Get your gear here: an effortless bike pump, getting clean water

Camping and RVing doesn’t just involve the pulling up to a site, pitching a tent or hooking up and kicking back – there are usually activities planned, and that means gear.

It seems as though every time we head out, someone brings along a new piece of gear that I wind up coveting, and it’s a struggle to keep from running out after the trip and buying it. Not only is the cost a factor – we just can’t afford every new gadget and gizmo – but there are also the considerations of space and weight. In addition, I think we can all count the number of items collecting dust in the corners of closets and storage spaces.

But every once in a while, a piece of equipment turns out to be truly revolutionary, a top-notch replacement or so useful that it does wind up being worth the money. Here are a few that have earned a permanent spot on our excursions:

Topeak Harpoon S2 Harpoon Master Blaster Bike Pump

Not only is this now the bike pump we carry while we’re actually biking – it’s so small, it works well attached to a bike or stashed in a backpack – it replaced our floor pump, as well. It automatically adjusts to fit either Presta or Schrader valves, so there’s none of that awkward unscrewing of caps and pulling out the spongy insides (and then dropping all the innards into the dirt with filthy hands, etc., while you’re on the trail), and it locks right on. But the best part is that this little thing rocks on the inflation part: It not only sends a big burst of air in when you push in, but also when you pull the handle out. So the tire fills up in no time, and pretty much effortlessly, so a small child can do it. If you’re worried about overinflating, just switch it over to low pressure. Also comes with a needle attachment for inflating basketballs and soccer balls.

Buy it here: www.amazon.com, $23

SteriPEN Water Purification System

If you’ve been using the old iodine tablets or chlorine to sterilize your water when on a long backcountry hike, it’s time to check out this system. Lightweight and economical in the long run, the unit uses ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses in the water. You just stick the wand end of the PEN into the water, and wait until the light turns off, which indicates that the water is clean. The PEN claims to be 99.9 percent effective, which is as good as or better than any other system. Initially, the cost will seem prohibitive, and at first I was skeptical about the battery use, but now that I’ve been using it for a year, I’m sold. Each set of rechargeable batteries is supposed to be good for between 50-75 liters of water, but I’ve actually gotten closer to about 80 (they recently came out with a hand-powered unit, by the way, but I haven’t tested it). Bonus: Iodine and chlorine make the water taste icky. I have a friend who’s so enamored of the SteriPEN, he takes the small unit along each week when he trains for a marathon.

Buy it here: www.steripen.com, starts at $70

eGear Collapsible Floating Lantern

River rafters, fishermen and other water bugs will appreciate this waterproof lantern, but everyone who needs light at night and knows that sometimes it rains, you want a small compact unit that packs away easily, and that it’s nice when you can hook the thing onto something at a weird angle will love it, too. The hook pulls out of the handle, which is ingenious, and the light comes on as soon as you open it up, so no fumbling around for a switch in the dark. It’s 6” high and 3” around, and takes 3 AA batteries.

Buy it here: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/, $13

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.

Five fabulous fall trips for leaf-peeping

Summer isn’t quite over, it’s true, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the cooler weather – especially if, like us, you’re in one of those areas where it feels like the heat will never break.

Fall temps mean fall leaves, and the frenzy over where to peek at those leaves is always fun. Here are some options around the country where the drive takes you through some of the best and most colorful views. And, as always, visit the Go Camping America site to check out the great options for campgrounds and RV parks along the way.

Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

From late September through mid-October, the area along the Historic Columbia River Highway, which starts 13 miles east of Portland, Ore., on Interstate 84, is a smorgasbord of color, with maple trees, ash and cottonwoods all vying for best in show. The waterfalls en route  – check out Multnomah or Wahkeena falls – are dramatic against the brilliant foliage, and there are other attractions, as well, including the Bonneville Dam, which has a fascinating salmon fish hatchery.

The waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge are gorgeous.

