RV Campsite Shortage 2026? See What We Found.

 Copyright Janet Groene 2025

Free Tips for the Camp Cook

I'll send you a full page of camp cooking tips, hacks and shortcuts free, lifted randomly from my ever growing list Email me at janetgroene@yahoo.com Put Cooking Tips in the topic line and give me an email address to send them. 

CAMPGROUNDS  RV PARKS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

Many campgrounds and RV parks are totally booked already for next summer. Act fast, especially if you seek a long-term or seasonal site. 

EVENTS

Almost every RV ark, resort and campground is having Hallowe’en happenings of some kind, so check ahead. Some promotions last through the month;  others are for one day or one weekend only. Some are ghoulish. Others focus on whilesome family activities with harvest themes.

A costume party is  scheduled for October 25 at Twin Oaks Campground, Elko, Georgia. Come for candy, contests and family activities. The campground is big rig-friend and has a dog park, playground, swimming pool in season, clubhouse, lawn games,  free WiFi and laundry. (478) 987-9361. 

October 25 is also he date of a Halloween party at the Seahaven Marine RV Park in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina. Bring your best costume and decorations. Enjoy a parade, games, contests and candy, The park has a boat ramp on the New River, a dog park, a  playground and more. 

UPGRADES, REOPNINGS, NEW OWNERS

Portage Lakes State Park, Akron, Ohio has a new Visitor Center. The 6,000 square foot showplaces has exhibits on the history and natural history of the park. It's free with park admission. The 2,000-acre park has boating, swimming, fishing and archery but no campsites. Make it a day trip from one of the many campgrounds nearby. (330) 644-2220

Ridge Ranch Campground in Newton Falls, Ohio is now a member of the Gather Grounds Resorts family. Changes to be made include a new bathhouse, expanded beach area, new landscaping  and a floating playground. Come here for planned activities, boating, fishing, an arcade,  kayaking, volleyball and basketball. See GatherGroundsResots.com/

. More than $6 million CDN will be spent to upgrade the once-private campground at Tribune Bay campground at Hornby Island, British Columbia. The site is now owned by the province.  Expected to open in Spring, 2026, the project will have 120 campsites, new pit toilets and showers. Another 40 sites will be added in another area in 2027. 

Warm up a chilly fall night in camp with a cozy mystery. Farley Halladay is a salty widow, cook, caregiver and #sailboat veteran with an online #boat business. Virtually #cruise the #Caribbean with her as she cooks, copes with widowhood and her wacky friends while she solves crimes. https://amzn.to/31J5d3D

Go Wild at the Asheville West KOA Holiday,, Chandler, North Carolina. The campground is not only renewed, repaired and reopened after Hurricane Helene, it is  is newly certified  by the U.S. and North Carolina Wildlife Federations as a Wildlife Habitat and a Pollinator Habitat. After assessing  the massive damage to both structures and the landscape, owners decided to rebuild both. More than 60 native species were planted to provide shelter and food for birds, bees, butterflies, and small animals. There are sites for rigs up to 65 and extra amenities such as a book exchange, camp store, hiking trails and gardens. Reservations (800) 562-9015.

Bayou Wilderness RV Campground, Carencro,, Louisiana has new owners. The park has 121 pull-thru  RV sites, a swimming pool, ball courts and a nature trail.  Come for planned activities with a Cajun vibe. (337) 896-0598

By next spring, the Silver Creek Campground in Louisiana may have new owners, a new name and perhaps an entirely different role in your RV life. See Scuttlebutt below. 

NEW CAMPGROUNDS AND RV PARKS

The first 100 RV spaces are expected to open next year at Gulf State Park,, Alabama. A former golf course is being turned into a campground with a large swimming pool, pickleball courts, oversize RV lots, a laundry and , a total of 200 campsites by the time Phase Two is completed. Direct access to the campground and to the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system  has been made easier. 

SCUTTLEBUTT

Silver Greek Campground, Silver Creek, Louisiana is going on the block in a rare, absolute auction. That means the highest bidder will get a 72-acre property with 225 sites, hookups, a mile of creek frontage, a large pavilion, ball courts, four cabins and a swimming pool. There are an addiitonal 40 acres of undeveloped land. Someone will walk away with what appears to be the campground bargain of the century. The date is November 20. Check it out. BigBonnetAuctions.com

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SAVE THS LIST?

