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Riven Needed More Room, So I Rebuilt Our 4Runner
My car camping layout had worked until Riven’s needs changed. By November 2025, he was having a seizure about once a month. The bed inside the 4Runner occupied too much of our available space, leaving him without enough room when a seizure happened. A layout can look good in photographs and work well during…
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Louisiana: Looking Back at the January 2025 Snowstorm
A year has passed, and these photos still look like they came from somewhere other than Louisiana. My 4Runner sat beneath several inches of snow. The woods had turned white, with snow clinging to pine branches and Southern vegetation that rarely carries that kind of weight. It looked more like a winter campsite farther…
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The Strange World of the Abita Mystery House
A giant alligator, a skeleton inside a UFO, and a collection called Mannie’s Band Box all occupy the same roadside attraction in Louisiana. That should tell you almost everything you need to know about this odd roadside attraction. Almost. Located in Abita Springs, the attraction also goes by the name UCM Museum. It holds…
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How to Plan a Car Camping Trial Run Before Your First Overnight Trip
A first car camping trip can unravel through several small problems rather than one major disaster. The canopy takes longer to assemble than expected. An air mattress loses its shape during the night. The vehicle feels much hotter with a dog breathing inside it. By midnight, the comfortable setup you pictured has turned into…