POPULATION ZERO
When on the road we’re always using maps and apps to locate good campsites. Sometimes we have to stay in a park with full hook-ups so we can take long showers, dump our tanks, fill up with water and have extended use of electricity. Other times, however, we’re free to boondock it.
I recently joined a service called Harvest Hosts where—once you join and pay a yearly fee—you have access to any of their partners’ camping spots. The partners could be wineries, farms, historical places or interesting sites. You can message them through the app to see if they have space for you. Campers have to be fully contained. There are no hook-ups whatsoever. And there’s no extra fee to stay, but it is suggested that you do a little shopping at the venue.
It was about to be my birthday so we decided to try it out. I chose one just outside Fredericksburg, Texas. The directions took us to a tiny building well off any major road. The building used to be the post office for the town that was no longer there. It’s now a saloon that serves food and gives rescued animals a home outside in gated pens and runs. This is where we stop to check in and get directions to our campsite. This is Camp Bankersmith. Population zero.
We were guided to an open field just down the road and told to park anywhere. And two we were in an open field all by ourselves. Across the field was cows, goats, and a donkey—and up the road some polo ponies we got to pet. The saloon had goats too. Even a recently rescued camel who was sequestered off to the side ( you know, kinda like how you introduce new fish into your tank still in the store bag ), some deer, lots of birds and even some miniature donkeys.
For my birthday dinner I ate my first Frito pie. We had some drinks and even saw some socially distanced live music. And my friend Dave sent me some Dolly—!