If you are a regular visitor to Alabama state parks, here’s a way to plan trips for special events. These URL’s take you directly to each park’s event schedule. (Note that not all parks have campgrounds.) 

      ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 Go to a website, choose an event and register online. Campsite reservations are made separately. 

To use these links, copy and paste to turn them into email addresses.

Blue Springs: https://www.alapark.com/parks/blue-springs-state-park/park-events  

Buck's Pocket: https://www.alapark.com/parks/bucks-pocket-state-park/park-events 

Cathedral Caverns: https://www.alapark.com/parks/cathedral-caverns-state-park 

Cheaha: https://www.alapark.com/parks/cheaha-state-park/park-events 

Chewacla: https://www.alapark.com/parks/chewacla-state-park/park-events  

DeSoto: https://www.alapark.com/parks/desoto-state-park/park-events  

Frank Jackson https://www.alapark.com/parks/frank-jackson-state-park/park-events  

Gulf: https://www.alapark.com/parks/gulf-state-park/park-events 

Joe Wheeler: https://www.alapark.com/parks/joe-wheeler-state-park/park-events 

Lake Guntersville: https://www.alapark.com/parks/lake-guntersville-state-park/park-events 

Lakepoint: https://www.alapark.com/parks/lakepoint-state-park/park-events 

Meaher: https://www.alapark.com/parks/meaher-state-park/park-events 

Monte Sano: https://www.alapark.com/parks/monte-sano-state-park/park-events  

Oak Mountain: https://www.alapark.com/parks/oak-mountain-state-park/park-events 

Rickwood Caverns: https://www.alapark.com/parks/rickwood-caverns-state-park/park-events 

Wind Creek: https://www.alapark.com/parks/wind-creek-state-park/park-events 

DOES THE OPEN ROAD CALL YOUR NAME?

 Do you dream of living and traveling in a complete home on wheels? Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition by Janet Groene & Gordon Groene is a total guide to the full-time life on wheels. Should you sell the house or rent it out? Downsize possessions or put them in storage? Too young to retire? See our chapter on ways to make a living anywhere. Kids on board? We cover home schooling and also an exit strategy if and when the time comes to settle down. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you.  https://amzn.to/29XFEkq 

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LAST WEEK'S BREAKING NEWS

RV WINTER CAMPING + LATEST RV PARK NEWS BRIEFS

Copyright Janet Groene 2025. To ask about placing your ad on all Groene food and travel sites email jantgroene@yahoo.com 

For every RV life

THERE IS A SEASON

And for some RV-ers, winter is best of all

Thanks to the sophisticated new reservations systems we can always find just the right RV site for ambience, location, services, facilities and even the shape, size and placement of hookups at the site itself. 

However, there is more you need to know about a destination at this time of year. More and more campgrounds, resorts and RV parks are choosing to stay open through the winter. 

Here’s an idea of what to look for:

* What amenities remain open? When does the outdoor swimming pool close? What about planned activities?  The fitness center? Nearby restaurants and attractions?  Bathrooms and hot showers available?       

           

* What about bottom line costs? Winter may call for high season camping rates in ski country but low season rates in area where winter is not tourism season. But what about the unexpected costs of winter travel? 

  

* You need to know total costs such as installing skirting and other insulation, purchases such as heated hoses, the cost of  electricity for heating and charges for water and honey wagon delivery if the water and sewer hookups are disabled when temperature call below freezing. Is propane delivery available? 

* Can you get there? In snow country it’s likely that some roads will be closed at least some of the time. Is your rig both winterized and suitable for winter driving? 

* Reservation cancellation costs can be high. If you can have to cancel because of closed roads or a weather related problem at the campground, can you get a refund or just credit for a  new date?

* What about staffing and security in winter? 

* Does the place offer safety and comfort for your pet? Facilities for equestrian campers and their mounts? 

* If you rely on solar, how much sunshine can you expect at this locale?

Ready now? Hook up the toy hauler for your snowmobile, mount your ski racks and let’s GO! 

 

DOES THE OPEN ROAD CALL YOUR NAME?

