31 Strangest Places to Sleep

Ok, so its rainy and yucky here in Haines so as I was cruising around the internet, I happened upon this article.  Somehow, none of these look too appealing to me, although Pinkie might enjoy #4...

 Special thanks to excel distributors for this great reading material... 

31 Strangest Places to Sleep

Road warriors are accustomed to hunkering down in some unusual places. Wal-Mart parking lot? No problem. In a random guy's driveway? Even better. We can get forty winks anywhere, anytime.
But have you ever stayed in one of these wacky, outrageous, and totally strange locales? From odd RVs and weird RV parks to the just plain uncomfortable, our list of the 31 strangest places to sleep makes dozing off on a park bench seem perfectly normal.

1. Inside the Amphibious RV
   
   
   Source: http://babble.com/CS/blogs/droolicious/archive/2008/06/30/now-that-s-what-i-call-an-rv.aspx
   
   You've been asking for years: "When are they going to make an RV that floats?" For 1.2 million dollars, you can take to the high seas in your Amphibious RV, where you can fish all day from your couch.
2. With 20 Strangers
   
   
   Source: http://everypictures.blogspot.com/2009/12/art-of-extreme-sleeping.html
   
   Want to sleep strange? Curl up in this tour bus – it's like a frat house on wheels. We recommend not being the first person to pass out.
3. Inside this Crazy Camper
   
   
   Source: http://www.campingroadtrip.com/weird-rvs
   
   Settle down for a nice nap in this camper. It might be bumpy, but getting your friend to pull you along while you snooze in the back is worth the rough ride. We hate to see what happens if he gets rear-ended.
4. At the Trailer Park Taj Mahal
   
   
   Source: http://www.everyjoe.com/uncovertheinternet/funny-photo-trailer-park-taj-mahal/
   
   It's the third wonder of the RV world (right behind Kadie the Cow and Corn Palace. The RV Taj Mahal stands five Winnebagos high and features 8 satellite dishes, 32 lawn chairs and a flock of plastic pink flamingos. Running water coming soon.
5. At the Flintstone Campground
   
   
   Source: http://www.yelp.com/biz/flintstones-bedrock-city-williams
   
   Yabba-Dabba-Doo! Rock out like Fred and Wilma at the Bedrock Campgrounds in Williams, Arizona.
6. In Slab City, On-Top of Salvation Mountain
   
   
   Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonstarbuck/2416150679/
   
   Salvation Mountain in California is a strangely beautiful (albeit garish) tribute to Jesus. It's said to be one of the only RV campgrounds left that are completely free.
   
   Leonard Knight, the eccentric creator of Salvation Mountain, will happily give you a tour.
   
   Claim to fame: This strange place to sleep was featured in the 2007 film Into the Wild.
7. In the Buff at the Pines, a Nudist RV Park
   
   
   Source: http://www.thepinesrvp.com
   
   Think you've seen everything on your travels? Think again. Sleep in the buff in a pine bluff at the Pines RV Park. Don't worry about closing those blinds. Naked is normal!
8. Next to Yogi Bear in Jellystone Park
   
   
   Source: http://www.campjellystone.com/
   
   Bring your RV and camp with Yogi and Bobo! Surprisingly, Jellystone Park locations stretch across the country, making them the second largest campground franchise in the United States.
9. In a WalMart Parking Lot
   
   
   Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wandering-yxy/252237295/in/pool-1231130@N21
   
   Sleeping in the Wal-Mart parking lot is a rite of passage for road warriors. But it's definitely strange to those who have never RVed before.
   
