THE COMMON COURTESIES OF CAMPING

Nothing puts a damper on a camping trip faster than misbehaving neighbors. You've planned for months and just as you sit down to enjoy your dinner, campfire, or sleepy time... someone (or something) decides to tempt fate and aggravate your very last nerve! Your own flesh and blood should get the message with a cold stare and a flash of a parental hand gesture.  However, a complete stranger who may/may not have overindulged in adult beverages or believes they hold rights over the entire campground, is an entirely different story. There is nothing worse than paying good money only to endure bad manners by fellow campers. Well, maybe getting attacked and eaten by a bear...but there's a fine line there! A reminder to all camping on those holiday weekends.... YOU put yourself the war zone. Sending prayers.... and tolerance.

So, let's take a refresher course on how to act when camping at your chosen campground:

• Minimize generator noise.  First of all, there is no such thing as a super quiet generator when the next campsite is 10ft. away... even if you paid $3,000 for it.  We do want to say thank you for actually obeying the official quiet time rule. Unfortunately, I'm aggravated by my neighbor on the other side who runs their generator from 7am until 10pm every day. Certainly they don't hear it because they are inside the RV with the stereo/tv on. Meanwhile, I'm contemplating forcibly planting a tent stake in their behind. Maybe I'll heat it in the campfire first too. So, if you have to ask yourself "I wonder if I should shut off my generator for a while?" Yes... and thank you. FYI- If you are a newbie RVer, "primitive" campgrounds will be 90% tenters who frown upon generators. Research campsite locations and distancing so everyone enjoys their stay. 

• Set up camp quietly.  Many people work Monday through Friday nine to five. Add an hour or two drive time and there's a pretty good chance that it may be dark when you arrive at camp. Have a plan in place on everyone's responsibilities. No one should be relaxing and watching while others work.  Small jobs like collecting twigs to start the fire keep youngsters engaged and out from under foot. Insults and name calling seem to escalate pretty quickly during campsite setups, and trust me...your voice is traveling far and wide. Thus leading to the next suggestion. (And maybe you should apologize to the neighbors in the morning.)

• Watch the language. Just when I think I've heard everything, people manage to create a new slang, swear, or suggestive term that baffles my mind. If you spew garbage, keep your tone down, especially in front of children. Or visit adult only establishments. You are going to rub someone the wrong way with your graphic language. Be warned... if you get knocked upside the head with a bar of soap flying through your campsite, chances are someone is on their way over to cram it down your throat and wash your mouth out. And by the way, soap is a laxative. Shines new light on the term "shitty neighbor", doesn't it?

• Respect space. Campsites come in all shapes/sizes, but maybe you made a wrong choice in picking your site. This doesn't mean you can infringe on another camper's paid space. Know the boundaries between campsites and stick to yours.  Do not allow campers or pets from your site to play, walk through...or relieve themselves on neighboring sites. Also, I know its a public bathroom, but if you can help it, please don't stand directly outside the bathroom stall door when I'm trying to go #2.  Come back in five minutes please. Don't you think I'm stressed out enough in there having to poop in a public place? 

• Turn down the speakers. Not everyone enjoys the same music genre as you. Especially if the lyrics are 75% profanity. Just because you and I are both wearing flannel, doesn't mean I'm into country music. Your disco tunes are giving me a Saturday night fever.  That feverish pitch resonating from your favorite operatic performer is attracting every coyote and bigfoot within a 25 mile radius. So, I'll tell you what I want...what I really really want... and that is for you to invest in some ear buds.  Campgrounds are not concert venues and very very few campers are impressed with the size of your woofers and tweeters.

