On The Road Again - Trip Planning

Ed and Ruth are friends, and they've made countless trips across America (from Nova Scotia), and they've stayed out of trouble by taking it easy, paying attention to weather forecasts, and thinking out each leg of the trip before they leave (see travel plan below).

When they hauled a 5th Wheel, this planning was more complex, because you need to know where you can stop, and where you can get fuel. You especially need to know how to navigate around big cities, where a wrong turn can get you in serious trouble in a hurry.

The 5th Wheel stays in Arizona these days, and motels have replaced truck stops and RV parks. Life is good in an economical SUV, which is comfortable, roomy, and reliable.

A good day for them is six to seven hours of travel, in daylight, with a finish around 4 pm. If there are storms ahead, they wait until they clear, or they take an alternative route. The trip home in the spring (end of March) is especially challenging, bad weather is everywhere. Ed is a retired Air Force pilot, and avoiding nasty weather is something that comes natural. So does trip planning.

Ed's Route Plan - click to enlarge

As I write this, they're arriving in Nashville. And, they'll take a couple of days break. It has taken four days to get there from Mesa, Arizona. This is no speed record. They have spent about $125 in fuel so far (paying as little as $2.11 a gallon in Oklahoma). Ed estimates the trip back to Nova Scotia will come in under $300. This is definitely the year of low fuel prices.

Contrast this with what they used to spend hauling the 5th Wheel (about $1,000 in fuel each way), and motel living sounds pretty appealing.

Since Snowbirds are all flocking home during this period, their motel stays are booked well in advance, which means lower prices, and they're sure of a room. Their preference these days is La Quinta, which affords them frequent user discounts and loyalty bonuses. Ed is registered with La Quinta as ex-military, and the staff know this when he registers, and never fail to thank him for his service. A nice touch.

Simply Noise - When you need some rest

iPod charger and speakers work great

There's an app for that. Truth is, RV parks are often in noisy locations. When you're on the road, so are truck stops, Walmart parking lots, and some motel rooms.

If noise is killing your sleep, add some noise - Simply Noise. This $1 app is all it takes.

You'll need a little amp/speaker/ear-buds, and your mobile device. Simply Noise generates a hishing noise that blocks out noisy cars, trucks, motorcycles, slamming doors, whatever. You easily adjust to Simply Noise, and the other annoyances just disappear.

RV Cooling - AC Alternative

5th Wheel bedroom window location - Window is open.

A few years ago my ceiling AC failed in my Roadtrek (Class B Motorhome). Repairs were not an option where I was, and the weather was stifling hot. I found this Bonaire Personal Cooler (which I call my Swamp Cooler), at Home Depot. There was just the one, it had been returned, and none of the store staff had the faintest idea how it worked. It was a good deal. I was desperate, so I took it.

Here's what you need to know:

• You put it near an open window; 
• Turn on your Fantastic Fan (ceiling fan if you have one);
• Open other windows to create a draft; 
• You put water in the back, turn it on, and you're good to go. 

You get low-cost cooling at a fraction of what AC costs. Good for the desert, and dry climates. Not so good in high humidity areas. This is a daytime cooler. One unit this size will NOT cool your entire trailer. However, it is portable, so you can move it around to where you are.

It will cool your Roadtrek. My cooler sat between the front seats when in use (hanging locker when not in use). It was great. There is a small pump, and a fan, so power consumption is minimal.

I like it best when daytime temperatures are below 90 F. The Fantastic Fan is turned on, AC in the rest of the trailer is turned off, and the windows are open. I use it to cool the bedroom in the afternoon. It raises the humidity level, and cools by evaporation. Perfect for people who find AC hard to take. More information is here. Highly recommended.

March Weather Madness

 

Still March, and the temperatures are rising. This is the AZ forecast for March 26, 2015.