Aspen, Colorado

The unique gold and burgundy of fall aspens in Aspen turn this into a rewarding drive from mid-September to mid-October. The famous Maroon Bells – the two peaks in the Elk Mountains that are among the most photographed peaks in the world – offer a scenic counterpoint to the dramatic display, and Independence Pass, on Colorado 82 between Twin Lakes and Aspen, is a virtual explosion of color the whole way. And because this is technically the “mud season” in the town, there are usually good deals to be had on dining and shopping.

Various spots in Vermont

The sheer variety of trees in the state –oak, hickory, birch, dogwood and, of course, maple – makes it a terrific choice for a trek through any part of it, although those in the know tend to point toward Glover, Manchester, New Haven, Burlington and Bennington, and anything, really, around Lake Champlain. The colors range from russet to the many shades of wine, and serious leaf-peepers tend to wax nostalgic about their favorites and where to find them.

The Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania

With more than 100 types of trees, the Poconos are PA’s best bet for a visual vacation this time of year, starting the second week of September and going through late October. The area stretches for more than 2,000 miles and three zones, and so different sections change at different times, which means that you can spend several weeks and still not see it all. Miles of hiking trails offer a great way to get out and see the leaves up close, so don’t forget the camera!

Upper Peninsula, Michigan

The Porcupines and Ottawa National Forest are famous for their colors, with deep reds and vibrant yellows being the most talked-about hues from the abundant maples and oaks. As the season progresses, frost sets in, which gives the landscape a unique look, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for moose in this neck of the woods. Also consider the scenic tour of Keweenaw Peninsula, from Twin Lakes to Copper Harbor, which includes a stop at the lovely Lake Roland, rimmed by trees that turn a magnificent rust and burgundy.

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.

Saving money on a road trip (even with kids)

We’re in the thick of family vacation time, and money isn’t getting any easier to come by. The most expensive components of a road trip continue to be gas, lodging and food, but with RV travel and camping, the lodging part is usually significantly reduced compared to those traveling with hotel destinations in mind. Here are a few tips for lowering the bill for some of the other things you’ll come up against.

Plan ahead. This always sounds great, but it’s the hardest thing to do, especially with a day job and multiple people to coordinate. It’s the one thing, though, that will make the biggest difference. At the very least, try to come up with an idea of the most important places you want to visit – museums, theme or water parks, historical sites – and things you want to do, such as hiking or horseback riding. Then sketch out an itinerary and a budget. Having something written down helps you stick to a spending plan, simply because it keeps you on track. It also helps to have a good pack list with everything you’ll need along the way, because then you won’t have to buy forgotten things along the way.

Plan meals ahead. Knowing what you’ll be cooking on the road and buying as much of the non-perishable food as you can in advance will keep you from spending too much on the more-expensive fare at campground stores and convenience stores en route.

Pick an RV park/campground with activities. You may pay a few extra bucks to stay, but the savings will be exponentially worth it in the long run if everyone finds something to do during down time on-site. A swimming pool, evening movie, game room, nice playground and other distractions go a long way toward keeping everyone from looking for ways to needlessly spend money shopping or buying junk food when they’re bored. Also bring along games that everyone will enjoy.

Look for online passes. Many cities have discounted coupon books (such as CityPass) that offer substantial savings – just be sure you’ll actually visit enough of the places to make buying the whole book worthwhile – and the attractions themselves usually offer discounts if you purchase your tickets ahead and print them out. Set up a system of folders that can keep track of what days you’ll be where and file the tickets accordingly, which will help keep you organized. Also be sure to take advantage of military, AAA and senior discounts, and look for discounted meal vouchers at the amusement parks, as well.  

Plan meals around attractions. If you can hold off going to an amusement park or other expensive activity where you’re held captive until just after lunch, you’ll save quite a bit, especially if it’s one that doesn’t allow you to bring in food. That way, you’ll only have to buy dinner and maybe a snack. Take advantage of the attractions that do let you bring food in, even if it’s just to haul around snacks that will keep you from overeating pricey, unhealthy food. Don’t forget water, which is also expensive when bottled. Refill at water fountains.