• Clean up after yourself (and your kids/pets). Don't leave trash in campfire pits or scattered on campsite.  Don't leave your toilet paper and poo piles (human or pet) where others will be camping. Soap wrappers, shampoo containers and even "un"sanitary products get left behind in campground showers. Sinks/showers often look like someone lost an entire head of hair in them.  It takes minimal effort to clean up after yourself and take trash to the dumpster. Please check bathroom stalls your child has used.  If they have unrolled the toilet paper and scattered it, pick it up! Flush the toilet if they forgot! Smokers, dispose of your butts somewhere else besides all over the ground. Pet owners should pick up and discard their pet's waste properly.  Yes, the elements and insects will eventually break it down, but not overnight....and probably not in a week since you brought your two Saint Bernard dogs. Now I gotta move my tent :-(

• Follow the basic rules. Campgrounds put rules in place to protect themselves, and to safeguard the campground visitors. Washing dishes at public spigots leave behind food remnants which attract wildlife. Wildlife may carry rabies. Capeesh?  Common sense would tell you not to drain black water tanks on a campsite, but it happens...a lot. Invasive insects can be carried from state to state on firewood, so buy local. Register all campers/visitors. In an emergency situation, management needs to have everyone accounted for. Respect the property you are on.  Speak up to management if something alarms you. Most campers are seeking relaxation, so abide the quiet times rule. Know where your kids are. Don't allow dogs to bark excessively. Leashes are a must. 

• Porta-jons/spring loaded bathroom doors.  And for god's sake people...STOP allowing the door to slam shut behind you in the wee hours of the morning when you do a bathroom trip! I personally thank you for this courtesy!

The price of campsites is out of control, even at state campgrounds that used to make for an affordable vacation. In state cost for residents are still manageable, but nonresident rates are double/triple than those of residents.  When you are paying good money for relaxation, your expectations also run high. Don't be part of the problem.  Set a good example for the future generation of campers who learn by listening, watching and replicating.  Oh no, wait!.... are we raising a bunch of pyromaniacs? Nah, campfires don't count! 

Just a reminder, please consider supporting B4B by following/liking our accounts across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, Amazon Storefront and YouTube. All links are on the bound4burlingame.com website or my using our safe link page. Always look for our red tent logo to ensure you are on a B4B page. Thank you! #happycamping

CAMPING & METAL DETECTORS - KIDS & ADULTS CAN STRIKE IT RICH!

If you've camped with children of any age, you've probably been faced with the dilemma of finding outdoor activities that are fun, easy, entertaining, and inexpensive.  What makes a family trip attractive, adventurous, or potentially memorable for one, doesn't hold true for the next; especially when you are battling age gaps.  Bikes are great if you have the packing space and a safe place to ride.  Board games and puzzles usually don't survive the great outdoors. Getting everyone to put down their phones is a chore in itself! Stop fighting the fight!  The solution has been found...and its called a metal detector. Who wants to sit around the campfire and tell their own real-life tale of discovering treasure? I DO!

Based on my own experience, you are probably thinking to yourself, "How much are those things anyways? Expensive right?"  Wrong! You can find plenty of detectors that work just fine for $40-$100. The first detectors my own children owned were about $15 each. They were so basic, emitting the same beep whether the treasure was a quarter or a soda can.  But they really worked, and my kids were ecstatic. Many hours were spent beach combing for coins and jewelry left behind in the easy to dig sand. They were compact enough to travel with and even accompanied us to the Dominican Republic. The locals watched in amazement as my then 7-year-old found more money in an hour, then many of them regularly earned for a day of manual labor. Whether it was a gesture of compassion, or the opportunity for financial gain, my son actually sold his "toy" detector to one very old gentleman on our last day of vacation. Valued by one, but invaluable to another. If I remember right, he used his profit on an upgraded detector.

1805 draped large cent found within 5 minutes in a corn field

Again, speaking from experience... never discount the appeal of treasure hunting to any age. In fact, do yourself the favor and acquire multiple affordable units from the get-go.  After a person experiences their "first find", sharing ceases to exist. Don't subject yourself to watching a 5-year-old and a 50-year-old throwing similar hissy fits after treasure is found when it was supposed to be their turn five minutes ago.

