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Roadtrekingmike

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  1. Roadtrekingmike
    That’s my old iPhone 5 on the left. The new gigantic iPhone 6 Plus on the right.
    For as 10 million other people have done over the past two weeks, I’ve upgraded to the new and very large iPhone 6 Plus.
    It’s massive 5.5-inch size was a big reason.
    I spend a lot of time online. Too much, in fact. And my eyes and my thumbs appreciate the extra real estate the new iPhone provides.
    The first thing I did after transferring all my apps and settings over to the new phone from iCloud (a process that took about 45 minutes on my home Wi-Fi network) was head out to the RV and see if the new phone fits in the Wilson Sleek cell phone booster I use for connectivity while boondocking in areas with weak cellular service. It does. The Sleek has adjustable arms that grip the 6 Plus just fine.
    The only time I use the Sleek with a cell phone is when I need to make a call in a marginal area. The rest of the time, my Verizon Mi-Fi data card provides the Internet connection for my various devices. But it’s nice to know that the new iPhone 6 Plus will fit.
    Besides the larger screen size, there are eight main reasons why I chose the iPhone 6 Plus.
    But before I list them … please … be nice. Like religion and politics, conversations about computers, mobile devices and brand loyalties can get real nasty. So if you don’t want or need these features, or if you use another platform or operating system, then good for you. This post is not aimed at you. This is for the many who do use the iPhone and are wondering what the new big one is like.
    Here are the eight things I like most about this new phone, compared to the iPhone 5 I had been using:
    The new camera on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is the best Ive seen on any smartphone, especially with the new features on the iOS 8 operating system like slow motion and time lapse photography. I’ll do some demos for you later this week.
    Image stabilization is now available for the videos I shoot on the iPhone 6 Plus when my professional video camera is unavailable or I want to post a quick video on social media.
    The 6 Plus is faster and reputedly has a longer battery life. Since I just got it, I haven’t been able to put that to the test. But I will.
    The new Swype keyboard option (that’s the one thing I liked the most during my brief fling with the Android OS and Samsung some months back) lets me really input text fast, with fewer fat finger mistakes.
    The soon-to-be available Apple Pay, the new short-range wireless payments system for the 6 and 6 Plus, which integrates with Touch ID. It will soon be released as a software update. This is going to be huge.
    Lots of memory. For those like who take a lot of photos and videos, like to watch movies and load up on music, the new 128GB storage limit on the 6 is almost enough of a reason to upgrade.
    The iPhone 6 Plus has full HD, 1920 x 1080 display. That’s not yet available on other iPhone models, including the 6.
    The iPhone 6 offers absolutely fantastic health and fitness functionality. Well… maybe not just yet. They’re still working a couple of unexpected last minute glitches out of a couple apps. But those apps – I’ve seen a preview of them – are coming soon.

    As I am getting used to the iPhone 6 Plus, I was surprised that I have not been challenged in using it as a phone. It is big and I’ve seen others say it just feels weird held up to your ear.As I write this, I just finished a half hour radio interview using my new iPhone 6 Plus and it was very comfortable.
    Ironically, that interview (with Mitch Album on WJR Radio) was about two problems that have cropped up with Apple’s new phones.
    The first is, if you put in in your pocket and then sit on it without a case … it will bend. That doesn’t seem unusual to me. It is thin and super light. So thin it would have to bend when someone sat on it, especially without a protective case. I bought the leather case Apple sells with the iPhone. It does fit in my front pockets. It is too big for a breast pocket on some of my shirts. Not all, but some. But I would never think about sitting on it. So I don’t think this will be a issue for me.
    The second problem was on an update that Apple pushed through for the iOS 8 operating system. It was out just one hour when the company was swamped by reports that after updating the OS, iPhone 6 users lost cellular and data connectivity. Apple quickly pulled the update to see what the problem is.recent
    If you want to see some three of my favorite things the new iOS 8 system does, here’s one of my NBC-TV PC Mike segments:

    So, overall, my first impressions of the iPhone 6 Plus are very favorable. I have a large iPad that I seldom use, except to read books or watch movies. Sometimes, I just leave it at home rather than tote it along on an RV trip, only to wish I had brought it when we’re stuck inside because or rain. I think this new 5.5-inch iPhone will replace the tablet for books. I will try some movies and get back to you on that. But with 128 GB of storage, I’ll be able to download them to the device, besides streaming them on Netflix or Amazon.
    Lastly, another contributing factor to my decision to upgrade is the fact that I use my smartphone for so much more than just making or receiving telephone calls. I really use it more as a miniature computer than a phone. So this iPhone 6 Plus will come in very handy, I suspect.
    I’ll let you know more after a week or so.
    If you think you’d like to upgrade but wonder what you can do with your old phone, check out the video below. It’s another NBC-TV segment I did on places that offer trade-ins for old phones and other gadgets and gizmos.

  2. Roadtrekingmike

    Why We Boondock

    By Roadtrekingmike,

    It sounds like it’s raining. But it’s not. It’s the sound of acorns dropping from the oak trees all around us as we boondock in the middle of the woods overlooking the Rifle River in northern Michigan’s Ogemaw County.
    This is not a particularly pretty time of the year. The beautiful fall leaves have turned brown and now cover the ground. Only the oaks, with their shriveled up leaves and their dropping acorns, still have a covering.
    Squirrels are running all over gathering the bounty. Deer, too. The animals seem to know winter is coming and the heavy acorn crop and their early drop across the upper Midwest appears to verify the Farmer’s Almanac prediction of another really rough winter.
    Jennifer and I came up Thursday night. We’ll stay through Sunday. This is one of our favorite boondocking spots. It’s on a 200-acre hunk of privately owned land surrounded by thousands of acres of state forest. The property is owned by my brother-in-law and is totally undeveloped.If we were in anything larger than a Class B motorhome, there’s no way we’d get to our boondocking spot, accessible only by dirt two-track located a mile off a paved country road.
    We need no electrical or water hookups. Our Roadtrek carries its own fresh water supply. The eight house batteries, always supplemented by 250-watt by solar panels, gives us enough power to last four or five days out here before we have to tun the engine and have those eight batteries recharged in about 20 minutes to a half hour.
    Our Webasto heater – and we needed it last night as the temperature dropped to the lower thirties Fahrenheit – runs on diesel, off the vehicle’s fuel tank. It uses so little that I can’t even see a drop in the fuel gauge after a weekend’s heater use.
    We’ve been coming here for two decades, long before we got an RV. Now, with our Roadtrek Etrek, we use this land as a place to retreat from the world. Friends have asked if they can join us on one of our boondocking weekends. We politely say no. This is our special hideaway, a place not to be shared.
    We truly can get away from it all up here.
    I’m sitting in a chair on what the locals call the “High Banks,” a spot abut 150 feet above where the Rifle makes one of ts snake-turning bends. I frequently see white tail deer just upstream coming down to drink. I hear no traffic. No noise at all but the dropping acorns.
    Jennifer and I and Tai took an hour long hike last night and another one just a few minutes ago.
    We’ll spend the day reading. I’ll build a campfire late afternoon and we’ll sit around it tonight, shoulder to shoulder, watching the flames, saying not very much, but very much enjoying each other's company. At some point before we turn in, we’ll walk away from the fire and look up at the night sky. If there’s no cloud cover, the whole Milky Way can be seen like a dust across the black sky.
    During the day, we usually take an afternoon nap. I like to sit in my chair overlooking the river and write.
    Not very exciting, is it? Not for Jen and I, anyway. Tai finds it very exciting. He’s chasing squirrels right now. He’s learned not to bark. To hunt like a coyote. Sneaky and quiet. And, yes, he occasionally does get one.
    No. It’s not exciting at all for Jennifer and me.
    What it is, though, is a total change of pace. It’s decompressing. Restoring. Refreshing. Total escape from the stress and demands of everyday life.
    That’s why we boondock.
    Because we can get away. Completely.

    There’s a bumper crop of acorns this fall.

    Our spot deep in the woods

    My view atop the High Banks
  3. Roadtrekingmike
    The Florida Caverns State Park is one of those perfect half-a-day side trips, offering a guided tour of a fascinating geologic wonder, some nice hikes and an opportunity to kayak and explore a wilderness river that offers up a blue hole as a bonus.
    And at the end of the exploring, there’s a nice campground available, too, if you’re in need of a place to overnight.
    Located near the town of Marianna in Florida’s panhandle just off I-10, the underground tour offers inspiring vews of limestone stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, flowstones and draperies.
    Formed about 38 million years ago when sea levels were much higher and the southeastern coastal plain of the United States was submerged. Shells, coral and sediments gradually accumulated on the sea floor. As sea levels fell, these materials hardened into limestone. During the last million years, acidic groundwater dissolved crevices just below the surface creating cave passages large enough to walk through.
    You can still see some of those fossilized shells, as well as fish skeletons embedded in the limestone throughout the subterranean system . On the ceiling of one of the underground rooms our guide used his flashlight to show off what he says is an ancient shark’s tooth.
    The tour lasts about 45 minutes and reminded us a lot of the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. Developed in 1935 during the height of the depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Projects Administration. Both groups emerged from President Roosevelt’s New Deal, established in 1933 to provide jobs to men during the Great Depression.
    Using not much more than pickaxes, shovels, wheelbarrows and a flatbed pickup truck, it took nearly a decade to carve out an underground path that wanders between “rooms” of the caverns. Most of the tunnels and caverns are about 25 feet beneath the surface, Subdued lighting runs throughout the system and, like any good cave tour, there will come a moment when the guide will turn off all lighting to show how totally dark it is underground.
    Although the tour is not strenuous, there are places where the passages are very narrow and low, meaning you need to be flexible enough to be able to duck down and walk under spots that are no higher than four feet or so.
    A welcome bonus in visiting the caverns during the hot and steamy Florida summer is the constant year-round temperature of 65 degrees in the caverns.
    Hiking trails run throughout the 1,319-acre park and kayaks can be rented to paddle the Chipola River, which has a deep blue spring – named the Jackson Blue Spring to differentiate between the Florida’s Blue Springs State Park near Orlando – flows at an average rate of 76 million gallons of water a day. With five other smaller springs, it feeds Merritts Mill Pond, a major scenic and recreation area.
    Click the image to enlarge:

    You enter the caverns through a door that takes you 25 feet beneath the surface.

