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RE: WHAT'S YOURS.......
There are so many! But one at a time...
Having dinner in Yellowstone with a couple from Germany that we just walked up to and asked where their van tag was from. We were playing the license tag game and had never seen a German tag before. We invited them for dinner and the kids had a great time learning about another country.
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home_school_dad
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12/07/09 03:24pm |
Family Camping
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RE: how do you plan your trips?
I guess I am not the norm for this thread either. We plan out our trips well ahead - think engineer type with a spreadsheet. I do not, however, make reservations ahead unless we are staying for a week or more in one spot. On our trip to Alaska, every day was on the sheet. I do plan in rest days and add some free days as well. If I plan a long driving day, it is followed by either a short day or a rest day. I find that the planning helps me see all that I want to and actually makes the trip restful. We do group days like our week in Yellowstone with just a list of what we would like to see while there.
Having a list does not mean that I have less fun nor that I push harder than someone else. I find it a useful tool.
I use google maps to check the distance between stops and to plan fuel. By verifying the distances, it keeps the day's travel within reason. Sometime in the afternoon we call ahead to check on campground availability.
I have even used the google streat view option to check out potential fuel stops. Buying gas while pulling a trailer presents some challenges and knowing how a station's pumps are oriented can make a diference. Just remember that the view can be out of date. On our last trip we pulled in to the station to find it closed down.
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home_school_dad
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12/07/09 03:07pm |
Family Camping
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RE: Gettysburg Battlefield Resort
We enjoyed our stay there. The bathhouse is very nice and the kids loved the pool (quite large). I did not talk to the sales staff there. The park staff were great.
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home_school_dad
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11/11/09 03:48am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: traveling from Louisville KY to New Orleans
Some other suggestions:
Mammoth Cave Nationa Park - Cave City, KY
The Nashville area (home for country music)
Chattanooga, TN area (slight side trip of 65 miles)(Lookout Mtn., Rock City, Ruby Falls, Tennessee Aquarium)
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home_school_dad
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10/25/09 10:57am |
Family Camping
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RE: memphis or nashville?
If you are into history, the Nashville area has quite a few historic battlefields. Fort Donelson National Battlefield is 1 mile west of Dover, northwest of Nashville. This would make a good day trip and a great place to have a picnic lunch.
As mentioned above, be sure to see the Parthenon. It was built for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition.
We typically stay at Cedars of Lebanon State Park. It is about 30 miles from Nashville. The campsites are paved and well shaded. It is 6 miles from the interstate and is very quiet. Of course there are other campgrounds closer into town.
You may want to check on what events are occuring at the time you will be in the area. Fan Fair draws a lot of people and many campgrounds fill up.
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home_school_dad
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10/25/09 10:45am |
Family Camping
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RE: Cell phone coverage in Canada/Alaska
One thing I noticed in Canada and Alaska was that there were far more public phones than I see around here. Cell phones have almost put the pay phone out of business. When we got into Canada, we bought a phone card and used land lines. This was cheeper than cell charges. We did the same in Alaska.
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home_school_dad
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10/23/09 06:46am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Great Smoky Mountains to Close Cades Cove Loop Road....
This is good to know. We are planning a trip next year for early June - not that repairs would run over or anything...
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home_school_dad
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10/16/09 07:00pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Hensley Arrow Questions
We bought a Hensley several years ago following an unfortunate incident with our old 36' TT. I was driving in a center lane on a 4 lane wide interstate at midnight. Two tractor trailers passed me, one on either side, about 20 mph faster than I was going. When I got stopped, we were on the shoulder of the highway (hearts pounding). Fortunately there was not other traffic at the time.
I made up my mind that I would do something. After much internet research, I decided on the Hensley. I sent off for the video and thought that if it was 1/2 as good as advertised, then it would be worth the money. I was amazed - it did everything the video said that it would.
