The below are portions of an actual recent edition of the Day's End Directory, in order to give you an idea of what it is like:

 

 

D A Y' S  E N D  D I R E C T O R Y

(See Note 1 at end)

 

Including:

 

OVERNIGHT PARKING FOR SKPs (Pkg for SKPs) (Note 2)

 

BOONDOCKERS JOURNAL (BDJ) (Note 3)

 

"THE GOOD GUYS" (Note 4)

 

CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION OF A LOCATION IN DAY'S END (Note 5)

...

ABBREVIATIONS FOUND IN THE DIRECTORY AND WHAT THEY MEAN (Note 7)

...

TERMS AND CONDITIONS (Note 9)

March 1, 2012

Compiled by:

Guy Gipson SKP #84383

© Copyright Day's End LLC 2012 All Rights Reserved

 

 

ND, ALEXANDER: Sather Lake CG. About 16 mi S of town. No hookups, no fee. (Escapee member name).

 

ND, ANAMOOSE: CP. Large sign facing 3 30A diagonal back-in sites, W, flush toilets. $10. No phone, no D. GPS: N47 52.813, W100 14.392 at sites. US-52, turn N on SR-14/Main St, go 3 blocks to park on right/E side. RV sites on back of CP block across street from residences. Nice small town & CP. (Escapee member name).

 

ND, ARNEGARD: Convenient to Theodore Roosevelt NP, North unit. Stop at town hall on US-85 and pay $7 fee for full hookups. Park is 2 blocks off US-85. No size limit. Albert & Louise Rheem #59974. Updated by (Escapee member name).

 

ND, ARTHUR: CP. 1 pair of 15/20E, W, flush toilets in park. GPS: N47 06.104, W97 12.714 at ballfields. From SR-18, turn E on 5th Ave and go E to ballfields. The entrance to the CP off 4th Ave is a footpath only, with logs and a ditch, the S side having a running stream and footbridge. My guess is dry camping at the ballfields would be fine, maybe using the E (not tested) on the snack shack and the fresh W there okay. (Escapee member name).

 

ND, BARNEY: CP. The one 50A E in the center of the SW mowed grass field signed "camping" area is dead.  But there are 2 working 20A outlets in the alley, fresh water, with pkg on the NE corner of that field, running your cord (and hose) across the alley. Restrooms. Pretty park with playground. On SR-13 7 mi E of Wyndmere. (Escapee member name).

 

ND, BELCOURT: ND Sky Dancer Bingo Hall RV pkg. 7 sites. 30A E, W. Back-in level grass/dirt, concrete patio pads, D station. Free. On US-281/SR-5, 1 mi E of the main Sky Dancer Casino, turn S at the huge tent bingo hall on the S side. RV pkg is SE of main bingo pkg. No sign except for the D station at entrance, old maintenance building adjacent. N48 48.584 W99 49.644. Trees. (Escapee member name).

.....

 

NORTH DAKOTA NOTES: 1) Pick up a North Dakota Travel Guide at the welcome ctr and discover that almost every small town has a couple of sites in their CP. Most have W&E and many only charge $5 per night. Some are free. Online information is at:  http://tinyurl.com/2wf67sa/  ... Either click on the desired city or region, or under "Type" select "Campground".

2) There are several National Grasslands. Most have several primitive campgrounds on the land. Rules are much like National Forests except that the grasslands pass through private property so you cannot just pull off the rd and park.

.....

 

NORTH DAKOTA GOOD GUYS

FARGO: Jim Briden's Welding Shop, 2610 First Ave, 701-232-4434. Quality service, reasonable price, and space to park with elec while repairs were being done.

NORTHWOOD: Mike's Custom Truck Builders, 866-280-2587, a BD, Kelderman Air Ride, wheel alignments, drive line work, etc. dealer. We were very well treated and got a wiring problem solved for little $ on a Sat. They are an honest dealer and very highly recommended by BD. Great town and O/N stay too.             

.....

