Cheers!

Sitting in one spot for awhile has given us time to reflect. And, on this last day of 2010, we’ve taken some time to reflect on these most memorable last 365 days.

2010 was our first full calendar year as fulltimers. With just shy of a year and a half of life on the road under our belt, this was the year when this lifestyle became our normal life. We’re still newbies and far from experts, but this life some folks call strange or absurd has become absolutely normal. And, we like it that way.

With 13,000 miles or so on the new moose’s odometer, it would be easy to think this past year was all about the places we’ve been. And, we’ve been to some great places. We played in a giant sandbox, spent a month visiting our old home state of California, enjoyed a summer month in one really cool spot in Idaho, discovered that even the northernmost parts of our country can be really hot in summer, finally laid eyes on Niagara Falls, walked over to Canada for the second year in a row, made a beeline back to Kansas City, spent two days at chassis school followed by two fun weeks in the hills of Tennessee, became honorary citizens of Forest City, Iowa, (OK, we’re kidding about that!) spent a holiday month in Kansas City without freezing our butts off and found a wonderful winter home in the hills of Texas.

But, as wonderful as all of the places of 2010 have been, this year has really been about people. Our most notable reflection about this year is the people we now know as friends who were strangers just a year ago (or less!).

2010 was the year we met Pat and Ed, Mike and Penny, Jerry and Maxine, Eric and Karla, Steve and Debbie, Sherry and Sharon, Al and Priscilla, Joe and Judy, Anna and Gale, JoAnn and Doug, Leno and Kevin, Donna and Nolan, Chuck and Kathy, Mark and Dortha, Ed and Marilyn, Carl and Linda, Gary and Francile (and their whole family), Bob and Molly, Nora and Howie, Sandie and Jim, Linda and Denny, Jim and Ellie, Phil and Joy, Merikay, Sandy and John, Mike and Leslie, Judy and Emma, John and Ann, Len and Mary Ellen, Chuck and Anneke, Sue and Paul, Craig and Anne, Gary and Vicki, Lisa and Tony and Tez and Rick, Cindy and Ken, Darrell and Judy and Gene and Judi, Jenny’s other half Don, Brenda and JB.

And we were worried fulltiming would be a lonely lifestyle!

We had the good fortune to reconnect with fulltiming friends Mac and Netters, Rod and Deb, Gypsy and our Godfadda Gordon and Juanita. It was a real treat to camp with Steve and Cathy after meeting them last year in Kansas City and seeing them as new fulltimers this year.

This was also the year we met our virtual friends Bruce and Margie, only to lose them in a tragic and senseless act a few months later. We also lost my crazy relative Leonard, from whom we inherited our RVing genes. The most precious loss, of course, was Paul’s mom. We miss her, especially during this holiday season.

As we ring in the new year at our park’s celebration this evening, we’ll raise our glasses and toast the wonderful people who make our great life on the road richer than ever. We wish everyone who reads these words a new year of health, happiness, prosperity, fun and adventure.

Cheers!

Alright, Already!

I'm here to report that I'm an abused blogger!

We were enjoying a Christmas Eve happy hour here at the park and met a couple of fulltimers. I asked if they had a blog and explained that I had two.

"No you don't!" our friend Steve chimed in. "You only have one!"

Technically, I do have two blogs. But, as I've mentioned, one has been woefully unattended. For some reason or another, Bullwinkle's Travels has been a bit of a challenge. And, in Steve's view, that means it no longer exists.

Then, while paying a visit to fellow fulltimer Dee's blog, I noticed she'd made a few changes to her blogroll. I spotted a few new-to-me blogs and gave them a look. As I worked my way down Dee's list of blogs I noticed something. She'd added a new section: Blogs Not Posted Very Often. And, what to my wondering eyes did appear? Bullwinkle's Travels was on that list - banished to blogging no-man's land!

Geez! Miss a few(?) blog posts and you find out who your friends are!

I don't really mean to put Steve and Dee on the spot. Actually, several folks have commented about the lights being out at Bullwinkle's place. A few kind readers have checked in to make sure we're OK and not still stranded in Thompson, Iowa. (Thank God, we're not!) But, other than the slightly bruised ego of the resident blog writer, I'm pleased to report that all is well with us.

And, guess what? Bullwinkle's Travels is a bit more up to date! There's a post about highlights of our November in Kansas City, our climb to the top of Enchanted Rock and a look at our Hill Country Christmas. I have a few gaps to fill in, like our memorable stop in Oklahoma City, our visit with John and Sandy to the LBJ Ranch and more Fun in Hill Country. (If you see links in that last sentence, I've brought the blog even more up to date!)

I sure hope Steve and Dee will notice!

Eureka!

I'm lounging outside soaking up sunshine under a cloudless sky savoring the 70 degree temps as I write this post. But, rather than tormenting any readers north of the 38th parallel, I'll get on to the real topic of the day: How to Lose Your Mind in 400 Square Feet.

As you may recall, I'm a fairly avid quilter, and my sewing notions were among the things that made the cut (pardon the pun) and were packed into our motorhome. One item on my Christmas to-do list was to sew a few practice blocks for a future quilt I'm planning to make for one of our nieces. I purchased a sample of a potential background fabric and wanted to give the someday recipient a chance to voice her opinion on the choice. Since I was packing a box of gifts to ship out to her house today, I decided I'd slip the blocks into the box and save a wee bit of postage.

