RV Realities

August 29, 2009
Becket, MA

Guess what folks, it's raining again! The clouds moved into this area about 4 p.m. yesterday and it has rained continually since with no relief in sight until tomorrow. As fate would have it, we chose to undertake our travels in the wettest season for the Northeast states in over 100 years. Thankfully, in contrast to past postings, there are no leaks in the unit. I have spent a great deal of time over the past month re-sealing the roof seams and, so far, it appears to have solved the problem. If nothing else, the constant rains have helped us better understand some of the realities of full-time RV living.

As with all things, perceptions are often much different than realities. One of the reasons we began this blog was to explain the realities of our full-time RV lifestyle; both for those who may be considering undertaking the same path and those we talk with who still seem confused about the concept. Almost a year before we bought our unit or hit the open road, both of us completed extensive research on motor homes and RV lifestyles. It is amazing how much solid information on these topics can be found on the Internet, ranging from those with over thirty years experience to those who, like us, are just beginners. Thank God, because there's nothing worse than discovering, after the fact, that where you ended up is not how the territory looked going in.

So, based upon both our research and other aspects we have learned along the way, here are a few thoughts on the matter.......

First and foremost, a full-time RV lifestyle is not suitable for everyone. This was a major topic discussed by all experts and has proven true from our experiences. It requires major shifts in how one perceives - and reacts to - concepts of time, space, shelter and relationships. It requires a "paradigm shift", as it were, in relating to what you were raised to think about a home and/or shelter and then residing in an entirely new way. It requires being open to constant changes in both your environment and within yourself. It requires giving up material things and adjusting to more basic necessities. It requires adapting to new patterns in living in a smaller space, and spending more time with your partner. It requires thinking things through in a new way.

Before this is mistaken as a means to discourage others from the lifestyle, let me make it clear that is not my intention. The full-time RV lifestyle can be both adventurous and rewarding. There are just some basic realities that should be considered before making a major lifestyle change. Ask yourself these questions; how much time each day do you actually spend one-on-one with your partner?; how many of your current possessions could you fit into an RV?; could you adjust to living with fewer, or no, TV channels for weeks at a time?; could you plan ahead enough to stock a food supply for seven days?; would you know where to stop for enough fuel to fill an 80 gallon tank? These are all realities that are important for determining not only if you are suitable to the lifestyle, but also important in determining which RV your purchase and how you plan your travels along the way. They are all realities that we have found to be core to our experiences so far.

A few other things we have learned....

Become a member of AAA Auto Club, Camping World and Passport America: AAA provides up to 100 miles in towing and roadside assistance for RVs. Camping World is an invaluable resource for supplies and maintenance. Passport America provides deep discounts for stays at private campgrounds throughout North America & Mexico. The small fees required for membership in all three will save you a tremendous amount of money over the long run.

Know basic mechanical skills: Over the past four months I have re-sealed the roof, repaired a leaky toilet valve, tightened exhaust couplings, repaired cabinets, completed routine maintenance on fluid levels and oil changes in both the engine and generator, changed lightbulbs, replaced bad fuses and learned all systems of our unit inside and out. There is nothing more important when you are miles from a major population than an ability to complete quick repairs and having the tools on hand for any task that may arise.

Learn to cook with smaller appliances: Even though we have a four-burner gas stove and oven, we have found it saves a tremendous amount to cook on as many electric appliances as possible; we are paying for the electric we use at each stop, so why have the added expense of using our LP for the same purpose? Appliances like a crock pot, toaster oven, electric skillet and a small electric burner have proven invaluable in keeping our expenses as low as possible.

Be wary of GPS directions: GPS systems are an essential item to have in an emergency on the open road, but can be very unreliable in the best routes for large RV units. Had the owner of the Beaver Springs Campground not warned us to take a different exit than GPS provided we would have faced a very steep incline along narrow, twisting mountain roads. For the same reason, purchase the National Geographics Road Atlas: RV & Camping Edition: it is an invaluable resource.

Be open to change: Part of the fun we have found in this lifestyle is being open to new experiences and learning quickly to adapt to unexpected changes that arise along the way. It's part of the adventure.

