The memories of my 6-week trip in my popup camper seem distant even though I have been back only a few weeks. The early onset of fall pushes those warm summer adventures even deeper into the past. So, I am eager to write-up my last notes, including tidbits of wisdom that others can use.

Get comfortable –  the seating cushions and bed mattresses got uncomfortable after a week. And, since buying a camper was all about getting more comfortable while camping, I was briefly disappointed. I had to invest in some solutions after my first week. The sleeping pad from Cabela’s was so comfortable that I use it on my bed at home now!

Organize until you are happy – I stopped writing about my efforts to organize the van and popup after the first week, but I continued moving things around until everything worked for me. I ended up sleeping on the smaller bunk end (with new sleeping pad) and left my clothes out–but covered– on the other bunk end.

Rocky Mountain Front Area in Montana (towns: Fairfield, Choteau, Augusta) – If you like wildlife and wilderness settings, I suggest you place this on your bucket list. This is one of the most beautiful places I have seen in the US. I spent a week camping in a small, peaceful city park in Choteau and did day trips from there. This is prime grizzly country thanks to several areas that provide important spring habitat.

Pack less- As I unpacked, I assessed what I did not use. For once, I did not wildly over pack, with one exception. I took the equivalent of a large tote full of yarn and several craft projects. I did not use any of these. All I needed was one crochet project to work on. All of the craft supplies ended up in a corner of the van. Other things I could have left:

Bird feeders and bird food: these are bear attractants and since i was in bear country the entire trip, i had to secure them inside the van.

Dressier shoes ! ? !

25% fewer clothes: I tended to wear the same things and just wash them out by hand or at laundromat

What to pack in the future even if I don’t use it–I felt kind of silly about all my first aid and survivalist gear. I have one backpack full of first aid and a larger back pack full of survival gear. I am thankful that I did not use any of it, and I still keep both in the van. I really went all out on the survival gear–spending lots of $$$. One of these days I will get photos of the contents. I feel kind of silly, but had I needed it, I would have survived. And, there is always the zombie apocalypse.

Shed what you don’t need as you go –  I took a box of stuff to a small town thrift store. I don’t remember everything in there, other than a small funky radio, some heavy chain and a few funky clothing items.

Pick time of year carefully – I traveled from mid-July through August. I chose this time because it included my big 60th birthday and also because it is a quiet time at church, where I am a minister. However, in terms of seeing wildlife of any kind, this is the least desirable. Also, in the west, this is often wildfire season, and I was often in a smokey haze.

Be ready for any adventure (music festival)- I had not planned to stay in Ten Sleep; however, I stumbled in at the start of a lovely music festival. I ended up staying there a whole week.

Be honest about what you liked and did not like. Pursue your favorite activities it in future trips. For me, I rediscovered music festivals. I have one planned already for next year and may return to the Ten Sleep festival if my schedule allows. I also rediscovered my love of wilderness and am figuring out ways to get deep into the mountains again (llama pack trips). I also loved being near small towns on Saturdays so that I could check out yard sales and shop at local Farmer’s Markets.

Confront fears but be safe- Several places where I hiked were thick forests, some with exotic creatures like grizzlies and wolves. I approached them with some fear, but decided to wander in a bit more each day, allowing my fears to subside. I never hiked in more than a few miles, since I was alone (with my dog) and that is a big no-no in the hiking world. My personal locator beacon helped allay my fears. Then effort I made resulted in some thrilling and beautiful hikes.

Take music- the antenna for my satellite radio broke while traveling and finding just the antenna was impossible while on the road ( finally got one through Amazon once I returned home). So, I figured out how to stream music from my phone. The sound was awful, so again, once I returned home I bought a tiny speaker. I hate ear buds so I also got a pair of lightweight, thin headphones for use when walking.

Consider solar – When I was around other campers, I noticed that many still use a gasoline generator. They are loud, expensive and burn gas. Solar chargers are cheaper and super efficient. I love mine!

Try not to take work projects- I was on sabbatical, so I had work projects with deadlines. They were always in the back of my mind. I scolded myself early on for not getting enough done. Finally, I found a way to alternate between work and vacation. I decided to say 4-5 days in a little mom/pop parks with hookups and Internet (essential for work). Then, I stayed in the middle of nowhere and just relaxed. Repeat, Repeat, and I managed to complete things.

Be flexible in everything, but especially in the route –  I changed my route all the time. The primary reason was the awful forest fires that blew smoke into the quiet valleys where I planned to stay.Sometimes I changed it due to hot weather and headed up to higher elevations. I always texted or emailed my son when I changed route.

Books- all my life I have lugged around heavy books. Thanks to Kindle, I keep my entire library in my purse! I have a Kindle Fire so I can watch movies, read colorful magazine, and have additional Internet access. I also have a Kindle Paperwhite, which many of my books, filed away by topic. Many other books wait for me on the Kindle Cloud.

And finally, my list of favorites:

• Favorite locations: Rocky Mountain Front, MT, Big Horn Mountains, WY
• Least favorite location: Black Hills, SD (I was in the touristy parts)
• Favorite camping situations: either dispersed camping in national forest or a nice, small, tree-shaded RV park in mountainous area. I didn’t like the larger State Parks as much as I like our little, local state parks. I always look for a lake or other swimming hole.
• Favorite sitting area: zero-gravity recliner
• Favorite book: Practice of the Wild, Gary Snyder
• Favorite new music: Putamayo Presents: Acoustic Cafe
• Best yard sale item: Healthy Back Purse

By the way, I have not opened my camper once since I returned. Thinking maybe I will do that on my day off Monday and make sure nothing is growing in there.

And for the next few months: NFL and fall garden chores!