Friday, March 22, 2024

RV Red Alert! Buying an Older RV? + New Campground Announcements

 

Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. Thank you for supporting  this free weekly blog. If you wish, send $10 once a year via PayPal to janetgroene at yahoo.com

  SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S LATE BREAKING REPORTS OF OPENING, CLOSING AND PROPOSED CAMPGROUNDS

 

Buying A Retro RV?
8 Hidden Traps to Avoid


    The hunt is on all over the world for vintage travel trailers. Many buyers  want to flip them for a quick profit.  Other buyers want to restore them for use as on-site campers and even as roadworthy RV’s. 

 

Not all parks accept older RV's

    You may get a great buy, but restoring an old trailer or motorhome has hazards to your budget as well as your  life.

 

 

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL.When was the RV built?  In 1989, the U.S. Government banned certain asbestos building products, including flooring felt. However manufacturing, processing, and importing these products was allowed until August of 1990 and they were sold until August, 1992. One common use for asbestos then was in RV floor tiles. Flaking lead paints? Lead paints were in use until 1978. Removing old materials, or continuing to live with them,  could be hazardous to your health. 

 

Flaking paint may be a sign of trouble in the sub surface

COSMETICS aren’t easy to fix if  former owners have slapped on layers paint over a bad surface, or  put new tile over a rotting floor. It can be a huge job to undo these cover-ups before you can do real cosmetic repairs. Some ugly stains and smells, such as black mold, rust, mildew, wood rot, delamination and some types of aluminum corrosion have 

 

a life of their own and continue to grow, creep and destroy.  Vehicles that were flooded by sea water are famous for lifelong electrical problems because salt water corrosion continues to migrate through the wiring.


Wood rot, rust, cracks can lurk under paneling

LEAKS. Dry rot, or wood rot, is a living fungus that travels and destroys, often behind the scenes. Worse still, the  water leaks that feed the fungus may be almost impossible to find. A tiny leak under a window seal may channel water down an exterior wall to a structural member and across to the other side before it exits.  One woman bought a travel trailer, hitched it up, pulled away, and only the hitch came with her. It pulled right out of the rotted frame.

 



 When wood rot is found, dig it out until you come to sound wood, which may be many feet away from the telltale spot. The source of the leak must also be found and fixed. One owner found and traced a small break in the sealant around the rooftop air conditioner. Water entered  under the AC, traveled the length of the roof, then downward and around corners to come out in a rear tire well. The entire RV structure was riddled with rot.   



TERMITES. We’ve all heard about this hapless buyer. Her travel trailer’s inner walls and outer skin looked good. Then the kitchen cupboards fell down because termites had eaten the wooden uprights between the two walls. Roaches and rodents may also have set up lairs deep in the RV.

WIRING in an old trailer  is probably frayed and brittle. It needs to be replaced from stem to stern with new and heavier duty wiring and more outlets for today’s needs. You need proper grounding and exterior lights as required for highway use.
    Have the work done by an electrician who knows both 12-volt and 110-volt  systems as well as RV’s. RV’s move,  vibrate, flex. Wires need proper routing, shielding from chafe and  securing.. This is also the time to do proper new installations for a generator, inverter, solar panels and cables.



Mildew and black mold may be seen or unseen

PLUMBING, usually plastic, may be brittle or worse in an old RV. If it wasn’t properly winterized over the years, there could be cracks.  The RV's tanks, traps, hoses and pipes could be filthy with stagnant water and stubborn growths. Sealants dry out and crack. Joints twist and flex with road motion. Some or all plumbing may need to be replaced.

 

 

 

 PROPANE plumbing is also subject to leaks, which can be deadly. Some early RV’s had gas lights as well as a gas furnace, stove and refrigerator. Remove re-route and replace to assure that the entire system,  including the tanks,  is up to code.

 

  


 

 


 CHASSIS. Metals rust and are subject to metal fatigue and galvanic corrosion. Tires weaken with age and sun damage,  even if it doesn’t show in the tread.  Bolts vibrate and loosen. Welds crack or weaken. If you’ll be taking a vintage RV on the road, have an expert check it out where the rubber meets the road.  That’s literally the BOTTOM LINE. 


Happy Camping



Farley Halladay is a 50-ish widow whose husband died in an unexplained fall from the mainmast of their ketch. She's now in Florida, operating a charterboat booking agency online while caregiving, cooking her favorite galley recipes and solving crimes with the help of her dog, Scuppers, and her wacky friends. If you love cozy mysteries with a salty setting, light up your e-reader tonight with Book 4 of the Yacht Yenta series.