   Tip: Most Wal-Mart stores welcome RV overnight parking, and many have security. It is good etiquette to ask the store manager for permission, and don't rollout the awning or put out lawn furniture: low key is the key. http://www.cruising-america.com/rv.html
10. Where Lord of the Rings was Filmed
    
    
    Source: http://www.top10.co.nz/parks/franz-josef-holiday-park.html
    
    You won't be catching ZZZs with Frodo, but you can sleep in the shadow of where Lord of the Rings was filmed, at the Franz Josef Top 10 Holiday Park on South Island, New Zealand
    
    That's not the only unusual thing about this RV Park. It's surrounded by glaciers, kiwis, kayaking spots and near the highest peak in New Zealand.
11. Siberia
    
    
    Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12535240@N05/3998639880/
    
    Pokrovskoye, Siberia the hometown of Grigori Rasputin. In Siberia you can camp anywhere on the side of the road, but there is apparently lots of trash, and sometimes isn't very safe. So lock your RV door!
12. With Ghosts
    
    
    Source: http://www.unexplainable.net/artman/publish/article_6381.shtml
    
    Sportsman's RV Park in Libby, Montana is haunted. "It is said that many aimless souls lost their lives waiting for work at the site, camping in the woods when they could not afford a stay at the Inn. There is also a tale that every spring, thunderstorms bring about the shadowy figure of a ghost that wears a hooded poncho as he floats above the ground." Boo!
13. Where the Buffalo Roam
    
    
    Source: http://goss-travels.blogspot.com/2009/09/antelope-island-balloon-and-kite.html
    
    Antelope Island, in the Great Salt Lake, Utah. It's an island. With buffalo. In Great Salt Lake. The chances that you'll wake up to a beast that's almost the size of your RV makes this one wild locale and worthy of our sleep strange list.
14. At the Feet of a Giant
    
    
    Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/myklroventine/493287872/
    
    Take a rest under the protective eyes of Jolly Green Giant. Boondock for 48 hours at the Blue Earth, Minnesota fairgrounds. Wake up refreshed and craving green beans.
15. At Turn 4: The Daytona 500
    
    
    Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=2346804
    
    People wait their entire lives to hitch up at turn four of The Great American Race. Bring the earplugs - stockcars whiz by turn four at over 150 miles per hour for 200 laps.
16. Have Nightmares at Camp Crystal Lake
    
    
    Source: http://revealthescience.blogspot.com/2008/11/its-never-too-late.html
    
    Established in Starke, Florida since 1948, Camp Crystal Lake is known for its canoeing, rope climbing and camp counselor slaughtering from a machete-wheedling maniac. One would think being associated with the camp from the Friday the 13th horror franchise might hurt business, but camp directors say attendance only falls a few brief weekends a year.
17. In the middle of the desert
    
    
    Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/slworking/2443912516/
    
    Strange things happen out in the desert in the middle of the night. You're practically guaranteed one weird experience, whether it's a UFO landing on your rooftop or meeting the Mafia.
18. Place with the Strangest Name
    
    
    Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/biscuitsmlp/3874402195/
    
    Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales. Fall asleep counting letters and counting sheep in the town with the longest place name in Europe. You'll live to tell the tale. But you will never be able to pronounce the name.
19. On the Edge of the Grand Canyon
    
    
    Source: http://www.rvtravel.com/blog/weirdrvs/2007_04_01_archive.html
    
    Fantastic views; not awesome parking. Bring a deck of cards because you're not doing much else when you make it to the top of this Wile E. Coyote cliff.
20. In a Capsule
    
    
    Source: http://kshore.com/news/news.php?id=134
    
    And you thought sleeping in an RV was cramped! Wait until you try the Sleep Boxes in the Dubai Airport. These 12' x 9' x 15' walk-in coffins offer WiFi, an LCD TV and nearly enough headroom to stand.
21. In a Capsule, on Water
    
    
    Source: http://capsulehotel.info/images.html#
    
    Think you'll doze delightfully in a capsule? How does sleeping in an oil rig survival pod float your boat? This hotel in The Hague is not for the claustrophobic-aquaphobic.
22. Sleep Sacred
    
    
    Source: http://www.oldchurch.eu/
    
    You may have fallen asleep in church before (be honest!), but that doesn't count. Touted as an "uplifting experience," the Old Church of Urquhart in Scotland is one sacred place to dream.
23. Doze Off on the Door to Hell
    
