Spirit Journey: Our Full-Time RV Life and Travels

Farewell Howie

2011-07-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

It is bittersweet to report that our old, trusty RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) has moved on down the road with a new owner. After two months of first prepping for the sale and then placing him on the market, we had a buyer show up yesterday that closed the deal within three hours. Although we are glad to have the deal done, it was sad to see him go.

For two years Howie was more than just a recreational vehicle to us. He was our home and a good machine that safely transported us through many incredible travels. He provided warmth in the winter, cool air in the summers, fabulous meals throughout the country, grand vistas as we drove through mountain passes and low-country deltas, the opportunities to see and visit places we had never been before, the blessing of spending time with family and the chance to make many new friends. He gave us deep, rich memories that will be with us for a lifetime.

Merrian-Webster's dictionary defines the word farewell as "a wish of well-being at parting." That is exactly how we feel right now. Goodbye Howie. Have good travels ahead and thank you for everything old friend.

photos by Deb

A New Home

2011-06-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. It has also been HOT! As I write this post the temps. are nearing 100 and the long-range forecast calls for more of the same over the next two weeks. Ah, summer in Florida. Although the heat made the move into our new home a tad uncomfortable, the garden is loving it. As the above pictures show, everything is growing well and producing a tremendous amount of vegetables. There is great joy in cooking and tasting vegetables that are picked fresh from the garden. Given the current prices for vegetables purchased in supermarkets, we are blessed to have this garden available to us.

On the first of this month we officially moved into our new home. (See pictures above.) It is a three year old, 37 ft. Crossroads Zinger that includes a roomy deck (which Quincy loves) and a storage shed. We are still slowly settling our stuff into place, but are amazed at how much more room we have compared to our old 32 ft. motorhome. With a large slider in the living area and a smaller one in the bedroom it is now possible for us to move around without bumping into one another. The unit is in spotless condition both inside and out with beautiful layouts in every room. One of the biggest benefits for us is a kitchen with ample counterspace and a full size refrigerator. After living two years in a much smaller space, this place feels like a mansion.

Although our old, trusty RV Howie has been good to us and provided a wonderful journey filled with priceless memories, our decision to move was based on two major factors. One was that our friends, Peggy and Tom, made us an offer for purchasing this place that was simply too good to pass up. It's a rare opportunity to be able to upgrade in ways that require very little effort to move and still comfortably fit within a monthly budget. Once again, our thanks must be offered to them for making this opportunity possible at this time.

The other factor is the changing nature of full-time RV living. When we began our journey two years ago the economic realities were much different than they are today. With rising gas prices, rising food prices and rising site fees at RV parks it has become increasing difficult to maintain a lifestyle of constantly living and traveling in an RV unless one has an unlimited income. When you're driving a vehicle that has an 80 gallon gas tank and gets only 8-10 miles per gallon at best it doesn't take long to plow through a large pile of money. Although we still plan to continue our travels in the future, the best way to approach our RV lifestyle at this point is to be practical about adapting to the current economic realities.

For better or worse, we are not the only ones in the RV lifestyle who are rethinking their future travel plans. In just this park alone, there are at least six couples who stayed here last winter that will not be returning next season. Several have been staying here for years. Two have obtained work camping positions and the others have decided to halt their RV travels for various reasons. Although new RV production is predicted to climb slightly during this year, the current trend for RV use is shorter trips and more full-time travelers becoming long-term residents as opposed to short-term or seasonal visitors. As Bob Dylan sang years ago, "The times they are a changing."

For the next week we will be busy getting Howie ready for sale. Let's just hope it cools down a little. Happy Trails everyone.

Photos by Lane

BIG, BIG, HUGE CHANGES

2011-05-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

To say that it's been busy here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL since the last post would be the understatement of the year. I swear to myself after each post to add a new one on a more regular basis than I have the past few months, but things have always come along that require my time and energies. That is especially true over the past month and a half. Changes have come at us so fast it's been hard to keep up with them. But as you will discover toward the end of this entry, one major change has occurred that came out of nowhere and has sent our RV life in a whole new direction.

A steady change here at Kelly's over the past month has been the departure of the Snowbirds who headed back North for the summer season. What was a place packed full of RVs over the winter is now a park with only about 15 of us long-term, diehard Crackers who choose to sweat it out over the summer. It's was hard to say good-bye to the many friends we made over the past months, but that's the nature of living in Florida. People come and go on a seasonal basis. After a few years of living here you get used to the rhythm, but it's always strange to go from being surrounded by a lot of people to looking outside and seeing empty lots.

The major task I have had lately has been keeping up with the changes and growth in the community garden. Man, has it grown fast. As the above pictures show, what was once a piece of barren ground has exploded into a beautiful, productive showcase of vegetables. Over the past month we have harvested lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, shell peas, sugarsnap peas, bush beans, pole beans, squash and tomatoes. Everything else is coming along at a fast pace and, within the next week, we will be planting a second rotation of crops. Although it requires a great deal of work, this garden is providing us with some very good eats. Given the price of produce in the supermarkets these days, I am willing to dedicate as much energy as is necessary to keep this garden as productive as possible. Besides, there's no better place to feel connected with life than around growing plants.

Now for the really big news. (Always save the best for last!) As of June 1st, we will be moving into a new RV here at Kelly's. It was not a move we had planned or expected to make at this time, but an opportunity came along that was just to good to pass up.

When we arrived here a year ago two of the first people we met were Peggy and Tom. Tom has lived here for many years and they both quickly became very dear friends with us. After a recent road trip, they returned to announce that they had purchased a double-wide with property in Lake Pleasant, FL. Out of the blue, they quickly offered to sell us their 37 ft., Zinger pull behind RV with terms that we simply could not refuse. It sits on a very large, padded spot with no other units on either side. As it worked out, it is the next spot over from where we are now which will make for a very easy move. The RV is only three years old and is loaded with nice amenities like a large slideout in the central living area, a washer and dryer, a full-size refrigerator and a large deck. Needless to say, we are thrilled and feel very blessed to be given this opportunity.

In my next post, which I promise will be soon, I'll include some pictures of our new digs and explain further why we chose to make this move. Although our old, trusty RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) has been very good to us and provided exciting travels over the past two years, there are many changes going on in the full-time RV lifestyle that require a fresh prospective on the future.

In the mean time, we have serious packing to complete and more vegetables to grow.

Photos by Deb & Lane

A New Awning & A Garden

2011-03-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

It has been raining for two days straight here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. Hard rains. Heavy downpours of the intensity that makes one start to consider building an ark. In the span of just three hours yesterday afternoon we were deluged with almost 2.5 inches from a storm that moved into the area after building moisture across the Gulf. Although we badly needed the moisture, rains of that intensity caused concern for two new projects that have occurred since our last post. One is a new awning that we placed on our trusty RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) and the other is a community garden we have been heavily working on for the past several month.

As I reported in a post from last July, our old awning suffered major damage due to another major rain event and was beyond the point of repair. We were able to roll it up enough to cover the tear in the seam, but after one more winter of wear and tear the time had come for declaring the point of no return. There were major leaks developing across the canvas and, with the coming summer heat, we need an awning that can be fully extended across the patio. After all, it was 25 years old and had lived a good life. Thankfully, with the help of many good and experienced friends here at the park, and the chance to obtain a new canvas cheap at Bob's RV Salvage in High Springs, FL, we are now enjoying the comforts of a very secure, camel colored awning that can be fully extended!

As the above picture shows, it is no easy task to replace an awning. It is a job that requires the help of at least four people and the expertise to mount and adjust the support arms properly. This was especially true for our awning because of its size. It measures 21 feet between the support arms and has a 20.2 feet canvas. Luckily, by the time we mounted ours everyone shown in the picture had gained plenty of experience in the process. This was the sixth awning we all helped to replaced on numerous RVs here at the park over the past five months. Along the way, there were enough parts left over to also fully replace our support arms and add a much needed center support post. We have to give a big shout-out to all the guys in the picture for their invaluable help. They are true craftsmen who unselfishly completed a task that would have cost a fortune if done at an RV repair shop. It is a true blessing to be surrounded by so many giving and talented people. It is a tribute to their work that the canvas withstood the downpours yesterday with absolutely no problems.

The downpours also, thankfully, had little negative effects on the community garden. The second picture shows the garden during the first week of planting in the last week of February. This is a project that has been in development for months with the clearing of land, the application of several loads of good top-soil, the erection of a 5 foot fence around the entire perimeter and the planting of a large variety of vegetables. It is large enough to accommodate thirty rows spaced 3 feet apart measuring 36 feet in length, plus four additional rows measuring 40 feet in length.

Currently, we have cucumbers, sugar beets, 18 different varieties of tomatoes, 6 varieties of peppers, pole beans, onions, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, califlower, lettuce, radish, sugar snap and shell peas, spinach, carrots, bush beans, 5 varieties of squash, eggplant, collard greens and four different varieties of potatoes planted and growing well. Some of the potatoes have already required mounding, there are cherry tomatoes developing and the cucumbers, squash and shell peas are beginning to blossom. Needless to say, over the next few months we will all be enjoying a bounty of good eats. All we need now is a few days of warm sun to dry everything out again.

Until next time, Happy Trails everyone.

Copyright Lane A Geyer 2009-2011

Photos by Deb

Changing Spaces & A Dog Wedding

2011-02-21T08:44:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that so much time has past since my last post. Although a stretch of cold, damp weather keep everyone indoors for most of January, there has been plenty of activity here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. Deb and I have stayed busy with our work/camp duties and spending time around the campfire almost every evening. With the increase of people around the park during the winter months, there's always an activity or event taking place.

One of our undertakings a few weeks ago was moving our trusty RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) to another lot. The new lot is only two spaces away from our old one, but provides a better setting. The patio is 2 feet wider and there is no one parked on the South side, which provides us with a nice view of trees and grass. The other advantage to the location is that there will more more shade from the trees as the sun gets higher and hotter during the coming months.

A lesson learned during the move is that a motor home needs to have the batteries charged and the motor run on a regular basis if it sits in one place for an extended period of time. I already knew that, but became complacent about completing those tasks for too many months. Howie ran and sounded good once the engine was started, but needed a battery charge and a jump to gets things going. Note to self, charge the batteries and run the engine on a regular basis from now on.

One of the most unique events to take place here over the past few weeks was the marriage of our dog Quincy to Daisy Mae, the dog of our neighbors Judy and Al. Since Daisy Mae arrived here from Canada for a winter stay, Quincy and her have been madly in love. Every time they are together, they roll around and constantly kiss like two lovesick teenagers.

The ceremony took place on a beautiful Valentine's Day afternoon. As you can see from the above pictures, the bride and groom were all decked out for the event and were showered by gifts of numerous dog treats. About 15 people and 6 dogs were present to witness and celebrate the blessed union and all in attendance had a great time. Although the event was unique to say the least, it provided a great afternoon of entertainment. With over 50 dogs residing in the park right now, any event that includes dogs is always a big hit with their human owners.

The warmer temperatures over the past two weeks has also brought a flurry of repairs and improvements to many of the RV around the park. One of the great benefits of living in an RV park is the number of people who have the time, tools and expertise to undertake almost any repair task. So far, the local crew has stayed busy rebuilding a complete set of brakes, replacing and/or repairing over four awnings and patching a broken holding tank. It's a blessing to be surrounded with so many people who so freely give of their time and talents. The amount of money saved on these projects is thousands of dollars when compared to the same repairs being completed at an RV repair shop.

Until next time, we hope everyone is enjoying warmer weather.

A Big Campfire & Plumbing Problems

2011-01-09T09:12:00.000-08:00

It's been a time of big campfires and plumbing problems lately here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. We've enjoyed some nice days with temps. in the high 60's and more nights of temps. below freezing. The two space heaters we use to keep our old RV warm have worked wonderfully for keeping us toasty at night. I've been warned several times by relatives who live in colder climates to stop whining about the weather here, so I won't say I'm cold. I'll just say that I'm looking forward to warmer weather.

The pictures above were taken on New Year's Eve when we enjoyed a wonderful party around the campfire. A few of the neighbors decided it would be a good idea to burn a very large log in celebration of the new year, so they placed it into the fire ring about three in the afternoon. Shortly after that people convinced Al, one of our long-term residents, to have his picture taken while sitting on top of it. As you can see from his expression, the log was already getting very warm. But, as the picture also shows, everyone else got a good laugh out of the experience.

Since my last post I have also spent a great deal of time dealing with plumbing problems in our RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent). Within the past few weeks both the water pump and toilet sprang leaks, leading to wet carpets and the joys of replacing both parts. Although I have done a good deal of plumbing in my life, it is not a job I enjoy. It's something that requires working in tight spaces, dealing with connections that must be very precise and, in the case of an RV, tracking down parts that are not easily found in most hardware stores. Let's just say that a good time was not had by all.

Actually, replacing the water pump was a relatively easy task. In our unit it is located directly below the bathroom sink and easily accessed. The job only took about an hour and, so far, the water pressure has been great.

Replacing the toilet, however, turned out to be one huge pain in the you-know-what! First of all, the only way to remove most old RV toilets is by reaching around the back to remove the water line connections and rear mounting bolt. There is no way to see what you are doing because there's not enough space to get your head down far enough to see anything. Everything must be done by feel, which is frustrating at best.

Once the old toilet was removed, the real fun began with trying to hook-up the water line to the new toilet. The new one we put in is higher than the old one, so an additional flex-hose was needed to connect the incoming water connection to the toilet. Unfortunately, the standard toilet hoses found in hardware stores are designed for home plumbing specifications, which do not match the specifications for RVs. To make a long story short, after several trips to Home Depot and a full day of work the new toilet is now connected and working well.

If you ever need to find any parts for an RV, I would highly recommend AdventureRV.net. We ordered both the new water pump and toilet through them and had nothing but excellent results. Their prices are very reasonable, they immediately confirmed the orders complete with Fedex tracking numbers and both parts are covered with solid warranties. If needed, they will definitely be getting more of our business.

Until next time, Happy Trails Everyone.

Photos by Karen

Merry Christmas

2010-12-22T09:10:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!

It's hard to believe how the time has passed so quickly since my last post. I hate going so long without providing even small updates, but it's been a very busy month here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. Between working, taking a short trip back to Greenville, SC for the family Christmas gathering and doing the usual holiday things, we have had little time to do anything else.

The park is looking very festive these days. Along with our old, trusty RV Howie (House on Wheels is Excellent), most of the other RV's here are adorned with lights, wreaths and other decorations. It's been nice to see the lights around the park while spending time around the campfire ring. The other decorations we are seeing is holiday sweaters on dogs, including Quincy. We now have 51 dogs in the park and most of them are usually wearing sweaters. I'll admit, it's been cold here for several weeks with temps. below freezing many nights. But I still have to wonder about the need for a dog to wear a sweater; especially in Florida. I've mentioned this to Deb several times and the usual response is that it's "because he looks so adorable". Ok, I'll accept that, but I still say there's something wrong about a male dog wearing a sweater in Florida. So much for owning a masculine, protective animal. I guess he can just scare away all threats with his cuteness.

Last Thursday through Sunday, we returned to Greenville for a very nice gathering with the family. Quincy went with us, was very good the whole time, and ended up being very spoiled by my father who snuck him pieces of cheese. Because gas is currently $3 per gallon in this area, we decided to give Howie a rest and rented a car for the journey. While we were there we indulged in another great meal from Bucky's Bar-B-Que and, once again, bask in the pleasure of cooking the meal for the gathering in a full-size kitchen. We love Howie, but cooking in an RV kitchen can prove to be limiting at best.

One of the strange things about the trip is that we both felt as if we had never left the area last May. It was like returning home in many ways. One year ago we were parked at the Flower Mill RV Park in Taylors, SC for a 5 month stay. It's hard to believe that our lives have changed so much since we were there. Where did the time go? We both feel very blessed that since leaving Taylors we have found a place that has brought us so much joy and so many true friends. It's the best Christmas present we could have hoped for this year!

For the rest of the week we plan to continue enjoying the holiday spirit around the park and enjoying the nightly campfires while sharing time with friends. There is a cookie exchange today that Deb is attending and, on Christmas Day, we will be taking part in a huge meal in the clubhouse. We hope that everyone has an equally enjoyable week and is blessed with the joys of the season.

“The best Christmas of all is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up with one another.”

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
Photos by Deb

Cold Nights, Warm Days

2010-12-03T06:32:00.000-08:00

It's been a few weeks of cold nights and warm days here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. Temperatures have dipped down into the mid-20s several nights, which has caused everyone to begin preparing their units for winter and commenting on how cold it is for Florida. After living in this state for over ten years, I have to admit that the cold temps. are harder to deal with each passing year. Thankfully, most days the temps. warm into the 70s, so I guess I'll stop complaining and give thanks that I no longer have to deal with extended sub-zero wind chills and knee deep snows.

There was a nice potluck dinner in the clubhouse on Thanksgiving with about 60 people in attendance. The park owners, Richard & Mary, supplied three, 20 pound turkeys and everyone else brought a vast array of side dishes and deserts. It proved to be a great meal and a nice way to celebrate the day. There's something very special about a large group of basically very different people coming together and giving thanks for the blessings we have as a family of RV travelers.

It's hard to believe that we have been here in White Springs for over six months. Last year at this time we were leaving Heiskell, TN for a stay in Greenville, SC. As I've written several times before, we never expected to be here this long, but Kelly's is the kind of place that is hard to leave. Every day, more people who have stayed here for many years are arriving for the season. Everyone knows each other and comments on how happy they are to be back among friends. It's rare to find that kind of feeling of community in an RV park and we are glad to have become part of the experience.

Tonight there is a Christmas parade in White Springs and the opening of the Festival of Lights at Stephen Foster State Park. We are looking forward to attending these events for several reasons. One is the chance to see the more than 3 million lights that will adorn the park. The other is to experience a parade in a town that has a population of less than 850 people. It ought to be interesting.

Until next time, Happy Trails everyone.

Photos by Deb

RV News

2010-11-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

It's been another busy and beautiful week here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. There have been a few nights where the temperatures dropped down to 32, but the days have been in the high 70s with clear blue skies. Glorious weather that has contributed to almost constant gatherings around the campfire ring. Some days the fire is burning from 7 in the morning until midnight. It's a great place to relax and share good times and good food. The picture above shows Richard, the owner of the park, preparing a breakfast of bacon and eggs over the fire. It's a nice perk here to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee around the fire on cold, crisp mornings.

Other than work and enjoying the fire, there's not much new going on around here except the arrivals of a few more long-term residents. But in between completing other tasks, I came across these recent news items that may be of interest to anyone in the RV lifestyle.

Overnight Parking Bans at Walmarts: In a posting back in August, I wrote about a couple who is suing Walmart after the husband shot and killed a man who was attempting to break into their RV while they were parked in a Walmart lot in Utah. The family was not harmed, but they decided to sue Walmart claiming that the company did not protect them properly during their free stay and that they are now suffering from mental and emotional stress due to the ordeal. As I and other RV full-timers predicted, one of the outcomes of this lawsuit is that many Walmarts are now prohibiting overnight parking in their lots. Included is the Walmart we shop at in nearby Lake City.

Runaway Bull Shot in Campground: A one-ton bull took refuge in an RV park in Cedaredge, CO and was ultimately and killed after other attempts to control the animal failed. It was feared that the animal would access the grounds of a nearby elementary school. I hope the park residents enjoyed a really big barbecue after the unfortunate incident.