Take advantage of parks’ meal offerings. When you check in, be sure to note if your campground is offering a free weekly pancake breakfast or weeknight BBQ, and plan that into your itinerary.

Gas up at the cheap spots. If you have access to the Web, Gaspricewatch finds the cheapest gas prices for you, which can sometimes be a big saver, especially if you’re in an RV. Of course, driving 20 miles out of your way doesn’t make sense, but if you’re in an area where there are multiple options, it can be a help. Also, RV tire pressure and filling up on weekdays (allegedly cheaper than weekends) seem to be constant issues.

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.

More kids’ activity ideas for camping trips

Thank heavens companies keep coming up with ideas for keeping kids occupied on camping trips, although a recent river camping trip found the adults trying to muscle out the kids to play a game I’d never seen before.

Called Tailgate Toss, this simply constructed item involves two large, wooden boards with legs on one end that hold each board up at an angle. Teams divide into two groups – two to four people usually play – and each side then throws beanbags into the hole in each board. The scoring initially seems complicated, as it’s more involved than regular old bean bag toss, which is what this resembles, but eventually you get the hang of it.

Tailgate Toss, or "Corn Hole," is a big hit with all ages.

Some of the people in our group knew this game as “Corn Hole” –apparently it depends on what part of the country you call home –but the result was a hotly contested battle that got so involved, we stuck flashlights under the holes and played it well into the twilight hours.

You can get Tailgate Toss with the insignias of your favorite sports teams or just plain wood. For ages 5+

Cost: $64-$120

Get it at: tailgatetoss.com, amazon.com, overstock.com

Speaking of being on the river, whenever there’s water involved, stuff is going to get wet. We discovered a laminated version of the ever-popular Uno card game, called Uno H2O to Go, which works just like the original game except that each card is coated in plastic and has a hole in it so that the deck can be secured with a plastic hook, that then easily clips to pants pockets or the inside of a backpack or bag.

That means you can take the cards along hiking, in the car or anywhere that having something to occupy the group will come in handy. For ages 7+

Cost: $8

Get it here: Target, REI

An ideal in-the-car or RV game is Blokus to Go, a strategy game that’s fierce in its larger version and very fun in the smaller one. The pieces snap in place, with the basic idea being to get all of your tiles on the board, while touching another tile of the same color only at the corners. It gets a little maddening, but in a good way.

What’s also cool about the travel version of Blokus is that if you don’t finish – or, say, have to make a pit or picnic stop – you can just close the sides and hold your place. Young kids pick up on the concept very quickly. For ages 5+

Cost: $15

Get it here: amazon.com

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.

Get your gear here: Cooking ideas, and a powerful flashlight

My friend Pete swears by crockpot meals on RV trips, plugging one in before heading out for the day so there’s a hot meal ready when everyone’s too tired at the end to throw anything together. RoadPro makes a 1.5-quart, 12-volt slow cooker that plugs into the cigarette lighter and works like a charm. The stoneware insert is dishwasher safe, and there’s a stretch cord that keeps the lid on so that you can drive while it’s cooking, too.
Cost: $28
Get it here: amazon.com

Speaking of cooking, if you find yourself at a campground with fire rings and are looking for a more efficient way to put your food over the flame to cook, the Tripod Pioneer Grill by Rome is great. The tripod is adjustable and breaks down for storage, and the rack one which you set the cooking pans, Dutch oven, coffee pot or even some foods directly is completely adjustable via chains, so that you can raise and lower it to control the amount of heat. The contraptions sometimes swings around a bit, but works especially well with heavy items.
Cost: $35
Get it here: rvsupplywarehouse.com

Everyone in camp should have their own flashlight, and the rechargeable, incredibly powerful Streamlight UltraStinger is pretty cool, able to go for an hour of continuous use, with a 30-hour halogen blub and an easy-to-hit push-button on-off switch. The 12-inch-long unit can be recharged in a vehicle with a 12-volt or using a 110-volt plug. The downside: It’s ridiculously expensive. But it will last forever, and the fact that it’s rechargeable is huge.
Cost: $155
Get it at: cabelas.com

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.