With today as the shipping date, yesterday became the day to construct the blocks. I began to assemble my notions and couldn't find one essential tool: a 12-inch square plastic ruler. With a deadline looming, I became a woman possessed. I had to find my ruler!

Have you ever wondered how quickly you can turn a 400-square-foot home upside down?

It doesn't take long.

Within minutes I had unloaded every storage cavity of the inside of our rolling home. The elusive ruler was nowhere to be found. Paul returned from his workout to witness this topsy-turvy scene first hand. (It was a huge mess!) Fully aware that his spousal unit was nearing a breaking point, he quickly chipped in and scoured the basement compartments for the trusty tool. We both knew it wasn't there, but it was nice of him to help and oh so smart of him to stay out of my way. (Have I told you lately that I'm married to a very wise man?)

After an hour or so I regained some composure and declared an end to Round One in my search. As I put everything back in its proper place, I hatched a theory that might explain the missing tool. Perhaps I left it in Kansas City. After all, I had packed it in a bag one day for a family visit. But, even though I never actually took it out of the bag, maybe it jumped out on its own. A definite stretch, I know. But, by this time I wanted this mystery to be solved. I placed a call and left a message asking if the family members had seen the ruler. As the words were coming out of my mouth I knew I was reaching at straws. But, it was worth a shot.

With the mystery unsolved, I went back to the task of assembling the practice blocks. As I executed a workaround for the missing tool, I continued to ask myself where the dang thing could be. After all, we have such a little amount of stuff. It should be easy to manage it all. Right?

The blocks were completed just in time to head out to dinner with John and Sandy and new arrivals Steve and Cathy. Over dinner I shared the story of how I transformed our house into chaos and back in one afternoon and how it was all for naught. By this time, I didn't care a bit about the ruler. It was easily replaceable. My bigger concern was my mind. I was seriously afraid I was losing it.

Laying in bed last night, I closed my eyes and took a virtual tour of the moose. In my mind, I identified every storage space, crack and crevice in the place from top to bottom and front to back. I had checked, rechecked and triple checked them all.

Except one.

Just before drifting off to sleep, I remember thinking, "If there's a gap between the bottom and back of the closet, I suppose it could have slipped down behind the drawers underneath." With that, I sailed off into dreamland.

This morning, I'd yet to hear from the family member I'd phoned with my plea for help. So, I went back to trying to solve the mystery. Over coffee, I remembered my pre-sleep epiphany. I looked inside the closet where I normally store these things. There was a tiny gap at the bottom. It was definitely worth a look. I grabbed a flashlight, pulled out the drawer and peered behind. The clear plastic hideaway reflected the light.

Eureka!

Paul helped me pull out the drawer and extract the offender. The ruler's pal, a small cutting mat, had joined him in the last possible hidey hole in our house. Peace and tranquility returned to our household.

So, it turns out, I'm not losing my mind.

Not, today, anyway.

Already?

It's hard to believe we arrived here in Kerrville a week ago today. Already!

We've had a pretty laid back week. (Hey, somebody has to do it.) And, we've managed to keep ourselves busy. It's a fine balancing act, really!

Our friends John and Sandy arrived Wednesday. It's so great to see them. It's a treat to have friends to "play with" while we're here. We all jumped into the park's social activities, starting with the Friday happy hour. Blessed with a pleasantly warm day with no wind, we enjoyed munchies, cocktails and lots of great conversation on the outdoor patio. And, last night we joined a park outing to San Antonio for an evening of strolling and dining along the Riverwalk, which is decked out in its holiday finery. It was all very festive.

We joined John and Sandy for a trip into town and explored the Riverside Nature Center. It's definitely the kind of place that's much more active in the seasons when things are green and blooming around here. But, even on a cool Winter's day it provided a place for a short walk along the river and the joy of finding a geocache along the way. (Our original plan was to spend the afternoon hiking at a local state park. But, we were disappointed to discover it's closed for hunting season. We opted for the shorter walk at the nature center over risking getting shot!)

We've spent much of our first week getting settled. This being the first time we'll be sitting in one spot for more than a month, we've taken some time to clean the moose. After having the outside washed, Paul started the mammoth task of waxing this beast. He's taking it in sections. But, any way you look at it, it's a big job. It's almost 1,200 square feet of "wax on, wax off"! (Thank you, Paul!) Besides being clean, the place is very homey. It's a nice change of pace to not be in "travel mode". We have everything set up just the way we like it and are definitely ready to stay awhile.

The weather has been cool-ish, but the days are wonderfully sunny. Highs have been in the 60s and are expected to reach into the 70s this week. The nights can get cool, as in 21 or so last night, but it's nothing compared to what Mother Nature is dishing out up north. We hope our snowbound friends are staying warm and toasty! We checked the weather in Kansas City this morning where it was just a couple of degrees. So much for our theory that once we decided never to return to our hometown in December they would be blessed with balmy weather! We're so glad we're not up there!

One of my goals for this week is to update our much-neglected travel blog. I promise to include some pictures of our park, Buckhorn Lake Resort, when I do! With warm, sunny days forecasted for the week, we're looking forward to some pretty serious exploration now that we're all settled in.

