RossKean
Well-Known Member
There was a recent post about Lark Harbour and Blow-Me-Down PP and some discussion about noise levels and other issues.
Rather than further pollute that thread, I decided to start another. As a result of a recent bad experience at Sandbanks, I wrote a letter to Parks Newfoundland.
This is more than a rant than an initiation of a discussion, but feel free...
This is the text of the letter I sent:
Good Morning
I am a regular visitor to Newfoundland (every couple of years). I travel by motorcycle and my preference is to tent-camp - usually in one of Newfoundland's fine Provincial Parks.
The good -
For the most part, the Parks are well managed, facilities are well maintained, they are clean and most staff seem to be friendly and helpful. The Parks are in beautiful natural wilderness settings that highlight Newfoundland's diverse and unique geology and ecology. For the most part, they are some of the nicest campgrounds I have stayed at anywhere. Comfort stations are clean and well maintained.
The not-so-good -
I have certainly run into situations where campsites are not available - especially on weekends. This is a "fault" of their popularity which isn't necessarily a bad thing. More capacity at some would be nice. Some of the parks have nice private grassy areas to pitch a tent, but others have sites that are mostly gravel - better for RVs, but absolutely terrible for tenting.
I would like to make mention of costs. It gets to be expensive for someone spending a week or more at different sites across the Province. Camping fees are not terrible, but when you add a daily Park entrance fee and reservation fees, it starts to add up quickly. I know you can save on reservation fees by booking all of your sites in one session and that may work well for a car (or RV) camper but not so well for someone who may be more affected by weather such as a motorcycle rider or bicyclist. Itineraries also change as a function of fatigue or simply wanting to stay a little longer in a particularly interesting region. Just saying that it isn't always possible to pre-book multiple days at one time so a reservation fee applies to each on-line session. Alternative is to not book in advance and take a chance that a vacancy will be available.
(Why is a Park entrance fee a separate thing? I understand that there are people who visit the facilities for day-use, but it is a pretty fair bet that anyone who is camping will need to enter the Park and will need to park a vehicle.)
The UGLY -
What is it with Newfoundlanders (or those visiting Newfoundland) with their expensive RVs and cheap, noisy generators? I wear earplugs when I ride to protect my hearing, but who would think I would need them to sleep at a wilderness campground?
I recently stayed at Sandbanks near Burgeo. Absolutely beautiful natural setting with the dunes, beach, trails and ocean. In 31 sites, the majority were occupied by RVs. At least two of these had VERY loud generators that ran from the time I arrived (late afternoon) until after 11:00 PM. I'm sure one of them had to be told to shut down (11:10 PM) after "quiet hours". (No chance in being lulled to sleep by the gentle sounds of the ocean a couple hundred meters away!) I guess you got to keep those air conditioners, TVs and stereos operating while you enjoy the rustic campground setting. Note: This is the second time I experienced this at Sandbanks over the past several years. It is one Provincial Park that I will never visit again and will not recommend it to anyone. Too bad, as it is one of the most beautiful Parks in the system.
Excessive noise is absolutely inappropriate at a campground - especially after the sun goes down. Generators are the main problem although air conditioners, stereos and loud parties are also at issue. This speaks to rude and inconsiderate "campers" who feel entitled to do whatever they want, but also to a failing of Park policy, physical layout and possibly enforcement. This has ruined at least a half dozen park stays for me in various Newfoundland locations. I will say that many (most) of the offenders are Newfoundlanders who use the Parks for their annual summer vacations and are "long-stay" campers. I'm not saying that they shouldn't be allowed to use the Parks for an extended stay, but rules must be in place to ensure that they don't ruin the experience for others. It is by no means all of these individuals, but it only takes one...
I have rarely encountered these issues in the many other Provincial (or US State) campgrounds where I have stayed. Not sure if campers are more respectful or if policies are more rigid. (Some commercial campgrounds have been problematic, mostly due to overcrowding.) I really can't say that the Newfoundland problems are mostly due to a lack of enforcement, but the result of Park policies is that several stays have been far less enjoyable than they should have been.
Recommendations (if anyone really cares) -
1) Maintain a STRICT "quiet time" policy beginning no later than dusk, perhaps as early as 7:00 PM. Generators, music and parties. Beneficial to all, but especially to tenters and families with small children.
