North to Alaska…sunset near Dawson Creek
July 22, 2008 by Ron Dalby · 2 Comments
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We only got about 15 miles up the Alaska Highway before we were stopped by Farmington Fairways, a combination golf course and RV park about 15 miles outside of Dawson Creek, British Columbia. We checked in, got set up, and then signed up to play nine holes late in the evening.
Sunsets that can last for hours and slowly evolve into sunrises are some of the really great things about being in the far North. Our late evening golf game was no exception. As the clock eased forward to nearly 10 p.m., the sky became an endless panorama of color, constantly changing as the clouds moved about in the wind. I shot this picture as we were leaving the course.
Get an autographed copy of Ron’s book, Guide to the Alaska Highway, by contacting him at rdcomm@gci.net.
Getting Along in RV Travels -Part 1- Tips from Bernice
July 9, 2008 by Bernice Beard · 1 Comment
No two people look alike, think alike, or travel alike-at least most of the time. It’s a wonder that we get along at all! Yet when traveling in an RV, we must try to maintain smooth relationships with all of our fellow travelers because we’re “stuck” together for the duration of the trip. The tips in this article will hopefully help you to avoid turning little annoyances into big problems.
RV’ing to Parks and Wineries in Italy
July 7, 2008 by Dan Parlow · Leave a Comment
Faye and I recently returned from Italy, a wonderful country that we last visited in 1985. The cuisine and the wine were even better than we remembered from our last trip.
One of the things that has changed is the emergence of RV’s across “the boot”. According to IdeaMerge, there are over 2000 campgrounds frequented by RV’ers in Italy. Their prevalence surprised us for a couple of reasons: there’s a lot less space in Italy than in North America - 58 million people in an area just larger than Arizona; and gas prices there are about twice what they are in the US. On the other hand, rigs were smaller than at home, and since stuff is closer together there are fewer miles to pump up for!
Photo Safaris
June 14, 2008 by Jon Vermilye · Leave a Comment
If you look through photography magazines, you will find advertisements for photo excursions all over the world. Some are actual safaris to Africa and the like, with a chance to shoot exotic animals, but many others are to photogenic locations almost anywhere in the US or the rest of the world. These excursions are often expensive, and, unless you are familiar with the guide’s work, may be below or above your experience level. Although it is possible to learn a great deal working with individuals that have far more experience than you, it can also be a bit intimidating. In any case, the good excursions give you a chance to go to popular photographic locations with an experienced guide who will save you many hours of scouting to find the ideal camera positions, time of day to shoot, places to stay, etc.
Although you may not consider yourself a “guide”, there is no reason you can’t put together your own “Photo Safari” for a group of friends or local photographers.
Owl Prowl
June 7, 2008 by Bob Difley · 2 Comments
By Bob Difley
As stealthily as my night-time awkwardness would allow, careful not to break a twig or fall in a hole, I followed Ranger Kenny through the inky darkness of the forest, although we were only a few yards away from the campground. I stayed as close as possible—flashlights were forbidden—since lagging just a few feet behind could result in straying off the trail, or crashing into a tree.
Kenny moved as quietly as a predator on the hunt. After several minutes my eyes had adjusted enough to the night for me to see Kenny’s signal to stop. He inserted a small card into a small bird caller device and pressed a button.
An eerie call emanated out into the darkness. We waited. A minute later, Kenny repeated the call. We waited, staring up at the black silhouettes of treetops against the moon-less sky.
Suddenly a dark shape sailed noiselessly like a ghost across the milky way’s path of stars and landed in the forest canopy–and repeated the call. Goosebumps broke out on my skin. We had actually attracted an Eastern Screech Owl, that now sat right above us.
Owl walks, or Owl Prowls as they are called, are a form of bird watching in which the majority of birdwatchers seldom have the chance to participate, since we humans, unlike owls, were created with a short list of useful nighttime attributes. Our very small eyes become nearly useless after the sun sets, limiting us to little more than well-lit activities, like reading, watching television, and staring into campfires.