April Avenger is available for Kindle, Nook. Google Play and most other ebook formats.  https://amzn.to/3EKgaoP

 

         CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

This is hard news gathered from local sources in the US and Canada. It may be premature, tentative or incomplete. No endorsement of any park, campground, company or service is implied. Follow up on your own.  

 *New since January in Estacada, Oregon, is the River Mill RV Park, a member of the RV Inn Style Resorts family. Winter rates at the park which is 30 miles southeast of Portland, are $45 nightly or $750 a month. Summer rates go to $65 nightly.  The park offers full hookups, showers, a laundry and a rec center with kitchen. If your RV  was built before 2000, send pictures for approval. The rig must be fully functioning.

* Another campground is closing, thanks to trashy “campers” who left the place in a mess. For two years, overnight camping and campfires will not be permitted at San Carpoforo Creek Beach, Big Sur, California.

 Be at Askew’s Land RV Campgound in Edwards, Mississippi for the Spring Soiree on April 20. Camping folks will pour in from all over to join in for a day of vendors, music, food trucks, crafts, contests and children’s activities. RV and tent sites are available; non-campers pay $5 admission for the day's program, which ends with a sunset concert. 

In Yellowknife, North West Territories, a 22-site RV campground is one step closer to reality. The proposed Kam Lake campground near Grace Lake has passed its first reading at the city council. There’s also talk of creating a 9-hole golf course on this property.


* West of Fort Myers in Alva, Florida, locals are pondering a proposal for a 700-unit RV campground.  The small community on the Caloosahatchee River is known for warm winters and its historic chapel and library.

    * New in Sneedville, Tennessee is Out on the Creek Campground & RV Park. It  has full hookups and now WIFi has been added. (423) 40-3252)  Book a creekside campsite and go kayaking, hiking and bicycling.

    * Newly opened near Fredericksburg, Texas is Skye Texas Hill Country Resort,  (888) 412-7555.  Amenties  include cart rentals, a resort style swimming pool with spa,  free high-speed WiFi, bathhouses, a general store, clubhouse, laundry, ball courts and a pet wash station. Every site has EV charging. Fast charging is available at extra cost. The resort has its own vineyards.


* A new campground is promised in Abilene, Texas, home of the Whiskey Rodeo, historic Lake Fort Phantom Hill and a menu of things to do indoors and outside. The 25-acre site approved for the new RV park will have 40 RV sites, a seven-acre wildflower meadow and a future butterfly reserve.  Keep up with developments at (www.) AbileneVisitors.com/


Mother Day is in May....

MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GIVES MOM DELICIOUS, 

SHORTCUT RECIPES FOR RV OR ANYWHERE

In one,  handsome paperback, Mom can have more than 270 easy recipes and tips to take on the road and use at home too. Order Cooking Aboard Your RV  by Janet Groene, (Ragged Mountain Press) at any book store or have Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you.  https://amzn.to/3nNndWY 







 






Friday, March 15, 2024

An RV-ers Guide to Pet Insurance + New RV Parks

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S LATE BREAKING

CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS 



Points to Ponder:
Pet Health Insurance for RV Travelers

Copypright Janet Groene 2024

    As a traveler, you can’t be sure where you’ll be when a health emergency occurs for yourself or your pet. The insurance policy sold by your hometown vet could TOO LOCAL for your needs.


You are seeking the best coverage with the best customer service at the price point that works best for your budget, your travels and your pet.

 

 

     Most insurers offer levels of overage based on three basic price  categories:
    Maximum Coverage, usually $1500 to Unlimited; Reimbursement, usually 70% to 90% and Deductible, commonly $100 to $1,000.

 Within these categories, there may be additional choices such as one deductible for an accident and zero cost for routine checkups. The most common policies are comprehensive, accident-only or preventive only.
   
    * Is there a discount for multiple pets? For a micro-chipped pet? For paying premiums annually rather than monthly?

    * If you are incapacitated and have to put the pet in a kennel, is there coverage for that?

 

    * Are premiums higher for your breed?  For your pet’s age?  Is your breed known to be subject to hereditary or congenital problems?      

             
    * What about long-term care or specialists? Dental care? Vaccines? Special foods? Medications? 


    * Some insurance policies address behavioral problems for pets that require special training or therapy.

    * Liability coverage (your pet injures a person or property) may be included in your pet insurance policy or in other policies you carry. 

    * As a paying customer  you are also concerned with the quality of customer service online, in person by mail and by phone. 