More to come!

Why Kerrville?

Food and cleaning topped our agenda on our first full day of our long winter stay here in Kerrville. We made a run into town and stocked up on essentials. The moose needed a good cleaning inside and out. It had been awhile since both. Paul ordered up a bath for the beast this morning. Lucky for us, the RV wash service could fit us in today. In no time at all Bullwinkle was sparkling in the Hill Country sun. While Paul worked on laundry, I spent a couple of hours working on the inside. These RVs collect dust in so many places!!!! With every surface cleaned and polished, we settled in by finishing up our Christmas decorating. We have a tiny tree and just a few choice holiday knick-knacks. But, with our stockings hanging over the fireplace, our clean moose is feeling quite festive.

Several folks have asked why we're spending a good part of this winter here in Kerrville. After all, we're a couple hundred miles from a beach and there isn't a palm tree in sight. This being Hill Country and all, it's nothing like the desert. And, it's not exactly shorts and sandals weather 'round here. So, what gives?

We learned so much last winter. First and foremost, we learned to stay the heck out of Kansas City! We discovered that camping at the beach is very windy and the salt gets everywhere. And, we learned we were misfits in the RGV. Beyond all that, our rookie winter as fulltimers showed us where we could have our kind of winter fun. Sun and shuffleboard might be fine for lots of good folks, but we need more. And, in many ways, we need less. We learned that we don't need the temperatures to be in the 70s and 80s every day. Actually, we're perfectly fine with highs in the 50s and 60s. And, after you've experienced lows in single digits, overnight temps in the 20s and 30s are down right balmy.

No matter what the weather, it's the people that really make a place. And, we found that here in our brief stay last year. We only spent a week here, but we met so many wonderful people. They vary in age but share a youthful energy that we loved being a part of and were eager to experience again. As these good folks talked about their plans for this winter they spoke of wine tastings and hiking and biking and maybe a group camping trip to Big Bend. We couldn't wait.

And, what's not to like about this park? Besides great folks, we have a beautiful, spacious level site with a view of the creek and surrounding hills. The power is strong, the wifi smoking hot and we can have propane delivered every week, if we want. (No preserving propane to avoid a drive in the snow!)

Finally, there's Kerrville. It's the one part of Texas we actually love. It has beautiful hills, of course. It's definitely out in the country, but it's just an hour or so away from two really cool cities. With 20,000 residents, it's a town that has just about everything you need, including one of the best quilt shops ever! There are good eats, great music and fun stuff to explore for miles and miles. And, there's one other thing. Kerrville is in the running.

One of our goals on this fulltiming journey is to find the next place we want to call home. Extended RV travel will be a part of our lives for as long as we're able. But, at some point (and we have no idea when) we're going to want a little place of our own to crash at every now and then. The operative word there is little. Right now we're thinking we'd like about 1,200 square feet. And if we could park the moose at the place, then all the better. It's a far-away dream at this point. But, we told ourselves if and when we found an area that looked interesting, we'd check it out for awhile. Kerrville has been the first place that has really piqued our interest. (We love, love, love Tennessee. But, a hefty tax on investment dividends put a quick stop to that plan.) So, now is as good a time as any to try on this town.

We so look forward to seeing how it fits.

Our Last Travel Day

Much of my time as a journalism student at the University of Kansas was spent writing attention-grabbing headlines. So, I'm curious. How did that one grab you?

Sensationalism aside, today was our last travel day...of 2010! With today's trek from Fort Worth to Kerrville we closed the books on Bullwinkle's travels for the year. (The blog, on the other hand, needs some work before year-end.) What a year it has been!

We're closing out the year in the great state of Texas, which is where we welcomed 2010. Much to our surprise, we will have spent four months and a few days in our adopted home state this year. (It sure didn't feel like that. But, it's a big state!) We spent the remaining eight months traveling to 24 other states. That's going to change, but that's a post for another day.

Our moose has logged something like 13,000 miles in this calendar year. After a year like that, our trusty steed deserves a nice long rest. And, so do we!

So, how does spending the next two-and-a-half months in Texas Hill Country sound?

Awesome!

We Belong

A weird thing happened to us while we were traveling today. We crossed the state line into Texas. And, you know what? We felt liked we belonged!

Maybe it was the throng of Nebraska Cornhuskers heading south on I-35 for the Big 12 championship football game in Arlington tomorrow. There were literally hundreds of them who passed by us. As diehard Kansas Jayhawks, we're quick to say there's no love lost between us and the Huskers. But, traveling as we are with Texas tags on both of our vehicles, we're extra fueled. You see, Nebraska is playing Texas A&M for the league championship. And, hey, we're Texans, technically. So, Gig Em Aggies!

We are Paper Texans. We own no property in this vast state. So, we were both a bit surprised to feel a bit of a feeling of coming home when we crossed into the Lone Star State. We are, after all, registered here. And, our address is here. Plus, this year we will have spent nearly four months in the great state of Texas.

Wow! Maybe we are becoming real Texans, after all!

Ya think?

Update: Oops! We just watched the local sports and realize that OKLAHOMA is playing Nebraska tomorrow. How'd we miss that? Well, we must of just had Aggies on the brain, I guess. Well, any Jayhawk worth his or her salt would root for Oklahoma over Nebraska. So, there you go. Interesting, though, that we didn't see any Sooners on the road today! Maybe they got an early start.