Meanwhile, as Snowbirds start their journey home, this is how the rest of the continent looks. Deadly twisters created no end of havoc on highways across America yesterday, including the popular routes home. I made 18 trips from the SW to the NE over several years (nine out, nine back), and now I fly. The trip down in the fall was always the best, the trip home in early April was challenging to say the least.

Photo from CBS of a deadly twister in 2013, The end of March and early part of April is Tornado time, and it pays to plan your motor trip carefully. Having access to the Internet in your vehicle while you travel can help keep you out of harm's way. I personally avoid several severe weather events by knowing when to go South, head North, or sometimes just when to stop and wait.

Phoenix and the Valley forecast for the last weekend of March 2015. The record for this weekend is 95 degrees. Record, or no record, this is hot. The weather systems, which eventually track East start here in the SW.

Sourdough Pancakes - RV Special

I'm posting this sourdough pancake recipe here so I won't forget it. Pictured is a sourdough pancake that will puff up a bit (rise), and this was achieved only after some experimentation. Puffed or not, they are always good, so don't worry.

You'll need sourdough starter, and there are plenty of ways to get it, including starting your own. Mine came from a friend in the park. Thank you Karen. This starter originated in Europe over 30 years ago, and Karen has kept it going ever since. The older the starter, the better (or, so I'm told).

I keep about a cup in the refrigerator, then the night before, in a separate bowl add about a cup of flour and a cup of warm water. Use equal parts. Stir. Cover with a tea-towel and allow to sit overnight on the counter. In the morning, stir, then draw off about a half-cup of your starter and return to the refrigerator for future use.

Use about two cups of starter (what's left in the bowl) for a decent feeding for two to four people. Stir in one egg. Add 2 Tbsp of olive oil, 1 Tbsp of sugar, and a dash of salt.

To help with getting the pancakes to rise, I added two Tbsp of milk.

Finally, you'll need 1 tsp of baking soda. Dissolve the baking soda in a Tbsp of warm water before throwing it in the mix, and do this as a last step.

If you want more protein, add another egg.

Fry them up on medium high temperature, and enjoy.

Palm Creek in Casa Grande

Casa Grande is South of Phoenix on Hwy 10. It is roughly about an hour from the Phoenix airport (directions). It's a smaller town (population appx. 50,000), and a lot of people like it for this reason. Palm Creek RV resort is located on the East side of town, and you can't miss it from Highway 10 because of all the palm trees you see off in the distance. A five star resort, it is a beautiful place to vacation. I have a number of friends who call this home in the winter. For serious fans of Pickleball, this is the park for you.

I was there last weekend and took these pictures from the car window. The property pictured above is somewhat typical of the park models you'll find in PC. It was the landscaping that drew my eye to this property. We are in the desert, and the grass you see is probably artificial.

How about this RV setup. The good news, at the time of this writing it is for sale. Plan to spend about $240,000. The outbuilding you see is part of their property, so you get an idea how much space you'll have to enjoy. Space that won't come cheap, but for RVers who want something special, you have it here in spades.

Here's another example of carefully planned space with an motor coach for living in. These RVers pay annual fees just like park models, and the property upgrades are an extra investment, which could possibly be sold later if you decide to move, and can find someone to assume your annual fees. Here's the good news - if you do make the commitment, and keep up the annual fees, you won't find yourself being bumped for a park model. Not all parks think like this.

South-West Sunset, Mesa

So here we are in Valley del Oro, Mesa, Arizona. About as cosmopolitan as it gets - and, that is a freeway overpass you see. Hwy 202 to be exact. Yes, RV parks are often built close to busy highways (or,sometimes railways). VDO is at the intersection of Hwy 60 and Hwy 202.

  

 Looking NE, this is what we see at sunset. That is Superstition Mountain. I am standing on top of my trailer to see it, which means if you are not willing to climb on top of your trailer, you will not see the sunset. At least in this location.

What are we eating tonight? On special, and directly from the East Coast, and on sale here in Mesa. We're in the desert, but we're not exactly roughing it.