2) If generators are even allowed, ensure they are sufficiently quiet. I can't understand someone who pays out $80,000 for a big RV and then buys the cheapest emergency generator available at Canadian Tire. A good Honda or Yamaha (for example) generator is quiet and hardly noticeable from 10 meters away. These might cost an extra couple of thousand dollars but are worth it. Decibel (sound) meters are not expensive and Park staff should use them to shut down anyone who is ruining the experience for others. I would love to see an absolute generator ban; at least at some locations.
3) I understand that available space is limited in some campgrounds, but I think that RVs need to be kept physically separate from tent sites; especially if generators and other noise policies are absent (or not enforced). Many campgrounds do not differentiate between tent and RV sites and a tenter might find themselves on rocky ground sandwiched between two RVs. Perhaps some extra sites serviced with electrical power are needed (in the RV only area) for those who can't live without their powered amenities. (This also allows for a gravel substrate for RVs and a more tent-friendly surface for the rest of us.)
4)Tent sites should have grassed or natural forest groundcover for pitching tents. Gravel is uncomfortable, unnatural and ruins the bottoms of tents. I would like to see more "tent only" sites. They don't require the space or resources of the RV sites.
5) Combine site fees and entrance fees. I believe that you use a 3rd party for reservation management so I guess there may not be much you can do about that??? Would it be appropriate to charge more for RV fees? Tenters are often solo (or perhaps duo) visitors who use quite a bit less than their share of Park facilities. For me, I am almost always solo and tend to arrive late in the day and leave early in the morning.
I'm sure I could come up with more, but I think you get the general idea. I might suggest that you do a survey of Park users and see if my feelings are shared by others. I will probably continue to stay at Newfoundland's Provincial Parks, but I am going to be more selective about which ones and probably less frequently than I have in the past. Unfortunately, "camping" has become an activity that is far more involved with recreational vehicles with their modern amenities as opposed to communing with nature in a quiet and peaceful manner. How about one or more Provincial Parks that are "tent only" or at least prohibit generators, loud music, air conditioners etc.?
Sincerely
Ross Kean
Rather than further pollute that thread, I decided to start another. As a result of a recent bad experience at Sandbanks, I wrote a letter to Parks Newfoundland.
This is more than a rant than an initiation of a discussion, but feel free...
This is the text of the letter I sent:
Good Morning
I am a regular visitor to Newfoundland (every couple of years). I travel by motorcycle and my preference is to tent-camp - usually in one of Newfoundland's fine Provincial Parks.
The good -
For the most part, the Parks are well managed, facilities are well maintained, they are clean and most staff seem to be friendly and helpful. The Parks are in beautiful natural wilderness settings that highlight Newfoundland's diverse and unique geology and ecology. For the most part, they are some of the nicest campgrounds I have stayed at anywhere. Comfort stations are clean and well maintained.
The not-so-good -
I have certainly run into situations where campsites are not available - especially on weekends. This is a "fault" of their popularity which isn't necessarily a bad thing. More capacity at some would be nice. Some of the parks have nice private grassy areas to pitch a tent, but others have sites that are mostly gravel - better for RVs, but absolutely terrible for tenting.
I would like to make mention of costs. It gets to be expensive for someone spending a week or more at different sites across the Province. Camping fees are not terrible, but when you add a daily Park entrance fee and reservation fees, it starts to add up quickly. I know you can save on reservation fees by booking all of your sites in one session and that may work well for a car (or RV) camper but not so well for someone who may be more affected by weather such as a motorcycle rider or bicyclist. Itineraries also change as a function of fatigue or simply wanting to stay a little longer in a particularly interesting region. Just saying that it isn't always possible to pre-book multiple days at one time so a reservation fee applies to each on-line session. Alternative is to not book in advance and take a chance that a vacancy will be available.
(Why is a Park entrance fee a separate thing? I understand that there are people who visit the facilities for day-use, but it is a pretty fair bet that anyone who is camping will need to enter the Park and will need to park a vehicle.)
The UGLY -
What is it with Newfoundlanders (or those visiting Newfoundland) with their expensive RVs and cheap, noisy generators? I wear earplugs when I ride to protect my hearing, but who would think I would need them to sleep at a wilderness campground?