State Parks Closures:In an effort to address growing budget deficits, many states have already closed, or are planning to close, their parks. A large number of these parks include RV campsites. Colorado is currently looking at closing four state parks, opening others up to oil and gas drilling, plus allowing of corporate sponsorships of parks as ways of saving money and generating money for a park system that is expected to receive no funding next year. A similar situation is facing California after voters defeated a proposition that sought to raise vehicle license fess by $18 per car for state park finances. As a result, the closure of many California parks is certain in the near future.

Free Alaska Travel Guide: There are very few people we meet who haven't already been to, or are planning a trip through Alaska. There is now a free North to Alaska travel guide that can be viewed online or mailed to you. You can find it at www.northtoalaska.com.

Permanent RV Discounts for Veterans: On Nov. 10th of this year, Carefree RV Resorts announced that it will offer permanent, 50 percent nightly discounts to active and veteran military servicemen and women and their families in its 35 parks in Florida, Texas, New Jersey, North Carolina and California.

Until next time, Happy Trails everyone.

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
Photos by Deb

Fall & Witches Stew

2010-11-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

Fall has finally arrived here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. Most days the temps. are in the high 70s with nights dipping into the high 40s. Good campfire and sleeping weather. The strange thing about Fall here is that most of the leaves drop without changing color. There are a some oaks and maples that have a few colorful leaves at the top, but the majority of leaves coming down are green. That's a big contrast when compared to our stay about a year ago in Heiskell, TN when the leaves were exploding with vibrant colors. I miss that atmosphere. It's nice to be in warmer climes going into the Winter months, but there's something magical about a colorful Fall atmosphere.

The pictures above were taken on Halloween when everyone gathered at the clubhouse for a meal of witches stew. The preparation and enjoyment of the stew has become an annual tradition that dates back about five years. Marilyn, shown in the bottom picture, places a large pot over an open fire and adds a base broth. From there, anyone is allowed to add whatever ingredients they wish except for fish and macaroni. The thing people like is that the concoction is never the same from year to year. We've been told that some years it's been really beanie, while other years it's been loaded with meats. Everyone is in agreement though that no matter what's gone into it, the stews have always been excellent.

This year the mixture included smoked turkey legs, ham, sausages, hot dogs, stew beef, celery, cabbage, peas, carrots, okra, acorn squash, rice plus other ingredients that I did not hear about. After simmering over the fire for about five hours, it turned out to be surprisingly good. It was hot, tasty and very filling. Spending time with people while the stew was cooking and during the meal was a nice way to spend the day.

We hope everyone had as good of a Halloween as we did. Until next time, Happy Trails.

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
Photos by Deb

RV Park Living

2010-10-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

Activities here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL are increasing quickly. Over the past week more people have arrived to spend the winter months. By the first of next month all but two spaces will be occupied by long-term residents. After the relatively quiet summer months, it is good to see so many new people and enjoy the lively evening conversations around the campfire ring. It is a credit to the owners of Kelly's that the majority of people who spent the winter months in the park have been returning for years.

The increase in people has also brought an increase of activities. This past week we enjoyed both a pot-luck meal on Wednesday and a breakfast in the clubhouse on Saturday morning. By next month there will be pot-luck meals every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning breakfasts three weeks of every month. In addition, there will be weekly crafts and beading classes, bingo games, card games, shopping trips and almost nightly gatherings around the campfire ring. The is absolutely no reason for anyone to be bored around this place.

One of the reasons Deb & I decided to make 2010 our Year Of Doing Nothing was to gain a better understanding of full-time RV Park living. We enjoyed our extensive travels in 2009 and gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about full-time RV living when you are constantly on the move. For some people, being on the move constantly is what they prefer. Otherwise they get what is known as the "hitch-itch" if they are in one place for more than two weeks. That's understandable because the full-time RV life is no different than any other lifestyle. Some prefer to be constantly on the move while others are content to spend years in one place. Either way, it's a good life filled with some of the friendliest, laid-back and helpful people you will meet anywhere.

The biggest difference we have found between being on the move constantly and staying in one place for an extended period of months is the chance to really get to know people more deeply and to obtain a better feeling for the areas in which we stay. Over the past five months we have become a of very real part of this small community in ways we never expected. As I've noted in past postings, Kelly's is that kind of place and one of the reasons we feel in love with this RV park and the White Springs area. It's good to be a part of a genuine community and learn so much about an extended stay in an RV park. We don't plan to be here forever, but for now it's providing us with many blessings.

Work Camping

2010-10-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

It's been another busy week here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. The weather has been beautiful and cool enough during the nights for people to sit around the campfire ring. Many people have begun to arrive for stays over the winter months and the campfire ring has become a regular gathering spot during the early evenings. It is very close to where we are parked, so we are spending a lot time around the fires meeting new people and enjoying the aromas of wood smoke in the crisp evening air.

Both Deb & I have been busy with work. Over the past month we have moved into work camping positions here at Kelly's. I've assisted the staff with instillation of the new WiFi system and Deb has begun helping out with general cleaning of the public buildings around the park on the weekends. Now that the WiFi system is working the way it should, I'll be moving on to assist the owners with updating their web page. Aside from her regular duties, Deb will also be picking up some extra work once the park is full next month helping people who want their RV's cleaned on a regular basis. As if that isn't enough to keep us busy, I have also been able to gain some work helping people with computer problems. It's good to be so busy and involved here.

As with most work camping positions, the owners have been very generous by compensating us for our time through discounts on our site fees and other small payments. We did not come here looking for a work camping position, but the opportunities have arisen. We feel blessed to be able to enjoy this opportunity in a place we love.

If you do a general web search about full-time RV living, one of the biggest topic areas that will emerge will be information about work camping. It is highly touted as a way to make the full-time RV lifestyle affordable. Most of the sites that arise are just links to other sites that offer work camping positions; especially Federal and State parks. The majority of the information makes it appear that there are thousands of work camping positions available across the nation and that all one needs to do is be willing to offer twenty hours or more per week in general work to receive a free site and utilities. Since beginning our journey, we have research and applied for several work camping positions because it is a good way to make RV living more affordable and enjoyable. In doing so we have also learned that the realities of obtaining a work camping position are much different than the general information presented in most web sites on the topic.

The first reality learned was that while there are many open work camping positions available, most are in very remote areas like BLM Federal lands in the western States where no one else is willing to stay. Positions in popular parks during peak seasons are filled years in advance, usually by the same people. For example, here in Florida there is a three year waiting list for work camping positions during the winter months. There were a few positions we came across that offered no utility hook-ups because the park was so far off the grid and the closest shopping area was over 200 miles away.

The second reality learned was that the application process is very slow and laborious. In most cases, you are dealing with governmental agencies who treat applications for work camping positions the same they would any other job position. A lot of the information on web sites make it appear that all on needs to do is pull an RV into a park and be willing to work a few hours a wee to qualify. That's just not the case. All work camping applicants go through the same vetting process as other employees including background and reference checks, interviews and verification of past employment. As is usually the case with most governmental agencies, this process can take months with very little contact about the status of the application as it is cleared through all the necessary channels. As with most jobs, it is also true that the people with the most background experience related to the job are ones most qualified for the position. Deb and I were contacted by several different parks after submitting our applications based solely upon the fact that we managed a resort for three years and because I worked for a country park for ten years.

Last November we were offered a work camping position in the middle of nowhere Southwest Georgia. It was in a remote natural area that was in transition from being a State park to a State nature preserve. No camping was allowed on the site and we would have been the only people staying there to provide security and general cleaning. The position did include a free site with utilities, but was in a very remote area with the nearest shopping area almost an hour away. The total time between the submission of our application to the time we were offered the position was over three months. During that time we were interviewed over the phone by two different people, our background and references were checked, numerous e-mails were exchanged and it was not uncommon to have weeks pass with no feedback on the status of when a final decision would be made. On the very day we left Tennessee to head to Greenville, SC to help out my parents, we received a phone message saying that we obtained the position and they would like us there is two days. Given the cold conditions even in Georgia last winter, it worked out for the best that we could not accept the offer. But if for no other reason, the process taught us a great deal about what it really takes to obtain a work camping position.

As happened to us here at Kelly's, one of the best ways to find work in a full-time RV lifestyle is to stay at a place for an extended period and get to know people. It pays off in the long-run.

Until next time, Happy Trails everyone!

Photo by Deb

More Work and a Coffee House

2010-10-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

It has been too long since my last post because we have had another busy week here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. In addition to completing a large amount of article assignments, I've also been helping the owners with getting the final bugs out of the new WiFi system. As I stated in the last post, getting a WiFi system to operate properly in a large RV park is no easy task. In the meantime, Deb has stayed busy with keeping up with Quincy and making trips with other residents here into Lake City to stock-up on supplies.

Thankfully, the weather has cooled down nicely over the past week. Days have been clear and warm with temps. in the low eighties and nights are dipping into the low fifties. After the brutally hot and humid summer we just experienced, it's nice to be able to enjoy sitting outside and sleeping with the windows open.

The pictures above were taken during our trip last Saturday night to the open-mic coffee house at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. The park hosts these coffee houses the first Saturday of every month except the months of April and December. In April the park is filled to capacity with an antique tractor show and in December it hosts a Festival of Lights. It's was a nice feeling to return to the park. It was our first stay on this journey and the return brought back many good memories.

We usually spend our Saturday nights listening to A Prairie Home Companion while enjoying a good meal, but it was nice to substitute that for a trip to the coffee house. During the evening we were entertained by eight performers who provided acoustic sets of music that included folk, bluegrass, gospel and one fiddle player who played a strange style of songs that nobody seemed to understand or appreciate. Overall, the amateur performers were very talented and seemed completely at ease with the audience. It was a nice way to spend the evening. If you ever have the chance to attend one of the coffee houses at Stephen Foster State Park, we highly recommend them. They are free, including the park entry fee, and you can purchase coffee, tea and baked goods all provided for just a dollar each.

It's looks like another busy week ahead, so until next time Happy Trails everyone.

Photos by Deb & Lane

Translator Please

2010-09-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

It' been another busy week for us here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. The weather has finally cooled down enough to drastically reduce our need for air conditioning, which is a nice change after the past four months of unending heat. The only we really need is rain. The Suwanee River is now running so low that small islands, which are normally submerged under six feet of water, can now be seen in the middle of the stream.

Over the past few days, Deb has helped with getting the clubhouse kitchen reorganized after its painting and floor resurfacing and, this morning, also helped out at the monthly pancake breakfast. In addition to my daily writing assignments, I have also been helping the owners install a new WiFi system. For two people who are supposedly semi-retired, we've been putting in a lot of time actually working. We're not complaining though, because it feels good to be involved with the projects and the people here at the park.That's one of the advantages of extended stays in a full-time RV lifestyle.

After spending three hours on the phone yesterday with several technicians of the Cisco corporation, I'm glad I decided to not make installing wireless systems a career. I know a lot about computers and have installed several wireless systems, but the tedium of fine turning the programming bugs in the system being installed here tested my patience. Part of the frustration was trying to talk to technicians that had heavy foreign accents and seemed confused about even the basic steps needed to correct a problem with a product their company manufactured. I beg you major corporations, please provide easy to understand and knowledgeable technicians. No one should require a translator when trying to solve a technical problem.

The system still has a few bugs to correct, but once everything is operating properly Kelly's will have the best WiFi system available in the area. In order to stay competitive, any RV park today must have a reliable wireless system that people can access from inside their units.That's no small task in a large area that is packed with metal-sided structures, but without wireless access people will quickly stay at another park that does provide it.There is just too much of modern life that now revolves around the Internet.

We're looking forward to a relaxing weekend and slowing down for a few days. Let's just hope there is no need for a translator in the near future.

Until next time, Happy Trails everyone.

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer

Photos by Debbie

Spiders!

2010-09-18T12:18:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks there has been an increase of spiders here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. Luckily, none have invaded our trusty, old RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent). The one thing about Florida is that it is not a place to be for anyone who has a fear of spiders. Over 700 different types of spiders can be found throughout the state ranging in size from very small to very, very large.

The above photo is of a North American banana spider (nephila clavipes) that recently created a large web between two trees here at Kelly's. Its overall length, including the legs, is over two inches and the web is about three feet wide by three feet high. A big spider indeed, but this is only a young one. Other long-term residents here have seen some three times as large.

There are actually two different types of banana spiders; one resides in North America and the other can be found through Central and South America. Both types are venomous, but their bites differ dramatically. In North America, the bites can cause allergic reactions or painful welts and blister which usually clear up within a few days. However, a bite from a South American variety is extremely toxic and can be fatal if medical attention is not sought immediately.

The North American banana spider is also commonly known as the golden silk orb-weaver. As you can see in the picture, the spider weaves very thick and elaborate designs into the web. The web silk also reflects a golden color in sunlight. The webs of these spiders are renowned for the strength of the silk, which rivals that of Kevlar and steel. Efforts have been made in the past to harvest the silk on a scale usable for making body armor.

In the United States, the banana spider can be found in areas from North Carolina down to the Florida Keys and in the lower states as far west as Texas. Their diet consists of a variety of insects as large as crickets and wasps, which makes the banana spider a very beneficial natural insect controller. While their populations can be very large during late summer and fall, they don't seem to prefer invading buildings. The one strange thing is that, for as large as these spiders can grow, they seem to have a great fear of cockroaches.

Until next time, Happy Trails everyone.

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
Photo by Deb

Dealing With Pests

2010-09-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Suwannee River

It's been another busy week here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. A few of the long-term winter residents are starting to arrive and the park staff has been working hard to prepare the grounds for a full house by the end of October. Deb & I have been staying busy with the usual tasks while still slogging through very hot days. Temperatures at night are dipping into the 60s, but the now four month long trend of hot and humid days just won't end.

One of the major tasks this past week has been battling an increase of pests invading our motor home. Both the heavy rains and cooler nights over the past week seem to have put them on the move for finding different shelter. Most are insects, but we also had a small mouse boldly walk out from under the sofa a few nights ago while we were watching a television show. Unfortunately, it appears the our new dog Quincy is not going to be much help in keeping rodents out of the RV. He never roused from his sleeping position under the table when the mouse appeared or even paid any attention when I stomped the floor loudly to chase it away. Oh well, at least he's an adorable dog to look at.

Battling pests comes with the territory of living a full-time RV lifestyle; especially when you are traveling or staying in the insect-heavy Southern states. RV's are not as solidly built as traditional sticks-and-bricks structures and just have too many access points for pests to enter like the electrical cable, loose fitting window screens and sewage discharge pipes. Even in newer units, pests can always find a way inside. It takes only very small cracks in seams for insects to enter and mice can fit through holes as small as 1/4 of an inch.

The problem is also compounded by the fact that most RV parks and campgrounds are located in natural settings. Here at Kelly's the park is not only filled with a large number of trees, but also surrounded by completely undeveloped woodlands.

Aside from the using the usual pest control methods, we have also found that running the engine and generator on a regular basis during extended stays helps to limit pest invasions. The noise and vibrations created by these engines is irritating to pests. It may not solve the entire problem, but it helps in keeping the number of pests at a manageable levels. Besides, we always make it a practice to regularly run the engine and generator to help keep them in good operating condition.

Hopefully, we'll soon have some colder temperatures that will decrease the numbers of insects around here. In the meantime, I need to look into some training for that adorable dog of ours. After all, if he won't even defend us against a mouse, what good will he be if something really threatening comes along?

RV photo by Deb

Another Busy Week

2010-09-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

Richard

Mary

Labor Day Pot-Luck

It's been another busy week here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. We still need more rain, but the nights are now cooling down to consistently comfortable levels. After the very hot summer, the cooler temperatures are making it easier to stay motivated for getting things done.

Most of last week we helped other volunteers clean and paint the clubhouse kitchen. It was a big job for a relatively small room, but worth the effort. Now the entire clubhouse is in great shape for the snowbirds who start arriving this month. By mid-November the entire park will be filled to capacity and, from what other residents have told us, the clubhouse will be buzzing with activities almost every day.

Yesterday there was a Labor Day pot-luck in the clubhouse attended by most of the year-round residents. Everyone enjoyed plenty of good food and fun conversations. The pictures above show part of the attendees along with Mary & Richard, our gracious hosts here at Kelly's. It was a nice way to spend the holiday.

We also spent a few days last week nursing our newest family member, Quincy, through the after -effects of heart worm medication. During a follow-up visit to the vet after his respiratory infection, we discovered that he has a mild heart worm condition and, surprisingly, a small b-b lodged in the skin under his throat. The vet said it's best to leave the b-b in place as it will cause no long-term problems, but know we have a better idea of why he is so afraid of certain noises and children. He's doing great and looks forward to long walks everyday.

It's amazing to think we have been here for over four months already. What was booked as a one month stay has proven to be a place we are in no hurry to leave. But, as I've written before, that's what happened with most of the long-term residents here at Kelly's. When you find yourselves in a beautiful area surround by great people it's something to be treasured. After our hectic travels of last year, it feels good to slow down and really get to know an area and the people in deeper ways than we could have before. Besides, it gives our trusty, old RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) a chance to take a rest for awhile.

Until next time, Happy Trails, everyone!

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
Photos by Deb

Attracting Bluebirds To Your Yard

2010-09-03T04:59:00.000-07:00

With their brilliant plumage and enchanting “chur-lee” song, bluebirds have become one of North Americas most adored bird species. They can be found throughout the United States, Mexico and in higher elevation areas of Canada and Central America. The following information provides ways on how you can attract bluebirds to your yard for enjoyment and help in protecting them.

Provide Suitable Habitat: Bluebirds prefer open, grassy areas such fields, woodland clearings, orchards, gardens and large lawns. Open areas with surrounding trees and other perching spots are best. They rarely nest in wooded areas and tend to be more comfortable where vegetation is kept short by mowing or grazing.

Provide Food Sources: Bluebirds eat large amounts of insects. Sixty to eighty percent of their diet consists of insects like beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers and spiders. They like to perch along open areas and swoop down on their prey. They also supplement their diets with fruits and berries such as wild grapes, currants, sumac, blackberry, raspberry, mistletoe, elderberry and juniper. Planting scattered fruit and berry sources in your yard can greatly enhance attracting them. You can also try offering hanging fruit suet or chopped fruits, berries and meal worms (which they love) on an open platform feeder.

Keep the Habitat Chemical Free: Insecticides and pesticides destroy the food sources bluebirds need to survive. A yard that offers a wide variety of insects is welcoming to bluebirds. A major cause for declines in bluebird populations has been the wide-spread use of these chemicals. Once established in your area, the bluebirds will act as natural insect controllers.

Provide a Water Source: Bluebirds need water for drinking and bathing. Providing a birdbath or ground level water source, with nearby spaces to perch, will keep them from venturing away from your yard to locate another source.

Offer Nesting Areas: Providing nesting sites for bluebirds is important in attracting them. In the wild, they nest in tree cavities like old woodpecker holes. When there is a lack of natural sites they will quickly utilize man made bluebird houses.

Offer the Proper Type of House: Bluebirds are picky about the design of their homes. The floor should be 5 inches x 5 inches with a height of 10 to 12 inches. The diameter of the entrance hole should be 1½ inches and located 6 to 8 inches above the floor. It is essential that the box be ventilated with holes at the top and drainage holes on the bottom.