 

NATIONAL GOOD GUYS

ATWOOD MOBILE PRODUCTS: Today our Atwood water heater would not work. I called the number listed in our motorhome manual. I was promptly connected with their service dept. (unfortunately I did not get his name). He gave me tips on checking voltage and cleaning contacts since I had already checked for LP gas, water, and breaker/ fuse. I followed his advice and presto, hot water again without a costly service call. (Escapee member name) Sep 07.

MAXXAIR FAN: Had problem with a defective fan motor and the company's customer service dept resolved the problem by upgrading my fan without cost to me and even had a service rep who was in the area come to my rig. Friendly and professional with a great product. (Escapee member name) Apr 10.

 

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

 

NOTES:

 

1.  DAY'S END is a Department in  Escapees Magazine and the Escapees Newsletter which was published previously.  This Directory is a compilation of the Day's End listings beginning with the Mar/Apr 1987 issue of the Newsletter plus any invitations issued in rd Roamer News or elsewhere in the Newsletters/Magazines for O/N visits.  In recent years, way more new additions have come in than will fit in the Day's End Department of the Magazine, and updates have rarely been listed there.  The Directory contains all additions and updates, whether published in the Magazine or not.

 

2.  O/N PKG FOR SKPs is a section  in the annual Escapees Travel Guide. This information has been incorporated into this consolidated list for the convenience of our membership.

 

3.  BOONDOCKERS JOURNAL (BDJ):  Ed and Linda Griffith decided in 2002 to retire as editors of the BDJ. Bob and Viva Lee Ed took over the job late in the year, and consolidated it with the Day's End Directory. Thanks are due to all the Boondockers who contributed sites and updates to the Journal over the years. Also to the past editors, Bob & Viva Lee, Ed & Linda, and before them, Herb and Fran Pallesen, for their dedication in keeping that valuable resource in publication for all of us SKPs who enjoy not being restricted to developed campsites as we travel.  The original BDJ entries which are still in the Directory are interspersed with Day's End and O/N Pkg for SKPs, and are no longer separately identified.

 

4.  "THE GOOD GUYS" are listings by state/province of businesses which have been reported by an Escapees member as offering outstanding service and technical competence, reasonable time, and reasonable price.  A description of the specific nature of the service rendered and to what kind of vehicle, business name, address, and phone number should be included. This information is at the beginning of each state/province in the Directory. Caveat: Some of these listings are very old and all listings are the opinion of the submitter, not that of the Day's End Directory, as to the quality of your experience with any provider.  Similar hints and from a wider body of RVers than just the Escapees may be at http://www.rvservicereviews.com/Index.asp . For reference only - The Day's End Directory does not support or endorse any material posted to websites not under its control.

 

5. CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION OF A LOCATION IN DAY'S END DIRECTORY

 

May be boondock/dry camping with no facilities, or with any additional facilities.

 

Should be free or low cost.  "Low cost" is presently defined as $15 or less for the first and all subsequent nights, for the lowest service level (e.g., dry camping/BD).  Exception:  More expensive locations will be considered if they are the least expensive option in high-priced areas such as resort towns and metro areas.

 

Submitter should provide, at a minimum:  Name, SKP number, date stayed/observed, nearest town/state, type of stop (BLM, rest area, county park, etc.), facilities if any, fees if any, directions (from a major intersection or other easy to locate point of reference).

 

May be anywhere you can drive to in a 4 or more-wheel motor vehicle (not an ATV). No Tent Only areas more than a few feet from the pkg area. If more than 1 mile off a paved road, or access to location is difficult, road condition and vehicle requirement must be specified.

 

With few exceptions, these store locations should not be in the Directory: Big K, Cabelas, Camping World, Costco, Cracker Barrel, Flying J, Home Depot, Kmart, Kohl's, Loves, Meijer, Menards, Petro, Pilot, Sam's Club, TA Truckstop, WalMart & Super.

 

Exceptions are for locations with some unusual feature.  Examples:

 

W-M's such as free electric hookups, or you can get permission despite the sign.

Kmart or Home Depot confirmed to allow O/N that are near a W-M that does not.

Cracker Barrel that actually has lined off spaces long enough for MH and towed, and easy in/out.