 Do you dream of living and traveling in a complete home on wheels? Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition by Janet Groene & Gordon Groene is a total guide to the full-time life on wheels. Should you sell the house or rent it out? Downsize possessions or put them in storage? Too young to retire? See our chapter on ways to make a living anywhere. Kids on board? We cover home schooling and also an exit strategy if and when the time comes to settle down. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you.  https://amzn.to/29XFEkq 

 

 CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEW

These news briefs are from local sources. They may be premature or incomplete from the travel planner's standpoint. It's up to you to follow up for yourself. 

RV Park & Campground Changes, Upgrades, New Owners

A real estate investment group now owns Lake George Riverview Campground in Lake George,  New York. Book a waterfront campsite on the Schroon River. Sites have water, electric, sewer, fire ring, picnic table and free WiFi. The park has a boat launch, swimming pool, sand beach and a pavilion/activities center. As of press time no changes have been announced by the new owners.  (518) 623-9444 (www.) LakeGeorgeRiverview.com/

In Arizona, new owners are in place at the Willcox/Cochise KOA Holliday.  They plan to add 30 new RV sites for long rigs, more sites with Paw Pens, more patio sites, a new playground, horse stalls and a pickleball court. Call (800) -562-5415. 

EVENTS

I loved camping Australia in a rented camper, so this news item is presented for those planning a trip Down Under,  The Bundurra Race Course in New England, New South Wales, Australia.  is again the  home of the historic Bundurra Cup each October. That’s good news for RV travelers. The campground is now upgraded and renewed. Start planning now for the 2026 event.  

Re-sole your dancing shoes in time for the Colorado Square Dance Festival in Greeley, Colorado, June 12-13, 2026. Dry RV camping will be available on site and at least three full-survice campgrounds nearby are available nearby. The University of Northern Colorado Center Ballrooms have a beautiful wood floor. All dancing and activities will take place on one level of the University Center. To register go to https://mapsdc.coloradosquaredancefestival.com/online-registration/

Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, Alabama (south of Birmingham)  will hold its annual Appalachian Festival November 5.  Bring the family to discover authentic mountain music, crafts, environment, history and arts. The park has RV sites with partial or full hookups plus a dump station (fee for non-campers), two bath houses, a playground, dog park and two coin-op laundry facilities.  See alaparks.com/

SCUTTLEBUTT

Seasonal closing dates in various national forest campgrounds around Lake Tahoe vary from October 1 to November 30 and can be changed by weather conditions. Check each  ahead.  Those that stay open through the winter include Camp Richardson Resort’s RV campground and  Zephyr Cove Resort and Campground 

A final development plan has been approved for Elmwood RV Park near Abilene in Taylor County, Texas. The city-size development will have 2.300 lots sized 25 X 55 with cement pads plus  a dog park, playground, volleyball and a clubhouse. All RV’s must have their own bathroom and showers.

CAMPGROUND AND RV PARK CLOSURES

The campground at Long Branch State Park,  Macon, Missouri, is set to close for 2026 while renovations and additions are completed. Check occasionally so see when reservations will open for 2027.  Contact 

https://mostateparks.com/campgrounds/long-branch-state-park or call the park office at (660) -773-5229.

We understand that Davidson River Campground near Brevard, North Carolina in Pisgah National Forest will close this November until May, 2026 while it’s being renovated. The area is known for trout fishing, camping, mountain views, leafy forests and rugged trails. Check for reservations at recreation/gov/

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in California, which hoped to reopen its campground  this year,  is now expected to remain closed until April 2026. Campers can look forward to a newly renovated and improved campground. Call  (831) 335-4598 to ask when reservations will be available. https://www.parks.ca.gov/

Cameron County (Texas) officials are moving forward with a major utility upgrade at Isla Blanca Park. Because of the project, the park’s interior campground will close on October 1 for approximately one year while crews update aging hookups and systems.  Day use facilities at the park remain open. 

THE IDEAL GIFT FOR ANY RV AGE, GENDER, OCCASION

COOKING ABOARD YOUR RV

    For yourself or a gift,  Janet Groene's timeless RV cookbook is packed with shortcuts, tips and 270 easy, delicious recipes to cook inside the camper or outside on the campfire, camp stove or grill.  

https://amzn.to/3nNndWY 

I'll send you a full page of camp cooking tips, hacks and shortcuts free, lifted randomly from my ever growing list Email me at janetgroene@yahoo.com Put Cooking Tips in the topic line and give me an email address to send them. 