I have had two occasions to talk to the folks in the office. The first was when I was installing the hitch for the first time. The hitch uses a solid spacer (about 1 inch long) above where the spring bar attaches. In my case the spacer came off the end of the roll of steel and was slightly too long and the spring bar would not fit. I could see what was wrong but decided that after spending that much money, I should not have to have to field modify the part. I called Hensley and the tech support confirmed the problem. He then asked me to hold so that I could speak to either the president or vp (depending on who he could find). This gentleman came on the phone and said, "Sir, I am just embarrased that we would send out a part that was not right. I am sorry and we will overnight the new part to you." I have NEVER had such a nice response from any business.
The second occasion was while we were traveling. One of the pins that hold the screwjack for the equalzer broke. I did not know what to do. Here I was in the middle of Kansas on a Saturday with a broken part. I called the Hensley number on the off chance that someone might be there. The automated system routed to a voice mail where I left a message. Twenty minutes later I received a call on my cell phone from someone at Hensley. He received a page when I left the message. He said that it was covered under warrenty and they would ship a new part Monday morning to anywhere I desired. It could even be sent overnight if I wanted to pay the additional charges. He also told me how to get by until then.
The Hensley hitch is well made and works as advertised. I have been impressed with the service and attitude of the people I have talked to. I believe that it was worth every dollar I spent on it (and I am very cheep).
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home_school_dad
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10/11/09 12:39am |
Towing
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RE: Massage Therapy Work at RV Resorts?
In an hour drive of Mesa there should be more than enough resorts where you could work one day per week or every other week. One day at resort A and the next at resort B. You might even find that you have too much business. The key will be selling your product and yourself to the resorts. The Mesa area would make a good winter home for you. Don't forget that there are other areas of Arizona that are centers for snowbirds (Yuma for example). Some of the campgrounds that cater to the winter campers are huge with lots of activities. If a campground like that has 500 camp sites, then you are looking at almost 1000 potential customers. You would only need 1% or 2% to want your services each visit. A quick check shows 35 RV parks in Mesa - one with 2000 sites and a couple of more with over 1000 sites. The greater Phoenix area lists 70 parks.
You may want to offer a few classes at the start to build interest in your product.
Good Luck!
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home_school_dad
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10/09/09 10:33pm |
Workamping Forum
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RE: Antarctic ice melt slowest in satellite history
I am convinced that the earth has been warming - ever since the last ice age...
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home_school_dad
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10/09/09 02:09am |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Top 10 places you want to visit where you haven't been
Fortunately, I have visited all of the places on my original list. The top on that list was the Tetons. The Alaska Highway/Alaska was on the list for over 30 years.
The top on the list right now (and probably for a while) is to drive the Oregon/California coastal highway in a convertable - just me and the wife.
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home_school_dad
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10/07/09 11:58pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Completely Bewildered
Many years ago I wanted our family to be able to travel but money was tight. My family lived in another state (I'm the one who moved) and our family size reached the point where no one could host us easily. I suggested getting something like a popup. My wife said,"I don't camp." In questioning her, I discovered that as a teenager her family would go to the beach every year. She hated the sand that got into everything - especially her bed. I finally talked her into a popup and explained that it avoided the things she disliked.
Our first camper was old when we got it cheep (1971 Starcraft) but it was well made and even had the toilet inside. We used it for years and loved it. We finally out grew it. It had the flavor of tent camping but with the comforts of a camper.
The popups now have everything. Slideouts, showers, closets, and storage. Look around for a good used one. Don't figure on this as an investment. Your camper will never be worth more than you give for it. Start out cheep and move up if you need to. The suggestions to rent are also good ones. Many times you will not know what you like until you have something to campare to.
When people ask, we admit that we don't camp - we take our motel with us!
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home_school_dad
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10/07/09 12:05am |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Traveling the Alkan Highway
One suggestion...
The 2010 edition of the Milepost may not get to the shelves of your local bookstore/Camping World until April 2010. I planned our "trip of a lifetime" for a full year before we left. We bought the "old" current year edition for planning purposes and then picked up the latest copy for the changes. I spent weeks/months going through the book marking items of interest and "tabbing" the pages. Depending on your level of planning (I didn't want to miss anything), you may want to consider this.
