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Trip 1: Visitors!
Our trip to North Carolina has been a wonderful first trip thus far. As part of the trip, we had a welcome surprise arrive at our doorstep: Visitors! Quit looking up, because we're not talking about extra terrestrials. Some family stopped by, so we decided to host!
We've had people stop by during our shakedown, but for the first time, we invited a couple of the younger members of the family to stay with us. Normally, this would test our ability to entertain outdoors, but the weather wasn't cooperating whatsoever. This is where we were glad we brought what we did. As with any trip you take, be sure to prepare for any possible contingency. Somehow with us millennials, any contingency is possible. The kids were thoroughly entertained with our game closet, we had some good snacks, and even without any sort of electronic equipment, it was a fun time!
The biggest lesson learned about the visit was the test on our space. For those who have seen the rig, even if it's only a floor plan, you'll know it isn't that large of an area. We had been using the bunk as a bit of a storage locker, but all of a sudden it needs to be used for sleeping. Luckily it wasn't packed to the brim, so use of the dinette was a good swap once we were ready to pack it in for the night. The good news is that we have learned a lot about what we do and don't need with us. The desktop computer and monitor aren't needed any longer, now that we have a TV monitor and intend to get a few more Raspberry Pi computers we can either hook to the TV, or have a touchscreen.
With four people and a pup in the trailer, we were definitely at our limit for moving around. Sure, they say this can sleep seven, but we don't know how you could do much else. Moving around with two fully grown adults and a pup is tough enough as it is. At least we were able to gather at the dinette for games and breakfast the next morning. With some advance notice and clever planning, two kids over again is something that is very doable for us. This also gives us confidence for when we're ready to expand our family.
So when you're out with the RV, don't feel like you can't entertain, because it's very much possible. Invite your family along so they can follow their internal compass.
WRITTEN Jun 01, 2021 at 08:00 AM
TAGS: trip 1, rv living
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Entertaining Ourselves on the Road
Living the RV lifestyle full time is quite the adventure. We move the home from place to place, work camping as we go, usually for a site hook-up, and perhaps also a small stip-end for groceries and fuel. All work and no play, though, would make life on the road quite boring. We have to find some way of entertaining ourselves.
The easiest way for us to find entertainment in our spare time is to step outside the RV. Each time we setup and un-pack, it’s a different environment to allow for good variety. Sometimes it will be as simple as taking a walk around the grounds. Usually the place is rural enough that there are trails or natural features to intake. We could be at a national park or forest, which offers plenty of goodness in nature. If we’re parked near a small or mid-major city, the local Chamber of Commerce may sponsor free concerts and events in a park during warmer weather to bring business traffic. Even if it’s just a night on the town, many of these cities offer free parking in the evening.
Sunny days don’t always come to home, even if you’re in a desert oasis. Remember that you may need to pack a few things to be able to do inside the RV. Card games, board games, and puzzle books are always a nice choice. If you prefer the electronic route, you could hook up a video player and bring along a collection. Remember that you may not have internet access, and streaming videos will chew up a lot of your data quota (running videos all day on a streaming service can easily get up to 10 GB per day), so be prepared. Maybe you want to program something for a laptop, a tablet, or even a cell phone that could entertain you. So long as you have room to be able to store it, you can do just about anything. Remember that a wireless router will still work to connect devices between each other, even if it’s not connected to the outside internet.
There’s always some way to entertain yourself when RV living full time. Take stock and consider what you want to do, and if necessary, how much you’re willing to spend. All you have to do is to follow your internal compass.
WRITTEN May 17, 2021 at 07:54 PM
TAGS: rv living
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Trip 0, Day 1
The not-so-risk-free trial begins! With everything packed, we begin the shakedown adventure and prepare ourselves for our lives ahead.
The first thing we figured out, with an attached trailer, is that gas mileage goes out the window. When we say "out the window", we mean that the efficiency was nearly cut in half, down to about 10 miles to the gallon. It's not that surprising because we're carrying more, but the realization of fuel costs has arisen, so it would seem all the more reason to take advantage of monthly and even seasonal rates, and to mosey our way to different parts of the country instead of making cross-country trips.
Settling in was the next challenge. The shakedown is being done at a location that isn't exactly the most truck-friendly, not in terms of allowances and permissions since our host has been more than accommodating, but in terms of turn radius. It's good practice for when we have to back into a campsite or a truck stop, since "pull-through" spots are more expensive or sometimes plainly not available. The two of us seem to have a good system down, having picked it up almost immediately. Setup took some figuring out, but we have ourselves in a good spot.
As with any couple, we're not going to agree on everything. The argument count has already reached two, barely 24 hours into the adventure. Surprisingly enough, parking the trailer wasn't one of them. Details won't be disclosed on the arguments themselves unless we somehow landed a reality TV show contract, though the best "ratings" would come from the first 30 days of the adventure. For any aspiring producers out there, although it doesn't "push the envelope" as much as some of the offerings out there, it may help to promote the RV lifestyle.
With Day 1 complete, we leave you with some lessons learned that we hope will help you on your upcoming RV adventure:
- Give yourself more than one day to pack, if you can help it. Though we had given ourselves three days and were hoping to document the process, extenuating circumstances resulted in us taking ownership of the travel trailer the day before leaving for the shakedown. And even if you make extensive lists, you're bound to forget something. This is why a shakedown is good to work out the kinks, so even if you did miss something, you can always go back to add it before a long journey.
- When you have new items with "some assembly required", put it together before you leave. Travel and setup is going to take its toll, and the last thing you want is more setup steps piled onto what would normally need to be done. Not to mention, if something is defective, you have the chance to make an exchange. Even if you're planning to live in the RV full time, you'll want to put stuff together near where it was purchased.
- Be as flexible as possible. Any time you make plans, even if you stick to them to a tee, there's going to be some sort of a curve ball, or worse, the plan completely goes out the window and you have to improvise. You can read this and similar blogs until you're blue in the face, but you'll more than likely end up with a challenge of your own that you didn't consider. Be ready to handle it.
Happy travels to all, and remember to follow your internal compass.
WRITTEN May 16, 2021 at 07:00 PM
TAGS: trip 0, rv living
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Internet Connectivity
In today's world, it seems like the internet is used for everything, from research, to shopping, even to reading this article. However, so many have taken for granted the connectivity within traditional houses and the grid of large cities. How would someone RV living be able to cope?
A number of private campgrounds have been equipped with wi-fi service. This is one service that is not very reliable. Not only do you have to have yourself be close to a repeater, but you also have to compete with the other campers that want to use the signal. If you've ever been to a major outdoor event, whether it be a fair, rally, or maybe a concert, you've probably noticed that your connectivity isn't very fast, and it's no different when at the campground. Sometimes, the place is even more remote, such as a more rural campground or a National Park, where there's no wi-fi at all. So if you require connectivity for something like a telecommuting job while in your RV full-time, you need a better option.
Many people have cell phones with data plans. This can also be a good choice, but again, you are beholden to repeater towers. Remember that very rural areas aren't going to have cell phone towers, so you won't be able to get 4G, or sometimes even telephone service. If you're going to go the cell phone route, you'll also want to make sure that you have features available, such as being a wi-fi hot-spot for your family's laptops. A file server for important information can be a godsend, but you have to be able to access it. In our experimentation, we've found that Apple likes to charge for a lot of these basic features that are offered complimentary by the Android operating system. Maybe a router that's only for a Local Area Network (LAN) would be for you, while having the cell phone be the central point for outside access.
One up-and-coming technology in BETA at the time of writing this, but could be useful in the near future, is Starlink. This is a constellation of satellites in low-earth orbit that provide internet connectivity. This is different from traditional satellite media and internet services. Those satellites are in a geostationary orbit, meaning it's always at the same point in the sky any time of day. You'd be spending a lot of time orienting the dish, and then latency is very high because of how far the signal has to travel. Starlink has its satellites much closer to Earth in a lower orbit, with its receiver constantly self-adjusting to pick up a satellite in the sky. There are some questions with regards to weather for satellite internet, which has always been an issue for traditional satellite services, and is something being tested in the BETA. However, once publicly available, full-timers may ditch their data plans for Starlink.
