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Old 05-21-2017, 02:47 PM   #1
Steve079
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Woodward Reservoir, 1st Trip out

Wanted to take our new Keystone Springdale 179QBWE on a shakedown trip, prior to our 10 vacation to the Northern California coast. So, we went to Woodward Reservoir, 40 miles from home, to try it out. It's place we've driven past hundreds of times over the years. It's very popular, being so close to several large metropolitan area's, but after reading the reviews on Yelp, I had some concerns. But, our trip started midweek, and ended this morning, and it was a great shakedown trip.
We love our new trailer, queen bed up front, middle bath and our favorite part, the rear dinette with a wrap around view thru the picture windows. The entry side of th eRV was facing and literally on the street, but the back side was a little paradise, right on the water. We laid out the mat we bought for the awning, set out our chairs and table, beside a huge Mulberry tree, that gave us shade all day long. It was awesome. With hookups for power, water and sewer, we used the A/C, microwave, Keurig, stove and shower. Everything workled great, no problems, EXCEPT the rotary striker that would light the gas stove burners, but, we had matches for backup. It is a small RV, not a lot of room, but it has all we need for our weekend jaunts and week long vacation trips. I pull it with my work vehicle, a 2013 Ford E250 Super Duty extended cargo van, and I have TONS of room for all the things we need, and then some.
The camp sites were pretty quiet Wednesday thru Friday, the stiff breeze of the first 2 days laid down to a nice, cooling breeze for the remainder of the trip. With that breeze, our nice shady spot right on the water, there were no mosquitoes or flies. The temp was PERFECT, never changed out of short sleeves the entire trip.
Friday about midnight, the complexion of the campground changed. Our cul de sac filled up, and campsites were set up with accompanying loud music, too loud for 12pm to 2 am. Someone in an adjoining campsite, yelled "TURN IT DOWN", and they did! I didn't hear it, but that woke my wife up, lol. Saturday was loud, the late arrivals were a bit boisterous and was blasting the music again, but behind our unit it was fine. However, the Sheriff was called out and handled the situ, and it was good enough for the rest of the trip.
The sites with hookup, were 30 bucks a night. There is a boat launch, I drove out there with the fellow camping next ot us, his kids were out on his boat, it died, and they had to have the Sheriff patrol tow them back. Nice launch area, plenty wide, 2 docks, with a large open center, that seems to cater to the personnel water craft folks.
The RV sites, were a little rough, untrimmed dry grass all around the fire pit, and lots of foxtails and burrs. We didn't do a fire, or have dog, so neither of these things were an issue for us, but they could be for others.
So, the question is, would I go back. Yes, I would. Week days, but no weekends. We drove around and checked out different sites, but the view and shelter we had at our site would be tough to match.

Our view from the back.



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Old 05-21-2017, 03:22 PM   #2
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You might have driven by us. We are in space 85 (hackberry flat), and leaving in the morning. It is HOT and a bit crowded.

Lots of full hookup spaces added in the last year. Would we go back? Yeah but will look for more shaded spot.
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Old 05-21-2017, 04:03 PM   #3
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You might have driven by us. We are in space 85 (hackberry flat),
Missed you by that much!
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Old 05-21-2017, 04:05 PM   #4
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Maybe next time.
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Old 05-22-2017, 04:22 PM   #5
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I grew up camping and sailing at Woodward, but unfortunately the park has changed. I stopped camping there 15 years ago because of the constant loud music, fights and arrests that occur out there. The Sheriff’s Office puts a lot of effort into the park, a lot more than they should have too. But they still have their hands full nearly every weekend during the spring and summer months. Unfortunately, I know this not only because I used to camp there, but because I used to work at the Sheriff’s Office.

My family reluctantly camped at T-island last year for a family reunion trip, meant to celebrate old times and an older relative’s retirement from camping. It was great to see that the county added full hookups. The problem was that campers without RV’s took many of the full hookup sites and used the power for their radios. It brought back a lot of memories for me, but I’ll never get my wife to go back. It felt like two days of camping between rival ramp concerts trying to outdo each other, and that was before the mariachi music started. McSwain is much more pleasant and worth the drive to Merced.
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Old 05-22-2017, 04:30 PM   #6
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Yeah it has changed. It wasn't our first or second choice.
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Old 05-22-2017, 04:31 PM   #7
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McSwain is much more pleasant and worth the drive to Merced.
We're looking for other spots to camp out in the RV. I've tried at Lake Camanche, but the search function wants a specific date, and I was wanting to look for what is available for a specific month..
I dont' want to spend hours on a website. I just want to know what sites are open in a 30 day range, and pick one.
I"m going to check out McSwain, I've fished McClure a few times.
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Old 05-22-2017, 04:36 PM   #8
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We really like Marble Quarry in Columbia. 5 minute walk to Columbia state park, loads of stuff for kids.
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Old 05-22-2017, 04:46 PM   #9
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We really like Marble Quarry in Columbia. 5 minute walk to Columbia state park, loads of stuff for kids.
I haven't been there yet, but heard it's a nice place. I think there is one called 49er in the same area that I've heard is nice too.
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Old 05-22-2017, 04:59 PM   #10
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Trust me, Marble Quarry all the way. 49er is hard to navigate.
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Old 05-22-2017, 05:08 PM   #11
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Marble Quarry is literally in my backyard, lol. It would take me longer to hook up then drive there, it's maybe 15 minutes away. A little too close.

Didn't find RV specific sites at McSwain? We used to camp up Hiway 4 at Spicer and Utica-Union,and at Beardsley reservoir up 108, but both are closed for up to 2 years due to road damage. Don't mind dry camping for a weekend, if its high enough to out of the extreme heat, or out on the coast.

I'm starting to think most sites are reserved way ahead of time, so spontaneous trip to the coast maybe fruitless?
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Old 05-22-2017, 05:15 PM   #12
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Clarks fork? IIRC upper loop has water and maybe elect.
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Old 05-22-2017, 06:19 PM   #13
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Yeah Clarks fork is good, my daughter and hubby camp there. But hey, I booked a site for a couple days at Marble Quary for a couple days in July. We watch our grandsons, 4 and 6, during the summer. The pool will be a nice interlude for them.
Thanks for the suggestion. When you camp there, can you request a specific site? I wasn't given that option, as I did it online. Which sites would you suggest?
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Old 05-22-2017, 06:24 PM   #14
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Woodward Reservoir, 1st Trip out

I call them to get a specific site. We prefer 36 or 37 as satellite reception is best there.

There is a map:

http://marblequarryrvpark.com/accommodations/
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Old 05-22-2017, 06:31 PM   #15
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Ah, good to know. I don't need TV, as long as I can get the Giants on the radio, I'm good.
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Old 05-22-2017, 07:23 PM   #16
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Clarks fork? IIRC upper loop has water and maybe elect.
Clarks Fork is great, I go there every year. Chuck is right B-Loop is the best but doesn't have hookups.
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Old 05-22-2017, 08:09 PM   #17
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Clarks Fork is great, I go there every year. Chuck is right B-Loop is the best but doesn't have hookups.
We will be heading up there before the end of summer, for sure. we have enough capacity to do 3 days without hookups. Love that area!
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