Hope you have enjoyed these thoughts and insights. Will update you later from somewhere down the road.

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer

RV Life

August 28, 2009

We arrived midday for a three night stop at Bonnie Rigg Campground in Becket, MA. The short drive along I-90 out of NY and into the Berkshires of MA was beautiful. After a very boring two week stay at Frosty Acres Campground outside of Schenectady we couldn't get here fast enough.

The focus in this posting is to share some of the realities of RV living. It was one of the original reasons for beginning this blog and we have found plenty of new reasons to pass along our experiences after staying at what I now call the Frost-My-A$$ Campground. It was not a good experience.

We came across Frosty Acres through our membership in Passport America, a very good resource for discount stays at private campgrounds throughout North America & Mexico. The place looked great on paper - free wifi, ample electric hookups, weekend activities and a great nightly rate. Sadly 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 area and questionable long-term residents. We can give them credit for having a well-stocked store and clean facilities, but their total apathy towards short-term guests made the overall experience uncomfortable. 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. Our advise is to avoid this campground if at all possible.

With that being said, we plan to relax and enjoy a comfortable evening in a lush, more accommodating forest campground setting. I will post again tomorrow and expand further upon more realities of a full-time RV lifestyle.

copyright 2009 Lane A. Geyer

Photo by Deb

New York

August 11, 2009

Davenport, NY

It has been a beautiful time for us at Beaver Spring Lake Campground in Davenport, NY.

We left our last stop early morning of July 31 and headed further North; first on I-83 to I-81 then onto I-88. Once again we experienced RAIN! The trip was smooth until we ran into construction on I-81 North of Scranton, PA. This was during some of the heaviest downpours and it was a very rough ride. There is major resurfacing underway in both directions. If you are planning a trip along this route anytime soon I would advise finding an alternative route. The backups are horrible and the ride is rough enough to dislodge molars.

We eventually arrived in Oneonta, NY late afternoon and, after a stop for food supplies, headed East on S.R. 23 to the campground.

Beaver Spring Lake Campground is located just outside of Davenport, NY in a very scenic area of the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. The grounds and facilities are immaculately kept, the scenery is beautiful, there is a well-stocked camp store and wifi access by the office. They offer 120 campsites, have an in-ground swimming pool and regular weekend events. Many of the sites are occupied by long-term seasonal guests and there is a very family-friendly atmosphere throughout the entire grounds. The weather has been warm during the days and cool during nights; sometimes very cool for us South Floridians.

Our first weekend here was a very festive occasion. On Saturday there was a huge party to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the campground being in continual operation and the 10th anniversary for current owners Bob & Betty. Hundreds of people of all ages, both those staying here and others from outside the grounds, enjoyed a glorious day of food, live music and raffle drawings. It was a nice way to settle into the area.

Will update you later on our journey from somewhere down the road.

Copyright 2009 Lane A. Geyer

Photos by Deb

Gettysburg, PA

Gettysburg National Park

July 29, 2009

York County, PA

It has continued to be a rainy, yet informative time for us since the last post.

This past Monday we spent the day with my brother, Jeff, and his grandson, Isaac, on a very informative tour of Gettysburg National Park. As a retired Army officer after over twenty years of service and residing nearby in Thurmont, MD, Jeff provided a tour of the park and battle history that cannot by matched by even the best "official guides" of the area. Over a five hour period he took us step by step, day by day through the four day bloody battle while providing little known facts about tactical maneuvers, how decisions were made by Generals from both sides, accounts provided by soldiers who fought there and how local residents were impacted. His information brought the battle's history to life in ways that were, at times, very haunting.

Here are a few of the interesting things we learned:

- The bottom picture shows Jeff, Isaac and myself by a statue dedicated to the memory of Old John. Old John, a retired veteran, was a resident of Gettysburg when the first Northern troops marched through town. Even though he was over seventy at the time he felt it a patriotic duty to defend his nation and, after grabbing his rifle and stovepipe hat, offered up his services. Numerous officers tried to discourage him, but Old John was adamant in his intent to fight. He ended up being wounded three times and became one of the lesser known heroes for the cause.

