Camp Wal-Mart

We are at yet another Wal-Mart, this one in Rockport (map).

Our plan for yesterday afternoon was to stop either at one of the picnic areas that showed on our map, or Goose Island State Park. The first picnic area was unappealing, and the second one, which would have been perfect, was clearly posted "No Overnight Camping." That's unusual for Texas, but when it does happen, it's usually a sign that one is very close to heavily-used recreation areas. Additional "No Overnight Camping" signs at various other potential turn-outs and fishing spots along the road confirmed that we were, indeed, in just such an area.

We decided to head on to Goose Island State Park, reasoning that, even though it was Friday, we would be early enough to still snag a space. Unfortunately, we had to turn back on the approach road, which was covered by a canopy of old oak trees with ever-decreasing clearance. We made it part of the way down the road by swerving back and forth across the oncoming lane, doing what we like to call the low-branch slalom. But we could see up ahead the road becoming divided, with one lane in each direction and oaks not only to either side, but also in the median. If we encountered a low branch on the divided section, there'd be no place to dodge it, and we'd have to back out. With occasional traffic behind us, that seemed like a recipe for disaster, so, reluctantly, we made a three-point turn at a fortuitously placed intersection just before the divide, and headed back out to the highway.

At this point we more or less resigned ourselves to having to hunt for a spot on the beach after crossing the ferry. Without having pre-scoped the beach for hardness and the ability to support all of Odyssey's 47,000 lbs on less than 500 square inches, we were a little bit nervous about starting such a search at what would likely be 5pm by the time we arrived, but sometimes that's just how things work out.

When we arrived here in Rockport, another Wal-Mart stay was not really on our minds, but the dog was asking for a walk, and a Wal-Mart parking lot is usually a pretty safe bet for getting Odyssey off the road. Frankly, given all the "No Overnight" signs we'd seen in the region, we did not imagine that this store would allow it either. So we were somewhat surprised to find signs in the lot directing us to "RV Parking."

This store has striped ten spaces for RV or boat trailer parking. The spaces are extra wide and a good 100' long, allowing for rigs of almost any size, and even two rigs per space in a pinch. They are angled pull-throughs on heavy concrete, presumably to protect the lot from heavy-weight traffic or maybe the ravages of jacks that some RV'ers just can't seem to resist deploying (we've seen some extensive jack damage in asphalt lots). It was clearly a good stopping point, relieving us of having to hunt on the beach at the end of the day, and there was a Chili's restaurant in the same lot, so we decided to just call it a day here.

I applaud Wal-Mart for providing such an area for in-transit RVers to shop in the store and spend a night. But I worry, as I sometimes do, that the actions of an ungrateful and obnoxious few will end up closing this option to the rest of us, with either the store itself or perhaps the city government finally deciding they've had enough. (I discussed one such store in this post.)

When we arrived here mid-afternoon yesterday, this rig was well-established:




This couple is not "spending the night." They are camping. (The distinction, as now promulgated by many RV-rights advocacy groups, can be found in this "overnight etiquette" document.) Note that:

• Their tow vehicle is disconnected, uncharacteristic for a fiver "passing through."
  
• Their jacks are fully deployed. Thankfully, this particular location has concrete which will likely withstand this.
• There are items "stored" under the rig, including their dog and his kennel.
• They are taking up not one, but two of the 100' spaces that Wal-Mart has graciously provided. If more than ten rigs were here (probably not an uncommon occurrence at this store), that would force someone out into another part of the lot, whereas clearly the store wants us all here. In addition to being positioned (unnecessarily so) in the space such that their slide-out protrudes several feet into the next space, they've parked their truck in the adjacent space as well, rather than in the ample space either in front of or behind their rig.
• Of course, I can't be certain of this, but it looks to me that they've been here longer than a day. At this writing, they've loaded themselves into their truck and headed out someplace.

While not an RV-overnight etiquette issue, per se, they also have one of those annoying contractor generators in the back of the truck that they ran for several hours.

As if one rig ignoring established etiquette was not enough, this rig pulled in later in the day:



These folks immediately set up their chairs and table in an adjacent space, poured themselves several glasses of wine, and sat out smoking and jawboning for hours. They've also got their hydraulic jacks down.

Lastly, the rig on the other side of us looks to have done the dishes with their gray water valve open -- disgusting. (You're probably thankful that I don't have a picture of that one.)

Now, I'm no goody-two-shoes in this regard. We once spent two nights in a row in a Wal-Mart. (Well, Odyssey did -- we were visiting friends who whisked us away for a day. And we got permission first.) And I spent a week stealthily parked in a mostly-unused lot behind a strip mall in Austin. And, in the heat, we will usually put an awning out a foot or two to keep the sun off the glass. But I was (or we were, as the case may be) very sensitive to the appearance of the whole affair, as we always are. We try to take up the minimum amount of space that will fit us, and we always strive to look like we are parking, not camping. We always ask ourselves if we appear to be doing something that will attract the attention of the store manager, or some neighborhood busybody, or the constabulary.

Maybe it's just me, but I really wish these folks would exercise a bit more discretion and judgment. I understand the desire to save a few bucks and take advantage of these opportunities when they present themselves. But it's a parking lot, fer cryin' out loud -- look like you're parked. Of course, the last time I railed on about this subject, we got some nasty comments on the blog. (Too nasty, actually, for our family-friendly format, so I deleted them.) So my opinion is not universally shared. But, hey, it's my blog, and I can rant if I want to.

In a few minutes, we will head south to Port Aransas and the ferry.