The Resort on Ellsworth - Mesa, AZ

The Resort has 792 sites, and 157 are still occupied by people in trailers and motor coaches. On the day we visited in March 2015 there were still 14 sites not booked for the 2015/16 season. For various reasons, mostly to due with personal preference on which way you face, and how big the patio slab is, the list was quickly narrowed to three or four possibilities. Prices are very reasonable. A five month stay is about $2,500 with just electricity extra. Water, sewer, trash removal, and cable TV are included.

When you're in an RV, laundry facilities are critical. The Resort meets this criteria in spades. There were plenty of machines, and they all appeared to be in working order. Score one for The Resort.

The various activity areas were still humming along, including the wood shop. People were friendly, and it looks like there is plenty to do.

Tennis courts were basically vacated on our visit, Pickleball was anything but. The Resort has four courts so far. Pickleball is big.

Don't forget to check for a fitness centre. Not all resorts take this seriously enough, and if daily fitness is part of your routine, you won't be happy without one. This the the fitness facility at The Resort. Plenty of everything, and all in good repair.

Silveridge RV Resort - Southern Ave., Mesa, AZ

There is a new game here in the SW, and it's called locking down your RV site for next season before you leave town in the spring. I visited Silveridge on Southern Avenue in Mesa yesterday to see what they had to offer. This is an above average park with plenty of amenities. The season (October 31 - March 31) for an RV site is about $3,000, which includes water, sewer, trash and cable TV.

There are just under 700 sites at Silveridge, and the list I was given for RVs currently lists just over 100 sites available for motor homes and trailers. Of that, only seven were currently available for the winter season starting in the fall of 2015. Remember, this is March, so you get the idea. RVers know, given the demand and dwindling supply, reservations are essential. The list of RV sites in most of these better parks get shorter each year as year-round park models replace seasonal RV sites. Good for the parks, not so good for RVers.

Silveridge doesn't have a lot of surplus real estate, but even they have had to find space for Pickleball courts (you see them in the distance). Pickleball is the rage at the moment, and parks are responding with many courts as they have space for. There are currently four at Silveridge, and they are new. You won't find a high-end RV park without a nice pool, and Silveridge's pool and patio area in one of the nicest I've seen.

RV Awning Bracket Repair

Once the lag screws that hold your awning brackets in place start to give up, and you've maxed out on larger screw sizes, you may find this inexpensive fix will work for you. First you'll need two J Bolts, which you can find in just about any hardware store. I used a 5/16" bolt. You hacksaw them to look more like a right angle.

Insert them as you see here, and twist so you catch the metal frame inside of the trailer. You'll be securing against this very strong frame. Caulk to prevent moisture from entering around the screw.

Use lock washers, tighten, and trim off the J Bolt as you see here. I had thought of using a steel plate, but decided on this method, because it is quick, easy, strong, inexpensive, and there is nothing to rust or need paint. Thanks to my neighbour Mike (pictured), for this great idea.

RV Bed Footboard

Without a normal footboard, at the end of an RV bed, there is a tendency for the blankets to slowly work their way off the end of the bed, which leaves you constantly pulling them up during the night. I tried various methods of holding the sheets and blankets on the bed, and finally made two short footboards, which just slide under the mattress after the bed is made. Your bedspread goes over the top to hide them.

The upright is 1/2" plywood, this apparatus needs to be light. The bottom is 1/4" Masonite. I glued and used wood screws for strength. Make two, one for each side of the bed at the bottom. Keep the upright a few inches below your mattress height, so you can still sit on the end of the bed. Our mattress with topper is 14" thick, and the 9" height of the footboard works fine. Two footboards are easier to manage than one, and there is a space between for your electric blanket cord.

Bedspread goes over the top of the footboards.

It took me a couple of shots to get this right. The first ones I made did not include the base piece, and they easily broke. Gluing and screwing the base to the upright is essential for strength. The budget for this project was about $10.