As the summer starts, RV campers hit the road for the first camping trip of the season for many people and families. But, this year that holiday weekend and summer kickoff is met with expenses and gas prices making heads spin.Therefore, many of them are exploring the camping spots close to home and using the gear they’ve got (tents, sleeping bags, or maybe a camper) for the most fun they’ve had in a long time.But, there are thousands of campgrounds around the country, many of these in national and state parks and forests.Privately run camps, such as those in the KOA system (“Kampgrounds of America”), charge some fees, and a number of public lands require permits of various kinds. But if you take a do-it-yourself approach to everything else, you can manage to pull off some adventure on a sensible budget, with a little planning.Here are 10 best campgrounds in America according to Forbes.1. Sterling Highway, Kenai Peninsula, AlaskaThe Kenai Peninsula’s Sterling Highway runs through a major chunk of Alaska’s gorgeous southern-coast scenery. There are numerous places to stop and camp along the Highway, from Sterling Junction to the very end at Homer Spit, whether you just want to pitch a tent or park an RV.Along the way, you’ll have chances to spot moose, eagles and bears. And in the summer, you’re smack dab in the middle of the biggest salmon-fishing party in the world, when the wildlife extends to the numerous good-time taverns and road joints in various towns along the highway.Chill out at Centennial Park in Soldotna, which is roughly halfway. Carry the salmon-fishing gear with you, and book ahead for some halibut fishing out of Homer.2. Roan MountainIn the East, some of the greatest Appalachian Trail scenes are available to those hikers who climb and camp on Roan Mountain, known for incredible views of rhododendron-covered hillsides and spruce groves.Roan Mountain shelters a rich diversity of life, from spruce-fir forests to vast grassy balds.Access is through Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, or Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. Moving south from Carver’s Gap to the Roan High Knob takes hikers through some of the thicker spruce on Roan.Look for rhododendron gardens a short distance off the main trail on High Knob, along gravel paths. After some steep climbs, those who want to pitch a tent off the trail can do so, but be careful of sensitive areas.3. San Gorgonio Wilderness AreaThose campers in the West who are willing to do a little hill climbing for the sake of a great eco-adventure should look to the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area in the San Bernardino National Forest.The San Bernardino Mountains aren’t your typical desert range. For one, they are well watered and forested. They are also extremely high, rising like a fortress and walling in the eastern edge of the Los Angeles Basin. San Gorgonio is popular with back-packers and climbers seeking incredible views of the Mojave Desert and Los Angeles.4. Cotter Trout DockLooking for some terrific Arkansas trout fishing? Looking for a whole lot of fun, a real getaway, and relaxation all at the same time? Cotter Trout Dock specializes in just those very things.A cool destination around Lake of the Ozarks is the Cotter Trout Dock fishing camp on Smith Island, at the confluence of the White and Buffalo rivers.You can treat yourself to a day (or several) of fishing, fun and relaxation.5. Seawall CampgroundIn Maine you never run out of outdoors amusing stuff. Coming to this campground is always a great idea. Seawall Campground sits at the southern end of the island, so it often sees less of a crowd than the campsites near Bar Harbor.Seawall Campground is right by the Harbor Trail, and you absolutely ought to stop at Lamoine State Park since you’re here. So much cool stuff in the vicinity of Seawall Campground, and it’s always fun to be here.Near Seawall Campground you stumble on splendid places like Long Ledge; do take a hike on the Wonderland Trail.6. Kirk Creek CampgroundTo pitch a tent in ocean breezes, your best bet for scenic coastal camping on the West Coast is Kirk Creek Campground in the northern section of California’s Los Padres National Forest.It’s situated on a bluff 30 miles south of Big Sur, and trails from the campground lead down to the rocky beach.The best way to discover the wonders of Big Sur is to stay awhile. An excellent way is provided by the Los Padres National Forest at Kirk Creek Campground. For campers, either in a tent or recreational vehicle, who want to experience both land and sea, Kirk Creek is the best campground on the Big Sur.7. Brickhill Bluff, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Ga.Feeling shipwrecked never felt so good on this Spanish-moss-strewn island where you can kayak, swim, fish, watch for dolphins, sea turtles, and wild horses, and then camp in one of three wilderness areas or two main campsites.The mosquitoes can get thick in wet periods, so be prepared. The only way to get to the island is by ferry, which departs from the park visitor center in St. Marys, Ga., not far off Route 95 (exit 3, about half an hour south of Savannah).8. Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Ky.If you err on the side of a pretty loose definition of “camping,” Barren River Resort might be just the thing for you. Maybe “camping” means a cottage on a lake and a little tennis every afternoon. Or it means an improved site for a trailer camper and a couple rounds of golf.You can do that here, plus fishing, boating, lake swimming, cave exploring, riding, and just about any organized outdoor group sport. The main lodge has 51 rooms for those whose relationship with nature involves an actual bed and bath.9. Dispersed Sites, Colorado State Forest, Colo.While there are four areas of developed campsites in the Colorado State Forest, the 60-odd first-come, first-serve “dispersed” sites scattered around the County Road 41 and the Bockman, Montgomery Pass and Ruby Jewel road areas provide some of the best seclusion and allow for spur-of-the-moment access to adventure.Backcountry camping is allowed in many places in the forest, especially around a number of alpine lakes. Located northeast of Estes Park, this is the place to turn to for a whole host of wildlife—elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, black bear, moose, porcupines, eagles and bobcats. Take your fly rod for the trout and grayling.10. Juniper Woods Campgrounds, Catskills, N.Y.How free do you want to be in the outdoors? Juniper Woods lets you go all the way, with its clothing optional/nudist campground (50 campsites total, and filling up fast), right in the storied Catskills region of New York.Natural beauty is abundant here from the wooded rolling hills to the open meadows perfect for sunning and relaxing. Set your mind and body free and wrap yourself in nature’s magnificence.So shed that uptight ‘tude, get rid of the polo shirts and skinny jeans, and live like Adam and Eve before the apple incident. But don’t expect some kind of Bacchanalia—this is a mellow, family-oriented place that doesn’t put up with weirdos, shenanigans, or cell-phone cameras (you’ll get tossed out on your bare bottom if you try).Campers enjoy barbeque’s, parties and karaoke nights. The first-time visitor day fee is waived for those who want to spend an afternoon getting to know the camp.Check out these top Canadian camping destinations.