    * While many “how to choose  pet insurance”  reviews and “Five Best Pet Insurance Policies”  are found online, some are posted by insurance companies and slanted to the type of coverage they provide.  Unbiased comparisons are available from sources such as ConsumerReports.org, BestMoney.com and Forbes.com/  You can also check with Better Business Bureaus and individual state insurance fraud bureaus. For details on how to file a complaint see  https://www.peopleclerk.com/post/consumer-report-pet-insurance/ 


USA and Canada:

CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

 This late breaking news is from local media, real estate  journals and zoning requests. It may be premature or incomplete. Check out each tip on your own, then pounce on reservations before word gets out.


* Long closed, the  Mt. Baker RV campground in Cranbrook, British Columbia may reopen as a boondock site for this summer. There will be a washroom and dump station but no individual hookups. Stays will be limited to seven days or less. The future of the campground is still being debated while new water works are being installed. Stay tuned.

* Phoenix RV Park & Storage in Salem, Oregon, has new owners. The park has 107 RV sites with full hookups. The clubhouse has a common kitchen and fitness center. Outside is a playground, dog park and picnic areas. No changes have been announced at this time.


    *Rock the rim at Payne’s Prairie Preserve State Park, Micanopy, Florida on April 20 when the ranger-led Rim Ramble Hike focuses on the unique nature of this place.   Site of an enormous sinkhole, this site is biologically, geologically, and historically unique. Sign up to hike the 1.5-mile La Chua Trail. Groups are limited to 25 people (no pets except service animals. Call the ranger station at (352) 466-3397. 

Play to stay a while to discover all this huge park has to offer. It's also on the 16-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail and the Florida Birding Trail.  RV camp sites are back-in. Most have 30-amp service; some have 50 amps. Camping and cabin reservations (800) 326-3521. The park also offers equestrian campsites, which can be reached only on foot, horseback or bicycle.

* Near  Walhalla, North Dakota, Pembina Gorge Recreation Area is becoming a state park. That means a campground will be added! The plan calls for  50 or more RV sites with power and water, restrooms with showers, a playground and possibly a visitor center with learning areas, trails and a nature-themed playground.  Meanwhile the area is open to day visitors, hikers, equestrians and snowmobilers. The new project begins by mid-May. A completion date hasn’t been announced.

    * Ground breaking for the posh  new Locker’s Southern View Luxury Motorcoach Resort is set for early summer near Nashville, Tennessee. The resort will have 285 deeded lots slated for Class A and Super C class motorhomes. As a lot owner, you can design your own patio, outdoor kitchen and other features. Owners can also put their sites in a rental pool. About half the sites will be available for overnighters. 

Luxury amenities will include a clubhouse, swimming pool, hot tub, gym, conference center, library, concierge and laundry. Phase One will open in 2025. Phase Two is expected to have a restaurant and an owners’ restaurant. A shuttle will take guests to Nashville shows and attractions, 25 minutes from the resort. Get on the mail list at https://lsvmotorcoachresort.com/

* RV Travelers will soon have a new place to vacation on the Space Coast. Approved in Sebastian, Florida is the Open Spaces Luxury RV Resort & Tiny Homes. An opening date hasn’t yet been prorjected . The 3.5-acre resort is slated to have 13 RV sites as well as some tiny homes, full hookups, high speed internet, security, showers, laundry and outdoor cooking spaces.

    * In Louisiana, two state park campgrounds are being upgraded to full hookups. They are Fontainbleau and Tickfaw state parks. The project continues through the summer and should be completed in time for fall travelers.

 

* Camp on site at The Caverns in Grundy County, Tennessee during the Big Mouth Bluegrass Festival August 17-18. Hear music above ground and in the caves. Bring your own instrument for open jam sessions. Hear appearances by big-name artists. Attend workshops. Food trucks will be on hand. Campsites are free but oversize vehicles such as RV’s pay $99 for a site without hookups. General admission tickets start at $79 for the two days. Children ages 12 and under are free. (931) 516-9724


* A proposed master plan is in place for a  new look at Flinty Campground in Flin Flon, Manitoba.The home  of the famous Blueberry Jam Music Gathering will double its number of campsites and add new pathways, more outdoor seating and amenities such as mini-golf. Stay tuned.

    * Parking will be free at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas during the massive DFW RV Party, scheduled this year for April 11-14. Seas of  RV’s will fill the playing  field. See trailers  to Texas-size fifth wheels and luxurious Class A pushers. More than an RV show, it’s a barbecue, concert and a massive meet-and-greet with seminars, demo’s and entertainers.  Details at (www.) DFWRVPARTY.com

* Egyptian Hills Resort in Marion, Illinois now flies the KOA flag. The resort has 44 RV sites with full hookups plus world of watersports, live music in season, a snack shop serving pizza and ice cream and a playground. The resort’s location in southern Illinois is directly on the viewing route for the eclipse.

