August, 2021
I like to stay put in one place for several days and nights when I’m camping. But after just one night in that perfectly quiet campsite, I had to hitch up and move. That campsite was available only one night because someone had reserved it for the next few nights, so I had to move. Luckily, there were three other campsites that had just become available that morning for the entire rest of the time that I would be here at Dungeness.
So I had to move, and so did two other trailers of friends of mine. And you know what happened? Our three trailers ended up together! Look at the photo below. I’m on the left … a new friend of mine with her Scamp trailer (also molded fiberglass, like Escape trailers are) is in the middle, and two other friends of mine are in their Escape trailer with their dark green truck on the right. We were a community, a neighborhood. 🙂 It was perfect.
What was also surprising and rather fun for me was that the campsite I was given for the rest of my stay here was #61, the exact same campsite that I had during my first camping trip here at Dungeness in 2020. I felt right at home. 🙂 I simply backed in and set up camp.
Out of respect for people’s privacy, I’m not going to show you photos of the group camp. It would be too difficult to obtain everyone’s permission for photos that could end up being posted online on my blog. I’ll just say there were a lot of women there, almost all of them in tents, all ages, all backgrounds. I enjoyed getting to know a few of the women and visiting with them during the day, but I also enjoyed quiet evenings and nights in my trailer in my campsite with my quiet friends. We always gathered in one of our three campsites for an evening visit and often shared our evening meal together.
We friends also walked around the greater Dungeness area and saw lots of other interesting things. I’ve been toying with buying a hardshell kayak, but I don’t want to rely on my strength to lift it onto the roof of the truck. I came across this setup below in another campsite here …
The owner appeared as I was taking these photos, said the kayak was one of the best on the market, and said the Thule Hullavator was extraordinaly easy to use taking almost no effort to lift or lower the kayak. Sounds like these items are moving up towards the top of my list.
And then we friends walked through some woods and then we walked through some fields all in the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge (always on designated paths). On our way back to the campground, we spotted a small plane flying around … and around … and around. I finally got a half-way decent photo of it.
It’s a single propeller bi-plane with a wing-walker on top. Later this same day, I asked a park employee about it. He told me the wingwalker and the pilot often practice here … after they get in the air, the wingwalker crawls out of the cockpit and up onto that upper wing. Of course, she’s tethered to the plane, but holy smokes. Just watching her scared me to pieces.
Here’s a link to a video of this very same plane taking a fellow up on his first wingwalking experience right here at Dungeness. Truth-be-told, I had to stop watching the video and go do something else for a while, it just scared me too much. But I did come back to it and then I made it to time mark 8:00 where you can see Dungeness Spit below the plane.
And here’s a link to a great video of a professional wingwalker talking about the details of the hobby/sport. You’ll see how different it feels to watch an experienced, professional wingwalker. Still, I’m happy to be right down here on the ground.
And then we wandered back to the campground and our three neighborly campsites. The path took us through the woods right behind Towhee the Trailer, who also likes being right down here on the ground. I’m with her!
Ann, a couple of my friends (both women who often travel alone) use Hullavators to transport their kayaks. They love it, and you will too.
Thanks Virginia! The best recommendations come from friends or family who have used a product. It’s on my list!
Whoop! I was hoping for a real “one night stand” story, but you fooled me. 🙂
What a great wingwalker story though. I’ve flown inside small prop planes but I’ve never been out on the wing and don’t plan to be. That was terrific!
Ha, nope, no actual “one night stand” in that sense of the term. Just one night in that one campsite. Sorry to lead you astray, sort of. 🙂
I’ve flown in one small prop plane and that was ok but also interesting enough for me. Like you, I don’t plan on wing walking any time soon either.
I had a kayak for years and used a Hullavator … best thing on the market.
Thanks Rob. Your help means a lot to me.