I recently stayed at Sandbanks near Burgeo. Absolutely beautiful natural setting with the dunes, beach, trails and ocean. In 31 sites, the majority were occupied by RVs. At least two of these had VERY loud generators that ran from the time I arrived (late afternoon) until after 11:00 PM. I'm sure one of them had to be told to shut down (11:10 PM) after "quiet hours". (No chance in being lulled to sleep by the gentle sounds of the ocean a couple hundred meters away!) I guess you got to keep those air conditioners, TVs and stereos operating while you enjoy the rustic campground setting. Note: This is the second time I experienced this at Sandbanks over the past several years. It is one Provincial Park that I will never visit again and will not recommend it to anyone. Too bad, as it is one of the most beautiful Parks in the system.
Excessive noise is absolutely inappropriate at a campground - especially after the sun goes down. Generators are the main problem although air conditioners, stereos and loud parties are also at issue. This speaks to rude and inconsiderate "campers" who feel entitled to do whatever they want, but also to a failing of Park policy, physical layout and possibly enforcement. This has ruined at least a half dozen park stays for me in various Newfoundland locations. I will say that many (most) of the offenders are Newfoundlanders who use the Parks for their annual summer vacations and are "long-stay" campers. I'm not saying that they shouldn't be allowed to use the Parks for an extended stay, but rules must be in place to ensure that they don't ruin the experience for others. It is by no means all of these individuals, but it only takes one...
I have rarely encountered these issues in the many other Provincial (or US State) campgrounds where I have stayed. Not sure if campers are more respectful or if policies are more rigid. (Some commercial campgrounds have been problematic, mostly due to overcrowding.) I really can't say that the Newfoundland problems are mostly due to a lack of enforcement, but the result of Park policies is that several stays have been far less enjoyable than they should have been.
Recommendations (if anyone really cares) -
1) Maintain a STRICT "quiet time" policy beginning no later than dusk, perhaps as early as 7:00 PM. Generators, music and parties. Beneficial to all, but especially to tenters and families with small children.
2) If generators are even allowed, ensure they are sufficiently quiet. I can't understand someone who pays out $80,000 for a big RV and then buys the cheapest emergency generator available at Canadian Tire. A good Honda or Yamaha (for example) generator is quiet and hardly noticeable from 10 meters away. These might cost an extra couple of thousand dollars but are worth it. Decibel (sound) meters are not expensive and Park staff should use them to shut down anyone who is ruining the experience for others. I would love to see an absolute generator ban; at least at some locations.
3) I understand that available space is limited in some campgrounds, but I think that RVs need to be kept physically separate from tent sites; especially if generators and other noise policies are absent (or not enforced). Many campgrounds do not differentiate between tent and RV sites and a tenter might find themselves on rocky ground sandwiched between two RVs. Perhaps some extra sites serviced with electrical power are needed (in the RV only area) for those who can't live without their powered amenities. (This also allows for a gravel substrate for RVs and a more tent-friendly surface for the rest of us.)
4)Tent sites should have grassed or natural forest groundcover for pitching tents. Gravel is uncomfortable, unnatural and ruins the bottoms of tents. I would like to see more "tent only" sites. They don't require the space or resources of the RV sites.
5) Combine site fees and entrance fees. I believe that you use a 3rd party for reservation management so I guess there may not be much you can do about that??? Would it be appropriate to charge more for RV fees? Tenters are often solo (or perhaps duo) visitors who use quite a bit less than their share of Park facilities. For me, I am almost always solo and tend to arrive late in the day and leave early in the morning.
I'm sure I could come up with more, but I think you get the general idea. I might suggest that you do a survey of Park users and see if my feelings are shared by others. I will probably continue to stay at Newfoundland's Provincial Parks, but I am going to be more selective about which ones and probably less frequently than I have in the past. Unfortunately, "camping" has become an activity that is far more involved with recreational vehicles with their modern amenities as opposed to communing with nature in a quiet and peaceful manner. How about one or more Provincial Parks that are "tent only" or at least prohibit generators, loud music, air conditioners etc.?
Sincerely
Ross Kean