    Some of the rooms are quite large.

    A statue out front honors the nearly 10 years it took for CCC workers to excavate the path through the caverns.

    They call this the “Wedding Cake.”

    It requires you to stoop to navigate through some of the spots.

    A ranger explains how caverns and caves are made.

    More beautiful formations
  4. Roadtrekingmike
    Just north of the Missouri “boot heel” is the small community of Sikeston, right off Interstate 57. It’s a great place to overnight. If you stay at the Hinton RV Park, they’ll arrange for a van to take you to dinner at a place you will not soon forget.
    On our visit, we were with a group of 12 RVers, on the way to a Branson, MO rally. Our group came from Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Ontario and we were crowded driving in that stretch van the mile or so to Lambert’s Cafe, “Home of the Throwed Rolls.” Lambert’s is a unique Amerian culinary icon, founded in 1942 and known far and wide for it hot “Throwed Rolls.”
    http://youtu.be/jz-6DZ8tJHQ
    Yup. You heard right. Throwed rolls. Like you see in the video. Gloved servers toss em at you. Raise your hand and there will be a “throwded roll” in it. Gigantic, baked-from-scratch, five inches in diameter, fluffy, hot and ready for drizzled honey, butter, molasses or sorgum. Last year, Lambert’s baked and “throwed” 2,246,400 rolls to its customers.
    There’s more than the rolls of course. We’re talking massive quanttites of Southern Food. Fried catfish.Pulled pork.Fried ham. Fried chicken. Chicken and dumplings. Ribs. You don’t count calories here. If you do, you may get bopped with a throwed roll.
    Servers come by offering side dishes like black eyed peas, tomatoes and macaroni, fried potatoes and fried okra.
    Nobody leaves Lambert’s hungry.
    I swear the van taking us back to the campground was even more of a tight fit as we waddled out after dinner.
    There are two other Lambert’s Cafes. But Sikeston is the original. Well worth a visit.
  5. Roadtrekingmike
    This year, I’m planning on winter camping
    We’re in early November now and while the ground is still bare, nighttime temps are regularly dropping to the upper 20′s in my part of Michigan. The leaves are all off the trees and snow can happen any day now.
    Out on the interstates, I see a steady stream of motorhomes, travel trailers and fifth wheels making their way south, to warmer climes.
    I hope to join them in Florida and the gulf states in January. For a few weeks.
    But I also hope to do some winter camping this year.
    It’s almost a sin in some RV circles to say this but… well… I like winter.
    I love snow. The more the better.
    And I want to head out there.
    My RV is winterized, but as Hank the tech who walked me through the winterizing process in this video explained, I can still use the RV. I can flush the toilet using antifreeze as a chaser. I can use the stove to cook. I’ll eat on paper plates so I don’t have to wash dirty dishes. I’ll bring along bottled water.
    There are a bunch of winter festivals, dogsled races, ice fishing contests, snowshoe hikes and the like to take in. A reader invited me to International Falls, MN, where, he says, he volunteers for a dogsled race that is a qualifier for the big Iditarod race up in Alaska. He says the temperature in some years has dipped to 30 below and he was toasty comfortable in his Roadtrek.
    Wonder where you keep your parkas and snow-soaked bots and gloves when you come in? Seems like there’d be quite a puddle.
    And I suppose camping facilities are a bit limited during winter.
    Any winter campers out there? How do you manage? I’d appreciate any and all tips. But winter camping is definitely going to be on my list of 2013 New Year resolutions.
    Roadtreking - A Journalist takes up the RV lifestyle - People and Places Encountered on the Open Road
    Source
  6. Roadtrekingmike
    The Original RV – The Covered Wagon
    We RVers have our heritage and it really starts on Interstate 80 in Nebraska, America's heartland.
    That’s where the Great Platte River Trail became the Oregon Trail.
    This was the pioneer route that linked east to west.
    And today, spanning the interstate near the mid-Nebraska town of Kearney, is a must stop for tourists and especially RVers…the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument
    Of all the places we’ve been to, this is one of the most amazing and fascinating historic displays we’ve seen anywhere. Admission is $12 and a bargain at that price. The monument is built literally across the interstate, spanning north the west and east bound lanes. Visitors walk above and across the interstate inside a covered archway, watching an interactive multimedia display that documents the first RV â€" the covered wagon which opened up the country.
    It’s hard to believe how difficult this migration must have been, or how big it was.
    But From 1843 to 1869, the archway folks tell us, nearly half a million men, women and children rode and walked the trails to the West Coast. The distance was vast, the prairie endless, the sky overwhelming and the mountains and wildlife were unlike anything they had ever seen.
    As the early settlers established their homesteads, following roughly their same route came the railroads, and then automobiles on the Lincoln Highway, America’s first transcontinental road; I-80, the nation’s first interstate.
    Mark down the archway as a must visit as you visit in a different sort of covered wagon… the RV.
    Roadtreking - A Journalist takes up the RV lifestyle - People and Places Encountered on the Open Road
    Source
  7. Roadtrekingmike
    If Fuel gets too costly there’s always the Camper Bike
    Gas and diesel prices are a drag allright and RV trips cost more and more. But if you don’t mind downsizing, there’s always the Camper Bike.
    Designed and built by artist Kevin Cyr , the camper bike was made from scrap metal, painted and inspired from a series of his paintings and drawings.
    Cyr got the idea for the Camper Bike while on a trip to Beijing. He calls it “an amalgamation of a Chinese 3-wheeled flatbed bike with an American cabover style camper.”
    While he did build a functioning model, it doesn’t seem to be in production.
    But, hey, the way fuel prices keep increasing, who knows?
    He also has designed a Camper Cart, a camper built into a shopping cart.
    Based in Boston, Cyr’s painting and interest features RVs, delivery vans, ice cream trucks, beat up old trucks and motorcycles.
    You can see his work at http://www.kevincyr.net
    Roadtreking - A Journalist takes up the RV lifestyle - People and Places Encountered on the Open Road
    Source
  8. Roadtrekingmike
    There's nothing like the sight of one of Yellowstone National Park's magnificent bison to slow traffic.
    These shaggy giants seem oblivious to the traffic. They cross the road where they want. They go where they want. The National Park Service says humans need to stay far away from bison. But they don't. People, in quest of a photo, get very stupid.
    As you can see on
    , people are stupid. Every year, someone gets hurt. Sometimes very badly. Bison can kill.For these animals will charge. They usually warn you that they’re perturbed by stomping their feet or nodding their heads. But stupid people dont seem to care.
    That doesn't mean you can't get good photos. Just keep your distance.
    Yellowstone's bison are awesome creatures. But remember, they outweigh you 10 to one. If you get too close to them, they don't take kindly to it.


  9. Roadtrekingmike
    When we share our love of RVing in our 22-foot Type B Roadtrek with friends and relatives, probably the most common question we get is why a Type B? Why not one of those giant Type A motorhomes?
    Well, no offense to Type A or Type C owners but we're really hooked on Type B RVing for one basic reason: Convenience. We can go anywhere in our Type B and when we do, everything we have is with us.
    That’s why I put together this little video, which was shot across the country during our travels this year.
    Our Roadtrek RS-Adventurous can be used as a second vehicle. It parks in regular parking spots, which is a great convenience when hitting fast-food restaurants or visiting national parks or places with limited parking for big rigs.
    Something else our Type B RV lets us do: Boondock. We can travel far off the beaten path, down backwoods roads and forest trails, and to true wilderness spots that bigger RVs couldn’t even get close to.
    This is our favorite type of camping. Just us and our dog, surrounded by nature Our on board batteries and generator give us power when we need it and cooking is as convenient as home.
    For us, our Type B is a perfect fit. It gets us where we want to go and it carries everything we need. Check out the video and you’ll see.


  10. Roadtrekingmike
    Roadtrek Motorhome’s new e-Trek is now showing up in dealer showrooms across North America and I just may be the very first consumer to take possession.
    Or so Chad Neff of American RV in Grand Rapids told me as he handed over the keys to Jennifer and I. Tai, our Norwegian Elkhound, had already ensconced himself inside.

    My trek for the eTrek began in September when I went to the Roadtrek factory in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada to do a video news story on the new model, built on the Mercedes Sprinter frame. It’s 22 feet nine inches long and nine feet five inches tall on a 170-inch wheelbase.

    At heart, Jennifer and I are boondockers. We prefer camping deep in the woods, away from crowded campgrounds. Because the eTrek can totally power itself with a bank of eight AGM batteries, a rooftop solar array capable of putting out 240 watts, a 5000 watt inverter for 110 appliances and a diesel system that works as a generator to very quickly charge the system, it means that we can run everything we need – heat, air conditioning, TV, DVD, the water pump, even the mircowave – for up to nine hours without having to start the engine to charge those batteries. That’s running everything, all at once. In real conditions, that doesn’t happen.
    “You can totally charge everything by just running the engine for 20 minutes to a half hour,” said Howard Stratton, Roadtrek’s vice president of operations when we visited the factory this past monday to work on a video about other Roadtrek developments.
    How is that possible? The eTrek utilizes a 3500W generator/alternator mounted to the van's diesel engine that can charge eight dead auxiliary batteries in only 40 minutes.
    There are two optons we did not get: an 100W EFOY methanol fuel cell generator and three lithium ion batteries that would save weight over the eight AGM batteries.
    While there, we saw the Roadtrek assembly crew putting the finishing touches on the unit we would get three days later through our dealer in Grand Rapids.

    I wish I could give you all a full shake down review on the eTrek. But it is wintertime and as we left Grand Rapids to drive back to our suburban Detroit home, we were being chased by a huge winter storm named Draco, which deluged parts of the Midwest and northern Michigan with up to 20 inches of snow.
    Our 155-mile trip was in pretty stiff winds. Immediately I notice how well it handled. The 2006 Roadtrek RS that I traded in (it’s available at American RV) has single rear wheels. The eTrek, like later model Sprinters, has dualies. I’m not sure if that was why it seemed to be more stable or it was just that new RV love affair I had going. We returned home around dark and by morning, we had two inches of snow on the ground.
    Hmmm. Do solar panels charge when covered in snow?
    I took the eTrek out for my last-minute Christmas shopping errands. The roads were slick in spots but I found it handled well and had no tendency to skid on the icy spots. All that weight helps, I guess. The eTrek’s weight, not mine.
    I spent time this afternoon running everything I could as I familiarized myself with switches. The heat, pushed out through the air conditioning unit in the ceiling, warmed it to a pretty comfortable 63 degrees after an hour’s use. Outside, it was about 25 degrees, with a very stiff wind making the wind chill much less. We’ll see how it heats with that unit in some further tests. Because there is no propane, the usual forced air heater than ran on propane is absent on the eTrek.
    I did not use the water pump or the instant hot feature. It hasn’t been winterized yet but since those systems are dry, I was told not to worry. I’m thinking I may want to put some antifreeze in the traps anyway.
    I’ve got a lot more inside putzing to do so I can be sure I know where everything is and how it works. We leave for Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida right after the first of the year, so full tests are coming shortly.
    Source
  11. Roadtrekingmike
    Roadtrek Motorhome’s hot new N-6 Active made its network television debut this week in a starring role on NBC-TV’s ”Take it All” game show.

    The N-6 was a top prize for a contestant in the show, which stars Howie Mandel and is based on one of the most popular holiday party games in America, often called "White Elephant" or "Yankee Swap."
    In the show, a contestant selects and opens a prize worth thousands of dollars: dream prizes such as luxury cars, exotic trips, jewelry and VIP experiences. Then, the next player is faced with a dilemma: do they steal a prize that has already been revealed, or do they take a chance with another unopened prize, hoping what’s inside is worth more?
    Jim Hammill, Roadtrek’s president, said the company was honored to have the new six-seat Nav-6 be so prominently featured.
    You can watch the entire episode above or directly access it at http://www.nbc.com/take-it-all/video/night-4/n30380/
    “The N-6 is a very unique vehicle that is like nothing else on the market,” says Hammill. “It serves as a luxury SUV that is perfect for shopping, tailgate parties, trips to the beach and carting the kids to soccer practice. But is can also be used as a camper that can sleep six, equipped with hot and cold running water, sink, microwave and everything an on-the-go family needs.”
    The N-6 Active, also known as the Nav 6 when sold through Nissan dealers, is built on the Nissan 2500 frame. We had the chance to test out one not long ago. Here’s our video review.
    Source
  12. Roadtrekingmike
    One of the biggest surprises we had last year in our travels was with KOA – Kampgrounds of America. On our trip west and then on other meanderings over the season, we had the opportunity of staying at about a dozen KOA campgrounds across the U.S.
    They were all good experiences, to be sure, but we couldn’t help but notice some big differences between the properties.
    And so today, when we see that KOA has re-branded itself by deciding to classify each of their more than 400 properties according to the level of service, the amenities and the facilities itself, we have to nod in agreement. Good idea, KOA!
    KOA Chairman Jim Rogers made the announcement in a news release to rvdailyreport and said re-branding will direct the right marketing messaging to the right guests.
    Here’s how the re-branding works.
    KOA Journey campgrounds are for on-the-move campers, those looking mostly for an overnight stop, located close to major interstates and highways. As much as 20 percent of all KOA branded campgrounds will be in this category.
    KOA Holiday campgrounds fir in as more of a base camp experience, a place to stay for several days, a weekend or as a local base at the end of the day as the guests explore local attractions. These will comprise maybe 75%. of all KOA campgrounds.
    KOA Resorts are the top of the line facility, making up around 5% of all campgrounds. These offer lots of amenities and top-rate facilities, a five star camping experience and a place where guests can hang out all day, relaxing and engaging in recreational activities.

    “This is not a good, better, best way of looking at our campgrounds,” said KOA President Hittmeier in the rvdailyreport news release.”It is designed to help guests better understand what they can expect from the facilities at which they chose to stay.”
    This makes a lot of sense to me. In our travels this past season, we experienced all three. My favorite KOA by far was the Badlands/White River KOA in Interior, SD, which we used as a base camp for two days while we explored the Badlands National Park just down the road. It had trees, which in the Badlands is a very big deal. They had great breakfasts and barbeque dinners and there were all sorts of dirt roads nearby that let me do some fun mountainbiking in full view of the breathtaking tabletop buttes and craggy bluffs. A large swimming pool was particularly welcome after hot, dusty days spent tramping in the Badlands.
    We also really enjoyed staying at the flagship KOA in Billings, MT, located right on the banks of the Yellowstone River. This was the site of the very first KOA and it offered all sorts of games and activities and some very deluxe, oversized patio campsites.There was a basketball course, min0 golf, two large playgrounds and, of course, an outdoor heated pool and hot tub.
    But in all the KOAs we visited, there was a consistency of service that we really appreciated, especially after a long day on the road. We were always escorted to our spot and offered help in backing in or setting up. The restrooms and showers at every KOA we stayed at were sparking clean, no matter what time of the day or night we used them. There was usually a store or facilities where we could restock on supplies or find food and refreshment.
    That reliability of excellence won us over. Knowing what to expect when you book a campground, and never being disappointed, is a great incentive to keep me coming back. The re-branding initiative will make booking a KOA campsite even more reliable.
  13. Roadtrekingmike
    On this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for many things that have come our way since we embraced the world of RVing.
    I’m thankful in a new way for the awesomeness of God’s creation, for the many places we visited that I had never seen before. For the majesty of Yellowstone National Park, the beautiful sunrises and sunsets we witnessed in the Bighorn Mountains, the Pictured Rocks National Seashore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Emerald Coast of Florida’s panhandle, the sandhill country of Nebraska, the vastness of the prairie and the magnificent wildness of the eagles, elk, Grizzly bears, wolves, deer, wildfowl and woodland critters we have watched this year.
    I’m thankful to live in a country that gives us freedom to travel and has set aside vast tracts of carefully-protected wilderness for its citizens to enjoy.
    I’m thankful to new RVing friends we have met… Alan, Stu, Pam, Kristi, William, Alice, Robert, Ginny and those who share so much on our various Facebook groups. I’m thankful for the Family Motor Coach Association and especially Jerry Yeats, Pamela Kay, Robbin Gould for all they do for Motorhome owners including the annual reunion we had this summer in Indianapolis. I’m thankful to the Roadtrek International Chapter of the FMCA and new friends, ****, Frances, Tim, John and all those on the Cyberrally e-mail group, especially Jerry, from Livonia, who called me on my cellphone when I was stranded on the road in South Dakota to give me the advice that undid my operator error and got me traveling again.
    I’m thankful to Roadtrek itself and the men and women in the Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, factory who have welcomed me for my video work this year. Jim Hammill, the president, is unlike no other president of a big company I have ever met. He is accessible, refreshingly outspoken, brutally honest, always innovating, lots of fun and passionately committed to a product that is built on an unwavering quality standard and the loyaly of its dedicated customers. Vice President of Operations Howard Stratton and Engineering guru Jeff Stride have patiently shown me the manufacturing process and its commitment to live out the legacy of excellence of the founding Hennemeyer family.
    I’m thankful to all the readers who have embraced me as I have begun this blog and my social media work. Almost 31,000 now follow me on Twitter where I’m @roadtreking and over 2,000 have liked my Facebook Page at http://facebook.com/roadtreking They have encouraged, corrected, guided and welcomed me as they have offered story ideas and shared their RV adventures. Two of them, Les and Kathy, drove to an RV show I was visiting in Novi, MI this fall to meet me and give Jeniffer and I a gift. In all my years as a journalist, I never experienced such an affirming act of kindness related to my work.

    I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. See you down the road.
    What are you thankful for this year? Let us know under comments.
  14. Roadtrekingmike
    The one thing that I most dislike about this time of year is holiday shopping.

    Usually, I’ll do anything to avoid a shopping mall. If God intended us to go traipsing through crowded shopping centers he wouldn’t have had Al Gore invent the Internet and online shopping.
    So you can imagine Jennifer’s surprise this afternoon when I actually volunteered to drive her to the mall to look up some Christmas gifts.
    I took my Roadtrek Class B RV motorhome.
    Heh heh heh.
    It’s a diesel, so it needs to be exercised from time to to time. That was my verbalized excuse. But the truth is, I was lonesome for it. And sometimes, I feel pretty silly just sitting out in it in the driveway.
    So off we went. ”Take your time, honey,” I said as Jennifer got out to go shopping. I stayed in the Roadtrek.
    I flipped on the battery and fired up the heater. Snow was spitting outside but I soon was toasty warm inside. I turned on the TV, sprawled out on the rear sofa and watched some football as I again bonded with my RV.
    I was parked in a regular mall spot. Couldn’t have done that in a Class A or Class C motorhome. Made my wife happy. Reconnected me with my RV.
    A win-win for both of us. Now if only my Detroit Lions would win.
    Source
  15. Roadtrekingmike
    There’s a dusting of snow on my RV
    The first accumulating snow of the season fell last night near my Michigan home and as I look out at my motorhome sitting on the driveway, I swear I hear it calling me to get out of town and get warm.
    Alas, as I look out, that’s all I can do. Look. I’m standing with the support of a walker. Five days ago, I had a total knee replacement.
    I picked this time for the surgery specifically because it is the least busy time for RVing. Although the first wave of snowbirds typically leave the Midwest and Northern states around Halloween, most wait until after Christmas. We’re the same. As much as we can’t wait to start touring again, Thanksgiving and Christmas are filled with family and we don’t want to be away from them.
    But that’s not to say that we don’t have places to go. I’d like to make the big RV industry show in Louisville the Monday after Thanksgiving. My surgeon is dubious about that. While three weeks is the normal time you’re housebound from this kind of surgery, such a long drive could cause lots of swelling. “We’ll see,” he says. Reminds me when my kids were young. I’d use that phrase to shut them up, never intending to let them do whatever it was they were asking.
    But by mid-December, says my doc, assuming no complications and that I’ve dutifully done my physical therapy, I should be good to go.
    We’ve got a major tour set, trying to visit the big RV areas in Florida, attending the Tampa RV show in mid-January, swinging across the Gulf States and then perhaps to Arizona via the Texas Hill Country. I will be back in Michigan in mid-February and will do some winter camping as I cover the Michigan UP200, an Iditarod qualifying dogsled race. Then New England in the spring, Branson in May, the Family Motor Coach Association reunion in Wyoming in June and the California-to-Oregon coast over the summer.
    What I’m looking for in all these places, of course, are stories of the people and places that make RVing so much fun. I’d welcome your suggestions. Where should we go? Who should we meet?
    Even though I’m temporarily hobbling with my new knee, I can’t wait to get going again.
    This RV travel bug has bit hard. Wanderlust is an addiction, isn;t it?
    Roadtreking - A Journalist takes up the RV lifestyle - People and Places Encountered on the Open Road
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  16. Roadtrekingmike
    Who says there aren’t deals out there?
    I don’t usually write about the good deals I come across out there but a new listing on the American RV site caught my eye. It’s for a brand new 2012 Roadtrek 190 Popular.
    New, it has a MSRP of $95,725.
    Used, it has a NADA price of $87,680.
    American RV in Grand Rapids, MI is selling this brand new model at $76,990.
    That’s more than a pretty good deal: A brand new 190 that is more that $10,000 below the NADA used price!
    The bargain pricing confirms something that is trending at many other RV dealerships right now.
    This time of year – as the camping season winds down but still before the snow and ice flies – is one of the best times to buy in northern climates. Dealers don’t like having to go through the winterizing process and keeping a lot of inventory out there on snow-covered lots.
    So if you’re looking, now may be the time to get the best pricing…as the above deal reflects.
    Again, I don’t normally write about deals offered by various dealerships, even f they are sponsors of this blog, like American RV. But this one is so far out of the ordinary that it warrants a news brief.
    Roadtreking - A Journalist takes up the RV lifestyle - People and Places Encountered on the Open Road
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  17. Roadtrekingmike
    The Nav-6: SUV/Minivan/RV and more
    Of all the different Roadtrek models out there, one of the most distinctive is the new NAV-6, an SUV that can be used as an RV.
    It’s really category-defying. A luxury SUV on the Nissan 2500 frame, it is expertly tricked out by Roadtrek with a built in kitchenette, complete with microwave, refrigerator, TV and sink with hot and cold running water. The NAV-6 has a roof that rises to make it big enough to walk around in without bumping your head. It’s also able to sleep five people. Oh yeah, it can tow up to 9,000 pounds.
    Jennifer and I visited the Roadtrek factory in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and took it out for a spin. We had a lot of fun making our video as we drove firm the countryside to the city and back again.
    There is nothing on the road like this vehicle.
    “This is perfect for active families,” said Roadtrek President Jim Hammill. “It can haul kids to soccer games, be used for tailgating, running around town as a second vehicle or as an RV for a long weekend.”
    At Nissan dealers, it’s marketed as the NAV-6. At Roadtrek dealers, it’s the N6-Active.
    Howard Stratton, Roadtrek’s Vice President of Operations, says the NAV-6 is a game-changer built around the many different needs of active families. “Our purpose was to build true utility into this vehicle to support our customers busy life-styles,” he said.
    The unit we tested was set up for six passengers. But it’s available for seating for seven in three rows of seats. It’s just over 20 feet long, 7 feet, 10 in high and can fit in most garages -  a big plus.
    Two of the rows convert to a bed with plenty of room for two adults. An upper bunk setup can sleep two kids. And the front seats can be configured into a single bed.
    There are plugs and adapters everywhere for computers, iPads, video games.
    Just inside the rear doors is an external use hand-held shower head with hose. It’s handy for many things such as washing off caked on mud, dirty shoes, muddy paws, cleaning fish or  washing off sand and salt at the beach.
    Tables can be put in place up front or in the rear.  Or both. They’re perfect for card games, conversation, picnics.
    We see the NAV-6 as a home base while taking the kids to soccer games, the family to sporting events, the beach or on long road trips to vacation getaways. Chill out and take a nap or get out of the weather, fix your own meals, charge your i-devices.
    It’s a very innovative vehicle.
    Roadtreking - A Journalist takes up the RV lifestyle - People and Places Encountered on the Open Road


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  18. Roadtrekingmike
    How to winterize your RV: VIDEO
    There’s no stopping it. Winter is here and for RVers in northern climates, it’s time to winterize.
    Making sure your the plumbing system in your RV is protected against the cold is essential and if it’s not done right, serious damage can occur.
    There are lots of ways to winterize. Some RV owners do the bare minimum. Others don’t miss any preventative protection steps.
    The first step is to check the manufacturer’s instruction book. If ever in doubt, follow it.
    But you may also want to take it to a dealer.
    That’s what I did, taking my Roadtrek RS-Adventurous to American RV in Grand Rapids, MI, where I met up with Service Tech Hank Nuiver, who gave my RV the deluxe winterizing package.
    We videotaped every step of the process.
    Once caution: Hank uses an air compressor to blow out the water from the lines. But he does so at low pressure – 40 to 50 pounds, instead by a pressure regulator. Any pressure more than than, he warns, has the potential to damage parts and fittings.
    Something else I appreciate: I can use my RV in the winter. Take fresh water in bottles and when use use the toilet, chase it down with some anti freeze. There’s no problem, says Hank, in camping all winter long.
    This video is long, over 16 minutes. But hopefully, it will help you know what to do.
     
    Roadtreking - A Journalist takes up the RV lifestyle - People and Places Encountered on the Open Road


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  19. Roadtrekingmike
    I now have my own drone
    One of the benefits of being a tech reporter is getting cool new tech toys to test out.
    To that end, check out the video above. It’s the first test video I shot with something called the AR.Drone 2, a personal quadricopter drone that sells for ls than $300 and is controlled by your iPad or iPhone or Droid device.
    Coolest thing I’ve played with in a long time.
    It can go over 100 feet up and a couple hundred feet in a circle – Wi-Fi range from where you are standing. That’s what controls it. It creates its own on-board wi-fi hotspot, which connects via free software for your phone or tablet. In my case, I used an iPad. You actually see the image on your screen as you run the controls.
    The drone has its own wide angle high def 1280 x 720 camera aboard and it’s relatively easy to control, though if you watch this video of my first flight all the way through, you’ll see it ended in a crash when it ran into some tree branches about 35 feet off the ground. It survived that crash, and two more so, despite it’s light weight, it seems pretty rugged.
    The HD camera takes stills or video which can be saved on your device or a USB memory stick, or uploaded to You Tune or Facebook. I used the Verizon Wireless 4g connection on my iPad to send this video directly to You Tube.
    There’s a collar of sorts you can wrap around it when flying inside.
    Obviously, I need some experience. The wind for my first test flight was pushing 15 miles and hour, which is the drone’s suggested limit.
    The first video is pretty boring. I ran the drone up over my front lawn. What you don’t see is Tai, my Norwegian Elkhound, jumping around underneath it, barking up a storm. When it crashed, I beat dog to the drone, otherwise, it would be history. I have up, down, left and right movements figured out but I still need to master the tilt control so it can move up and down. That would have been a good shot, to have videoed the barking dog raising a ruckus on the ground below.
    Fun. I can see using this for loyts travel shots and overheads of the RVs I test out for this blog.
    When the wind dies down tomorrow, I think I’ll take it out and chase Tai around the yard with it. I’ll put together a bunch of videos but thought you might like seeing this first one.
    Based on just a couple test flights, I can already say the AR.Drone 2 is surely a candidate for my annual best tech gadgets of the year.
     
    Roadtreking - A Journalist takes up the RV lifestyle - People and Places Encountered on the Open Road


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  20. Roadtrekingmike
    Every RVers worst nightmare: When your dog gets skunked
    We’re not going camping this weekend.
    Blame it on a skunk.
    That’s because the night before we were to leave, Tai, our Norwegian Elkhound, was tagged at close range by a strolling skunk that has declared our front lawn his territory, despite the grey and black furball that patrols it with vigor.
    It was a busy night for Tai. First, he nailed an Opossum. Actually, he just thought he took out the Opossum. The ‘possum was playing, all curled up in the grass. Funny thing is the ‘possum and Tai should be old friends by now. This happens several times each year. Tai is always mystified that this “kill” is gone when he rushes out the next morning.
    I was on my way home from a meeting when Jennifer noticed Tai and the ‘possum last night. “Bring Tai in and move the ‘possum next door so when Tai goes out before bed he won’t harass that poor creature,” Jennifer instructed on the phone.
    The skunk must have come by shortly afterwards and Tai, thiking he was in doggy heaven, figured he had another critter to bag. Alas, he got sprayed. Drenched, actually.
    Skunked Tai tried to sleep off the stink on the front swing. Now we have to wash the cushions on that, too.
    I smelled skunk in my car a block away. It was heavy in the air as I parked in the garage and went to take Tai from guarding the ‘possum. I didn’t notice that the odor was coming from him. But Jennifer did, when I opened the garage door and sent him inside while I moved our little ‘possum buddy.
    She sent him out fast and we both gave up plans of packing the RV for a quick Friday getaway.
    The smell lingered inside and we both gagged. We sentenced Tai to hard time in the garage for the night and I Facebooked my plight. In the morning, Tai relocated to a front porch glider, where he looked humiliated. He lost his ‘possum and he stunk with skunk. Doggie disaster.
    From Facebook, I was armed with numerous suggestions from friends far and wide. I did two things: First, I went to Pet Smart and picked up two bottles of Nature’s Miracle Skunk Odor Removal. It came highly recommended from a friend in Canada named Jim and a local vet. Douse the dog in it, leave it on for five minutes or longer and then rinse it off. I used most of a bottle on Tai. I’ll keep the other one in the Roadtrek in case this happens while we’re out there boondocking. The second thing I did was take Tai to the pet groomer for a bath. They also claimed to have a secret formula which they applied, though they wouldn’t share the recipe.
    The bottle of the Miracle Skunk Odor Removal and the bath did the job, though there’s still a slight skunk smell which, we fear, would be way too noticeable in the Roadtrek. Hence, no boondocking trip this weekend.
    But the suggestions of other skunk remedies seem well worth passing along.
    Here they are. Feel free to add your own suggestions under comments.
    David and Helen both separately suggested that I mix up a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid soap. That’s also the suggested recommendation of the Humane Society of the United States.  For more detailed instructions, here’s another variation of that recipe.
    Tina has had her dog skunked twice this year. She cautioned against leaving that peroxide solution on your dog for too long. “Mine ended up with blond highlights,” she lamented. “Took forever for the fur to grow out normal.” Instead, she swears by “Permatex hand cleaner, bought it at Meijer. Scrub it in, and wash it off.”
    Cathy says “Vinegar & dish soap really helps.” Colleen says “try Dry douche powder.”
    Susan said to bathe him tomato juice.
    Char says don’t. “Bathe Tai in dawn dish washing soap and then rub lemon juice all over. I had an Old English bulldog who did the same thing and trust me when I say tomato juice does not work but the dawn & lemon juice does.”
    And Judith suggested that I “Rub him with catsup – a lot – then wash off. Sounds strange but it really works. Something about the correct acid or pH or something.”
    Finally, as much as Tai reeked and cleaning him up was a hassle, Craig shared a perspective that made my experience seem not quite so bad: “The only thing worse than having a dog skunked? Having three dogs skunked. One night all 3 of our dachshunds cornered a skunk in the back yard. Long haired dachsies, too. It was weeks.”
    Lots of suggestions. I appreciate them all.
    As does Tai.
    Maybe we can get away next weekend.
    Roadtreking - A Journalist takes up the RV lifestyle - People and Places Encountered on the Open Road


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  21. Roadtrekingmike
    I counted eight of them yesterday, four Class A motorhomes, 2 Fifth Wheels and two Travel Trailers, pushing the snow flurries around in their slipstream as they moved down the interstates near my Michigan home. Ands that was what I spotted while I was running a few weekend errands. Truth is, there’s a steady stream of recreational vehicles out there and they will continue to be on the move for the next couple weeks.
    Migrating Snowbirds. RVers fleeing the winter weather of the north for warmer temperatures down south. Most, probably, to Florida and the gulf states, some to the Southwest or Texas hill country.
    They’re really the second wave of snowbirds. The first departed in late October or early November. This current migration waited till Christmas so they could spend time with kids and grandkids. Happens every year about this time.
    Heck, I’ll be joining them in a week on our first trip of 2013, heading to cover some RV stories along the Great Snowbird Route that will end us in Tampa, FL on Jan 15 for the start of the huge Florida RV Supershow at the Florida State Fairgrounds. This is one of the nation’s biggest, big for the industry and big for consumers. I’ll do several video reports from there, as well as things we run across in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.

    But I’m making plans for lots more. From February 13-18, I want to try out cold – really cold – camping by heading to the wilds of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to do a video report about the UP200, one of America’s premier 12-dog, mid-distance sled dog races thatdraws mushers from around the United States and Canada because it is a qualifying race for Alaska’s famed Iditarod.
    Then there are the rallies and special gatherings. I have two must-attends. The first is the anniversary rally in Branson, MO May 20-24 that celebrates the 40th anniversary of the founding of Roadtrek Motorhomes. The second is the Family Motor Coach Association’s Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase June 19 to 22, 2013, at CAM-PLEX in Gillette, Wyoming. And, heck, while I’m out there that far west, might as well swing around and visit Yellowstone National park, the Tetons and maybe a couple of other national parks.
    I want to find time to get to New England, too. That was on my 2012 bucket list but, well, you know, so many places, so little time. It’s a must visit this year.
    I devoted my January Open Mike column in Family Motor Coaching magazine writing about my top 10 RV resolutions for the year. They include things like the trips above, eating right and exercising on the road, seeing more of Canada and volunteering more.

    In regards to the later, I have already joined the Emergency Communications team my community’s local Homeland Security Department by installing an amateur radio station (I’m K8ZRH) in my Roadtrek e-Trek to assist in local emergencies and disasters. The e-Trek is perfect for such a role because it can totally power itself with a bank of eight AGM batteries, a rooftop solar array capable of putting out 240 watts, a 5000 watt inverter for 110 appliances and a diesel system that works as a generator to very quickly charge the system, it means that we can run everything we need â€" all the radio gear, plus heat, air conditioning, TV, DVD, the water pump, even the mircowave â€" for up to nine hours without having to start the engine to charge those batteries. That’s running everything, all at once.
    I also hope to meet many of my readers over the next year. Between this blog, our very active Facebook Page and the Roadtreking RV Newsletter, I have come to know many of you as friends and I hope that we can share a campfire this new year. Jennifer and I had no idea how this new RV lifestyle would influence our life. I’m a journalist at heart, I love telling stories and our RV takes us to people and places we never would encounter otherwise. But this blog and my other RV writing and video reporting have taken off so fast that we’re still a little breathless, happy and feeling very blessed.
    I can’t wait to see what 2013 brings.
    To all of you… Happy New Year! See you out there.
    Source
  22. Roadtrekingmike
    Sprinter RV lineup joined by new Roadtrek CS Adventurous
    A major reason for the huge spike in Class B motorhome sales over the past year or so is the Mercedes Sprinter, a rugged and flexible van that offers RV makers all sorts of customization opportunities. Roadtrek Motorhomes is about to introduce a new full sized Sprinter model, joining its popular RS Adventurous and the new all-electric, solar powered  eTrek.
    For 2013, there’s a third model – the CS Adventurous… CS for Camping Series.
    And what this new model does is offer up some new optional features that can also be added to the other two Roadtrek Sprinter models, just as some of the eTrek’s options can be mixed and matched on the RS and CS, like the solar panels and heavy duty battery array.
    But the CS has some very innovative new features that immediately make it a standout:
    They include:
    A redesigned galley with greatly expanded storage space A new seven cubic foot refrigerator/freezer, moved to the front, opposite the sliding door with the microwave mounted above Hideaway sink with flip up faucet Heated floors Heated bathroom A flip down wide screen TV located midcoach A heated sofa.rear bed and front captain’s chairs Pull out, sliding rear table for laptops, etc We got a sneak preview of the new CS during a recent tour of the Roadtrek factory in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada  from Howard Stratton, Roadtrek’s Vice President.
    The new Roadtrek CS will be introduced at some of the big RV shows starting with the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa in mid-January. Dealers will be able to take orders on Roadtrek Sprinter models that offer all its optional features by spring.
     
     
     
     
     
    Roadtreking - A Journalist takes up the RV lifestyle - People and Places Encountered on the Open Road


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  23. Roadtrekingmike
    I’ve been an amateur (ham) radio operator for decades, My call is K8ZRH and there was a time when I was obsessed with the hobby, so caught up in making contacts with every state in the nation, every country in the world, that I stayed up all hours of the night tracking DX (distant) stations, Eventually, to keep peace in my marriage, I backed off and, for the past ten years or so, have been pretty much inactive.
    Today, there’s an amateur radio transceiver installed in my RV. Not a CB radio, though that might also come in handy. You need to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to operate an amateur radio station. You can learn about that here. You do not need a license for a CB. Amateur radio is much more. Here’s how the American Radio Relay League describes it:

    “Most of the time, it’s the most fun you can have with a radio. It’s a way to talk with people around the world, or even orbiting the world; to send e-mail without any sort of internet connection and to keep in touch with friends across town or across the country. But it is called the “Amateur Radio Service ” because it also has a serious face. It’s a very important emergency communications system too. When cell phones, regular phones, the internet and other systems are down or overloaded, Amateur Radio still gets the message through. Radio amateurs, often called "hams," enjoy radio technology as a hobby -- that's the fun part. But it’s also a service -- a vital service that has saved lives again and again when regular communication systems failed.”
    Anyway, my foray back into amateur radio came about after volunteering for the communications team that is part of my county’s Department of Homeland Security. My all electric, solar powered Roadtrek eTrek is a perfect vehicle to use in times of emergency and now, with the radio, I’m able to provide emergency communications with my own power supply when called up.
    But I will also be able to have use of the radio as we travel the county.
    The wife’s condition I had to agree to in installing the radio was that it had to be neat.
    No wires and ugly installation. No holes in anything. The photos show the results. I’m pretty happy. And it meet’s Jennifer’s approval.
    The rig is a dual-bander (144/440MHz) Kenwood TM-V71A, I chose that rig because I generally like Kenwood two-way radios from my past experiences and this unit in particular has a detachable control head. I had to pick up an extension cable but I was able to locate the radio itself in an out of the way place hidden from view on a storage shelf above the driver’s seat. The control head, with the connecting cable hidden behind the trim, was Velcro-ed on a perfect spot just below and to the right of the steering wheel. I made no holes in the dash. The industrial strength Velcro I used can hold 10 pounds. I doubt the control head weighs more than 8 ounces. The radio itself is also Velcro-ed in place on the shelf so it doesn’t slide around.

    The power connection is direct to one of the eTrek’s eight AGM batteries, accessed through an access panel located under-the-carpeting in the cab part of the van. The were were duct taped in place as they ran across the floor.
    For an antenna I again had to choose neatness.
    The non metal body of the Roadtrek makes getting a ground or using a traditional magnetic mount difficult.
    So I selected the Larsen KG-2/70-CX-PL on glass antenna. Again, I snaked the antenna wire behind the trim to a place where it could reach the top right window on the second row passenger’s seat. The antenna, on a sticky pad, adheres to the outside of the glass while a coupler on the inside sticks to the glass exactly opposite for a very adequate inductive connection.
    By the way, I’ve found that using a putty knife is a very simple way to gently pust wires and cable behing trim coverings. Use plastic ties under the dash to keep any wires from dangling down or showing themselves.
    I get a solid SWR (hams will know what this means) of about 1.6 to 1.9 to one across most of the bands, more than acceptable. All of the local repeaters are full-quieting, meaning I’m receiving and transmitting well.
    So there you go. I’m now K8ZRH mobile. My first add-on mod for my new eTrek.
    Source
  24. Roadtrekingmike
    EDITOR’s NOTE: I don’t normally accept guest posts. But I have made an exception for Graham Gibbs. Graham is from Ottawa and the following post is excerpted from a 5,800-word article he sent me. I think you will enjoy it. It is still very long but I think he captures wonderfully the fun of Roadtreking and the joy of packing and planning. I think you will enjoy this!

    By GRAHAM GIBBS
    Special to Roadtreking.com
    I have been inspired to spend time at my keyboard documenting our Roadtrek experiences by FMCA On-the-Road RV Reporter Mike's adventures with his wife Jennifer and their Norwegian Elkhound Tai.

    Like Mike and Jennifer, my wife Jay and I are RV newbies having only undertaken four trips for a total of 80 days on the road during the past two summers (2011 and 2012). While I am not a journalist, like Mike, I am not a stranger to writing. As the Canadian Space Agency's representative to the United States, based in Washington DC, for twenty-two years I wrote more reports than I care to think about! I have also authored a published book and numerous peer reviewed papers. Also, I find writing to be very therapeutic. My guess is that as a retired journalist Mike also cannot shed the writing bug!




    We left Washington DC and returned to Canada (Ottawa) in August 2010 but our RV story started some five years before. We hope that like Mike's experiences, ours may be useful for fellow RVers and Roadtrekers in particular.





    Know What You Want


    In the interests of full disclosure I should point out that we have been tent campers for many years but as we looked towards our retirement we began to realize that the Therm-a-Rest® mattresses would have to be replaced by something much thicker if we wanted pain free sleeping. Also, we figured we had earned the right to be off-the-ground during our retirement years! So, we got serious about our dream to own an RV.


    We thought long and hard about the type of RV we wanted, and might be able to afford. As tenters by nature we wanted the ability to drive on by-ways and in towns, camp just about anywhere, and we did not want to tow a car (or a Harley â€" though I fantasized about having one!). When tent camping we rather sympathized with those folks in their big rigs that as often as not had to park cheek-to-jowl while we were camped in seclusion. For these and other reasons a Type B campervan was our choice.


    Now came the hard part. What did we want in the way of facilities in our campervan? #1 was an inside toilet, as 60+ year olds no need to explain why! Obviously we wanted the usual stuff like fridge, stove, sink etc. We did not want to have to climb over each other in the night, to use the “facilityâ€, so a bed that was oriented long ways was important. Also, we envisaged long trips when we might want to go to the theatre in dressier clothes, so a wardrobe was on our list. We were not that fussy about being able to sleep more than the two of us as long as we could transport two to three more folks e.g. the grandkids who would sleep in tents. At the time we thought a built-in shower would be nice. Interestingly, we are yet to use the shower in our campervan.


    With our priorities more-or-less itemized we began our research. This entailed going to RV shows and wandering around campgrounds. Recall all this was now some six years ago. We were in no hurry to invest in a campervan; we needed to save-up the money anyway, but wanted one by the time I retired. We finally settled on about three models. One day while driving on US Freeway 95 we saw a Roadtrek (one of the models on our short list but until then we had not seen inside one) and followed it into a Rest Area. The owners were more than happy to show us around -- we were hooked. I sent away for the brochure and DVD.


    To my pleasant surprise, as a Canadian, it was then that I found out the Roadtrek was a Canadian conversion.


    We looked at all the models and settled on the 190-Popular.


    Then it was a few years of saving and continuous searching for a secondhand Roadtrek that we could afford and was in good condition.




    As I mentioned earlier we returned to Canada in August 2010 with the view to my retiring early in 2012, by which time I would be 67 years old and it would definitely be time to sleep off-the-ground! We kept looking, as did a local dealer, for the Roadtrek of our dreams.


    On a Wednesday in April 2011 I just happened to Google "Used Roadtrek" and came upon a site I had not used before. And there she was, a 2004 190-Popular owned since new by Margot, an elderly widow. I was on the phone and exchanging emails with Margot’s granddaughter for the rest of the week. On Sunday with great excitement and anticipation Jay and I took the Greyhound bus to Toronto then another bus to Acton west of Toronto en-route to Kitchener. We were pretty sure we would buy the vehicle so there was no need to go in our own car. To cut the story short, we viewed, wiggled underneath and test drove the Roadtrek Sunday afternoon. That evening in the hotel restaurant we celebrated the end of our search and the beginning of our Roadtrek adventures. Monday morning we concluded the sale and licensing then drove the Roadtrek to the service centre that Margot had used, for some instruction on the Roadtrek’s systems. Then as the proud new owners we drove home to Ottawa.


