Category: Technology & Camping
AIRTABS
January 15, 2013 by Canadianladybug · Leave a Comment
When we got our RV from the dealer, they were nice enough to bring it to our campsite where it would be parked. Back then, we didn’t have a vehicle to tow it as we had a Venture van. But the following year, out of the blue, the motor on our van burned and we had to shop around for a new vehicle. We knew that since we had to purchase something we wanted to have one that would be able to pull our Rv for long trips. We found a Suburban that was fit to pull it and since then we enjoy going places with the RV. However, as soon as we were able to take the RV with us on trips, we looked for ways to be fuel efficient. While navigating the internet one day, my husband stumbled on the website promoting Airtabs. After he read about Airtabs he was so enthusiastic that we purchased some to install on our RV. What are Airtabs? Well it is a patented shaped vortex generator designed to increase vehicle aerodynamic performance and fuel economy by reducing the aerodynamic pressure... [Read more...]
Got an iPad? Drive a RV? Check out this new GPS app from Rand McNally!
January 10, 2013 by Professor95 · Leave a Comment
Rand McNally Launches Industry-first RV Navigation Application for iPad. LAS VEGAS, January 9, 2013 – Nearly two years after introducing the first GPS designed specifically for RVers, Rand McNally today launched the first RV GPS app for the iPad. The RV GPS is being shown for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev. Rand McNally’s RV GPS for iPad is the first iOS application offered that is specifically designed for RV navigation. The new application, available on the App Store(sm), provides RV class-specific routing (and with a quick toggle, over to car routing) based on Rand McNally’s proprietary road data and navigation, plus thousands of RV parks and campgrounds, RV-friendly locations, RVer tools and pre-planned trips. The app also includes dynamic weather*, a map overlay feature that helps drivers anticipate conditions such as high wind and precipitation along the route. Also included is a bonus feature of the app: An e-book version of America’s... [Read more...]
Christmas Ideas for the Outdoors Lover in Your Life!
December 16, 2012 by Diane Berry · 2 Comments
As a follow up to my Stocking Stuffers post a few weeks ago, each year I like to write a blog to share some Christmas gift ideas for those in your life who enjoy the outdoors…or maybe for yourself! I like to try to come up with ideas that may not occur to you, to stimulate your imagination and perhaps lead to that one gift that will be enjoyed year round. As with the St. Nick’s ideas, couple of traditional favorites include a new calendar to help plan trips in the New Year and the newest edition of Woodall’s Guide for the same reason. But every year I also like to add a few new ideas that may simply not have occurred to the typical Santa. Here are my ideas for this year: Terry’s New Butter Fleece Jacket…shhhh 1) A new Butter Fleece to wear as a top layer on cooler spring or fall days and under an outer layer during winter. My family cannot get enough of this fleece; we each have several and wear them throughout the year. While many of them are the ¼ zip variety,... [Read more...]
IT’S FINALLY HERE! (The 2013 Good Sam RV Travel Guide & Camp Ground Directory)
December 12, 2012 by Professor95 · Leave a Comment
The brown box dropped on my doorstep was a surprise. I thought, “What in the world is this, I’m not expecting a package?” I cut open the box. Inside was my new copy of the 2013 Good Sam RV Travel Guide and Campground Directory. I have been extremely anxious to see what this new book looked like. You see, it is not just a new publication; it is a brand new product. For years, I have purchased both the Trailer Life Campground Directory and the Woodall’s Campground Directory. While they were similar, they were not identical. I would find that one guide would have listings or information that the other lacked. Of course, I was somewhat partial to the Woodall’s Directory – after all, for the past three years my blogs have been published under the Woodall’s marquee. So, how is it that both the former Trailer Life and Woodall’s directories came to be combined? Well, both Trailer Life and Woodall’s are owned by the same parent company – and have been for many years. ... [Read more...]
Our Camper Saved the Day!
December 9, 2012 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
As many of you know, during the past year we moved our home and family across the country from Wisconsin to New Mexico. For the most part the move went smoothly, but due to this major disruption in the stability of our lives, we did not have the time or energy to plan and take our typical two-three week camping vacation this summer, but reconciled ourselves to day trips. When Terry finally joined me in New Mexico in July, after hauling the last of our things across the country in the camper, we parked our Trail Lite in its new home near our house and, for the most part, forgot about it for the rest of the summer and fall. However, last weekend, it became a crucial part of our existence. When we bought our home in New Mexico, it was about six years old. Built in 2004, the home came with appliances, all Amana, which the previous owner had purchased as she was moving into her new abode, so all are still less than ten years old. Last Saturday evening Terry and I went to bed about 10 pm as usual,... [Read more...]
