Category: Preparation & Readiness
Time To Hang Up The Keys?
February 6, 2013 by Vickie Medley · Leave a Comment
The time has come. You’ve reached the stage where you either have no choice or have decided to “hang up the keys”. Now what? I asked that question of several RVers and, not surprisingly, most haven’t thought of it. Some have given it considerable thought and some just have a vague idea of what they’ll do. Don’t let your future be the anthem of “Que Sera Sera…whatever will be will be.” The first answer I received was from David Violette who writes a blog that I follow called Travels with Dave & Elaine Violette. “So far, our loose criterion has been “when health issues require it.” was Dave’s response when I asked if they had a plan. He further elaborated that “As to what we’ll do when we no longer want to be mobile: we’ll probably buy a small place somewhere with amenities we enjoy. Phoenix is a candidate since we have lived there and like it, but there are other choices. We may keep an RV and travel some seasonally; depends... [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...]
How to avoid tire blowup while RVing
January 7, 2013 by Canadianladybug · 1 Comment
Having a tire blow up is not fun whether you are rving or not. In both case, you need to change the wheel when it happens. However, I think the worse kind of blowup would be the ones when you pull your RV. It happened to us twice so far. We were driving with the RV behind and then one of the tires on the RV just blew. The first time, we didn’t realize it and someone driving pass us kindly inform us of the problem. That tire was on the driver’s side. Fortunately, in Ontario the sides of highways is quite large and we were able to have space when we proceeded to change the tire. The second time, we heard the tire when it blew up. We were on our way on one big highway in the state of New York in the US. We knew that we needed to stop and change it. So we parked as best as we could on the side of the highway (which isn’t as large as in Ontario by the way). Every time a huge truck or bigger vehicle would pass next to the RV we could see it move. ... [Read more...]
OLD GAS PRESSURE LANTERNS – Restoring My Past
January 3, 2013 by Professor95 · 8 Comments
The bright white glow of the lantern hanging on a tree limb would gradually dim to a yellow ball. My Dad would remove the lantern from the tree limb, set it on the ground and vigorously move the pump in and out to pressurize the fuel tank. Like magic, the lantern would come alive again with a bright white light. This ritual was often repeated multiple times after darkness fell. We would sit near our campfire and watch the moths and flying beetles swirl aimlessly around the light – sometimes hitting the globe and succumbing to the heat from the lantern. These memories go back 54 years. I was 12 years old and we were camping near Watts Bar Lake in Tennessee. There was no RV – only a canvas tent and down filled military surplus sleeping bags from the Korean War rolled out on the ground. I treasure those memories, as they were a significant part of my indoctrination into the fun, mystery, and excitement of camping in the great outdoors. Lantern as found with no globe My Dad passed... [Read more...]
The importance of check lists
December 31, 2012 by Canadianladybug · Leave a Comment
Lists are important for various things in life. You make some when you packed for vacation or for a going to the hospital to have a baby. You make one when grocery shopping or to make sure you don’t forget someone for Christmas. Like it or not, our memory is sometimes forgetful and lists help us keep our sanity sometimes. If you are RVing, you also need lists to make sure you do not forget anything for a trip or ensure you bring back all you need for home. A list is also something we rely on when we are closing down the RV at winter. You see we learned the hard way through the years. Once I forgot to bring underwear for my husband and my first born for a week-end a camping. Yeah! Not fun…. Fortunately it was just for a couple of days, still I have learned to double check every time I packed now – especially with six people in a family and the first thing that goes in are definitively the underwear! We also forgot one important step one wear while closing... [Read more...]
Fall and Winter Warning about Blacklegged Ticks
December 4, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
An earlier post, Top 10 things RVers Should Know about Ticks, stressed the fact that ticks can be active even in the winter. That’s right! Adult stage blacklegged ticks (also known as deer ticks) become active every year after the first frost. They’re not killed by freezing temperatures, and while other ticks enter a feeding diapause as day-lengths get shorter, deer ticks will be active any winter day that the ground is not snow-covered or frozen. This surprises people, especially during a January thaw or early spring day. Remember this fact and hopefully you’ll never be caught off-guard. Campers, hikers, and hunters should take special precautions in the woods during fall and winter to avoid this winter-resilient tick that transmits Lyme disease, according the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). “We are trying to make the hunters aware that there are ticks in some of these areas and asking them to check their deer,” said Lindsay Rist, wildlife communication... [Read more...]
CAMPFIRE STORIES – “Broken Down on the Key Bridge”
November 16, 2012 by Professor95 · 2 Comments
Sitting around a campfire with a group of old friends or new acquaintances inevitably brings out personal stories that speak of the trials, tribulations and adventures we all encounter during our RV travels. Such was the case last week as a group gathered on a cool November night. That’s when Allan shared the unfortunate but somewhat humorous adventure he, his dog and wife endured as they crossed the Frances Scott Key Bridge in Washington, D.C.: We are finally underway to meet our fellow Cedar Creek RV Owners Club friends for our End of Year Rally at Willow Tree Resort in South Carolina. Our Terrier, Duffy, and I really needed this getaway. We had planned getaways earlier this fall but had to cancel them for my hernia operation and my son’s spinal surgery. Then, we were forced to delay our departure for this trip when Hurricane Sandy caused a blackout at our home. The ride from our home in PA to Willow Tree normally takes about 10 hours. I was so looking... [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...]
How Taxes May Hurt RV Ownership and Family Camping Opportunities
October 28, 2012 by Professor95 · 8 Comments
Rob and Sue have two children, a 10 year old girl, and a 12 year old boy. Sue is an elementary school teacher. Rob is a real estate agent. They built their home on a 1 acre lot in 2004 in a rural suburban area of Central Virginia. Rob and Sue bought a 28’ camper and a Chevy 2500 extended cab pick-up truck to pull the trailer shortly after building their home. They wanted to give their children the same opportunities that they had with their camping parents when they were growing up. Over the past six years, they have enjoyed dozens of camping trips with their two children – many more than they would ever have been able to make without the camper. They have traveled north to Maine and even spent two weeks in Orlando at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Rob’s parents owned a Chevrolet class C motor home. He and his brother spent many memorable days camping at the seashore, down by the lake and in the mountains. Camping gave them the opportunity to be together and build a family... [Read more...]
5 Ways to Save Fuel and Money
October 28, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
During the 2011-2012 Snowbird Season Arizona RV parks reported their winter residents appeared to be staying longer than in previous years, partially due to high fuel prices. The annual O’Odham Tash Celebration, a gathering of tribes, is held in mid-February and features Native American arts and crafts, ceremonial dances, rodeos, powwows, and parades. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved With thousands of snowbirds planning to hit the road during the coming weeks and months, two things will be on their minds—arriving at their destination safely and the price of fuel. Nationally, average retail gas prices are approximately 50 cents higher than a year ago and one dollar higher than two years ago, according to gasbuddy.com. With gas prices reaching record levels, it’s more important than ever to keep tabs on your fuel spending. While we have no control over the price of fuel, we can do a few things to help save money. Most motorists share one common goal—to get the best mileage possible.... [Read more...]
