#2doods Camping Update

It's been a fun couple of first days in a campground. As I posted earlier, Stu left for a funeral in Maryland the morning after we arrived, leaving me with the #2doods to deal with. Based upon how well they did during the trip down, I was pretty sure I could handle it.

Well, they have been SOOOOOO good! It's hard to believe they aren't even two years old and are still puppies. We've developed a routine. They're in their crates by 9 pm, up with me between 7:30-8:30, then our first walk (potty trip). Back to the rig and a little play, then nap time unless some type of noise wakes them up. Around 11-1 we take another walk, then more napping until 4pm when we walk again. Dinner at 6 pm, sometimes followed by a walk, sometimes not.

Biggest issue is Cooper barking at any car doors, dogs walking past, or people too close to our rig. I gave up trying to keep the doors open. Too many distractions, too much barking. BUT he no longer barks at people we walk past as we walk around the campground...yay! The little dogs he also ignores but there is one larger, older dog that he always barks at. When we go to the field next door, there are two dogs across the street that bark at us. The #2doods ignore them (and get lots of praise).

Watching the neighbors prep to leave

The weather has been interesting. Day one, we ran the heat. Day two, we ran the air conditioning. Day three, we needed a boat. Talk about rain! Water and mud everywhere....not that it bothered the pups at all.

The storm moving in Friday night!

The morning after...

There is actually less water than the night before...

I picked up two 20' tie-outs and on day four we sat outside a bit with them tethered to the door handles so they couldn't tangle. Murphy explored a bit while Cooper stuck close to me. When Murphy disappeared behind the car, then Cooper ranged out. Worked well until a car drove past and they both wanted to chase it, then panicked when they realized how close the car was to them. When Stu gets home, we can use the tie-down anchors and get them staked where they are safer from that.

And half an hour later, they assumed their favorite pose!

Glad they got to do this before the storm moved in...48 hours later and the ground is still too wet to do this. Ugh!

Ciao for now!

We've arrived!

After weeks of maintenance/repairs of the Freightliner and RV plus all the prepping of inside, we finally left the house on Christmas Day. We spent Christmas Eve in the RV while it was parked in the driveway, letting the #2doods get used to new surroundings as well as allowing me to wash and wax all the floors in the house. Always nice to come home to a clean home (yes, we spent a major part of the day cleaning...lol).

The #2doods did pretty well adapting, we set up one crate in the living room area and extra bed pad beside it.



They made themselves at home quick easily...and the evening passed quickly.



Next morning we got up early and did all the last minute things, including pulling in all the slides so Stu could air up all the tires. Then the two crates were stored in the garage beside the motorcycle. Then it was time to load the #2doods. Initially we planned on Cooper riding in the Freightliner with Stu and Murphy riding in the Jeep with me. First snafu, Cooper wouldn't get into the Freightliner without a LOT of help in addition to the ramp. Phew, both in their respective spots, we were ready to go. We had hoped to be out by 9am and managed at around 10am (which was actually 11am Eastern Time). Just in time to see some snow flakes!



We took I-40 over to I-75 and the traffic was as light as expected. Our first rest stop and the dogs had to be rearranged with both of them in the back of the Jeep. Cooper slept and traveled just fine, but getting out was worst then getting him in. Oh my! Not an issue for them though, they were doing wonderfully on the leash, behaving much better than we anticipated.



Due to the late hour, we planned to stop at the Flying J south of Atlanta and decide if we would boondock there or try to make it south of Macon and stay in a campground that night. We stopped and I got fuel but two issues. Stu was having some electrical problems with low voltage in the Freightliner. He was concerned we might have to replace the alternator before continuing. Second problem, there was no parking available at the Flying J so we headed over to the TA. Nope, full there, too. Fortunately there are two more truck stops there - Love's & Pilot. We found a perfect spot right next to a curb with a good grass area to walk the dogs behind us. With the rig backed all the way in, there was room for the car in front of it. Then came our next surprise. We had to use the side back door to get the dogs out. Murphy jumped right out! Cooper took a little persuasion.

The next day went well. The Freightliner batteries were recharged (we ran the generator all night to help charge them) and although it was showing only 10 volts when we headed out, it soon was up to 12 volts where it belonged. He thinks there might be a loose cable and we made it to the RV park around 1pm without further incident. Phew!

