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Gus Causbie (Gusc)
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Username: Gusc

Post Number: 652
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 208.54.200.140


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Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 5:10 pm:   

Gilroy, CA
Redding, CA
Eugene, OR
Hood River, OR

We encountered these on our recent trip.
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
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Username: Gusc

Post Number: 655
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 208.54.200.171


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Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 1:14 am:   

I just today received this email;

Dear Mr. Causbie

I received your interesting e-mail about RV parking. The city of Hood River DOES NOT have policy on overnight parking of RV`s and to the best of my knowledge, we have never had such a policy. I hope this clears up any misunderstanding.

Thank You
Paul Cummings
President, Hood River City Council"

I wrote him back and told him that the Hood River has signs posted stating that a city ordinance prohibits overnight parking.

I'll keep this up to date as I receive more answers.
hiwaycallin (Hiwaycallin)
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Username: Hiwaycallin

Post Number: 32
Registered: 10-2007
Posted From: 208.98.218.205


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Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 12:26 pm:   

Casa Grande, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ

... at least as of this time last year
Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
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Username: Luvrbus

Post Number: 377
Registered: 8-2006
Posted From: 74.33.32.76

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Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 12:46 pm:   

Gus, we always park in Eugene at places with no problem like Cracker Barrel or Kmart, Marathon even let me park one time and never a problem at Hood river or The Dalles

(Message edited by luvrbus on May 14, 2008)
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
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Username: Gusc

Post Number: 656
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 208.54.200.212


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Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 8:23 pm:   

It is a mystery to me why WM had this sign in Eugene saying a city ordinance prohibited parking and the others you mentioned didn't?

I assume you mean overnight parking? Are Cracker Barrel or Kmart open all night?

Same story at Hood River WM, signs at WM.

I'm beginning to get the feeling WM is posting these signs on their own but it makes no sense since the vast majority of WM welcome RV parking.
Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
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Username: Luvrbus

Post Number: 379
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Posted From: 74.33.36.174

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Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 8:44 pm:   

Gus, you will see signs on some property that WM has leased and is not a company owned store but they will battle for you if they own the land and store I built the stores for 27 years.Some Kmarts are open 24hrs but Cracker Barrels are not we stay at CB alot in the past 4 years no trucks and have good spaces to park in with security.forgot good breakfast too

(Message edited by luvrbus on May 14, 2008)
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
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Post Number: 660
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 208.54.200.129


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Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 12:48 am:   

We stopped at quite a few CB on our trip because we like them. Never thought of staying in their parking lot and I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

There are so few KMarts any more that we hardly
even think about them but it is good to keep in mind.

Actually, we like nice truck stops with paved parking about as much as WM but they don't carry groceries and other supplies we usually get at WM.

There is always a truck stop not too far down the road and since I got my GPS they are much easier to find.
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
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Username: Gusc

Post Number: 661
Registered: 11-2005
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Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 12:50 am:   

I'm a bit disappointed in Gilroy,CA and Eugene,OR - haven't heard a word from them.
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
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Post Number: 1199
Registered: 5-2001
Posted From: 65.74.72.93

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Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 9:50 pm:   

Gus, I've been told by Byron Belmont of Eugene that the city has a no parkng ordinance in place, so I wouldn't expect much of that town.

Other towns we are familiar with are Grant's Pass, OR, Crescent City, CA and Yuma, AZ. They are quick to run off anyone they think might be trying to stay in the rig overnight.

Crescent City had a big battle with Walmart over a proposed store, but I don't know what became of the issue.

For what it's worth.

Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, Alaska
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
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Username: Gusc

Post Number: 662
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Posted From: 208.54.200.242


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Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 10:40 pm:   

Tom,

I'm pleased to post here the surprising and very positive reply from Eugene. The second from the last sentence in the first paragraph is what we are looking for.

"Thank you for contacting the City about your recent experience as you visited the community in your RV. The City values visitors to the area and we try to provide a welcoming environment. I supervise the work team that responds to complaints about camping on private property. A review of our records shows no complaints or enforcement action regarding RV parking or camping at either of the Eugene Wal-Mart locations. The camping ordinance (Eugene Code 4.816) allows commercial properties to have up to 3 overnight campers. The intent of code is to provide a location for families living in the community who are going through a transition period to camp. Parking a self-contained RV in a commercial parking lot for one or two nights is not considered a violation of the code. Of course, individual businesses have the ability to implement policies on the use of their property.

Again, thank you for sharing your recent experience with us, as it presents the opportunity to clarify the City standards on RV parking and camping. We hope you will visit our community again and have a positive experience. If you have any additional questions, you may reach me at (541) 682-5251.

Mike McKerrow
Land Use Management Supervisor"

When I hear from all my listed towns (or don't) I'll try to put together a complete list of the ones I know about and will add Crescent City and Grant's Pass to it.

I don't remember a WM at CC. We stayed in an RV park about 20 mi east of CC toward GP but it was a dump. Won't be back there again.
Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
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Post Number: 382
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Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 11:06 pm:   

Tom, when I go to the dentist in Mexico I always park at Cracker Barrel in Yuma and have for years and I have never been told not stay there overnight and police officers are there several times a day plus CB has 5 RV spots behind the restaurant big enough to park my Eagle with a toad behind it.But WM and Sams on the other side of highway 95 you are not allowed to park why I don't know
Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
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Post Number: 383
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Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 11:12 pm:   

posted it twice

(Message edited by luvrbus on May 15, 2008)
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
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Username: Pvcces

Post Number: 1200
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Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 10:40 pm:   

Thanks, Luvrbus.