The hardest part of writing is the first sentence. When you look at the whole project, it seems like an impossible task. That’s why you have to break it down into manageable tasks.

Think of climbing a mountain. You are standing at the foot of it and looking up at its summit vanishing into the clouds. How can you possibly scale such an immense and dangerous mountain?

There is only one way to climb a mountain – step by step.

Now think of writing your ebook in the same light. You must create it step by step, and one day, you will take that last step and find yourself standing on the summit with your head in the clouds.

The first thing you have to do, as if you actually were a mountain climber, is to get organized. Instead of climbing gear,however, you must organize your thoughts. There are some steps

you should take before you begin. Once you’ve gone through the following list, you will be ready to actually begin writing your ebook.

Beginning Steps to Writing an ebook

First, figure out your ebook’s working title. Jot down a few different titles, and eventually, you’ll find that one that will grow on you. Titles help you to focus your writing on your

topic; they guide you in anticipating and answering your

Reader’s queries. Many non-fiction books also have subtitles.

Aim for clarity in your titles, but cleverness always helps to

Sell books – as long as it’s not too cute. For example, Remedies for Insomnia: twenty different ways to count sheep. Or: Get off that couch: fifteen exercise plans to whip you into shape.

Next, write out a thesis statement. Your thesis is a sentence or two stating exactly what problem you are addressing and how your book will solve that problem. All chapters spring forth from

your thesis statement. Once you’ve got your thesis statement fine-tuned, you’ve built your foundation. From that foundation, your book will grow, chapter by chapter.

Your thesis will keep you focused while you write your ebook.

Remember: all chapters must support your thesis statement. If they don’t, they don’t belong in your book. For example, your thesis statement could read: We’ve all experienced insomnia at

times in our lives, but there are twenty proven techniques and methods to give you back a good night’s sleep.

