Campfire safety, it’s not all light my fire baby!

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This week I want to talk about campfire safety. I realize and hope I am talking to the people that already are safety-minded about fires, but, since this is one of the most frequent causes of injuries while camping, I thought it deserved a strong mention. The campfire is one of the nicest parts of camping. My family loves to sit around the campfire telling stories and making s’mores (if you promise to read this to the end I will give you the new s’mores recipe we are using!), as the night goes on and the wear and tear of the day starts to take it’s toll, and the fire burns down, we become quiet and begin watching the fire and the almost hypnotic effect it starts to have. Finally, when someone either yawns so wide it looks like the top of their head is going to fall off or falls asleep, then it is time for bed. It is also most useful for cooking and heating water for dishes if you are dry camping.

But, like any tool, you must learn how to use it safely. You don’t give a 4-year-old a axe and say go have fun.  Likewise you don’t give a 4-year-old matches and say go have fun… but, at any age, you can learn about fire safety. Most of what I am going to say is common sense but, like my Grandfather used to tell me, “Common sense isn’t that common anymore.” So, Please read this and if you learn one new thing that can make you safer, it will have been worth it!

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Valid Mileage Comparisons

The mail bag is getting full and it would be the polite thing to do to answer the questions and make room for more. Santa Skip wrote the following after I used the term Tommy Knocker:

“I spent my younger years exploring the ghost towns of CO, to me a tommyknocker was a little elf who lived down in the mine, if he liked you he would show you where the gold, (was) if he didn’t he would cause all kind of problems.”

One of the neat things about traveling is that you get to learn that an expression that you grew up with have different meanings regionally. But this is a new meaning of Tommy Knocker to me.

Chuck wrote the following after my comments on driving at 55 miles per hour:

“I’m posting this as a reality check. I’m getting better MPG at 68-72 mph (2200 rpm) than at 55 mph. I drive a F250 with a V10. With or without the 5th wheel trailer I get better mileage at a higher speed and higher rpm. At my last fill up I got 10.8 mpg. I traveled 107 miles with the 5th wheel trailer and 190 miles without the trailer. In the past if I drove at 55 I would get around 8 to 9 mpg. Has anyone else seen this type of mpg driving faster instead of slower?”

Under real world conditions it is almost impossible to get accurate fuel economy numbers. Back in the dark ages, about 1980 something, the EPA was in the process of certifying fuel savings devices. They invited a group of automotive writers to a test drive to provide the EPA with numbers of fuel economy improvement of the new Volkswagen E Shift light system. It was a computer controlled device that would turn a light on on the dash that would signal the driver when to up shift for best economy. The route was from the tip of Long Island to Newport, Rhode Island. Lots of rolling hills.

VW teamed up the drivers and it happened that Dan Holt, then a writer/editor with the Society of Automotive Engineers publication, and I drew the duty as partners. Now not to say that we were heavy, but between the two of us we exceeded the load carrying capacity of the car, not counting our luggage or our camera gear. Now as every one knows writers have imagination. Dan and I being both engineers decided that we would show some real fuel economy, and here is how we did it.

The first thing that we did was to eliminate rolling resistance. We stopped and pumped the tires up to 80 PSI. The car rode like it had Freddy Flintstone Hard Rock tires. Then we applied some simple junior high school physics. Gravity. We figured with our combined weight, the weight of the car, and gravity, that we could use the engine on down hill runs to get the speed up, and then coast up the next hill. Foot to the floor in high gear going down hill, put the tranny in neutral and shut the engine off for the uphill coast. In several instances on the run we were able to leave the engine off for several hills as well as seeing the tach hit red line in high gear.

VW controlled the record keeping of fuel in each car with a burette attached to the front bumper and at each fuel stop they measured fuel used and filled the burette to the full line and we ventured out again. Well Dan and I placed second in this 50 car run with around 100 miles per gallon. A couple of guys from one of the magazines out did us by a couple of miles per gallon. I think they ran a bit more air in their tires but they used the same techniques. We did show VW that we could get good mileage but it did little for the certification of the Up Shift Light. And we broke speed laws and really had a ball.

The moral of the story, which is a true story all the way, is that determining a difference in fuel economy means measuring apples against apples under like conditions with only one variable at a time. Driving cost over an extended period of time is a valid number.

Pet Travel Challenges

All of us like to travel with our pets when we can. It’s no fun for them (or us) when we have to leave them behind — even for a short time. Although traveling with pets has gotten easier and more fun with all of the pet travel products available on the market, we still encounter various challenges as we trek across town or across country. Read more

RVing with pets and their unique needs

I would bet that most people who travel with pets have a canine along with them in the RV, car or plane. But there are a lot of folks who travel with their cats, birds and other pets as they head out for business or pleasure. The type of pet you travel with can have unique requirements for feeding, comfort, safety and other considerations. Birds, for example, have much more stringent travel needs than dogs. Some people would argue that cats are more difficult to travel with than dogs. Read more

Update on Fugitive Samuel Israel

As an update to our post “U.S. Marshall’s Office seeking RV Community’s help“, Fugitive Samuel Israel turned himself into authorities on July 2nd in Southwick, MA. For more information on his surrender, visit the U.S. Marshall’s website.

US Marshall’s Office seeking RV community’s help

UPDATED ON 7/02/08
U.S. Marshals Announce Surrender of Convicted Hedge Fund Fugitive Samuel Israel
For more information go to http://www.usdoj.gov/marshals/news/chron/2008/070208.htm.