Meanwhile I also got on the internet and sent off for all of the free travel guides for each province.
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home_school_dad
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10/05/09 08:10pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Seeking 2010 Trip Planning Advice (Virginia, DC, Maryland)
While in the Gettysburg area consider The Mennonite Information Center in Lancaster. They have a full size replica of the Biblical Tabernacle (you know, the one Moses built). They have a good bookstore/gift shop and a film about the Mennonites. If you have time, they also have tour guides that you can hire to take you through the Amish area. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Amish and their beliefs as well as to see some beautiful countryside. Allow at least 3 hours for the tour. We have done this three times and each was different. Once we stopped at a small Amish shop that sold bake goods - the cookies were wonderful. Another shop sold pies and cakes. Another favorite stop is Lapp Valley Farm. They make ice cream that is the best I have ever had. Try it in the homemade waffle cones. Quite a few evenings we went back for our evening dessert. Needless to say, I gained weight on that part of the trip!
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home_school_dad
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10/05/09 05:39pm |
Family Camping
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RE: Is buying into a membership Campgroud/RV Resort worth while
Just a quick check showed several. I found one in Portland, OR for transfer fee only ($750).
Be careful. Not all memberships cover all parks. There was one listed in Hickory, NC that only covered 6 parks.
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home_school_dad
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10/04/09 01:10am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Is buying into a membership Campgroud/RV Resort worth while
One way to search Craigslist would be to locate towns near TT parks (check TT website) and start your search there. We have 2 in NC so check Winston-Salem, Charlotte, and Hickory.
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home_school_dad
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10/04/09 01:01am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Health Issues
Camping may actually be helpful for you. As mentioned previously, your camper can become home - which is a saft, secure place. I know that while we are on long trips we all begin to refer to the camper as "home". Besides having all of the comfort of your stuff being at hand, your camper is an extension of your house.
As far as being worried about your family, remember that God is in control. A few years ago we camped next to a retired couple. While there, he suffered a heart attack. His wife never needed to worry about the camper or minor things. Folks at the campground pitched in to help her. Their son flew out and drove the motorhome back. All got home safe.
If you have problems while on the road, there will be someone to help. Campers are especially good at looking out for their neighbors. Most campgrounds have some type of long term storage where you could even leave your camper if necessary. Consider staying at one spot for a longer period of time so that it becomes more familiar and home-like.
Spend time with your family!
Thank you for your service to our country!
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home_school_dad
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10/03/09 10:23pm |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Did I Have A Senior Moment?
Don't worry. If it really were a senior moment, you won't remember doing it for long. There is one advantage of a poor memory. My wife experiences so many things for the first time - again.
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home_school_dad
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10/03/09 10:02pm |
RV Lifestyle
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RE: Seeking 2010 Trip Planning Advice (Virginia, DC, Maryland)
While you are at Gettysburg, consider hiring the park tour guide. They will ride in your vehicle and give a private two hour tour of the park. We have done this twice. It is far better than listening to a tape and trying to understand where they are talking about. It cost $40 the last time we were there but was well worth it. He took the time to explain how the cannons worked and the part they played in the battle. He was able to answer all of our questions at the frequent stops.
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home_school_dad
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10/01/09 06:44pm |
Family Camping
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RE: Seeking 2010 Trip Planning Advice (Virginia, DC, Maryland)
For Williamsburg we stayed at the Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center campground. It is open to the public and was more reasonably priced. It was off of the highway and quiet (remembering that we were there in the off season). The folks in the office were the friendliest we have ever met.
Be sure to be around in Williamsburg in the afternoons. That is when most of the re-enactments occur. There is a daily program of what to see and where to see it. You can walk a lot less if you remember that the shuttle bus runs around the park on a 15 minute schedule. To go from one side to the other, just walk a block and hop on the bus.
We were there three days and still did not do everything.
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home_school_dad
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10/01/09 06:39pm |
Family Camping
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