RV Life BlogsAdventures in RVing by Dave Helgeson
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Obviously cell phones are an invaluable asset to an active RVer and carried by all, but as we become more dependent on the internet the question arises on the best way to get online while living the nomadic lifestyle called boondocking. My wife and I recently added email capability to our cell phones for a modest fee, but choose not to include full internet access due to the monthly cost. Currently, prior to departing on an extended boondocking trip, my wife records the locations of all the known public hot spots along our route. McDonalds, libraries, and community colleges are just a few of the places where a free wireless internet signal can be secured. Since we move frequently from one boondocking spot to another, we typically can secure an internet signal every 4 to 7 days allowing us to pay bills, send files, etc. When we are boondocking and need information that we would normally access via the internet, say like the weather prior to exploring a slot canyon, I email my daughter who looks up the information online and sends it to me as an email. However, as our dependency on the internet grows even more, I can foresee the need for ready internet access while boondocking. My thought here is to find a cell phone provider that offers internet service that can be turned on when we are on the road and turned off when we are home. In addition, I think I would like a cell phone that provides a mobile hot spot allowing my wife and I to access the internet via our laptops saving us from squinting at the tiny cell phone screen. When we make the upgrade, I will share the information. All in all, I can’t think of a better time in the history of RVing to be boondocking. Staying in the sticks and staying connected one the best adventures in RVing!
The 49th annual Seattle RV Show opens this Thursday, February 9th at the CenturyLink Field Event Center, formerly known as Qwest Field Event Center. The 2012 Seattle RV Show sponsored this year by Washington State Employees Credit Union and produced by your local Puget Sound RV dealers MHRV Show Association is the largest and oldest RV show in the region. This years show is the largest it has been in the past three years and features several new and returning features sure to please RV enthusiasts of all ages.
Of course, I would be amiss if I failed to mention the hundreds of new RVs of every size and shape. Travel trailers, fifth wheels, folding trailers, truck campers, toy haulers, extended stay units and all classes of Motorhomes; A, B and C. After a hiatus of several years, the iconic Airstream will be returning to this years show. For a listing of participating dealers and to do a product search click 
If you have yet to join this fast growing sport, then be sure to attend the 2012 Seattle RV Show February 9th - 12th at CenturyLink Event Center. Groundspeak Inc, the parent company of geocaching will be exhibiting at the show and will be presenting a seminar at the show currently scheduled for noon Saturday, February 11th. Groundspeak is headquartered right here in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest was the location of the very first geocache, so living in the Puget Sound region and not geocaching is like living in Seattle and not being a coffee junkie! Come and become a member of the geocaching family at the Seattle RV Show and let the sport of geocaching guide you to some adventures in RVing of your very own.
Are you a retired RVer and on a fixed income, maybe you are a people person and looking for some face time with other RVers or maybe the downturn in economy displaced you from your job and you are looking for a new, less stressful lifestyle?
If learning more about camp hosting interests you, be sure to attend the “Volunteering in Washington State Parks” seminar held 2:00PM daily at the Seattle RV Show February 9th - 12th at the CenturyLink Event Center. While the seminar deals with hosting in state parks, it will provide you with insight on hosting and how it works regardless on where you decide to host. 
Are you ready to take the plunge and try some boondocking on your next RV outing? Then be sure to attend the 2012 Seattle RV Show February 9th - 12th at the CenturyLink Field Event Center (formerly Qwest Field). Yours truly will be presenting a seminar entitled “Boondocking 101” daily at the show. I will cover the whys and wheres of boondocking with a heavy emphasis on how to locate boondocking locations along your intended route before leaving home. 
You will learn what boondocking is, why people boondock, how to conserve water, power and holding tank space, safety tips and most importantly how to find your own private campsite among the millions of acres of public land available to you. Private campsites along mountain streams, tranquil lakes, towering sandstone cliffs, and wide open vistas await those who take the time to seek them out.
Do you dream of driving your RV north to Alaska on the Alaskan Highway, adding a sign to the Sign Forest in Watson Lake along the way? Maybe you dream of exploring the inside passage with your RV using the Alaska Marine Highway System to navigate between ports. Or maybe you just want to ramble here and there in your RV enjoying everything the 49th state has to offer at your leisure. If you are really adventurous, maybe you want to do all three! Well prepare to win the Alaska trifecta at the 2012 Seattle RV Show February 9th - 12th at the CenturyLink Event Center.
The primitive camping areas are pretty much camp where you please, first come first served. With the lake receding, there are numerous opportunities to camp right on the beach. 