Once you have your thesis, before you start to write, make sure there is a good reason to write your book. Ask yourself some questions:

* Does your book present useful information and is that information currently relevant?

* Will you book positively affect the lives of your readers?

* Is your book dynamic and will it keep the reader’s attention?

* Does you book answer questions that are meaningful and significant?

If you can answer yes to these questions, you can feel confident about the potential of your ebook.

Another important step is to figure out who your target audience is. It is this group of people you will be writing to, and this group will dictate many elements of your book, such as style,

tone, diction, and even length. Figure out the age range of your readers, their general gender, what they are most interested in, and even the socio-economic group they primarily come from.

Are they people who read fashion magazines or book reviews? Do they write letters in longhand or spend hours every day online. The more you can pin down your target audience, the easier it will

be to write your book for them.

Next, make a list of the reasons you are writing your ebook. Do you want to promote your business? Do you want to bring quality traffic to your website? Do you want to enhance your reputation?

Then write down your goals in terms of publishing. Do you want to sell it as a product on your website, or do you want to offer it as a free gift for filling out a survey or for ordering a product? Do you want to use the chapters to create an e-course, or use your ebook to attract affiliates around the world?

The more you know upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.

Decide on the format of your chapters. In non-fiction, keep the format from chapter to chapter fairly consistent. Perhaps you plan to use an introduction to your chapter topic, and then

divide it into four subhead topics.

Or you may plan to divide it into five parts, each one beginning with a relevant anecdote.

How to make your ebook “user friendly”

You must figure out how to keep your writing engaging. Often anecdotes, testimonials, little stories, photos, graphs, advice, and tips will keep the reader turning the pages. Sidebars are

useful for quick, accessible information, and they break up the density of the page.

Write with a casual, conversational tone rather than a formal tone such as textbook diction. Reader’s respond to the feeling that you are having a conversation with them.

Break up the length and structure of your sentences so you don’t hypnotize your readers into sleep.

Sentences that are all the same length and structure tend to be a good aid for insomnia!

Good writing takes practice. It takes lots and lots of practice.

Make a schedule to write at least a page a day. Read books and magazines about the process of writing, and jot down tips that jump out at you.

The art of writing is a lifetime process; the

more you write (and read), the better your writing will become.

The better your writing becomes, the bigger your sales figures.

In an ebook that is read on the screen, be aware that you must give your reader’s eye a break. You can do this by utilizing white space. In art classes, white space is usually referred to

as “negative space.” Reader’s eyes need to rest in the cool white oasis’s you create on your page. If your page is too dense, your reader will quit out of it as soon as their eyes begin to tear.

Make use of lists, both bulleted and numbered. This makes your information easy to absorb, and gives the reader a mental break from dissecting your paragraphs one after the other.

Finally, decide on an easy-to-read design. Find a font that’s easy on the eyes, and stick to that font family. Using dozens of fonts will only tire your readers out before they’ve gotten past your introduction. Use at least one and a half line spacing, and text large enough to be read easily on the screen, but small enough so that the whole page can be seen on a computer screen.

You will have to experiment with this to find the right combination.

Of course, don’t forget to run a spell and grammar check. You are judged by something as minor as correct punctuation, so don?t mess up a great book by tossing out semicolons randomly,

or stringing sentences together with commas.

(By the way, that’s called a “comma splice.”)

Last of all, create an index and a bibliography.

That’s it!

You’ve written a book! Now all you have to do is publish your ebook online, and wait for download request from your website visitors. —-

The hardest part of writing is the first sentence. When you look
at the whole project, it seems like an impossible task. That’s
why you have to break it down into manageable tasks. Think of
climbing a mountain. You are standing at the foot of it and
looking up at its summit vanishing into the clouds. How can you
possibly scale such an immense and dangerous mountain?

There is only one way to climb a mountain and that is step by
step.

Now think of writing your ebook in the same light. You must
create it step by step, and one day, you will take that last
step and find yourself standing on the summit with your head in
the clouds.

The first thing you have to do, as if you actually were a
mountain climber, is to get organized. Instead of climbing gear,
however, you must organize your thoughts. There are some steps
you should take before you begin. Once you’ve gone through the
following list, you will be ready to actually begin writing your
ebook.