Mount Bluebird Boxes Properly: It is preferable to mount the boxes on fence posts or poles to provide protection from predators. The bottom of the box should be placed four to five feet from the ground. There is no particular direction bluebirds prefer for the opening, but it is best to face the opening away from prevailing winds. It is also important to face the opening towards a nearby tree or scrub so that when the young leave the nest they have a safe perch available. If more than one box is mounted in an area, the boxes should be placed at least 100 yards apart because bluebirds are territorial during nesting season.

Provide Nesting Materials: Nests are generally made of soft grasses and smaller materials like pine needles. Building a nest is very time consuming, so providing nesting materials is a good way to keep bluebirds in your yard. The nest is built entirely by the female who can make hundreds of trips to gather enough material for completion. Placing nesting materials in hanging suet feeders or in the crooks of tree bark will help limit her number of trips.

Check Nesting Boxes for Problems: When unoccupied, it is important to check and clean nesting boxes. Old nests should be cleaned out and the the interior scrubbed with a light bleach solution. Check in early spring to make sure other animals like mice or sparrows have not occupied boxes during the winter months.

Monitor Predators: The major predators of bluebirds are cats, raccoons, opossums, foxes and snakes. If you have a cat, try to limit its activity in areas with bluebirds or place a bell on its collar. Properly mounting bluebird boxes can effectively deter threats from other types of predators.

Limit Human Noises: Bluebirds like peaceful, quiet surroundings. Any loud human noises will frighten them away. This is especially true during mating and nesting seasons. By limiting human noises and activities, you provide an area that bluebirds will be willing to share with you.

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer

A Blast From The Past

2010-08-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

Gopher Tortoise

We finally received cooler weather the past few days here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. Temperatures during the nights have been falling into the 70s, which has allowed us to open windows. After months of hearing nothing but air conditioners running, it's nice to fall asleep to the chorus of singing tree frogs.

One of the non-traditional residents here is a gopher tortoise who has a burrow on the back end of the property. It is not often seen and, because of its threatened status as a species, is not widely pointed out to short-term visitors for fear of human harassment or interference with its territory.

The gopher tortoise (gopherus polyphemus) is one of the oldest living species on earth today. It belongs to a group of land tortoises that originated in North America 60 million years ago.

Gopher tortoises can be found throughout the state of Florida, in the southern regions of Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama and in the tip of Eastern Louisiana. Except in Florida, where it is listed as a Species of Special Concern, the gopher tortoise is federally protected as a threatened species. They grow, on average, to be slightly less than a foot long and can weigh as much as 30 pounds. They are extremely long-lived animals with life spans of 40 – 60 years in the wild.

As with most tortoise species, the gopher tortoise is a land-dweller, but is unique in that it is one of the few to make large burrows for shelter. They have chiseled front flappers and elephant like hind legs allowing them the strength to create very large burrows. The average burrow here in central Florida is 15 ft. long and 6 ft. deep. Each tortoise will dig several burrows within its home range, which can be surprisingly large in size. Male tortoises have an average home range of 4.7 acres, while female home ranges average a smaller area of 1.6 acres.

Their diets are primarily plants and berries, although they have been known to eat the bones of dead animals presumably to obtain calcium. Some of their favorite foods are gopher apples and saw palmetto berries. One of their important roles in the ecosystem is spreading the seeds of the plants and berries they eat in their droppings.

Because tortoises do not require a large intake of food, it is rare to see one out of its burrow on a regular basis. But even if we don't see our local resident often, it's still cool to know that a species that has walked the earth for so long is in the area.

Until next time, Happy Trails.

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer

Five Internet Resources for RVers

2010-08-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

It's been another week of hot and humid weather here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. We finally received several heavy downpours of rain the past few days, which was badly needed. Several of the residents here have commented that this is the hottest and driest summer they can remember in thirty-five years. Lucky us. We spent the coldest winter on record in northern South Carolina a few months back and now the hottest summer here in North central Florida. We need a weather break.

Here are a few good Internet resources for RVers the I have come across:

Free (or nearly free) Campgrounds -
www.freecampgrounds.com
This is a good resource to locate places you can stay for free and for $10 or less per night. It provides a full list of places for any state simply by clicking the state on a map. Most are suitable only for boondocking. Some I might be wary of like the Avon Park Bombing Range listed for here in Florida.

RV Maps and Travel Guides -
www.milebymile.com
As we have found out the hard way on several occasions, standard GPS systems and sources like Mapquest may provide the shortest routes, but not necessarily the best routes for those of us driving or towing a large RV. This site offers a very well designed offering of RV friendly routes for the U.S, Canada and Mexico.

Senior Friendly RV Parks -
www.wiredseniors.com
A good resource for senior friendly RV parks around the world, plus just about anything else of interest to seniors.

Fuel Planning -
www.roadtripamerica.com
Fuel is one of the major expenses in owning an RV. It's also not always easy to find gas stations that are big enough to handle a vehicles as large as motor homes. This site offers not only an excellent fuel calculator, but also other RV related topics and links.

Places To Eat -
www.yelp.com
Aside from sticking to the national chain restaurants, locating a unique place to eat in a strange area can be a crap shoot. This site is an excellent resource for locating local eateries in most areas that can be narrowed by types of cuisines. The added bonus is that average people can leave reviews on their dining experiences.

Until next time, Happy Trails everyone.

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
Photo by Deb

Worrisome

2010-08-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I came across a news story that may be of interest to anyone who owns an RV. This worrisome tale was first reported in the Salt Lake Tribune and passed along by Nick Russel on his site badnickblog.com. Nick a fellow full-time RVer who, along with his wife, has been on the road for over ten years. (His primary site, gypsyjournal.net, is well worth checking out for anyone interested in the RV lifestyle.)

Back in 2006, Florida RVers Carl and Tracy Coltellino and their two young daughters were boondocking overnight at a WalMart in Cedar City, UT. They got into an altercation with a stranger, a man named Steven Stubbs, who was creating a ruckus in the parking lot and knocked on their door. They opened it, a fight ensued and Mr. Coltellino ultimately killed Mr. Stubbs with a shotgun that was in the RV. No serious harm was done to the couple or their children.

No charges were filed in the shooting, but it is now being reported that the Coltellinos are suing WalMart. They are claiming that the store was negligent in protecting them and that they have suffered medical problems and emotional distress arising from the incident.

First, let me say that I hope no one ever has to face a violent encounter like this one. I have been threatened with bodily harm numerous times, once at knife point, while working as a park ranger and providing security for the resort we managed. The events left me shaken and second guessing myself for weeks. Any time you have a violent encounter it takes a toll on your psyche.

However, there are some important questions that need to be ask about the actions on the part of the Coltellinos in this matter. The primary one is, "Why did you open your door to a crazed stranger?" They could have called the police or driven away. Another question would be, "Why did it take you four years before deciding to file these claims?" Have they suffered no medical problems or emotional distresses long before now? But the most disturbing one is, "Why did you have a loaded shotgun accessible in your motor home with two young children present?" Even if it was safely stored away and they still had time to load it, they also had the time to make a phone call or, again, just drive away. While I would defend myself, Deb and our home with any means necessary, the one thing I do know is that we would never open the door to a stranger and use all available options to avoid a violent situation.

Instead of taking other options, the couple now wants compensation for a dangerous situation they partially put themselves in. Real nice. Thank you WalMart for saving me the cost of staying in a campground, but, screw you, here's a lawsuit.

We have spent a lot of time at WalMarts over the past year because they are very RV friendly. The parking lots are big enough to maneuver through with a large vehicle, most stores stock a good variety of RV related products and almost all allow overnight boondocking. In almost every one we have visited there has always been a security guard present regularly patrolling the parking lots.

The WalMart in Cedar City did not make this shooting happen by their negligence. If anyone is to blame for what happened, besides the intruder himself, it is the couple in the RV who did everything wrong. Happily, they escaped with their lives and those of their children. But now they expect to profit off of this unfortunate calamity.

I can see WalMarts battalion of lawyers doing two things. One is to offer the couple a financial settlement to make the matter go quietly away. The other is presenting the company CEO with a recommendation to bar all RVers from boondocking on any company property in the future. If that happens we can all thank the Coltellinos and their shyster lawyer that helped with this frivolous lawsuit.

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
Photos by Deb

Disconnected

2010-08-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

It's been too long since my last post due to a problem with the WiFi signal here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. What began as a minor upgrade to the system ended up being a major fiasco due to two totally incompetent contractors. A job that should have taken no more than two days became a comedy of errors that left everyone around the park very frustrated. There was no excuse for the problem other than companies that over-promised and under-delivered. Given the current state of the economy, it's hard to believe that good service is still hard to find.

The one thing this problem brought to light was how much in our lives is now dependent on an Internet connection. It's amazing that in a relatively short amount of time the Internet has become such a vital source for people on so many levels. Let's just hope there is never a long-term problem with the Web because much of life as we currently know it would abruptly change. For those of us who grew-up without a computer or cell phones, adapting to no Internet connections would be a hassle that could be tolerated. But for younger generations who have never known life without cruising the Web and sending Tweets it would be, like, totally devastating.

Even with the WiFi problem it has been a busy two weeks. We joined several other volunteers from around the park to help paint the clubhouse interior in preparation for the coming months when the snowbirds arrive. Deb has taken trips with other women to a flea-market in Lake City and a day of shopping in Jacksonville. I have been helping the owner, Richard, with the WiFi system and we've made our regular runs to WalMart for supplies.

Our biggest activity over the past week has been welcoming a new addition to our traveling family. Quincy (pictured above) is a male, Corgi/Pomeranian mix that we adopted from a shelter in Lake City. He is three years old, a bundle of loving energy and, weighing only nine pounds, fits well into our limited RV space. Other than a nasty respiratory infection he aquired while in the shelter, he is in excellent health, well-trained and rarely barks unless provoked. Because Deb lived in Quincy, MA for thirty years, we have accepted it was a simple matter of fate that he is here with us now.

The other thing we have been dealing with is a continuation of brutal heat, high humidity and lack of rain. There has been no break from these conditions all Summer and everyone here is over it. If anyone can spare some rain and cooler temperatures, please send them our way. It would be greatly appreciated.

Until next time, Happy Trails everyone.

Copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
Photos by Deb

The Worst & Best List (So Far)

2010-07-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

One of the major questions people ask is our opinions on places we have stayed over the past year. This is especially true of other full-time Rvers who are always on the lookout for the best places at the lowest prices. There's nothing worse than overpaying for uncomfortable surroundings and inadequate facilities.

Overall, we've been lucky so far. Being new to the game when we hit the road, we booked stays in places we had never been and hoped for the best. Some exceeded our expectations, most were adequate and a few were outright hell holes. We realize that not everyones expectations are the same. Some people will only stay at four-star rated properties, while others are happy with only an electrical hookup and fire ring. That's fine. To each their own. The particular rankings on our list is solely based on our expectations and experiences, but the reasons why could probably be agreed upon by just about anyone.

The Worst Places We Have Stayed (So Far):

#5 - Beaver Springs Lake Campground
Location: Davenport, NY
Reasons: First, we have to give credit to the owners of Beaver Springs Lake Campground for being some of the nicest people we have met along our journey. They truly cared about our comfort and the grounds were very well maintained. Yet, the location is hard to access, is without cell phone reception or television signals, offers mainly grassy sites except for permanent residents and the wifi access advertised could only be accessed in the immediate vicinity of the office.

The major problem with our stay was the attitude of the permanent residents. They were unfriendly to the max and treated us as if we had just landed in their space with the intention of overthrowing their empire. It was weird. They never waved hello, they never spoke to us, they glared our way while speaking among themselves in whispered tones and, I'm sure, kept asking management when we were going to leave. A prime example of the overall atmosphere was when the owner rode his bike up to our spot and invited us to the weekly bingo game at the pavilion. Part of his comment was (and I'm not making this up), "At least you can get away from the Hound Of The Baskervilles for awhile." Huh??

#4 - Skidaway Island State Park
Location: Savanna, GA
Reasons: I love the low-country region of the Carolinas and Georgia. There is something very peaceful about the rivers, grassy islands and abundance of wildlife. However, Skidaway Island State Park is not the place to stay if you wish to be comfortable while enjoying the surroundings.

The park is easily accessible and hosts an extensive nature trail system replete with observation towers. But the mud-filled sites, high nightly fees, biting ants, numerous spiders, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, a wifi signal only accessible at the office area and a complete lack of customer service skills among the staff all combined for a miserable stay. We were able to take some great wildlife pictures, but left covered in huge and numerous insect bites that did not go away for weeks. This park is great for a day visit to enjoy the trails, but not recommended for an extended stay.

#3 - Fallen Rock Parke Campground
Location: Brazil, IN
Reasons: We would probably never have stayed at this park except it was the closest place we could find to Terre Haute, IN that wasn't outrageously expensive. (My youngest daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Trent, live in Terre Haute.)

Our stay was not without drawbacks and resulted in damage to several roof vents on the RV. The park owners are nice and the grounds includes a small restaurant, but to get to the location your drive is over five miles through cornfields along very narrow roads. The grounds was filled with mature walnut trees and several strong winds caused the nuts and shells to drop on the roof like small bombs. As a result, a few cracks developed in the front roof seams and a major hits were taken by overhead vents. The shower facilities were poorly maintained and included those infernal water-flow regulators that you have to push every thirty seconds to maintain pressure. There was no cell phone reception, no television signals and weak wifi. Not a place we would recommend unless you absolutely need to be in the area.

#2 - Atlanta Marietta RV Resort Park
Location: Marietta, GA
Reasons: We stayed at this park for only one night, but would not return for two reasons; costly rates and location.

The major problem was location. The park is in the middle of a residential area that is not easily accessible from I-75. There were several times we became lost trying to locate the entrance due to poorly marked streets and busy intersections. Once we did find the place, the view from our site included a used car lot and a very busy highway. We're just glad we didn't book for an extended stay.

#1 - Frosty Acres
Location: Schenectady, NY
Reasons: As those who have read previous posts know, I now refer to this place as Frost-My-A$$ and will continue to denigrate them as often as possible. They earned it.

We came across Frosty Acres through our membership in Passport America. The place looked great on paper - free wifi, ample electric hookups, weekend activities and a great nightly rate. However, what we experienced was a lack of wifi, inadequate electrical currents, spaces too small to comfortably park any unit over thirty feet in length, a dump station at the top of a very steep hill, a smelly drainage lagoon within thirty feet of our site and questionable long-term residents. To top it all off, their total apathy towards short-term guests made the overall experience uncomfortable.

The other drawback was location. This park is in the middle of nowhere. To shop for supplies required a thirty minute drive into Amsterdam along narrow, winding and hilly roads.

The bottom line is we were deceived. After managing a resort for three years it was not hard for us to quickly understand the place is badly run. They could care less about delivering what they advertise and, I'm sure, repeat their "no refunds for early departure" policy if anyone complains or wishes to leave early. Our advise is to avoid this campground at all costs.

The Best Places We Have Stayed (So Far):

#5 - Indian Rock Campground
Location: York, PA
Reasons: First a disclaimer. If you are looking for a four-star campground, this one is not that kind of place. It is a small, private grounds with 30 RV sites and open areas for primitive camping. The sites are unpaved and access is along narrow country roads.

Aside from a great camp host, the major reason Indian Rock is on our list is all about location. The park sits about 3 miles South of York amid beautiful farms. Within short walking distance there were two places for local produce and meats. One is Miller Farms where we found fresh field corn, tomatoes and other produce. The other is Miller's Meat Market which offers not only the best meats anywhere (both fresh and smoked), but also a wide variety of homemade soups, salads, slaws, original sauces and gourmet spices. To this day we still talk about the quality of that meat. Another perk was close access to the York Heritage Rail Trail. This trail runs along sides of train tracks that were originally part of the North Central R.R. system. The entire trail is 21.3 miles in length, starting at the Pennsylvania/Maryland border and ending in downtown York. It's a beautiful area which is why we extended our stay by an additional week after arriving.

This park is basic, but recommended if you're low maintenance and enjoy superb food in a country setting.

#4 - Bonny Rigg Camping Club
Location: Becket, MA
Reasons: Again, this is a no-frills park with basic amenities. The reason it is on our list is entirely about location.

I can't say it more plainly - we are in love with the Berkshires! There is a gentle serenity to the area that captured our souls. Bonnie Rigg is actually a private "camping club" open year-round and one of the few RV parks available in the Berkshire Mountains of MA. We enjoyed a peaceful brook flowing within ten feet of our site while parked under sprawling pine tree. Beyond the park proper, the entire area is stunningly beautiful with breath-taking views at every turn. We shopped at a small market in Chester that was surprisingly well-stocked and in the middle of a very beautiful neighborhood; old Victorian homes, a gas station that looked unchanged since the fifties and a town center reminiscent of a Frank Capra movie. It is an area we will return to as soon as possible.

#3 - Promised Land State Park
Location: Greentown, PA
Reasons: We generally stay in private RV parks because they offer lower rates for extended stays. State parks and private campgrounds each have their niche and are equally comfortable in their own ways. But no matter how much research we do, we just never know if the places we choose will equal their promotional information; they all promise to the the Promised Land of RV campsites. At this park we found a place that exceeded all expectations in unexpected ways and lived up to its name.

Although it is very remote and deep into bear country, Promised Land State Park is well worth the visit. What set this stop apart from others was the near perfection of its campground and facilities. We drove along roads and parked in a site paved with new, smooth asphalt. The grounds were exceptionally clean and the bathroom facilities were like something out of Star Trek; ultra-modern lighting triggered by motion sensors, spacious showers with slanted drains, low-flow plumbing fixtures and ample hot water. The landscape is ruggedly wild and the staff, as opposed to many state parks, knows the meaning of customer service.

#2 - Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
Location: White Springs, FL
Reasons: This was our very first stop on this journey and a place we fell in love with immediately. The park is centered around the historical influence of Stephen Foster and is defined by a plantation-era designed visitors center and lush woods filled with massive oaks draped in Spanish moss. The place just screams antebellum Old South. The centerpiece of the park is the world's largest carillon tower comprised of 97 tubular bells. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., it chimes the hour including notes on every quarter hour. At 10, 12, 2 & 4 it also fills the park with renditions of Stephen Foster tunes. They are some of his lesser known works, but still beautifully melodic. The sounds of the bells became a very relaxing part of our days. It sits directly on the Suwanee River and hosts an open-mike coffee house the first Saturday of every month.

Most sites are on gravel, but level and close to modern, well-maintained bathrooms. The staff is exceptionally friendly, the grounds immaculate and the historical displays fascinating. As with most state parks, stays are limited to only fourteen days, but a stay at this place for even overnight is worth the trip. Between the people, the daily carillon bells and the setting it felt almost ethereal at times. Our stay at Stephen Foster is the primary reason we chose to return to the White Springs, FL area.

#1 - Kelly's RV Park
Location: White Springs, FL
Reasons: This place is not at the top of our list because we are currently staying here. It is at the top because it deserves to be in every way possible.

Aside from being well maintained and providing excellent amenities like an open library filled with hundreds of books, this place is special because of the people. From the day we arrived we were welcomed with open arms and made to feel as if we had come back home. Most of the permanent residents started the way we did. They arrived initially for a short visit and now have been here for years. It's that kind of place. Everyone is friendly, concerned about one another and works hard to make this area feel like a true neighborhood. The owners, Mary & Richard, define the meaning of gracious hosts and the rural setting is wonderfully peaceful.

