RV Notebook

July 14, 2009 Issue

2009-07-15T15:08:00.000-07:00

What’s New With Us: Happy Birthday – Anticipation – Rally Seminars

Article: Personal Security – Guns

Vicki’s Favorite Recipe: Antipasto Salad

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What’s New With Us:

Happy Birthday! I hit the big 70 on July 7th. Vicki arranged a great birthday party for me. In attendance were my kids, grandkids, brothers and sister-in-laws and Vicki’s dad. We gorged ourselves on barbecued baby-back-ribs and chicken, Vicki’s infamous potato salad, baked beans and a bunch of different salads. It was washed down with beer, wine and soft drinks. My gifts consisted of Tequila, candy and peanut brittle. After I blew out the candle on the birthday cake, Vicki announced that she wasn’t sure she wanted to sleep with somebody’s 70-year-old grandfather. Okay, no Tequila for her!

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Anticipation is a big part of the fun when planning an RV trip. During the past 12 months, due to circumstances beyond our control, we added less than 2,000 miles to our motorhome’s odometer. That is a far cry from the 20,000 to 30,000 annual miles we have traditionally traveled.

But… this September we hit the road again. We could do it sooner but, while July and August inflict heat and humidity upon the rest of the nation, Huntington Beach, California enjoys temps in the mid to upper 70s with soft afternoon seabreezes. We’ll just enjoy the summer here, thank you.

Our fall plans have us leaving home after Labor day. We will go north to Portland Oregon. Turn east for northern Idaho, and then travel along the northern tier of states to New England for the fall colors. Along the way we will make a point of visiting with friends and relatives.

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AND… WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT SEMINARS at Nick and Terry Russell’s Gypsy Gathering Rally in Celina Ohio. The rally is being held at the Mercer County Fairgrounds just west of downtown Celina from September 28 through October 2. To read about the rally Click Here . After reading about (and, of course, registering for) the rally, switch to Nick’s Blog. But, I have to warn you, it’s addictive.

We will be presenting our popular seminar, “Alaska, The Ultimate RV Adventure”. This is a “how-to seminar” where we tell you what you can really expect in the way of road conditions, accommodations and services along the Alaska Highway. Vicki does a dynamite job of explaining how to arrange passage on the Alaska Ferry System. Then we tell you how to prepare yourself and your RV for this great adventure. We will also be presenting our “RV Travel and Camping Tips” seminar. We offer tips for dealing with holding tank odors, invading critters, condensation and more. It is a fast-moving, fun seminar. This is our only public appearance this year. Don’t miss it!

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Personal Security - Guns

Do you feel safe out there? Do you carry a gun?

Joe: Vicki and I are asked these and similar questions at most of our seminar presentations and in many of the letters we receive.

What these folks are really asking is "Aren't you afraid of becoming crime victims?" and "What can we do to protect our valuables and ourselves?"

Our standard reply is that we feel just as safe in our RV as we do at home. Maybe safer.
I'm not going to tell you that enjoying your RV is without risks. RVers can be victims of crime just like anyone else. But I will tell you that when you are RVing you are in a relatively low-crime neighborhood.

There are a number of logical reasons for this.

The activities and attractions that appeal to RVers are not usually located in high-crime areas.
Most RV parks and campgrounds are located on the outskirts of cities and towns. A bothersome commute for most criminals.

RVers generally park in close proximity to other RVers. There always seems to be at least one person sitting outside who seems interested in everything that's going on around them. Non-campers are pretty easy to spot and, as a result, attract attention to themselves. And you never know when a ranger, camp-host or strolling camper will pass by. These are people who could come to an RVer's aid or act as witnesses. Criminals prefer to avoid the inconvenience involved with getting caught.

It's difficult to establish patterns of movement or occupancy in and around RVs. We come and go unpredictably. It's also not easy to determine who or what may be inside an RV. It could be a lineman for the Rams, a Great Dane or a little, old lady with a big, new gun. Criminals have the same aversion to pain as everyone else.

An RV can be more difficult to break into than a house. (Those of us who have managed to lock ourselves out of an RV can attest to this.) And it certainly can't be done inconspicuously. Again, that getting caught thing.

Finally, RVers are perceived by many as bloodthirsty, gun-loving, rednecks just itching for an opportunity to blow someone's head off. An image I don't agree with but see no point in discouraging.

Essentially, the criminal is an opportunist looking for an easy target, a quick grab and a fast getaway. RVers and their lifestyle generally do not present this kind of opportunity.

So compared to how we feel at home, yes, we do feel very safe while we are traveling and camping in our RV.

Vicki: We are just as cautious when we are RVing as when we are at home. Exterior doors, windows and storage lockers are always locked when not in use. When we had a Class C motorhome we had to make an extra effort to remember to lock the driving compartment’s doors. We also lock our doors while driving.

Hitch locks on trailers are an inexpensive theft deterrent. We don't leave anything outside overnight or while we are absent unless it's secured to the RV, picnic table or a tree by a lock and chain.

Along the same lines, we avoid tempting thieves by not displaying cash, cameras, computers, cellular phones or other possessions.

We keep cash, jewelry and other valuables secured and hidden inside the RV. A dog can be a good theft deterrent, so can a burglar alarm. Some RVers install additional exterior lights.

Over the years, we've met many women traveling alone in their RVs. They are, definitely, among the most creative RVers, especially when it comes to deterrents to would-be intruders.

One evening, after sharing our campfire with a woman traveling alone, we watched as she returned to her rig. Before she went inside, she opened an outside cupboard and pulled out a huge dog dish. Then came a very large collar attached to a hefty chain. She set the dog dish on the ground, attached the chain to her step, turned around and waved goodnight.

Can you imagine the would-be intruder targeting that RV and then seeing all that paraphernalia that obviously belonged to a huge dog? Especially when he realized the dog didn't even have a collar on? And was the dog inside or outside?

Another single woman we met told us she went to a war surplus store and bought a pair of the biggest, most well-worn boots she could find. Before retiring each night she sets the boots outside her door. Would you want to be confronted by the owner of those oversize boots?

Joe: We frequently "boondock" during our travels. Our definition of "boondocking", by the way, is spending one or more nights in our RV at a spot that is not a designated campsite.

Obviously, our personal safety is uppermost in our minds when making the decision to "boondock". Vicki and I have "boondocked" in friends driveways, empty lots, quiet streets, roadside rests, truck stops and the parking lots of stores, churches and police stations. Years ago we "boondocked" to save the cost of a campsite. Now, we "boondock" only when we can't locate a convenient or acceptable campground. It's not unusual, however, to find us "boondocking" in the parking lot of an RV show where we are presenting our seminars.

And, of course, we're always on the lookout for more friends with long driveways.

Vicki: We have three rules about "boondocking". Obey the law. Seek permission. Apply common sense.

We look for a "boondock" site that is well lit and doesn't make us an easy target of opportunity.
We never park alone. Joe and I prefer to park in the company of other RVers. He claims the best spot is between two RVs. One with a bumper sticker that proclaims "Insured by Smith & Wesson" and the other with a bumper sticker boasting membership in the National Rifle Association.

We avoid or leave any place where we are not comfortable about our safety. Even if we can't explain why we feel that way.

Joe: People we don't know frequently ask if we carry a gun in our RV. I'm concerned that if I answer "yes", they may be tempted to steal it and if I answer "no" they will think we are an easy target. So, I politely respond, "If you really want to know, kick in my door and step inside". Everyone then assumes I am a bloodthirsty, gun-loving, redneck just itching for an opportunity to blow someone's head off. An image I don't agree with but see no point in discouraging.

There's a lot of discussion these days about carrying a gun in an RV. I'd like to contribute my observations. The purpose of using a gun for self-protection is to kill someone. Hopefully, the bad guy will back off when he sees you have a gun but, ultimately, you had better be willing to pull the trigger. If you're not prepared to take someone's life, perhaps you should think twice about carrying a gun.

Police officers receive hours and hours of professional training about the use of deadly force. And they occasionally make fatal mistakes. If you do decide to carry a gun, please take a thorough training course in how and when to use it. More importantly, learn when not to use it. After all, I might be parked next door to you some night.

By the way, if you decide to carry a handgun in your RV, be sure to familiarize yourself with the handgun laws of the cities, counties, states and nations you plan on visiting.

Vicki: Generally speaking, the RV world is a low crime neighborhood. Obviously, Joe and I feel quite comfortable out there. Our comfort level comes from knowing that RVers are generally not perceived as a target of opportunity. We also use common sense to avoid becoming crime victims. And then there's this odd perception people have about my husband that he sees no point in discouraging.

Enjoy The Journey!

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Recipe (from My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Antipasto Salad (Quick and Easy)

This is one of our favorite summer main-dish salads. Be creative. Use whatever types of meat, cheese and vegetables you like. Gauge the amounts to the number of people you are serving.

When I am making a main-dish salad, I usually start with the lettuce and plan on two big handfuls per person. Then I add the other ingredients in proportion to the lettuce.

Lettuce (We prefer a combination of romaine and iceberg )
Red onion, sliced
Cucumbers, sliced
Bell pepper, cut into julienne strips
Tomato, chopped
Salami (or other cold cuts), cut into julienne strips
Provolone (or other cheese), cut into julienne strips
Marinated mushrooms (from the local deli)
Olives (any kind you like, or a combination)
Artichoke hearts, marinated (from the local deli)
Italian salad dressing

1. Assemble all salad ingredients.
2. Add dressing, toss and serve.

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June 16, 2009 Issue

2009-06-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

We have just returned from a 17-day bus tour of the British Isles. Originally, we intended to rent a motorhome and explore England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. But for a variety of reasons, one of them being to avoid the stress of learning how to drive on the left side of the road, we decided to book a bus tour. It was an interesting, first-time experience.

We spent some time with Barbara Perry, a travel agent with the Automobile Club. We told her that leg room on both the plane and the bus was very important to us. She suggested business class on our 11-hour non-stop, flights and steered us to a tour company whose 49-passenger buses had their seats configured to give 40 people lots of leg room.

Round trip, business class airfare between London and Los Angeles cost more than the 17-day bus tour but it was worth it. The seats were bigger and more comfortable than economy seats and there was plenty of room to stretch our legs. Other perks like express check-in, express security check and a comfortable waiting lounge made the airport experience more tolerable.

We really lucked out with our fellow tour passengers. Not a stinker in the bunch. Everyone was friendly and considerate. Our group had 40 people. Most were either Australians or Canadians. There was only one other American couple.

The weather really cooperated. We were prepared for cool, wet weather. Instead, we had only three days of drizzle. The rest were sunny and warm.

Highlights of the tour included London, Windsor Castle, medieval York, Edinburgh Castle, the highlands and lakes of Scotland, Dublin, Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle (yes, I kissed the Blarney Stone), the Roman Baths and of course, Stonehenge. Our bus traveled some 2,200 miles.

The good news … I didn’t have to drive; I was just a sight-seeing passenger. The bad news … we couldn’t linger in places where we would have liked to stay longer and we had to linger in a few places that just didn’t appeal to us. But, that’s group travel.

Living out of a suitcase, sleeping in strange beds and eating unusual food, while considered part of the adventure by some, did not particularly appeal to me. I still prefer traveling first class in the comfort and convenience of our RV.

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Memorial Day - 2009

2009-05-24T22:11:00.000-07:00

Never Forget

Where Valor Lies

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May 16, 2009 Issue

2009-05-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

Our friend, John Ward, passed away May 13th. He died just one day shy of his 80th birthday. John was an RV driving instructor with the RV Driving School for many years. We first got to know him in the year 2000 when he gave Vicki and me driving instructions. After having the privilege of spending two days with John we became John Ward fans and considered ourselves fortunate to be his friend. John had a quiet, easy-going, everything-is-under-control manner that made you feel good to just be in his presence. Here is the article we wrote about our first encounter with John.

RV Driving Lessons

Dear Joe and Vicki: I want to take lessons to learn how to tow our new trailer. My husband feels confident in his ability to handle an RV and thinks that lessons for him would be a waste of money. Do you know anything about the RV driving lessons we see advertised in the magazines?

Joe: Before you fly a plane, you take flying lessons. When you want to go scuba diving, you take diving lessons. We take lessons for skiing, golf and calligraphy. We think nothing of getting professional instruction on any subject in which we wish to become proficient ... except driving an RV.

Somehow, we think that because we have been driving a car or pickup truck for the last
thirty or forty years we are automatically qualified to aim 30,000 pounds (or more) of steel and plastic down the highway at speeds in excess of 65 miles an hour.

I have driven a couple of hundred thousand miles in a variety of RVs over the last 35 years. Learned everything I know through experience. And, except for a couple of encounters with some sneaky campground attack trees, my driving record is accident-free.

So, last month, when my bride announced she was going to take RV driving lessons, I was surprised when she "suggested" that I join her.

Vicki: Joe and I joke about our traditional "blue" jobs and "pink" jobs. Driving the RV, dumping holding tanks and rig maintenance have always been his blue jobs. Meal preparation, laundry and housekeeping have been my pink jobs.

Occasionally, I have driven our RVs. Usually on open stretches of highways and for brief periods of time. Occasionally, Joe has helped with the inside chores (also for brief periods of time).

Both of us admit to being just a little bit intimidated by the other's jobs. "Joe, are you sure the motorhome will fit between those cars?" "Vicki, why can't I put my red tee shirt in with my white socks?"

But I have observed women, tiny women who could hardly see over the steering wheel, confidently maneuvering their large motorhomes and fifth-wheels through narrow streets after taking RV driving lessons. If they could do it, I reasoned, so could I.

Joe reluctantly agreed to join me on the condition he would not also be expected to take cooking lessons.

Joe: We contacted Dick Reed's RV Driving School (1-530-878-0111 or www.rvschool.com). We have become personally acquainted with Dick and his instructors over the last few years. Vicki and I have observed them teaching others to drive. We have also heard the rave reviews of their students.

Dick said Vicki and I would not be unique. Most of his student couples consist of a husband with lots of RV driving experience, and a wife with relatively little time behind the wheel.

Dick assigned John Ward to be our instructor. John has been teaching over-the-road truckers how to drive ever since the teamsters quit using oxen. He has also been an instructor with the RV Driving School for over four years.

John arranged to meet us at a dirt parking lot on the first day of our two-day program. He began by performing a safety check of our motorhome. John explained how, why and when we should conduct the same inspection.

Next came a non-technical description of how a diesel motorhome's air-brake system works, how to operate it and how to conduct an air-brake safety check. I wish someone had shown me this about 50,000 miles ago.

Driver's seat and steering wheel were adjusted for comfort followed by a discussion about mirror adjustment and how to use them. I picked up a number of valuable tips here.

John told me to drive the motorhome in as tight a circle possible. He pointed to the tracks in the dirt made by the rear tires of the motorhome and then to the tracks made by the rear tires of the towed car. Now we knew for certain where our towed vehicle's tires would go when we made a tight turn. We also measured how far to the left and right the rear corners of the rig would swing during a sharp turn. No more knocking over curbside mailboxes.

The remainder of the two days was spent with Vicki and me taking turns learning and practicing turns, backing and maneuvering our motorhome (both with and without the car in tow). We drove on residential streets, county roads, state highways and federal interstates. We drove up and down steep, winding, mountain grades. We encountered roads narrowed by construction projects.