          SCROLL DOWN TO SEE  PAST POSTS

Security for RV Women + Latest RV Park News

Copyright Janet Groene 2025.  This site has had more than 241,000 views. To ask about placing your ad on all six Groene sites for one low rate, email janetgroene (at) yahoo.com

When

Bad

Things

Happen...

Will anyone hear your SOS?

The

Ultimate

Security 

Device? 

Every travel needs extra security measures. As a woman RV traveler,  you need the very best search and rescue aids available. Some phone apps can call for help or report your location. Most cell phones broadcast a GPS location. But wait! There’s more.

DOES THE OPEN ROAD CALL YOUR NAME?

 Do you dream of living and traveling in a complete home on wheels? Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition by Janet Groene & Gordon Groene is a total guide to the full-time life on wheels. Should you sell the house or rent it out? Downsize possessions or put them in storage? Too young to retire? See the chapter on ways to make a living anywhere. Kids on board? We cover home schooling and also an exit strategy if and when the time comes to settle down. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you.  https://amzn.to/29XFEkq 

Smart phones, cell phones, Wi-Fi and other communications devices are limited by signal coverage, signal strength and battery power.

    A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), by contrast, does just one thing. It sends a strong, clear message from anywhere on earth to whatever rescue service is available in that area. Best of all, it operates without a monthly subscription. 

Think of the black box device that sends out a ping after an airplane crashes. Once used primarily on ships and planes, these locator beacons are now available in affordable, personal, pocket size devices for skiers, archaeologists, hikers, climbers, parachute jumpers, rafters, paddlers and anyone else who might ever need rescue.

And that could be any of us, anywhere, even as close to home as a roadside ditch or a trail just minutes from your campsite.   

 There is a drawback. A PLB isn’t a two-way communication device. It is activated only when you’re in grave and imminent danger.

                                                    ======== 

I'll send you a full page of camp cooking tips, hacks and shortcuts free, lifted randomly from my ever growing list Email me at janetgroene@yahoo.com Put Cooking Tips in the topic line and give me an email address to send them. 

                    ========

 Which PLB is For You?

First, look at your own basic needs. Size and weight are a consideration for easy carrying at all times. If you want it to work on the water, you need a PLB that is waterproof and buoyant.  (Some activate automatically when they hit water).  Some units have a strobe light. Cost is also a factor. There are basic models and others with fancier features. 

By government standards a PLB operates at 406MHz, a special frequency used only for search and rescue,  and it must undergo rigorous testing.  One manufacturer, ACR, has units that can put out 6.4 watts for more than 30 hours at minus 20 degrees C. You’ll probably pay more than $250 for a PLB but that’s all. There are no more costs until you have to replace the battery, usually about every five years. There is no monthly fee. 

How It Works

When you need rescue, press a button on the PLB, which you might wear on an armband or carry in a pocket.  Your unique signal code is sent to satellites that service your unique signature.  In seconds the  signal is routed to a ground station (Local User Terminal or LUT) and transferred to the Mission Control Center (MCC). A Rescue Coordination Center passes the information to Search and Rescue (SAR) forces in your location. 

To date, more than 30,000 lives have been saved by these beacons. Once you own a PLB, bought new or used, register it with NOAA. As soon as you’re registered, SAR forces worldwide have your back.   

                            PLB'S AND SATELLITE MESSENGERS

                  ARE POCKET SIZE

What's a Satellite Messenger? 

Like a PLB, a Satellite Messenger ($150 to $400 on Amazon) can provide worldwide coverage to send an SOS. Depending on the model it can also  provide two-way texting and nav aids such as maps and GPS. Unlike the PLB it requires a subscription and it requires a clear view of the sky. 

For information on how to choose a PLB see rei.com and westmarine.com

The latest in the Yacht Yenta cozy mystery e-books brings widow Farley Halladay closer to the answer of her husband's death. 

Read the six cozies in any order as Farley copes, cooks and solves crimes with the help of her wacky cast of characters. You'll laugh at her frailties; cry with her as she grieves. Find it on Google Play and other ebook formats and also on  Kindle,   https://amzn.to/3wcf6ao

 

Is a new RV Park or Campground coming next year to your state  or province? 

       CAMPGROUNDS &  RV PARKS, 

             GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

NEW CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS

The former Val Chatel ski resort near Park Rapids, Minnesota is due to become a new county park with a campground. Located at the headwaters of the Mississippi River, it’s the site of Deep Lake, which will give its name to the campground. The alpine setting will become a new county park with trails and a campground. The  12-year plan  calls  for RV and tent campsites and trails. An opening date is not known at this time.

Harris Ranch Resort, Coalinga, California is more than just a pit stop along the I-5. It’s a full destination with fine dining, lodging, special events and a new RV park coming soon Go to harrisranch.com or call (559) 935-0717 to get on the mail list

Coming next year to West Memphis, Arkansas is the Brownstone Water Park & RV Resort. The luxury RV destination adjoins the Brownstone Country Club with its 18-hole golf course. Go to  BrownstoneStayAndPlay.com/ to get on the wait list. 

The story of Talona Ridge RV Resort in East Ellijay, Georgia continues to unfold. A new, ultra-luxury resort in the mountains of North Georgia, the destination has a dog park, dog washing station, pickleball and coaching, fitness center, year-round hot tub,  upscale bar and grille, laundry, propane refill station, golf cart rentals and much more.  Call (706) 636-2267 to see if your RV meets standards for this resort. 

On the drawing board at Bigwind Lake  Provincial Park, east of Bracebridge, Ontario are plans for a large expansion and development that includes a 250-site campground, visitor center, trails and facilities throughout.  Follow the developing story at  https://www.ontario.ca/page/new-operating-provincial-park-bigwind-lake-provincial-park

SCUTTLEBUTT

Chassahowitzka River Campground, Homosassa, Florida won’t be sold after all! Instead, ownership will go from the water district to the county after the district contributes $200.00 for repairs. The popular campground will remain  publicly owned for 40 years.  ThIs  wilderness site on the Chassahowitzka River has RV and tent sites, cabins, a boat launch and rentals, laundry, bath house, pavilion,  a spacious observation deck on the river, a bait shop/ concession and a playground. (352) 382-2200. 

South Beach in the Village of, Kaslo, British Columbia is one step closer to getting an RV park with as many as 90 sites and a boat launch.  Follow this story and grab reservations as soon as they open.

Arizona residents are offered a Buy One, Get One deal for free camping nights at regional parks in Maricopa County. It’s good until October 31. Get details at  (602) 506-2930. .Participating parks include Cave Creek, McDowell Mountain, Usery Mountain and White Tanks.

RV PARK AND CAMPGROUND CHANGES, UPGRADES

Price hikes. According to the RV Miles podcast, Jellystone RV Park in Lodi, California, is raising its monthly rate from $1200 to $1300 in low season and $3250 monthly in summer. In Oregon, some state parks are raising rates for RV sites with full hookups to $52 starting next May. Learn more about these informative podcasts and You Tube features at rvmiles.com 

Jackson Rancherie Casino Resort has expanded its new RV park.in Jackson, California. The 100 RV sites have cement pads and the park offers manicured landscaping, golf and a dog park. Due for completion later this year and early in 2026 are an additional 100 full hookups , a second swimming pool, another spa, a clubhouse, new laundry more trails, a new chlldren’s play area, a barbecue pavilion and a new outdoor recreation area for pickleball and bocce. (800) 822-9466

EVENTS

Learn “All About Astronomy”  at Platte River State Park, Louisville, Nebraska on Fridays in October. For information about the naturalist-led programs call the park at (402) 234-2217. The park has 48 full hookup RV sites. Features of the scenic park include a waterfall, archery range, nature center, lodge, marina and trails for hiking or biking. 

October programs at Eugene R. Mahoney State Park in Ashland,  Nebraska feature f Birds of a Feather mornings.  On select  Tuesdays, meet at the Family Conservatory and Nature Center to learn about migratory birds seen here at this time of year. The park has two campgrounds. Check out reservations and events at https://outdoornebraska.gov/location/eugene-t-mahoney/

    For tips on getting the most nutrition into your RV's emergency food locker, see Survival Food Handbook.  It's a guide to stocking an emergency pantry in a small space such as a camper, RV,  boat or cabin with the most food value per inch, per ounce and per dollar using familiar, affordable supermarket staples. Paperback or ebook.     http://amzn.to/1WdYqbe

 

    SCROLL DOWN TO SEE SAMPLES OF PAST POSTS

RV PET MYTHS + Latest RV Park News Breaks

Copyright Janet Groene 2025, all rights reserved. To ask about placing your ad on all Groene sites for one year, one low rate, email janetgroene (at) yahoo.com

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S LATEST NEWS BREAKS ABOUT RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS 

Don’t believe it! 