Searching independently, but within earshot of each other, promotes a sort of friendly competition.... and eliminates pushing/shoving.  I immediately want to retract this knowing that by the 20th time I've dropped everything and ran over to the area of someone wailing "GOT SOMETHING" only to discover they've unearthed another old bottle cap. Two people taking turns while one detects and the other digs also usually results in arguments over ownership of the treasure found, and if you only one thing...just saying. 

Rhode Island beach finds

Young children delight in finding absolutely anything, so whether you secretly pre-plant some pennies or a matchbox car, it's all as good to them. Preteens/teens know the value of money, so cold hard coin is always cool to find. Watches, sunglasses and jewelry can convince them quickly to continue the hobby. Before they know it, they are hooked... and then they get their friends hooked. And they are outside!! I do recommend finding a trusted pawn/jewelry shop that will provide fair trades/sales. Adults? I've found more jewelry that I could wear on ten hands, but I never can bring myself to get rid of it.  I have returned many items to owners and given a few as gifts once cleaned up, but usually I just spend the usable change and hoard the rest to show it off to interested parties.

The good news is that hobbyist metal detectors are now pretty affordable, built lightweight, with easy features and factory settings which target items like coins and jewelry. National Geographic has a very popular junior model and This Bounty Hunter model (and often on sale) is one of the most popular on Amazon. This Bounty Hunter model is a great choice and still under $90 on sale.(https://amzn.to/3iNNbZR)  Peek at the metal detector category on the B4B Amazon Storefront to see which detectors are affordable and highly reviewed. https://a.co/1B6dwtJ

After some experience, you may want to experiment with other features which discriminate against junk. Normally, detectors give off different tones for different metals like gold, iron, tin etc. and you learn what is what quickly.  I'm too paranoid, so I still dig 99% of tones up if it sounds even remotely like a good hit. What is worth noting is that I've compared finds that I've made with a $75 metal detector against a $500 detector, and they were very much the same. I don't really want to dig 5 feet down, or wear a scuba suit to detect. So, despite the fact I could at any time use my own treasures to invest in a bigger/better unit, there's no need.  I find plenty with what I have. Don't waste money on features you won't use.

Purchase a set of headphones (especially for use at beach), an apron (for treasures AND garbage), and a digging apparatus or two (depending on soil type).  I prefer some DIY tools to store bought. When I first started, I used a small planting shovel and a colander both from the Dollar Store...and it worked fine. Later, I made a handheld sand scoop (pictured, or look here to purchase similar) by drilling holes into a grain scoop. Some people glue a magnet to the bottom inside as well.  Many people invest in a pinpoint locator, but I don't own one. If you enjoy the hobby, invest in what makes it easier for you to enjoy. Search tag sales and Facebook marketplace for your items. You can get some unbelievable deals.

There's really no limit to where you can detect. Respect private properties and prohibited lands.  It only takes a minute to ask permission if you are unsure. Start at your campsites and the areas around them (Unfortunately, you'll find trash irresponsible campers have left behind). State parks, recreation fields, forests, beaches, fields, ski areas, golf courses, farmland are all great spaces. Starting young children off in areas that is easier to detect/dig items (like a beach) will give you a far better chance that they will like/continue the hobby.  Trudging through the woods to an old, abandoned property should be left to adults. **TIP** When treasure hunting in the woods, move your detector along the base of stone walls and around the very large trees that surround the property.  Early settlers often hid valuables in these places.

I hope you find metal detecting as enjoyable as I have through the years.  It gets the family outdoors and you really never know what you may find.  It's the perfect complement to camping and honestly, I've spent much more money on items that I use far less.  I have been fortunate to find enough treasures that my machines have paid for themselves many times over.  Wouldn't you like to sit around a campfire showing each other the treasures you've each unearthed that day?  ...and actually have the proof of your adventure!

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Great metal detecting finds:

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