TA that has RV-designated spaces away from the trucks.

Camping World which does not care if you are there for service.

Cabela's that are confirmed to have O/N and especially other services such as W, D.

O/N avail next to nice grassy area with picnic table.

 

No locations requiring membership in non-SKP groups (fraternal orders, veteran's clubs, military fam-camps, etc.) - they are well covered elsewhere. Exception:  A few let anyone park there; if so, include that in the listing.

 

No Interstate Rest Areas, unless one has some noteworthy feature such as a D, or designated RV pkg away from the trucks, or a spectacular view out your window. Interstate RAs are easy to find via maps and travel guides. RAs NOT on Interstates are harder to find so are welcome in the Directory.

 

No SKP Parks or SKP Discount Parks. They are already listed in the printed Escapees Travel Guide and on the Escapees website at: http://www.escapees.com/DiscountDirectory/DirectoryListings.asp .

 

7. ABBREVIATIONS FOUND IN DAY'S END DIRECTORY

 

This is a guide to the abbreviations so you will know what they mean. It's not intended that you use all of these all of the time when composing reports for the Directory. The extent to which you use them does help, but you are not required to. In some cases, use of an abbreviation can even be confusing/inappropriate.

 

IN ORDER BY WORD:

 

15/20A              15 or 20 amp

30A              30 amp

50A              50 amp

T              "a ""T"" intersection"

~               About/Approximately

addl              Additional

Alt              Alternate Route

avail              available

Ave              Avenue

blk              block

BDJ               Boondockers Journal

BD              Boondocking site (park, require no outside facilities)

bldg              building

BOR              Bureau of Reclamation

Bus              Business Route

CG              Campground

CDN               Canadian

CP              City Park (not used for County Park)

CR-              County Route

da              day

Dr              Drive

E               Electricity

Elev               elevation

SKP               Escapee

x              Exit

FG              fairground(s)

FM-              Farm to Market Road (mainly in Texas)

ft               foot

FR-              Forest Road

4WD              four-wheel drive

Fwy              Freeway

FHU              Full hookups

GPS               Global Positioning System

S/A Pass              Golden Age/Access, Senior/Access – National Parks and Federal Rec Lands Pass

hi              high

HU              Hookups

Hwy               Highway

incl              including

I-              Interstate Highway

Jct              Junction

km               Kilometer

Lk              lake

lg              large

L              left

ltr               letter

loc              location

lo              low

Mag               Magazine

maint.              maintained

MM              Mile Marker

mi              Mile or Miles

MP              Milepost

mo              month

Mtn              mountain

Natl              National

NF              National Forest

NP              National Park

N/L               Newsletter

O/N              Overnight

p               page

pkg              parking

pers               personal

PH-              Provincial Highway (Canada)

quad               quadrant

RR              Railroad

RV               Recreational Vehicle

RA              Rest Area

Reval              Revalidated

RO              "Reverse Osmosis Water (like distilled, very healthy)"

R              right

Riv              river

rd               road

D               RV dump station for black and grey water

S/A Pass              Golden Age/Access, Senior/Access – National Parks and Federal Rec Lands Pass

S               Sewer (at site)

SF              State Forest

SP              State Park

SRA              State Recreation(al) Area

SR-              State Route

St               Street

TVA              Tennessee Valley Authority (has some CGs)

TC               TransCanada (as in highway)

TL              turn left

TR              turn right

unk              unknown

unlim              unlimited

UP              Upper Peninsula (in Michigan listings)

AFB              US Air Force Base

COE              US Army Corps of Engineers

BLM              US Bureau of Land Management

DOT              US Dept. of Transportation

FWS              US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)

NM              US National Monument (except as obviously used for New Mexico)

NPS              US National Park Service

NRA              US National Recreation Area

NWR              US National Wildlife Refuge

US-              US Numbered Highways

W               Water

wk              week

WMA              Wildlife Management Area

w/              with

yr              year

 

IN ORDER BY ABBREVIATION:

 