I could go on for paragraphs about the joys of staying at Kelly's, but most of what I would say can be found in recent posts. Deb and I agree, it's without a doubt, the best place we have stayed so far.

Until next time, Happy Trails.

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photos by Deb

Watching A Storm While Having Flashbacks

2010-07-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

I spent most of yesterday watching the progress of Tropical Storm Bonnie as it moved across our old haunts in S. Florida. Thankfully, it broke apart before moving into the Gulf and caused no problems here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs. At one point it was throwing off severe thunderstorms with 40 mph+ winds as far North as Orlando, so we took the precaution of rolling in the awning to avoid any further damage. That effort proved to be unnecessary as we didn't receive even a drop of rain, but after living through ten summers in Florida I've learned the hard way it's better to be safe than sorry.

Watching the progression of that storm triggered some very intense flashbacks. For the majority of the past decade I lived in the towns of Pompano Beach and Hollywood, FL on barrier islands in apartments located two blocks from the ocean and bordering the Intracoastal waterway. Prime locations for being the first under mandatory evacuation orders when hurricanes arise.

Over those years I experienced seven named Hurricanes ranging in categories from 1 to 4, and more tropical storms and depressions than I can remember. I only evacuated once and will never repeat that choice again. It was during my first hurricane, which was approaching from the East, so I thought it wiser to head West for a stay with friends in Venice. Big mistake. What should have been at most a three hour drive turned into an eight hour nightmare. The entire stretch of Alligator Alley and I-75 was bumper-to-bumper traffic comprised of mostly panicked, impatient drivers. The kicker was that upon return to Pompano the storm caused very little damage except for heavy flooding in a few neighborhoods. After that I stayed put and rode out the hurricanes no matter how dire the predictions.

The good thing about hurricanes is that you know they're headed your way days in advance. You have time to prepare and, if you're smart, have already stockpiled the basic necessities of water, canned goods, batteries, ice and charcoal. The ones who aren't smart are the idiots you see on television trying to buy whatever is left on the shelves the day before the event. By that time, believe me, you're lucky to find anything except perishables and damaged cans of kidney beans. So you prepare, attach the protective shutters, watch the Weather Channel, attend a hurricane party and pray for the best.

The weird thing about tropical storms of any intensity is they have a mind of their own. No matter how dire the predictions, I've experienced tropical storms with more sever impacts than many hurricanes and watched hurricanes take paths totally opposite of what the National Hurricane Center projected. Most of the hurricanes kept people inside for a day, but except for a few downed trees and flooded streets were of little consequence. They quickly blow through and, after enough of them, you adopt a locals attitude of thinking, "Oh well, I've been through this before and it's no big deal."

After my fourth hurricane experience I developed the same attitude. I knew the routine, always stockpiled supplies and actually looked forward to the intense energies the storms produce. I became complacent.
And then, on October 24, 2005 Hurricane Wilma arrived.

I've been through tornadoes, spent seven days snowed-in after the Blizzard of 1978 moved through Northern Indiana and almost became trapped by a flash-flood while camping in the Hoosier National Forest. But I have never gone through a more powerful experience than Hurricane Wilma.

Wilma was the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin and caught South Florida basically unprepared. It was the fifth hurricane to hit the region in 2005 and was originally projected to move into the Yucatan area of Mexico. Instead, it moved East and after sitting over the Gulf for two days came barreling in with sustained winds of 125 mph+, an eyewall over 40 miles in diameter and a record number of associated tornadoes.

For eight hours I sat in a one bedroom apartment listening to intense winds howl like the screams of a trapped animal, watched whole palm trees, lawn furniture, roof tiles and pieces of metal fly through the sky at immense speeds and felt the building shake like it was being hit by a locomotive. Copious amounts of rain pelleted buildings with the impact of bullets and within a short period of time the electricity disappeared. The first few hours were interesting in the thrill of experiencing something new, but after about the forth hour a deep fear emerged that it would never end and I began praying for the madness to stop. And then, suddenly, four more long hours later it did stop. Within a two minute span the conditions went from driving winds and rain to bright sunshine without a cloud in the sky.

Stepping outside after that storm came with a feeling of being a true survivor. It was a moment of giving thanks for still being alive. People emerged to look at a street covered with downed utility poles, overturned cars, uprooted trees and the remains of shattered roofs. Everyone quietly evaluated the scene for a few minutes and then, equally as quietly, returned home to recovery from the stress and prepare for the aftermath.

The aftermath proved to be an endurance test in patience, ingenuity and learning to do more with less. No one could drive out of the neighborhood for four days. Most grocery stores did not open for three days after the storm and, even then, were very short on supplies. There were no meats, dairy products, ice and only limited amounts of bread; which led to several days of meals consisting only of canned three-bean salad and crackers. Phone service, including cell, was non-existent. Eventually, people were able to get out for a few supplies (but rarely ice) and the days became a patient wait for the return of some semblance of normalcy.

Thankfully, we never lost water pressure which made for one small blessing in an otherwise difficult situation.
The most trying part was being without electricity for 15 straight days. Until you've experienced it, I don't think it's possible to explain how drastically it alters your life. It gave me a whole new respect for previous generations who lived entire lives without the conveniences of modern appliances and the comfort of air-conditioning. It's not easy, or comfortable, to live without electricity today when almost everything in life is designed around it. Want a hot meal? Learn to use an alternative form of heat like charcoal (sparingly because it's in short supply) to cook everything from steak to a can of Spaghetti-O's included in the free hurricane supplies you received after being in line for two hours. Want coffee? Heat water on the charcoal and pour it slowly through the filter basket of your coffee maker that you can't turn on. Want news? Listen to a battery-powered radio until the batteries run low and then learn how to combine C cells with D cells (if you can find them) to stretch your dwindling energy supply. Want some activity after dark? Either read by candle light and strain your eyes or learn to go to bed earlier. Want a hot shower? Ain't gonna happen. Want Ice? Good luck!

The day power was restored to the neighborhood was one of true celebration. At about 10 A.M a crew from a utility company out of Rhode Island rolled in with four trucks and a new transformer. They quickly went to work while old men approached them for information and everyone else watched in anxious anticipation. When the old men came back with any news, it was usually, "He said they'll know more after they evaluate the situation." So for five hours we watched, waited and talked about how nice it would be to have television again. Then at 3 P.M. a truck with a lift-basket parked under a transformer, raised a worker into the sky where he took a pole and flipped a connection into place and, like magic, ceiling fans rotated and lights burned brightly. As the crew departed people lined the street shouting words of thanks and cheered them like conquering heroes. After a few days, the pace and rhythms of life in the neighborhood went back to as if nothing unusual had ever occurred.

Would I want to go through another experience like that again? No, but it did teach me valuable lessons about what is really important in life. Now when I watch tropical storms develop I will always have flashbacks to Wilma, but also remember that materials things can be replaced and that life moves on even after life-altering events. We have no plans to live in South Florida again, but still have to remain vigilant even here in White Springs. The one thing I know for sure is that I don't want to go through a major tropical storm in an RV.

Until later, Happy Trails and Peaceful Skies.

copyright Lane A Geyer
photos from the Internet

The Neighborhood

2010-07-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

It's been a hot, humid and generally quiet few weeks here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL. Except for the hassles of a ripped awning I wrote about in the previous post, most of our time has been spent inside with the A/C. The park is not seeing much business right now and everyone is moving slower as the summer doldrums set in. The Suwannee River is flowing at a high level due to almost daily thunderstorms, now looking like strongly brewed coffee due to an increase of tannins in the water. It's Summertime in the Old South. Crank up the Stephen Foster tunes.

There was a nice pot-luck gathering on the 4th where the owners, Mary and Richard, provided hamburgers and sausages and everyone else brought side dishes. We enjoyed a selection of salads, baked beans, chips, dips and an excellent mango coleslaw made by Deb that proved to be very popular. Numerous people asked her for the recipe; which you can find on her blog. About two dozen people attended, mostly permanent residents, and it was a very nice time. We were able to meet a few new people and catch up on the latest news on the area. The men mainly talked fishing or NASCAR while the ladies asked about the latest updates on who wasn't there. It was a pleasant way to spend the holiday.

We have stayed at over 15 RV parks (both public & private) over the past year and found a real gem here at Kelly's. Aside from being well maintained and providing excellent amenities like an open library filled with hundreds of books, this place is special because of the people. From the day we arrived we were welcomed with open arms and made to feel as if we had come back home. Most of the permanent residents started the way we did. They arrived initially for a short visit and now have been here for years. It's that kind of place. Everyone is friendly, concerned about one another and works hard to make this area feel like a true neighborhood. That has been the exception to the rule in many places we have stayed.

There are very distinct differences between public and private RV parks. In most State parks your stay is limited to two weeks because of vagrancy concerns. Some will allow you to leave for a few days and return for another two week stay, but the overall atmosphere is filled with people coming and going on a daily basis. They are nice, natural settings, but people tend to stay to themselves.

The private parks are much different in that in almost all of them there are distinct layers to the residents. There are the permanent residents who stay year-round (or as long as they can in Northern areas where parks close for the Winter season), the permanent part-timers who have a site for weekend stays or vacations, those who stay for several months or weeks at a time and the overnighters. In many private parks we have stayed, some permanent sites have been occupied by the same families for generations. We have come to prefer staying in private parks because they allow longer visits with more amenities (usually at better rates), but have also found glaring differences in how the permanent population treat newcomers to the territory.

Last August we were travelling our way towards Boston and stayed at two private parks in Upstate New York. One was the Beaver Springs Lake Park and the other was Frosty Acres Park; which I have since referred to as Frost-My-A$$. Both were for two week periods and both proved to be like something out of a Stephen King story. They had the same levels of residents as mentioned above, but the permanent residents treated us as if we had just landed in their space with the intention of overthrowing their empire. It was weird. They didn't wave a friendly hello, they never spoke to us, they glared our way while speaking among themselves in whispered tones and, I'm sure, kept asking management when we were going to leave.

I'll have to give credit to the owners of Beaver Springs Lake Park for being some of the nicest people we have met along our journey. They truly cared about our feeling comfortable, but seemed to be caught in the middle of dealing with the permanent residents they inherited when they bought the property. A prime example is when the husband rode his bike up to our spot and invited us to the weekly bingo game at the pavilion. Part of his comment was (and I'm not making this up), "At least you can get away from the Hound Of The Baskervilles for awhile." Huh??

As far as the experience at Frosty Acres, they can still kiss my a$$. I wrote enough about that in previous posts. Let's just say the people there were equally not as welcoming.

So it is now a great joy to be among people who see and treat us as one of there own. We didn't arrive here expecting that, but it's happened and we are the better for it. Deb makes regular morning visits to the office where people gather like it's Floyd's Barber Shop. We enjoy monthly pot-luck meals with the neighbors, catch a ride to town once in a while and know everyone by name. It's a good neighborhood with good people. Who could ask for more.

Until next time, Happy Trails.

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photos by Deb

Last Thing I Needed (First Thing This Morning)

2010-07-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

I'm borrowing the title of a great Willie Nelson song as the theme for this posting because it fits: The last thing I needed (first thing this morning) was spending time in torpid humidity repairing a ripped awning as sweat dripped into my eyes and red ants chewed at my ankles like kids going after candy. It's not the best way to start a day.

The awning on our old RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) is the original from when Howie was built 25 years ago. I'm amazed it has lasted this long. There were a few minor holes, but overall it has served us well over the past year. It's been battered around by winds in Upstate New York and Southern Indiana, survived the snows in Taylors, SC last winter and has been exposed to the blistering sun here in Florida. It's been a lot of places in its life and times, but its days, woefully, are now numbered.

I went to bed early last night with no worries about heavy rains because I had (as usual) checked the radar constantly throughout the day. We had a few scattered showers around the area, but nothing of serious concern and every prediction was for clear skies overnight. The awning was not slanted as much as it is during heavy rains, but there was no reason to think it should be. Wrong! Once again, those professional prognosticators of weather patterns got it wrong, wrong, wrong. I really can't blame them down here. After all, it is the sub-tropics and heavy downpours develop as swiftly as flies descend on molasses. But an undisturbed sleep would have been nice.

At about 10 P.M. I half-awakened to hear heavy rain pelting the roof. I slightly remember thinking about how much the awning was slanted, but quickly fell back into a deep sleep. Then, sure enough, I was fully jolted out of sleep by a loud, crashing sound outside and knew something big was amiss. Just then Deb came running into the bedroom, shook my leg and said, "Lane, get up. The awning just came down."

When the awning has taken on heavy rains before, one of the sliding support arms has simply collapsed and expelled the runoff. Not this time. I got to the door to find it blocked by the awning and the roller-bar tilted completely to the ground. After pushing our way outside, Deb and I stepped into driving rain and heavy winds. (Cue theme song from Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom.) Both support arms were slated about twenty degrees off-center and there was a rip across the front of the vinyl canvass causing it to flap in the wind. We quickly grabbed each side and rolled the awning up until I could get one side secured enough for the night. It took us about ten minutes to complete the task and by the time we were done we were both soaked to the bone.

Needless to say, first thing this morning, we stepped outside into 95 percent humidity to assess the damage. Surprisingly it was not as bad as it could have been. The roller-bar still works and all of the other hardware is still intact. The rip in the canvass was the worst of the damage. It was a clean tear along one of the stitch-lines at the roller-bar area that extended half-way across. Bad, but fixable until another canvass can be found.

The one thing I'm good at is executing a McGuyver; which by definition is any person who handily uses everyday objects to find a way out of an unusual situation. (Reference TV show.) So, having large safety-pins on hand, I slowly reattached the tear to the remaining pleat while Deb supported the roll-bar as she also got chewed on by those cursed ants. A fun times was not had by all, yet it worked well enough. We can no longer extended the awning to its full length, but at least we'll have shade for now.

Ah, well. Another reality of the full-time RV lifestyle.

Other than that, it's been quiet around here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL since my last posting. The weather has been hot and everyone seems to be already into the summer doldrums. There's just not much going on, so we basically concentrate on staying cool. We had a nice gathering on the 4th when the owners provided hamburgers and sausages, while everyone else brought a side dish. It was good food and good conversations. What more can you ask for on a day of celebration.

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photos by Deb

A Four Minute Tour

2010-06-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

It's been another hot and humid week here in White Springs, FL, the place of our current stay at Kelly's RV Park located along the banks of the historic Suwannee River. There has been more rain, mostly in the form of heavy thunderstorms blanketing the area late afternoons and early evenings. The rains brought a nice break to the heat for short periods, swelled the Spanish moss that is everywhere you look and, unfortunately, also created an increase of Deer flies that can bite off chunks of your skin large enough to draw blood. Welcome to Florida in the Summer.

On Wednesday of last week we decided to unhook the power and sewer lines, roll in the awning and drive our trusty RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) through White Springs. We saw a very small portion of the North side of town during our stay at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park about a year ago, but had not yet spent time exploring the original "Historic District". During our walks into the South end (always in the early morning hours), we only get as far as the closest Gas mart before we have to head back home to beat the oppressive heat. As it turned out, it would have been quicker to see the town by foot as opposed to the time it took for us to unhook and then set things back up after our return. The entire drive, from the town limits going South to North, took a grand total of four minutes.

According to the latest figures, the population of White Springs is 829. It may be small, but the town is beautifully kept, has a very "Old Florida" atmosphere and is filled with stately, turn-of-the-century Southern Victorian homes featuring large, wrap-around front porches. The business community is comprised of four Gas marts (two are owned by the same company), a bar-b-que restaurant, a small flower/gift shop, a bed 'n breakfast, the historic Telford hotel/restaurant (pictured above in its early years), a garage that seems to specialize in beat-up stock cars, an "old-fashioned" hardware/feed store that hosts a monthly swap meet, a small auto supply store and a Dollar General store that the locals refer to as the White Springs Mall. The center of town consists of four old storefronts that appear to be circa 1900 (now empty) and a rusted-out, tin-sided cotton gin/grist mill circa 1930. Today, most of the town's economy is supported by visitors to the Stephen Foster and Big Shoals State Parks, surrounding rural residents and people traveling along highway U.S 41 between Jasper to the North and Lake City to the Southeast.

Yet, for as small and rural as the town may appear to people as they pass through, this area has a fascinating history.

The banks of the Suwannee River around White Sulphur Springs have been a place of refuge and restoration for its visitors and residents for centuries. To this day, evidence in the form of shards of pottery, hunting and cooking tools and even weapons are found in places where the early visitors to the region spent their time.
Timucuan Indians were living on the banks of the Suwannee River at White Springs when the Spanish explorers came to what is now North Florida in the 1530s. The Suwannee River formed the boundary between the Timucuans on the east and the Apalachees on the west, and even then it was considered special, and historic.

White Sulphur Springs was considered to be a sacred healing ground and warring tribes could come to bathe in and drink the mineral waters here while putting aside their disagreements.

In 1835, Bryant and Elizabeth Sheffield bought land for a plantation in the Suwannee River valley region, including the spring and most of what is now the Town of White Springs. Mr. Sheffield's testimonials about the good effects the sulfurous spring water had on his health brought others to the ancient healing place who were in need of relief from rheumatism, kidney trouble, nervousness, and other ailments.

Sheffield built a log hotel beside the spring to provide lodging for the visitors, and Florida's first tourist attraction was in business. A log house surrounded the spring until 1903, when Minnie Mosher Jackson built the concrete and coquina wall (still standing) along with a four-tiered structure that included treatment rooms, a concession area, and an elevator. (Pictured above.) Admission was 25 cents and ladies were permitted to bathe without stockings: a bawdy atmosphere for the times!

Because of this one business, White Springs was once a premier destination for thousands of people each year from throughout the world. In the late 1800s, there were 14 luxury hotels (only the Telford remains standing) and many more boarding houses to accommodate the visitors who came by special excursion train to enjoy the river, the spring, and the climate. There was a bowling alley, a skating rink, moving picture shows, and boutiques filled with the latest fashions in gowns and hats. The town incorporated in 1885, and soon provided its citizens with waterworks, sidewalks, and a night watchman.

It was surprising to learn that the mineral spa remained in operation until the mid-1970's. But by that time people were more interested in visiting the Mouse in Orlando and, unfortunately, the underground springs that supplied billions of gallons of fresh water a year to the spa began to run dry. With the increase of agricultural development and a demand for more water to be diverted to Central Florida, most of the springs that once fed into the Suwannee have slowly disappeared.

While the town of White Springs may not have the excitements of larger cities, it still has a lot to offer. It's peaceful, surrounded by beautiful natural areas and comprised of people who are genuinely friendly. If you're passing through, don't blink or you'll miss everything. But better yet, stop for a little while and enjoy the atmosphere. There are very few places like this left in Florida.

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photo by Deb

Sunned In

2010-06-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

It's been over a week of very hot, humid weather during our current stay here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, Florida. Would like to say that we have continued to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the historic Suwanee River, but by mid-morning it's just too frigging hot to be outside for any length of time. We're not alone in suffering through this because I am hearing via friends on Facebook of similar conditions in the Carolinas. Nice to know others are sharing the same malaise that comes with these conditions, but it doesn't take away the feeling of being in a state of cabin-fever. We spend most of our days inside, with the air-conditioning cranked to high, and emerge around 5 P.M. for a little time outdoors.