    * New in Toquerville, Utah (near St. George),  Settlers Junction RV Park lies on the scenic Zion byway. Amenities include a swimming pool, ball parks and courts, putting greens, a playground and a business center in the spacious clubhouse. The resort offers direct access to the area’s ATV and UTV trails.
 

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Friday, March 8, 2024

One Solo RV Woman's Story + Where Are all the RV Sites?

 

 Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. To donate $10 a year in support of this free blog, use your PayPal account to janetgroene@yahoo.com

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S CAMPGROUNDS: GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

 


The open road is waiting for you and your RV




 One Solo Woman’s RV Story

 

 

 

 

Patty Bialak's story begins with her troubled youth in a home dominated by parental discord, a mentally ill sister, and no one to turn to for such simple things as attention, affection, and guidance. 

What does this have to do with Solo Woman RV-ing? Read on.

 

Does peace lie here for you?

Bialak wandered through life without direction and fell into one bad relationship after another. Eventually, she escaped to Europe, where she found a job on a Danish car ferry, discovered love, returned to the United States, married, and returned to college while facing a failing marriage.

Graduating from college changed her life yet again. She began the slow, challenging process of  moving from adventure to adventure. Her career took off, and she had all the financial success she could have ever imagined. In her books she says she still felt unfulfilled.

After another failed marriage, she met a much younger man who introduced her to the world of recreational vehicles. Together, they took off for a life on the road. Although that relationship failed as well, it led her to a solo life on the road and showed her that life is what you choose it to be.

    Patty Bialak’s book What Now? A Memoir of Self Realization was published  in 2010 but it’s timeless and just as relevant today as it will be tomorrow. It's about a woman’s growth while on an RV journey.
   
    Patty told  me that at one time she lived on a whopping $5,500 to $6,000 a month in luxury motorcoaches that had mortgages of $1,200 to $6,000 a month. A college graduate and a  successful career woman, she didn’t find the RV life cheap, just “wonderful”. Adding in insurance and fuel plus vet bills for the cats, she found that expenses added up quickly. 

     After a third  failed marriage, Bilak bought a 24-foot RV, loaded up her two elderly cats, hitched up her Honda Civic four wheels down and hit the road. For ten years she traveled alone and content. Then she wrote the book, which is available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions

    She stayed a month at a time in RV parks, saving money by paying by the month.  (I too recommend traveling slowly, not just to take advantage of monthly rates but to get a true picture of each area.)  She avoided restaurants, did her own healthful cooking, and saved further by buying her clothes at thrift shops.

    Towing her small car helped save on fuel costs. She says she always purchased the extended warranty on all three of her diesel pusher RV’s, a large expense that usually cost her $2,000 to $4,000 a year. Her cars didn’t have extended warranties, so she wasn’t able to tell me her budget for them but  toad costs must be taken into consideration if you’re planning to tow a dinghy.  
   
I don’t know where life has led Patty Bialak in the years since her book came out but her insights on life are interesting and her observations of RV life invaluable. Her book makes excellent armchair reading for any woman who is RV-ing or thinking about it.


    What Now? A Memoir of Self-Realizing is about a triumph of the spirit in a troubled girl whose journey by RV was a ride to success. 

 

 

 


 

 

 

LIVING ABOARD YOUR RV, 4TH EDITION 

Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition, A Guide to the Full-time Life on Wheels is my own story of ten happily homeless years on the go with my late husband, Gordon Groene. We made a living as a travelwriter-photographer team and were constantly on the go. There are many ways to make a living on the road, so the book applies to anyone--young or retired, couples and singles and families with children.  I recommend it as just one of the many books on full-timing. We all have different goals, abilities, budgets, so read a variety of books on the topic.    https://amzn.to/3knbvll

                          
              CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS
We troll local media, real estate reports and city and county zoning requests, etc.  to learn of future RV parks or campgrounds US and Canada. Information may be premature or tentative, so follow up on your own and get an inside track of where new RV sites will be found. 

 



Reserve ASAP. It’s Cajun & Creole Heritage Week March 19-24 at Lakeview Beach & RV Campground in Eunice, Louisiana. Participate in a world of authentic culture experiences from cooking to music, all headed by experts in their fields. Choose a day rate or the full participation package. The 42-acre RV park has 95 RV sites with full hookups. There are also tent sites and cottages. Email balfaweek@gmail.com/

  
            * It’s a GO in Oxford, Mississippi for a 150-site, 45-acre  RV and cottage resort with swimming pool, water slides, paved sites, full hookups, hot tub, fitness facility,  a shaded playground, zen garden and much more for luxury camping.  Stay tuned as the Roundabout Oxford RC & Water Resort takes shape. 

