RVing and PCSing Go Hand In Hand

The Gustafson family is RVing from Alaska to Florida during this PCS move. I caught up with them this morning as they were preparing to head out. They spent the night here at the Gila Bend famcamp in Arizona. When they left it was snowing in Elmendorf as they hauled their toyhauler to Haines, Alaska to catch the ferry to Bellingham, Washington. They didn't take off their snow tires until they were well into California. The Gustafson family uses many of the military campgrounds available exclusively to active duty, retired military personnel and DOD employees. The kids love the adventure partly because of the travel but mostly because they have Dad all to themselves for a while. Dad is a busy guy flying F-15 jets and now he's going to be the Vice Wing Commander at the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. I told the boys they have alligators in Flordia and they thought that was cool and were looking forward to living on the beach. Laughing, one of the boys said, "We're going from cold to warm!" So next time you have a PCS move consider doing it in an RV. I have a special place in my heart for military kids - we raised five of them. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Edwards AFB Famcamp Where Records Are Made To Be Broken

Military RVers will enjoy a stop at Edwards AFB Famcamp. At the current rate of $15 bucks a night it’s a good deal. With a newly added bathroom, shower and laundry room it’s more comfortable than ever. There is a dog clean-up convenience station in each corner of the campground. Full hook ups are available at 25 sites. Registration is self help and there is also a campground host. There is a stand alone dump station and overflow parking in the paved parking lot next to the pool. They do not take reservations. The familycamp has it’s own tennis courts and is by the base swimming pool and the bowling ally. Many other support facilities are available including a nice golf course. The Commissary and Exchange are within walking distance of the campground. The food court at the PX has your standard fare and there’s also a barber shop and various vendors. Around the corner and down the road about a half mile is the post office, pizza and sandwich shops, convenience store, thrift shop, MWR and the veterinarian. The base is a long way from anywhere (the closest town of any size is Lancaster - a good 45 minute drive) but there is a base gas station (with diesel) so be sure you fill up before you leave. The Air Force Flight Test Center Museum is a must see attraction. It has some great displays inside and a pretty good static aircraft display outside. Watch the video for a brief visit. You can see the tail of the B-52 looming just a short distance from the famcamp. The museum is free and has a nice souvenir shop as well. If you want a detailed tour of the flight line area then you can contact the Public Affairs Officer Dennis Shoffner at (661) 277-3517. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Sunday, Monday and Federal holidays. Directions - look at a map of Southern California and find Edwards AFB out in the middle of the Mojave all by itself and take the shortest route (You can’t miss it). The GPS coordinates are 34.9178, -117.9251. I like Edwards because it is open year round and it’s much nicer than the next military campground down the road at the Barstow Marine Corps Logistics Base (cheaper too). See you around - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Desert Rat RV Park Is Aptly Named

The Desert Rat is the RV campground for the Barstow Marine Corps Logistics Base in Southern California. Aptly named because it’s primarily occupied by long term residents leaving little room for folks just passing through (which is what you want to do because there is nothing here worth seeing or doing). They do have a couple spaces saved for those just passing through, but it would be a good idea to call ahead if you plan on staying here. To check availability call (760) 577-6418. There is plenty of dry camping on gravel, but they charge $10.00 for this privilege (absolutely ridiculous since there are no restroom or shower facilities - they should be ashamed of themselves). The full hook-up sites are back-in with W/20/30/50/S and run $18.50 per night if they aren’t being used by the long-term desert rats. Sheesh! What is it with MWR's thinking they are Club Med when it comes to overnight campground fees? It's getting ridiculous when you can use a Passport America park for half the price MWR charges. And this campground doesn't have a shower room, bathroom or laundry room, but they charge like they have a heated indoor pool, hot-tub and computer WiFi and are beach-front property. There needs to be some oversight and standardization on these military campgrounds. It really is getting out of hand. The base is easy to find and well marked on the freeway exit. From I-40, take the "Marine Corps Logistics Base" exit, which is about 2 miles East of the junction of I-40 and I-15. Go through the main gate (a little tight but enough room for big rigs to squeeze through). Go past the main gate about a mile and turn right into the exchange parking lot (you can turn sooner but the ramp is steeper). You’ll see the family camp on the right. GPS coordinates for the center of the campground are N 34.87515, W116.95919. There are better alternatives in the area (Edwards AFB Famcamp) and I would not stay at the Desert Rat myself unless I had a real good reason. There is a commissary and exchange with plenty of parking space.

$10.00 bucks for dry camping in Barstow ???? Stupid! Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing