ALONG THE ROAD ABOARD THE SUNSET LIMITED

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Yesterday, Sean and Kristy Michael posted the video about their trip aboard the QM2, which opens the door for me to follow-up with a ride I took a month ago aboard Amtrak’s Sunset Limited.   The train – another way to experience North America with lots of similarities to RVing … and lots of difference: An old way to find New Horizons: seeking out those new horizons is a mind-expanding experience, one that Monique and I are often finding.  But for the Thanksgiving Week, I took a different approach from our usual means of traveling. The Sunset Limited Pulling into the Station Both San Diego and Orange County airports, the two closest with flights eastward, presented problems for my trip to Louisiana.  If I were to fly to see my newest granddaughter, either Monique would have to drive me more than 100 miles to the airport, an expensive proposition considering the cost of diesel fuel.  Or I could shell out big bucks to park at the airport, which would also mean that Monique would be without a vehicle for a week. Driving the 4,000 miles alone was out of the question, leaving only riding Greyhound as the alternative for this quick trip …  but suddenly an idea hit me from left field – I investigated where I could catch Amtrak’s Sunset Limited headed eastward, and much to my surprise, it stops in Palm Springs just off I-10.  It’s about 45 miles from our cabin on the mountain. Before I invite you to board... Read more

PLANNING FOR ALASKA — REVISITED

On the Trip of a Lifetime Dear Julie, See what you started when you asked about your 2012 trip to Alaska as newbies. We received comments galore to our rv.net blog posted November 1, filled with good advice.  In case you or any other readers are planning a first-time trek to Alaska, I suggest you check out all the comments, but let’s revisit some of the advice given by fellow travelers. I think the most important guidance mentioned by many is to spend as much time as possible testing your RV before taking off on an 8,000-mile or more journey.  These castles on wheels have come a long way for dependability in the past 20 years, but there are so many systems and so many chances for human error in construction, it’s best to go on the road to check that everything is working – and for the arduous Alaska trip, you want to start out confident that everything is working right. The second most mentioned suggestion is to see the Canadian Rockies.   Commenter John recommended following the Rockies up from Las Vegas, New Mexico.  When we make our return visit, we might try that. I’ll cover informational resources in a minute, but there are two items that came up worth further discussion.  One is the Alaskan ferry system along the Pacific coastline and among the islands.  We haven’t experienced it, but I’m sure it’s spectacular.  What I believe are the two major problems with that are, 1) it’s pricey, and 2) you’ll miss the driving adventure. On the other hand,... Read more

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT ALASKA?

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Ah, Alaska is in the air … or at least in the thoughts of many RVers. Last week I received the following email from a couple in Florida: “We are new owners of a 40 ft allegro bus, never had an RV before. My husband wants to take a trip from Florida to Alaska but not through Canada. We have been there. Please give me your experiences and what time of the year is best.  I will follow this blog [more on this below*].   It is very educational and fun.  We have no friends that have RVs.” An interesting email, to which I replied:  Monique and I went up through Washington State to Oliver, B.C., over to Banff and up to Whitehorse.  There were many notable sights and experiences, but following the Canadian Rockies was the highlight.  If you haven’t purchased “Milepost, Alaska Travel Planner,” that’s where you should start your planning. Unbelievable Beauty for Hundreds of Miles Along the Canadian Rockies [I am assuming that by not going through Canada, she means that they don’t want to cross the border from Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, or from Minnesota.  “Milepost” gives several alternate routes with crossings in Montana and Washington.] I have often written about journey-versus-destination travel. Depending on your time and financial resources, my suggestion is to start as the weather warms up and work your way across America visiting places you haven’t been.  There... Read more

Great Outdoors Month

Are you planning a camping trip this month? June is National Great Outdoors Month, which is a wonderful time to enjoy fun outdoor activities with family and friends. Presidential recognition of Great Outdoors Week was begun in 1998 by then-President Bill Clinton. Since 2004, Presidential proclamation of Great Outdoors Month has come annually, celebrating a variety of important events and actions that occur during the month. The 2011 Presidential Proclamation states in part: “America’s vast and varied outdoor spaces are a source of great national pride, and we have long strived to protect them for future generations. Our lands and waters provide countless opportunities for exploration, recreation, and reflection, whether in solitude or with family and friends. During Great Outdoors Month, we renew our enduring commitment to protect our natural landscapes, to enjoy them, and to promote active lifestyles for ourselves and our children.” Great Outdoors Month highlights the benefits of active fun outdoors and our magnificent shared resources of forests, parks, refuges, and other public lands and waters. Media attention to the proclamation triggers actions by millions of households and prompts public discussion of important issues linked to outdoor recreation, including volunteerism, health, and outdoor ethics. Additionally, the majority of governors issue proclamations declaring June as Great Outdoors Month in their states, and many take further actions ranging from Governor’s... Read more

You Can Avoid an RV Disaster

Despite high fuel prices, more Americans are planning to hit the highways and byways this summer. A recreational vehicle sits crashed into a garage in Gaston, North Carolina. Firefighters were dispatched to the incident that sent one man to Gaston Memorial Hospital with non life threatening injuries. (Credit: Gaston Gazette) Whether you are a rookie or a veteran when it comes to the pleasures of traveling in a recreational vehicle, a review of the basics can help to keep you on the road to safety. Realize your size. Many road mishaps occur because of an RV’s additional size and weight. For instance, operators accidentally drive under an overpass without enough clearance because they forget about the additional height. Know your RV’s height (remember to include the AC unit), width, and length and have them posted in the cockpit clearly visible to the driver. Also know the clearances of the bridges, underpasses, and tunnels along your route, especially on back roads. A road atlas specifically for RVers or semi drivers can help. Having your recreational vehicle road-ready and smart planning often helps the RVer to avoid a disaster as the following four incidents illustrate. RV trapped in mall parking lot Santa Maria, California: On May 7 (2011), a driver found out the hard way that it’s important to know the height of your recreational vehicle and pay attention to the clearance signs in parking lots. A mini Toyota camper truck wedged itself in the south parking structure of... Read more

THE GRAND CIRCLE PART III – THE OLD MORMON ROAD

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Saturday afternoon we arrived in Blanding, a dot on the map in the southeast corner of Utah.  Since pulling into the RV park, we have been buffeted by winds up to at least 45 miles per hour, and as I look out our trailer window, I see tumbleweeds shooting down the main street like billiard balls headed for a corner pocket. We’ve had two branches hit our roof.  Reports from neighbors are that these RV-rocking conditions have been going on for a week and the forecast is for more of the same –– so we have decided to take advantage of the First Law of RVing:  “If you don’t like where you are, move.” The plan is to skip Canyonlands and turn southward to lower elevations.  Luckily, Canyonlands doesn’t accept reservations, so we won’t lose anything by changing direction.  BUT, before we leave, I thought this would be a good time to tell you our story of “The Old Mormon Road.”  This goes back to our very early experiences in our RV life. FROM CAPITAL REEF TO BLANDING For more than four hours we “ooohed” and “aaahed” as we rounded each curve on what has to be some of the most beautiful scenery in America.  Utah Hwys. 12, 14, 24 and 95 across the bottom of Utah meander through Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument and Capital Reef National Park.  My description and a picture or two cannot do it justice (but I will post a few photos anyway). After all those miles –... Read more

Money Saving Tips: Extending Your RV Travel Dollars

The latest Campfire Canvass survey of RV owners conducted by Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) revealed that 53% intend to use their RV more this spring and summer despite higher fuel prices, while 38% plan to use theirs the same amount and just 9% say they’ll use their RVs less. Of the respondents who plan to use their RVs more often, 65% said one of the reasons is to take more mini-vacations. A recent study indicates 53% intend to use their RV more this spring and summer despite higher fuel prices. Motorhome parked at Sliding Rock Overlook, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved Many RV owning families plan to take shorter but more frequent trips in their RVs. Sixty-three percent plan to spend five or more weekends in their RVs this spring/summer; 19% will reserve a seasonal site at a campground this summer and visit it on weekends. According to the report, 68% said they expect fuel prices to affect their spring/summer travel plans. Of those respondents, 61% said they’ll travel closer to home, 42% will travel fewer miles and 37% will stay longer in one place. These figures indicate that people are looking for inexpensive vacation options, and RVing leads the pack. RV owners love the RV lifestyle and rising gas prices won’t stop them from getting away. RV family vacations are, on average, 27% to 61% less expensive than other types of vacations, according to a study by international travel and tourism experts Collier’s... Read more

“HIYADOIN’?”