*Do you fly-in camp, or just like to camp around airplanes, pilots, former pilots, future pilots,  hang gliding, drones, RC planes and stunning scenery? River Bend Aero Ranch east of Mena, Arkansas, is the place for you. The 153-acre property has RV sites, a 3,300-foot grass runway (they say it's not yet on sectional charts) and it’s surrounded by national forest. The owners have a Bonanza (hers) and Twin Comanche (his). The area  has endless things to do and explore: hiking trails, waterfalls, spring wildflowers, flora and fauna. An eatery is just a mile away and Mena, nine miles away, has shopping and dining. (479) 243-8100

    * Decades of five-star family  tourism in Old Forge, New York are kept alive now that the old Enchanted Forest Water Safari has new owners.  Water Safari Report promises new imporvements. Old campground reservations will be honored. Stay tuned for the next chapter in this story.

*  Good things are coming to Little Wolf Beach & Campground in Tupper Lake, New York. Renovations will include new bathrooms, a new boat launch and additional parking. 

    * The Royal Gorge BLM Field Office in Colorado announces the reopening of Sand Gulch campground.  The number of sites has been doubled and there are new picnic tables, fire rings, additional parking and four new vault toilets. Reserve your site at recreation.gov/

* Olich Creek Farm east of Enderly, British Columbia  is actually a 27-acre sanctuary for rescued animals but two lucky families at a time are welcome to camp here to react with ponies, sheep, goat and a pig. The RV site is $50 a night, the tent site $35. Reservations are essential at olichcreekcarm@gmail.com/ 

* Mark your calendar for June 22,  the date to see Jeff Foxworthy LIVE! in a family-friendly performance at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. The park’s flashy new campground is slated to open this year, so sign up at wildadventures.com/ for news of the opening date.

    * New in 2023, Sun Outdoors Chincoteague Bay RV Park in Virginia  offers sunshine, seashores, a playground, private fishing pier, food trucks, outdoor swimming pool, Moke rentals and all the amenities of a luxury resort. Go to sunoutdoors.com, then Chincoteague to learn about the three-night specials.

* Hopes are dead for 109-lot RV and cabin park in Fife Lake Village, Michigan. Locals objected and the developer moved on. RV travelers will take their tourism dollars elsewhere.

    * In Cold Lake, Alberta, Gateway RV Park is closing permanently. The city council hasn’t ruled out the idea of finding a new home for it.

* For now it’s a GO for a new RV park in Clarkston Heights, Idaho.. Plans for a 50-site park on four acres that were previously used by a church.  So far there is just a conditional use permit for the property, so stay tuned as this story develops.

    * Austin Lake RV Park & Cabins in  Toronto, Ohio has been adding improvements for 78 years. When it opens for the season on May 1, all RV sites but one will have a concrete pad, full hookups and 50-amp service. The park has an 80-acre lake, themed weekends, foosball at the concession stand, cornhole, cabins, a Gem Mine store, pontoon boat rentals,  hiking and walking trails, golf cart rentals and a “Big Foot” bus ride on Saturday nights.

* Near Solon Springs, Wisconsin, new camping facilities are tentatively planned for Mooney Dam County Park. The five-year plan calls for a dock at the beach area, a new dump station and shower house, a better boat launch and  upgraded walking trails, signage and kiosks.

In the South, SNOWBIRD CAMPGROUNDS GROW FOR 2024-25

* On the Gulf of Mexico side of the Sunshine State, Torrey Trails RV & Golf Resort in Bowling Green, Florida started with 158 RV sites, added 210 and will soon add another 361 to create a community of 729 RV-ers, The RV resort has a nine-hole golf course, large swimming pool, sports courts and a spacious clubhouse overlooking the lake.

    * Just south of the bulging city that The Villages has become in Central Florida is Idlewild Lodge & RV Park, Lake Panasoffkee, Florida. With the advantage of popular  Lake Panasoffkee and and a state park, the RV resort is making improvements such as pontoon boat rentals, newly pave-stoned sites, boat slips, a café and poolside cabanas.

*Florida’s Panhandle and Alabama’s “Redneck Riviera” are not immune from the explosive growth of snowbird RV housing. Sun Outdoors Orange Beach in Orange Beach, Alabama is just west of Pensacola. Its improvements include 300 new RV sites,  a clubhouse, swimming and lap pools, restaurant, arcade, playground and a dog park with dog washing station.