All of our driving was accompanied by John's constant easy-going dialogue of helpful hints, constructive criticism and enthusiastic encouragement. We were constantly benefiting from his considerable knowledge and expertise.

With 35 years of experience under my belt, I considered myself fairly accomplished behind the wheel of an RV. But under John's tutelage I picked up a number of tips and techniques that added to my confidence and competence. I guess it really is possible to teach an old dog new tricks.

Vicki: By the second day of instruction, I was feeling pretty good about myself. John had shown me how to gauge just the right time to start that tight right turn by picking a reference spot on the inside of the motorhome. A couple of times, he told me to stop right in the middle of the turn to look out the window and see if I was still in the correct lane. I always was. That gave me a lot of confidence and surprised me that the turns didn't have to be wider.

I also learned how to pick a reference spot on the dashboard to use as an "aiming" device to center the RV in the driving lane. Most people have a tendency to drive too far right in the lane; I was no exception.

In addition to making right turns, left turns and backing up, I also made a three-point turn in the middle of a block. Piece of cake! I felt like I was 16 years old again, learning to drive a car.

And then John announced that I would drive through town traffic, travel both directions over a very curvy, two-lane mountain road with a 6% grade, and then get on the freeway. All of this with the car attached!

I went up and down that mountain road with no problem. I learned how to watch the tachometer to determine when to down-shift and how to slow the motorhome with the exhaust brake,

My hands tightened on the steering wheel when I encountered oncoming trucks on the curves of that narrow mountain road. John said their hands probably tightened too. And then there was a stretch of road construction where I had to pull off and drive on the right shoulder. Yes!

Finally, to end our last day, I pulled onto the I-10 freeway during Los Angeles city rush hour. The I-10 is one of our busiest local interstates. I thought I would be really nervous, but I wasn't at all. I found myself calmly making lane changes and not being bothered by aggressive drivers. I had developed the confidence to know that I could do it. And it did not hurt to hear John's calm, low-key voice. I couldn't help thinking, "I must be doing O.K. He doesn't seem worried!"

I can't believe the feeling of exhilaration--the high that I was on -- realizing that I could do this. I can't remember when I've had so much fun. (Sorry, Joe!)

At this point, I have the confidence and basic skills I need to drive our motorhome. Now, it's practice, practice, practice. Driving the RV is no longer going to be exclusively a "blue" job.

Joe: RV driving lessons are not a waste of money. The fee for our two days of instruction was less than the cost of three oil and filter changes on our motorhome. In return, Vicki and I spent two days benefiting from John’s four decades of accumulated professional driving wisdom and experience.

We were also informed by our insurance company that, upon receipt of a copy of the driving school's certificate of completion, they will give us a 5% discount on our motorhome's insurance premium. That discount will eventually repay the cost of our driving lessons.

And, when the government eventually gets around to requiring us to demonstrate our RV driving proficiency in order to get the appropriate drivers license ... we'll be ready.

Vicki: Now, about those cooking lessons ...

We'll miss you, John.

To learn more about John Ward click here

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May 12, 2009 Issue

2009-05-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

In This Issue:

What's New With Us: RVing California's Central Coast

Article: Stretching Holding Tank Space

Recipe: Easiest Ever Corn on the Cob

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What's New With Us:

We have just returned from a 10-day RV trip along the lower portion of the central California coast.

First stop was Jalama Beach Campground . Jalama is a somewhat remote county park north of Santa Barbara. The campground is located on the beach and is the only sign of civilization for miles around. A few of the 98 campsites have electric hookups but most do not have any kind of hookups. There is however, in addition to restrooms and showers, a dump station and a place to fill your water tank. We especially liked the lack of a cellular phone signal; no incoming calls and no having to respond to anyone. And, just to make our sense of isolation complete, we did not use our satellite TV. We were out of touch and loving it!

This was our first dry-camping experience since installing our four 6-volt coach batteries (see March 19 issue). We operated the 12-volt lights, water pump and furnace fan for five days. We also used the inverter to provide power for our electric coffee maker. The batteries were still at 70% capacity at the end of five days (let's see, the batteries cost $500 and, so far, we have gotten five days use out of them, hmmm...).

The tides cooperated while we were there. We enjoyed almost isolated walks along wide, hard-packed stretches of sand in the mornings and late afternoons. Once out of the campground area we turned Molly loose. Happiness is... a dog that can run free on an endless stretch of beach.

Our next stop was the Pismo Sands RV Park in Oceano, just south of Pismo Beach. Designers of RV parks should take a look at the layout of this RV park. Wide streets and long, easy-access, pull-thru sites with full hookups make this an inviting place to stay. We used this park as a base-camp while we toured some of our old haunts in Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Cambria and San Simeon.

Heading south towards home we stayed at oceanfront McGrath State Park for a couple of dry-camping nights. No hookups but nice restrooms and showers plus a dump station and fresh water source. McGrath is just a short distance from the Affinity and Good Sam Club headquarters in Ventura. We used the opportunity to touch base with some of our friends who work there and to have lunch with our editor, John Sullaway, and the lady who runs the show, Sue Bray.

Just an observation here - - Jalama and McGrath, being on the beach, are in high demand during the warmer months , especially during school vacations. We prefer to visit these spots during the "off-season" times of the year.

Our next adventure is our bus tour of the British Isles.

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Stretching Holding Tank Space

Dear Joe and Vicki: We enjoy camping self-contained in government campgrounds. Our trailer has a 50 gallon fresh-water tank, 30 gallon black-water tank and a 30 gallon gray-water tank. We’ve developed an easy method for refilling our fresh-water tank and our black-water tank is more than adequate but it doesn’t take long for us fill the gray-water tank. Any suggestions for “stretching” our gray-water capacity would be appreciated.

Joe: Wouldn’t it be great if the RV manufacturers caught on to the fact that we need more gray-water capacity than black-water capacity. Here are a few ideas to minimize the flow of water to your gray water tank:

Keep in mind that anything you can do to conserve water will also conserve holding tank space.

Use the campground’s restroom and shower facilities whenever possible.

If you shower in your RV, take a “navy” shower. Using the control valve on the shower head, turn on the water and use a minimal amount to get yourself wet, turn the water off while you soap, turn the water on just long enough to rinse off.

Shave with a rechargeable, battery-operated shaver rather than using a blade razor and water.

Vicki: Use paper plates to cut down on the number of dishes that need washing. Rather than pre-rinsing the dishes, wipe them off with a paper towel before washing. Wash dishes only once a day.

Frequently, when camping self-contained, I put two plastic dish pans in our double sink to wash dishes. One holds the soapy water, the other the rinse water. When I’m through washing dishes, instead of emptying the dish pans into the sink drain where the water would go into the gray-water tank, I pour them into the toilet where it goes into the black-water tank. This conserves gray-water tank space and adds much needed liquid to the black-water tank.

We’ve seen campers using waste-water collectors called “tote-tanks.” The idea is to collect gray-water in the tote-tank. When the tank is full, rather than moving the RV, you only have to take the tank to the disposal station,. They come in various sizes and even have wheels that make it easier to tote them.

Eventually, you will have to take your RV to a disposal station. That's what we consider "roughing it"

For more tips on RVing check out our book: "RV Travel and Camping Tips"
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Recipe: (from Vicki's book: "My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes")

Easiest Ever Corn on the Cob
(Quick and Easy)

I have always cooked corn on the cob the traditional way. Boil the water and add the corn. Then one evening while camping at Yellowstone with our friends, Marilyn and Sandy, Marilyn made this "easiest ever" corn on the cob. Nowadays, this is the only way I cook corn --no pans to wash, absolutely no clean up. And, the best part, the corn is tender and delicious.

1. Husk and wash desired number of ears of corn.

2. Run each ear under water to moisten.

3. Place 2 ears at a time in a plastic bag, tightly closed.

4. Microwave 1 minute per ear on "High".

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Return to RV Know How

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April 6, 2009 Issue

2009-04-06T12:50:00.000-07:00

In This Issue:

What’s New With Us: Interest in Alaska - Travel Plans - RV Service & Repair

Brief Article: Familiar Places

Vicki’s Favorite Recipe: Oven French Fries
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What’s New With Us

Maybe it’s the time of year, maybe it’s the article we wrote in the April issue of Highways magazine about RVing to Alaska, or maybe it’s a combination of both. But, judging by the way orders are pouring in for our Alaska DVDs and the RVing Alaska e-book, there are a lot of folks dreaming and scheming about RVing to Alaska. We definitely think that this trip should be on every RVer’s “bucket list” (things to do before you die).

Speaking of bucket lists; Vicki and I have just signed up for a 17-day bus tour of the British isles. We are not strangers to tour buses. We always try to take a bus tour of the big cities if it is our first visit. Bus tours go to the “must see” tourist spots, provide an introduction to the city and give us an idea of the places we might want to revisit on our own. These tours, however, have never been any longer than a single day and were always in conjunction with our staying in a local RV park.

The British isle tour will be our first guided bus tour. It will have us traveling in airplanes and buses, sleeping in hotels, eating at restaurants, living out of suitcases, and adhering to someone else’s itinerary. All of this with the same people all day, every day. I’m told this is the way civilized people travel.

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We live in Huntington Beach, California. We tell people that Huntington Beach is just south of Los Angeles or just north of San Diego; depending upon whether or not we are trying to impress them. Anyway, there are a lot of RVs in this part of the state. I would guess the majority of them are motorhomes. That being the case, you would think it would be easy to find skilled, conscientious RV service technicians and mechanics to work on motorhomes in the Huntington Beach area. That has not been my experience.

Recently, I called Colton Truck Terminal in Colton, California to make what would be my first appointment to have some work done on my motorhome. It was a Tuesday. The helpful, responsive person who answered the phone said I could bring my RV in the next day.

Wednesday morning I was greeted by a service writer who was helpful, knowledgeable and super professional. From the way he spoke, it was obvious he was familiar with the make and model of my motorhome. Wow! At ten years of age and with 200,000 miles on the odometer, I had a long list of things I wanted checked, serviced and adjusted on the chassis and drive train. The service writer, understanding that I intend to add another 200,000 miles, also had a few helpful suggestions.

Friday morning I received a call informing me my motorhome was ready to be picked up. And it was! All the services I had requested were completed. They presented me with an itemized bill that detailed everything that had been done. The charges for labor, parts, fluids and filters were reasonable. The bill also included the observations of the mechanic who had performed the work (he even checked a few things I had not thought of). Wow! And, the interior of the motorhome around the engine compartment was clean. Again, wow!

So, what’s the big deal about my story? I have been to any number of repair facilities across the country and received roughly the same treatment I received from Colton Truck Terminal. The big deal is that Colton Truck Terminal is 60 miles and almost 1-1/2 hours of congested interstate driving from Huntington Beach. And I had to drive that far to find a repair and service facility with the knowledge and capability to handle my motorhome. But, until I find someone closer and better, I’ll take my RV there again.

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Article: Familiar Places

Dear Joe and Vicki: Don't you miss the comfort of familiar surroundings when you're away from home?

Joe: Until you asked the question, we thought the reason we traveled was to escape our familiar surroundings. We thoroughly enjoy discovering and exploring new places and getting acquainted with new people. But, now that we think about it, we do find ourselves gravitating to the comfort of familiar surroundings all over the country.

Vicki: The nationwide chains and franchises have allowed the entire United States to become our neighborhood. We know, for example, that the quality and type of facilities in KOAs located all over the North American continent is pretty consistent. We can count on finding fuel islands reserved for RVers at Flying J Travel Plazas along most interstate highways and we know that the nationwide Camping World stores can repair or service our rig.

It's an unusual mall that doesn't have a Sears, Radio Shack and a Hallmark shop. Super markets with names like Kroger, Safeway, Fred Meyer, Wegman's, Harris Teeter, Food Lion and Martins offer me familiar comfort when grocery shopping. And we find Wal-Mart and K-Mart stores just about everywhere we go.

Joe: We go to Kinko's and Staples for office supplies and business services; Home Depot and Ace for hardware items; Napa and Kragen for auto parts.

My favorite neighborhood places have names like McDonald's, Cracker Barrel and Lone Star Steak House. And when I'm in the mood for international cuisine we look for Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and International House of Pancakes.

Vicki: So, you see, we are never very far from the comfort of familiar surroundings but we still enjoy discovering roadside produce stands, exploring neighborhood grocery stores and browsing through mom and pop retail shops. They just seem to add to the adventure of being an RVer.
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Recipe (From “My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes")

Oven French Fries

These French fries make a great last-minute side dish. I always have the ingredients available in the pantry.

3-4 medium potatoes, unpeeled

2 tablespoons olive oil

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1. Preheat oven to 475°.

2. Scrub and vertically slice potatoes into 1/4" to 1/2" strips.

3. In a large bowl, thoroughly coat the potatoes with the olive oil, salt and pepper.

4. Spread the potatoes on a nonstick cookie sheet.

5. Bake at 475° for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn potatoes and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes until tender and browned.

Makes 2-3 servings.

Return to RV Know How

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March 20, 2009 Issue

2009-03-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

About Molly

The gist of today’s e-mails is: “Yes, that’s all very fascinating (the March 19 post) but we were really interested in how Molly has been doing.”

Molly, our 7-month-old, 59 pound Golden Retriever puppy, is doing just fine. She is strong and healthy, almost full grown, and her white coat has developed a light golden hue. We haven’t taught her any cute parlor tricks but she has responded very well to basic obedience and good manners training. Molly understands and obeys the usual come, sit, lie down, stay, and, no commands.

She will also “go potty” and go to her place (bed) when told to. She is still working hard at curbing her puppy exuberance. For instance, she knows better than to jump up on people. But, if she is greeting someone she really loves, she has a rough time restraining herself. And when on a leash it takes her about ten minutes to remember it is a lot more comfortable to walk beside rather than in front of me.

Molly was spayed a couple weeks ago. Her rapid recovery was a lot harder on Vicki and me than it was on her. An identification chip that can be scanned by veterinarians was inserted under her skin while she was under the anesthetic.

Our three recent trips have helped Molly adjust to being an RV dog. Her favorite perch, when we are in a campsite, is the driver’s seat. That’s the only piece of furniture in the world she is allowed on. Our RV neighbors, by the way, appreciate that Molly is NOT a barker.

Today we are on Jerry and Arlyne Ray’s lot in Yuma, AZ. The lot is completely fenced so Jerry and Arlyne’s dog, a Sheltie named Chance, and Molly have the run of the place. Once in a great while they both stop moving at the same time.

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March 19, 2009 Issue

2009-03-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

In This Issue

What's New With Us:

Celebrating With Friends

"Due To The Economy"

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Celebrating With Friends

Our introduction to RV Notebook carries the disclaimer “updated with whimsical irregularity” but, judging by some of the e-mails and comments we have received, some of you think we are carrying the whimsical part a bit too far.

There’s good news and bad news about our last two months. The good news is … life has not been too exciting. The bad news is … life has not been very exciting. We’ve taken a couple of brief RV trips to Yuma since New Years (see January 6th entry). We stayed at Jerry and Arlyne Ray’s lot on both occasions.

On one trip we celebrated Valentine's Day at Joe and Joanne Annuzzio’s with about eight couples. The men prepared, served and cleaned up after a very nice dinner. Joe organized everything and, recognizing that I am domestically challenged, he assigned me to opening up cans of green beans and watching them cook. Later, I got to help clear the table. Joe gave me an attaboy for my accomplishments.

This past week we have been in Yuma to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This time there were six couples. Unlike the pink jobs in life, eating corned beef and cabbage preceded and followed by a number of bottles of beer presented no challenge for me at all.

In the “Its Always Something” department … we had mechanical issues on both trips. The question is not “if,” but “when”). During our Valentine's Day trip, in the middle of the mountains, half way between San Diego and El Centro, the “Low Coolant” light started to flash. Why is it these things never happen in front of an RV repair facility? Anyway, one of the engine coolant hoses had sprung a leak. Fortunately the leak was near a fitting. There was enough slack in the hose so all I had to do was cut off the section of leaking hose and reattach the hose to the fitting. And I had sufficient spare coolant to replace what had been lost.

The St. Patrick’s Day trip revealed that our nine year old deep cycle batteries were no longer up to the job. That involved researching the pros and cons of replacing the two existing 8-D deep-cycle batteries with two more 8-Ds or switching to four 6-volt golf-cart batteries. To make a long story short I went with four 6-volt Trojan T-105 batteries wired in such a way to create the equivalent of two 12-volt batteries. Joe Annuzzio, electrical wizard, jack-of-all-trades, possessor of every tool imaginable, and, most importantly, a good friend, helped me install and wire the batteries. By the way, lead per ounce is almost as valuable as gold. Those four batteries cost me $505.00.

From here we might go to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. We’re told the desert flowers are blooming and it is spectacular. On the other hand local desert temperatures have reached the upper 90’s. As far as I’m concerned, it’s too cold below 50 degrees and too hot above 85 degrees. And our dog Molly, born and bred on the coast of Southern California, appears to agree. We’ll see where “whimsy” takes us next.

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Due To The Economy

The nation’s economic woes have devastated the RV industry. Many RV manufacturers and dealers have declared bankruptcy and/or gone out of business. The ripple effect has hurt those who supplied the materials, parts, appliances, furniture and services that go into manufacturing, selling and servicing RVs. Thousands of hard working folks have lost their jobs. The ripple effect has also reached Vicki and me.

As some of you know, Vicki and I have made a business of teaching classes, presenting seminars, writing and selling books and writing magazine articles. Last year we lost two of our sponsors and a couple of RV shows “due to the economy”. A little math revealed that without those shows and sponsors it would make better financial sense to restrict our seminar presentations to RV shows in the west. The good news was that, after making two coast-to-coast speaking circuits every year, we would nowhave time to do more “fun” traveling. And then, wouldn’t you know, our western RV shows informed us they had to cut back on the size of their shows to the point where they could not afford to have us present seminars. Our 2009 seminar calendar was suddenly empty. Adding to the pain is that 85% of our book and DVD sales take place at the end of our seminars. Wow! A double whammy!

Well, we thought, after 15 years of chasing RV shows, rallies and Life on Wheels conferences, maybe it's time to slow down and start practicing what we have been preaching. Besides, we can still write our monthly columns for The Good Sam Club’s “Highways” magazine, Woodall’s regional magazines, and KOA’s “KOA Kompass” internet newsletter.

Or not. Yesterday we received an e-mail from our editor at Woodall’s informing us that, effective with the April edition, the Woodall’s regional titles were being suspended indefinitely. Woodall’s had become another “due to the economy” casualty.

Fortunately, Vicki and I do not “need” the money from our speaking and writing in order to survive. I turn 70 years of age this summer and we were prepared for the time when we would no longer have the income from our RV business. So, for now, we will hunker down and weather the storm. We won’t be chasing any opportunities but, on the other hand, we won’t turn down any that float our way. We got into this business, after all, by falling backward through the door of opportunity.

In the meantime we will keep a kind thought for all those folks whose lives have been shattered “due to the economy”.

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January 6, 2009 Issue

2009-01-05T20:25:00.001-08:00

In this Issue:

What’s New With Us: Greetings From Yuma

Article: RV Show Season

Vicki's Favorite Recipes: Cheesy Garlic Bread

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What's New With Us:

Happy New Year! Greetings From Yuma, AZ.

We drove our motorhome from Huntington Beach, CA to Yuma AZ on Dec. 29th. It’s only about 280 miles but we’ve had itchy wheels since October so it was an exciting journey.

Our good friends, Jerry and Arlyne Ray, are sharing their RV lot and with us. The weather has been super cooperative. Sunny days in the 70’s and brisk evenings in the 40’s.

Other good friends, Joe and Joanne Annuzio, hosted a New Year’s bash for 14 of us in the new house they built on their lot (directly across the street from Jerry and Arlyne). Moving into this house officially removes them from the ranks of full-time RVers. They join a number of our full-time RVing friends who have come in off the road during the last couple of years.

Molly, our 40- pound-plus, 4½- months-old Golden Retriever (we can almost see her grow from day to day), has learned a lot on her maiden RV voyage. In addition to traveling in a motorhome for the first time, she has been exposed and adjusted to potty-breaks at rest areas, noisy trucks and motorhomes, cold nose-to-butt greetings from strange dogs, and warm attention from even stranger humans. She is developing into a great RVing companion.

Jerry and Arlyne used to raise, train and show dogs. Arlyne has spent some time training Molly, and Molly has adopted her as a second mom. Jerry and Arlyne have taken to leaving their motorhome door open during the day so Molly can come in whenever she wants to. She entertains them with her puppy antics every time she visits.

Joe Annuzio took me on a 4-wheeling trip into the local desert and mountains. We, along with five other vehicles, retraced old wagon trails, bounced along dry, rocky creek-beds, and checked out abandoned gold and silver mines. It was a fun day. Vicki stayed in the motorhome. She read, watched movies and enjoyed her “alone” time.

Even more good friends, Gil and Elaine Feis, who own the lot next to Jerry and Arlyne, joined the Rays, Annuzios and us every evening for laughter-filled happy hours that evolved into fun dinners.

Good food, good times, good friends. It was a great start to the new year. Thanks guys, we really needed that.

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Reduced prices on all DVDs and e-books!

The two Alaska DVDs have been reduced from $24.95 to $19.95 each. Or you can purchase both Alaska DVDs together for only $30.00. (See the condition of the various roads and highways)

A perfect companion to the Alaska DVDs is the e-book "RVing Alaska: Insights and Observations" for only $9.95 (reduced from $12.95). (Includes a detailed journal of a 44-day Alaskan RV trip that can be used to plan your own journey.)

Looking for a gift for the RV cook? Check out Vicki's "My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes". Good information for the cook and good eating for you.

Now available in paperback: "Full-Time RVer's Homework". Until now the paperback version could only be purchased at the end of our seminar presentations.

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RV Show Season

Have you been to an RV show lately? Winter is prime RV show season. RV shows are the dealers' way of going to the customer, displaying their products and, hopefully, making lots of sales.

A real RV show is one that has a half dozen or more RV dealers exhibiting a large variety of RVs in one convenient location. Obviously, the more dealers participating in the show the larger the number of RVs you’ll find on display.

Attending an RV show is a dynamite way to comparison shop for an RV. It gives you the opportunity to check out an assortment of trailers, motorhomes, campers and van conversions. This is where casual lookers can view the new models and investigate the latest innovations. This is also where serious shoppers can zero in on the type, size and price bracket of the RV they want. They can then compare the floorplans, features, quality and prices of similar rigs. And, when they decide to buy, they are likely to discover that special show prices and deals are not uncommon when competing RV dealers are in close proximity to one another.

A big RV show will also include display booths with vendors of RV related products and services. Campgrounds and RV parks hand out literature and discount coupons inviting RVers to spend time in their facilities. Insurance agents offer free RV insurance quotes. Sellers of cleaning and polishing products give away free samples.

The vendor booth area is where you are likely to find sewer hoses, water filters, electric hookup extension cords, roof air conditioners, portable fire pits and every other common and uncommon RV gadget and gizmo. This is where the "pitch" people demonstrate their wares. You can watch them cook a meal, mop floors, peel potatoes, clean jewelry and perform any number of entertaining presentations that will convince you to buy their "must have" products.

Many RVers, content with their present RV, consider the vendor booths the reason to attend an RV show. Clever show producers recognize that, after viewing the vendor area, these RVers frequently move on to the RV displays where a good number of them end up buying a new rig.

RV show producers also recognize the growing popularity of RVs with young families. To draw them in, many shows offer clowns, mimes, magicians, strolling musicians, jugglers, ventriloquists, and other forms of entertainment. RV shows, after all, have to compete with other events for the attention of the consumer.

And, of course, a really great RV show will feature RV seminars by folks like Joe and Vicki Kieva. Our seminars provide tips on choosing, using and enjoying an RV.

Finding an RV show is not difficult. Most occur during the months of January, February and March and again during September and October. The bigger shows will advertise on local radio and television stations. Click here for a list of RV shows around the country.

Many RV shows have their own web sites. It is not unusual for these web sites to have discount coupons you can download, print and present for a reduced admission price.

You will also find their ads in RV magazines and your local newspaper. Pay close attention; the print ads frequently double as discount coupons for admission. See if the ad offers reduced admission prices to seniors or RV club members who are willing to attend the show on weekdays. By the way, we have observed that RV shows are less crowded on weekdays and early in the day on weekends.

Your day at the RV show will be more enjoyable if you take the time to make a few preparations at home. Plan on wearing comfortable, layered clothing so you can adjust to any change in temperatures. At outdoor shows a wide-brimmed hat will protect your head from the sun and sunglasses will cut any glare. And, obviously, comfortable walking shoes are a must.

A tote bag or, better yet, a backpack can be handy for carrying sweaters, snacks, and small purchases. A backpack is especially convenient if you want to carry one or two small bottles of drinking water.

Life will be easier for both kids and parents if you bring a stroller. Even kids who think they are "too big" for a stroller will climb in when they get tired of being on their feet. And, a stroller can carry all those items that would normally have to be carried in a backpack.

Serious RV shoppers should take a notebook and pen. If nothing else, they can make notes on the brochures of the RVs that attract them. A digital camera will make it possible to "revisit" the rigs that have special appeal. We have seen some shoppers using video cameras so they could videotape and verbally describe the RVs that appealed to them.

Many show vendors offer prizes and other incentives to those willing to sign up for them. You can avoid writer's cramp by taking some of your return address labels to the show. Simply stick the labels on the sign-up sheets. You will undoubtedly be rewarded with lots of RV related mail in the near future.

A word of caution about these sign-up sheets. Read the small print carefully before you put your name on them. There are a few scams out there that make it appear you are simply registering for a prize or adding your name to a mailing list when, in fact, you are actually agreeing to have your telephone service switched to another carrier.

Arrive at the RV show early. You will get a parking space close to the entrance; something your feet will appreciate at the end of the day. Getting there early also means you have all day to browse through the show. Some RV shows are so large it takes two or three days to see everything.

Read the show program as soon as you get into the show. They are usually available at the show entrance. Pay particular attention to the schedule of events. There may be demonstrations, entertainment or seminars you want to sit in on. Try to plan your day so your attendance at these presentations doubles as a break and gets you off your feet for a while. Be sure to reward the good behavior of your children by making a point of seeing that magic act.

Study the program's map of the show. Plan your route through the show to include the RVs, vendors and events you especially wish to see. This might also be a good time to pinpoint the locations of the restrooms and food concession stands.

Experienced RV show shoppers make a point of visiting the building, room, tent or area that contains the vendor booths. They know this is where they’ll find all those unique RV products, services and gadgets that add to the enjoyment of RVing.

While you are there, locate a vendor who is giving away plastic carrying bags. Now you have something to hold all that literature you’ll be gathering. You don't have to be too fussy about the literature you pick up. Just put it in the bag, take it home and put the bag next to your television-viewing chair. Now you have something to read during those long TV commercials. With luck you’ll be at a two-bag show.

Take your time. Look at the RVs. Ask questions. Pick up brochures. Make notes. Keep in mind the show producer, dealers and vendors have gone to a great deal of trouble to put the show together. The least you can do is buy an RV.

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Vicki's Favorite Recipes:

Cheesy Garlic Bread (From "My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes")

We often have this bread along with spaghetti or lasagna. It also makes a delicious appetizer.

1 sourdough baguette, halved lengthwise
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

1. Preheat broiler or oven to 450°.

2. Stir together the butter, mayonnaise and garlic.
Spread thickly on cut sides of the baguette.

3. Top with cheese. Place under broiler and broil until the top is bubbly.

Makes 4-6 servings.

Tip: It seems that a majority of RVers have had a problem baking brownies, cakes and biscuits in their RV ovens without burning the bottoms. There are a couple of solutions to that problem. Try air-bake pans (they have a layer of air between two sheets of metal). Also try the new silicone baking pans. Not only do the foods not burn on the bottom, they pop right out of the pans without sticking.

Return To RV Know How

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December 9, 2008 Issue

2008-12-09T15:35:00.000-08:00

In This Issue:

What's New With Us: Healing Progress - Holiday Plans
Brief Article: Stocking Stuffers
Vicki's Favorite Recipes: Peg's Sour Cream Guacamle Dip

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Just in time for Christmas! Reduced prices on all DVDs and e-books!

The two Alaska DVDs have been reduced from $24.95 to $19.95 each. Or you can purchase both Alaska DVDs together for only $30.00.

A prefect companion to the Alaska DVDs is the e-book "RVing Alaska: Insights and Observations" for only $9.95 (reduced from $12.95).

Looking for a gift for the RV cook? Check out Vicki's "My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes". Good information for the cook and good eating for you.

Now available in paperback: "Full-Time RVer's Homework". Until now the paperback version could only be purchased at the end of our seminar presentations.

Mailing Tip: If you want your DVDs and/or books to arrive in time for Christmas, order them before December 18 and have them sent Priority Mail.

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What's New with Us.

My shoulder has healed sufficiently for me to be back at the keyboard. However, I still have a couple of months of physical therapy before I can do any heavy work. And that includes washing our motorhome. So… I hired a mobile detailer to do the job (see the photo).

Vicki was happy. She gets nervous when she sees me scrubbing the motorhome's roof. She usually mumbles something about me being a stuborn, clumsy old man who is crusin for a bruisin and then stomps into the house. What she doesn't realize is that washing the rig is my opportunity to closely examine every square inch of the outside of the motorhome. Besides, I always do a better job than the professionals.

Our next few weekends are going to be busy with family gatherings. Unfortunately we can never seem to get everyone together at the same time so this year we will have a gathering on the weekend of the 13th when our daughter her husband can travel from Sacramento. The weekend of the 20th we will have another gathering when my brother and his wife can travel from Ventura. Christmas day we will only have Vicki's dad, our two sons and their children for dinner. Three or four days after Christmas we will drive our motorhome to Yuma and celebrate New Year's with a group of RVing friends. We'll hang out in Yuma for a few days and then let whimsy be our guide.

Vicki and I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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Brief Article

Dear Joe and Vicki: Do you have any suggestions for RV- related holiday "stocking stuffers"? My husband and I use the holidays as an opportunity to buy things for ourselves that we ordinarily would not spend the money on.

Joe: You didn't say what price range you had in mind but here are some practical, useful items under the $50.00 mark that we think most RVers would appreciate. Just about all of them can be found in RV accessory stores like Camping World.

Digital Tire-Pressure Gauge - The air pressure in your tires should be checked before taking your RV out of storage and every few days while traveling. Since the tires should be cold when checking their pressure, I check our tires in the morning before getting on the road. I prefer a digital air-pressure gauge. It seems more accurate. There is one with a backlit display that makes it easy to see the pressure reading.

Voltage Meter – In the best of worlds an RV park or campground's electric hookup would provide 115 volts. We feel good when we see a consistent 110 volts. Most experts advise that an appliance's electric motor (like in an air conditioner or washing machine) should not be operated on less than 103 to 105 volts of power. Below that point the motor is straining to do the job and can either cause a breaker to open or, worse yet, damage the motor. A voltage meter plugged into the RV's electrical outlet allows you to keep tabs on the voltage available to your rig.

Compass – "Turn north at the first intersection" That's what the directions to the campground say. Trouble is… you don't know which way is north. A compass can help solve the problem. If nothing else, it gives you something to blame (other than your co-pilot) for getting you lost.

Bubble Levels – We have two bubble levels mounted inside the driving compartment of our motorhome; one on the dash, and the other on the wall next to the driver's seat. They are calibrated (with little lines) so I can determine how level the RV is front-to-rear and side-to-side. Watching the levels as I enter a campsite lets me move into the most level spot. The levels also tell me when my levelers have finished the job of leveling the RV. When we had a trailer I had the same type of levels attached on the outside of the trailer's front wall and to the side of the trailer tongue. The one on the wall helped me level side-to-side; the one on the tongue, front-to-rear.

Weather Alert Radio – When the weather looks ominous, a weather alert radio will provide up-to-the-minute weather reports. National Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcast local weather reports 24 hours a day. The messages are repeated every five minutes and updated every two hours. The NWR usually requires a special radio to pick up its broadcasts. These radios, available at electronic stores such as Radio Shack, are typically battery operated or AC powered with a battery backup. Most NWR radios are also equipped with an alarm that sounds when a severe weather alert is issued. We especially appreciate ours when we are in tornado country.

Vicki: My wish-list leans towards things like a clothes washer/dryer. But here are some neat stocking stuffers:

Refrigerator/Freezer Thermometer – Outside temperatures can affect the efficiency of an RV's refrigerator and freezer operation. Sometimes, depending upon outside temperatures, it is necessary to adjust the refrigerator's temperature selector up or down. Two refrigerator thermometers, one located inside the refrigerator compartment and the other inside the freezer, can help you keep your food within the correct temperature range. They even make one that sounds an alarm when the temperature exceeds your settings.

Icicles Ice Tray - Instead of making ice cubes, this tray makes ice sticks that will fit into water or pop bottles. Pretty ingenious.

Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer - This device lets us know at a glance the temperatures both inside and outside of our RV. We have one that also lets us see what the highest and lowest temperatures of the day (inside and outside) have been.

Hand-held Radio Set – We have a hand-held CB radio that I use to communicate with Joe when we are backing our RV. We have seen other RVers using small hand-held "Walkie-Talkies" to do the same thing. Mostly, though, I see couples using their radios to find each other in the Wal-Mart Super Centers.

Mesh Laundry Hamper – I like the one that has three sections. It gives me the option of separating the dirty clothes. It is also just the right size to fit in our shower. That's where we keep our laundry. The hamper is easily moved (I just ask Joe) to a place next to our bed when we want to take a shower.

RVing Books and DVDs - Our RV books and DVDs are loaded with practical, useful information about RVs, RVers and RVing.

Happy Holidays!

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Vicki's Favorite Recipes

Peg's Sour Cream Guacamole Dip
(from "My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes")
(Quick and Easy)

Joe's mom, Peg, did very little cooking in her later years. She did, however, like to make this dip for family get togethers. It always disappeared very quickly.

Because the ingredients are easy to keep on hand, this is a great last-minute appetizer to bring to any gathering of RVers. Just add a bag of tortilla chips.

2 boxes (8-oz.) avocado dip (I use "Calavo" brand)
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 can (4 oz.) mild diced green chiles
8 oz. sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Spread avocado dip in an 8" or 9" round pie plate.

2. Sprinkle hot sauce over the avocado dip. Distribute diced chiles over the hot sauce.

3. Cover the top with sour cream and lightly sprinkle the top with cheddar cheese.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Makes 2-1/2 to 3 cups.

Tip: Avocado dip can be found in the produce, refrigerated or frozen section of your supermarket. Allow about two hours to thaw if it is frozen.

Return to RV Know How
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November 21, 2008 Issue

2008-11-21T15:37:00.001-08:00

What's New With Us:

This will be brief. I had shoulder surgery last week (bone spur removed, tendon repaired and rotator cuff repaired) and my left arm must remain immobile for a month. So this is being typed one-handed. Lots of time and lots of typos.

Molly, our new puppy, is getting lots of attention. So much attention that she thinks her name is Molly No No. I forgot how much inquisitive mischief a puppy can get into. She is responding very nicely to her training. Goldens just want to please.

Our 19-year-old grand-daughter, Amanda, is spending the week with us. Vicki and I are thoroughly enjoying just hanging out with her. It seems like it was just a short time ago that she was bragging to everyone that her Papa was very strong and could fix anything. I worked really hard at maintaining that illusion.

More in a couple of weeks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Return To RV Know How

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November 1, 2008 Issue

2008-11-03T15:41:00.000-08:00

In This Issue:

What's New With Us: Meet Molly

Article: Winter RVing

Vicki's Recipes: Sausage, Peppers & Pasta

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Are you thinking about: Buying an RV? Becoming a Fulltime RVer? Going to Alaska? Do you want to read about it today? Take a look at our e-books. And while you're at it, download a free chapter of our "Fulltime RVers Homework" e-book.

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What's New With Us

Meet Molly

Molly is an English Crème Golden Retriever. As you can see in the photos English Cremes have a white coat. Molly, however, has a hint of blond. I guess that means she'll have more fun.

Molly, along with her five brothers and four sisters, was born on 08-08-08. We brought her home on October 21. The three of us (Molly, Vicki and I) have been in training ever since. Molly has been trained to "come", "sit", and "lie down". I have been trained to reward her with praise or a treat any time she decides to run up to me and sits or lies down. Vicki has been brainwashed into believing that Molly is a lap dog.

Vicki and I have both been trained to respond to two sharp commands - er, barks .. delivered at 6:00 in the morning. We have learned that those barks mean we have three minutes to let Molly out of house so she can visit the powder room. Vicki's logic is that while it is her end of the dog doing the barking, it is my end of the dog that needs to be attended. Therefore it is I who must get out of bed.

Molly and I are now working on the command "Go Potty". Periodically, with Molly on a leash, we go to the same area of our back yard and I give the command "Go Potty". Then I stand there like a fool talking to myself ("go potty, go potty, go potty") while Molly sniffs leaves, investigates bugs and chews on her end of the leash. Eventually her hind end drops for a moment, I lavish her with praise, and she heads for the back door. I'm not sure if she really goes potty or if she has learned that we can return to the house if she drops her hind end for a moment. One thing is for sure… she does not need to be told to go potty any other time or place. I think the training is going well.

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RVing Article

Winter RVing

Dear Joe and Vicki: We are fairly new to RVing. Our experience has been limited to fair weather trips to the California coast and mountains. We would like to drive our RV from California to Virginia about mid-January but are a little apprehensive about driving conditions should the roads turn icy. Your thoughts on this and any cold-weather RVing tips would be appreciated.

Joe: In the past, our January/February speaking circuit at RV shows has taken us (and our motorhome) from Tampa, Florida to Atlantic City, New Jersey, You might say we have some experience with cold weather driving and camping. We do our best to avoid driving in snow and we absolutely refuse to drive on icy roads. We have been known to spend an extra night or two in a campground waiting for driving conditions to improve. That’s one of the advantages of having your “house” with you.

Prepare you rig as you would for any long trip. Check the condition of your tires and their air pressure. Be sure your engine coolant has the appropriate mix of anti-freeze. Fill your windshield-washer reservoir and check your windshield wipers. Engines demand more electrical starting power during cold weather so check the battery’s electrolyte level, clean the terminals, and coat them with petroleum jelly. If you begin your trip with new engine oil and filters you shouldn’t have to change them again before you return home.

You will want a set of tire chains if you intend to drive on snow or ice. Practice putting them on at home while it is warm and dry. Motorhome owners should consider the damage a broken tire chain could inflict upon the fiberglass body of their rig. It might be better to avoid roads where chains may be required.

Your RV's built-in space heating system should be adequate for keeping the interior of your coach warm. Remember, though, that a forced air furnace, in addition to consuming propane, will draw up to seven amps of electricity while operating. This could represent a considerable drain on the coach battery if electric hookups are not available.

Obviously, an electric hookup each night will prevent your furnace fan from draining your coach batteries. It will also allow you to operate the engine block heater if you have a diesel engine.

Many RVers who do a lot of self-contained camping use catalytic heaters. Catalytic heaters combine propane and oxygen over a platinum-impregnated pad. The chemical reaction releases energy in the form of radiated heat. It requires no electricity and utilizes propane more efficiently than a forced-air heater.

Most catalytic heaters are not vented to the outside. They consume oxygen from inside the RV and should only be operated when open windows and vents can provide adequate ventilation.

Vicki: Once we are hooked up to electricity, it is our habit to warm the interior of our coach with our propane furnace and then switch to a portable electric heater. The electric heater maintains a comfortable temperature and minimizes the time the furnace has to operate. If you intend to do this be sure the RV’s electrical hookup cord and any extension cord to the heater have a sufficient amperage rating to withstand the wattage of the heater. Divide the heater’s maximum wattage by 120 (volts) to determine the minimum rating of the electrical cord. A 1,500 watt heater, for example, would require an electrical cord with a minimum rating of 12.5 amps (1500 watts divided by 120 volts equals 12.5 amps).

I’m going to assume your RV’s plumbing, fresh-water tank and holding tanks are located in enclosed, heated compartments. As long as your furnace runs periodically, you shouldn’t have any problem with frozen plumbing.

We have installed two drop cords in our plumbing bay. One is near the water pump and sewer outlet. The other is on the opposite side of the compartment near the water heater. Each drop cord has a 40-watt light bulb. The heat from the bulbs keep the interior of the compartment warm when our furnace is not operating.

Remember to disconnect, drain and store your water and sewer hoses when temperatures approach the freezing level. Rather than deal with stiff or frozen hoses we prefer not to hook them up when there is any chance of temperatures dropping below 40 degrees. We only connect our hoses long enough to fill our water tank and empty our holding tanks. The rest of the time they remain in the storage cabinet.

Windows can be insulated against the cold with heavy drapes or curtains. You can also create an insulating, dead air space inside the windows by covering them with clear, heavy vinyl. Some RVers have been known to cut sheets of Styrofoam or foam-filled poster-board to fit the interior of some of their windows as insulation.

Condensation occurs inside an RV when the warm, moist interior air of the RV comes in contact with the cool surfaces of the windows and walls. We exchange humid interior air with dry outside air by opening a window about a quarter of an inch at each end of our RV and operating the roof-vent exhaust fan in the kitchen at a very slow speed.

Joe has a pair of warm, water-proof, boots he slips on when the ground around our campsite is wet or muddy (and it usually is at that time of year).

I take along a few old throw rugs. They provide insulation on tile floors and protect the carpeting against tracked in dirt and moisture. When a throw rug gets dirty enough, I just toss it in the trash and replace it with another.

Try to camp in a spot that is open to the heat of the sun and, if possible, protected from the wind. You can minimize cold drafts by facing the RV into or away from the prevailing wind.

Keep in mind that snow accumulating on overhanging branches may eventually drop off in heavy clumps or perhaps bring down the brittle branches. And don't let snow block the refrigerator roof vent.

We enjoy our winter travels. Traffic is lighter. Campgrounds are not crowded. The air is clean and brisk. Winter RVing is a little different but certainly not difficult. With a little experience you’ll soon find yourself enjoying your cold weather journeys.

One of our most memorable travel days was spent driving across the gently rolling farmlands of Kentucky on Interstate 64. A light snowfall persisted most of the day. Traffic was almost non-existent. The snow melted on the highway and, at the same time, laid a soft white blanket over the sleeping countryside. We stopped several times, turned off the engine, and stepped outside, just to experience the stillness. Not something we could have done on a Southern California interstate.

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Vicki's Favorite Recipes (from My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Sausage, Peppers and Pasta
(Quick and Easy)

This makes a fast, easy main dish.

2 lbs. Italian sausage, cut in 2" lengths
2 onions, cut into thick slices
2 bell peppers, cut into strips
1 cup marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Rotelle or other short pasta

1. Put sausage in a 3-quart microwave safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high 7 to 9 minutes,stirring twice, until firm to the touch. Drain well.

2. Stir onions, peppers, marinara sauce and basil into the bowl with the sausage. Cover with a lid or vented plastic wrap and microwave on high 8 to 10 minutes, stirring once, until onions and peppers are tender.

3. Stir some of the cooked sauce into the pasta to moisten. Serve sausage, peppers and remainder of sauce over the pasta.

Makes about 4 servings.

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Are you thinking about: Buying an RV? Becoming a Fulltime RVer? Going to Alaska? Do you want to read about it today? Take a look at our e-books. And while you're at it, download a free chapter of our "Fulltime RVers Homework" e-book.

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Next Issue: Stocking Stuffers

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================================================

Greetings From The California RV Show

2008-10-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

We are staying at the Pomona KOA where we are presenting two seminars a day, every day, at the ten-day California RV Show. The KOA is adjacent to the RV show so we don’t have much of a commute to our seminar area. Our full-service, pull-through site is in the shady area of the RV park. That also means the trees prevent our satellite dish from picking up the satellite so we are roughing it watching standard network programs (no cable service).

The California RV Show takes place every October. This year is no exception. But this year, manufacturer, dealer and booth-vendor participation are lower than in the past.

The photos below of the main outside aisle and the interior of the vendor tent were taken at approximately 1:30 pm on October 17th, the second Friday of the ten-day show. They provide an indication of the number of people who attended the show this year. Show attendance has been really disappointing.

I have no idea of how others are doing (nobody seems to be rejoicing) but our seminar attendance at this show, along with our book and DVD sales, are half what they were last year.

This is our last show for 2008. Our next RV adventure will take us to Yuma, Arizona where we will welcome the new year with RVing friends. In the meantime we will be training a new Golden Retriever puppy.

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Return To RV Know How

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October 15 Issue

2008-10-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

In This Issue

What's New With Us: A New Puppy!
Brief Article: To Keep or Not to Keep (that dinosaur)
Vicki's Recipe: Joe's Favorite Tacos
RVing Tip: Black Marks in The Refrigerator
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What's New With Us

We're getting a new puppy! Next Tuesday, when she is old enough to leave her mom, we will be picking up a new puppy. Her name is Molly. Molly is an English Creme Golden Retriever. English Cremes have a white coat, although Molly has just a hint of blond color. Molly's litter consisted of five males and five females. We knew we wanted a female but it still took us about two hours to make our final selection. The picture shows Vicki holding the two finalists. Vicki wanted both of them. Molly is on the right.

Our last dog, Brandy, was a Golden Retriever. Golden Retrievers have a sweet and gentle nature. Goldens start out the way most larger breeds do; active and rambunctious. But after a couple of years they develop a laid-back attitude and settle down. Goldens typically love human beings. They want to be a part of the family's activities. The Goldens I have dealt with want very badly to please their humans. As a result, they are easy to train by using praise and affection.

Molly, just like our previous dogs, will be trained to come, sit, lie down, stay, go to her bed, go potty, and heel. She will have the good manners to not jump on people and will only bark when appropriate. Molly will remain outside during the day and be allowed inside at night and during inclimate weather.

Vicki and I are now negotiating on who will be responsible for which end of the dog. I have a suspicion Vicki is going to win the front end.

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To Keep or Not to Keep

Dear Joe and Vicki: My motorhome is 5 years old. Things are beginning to wear out and need replacement. We are wondering whether we should keep and refurbish our present motorhome or buy a new one. What do you think?

Joe: Either way, it looks like you are getting ready to spend some money. And, whether you buy a new motorhome or refurbish the one you have, in five more years you are probably going to be faced with the same decision again.

Five years of age seems to be a mid-life crisis point for RVs, especially motorhomes. Outside, the paint is beginning to oxidize. The windshield probably has a few battle scars. The roof needs to be re-caulked (for the second or third time). Shock absorbers and brake linings need to be checked. Belts, hoses and windshield wiper blades are due for replacement. Tires, no matter their tread wear, are reaching the end of their safe lifespan. The engine and transmission may not be performing as smartly as when they were new.

Inside, the carpet, upholstery and window coverings are beginning to fade and show some wear. Fabrics and color schemes are woefully out-of-fashion. Outdated appliances have reached the point where, if they stop working, the repairman will probably suggest replacement instead of repair. The entertainment center (if you have one) has a television screen that is smaller than you like, does not have a DVD player, and has speakers that seem archaic.

And, if your RV is five or more years of age, you may only have one slide-out room or perhaps no slides at all! Good grief! You own a dinosaur!

Chances are your RV's loan balance is less than, or about equal to, its market value. Or maybe you are one of the lucky RV owners whose payments are just right – nothing per month. That means you have some equity in your present RV that could be applied to the purchase of a new one. And let's face it, a five year old RV is easier to sell or trade than one that is ten years old. Maybe now is a good time to trade.

Vicki: Before you do, however, consider what you will be doing with your present or new RV for the next five years. Do you anticipate any personal or career changes that would affect your RVing lifestyle? A new job or promotion might curtail the amount of time available for RVing. In that case, it might not make good financial sense to buy a new RV only to have it sit in storage. Perhaps it might be better to postpone that new purchase and, for the time being, make do with your present RV.

On the other hand, if you will be retiring soon, perhaps you will have even more time available for RVing. Buying a new RV prior to retiring can be a good decision. You can choose one that will better complement your extended travels. You will also have the opportunity to take it on a few shakedown trips and get familiar with it before you embark on those extended cross-country journeys.

One of the most popular reasons for getting a new RV is a change of RV lifestyle. Going from weekend and two-week camping trips to extended travel, snowbirding, or fulltiming frequently calls for a change in the type and/or size of RV.

However, if you are going to continue to use your RV as you have in the past, there are some other considerations. By now you have made a lot of personal changes and adjustments to your RV. Closets, drawers and cabinets have been arranged to hold all your "stuff". Pictures, pillows and decorations have been added to reflect your personal taste. You have decided where to keep the trash basket, laundry hamper and vacuum cleaner. You are familiar with your RV's idiosyncrasies and comfortable with its operation. Do you really want to get rid of this rig? If you did replace it, would you want the new RV to be radically different? If your present rig will satisfy your RVing interests and needs for the next five years or so, if you can incorporate the changes and upgrades you'd like into your RV, maybe you should hold onto it.

Joe: Look at the financial considerations. Before you refurbish your current RV, make a list of the things you would like to change. Take your list to the appropriate craftsmen and get an estimate of what the total project will cost. Then, determine your RV's actual market value – what you could reasonably and realistically expect to receive if you sold it today. You don't want to invest more into your RV than it is worth.

Look at the price of new RVs that are equivalent to your present rig. Chances are you will pay at least half again as much for a new RV as you did for your present RV five years ago. Not only will the purchase price be higher, but so will the sales tax. And, of course, the annual insurance premiums, and vehicle registration fees of the new RV will be higher than what you are paying now.

The money you spend refurbishing your RV may not add appreciably to its market value
but it will certainly be less than the cost of a new rig.

Vicki: Your choices seem to be to a.) keep your RV and spend the minimum necessary to bring it to satisfactory condition, b.) keep your RV and invest what it takes to renovate and update it to your satisfaction, or c.) buy a new RV that will better satisfy your interests and needs.

If you are unhappy with your present RV, if it does not satisfy your RVing lifestyle, if you want a different type, size, style or floorplan, then buy that new RV. But if you like your present RV and it can be refurbished to satisfy your RVing interests and needs, it might make better sense to keep it.

And, if you do, there's always the chance that a silver-tongued salesman will weave his magic, and cause you to fall in love with a 42-foot, quadruple slide, Whizbang motorhome and set you up with a payment schedule that will last the rest of your natural life.

Either way, in five years you will be making this same decision again.

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Vicki"s Favorite Recipes (from My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Joe's Favorite Tacos

I fix tacos about once a week whether we are at home or on the road. Corn tortillas are hard to find in some parts of the country, so I always put several packages in our RV freezer before leaving on a trip.

When Joe and the kids have their birthdays, they always get to choose their favorite dinner. This has always been Joe's choice. It is also the favorite of all of our grandchildren.

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 heaping tablespoons salsa
12 corn tortillas
Vegetable oil for frying
1/4 to 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1-1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 large or 2 small tomatoes, chopped
Additional salsa to spoon on tacos
Sour cream, optional

1. Crumble and brown ground beef in a medium skillet. Add salt, pepper and salsa.

2. Pour about ¼ inch vegetable oil in a skillet and heat on high. When the oil is hot, fry one tortilla at a time. Fry on one side until starting to crisp at the edges, turn over, fold in half and brown on each side. Continue for all 12 tortillas.

3. Drain each tortilla on paper towels.

4. Serve taco shells filled with meat. Each person can add their own lettuce, cheese, onions, tomatoes, salsa and sour cream.

Makes 3-4 servings.

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RVing Tip

Travel vibrations can cause aluminum drink cans to leave black marks on the interior walls and shelves of the refrigerator. You can prevent this by using a plastic storage box (without the lid) as a drink-can container inside your refrigerator.

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Next Issue November 1 - Cash and Carry

Return to RV Know How

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October 1, 2008 Issue

2008-09-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

In This Issue

What's New With Us: On The Road Again!
Brief Article: RV Show Vendors
Vicki's Recipe: Ground Beef Quesadillas
RVing Tip: Heating The RV

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Greetings from the Sacramento RV Show.

We are on the road again! We have been home-bound since the 4th of July and it feels great to be in our motorhome. We have been presenting seminars at the four-day Spring and Fall Sacramento RV Shows for over ten years now. Sacramento is 425 miles north of our home in Huntington Beach. That amounts to about an eight hour driving day. We leave our house at 5:00 am in order to get through Los Angeles before the morning rush-hour traffic grinds to a crawl. Coming home we will leave Sacramento at 5:00 am so we can get through Los Angeles before the afternoon rush-hour traffic begins. I don't understand why they call it "rush-hour" because it is anything but.

The Sacramento RV Show allows us to park in a parking lot adjacent to the show. Nice parking lot - it has 30-amp electric, water and sewer hookups lined up against a fence. Easy commute to work - our seminar building is literally steps away from our motorhome.

Our daughter, Kim, her husband, Tom, and our grand-daughter, Amanda, live just outside of Sacramento so we make a point of visiting with them while we are here.

This Sacramento show ends on September 28th. On October 10th we will begin presenting seminars at the ten-day California RV Show at the Fair-Plex in Pomona, California. This show is one of the three largest RV shows in the nation. Over a thousand RVs on display and a huge tent full of booth vendors. My favorite part of an RV show is looking at all the interesting RV related gadgets and gear on display in the vendor section of the show. Every now and then I find myself buying something I didn't know I needed.

If you are planning on attending the California RV Show check out their website http://www.carvshow.com/ to receive directions and a $2.00 discount coupon.

And, you might want to read our article on "How to Enjoy an RV Show"

See you at the show!

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RV Show Vendors

Dear Joe and Vicki: My husband and I recently attended an RV show being held at a county fairground. We noticed a number of RVs that appeared to be camped in one section of the parking lot. Who were these people?

Vicki: The RVs you saw may have belonged to members of an RV club. RV show promoters
frequently encourage RV clubs to attend their show and camp in the parking lot. Show promoters recognize that present RV owners are more likely to buy an RV than a non-RVer. The clubs make the most of what may be a free or low-cost camping opportunity to conduct a fun-filled rally. During the next show, walk over, introduce yourselves, find out who they are and what they are doing. You may be invited to join them.

Joe: The RVs may also have belonged to some of the show’s exhibitors and vendors. A good number of the folks who set up a display or sales booth at an RV show are RVers. They are among the thousands of RVers who have found a way to make money on the road.

Typically, the vendors arrive the day before the show opens. Their display materials and/or sales merchandise will be unloaded from a travel trailer’s tow vehicle, an equipment trailer being pulled by a motorhome or, in some cases, the storage bays of a motorhome. The balance of the day is spent setting up their booth or display. The vendors live in their RVs right there at the RV show.

The vendors hope to make enough money during the show to cover their travel and living expenses, pay for the rent on their booth space, recoup their investment in merchandise and, with a little luck, make a profit.

They know their fortunes depend upon the professional skills of the show promoter, the mood of the crowd, the whim of the weather and their own ability to attract and convince customers to buy.

While a few vendors are casual sellers of merchandise, most are serious business people. They know which shows and promoters are likely to bring them the greatest return on their investment. Many work a circuit of shows and rallies that keep their down-time to a minimum. And don’t be surprised to see a vendor pass your credit card through a card reader connected to a cellular phone. This is the twentieth century and they are very much a part of it.

At the end of the last day of the show the vendors break down their displays and store them in their vehicles. Some may even head down the road that evening. They have another show ahead of them.

Talk to a show vendor during a quiet moment. He may give you some insight into his lifestyle. You might even find yourself the owner of a gadget you never knew you needed.
Enjoy The Journey!

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Going to Alaska next year? Read the article "Alaska! The Ultimate RV Adventure" and check out our DVD "RVing Alaska: What to Expect, How to Prepare" and our E-book "RVing Alaska, Insights and Observations" View our Alaska Journey Blogs - September 5 and 8, 2007.

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Vicki's Favorite Recipes (from My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Ground Beef Quesadillas

This is a recipe that I have had fun experimenting with. The quesadillas can be made without any meat at all or with chicken or fish in place of the ground beef.

1 lb. ground beef
1/4 to 1/2 cup salsa (mild, medium or hot)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Vegetable oil
8 flour tortillas (I use "soft taco" size)
Diced green jalapeno chiles, to taste
2 cups grated Mexican blend cheese
Additional salsa to add at table
Sour cream and guacamole to add at table

1. Crumble and brown the ground beef. Add salsa and salt. Cook until meat is thoroughly cooked.

2. Heat a small amount of vegetable oil in a skillet. Place 1 tortilla in the hot skillet; cover with browned beef, jalapeno chiles and about 1/2 cup grated cheese. Top with another tortilla.

3. Cook, turning once, 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted. Repeat with the other tortillas.

4. Cut each quesadilla in half and serve with salsa, sour cream and guacamole on the side.

Makes 4 servings.

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RVing Tip

Once your RV's furnace has warmed the interior of your RV, switch over to a portable electric heater. The electric heater will maintain a comfortable temperature for a considerable amount of time.
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Next Issue October 15: Dinosaur RV Revisited

Return to RV Know How

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September 15, 2008 Issue

2008-09-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

In This Issue:

What's New With Us: Itchy Wheels
Brief Article: RV Show Time
Vicki's Favorite Recipes: Italian Pasta Salad
RVing Tip: RV Storage Tip

==========================================

Going to Alaska next year? Read the article "Alaska! The Ultimate RV Adventure" and check out our DVD "RVing Alaska: What to Expect, How to Prepare" and our E-book "RVing Alaska, Insights and Observations" View our Alaska Journey Blogs - September 5 and 8, 2007.

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What's New With Us

As Extended RV Travelers we normally go out on the road for three to four months, return home for a couple of months, and then hit the road again for another few months.

This year has been different. We traveled to the east coast to present seminars at RV shows during the months of January, February and March. Then we returned home during the first week of April. Family circumstances resulted in the cancellation of our summer travel plans (see RV Notebook post July 9). With the exception of a five-day journey to Oregon, we have been house-locked for almost six months. Talk about having a case of "itchy wheels"!!!

So we are looking forward to our 400-mile journey to Sacramento at the end of this month. We will be "camping" in a parking lot adjacent to the Sacramento RV Show while we present seminars there.

We are scheduled to present our "10 Tips For Choosing An RV" seminar at 12 noon and our "ExtendedRV Travel" seminar at 3:00 pm every day of the show. Come see us.

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RV Show Time

Have you been to an RV show lately? RV shows are the dealers' way of going to the customer, displaying their products and, hopefully, making lots of sales.

A real RV show is one that has a half dozen or more RV dealers exhibiting a large variety of RVs in one convenient location. Obviously, the more dealers participating in the show the larger the number of RVs you’ll find on display.

Attending an RV show is a dynamite way to comparison shop for an RV. It gives you the opportunity to check out an assortment of trailers, motorhomes, campers and van conversions in one convenient location.

This is where casual lookers can view the new models and investigate the latest innovations. This is also where serious shoppers can zero in on the type, size and price bracket of the RV they want. They can then compare the floorplans, features and prices of similar rigs.

And, when they decide to buy, they are likely to discover that "special" show prices and deals are not uncommon when competing RV dealers are in close proximity to one another.

A big RV show will also include display booths with vendors of RV related products and services. Campgrounds and RV parks hand out literature and discount coupons inviting RVers to spend time in their facilities. Insurance agents offer free RV insurance quotes. Sellers of cleaning and polishing products give away free samples.

The vendor booth area is where you are likely to find sewer hoses, water filters, electric hookup extension cords, roof air conditioners, portable fire pits and every other common and uncommon RV gadget and gizmo. This is where the "pitch" people demonstrate their wares. You can watch them cook a meal, mop floors, peel potatoes, clean jewelry and perform any number of entertaining presentations that will convince you to buy their "must have" products.

Many RVers, content with their present RV, consider the vendor booths the reason to attend an RV show. Clever show producers recognize that, after viewing the vendor area, these RVers frequently move on to the RV displays where a good number of them end up buying a new rig.