Road trip! Water, antiques and history in the New Haven, Conn., area

Old time charm meets newfangled recreation when you take a road trip near New Haven along the Long Island Sound in lower Connecticut.

Many folks think of Yale University when they think of New Haven, and rightly so – it takes up the western edge of town and is a fun tour (free, visit the site for more info). But there’s a lot more to this architecture-laden place that started as a colony in 1638: churches, art galleries, libraries and museums are tidily interspersed around well-manicured squares.

If it’s a nice day for a picnic, Lighthouse Point Park is suitable for swimming, and has a cool old carousel. Stony Creek is just southeast of Branford and a destination for those looking to take a cruise around TheThimbles, tiny islands with their own weird and unique histories. Just east of this is Hammonasset Beach State Park, two miles of soft, clean sand with amenities such as restrooms, showers and picnic areas.

Start driving east along Interstate 95 into the Lower Connecticut River Valley for a series of picturesque towns with plenty of antiques shopping and views out over the Sound. Towns such as Westbrook, Old Saybrook  and Old Lyme are charming, and the latter is famous as the onetime mecca for the American Impressionists such as Childe Hassam and William Chadwick. They met at the home of Florence Griswold, which is now a museum worth visiting. Old Saybrook is home to the impressive collection at Old Saybrook Antiques Center.

Also in this area: the popular Gillette Castle State Park, lined by mountains and possessing an actual, medieval-looking castle, with the Connecticut River running alongside. It takes you away from the Sound, but there are other interesting towns to explore along the way, as well, including Essex, Chester and East Haddam, all following along Highway 9 and Highway 82.

A couple of terrific places to eat along the way: Bill's Seafood Restaurant in Westbrook (548 Boston Post Road, 860-399-7224) fries the living daylights out of anything, but especially clams and calamari. Great place for kids, right on the water. Also the Griswold Inn in Essex (36 Main St., 860-767-1776), which was built in 1776 and takes its Colonial-ness very seriously, as well as (weirdly) its tapas, served in the wine bar (the regular food is just so-so). And, finally, check out the Bee and Thistle Inn in Old Lyme (100 Lyme St., 860-434-1667) for a romantic, upscale meal with strolling musicians on Fridays and Saturdays.

For a good night's sleep en route, some top campgrounds include Totoket Valley RV Park in North Branford; Riverdale Farm Campsites in Clinton; Little City Campground in Higganum; Wolf's Den Campground in East Haddam; Salem Farms Campground in Salem; and Aces High RV Park in East Lyme.

For more options, including several near Gillette Castle State Park, visit Go Camping America's Park Finder.

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.

Tips for first-time RVers

So you're going to do it – you're going to drive a vehicle the size of your first apartment to some cool part of the country, maybe with kids in tow, and there's a chance you're a little bit nervous about that. And understandably so...RVs are large, a bit more complicated than your car and come with a lot of bells and whistles.

Here are a few handy hints that may help the first time out.

Rent the right RV for your trip type and group size Talk with the folks at the place where you’re renting about how many people you are taking, what you plan to do on the trip (such as whether you’ll be hauling bikes or other toys) and where you’re headed (for instance, will you be driving on a lot of narrow roads?).
Try to avoid the common pitfall of renting too large an RV for your needs. It’s fun to have space, but the truth is, you don’t spend as much time moving around in it as you think – when you’re driving, you’re sitting, and when you’re parked, you’re sleeping the majority of the time. Slide-outs are the big must-have if you can get them; they add space when you’re sitting still.