Oh well, the fact that we even thought a Texas team was playing in the league championship probably makes us even more Texan than we thought. Right? Plus, I just saw a Whataburger commercial. And, I got a pang! I've really missed it!

Man, how did this happen?

We're baaaaack!

We're back on the road again, that is. And, it feels great!

Our last morning in Kansas City was chilly and breezy. Just to make us feel extra sure that it was time for us to head south, Mother Nature even threw in a snow flurry or two.

With an early morning date yesterday at a Winnie dealer just south of town, we weren't sure exactly about our destination du jour. The good people at Olathe Ford RV Center went to work on a wee leak we discovered during a November deluge. They quickly diagnosed the problem and phoned Forest City to see if Winnebago would cover the repair under warranty. Having just passed the first anniversary of our delivery date, we were hopeful, but not certain, that it would be covered. But, Winnebago did the right thing and took care of the charges. Knowing that we were eager to hit the road, the repair dudes quickly worked their magic. After a propane fill and promising to leave our curing slide in for the next 24 hours, we were on the road by 11:00 a.m.

Getting away before noon was definitely our "best case" scenario for the day. We were thrilled to point the moose south on I-35 and enjoy the very familiar view. The scenic Flint Hills were especially windy, but we wrestled our way safely to Wellington and made our second annual stop at the KOA just off the turnpike.

As the sun set on the southern Kansas plains, we kicked back and relaxed in our not completely expanded home. Even with one slide retracted, we were all smiles -- very happy to be back to our "real life". We really missed it!

With a mere 125 miles to cover today, we slept in and enjoyed a leisurely morning. With the outside temps in the teens, we took our time getting ready and waited for things to warm up a bit. For the second day in a row, we hit the road around 11 a.m. But, today the breeze across the plains was much more manageable, which made for a very pleasant drive. Before long we arrived in our park in the northeast corner of Oklahoma City.

We've driven through OKC several times. But, we've never stopped, until today. We'll call this "cowboy town" home for the next two nights. There's a national cowboy museum close by, and we want to pay our respects at the national memorial and museum. I've already made a run to the largest quilt shop in the state to pick up the Oklahoma fabrics that will go into my fulltiming quilt project. I haven't kept track, but I'm closing on my 30th quilt shop stop. (Yes, I've developed quite a stash!)

Tonight we're happy to have both slides extended and be relaxing comfortably some 350 miles south of (and several degrees warmer than) our native hometown. It feels so good to be back on the road again.

Real Life

We have a long "to do" list today. It's our last day in our hometown park. Tomorrow we have an early morning date with a Winnie dealer about 30 miles south of here. So, we're not really sure when we'll get out of town. The problem they'll be checking out seems minor, so we're remaining optimistic that our delay will be short.

We're preparing to head south with mixed emotions. It's been wonderful to spend time with family. And, we wish we had time to see more friends. It would be easy to extend our stay through the holidays. (Except for that whole "single digits" and "snow" thing.) Our nieces have been encouraging us to stick around, or come back for the holidays. As much as we would love to do that, we really can't.

We need to get back to our real life.

Back in the days when we flew into Kansas City every year for a week or so to enjoy a holiday or two, it was never a question of when, or if, we would depart. The end date of each visit was set when we purchased the tickets for our flight. After a warm and wonderful stay, we'd sadly say goodbye to family and friends. But, we had to get back. After all, we had a house and a couple of jobs waiting for us.

What we realize now was there was one more thing we always came home to: Our real life. Beyond the house and the jobs was the everyday life we lived -- friends, fun and just kickin' back with the cats. As much as we enjoyed each stay in Kansas City, our real life was nearly 2,000 miles away. And, it was always good to get back.

These days, we don't have a stick and brick house or a couple of jobs waiting for us. Technically, we don't have to be anywhere. So, it's easy to see how some of the folks in our family don't understand why we feel compelled to leave tomorrow.

"You've already been to Texas," said a niece we love dearly who wishes so much we would stay. "Why do you have to go back?"

That's right! We had a "good reason" to head to Texas after the holidays last year. Actually, we had three: We'd yet to visit the Lone Star State; We had to get down there and establish residency; And, most importantly, we had to get warm.

This year, it's different. We don't have to do anything. Or, so it seems.

Actually, we do. We have to get back to our real life. After a month of sitting in our old hometown, we need to get back to exploring our beautiful country, meeting new people, visiting family and friends, meeting up with fellow fulltimers and having a whole lot of fun. We need to get back to just kickin' back with the cats. And, yes, we need to stay warm.

We miss it.

And, as soon as we're back to our real life, we'll miss our family and friends in Kansas City. Terribly. And, in the words of our ol' California governor, we'll be back.

Watching The Wheels

You know how it is when a song gets "stuck in your head"? That happened to Paul this morning. By the time I was up and around, he had googled the song and was reflecting on the lyrics, which seem so appropriate for us as we sit here lazily in the same city where we worked our butts off for some 20 years.

Of course, it's a song we've heard many times. But, these days, we're hearing it with new ears.