It's obvious that there's more to these laws than meets the eye.

In the Yuma case, we had just stoppped along the highway out around the foothills to talk about what we wanted to do. It was about 9PM.

We were out of the way of traffic and had not pulled any blinds or done anything else to attract attention.

A cop pulls up behind our rig, turns on his lights like he was going to make an arrest and comes aboard and tells us a few lies.

I came close to going to jail that night because he made me sore enough that I was ready to tell him to get off our rig because he was trespassing. I bit my tongue and we went over to California for the night.

I admit that this was really the only bad treatment that we have had in AZ, so it was probably just the cop.

With Walmart, they seem to ignore RVs in the low season, but not in the winter. I've had no problem in October.

Gus, the parking ordinance in Eugene that I mentioned had to do with parking on a city street, I think. We visited JohnEd and overnighted on the street, but we weren't bothered by anyone.

I've had the feeling a number of times that we don't attract the amount of attention that an S&S of the same age would. That's also why, if I'm pressed to find a place to park in an unfamiliar town, I generally pick an industrial section.

For what it's worth.

Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, Alaska
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
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Post Number: 728
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Posted From: 66.38.120.219

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Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 11:41 pm:   

I guess some of these cities would rather have a 38,000 lb rig with a very tired driver rolling through town.

Walmarts have free real estate magazines too. We stayed in a Walmart in Tennessee, liked what we saw, looked at one house, drove home to Florida, got in the car, drove back and bought a different house. We never would have done that from a campground. Walmart gives you an Idea what the locals are like. Campgrounds are just campgrounds.

Tennessee added to their tax base by allowing overnight parking.
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
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Username: Gusc

Post Number: 663
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 208.54.200.130


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Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 11:44 pm:   

Tom,

The part of the Eugene ordinance quoted in my post doesn't sound to me as if it even applies to store parking lots.

This is the part of the Eugene response I liked;

"Parking a self-contained RV in a commercial parking lot for one or two nights is not considered a violation of the code."

That tells me all I need to know for Eugene.

As you posted, it depends a lot on the officer. I got royal treatment by a WM security guard in Caldwell,ID and a police sgt in Missoula,MT. Supposedly WM parking is prohibited in Missoula and signs are posted to this effect,but this sgt explained to me that the only restriction is on street camping, not parking.

I don't know what you mean by industrial section but truck stops are our always reliable fallback.
Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
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Post Number: 384
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Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 11:53 pm:   

Guys tell you another place you can always park at and that is small airports in the smaller towns just get there before dark a plus is they are level
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
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Username: Pvcces

Post Number: 1201
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Posted From: 65.74.72.93

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Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 11:45 pm:   

Gus, I meant the industrial section where there are warehouses and freight docks, etc. We have no problem with truck stops.

Luvrbus, I like your thinking. We did that just to fix dinner one time and somebody came over to ask if something was wrong. We told them we were just going to eat and they went away.

Take care, you guys.

Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, Alaska
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
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Username: Gusc

Post Number: 664
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 208.54.200.43


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Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 1:07 am:   

Having flown my airplane around the country for many years I have a couple of reservations about overnighting at small airports.

My main concern is the paranoia about airport security. Some airports I flew into made it difficult to even get from and to my airplane. I'm afraid parking there would attract all kinds of security folks. It may be worth a try though.

The other thing is that many small airports are so far from anywhere. Nice and quiet though! Most are as quiet as cemetaries at night.

Casinos are good places but there are not that many around except in certain states, some of them are in the middle of nowhere also.

I still haven't heard from Gilroy, CA and probably won't.

I got a second email from the Redding, CA Development Services Director, whatever that means, and he isn't backing down a bit. My experience with minor burecrats is that once they say, no, nothing will make them change. So, I am writing off Redding as a place to stop.
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
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Post Number: 672
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Posted From: 208.54.200.17


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Posted on Saturday, May 31, 2008 - 6:03 pm:   

This is my updated No Parking List including the ones from you guys;

Casa Grande, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Yuma, AZ
Crescent City,CA
Gilroy, CA
Redding, CA
Grant's Pass, OR

I don't expect to hear from Gilroy since they had a big fire recently.

I don't know about the rest of you but these towns won't be getting any of my tourist dollars.

Last year I had read that these two places don't allow WM parking but they sent me emails saying parking is allowed.

Missoula, MT
Billings, MT

We're leaving Tue on a 3500mi trip to the east coast so I'll probably have a bunch more towns to add to my list when we return!

I think I'll post this on the board because there are more readers there.
Bill 340 (Bill_340)
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Post Number: 66
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 75.248.253.215

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Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - 9:11 pm:   

Walmart is trying to keep the trucks out, they destroy landscaping and curbs, Lakeland fl ran us out one night and told us to go to sams club about a mile south,they are tired of trucks parking for days even a month or more at a time, Its the local mgr that makes this call,

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