The park has nice wide spots on grass with a small concrete patio. We got the RV lined up and settled in quickly. The #2doods have lots of walking space with a very quiet road behind us and a huge field beside us. Initially we planned to board Murphy (who adapts quickly to most anything and anyone) so I would only have Cooper to deal with while Stu flew to Maryland for the funeral of a former coworker. But dealing with walking them both at the same time was much easier than anticipated. Oh, and another HUGE surprise. After using the ramp to get the dogs in and out at the truck stop and the first couple of times, as soon as we used the back steps into the garage both dogs quickly adapted to using the steps. No ramp! Then they did the same with the front door. SOOOOO much easier. Yay for smart pups!

Their crates are now set up in the garage, side by side. Their wet weather towels are stored on top and their toy box is available, too. We have A/C back there when it gets warm but for now we are more apt to be running heat. If the weather is bad, we can take them in and out back there and use the towels to dry and de-mud them. (Ignore the flattened boxes and paper piled on top...LOL)





This morning we crated the #2doods and headed out for the 45 minute drive to the Jacksonville airport. You do go through some small towns but the drive was easy, most of it on US Rt1. Back home and I got to open several boxes that already arrived from Amazon.

We originally planned to carry our older B&W laser printer in the RV but it was just too big since we took out the old wooden file cabinet, my computer card and rearranged the dining table into it's original position. After a little research I found and All-in-One HP inkjet printer for $20 on Amazon. Yes, you read that right. $20!! And the print cartridges are $15. Much smaller footprint and we will just pull the cartridges when we park the RV for summer. Since we no longer have a WiFi router in the RV, we will use it with a USB connection. It's been tested and works fine as did the scan function. Happy camper here! I'm sure this is an older model but for the price, it's hard to go wrong.

So the #2doods and I are settled in for some alone time until Stu flies back on Sunday. He arrives so late, he booked a hotel room and I will pick him up on Monday morning. The weather forecast for next week is COOL but we have plenty to do. I still have a lot of computer/office stuff to get settled. Stu has a lot of repair/maintenance chores on his list. We also need to take the pups over to meet their eventual boarding spot where the will meet the lady who runs the facility and her Boxer. We also plan to have lunch with the sister of a fellow firefighter friend. Then there are several interesting sounding spots to try for breakfast &/or lunch. We will take the bike out and explore when the weather permits.

Ahhhh, life is good!

PS. Need a last minute gift? Book One in the Klondike Mystery series, Not a Whisper, is on sale for a limited time. Only $1.99 until 12/31. Grab your copy or share as a gift!


Ciao for now!

It's done....

Our RV lot in Bee's RV Resort in Clermont, FL has been sold to a great couple. They are younger than us, still working (for themselves) and we're sure they will have many happy seasons on the lot.

Us? We will try different spots to winter in for the next couple of years. Next winter we plan to try Okeefenokee RV Park in Folkston, GA. We will head there some time in November - weather dependent. Mild fall, late November/early December. Cold fall, early to mid-November.

The next year, we might try the Escapees park in Alabama. Who knows? Life is good!!

Ciao for now!

More changes...Selling our RV lot in FL

First, we bought a house. Second, we decided to become snowbirds. Third, we got a puppy. Fourth, we added a second puppy. Fifth, we opted to not be snowbirds this year. Phew!

We also have a busy 2018 planned. We have two weeks of cruising in late January/early February. There is a lot we want to do around the house and yard this spring. We hope to start the process of building Stu's pole barn as well. Then in October, we will be spending 6-8 weeks in MD-DE for our annual doctor visits, meeting & greeting family and friends, the wedding of a granddaughter and then a trip to Walt Disney World with our youngest granddaughter as well as good friends and their grandgirls.

We've done a lot of talking recently and realize our snowbird years are finite and since we'd like to travel a bit, it makes sense to sell the rights to our RV lot in Clermont. So, if you or anyone you know might be interested, here is a little bit of information.

SOLD!

Unfortunately, we don't have any good photos of the lot itself, not sure how that happened. We took photos DURING the paving and DURING the shed installation, but not when done. LOL! Here are a few before the paving was extended on one side and before the shed was installed.

This was after the extension of the pavers but before the shed. The shed is approximately where the cargo trailer sits.

Ciao for now!

Heading Out: RVing Advice & Tips for Newbies

Since coming back to our RVing lifestyle from two years of living in Cuenca, Ecuador, we have had several folks ask if we have any tips we can pass along for buying an RV, traveling and affordability. It's been a few years since we did that but I still remember a lot of the advice that was given to me. So, here are some tips. I hope they help someone.

First, there are two costs you can control - fuel and campground fees. Both are controlled by how often you move. Many folks start out as though they are on vacation and have to go everywhere and see everything immediately. LOL!

