Hey folks — welcome to what I’m hoping will be a regular thing around here. I do a fair amount of camping and overlanding in the R1T with the dogs, and I figured it was about time I started writing some of these trips up. Expect campground reviews, gear notes (what’s earning its spot in the truck and what isn’t), meal plans that worked, and the inevitable “things I forgot at home” lists. If you want the shorter, more in-the-moment version of these trips, follow me on Mastodon at @w0ger@woof.group — that’s where I post the photos and quick takes while I’m out.
Alright, on to the trip.
The Weekend
Three nights at Lake Winni Dam, and I have to say — this is hands down one of the nicest Corps of Engineers campgrounds I’ve stayed at. The sites are spacious and well laid out, each with electric hookup, a fire pit, and a picnic table. Some sites even have a clothesline, which is a nice touch I don’t see often. The restrooms were spotless and well kept the entire weekend, and you’re within easy walking distance of both the river and the lake. One small heads-up: there’s no firewood sold at the campground itself, but there’s a place about two miles down the road where you can grab a bundle on your way in. Quiet and peaceful the whole time. Highly recommend it.
Friday and Saturday were both rainy — not a washout, but enough to keep us under the awning more than I’d have liked. Saturday morning we got a quick thunderstorm that rolled through fast and loud, and then mellowed back into steady drizzle. Sunday and Monday are looking sunny and a lot drier, which I’m here for.
Echo and I did sneak in a hike over to the lake between the rain bands. Lots of fishermen out in boats — I counted at least a dozen at one point, all spread out across the water doing their thing. There’s something really calming about watching boats from shore on a gray morning. Echo was less calm about it. He wanted to swim.
What’s Working Well
The R1T as basecamp. Having electric at the site means I can keep the truck topped up overnight, and the truck in turn keeps the BougeRV fridge’s battery topped up during the day. (And yes, every single time I type “BougeRV” I crack up. Whoever named that company — bless you.) It’s a really nice closed loop.
BougeRV Rocky 41 QT mobile fridge. Game-changer over a traditional cooler. Stuff stays dry, temperature is rock-solid, and I’m not draining meltwater every morning. The internal battery lasts about 10 hours before it needs a recharge, but that’s easy thanks to the power outlet in the R1T’s bed. If you’ve been on the fence about ditching the cooler, this is your sign.
iKamper SkyCamp Mini. Setup is genuinely fast — I had it deployed before Echo had finished his perimeter sniff. Slept great. The one thing I’d flag is that I think I inflated the mattress a touch too much this time. It felt firmer than it did on the Colorado trip, and I noticed it. Easy fix next time: less air.
Blackstone 22” griddle. This thing absolutely earned its keep. Burgers came out perfect, did fajitas one night, pancakes for breakfast, and shrimp tacos that I’m still thinking about. The flat-top is so much more versatile than I thought it would be when I bought it.
What Could Be Better
Forgotten items. Two this trip: the micro USB cable for Echo’s light-up collar (which is genuinely useful at night and useless without juice), and a dog brush. Siberian Huskies do not stop shedding. Ever. The truck is going to need a serious vacuum when I get home.
An outdoor blanket for the dogs. Right now they kind of just flop wherever, which is fine in dry conditions but less fine when the ground is wet. I want something dedicated — durable, washable, ideally quick-drying — that I can throw down outside the tent or under the awning.
The tent-stairs sand/dirt problem. I tried putting a blanket at the bottom of the ladder to keep grit from getting tracked up into the tent. With the rain, the blanket got soaked through and became part of the problem instead of the solution. I need a better idea here. Maybe an actual outdoor mat with drainage, or one of those folding step platforms. Open to suggestions if anyone has solved this.
The Blackstone’s footprint. As much as I love it, the 22” griddle takes up a ton of space in the R1T bed. With the full camping load, it’s a real Tetris challenge. I think it’s going to become a special-occasions piece of kit — group trips, longer stays, anything where griddle cooking is the point — rather than something I bring every time.
The Menu
Three dinners, three breakfasts, two lunches. Brought it all from home, no resupply.
Friday
- Dinner — Hamburgers and BBQ beans
Saturday
- Breakfast — Cast iron pancakes with breakfast sausage
- Lunch — Italian sandwich on sourdough (provolone, mayo, pepperoni, salami, ham)
- Dinner — Steak fajitas (sliced ribeye, peppers, onions, flour tortillas)
Sunday
- Breakfast — Steak and eggs (using the leftover ribeye from Saturday)
- Lunch — Steak quesadilla (more leftover ribeye, plus cheese)
- Dinner — Garlic butter shrimp tacos
Monday
- Breakfast — Cereal with milk
The big win this trip was cooking the full pound of ribeye on Saturday and stretching it across three meals. Saved a ton of time and fuel. The shrimp tacos on Sunday were the standout — easily my favorite meal of the weekend.
Who I Missed
Two notable absences this weekend: Dee OhGee, our other Husky, who stayed home, and my husband Jayson, who’s in Chicago with friends. Echo and I had a great time, but the crew wasn’t complete. Looking forward to having everyone back together for the next one.
That’s the trip. More to come — both here and on Mastodon. Thanks for reading.
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