RV show producers also recognize the growing popularity of RVs with young families. To draw them in, many shows offer clowns, mimes, magicians, strolling musicians, jugglers, ventriloquists, and other forms of entertainment. RV shows, after all, have to compete with other events for the attention of the consumer.

And, of course, a really great RV show will feature RV seminars by folks like Joe and Vicki Kieva. Our seminars provide tips on choosing, using and enjoying an RV.

Finding an RV show is not difficult. Most occur during the months of January, February and March and again during September and October. The bigger shows will advertise on local radio and television stations.

Many RV shows have their own web sites. It is not unusual for these web sites to have discount coupons you can download, print and present for a reduced admission price.

You will also find their ads in RV magazines and your local newspaper. Pay close attention; the print ads frequently double as discount coupons for admission. See if the ad offers reduced admission prices to seniors or RV club members who are willing to attend the show on weekdays. By the way, we have observed that RV shows are less crowded on weekdays and early in the day on weekends.

Take your time. Look at the RVs. Ask questions. Pick up brochures. Make notes. Keep in mind the show producer, dealers and vendors have gone to a great deal of trouble to put the show together. The least you can do is buy an RV.

If you are planning on attending an RV show, read our article "How To Enjoy An RV Show"

Joe and Vicki will be presenting their "how-to" RV seminars at:

The Sacramento RV Show in Sacramento, CA - September 25 - 28, 2008
The California RV Show in Pomona, CA - October 10 - 19, 2008

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Vicki's Favorite Recipes (From My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Italian Pasta Salad

This salad always makes a hit, especially at potlucks or other large get togethers. It is colorful and tastes delicious.

1 pkg. (16 oz.) tube pasta (rotelle or penne)
1 chub (8 oz.) Gallo Salame, skinned and cubed
2 green onions, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 can (2.2 oz.) sliced ripe olives, drained
1 cup Mozzarella cheese, cut into small chunks
1-3/4 cup bottled or homemade Italian dressing

1. Cook pasta in boiling water according to package directions. Drain well and let cool.

2. Place pasta in a large bowl with all remaining salad
ingredients.

3. Pour dressing over salad and stir well to combine.

4. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight,
stirring several times.

Makes 8 to 10 side-dish servings.

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RVing Tip: (From RVing Tips, Tricks & Techniques)

Spread a half-dozen fabric softener sheets throughout the interior of your RV before putting it in storage. Your rig will have a fresh aroma when you open it up again.

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Next Issue, October 15, 2008: To Keep or Not To Keep

Return to RV Know How

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September 1, 2008 Issue

2008-08-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

In This Issue:

What's New With Us: Important Papers
Brief Article: RV Etiquette
Vicki's Favorite Recipes: Mexican Salad
RVing Tip: Storm Warnings

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Going to Alaska? Read the article "Alaska! The Ultimate RV Adventure" and check out our DVD "RVing Alaska: What to Expect, How to Prepare" and our E-book "RVing Alaska, Insights and Observations"

==========================================

What's New With Us

It is the eleventh hour. Do you know where your loved one's important papers are located? Do they know how to find yours?

Recently, Vicki's 93-year-old dad had to go into a skilled nursing facility. He seems to be making a slow recovery but there was a day or two when we thought we would lose him. Vicki is an only child so she had the responsibility of not only locating a good nursing facility that he could afford, but helping him with his financial affairs as well.

Fortunately, her dad is an organized and trusting person. He had already signed a "Health Care Directive", a "Power of Attorney for Health Care" and a "Durable Power of Attorney for Finance" naming Vicki as his agent. He had also authorized Vicki as a signer on his bank accounts.

All of his financial business was located in a well-organized file drawer in his desk. As a result, Vicki is able to determine what payments are due, show the bills to her dad and, with his approval, write and mail the checks to pay them. If the time comes when he is unable to direct his financial affairs, Vicki can step in with no problem.

In that same desk Vicki also found his insurance policies, retirement papers, his will and pre-paid burial arrangements.

Vicki's dad, being both pro-active and considerate, gathered, organized and made accessible all of his financial and important papers before they were needed. He not only did what he could to control his life during a difficult time, he made it as easy as he could for his daughter to assist him in his time of need and, ultimately, to deal with his passing.

Do you know where your loved one's important papers are located? Do they know how to find yours?

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RV Etiquette

Joe: Etiquette, or good manners, is simply being considerate of others.

I am one of those people who enjoys the sound of a campground in the morning. I love the rumbling of powerful engines coming to life, the groans of trailer hitches taking up their loads, and the crunch of tires rolling on gravel. To me, it is the siren call of adventure. It makes me want to go.

However, I am not too fond of folks who leave loudly before 6 o’clock in the morning. Their preparations seem to always include lots of door slamming and tossing rather than placing their leveling boards into truck beds. They run their engines interminably and suffocate the campground with exhaust fumes.

These must be the same people who arrive after 9 o’clock at night and can’t seem to position themselves in their site without a lot of yelling and maneuvering. And, of course, their RVs are the ones with the loud exhausts and nerve-wracking back up beepers.

And then there is the guy who, after parking his RV as close as possible to my rig, extends both of his slideout rooms into my campsite. This person also seems to be the one whose leaking water or sewer hose creates a small lake under my picnic table.

I get a kick out of watching the pet owners who take their dogs for a walk, pretend not to notice the animal pooping on the grass, and then immediately head back to their RVs. Who do they think they’re fooling?

These same people are the ones who don’t seem to notice that their dogs bark incessantly all day long. How do they stand living with an animal like that?

Vicki: I have no sympathy for people who abandon their clothes in campground washing machines or dryers and, when they return, find them piled in a corner. They should be there to retrieve their laundry and free up the machine as soon as the load is finished.

Cellular phones have shortened if not eliminated the lines of people at pay phones. Still, I am grateful to the considerate person who limits the number of calls or the time spent on those calls when they see others waiting.

Now, the lines seem to be forming at the place where we plug in our laptops to pick up our e-mail. Veteran RVers pre-program their computer to dial the appropriate phone numbers before they plug into the data ports. They only stay online long enough to download (not read) their incoming e-mail and to send their prepared outgoing messages. Fortunately, this inconvenience is going away as more and more RV parks offer Wi-Fi.

Joe: I appreciate the professionalism of the RVer at the disposal station who attaches his sewer hose, pulls his valves (black then gray), disconnects his hose and immediately moves his RV out of the way so the next rig can pull into place. You can bet he is also the person who moves his rig forward after he is finished fueling but before he goes inside to pay. This, by the way, is expected behavior at truck stops.

I am impressed by the master RVer who can pull into a campground late and leave early without making a sound; the thoughtful dog owners who not only clean up after their pets but care enough to teach them how to behave; the concerned parents whose children make happy sounds at the playground and pool but don’t run roughshod through my campsite. I am impressed by the majority of RVers and campers who have the good manners to be considerate of each other. It makes me want to stay.

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Vicki's Favorite Recipes (From My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Mexican Salad
(Quick and Easy)

I made this salad on one of our first trips to Mexico. We had been told not to eat the produce without thoroughly scrubbing the outside, peeling or otherwise disinfecting. Tomatoes and avocados were plentiful, very inexpensive and, the best part - the tomatoes could be scrubbed or peeled and the avocados could be peeled.

This has become a favorite salad no matter where we are.

3 avocados, cut into bite-size pieces
3-4 tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
Italian dressing, balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar

1. Put avocados, tomatoes and red onion (if desired) into a medium bowl.

2. Drizzle with Italian dressing, balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar.

Makes 4 side-dish servings.

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RVing Tip: (From RVing Tips, Tricks & Techniques)

Weather warnings broadcast by radio and television stations are frequently given for specific counties. Make a habit of asking what county you are in when registering at campgrounds. And don't forget to ask for the location of the nearest storm shelter.

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Next Issue, September 15, 2008: RV Show Season

Return to RV Know How

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August 15 Issue

2008-08-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

In This Issue:

What's New With Us: Spending Our Time at Home
Brief Article: Toilet Tissue Issue
Vicki's Recipe: Bruschetta
RVing Tip: Improve Your Flush

What's New With Us

"We really need a bigger television" Vicki announced one evening. We were in our family room watching a rare interesting television program. Vicki suddenly realized she needed to wear her glasses in order to tell one character from the next. I knew this day was coming. I had been discreetly moving her chair closer and closer to the television set. But any closer and she would not have been able to put it into a reclining position. The day of reckoning had arrived.

When Vicki says "We really need …" I see dollar signs flying out the window. The last time "we really needed" something, it was window coverings for the bedroom windows. I tried to convince her that, since no one ever inspected our bedroom, their tattered condition didn't matter. But nooo, "we needed…"

Now you have to understand. It wasn't the cost of the window coverings I was dreading (it would progress from simple drapes to custom-made shutters). It was the "little extra" things that would accompany the purchase and installation of the window coverings. Like, "maybe we should install dual-pane windows first", and paint the bedroom, and paint the rest of the rooms, and "let's put up crown molding before we paint," and the kitchen cabinets "really need to be refinished, and, if we are (as it turned out) going to replace the kitchen cabinets and counter tops, shouldn’t we do the same with the kitchen (and bath and hallway) floors?"

So when Vicki announced that "we need a bigger television" my stomach churned. She immediately negotiated me from a 32-inch wide-screen TV up to a 42-inch. After a lot of head-spinning research and a number of trips to Circuit City and Best Buy, I identified the television that fit our interests, needs and (almost) our budget ($$$$$). On one of those visits I discovered that we "really needed" a combination VCR/DVD recorder/player ($$$) so I could transfer the images from our VHS video tapes (that I copied from our 8-mm home movies) to digital discs ($).

Then came "you know, a 42-inch television won't fit within the confines of our present entertainment center." Our "entertainment center" was a modestly priced, mass-produced-in-Taiwan, piece of furniture that barely accommodated our perfectly good 26-inch, 12-year old television along with a respectable VCR and a perfectly good DVD player.

We were not able to find an entertainment center that would accommodate our new television, fit into the alloted space of our family room, and match our family-room furniture. Rather than replace all the family-room furniture (it was discussed) we asked our son, Sean, the cabinet maker, to custom make an entertainment center for us. And, of course, we told Sean we would pay him what he would charge his customers ($$$$$).

We're not finished. While arranging for the delivery of the television, the salesman asked if we were set up for HD reception. If not, he suggested we have our satellite company set us up for HD first ($$ a month), have the television delivered, and then have a technician (who calls himself Firedog) properly connect and "tune" all the pieces and show us how to operate them (only $$$).

Would you be surprised if I told you that, as I was dialing the satellite company, someone suggested that, since there is not much worth watching on television these days, we really ought to upgrade to a viewing package with more movie channels ($$ a month)?

The entertainment center arrived. Essentially, it is a slightly larger version of the one it replaces. Sean did a beautiful job. The television arrives Monday. The satellite company can't get here until September 2nd. Mr Firedog will come out a day or two after that. Hopefully all will be in place and working properly just about the time we leave home to present seminars at the Sacramento RV Show. We "really need" to get back on the road; we can't afford to stay home.

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Toilet Tissue Issue

Dear Joe and Vicki: What kind of toilet paper should we use in our RV?

Joe: When we were RVing novices we never gave a thought to the toilet tissue issue. Then we heard someone say they disposed of their used toilet paper in a plastic trash bag rather than flush it down their RV's commode. Seems they were concerned the toilet paper would clog their holding tank. I haven't gone dumpster diving in a campground ever since.

When campfire conversation gets around to toilet paper (as it occasionally does), someone is bound to mention the "toilet paper test". The test is conducted by placing a couple of squares of toilet paper in a container of water to see how long it takes for them to dissolve. Generally, two or more brands or types of toilet tissue are placed in separate containers and submitted to the same treatment at the same time. One of the brands in the comparison test is usually one that is advertised as "RV safe" and has been purchased at an RV accessory store. A lot of "RV safe" toilet paper gets sold just for comparison test purposes.

There are no scientific controls or guidelines for conducting the toilet tissue test. You just put the squares in a container of water and see how long it takes them to dissolve, if ever.

Some folks will try to simulate actual RVing conditions. They put the toilet tissue in secure containers and shake them for a minute or so. These folks apparently drive over a lot of rough roads (I-10 across Louisiana, for example). Others will just let the containers sit for a given amount of time. Their RVs, I suppose, have a tendency not to go anywhere. Our RV lifestyle keeps us on the go. We placed our test containers on the shower floor of our RV and drove from one campground to another. That was as close as I wanted to come to simulating actual holding tank conditions.

The results of our toilet tissue tests (yes, we've done more than one) indicated that the relatively inexpensive toilet tissue we normally use dissolves just as quickly as the one advertised as "RV safe". So, you can imagine our joy when Scott Toilet Tissue (our single-ply tissue of choice) not only advertised itself as acceptable for RV use but put money-saving coupons in the RV magazines. Now, we take a lot of RV magazines and Vicki is an avid coupon clipper; it didn't take long before our supply of toilet tissue far exceeded the demand.

We have never had a problem with toilet paper (or anything else) clogging the outlet of
our RV's holding tank. Our habit is to leave the valve of our black-water holding tank closed until the tank is at least half full. After dumping the black-water holding tank and closing the valve, we add a few gallons of water to the tank. After flushing the toilet we frequently fill the bowl with water and flush again. My guess is that all that liquid combined with the agitation of our frequent travels has a tendency to liquify the contents of our holding tank and prevent clogs from occurring. Or maybe we have just been lucky.

In any case, we will continue to flush our toilet tissue down the commode and if the "right" toilet paper is not available, we'll use whatever is handy. But that's us.

How you handle the toilet tissue issue in your RV is a judgment call. And if you choose to dispose of your used toilet paper in the campground dumpster – well, I don't want to go there.

Vicki: Please notice that I did not contribute one word to this answer.

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Vicki"s Recipes (from "My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes")

Bruschetta
(Quick and Easy)

This is one of my favorite appetizers. It also makes a great snack. Leftovers make a delicious, healthy topping for baked potatoes.

French baguette
2 cups tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup onion, finely minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Slice bread into sixteen 1/2"-thick slices and lightly
toast in the broiler.

2. Mix tomatoes, basil, onion, olive oil and salt.

3. Spoon tomato mixture onto the bread.

Makes 16 appetizers.

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RVing Tip: (from RVing Tips, Tricks and Techniques)

When dumping your holding tanks, you might be able to improve the flushing action by raising the side of the RV that is oposite the holding tank valve. This can be done by using your leveling system or by driving the wheels up on leveling boards.
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Next Issue, September 1, 2008: RV Etiquette

Return to RV Know How

============================================

August 1, 2008 Issue

2008-07-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

In This Issue:

What's New With Us : Earthquake!
Brief Article: Cleaning Off Bugs
Vicki's Recipes: Hot Crab Spread
RVing Tip: Water Hose Connection

What's New With Us

We had an earthquake a couple of days ago. The news people made it sound like a big deal - but then, that's their job. If they didn't sensationalize everything, it wouldn't seem important, and there would not be any reason to pay attention to their news program.

