My secret campsite near the Charleston Amtrak station, preparing for the southbound 5:06am Silver Meteor to Florida. I slept in a $19 Walmart sleeping bag on a $5 tarp in the bushes just to the right of the blue dot. I scouted out the location and cached my sleeping bag there while I still had a vehicle during the day. Then I came back by local bus at night to sleep. Woke up at 4:30am and walked across the parking lot to catch the train.
Although the residential neighborhood just to the north of this photo is distinctively low-rent, I felt very safe in this industrial location. The pattern of trash in the woods told me that people rarely came here, even during the day. My location in the bushes was visible during the day but completely invisible at night. The forest debris under my mattress provided all the padding I needed and I slept soundly. Fortunately, there was no rain in the forecast and it was still cool enough at night (60° in March) that there were no mosquitoes. (It would have been much more difficult in the summer.) When I broke camp, I left my sleeping bag and tarp in an obvious place where someone would probably from the low-rent neighborhood would probably see them and take them home.
Although the residential neighborhood just to the north of this photo is distinctively low-rent, I felt very safe in this industrial location. The pattern of trash in the woods told me that people rarely came here, even during the day. My location in the bushes was visible during the day but completely invisible at night. The forest debris under my mattress provided all the padding I needed and I slept soundly. Fortunately, there was no rain in the forecast and it was still cool enough at night (60° in March) that there were no mosquitoes. (It would have been much more difficult in the summer.) When I broke camp, I left my sleeping bag and tarp in an obvious place where someone would probably from the low-rent neighborhood would probably see them and take them home.
Please don't stop writing. I love reading about your adventures and advice.
ReplyDeleteHey Glenn I happen upon your blog last year and your plight seems very romantic (in the adventurous sort of way) and I will try to do it too this year in college while im still young and poor. Of course it won't be as daring as yours (i have a permanent car) and i am in no way homeless, just houseless. I've learned a lot from your blog and am very happy that you're still writing. Thank you so much. The area I will 'camp' at has the word frost in its name so 'finger crossed.
ReplyDeleteHey buddy, love the blog and your lifestyle. You should consider owning a hammock for nights spent in the woods(
ReplyDeleteOr just by trees). They can very veryw inexpensive and very comfortable. As a backpacker that's what I sleep in. Keep you off the ground and dry. Check out gran trunk ul on amazon. Usually cost from $10-$15. 10' x8' tarp over it will work great. A bug net would be nice for summer and a $6 blue pad from Walmart will do. All done for less than a hotel stay :)
I am worried as many people have said it's unsafe. Click On this page
ReplyDeleteHi all, we'd like some recomendations for tent camping near Charleston in July. rent rvs
ReplyDeleteNever really got into the spirit of camping. The flat bed gave me a very sore back that it ruined the weekend camping trip. I was missing my comfy bed headboards right at home.
ReplyDelete