Perhaps you’re one that doesn’t need to be streaming the latest episode of a television show, and just want to do some quick business? One possibility is to go into a nearby town. Public libraries almost always have wi-fi available to their patrons as a public service. Coffee shops and restaurants are also a possibility. Always be careful about using a public wi-fi, because anyone can see your information, especially if you’re doing something sensitive, such as online banking. You’ll want to stick to a cell phone, or have access to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that will encrypt what you do on the web.
No matter where you go, or what you do, there are going to be options for you to stay connected. This should give you peace of mind in your affairs as you follow your internal compass.
WRITTEN May 07, 2021 at 06:00 PM
TAGS: rv living
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Planning your Route and Destination
Your trailer is packed, you're ready to go... but where? And how can you make sure you get there safely and in a timely manner? Here's some tips for you on how to plan your destinations and route.
The first, and probably most important thing, is to know your limits of how much you and your traveling companions can drive in a day. Take some drive-around road trips. Make one part of your first "shakedown" adventure. You may have been able to once drive from one coast to the other in a day and a half, but with a trailer and a family, that probably won't happen. Even with car camping, we've found our limit to be 900 miles in a day. This is something you'll have to measure on your own. Remember that the specific route also needs to be taken into account, as traffic in a major city, such as Chicago, Seattle, or Washington DC, will slow you down. Peak traffic times, such as holiday weekends and rush hour need to be considered. Put in some contingency time. You can always boondock at a rest area if you're early, but you'll lose money, and potentially a reservation, if you're late.
Speaking of reservations, if you're going to be staying at campgrounds or National Parks, you're going to need a reservation. Try to figure out the upcoming season in advance, and get a basic idea of your route that way. Holidays book up quickly, so you may want to use that time to visit some family or friends. Maybe consider booking weekly or monthly to take advantage of better rates, or apply for some work-camping jobs through a month or season. Cancellations are going to happen to open up some sites, but you can't always depend on that. Sometimes you may want to boondock on public lands, but be aware that those sites are first come, first serve, so be sure to have a backup plan. Give yourself plenty of time to get from place to place, and maybe you'll want to check out something along the way. Flexibility is always a good thing.
The concept of a "boondock" has been mentioned a few times. This is where you stay for free without utilities at a given location. Sometimes, this is done on public land, such as a National Forest. If it's an overnight rest, there are some other options. Wal-Mart has been known for offering free overnight parking at many of its locations. This is assuming they own the land, and there isn't a city ordinance to prohibit doing so. This trick is something that car campers will typically use as well. There are a few things to keep in mind, though:
- Make sure it's only for the one night and you're back on the road the next morning.
- Only park; don't set up furniture, structures, or slide-outs.
- Go in and buy something, as they're more apt to help you with your needs if you're a customer.
- Follow all laws, regulations, and management instructions, including being able to leave at a moment's notice if asked to do so.
There are a few other places known to offer this service, such as Cracker Barrel, Cabela's, some truck stops, and self-parking areas at some casinos. The same guidelines apply to these other places. There are plenty of apps and websites dedicated to boondock parking, such as Walmart Atlas.
You don't have to kiss us, nor smile for us, but we certainly hope these tips will help you in planning your next adventure. Remember to follow both your internal and external compasses.
WRITTEN May 06, 2021 at 07:31 PM
TAGS: rv living, travel
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RV Essentials: Kitchen Needs
There are many essential items we will need for RV living, several being in the kitchen. We’re going to go in depth about what items we will bring, and what we think we will need on this journey of full-time RVing. We’ll go over each item we are bringing, and what purposes they have. With being full-time, we have to make sure we have equipment that serves multiple functions.
Instant Pot
The Instant Pot can do 7 functions in one appliance. We can make rice, pressure cook, sautée, stew, and other functions. We have made curry, short ribs, rice, and other stuff in it. It takes the place of the slow cooker.