The epicenter (or ground zero) was 25 miles east of our house and seven miles below the surface (considered shallow for an earthquake). It registered 5.4 on the Richter scale and was felt as far as Las Vegas, Nevada - 300 miles away. 5.4 is considered a mild shaker. It caused a few incidents of minor structural damage , some broken windows and, of course, a lot of stuff fell off store shelves throughout the quake zone. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

I was upstairs when it hit. The house shook and swayed for about 15 to 20 seconds and then it was over. Enough to be exciting and knock our pictures askew, but not enough to cause serious damage.

We are told to seek shelter under a table or desk when an earthquake hits. The danger is from falling objects like light fixtures or ceiling tiles. I was at my desk when the earth started to move but by the time I realized it was an earthquake and thought about getting under my desk, it was over. That's been my experience with most of our earthquakes.

In our travels, people have asked how we can live in a place that has earthquakes.

California is earthquake country. It experiences a multiple of earthquakes every day. We just don't feel most of them. They have to get as high as 3.5 on the Richter scale before anybody really notices them. A 4 on the scale does little if any damage and gives us something to talk about. But it has to get to a 5 before any damage (usually mild) occurs. And it has been a number of years since the Los Angeles area experienced an earthquake of that magnitude. Earthquakes don't terrorize you before they strike and when they occur, they are over quickly. Compared to the devastation caused by tornadoes and hurricanes, I'll take earthquakes.

By the way, one time we were camped in our motorhome when a 5-plus shaker hit the campground. The motorhome's suspension absorbed most of the shockwaves; just like it does when we are driving on a highwy. We rocked and rolled a little bit - it wasn't even exciting.

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Cleaning Off Bugs

Dear Joe and Vicki: Nobody told me about the millions of suicidal bugs that would attack the front of my RV. Do you have any tips for dealing with this nuisance? And how do RVers wash their motorhomes and trailers when they are on the road for long periods of time? The campgrounds I have stayed in have rules against washing RVs in the campsites.

Joe: At the end of each driving day I use a boat brush on a telescoping handle and half a bucket of plain cold water to wipe (notice, I didn't say wash) the bug remains off the windshield and front wall of our motorhome. The carcasses seem to come off easier when they are removed on the day of impact.

Most campgrounds, citing environmental regulations, drainage concerns, or water shortages, prohibit washing RVs in their campgrounds. There are some, however, that do allow their patrons to wash their rigs, either in individual campsites or a "wash rack" area. A few even provide a vacuum cleaner. We make a note of these RV parks and return to them whenever we are in the area.

Sometimes, the operators of the campgrounds that prohibit washing of RVs may be able to direct you to a local do-it-yourself car wash that can accommodate an RV. Wouldn't it be nice if they included that information along with the printed rule prohibiting washing of rigs in their campgrounds. Occasionally, you'll see these car washes advertised in the campground's site map.

Vicki: Before taking our RV to one of these car washes we use our car to check it out. We want to be sure our rig can maneuver into and out of the wash bay. The RV usually gets washed the next morning after we check out of the campground and before we resume our travels. It's not unusual for us to end up paying for two car washes in order to completely wash our motorhome.

Speaking of the campground site maps … we have seen ads in them by professional RV wash crews who will come to your campsite. Typically, they use a high-pressure water hose that does a long-lasting job. Interestingly, some of the campgrounds that prohibit their patrons from washing RVs in their campsites will allow a professional wash crew to do the job. Go figure. The wash crews have charged us between $1.00 and $1.50 a foot and, so far, have always done an excellent job.

Commercial truck washes can be found along the interstates, frequently in the neighborhood of a truck stop (or travel plaza as they are now called). Most, if not all, will wash RVs. We make a habit of asking before getting into line. Typically, they use high pressure hoses along with mops, brushes and detergents. We've paid anywhere from $1.00 to $1.75 per foot to have a commercial truck wash do our motorhome.

Joe is a tightwad. He prefers to wash our motorhome himself (he lets me help). But, every now and then he treats himself and lets the professionals do the job.

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Vicki's Recipes (from My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Hot Crab Spread
(Quick and Easy)

Our friend, Jodie, fixed this appetizer while we were in Alaska together. It was so good that I ended up making it my entire meal.

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated, divided
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
1 pkg. (12 oz.) imitation crab
Crackers of your choice

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.
3. Add onion and crab to the cream cheese mixture.
4. Top with remaining 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.
5. Bake 30-45 minutes or until heated through.
6. Spread on crackers (I prefer Ritz).

Makes about 2 cups.

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RVing Tip:

Attaching a water hose to a campground faucet will be easier if you put a quick-connect fitting on the outlet end of your water-pressure regulator. Screw the easier-to-handle, water regulator onto the campground faucet, then quick-connect your hose to the regulator.

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Next Issue (August 15): Toilet Tissue Test

Return To RV Know How

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July 15, 2008 Issue

2008-07-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

In This Issue:

What's New With Us: Still at Home
Brief Article: Cooped Up
Vicki's Recipes: Bacon and Tortillas
RVing Tip: Saving Quarters

What's New With Us

Vicki's father's medical condition turned out to be more serious than first thought and will require surgery. We don't anticipate going out on the road again until late September.

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Cooped Up

Dear Joe and Vicki: My husband is retiring in a few months and we plan to spend several months of the year traveling in our RV. One thing bothers me. I don't know how well we'll do being cooped up together for long periods of time. How do you do it?

Joe: We urge people, before they start full-timing or traveling for long periods of time, to take more and more trips together of longer and longer duration. Find out ahead of time if you both share the same approach to RV travel. He may want to drive for 8 or 10 hours a day, not wanting to stop for so much as a potty break. She may want to stop at every factory outlet or shopping mall along the way. He may enjoy camping in primitive settings. She may prefer RV resorts. In order to compromise, each of you will have to adjust your attitude to some degree. Or you may discover there is a limit to how much time you can spend “cooped up” together and you will adjust your trips accordingly.

It helps if the two of you are good friends. But, no matter how much you enjoy each other’s company, you will still feel the need to get away from each other occasionally.

Vicki: When Joe or I feel the need for some "apart" time, one of us will take the car and go wandering for a while. Although, I don't consider myself an avid shopper, I do enjoy browsing through factory outlet malls and Wal-Mart stores.

Joe is a real history buff. He enjoys roaming around small museums and just about any place that is of a historical nature.

A big asset is an RV with a bedroom that can be closed off from the rest of the living area, preferably with its own TV. That way, if you want to be alone for awhile or watch different TV programs you can do so.

Joe, especially when he's watching TV, has the ability to completely tune me out. That's his way of getting away from me. On the other hand, all I have to do is stick my nose in a good mystery novel, and I can go into my own world.

I guess the secret to getting along while cooped up in an RV is to avoid being cooped up. Give each other some breathing room and understand the need for alone time.

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Vicki's Recipe (from My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Bacon and Tortillas
(Quick and Easy)

Before you make the decision not to try this weird-sounding recipe, give it the opportunity to hook you just like it has us. This is the absolute favorite breakfast food of Joe, our three children and our four grandchildren.

This came about many years ago when we were camping on the beach in Baja with some friends. The guys had all done a lot of fishing the day before and all of our friends were eating leftover fish rolled up in fresh corn tortillas for breakfast. Since Joe doesn't "do" fish, he asked me to fry some bacon for him and roll it up into the corn tortillas. And--a favorite breakfast food was born!

6 slices bacon
6 strips cheddar cheese (about 1" wide x 6" long)
6 corn tortillas

1. Fry the bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels.

2. Fry the tortillas, one at a time, on both sides, in very hot bacon grease until they just begin to get crisp.

3. Drain each tortilla by layering it between sheets of paper towels.

4. Put one strip of bacon and one strip of cheese in the middle of each tortilla. Roll up and enjoy.

I always plan on 2-3 of these per person.

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RVing Tip:

RVers need lots of quarters for the washers and dryers in laundromats and campground laundry rooms. Save your quarters in 35 mm film canisters. The cannisters make a convenient, spill-proof container that will hold $7.00 worth of quarters.

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Next Issue (August 1): Washing Off Bugs

Return To RV Know How

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Back Home Again

2008-07-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

Trip Cancelled. We're Home Again!

Here is a photo of our motorhome waiting to be put into storage.

It was Fourth-of-July weekend. We were enroute to the Life on Wheels Conference in Lewiston, ID. Two days and some 800 miles into our journey we received a telephone call informing us that Vicki's 93-year old father had been taken to the hospital. Information was sketchy but sufficient for us to know we had better head for home. The immediate question was whether we should fly or drive. We made a U-turn and a few phone calls later determined that it would not be necessary to fly.

It is a week later and, today, Vicki's dad is being transferred to a skilled nursing center. He has a serious infection in his right leg and foot. The responding paramedics also observed an abnormal heartbeat. Vicki has been busy acting as his patient advocate (strongly suggested for any hospital stay), dealing with all the inquiries from family and friends, and researching skilled nursing facilities. It may take a little time but, barring complications, Vicki's dad should eventually be back on both feet.

This is not the first time we have had to respond to an emergency call from home. Experience has taught us how to plan for these events. Most important of all, our family knows how to reach us. They have our travel itinerary; even if it is a sketchy one. They know approximately where we will be on any given day. They have our cellphone numbers, e-mail address, and telephone numbers of the friends we will visit, places we will be working and, when we know, the RV parks where we will be staying.

We have discovered that campground and RV park operators are especially accommodating when their customers have an emergency situation. On more than one occasion the campground operator has had us park our RV within sight of the office and their residence and only charged us for the electricity our rig used while we were absent.

And, we learned a long time ago that it is a good idea to have at least one piece of carry-on luggage stashed somewhere in our RV (in turn, the luggage usually has a seldom-used item stashed inside it).

We are sorry we missed the opportunity to present seminars at Life on Wheels. Even more sorry that we didn't get to visit with our fellow instructors; many of whom are our best friends. The good news, though, is that the weather here in Huntington Beach, CA remains mild with temps in the mid-70s.

Return to RV Know How

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July 1, 2008 Post

2008-07-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

In This Issue:

What's New With Us: Getting Ready
Brief Article: Extended RV Travel
Vicki's Recipes: Doctored Up Pancakes
RVing Tip: Sewer Hose Fitting

What's New With Us

For the past week we've been getting ready to go the road. The motorhome is parked in front of our house. It has been serviced, washed and cleaned. Our living room has become a staging area. All the stuff we want to load has been stacked on chairs and couches. As items are moved to the motorhome they are crossed off one of our many lists. E-mails have been exchanged with friends we will visit along the way. Tomorrow, at 5 am, we will pull away from the curb. Anything we have forgotten we will either do without or buy another along the way. We're outa here!

The reason for the obscenely early departure time is because, no matter which direction we want to go, we have about 100 miles of cross-town freeway traffic to deal with before we hit an open road. Leaving at 5 am allows us to miss the really heavy commuter traffic.

We have mixed feelings about leaving right now. The weather here in Huntington Beach, California has been beautiful lately; clear sunny skies, daytime temps in the mid-70's and evening temps in the low 60's. We are headed north through the San Joaquin Valley, into central Oregon and then east to Lewiston, Idaho. Temps along most of our route will be in the 90s. Vicki and I are not hot weather people. But we are looking forward to teaching at the Life On Wheels Conference and visiting with our fellow instructors.

We'll keep you posted.
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Extended RV Travel

Have you considered becoming an extended RV traveler?

Most RVers use their rigs for weekend and vacation camping trips. An RV, after all, provides a relatively inexpensive way to temporarily “get away from it all”. You simply put your everyday life on hold, arrange for someone to pick up the newspaper and then take off for a weekend or a couple of weeks. But when you only have a couple of weeks your travels are limited.

Fulltime RVers are those who shed themselves of their “stuff” by selling it, giving it away, or putting it in storage (only to sell and give it away later). Their house is sold or converted into a rental. They move out of their landlocked home and into an RV. Full-time RVers are free to travel wherever and whenever they desire. They are not concerned about going home. They are home. Fulltimers don’t go on a long vacation, they make a complete change in the way they live. Living year-round in an RV, however, is not for everyone.

Most extended RV travelers, and Vicki and I are among them, have come to the conclusion that, while they love traveling for long periods of time in an RV, they still prefer living in a more conventional dwelling.

Extended RV travelers go out on the road for weeks and months at a time. They travel from place to place; touring big cities, exploring the countryside, visiting friends and relatives along the way. Their travels may have themes such as photographing lighthouses, visiting old Spanish missions or retracing historic trails. Their itinerary may include NASCAR races, balloon festivals or the launching of space ships. Some travel coast to coast. Others simply explore one area of the country at a time. Whatever their travel plans, extended RV travelers move at their own pace. They have time. If an area interests them they stay longer, if it does not, they move on. What they don’t see or do on this trip will be accomplished on the next.

It’s not unusual for RVers to succumb to the lure of the open road during their first extended RV trip. They discover that after a few weeks of RV travel their outlook changes. They slow down. They begin to appreciate their surroundings. Suddenly, two and three- week vacations are no longer enough time. Why, it takes that long just to get to the place where the last trip left off. Real avid extended RV travelers may take three or more extended trips a year. They go out on the road for a couple of months, return home for a while and then go back on the road again. Extended RV travel can be addictive.

Obviously, the key to becoming an extended RV traveler is having the time. Most extended RV travelers are retired. Some retire early just to get a head start on their adventures. Others have managed to adjust their working schedule so they can be absent for four to six weeks at a time. And there are those who simply leave their jobs, climb into their RVs and make their dreams come true.

Another necessary ingredient to extended RV travel is money. Campground costs are a daily event. How much you spend depends on the types of campgrounds you stay in and the facilities you use. Fuel expense is proportionate to the distance you travel. Extended RV travelers typically put a lot of miles on their RVs. Admission fees and other expenses also have to be considered. However you budget, extended RV travel is going to cost you money. But you were going to spend it anyway, were’nt you?

If you are a weekend/vacationer do try to take at least one extended RV trip. If you think you want to become a fulltime RVer, before you do, take a couple of extended trips. All it takes is time and money. And the worse thing that can happen is that you, like Vicki and me, might become addicted.

Read about our book: Extended RV Travel

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Vicki's Recipes:

Doctored Up Pancakes
(Quick and Easy)

It is so easy to make delicious pancakes nowadays. There are a lot of very good pancake mixes on the market. I like to improve on the mix by adding a few ingredients.

2 cups Bisquick
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or bacon drippings (for frying pancakes)

1. Stir all ingredients until blended.

2. Cook on a hot griddle until bubbles form. Turn and cook until golden.

Makes about 14 pancakes
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RVing Tip:

When adding a sewer-hose fitting or coupler to a sewer hose, dip the end of the hose in hot water first. This will soften the hose and make it wasier to slip in the fitting.

Return to RV Know How

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June 15 Post

2008-06-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

In this post:

What's New With Us: Our Next Journey
Brief Article: Welcoming Your New RV
Vicki's Recipes: Mock Omelets
RVing Tip: Water Hose Connection

What's New With Us

We have been home for ten weeks now. Wanderlust is beginning to take hold and we are looking forward to getting on the road again. Our next trip will be to Lewiston, Idaho for the Life on Wheels Conference. Lewiston is about a 1,400 mile journey. We will leave home about the first of July, visit our daughter and grandaughter in Sacramento on the way, and arrive at an RV park in Clarkston, Washington (across the river from Lewiston, ID) on the 5th of July. After Life on Wheels we intend to meander through the northwest on our way home. There's no telling how long we will be on the road this trip. That's the joy of extended RV travel … going where you want, for as long as you want.