We think other fulltimers - past, present and future - might just feel the same way. So, we'll share. You might just get it stuck in your head, too. In fact, we hope you do!

People say I'm crazy doing what I'm doing,

Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin,

When I say that I'm o.k. they look at me kind of strange,

Surely your not happy now you no longer play the game,

People say I'm lazy dreaming my life away,

Well they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me,

When I tell that I'm doing Fine watching shadows on the wall,

Don't you miss the big time boy you're no longer on the ball?

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round,

I really love to watch them roll,

No longer riding on the merry-go-round,

I just had to let it go,

People asking questions lost in confusion,

Well I tell them there's no problem,

Only solutions,

Well they shake their heads and they look at me as if I've lost my mind,

I tell them there's no hurry...

I'm just sitting here doing time,

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round,

I really love to watch them roll,

No longer riding on the merry-go-round,

I just had to let it go.

Watching the Wheels

John Lennon

Now, just in case that classic tune isn't yet firmly embedded in your gray matter, click here to watch and listen.

Oh, how we love no longer riding on the merry-go-round!

Thankful

We're enjoying a rare moment. Our stuffed bodies are reclining comfortably in front of the fireplace and holiday football. I can't remember the last time we had time to do that!

Our time in Kansas City has been busy. Very busy. We've seen lots of family, a few friends and done a bit of sightseeing. Rocky has brand spanking new tires and Bullwinkle has a new headlight. The recall work is complete on our fridge. (If you have a 4-door Norcold, it's probably been recalled. Go here to find out.) Just about every this, that and the other thing we had on our list of things to do has been taken care of.

As if on cue, the weather here during our last week in Kansas City has turned especially Arctic. Tonight's lows are predicted to drop into the teens. Mother Nature seems to be making it clear that it is definitely time for us to head south. And, we will, soon. With the holiday behind us, we'll use the next few days to finish our business and get ready to roll toward Texas.

We can't wait.

As much fun as we've had during our November visit to Kansas City, we're especially thankful that we won't be here in December. We've been there, done that and won't do it again. Yep, we're quick learners! (Single digits and a foot of snow will do that!)

On this, our second Thanksgiving as fulltimers, we are so blessed to be living this crazy life we love. We're most thankful for our family and friends who make visits at home and life on the road lots of fun. Best wishes to you, our faithful readers, for a Happy Thanksgiving and a safe and healthy holiday season.

We look forward to seeing you down the road soon.

We Weren't Gonna

It wasn't in our plans. No, we weren't gonna do it.

Buy another space heater, that is.

During our frigid stay in Kansas City last December, we purchased a ceramic space heater to help preserve propane. After running nearly 24 hours a day for a month or so, it died a timely death about a month later when we arrived on the Texas Gulf Coast.

"Good riddance," we thought at the time. After all, we weren't ever going to put ourselves in the position of facing single-digit temps ever again. And, if we weren't going to do that, we wouldn't need another space heater.

Fast forward 11 months.

On this particular November night in Kansas City, the overnight temperature is supposed to drop into the 20s. That's nothing like the single digits we saw here last December, but we are burning through a bit more propane than we'd like. And, if your remember, getting propane here requires us to pack up, move and drive five miles or so and back. So, we're all for anything we can do to keep from having to go for propane.

Even though we said we weren't gonna, we did. Late this afternoon we headed to Walmart and picked up another ceramic heater. It's smaller than the one we bought last year. And, with any luck, we'll use it a lot less. Maybe, just maybe, it will last longer.

We plugged the little thing in a couple of hours ago. As a result, our gas heater has been silenced. Sure, we'll pay an extra penny or two for the electricity. But, it sure feels good to be extra warm and cozy without worrying about having to make a run for propane.

It's all good!

Cheers for Chairs

At long last, we've solved our "chair dilemma".

Hip, hip, hurray!

Of all the things we had to figure out before we set out on our fulltiming journey, our outside seating arrangements gave us the most fits. But, after nearly a year and a half on the road, we've finally landed on the the right combination of places for us and our guests to park our butts.

Back in the days when we were tent campers, we bought two of those canvas bag chairs. They were pretty innovative at the time, actually. They fit into the trunk like a glove and they setup and collapsed with ease. When we bought our first moose, we tossed the trusty chairs in a bay and they served us well on each weekend adventure. However, we did notice that it was a bit more difficult to get our 50-something bodies out of the bucket-like chairs. So, we started shopping for replacements.

With each weekend adventure we'd scan our park with a critical eye on our fellow RVers' chairs. Every club outing became an outdoor seating Q&A session as we quizzed fellow members on the likes and dislikes of their chairs. We spent hours sitting in every chair offered at Camping World, REI and Cabela's. Still, we couldn't decide on our dream chairs.

When we packed our gasser for fulltime travel, weight and space were at a premium. So, we stuck with our trusty bag chairs. One thing that became obvious early in our journey was that two chairs simply wouldn't be enough. With no place for guests to sit, every place we set up looked just a bit unwelcoming. And, every time we invited neighbors over they had to lug their chairs along.

Determined that four would be the magic number, we set out to find the right combination of chairs. We wanted them to be comfortable, versatile and fit easily in available space. After surveying various chair setups at a billion sites, we decided on two recliners and two "regular" chairs. Without room for one recliner, much less two, in our little gasser, we postponed any chair purchases until our big moose came along.

