RV volunteers – feeding at the public trough?

The headline reads, “Campground Hosts: Volunteers spend summers on government’s dime” at the Camp Verde Bugle. Citing a long-time volunteer in the Prescott National Forest, the article implies that Dave Underwood is getting a smoking deal for free! The article says, “For volunteering to keep an eye on things and make sure everyone is comfortable, Underwood is provided an RV spot, complete with running water, electricity, propane and sewage disposal — all free — from the first of May to the end of October.” What the article doesn’t say is the value the government gets in exchange for their site. Not only that, not all sites have such amenities. Many lack electricity and propane is often not included either. If the government had to pay an employee to do the same tasks, it would far exceed the value of the site. At even $10 an hour for 40 hours (and many hosts are effectively on call 24/7), they would pay $400/week or $1730/month plus ante up extra for benefits. Is that site worth $1730 a month? Hardly. You could live in a resort with a pool, hot tub and bocce ball for less than that. (See”What is a campsite worth?” to see how value can be figured.) Read more  Read More →

Traffic speed cameras- yea or nay?

My first experience with a speed camera was in New Zealand while RVing with my granddaughter. Out in the middle of nowhere a sign warned that we were approaching one. Later in our trip, we read in the newspaper that a man was contesting his ticket – he claimed he had to speed to get around someone. I doubt he beat the ticket with that excuse. Read more  Read More →

Friends, not grandkids, key to happy retirement – or not?

Some couples who consider full-time RVing have a difficult time leaving the grandkids. In fact, sometimes it prevents a couple from making that choice or causes them to get off the road. However, a British study by the University of Greenwich found that participants who had friends or a social network were more likely to be happy in retirement. Having grandchildren mattered little. Read more  Read More →

Lizard feet – is that you?

The RV Daily Report had an intriguing article: “Avoid lizard feet- they’re a common problem for RVers.” Lizard feet? According to Judy Jackson of the Edmonton Journal, her feet were like leather on the bottom from going barefoot and wearing flip flops so much of the time. This can cause your feet to get dry, cracked with possibly bleeding, calluses, and blisters from getting dusty, dirty and dry, getting wet, drying, getting wet again, and losing natural moisturizing oils. How about you? Do you have “lizard feet?” Many RVers take off their shoes when they enter their RV to keep it cleaner. For a short trip to the pool, office or laundromat, sandals, flip flops or clogs are certainly easier. Though I rarely wore shoes as a kid growing up, now I don’t do too well on dirt and rocks. My feet, though, probably tend towards lizard. So what’s a gal to do? (or a guy?) According to the article – moisturize. Choose a foot cream or lotion that has a high percentage of urea. Other oils are good too. Putting a lotion or oil on before bedtime and then wearing white cotton socks at night will help your feet absorb the oil and keep them soft. After soaking her feet for an hour and one-half, the pedicurist then got out the razor. Oh my! For the rest of the gruesome story, see the article at the Edmonton Journal. I think I’ll keep my lizard feet, though perhaps soak them once in a while. How about you?! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak  Read More →

RV tip: How to start a conversation

It’s simple. Carry a butterfly net! We were hiking Pima Canyon in the Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona. We had gone on a weekday as reviews had advised. Trail head parking was minimal with no street parking allowed and the parking lot at 10 a.m. was close to full. We started up the trail- like a cattle chute- a narrow strip fenced on either side to take you through private property that borders the beginning of the trail. Shortly, though, we got into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness in the Coronado Forest. If you don’t look behind you, civilization drops away. Read more  Read More →

What’s your style of RV travel?

Biking Yosemite National Park In RVers: How Do They Live Like That? authors Judy Farrow and Lou Stoetzer identify three styles of travel when RVers are in the initial or honeymoon stage of RV travel. They are: Meandering tourist Purposeful tourist Working tourist Read more  Read More →

Do you have a computer work area?

