The End

After trips to Lancaster, Gettysburg, and southern Virginia, we decided that the camping experience was not for us. 

First, we found that the two cats were not adjusting to the long travel and the noisy environment at campgrounds. So, found it necessary to leave them home with a twice daily visit from pet-sitter.  Leaving our "babies" behind was saddening and limited the duration of our trips.

Second, traffic on the highways is terrible. Truck traffic on the interstates is unbearable. No fun going 65 mph with 18 wheeler trucks zooming past. US highways more tolerable, but anywhere "civilization" the traffic there is way too congested and dangerous with cars and trucks entering from all directions. Even on the beautiful Skyline Drive, traffic was heavy. Stress of driving made more than 300 miles per day almost impossible.

Bottom line..our "territory" was pretty much a 300 circle and driving to Florida, Texas, South Dakota was out of the question. Even a trip to Nashville, Tennesee was just too far.

Finally, the camp grounds are noisy and was too congested. Perhaps to someone leaving an urban environment might find them a nice change of pace. But, for anyone used to rural/suburban living, the campgrounds are like tenement ghettos. Neighbors 10-15 feet away--noisy kids everywhere---outside TV's blaring late at night. Car and truck motors late in evening and early in morning. Not a peaceful place. 

The idea of sitting around a campfire seemed glamorous, but the reality of breathing smoke was less fun. 

Our best stop was at a Virginia State Park--Shenandoah River. Beautiful, but still too crowded.

So, goodbye travel trailer and F150. Did not cost us much in the end. Maybe the equivalent of $5000 for a year of ownership and 4 camping trips. No regrets. It WAS an adventure.