Girl Camper

By Girl CamperSociety & Culture Sports Education Self-Improvement Places & Travel Wilderness

Girl Camper episodes

January 30, 2018Friday Night Quick Meals
Sometimes getting to the campground on Friday night takes all the energy I’ve got and the last thing I want to do is start cooking a big meal. I do want comfort food though,and quick meals are necessary. Hummus and carrot sticks aren’t going to do it.
Rather than breaking out the charcoal and cast iron pan I make quick meals in my electric skillet. All of the carb comfort in just a few minutes.
Keep some staples in your trailer.
There are a few staples that I always keep in my trailer that come in handy for quick meals. Quick cook pasta, Knorr bullion cubes, canned “cream” of anything, canned corn and canned white sliced potatoes are a few. I also always have condensed tubes of garlic, tomato paste, and pesto. I love these because they pack a lot of flavor and don’t take up a lot of room.
Another camping staple I try to have in the freezer is a few bags of ready to go shredded chicken breast. I use my mothers tried and true system for cooking this ahead of time. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and turn it off. Place bone on split chicken breasts in the water and place the lid on leaving it for an hour. The retained heat of the water cooks the breasts perfectly. Place them on a plate to cool and then shred it for quick meals.
Electric skillet makes this easy!
I use a combination of these ingredients for quick comfort food meals in the electric skillet. First place two cups of water and a bouillon cube in the skillet with a quick cook pasta. Then I add the cream of anything, corn, and whatever leftover protein I had from the week past or a bag of my quick cook chicken. A shot of hot sauce or pesto for added flavor makes a quick comfort meal if you’ve arrived late at the campground.
Another option is to stock up on freeze-dried camping meals! I recently tried the freeze dried meals from Mountain House and they were really good! I expected a chemical salty tasting “artificial” food and discovered they tasted as close to homemade as any I’ve ever tried. One pouch contains two servings and sells for between $7-$10 per package. Having a hot meal in ten minutes for $5 or less is a great alternative to whatever chips and dip you might have in the trailer.
Quick meals are key to unwinding for the weekend.
Having a hot and satisfying meal at the end of a long work week and the beginning of a camp weekend seems to signal that it’s time to relax and let the unwinding begin. Getting there by shortcut doesn’t take anything away from it for me! In fact I feel a little bit like I gamed the system and win! Cheers!
Pantry Staples for Quick Meals
Quick cook pasta
Cream of anything soup
Pesto
Knorr bouillon cubes
Concentrated Tomato paste, garlic, basil
Canned sliced cooked potatoes, corn, beans
Bags of frozen protein (chicken, beef, pork)
By Janine Pettit, Camper in Chief
Connect with us!
[email protected]
girlcamper.com
Girl Camper Magazine: Subscribe to Girl Camper Magazine here! Girl Camper Magazine
Events: Check out upcoming Girl Camper Events – you can attend events in any chapter!
Main GC Facebook Group – Join over 420,000 like-minded women in our private Facebook group! Girl Camper FB Group
Facebook Page – This is our public Facebook page, where we will share Girl Camper news. Girl Camper
Follow us on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram for more!
17 min
January 23, 2018 Save the Date – Upcoming Events for 2018
My calendar is filling up already with fun Girl Camper events and I want to share some dates with you in chance you can get out and Camp Like a Girl with us.
March 2-4. Camper College at Setzer’s World of Camping in Huntington, West Virginia. Our friend and podcast sponsor Lynn Butler from Setzer’s World of Camping is hosting us at her dealership for a Camper College. What is Camper College? It’s an information gathering night hosted at the dealership for would be and wanna be Girl Campers to learn how to operate and tow a travel trailer. One of Setzer’s experienced team members will walk us through the operations of a travel trailer. From how to hitch it up to where the water goes in and most importantly, where it comes out, there’s no part of the process uncovered. There’s also no such thing as a dumb question. If you have never owned a trailer you may have many questions about how they work and this free evening of Q & A with friends is a great starting point. We will also be camping out at the Huntington/Fox Fire KOA. We will be renting their cabins and bringing our crock pots and swapping tales for the weekend. All are welcome. There is no fee for the Camper College and the camp out is a pay as you go. Rent your cabin or sign up to share. Food details will be posted on the Camp Like a Girl MeetUP site.

