By Bob Difley
Turn on your radio or TV anytime between now and November and you will likely get an earful of politics. I’ve already had enough of presidential year politics as I’m sure many of you non-political junkies have also. But I have a solution, an antidote to the flow of political tirade. Go boondocking.
I’m not just talking hyperbole here either. Back in 1996 when Bob Dole ran against Bill Clinton My wife and I decided we had had enough and decided to leave the civilized and noisy world behind until after the election. So we did what many RVers do, we headed for the back country, far enough away from TV and radio reception to be tempted to tune in, and we were pretty much alone in our Shangri-La until we emerged following the election.
Boondocking is now difficult, and is an effective way to get out of range of the frantic media barrage of the outer world. The difficulty in boondocking is extending the length of time you can stay away from your support systems–electricity, water, waste disposal–before you are forced to re-enter the civilized world.
But it can–and is–being done by lots of RVers who have discovered how to live off the grid and enjoy the world of nature away from the world of humans. Most of what it takes is already a part of your RV. Electricity is solved by batteries, water by a large on-board fresh water tank, and waste disposal with two holding tanks.
But to stay out as long as we do requires some additions. We changed our 12- volt deep cycle RV batteries for 6-volt batteries like those used in electric golf carts giving us more amps to use. We carry a couple 6-gallon Jerry jugs with extra fresh water as well as some 2.5-gallon plastic water containers that flatten out when empty and store in very little space.
To solve the waste problem, we conserve our fresh water use by taking Navy showers, save the water we run warming up for showers to use for washing dishes and other uses, do not let the faucet run when brushing teeth, washing hands, etc. which decreases the amount of waste water entering out gray waste tank. We also use biodegradable dish detergent and dump the dishwater on a thirsty plant or bury it. (Wipe the dishes clean of food debris before washing dishes to prevent attracting rodents.) The black water tank can last a long time before filling if you limit the amount of water you use to flush the toilet.
Here are some tips for getting even more time out of your boondocking trips:
- Buy a Blue Boy type portable waste water tank that you can haul off and dump without having to leave your boondocking campsite.
- Install solar panels to provide electricity.
- Buy a water bladder to carry extra water, which you can drive off to fill and pump into your RV rather than leave your campsite.
- Plan your meals ahead so you have enough supplies, basic ingredients, and canned, packaged, or dry stores that won’t spoil to last the full length of your boondocking trip.
Then enjoy the solitude, the quiet, and the stars at night–which you probably can’t see from the civilized world.
Next week, how to find boondocking campsites where you can get away from politics and civilization.
For more RVing articles and tips take a look at my Healthy RV Lifestyle website, where you will also find my ebooks: BOONDOCKING: Finding the Perfect Campsite on America’s Public Lands (PDF or Kindle), 111 Ways to Get the Biggest Bang for your RV Lifestyle Buck (PDF or Kindle), and Snowbird Guide to Boondocking in the Southwestern Deserts (PDF or Kindle), and my newest, The RV Lifestyle: Reflections of Life on the Road (PDF or Kindle reader version). NOTE: Use the Kindle version to read on iPad and iPhone or any device that has the free Kindle reader app.
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Teri Blaschke
Love the sound of that word: cacophony…just slides off the tongue. But, yes, do want to avoid the political cacophony.
Doug
Boondocking doesn’t necessarily preclude absentee voting. Around the end of October I plan to mosey on down to the nearest post office (12 miles away), pick up the ballot my county recorder sent there General Delivery, vote it, send it back, and then return to boondocking.
gary sheldon
I actually like the political cacophoney because it is important to be able to educate people as to who is the biggest liar, racist and commie prone hypocrite that desperately needs to be replaced to restore the Constitutional Republic and reduce the gumMINT blob to a point within it’s Constitutional boundries. There are no less than 10 agencies that have the “duty to intrude” into boondockers on the National Forests (not to include state agencies) and that in itself is a fine example of extreme meddling with road closures and the like. God help U.S. We need it.