8 MADDENING MYTHS ABOUT

RV TRAVEL WITH PETS

1. Pets don’t get motion sickness. (Wrong)

 

They do, according to WebMD. As with traveling children, motion sickness is more common in puppies and young dogs. The pet may drool, vomit or lick its jowls or it may show its discomfort by whining, yawning or being extra active or extra lethargic. 

Stress adds to the change that a pet will get sick,  so make the travel experience as comfortable as possible. My dog Gypsy loves being in the camper, so she joins me there when I’m working inside even if we are not going anywhere. This makes her feel more at home when we are underway. 

If possible the pet should see out the front or at least out of side windows. This helps orient its balance system to the world around it. A crate is a good idea, both to contain the pet and any vomit. Position it if possible to the pet can see the road ahead. Ask your vet about medications.

2. Pets don’t need restraints (Wrong)

Pets have incredibly fast reaction time but no pet is quick enough nor strong enough to withstand  the G faces in a panic stop or crash. It isn’t just the pet’s safety at stake. Even a small cat or dog could become a deadly cannonball when colliding with  a human.

3. Pets don’t need special food, water or medication for travel (May Be Wrong)

Depending on the destination, your vet may recommend shots or pills for snake bite, “kennel cough”, fleas, ticks  or other regional hazards. Some pet owners carry bottled water, or water from home, to avoid upsets from drinking different water in every campground. And it’s always wise to keep a pet on the same food or to introduce a new one gradually. 

4. It’s OK to Let the Dog Piddle as Long as You Pick Up the Poop (Wrong)

Most RV travelers are meticulous about cleaning up dog poop but many will just stand there when the same dog piddles on someone’s tires or hoses.  It’s hard to keep the dog from marking its territory and impossible to keep a male cat from squirting, but please don’t let another “No Pets Allowed” sign go up in another campground due to your pet’s bad manners.

DOES THE OPEN ROAD CALL YOUR NAME?

 Do you dream of living and traveling in a complete home on wheels? Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition by Janet Groene & Gordon Groene is a total guide to the full-time life on wheels. Should you sell the house or rent it out? Downsize possessions or put them in storage? Too young to retire? See our chapter on ways to make a living anywhere. Kids on board? We cover home schooling and also an exit strategy if and when the time comes to settle down. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you.  https://amzn.to/29XFEkq 

 

5. Campground showers are a great place to wash the dog (Wrong)

 Some people go bonkers if they see pet hairs in shower drains and they make sure the manager knows who is responsible.  Many campgrounds now have dog wash stations. Just don't use the campground bathrooms. 

6. My Dog Doesn’t Bark (Oh yeah?) 

I once parked next to a couple whose large dog began barking as soon as they left the RV and didn’t stop until they returned. Find ways to keep your pet comfortable, safe and entertained while you're away. 

7. It’s a Cool Day, So Rover is OK Inside the RV (Maybe Not) 

Even with windows open on a 70-degree day, a pet can suffer heat exhaustion in as little as 30 minutes According to the Humane Society, signs of heatstroke are heavy panting, glazed eyes,  rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness.

Animals are at particular risk for heat stroke, say the Society,  if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease. Some breeds of dogs—like boxers, pugs, shih tzus, and other dogs and cats with short muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat.

8. My Dog Obeys, so Leash Laws Don’t Apply to Me (Tell it to the Judge) 

Dogs can bolt or disobey out of hunting instinct, fear or need of romance. You could lose a pet, or be evicted from a campground for ignoring leash laws. 

 

The latest in the Yacht Yenta cozy mystery e-books brings widow Farley Halladay closer to the answer of her husband's death. 