March 30, 2018. Camper College at Bankston Motor Homes in Birmingham, Alabama. Just like Setzer’s, Bankston Motor Homes is hosting an informational evening for Girl Campers to gather and learn what is involved in owning, towing and operating a travel trailer or motor home. We will gather at Bankston for refreshments and then be treated to a demonstration of the functions of a trailer. There will be a Q & A and an opportunity to view what’s on the lot, chat with women who are already RVing and start building a community of support. I will be on hand with my new Scotty Sportsman trailer and we will have some great raffle gifts from Camco Manufacturing.
April 19-22. Wonderful Women of Waxahachie. We will camp like girls in the Crepe Myrtle Capital of the South, Waxahachie, Texas. This is my home away from home and I love sharing my favorite place with others. The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Waxahachie is generously allowing us to camp in Getzandaner Park right outside of town. Everything you need to know to join us is on their Facebook event page. The event is in conjunction with their annual film festival and the ticket price includes all of the activities. Pick as many or as few as you’d like.

Country Living Fairs. Nashville, Tn. April 20-22. Rhinebeck, N.Y. – June 1-3. Columbus, Ohio September 14-16. Atlanta, Georgia – October 26-28. Stella Shows is back with their 11th Country Living Fair. It truly is the pages of Country Living Magazine coming to life. This will be my tenth year showing off my trailer and chatting with Girl Campers about how they can become Girl Campers too. I will be at all of the shows except for the Nashville Show if you want to come by and chat. Keep following along on Instagram to win tickets to this annual fun fest with the most creative women in the whole wide world.

July 12-15. Tearstock 2018. I’m so excited that our annual gathering of teardrop lovers, wannabes and followers is moving around the country and this year will be held in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Tearstock is open to anyone who wants to attend regardless of whether they own a trailer or not. I will be there with my Max trailer and the whole Liberty Outdoors family. It’s a lot of fun and games and getting to know fellow wanderers!
9 min
January 16, 2018 Episode 116C: Tire Tools and Safety Tips
On this weeks mini podcast I am sharing the tools I keep in my tire safety and maintenance bag. Tire failure is one of the leading causes of RV accidents and it is a preventable one. I am also providing the links from my “go to” safety guru Mark Polk’s articles on tires and tire maintenance. Mark is an industry expert with hundreds of YouTube videos and articles on all things RV’s. I have read and shared these articles more times that I can say. Here is the link.

Using a piece of chalk is a great way to highlight the small print on a tire. Remember that the number on the tire is the maximum PSI that the tire manufacturer recommends for that tire and is not the number you have to inflate your tire to. Look inside the drivers door for the tow vehicle manufacturers recommendation for that particular vehicle.
My Tire Tool Kit
The Tekton 5941 Digital Tire Gauge. I have had several tire gauges over the years and this is one that I have used and liked. It has a four star rating out of over 4,800 reviews. It costs under $12 on Amazon and has been a great little tool with a built in light to be able to read the dial at night.
Rhino USA Heavy Duty Tire Gauge. I also have used and really like this old fashioned analog gauge that has a large and easy to read dial. It is American made with heavy gauge copper and a woven covered hose. It has a a five star rating of over 500 reviews and retails for about $20.00. When I have used this and tested the readings over and over I get the same reading. That has not always been the case with other gauges. This is actually my favorite gauge.
Ryobi P731 One Dual Function Power Inflator/Deflator 18Volt
Once you have determined that you need air you will need a way to get air without driving to the service station. You need to check the tires before you drive anywhere and then need to put air in them. I bought this Lithium battery operated tire inflator and deflator. It has several attachments for balls, bike tires and inflatable rafts, beds and pool toys. It also has a built in tire gauge that takes a reading and then lets you press inflate. It automatically shuts off when you reach the desired PSI. The lithium battery holds a charge for a very long time and at $40 I thought it was a great value. It had a 4.2 rating for 565 reviews.
Mark Polk’s articles in the links above will help you determine what your desired tire pressure is. Keeping those numbers in your phone or a handy place where you can get at them when needed is important. It is also important that you take these readings the first thing in the morning before you drive anywhere. Forming good safety habits can make your travel not only safe but more enjoyable.
Click on the arrow to listen to the podcast.