    * New in the summer of 2024 will be the new, 46-acre Paradise Found RV Resort and Marina in Theodore, Alabama. The luxury resort  has 250 RV slots, many of them overlooking Mobile Bay. There’s a large swimming pool, indoor movies, sports court and a marina with watersports rentals.

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Never miss another post. Receive a quick email each time new posts go up here. Email janetgroene@yahoo.com and put RV Yes in the topic line. Your email will never be sold nor shared.


 


Friday, March 1, 2024

8 Ways to Save RV Battery Power +Campground Good/Bad News

Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. To ask about placing your ad on all six Groene sites for one year, one low rate, email janetgroene@yahoo.com 

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S LATE BREAKING NEWS OF NEW RV SITES TO COME 

Then grab reservations before word gets around. 


8 Smart Way to Save

RV Battery Power

Copyright Janet Groene

By now you know that your RV batteries allow you to light up and cool down even if you are not plugged in at a campground or running a generator. 

Known as the “house” batteries (as different from your engine’s “start” battery)  they are designed for long periods of use. Even if you operate on household power through an inverter, these batteries are an important part of the system. They get charged when you plug into an electric hookup and may also be charged by solar panels or by running the engine. 

How long and how strong depends on how you use them. Here’s how to make them last longer.


1. First, know which items in your RV draw on battery power. It isn’t just lights and a 12-volt fridge. It’s  also unseen  pumps, electronic ignition in the gas stove and gas furnace, standby power  in entertainment electronics, the electric awning, vent fans, slides  and the chargers for your phones and other devices. It’s easy to forget that you’re using battery power when, say, flushing the toilet or  running the electric step in and out.

2. Learn new habits when it comes to using juice. You can’t just take it for granted any more. For example, when running the fridge on battery power you might turn off the automatic icemaker, which uses extra power. Many appliances come with energy-saving modes described in the user manual. 

3.  Even if you’re not tech savvy, have an general idea of what appliances are the biggest battery drainers. Generally, that’s anything that makes heat such as a 12-volt hair curler or slow cooker. Ever notice the lights go dim when a motor, such as the AC compressor,  kicks in? That too is a clue to high energy use. 

Dozens of appliances are now rechargeable

4. As soon as you plug into shore power make time to fully charge all your rechargeables including tools, flashlights and the Dust Buster.

5.  As much as possible switch to LED lights. They give much more brightness for much less power. 



6. You don’t have to go to a complete solar installation to make use of sun power. The RV market offers solar vent fans that are easily installed on existing overhead vent spaces. Automotive and office supply  markets offer inexpensive window sill solar chargers for phones and other small appliances. A small solar fan cools the refrigerator vent when the RV is parked in hot sun. See what's new  in these gadgets at RV shows and at dealers. 


7. How much energy waste occurs on the outside of your RV? Replace awning lights with LED bulbs. (Better still, join the Dark Sky movement.) Use portable lanterns outside instead of the RV’s "house" lights. Keep tabs on the kids when they are using battery power such as games, entertainments and 12-volt inflaters for beach toys. 





With a French press, heat water on the campfire or gas stove

8.  Explore alternatives to 12-volt appliances that drain the “house” batteries. Heat water on the gas stove  or campfire to use in a drip coffee maker or French press. Devise a fireless cooker to replace the slow cooker. Snuggle under a goose down duvet instead of an electric blanket.


Mother Day is in May....

MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GIVES MOM DELICIOUS, 

SHORTCUT RECIPES FOR RV OR ANYWHERE

In one,  handsome paperback, Mom can have more than 270 easy recipes and tips to take on the road and use at home too. Order Cooking Aboard Your RV  by Janet Groene, (Ragged Mountain Press) at any book store or have Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you.  https://amzn.to/3nNndWY 


 


CAMPGROUND GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

*Rustic Ridge RV Park in Gentry, Arkansas, near historic Siloam Springs, has added 27 shaded RV sites with full hookups. The five-acre park has a clubhouse, arcade, cabins, playground and plenty of grilling spots. Glamping sites are soon to come.   (479) 777-8897

* Reservations through Labor Day are  available for Campground 2 at Calhoun Falls State Park, South Carolina. However, the promised renovations to the campground are delayed. Work  won’t begin until Fall, 2024.  (864) 447-8267


* FMCA, an association for RV owners, knows how to throw a party. This year's rally is in Tucson, Arizona March 20-23 and non-members are welcome! Drop in to see the displays and activities ($50 daily)  or purchase the entire package including th entire program plus camping on site in your own RV. Learn more about this group’s activities, get-togethers and a long list of benefits and discounts. Go to fmca.com and sign up ASAP.  