Know your dimensions at all times They’re usually posted somewhere so the driver can reference it, but if not, put it on a Post-it. But also be checking before every bridge, tunnel, gas station overhang to see if you will fit. It’s easy to get so used to driving that you forget.

Have someone spot you when you park Make sure they’re well out of the way and you can see them (being able to hear them is nice, too) and agree on hand signals ahead. RV parks are famous for friendly folks who are willing to help, as well.

Side mirrors rule Because you can’t see out the back (except when you use the rear-vision camera, if your vehicle has one), your side mirrors are indispensible. Check them daily to make sure they are where you need them to be. While you’re driving, not only will they show you where other traffic is positioned, but they will keep you in the lanes, because if you can see the painted lines, you’re good. The camera is nice to check periodically, too, by the way, to see if anyone is all up in your backside.

Speaking of your backside…It swings way out when you turn, requiring a bit of a pull forward first. It’s nice if you can practice that a couple of times before pulling out of the lot.

And the best advice I ever received: Don’t drive down any road, alley or parking lot where you don’t know that there’s a way out. A friend of mine once had to unhitch a Jeep and drive backward an entire mile in a 31-foot motorhome after accidentally going down what turned out to be an unmarked no-exit alley.

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.

Cooking with kids on a camping trip, with recipes

Cooking for kids on a camping trip can be…fun. Often it goes something like this: You’re 20 minutes into trying to find the griddle that you know you put at the bottom of that one box, and then Jimmy asks what we’re having for breakfast, and then you find the griddle, but now where is the mix?

Then Ashley wants to know where the Band-Aids are, and can you get poison ivy if you touch it with your clothes on? And, by the way, she announces, she hates pancakes. Jimmy comes back to announce that he’s hungry, right now.

The banana-peanut butter recipe makes great waffles.

They want this, they want that. “Ewwwww” to that. Are we having (fill in the blank with something you didn’t bring)? And you’d better have the stuff for s’mores on hand.

Cooking with kids, though, that can be a different story (a messier one, yes, but it’s all trade-offs here…). When they’ve had some say about what’s being made and they’re invested in the outcome, they’re usually – well, I say usually because we all know there are no guarantees here – more agreeable. At the very least, it keeps them from putting smelly things they find near the creek in each other’s sleeping bags. For now.

Here are two recipes that are big hits out on the road, and not only are they a blast to whip up with input from everyone in the family, they’re fairly forgiving. Note: You can speed up the pizza process if you make the pizza dough ahead and bring it along (it will keep, chilled, for up to two days), or bring commercially prepared pizza dough instead. And these toppings are just suggestions – if you have a kid who likes Froot Loops on his pie, why not?

Pizza on the Grill

Pizza dough

1 package (2 ¼ tsp.) active dry yeast

1 ½ cups warm water

¼ cup olive oil, plus more for oiling dough

4 cups flour, plus more for kneading

1 ½ tsp. salt

Pizza

Pizza dough (recipe below makes enough for six individual pizzas)

3 cups of your favorite pizza sauce

3-4 cups mozzarella cheese or mix of cheeses, grated

1 1/2 cups each of toppings, diced, sliced or chopped: black olives, ham, sausage (cooked), pepperoni, pineapple, onions, mushrooms, red or green peppers, fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts, basil, sweet corn kernels.

Make the dough: Dissolve yeast in warm (not hot; check it on your wrist) water for five minutes. Add oil, flour and salt. Mix until blended, and then knead for eight minutes (kids love to do this; put a piece of aluminum foil on a table and flour it, and then turn them loose).

Cover the dough and put it somewhere to rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 ½ hours. When ready, punch down and allow to rise again until doubled, about another half hour.

