Another Road Tested Recipe

After two days of steady rains, it is warm and sunny once again here in the mountains of Heiskell, TN. Although the weather limited outdoor activities, we had plenty of time to complete tasks on the Web and develop more ideas for future blog postings.

We received positive feedback on our last posting featuring the first of Debs Road Tested Recipes. So here another one that is not only inexpensively delicious, but also saves us additional LP expense through preparation with only a microwave and/or a toaster oven. This meal is especially tasty when served with a tossed salad.

SALMON STUFFED BAKED POTATOES

Ingredients:

• 4 large baking potatoes
• 7 1/2 oz canned salmon (skin and bones removed)
• 1/2 c sour cream
• 1/4 c chopped sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp chopped green onion
• 1 tbsp chopped dill
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce
• Sea salt, pepper and smoked paprika
• 1/3 c shredded sharp cheddar cheese (for topping)

Directions:

• Scrub potatoes and prick with fork. Bake in either a toaster oven at 400F for 45-50 minutes or microwave for 10-15 minutes until tender when squeezed.
• In a bowl, gently combine salmon, sour cream, chopped cheese, onion, dill, lemon juice and hot pepper sauce. Season to taste with Sea salt, pepper and smoked paprika.
• Remove 1/2 in. slice from top of each potato.
• Scoop out pulp, leaving 1/4 in each skin.
• Mash pulp and stir into salmon mixture.
• Spoon mixture into potato shells.
• Top with shredded cheese
• Bake in toaster oven at 400F for 15-20 minutes until cheese is browned and bubbling.

Enjoy!

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer

Debs Road Tested Recipes

One of the things both of us are proud of is being darn good fusion cooks. We have always shared meal preparations and love to discover new ways for expanding our talents. A complete day for us is watching the Food Network while preparing great meals.

But living a full-time RV life has forced us to adapt to new, and innovative, ways of cooking. We have less kitchen space, need to purchase ingredients that will supply meals for weeks and save expenses while still producing unique eats. Along the way we have learned that using electric appliances like a crock pot, electric skillet and counter-top convection oven can not only produce great dishes, but also save on additional LP gas expenses. After all, why should we use our gas oven when we paid for an electrical connection in our site fee?

In future postings we will expand on recipes that have worked for us and ways we have saved expenses creating them. For now, here is the first dish that we have come to love because it is not only delicious, but also lasts well in refrigeration after assembly and compliments a variety of meals:

Ramen Noodle Salad

Ingredients:

Dressing

• 4 1/2 tbsp rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup oil
• 3 tbsp sugar
• salt & pepper to taste
• Flavor packet from chicken Ramen noodles

Salad

• 1 pkg cole slaw mix
• 1 pkg broccoli slaw mix
• 1/2 cup toasted almonds
• 1/2 cup sliced green onions
• 3 tbsp toasted sunflower seeds
• 1 pkg Ramen noodles crushed and toasted

Directions

• Toast almonds, sunflower seeds and crushed Ramen noodles in toaster oven until golden
• Toss salad ingredients together
• Toss with dressing

Enjoy!

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer

News vs. Reality

Over the past few weeks we have been tracking with interest what seems to be an increase of online articles and TV segments about people "opting out" of traditional lifestyles for full-time RV living. All have concentrated upon couples or families who, because of current economic conditions, decided it was time to "cash it in for a cheaper and more adventurous life". There are numerous quotes estimating as many as one million people are now living full-time in RVs and that "it is much cheaper than a maintaining a traditional sticks-and-bricks residence". Unfortunately, the facts presented in these news articles are much different than we have seen during the past five months.

Although we are far from being seasoned experts on the topic, here are some glaring differences in the facts presented in these media pieces from the front-line truths.

"As many as one million people are now living full-time in RVs": First of all, there have always been - and always will be - people who live in RVs. In all of the private campgrounds we have stayed, many people reside there either seasonally or year-round depending on the weather; but do not travel. Some of the permanent residents in these campgrounds have maintained their spots for generations and display elaborate lawns with wooden gazebos around their units. Others we have talked with travel anywhere from four to six months during any given year. We can honestly say that there are less than ten percent of the people we have talked with who both travel in and claim their RV as a primary residence 365 days a year. As the Baby Boom generation continues to increase and move into retirement, I'm sure there will be an increase of us actually living and traveling full-time in an RV. Right now though, we have not seen a reality that an increase of families or non-retired people are among us.