Do you have a designated computer desk or work area in your RV? Newer, longer RVs often come with a desk. In older or shorter RVs, you might need to remodel an area or use another area like the dinette or dining room table as a work area. In the 1989 Pace Arrow that my late husband and I traveled in for ten years, we ended up taking out the dinette, selling it, and then making a desk out of two two-drawer metal filing cabinets with a custom-made formica top resting on them in that area.  Holes were drilled like in a regular desk for cords from printer and computer to pass through. For eating, we used the small table between the passenger seat and the captain’s chair. Read more  Read More →

More about RV showers

Many people tracked down my email address to send me a message that the link to my last post, “RV Showers – Yours of the Campground’s,” would not work. The problem was the apostrophe in it. The link should now be good. I have found another reason to use my own RV shower. A little background. We are at a lovely RV park, Mad River Rapids RV Park, in Arcata, CA. We had an axle break due to a frozen bearing in our NeverLube hub. It blew a tire – fortunately. Because of the tire we pulled over right away. A fire was just starting so I grabbed the extinguisher by the door to the 5th wheel and George successfully put it out. In the meantime, we have been waiting for parts from Mor/ryde and one of their suppliers, Kodiak. As if today, we’ve been here two weeks. The RV park has a nice jacuzzi that we have enjoyed – until Monday. After the weekend they apparently double-dosed it with bromine. It not only smells strong but George now has bumps all over his legs and I have a small patch of bumps on one leg. We are both sensitive to bromine, George extremely so. We showered in the park showers last night to get the smell off. Their whole system must use bromine because we could still smell the odor on our skins. (Their showers are nice, by the way.) After emptying the gray water tank this morning I took a shower in ours. We have a double filter just before the intake to remove chemicals. What a difference. Not all public showers have a strong chlorine... Read more

RV showers – yours or the campground’s?

What do you use your shower for? Showering? Or is it a storage area or a place for the ktty litter box or laundry basket? When you are staying in an RV park do you still use your own shower? Or do you use the park’s showers? If so, what does it depend on? Some RVers feel very strongly about this; they only use their own shower. Reasons mentioned are sanitation, why have a nice shower and not use it, and privacy. Others enjoy an RV park shower where you can let the water run continuously instead of taking the usual RV-Navy shower. In the ‘89 Pace Arrow I began traveling with, the shower was the typical square tub – too small to actually bathe in. We ended up putting the laundry basket there and sometimes water jugs that might tip while traveling. It meant taking them out when showering. When we worked at a national park and had to wear uniforms, we put in an adjustable closet pole to hang our uniforms. We had access to nice showers so usually used them. If not, it meant shifting them all to the bed before showering, but it kept our uniforms accessible and from getting wrinkled. When not working, uniforms were stored under the bed. George and I also traveled in a Lance Camper. The shower area was separate, unlike some small RVs where the whole bathroom, toilet and all, becomes the shower area. However, the Lance shower was still too small for a tall person so we used the showers in RV parks. Newer RVs may have a garden shower instead with a door that opens and closes.... Read more

Traveling gluten-free and with other dietary restrictions

Do you have a favorite brand and flavor of yogurt? A certain kind of wine you prefer? Do you prefer fresh and/or organic produce? Perhaps you have some ethnic foods you enjoy. If you do and are like me, sometimes you worry whether you’ll be able to find those items as you travel. If you have food allergies/sensitivities, eat only gluten-free foods or have other dietary restrictions, finding them can be a necessity. George and I found that eating gluten-free is much better for us. We have both lost a lot of weight and want to keep it off. Plus, like many people, we are sensitive to gluten and find it affects our digestive systems. George now bakes gluten-free English muffins for us once a week and other interesting extra-protein, gluten-free bread. He found recipes in Gluten-Free 101: Easy, Basic Dishes Without Wheat by Carol Fenster. She uses a flour mixture that includes sorghum flour, tapioca flour and potato starch that is the basis of most recipes. To that you add other ingredients. Sorghum four and the others are not found in Wal-Mart! We spend most of the time in the West and I can usually find a Whole Foods or other good health food store to keep certain favorites in stock. When we traveled east of Colorado, I worried that I would be out of luck for many of my favorites. While I may not find the exact brand, it has turned out I don’t need to worry. Before leaving for Alaska, we stocked up a bit in our RV, but flour is bulky and we had to go through Canadian customs... Read more

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