quietly stealing ice chests, presumably looking for beer. The chests are generally found a short distance away and no other thefts or damage has been noted.

In all the years, campgrounds & gatherings we have been to, this has never been an issue...until this year when it happened at two teardrop gatherings we were at.

The first time, at the ITG4, 3 of us had coolers taken - ours, the gal across from us & another one in a different section of the campground. The 3rd cooler was found empty (only had beer in it) by a fence. The gal across from us lost her entire cooler. She was planning on being on the road for several weeks. Several of us took up a collection to help replace the food & cooler. Wal-Mart heard about it & donated a cooler. Ours (a large Coleman) was left about 200 feet from us in the field. I saw it there in the morning & thought, "Hmm...what's a cooler doing out there?" Then happened to look where ours HAD been & realized it was ours. I figured it was the neighboring teardrop's teens (whom we knew very well) playing a prank on us, as we have a history of pranking one another. Then we found out about the other coolers being taken. Well, I'm sure they were disappointed when they opened ours & found only bottled water, rope & miscellaneous stuff. We had brought the cooler as a spare to haul ice in for when we made ice cream. It was later thought to have been the kids who came around selling ice to the campers...they knew who had coolers sitting out, as they would often put the ice in the coolers as a "service" to the customers. (Buyer Beware!)

The other time was at a small gathering. This one was a smaller drink cooler that walked off from a teardrop next to us. It belonged to another CI owner (who is also on this forum). It was found the next morning left at another teardrop site. Again, kids were the likely suspects.

Our cooler always gets stored away in the galley at night, more because of the four legged critters than anything else.

 

[Mick'nSarah]

We tend to pack up most everything in the galley at night. Growing up in a University town, being a former ski racer, and having done a good bit of traveling, I have learned if it isn't nailed or screwed down, locked up, attached to me, or hidden, it may grow legs and walk off (either the hard way or through friends learning the hard way). I just might be a bit more skeptical than the average Jane though. I agree, it is just too easy to put things away, and it has become part of my tidying up routine after meals. If we are right there, I leave it out. Otherwise, everything goes back in it's place.

Thanks for the warning! Something we will keep in mind.

 

[Bazza2154]

Same here pack up and lock up coming from the UK we trust no one. We have a separate electric drinks cooler and that goes in the car at night sometimes on a 12v extension if we are on the grid.