Hors d'oeuvre -- A Taste of Zion © All photos by Barry Zander. All rights reserved By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers We’re on the first stop of our Grand Circle Tour, after three days in Las Vegas.  Four of us living comfortably in a 28-foot travel trailer! We – Monique, her brother Philippe and his wife Solveig and I — are in Zion National Park, Utah, one of America’s most popular national treasures.  We hiked to the highest of the three Emerald Pools Thursday morning, returning to the Visitors Center and our truck just as the rains came. Lots to tell you, but let’s start in the Watchman Campground, where we are fortunate to have electric hook-ups, but no water or sewer at the site.  A teardrop trailer was next to us, but moved over two spots this morning to make way for a pop-up.  There’s a Casita from Louisiana across from us, two mini-tents next to them and a canvas tent on a utility trailer behind us. So if you’re thinking we’re crowded in our RV, I want to let you know we feel fortunate to have room to move around while the rains and chilly temperatures pretty much confine campers to their quarters.  Incidentally, we’ll be moving a lot over the next five weeks, so we didn’t take our satellite dish with us. Along the Virgin River Hiking Toward the Narrows “Hiyadoin’?” Philippe, who speaks English very well  [and continues to work to improve his vocabulary and pronunciation -- all part of the... Read more

A GPS Designed For RVers

After extensive research and beta testing in the RVing community, Rand McNally has released the TripMaker® RVND™ 5510 sporting a name that’s almost as long as my motorhome. It’s the first navigation device designed specifically for RVers. Rand McNally's GPS for RVers (Credit: Rand McNally) It comes stocked with information that would make a car driver’s head spin. Routing isn’t just routing on the 5510. The GPS also includes height and weight restrictions and turning preferences that are tuned to the type of RV you’re driving. For example, you might not enjoy maneuvering your 43-foot-long motor home around a tight right corner into the Cracker Barrel parking lot. The 5510 will show you a left turn into your destination. There’s also the question of where to park your house-on-wheels. The points of interest on this GPS are expanded to include RV campgrounds, dealers, repair providers, and travel centers with dump stations. “We’ve listened carefully to members of the RVing community, who told us overwhelmingly that they would be interested in purchasing a GPS if it provided RV-specific routing, stops, and amenities that RVers need while on the road, and things to see and do along the way. Our new TripMaker® RVND™ line will solidly deliver on these expectations,” said Dave Muscatel, CEO of Rand McNally in a new release. RV-critical Information Fully operational in English, French, and Spanish, the TripMaker® RVND™ features more... Read more

Calculating Fuel Costs with Streets and Trips

We have plans this summer to travel 10,758 miles. That will cost us approximately $4,707 in gas cost if gas prices are $3.50/gal.  If the price goes up to $4, make that total $5,288.         First Plan your Route How do I figure this?  By using the Route Options feature of my Streets and Trips program.  Our summer travels are dictated first by the Rallies where we will be presenting our computer seminars.  I add them all as Stops on our route using Streets and Trips Route planner.  Then I add a few of our ‘must-visit’ places in between.  The software plots the course based on these stops. Then Set your Options Whenever directions are given, they include a summary: Of course, it needs a fuel price in order to calculate this.  You enter that in the Route Options, under the Route menu.  This is also where you enter your average miles per gallon for city (7mpg for us) and highway (8mpg) driving.  So, it’s a simple matter to get the calculation for several different fuel prices. Try Changing your Route Let’s say we decide this is just too expensive, how much would we save by not going out west this summer?  All I need to do is to delete the route stops out west and get directions again.  This only takes a few clicks and  I now have a new summary:   Other Calculators If you don’t have Streets and Trips, or you just want a quick estimate without planning your exact route, there are plenty of calculators on the web. www.travelmath.com/fuel-cost/: You... Read more

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