Stocking Stuffers for the Camping Family
December 2, 2012 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
It’s that time of year again! In the northeast corner of Wisconsin, and many other areas of this country, St. Nicholas visits on the evening of December 5th, a sort of pre-curser to the Big Day as it were. Children hang stockings over the fireplace or on a banister before heading to bed that night. Then, in the morning, they are filled with small trinkets and goodies. My stockings always held a book of some kind, a small toy and a variety of Christmas candies. Every year I like to write a blog about St. Nick ideas for campers, hikers and outdoors lovers to help stimulate the imagination of our readers. A couple of traditional favorites include a new calendar to help plan trips in the New Year and the newest edition of Woodall’s Guide for the same reason. But every year I also like to add a few new ideas that may simply not have occurred to the typical “St. Nick”. Here are my ideas for this year: 1) A Water Filtration System—especially for people like our son Ryan, who... [Read more...]
Technology while RVing – iPhone Edition
November 18, 2012 by Canadianladybug · Leave a Comment
Last week, I shared some of the advantages of having an iPad with you while traveling in an RV. This time around I would like to concentrate on the benefits of having an iPhone (or sometimes an iPod) when you are traveling long distances. MUSIC Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. ~Victor Hugo Music has been part of the human life for hundreds of years. Back in the 60s and 70s, when I was younger, it was natural to turn on the radio while driving long distance. Then in the 80s the famous walk-man came on and I – like many other teenagers back then – had a yellow Sony. I could listen to my cassette tapes alone. The CD revolutionized the market and since the late 90s the iPod. In the 21st century the iPhone became available as one of the smart phones out there. My husband owns a smartphone while I own an iPod. We have different styles of music that we like but that doesn’t stop us to put music on when we are... [Read more...]
Technology while RVing – iPad edition
November 8, 2012 by Canadianladybug · Leave a Comment
Since my husband gave me an iPad about two years ago, I have seen changes in how I pack for a trip. How so? Let’s just say that the iPad has saved us from arguing on what to bring with us (you know the never ending dilemma of being careful with the weight when you have a travel trailer…). Books The main issue before was the number of books I would bring with me. I will admit that I am a bookworm. I love reading and for me having a variety of books is essential when travelling. So I always brought a certain number of them. Well like it or not, books take some space and it adds up when you bring a certain number of them. So having an iPad has resolved this problem because now I can have large quantities of options to read without having to find a place for them in the RV or worrying about the weight. I have found some websites that announce the free books on a regular basis and I take advantage of these when they are available. My favorite places to check are Inspired Reads and Gospel... [Read more...]
I Have an App for That!
November 6, 2012 by Cynthia Baum · Leave a Comment
Technology has morphed our lives in such powerful ways, it is impossible to ignore. There are those who try, like my Grandma, who refuses to learn how to use a computer. But more than likely, we have all become more dependent, in one way or another, on the various types of technology that has made its way into our daily lives. It is easy to see why, with the entourage of handy devices available, like cell phones, that help us keep in contact with each other at all times and GPS for getting us to our destination without too many wrong turns. There are also the various apps that we can put on our handy mobile devices that just make life so much easier at times. My personal favorites are the free ones that make my life easier in so many different ways. For example, when planning a camping trip, I use the Woodall’s app that makes searching for an RV park that works for me, a piece of cake. It has awesome features, such as searching through the long lists of RV Parks for just those... [Read more...]
FREE HIGH SPEED WIRELESS INTERNET
November 4, 2012 by Professor95 · 6 Comments
Free High Speed Wireless Internet. As Nancy and I have recently gathered around community campfires at a number of RV parks, this is often brought up as a highly desired feature sought after by RV’ers visiting destination RV parks and campgrounds. In our continually expanding connectivity market Internet service is, in many cases, relatively easy for campground owners to install and offer as yet another amenity. But the question remaining is; just how much are all of us willing to pay for this free high speed internet? “What”, you might ask, “is this guy talking about – he just said free high speed Internet? Yea – it is free, just like a campground swimming pool, clean and modern bath houses, playgrounds, concrete patios, cable TV and on and on……. Sorry guys – it isn’t really free. ALL of us pay for those swimming pools and ceramic tile bath houses whether we use them or not. We have stayed at more RV parks than I can remember – and NONE has ever offered us... [Read more...]