* There is hope for a new campground in Morton Township, Canadian Lakes, Michigan. If authorities approve the proposal there will be campsites, full hookups, shuffleboard, mini-golf, shower houses, pickleball, an arcade, laundry, playground with jumping pillow and a swimming pool with cabanas. Stay tuned when the name is announced. 




  * RV camping + bison farm agritourism is a win-win. In Culpepper, Virginia, where the 300-acre Cibola Farms has applied for a conditional permit allowing a small development overlooking the bison herd. Proposed are sites for seven self-contained RV’s and a few tiny homes for overnight rental. One AIRBB cottage is already available. See Campo Cibola at VisitCulpepperVA.com/

* Bad news/good news comes from Wapella County, Iowa, where the Pioneer Ridge Nature Area campground will be closed all summer. The good  news is that $500K in  improvements and upgrades are going in, allowing the campsite total to grow to 20.  The conservation area, popular with hikers an nature lovers,  covers almost 1,000 acres.


* New at the Buena Vista Wildlife Safari and RV Park in Evant, Texas (near Waco) are twin bison babies born with  rare white coats. The RV park has concrete pads, full hookups, free Wi-Fi and a gift shop. There’s also a petting zoo, small  swimmin’ hole, fish pond and plenty of picnic tables and fire pits. For $15 adult and $13 per child, drive through the safari to see hundreds of wild  animals. Reservations buenavistawildlifesafari.com/buena-vista-rv-park/



* The state of Michigan currently has ten state parks where RV campers can find full hook-ups. Next year 44 campsites in Otsego State Park, Gaylord, Michigan will ALSO have sewer and water hookups and individual electric stanchions offering 50-amp power. Keep abreast of this project because some park closures will be required. Also, site numbers will change after the improvements are complete. 

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Janet Groene's personal pages at RV Travel are an online, easy-read magazine of meaty, sometimes controversial feature articles covering 16 topics on camping and RV life.  Go to https://www.rvtravel.com/author/janet












Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Share RV Expenses? Maybe Not.

 

Blog copyright Janet Groene, all rights reserved. To ask about placing one ad, one link for one whole year on all six Groene sites for one low rate, email janetgroene@yahoo.com

 

 SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S LATE BREAKING CAMPGROUND NEWS FROM OUR LOCAL SOURCES.  Then come back next week for more.

 


 

RV Trip Sharing Is Caring, Or Is It?

    My friend Cheryl* is on a tight budget so she was thrilled at the idea of sharing costs on her upcoming Alaska RV trip. Her niece Jenna, Jenna’s six-year-old daughter and their Pomeranian were eager to go. It was thought to be a cost-sharing deal. Then things started to go south.
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*To avoid embarrassment, real names are not used
   

 What are the roadblocks and potholes ahead if you decide to take a guest on board your RV to share costs?


    * What is the nature of your relationship with the guest? If you’re the parent, aunt or grandparent, or are known to have a higher income, is it usually assumed that you pick up checks,  send gifts, host the baby  showers and can be tapped easily for emergency loans?


Agree on terms ahead of time

     * Unless things are hammered out ahead of time, hard feelings can start as early as the first fuel stop. Are you sharing all costs of the trip or just the gas?  At this fuel stop you may also need quart of oil and next time you need to use the coin-op vacuum and tire pump. Should these costs be shared?

    * The true cost of operating an RV is far more than filling the fuel tank. On the trip you’ll need routine maintenance plus propane and generator fuel.

    * As the driver, you hand over money at every toll booth. Should tolls go on the shared bill? 

 

    * If grocery costs are to be split, what about odd costs such as for things you don’t use such as dog food, alcohol or high priced energy drinks? 

 

     * What if you campground bill shows extra costs such as your guest’s greens fees or spa treatments, and the treats Jenna's daughter is charging at the snack bar?

    * Road slop is real, especially in Alaska, and wash-downs at truck stops can add up. Should Jenna pay half at the truck wash?

    * You divide up the chores and that’s working OK. Then Jenna volunteers to do the laundry while you cook dinner. You keep a stash of quarters on hand for the machines but costs for her extra loads are adding up as the weeks go by.
 
    * With guests on board you have to stop at dump stations much more often than when you are alone. Should your guest pay half the fee? More than half since she brought her daughter?

 

    * Jenna and her daughter spend hours every day on the campground wi-fi, which is costly.   Should you split the complete campground bill or ask Jenna to pay for the Wi-Fi?  