Meanwhile, prepare charcoal grill or preheat gas grill to medium or 350 degrees. Tear six 12-inch sheets of aluminum foil and, using a piece of paper towel, slick with olive oil. Lightly oil everyone’s hands and divide dough into six equal portions, giving each person their own to flatten on a piece of aluminum foil and shape into a pizza (gently flatten and push into shape, and make a rim around the edges).

Flop each crust onto the grill dough side down, two at a time, and gently ease the foil off. Grill for about 3 minutes, or until the dough starts to puff up and the bottom looks like it’s getting slightly crispy. Using a large grill spatula, transfer each crust, grilled side up, back onto its foil and set aside. Repeat with the rest of the crusts. You can do this part several hours in advance; just let the crusts sit somewhere covered to keep bugs off.

Make the pizzas: Have all of the ingredients out – the sauce, the cheese and the toppings – so that everyone is able to reach to custom-assemble a pizza. They should first slather on about a half cup of sauce, then the same amount of cheese, and then the toppings.

Using a large grill spatula (sometimes two is better), carefully lift or slide each pizza from the aluminum foil and put it back on the grill (depending on how large your grill is, you can grill two or three at a time). Cook, with the lid on or top down, until the cheese melts, the toppings are heated and the bottom of the pizza is nice and crispy and evenly browned (sometimes you have to rotate the pizzas). It usually takes about 5-6 minutes. Makes 6 individual-size pizzas.

Peanut Butter & Banana Pancakes

2/3 cup of pancake or waffle batter, made according to package directions (whole grain, buckwheat and buttermilk all work well with this recipe)

1 banana, cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons peanut butter, creamy or chunky

Honey or maple syrup for topping

Stir banana and peanut butter into batter. Heat griddle over medium-high heat. Spoon portions of the mixture onto the hot griddle – feel free to make shapes, such as Mickey Mouse or hearts – and cook on each side until golden. Serve with honey or syrup. Makes about 8 medium pancakes

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.

Camping gear that passed the road trip test

Most campers have a love-hate relationship with gear – love to get a shiny-new toy, hate it when it breaks or wears out. And there’s nothing worse than gear that doesn’t work as advertised, or winds up not being worth the money in the first place.

The roadtripster feels your gear pain, and so is always on the lookout for gadgets and gizmos that live up to their billing. Here are three that recently passed the road-test:

Rio Adventure Roll-Up Table

Finding a reliable, sturdy table that you can eat at or let kids play games on but still fold down into a reasonable size for transport can be a challenge. This has long been my favorite camp table, and now I have several. When open, the table top measures 32” square, and it sits 26 inches high. The slatted top rolls up for 

easy storage, and the X-frame sides give it extra stability, but they’re still narrow enough to get your legs under. Made of easy-to-clean, very lightweight aluminum that’s nonetheless hearty, and best of all, you can set hot pans and plates down on it, or even use it for your cookstove. The legs just collapse, and it comes with a carrying bag. Cost: $59.95

Get it here

GSI nesting wine glass

No matter how fancy-schmancy that merlot might be, it’s never going to taste any better than jug wine in a paper cup or tin coffee mug if that’s all you’re toting around. If you’re worried something nicer will break or take up too much space, check out the nesting wine glasses from GSI. Lightweight and thin, but pretty much indestructible, they have screw-off stems that turn upside-down and snap into the cup, so you can then stack and store them.  Made of a BPA-free material that’s easy to clean. Cost: $6.95 each.

Get it here

Lucky Bums Kids Moon Camp Chair

Kids’ stuff in particular takes a beating, so it’s especially nice to find camping equipment that can withstand some abuse. These chairs are groovy and comfy, strong enough to hold up to 95 pounds, and come in handy when the tykes finally get tuckered out enough to sit down for a while. They’re also inviting (padded!) enough that they’ll want to sit in these instead of your chair (you know, the one with the nice cup holder for your beer). Lifetime guarantee, drawstring bag, and comes in pink or green. Cost: $31.95

Get it here

The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.