I met a new camping acquaintance few months ago (2013), while camping at Lake Mead (Las Vegas, Nevada area). A very good “Joe”.
For the sake of this article, he will be known as Joe. A retired, full time RV’r. He migrates with the seasons. Much like many species of wildlife do.
During the cool winter months. He can be found trying to find warmth in the southwestern desert of USA. As the spring and summer months progress. He moves to higher elevations to seek out cooler temperatures.
His goal is to always find lower priced and affordable campgrounds. Attempting to maximize the fixed income he survives on.
Finding affordable campsites. Means he has no external power hook-up. Solar runs bare necessities. So comfortable temperatures must be found. Running an air conditioner is out of the question.
We loosely keep in touch through Facebook. He enjoys the coffee subject. So much so, he spends part of his time traveling, seeking out local mom and pop coffee roasters. For both beans, and for information. He likes to talk about his own methods. Of roasting, grinding, and preparing his favorite brew. All while living out of his RV Trailer.
On one of my return trips from Yellowstone NP. Traveling home to Las Vegas, Nevada. I made a point of finding out where Gary had set up for the summer months. I know he is often in the higher elevations of Utah.
He texted me back that he was at Red Canyon Campground, near Bryce Canyon, Utah. It seemed like a necessary, couple hundred mile detour, on my way home. Only a couple hundred miles out of my way??? In the scheme of things on this trip, that was rather insignificant for me.
Plus coffee was involved. I am a sucker for a good brew!
I decided to stay a couple of days and visit with “coffee Joe”. To also check out one of my favorite areas. Bryce Canyon. Daytime and nighttime temperatures couldn’t be better for dry camping. No power needed to run air conditioners.
In the morning I knocked on “Joe’s” door and asked if the Bistro was on duty.
Joe made me a Latte. It surely wasn’t your average “camp” coffee. He was more than happy to again share his methods. He has even gotten to the point of buying “green” un-roasted beans. Roasting them himself. In a hot air popcorn popper no less.
So what he served up was prepared from freshly roasted. As well as freshly ground. Hot pressed coffee. Blended into a latte, complete with foam created with a battery operated frothier…..all while camping with no power hook-ups.
He does have to fire up a generator, or have an electrical hook up, when roasting.
I can attest to the fact he makes a cup of ”Joe” that is hard to beat at any expensive coffee shop. Oh and the view from his bistro…well…that can’t be beat either!
I crossed paths with Joe for several years. Enjoying a laugh around a campfire or over coffee.
2021 Update: while recently reviewing this. I sadly have to update and say. “Joe”, a few years ago, had to start dealing with cancer. He sold his travel trailer. He is no longer enjoying nomadic life.
It makes me think. You can never have too much coffee! Or coffee time with friends!