- The reason that Gettysburg was the site of a major battle arose from a simple necessity for Southern troops.... they thought there were shoes available in the area. For this reason, Southern leaders chose that destination in their march into Northern territories.

- Civil War monuments have significant messages in their designs. The top picture is a monument dedicated to Robert E. Lee. Note that all four legs of his horse, Traveller, are firmly planted on the ground. This is because he did not die in battle. Another monument in the park of another General shows a horse with two legs off of the ground; one unfortunately killed in combat. Markers indicating the headquarters of Generals are also numerous throughout the park marked by cannon barrels planted upright in concrete bases.

Thanks again to Jeff for a fascinating day. The park is definitely worth a visit for no other reason than a vivid reminder of one of the major, although darker, turning points in our nation's history.

Photos by Debbie

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer

Into The Rain

York County, PA, Indian Rock Campgrounds & The Heritage Trail

July 25, 2009

It's been a pleasantly cool, but rainy week for us in York County, PA.

We left Virginia early morning of the 17th under cloudy skies. Our route took us back onto S.R. 608, which we followed to Route 24 and headed West into Roanoke. By the time we connected with I-581 a steady rain began. The majority of our trip was North on I-81 and, unfortunately, defined by constant rain; at some points outright downpours. What should have been a pleasant journey through the foothills of the Blue Ridge & Allegheny Mountains proved to be a very long, difficult drive. As we made our way East along Route 30 through Gettysburg towards York, PA the rains continued, leading to several leaks throughout the rig. By the time we reached the campground there was a steady drip through the front, overhead console and the bed was completely soaked from water forced through the AC unit while driving through the heaviest downpours. Oh well, some of the minor hassles of living in a motor home.

Our latest stay is at the Indian Rock Campgrounds located in farm country about 3 miles from the town of York. It is a private grounds with 30 RV sites and open areas for primitive camping. It is clean, quiet, friendly and has a wifi connection. Surprisingly, for this part of the country, it is open all year and there are about six full-time RV residents throughout the property. We had originally reserved for 7 nights, but have decided to extend for another week. It's comfortable and very reasonably priced. Although we have had a lot of rain, the cool nights have been great for sleeping.

A nice surprise was discovering that within short walking distance there are two places for local produce and meats. One is Miller Farms (pictured above) where we can find fresh from the field corn and tomatoes. The other is Miller's Meat Market which offers not only some of the best meats anywhere (both fresh and smoked), but also a wide variety of homemade soups, salads, slaws, original sauces and gourmet spices. We are eating very well.

Another perk is close access to the York Heritage Rail Trail. Dedicated in 1999, 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. One of the many historical aspects along the trail is the 370' Howard Tunnel; one of the oldest working tunnels in the world. The track is still used for rail transport, but very infrequently. Deb & I walked about 6 miles along it into York yesterday. It is nicely surfaced, well maintained and can be used for hiking, jogging, biking and horseback riding. We passed through hardwood forests, along steams and historical old farms and enjoyed numerous varieties of wildflowers lining the path. A highly recommended "point of interest" if you're ever in the area.

Studying the history of York County over the past week has been fascinating. In almost every way possible, this area has been in the center of major events that defined our country's early history.

It was first settled in 1729 by family and friends of William Penn. Based upon abundant natural resources and close proximity to major waterways, the region quickly developed into a thriving industrial and agricultural region. During the years 1777-1778, the 2nd Continental Congress convened in York for drafting the Articles Of Confederation. Later, the area became a major supply center and medical treatment outpost for the Civil War. It was frequently visited by early Presidents who passed through on the few railways then leading North out of Washington D.C. Abraham Lincoln utilized these railways for delivery of his Gettysburg Address. Unfortunately, it was also a part of his funeral train that passed through on April 21, 1865 where thousands of people lined the tracks waving American flags.

Hopefully, the weather will be less rainy for us over the coming week. I'll update you later on our activities as time and wifi access allows.