If you don't move every day you will lower your fuel costs as well as qualify for better campground fees. When I started, I looked for campgrounds that offered at least weekly rates. If it was an area where I wanted to explore, I looked for monthly rates.

I also joined the Escapees (they have their own parks plus affiliate parks that offer lower rates for members), Good Sam (usually only 10% off but that's something when you can't find anything else) and Passport America (50% camping, usually for one night, sometimes longer, sometimes not during high season).

Escapees [SKP]

Good Sam [GS]

Passport America [PA]

There are a TON of Facebook groups for RVing and they can be 1) overwhelming and 2) rife with misinformation. I prefer the groups that were around prior to Facebook. I have a file that you can display in your browser and easily check out the various groups. My favorite is the Escapees group and iRV2, although I rarely visit anymore. [contact us for a copy of the list]

Follow and read the blogs of experienced RVers like Nick & Terry, Greg & Jan, Sharon & Don, Dave & Marcia, Sherry & David, another Sharon & Don, and many more. HitchItch is a great place to find good blogs (we're listed on page 2).

As to buying, don't buy new!!! The depreciation is much worse than buying a car. Be careful when buying, always pay for an independent inspection and always get it weighed beforehand. Why? Because some RVs have almost no carry capacity once they leave the factory (options are one reason). This page has a good explanation of the weight ratings and what they mean. Read it, learn it and understand it. It's important to your safety on the road.

Don't buy from a dealer until you have checked them out with the BBB and searched for online information. Our daughter bought a trailer from a dealer in NY - it's still under warranty but the dealer isn't cooperating, other dealers in their area are refusing to do the work and the manufacturer is telling them to go to the selling dealer. Now that she is looking, they have a lot of complaints online.

Read, read, read - books, online, magazines. Attend the Escapade if at all possible. [Side Note: Stu and I met at an Escapade in Gillette, WY. We will be going to this year's Escapade in Essex Junction, Vermont.] You don't have to be a member of the Escapees AND you don't need to have your RV yet. The Boot Camp is the best option but it sells out quickly. The good news is it's held more than once a year.

Think about what you want to do. Full-time? Weekend? Snowbird? Short trips? Long trips? What will be  your exit plan if you intend to full-time?

When you walk through rigs (and you need to walk through a lot - all types, sizes, configuration), go through your normal daily routines. Stand by the sink and have your partner try to work around you (open microwave, use the stove, open the fridge). Lay down on the bed, get back up and pretend to make it. Sit on the toilet, stand in the shower and raise your arms.

Look at where the slide-outs are, what will no longer be accessible when closed. When we stop in rest areas for lunch, we have to open two slides in the main living area. Some toy haulers I looked at, you couldn't watch the TV with the slides in.

There are joys but there are frustrations. You still have daily chores to do: laundry (which could mean laundromats if your rig doesn't have a washer/dryer), grocery shopping, doctor/dentist appointments, housecleaning, etc. There are maintenance issues - you are taking your home through a 50-60 mph earthquake every time you drive. Tires, brakes, filters, belts - if you can't do the work, be sure to budget for it.

Would we trade it? No! We get to be where we want, when we want (for the most part). Don't like the weather? Move. Don't like your neighbors? Move. Want to visit family? Go! Want to visit the National Parks? Go! Want to see museums or flea markets or antique shops or micro-brews or factories of all kinds? Go!

Hope this gives you some food for thought. Please feel free to ask any questions and we will do our best to help.

Ciao for now!

Wild, Wacky, Wonderful, Weird Weather

The weather has decided to show its true Montana colors the last week or two. One day we have a high of 97, the next it's 65. Then back to averages in low 80s....nice. Followed by a dramatic change yesterday. Severe storm warnings....thunder, rain, hail....and we got it all. Made for an interesting sky.



The rain and hail didn't hit until the sun starting peeking out again.



Within 10 minutes the temperature dropped from 65 to 48. The low last night was forecast in the mid-30's. I have no idea what it finally was, my outside thermometer came in yesterday morning as I packed up all my outside gear in preparation for leaving tomorrow afternoon. It then rained most of the night and off & on early this morning.

The topper of the day, I thought, was discovering on a the Sunday before Labor Day that my propane tank read empty. Glad I have the electric space heater!

But the REAL topper was this morning as I ran last minute errands and enjoyed breakfast out. Snow....yup, you heard me, SNOW. For the last couple of hours it's been snowing off & on. Too warm to stick, still fun to watch....from inside.