11 min
January 09, 2018 Girl Camper: My Favorite Cold Weather Hot Drinks
Oh the weather outside is frightful and I’m breaking out my favorite cold weather, hot drinks! I love spring and fall camping when it’s still chilly and a warm drink around the campfire is a necessity. During our last snowstorm had a few days at home to rank our very favorites between episodes of shoveling! Here they are!

The Classic Hot Toddy!
Fresh squeezed lemon juice
Honey Whiskey
Heaping tablespoon of honey
Tea Bag optional
My recipe is with boiling water, a heaping tablespoon of local honey, 1/3 of a lemon squeezed in the mug and a dose of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey. Some people use a tea bag of their favorite blend. When we were kids and suffering from sore throats my mom made this with the tiniest bit of whiskey and a pat of butter floating on top!

Hot Milk and Honey with Orange
Organic Whole Milk
Local Honey
Orange Slices
Optional Brandy
Heat Milk in the microwave or on the stovetop and add honey and a squeeze of fresh orange. Preheat the mug by filling it with hot water and letting it sit while the milk and honey warm. Dump the water and add it to the mug. You can float an orange slice and add a splash of brandy too. I like to stir mine with a honey spoon!

S’mores Hot Chocolate and Kahlua
Store bought instant hot chocolate
Chocolate syrup
Graham crackers (crushed)
Miniature marshmallows (toasted)
Kahlua or coffee liquore
Cover a cookie sheet with foil and spray it with non stick spray. Make little piles of marshmallows and put them under the broiler for a few minutes. Watch them closely. Pour some chocolate syrup in a saucer and dip the mug rim in the chocolate and then in the crushed graham crackers. Make the instant hot chocolate with organic milk and add a dash of coffee liquor. Place the toasted marshmallow on top and drizzle with chocolate syrup and sprinkle the crushed graham crackers on top of that!

Hot Milk with Cinnamon and Sugar
Whole Organic Milk
Cinnamon
Sugar
Whipped Cream
Cinnamon stick
Optional Brandy
Warm the milk in the microwave in a large measuring cup and then add two teaspoons of sugar and cinnamon powder to taste. If you add the cinnamon to the cold milk it clumps and floats to the top. Stir into warm milk until it’s dissolved. Pour in mug, add whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

11 min
January 02, 2018 Buying Gear – Tuesday Tip
The off season is a great time to do some gear analysis, gear upgrades and gear replacements. Here’s my system:

* The first thing that I do is check all of my equipment for irreparable damage and determine if it has met its life expectancy. Even the best made equipment will eventually need replacement and I try to do that before the fail actually happens. This year I am replacing my grill grate which is twelve years old.
* The next thing I do is make a list of things that I actually need and are essential to camping. Things that keep me warm, that I use to cook with or to stay dry and then there is the, “I just want it” list of things! For me an “I just want it” thing is the table top heater. There are quite a few manufacturers and a bit of a price range. There is one at Ace Hardware that I like and I am toying with buying this. It is definitely a non essential item!!
* After I get my essential and non essential list I start by surfing the web. The first thing I do when I have an item I want is to crowd source. I get online and start asking the members of RV groups if anyone has the particular piece of equipment I want or if they can make a recommendation. I get valuable information about cost, ease of use, packability, quality, and value from actual users. I then go on and read reviews from seller sites.
* When I get the feedback that I need and make the decision to buy I start price shopping the Internet and looking for coupon codes, sales and the best price including shipping. The online groups are a good source for this information as well. Because I am shopping in the off season I can be patient.
* It’s also a good idea to call the outfitting stores that sell it and ask if and when it will be on sale. Everything to do with cooking outdoors is always on sale in June for Father’s Day.

When buying used:

* Shop Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Repurpose Stores.
* Another resource is the spring time surplus of Church bazaars, garage sales and flea markets.
* If you don’t see what you are looking for, place an ad “in search of” the equipment you are looking for. Many people read these and their “junk” could be your treasure.
* When you find used equipment make sure to thoroughly examine it. Unlike a store it is understood that when you buy something used, there is a “no return” policy.