We are leaving around the 6th of Sept. and just writing about it causes an adrenaline dump. We are well set for boondocking w/ 4 6V T-105s and 2 130 watt solar panels and a Blue Sky 25Amp controller. Fishin’ gear, wife and Labrador and it is Bye Bye for a while.
Bob Difley
Bottom line observations:
Good comments
Never dump your black tank other than in an approved sanitation station or sewer
Vote
Boondock
Gary
First of all, although I am very late on this, thank you for clearing the captcha code so that it cane be read. The first was horrible and caused many retypes as after completing, it refused to send my words along. THX
Now , to the meat of the story. Good words written and refreshing to read. Especially about the water conservation. BUT, the disposal of the black water? It seems that indescriminate dumping of waste is already a pollution problem and likely would get a boondocking area closed faster than I can type this page. I know we sometimes need to do so, but please dig a “cathole” to empty. That will help.
Dan Rambow
Let me play devil’s advocate here. Look at the entertainment factor. One side or the other, each in its own turn, making outrageous claims about the opponent, cause or initiative. And the promises, pie-n-the-sky, chicken-in-every-pot, what fun.
And the best part, for once, it isn’t even taxpayer dollars being spent, but those billions in contributions from the faithful. Oh, I know, there are federal matching funds, and in the long run we have to pay for whomever gets elected. But for the short term, the politicians actually create jobs and spend money that filters down to some of the little communities across the states, in TV time, newspaper flyers, town hall meetings, etc.
It is a shame though, that the very important business, of selecting our leaders and policies has become such a circus act, that citizens want and need to head out to the boondocks to avoid it all.
Byron
Well Bob, I guess you shouldn’t have mentioned politics on your website. As you can see, the political feelings of our country are quite heated.
We do vote absentism and love being able to do that.
As far as being away from it all, we have all the equipment to receive TV and Internet from anywhere, so the only way for us to get away from it all is turn the systems off, which we do when we hit our saturation point.
We enjoy your postings and wish you safe travels.
Byron & Linda
Dave Armbrust
Looks like Glen Jones has drawn his line in the sand and joined the ” Part of
the Problem Group.” He will be crabby and complaining, forgetting he has No Right to do that because he didn’t take time to vote.
Dave a
Glen Jones
I am heading for the outback and there is no one worth the power to even blow their nose that I would vote for they are all so corrupt they should be shot for treason
Mike
I agree with Dave,
It’s fine if you want to get away from all the BS, but make sure you vote absentee first.
Or YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
Dave Armbrust
Bob, I would hope you voted absentee before you left town. If not you could be part of the problem. Sure, I get tired of the BS so I watch old movies but stick around to Vote. Having spent time in Iron Curtain countries and going to High School at home with Hungarian immigrants in 1957 and hearing their stories I don’t miss a chance to vote.
Dave a
Doug
Brother, you ain’t kidding! Prior to two weeks ago, I had spent the whole summer without any TV reception, blissfully unaware of all the cacophony. But now I’m within range of a few Flagstaff towers, and the political backstabbing is almost incessant. Can’t wait til November 6 for it to be over and done with.
GaryM
Hey Bob
We are with you. We intend to head for Glacier National Park, mosey down western side of Montana in the high country ending at Yellowstone starting the day after Labor Day. We can’t wait. Might have to miss a few Montana Griz football games but we will be delighted to be away from the lights, noise, sirens and politics.
We plan to catch a couple of fish, walk along the rivers with the dog, watch the skys and listen to the birds singing.
Honestly, retirement should be a career choice – except I would be having to retire from retirement to pay for my earlier sins… hmmmmm!
Hope that you find a nice spot to hole up – as I am sure that we will. By the way – Glacier had a winter storm warning last night so we may see a little snow in our get-away from the politics.
Thanks for the “always great” blog.