The Real Cost of Boondocking and Chicago

This morning, it was getting to the point where showers seemed dire.

A shower in the camper, drawing from our limited fresh water, wasn't gonna cut it.

The best options are locations that cater to truckers. They're big enough for us to get around, turn around, and manage all the tricky things.

Let's talk about Love's, the truck stop and RV chain.

If I allowed comments on this blog—nah. Not a chance am I moderating content and setting up authentication. Sorry.

But if I did, I'd want to hear people's opinions of Love's.

The convenience factor is high. They're everywhere along the major highways, and you can do all of these things in one place:

• Empty black tanks
• Fill fresh water tanks
• Empty trash
• Buy (some) camper gear and parts
• Get fuel
• Get convenience store items
• Get showers

That's a lot of boxes to check in one stop.

So we went.

Our particular store had a weird setup for the dump station. I wish I had a video of me and Jason babysitting this pipe full of... you know... as we tried to dump our tanks, while our sewer hookup was positioned well below the dump station connection. Which had no real threading, so it was hold the donut in place the whole time. Or else.

You know, gravity is a real thing.

There's literally a saying that "shit doesn't run uphill."

It NEVER has.

And it doesn't at Love's either.

I feel like there's a simple solution here: the starting point must be higher, therefore the camper must be higher. Or the endpoint must be lower.

You figure it out, Love's.

But here's the thing.

There's a hidden cost to boondocking.

And it's worth mentioning because boondocking is sometimes viewed as a way to save money. That's how I looked at it. 

But.

A standard campsite with full hookups averages about $70 a night for us in the PA/MD/WV tristate area.

Showers for two people, waste disposal, and bottled water at Love's and other truck stops: approximately $60.

Honestly, I think the cost is going to work out about the same as traditional campground camping.

But I love the challenge of what we're doing.

It's different.

It requires flexibility.

And we've barely even started.

This evening is quiet.

We're parked at Whiskey Acres Distillery. I'm looking at cornfields and solar panels.

Feels like home.

The distillery is closed for the night, and it's peaceful.

Getting Through Chicago

Sucked.