Maine “Almost” RV Parking Ban Still Echoes
As has been much publicized around rvtravel.com, a bill in the Maine legislature that would have killed off overnight parking in parking lots and elsewhere, has been withdrawn. No doubt the loud reaction of RVers and others who inundated Maine politicos caused the flip-flop. But just because the bill has been yanked, doesn’t mean the noise has stopped. Letters about the proposed ban, pro and con, continue to flitter across letters-to-the-editor newspaper pages throughout the state.
One thoughtful letter penned by Rodney N. Rolfe, recently appeared in the Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel. Rolfe reasoned that the problem with the us versus them situation that broke out in Maine is a symptom of what he shows to be RV parks not being able or willing to change their business model.
After pointing out that plenty of RVers who’ve traveled an already long day aren’t encouraged with the thought of having to trundle down a long, questionable road, in search of an RV park that might be there–but might not have room for them. Arriving late, RVers are often dismayed to find they’ll have to back their rigs into narrow spaces in the dark, disturbing other settled RVers with the antics required in such a situation.
Summing the problem up, Rolfe pens, “RV campgrounds need to offer the convenience of clean, dry, level parking spots and facilities that will keep patrons wanting to stay for a few days. That’s how successful businesses operate.”
An experience of ours, still fresh in mind of less than a week ago, engenders a whole-hearted “Amen!” We were invited to make a volunteer presentation before a group in Needles, California. Our hosts advised their building had an RV spot that we were welcome to use. This, in triple digit temperatures, would be a blessing. Imagine how disconcerted we were on arrival to find the electrical connection was a single, 50 amp service–and we had no adapter to connect up our 30-amp RV.
Needles, California is a pretty small burg on the Mojave Desert. What hardware emporiums the town boasts are closed well before 6:15 on a Saturday evening, no chance of buying the necessary adapter. So we did what we rarely ever do–we started thinking about booking into an RV park. With the help of “Goog411″ we found an RV park, spoke with the manager, and got directions. By the time we determined that our understanding of the directions was in error, the sun was well below the horizon, and the grump and grumble factor was high on the scale. Another phone call to the RV park was for naught–apparently the park office stops taking calls at 7:00 pm.
By the time we finally rolled into the park, this RV jockey’s temperature–and temper–were fairly high. What didn’t help was the almost incomprehensible “check in” instruction form. It was impossible to clearly discern what sites were 50 amp and which were 30. So off we went, driving about in the dark, undoubtedly raising concerns of those already parked about what these idiots were doing, stopping and popping open electrical boxes. We found a 30 amp site, returned yet again to the check in board. Reading the instructions again bred only more questions–what if you don’t have “exact change”?
Back at our site, we rolled the rig in and found to our great dismay, the site was anything but even close to level. After 10 minutes of jacking and grunting, we found we had to pull it all up, turn the rig around, and come into the site “backward” from its design. That required rigging the power cord under the RV, in the dark, and in the dirt.
Next morning, we were off early to meet our engagement. The park office was still closed, which was probably just as well. It helped that the set-up man didn’t have to work at heavy self-control to prevent himself from going into the office and imparting what little was left of his mind.
Yep, I can easily understand the frustrations of RVers who don’t need “amenities” of questionable RV parks. In our case, we had to have the electricity. If we had to stay in this RV park and not need power, and get to pay the price, at least one of us would have probably detonated.
photo: dawnhops on flickr.com