I work this afternoon till 7 pm but don't expect to be very busy. Tomorrow is a morning shift but I hope to take the RV out for propane & gas before hitting work at 10 am. I get off at 2:30 and hope to be on the road by 3:30. Will spend the night in Reed Point, MT at the Old West RV Park where Stu & I stayed twice. Will be in Colorado Springs late afternoon, early evening on Thursday. Winterizing the rig on Friday as well as seeing family & friends. Flight out of the Springs on Saturday, headed to Baltimore and my sweetie...the start of a wonderful new adventure!

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna

Yellowstone - Day One (7/10/2008)

We last left our heroine just south of Cameron, MT with her new 'friend', Stu. They planned to visit Yellowstone the next two days. The story continues....

A beautiful morning greeted us, cool enough to need to bundle up on the trike but sunny. We pulled on our jackets layered over a lighter layer, chaps, warm gloves and helmets. We planned to stop in West Yellowstone for breakfast before venturing into the park itself. We were both anticipating a great time...while I had been there in 2005 on my solo motorcycle tours, Stu hadn't been there since he was a kid.

On the way to West Yellowstone we passed Earthquake Lake. There was a visitor's center but it wasn't open yet so we planned to catch it the following day.



West Yellowstone looked very familiar to me but I didn't think it was anywhere near as busy as it had been in 2005. It's a neat little town with a wide variety of places to eat. I've already forgotten the name of where we had breakfast but did snap a shot inside the bathroom that showed the local humor. Breakfast was good and we found that we both had a good cell phone signal while in West Yellowstone so used the time to catch up on phone calls. My main concern was the status of my RV work but it was well underway.



We took the same entrance into the park that I had so I kind of knew what to initially expect. One advantage of riding with Stu, he loves taking out of the way roads (and as you will see, eating at out of the way places). Any side road that appeared was a road taken. I got to see much more of the park this way...compounded by the fact that when I was traveling through, I was always on a schedule. We had none, other than to be back at the RV for bed. LOL! After the first detour we quickly approached the slow down for the eagle nest...someone always has to stop, regardless of the signs telling them not to.



Soon we were running along the river where the signs of the fire while still apparent now showed more growth. I took many photos along this stretch on my previous visit and it was no different this time around. The first photo is one I took the Friday before Memorial Day in 2005.



We had decided to do the southern loop today and the northern loop tomorrow. That meant that today would be lots of hot springs, geyers, thermal hot pots, sulphuric smells, strange landscapes and lots of water. Here are a few of the shots we took...lots more in the full album on SmugMug. Stu used my Canon camera with the long zoom while I used my Panasonic pocket camera, great for quick pics while riding. You'll see a combination of both...bet you can't tell the difference. LOL!



Lots of walking....lots of walking in riding boots, by the time we had walked what felt like miles visiting several thermal areas, we were ready for a little sit down time. We pulled into the lodge by Old Faithful to get gas, browse the store and take a break. While I was snapping the photo of Stu in one of the handmade wooden rockers, a lady came up behind me and asked, "Is he yours?". Well, at that point I could only answer, "For now....". She laughed and told me he was cute...I told her that I knew it. LOL! As we got ready to leave, a couple came over and started to talk to us about the trike. As I glanced across the street....Holy Eruption, Batman!



We continued on, drove past another lodge and headed towards Yellowstone Lake. That was virgin territory for me...in fact I hadn't even realized there was a huge lake there. Boy, when I say HUGE....believe me, it is. The day had warmed up and we had taken off our chaps and removed some layers. Not long after hitting the coast of the lake we realized that the combination of the time of day and the effect of the water meant putting them back on. The last photo is where we stopped to dress again. Beautiful vistas....I could have sat there for hours just looking.



Throughout the day I noticed how many wildflowers there were...I only got a couple of shots to share though.



We found a place to stop and eat our picnic lunch...and got our first wildlife glimpse (other than the eagle). No photos....it was a mother wolf and her cubs way off in the distance. With our binoculars we could barely see them but we were excited, not only wildlife but WOLVES! I did manage to get a shot of me taking a shot...LOL!



As the afternoon waned, the wildlife came out. First was a sole buffalo...not far from the road. We got several good shots. Then as we went on further down the road ther was another hold up on the road. Two large elk not far away. I sat on the trike while Stu walked up the road to grab some good shots.



We headed back into West Yellowstone for some dinner and little window shopping, trying to decide what we might want to pick up for ourselves or gifts. We were tired so decided to do more of that in the morning.



Arrived back at the rig before total darkness (of course sunset was around 10 pm), exhausted and exhilarated. Stay tuned for day two!

Till next time - keep on rollin',
Froggi/Donna