RV Maintenance - Part 2 - Bernice’s Tips
June 4, 2008 by Bernice Beard · 3 Comments
A few more tips on how to keep your RV well maintained and avoid, to the extent possible, unexpected trouble down the road, as well as to be prepared for when a breakdown or other technical problem emerges.
- Know how to get assistance to repair your motorhome and any other equipment that you have with you, such as a car, auxiliary generator, or boat. It’s a good idea to purchase an emergency road service policy for your RV. Also, a dealer directory for your brand of RV usually comes with your vehicle.
- When you hear a rattle in your rig, check for loose screws, such as those that attach the cover on the range.
- Don’t overinflate your tires. When you check tire pressure, keep in mind that cold temperatures normally cause tire pressure to drop. The pressure will build up as you drive.
- Surprisingly, most truck stops don’t carry propane (also called “LP gas”). If you’re looking for LP gas while on the road, try a campground that’s near the highway. Read more
The Grand Canyon, Frank Sinatra, & RVs
June 3, 2008 by Sean Michael · 5 Comments
Airstream RV Blog - The Grand Canyon from Sean Michael on Vimeo.I was once trying to talk a friend into taking a road trip with me. My friend was skeptical about the idea. “Suppose we go,” he said, “what will we actually do once we arrive?”
“Learn,” was my one-word reply. And I was serious.
The ultimate goal of our journeys is to learn — to learn about other places and peoples, as well as ourselves. You can’t really appreciate your own world until you have the benefit of seeing others.
Visiting other places provides context. It’s among the best learning opportunities you’ll ever have. It’s also a lot of fun.
“Alright Mr. Smarty Pants,” you may ask, “what have you learned during your crazy long, long honeymoon journey?”
Alaska RV Adventure: DVD’s For Trip Planning
May 15, 2008 by John Holod · Leave a Comment
Thinking about Alaska? By Adrienne Kristine
I was mildly interested in going to Alaska, especially after hearing from a fellow workamper who worked there one summer. She arrived in May and helped the local businesses open for the season before beginning her workamping job. Then she wrote about “termination dust”: the first sign of snow signaling the end of the season and notice to leave.
Recently, I taught at the Life on Wheels in Tucson where I was fortunate to watch an abridged version of John Holod’s trips to Alaska filmed by his company, RV Adventure Videos. After the presentation, I drove home still thinking about what I saw. I was hooked.
Hey Ranger! Man vs. Squirrel.
May 2, 2008 by Jim Burnett · 2 Comments
All wild creatures, whether great or small, have the potential to create difficulties for people, especially if you try to feed them or get too close in your quest for that “perfect” vacation photo. A good example is a frustrated tourist who wanted to take a picture of a ground squirrel in Glacier National Park in Montana. The animal would poke its head in and out of its den in the rocks, but never fully emerge for a good shot.Perhaps this gentleman was a fisherman, which would help explain what happened next. In what probably seemed like a good idea at the time, the photographer decided to tie his car keys onto the end of a piece of string and dangle them in front of the den’s opening, hoping to draw the squirrel out into the open. If a lure works for fish, why not for this animal? Read more
“Alaska:RV Adventure of a Lifetime” - Inside Passage 4
May 1, 2008 by John Holod · Leave a Comment
continued from April 4th …….
On their website, the Alaska Marine Highway System suggests that you make reservations on the ferry six months in advance. We found that wasn’t necessary, unless you were leaving from Bellingham WA. We rode the ferries for over four months while shooting our “Alaska Inside Passage” video and we were never on a ferry that was more than half-full. If you did start your trip in Bellingham (which we don’t suggest for cost reasons) you might need one, but starting in Prince Rupert BC we never did.
Making reservations makes your trip too structured. You never know how long you want to spend in a town until you get there and check it out.