"It is cheaper than maintaining a traditional sticks-and-bricks residence": Depending upon the area of the country one is from the answer is maybe yes, maybe no. Renting or buying a one-bedroom unit near the Hollywood, FL beach area we came from would have cost much more than we currently spend on average monthly campground sites. But for the equal square-footage as our unit we could easily find a similar space in other areas of the country at about, or below, the same costs: and that doesn't even factor in the costs of fuel, maintenance or other regular expenses. There was a quote in one article where a family of five stated, "We calculated our costs of keeping our mortgage and related expenses at around $3,000.00 per month, now it is around $300.00 per month while living full-time in the RV." No way! The cheapest monthly rate we have found for a spot is $400.00 per month. Add in the additional costs of filling an 80 gallon gas tank, an LP supply, routine repairs, misc. expenses and other essentials and the numbers don't add up. As with any way of life, it's all about living within a realistic budget.

"Living full-time in an RV is an adventure": Yes, it is. However, perceptions are often much different than realities. Life on the road can prove to be tedious, demanding and tiring. Just because someone decides to radically change lifestyles does not mean life becomes easier. The full-time RV lifestyle is not meant for everyone. There are still daily demands; leaks develop in the roof, supplies need to be purchased, bills need to be paid, routine maintenance needs to be performed and one's ideas of space and time needs to drastically change. While everyone in the news articles have been presented as finding "the ultimate" change in lifestyle, we can attest that "the alternative" takes constant work and should only be undertaken after considering all the facts. It is not a permanent vacation. It should be openly and fully approached with a sense of innocent wonder. The best way we can explain it is through our favorite quote from Mark Twain, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed in the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover -".

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer

photos by Deb

Enjoying The Area

It is another beautiful day here in the mountains of Heiskell, TN; deep-blue skies, peak Fall colors and a warm sun. Temperatures have been dipping into the 30's at night, but days quickly warm back into the high 60's. So far, we have stayed comfortable with two small space heaters. There is a central heater in the unit, but we have never turned it on. We have no idea the last time it was used and do not want 25 years of accumulated who-knows-what in the vents to suddenly ignite. We'll just keep heading farther South.

A few days ago we moved to a different site in the campground for a stay through mid-December; we are now officially among the long term residents. As I wrote previously, this place is too comfortable and offers to many extras for the price to move on just because we can. We knew going into this journey that there would be places like this that would make us want to stay for awhile. It has been nice to find such a place and be surrounded by people who are genuinely happy to have us as neighbors. There are many good things to be said for Southern hospitality.

A Typical Day

We are currently at the Volunteer Park Campground in Heiskell, TN. Located 12 miles North of Knoxville just West of I-75, this place has exceeded all expectations. We originally booked for a 2 week stay, but have extended for a full month.

One of the blessings of our full-time RV lifestyle is the freedom to take things one day at a time. If we feel like moving to a new location we can go without anything holding us back. If, like this stop, we feel comfortable and wish to extend our stay we can for as long as we desire. It is hard not to stay in a place like this when it offers so many amenities; level concrete pads, full hookups including sewer, a well-stocked store, a superb laundry room, cable with over 70 channels, good wifi connection and a genuinely friendly staff. The trees are at peak fall colors, the weather is warm during the days and cool at nights, there is a grocery store within a ten minute drive, a gas mart for minor supplies within walking distance and long-term residents who make us feel welcomed to the area. It feels like home and we are in no hurry to leave anytime soon. After traveling through 15 states in five months, it is nice to slow down for awhile.

For us a "typical" day is much different than when we were employed at the resort. Without the need to meet job schedules or social obligations, what is it that fills our new life so completely that we don't feel the need to make definitive plans or hurry anywhere? Part of the answer is that we simply have the freedom to finally live without constraints. Our children are living productive lives on their own, we have a stable monthly income and are blessed to be able to widely travel while still relatively young and healthy. Another part of the answer lies in the adventure of experiencing new places and meeting new people. A few days ago we had a very interesting conversation with a man from Australia who shared stories of his travels through vast areas of America, Canada, Mexico and Thailand. We have enjoyed superb seafood in Boston, looked upon endless stars in the mountains of New York, visited the wonders of Biltmore House in Ashville, NC and the caves of Kentucky. No day is ever the same as the one before.