Buying used is a good opportunity to purchase something at a significantly lower price than retail. With camping supplies you are purchasing something for intermittent recreational use. Not having to make a big investment in something you may not use often is a great way to build your gear and keep extra money in your pocket to get outdoors!
14 min
December 30, 2017 Girl Camper: Episode 116 Top Picks from 2017
To listen to the podcast associated with this blog, click on the arrow below.
https://girlcamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Girl-Camper-Year-in-Review.mp3
On this week’s show I am exercising that end of the year nostalgia and sentimentality and reviewing my favorite campgrounds and spots of my 2017 travels. This year I spent over 60 nights in my trailer, traveled over 10K miles and stayed in more than thirty different campgrounds. Along the way there were highs and lows and today I am sharing the highs along with some moments that I will savor for a long time after the year has passed.
FAVORITE CAMPGROUNDS OF 2017
One of my favorite campgrounds I visited this year was the one at Custer State Park. I stayed at the Blue Bell Campground there but it was not just the campground but the whole park that I loved. I vowed to visit again and stay in one of the five beautiful lodges they have at the beautiful state park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. They have one lodge that is open during the winter and the park can be used for snow shoeing, cross country skiing and the wildlife loops are open to see the animals in winter.
Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, Maine is a new campground that was founded by former hoteliers who applied their customer centered hospitality to the campground business. Every inch of the campground is manicured and pristine. The glamping tents are in an enclave that feels like it’s iwn little canvas village. They have a communal fire pit which is lit by an employee each night. The RV sites are level and narrow but quite long. The bathrooms are all brand new and spotlessly clean. Sandy Pines is situated on the salt marshes and a short drive to the beach and town of Kennebunkport. I enjoyed my trip there so much I plan to make it an annual pilgrimage.
The Luray KOA Campground in Luray, Virginia is at the base of the Shenandoah National Park. It’s a quiet little campground with beautiful views, sweeping lawns and VIP sites with large concrete pads, stone fire pits and Adirondack chairs. I particularly enjoyed the ping pong table available on the lawn for guests.
FAVORITE PLACES OF 2017
Glacier National Parks Going to the Sun Road was my absolute favorite stop of the year. It’s long been on my list and although I could only spend a few days at Glacier I knew I wanted to make the drive that tops so many tourist lists of must see places. I wrote a blog about it for Go RVing.
The cowboy town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming is a quintessential tourist town without the tacky souvenir shops. Its situated around a town square park with arched entrances on all four corners constructed of elk antlers. Every tourist is compelled to stop and take their photo there. A favorite stop is the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar where you can literally saddle up to the bar on bar stools with Western Cowboy saddles on them. The town is full of art galleries, restaurants and shops. I loved all the galleries and the Pendleton Shop. In addition to being a great town it is surrounded by the best fly fishing in Wyoming . It’s fifty miles from Teton National Park with river rafting, kayaking, hiking and mountain climbing.
Mount Rushmore was a place I felt I had to at least stop at and hit tag. I had no real burning desire to see it but couldn’t pass it up when I was so nearby. It turned out to be one of my favorite places. I went in the early evening when they put on a beautiful and patriotic evening lighting ceremony. I loved learning more about the men who are carved in stone but also about the construction of the monument. At the end of the presentation the lights are ceremoniously lit to illuminate the trailblazers memorialized above and all of the tourists stood for the national anthem.
43 min
December 20, 2017 Girl Camper: Episode 115 Top Picks from the Louisville Show
On today’s show I am talking bout my top picks from the big RVIA show in Louisville. Each year the RV industry gathers the week after Thanksgiving and all of the manufacturers show off their new products to RV dealers, suppliers and the press. This is one of the places that RV dealers go to choose the trailers the will be on their showroom floors next spring and the RV industry is changing to meet the demands of the new consumers out there. They are still building Class A buses and large travel trailers and fifth wheels for the empty nesters and families to enjoy but they are also building off road adventure vehicles, compact vans and sleek, smartly designed lightweight travel trailers for a new generation of RVers. Today I am talking about my favorite new innovators, designers and visionaries making waves in the RV world.
The Tiger Moth by Taxa is an outdoor adventure vehicle that was designed by Garrett Fennley a former engineer from NASA that worked on the International Space Station. He applies the small space solutions for space travel to the Taxa brand models. The Tiger Moth weighs only 900 pounds and can be towed by almost anything on the road. It sits 12″ off the ground and can be used off the grid for 5-7 days at a time. Some of the available options are a two man roof tent, screen room and Thule roof carrier. It retails for between 12K-15K depending on options.