~               About/Approximately

15/20A          15 or 20 amp

30A             30 amp

4WD             four-wheel drive

50A             50 amp

addl             additional

AFB             US Air Force Base

Alt              Alternate Route

avail            available

Ave             Avenue

BD              Boondocking site (park, require no outside facilities)

BDJ              Boondockers Journal

bldg             building

blk              block

BLM             US Bureau of Land Management

BOR             Bureau of Reclamation

Bus             Business Route

CDN             Canadian

CG              Campground

COE             US Army Corps of Engineers

CP              City Park (not used for County Park)

CR-             County Route

D               RV dump station for black and grey water

da              day

Dr              Drive

DOT            US Dept. of Transportation

E               Electricity

Elev             elevation

FG              fairground(s)

FHU             Full Hookups

FM-             Farm to Market Road (mainly in Texas)

FR-              Forest Road

ft               foot

FWS             US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Fwy             Freeway

GPS            Global Positioning System

hi              high

HU              Hookups

Hwy            Highway

I-              Interstate Highway

incl             including

Jct              Junction

km              Kilometer

L                left

lg               large

Lk               lake

lo               low

loc              location

ltr               letter

Mag             Magazine

maint.           maintained

mi               Mile or Miles

MM              Mile Marker

mo              month

MP              Milepost

Mtn              mountain

N/L               Newsletter

Natl              National

NF              National Forest

NM              US National Monument (except as obviously used for New Mexico)

NP              National Park

NPS              US National Park Service

NRA              US National Recreation Area

NWR              US National Wildlife Refuge

O/N              Overnight

p                 page

pers              personal

PH-              Provincial Highway (Canada)

pkg              parking

quad             quadrant

R                 right

rd                road

Reval            Revalidated

Riv              river

RA              Rest Area

RO              "Reverse Osmosis Water (like distilled, very healthy)"

RR              Railroad

RV               Recreational Vehicle

S               Sewer (at site)

S/A Pass          Golden Age/Access, Senior/Access – National Parks and Federal Rec Lands Pass

SF              State Forest

SKP               Escapee

SP              State Park

SR-              State Route

SRA              State Recreation(al) Area

St               Street

T                 "a ""T"" intersection"

TC               TransCanada (as in highway)

TL               turn left

TR               turn right

TVA              Tennessee Valley Authority (has some CGs)

unk              unknown

unlim              unlimited

UP              Upper Peninsula (in Michigan listings)

US-              US Numbered Highways

W                Water

w/               with

wk               week

WMA            Wildlife Management Area

x                Exit

yr               year

 

Standard 3-letter abbreviations for each month

Standard two-letter postal codes for states and provinces

 

N        North             NE              Northeast              NB              Northbound (except when it obviously means New Brunswick)

S        South            NW              Northwest             SB              Southbound

E        East              SE              Southeast              EB              Eastbound

W       West             SW             Southwest             WB             Westbound

 

9. TERMS AND CONDITIONS of your use of any information in this Directory: The material in this Directory, all material on DaysEndDirectory.com and all material on DaysEndDirectory Yahoo Group is proprietary, and no one has permission to copy and distribute it in any manner, unless provided in writing by Day's End LLC. None of the information in this Directory is guaranteed to be correct, including any of that coming from its editor(s), for conditions and situations can change at any time, even the next hour, after someone has observed them. Day's End LLC provides an abundance of caution to do no harm to those who use its Directory, yet it is the responsibility of its users to ensure they have one or more alternate plans for an overnight (O/N) stay, should one in a Day's End listing no longer be good for O/N. Your use of the information in this Directory is contingent upon your acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. These Terms and Conditions apply to this and all other versions and editions of this Directory previously published. If you cannot accept them, contact the editor with your agreement that you will not use this Directory, and you will be provided a full refund. 

 

Thanks again and happy travels.

Guy Gipson, SKP #84383

guygipson@gmail.com

Editor, Day's End Directory

Managing Member, Day's End LLC

 

Ownership rights to the Day's End Directory are vested in Day's End LLC. Ownership rights to the Day's End column in Escapees Magazine are vested in Escapees, Inc.