When the big moose rolled into our lives a year ago, we resumed our search for the perfect chairs. Given nearly a year, we suspect most people would find that to be more than enough time to select four chairs. But, not us! We narrowed our search to the perfect recliner and the perfect regular chair. (Perfect for us, anyway.) We made it a discussion item in many campground conversations. Loaded with lots of great advice from fellow RVers, we finally made our decision.

For our "regular" chairs, we chose the X-press Lounger , which we picked up at Camping World in Spartanburg, SC. We spotted these chairs at our Winnebago rally in May and thought they were pretty nifty. They fold up to the size of a laptop and are the easiest things in the world to tote around. The sit quite comfortably, too. They take a bit of practice to get the folding and unfolding just right. But, by the time we met up with our friends in Tennessee, we had it down...pretty much.

The recliner we chose is Cabela's Chaise Lounger. Our friends Mike and Leslie have a pair of these. After spending a goodly amount of time in their chairs when we met them in Idaho this Summer, we decided they were perfect for us. Not exactly sure how these chairs would fit in our storage bays, we picked up one chair on our first stop out of Idaho, in Billings. This one chair got quite a bit of use by us both. So, even though we're not exactly sure where we're going to store it, we went ahead and ordered a second recliner, which we picked up at the Cabela's in Kansas City today.

With our full complement of dream chairs finally on board, we're ready to leave our old blue bag chairs behind as we head south and sit outside!

Family and Friends

It's hard to believe we're reaching the halfway point in our stay in Kansas City. Once again, our time here is passing very quickly. There just never seems to be enough time for everything we want to do while we're in our old hometown.

As always, our time spent with family and friends provides the most fun. A highlight of this stay has been a visit from our friends Leslie and Mike, who we met when they parked next to us in Idaho this Summer. They hadn't spent any time before in Kansas City, really. So, it's been our pleasure to show them a few of the sites and introduce them to some mighty fine Kansas City barbecue. There's a post in the works for Bullwinkle's Travels. So, more to come about that.

The point we want to make here is how nice it is to have fulltiming friends stop by our crummy little home park. And, anybody who'd spend some time in this crummy little park to see us is a real friend in our book! (Yes, we warned them. And, they came anyway!)

We were delighted when Gypsy stopped by when we were here last Fall. And, it was great to hang with Mac and Netters when they endured brutally cold weather to spend a few nights here last December. So, we were thrilled when Leslie and Mike decided to stop, too. (And, our fingers are crossed for decent weather for the duration of their stay!) Thanks so much, y'all!

One of the things we like best about this lifestyle is meeting new folks on the road. But, we gotta tell you. When some of those good folks stop by to say "Hi" when you're parked for awhile in one spot, that's even better!

Hot Water

In the words of Roseanne Roseannadanna: It's always something.

Last night's forecast called for temps to dip below freezing, so we played it safe and dropped our water line. That's no big deal, of course. With plenty of fresh water in our tank, we simply flipped on the water pump. About 20 minutes later we heard the pump kick on for a couple of seconds.

"That's the ice maker," we thought. About 20 minutes later we heard the pump kick on once again. Either we had just set a world record for ice making, or we had a leak somewhere. Our bet was on the latter. With no visible signs of leakage anywhere inside, we flipped off the pump and went to sleep on our wonderfully enhanced Sleep Number bed.

This morning, Paul stepped out into the cold and checked around outside. He spotted a puddle under our water heater. That sent us racing to our back closet. We removed a panel in the closet to reveal the back of the heater and a growing pool of water that was being fed by a steady drip from a cracked elbow connector.

Curses!

The total sum of space available to work on this project is about three cubic feet. With tools in hand, Paul contorted himself to work inside the hatbox-sized space. It didn't take long to determine that this job required the services of a double-jointed professional.

Calls to the local Winnebago dealer, Forest City and a totally booked mobile RV tech left us with a service appointment 30 minutes from here on Tuesday morning...and a still steadily dripping water heater.

Paul drained the heater and flipped the bypass switch as a temporary solution. We wouldn't have hot water, of course. But, we'd have all the cold water we needed and the dripping would stop. At least, it should have! With water steadily spewing out of the connector, we turned off the city water and drained the lines. With no water left in the coach, the leaking stopped.

With a dry moose, we were in for a really long weekend!

After a bit of searching online, I spotted a mobile tech that might just work. Paul dialed them up and the friendly voice on the other end said they'd have a tech on our doorstep by 4 PM.

Outstanding!

Just before the appointed hour, the very professional, knowledgeable, friendly and flexible tech arrived. In minutes he confirmed our diagnosis, replaced the faulty connector and reassembled the heater, informing us of how to do it ourselves in the future every step of the way. After testing to ensure all systems were go, he started the process to see if our refrigerator is under a recently announced recall. He even answered a question or two we had about our heat pump. With everything taken care of, he went on his merry way.

This little incident has taught us the value of running off our fresh water tank every now and then. Hearing our water pump gave us a valuable hint that something was up. Had we remained connected to city water for much longer we would have had a real mess on our hands!

