skyking8

I spend four months in the Carlsbad area last year. There is a nice KOA in Carlsbad, but it’s expensive. Brantley Lake State Park is nice. It has 50A service and water, but only a dump station. Both are about half hours drive to the Caverns. There is parking for all size RVs at the Caverns. It is the big attraction, but there is a lot more to do and see in the Carlsbad area. Ask the campground people for that info when you get there.

One of the things I maintain is a Trip Log with information on which campgrounds I stay in. I enter some basic info about the cost, campsite, amenities, etc. Then I do my own rating scale from 1-10. It has been very useful when I travel back thru a particular area. Essentially it’s my own personal campground directory. Blogs are a good way to update your travel for friends and relatives, but I prefer my own website with a blog and guestbook feature. It’s much more versatile than a blog. It’s also a bit more private in that you can pick a domain name of your own choosing and doesn’t come with annoying ads that permeate free blog sites. It’ll cost $50-60/year to have a website that will allow you the freedom to be creative, display pictures, location maps, text, etc. Most host sites have their own web building tools that don’t require any special skills. If you know how to use most common software that you have on the computer, it’s fairly easy. But it all boils down to what garykd asked…â€how much time do you want to spend on it?â€

T> Yeah, I know the spreadsheet is a bit over the top, but I realllllllly hate looking for things that that aren't where they should be like tools....and trip info. We used to full time, but after several years the better half got tired of 400 sq ft and wanted a house. So I bought some acreage in the country and we built one ourselves. One of those million dollar experiences that I wouldn't give a nickel to do again! I get the feeling if I shipped the ice cream to your address, all I'd see when I got there was an empty carton.

Google Earth does this also, plus some other neat stuff. You'll have to download the free program, but doesn't take long. www.earth.google.com

Well, Betty and I have finished packing most of the rig for the upcoming trip to Idaho. We'll finish the rest the day before we leave. For those who have RVs, you can appreciate that loading and unloading is a royal pain in the A--!! especially if you're going to be gone for any length of time. Invariably you forget something and end up buying it along the way. That means when you get home you've got two or three of the same thing at the house. We leave home on May 5th. According to Google, it's 2,082 miles to destination and we plan 10 days en route with sightseeing. We'll be traveling thru TX, CO, WY, and UT. I spent a whole day on the computer flight planning this puppy and finally converted all info to an Excel spreadsheet. One thing I realized after the plan was done is that 10 days isn't enough time to see everything at a laid-back pace. So we're going to have to skip a few things so we won't be worn out by the time we get there. I was surprised to find that there are plenty of Flying J truck stops along the way with good prices for diesel. Unfortunately, Blue Bell Ice Cream isn't distributed that far north. There will be a withdrawal period. We'll update our information on this blog with pictures and stuff if we have net connections. Rich and Betty (AKA: Ace and Boop)

According to the code, the fine for not having a TX Class B license is $200. Obviously, cheaper than a $500 airline ticket. It is also worth noting that if "out-of-staters"are going to register their vehicle in TX an inspection sticker is required. You cannot have a TX license plate and out of state inspection. Meaning that you have to bring the rig to TX to get it inspected. Another expense. I am not an attorney, but I'd suggest that the issue of needing a Class B for driving a motorhome is not required. This section indicates to me that a Class B is a form of a CDL. Sec. 522.041: Classifications - The department may issue a Class A, Class B, or Class C commercial driver's license. If that is a true statement then the following excerpt from the code SPECIFICALLY exempts owners of motor homes from needing a Class B license: Sec. 522.004. CDL Applicability. This chapter does not apply to: (4) a recreational vehicle that is driven for personal use; In this section, "recreational vehicle" means a motor vehicle primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational camping or travel use. The term includes a travel trailer, camping trailer, truck camper, and motor home. I too have gotten differing responses on this issue from those within the Texas DPS system that should know the correct answer. Considering that and the language of the statues, I suspect it wouldn't be difficult if, I ever got one, to defend a ticket for not having the Class B.

For those who come, know that boots and a cowboy hat are fashionable, beef (not pork) BBQ is number one on the list, its a 10 hour drive from border to border, we don't make chili with beans, and good mexican food is not at the Taco Bell. Where else can you find beaches, mountains, lakes, cactus, 8 pro sports teams, and tourist attractions to suit everyone? Wayne77590> I was in Florida a few months back and the entry travel stops served a small cup of orange juice. Perhaps we should be doing the same with margaritas. Utah has one of the nicest Travel Guides I've ever seen. PS: I almost forgot...Remember the Alamo.

I was unfortunately stuck in the old gravel, sardine can, campground at Shields because I got there a couple days before they opened the new one. Amenities always located on the base somewhere.

A good way to handle the issue is to get yourself an Anonymous email address. Some ISPs provide that service. If not it can be gotten from a third party provider.