Down here that is known as being Sunned In; it's the Northern equivalent of being Snowed In, but still consists of the same feelings of being cooped-up too long inside because of atmospheric limitations upon the aging human body. Call me a wimp. I know there were days before A/C when people lived here, worked here, carried on happy, productive lives and never complained about the heat. Good for them. I'm proud of those old Florida Crackers and the mark they left on society, but give me cool air anytime over sweating my hiney off all day.

When I first moved to South Florida over ten years ago all of the locals warned me about being Sunned In. Of course, being from the the frigid climes of Northern Indiana, I couldn't get enough of the sun. For the first time in years I was bone-deep warm, tanned like a Caribbean native and basking in the glory of the tropical atmosphere. "Watch out", they said, "the sun down here will strip the hide off an alligator." Right, I thought, and continued to bask in the heat like a Sunday roast awaiting the family gathering after a rousing sermon. At the time, I really didn't care and wasn't paying attention to the good advise.

Then about a year later I did pay attention. I looked upon the elderly people in the grocery store who, in the midst of August heat, wore hats, long-sleeved shirts and jeans and covered their already cancerous noses in heavy sunscreen lotion or nose guards. I began to feel the draining effects upon my body of constant sun exposure. I began paying attention to the daily UV index reports and really began to understand that the sun, down here, has to be respected.

The problem down here is not with the heat and humidity, it's with the UV levels. Once you cross the border into Florida there is a rapid increase of the sun's intensity. Most days, during the summer months, the UV index is 10+; that translates to less than 8 minutes burn-time on the human skin. For about three months out of the year this area will "Strip the hide off an alligator." I know. Been there. Felt it, and decided it was better in the long-run to be Sunned In rather than become a poster-child for the American Cancer Society.

It was always a source of great amusement for Deb & I when we managed the resort in Hollywood, FL to deal with people from the Northern states who decided to book stays during June, July, August and September. Our pool and sun-deck were on the roof with no real escape from the elements. Yet, they would come to the front-desk on scorching days and say things like, "Wow, why is it so HOT here!"

At first we tried to do the professional thing and assure them it would cool by sundown. And then, after being tired of idiots who decided to book cheaper rooms, cheaper flights and didn't realize they were traveling to the sub-tropics in Summer (yes folks, that means closer to the equator and more heat in case you were asleep in Biology class) we got clever with our responses: Little snide remarks like, "Oh, I forgot to put the protective bubble over the roof this morning". Or, "I'm sorry sir, the broiler setting for the roof wasn't supposed to go on until after you left". Sometimes they got the sarcasm and other times the sun had already fried their brains beyond caring.

So for now we will stay Sunned In, enjoy the blessings of that marvelous invention called the air-conditioner and avoid the direct sun. Stay cool, stay happy and we'll update you later on our journey.

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photos by Deb

Local Color

2010-06-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

During our travels we always try to find local newspapers to get a better feeling for the areas in which we stay. Many of them have provided insights into regional norms we would not have known otherwise and, in a few cases, brought us a lot of laughs.

While shopping last week in White Springs we picked up a copy of the Lake City News Advertiser; a free weekly offering classified ads from throughout the greater Suwannee Valley area.

The Suwannee Valley runs approximately from Live Oak, which is 20 miles to our West, to the general area of Lake City located 12 miles to our East. This part of Florida is still very rural, very agricultural and a popular destination for hunters and fishermen. Given the largely undeveloped nature of the local land, we weren't surprised to find a lot of ads offering services for bush-hogging, tree trimming, land clearing, culvert placements and trenching. However, there we some that made us say, "Well, that's something you don't see everywhere".

Here are a few of them:

- For whatever reason, there are numerous ads offering M-16 Bayonets with scabbard for $35 or 10 for $300.

- This is one of the only places where we have seen an ad offering a Male Donkey for $200 or will trade for Jenny or mare.

- Fresh or smoked Mullet can be easily purchased with a 2 lbs. minimum order.

- Many ads are seeking help for a petition drive to stop Columbia County from forcing residents to connect to electrical utilities. The county passed a resolution on the matter earlier this year. It appears there are hundreds of residents who feel they just don't need electricity and, most importantly, find the resolution to be another example of governmental interference on private properties. (So far, they have collected over 3,000 signatures.)

- This is also a good area to find wild hogs; all sizes and willing to make a deal on prices.

- Of the many people offering to haul away scrap-metal of any kind at no charge, the most clever is someone who advertises in bold letters I Buy Rust. This one caught my attention because my immediate thought was that if there's a local market for rust, it would be a quick way to make easy money.

- On the flip side of clever advertising, I had to wonder about the tree service called Hazardous Tree Trimming. I hope they're referring to removing rotted or dead trees endangering buildings and not to the possible mishaps in their work. I'd strongly suggest they rename the company.

- The one that really caught our attention was a very large ad promoting a fundraiser called Undies For Sundaes being held this coming Saturday at a Lutheran church in Lake City. It features a drawing of various types of underwear hanging on a clothesline and promotes a "FREE Ice Cream Sundae for One New Pair of Undies!" The weird thing is that nowhere in the ad does it say what the undies will be used for. I'm hoping it's a charity drive to help needy families, but if it's not that's one strange sect I want to stay away from.

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photos by Deb

A Wonderful Year

2010-06-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

On the first of this month, Deb and I celebrated our one-year anniversary of being full-time RVers. In looking back on how many places we have been and all the wonderful things we have experienced (see previous posts), it's amazing how fast the time passed. It seems like it was just yesterday that we departed Hollywood, FL with no previous experience in this lifestyle and no set goals except to enjoy whatever the journey brought our way. So far, the journey has been nothing short of incredible.

During our extended stay in Taylors, SC over the past Winter, we began referring to our first year on the road as the East Coast Tour 2009. We slowly made our way North from S. Florida until our stop in the Boston, MA area in late September. From there we headed West into Indiana and then back South until our current stay here in White Springs, FL. Overall, we travelled through fifteen states and stayed at fifteen different places in less than ten months. As I've shared in the previous posts, the things we have seen and the people we met brought us unexpected blessings beyond compare. If someone were to ask me how I would describe the past 365 days, there's only one phrase that comes to mind - "Wow, what an awesome ride!"

Along the way we have also learned many things about the full-time RV lifestyle and about each other. We now see we were naive when we first set out about travel times, cooking in a smaller kitchen and not thoroughly researching the truths about some of the places we stayed. We have learned that less really can mean more and have always kept to the advise we were given of taking something out if something new comes into our house-on-wheels. We have adapted to constantly being around each other in a small space and have learned it really is true in this lifestyle that you can't just simply love each other, you really have to like each other.

Perhaps the most important thing we learned is to slow down. We kept up a very hectic pace for most of last year in order to spend time with our children, my grandson, my parents and be as far South as possible before cold weather arrived. During some of that time, the pace wore us out and took away opportunities to really get to better know the places and local people where we stayed. Although our time in Taylors was longer than anticipated due to my mother's heart problems, it provided a blessing in keeping us in one place long enough to realize that we don't have to go everywhere and see everything as soon as possible. We have the rest of our lives to continue this journey, so why push the pace and miss out on so much along the way?

In keeping with the spirit of slowing down, we have decided to call this next stage in our journey the Year Of Doing Nothing 2010. Of course, we will be doing the basic, daily routines that are required, but have decided to make no definite plans on travel until we feel like moving on. We'll go where we want, only when we want and do nothing about living by definitive routes or timetables. If we find a really nice place like Kelly's RV Park here in White Springs, we'll stay to enjoy the area and people until we both agree we're ready for a change. This slower pace may not be suitable to other full-time Rvers, but for right now it's working for us.

The only sure thing I do know is that I can't wait to see what this next year brings our way!

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photos by Deb

A Wild Experience

2010-05-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Image by guate84105 via Flickr

In my last post I wrote about the Suwannee River Water Management Area and how easily accessible the trails are right next to our site here at Kelly's RV Park. It's nice to have such an undisturbed, natural setting to walk through and last Friday provided us with a wild experience that could have been featured in a show on Animal Planet.

We headed out early morning and walked Southeast along a path that borders the park property. Just beyond the edge of the property, the path intersects a broader fire-access trail that leads either to an open marsh area or deeper into the woods. Since we had already walked along the marsh, we turned right and explored the more wooded route.

The woods in this part of the country are dominated by pines, oaks dripping in Spanish moss and an undergrowth covered in short Palmetto palms. Several areas showed signs of a burn which, based upon the contained size, were probably started by lightening strikes. Thankfully, there were very few insects and the humidity level has not yet risen to sauna levels.

After about thirty minutes of we came across a large pile of dove feathers laying directly in the middle of the trail. We stopped to inspect them and came to the conclusion it must have been the outcome of a fox or other predator. There were no meat remains, only small spots of blood and no moisture on the feathers; obviously a very recent kill. I proceeded to look for tracks of what may have attacked the bird, but was distracted by the sounds of something large moving in the area off to our left.

We stood for a moment listening for further evidence of what had made the noise, but heard nothing more than the wind and a few birds moving through the tree canopy. Thinking there was nothing to look for, we started to continue walking the trail. Then, within a few steps, the area off to our left once again exploded with the distinct sounds of something large moving directly towards us.

We turned and immediately saw a white-tailed deer leap out of a stand of young pine trees. It was moving fast, first directly towards us and then veered to our right for a short run through the underbrush. Suddenly, it once again took a direction towards our spot with leaps and bounds that lifted it six feet in the air and covered six to eight feet in distance at a time: The grace and beauty of the way it moved was breathtaking to behold.
Given the rate and distance it was covering fast, I assumed the deer was being pursued by something. Then, as it came within about ten yards, a large coyote came charging through the shrubs. It was also moving at top speed with its ears and tail laid straight back headed towards an area directly to our right. With one more graceful bound, the deer was directly in front of us and within inches of the coyote in obvious killer pursuit. More to myself than to Deb I said, "Damn, that deer is chasing the coyote!"

Either upon hearing my voice or catching our scent, the deer stopped and quickly turned to look directly at us. It was only about ten feet away and proved to be a magnificent doe. After a quick snort it must have decided we were of a lesser threat and proceeded in hot pursuit of her canine nemesis. The only thing I can surmise is that the coyote chose to threaten the doe's fawn(s) that remained in the heavy, protective growth of the young pines. All I know is, that doe was MAD!

We continued to stand in our spot while listening to the pursuit proceed through the woods. After looking at each other in awed disbelief of what we had just witnessed, we walked back to our home with a heightened sense of hearing due to the fact there was both a very angry deer and coyote in the general area; not a good place to be when two wild animals having nothing but kill-or-be-killed on their minds.

Every day since then we have talked about this magnificent scene. We will never know how that chase ended, but isn't that the point? It is one more blessing provided us by this wonderous journey of a full-time RV life and all the glories of the many places we stay. There's beauty in that kind of mystery.

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photoes by Deb

Getting Settled In

2010-05-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

Since arriving here at Kelly's RV Park in White Springs, FL, we have spent time comfortably settling into the quiet atmosphere and exploring the area. This place is so peaceful it is all to easy to just sit and relax, but we have managed to take numerous walks into town and along trails in the Suwannee River Water Management Area that borders the park property.

From where we are, the walk to the East end of White Springs is about a mile along highway U.S. 41. For being along a road, the route is surprisingly pleasant and clean. The berms are wide and planted with a large variety of wild flowers. Right now there are black-eyed susans, thistle, trillium and many other species in full bloom. Just before reaching the town limits, there is a large bridge crossing the Suwannee River and then wide sidewalks. We haven't walked all the way through town yet, but having it within a nice walking distance is a handy when we need to purchase a few odds and ends.

One of the things Florida did well was to protect the Suwannee River ecosystem from development and human alterations. It is one of the most highly protected river ecosystems in the world and the River Water Management Area plays a large role in maintaining it's natural beauty. Within 50 feet of our RV there is a trail marker into the Area that access numerous paths through woods, open meadows and bogs. If we wanted to, we could walk this Suwannee River Wilderness Trail for 170 miles to where the river empties into the Gulf. We're not planning that kind of endeavor, but having such a such a beautiful natural area at our easy access is one more perk in staying here.

The one thing you see everywhere here is Spanish moss. All of the live oak trees are heavily covered with it. We have been through a lot of places where it thrives, but none as so dominated by its ethereal presence as this area.

An example of a classic misnomer, Spanish moss is not actually a moss; it is an epiphyte that gathers nutrients from air and rain and is more closely related to the pinapple plant. During the eighteen and early nineteen hundreds it was heavily harvested for use as packing material. With the advent of plastic-based materials, that market quickly dried up and there is no wide-scale use for the plant today other than as mulch for bedding plants. The one drawback is that it heavily attracts wasps and spiders.

We still have plenty to explore in this area and plan to see more of the town and trails over the next few days. After spending too much time on our butts during our snowy winter in South Carolina, it's good to be exercising again on a regular basis. Now, if someone would just turn down the humidity level and UV index a tad every afternoon we could appreciate even longer walks.

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photos by Deb

Back Into The Sauna

2010-05-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's good to finally be in White Springs, FL again!

We arrived at Kelly's RV Park early afternoon on the 5th. As soon as we started setting up our site we were quickly reminded how humid and how much more intense the sun is here in Florida. We're not complaining because we lived in S. Florida for years and love this kind of weather. But after being in 40% humidity and a UV index of 3, it's an adjustment to suddenly step into 95% humidity and a UV index of 10.

Our departure from the Flower Mill RV Park in Taylors, SC was delayed by one day due to very heavy rains. The front that caused the flooding in Nashville, TN moved through the Carolinas on the third resulting in heavy downpours and high winds. We have driven through that kind of weather before and swore we would never do it again unless absolutely necessary. It's not safe and it's not fun. So we just waited for the weather to improve and enjoyed the fact that the full-time RV lifestyle allows that kind of freedom.

The first leg of our journey was on I-26 to the Jolly Acres RV Park in St. George, SC. It was a pleasant four hour ride with clear roads and blessedly light traffic around the Columbia, SC area. We stayed there for one night enjoying through our front window the peaceful setting of a farm pasture with cows and. The park was well maintained with level sites and a great rate of only $16.00 with our PassPort America discount. The only drawbacks were a rooster from the farm and a bird outside our window that never shut up throughout the entire night. There's nothing like waking up every two hours thinking that morning has arrived and it's time to hit the road again.

Still a bit sleep deprived, we headed South the next morning on I-95 towards Jacksonville, FL. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I-95 is right at the top of my list as one of the boringest stretches of drives anywhere. Except for too many billboards advertising the same things every ten miles, there's nothing to break the monotony. Every time I drive that stretch of road I'm reminded of the quote by Charles Kuralt who said, "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."

After a brief stop at a Flying J in Brunswick, GA to fill up on gas ($3.00 per gallon!), we headed West on I-10 outside of Jacksonville for a much more scenic drive to U.S. 41 and then North for six miles to our stop here at Kelly's.

It hasn't taken us long to fall in love with this place. It is a very well-maintained RV park with many permanent and long term residents. The property is surrounded by woods of Southern pines, palmetto palms and oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. The access roads are paved, the sights spacious and level with full hook-ups and the people are openly friendly. We have a fast wifi connection, crystal clear spring water, a paved patio area under our awning, on-site laundry facilities, a 24-hour clubhouse with a very large library and a short one mile walk into the town of White Springs for miscellaneous supplies. When we do need to stock up on major items, there is a Wal-Mart just ten miles down the road in Lake City. The best part is the monthly rate is very reasonable for this part of the country. We are booked in for a month, but are already discussing extending our stay for much longer.

Next week we plan to further explore White Springs, walk the extensive trails around the area, work on regaining our tans and enjoy the peacefulness of this place. We'll move at a slower pace than we have over the past five months because, once your back to living in a sauna, the only way to survive the Florida conditions is to adapt a local attitude and just slow down.

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photos by Deb

Carolina State Of Mind

2010-05-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

Over the past week Deb & I have been preparing to hit the open road again. After our delays in departing a month ago, I am hesitant to say we will be leaving the Flower Mill RV Park in Taylors, SC next Monday for a month stay in White Springs, FL.(Karmic projections and all that.) But the one thing the delays taught me is that life has a way of disrupting even the best-laid plans. However, this time, except for an act of God or some other freak occurrence everything is in place for a certain departure.

During our preparations we have also discussed how much we will miss this area. It has given us so much in many blessed ways. Our stay was longer than planned, but that worked out for the best. It provided quality time with family, a chance to meet new friends, the opportunities to enjoy exquisite foods and the joys of entering into a Carolina state of mind.

The best way to understand a Carolina state of mind is to stand in a check-out line at a grocery store. Nobody is in a rush. Everyone is talking to each other. The clerks are asking a customer about their Momma or Daddy. The person in front of you will kindly ask if you would like to go ahead of them. A total stranger will proceed to tell you their life story. If you ask someone behind you if they would like to go first their response will usually be, "No, you go right ahead. I'm in no hurry. All I've got to do is go home and clean the house, so I'll just rest while I'm here in line and how ya doing today?"

Everyone here is openly friendly, patient and makes you feel a part of the community even though you've never met them before. People wave at total strangers as they drive down the street. They sit quietly in line at a congested traffic light. During our five months here we heard a total of two honking car horns and both vehicles had plates from Northeastern states (go figure). The pace of life is slower and more respectful. All one has to do is experience the rudeness of people in S. Florida, New York or many others places we have been and it becomes vividly clear that people in the Carolinas define the meaning of the Golden Rule.

A Carolina state of mind also arises from the land. This is a good land blessed with ample water, the gently rolling majesty of the mountains, the soft-wave music of the beach and the explosion of flowers in the spring. It is in the sounds of the Whip-Or-Wills singing through the night. It is in the reflections of a full moon on lush forests or fertile farmlands. It is the peace one feels from experiencing these gifts of the land - and more.
So, for now, we say goodbye and thank you to the Carolinas for a wonderful visit. Thank you Mom and Dad for your hospitality. Thank you Bucky's Bar-B-Que and the Plaid Pelican for marvelous food. Thank you local residents for your friendship and thank you Flower Mill RV Park for a peaceful place to stay.

Although we are headed to new regions, we know that the Carolinas will be a part of us forever. That's the one thing about entering into a Carolina state of mind - once it's there it never leaves you no matter where you go. Somewhere down the road that fine old tune by James Taylor will resound through our heads and we'll be singing:

In my mind I'm gone to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Maybe just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind...

copyright 2009-2010 Lane A Geyer
photos by Deb

Road Tested Recipes Have A New Home!

2010-04-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce that the Road Tested Recipe postings on this blog now have a new home. These postings have proven to be very popular, so Deb decided to dedicate a blog that will concentrate solely on recipes adapted to a smaller RV kitchen.

You can follow these posts at deblane.blogspot.com or through the FaceBook link titled RV Road Tested Recipes.

Although the focus of these recipes is on preparation in an RV kitchen, all will feature dishes that are delicious no matter where you prepare them!

Deb also welcomes all of our readers to forward your favorite recipes that will be featured (with credit in your name) in future posts.

Enjoy and we wish everyone Good Eats!

Some Things Just Don't Make Sense

2010-04-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

Miller Family Farm - York, PA

An interesting aspect of our journeys over the past year has been the opportunity to see, first hand, the effects of current economic conditions on local communities in many parts of the country. Communities everywhere are experiencing the common problems of unemployment, decreased property values, large drops in local and state tax bases and disappearing small businesses. This is especially true in rural communities. There have been small towns we have driven through that, although a few years ago housed a few businesses and residents, are nothing more today than literal ghost towns. Some areas have been affected harder than others, but no matter where we have been, everyone hears the same news topics over and over; no jobs, cutbacks in local services, disappearing businesses and ballooning national expenditures.