    * You have a campground membership, which slashes nightly costs greatly, but Jenna has her heart set on tkaing her daughter to a famous theme park with an expensive  campground where you'll pay full price. Who pays the $70-per-night  difference? 


    Talk it out ahead of time. Hard feelings can ruin a friendship AND your travel budget.
 

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LIVING ABOARD YOUR RV, 4TH EDITION 

Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition, A Guide to the Full-time Life on Wheels is my own story of ten happily homeless years on the go with my late husband, Gordon Groene. We made a living as a travelwriter-photographer team and were constantly on the go. There are many ways to make a living on the road, so the book applies to anyone--young or retired, couples and singles and families with children.  I recommend it as just one of the many books on full-timing. We all have different goals, abilities, budgets, so read a variety of books on the topic.    https://amzn.to/3knbvll

 

CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

* According to the Defuniak Herald, plans for a proposed RV park in the Florida panhandle are moving ahead.  The Next Adventure RV Park in Walton County, Florida will have 27 RV pads, a clubhouse, office and bathhouse. If you love camping along Florida’s Emerald Coast, it will be a long wait but do keep current on this project and jump on board as soon as reservations go live.
   
* Plan to be in the Santa Ynez Valley wine country for St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)  when the Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton, California has its annual Wine & Chili Festival. The full-service RV resort has free Wi-Fi, playgrounds, a dog park, full hook-ups, poolside cabanas and much more. On this special day enjoy food trucks, live music, dance performances, wine, beer, spirits, salsa and chili tastings and loads of fun for the whole family. Festival tickets are free for children age 4 and under.  (805) 688-3716.

    * Spring will bring a long list of upgrades to Devil’s Fork Campground in Dungannon, Virginia. New wll be a camp store, retail space for tents and hookups for six RV’s. A dump station is expected to be finished by April 1.
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     * “Substantial” improvements are coming to the campground at  Selkirk Shores State Park, New York starting in September. Each of the 130 campsites will get crushed stove surfaces and the entire infrastructure will be upgraded. The park will be open for day use during the project. Completion is expected by 2026.

 * A $500K grant has been issued to Havana Glen Park in Montour Falls, New York for improvements that will include additional campsites and showers with showers with ADA access.

* After a five-year furlough, Hickory Hill Camping Resort in Bath, New York is back, but  without its KOA signage. The 210-acre resort has full bookups at most sites, water and electric at others. Amenities include a splash pad, pool and a new website. The new family owners are the same folks who owned the popular camping spot in the past. Don’t miss the Steuben County Fair, an annual tradition since 1819. Come back to see what’s new, what old.  Call (607) 776-4345 or email reservations@hickoryhillcampingresort.com/

    * Alas! After 60 years Whitey’s Fish Camp on Fleming Island, south of Jacksonville, Florida  on the St. Johns River  is for sale by family owners. For now the restaurant and campground remain open. This may be your last chance to see a real Southern fish camp.

    *  River Dance RV Park in Gypsum, Colorado is growing from 40 to more than 200 sites. The majority will be for tiny homes and park model RV’s, so RV travelers need to grab reservations as soon as they open. . Short- and long-term rentals will be available year round at the 78-are park along the Eagle River.

* Wannigan Regional Park in Frazee, Minnesota now belongs to the city of Frazee thanks to a grant from the state’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The park will have three camping areas, to  be completed in stages. Three trail systems go through the scenic park, known for its historic covered bridge and for tranquil padding and hiking.

    * Now that OU  sports teams have been admitted to the Southeastern Conference,  more housing is needed for loyal sports fans who will be pouring into Norman, Oklahoma. A 142-acre wooded property, to be named  Liberty Point, will have a luxury RV resort, playground, adventure park, dog park, mini-golf, bike rentals and bike rentals. During football season, a shuttle will take fans to the stadium. An opening is expected in time for the OU 2025 football season.

    * Here’s good news for campers at Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro, Kentucky. The park will soon have an additional 14 RV and camping sites with electric hookups.

    * In Sedona, Arizona, the annual Open Studio Tour is scheduled for April 26-28. Go to visitsedona.com for details on this self-guided, self-timed opportunity to visit 50 artists in their private workplaces. Map out your own route through the area and get campground reservations ASAP in a suitable location. Further information is available from Mike Upp at (503) 789.4437. 

 * New in West Columbia, South Carolina at the Big Rig Friendly RV Resort will be 33 additional sites, completing Phase Three of the 186-site resort. By May, the swimming pool is expected to be open and more pickleball courts should be ready by then too. Spacious campsites are 70 to 120 feet long and eventually are accommodate up to 277 RV’s.

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