The Luna trailer by Intech is another lightweight trailer making a mark in the RV world. The Luna weighs in at 1800#’s and has an overall length of 14′. The box is 6′ wide with the wheels sitting outside for an overall width of 7′. It has a clamshell kitchen with ample counter space but limited storage. The interior is versatile with movable cushions for visiting, reading, and television watching. The large front window is positioned over a storage bench with a built in table and storage below. There are two beehive doors and large windows with a 40″ television. There are also two nice sized storage compartments in the floor of the trailer.

The final of the three trailers I chose for innovation in design is the No Bo by Forest River. No Bo is short for No Boundries. This trailer has immediate eye appeal. It weighs in at 1570#’s and has a Cargo Carrying Capacity of 2,992 lbs. I also has a fresh water tank capacity of 30 gallons, step up wheel covers for access to the roof racks, two sided awning and a rear side door or optional ramp. The interior provides flexible configurations and the option of a dining table that is hidden in the floor when not in use.

In other news the Florida RV Show is taking place January 17-21 and I will be there with Chris Baum of Liberty Outdoors and we will be showing off the Max trailer at Como RV in booth #335. All are welcome to stop by and join the fun. Tampa, Florida is a great place to be in January!! Reach out via Facebook Messenger or Instagram to check our schedules or follow along as we show off what’s new at Liberty!!

1 hr
December 12, 2017 Girl Camper: Episode 114 RV Industry News with Courtney Robey
On this week’s show it is my pleasure to welcome Courtney Robey, Director of Marketing and Communications for Go RVing. Courtney’s job is to find ways to share the RV lifestyle with new audiences. It’s also her job to find that audience and today she is sharing some ways in which the RV industry is meeting the changing demographics of RV buyers.
Every year the Go RVing team makes beautiful videos on the RV lifestyle and this one featuring adventure skier Brody Leven is one of my absolute favorites. It makes me want to get a Class B or at least borrow one and hit the road.

The Go RVing website has so many tools that help those new to the RV lifestyle “find their away.” The Find Your Away videos resonate with RVers or RV wannabes of all types. I love to sit with a cup of tea and my laptop and watch the different ways in which people use their RV’s, the places they travel to and the rigs they choose.
As a woman who loves fly fishing I really appreciated this one!

Take a few minutes to explore the Go RVing website and “find your away.”
TO LISTEN TO TBE PODCAST CLICK ON THE ARROW

49 min
December 05, 2017 Girl Camper: Episode 113 Towing Tips with Mark Polk
It is always a pleasure to have Mark Polk on the show. Mark and his wife Dawn run the RV Education 101 website, have produced over 350 YouTube videos, and Mark has a widely read blog on Go RVing. He is an industry leader in safety and education and always provides his expertise and experience to seasoned RVers and newcomers alike. I asked Mark to come on the show today to talk about towing.
Mark has helped us before on the show when he discussed the pitfalls buyers of vintage trailers may fall into. We all love the charm but Mark shared his own experience restoring a vintage trailer and created a punch list of things to look for when you look at one. That episode (#9) can be found here and it could save you a lot of time and money.
Mark also made a guest appearance helping us to understand tow vehicles and the meaning of all the terms. Axle ratios, tongue weight, GVWR, and torque! It can be confusing and Mark walked through the terms and industry ratings to help us make the right choice when looking at tow vehicles. Episode 61, Talking Tow Vehicles with Mark Polk can be listen to here.