Beginning Steps to Writing an ebook

First, figure out your ebook’s working title. Jot down a few
different titles, and eventually, you’ll find that one that will
grow on you. Titles help you to focus your writing on your
topic; they guide you in anticipating and answering your
reader’s queries. Many non-fiction books also have subtitles.
Aim for clarity in your titles, but cleverness always helps to
sell books ? as long as it’s not too cute. For example, Remedies
for Insomnia: twenty different ways to count sheep. Or: Get off
that couch: fifteen exercise plans to whip you into shape.

Next, write out a thesis statement. Your thesis is a sentence or
two stating exactly what problem you are addressing and how your
book will solve that problem. All chapters spring forth from
your thesis statement. Once you’ve got your thesis statement
fine-tuned, you’ve built your foundation. From that foundation,
your book will grow, chapter by chapter.

Your thesis will keep you focused while you write your ebook.
Remember: all chapters must support your thesis statement. If
they don’t, they don’t belong in your book. For example, your
thesis statement could read: We’ve all experienced insomnia at
times in our lives, but there are twenty proven techniques and
methods to give you back a good night’s sleep.

Once you have your thesis, before you start to write, make sure
there is a good reason to write your book. Ask yourself some
questions

* Does your book present useful information and is that
information currently relevant? * Will you book positively
affect the lives of your readers? * Is your book dynamic and
will it keep the reader’s attention? * Does you book answer
questions that are meaningful and significant?

If you can answer yes to these questions, you can feel confident
about the potential of your ebook.

Another important step is to figure out who your target audience
is. It is this group of people you will be writing to, and this
group will dictate many elements of your book, such as style,
tone, diction, and even length. Figure out the age range of your
readers, their general gender, what they are most interested in,
and even the socio-economic group they primarily come from. Are
they people who read fashion magazines or book reviews? Do they
write letters in longhand or spend hours every day online. The
more you can pin down your target audience, the easier it will
be to write your book for them.

Next, make a list of the reasons you are writing your ebook. Do
you want to promote your business? Do you want to bring quality
traffic to your website? Do you want to enhance your reputation?

Then write down your goals in terms of publishing. Do you want
to sell it as a product on your website, or do you want to offer
it as a free gift for filling out a survey or for ordering a
product? Do you want to use the chapters to create an e-course,
or use your ebook to attract affiliates around the world? The
more you know upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.

Decide on the format of your chapters. In non-fiction, keep the
format from chapter to chapter fairly consistent. Perhaps you
plan to use an introduction to your chapter topic, and then
divide it into four subhead topics. Or you may plan to divide it
into five parts, each one beginning with a relevant anecdote.

How to make your ebook “user friendly”

You must figure out how to keep your writing engaging. Often
anecdotes, testimonials, little stories, photos, graphs, advice,
and tips will keep the reader turning the pages. Sidebars are
useful for quick, accessible information, and they break up the
density of the page.

Write with a casual, conversational tone rather than a formal
tone such as textbook diction. Reader’s respond to the feeling
that you are having a conversation with them. Break up the
length and structure of your sentences so you do not hypnotize
your readers into sleep. Sentences that are all the same length
and structure tend to be a good aid for insomnia!

Good writing takes practice. It takes lots and lots of practice.
Make a schedule to write at least a page a day. Read books and
magazines about the process of writing, and jot down tips that
jump out at you. The art of writing is a lifetime process; the
more you write (and read), the better your writing will become.
The better your writing becomes, the bigger your sales figures.

In an ebook that is read on the screen, be aware that you must
give your reader’s eye a break. You can do this by utilizing
white space. In art classes, white space is usually referred to
as “negative space.” Reader’s eyes need to rest in the cool
white oasis you create on your page. If your page is too dense,
your reader will quit out of it as soon as their eyes begin to
tear.

Make use of lists, both bulleted and numbered. This makes your
information easy to absorb, and gives the reader a mental break
from dissecting your paragraphs one after the other.

Finally, decide on an easy-to-read design. Find a font that’s
easy on the eyes, and stick to that font family. Using dozens of
fonts will only tire your readers out before they’ve gotten past
your introduction. Use at least one and a half line spacing, and
text large enough to be read easily on the screen, but small
enough so that the whole page can be seen on a computer screen.
You will have to experiment with this to find the right
combination.

Of course, don’t forget to run a spell and grammar check. You
are judged by something as minor as correct punctuation, so do
not mess up a great book by tossing out semicolons randomly, or
stringing sentences together with commas. (By the way, that’s
called a “comma splice.”) Last of all, create an index and a
bibliography. That’s it! You’ve written a book! Now all you have
to do is publish your ebook online, and wait for download
request from your website visitors

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – The Machame route (Whiskey)

Author: Koos De Klerk

When we, my wife Agnes and myself, decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro it was 14 months in advance.

We did some research on the internet about altitude sickness and attended talks about the adventure to come.

 The reason for this article is that I want to let people, with plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro,know in my humble way what to expect, what to do and what not.

 The first part ,as you start your adventure after your admin at the gate is completed and the porters and guide are ready to go, is the 4+ hours ascend through the

rain forest. We did it in September 2009 and had no rain although the ground is damp and cold. The rain forest is just something you have to experience!

The ascend is slow as the guide sets a pace for  your body to acclimatize and to better your changes to summit.If you do not follow the guide’s advice you will not summit as your body will give in. We witnessed people coming down in real trouble.

 We met a Malaizian lady afterwards at the hotel where we stayed who did summit but were temporarily blind while summiting . As the air is so thin up there you can expect to experience some difficulty in breathing etc.

 But everything is not so bad. We were extremely lucky to not have had any bad experience what so ever, no headaches, no nausea. Agnes, my wife did find it difficult to breath at one stage close to the summit. She say she wanted to cry as the emotions took over but she could not breath easily so she stopped crying (some humor in the adventure).

At this stage, when you pass the Glazier, you are on your way to have a successful summit.

We experienced a very strong cold wind as we moved up to the summit during the night. We started just before midnight. The magic is to see all the small lightspots of the headlights going up the dark mountain. Looks like a train in the night. (1.3km rise in altitude.)

 This is where the right gear comes in play. My gloves was not good enough although it is snow gloves. My finger tips was cold then I lost all feeling in them. (Luckily it was only for a short spell..hour or 2).

 Without our guides we would not have achieved our dream.

This is something that one have to do once in your lifetime.

 Lets us get to the what to do’s.

To help you with breathing there is a product on the market called: “Dymox.” We only took a quarter of a pill the day before summit day and a quarter on summit day. You can try it out a couple of days before you go to see what the affect it has on your body. We experienced pins and needles in our finger tips for a minute or two. If  you take more you may experience side effects such as tiredness etc.

 Then while you are on the mountain, you will experience a loss of appetite. Don’t skip breakfast, lunch or dinner. I skipped the coffee after 3 days up the mountain. In our group we had somebody that skipped some dinners and he did not make it to the top.

 Drink your 3 litres of water everyday. We had daypacks with 3lt waterbags and a tube that we sipped on as we moved at a very slow pace up the mountain.

What people don’t tell is the atmosphere at the campsites every night. As you arrive at the camp for the night your small little tent is already up and you can take a break and rest, wash up and have dinner then it is off to bed – thin mattress and sleeping bag.

 While all this is going on the porters are chatting away happily and even having some sing-a-longs, magic.

 What did we take to help us to have a successful summit?

 In our daypacks we had nutritional bars, Mannabears, energy bars.

The products are from the #1 Company in the Health & Wellness Industry – Mannatech!

The Mannabears are something like sugar coated jellybabies, but filled with fruit and vegetable nutrients.That helped our bodies to function at a very high level.

http://www.mannapages.com/koos

 We believe that with the products of Mannatech we gave ourselves an almost guarantee to summit!.

The products of Mannatech is all about Glyconutrients. It is the vital “sugars” that our bodies need to function at optimal level.

I hope you found this article interesting as I am a novice in writing articles but wanted to share my life experience with you and hope you will after reading it decide to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

I had my 54th birthday up on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Koos De Klerk

Centurion

Gauteng

South Africa.

katrade@absamail.co.za