Rich’s Retreat Recap : Massachusetts Camping, Road Trip Stories & Unexpected Mishaps

Our annual trip to Rich’s Retreat is in the books, and we’re sharing everything that made this camping adventure one to remember. From spending time with family around the campfire to exploring some great local stops, this episode is packed with real stories, travel tips, and a few unexpected surprises along the way.

Not every road trip goes exactly as planned. We talk about the gas can that somehow fell through our cargo basket while we were driving, a small battery that unexpectedly exploded in the cup holder, and why our Nissan Pathfinder may be giving us the first signs of a transmission problem.

If you enjoy RV travel, camping adventures, campground stories, tow vehicle maintenance, and honest conversations about life on the road, this episode is for you.

In This Episode

● Rich’s Retreat 2026 camping recap

● Campfire stories, food, and favorite memories

● Visiting Echo Hill Orchards & Winery

● Dinner at the Historic Steaming Tender Restaurant

● The gas can that escaped our cargo basket

● A battery explosion inside the tow vehicle

● Possible transmission concerns with the Nissan Pathfinder

● Lessons learned from another memorable camping trip

Places We Visited

Echo Hill Orchards & Winery: 
A family-owned orchard, winery, and distillery in Monson, Massachusetts. If you’re traveling through western Massachusetts, it’s a fantastic stop for locally made wines, cider, spirits, fresh fruit, and beautiful scenery.

Website: https://www.echohillorchards.com

Steaming Tender Restaurant
: Located inside the historic Palmer Union Station in Palmer, Massachusetts, this one-of-a-kind restaurant offers great food with front-row views of active railroad tracks—perfect for train enthusiasts and anyone looking for a unique dining experience.

Website: https://www.steamingtender.com

Antonio’s Pizza by the Slice
: A western Massachusetts favorite known for its huge selection of creative pizza slices—from classic cheese and pepperoni to unique combinations like buffalo chicken, mac & cheese, and more. It’s a quick, casual stop that’s perfect for grabbing a slice (or a few) while on the road.

Website: https://www.antoniospizza.com

We’d Love to Hear From You!

What’s the most unexpected thing that’s happened on one of your camping trips? Have you ever lost gear on the highway, dealt with vehicle trouble, or had a camping mishap that turned into a great story?

Share it with us—we may feature it in a future episode!

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If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave us a five-star review, and share the podcast with your camping friends. Your support helps us continue sharing real camping stories, travel tips, and adventures from the road.

Thanks for listening, and until next time… happy camping!

Tim, Kristen, Monty and Gadget

In Episode 10 of Camping with the Innies, we're deep into preparation mode as we get ready for our annual trip to Rich's Retreat, a longtime camping tradition hosted at Kristen's parents' backyard. Before we can kick back and enjoy the weekend, there are plenty of projects to tackle, and we're bringing you along for the journey.

This week, we discuss the camper upgrades and RV maintenance tasks we've been working on to get road-ready. From reinforcing interior shelving to strengthening the rear bumper and preparing it to support a cargo basket carrying our generator, we're focused on making our travel trailer safer, more reliable, and better equipped for future adventures.

We also talk about our first experience using Harvest Hosts and what we're expecting from this unique RV camping membership program. If you've ever considered staying at wineries, farms, breweries, or other Harvest Hosts locations, we share our thoughts on planning, preparation, and why we're excited to give it a try.

As always, we dive into the realities of RV ownership, trip planning, and the unexpected projects that seem to appear before every camping trip. Whether you're a full-time RVer, weekend warrior, or just dreaming about life on the road, this episode offers practical insights, DIY camper modification ideas, and plenty of camping conversation.

In This Episode: • Preparing for our annual Rich's Retreat camping trip • Our first-time experience planning a Harvest Hosts stay • Reinforcing camper shelves and storage areas • Strengthening the rear bumper for additional cargo capacity • Generator transportation and power planning • RV maintenance and pre-trip preparation tips • Travel trailer upgrades and DIY projects • Lessons learned from previous camping adventures

If you enjoy RV camping, travel trailers, campground reviews, Harvest Hosts stays, DIY camper upgrades, camping with dogs, RV maintenance, and family camping adventures, be sure to subscribe and follow Camping with the Innieswherever you get your podcasts.

Connect With Us:

🌐 Website: https://www.campingwiththeinnies.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camping_with_the_innies 📧 Email: info@campingwiththeinnies.com

We'd love to hear about your favorite Harvest Hosts experiences, RV modifications, and camping adventures!

This week on Set Up, Tear Down: Tips, Trips & Campfire Tails, we’re talking about the trip that almost went sideways before we even made it to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Halfway to Disney, the truck threw a check engine light and started idling at crazy high RPMs. Instead of turning around, we convinced ourselves it could wait because the vacation was non-refundable and Run Disney weekend was already booked.

Then we pulled into Fort Wilderness and heard a completely different problem — a brutal grinding noise coming from the brake drum. But not every trip turns into a full-blown mechanical adventure. Sometimes the best memories come from slowing down, enjoying the campground, and making the most of the unexpected moments along the way.

The next morning we found ourselves sitting in an AutoZone parking lot getting a free code scan and trying to figure out whether we were dealing with a simple fix… or a financially devastating Disney vacation.

From check engine lights to brake drum chaos, we’re sharing the warning signs we ignored, the roadside troubleshooting that followed, and the reality that every RV trip seems to come with at least one unexpected mechanical surprise.

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