The Best Campsite Is Almost Never the One You Planned – 2 Stories
One of the lessons the RV lifestyle keeps teaching me is that some of the best moments happen after your carefully made plans fall apart, because the best campsite is almost never the one you planned.
I remember one trip when Jennifer and I were headed to a campground we'd booked months in advance. We had the route mapped out, the groceries bought, and our arrival timed perfectly. Then, about an hour away, we got a call saying a water main had broken. The campground was closing for several days.
When Uncontrollable Things Happen
At first, I was frustrated. We'd built the whole trip around that reservation.
Instead, we pulled into a small county park we'd never even heard of. It had no fancy amenities. The sites were simple. The cell signal was weak. But that evening we walked down to a little lake where a local couple invited us to join them around their campfire. Before the night was over, we'd heard stories about the town's history, discovered a wonderful family-owned restaurant, and made friends we still keep in touch with today.
Detours That Become Highlights
That unexpected detour became one of the highlights of the trip.
Another time we stopped for what was supposed to be a quick overnight stay because we were tired and didn't want to push another hundred miles. The next morning we wandered into the town's Saturday farmers market. We spent hours talking with local vendors, bought fresh peaches and homemade bread, and discovered a walking trail that led to a beautiful overlook we would have driven right past if we'd stayed on schedule.
Those moments never appear on an itinerary. I think that's true in life as much as it is in RVing. We spend a lot of time trying to control every detail. We want the perfect campground, perfect weather, perfect route, and perfect timing. There's nothing wrong with planning. In fact, good planning usually leads to better adventures.
For the Best Campsite, Leave Room for Serendipity
But I've learned to leave a little room for surprises.
Some of the richest experiences come from taking the scenic road instead of the interstate. From staying one extra day because the sunset was too beautiful to leave. From striking up a conversation with the person parked next door instead of hurrying back inside your RV.
The older I get, the more I realize that the destination matters a little less than the people we meet along the way and the memories we collect together.
So Here's Today's Encouragement
Plan your trips, and make your reservations for what you think will be the best campsite. Check your tire pressure and fuel tank. Do all the practical things that smart RVers do. Then leave a little space for life to interrupt your plans. Those interruptions often become the stories you'll still be telling years from now.
Life’s Best Chapter Starts Here
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Totally agree with leaving some stops to chance. Years ago, I found a campground in Umatilla, Oregon, late in the evening, found a spot right on the Columbia River and was serenaded by coyotes from hillsides on three sides of me. Magical.