That is not to say that we don't have routine obligations like everyone else. Groceries still need to be purchased, laundry needs to be done, repairs and cleaning of the RV need to be attended to on a regular basis and bills have to be paid. Two days ago I spent an hour fixing the water pump after foolishly letting the water tank run dry. Our daily pace of life has slowed down, but there is always something that needs attention or new experiences to be discovered. We have had to adjust both mentally and physically to a different way of life but, so far, this journey has been good to us.

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer

Going Underground

Diamond Caverns

There is one word that best describes our time in Kentucky - gray! Whether we were underground exploring the local caves or riding out the cloudy, damp days it was a solid two weeks of gray tones. But in spite of the weather, our time there was both comfortable and very informative.

Our stay was at the Singing Hills RV Park & Campground, located approx. 2.5 miles West of I-65 in Cave City and can best be described as basic. The grounds are a converted 40 acre farm that still contains a large 1900's farmhouse (now an antique/craft store) and a weathered wood barn. There are ample pull-through sites and a small pond. Other small farms surrounding the property contained a small herd of Angus cattle and a flock of chickens with roosters that crowed loudly each morning. The sites were muddy during rains and the buildings a bit dated, yet extremely clean. It's not a place for people seeking alot of activity, but for all it lacks in extras it was constantly filled to capacity and convenient to shopping areas and numerous cave systems. The owners, Beth and Eldon, were two of the nicest people we have ever met and have done an admirable job in making constant improvements to the property since they purchased it two years ago. A word of thanks to our gracious hosts for their genuine hospitality.

A unique aspect of staying in the area is knowing that you are standing, parked or driving above the world's largest cave system. Millions of years ago the bluegrass landscape of Kentucky was covered by a shallow sea. Deposits of tiny marine animals and plants eventually formed thick layers of limestone that were later dissolved by water to form vast underground passages. To date, over 500 miles of cave passages have been mapped and geologists believe another 500 miles remain to be discovered.

Our first journey underground was at the Mammoth Cave National Park. Although best known for the caves, the park is over 3,000 acres in size and beautifully lush with forests, plants, rivers, hiking trails, a lodge and wildlife. On our drive to the Welcome Center we had to stop for a large flock of wild turkeys crossing the road and saw numerous deer. The area was authorized as a national park in 1926 and fully established in 1941. At that time just 40 miles of cave passageways had been mapped. Today, over 365 miles of passageways have been explored and the park experiences up to 3,000 visitors per day during peak periods.

The park offers a variety of cave tours that provide access to over ten miles of the system and range from 45 minutes to three hours in length. We chose to take the Violet City Lantern Tour. Designed to recreate the experiences of cave visitors during the 1800's, participants are given oil lanterns to carry on a three hour, very strenuous three mile hike through large passageways and chambers.

Because the system is a dry canyon, there are no massive stalagmites or stalactites that people normally associate with caves. Instead, what visitors experience is a journey through time in an overwhelmingly immense, gray atmosphere defined by boulder-lined paths that house a fascinating history. With the oil lanterns being our only source of light, the experience felt truly adventurous. Along the way two knowledgeable guides explained the use of the caves by early native Americans, a commercial saltpeter leaching factory established for the making of gunpowder during the War of 1812, an ill-fated tuberculosis hospital and the transition of the system from private ownership to a national park. Due to the consistently dry atmosphere, artifacts from all of the above influences are in amazingly good shape. We would highly recommend this tour, but with one warning - it is not for the faint of heart. There are sections of the trail that are very steep, slippery and require climbs up oversize rock stairs; it's a workout!

Later in the week we visited Diamond Caverns, the fourth oldest, private show cave in the country that has provided tours for over 145 years. Being a wet system only 1/2 mile in length, it was a much different and less strenuous experience than Mammoth Caves.