While many people in all parts of this country are complaining about new federal programs and their impacts on the average citizen and local communities, they are oblivious to older federal programs that waste billions of dollars per year. While the debate raged on and on about how to pay for the health care bill, our government is paying subsides to the tune of $3 billion dollars per year to less then 20,000 cotton farmers. The program encourages American planters to grow cotton even when supplies are high, and this overproduction keeps prices low on the world market.

Given that we have children in this country going to bed hungry every night and that the official number of unemployed people today is 15,089,451 the cotton subsidy sounds really dumb right? Well, it gets dumber. At the same time we are paying American planters subsidies to grow cotton nobody needs, we are also paying Brazilian cotton farmers over $147 million dollars a year of our tax dollars to compensate them for the unfair advantage we pay our farmers! Time magazine summed up this mess by saying, "If you're perplexed, here's the short explanation: We're shoveling our taxpayer dollars to Brazilian farmers to make sure we can keep shoveling our taxpayer dollars to American farmers... Basically, we're paying off farmers to maintain our ludicrous status quo."

Now, before you think this money is going to the small, independent farmer who busts his or her butt every day to provide a quality farm life for their family, think again. Most of this cotton subsidy - our money - is going to big corporations who bought out the small family farms who could not compete with them and their government subsidies.

This topic is personal to me because I spent my formative years growing up on a family farm in northern Indiana. It was a great way to spend my youth and I am grateful each and every day for the lessons learned about life on that land. There's something very special about working alongside relatives on land that your great-grandfather homesteaded. It was often a difficult and hard way to make a living, but one that was filled with rich blessings and the support of a very large extended family. Unfortunately, the days of the independent family farm are quickly becoming a thing of the past in this country.

Farm subsidies have always been an important part of our national economy and security. They were first put in place to both safeguard the family farmer from the vagaries of weather and to protect our nation's food supply. This not only stabilized rural economies, it also helped make our nation the largest food producer in the world. Then, slowly, multinational corporations began to buy out family farms and expand their dominance in all areas of food production. Not surprisingly they built, and continue to expand, this dominance through the the very subsidies that were established to help the small farmer.

For example, did you know in America: 80 percent of all soybean production and processing is controlled by one corporation, Monsanto; that between 1995 and 2005, 73 percent of farmers and ranchers in New York state did not collect one cent of the $1.11 billion in Federal farm subsidies for that state - instead, most of that money went to just 10% of subsidy recipients including over 1,300 businesses in New York City (most large multinational corporations); that wealthy men like Ted Turner and David Rockefeller are taking in large sums of money each year in the form of farm subsidies; that most of the poultry you purchase at major chain grocery stores is controlled by multinational corporations who cornered the market in the 1960s; that most of the pork you purchase in major chain grocery stores is controlled by multinational corporations who cornered the market in the late 1990s; that the same is true for beef and corn products purchased through major chains; that multinational food-based corporations annually maintain one of the largest lobbyist influences in Washington, D.C.?

Today the inequity of how the federal government allocates farm subsidies - our money - is playing out in the dairy industry. It was given daily coverage on local news channels while we were in the Northeastern states last summer. Yet for the impact this crisis will ultimately have on independent family farms and our nations milk supply, it has received woefully little attention by national news chains.

Each day, our nation is seeing hundreds of independent milk producers going out of business due to a lack of adequate federal price supports. Right now dairy farmers are losing $200 per cow each month due to the gap between current bulk milk prices and production costs. If trends continue, we may immediately lose 20,000 of our nation's 60,000 family dairies and billions of dollars from rural communities, which are already hurting more than large communities during this economic downturn.

This dairy crisis is just not the result of overproduction or a sudden decline in demand spurred by the global recession. Instead, it is a disastrous combination of factors beyond the independent farmer's control. The price of milk paid to farmers collapsed a record 30% in January 2009 alone, the result of a volatile pricing system manipulated by a few corporate players. In addition, our country is allowing an unregulated flow of milk substitute imports from China. Most of the milk-based fillers used in processed cheeses and many other products now come from overseas, not from American farmers.

All our nation's independent milk producers are asking for is a fair price support from the government. They are not asking to get rich overnight or ripoff the taxpayer. They simply want a fair chance to maintain their businesses and keep ownership of their family farms. While this crisis drags on, our federal government has yet to pledge any increased support; they instead have established a committee to research the problem and present recommendations.

While some may argue that the expansion of multinational corporate farming is simply the result of economic trends that lead to lower prices for the consumer, I would have to say that I find that view short-sighted. We have seen the impact of lowered farm incomes on many rural towns and the outcomes are sad. With the loss of every dollar from small family farmers many jobs, local businesses and personal lives are placed into distress. It's not comfortable to stay in or drive through rural towns that are obviously dying due to a collapsed local economy. Ghost towns are once again becoming a part of our rural landscape.

I also find it short-sighted to not think about our food base being at the total control of multinational corporations. There's just too much at risk. As a family farmer from Iowa said, "If the government thinks they have problems with our nation's reliance on oil imports or the collapse of the banking industry, what will they do if we are dependent upon foreign entities for our food supplies?".

It just seems to me that if this nation can shell out our money to Brazilian farmers so that we can continue to overproduce cotton, or pay millions to wealthy landowners in subsidies, or pay multinational corporations a huge share of subsidies that were meant for the small, independent farmer they could, instead, spend our money in ways that better support independent dairy farmers and rural communities. That money, right now, could be going to the those who daily work to maintain the beautiful family farms we have seen in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and other parts of this great land. It could be going to those small towns who are currently dying a slow death. It could be going to us instead of another country.

There's a lot I don't understand but, like the title says, some things just don't make sense.

photo by Deb

Road Tested: Crockpot Salmon

2010-04-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

This is another delicious recipe we have enjoyed numerous times. Once again, it saves us on LP gas because it can be easily prepared in our small RV kitchen using only a crockpot. It is best served with rice pilaf or mashed potatoes to soak up all the wonderful juices.

Crockpot Salmon

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
4 onions, coarsely chopped
1 (16 ounce) bag baby carrots
4 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 pound salmon fillet
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed

Directions:

Place olive oil and butter in crockpot. Add onions, carrots and garlic, stir, cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours stirring once during cooking time. Continue simmer until vegetables begin to caramelize.
Place salmon fillet over vegetables and sprinkle with salt, pepper and dill weed. Cover and continue cooking on low for 1-2 hours until salmon flakes when tested with a fork.
Place salmon on plate and cover with vegetable mixture. Serves 4.

Enjoy!

photos by Deb & Lane

Random Thoughts

2010-04-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

A few random thoughts that have been bouncing around my head recently:

Bad Neighbors - Just like living in any type of house, the full-time RV life also includes dealing with bad neighbors on occasion. We have some now that leads me to believe there should be some kind of screening process before people are trusted with the care and transport of any type of RV.

First, to their credit, they are very friendly people who are only here at the Flower Mill RV Park (at least right now) during weekends. But they have exhibited the same behaviors we have seen in many other places that make us shake our heads in disbelieve.

The first sign of pending concerns was when they arrived several weeks ago. They have a 20 foot tow-behind trailer that was being pulled by a truck way too small for the job. As they made their way to a site, it was obvious they had no clue how to adjust the settings on the braking system. Every time the driver hit the brakes in the truck, the trailer brakes totally locked up causing it to skid wildly. On top of this, the brake lights on the trailer were not working. Given that they drove here from middle Tennessee, I had to wonder how many potential accidents could have happened along the way.

This is only one example of too many RV owners we have seen throughout our travels who have no idea how to safely operate their equipment on the open road. It's bad that those of us who drive large motor homes have to be constantly on guard for aggressive or unsafe drivers. If some idiot hits me I have a major concern about the amount of LP and gas inboard, but the impact to this 6 ton behemoth will be minor compared to that of a smaller vehicle. However, if I drive stupidly or do not know how to handle this same 6 tons safely, I have a very good chance of quickly killing someone. If you have not had previous experience or training in driving large vehicles or towing extended tonnage behind you, please do not assume it's easy. It's not; and knowing that could save a life.

The other thing they have done is constantly left burning campfires unattended. On more than one occasion it has been necessary to drag my hose to their fire ring to douse smoldering embers after they had gone elsewhere. The last time was a few mornings ago when wind gusts of 25 mph+ threw red embers from their smoldering fire over three different sites. How stupid (and inconsiderate) can one be? If you've never seen how quickly an RV can burn, go to UTube and enter a video search for RV On Fire. It's scary. It takes, on average, only 10 minutes for an RV of any type to completely burn to the ground.

One last thought on this topic. There is a very good reason that most RV parks have posted speed limits of 5 mph. Besides safety for the children who are usually present, lower speeds reduce noise, dust and freak accidents. There are too many people who want to drive their RVs through parks at the same speeds normally found on Interstate highways.

The one upside of having bad neighbors in the full-time RV lifestyle is that you can quickly move your house at any time to get away from them.

Gas Prices - We own a home-on-wheels that has an 80 gallon gas tank and can get 8-10 miles per gallon under the best of conditions. There have been times, like when we where driving through the steep grades of the Allegheny mountains, that our fuel average dropped to 3-4 mpg. Needless to say, we have to keep a very close eye on gas prices. I track the crude oil prices almost daily to try and stay ahead of the fluctuations at the pump.

The thing that burns my butt over the current average of $3.00 per gallon is that it has not been driven by supply and demand. It has only happened because of investment speculators in the commodities markets. Without their influences over the past several months, most experts state that gas prices would still be in the same ranges as a year ago.

Aside from the extra money current gas prices are costing us, my biggest concern is that there is no way for our economy to recover if these trends continue. Gas prices affect everything from shipping costs to manufacturing, which keeps consumer prices high and expansion stifled. We all need some kind of relieve from the overbearing influences that gas prices have on our lives.

The Continued Media Fascination With Lady Gaga - What's up with that? Enough of just another no-talent freak show!

photo by Deb

Best Laid Plans

2010-04-05T08:23:00.001-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days when you wake up and life delivers an unexpected reality THWACK out of nowhere? Well, we had one of those days early last week that altered our plans to be in Florida by now. Man, I hate when that happens; especially before my first cup of coffee.

Not to fear. Our change in plans are not due to any major problems. My Mom is doing fine, we are fine and our old RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) is in great shape. The decision to hang out a little while longer here in Taylors, SC is due to "circumstances beyond our control".

I should have known better than to check my phone messages before I was fully awake, but I did and had one from the RV park we were going to in Florida. There was a problem and they requested a return call as soon as possible. After downing enough coffee to feel conscious, I called and found out they had major water line problems. They were more than willing to accommodate us anyway, but warned that the spaces would be tight and the repairs could take as long as three weeks to complete. Although they didn't elaborate, I was left with the impression that the problem was based in their sewer lines and drain field.

We have stayed in places where underground repairs were being completed and it is not a pleasant experience. There is a lot of noise, dust, mud if it rains and disruptions to water access. If the problem is indeed in their septic system, that also leads to the additional potential for some very offensive odors. The fact that they said it could take up to three weeks to complete repairs left us with a potential situation of being in tight, uncomfortable surroundings for longer than is desirable.

We could have arranged for another place to stay, but after careful discussions, came to the conclusion it was in our best long-term interests to stay put for now based upon several factors. One is the desire to be in Florida for a potential work/camp position and the other is financial.

Our first stay on this journey was at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park and we feel in love with the place. It is a quaint, small "Old Florida" town with genuinely nice people and beautiful scenery. Between the dense Spanish moss dripping from the trees and the hourly music heard emanating from the park's 97-bell carillon, the area has an almost ethereal quality. Landing a work/camp position at the park is something we have always worked towards. It would provide a free, full hook-up site at no charge for up to three months in exchange for 20 hours of light work per week. The weird thing about Florida State Parks is that they have no central point for obtaining a work/camp position. They suggest that it is best to just go, in person, to the park your interested in and check availability. I can see their wisdom in this structure in that it is much easier to make a decision about a person first-hand than through other routes. Besides, outside of the surreal madhouse that is South Florida, that is the way business is done throughout most of the state.

In addition, it would provide us a chance to spend enough time in Florida to maintain our residency in the state. One of the odd aspects of full-time RV living is maintaining a legal residency when you have no other residence than your "house on wheels" and travel constantly. It is best to stay a little while each year in your registered state to avoid complications with voting rights, insurance claims and other legal considerations.

As far as the financial considerations, it was pretty much a no-brainer. We have a steady monthly income, but aren't exactly swimming in money and try to save a buck whenever we can. You never know when a tire will go flat, a mechanical problem will arise or something else will come up that makes you glad you've set something aside to cover unexpected expenses. The rate at the park in Florida is very reasonable and equal to what we are paying here at the Flower Mill. To stay anywhere else in between would have been more expensive overall. Add to that the fact that fuel prices are currently around $2.90 for mid-grade and the numbers are in favor of just riding out the situation. We are comfortable, safe and still close to family. Sure, we are disappointed to not be on the road again, but this too shall soon pass. As they say, "life happens".

One of the great things about living in an RV is that you have your house with you, so it doesn't matter where you are, because you're always home. If you don't like your surroundings, you can move on at any time. If the weather is bad, you can just wait until it improves. If you are comfortable with the surroundings, you can stay as long as you like. And, if unexpected surprises arise, you can quickly adapt to the new realities of a sudden change in plans. The lifestyle has a lot of freedoms that cannot be found otherwise.

Hopefully, the problems in Florida will be resolved quickly, but we are not counting on it. For now, we will continue enjoying the beautiful spring blossoms that surrounds us and stay ready to move on as soon as the opportunity arises.

Thought For The Day - If you're not where you are, you're nowhere!

photos by Deb

Hello Spring!

2010-03-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh Spring. It is so good to see you again!

Over the past week spring has finally sprung here in the Greenville, SC area. Flowers are blooming, trees are in blossom and temperatures have been in the mid-seventies most days. After the unusually cold and snowy winter, we are loving the explosion of colors and return to outdoor activities.

Over the past few days Deb & I have spent time helping my Dad complete the construction and planting of a 6'x40' raised-bed garden. We started this project several weeks ago, but cool and rainy weather delayed final completion longer than anticipated. The first crop of lettuce, radishes, beets, onions, red cabbage, carrots, peas and potatoes are in the ground and doing well. If the weather continues to cooperate, we should be able to harvest a first cutting of tender lettuce leaves within the next few weeks. Although the heavy physical activity reminded our bodies that we spent too much time on our butts over the past three months, we loved working on this project. There's nothing better than getting your hands in the dirt and planting a garden to make one feel that winter is definitely gone.

The garden is the latest addition to the landscaping on a dental clinic property my father has tended for the past four years. It is within short walking distance of my parents home and has become a beautiful, year-round showcase of every flower and ornamental plant imaginable. During the four months we have been here, we have also helped Dad add hundreds of additional planting to what is already an entire property of thousands of annuals, perennials and evergreens. At its peak over the summer months, this property is an explosion of colors that makes one glad to be alive. Since no one really likes going to the dentist, I'm sure it helps that the clinic patients have beautiful flowers to look at while they are in the dreaded dental chair. (The above pictures show the property and some of the flowers currently in bloom there.)

It is a bittersweet feeling to know that we will not be here during the coming months to see and taste the results of our labors. But, alas, the open road is beckoning us to move forward with this wondrous journey. My Mom's heart problems have stabilized and, although we love this part of the country, new horizons await. We are scheduled to leave the 3rd of next month for an extended stay in northern Florida. There is still much work to be completed on our RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) before we go, but it is exciting to anticipate new locations and experiences. We can't wait to get on the road again!

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. ~W. Earl Hall

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood

photos by Deb

Road Tested: Shrimp and Grits

2010-03-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

We have been thoroughly enjoying the regional Southern cuisine here in the greater Greenville, SC area over the past three months. In this part of the country, there is nothing more truly "Carolina" than a hearty bowl of shrimp and grits. This is a recipe by Tyler Florence (a Greenville native) that we prepared and loved. For those of you who have not yet developed a taste for grits, try some that have been well-prepared in the Southern tradition; we guarantee you'll like them.

This is another recipe that can be easily prepared in a small RV kitchen using only an electric skillet and small electric burner. By using electric appliances as often as possible, we have saved a tremendous amount on LP gas expense. After almost ten months of living full-time in this unit, we are still on our original tank of LP.

Ingredients:

*For Grits Portion -

2 cups chicken stock
1 cup stone-ground white cornmeal
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

*For Shrimp Portion -

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium white onion, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 pound spicy sausage, cut into chunks (we suggest Andouille)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 green onion, white and green parts, chopped

Directions:

To make grits: Place a 3-quart pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Slowly whisk in the cornmeal. When the grits begin to bubble, turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon. Allow to cook for 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture is smooth and thick. Remove from heat and stir in the cream and butter, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. (Tip: To maintain a smooth texture, stir often and do not allow grits to become dry. Add additional butter if needed before serving.)
To begin shrimp portion, heat olive-oil in deep skillet over medium heat.
Add onions and garlic to oil, then saute for 2 minutes to soften.
Add in sausage and cook, stirring, until there is a fair amount of fat in the pan and sausage is browned.
Sprinkle in the flour and stir continually with a wooden spoon to create a roux. (Tip: Be careful not to over heat the roux. It can burn quickly. Just cook for a few minutes until light beige and there is no raw flour taste.)
Slowly pour in chicken stock and continue stirring to avoid lumps.
Toss in the bay leaf.
When the mixture comes to a simmer, add in the shrimp. Poach the shrimp in the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes until they are firm and pink and the gravy is smooth and thick.
Stir in the parsley and green onion, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
Spoon the grits into a large serving bowl.
Add the shrimp mixture to bowl and stir well.
Serve immediately.

Enjoy, ya'll!

photos by Deb & Lane

Unexpected Pleasures

2010-03-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

One of the things we love about our full-time RV lifestyle is the opportunity to seek out local, unique restaurants wherever our journeys take us. Being major foodies, we tend to shy away from the major chain eateries one can find anywhere and drift more towards the smaller places that focus on the regional cuisines. Aside from providing us with really great food, this has proven a great way to developing a deeper understanding of the many areas of the country we have visited.

Yesterday was the third anniversary of our lives together, so Deb and I decided to splurge on a good meal at the Plaid Pelican located at 1316 Stallings Road in Greenville, SC. It is literally four miles from where we are staying and a place we have passed by numerous times. We kept saying to each other "We really need to try that place sometime." Now that we have, we are kicking ourselves for not going there earlier! From the quality of the food to the perfection of the service, this place left us in agreement that it is right at the top of the best restaurants we have ever experienced anywhere.

From the outside, the Plaid Pelican offers little clue as to the superb gastronomic experience that awaits inside. It is in a small, non-descript strip mall with a sign that advertises itself as offering "Coastalina Cuisine". But once you step through the door, you are surrounded by an inviting atmosphere that features an open kitchen and relaxing decor. Instead of being escorted to a table by the smiling hostess, she kindly asked us which table we would prefer and settled us in for an evening of truly unexpected pleasures.

The menu offers a wide variety of appetizers, soups, salads and entrees that include seafood, steak and chicken dishes. We had read many on-line reviews of the place before going and were amazed that every single offering had received the highest of compliments. Since the place promotes on its web page that they do "the freshest seafood better than any restaurant", we were focused on a good fish dish, but still had a hard time deciding upon which one. Everything from the shrimp and grits to the stuffed flounder with lobster cream sauce to the crab cakes to the shrimp etouffee looked inviting. While we pondered over our final selections we ordered the appetizer of the day; a selection of cheeses served with two glasses of Bluefish Riesling wine.

As soon as the appetizer arrived we knew we were in for a unique dining experience. It was presented on a quarter-inch slab of chilled slate stone with each offering labeled in chalk. The plate was a perfect arrangement of sliced Manchego and Comte cheeses, thin smoked prosciutto (Speck), olive-oil grilled bruscetta and a garnish of dried cranberries. The wine perfectly accented the cheeses and proved to be our drink of choice throughout the entire meal.

While we were savoring the cheeses, the young Sous-chef came to our table and asked if we were enjoying ourselves. He spent about five minutes talking with us about his culinary experiences that ranged from starting out in a small restaurant in Palm Beach, FL to working under one of the premier chefs in New Orleans before Katrina wiped out the place to ending up here in Greenville. It was a nice touch that made us feel even more comfortable.

We followed up the appetizer with cups of seafood bisque that brought immediate smiles to both our faces. It was creamy,with an intense lobster flavor and notes of saltiness that reminded us of the sea. With Deb being from Boston and with me living in S. Florida for ten years, we have both had great seafood bisque over the years. But we agree, hands down, that this was the best we have ever had!

Another nice touch was that while savoring the bisque the Head Chef/Owner Paul came to our table and asked if everything was to our liking. At this point we still had not decided on our entree selection, so we asked him what he would recommend. He strongly suggested the catch-of-the-day, which was golden tile fish, and the seared scallops. Thank God we listened to him. I ordered the tile fish, blackened, with pilaf rice and Deb ordered the scallops, blackened, also with the rice.

Every entree is served with a salad that is a beautiful explosion of color onto itself. As opposed to a plate consisting of mainly lettuce, these salads were a perfectly-sized arrangement of the freshest greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, bacon and croutons. To make it even better, every dressing is homemade. Deb had the Ranch and I had the Thousand Island. Both were beyond great.

The entrees proved to be almost orgasmic. Each plate was presented with young grilled asparagus spears in the middle, rice to one side with the seafood on the other. The tile fish was two-inches thick, fork-tender with a mild flavor and a texture like dry-aged steak. The scallops were juicy and perfectly cooked; which anyone who has tried cooking them know is not easy to achieve. The asparagus exploded with fresh flavors and the rice was "air-fluffed" steamed with lots of sauteed onions and tri-colored peppers . There was not a single flaw with anything on the plate.

If you live in or are visiting the greater Greenville, SC area do not pass up a visit to this establishment. The price-range for the entrees is $16.00-$25.00 per plate, but worth every cent. From the food to the service to the relaxed atmosphere you will not be disappointed. This place deserves to have every table occupied constantly with a line of hungry people waiting outside of the door. Out of five stars, we give this one a ten!

Oh, how we love unexpected pleasures.

Some Days Are Diamonds, Some Days Are Stone

2010-03-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

For the third day in a row, temperatures here at the Flower Mill RV Park in Taylors, SC will be around 70 degrees! What a wonderful change from the really cold and snowy weather we have lived through over the past three months. It is nice to have the doors and vents open again, feel a warm sun on our skin and turn off the heaters.

The improved weather has allowed us to spend a lot of time outdoors over the past week. Last Friday and Saturday we helped my father build and plant a 6 ft. x 32 ft. raised bed garden. Although the work left our "aging bodies" a little stiff and sore, it was great to be in the sun and get our hands back into the dirt. There's nothing like smelling the aromas of fresh soil and planting the first vegetables of the year to make one feel that spring is finally here. Hopefully, we will be able to enjoy some of our plantings before we hit the road again come the first of next month.

Yesterday's great weather also allowed me to start on much overdo work on the RV. One of the biggest mistakes people make is allowing RVs to sit in one place without routine maintenance; especially running the engine and generator. Like all working systems, engines need to be run on a regular basis to distribute fluids, keep working parts lubricated and prevent seals from drying out. Thankfully, both the engine and generator started and ran perfectly for almost an hour. There is still much work to be done before our departure, but our trusty twenty-five-year-old RV Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) has proven to be a real trooper given the rough winter.

The down side over the past two days is that both Deb and myself are working through some kind of "bug" that has left us feeling lethargic, feverish and just plain crappy. Oh well, this too shall pass. Like the title says, some days are diamonds and some days are stone.

"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden." ~ Ruth Stout

photos by Deb

Road Tested: Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes

2010-03-04T08:50:00.000-08:00

Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes

Due to the winter weather here over the past few months, we have had plenty of time to try out new recipes. This is one we enjoyed a few weeks ago and immediately feel in love with. It is another one that can easily be made in the small space of an RV kitchen with only an electric skillet.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds ground chicken breast or ground turkey breast
1 carrot, peeled and chopped or grated
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/3 to 1/2 cup Ken's Steak House Buffalo Wing Sauce
1 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup chicken stock
8 good quality burger rolls, split and toasted
1 cup blue cheese crumbles
2 large dill pickles, chopped

Directions:

Heat extra-virgin olive oil in a large electric skillet over medium-high heat.
Add meat and break up with wooden spoon, cook 5 to 6 minutes.
Add in carrots, celery, onions and garlic, season with salt and black pepper then cook 7 to 8 minutes more.
In a bowl combine Buffalo Wing Sauce, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and stock. Pour into skillet, stir to combine and simmer mix for a few more minutes until thickened.
Pile sloppy joe mixture onto buns and top with blue cheese and chopped pickles.

Enjoy!

Photo by Lane

Same Old, Same Old

2010-03-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

Once again, we are spending the day here in Taylors, SC watching a heavy snow storm. The flakes began falling about 9:30 this morning and are predicted to continue throughout the day. To have this much snow in one year in this part of the country is extremely rare. Lucky us. After living in S. Florida for ten years and seeing no snow, the first few storms were nice. But now I'm to the point of hoping not to see snow for another ten years: It's getting old and I'm tired of the cold. Every part of me longs to be hanging out again at our favorite places on Islamorada in the Keys!

Part of the frustration with this winter has been the reminder of what it means to have cabin-fever. We have spent a great deal of time over the past few months with my parents helping around the house and assisting with landscaping projects. But when it snows here, everything shuts down quickly and people don't venture far from home unless absolutely necessary. The municipalities do not salt or sand side roads and folks here are not experienced with driving in these kinds of conditions. It's just safer to stay put for a few days until the temperatures rise above freezing again.

But the onset of cabin-fever also reminded me of a very important aspect every couple should consider before entering a full-time RV life. One of the best pieces of advise we came across in our early research about the RV lifestlye was to seriously think about spending time in the close confines of an RV. It is a situation that can be either heaven or hell on earth depending on the couple.

Almost everyone who has extensive experience with full-time RV living will tell newbies and wannabe RVers the same thing; it is one thing to love your significant other, but you had better really like each other too! It is one thing to live in a 2,500 square foot house and have a bedroom, garage or other places to escape to when you start to get on each others nerves. It is an entirely different thing to live in a 300 square foot tin box on wheels and have nowhere to go to cool off. To put this in perspective, undertake a simple survey. Over the next two weeks track the total number of awake hours you actually spend in the direct presence of your significant other. The results may surprise you.

Spending many hours of time directly with each other was not a huge transition for Deb and myself. We lived in, and managed together, a 40 room resort in Hollywood, FL for several years. We were in constant contact during days to handle the business end of things and always were together during our rare off hours. Sure, we always have and still occasionally do need our private space. But we have found ways to do that without sacrificing our dream of sharing a very rewarding life; even in this small space we now call home.

One of the biggest responses I receive from people when they learn of our full-time RV lifestyle is a wish that they, too, could do the same thing. They always talk in terms of it being a constant vacation. While it may seem like a constant vacation, the reality is that there are some days that are diamonds and some days that are stone. No matter where someone lives there are still days when you will be sick, just have the blues or be really tired of looking at snow. It comes with the territory and the saving grace is knowing, in spite of it all, you still have your best friend to share the adventure with.

So here's to warmer weather and more happy trails!

photos by Deb & Lane

Amazing Facts

2010-02-22T12:15:00.001-08:00

Amazing Facts

If you want to spend some very interesting time, go to the website mentalfloss.com and click onto the Amazing Facts link. Some of the facts there you may already know, but I can guarantee you will come across others that will make you say, "Wow, I never knew that". Here are some examples of what you can discover:

Swanson sold a whopping 55 million TV dinners in 1954, the first year it introduced them. At least one tray never got reheated; it's in the Smithsonian.
Though the U.S. only makes up 5% of the world's population, we house nearly 25% of the world's prison population.
Only 1% of all the readily accessible water on earth is drinkable.
Ty Cobb was baseball's first millionaire.
Artist Ellen Barbara Senger, who created the Little Miss Sunbeam bread mascot, also illustrated the Dick and Jane book series.
The first person to survive going over Niagara Falls in a barrel wasn't a young male daredevil, but rather a 63-year-old schoolteacher named Annie Edson Taylor.
Canada has more lakes than all other countries combined.
An estimated 15% to 20% of people who receive gift cards never redeem them.
Marie Curie's notebooks are still radioactive.
The strings attached to boxes of animal crackers were originally placed there so that the container could be hung from the branches of a Christmas tree.
The phrase "under god" in the pledge of allegiance has not always been in the pledge. It was put in during the Eisenhower administration.
Invented in the 1940's in Tennessee, Mountain Dew was created to be mixed with whiskey. In fact, its bottles were first designed to look like moonshine jugs and the original Mountain Dew labels featured outhouses, stills and hay-chewing yokels.
When he died in 1977, Elvis Presley had $1,055,173.69 in a non-interest-bearing checking account.

photo by deb

Interesting Websites

2010-02-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

My major endeavour these days is writing, which means I spend many hours on the computer. A lot of that time is connected to the Web for researching topics, updating this blog, generating ideas and reading many sites by other full-time RVers to garner feedback on their experiences with RV parks and road conditions throughout the country.

Sometimes, though, I do more play than work online checking out fun, interesting and outright goofy websites. Here are a few worth visiting:

refdesk.com - Billed as the Fact Checker for the Internet, this site is the mother lode for any information you might need from links to small town and big city newspaper worldwide, current gas and oil prices, daily diversions, pictures, quotes, random facts and much more. If you want an eye-opening (and outright scary) experience, click on the link from this site to U.S. Debt Clock:Real Time. It's one thing to hear the numbers about our national debt, federal budgets, consumer debt and other economic factors bantered around on the news. It's a whole different thing to see these numbers accumulate by hundreds of thousands of dollars per second right before your eyes.
thinkexist.com - This is a site where you could easily end up spending many hours. With more than 300,000 quotes by over 20,000 authors, you can find just the right words for any occasion or subject.
peopleofwalmart.com - Warning: This sites will make you laugh, moan, shake your head in disbelief and sometimes trigger spontaneous vomit reflexes. These are candid photos of the oddballs who hang out at Walmarts throughout the country. As I've written many times before, we spend a lot of time at Walmarts not only for the prices, but also because they are good to RVers. After seeing a photo on this site of a man we saw at the Clinton, TN store, I'm beginning to wonder if we're spending too much time among these oddballs.
mentalfloss.com - This is "Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix". Here you can find all kinds of interesting things ranging from people who were born on the same day as you to trivia to amazing facts and lunchtime diversions. Another site where you could end up spending way too many hours.
icanhascheezburger.com - This is the site for anyone who loves cute and humorous pictures of cats and dogs. The photos are submitted, and captioned, by real visitors. But beyond the cute animals, this site also has links to other interesting topics including the make-your-stomach-hurt-laughing-so-hard one titled Engrish.
postsecret.blogspot.com - This is one for the voyeur in all of us. Postsecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. Interesting in ways that range from funny to sad.
cakewrecks.com - This is the site of pictures "When Professional Cakes Go Horribly, Hilariously Wrong". I can't even begin to try and explain this one. Just check it out.
recipecurio.com - This site is "Preserving Recipes & Cookbooks From The Past Century". Here you will find charming handwritten recipes, old clippings, vintage recipe booklets & promo pieces submitted by people from all over the country. They are scanned onto the site in all of their tattered, stained and yellowed glory. You'll find both good eats and fond memories reading through these pages.

Have fun!

photo by Deb

Where Is Spring??

2010-02-13T08:12:00.001-08:00

Where Is Spring??

Will this Winter never end?!?!?!??

Once again, we awoke this morning to a heavy blanket of snow here at the Flower Mill RV Park in Taylors, SC. It began falling around 3 p.m. yesterday and continued throughout most of the night. Thankfully, there was no ice with this storm; just large, fluffy flakes that quickly shut down every activity in the area. Although it accumulated to only around three inches in depth, people here at not experienced in driving on snowy roads. It has been very unusual to have two major snow storms in this part of the country in one year. Hopefully, it is the last one.

Too many days have passed since my last post due to fighting the weather and helping my Mom after another emergency trip to the hospital. She is once again resting at home, but for almost two weeks Deb and I were busy with trips to the hospital and then helping Mom at her house while Dad was away on business. During that time we were out in weather that included snow, sleet, ice, torrential rains, flash floods and more snow. It's been nice to have a few days of doing nothing except staying at home here in the RV and getting some rest.

I'm sure I am expressing the sentiments of many people by saying that Spring can't come soon enough this year! Oh how nice it will be to once again feel a warm sun, see the first signs of new leaves and flowers, breath deeply the aromas of newly awakened soil and finally turn off the damned heaters. It's past time for some extended outdoor activities. I fully concur with Robin Williams who said, "Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let' party!""

photos by Deb & Lane

Winter Weather In South Carolina

2010-01-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

These are photos of the weather we woke up to this morning at the Flower Mill RV Park. The snow, sleet and rain moved into the area about 6 P.M. yesterday and continued throughout the night.

Conditions like this are rare for South Carolina, so there is no traffic on the roads and the landscape is unusually quiet. Happily, we have not lost power and plan to do nothing today except bake bread and enjoy the view.

photos by Deb & Lane

The Sounds Of Silence

2010-01-27T10:13:00.000-08:00

Two postings ago I wrote about the pleasures of a quiet place like the Flower Mill RV Park here in Taylors, SC. One of the greatest gifts we have been given over the past eight months is the opportunities to stay in places that are devoid of constant human noises.

We have stayed in campgrounds that are as far off the grid as one can get; places like Beaver Springs Lake Campground in upstate New York or Skidaway Island State Park in Georgia where we had no TV signals or phone connections and really didn't care. After managing, and living in, a forty room resort in Hollywood, FL for three years it has been nice to enjoy the sounds of nature as opposed to street traffic or idiots knocking on our door at 3 A.M. asking if we had change for the soda machine. Now we fall asleep to the sounds of loons on a high mountain lake, awake to the shrills of hawks flying in a clear morning sky and to the songs of chickadees, titmice, cardinals, blue jays and other birds at the feeder outside our window.

There is much to be said for silence. While our lives may never be truly without noise, there is a huge difference between human noise and the sounds of nature. Even with the sounds of wind in the trees, the songs of birds or the cries of coyotes on a cold, clear night a sense of silence still prevails. Within that silence there is a great space for the spirit to rest, grow and mature.

This paraphrase by Mother Teresa best captures what we have found in quiet spaces: We need to find Spirit, and it cannot be found in noise and restlessness. Spirit is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...We need silence to be able to touch souls.

Photo by Deb

Road Tested: Grilled German Bratwurst

2010-01-24T11:27:00.000-08:00

It is a very rainy, damp day here at the Flower Mill RV Park in Taylors, SC. It's the kind of weather where I look forward to the aromas of a warm meal being prepared.

Here is another recipe we have found works well in an RV kitchen. It can be easily completed with only an electric skillet and toaster oven.

GRILLED GERMAN BRATWURST

Ingredients:

4 bratwurst
Cooking oil
1 1/2 c. chopped onion
1 can (12 oz.) beer of choice
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. onion salt
1/2 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese
4 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
4 frankfurter buns

Directions:

Cook bacon until crispy, crumble and set aside for topping.
Brown bratwurst in cooking oil over medium heat in electric skillet.
Add onion and beer with bratwurst, then simmer uncovered for 20 to 30 minutes.
While brats are simmering, stir together butter and onion salt and spread on buns.
Make a lengthwise cut in finished bratwurst to within 1/2 inch from each end. Spoon in drained onion and sprinkle with cheese.
Place filled bratwurst on foil "boat", leaving sides open.
Broil in toaster oven, 4 inches from heat, for two minutes.
Place in buns, top with crumbled bacon and serve.

For a different flavor, this recipe can also be done ahead of time and completed with final heating over a charcoal grill. Just place filled bratwurst on a baking sheet and bring to heat under covered grill. It does not take long to bring them to heat, so be careful that the bottoms don't burn.

Enjoy!

photo by Lane

In Praise Of Smaller RV Parks

2010-01-18T11:29:00.000-08:00

In Praise Of Smaller RV Parks

It is a glorious day here in Taylors, SC. Temps are in the low 60s, the sun is warm in a cloudless sky and we are loving it! After several months of cold weather it is nice to have the door and overhead vents open again. We know there are still chilly days ahead, but for today it is a blessing to feel a touch of Spring.

Our stay here at the Flower Mill RV Park has turned out to be longer in length than anticipated, but in hindsight has proven to be a blessing. The park is close to my parent's home and, although basic in amenities, has provided everything we need. While there are no bathhouses we have full electric and sewer hookups, over 70 channels of cable TV, free wifi access and numerous shopping areas within a very short drive. The best part is the rate is only $250.00 per month plus electricity. We were amazed that, even with two space heaters running almost constantly last month, our total electric charge was only $16.00. All things considered, for all it lacks in amenities, this place has been comfortable with friendly neighbors, inexpensive and provides a feeling of home.

That being said, the Flower Mill RV Park would not be a preferred stop for the usual RVers seeking an on-site store, swimming areas or family activities. Most sites are not level and poorly drained. This park is maintained as a place for long-term or permanent stays at a reasonable price. It does not pretend to be anything else and should be appreciated for what it is; a quiet place in a wooded setting with no hassles.

After staying in fifteen RV campgrounds - both state and private - over the past seven months we have come to appreciate the difference a smaller place like this provides. While the larger places may have their added "extras" they also can be noisy, crowded and overpriced. A lot can be said for a small campground with just the basics. It is a welcome change to look at the trees outside our window and the numerous birds at our feeder, not to mention the friendly waves from our neighbors, instead of RVs packed together like sardines. Sometimes simple is best.

photos by Deb

Road Tested: Spicy Southwestern Spaghetti

2010-01-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

Here is another recipe that can be easily prepared in an RV kitchen using only an electric skillet and electric burner. It's tasty, reheats well and saves us on LP costs.