That’s really cool that you all got sites next to each other! I always (so far) have had reservations, and only a couple times camped with someone else, so I haven’t tried to just get lucky like that. The group of women camping in tents is intriguing, since that’s how I tent too. Last week we were tent camping and it was SOOOOO COLD! I more and more want to camp in a trailer. But the storing of it, the insuring, the towing…the repairs, I don’t know. Sigh….I am so easily intimidated! And of course, the husband weighs in with lots of negative comments too.
Well, group camps can be wonderful, or they can be “interesting”, depending on who’s in charge. All in all, I’d rather chose who I go camping with. Our small group of the three rigs was perfect. We got lucky this time with those campsites together. But, except for this one time, we always plan/reserve trips in advance when traveling together. It’s a lot of fun to go camping with people you know you like, even tho I like camping alone too.
Oh my, yes, the details of buying and maintaining a trailer. Those types of options cost more, there’s more maintenance, all of that sort of stuff. But, you can lock the door for safety, you have heat (electric and/or propane), you likely have on onboard toilet, you’ll have a real mattress, storage of food and other items is so much easier than lugging things from the car to the tent, and vice versa. To my mind, having a trailer is LESS work than having a tent, truly … and it’s incomparably safer because you can lock the door … and you have heat. With the monetary exchange rate with Canada, you might want to check out ETI, Escape Trailer Industries, in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Or look for used Escape trailers online. Or look for a small used trailer, even just a pop-up, and buy it and try it for a year or two (that’s what I did). You’ll learn tons with not much cost. And then with that knowledge you can start shopping for a trailer that you will enjoy for years to come. Wish I lived in Michigan. Since I comment on your blog, you have my email address. Please do feel free to email me and ask any questions at all. Any time. 🙂 I’m planning on being a trailer camper for a long time! Thanks Dawn.
Those wing walking videos were great. I’ve never wanted to do that either, and now I really don’t, ha! But it’s fascinating. Your blog is great. Thank you.
Thanks Bill. 🙂
How serendipitous that those three, exactly three, campsites opened up and you three friends needed them. The universe is with you. 🙂
Oh I like that “the universe is with you”. Usually, when I just wait to see what’s coming, the “right” things come along. Friends of mine say that’s a Buddhist practice, tho I think maybe it should be a human practice. Have patience, ask to have a door open, let the door open, and then see what’s on the other side. Thanks Ruby. 🙂
Perfect three campsites, that’s so cool. And then info about a kayak and about a lift system, all because you looked and talked with folks. And then that plane and the wing walker showed up. Have to admit, I couldn’t watch that first video for very long either, that was really scary. But I went back to it later because you talked about being able to see the Dungeness Spit … that was great! Yes, what a difference to watch a professional wing walker and listen to her talk about it. But the best was your coming home to Towhee the Trailer who likes HER tires right down solidly on the ground too. 🙂 Perfect.
🙂 Thanks for sharing what you like about this blog post, Tina. That always helps me decide what to share in the future. The camping spots sure were perfect, and the kayak lift system was fascinating, and the wing walker was really cool. And when I listen to Towhee the Trailer, I always know I’ll get the best answer.
As others have said, Thule Hullavators are great, the best.
That wing walking thing is frightening. I hope they are tied on!
Ok, I’m buying a Hullavator! You folks all agree. Thanks Joe. 🙂
Yes, the wing walkers are tethered with a strong cable to the plane. Once they get up on the wing, there is a seat-belt that fastens them to a stand/post, and there are metal straps they slide their feet into that hold their feet in place. Still, oh my word, just thinking about scares me. And yet, if that’s your thing, what a thrill that would be.
I have to go lie down now, to deal with my queasy stomach; wingwalking! Yowza.
Ha! 🙂 Yowza indeed. I had a few other words to say too, Kristin. Holy moly, and stuff like that.
Dungeness Spit is one of the best places to stay a week! Beaches, lighthouse, lots of crabbing & lots of enjoyable fellowship with friends & family!! Keep posting your wonderful journeys Ann!!
Yes, isn’t Dungeness Spit absolutely fantastic? I don’t usually return to places that I’ve camped before, but I’ve now been to Dungeness twice and I will go back again. I’ll keep posting, Melly, count on it. Love your comments. 🙂