    
    Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derweze
    
    Bunker down on top of the "door to hell" in Uzbekistan. You won't need a blanket.
24. On the Side of a Truck Car
    
    Don't they look comfy?
25. While Hunting
    
    
    Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucLml_0KRw7agI9BU6x_m5xrgzEEgFz4sylYHZ0RAqQwFUqAUhK5kXCcHjk9eIdL2SNe2jafJ3gwWxQrC06UizxgKhyxmgSnz9HfyP9wHJnzNLzyrFJTne2rrcwnFEVU8Bwh3_cCjpW3P/s400/funny-deer-picture-sleeping-hunter-outdoors-smart-animal-stealing-food.jpg
    
    You should decide early on if "hunting" means actively looking for animals to shoot. Or catching a wink while an animal preys on your lunch.
26. On a RickShaw
    
    
    Source: http://www.sleepingchinese.com/
    
    It's not an RV. But a rickshaw makes a good napping place.
27. On a SeeSaw
    
    
    Source: http://www.sleepingchinese.com/
    
    There's nothing like a good nap after a hard day's play.
28. Inside a Beagle
    
    
    Source: www.UnusualHotelsoftheWorld.com
    
    You've heard of the beagle that snoozes on top of the dog house. But did you know you can conk out inside of a giant beagle?
29. Inside a Tauntaun
    
    
    Source: www.ThinkGeek.com
    
    Check out the light saber zipper! Slice open your favorite creature from Hoth and crawl into the intestines imprint liner.. Now you can finally find out how bad they smell… on the inside.
30. Inside a Submarine
    
    
    Source: http://www.carolhipperson.com/Chapter10RadiomanBonusPhotos.html
    
    Sack out inside a submarine. It's pitch black. Pretty cold. Probably boring .The perfect place to sleep!
31. While CliffHanging
    
    
    Source: http://www.piotrwojcicki.pl/
    
    Don't toss. Or turn. Just stay completely still.

Haines Alaska at last

We made it into Haines Alaska this afternoon. Not a bad spot for camping, huh????





We will be here for over a month waiting for 3000 - 4000 bald eagles to arrive.

The long dusty road...

We just returned from a fantastic trip to Denali National Park. Unlike our visit there earlier in the trip, we had beautiful blue skies, sun and 60 degrees during the day. We saw Denali (Mt McKinley) every day. We won the road lottery and were among 400 lucky winners to be able to drive our personal truck on the road. Overall we logged in 240+ miles on the dirt park road, numerous animal sitings (including 2 Lynx) and the most fantastic sunset on the mountain. Talk about priceless since less than 30% of all visitors to the park even see the mountain let alone see it in blues and pinks at sunset.

Pictures will be up in a couple of days when we reach Haines Alaska. We have about 12 hours of driving over the next 2 to 3 days.

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Anchorage, Alaska

I am so far behind on posts, but just a quick one to update you on our location...

We left Seward on Wednesday, the 1st, and drove the 2 1/2 hours back to Anchorage.  We are doing some restocking and some truck maintenance as this is the last large town that we will be in until we get back to the lower 48 sometime in October or November.  We will be here until Monday, Labor Day, and then we will actually be starting our trip south.  We are kinda sad as we will start working our way out of Alaska by first stopping in Valdez and then continuing on for a long stay in Haines.  We are still unsure of exactly what our exit plan will be (other than hoping for good weather and not too much snow).

Preliminarily, we are planning on staying in Haines until the weather runs us out (too cold and snowy).  We will then make the very long drive down through Canada in as quick a time as the weather permits.  We hope to stop in Denver for a visit on our way down south.  Overall, we plan on getting the RV back to South Texas in time for our January reservations at South Padre Island.  We are also planning on a Christmas trip to see my family and a visit to Chicago in January with Matt's family.  Still nothing too firm, but at least we have some idea of where we are headed (other than South).

I'll post our final Seward photos and an update on our activities there in a couple of days.