Another fan favorite is Mark’s show helping us understand what a weight distribution hitch is and whether we need one or not. I had the feeling I needed one when I went up a size in my trailer and Mark explained how to make that determination and how to decide which one to purchase. Episode #83 with Mark Polk is available here.
Mark has three guidelines for towing:
Always travel at a safe speed. For Mark that is 60 MPH or under if conditions warrant a slower speed.
Stay Alert. He advocates for knowing what is going on around you and shares his system for monitoring conditions and traffic flow while driving his motorhome or towing a trailer.
Anticipate Driving Situations. When you are alert you will be able to see what is happening and respond appropriately. Mark talks about some of the scenarios in which you can be a good steward of the shared roads by anticipating and reacting accordingly.
Mark also talks in this episode about:

* use of mirrors
* trucks passing you
* knowing what gear to be in
* Auxiliary braking systems
* Sudden jerky turns
* bad weather driving
* making turns and knowing your pivot point
* downgrades and upgrades
* trailer sway

To Access Mark and Dawn’s library of RV Safety and Education materials click here.
To listen to this weeks podcast with Mark Polk click the arrow below.

1 hr 19 min
November 28, 2017 Girl Camper: Episode 112 Christmas Gift Guide from our Women Entrepreneurs
On this weeks show I am highlighting the women out there who are creating beauty and sharing it with all of us. This Christmas Gift Guide is made up of the Girl Campers who create and share their talents with us. Buying a handmade gift not only supports artists but I think it’s a statement of caring. It is so easy to jump on Amazon and swipe and say “done.” I love the idea of procuring something special that you really put thought into as a way of saying to someone, “Thank you for your friendship throughout the year.” Isn’t that why we give a gift to someone? To thank them for being special in our lives? Here are the women creating beauty to share-
Dawn Wilson, is a solo woman traveler, award winning wildlife photographer, writer and entrepreneur. She has a new book out called, Preparing for the Next Shoot as well as three calendars to choose from – Elk of Colorado, Rocky Mountain Wildlife and Inspiration From Wildlife. Dawn has been a guest on the podcast and the subject of my Go RVing blog. Her story is one of tragedy to triumph and I always love seeing her images come across the screen.

Lori Simon has an eye for nature. She sees things the rest of us walk by and she is patient enough to sit and wait for the right moment to capture the picture. She is a Vermont resident and a Girl Camper who takes her restored trailer on long road trips where she photographs the outdoors and participates in workshops. She just completed a trip that took her from Vermont to Rocky Mountain National Park and then on to Arizona. Lori’s story is also one of triumph over adversity and is part of my Go RVing lineup of can do women. Her 2018 calendar is now available.

My friend Mary Gregory creates art that takes my heart to a place I don’t ever want to leave. When I am feeling a bit overwhelmed Mary’s images bring me to a place of appreciation for the simple things in life and remind me of what really matters. She has a way of transferring hope to canvas and bringing beauty into ones day. I am so thrilled that Mary has a calendar to offer us with these soothing images on them. She is also offering Girl Campers a discount of 10% on anything on her site. Just use the code GIRLCAMPER at checkout.

And last but certainly not least, the calendar that saw me through 2017, Simone Ritter’s beautiful watercolor renditions of vintage campers. Each year Simone gives vintage trailer enthusiasts the opportunity to submit photos of their vintage trailers and she paints a painting a day for thirty days. People get to vote on their favorites and they become the upcoming years calendar pages. She has a second calendar available called Creative Journeys and it is full of her plen air paintings. Simone really paints on location in all kinds of weather and since she lives in Canada, north of Maine you know that’s cold. She has a great Instagram feed that you can follow her at as well and see her at work. Simone is giving one lucky winner a calendar, set of gift tags and a set of three greeting cards. To be eligible to win, sign up for the Girl Camper Newsletter on the homepage.

Our next entrepreneur is Patti Hughes, the founder and creative brain behind the brand Natural Life. I met Patti many many years ago at the Country Living Fair when her brand was starting out and it is so exci...
45 min

About Girl Camper

From the publisher's feed

Whether you’re just getting started or are a seasoned camping expert, Girl Camper’s practical tips, inspirational interviews and their own experiences from the road will inspire you to ‘go places and…