Our non-RVing friends have been asking if we have considered what the cost of fuel will be on this trip. Have we ever! We estimate we will put at least 4,000 miles on our motorhome; most of it in mountainous terrain. At an average of 7.5 miles per gallon we will consume about 535 gallons of diesel fuel. If diesel averages $5.50 per gallon our fuel costs will be about $2,950.00. There will also be campground fees and miscellaneous expenses. But that is the cost of the lifestyle we have chosen. Our non-RVing friends do not understand; that is because they are non-RVers.

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Brief Article: Welcoming Your New RV

Dear Joe and Vicki: After two years of research we have purchased our first RV, a motorhome. It will be a while before we take delivery. Is there anything we should do to prepare for its arrival?

Joe: Build a temperature-controlled RV garage with electric, water and sewer connections. Don't forget to include a grease pit and workshop so you can do your own maintenance.

If you don't have time for that, here are some alternatives:

Unless you can park on your property you'll want to locate a storage facility for your RV. Ideally, it will be close by, secure and easy to get in and out of. A really good one will have a wash rack and dump station.

Look for a nearby fuel station with convenient RV access. Check the overhead clearance. You don't want to peel off your roof air-conditioning units during your approach to the pumps.

With any luck the station will have an air-hose so you can keep your tires at the appropriate pressure. By the way, don't rely on the gauge at the end of the air-hose, invest in a good tire-pressure gauge.

Find a local place to get your propane tank filled. You can also look under "Gas" or "Propane" in the Yellow Pages of your telephone directory. Accessibility will be a major consideration since you will have to take your motorhome to the propane source.

Search out a nearby RV dump station. Your local RV dealer, accessory store or repair facility may have one or know where you can find one.

Locate a service facility that can lubricate your RV and change its oil and filters.

Chances are you'll find two or more of these facilities available at the same place. We have found a few neighborhood service stations that could take care of all these needs in one visit.

Keep your eyes open for a self-service car wash that will accommodate your motorhome. If it has a high-pressure water hose and a steam-cleaning hose you've really struck paydirt.

Vicki: Now is a good time to start looking for what Joe and I call a "guardian angel." This is a reliable, conscientious, capable person who is willing to act on your behalf while you are on the road.

Ideally, this person will check your home periodically, be a contact person for the neighbors to call if necessary and maybe even water your indoor plants.

Our "guardian angel" does all this, retrieves our mail and has even handled some minor emergencies for us.

Your "guardian angel" could be a nearby friend, relative or neighbor. Perhaps you can work out a reciprocal arrangement.

Line up someone to mow the lawn and pick up those throwaway ads and newspapers. You don't want to send out signals that your home is unoccupied.

Consider the benefits of a lawn-sprinkling system on timers. And do look into installing timers on some of the lights in your home. Our exterior lights and main interior lights remain on timers year round. That way we know they turn on and off at the appropriate times and their pattern is consistent whether we are at home or on the road.

The first RV is the most exciting one. Enjoy your adventures and build great memories.

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Vicki's Quick and Easy Recipe
(from "My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes")

Mock Omelets

We really enjoy omelets, but I'm not very coordinated when it comes to folding and flipping them. These mock omelets taste the same but are so much easier.

5 eggs
4 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pepper, to taste
Optional fillers: (Choose your favorites)
4 slices bacon
1/2 cup ham
1/2 cup sausage
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
1/3 cup bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup mushrooms
1/4 cup tomatoes
Leftover cooked vegetables
1/4 cup grated cheddar or Monterey jack cheese

1. Combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Beat well.

2. Fry your choice of meat in a large skillet. Chop or crumble into small pieces. Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels.

3. Saute raw vegetables in about 1 tablespoon meat drippings.

4. Add egg mixture and meat to the vegetables. Scramble to desired consistency.

5. If you are using leftover cooked vegetables, add them to the skillet along with the egg mixture.

6. Transfer eggs to a large plate. Sprinkle with cheese. Heat in the microwave oven for about 45 seconds or until cheese has melted.

Makes 2 servings.

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RVing Tip: Quick-Connects

Put quick-connect fittings on the ends of all your water hoses, water filters and, if possible, the water-hose inlet on your RV. It makes attaching to and disconnecting from the campground water hookup quick and easy.

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June 14 - Flag Day

".. emblem of the land I love…"

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June 1st Post

2008-05-31T10:46:00.000-07:00

In this Post:

What's New With Us: RV Seminars & Classes
Brief Article: Expert Opinions
Vicki's Recipe: Hamburger Rice Scramble
RVing Tip: Sleeping Cool

What's New With Us

Check it out! Our latest e-book, RVing Alaska, Insights and Observations, is now available for downloading. Read all about it on our E-Book Page. An excerpt from the e-book is available on our Articles Page. It gives you a sample of one day's travel in Alaska.

We are still at home in Huntington Beach, CA enjoying our beautiful Southern California weather. It is usually gray and overcast at the coast this time of year (known locally as June Gloom) but aside from a few gray mornings it has been bright and sunny with daytime temps in the 70s.

If you are one of those who follow our seminar schedule (we're amazed at how many of you do) then you have noticed that we cancelled our appearances at the September Life on Wheels Conference in Harrisburg PA and the Pensylvania RV Show in Hershey, PA. Vicki and I decided that we have reached a point in our lives where we want to work less and play more. We will continue to present seminars around the country, but at fewer events. Our RV travels will become less destination oriented and more meandering.

Next month, July 6 thru 11, we will be conducting RV classes at the Life on Wheels Conference in Lewiston, Idaho. This 5-day educational event took place at the University of Idaho in Moscow for many years. This year it has been moved to Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.

We will be teaching seven classes (Learning Priorities For New RVers, Choosing An RV, RVing Made Easy, Full-Time & Extended RV Travel, RV Travel & Camping Trips, Alaska: The Ultimate RV Adventure, and The RV Kitchen). The first five classes, taken in sequence, are designed to be a 10 ½ hour comprehensive course on RVing. Read more about Life on Wheels.

By the way, free dry-camping will be available on the Lewis-Clark State College campus for those students who prefer not to stay in a local RV park. Be sure to arrive with your water tank full and your holding tanks empty. Keep in mind that it gets quite hot in Lewiston in July. The only way you will be able to operate your RV air-conditioner is by running your generator. Be sure it is in top condition. Consideration should also be given to your pet's safety in the event your air-conditioning unit fails while you are away from your RV.

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Expert Opinions

Joe: Recently, while we were presenting our "Choosing An RV" seminar at an RV show, a member of the audience commented “You could make life a lot easier for me if you would just tell me what kind of RV you and the other "RV experts" have and how they are equipped.”

OK! But I don't think the answer will make life any easier for you.

During one of the Life On Wheels Conferences, Vicki and I were among 12 "RV Experts" who participated as panel members in an RV Lifestyle forum.

Among the panel participants were: a single, full-timing woman; a single full-timing man; two full-timing couples; a couple who had full-timed for many years but are now extended travelers and two couples (including Vicki and me) who travel extensively in their RVs but are not full-timers. For the sake of discussion we'll say there were three extended travelers and four full-timers; with a total of seven RVs.

Two extended travelers and the full-timing woman have Class A motorhomes. Each tows a small car. The extended travelers who used to be full-timers have a Class C motorhome. They do not tow a transportation vehicle.

The full-timing man and one full-timing couple have fifth-wheel trailers with one or more slideout rooms. One tows with a medium duty tow vehicle; the other tows with a pickup truck.

The remaining full-timing couple has a fifth-wheel trailer without a slideout room. They also tow with a pickup truck.

One of the Class A motorhomes and the tow vehicles of all three fifth-wheels are powered by diesel engines. The three remaining motorhomes have gasoline engines.

Vicki: The four full-timing RVers and one extended traveler have their rigs equipped with solar panels and inverters. The two remaining extended travelers don't feel the need for them.

Interestingly, the extended travelers without the solar panels prefer boondocking and government campgrounds while one of the full-timing couples with solar panels favors commercial campgrounds with full hookups.

Two full-timers belong to membership campground organizations. The remaining panel members do not.

Preferences in overnight accommodations depended upon each RVers interests, needs and budget at the moment. While most of the panel preferred campground hookups at least some of the time, one couple prided themselves on rarely having hookups. None of us stayed exclusively in any one type of campground.

One extended traveler couple travel with a small dog, and one full-timing couple has a large cat. The rest do not travel with pets.

Only one full-timing and one extended traveler have a washer/dryer in their RV.

As the panel continued to answer questions posed by the audience it was obvious that we all have equally diverse opinions and preferences when it came to the various aspects of choosing, using and enjoying our RVs.

One thing we did agree on though. We all love the feeling of independence and the sense of freedom we get from traveling and living in an RV

Joe: So you see, whatever type of RV you choose, however you equip it, wherever or however you camp, you'll be doing exactly what the experts do.

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Vicki's Quick and Easy Recipe
(From: My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Hamburger Rice Scramble

Vicki: If Joe had his way, every meal, every day, would include dishes with ground beef. Many years ago we were in our motorhome and, for dinner, I decided to throw together a dinner that would use up some of the veggies in the refrigerator. I just happened to also have some ground beef on hand. I came up with this. It is one of Joe's very favorite dinners.

1 cup long-grain rice
2 cups water
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1/2 cup bell peppers, chopped
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Put rice, water and bouillon into a microwave-safe dish. Cook on high for approximately 15 to 20 minutes until tender.

2. While the rice is cooking, brown the ground beef in a large skillet. Add the green onions, pepper, mushrooms, salt and pepper. Cover and cook until tender.

3. Stir cooked rice into the meat and vegetable mixture and serve.

Makes 2-4 servings.

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RVing Tip: Sleeping Cool

On warm evenings, when you can't or do not want to run your RV's air-conditioner, open the windows on either side of your bed a couple of inches. Close the remaining windows and turn your high-volume roof-vent fan to high-speed exhaust. This will draw the cooler outside air across your body while you sleep.

Enjoy The Journey!

Return to RV Know How

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Tour Our Motorhome

2008-05-15T11:43:00.000-07:00

In this Issue

What's New With Us: Going to Alaska?.
Brief Article: Tour Our Motorhome.
Vicki's Recipes: Beef Flavored Rice
RVing Tip: Keeping Cool.

Going to Alaska?

Our latest e-book, RVing Alaska, Insights and Observations, will be available as soon as our webmaster can bring it up on our website.

If you are planning, or even thinking about driving your RV to Alaska, you will appreciate the wealth of up-to-date information this e-book makes available to you.

The book has three sections. The first provides an overview of what to expect and how to prepare for an RV journey to Alaska. Topics include personal and vehicle preparation, crossing the border into Canada, road conditions, campgrounds, availability of fuel, using the ferry system, and a brief description of the various highways you will travel in British Columbia, the Yukon Territory and Alaska.

The second section describes what it is like to participate in an RV caravan trip to Alaska. It also discusses the pros and cons of traveling solo versus going to Alaska with a group.

The third section is a detailed journal of the 44-day Alaskan RV journey we took in the fall of 2007. Each entry includes a description of the day's road condition, terrain, fuel stops and campgrounds. The journal can be used as a base from which to plan your own RV adventure.

RVing Alaska, Insights and Observations is not a flora and fauna book. It is a no-nonsense "how-to" book designed to help you make informed decisions and proper preparations for the ultimate RVing adventure.

Look for it in the E-Book section of rvknowhow.com

Tour Our Motorhome

We've been asked a number of times what kind of RV we owned. So here is a photographic tour of our combination transport, home and office. We have put about 190,000 milles of cross-country driving on it. No, it does not have any slides (or slide problems).

Click on any photo to enlarge it. Click on your "Back" button to return to normal.

1998, 37-foot, diesel-powered Country Coach Allure and 2007 Saturn Vue

Notice all the overhead cabinets

The kitchen has a side-by-side refrigerator and a microwave/convection oven. The cantilevered dinette table has no leg to bump our knees. We traded the free standing chairs for the booth seating. We like the the large storage drawers and comfortable soft cushions.

We have written and talked about some of the improvements we have made to our motorhome. Here are a few of them:

A panel under the dash in front of the passenger seat provided access to the area under the dash. But there was plenty of room behind the panel. So our son, Sean the cabinet maker, built an open-faced cabinet. The upper shelf slants down towards the back so the campground directories do not slide out. A space is provided for the thermos that holds our morning coffee while we are driving. The cabinet is easily removed when access under the dash is needed.

The motorhome's deep pantry had solid shelves. That made it difficult to locate and reach items in the back. So Sean installed three slide-out shelves.

Our couch has plenty of undrneath storage space. But the only way to gain access was by lifting the entire seat cushion section. Sean built and installed three large drawers under the couch. A real nice touch are the adjustable dividers in each drawer.

Our seminar/writing business requires that we have certain files available to us at all times. We needed a portable file cabinet that could be moved between our home office and our motorhome, depending upon where we were at the moment. We also wanted it to be easily accessible but out of the way.

Sean built a combination center-console, file-cabinet and map-drawer. It is normally located next to the driver's seat and butted up to the dash. It has wheels under the rear two corners and short legs under the front corners. Lifting the front end slightly allows the cabinet to be rolled back so the driver can get in and out of his seat. The weight of the cabinet on the legs keeps it from moving while under way. It is amazingly stable.

The cabinet consists of three interlocking sections.The console portion is a removable tray with cup holders and compartments for maps, sunglasses, cellphone, loose change and miscellaneous stuff. Removing the console tray (we place it on the driver's seat) exposes the 18-inch long file box that is wide and deep enough to accommodate hanging file folders. A large drawer at the bottom contains atlases and map books.

When we arrive home the console tray is lifted off the file cabinet and the file cabinet is lifted off the drawer section. The file cabinet and its contents are carried into our home office and placed on a slide-out shelf in our desk.

The television cabinet is located at the top of the entry stairs. It had a tendency to attack the heads of people entering the motorhome and the left shoulder of those who were exiting. The file cabinet, located on the floor under the television, redirected people away from the TV cabinet. But a better solution was cutting the cabinet back 12 inches and installing a flat-screen television.

It shows what can be done if you have a talented cabinet maker in the family. We plan on keeping this motorhome for another 190,000 miles.

Vicki's Quick and Easy Recipe:

Beef Flavored Rice

(from My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

This rice dish always makes a hit with everyone. The recipe can easily be halved for less people.

2 cubes butter or margarine
3 cups uncooked rice
2 cans (4 oz.) mushrooms, drained
2 cans (10-1/2 oz.) French onion soup, undiluted
1 can (10-1/2 oz.) beef bouillon, undiluted
1 empty soup can white or red wine

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Melt butter or margarine in a 9"x 13" baking pan.

3. Combine all other ingredients and pour into the
baking pan.

4. Bake covered for 1 hour.

Makes about 10 servings.

Keeping Cool

Whenever possible, select a campsite that points the front of your RV towards the east or south. This allows your patio awning to protect the entry-door wall from the hot afternoon sun. The opposite side-wall will be the naturally shady side of your rig during most of the day.

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