With order restored in our rolling home, we're looking forward to sorting out who pays for what as the moose has just a few days remaining on his one-year factory warranty. That said, we are sooooo grateful to have hot water flowing once again. We didn't even have to go anywhere to make it happen. To top everything off, we have found a wonderful new partner in our rolling home improvement arsenal.

If you're ever in the Kansas City area and need an RV repair, call A-Z Mobile RV Service. (They don't do engines, but they do everything else.) You'll be glad you did!

Better Numbers

TV around here is still ghostly and buzzing. But, we're sleeping much better these days (er, nights) thanks to our most recent moose modification.

Our Sleep Number bed is absolutely dreamy. We've loved it from the very first night. But, a couple of weeks ago we unzipped the top of the mattress and made a wonderful discovery. There we found a 2-inch thick layer of "egg crate" foam. And, that got us thinking.

You see, we love memory foam. We had a groovy 3-inch memory foam topper on the mattress in our first moose. So, we quickly came to the conclusion that replacing this 2-inch flimsy stuff with a layer of memory foam would be a welcome addition to our household.

A few clicks later, the deed was done. I returned to overstock.com and found a 2-inch Serta memory foam topper that looked like it would do the trick. Yesterday it arrived. Last night we unrolled the foam tamale and cut it to fit. We put the new memory foam on top of the existing egg crate and zipped up the mattress. It all fit perfectly.

And, we're so pleased to report, it sleeps like a dream!

Bottom line: We took a good thing and made it great. We had no complaints about our Sleep Number bed. But, we definitely made it better.

Sweet dreams!

The Cable Guy

The only thing we really like about our "home park" is the location. There are whole bunch of things we don't like about the place. And, we just added one to the list: Television.

Actually, it's a lack of TV that's the problem. The place is surrounded by trees, which is great for shade but makes satellite reception impossible. We can pickup Kansas City stations over the air, of course. But, as we found out last night, if you're interested in news of national importance the local stations fall short.

We know what you're thinking. What about cable?

The approach this park has taken to cable has us scratching our heads. The park advertises that it has cable. But, here's how it actually works. Every site has a cable hookup. But, if you want to use that hookup you need to call the local cable company and subscribe.

Seriously!

(We don't want to open a quality RV park in Johnson County. But, this place keeps piling up some good reasons to do just that!)

Anyway...since we're here a month we decided to make ourselves comfortable in the TV department. We suspended our DirecTV account for the month, which we've never thought to do before and were so surprised at how easy it was. Then, Paul initiated the process of becoming a cable subscriber.

Installation was scheduled for sometime between 10 AM and 1 PM today. While I lunched with my mom and sisters, Paul welcomed the cable guy into our rolling home. Within minutes the dude had everything hooked up and just about ready to go. The only thing that needed to happen was a 20-minute software update for the cable box. With the update underway the cable guy went on to his next gig. With the update complete, Paul turned everything on. All the channels were there. But, the picture is a bit ghostly. And, oh yeah, the TV now has a buzz.

And, it's a really annoying buzz!

With hopes that we can make this fancy cable service actually work for us, Paul dialed the company to ask for help. Twenty minutes later he was still on hold, with no help in sight.

By this time, it was cocktail hour. So, he hung up and decided to mix our favorite beverages instead. Maybe that will make the buzz go away?

Yes, this is a heck of a lot of hassle for a month of television. But, if we didn't do this, what the heck would we blog about while we sit in this dumpy little park?

We'll keep you posted.

Election Day

Here at The Great RV Escape we do our best to stay apolitical. And, today is no exception. On this, America's Election Day, we have a few observations to share. So, here goes.

We've traveled in 23 of our great states during this election year. That's given us a little peek at hundreds of state and local campaigns. With no dog in these hunts, we've enjoyed being casual and neutral observers of this democratic process as it has unfolded across the country. From the earliest primaries to election eve, we've seen it all.

Some races were hotly contested while others were shoe-ins. There were a few candidates and a couple of issues that were familiar to us, but most were unknowns. We've seen television commercials and yard signs that were put together on a shoestring, and others that were super slick. It's interesting to watch one mud-slinging ad about a candidate you don't know or care about follow another ad that slings the mud right back. When you're not a voter in that district, it can be downright comical.

The messaging in most of these campaigns was largely forgettable. But, there was one campaign slogan for a sitting senator in Iowa that we heard so many times it nearly sent us over the edge.

"I'll tweet. I'll text. I'll do whatever it takes."

Really, Senator?

As we traveled across the country observing this election, we noticed two things. Nobody, it seems, was running for re-election. Of course, many candidates are. But, nobody mentioned it. Nobody. We couldn't tell the incumbents from the newcomers. Interesting, huh?

The other thing that was obviously missing in this campaign cycle was party affiliation. Of the gazillion television commercials and yard signs we've seen from California to New York, you couldn't tell the Democrats from the Republicans. There were no elephant or donkey logos anywhere. No (D)s or (R)s either. Just a mention of the Tea Party here and there.

When the candidates won't tell you which party their affiliated with and if they're running for re-election, that says something. We sure think so anyway.

By tonight all the votes will be cast. Propositions will pass or fail. Candidates will win or lose. This election season will, at long last, be over.

As happy as we are to see it end, we're happier that we are free to roam a country where every vote counts and the citizens have the right to choose. That the process provides entertainment and fodder for the blog is icing on the cake.