As shown in the pictures above, the cave is presented by a state-of-the-art lighting system that highlights numerous stalagmites, stalactites and calcite crystal formations along passage walls. It is a beautiful atmosphere with sparkling calcite formations resembling diamonds overhead and cut-away displays of mineral deposits. Our young, but informative guide did a good job of explaining the unique aspects of the system as well as sharing interesting stories of the cave wars undertaken by private owners during the turn of the century. It's well worth the visit if you are ever in the area.

We are currently in the Knoxville, TN area enjoying a colorful, fall atmosphere. Will update you later on our experiences here.

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer

Photos by Deb

It's Raining Walnuts In Brazil (Indiana, That Is)

October 9, 2009

We are currently in Cave City, KY after an enjoyable two week stay in Indiana. It was my home state until ten years ago and I enjoyed returning for the Fall foliage and visits with my daughters and grandson.

But before I explain our trip through Indiana, I would like to share a story.

Several months ago Deb awoke to say she had a dream in which I told her we should name our motor home Howie. At that point I was on my first cup of coffee and, not being fully awake, my brain could not register how the name Howie made any sense at all in the grand scheme of things. "Howie?", I ask. "What is that supposed to mean?"

With a smile, she said that I told her Howie stands for 'House On Wheels Is Excellent'. So from that point forward we have fondly referred to our home as Howie; a reference that feels much more comfortable than RV or rig. RV immediately implies a recreational connotation, which does not properly apply in our case. Howie is our full-time home, our full-time transportation and, in his own way, our constant companion. For many of the same reasons, rig doesn't fit because it sounds too much like a semi-truck. Besides, Howie turned 25 years old this month which in itself deserves the respect of a more formal name. Depending on the source, Howie can now be considered either an "antique" or a "classic". Either way he has been very good to us through 14 states and numerous campgrounds over the past four months.

We left Ohio on September 20th and made our way West primarily on U.S. 30 through central Indiana, then North on U.S. 31 into the South Bend area. It was a very smooth trip and much less taxing than our previous months of driving through steep mountains.

If you've never driven through Indiana, here is a overview of what you will see: corn field, corn field, bean field, farm buildings, corn field, woods, corn field, wheat field, stoplight (in the middle of corn fields), farm buildings, stoplight, McDonalds, corn field, bean field, McDonalds, corn field, woods, silos, corn field....well, you get the idea. There are some beautifully wooded hills in the area South of Bloomington, but the majority of the state is overwhelmingly flat farmland.

During our first week we stayed at the Beaver Ridge Family Campground in Lakeville, just on the outskirts of South Bend. My oldest daughter Shannon, son-in-law Tom and grandson Collin live in South Bend so the site was both comfortable and convenient. We would have liked to spend more time there, but any trip to the area had to be planned around Notre Dame home football games; it is almost impossible to find a motel room or campground opening within a 60 mile radius of the town when they play at home. They had an away game at Purdue that week, so we were able to obtain a nice spot. We spent most of our time enjoying the Fall atmosphere, visiting with Shannon and Collin (who had just turned two years old) and taking a picture of the family football trophy at the hallowed Notre Dame stadium. Our thanks to the gracious hosts of Beaver Ridge who made our stay very comfortable and enjoyable. It is a campground we would recommend if you are ever in the area.

On the 27th we headed back South on U.S. 31, then West on U.S. 41 into Brazil, IN for a week stay at Fallen Rock Parke Campground. My youngest daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Trent, live in Terre Haute, but we were not able to find a campground there that wasn't insanely expensive. As it turned out, Fallen Rock proved to be a comfortable, scenic stay that was not too far from Jennifer's workplace. We had a very quiet week, enjoyed a nice visit with Jennifer and attended a Saturday evening music show at the campground restaurant. I can't say that the musicians will ever make it big in Nashville, but the evening was a nice change of pace. The odd part of the experience was that we were the youngest people in attendance.

The only down side of the stay was that Howie got continually pelted by falling walnuts. The campground was filled with mature 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 hit was taken by an overhead vent. Luckily, the vent is directly over the shower so, until I was able to patch the break, there was no real water damage.

Our current location is only two miles from Mammoth Cave National Park. We are here for a full two week stay and look forward to visiting the caves next week. Will update you later on that experience. Until then, Happy Trails!

copyright 2009 Lane A Geyer

photos by Deb