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The FBI and US Marshall’s office has asked for help from the RV community to track down a fugitive. He is thought to be traveling in a 2007 Coach Freelander. If you have any information please contact the authorities as listed below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACT:
Southern District of New York
Deputy U.S. Marshal William Dundon
William.dundon@usdoj.gov

June 19, 2008

U.S. MARSHALS ARE LOOKING FOR THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE BELIEVED TO BE DRIVEN BY FUGITIVE SAMUEL ISRAEL, III. ISRAEL IS WANTED FOR FAILING TO SURRENDER TO SERVE A 20 YEAR SENTENCE.

2007 COACH FREELANDER RECREATIONAL VEHICLE (RV)
NY LICENSE PLATE: EEN-5973
COLOR: WHITE
VIN: 1GBJG31U451240922

SAM ISRAEL HAS BEEN KNOWN TO USE THE ALIASES SAM RYAN AND DAVID S, CLAPP.

THIS VEHICLE HAS A HYDRAULIC LIFT ON THE REAR WHICH MAY BE CARRYING A BLUE 2005 YAMAHA SCOOTER. THERE MAY BE BODY DAMAGE ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE. VEHICLE WAS LAST SEEN ON JUNE 6, 2008 IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY. ISRAEL MAY BE AT RV PARKS, CAMP GROUNDS, OR HIGHWAY REST AREAS.

SUBJECT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS. INDIVIDUALS WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS CASE SHOULD CONTACT THE UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE AT 1-800-336-0102.

WANTED By U.S. MARSHALS
Sex………………………………………. MALE Race…………..WHITE OR WHITE HISPANIC Date of Birth……………………. 07/20/1959 Place of Birth……………………..LOUISIANA Height……………………………………..5′11″ Weight…………………………… 200 pounds Eyes……………………………………. Brown Hair…………………………………….. Brown Scars/Tattoos……………. Arm, Nonspecific; Tattoo on Hip (non-specific)

Subject is wanted by the US Marshals for failure to surrender for sentence. Subject was sentenced to 20 years in a federal prison and failed to surrender.
Subject is considered armed and dangerous

http://www.usdoj.gov/marshals

NOTICE TO ARRESTING AGENCY: Before arrest validate warrant through National Crime Information Center (NCIC). If arrested or whereabouts known, contact the nearest United States Marshal’s Office or call the United States Marshals Service Headquarters at 1-877-WANTED2.

RVing with pets: Making the most of it

Although gas prices still appear to be heading north, record numbers of people will take to the road with their pets this year as more and more pet-friendly hotels, resorts and other accommodations roll out the welcome mat. Recreational activities like camping and hiking will involve four-legged members of family like never before, and more campgrounds and RV parks are beginning to design pet areas that offer dog runs and opportunities for off-leash exercise. Some even offer pet-sitting services so families can enjoy day trips and sightseeing excursions that may not allow pets.

Safe and enjoyable RV pet travel means planning ahead

Just as you would pack your own things, don’t overlook what your pet may need to keep him comfortable, too. Being prepared with the right essentials and equipment is the key to ensure a happy time on the road and once you get to your destination. Also keep in mind when and where you plan to travel. The time of year and geographical location of your trek can make a big difference in how and what you prepare to take along. Know what the weather conditions are likely to be and pack accordingly.

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Heat Exhaustion, stop it before it gets worse!

When this blog started, in January, I was writing about hypothermia and frostbite, and summer seemed like it was years away. Now suddenly IT IS HERE! This past week in Pennsylvania it has been above 90, and the humidity seems to match! So, now in honor of Summer, I want to write about … You Guessed it … HEAT! Please don’t think I am all about gloom and doom and that nothing can make me happy, or even that I find something wrong with every thing. But each season has its perils, and, if you know about them, you can be prepared to avoid them and make your trip not only safer but happier!

Now, heat is something that everyone expects in the summer, but few worry about. Now, as some of us approach middle age (do I really think I am going to make it past 96?), we find we don’t tolerate it as well as we used to. The young (below 8 - 10) and the middle age to elderly ( I will let you decide where that line falls) have more problems with the heat. So, let’s explore the beginnings of dangerous heat exposure by learning about Heat Exhaustion.

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Sway Control

When I bought my first new Travel trailer, I asked the dealer to give me everything I needed. As part of my tow package, they included a Friction Sway bar. I was very careful about hooking the trailer to the tow vehicle as I was instructed but I experienced really bad sway. I eventually tightened the sway bar down as tight as it would go which helped, but I still experienced sway. This was a problem because I was very stressed driving and really didn’t enjoy the drive.

I did everything I could to rectify this problem by moving things around inside the trailer to make sure it was well balanced, but I still had sway. I started researching all the methods of sway control. I decided that I wanted to drop the friction bar and do something else. I was a bit overwhelmed about all the options. There are quite a few schools of thought and different approaches to the same solutions. Read more

Mixing Cleaning Chemicals, Do You Like to Breathe?

Today I just want to first take a minute to Thank all those who serve our country in the Armed Services and Thank those families who have given a family member to keep this country safe and secure. We should really thank you every day of the year not just one. Their sacrifice lets the rest of us have the safest and best life of any country on this planet.

Ok, on to our subject of the day. I am very surprised in this day and age that this needs to to be mentioned, but it seems that these days everyone wants to clean quicker and faster and easier. However, in our haste, it seems that some of us are trying to make our own super cleaner. But lately people have been trying to mix Bleach and ammonia. It does make a very good cleaner but there is one BIG Problem…. it will KILL you.

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