Photos by Deb

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer

Heading North

Smith Mountain Lake State Park, VA

July 20, 2009

We left NC on July 13th and started for VA in a light rain. Heading out on I-40 East, we picked up Route 220 North in Greensboro. Somehow we missed the a sign and ended up on Route 29. Thanks to Deb's quick navigation skills, we were able to take Route 58 West out of Danville, VA which brought us back to 220. Thankfully, the rain had stopped. We followed this Route all the way to Franklin, VA where we picked up SR 122 towards the park. It was a beautiful drive through the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge lined with productive farms and small towns. Along SR 122 we passed the Booker T. Washington Nat. Mon. and through the town of Burnt Chimney where a sign stated it was first inhabited in the 1750's. After turning onto SR 608 we headed South through more rolling farmland to SR 626 and entered Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

Smith Mountain Lake itself was created in 1960 when Appalachian Power built a dam on the Roanoke River in Smith Mountain Gap creating the 2nd largest body of fresh water in the state. Construction of the dam was completed in 1966, and in 1967 the power company donated the first parcel of land for the park along the North shore. The state bought the rest of the park land over the next six years and it opened to the public in 1983. (The pictures above are of a small cove area of the lake.)

The park is in a setting of mature hardwood forests and is very well kept. For its size, it offers a broad variety of activities including camping, swimming, boating, hiking and interpretive programs. We were able to obtain the last pull-through site that was level, nicely paved with crushed limestone and, mercifully, very few insects. We could book for only four nights and the campground was almost to capacity for our entire stay, including the primitive sites. This started to make sense after Deb told me she saw a news piece that RV sales are booming right now. People have decided it is cheaper in the long run to vacation in an RV as opposed to staying in motels and eating constantly in restaurants. The only odd surprise was the lack of wildlife. Other than a few squirrels, there were very few birds and no signs or tracks of animal species you would expect surrounding a lake ecosystem.

Our time passed quietly. We read books, Deb took a few photos, I did some writing and we hiked on a short trail. It was a very peaceful stay and, for me, one of contemplation about our nation's history. As I looked into the lush hardwood forest surrounding our site, my thoughts kept going back to the settlers of the small towns we passed through who lived in the area over twenty years before the Declaration Of Independence. What would they think of the area now?

Update you from somewhere down the road.

Photos by Deb

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer

Out Of The Campgrounds

July 12, 2009

It's been a pleasant five days for us here in the gently rolling hills just South of Winston Salem NC. We are parked at the property of our friends Ann & Dave Hale. Thank you friends for your hospitality. It has been a pleasure to spend time in a rural area defined by well-kept horse farms, friendly people and beautiful vistas.

It has also been nice to have a short break from staying at campgrounds.The places we have stayed up to this point have been nice, but there is a lot to be appreciated in private solitude and modern conveniences like a steady wifi signal and indoor plumbing.

A few observations on campground living. We are far from pros in full-time RV living at this point, but we have enjoyed learning some of the rhythms and patterns of people at the places we've stayed. We are normally at a spot longer than most guests; usually five days or more. The average stays tend to be no more than four days and are usually over weekends. There is a nice mix between RV and tent campers and, so far, all have proven to be friendly, respectful and trustworthy. There have been numerous times we have left our site for extended periods of time and not worried about leaving things like chairs and other items outside. No one has touched or stolen them while we were gone. Most campers wave hello when passing by, but tend to stay to themselves. I think this is because most people come to campgrounds to, for the most part, get away from people and everyday life for a little while.

One of the more humorous aspects of observing people is their obsessions with setting up satellite dishes. This is a modern day camping trend I had not anticipated. Most big rigs already have them attached, but for most there is a labor-intensive process of mounting the unit and then figuring out the direction to receive a clear signal. While at Skidaway State Park we had a couple from Riverside, CA beside us who spent at least two hours trying to align a dish. There were constant shouts from the wife, who was looking in a window, of "74", "76", "82", "86" and then "Too fuzzy. I Quit". At that point I was heading to the dumpster and the husband stopped me to inquire, "Do you have a dish?". I informed him we only had a small TV with an antenna. Exasperated, he replied "Well, If I can't get this figured out I guess we'll just have to waste our time doing nothing". This sent my brain into a spin. When did not watching the tube, especially in the middle of a park, become a lifestyle of doing nothing? It gives me one more thing to ponder about modern life.

We're off to Virginia tomorrow and will update more of our travels as computer access allows.

Photos By Deb

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer