RVing

We have a number of RVers in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama who may have been in the path of Gustav. Would you all please check in here and let us know you're OK so we can stop worrying?

Here's the deal: As some of you might remember, we became seasonal campers in an RV campground from the middle of May through the end of September, in our 28 ft. RV. The campground is in Northern Michigan, in one of the most popular and desirable tourist areas in the state. We love the area. However, we had a disastrous Labor Day weekend. The campsite we rented is sort of in the back of the campground. We chose it because it is a tad more rustic than those in the front, by the managers and seasonal workers. For this past holiday weekend, we ended up in the middle (not exagerating) of about 50 tenters, on maybe 10 campsites, that were all one party. Now why these tenters needed electricty and a water hook up wasn't clear to me. We were surrounded by them and lost all of our privacy. We even had strangers tripping over our lawn chairs and standing next to our fire pit. Several times I had asked some of them nicely to go around, because every time they cut through our campsite, they freaked out our dogs, who are normally well behaved. Most of the adults were considerate and complied, but some of the teenage boys got attitudes and thought it was funny to mess with us intentionally. The evenings became very uncomfortable because it was a steady flow of traffic through our campsite, with no privacy whatsoever. And you can imagine 50 or so people sitting around a campfire until after midnight. My question is: was I expecting too much? Is this ivasion of privacy common practice in campgrounds that have seasonal campers, and some that are not? Am I whining to complain to the management? After spending thousands of dollars to be there for the season, am I being unreasonable to expect more? BTW, they used the water hookup with a hose, to do their dishes, even though the campground has signs saying that you are not to do your dishes at the faucets. (They ran the hose to a somewhat hidden area of their one campsites.) Your input is welcome.

hi folks, is anyone out there going to the RV Conference this coming week in Harrisburg, PA? I am and would love to meet you. I am planning to buy my very first motor home next month and will be volunteering at state/national parks beginning in Feb. 09. Already accepted at a couple of parks and am very excited to be starting this new adventure in my single life. I'll certainly welcome any info, advice, help, etc in getting started. Please reply to me via private message though, cause I really don't come over to Eons all that often.

WOW! Thanks for all the replies from MtnLady, WakeUpWell, sunnyside7, funnypam, and Sydny: you made my day! Very heartening...To answer your questions: I've been RVing for a total of 2 months in a 22-foot Class B van/camper, manufactured by Leisure Travel Vans in Morden, Manitoba. The chassis is customized by them in combination with a Mercedes Benz diesel engine, 22 mpg. I try to get more mileage by travelling between 45 - 55 mph (that's 'blue highways' and my favorite speed) and keeping my tires (the ones on the ground, not the one around my middle) inflated to specifications. Basically, the rig looks like a slim, extended FedEx van. Other manufacturers that use this Dodge Sprinter chassis design are PleasureWay (another Canadian company) and RoadTrek (a U.S. brand). They all have web sites.
One positive aspect of Leisure Travel is that, even though they are in the far reaches of Canada, their service has been excellent. When things go wrong - as they inevitably will - I have called their 866 number, and 'Wally' guides me through the parts number thicket, or tells me how to fix it myself. The trick is finding a reputable RV service dealer who can schedule your rig and install the new parts, hassle-free. I'm in the middle of this repair situation right now, so I'll let you know how it works out. (I'm talking small stuff here....well, one big thing -- I "broke" my bed...!)
One possible negative aspect of this design is that when you want to go touring, or shopping, or to hear Dave Brubeck 'live' in a tent, you can't "unhook" and zoom there in your little car,, or big pick-up. You have to travel with your home, everywhere. So far, this has not been a problem for me. I try to plan ahead -- Provincetown, MA is a "no-go" area in town, so find a parking lot a few blocks away from the madness.
I have not had time to check out the forums on Good Sam Club or RV.net, but I've read these sites are good places to get info, as well as this site!
Regarding State Parks - I like them best, but New England State Parks do not have electric hook-ups that make my life easier (and quieter). Neither do North Carolina or Virginia. Florida is the only state - so far - that offers 30 and 50-amp service at their parks. I have boondocked at off-grid state parks, but I'm not crazy about the sound of the generator assaulting the air.
Finally, I have another "impression" to share: Two out of three campgrounds do not recycle. (I've kept track.) They claim their town does not recycle - a fact that I find hard to believe - so my "mission" is to not ignore this. More later...
Thanks again, solo travelers. I don't feel so 'solo' now!

I am new to this group. I want to connect to others with campers. We just bought a trailer (Airstream 25ft Safari) and are very excited. We will pick it up this week and really are looking forward to travelling everywhere! I am kind of obsessing about it at the moment. I am thinking about how I want to set up the kitchen so that we have everything we need and with the least amount of weight possible. We will get a lesson when we pick it up on Wednesday. Wish me luck.

So, what’s in a name? Think about it, most sane individuals would say names typically denote individuality, ownership, personality, background, and respect. However, those qualities don’t always come to mind when traveling. My point being, and everybody’s seen them on maps and while traveling throughout the United States, those towns, communities, roads, and landmark names that catch your eye, make one gasp, initiate blushing giggles, or intensely tickle the funny bone. Regardless of traveling past, through, on, or selected as a unique destination, the first question that arises after the tears of laughter, the “Oh, my Goodness,” and “How stupid,” responses, are why the name was selected in the first place, and for whatever reason why the heck was it never changed?

I’m sure there are wonderfully ...CONTINUED IN REPLY...

Patrick Witz
Writer/Editor/Publisher/Photographer
Gold Country Families E-Magazine
A FREE Internet Travel, Entertainment, & Leisure Magazine
editor@goldcountryfamilies.com
view link

We all like reading the travelogues posted here in the group. If you have one to share, please feel free to post. I would just ask that you follow these guidelines so that all contributors get their fair share of the first page.

Please post only the first paragraph of your travelogue in the original post. Post the remainder in the first reply. It seems as if Eons will stop allowing graphics in original posts so if you have a photo to add, include it in the first reply.

Waiting to hear from you all. Thanks!

We arrived home this afternoon safe and sound...and weary. One of the greatest joys of an RV, from my perspective, is pulling into the driveway, plugging into the electric and walking away from your mess until you've had some time to rest and recover. It's such a sane way to end a trip. We can start tomorrow with the unpacking, the laundry, the sorting of treats that we've brought home with us and the assimilating of all of the sights and adventures that we have had over the past three weeks. Before the RV I remember mountains of dirty laundry and camp gear in the family room...the same family room that I'd cleaned so well in preparation for our trip. We used to make a mess with our unpacking. Now we bring in only those things we need immediately until we have recovered our energy. We sit this evening in our uncluttered living room and make the mutual assessment that "This has been a good trip" and "It is so good to be home". Good Night. I think I hear my bed calling to me...

On our way home this summer, we took the Turnpike. At the first toll booth, our ticket labeled us as Class 3. We got off the pike to camp for the night and when returning to our trip next day, discovered that we were now Class 4. As you know, the higher the class, the higher the toll. So I asked about the change and got this advice.

As you approach the toll booth, your vehicle is weighed. If you look closely as you enter the approach, you'll see the metal plate in the road. The class is based on weight. Since we hadn't filled with diesel, hadn't taken on any extra water, had dumped the tanks that morning, and hadn't eaten out the night before, I asked the attendant how we could possibly be heavier. And his answer was that if the RV is bouncing as you hit the scale, you could weigh heavier. If you already weigh close to the max in one class, a bounce could put your RV in the next class up. His suggestion was to slow when approaching the scales so as not to bounce. Next time we got off and back on, we were a Class 3 again. Thanks, man, good advice!

Lets all welcome

Cathi49
AZAnne
DeannaTaylor1
buttercup23
MarketingGal
Beagle01

to our campfire.