Nu-Wave
The Nu-Wave is an induction hot plate which heats and cooks foods evenly. It is small and easy to store. We have pans that work on electric, gas, and induction, so this way we don't carry different sets of pots and pans. It also helps if we run out of propane to use on the grill, but still have electrical power.
Magic Bullet
This tiny magic blender works wonders. It is multi-purpose, which is a number one priority while RVing full-time. We love making milkshakes and banana smoothies. We also can make different sauces, ice cold mixed drinks, and even use it as a food processor.
Immersion Blender
The blender is good for blending hot soups or homemade red sauces. The attachments include a whisk which is great for whipped creams, pancake batter, or cake mixes. Also a small food processor that can chop onions, garlic, and even some soft spices and herbs.
Of course, there are certain utensils that are a must-have. We will definitely have measuring cups, some mixing bowls, cast iron pans, and also the grill!
If you have any comments or questions leave them below. Always remember to follow your internal compass!
WRITTEN May 04, 2021 at 07:34 PM
TAGS: rv living, equipment
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Traveling with your Fur Baby
RV living or camping with a pup can be difficult sometimes. In this article, we will give you some helpful hints and tricks that have been successful for us. Even the pup needs to be comfortable when it comes to traveling and sleeping.
Our pup is spoiled, but also what they call an elderly dog. If you meet her, you wouldn't even realize how old she is. She also has separation anxiety, which gets worse when we start to travel. She needs to be right next to us, which used to pose a problem when we had the Trailblazer. She is six years old, and we knew that it would be easier if she could be next to us. That problem was fixed when we purchased our truck. A bench seat works like a charm. When we took our first long trip in the truck, she did fabulous. No CBD chews were needed. She fell right asleep before we hit the second block. Yes, that is right, we use CBD chews for her. We try to be all natural with our pup.
Making the pup comfortable in an RV or tent will be quite different. When we had the tent, we needed to make sure that she couldn't escape out of it. We still made sure she was comfortable. We bought her a bed that is raised off the ground so she wasn't sleeping on a hard surface. Face it, no one wants to sleep on a hard surface, so why treat your pup any different? Now she will have her own bed, which is the couch. Of course, she will still have her raised bed for chilling at the campsite. Make sure they have their all time favorite toy. She has a dragon. She has had it for two years and hasn't wrecked it. We take it everywhere with us. It keeps her calm, and of course she plays with it, which keeps her occupied and out of trouble.
We make sure we carry two different foods for her. We carry her standard dry food, which is a limited ingredient diet food. She has massive allergies. Then, we also have soft food that has actual chunks of meat and veggies with us. Without soft food, we have noticed she will go days without eating if we let her. So that soft food is there for when we first arrive. Remember to have fresh water for them, and here is a hint: DO NOT let them drink out of the river, or any body of water, especially if they are not used to it. They could get sick, which is something you do not want to have to worry about.
Have your vet's number on file, and also the closest emergency vet's number. Our pup has some health issues, so I always make sure to know where the closest emergency vet is. You might be thinking, “Wow, she treats her pup like a child.” Well, she is like a child. She depends on us as a family to take care of her needs, whether it is us making sure her nutritional needs are met, or making sure that her health needs are met.
The other big thing to think about, when taking the pup or any pet to a campground, is making the reservations. Make sure 100 percent that they take the type of pet you have. Some campgrounds only allow dogs and cats, but not exotic pets, like birds or something along those lines. The other piece is making sure that they take your pup's breed. We as a family unit have to be careful with where we book, and make sure we are looking in the pet section of the policies. Our pup's breed is widely subjected to discrimination, so while looking at campgrounds, we need to make sure we really read the fine print.
Hopefully this article will help you and those fur babies. Remember to follow that internal compass!
WRITTEN May 03, 2021 at 12:00 PM
TAGS: rv living, pup
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Our Equipment! Part 1
We have acquired the soul of our RV adventure!