Spicy Southwestern Spaghetti

Ingredients:

6 slices bacon, chopped
1 lb. lean ground sirloin
1 lb. thin spaghetti
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp. worchestershire suace
1-2 tsp. chipotle Tabasco sauce (or to taste)
1 28oz. can crushed fire roasted tomatoes (i.e. Muir Glen)
1 15oz. can tomato sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Shredded cheddar cheese and chopped scallions (to taste for final topping)

Directions:

Cook spaghetti in boiling salted water, drain and set aside.
In electric skillet over medium-high heat, brown chopped bacon then drain on paper towel and set aside.
Remove bacon grease from skillet, reserving 1 tbsp.
Brown ground sirloin in reserved grease until cooked and crumbled, drain and set aside.
Heat olive oil in skillet, then saute onions and garlic until translucent.
Return ground sirloin to pan. Stir in worchestershire sauce, chipolte Tabasco sauce, crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add drained spaghetti, mix well, bring heat to low and simmer for an additional 10 minutes or until thickened.
Serve in pasta bowls topped with chopped bacon, cheddar cheese and chopped scallions.

Enjoy!

photo by Lane

Keeping Busy & Staying Warm

2010-01-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

I normally do not like going so many days between postings when we have a reliable wifi connection, but life has a way of constantly proving that change is inevitable.

On December 30th my Mom was once again rushed to the hospital by ambulance because of heart problems. She was there for three days while doctors adjusted her meds and recalibrated the settings on her defibrillator implant. Happily, she is now resting well at home without further complications.

Needless to say, since that day Deb and I have been busy with trips to the hospital and, after her return home, helping around their house. Most of this week was a blur of leaving early each morning to spend time with Mom while Dad was taking care of business in Gatlinburg, TN. Because of the cold weather, I returned to our current spot at the Flower Mill RV Park each afternoon to keep the unit warm while Deb helped Mom with cooking and cleaning. Although it's been a hectic schedule, we both feel blessed in having the time to give whatever support is needed without other obligations or distractions.

Wintertime and RVs do not mix well, which is why our original plan was to be further South by this time of year. Most models are designed for Summer weather and staying warm in an RV when temperatures dive below the freezing point can be a challenge. As it turns out, we would not be any warmer in Florida than we are here in Taylors, SC right now. While it's meant a daily routine of keeping the chill out of the interior, we have enjoyed constant warmth even during nights when temps. have fallen into the teens.

We have a furnace in our unit, but choose not to use it for a very good reason; RV furnaces are notorious energy wasters. Just stand outside an RV when the furnace is on and feel the heat blowing out of the exhaust. That is wasted propane. Instead, we use two space heaters that have proven very reliable. We cannot keep them running when we are gone, but they heat the space quickly while using very little energy. With almost constant use last month, our total electric charge was only $16.00.

We have decided to stay here for another month and look forward to warmer weather. Until the next post, we wish everyone warmth and happy travels.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T13:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Both Deb & I hope it's the best year for you; one filled with love, happiness and good journeys.

As I look back on the past year it is amazing how drastically our lives have changed. One year ago today we were co-managing a 40 room resort in Hollywood, FL and had no idea we would be parked at the Flower Mill RV Park in Greenville, SC today. The best decision we made over those months was to jump into the full-time RV lifestyle. It has brought peace, joy and unexpected discoveries.

I am either growing more cynical or wiser with each New Year Day, but I've given up on resolutions; they just seem to be goals most people undertake that set themselves up for self-defeat. The one thing I have absolutely learned over the past six months is that each day is a new beginning. Why dedicate only one day each year to make resolutions towards being a better person when everyone has the freedom to do that each and every day?

Who knows what the year ahead will bring. All we can strive for is to not miss the blessings along the way and be willing to embrace whatever may come to the fullest potential. To paraphrase motorcycle racer Bill McKenna: Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out and proclaiming, WOW, WHAT A RIDE!!!

photo by Jim Geyer

Road Tested: Ratatouille With Italian Sausage

2009-12-27T09:29:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest gifts Deb and I received this Christmas was the opportunity to prepare dishes for our family gathering in my parents full size kitchen! It was pure joy to work together without bumping into one another and have enough oven space to heat more than one recipe at a time.

But we still love cooking in our RV kitchen. It provides less space, but has improved our culinary skills through learning how to prepare great recipes using smaller appliances like an electric skillet or toaster oven. Here's another one of our favorite meals that fits well with an RV lifestyle.

Ratatouille With Italian Sausage

Ingredients:

1 small to medium eggplant, cubed
2 medium zucchini, sliced
1 green and 1/2 red pepper, sliced into strips
1 medium onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, chopped
12 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. fennel seed
1/2 tsp. tarragon
1/2 lb. sweet Italian sausage links
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat oil in an electric skillet, then saute eggplant and zucchini over medium-high heat for approx. 5 minutes. Add onions, peppers and mushrooms to mix and cook until soft. Add garlic and briefly continue to saute mix until fragrant. Remove from skillet, saving drippings for cooking sausages.
Preheat oven to 350F.
Layer vegetable mix, tomatoes, parsley and seasonings in a 1 1/2 qt. casserole dish. Stir gently to mix.
Cover and bake for 35 minutes.
While casserole is baking, saute sausages in reserved skillet drippings until browned. Drain on paper towels until cooled. Slice sausages into 1/2 inch thick pieces and return to skillet. Cook slices 2-3 minutes on each side.
After vegetables have cooked for 35 minutes add sausages, pushing most down into mix, but saving some for the top. Return to oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 20 minutes.
Garnish with additional parsley, if desired.

Note: Flavors improve if dish is made a day ahead and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before reheating.

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T08:14:00.001-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!" - Charles Dickens

We hope that everyone has the merriest of days and that your future journeys bring unexpected blessings.

Deb & Lane

photos by Deb

The Journey

2009-12-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

The Journey

When Deb and I decided to undertake this full-time RV lifestyle, we both agreed that it must be approached more as an open journey than a predetermined series of ultimate destinations. That is the primary reason we chose to title our blog Spirit Journey. In ways similar to the vision quests of Native Americans or the walkabouts of Australian Aboriginals, we set forth with open minds and spirits longing to discover the unknown and nurture the growth of our souls.

It was a leap of faith, but by taking this approach our journey has brought true blessings that most often arose in unexpected ways; a breathtaking vista of natural beauty, the vibrant colors of a simple wildflower, the genuine friendliness of local residents, time spent with family, the laughter of children around a campfire and many other joys that were not based in a destination, but were in the moments between destinations.

Here are a few quotes on this topic we hope you enjoy -

"The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destinations." Don Williams, Jr.

"Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before." Erich Fromm

"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end." Ursula K LeGuin

"Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination, we forget the journey." Unknown

"Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived." Jean Luc Picard

"The journey is the reward." Chinese Proverb

Our hope for everyone during this special time of year is that your journey is blessed with joy and great rewards.

photo by Deb

Desiderata

2009-12-18T14:03:00.000-08:00

For one reason or another, the following passage always returns to me for inspiration, reflection and a reminder of what is really important in life. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Desiderata

written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good term with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even to the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain and bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interest in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love,

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of years,

gracefully surrender the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

photo by Deb

The Homogenization Of America

2009-12-15T11:33:00.000-08:00

The Homogenization Of America

On the first of this month, Deb and I reached the sixth month point of living the full-time RV lifestyle. Over that time we have traveled through fifteen states and stayed in as many campgrounds - both public and private. Our travels have ranged from the starting point in S. Florida to as far North as Boston, then West to Indiana and finally back South to our current stop in Greenville, SC. Along the way we have seen vast and rugged natural wonders, become friends with local residents, enjoyed local cuisines and been blessed through being able to spend quality time with family. It's been a good journey so far and one that we want to continue as long as the fates allow.

But in looking back, there is one aspect of our travels that stands out in my mind: the homogenization of America's shopping corridors. No matter which state we have visited, all major population areas are dominated by the same fast food chains, big box retailers and almost clone-like shopping plazas. They all look and feel the same whether you're in the Deep South, New England or the Midwest. The local lay of the land may be different, but the overall view of this country along any major traffic route has become eerily similar.

This insight really came to light after our trip to the local WalMart a few days ago. Somehow, our conversation later turned to the various items we have purchased at WalMarts along the way. The surprising thing is that we both had to stop and think hard about which state we were in when we made the purchases. The sameness of the stores lay-outs and the sameness of the surrounding businesses blended into one big blur.

Before anyone chastises me about evils of corporate chains, understand that I am realistic enough to know they are now permanent fixtures of our society. They would not be as dominate throughout all portions of our country if they are not making big profits; and they are because the majority of our population chooses to spend money with them. Deb and I are no different. We shop at WalMart because of the prices, enjoy a hot cup of McDonald's coffee while on the road and purchase other supplies at major retailers. We know that in doing so the majority of our money will not stay in the local area, but at the same time these chains employee people, pay local taxes and provide necessary services to the community.

However, that being said, we have also made it a point along our journey to seek out the lesser known places to shop and eat - the Mom & Pop operations that are unique to an area. These have been the experiences we remember the most. We have created superb meals from purchases at Miller Meats in York, PA and Prevites Market in Weymouth, MA; we discovered the best bread-and-butter pickles since our Grandmothers made at a small fruit stand in Cave City, KY; we have enjoyed breakfasts at local, family-owned diners and devoured the best bar-b-que you will ever find at Bucky's right here in Greenville. They are all special and, at the core, the places that drive our economic engine.

We would encourage you to take the path less traveled and visit more of the lesser known places to eat and shop along the way. It makes life much richer and more directly supports people in the community.

photo by Jim Geyer

Good Advice

2009-12-13T11:25:00.000-08:00

A few days ago we made a quick trip to the local Walmart to purchase some items for our family Christmas gathering. I had sworn off stepping into another Walmart until after the holiday shopping rush, but it is a short distance from where we are staying and you just can't beat their prices. Besides, I don't mind spending our money with them because the company is very good to RVers. Unless restricted by local ordinances, most Walmart locations allow overnight boon docking in the parking lots. This is not an option most would choose over a nice campground with full hookups, but it's comforting to know it is available in the event of breakdowns, traffic delays or inclement weather when you're on the road.

Happily, the store was not that crowded. Yet as I walked around watching people rush through the isles loading their carts with gift items, I was reminded how drastically our lives have changed in relationships to material things and time since undertaking this full-time RV lifestyle. We were given two pieces of advice before hitting the open road that have changed the way we live and proven invaluable in making this journey a joy as opposed to a burden.

The first, and most important, is learning that less equals more.

If you research the numerous blogs dedicated to the full-time RV lifestyle there is one consistent theme: in order to transition from a typical sticks and bricks existence into living in an RV you must be prepared to do with less to accomplish that goal. There is just no way around it. An RV has less storage space than a typical house for unneeded "stuff". The transition makes you sort through what is really necessary as opposed to just things that can, at the core, be easily sacrificed while still maintaining a quality life. Besides, the bottom line is that more things in an RV = more weight which = less miles per gallon of fuel.

When we purchased our unit Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) the previous owners, who were full-time Rvers for three years, gave us an insight to the lifestyle that we have always remembered and adhered to - if something new comes in, something old must go out. It's not always easy, but learning to do with less "stuff" can be very liberating.

The other piece of advice that has enhanced our current life is learning to slow down.

Most people when entering the full-time RV lifestyle travel as fast as they can trying to see it all at once. We can attest that doing so will wear you out very quickly and make the overall journey less than enjoyable. Almost everyone who has been on the road for an extended length of time will tell you there comes a point when you realize it is impossible to see it all in one lifetime, no matter how hard or fast you go. An awareness eventually arises that while you rush to see as many places as possible, you are also missing the experiences that arise from staying in one place for awhile; the opportunities to make friends with local people, enjoy regional foods and truly feel the beauty and differences in surrounding landscapes. After one spends a lifetime raising a family, meeting work and social schedules or fighting traffic during daily commutes it takes awhile for the mind to transition to a slower pace. But once that transition occurs, time takes on a deeper and richer meaning.

Our hope during this Christmas season is that everyone receives the blessings we have been given by applying the above pieces of advice to their daily lives; the blessings of learning that less really is more and that spending quality time with loved ones is priceless.

photo by Deb

Road Tested: Slow Cooker Stuffing Topped Pork Chops

2009-12-12T12:26:00.000-08:00

It's another gray, cold day here in Greenville, SC with sleety rain predicted for tonight; definitely a day for staying inside while enjoying a good meal. Right now, I'm smelling the wonderful aromas of the dish described below. It's one of my favorites that is best served with applesauce and a simple vegetable.

SLOW COOKER STUFFING TOPPED PORK CHOPS

Ingredients:

2-4 center cut pork chops
Salt, pepper and garlic powder
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion, finely minced
1 stalk celery, finely minced
1 carrot, finely minced
1/4 cup chicken stock
1 box stuffing mix (either pork or savory herb flavor)
1 tsp. fennel seeds
2 tbsp. tapioca mixed with 1/4 cup chicken stock warmed in microwave

Directions:

Sprinkle chops with salt, pepper and garlic powder (to taste).
Brown chops well in heated oil on a medium skillet, then place in bottom of slow cooker.
Add vegetables to remaining oil in skillet and cook until soft.
Deglaze skillet with 1/4 cup chicken stock and pour mixture on top of chops.
Stir tapioca mixture into slow cooker.
Cook on low for 6 hours.

While chops are simmering, prepare stuffing mix according to directions on package and add fennel seeds. Form into ovals approximately the same size as chops and brown in toaster oven at 450F until crisp on top. Chill in refrigerator for at least 4 hours. One hour before serving, turn slow cooker to high heat, place stuffing on top of chops and finish until thoroughly heated. Serve with drippings and vegetables poured over top.

Enjoy! I know I will.

photos by Deb

Random Thoughts For The Day

2009-12-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

Just some random thoughts to ponder:

- Opportunity rarely knocks on your door. You must knock on opportunity's door if you wish to enter.

- The greatest of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.

- A person carries their success or failure with them. It does not depend on outside conditions.

- The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

- Make the mistakes of yesterday your lessons for today.

- It may be that your sole purpose in life is to simply be a bad example to others.

- A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

- Due to the current financial crisis, the light at the end of the tunnel has been temporarily turned off.

- Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

- In each of us there is a little of all of us.

- Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.

- You can either take action, or you can hang back and hope for a miracle.

photo by Deb

Riding The Storms Out

2009-12-09T13:06:00.000-08:00

One of the more interesting aspects of full-time RV living is dealing with the elements. As opposed to being in a typical "sticks and bricks" structure, you feel and hear in an RV every adverse effect of whatever Mother Nature may throw your way. Sometimes conditions arise that make you deal with the reality of residing in what is basically a large tin can.

As I posted previously, we arrived in the Greenville, SC area a week ago after driving through rains of biblical proportions. Today, we are experiencing wind gusts of 50+ mph. One way or the other, all negative weather conditions have to be paid attention to; strong rains lead to leaks somewhere in the interior, strong winds have a way of playing hell with awnings or throwing debris on the roof, lighting is a major concern for fried electrical systems and unstable trees in wet soil pose major threats. Given that every aspect of your life is in the RV once you go full-time, negative weather impacts of any form have to be tracked, prepared for and dealt with as they arise. At times it can be downright frightening.

The positive side is that riding the storms out in an RV can also be very exhilarating. You're out there in what is often remote locations left to your own wits and courage. You see and feel the strengths of Mother Nature in ways you can't in an urban setting. You are forced to secure an awning in strong winds, feel the unit rock and roll in driving winds, hear the rain pound down on the roof in decibels you never imagined possible and, when necessary, simply pull off the road until conditions improve. In a strange way, the more the conditions worsen, the more it makes you feel alive.

As with all things in life, full-time RV living has a way of proving that there is always a yin to the yang.

photo by Deb

Road Tested: West African Chicken Stew

2009-12-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

It's a rainy, raw day here in Greenville, SC - the kind of weather that is perfect for another one of our favorite dishes. We have enjoyed this stew often because it is warm, tasty and easy to make in a slow cooker.

WEST AFRICAN CHICKEN STEW

Ingredients:

6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium, finely chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
2 medium, sliced zucchini
2 cups chicken broth
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks*
2 tbsp. butter (optional)*
1/2 cup finely chopped peanuts
salt to taste

Directions:

In a medium skillet, brown chicken in olive oil and set aside.
Saute onion and garlic in remaining drippings until translucent, then add to bottom of slow cooker along with the chicken broth, tomato paste, curry powder, cumin and smoked paprika.
Add chicken thighs and place slow cooker on low heat for 7 hours.
The last hour, place the slow cooker on high heat and add the zucchini.
15 minutes before serving, add peanut butter and mix well.
Serve garnished with chopped peanuts.

* There are two options for use of the sweet potatoes in this dish:

Peel the sweet potatoes, cut into chunks and add to slow cooker after the stew has cooked for four hours.
Microwave whole sweet potatoes for ten minutes or until tender, scoop pulp into a bowl, mash with 2 tbs. butter and use as a bed for the stew when serving.

We have prepared this dish both ways, but find that adding the sweet potatoes directly to the stew brings out deeper levels of flavor.

Enjoy!

photos by Deb & Lane

Howie Breaks An Arm In The Rain

2009-12-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

After arriving back in the Greenville, SC area last Wednesday, we are finally spending the entire day settling in for an extended stay. Deb is putting up decorations for what will be our first Christmas as full-time RVers.

We left Marietta, GA mid-morning on the 2nd for what would be a wet and wild drive. There were only light showers as we made our way through the always insane Atlanta traffic, but by the time we crossed the border into South Carolina the skies unleashed downpours of biblical proportions. At times it rained so hard I could barely see ten foot in front of us and traffic slowed to 40 mph. It was a situation were I should have pulled off the road and waited out the storms, but we had to reach Greenville as soon as possible to help out my parents after my Mom's hospital stay. We finally made it to the campground by mid-afternoon and did a quick set-up in the still pouring rain. It proved to be a wet, miserable and exhausting day.

Unfortunately, Howie (House On Wheels Is Excellent) experienced a broken wiper arm during the trip. About 30 miles outside of Greenville the passenger side wiper began to slowly disappear below the windshield until it finally stuck there. A few minutes later we heard a sharp snap and knew it was a goner. Fortunately, the drivers side wiper was not affected so we pushed on as fast as the weather would allow. Once the rains subsided, I discovered that the drive brace on the wiper arm had indeed cleanly snapped beyond repair. Oh well, one more thing to keep me busy.

For the past few days we have been occupied helping my parents put out decorations, preparing meals, completing household tasks and doing whatever we can to help out during Mom's recuperation. It is good to report that she is resting comfortably at home and making progress everyday.

We are booked into the FlowerMill RV Park in Taylors, SC for at least a month. It is a very basic campground, but provides everything we need while enjoying Holiday visits with family and friends. We'll keep you posted on our stay here as time allows.

photos by Deb

On The Road Again

2009-12-01T13:17:00.000-08:00

As the old sayings go, "All good things must come to an end" and "Life Happens".

We had planned to hang out in Heiskell, TN for a few more weeks, but my mother was admitted to the hospital two days ago with heart problems and a gash on her head due to a serious fall. No fears, she is back at home today recuperating comfortably.

Given that our schedules are wide open, we are currently on the way to Greenville, SC to lend a helping hand. We spent the day driving South on I-75 and are spending the night in Marietta, GA. Except for some wrong turns getting to the campground, the trip was smooth and uneventful. If all goes as planned, we will arrive in Greenville tomorrow for an extended stay.

But leaving the Volunteer Park Family Campground was bittersweet. It is one of the friendliest, most clean and comfortable campgrounds anyone could expect. We meet many good people and will always remember the beauty of the area. If you are ever in the greater Knoxville, TN area and are looking for a great place to stay, keep them in mind. You will not be disappointed.

Spirit Journey: Our Full-Time RV Life and Travels

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