    In the summer of 2011 we took off on our first excursion, a two weeks trip, oblivious to how unfamiliar we were with the Roadtrek's systems! In retrospect we should have undertaken a shorter, local shake-down trip first. Even what have now become simple tasks were difficult the first time out. For example upon arriving at our first campground we decided to put out the awning â€" something we had not done before. Even with the not-so-helpful owner’s manual we struggled (and cursed) to release the awning vertical posts from their stowed position. I should confess that the lack of clarity in the manual might have been compounded because Jay and I were grumpy having driven too far in one day, another lesson.


    Our campsite essentials include:


    A large outdoor matt -At first we thought this might be an optional item but it soon became obvious it was essential. The matt provides a nice clean sitting area by the Roadtrek whether or not we have the awning out.


    Folding camp chairs - We are still using the low level folding chairs we used when tent camping. They let you stick your legs out and provide some exercise getting in and out! But I have my eye on the folding Pico chair, though expensive they appear to be extremely well made. As with all things you get what you pay for and if you are off on a multi-week/month RV tour you should have quality items.





    Screen house/tent - Since Jay is particularly allergic to mosquitoes, no-see-ums and the like, we bought a good quality camping screen house. It has sides that can be rolled down and a ground sheet that can be fitted so it can be used as a tent (for the grandkids). To our surprise we have only used it a couple of times when we were on the shores of the Upper Saint Lawrence River but I am sure when we venture across Canada (and back across the US) for three plus months this summer (2013) it will have plenty of use. The screen house/tent is stored in the rear compartment and its poles in the side compartment.


    Tarp - When we were tent campers we put up a large orange tarp which being orange is bright a cheery. It uses six telescopic poles and a ridge pole across its width at the middle, ten guy ropes (two at right angles at each of the corner poles and one for each of the centre poles) and twenty pegs (I double peg guy ropes). We prefer the tarp (all parts were bought separately and I make my own guy ropes) to the screen house and put it up over the campsite table for any stays of two days or longer.


    Two-person (two kiddies really) inflatable canoe - This is our one quirky item. As an ex Brit Jay likes to take baths so I bought a cheap inflatable canoe that I can fill up with warm water so Jay can have a bath. It hasn't been used yet but is in the back storage compartment just in case!


    Plastic table cloth - Just because you are camping there is no need to rough it. We use a table cloth (with hold-down clips), arrange a centre piece with local rocks and wild flowers and even use serviettes when we eat – very civilized!


    Small collapsible (coffee) table. This sits between our outdoor camping chairs to keep stuff off the ground!


    Propane Stove - Since we do most cooking outside we carry a portable two burner camping stove. So far I have not bothered to connect the stove to the Roadtrek's propane system preferring the flexibility of small propane bottles. They last 2 to 3 days on average which at around $5 each is not too extravagant.


    Tools - One toolbox for all the hand tools you may need. Check out all the Roadtrek's systems and your campsite essentials that you might need to repair/adjust when on the road. Note for example the hot water tank drain plug that needs a socket and extension rod to reach. On our last trip we had something of an emergency when one of the Roadtrek stove burner knobs stuck in the open position. We had to turn off the propane at the main tank and open all doors and windows to avoid a catastrophe. I was able to dismantle the stove to expose the mechanism but lacked a very small socket to undo the stuck knob. Fortunately we found an RV Centre not too far away and they fixed the problem which was caused by a build-up of corrosion. I have added a suitable wrench to my toolbox in case we have a repeat of the problem.


    Bits and Pieces - I use two plastic tool boxes (approx. 20ins x 10ins x 10ins) for campsite bits and pieces. One contains extra propane bottles, spare rope, folding shovel, small axe and other stuff that is not used regularly. The other box contains those items that might be needed at each stop. It is stored where it is easily accessible in the rear stowage compartment. I bring this out and put it at one end of the campsite table. This box contains; large camping/hunting knife, fish filleting knife, clothes line, clothes pegs (in a bag), three propane bottles, candles, old jam jar (used as a candle holder), mini propane lamp and replacement gauze filaments, fire lighters (why bother with kindling!), matches, flashlight handheld (one is also in the Roadtrek) and headlamp, garbage bags, brush (for sweeping the campsite table), two decks of playing cards, barbeque fork and spatula, and a trivet.


    Pegs and Guy Ropes - I have two see-through net bags with a zipper (available at any decent camping store) to store the guy ropes (I make my own which are more robust than the thin twine guy ropes that seem to come with tents etc. these days) and pegs. I have another smaller bag to store four steel pegs (like long nails) and the mallet. The steel pegs are to hold down the awning posts.


    Spare Key - We learned the hard way! Usually we both have camper keys hanging from a lanyard around our necks since for reasons unknown our Roadtrek sometimes self-locks. Having been caught out twice, without our keys, we now have a spare key hidden outside.


    Large Towel and Rubber Gloves - I keep these in the long compartment on the driver’s side and within easy reach. The towel serves mostly as a kneeling mat when emptying, with rubber gloves on, the black and grey tanks.


    Miscellaneous - Miscellaneous for us include; monopole for the camera or binoculars (I have missed too many wildlife shots setting up a tripod), hand pump (for bikes and inflatable toys), Bouls (French lawn game), day pack (I have a LL Bean Classic Continental Rucksack), two hiking poles (one for each of us), and leveling blocks – we sleep so much better if we are not rolling to one side or the other!.


    A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place


    When we moved from Washington DC to Ottawa we learned from our moving van driver the moving man's mantra "If it don't shake, it don't break." The same of course is true for campervan storage. Jay makes full use of dish drying-up towels, rubberized matting on shelves etc. to ensure our cutlery, dishes, pans, glassware etc. not only do not break but do not produce an annoying rattle when we are underway.


    For our clothes we each have a nylon and see-through net bag with zipper. Both are approximately 6 inches diameter x 24 inches long (670 cu ins/11 litres).


    We find these bags better than canvas or stiffer fabric bags since they easily fit (squish) into the compartments above the rear bed on the left and right sides. Our rule is if you cannot get all your clothes and spare towels in one compartment you have got too much. The exceptions are rain gear, anorak and (optional) dressier jackets that go in the wardrobe (with the wine in a six bottle bag!). We have found that it is best to roll up all clothing for packing. This way you get more in and they don't crease.


    We use the drawer under the passenger seat (by the side door) for shoes. We have found that Crocks are ideal for campsites.


    External storage is Graham's domain. In the long compartment on the driver’s side I store: the poles for the tarp and screen house, water hose, a power extension cord (and electrical socket adapter), collapsible rake (to clean the campsite when necessary), 2 bags of pegs and guy ropes for the tarp, 1 bag with the metal pegs for the awning poles and a mallet, external shower hose and head, towel (to kneel on when draining the tanks) and a pair of gauntlet style rubber gloves, the barbeque vegetable and cooking baskets, and awning winding pole. The built-in power cord lies on top of this lot.


    Everything else under Campsite Essentials fit into the rear compartment, except the folding chairs (which travel on the bed), day pack, and the camera monopole which needs to be handy.


    I found the storage of the awning winding pole and ridge pole in the rear compartment of the Popular-190 to be inconvenient. They kept falling out of their stowage clips and took up space. I now keep the winding pole in the side compartment and I place the ridge pole diagonally across the back and cushioned by the outdoor matt (which stores right across the back).


    Know Your Pace


    Our first trip was two weeks on the Whale Route on the north shore of the upper Saint Lawrence River between Tadoussac and Baie-Comeau. The Whale Route seems to be one of Canada's Best Kept Secrets. During our time there I spotted perhaps only three vehicles with out-of-Province plates. I suppose we should be grateful it is not better known outside Quebec, and so is not over-crowded, but those who have not been are missing a gem.


    We arrived at our first scheduled stop, a KOA campground outside of Quebec City some 200 miles from Ottawa, grumpy!! Lesson # 1: Pace yourselves. In the summer of 2012 we spent 6+ weeks in the Maritime Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It was a wonderful trip where we hugged the coasts, avoided main highways but we came to realize how essential it is to know your pace.


    When I had been on camping vacations in the Maritimes with Diving Club buddies some forty-years ago we always booked our campground. So, fearing that campgrounds might be full I booked all the campgrounds for the first four weeks of our trip. While this worked reasonably well we learned four lessons: campgrounds do not seem to fill-up to capacity so the need to book ahead is questionable, booking ahead removes schedule flexibility, it is not always easy to anticipate road conditions and all stops, and campgrounds do not always fit the description the owners have provided. One at the Head of Saint Margaret’s Bay in Nova Scotia was so awful we checked out early and forfeited three days of pre-payment.


    In sum, for our trip across Canada (and back across the US) in the summer of 2013 we will not book campgrounds but call ahead en-route.


    In getting to know your pace certain things need to be taken into account for example do you prefer to stay away from main highways, what speed to you drive, do you stop to visit museums and so forth?


