The month of March can only mean one thing and I’m not talking about college basketball. Although I will be the first to admit that I can get pretty wrapped up in all the hoopla of the NCAA tournament.
I’m not talking about kite flying. This March here in Virginia has had several windy days that would have been excellent for flying some big kites. And it looks like the month is continuing on with good kite flying weather.
Perhaps you thought I was going to say Spring Break. That is not it either. And actually Spring Break for my kids and their schools comes in April this year. And after hearing that Myrtle Beach has been ranked as one of the dirtiest places for spring break, number five on the list put out by Coed Magazine, I’m not sure I would be headed there.
The best thing about March is the beginning of Camping Season here in Virginia. True, some campgrounds here in the Commonwealth are open year round and others reopened for the season back in February, but generally speaking, most campgrounds open in the month of March. Thousand Trails Lynchburg is an exception. They unfortunately don’t open until the end of April.
To get side tracked for a moment, I have to say I was excited to learn that Thousand Trails – Lynchburg is going to be open through October this year and is planning to have a big Halloween weekend with trick or treating for the kids. This will be a first so I hope we can fill the campground that weekend and make it a huge success. We have done the Halloween themed weekends at other campgrounds and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We are looking forward to staying closer to home this year.
So getting back to March and camping, I hope you are as excited about this year as I am. It seems like winter has truly dragged on this year, especially these past few weeks with colder than normal temperatures and even some wintry precipitation. In fact, I learned today that we may still see some measurable snow going into the last week of March. Perhaps the saying “In like a lamb, out like a lion” will hold true this year.
If you have a travel trailer and have had it winterized, you will want to schedule it in at your local dealer, such as Forest RV, or RB Taylor and Sons here in Lynchburg, Camping World over in Roanoke, or Grandview Trailer Sales just west of Bedford, to have it summarized. If you are a do it yourselfer like I am, then you know the routine and now is a good time to get started. I would still hold off on leaving water in any tanks or lines until the threat of a freeze is gone, which is usually by mid-April. You don’t want to start the season off with a busted pipe. If you are going camping, then make sure you have heat in the camper and it is working properly. Get your propane tanks filled if you have gas heat. You should also make sure your roof has been resealed. Most dealers tell me every other year is the recommended resealing timeframe.
Spring cleaning is a must for your travel trailer. It has been sitting all winter collecting dust and who knows what kind of insects have set up camp inside. I always wipe down the walls and ceilings along with mopping the floors and wiping down all other surfaces too. Don’t forget to stock up on your gray and black water tank sanitizers and deodorants. You will also need to sanitize your fresh water tank if you have one. This should be done at least once a season if used regularly to prevent fungal and bacteria buildup in the tank. Never use undiluted bleach to achieve this step.
And certainly an important step of spring cleaning and preparation is to go through your equipment list and check the actual listed items. Make sure everything is clean and ready to use and that all your items are in good working condition. If not, get them repaired or replaced.
Stock up on batteries. Now that the extreme cold air has retreated north until next winter, you should be able to safely store batteries in your camper without the fear of the cold draining them. If you left batteries in any of your devices such as walkie-talkies or flashlights, check to make sure the batteries have not leaked or corroded as this can be dangerous to you and your camping mates.
You will want to give the outside of your rig a wash down too. With pollen on the increase and a season of dust and dirt blowing around, the outside is probably looking grungy at this point. You can buy streak removing solutions if you have black streaks running down the sides. Wear some protective gloves when using these product or risk damaging your hands from chemical burns. Some of these cleaners are extremely strong solutions. While washing the tires you can also check the air pressure. Follow the recommended tire pressure and add air if necessary. This will help to increase the life of the tires by keeping them properly inflated.
I am guessing you already have your list of items that should be stocked in the camper. Items such as sheets, blankets, cookware, toiletries, etc… If not, this is a good time to start a list. Keep a printed copy in your travel trailer.
Don’t forget to make your reservations. Although most places don’t fill up this time of year, you will be more at ease for the drive there and should they fill up, you will have a site still waiting for you. If you haven’t heard, a local camping favorite has changed its name. More on this next time.
That is it for now. Time to get out the water hose and wash bucket. I am ready to hit the trial. Hope to see you out there this season.
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