Stay tuned for more on our travels, and remember to Follow Your Internal Compass.
WRITTEN May 02, 2021 at 06:30 PM
TAGS: rv living, equipment
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RV Living, Tent Camping, and Car Camping
As we progress toward the joy and comfort of RV Living, we remember the times we’ve camped in a tent, as well as sleeping in the back of a Chevy Trailblazer more than once. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of both Tent and RV camping, and how we expect it to change from place to place.
Tent camping is different than RV living. Tent camping is a lot of work with setting up and tearing down. We imagine the same will be true with RV living, but it might be a tad simpler in setting up and tearing down. When we mention tearing down, it is exactly as it is written: We tear down camp while making sure we are putting things back where they belong. Our tent is currently sitting on our porch with the fly out. Why, you may be asking? It was wet when we tore down camp last year. You shouldn't put a wet tent in the carrying bag, and that is something we hopefully won’t have to worry about when RV living, besides the awning. The good thing about tent camping is: If you want to camp someplace where there’s no room for a travel trailer or motor home, you’re able to do it. Also, it is super hard to take the pup tent camping with us. We can’t go to certain states where it gets warm, or even be able to go enjoy stuff without bringing her along. Do not get us wrong, we love bringing her places with us. But museums, restaurants, theme parks, and similar places frown upon taking her with us. I don’t know why, she is the cutest thing ever! Also, the weather really could cramp your style when tent camping. When it rains, it pours. Literally countless times, we have been soaked and couldn’t put our tent completely in the bag, or if we did, as soon as we got home, we pop up the tent and pray it dries before the next rains come.
We are getting ready for our RV living adventure where we can take the pup with us. So when we go someplace where she isn't allowed (sad face), she will be able to have the comforts of a house, but on the road. This means A/C, a nice comfy bed, and of course, her favorite food! We all enjoy the comforts of home, so we will need to make it home. Home is where our heart is, that has always been traveling and seeing the USA. We will need to learn how to tow the travel trailer, which doesn't seem awfully hard, but that backing up can be kind of a tricky thing. So that is something we are not used to doing. All we had to do was put some poles in some fabric and pop it up! Also, sleeping will be kind of a change. Currently, we have a king size bed. Even though we have a travel trailer now, we still have a smaller bed as if we were tent camping. That’s how it worked out; we have a smaller rig, but it will have the needs that we have right now. It will also be a lot easier to bring our nephews along if they want to camp with us. Last year, we brought one of our young nephews camping with us in a tent in bad weather. When we say bad weather, we thought the tent was going to collapse because of the wind and rain. We all stayed dry because of the tarp over us, but it was super crowded and uncomfortable, with no room to keep him entertained. Luckily now, all we have to do is go into the cabinet and pick out a board game for them to play!
When going between tent camping sites, and even before tent camping, we slept in our Trailblazer. Now sleeping in the car or SUV is actually frowned upon in many states. When we traveled before, we would try to get to our destination and set up as quickly as we could so we could enjoy the couple days we had. You know, that work thing we adults have to do always called us back way too early. So, the SUV was the perfect place to sleep before getting to the destination. All we had to do was move the bags up front, climb in the back where our futon was, and lay our heads for the night. You may be asking, “Well, where did you park?” The answer is: Truck stops were a saving grace. We would go in, grab a shower, fill up the tank, and then head back to the Trailblazer with the gas receipt in the window. We always practiced safe sleeping in the SUV. When we say safe sleeping, we mean that we had the windows cracked, the doors locked, and always made sure we had the keys readily available if we were asked to leave. Which only happened once, but we found another place nearby. One state, in particular, has strict rules on sleeping in your car while at a campground, and that’s Florida. So we always suggest calling or looking up the laws and regulations when in a state. We have camped in our tent in four different states: New York, Florida, Louisiana, and Washington State. Our favorite, by far, was Washington.
We hope, with this article, it gives you some information on Car Camping, Tent Camping, and RV Living. Drop us a comment if you have any questions or advice. And as always, we hope you continue to Follow Your Internal Compass.