    Jay and I share interests which include geography/scenery of all types but with a penchant for coastal routes (we are ex Brits where the sea is never far away), flora and fauna (more Jay's passion), learning about the culture and history of the region we are visiting, art and music, museums of various types, walks (versus strenuous hikes -- those days seem to be behind us!), salt and fresh water and mountains, shopping in farmers markets and the like.


    Our preferences are to avoid main highways, drive at 50mph/80kmh or slower (which often means pulling over to let vehicles pass), make unscheduled stops (we are touring after all), stop for a picnic lunch.


    On our Maritimes trip we found that for many legs we were averaging about 100 to 120 miles per day i.e. much less than we thought we would cover, and we really did not want to be behind the wheel for more than five hours each day with four being preferable. Though of course there were days which were longer.


    We also found that after 2 to 3 days of one-night stops and driving we were ready for a longer break of two or more nights/days with only local sightseeing.


    Know What is Expected of You


    Two people, no matter how compatible, can expect some tension when living in a Type B RV for an extended period of time. We have gravitated to specific tasks so we are not tripping over each other. For example I do most of the campsite set-up chores (though setting up the tarp or screen house is a two-person job) while Jay converts the interior from our driving mode to camping mode. And, the same when we are de-camping.


    We leave the rear bed made-up all the time we are travelling -- it is just not worth the hassle converting it every day and in any event it is then always available for an afternoon nap! Since we do most things outside we have a cooler, water container, and washing up bucket that travel on the floor and then occupy the campsite table seat when we are parked.


    By having our own known tasks, setting-up and packing-up is pretty efficient. We can usually be settled in within 30 minutes of arriving at a campsite, unless the tarp or screen house is erected then it might take 60 minutes before we can sit down and relax with a cup of tea, if we have arrived early enough, or straight to Happy Hour if later!


    I would also add that giving your travelling companion her or his own time and space when needed is important. We also have found that sharing laptops/iPADs and e-readers does not work so well so we have our own!


    Despite how all this may sound I am a lucky guy since my spouse is also my best friend so surviving in a Type B is not hard.


    Planning Your Trip


    RV touring is perhaps one activity where Plan your work and work your plan does not or should not apply. Jay and I are masters at going to Plan B or C even D, to take advantage of some unexpected special interest such as an off-the-beaten-path gold-mine museum in the middle of Nova Scotia.


    That said you should not set off without at least a notional route, knowledge of potential campgrounds, places of interest, and note when events might be taking place.


    I am still learning but making progress with trip planning. For our trips so far I have prepared a detailed daily itinerary with the route, mileage, and notations for bookings made and places of interest to visit. What I am learning is that the approach for each trip might be different and will depend on the distance to be travelled, number of potential stops and schedule constraints. But, I am leaning towards trip plans that are not quite as detailed or fixed, at least not on a daily basis.


    When we went along the Whale Route on the Upper Saint Lawrence we had in mind that we might take the ferry across the river, from Baie-Comeau at the northern end of our planned route, to the South Shore for our return. However, when we got to the region we realized that the Saguenay Fjord, west of Tadoussac (at the beginning of the Whale Route), would be worth seeing in its entirety. So having spent some 8 days between Tadoussac and Baie-Comeau we re-traced our steps and then spent 3 delightful days touring all the way around the Saguenay Fjord.


    The first four weeks of our Maritimes was all planned and worked well since we knew we wanted to hug the coast of Nova Scotia. But we were not sure how we would feel after our first month away in the Roadtrek so after Cape Breton our plans were open. After a month we were still in no hurry to return home "one of the privileges of retirement life" so we continued around the coast of Nova Scotia and then much of the coast of New Brunswick as we pointed ourselves more-or-less in the direction of home.




    For our North America trip this summer (2013) we decided we would spend some two months crossing Canada (many just wiz across in ten days â€" bad idea) and a month returning across northern US (after a stop to visit our daughter in Portland, Oregon). To be on the safe side we have not booked anything early in the fall that might force us to return before we are ready.


    I am planning this trip in a somewhat less detailed fashion than I have for previous trips. I began with MapQuest since it is a route planning tool I am very familiar with and I am pretty familiar with Canada. I tackled one Province at a time and chose the slightly more northern route (old Trans-Canada) so as to avoid as much as possible the busier southern Trans-Canada highway. The route will take us back-country from Ottawa to North Bay and along the shores of Lake Superior, then to Winnipeg in Manitoba, to Saskatoon in Saskatchewan and on to Edmonton, Alberta. We want to see the famous dinosaur fossil park and museum which is south of Calgary so we will head south from Edmonton then west to Banff and spend time in the Rockies between Banff and Jasper. After some research I found a back-country route from Jasper to British Columbia which will allow us to approach Vancouver from the north. From there we go to Vancouver Island. Then head south to the US.


    Having roughed out the route I checked the websites for all the towns we will travel through to see what would be interesting to visit and what events might be taking place, so we can try to manage our arrival accordingly. I have put these web-links in the plan so I can easily access them when we are on our way. I also checked out all the National and Provincial Parks on our route.


    For this trip we will not make any campground reservations in advance since we do not want to be tied to a schedule or even the route in case we hear about something really interesting that is not too much of a diversion.


    I have typed all this up and now have our cross-Canada itinerary, with Province by Province over view maps, all contained in just 18 pages, plus a one page grand Overview including schedule and cost estimates (see samples below).


    I have subscribed to RV Trip Wizardâ„¢ (
    https://www.rvtripwizard.com/) so my next task will be to overlay our planned route to get the additional information that the App has to offer.

    Once the Canadian portion is done I will work on the return route through the US. All this will be loaded onto my iPAD so as to minimize the paperwork to be carried â€" though we are old enough to like to have paper or laminated maps handy!


    Well that is what we have learned so far. We have much more to learn to derive the full benefit from our Roadtreking but I think we have made a good start.


    Regardless of your personal preferences and interests things that you might consider are:


    Know what you want in an RV. This will be based on where you want to go and want you want to do. It will also be dictated by establishing your priorities for your living space.


    Know your vehicle and its systems. We recommend that you do not learn-on-the road! Read the Manual, operate all the systems in your drive-way, seek advice, and make your first trip a local shake-down trip.


    Establish your Campsite Essentials. That is what you cannot do without to make your adventure pleasurable, and pack 'em!


    Ensure you that there is a place for everything and everything is in its place. You will have more time for fun if you are not forever searching for something or trying to squeeze it in somewhere. Pack the same way every time.


    Know your pace. You and your travelling companion(s) will get grumpy, stressed or tired (or all three) if you try to follow an over crammed schedule, drive too far for comfort, drive faster to make up for lost time, and don't stop to enjoy those special places of interest.


    Share the workload. You and your travelling companion(s) will benefit if the work is shared with each doing what each is most capable of doing, and keep the same work shares so each knows what is expected of him or her.


    Plan your trip. But perhaps do not over-plan!


    Write a Trip Report. Not for everyone perhaps but give it a try you might be surprised at what an enriching experience it is and how it adds to the post-trip pleasure.


    Happy Roadtreking


    Graham


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  25. Roadtrekingmike
    That’s because the brand-new miniature K-cup coffee maker I bought for our motorhome didn’t work this morning and I was all set to celebrate our first night in our new Roadtrek eTrek with a hot cup of coffee.

    Fortunately, the Kentucky Horse Park campground where we’re staying just off I-75 near Lexington, has a store and it was open, and they had plenty of coffee.
    Crisis averted.
    I had wanted to boondock on our first night to put the batteries and solar power features of this new motorhome to the test, but since we didn’t arrive here till 8 PM, we decided that because the park has the water turned off during winter and only offers electricity, we’d call this half-boondocking.
    I actually thought of just not using the electricity, but since we had to pay $23 for the spot and my wife’s ancestors came from Scotland she said “since we’re paying for it, we’ll use it.”
    Later, I saw they had primitive spots here. But we had already paid and settled in.
    There were a few others spending the night. I visited with a couple from Ohio headed to Florida for three months in their Type C while getting coffee. But we were pretty much alone in this very large, well maintained campground next to the Kentucky Horse Farm complex which, even in the winter, has several attractions open. We’re decided to save a tour of the barns and a look at the champion blue grass thoroughbreds for another time.
    We have an important date tomorrow at noon. We get to have lunch with two of our grandkids at their school in Albany, GA and have to be there by 11:30 AM.
    The biggest adjustment in our new motorhome is figuring out what goes where. In a Type B, storage space is at a minimum and we’re going to need a few days and maybe a couple of trips to get it down. I’m seriously thinking about getting a trunk-mounted storage box when we visit the Florida RV Supershow next week.
    Tai, our Norwegian Elkhound, immedialy adjusted and loved the long walk we took him on last night in an empty campground.
    The temperatures dipped into the upper twenties. The heater in the eTrek, which uses forced air or hot water, is magnificent. We were toasty warm all night and impressed by how quiet it is compared to the previous one.
    I have yet to put any water in the eTrek. I should be able to today as the forecast is for unseasonably warm weather, especially as we keep moving south.
    It’s time for breakfast, And maybe the horses. Later
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