Read the six cozies in any order as Farley copes, cooks and solves crimes with the help of her wacky cast of characters. You'll laugh at her frailties; cry with her as she grieves. Find it on Google Play and other ebook formats and also on  Kindle,   https://amzn.to/3wcf6ao

Is your state or province in the news this week? 

        ===============================================================

Free Tips for the Camp Cook

I'll send you a full page of camp cooking tips, hacks, shortcuts and wrinkles lifted randomly from my ever growing list Email me at janetgroene@yahoo.com Put Cooking Tips in the topic line and give me an email address to send them. 

                                                        ============

RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS 

NEW AND FUTURE RV PARKS & CAMPGROUNDS

Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado is adding nine new RV sites with full hookups. Presently there are 61 campsites. The park is open year round but check ahead for availability of sites and hookups. Programs and the archery range are also open all year. (719) 576-2016. cpw.state.co.us

RV@Olympic Park at  Port Angeles, Washington is now open with 98 RV sites, full hookups, Internet,  playground, camp store, laundry, dog park and clubhouse. Long-term stays are available. Rates start at $1,097. Go to  RvatOlympic.com,  (360) 209-8172

New on the Bayou Teche in St. Martinville, Louisiana is Camping on the Bayou. Rigs up to 35 feet can be accommodated and they say alternate accommodations can be arranged for larger rigs. The pet-friendly camp has direct frontage on the bayou, a barbecue pit, basketball, a treehouse hangout and a private pond.   (985) 306-2959

EVENTS

The dates are October 5-November 2 for the Pumpkin Patch filled with real pumpkins at the Moore Haven (Florida)  KOA Holiday, The month holds plenty of activities to generate proceeds that will benefit the  Croskeykidz Summer Camp for kids in Glades County. Get a full rundown on the pumpkins (daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.),  the  Halloween Bash, haunted trails, campsite decorating and other fun at the KOA website. The campground has a heated swimming pool, two pool tables, a camp store, cornhole, fiber optic Internet and cable, five fish ponds, a playground and fully serviced RV sites. 

Held monthly , every Hike With a Ranger is different at Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka, Florida. Camp here on October 16 and take the hike to see what’s new in the ecosystem along the 2.5-mile trail. The theme this time is Tails on Trails, and that means you can bring your leashed pet. Be at the Sand Lake parking lot at 9 a.m. In addition to campsite fees, admission to the park is $6. The hike is free but donations to the park are encouraged. The park has 60 campsites with water and electric. Some sites have a sewer and some are ADA accessible with advance reservation.  Campsites are wooded and have a picnic table and fire ring with grill.  FloridaStateParks.org/

Meet a real bison at the annual Guided Bison Saunter on November 6, 7 and 8 at Prairie State Park, Mindenmines, Missouri. Along prairie trails you may also see  buffalo, elk and deer. The park is picnic and public-friendly but campsites are few and basic, so check out nearby RV parks and campgrounds such as the Four Oaks RV Park in Pittsburg or the Joplin KOA. For information on the bison events call (417) 843-6711

Tickets are now on sale for  2026 concerts scheduled at The Palms RV Resort, Yuma, Arizona. , Headliners include a Moody Blues tribute on January 9, a tribute to country stars Luke Bryan and Keith Urban on January 16 and Mick Adams and the Stones playing January 23. The 60-acre resort has a bar, cabanas and more than 400 home or RV sites. Go to YumPalmsRVResort.com/

Save the date. The  2026 Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colorado will be held as usual in the month of June. Headliners, workshops and other details TBA. The iconic festival attracts 15,000 people or more, so start planning early. See https://bluegrass.com › telluride/

SCUTTLEBUTT (check it out) 

It’s reported that Grant Campground in Yellowstone National Park won’t open until June, 2026. 

Word is that North Beach Campground at  Emma Wood State Beach, Ventura, California, is closed through May,  2026 for repairs and construction projects. The group camp remains open. The Emma Wood Group Camp area near Ventura Beach RV Resort is expected to  remain open.

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The latest in the Yacht Yenta cozy mystery e-books brings widow Farley Halladay closer to the answer of her husband's death on board their ketch in the Virgin Islands. 

Read the six cozies in any order as Farley copes, cooks and solves crimes with the help of her wacky cast of characters. You'll laugh and cry with her and her cronies. Find it on most ebook formats including  Kindle,   https://amzn.to/3wcf6ao

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