Win or lose, one thing is for sure. Kansas basketball starts tonight. And, when it comes to college basketball, we are openly biased. Go Hawks!

Things To Do

We're enjoying our first morning back in our "home park" in Kansas City. Even though we're parked in one of our least favorite sites in the joint, it's still good to be here. Really good. After traveling 3,000 miles in the last six weeks, we are ready to sit still for a month. (We're ready to start doing more of that. But, that's another topic for another day.)

Truth is, while the moose won't be moving, it looks like we will. There's always plenty for us to do in Kansas City. Between meeting up with family and friends, and dropping by old favorite eateries, we definitely stay on the run.

Because everything is so up-to-date and very familiar to us here, we've realized we tend to stack up our to-dos before we arrive. "We'll take care of that in Kansas City," has been a familiar phrase each of the four times we've headed this way. This trip is no exception.

While Bullwinkle is in the best shape ever, he lost a couple of lights as we were leaving Forest City. Dropping by a local auto parts store is first on our list. Rocky needs some extra special attention while we're here, too. On one of our trips between Clear Lake and Forest City, his windshield caught a rather large flying stone. The sizable star cracked the next day, so the glass needs to be replaced. We'll also replace Rocky's four tires while we're here, which will be a significant investment.

And those are just the first few items on our shopping list! Perhaps it's time to ask our readers for contributions?

All kidding aside, we're looking forward to doing our part to stimulate the Kansas City economy and having a heck of a lot of fun this month. Meanwhile, we wish you a safe and happy Halloween.

Captivity: Day 5

When it comes to the advantages of living in a motel, a bath tub and smokin' hot wifi only go so far.

We are so ready to get out here!!!

Mother Nature didn't exactly cooperate with our plans to explore Clear Lake. The temperatures plunged, the winds howled, rain fell and even briefly turned to snow! So, no sightseeing for us. Instead, we've spent seemingly endless hours watching the walls close in on our little two-room suite. The cats have yet to really get comfortable here. Nobody has slept particularly well.

We're all homesick!

With all this smokin' hot wifi, I did some serious catch up on our travel blog. If you're interested in reading about where we've been lately, check out the fresh entries about our drive through Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, exploring two sides of the Smokies, our day trip to Nashville, our very relaxing and fun time at Defeated Creek, our overnight in Whittington, a couple of days in Iowa City and our fun weekend with friends in Thompson.

Wow! I've been busy.

We're getting sprung from this joint in a couple of hours. We'll grab some lunch, kill an hour or so, then spring our moose from the hospital. Hopefully everything will be in tip-top shape. After five days in the factory service center, one would think so! Our fingers are most definitely crossed.

If all goes as planned, we'll take off from Forest City bright and early, and will arrive in our home park in Kansas City tomorrow afternoon. We won't have smokin' wifi again until then. So, we'll see you later on the outside!

Away From Home

After a weekend in No Data Service Available, Iowa, we are soaking up all the smokin' hot wifi we can at our motel here in Clear Lake. 

That's right, we're in a motel. We checked the moose into the Winnie "hospital" in Forest City this morning to get the last of our warranty work taken care of. Then, we found our way to our home away from home for the next few nights. 

This will be the first night in 476 that we will not spend in a motorhome. (But, who's counting?) We did spend a couple of nights in our friends' motorhome when we were homeless back in July. But, tonight our home has no wheels. 

It's weird!

Once upon a time, I spent more time in hotels than I did at home. At least it felt that way. When my work required me to hit the road, I became quite adept at making myself at home away from home. But, today it feels like I'm in a foreign land. 

When we lived in our sticks and bricks house, the two of us were quite skilled at the fine art of packing for travel. All we needed was an hour to pull together everything we needed for a few days away and have it packed in the car, ready to roll. We're sad to say we've lost this ability we once mastered. Figuring out what we needed to bring with us for the next few days was a big project. Finding it all, packing it and squeezing it into the Jeep was another. Turns out we didn't forget anything major, that we know of anyway. Time will tell.

While we're missing our moose, we have stuff here that we don't have in our rolling home. A king size bed is number one. A bathtub is number two. I think a nap and a good soak are definitely on the agenda. 

We're trying to treat this forced getaway as a bit of a vacation. But, rural Northern Iowa in late October is not exactly our idea of a vacation destination. And, when did motels get so expensive? We're paying as much for this far-from-glamorous pied-a-terre as we did back in the day when our vacations took us to beautiful places and lovely hotels. This place makes the nicest campgrounds we've visited look like real bargains!

We wish the "doctors" in Forest City all the best as they get our moose back in shape. We hope their work goes well and finishes quickly. I have a feeling all four of us are going to be eager to get back home as soon as we can. 

Meanwhile, I think I'll soak up just a little more wifi!

Weather Outlook

I was so busy reading and commenting on blogs I wasn't sure I'd find time to post anything today. But, I was inspired moments ago by a local TV meteorologist.

We're heading to northern Iowa tomorrow and will be there for a week. Yes, we know it's late October. And, yes, we know it gets cold in northern Iowa. So, that's why we decided to check in on the weather. There's rain on the way this weekend and the temperatures are expected to tumble. So, we're taking our chances. Yes, our fingers are definitely crossed.

The source of today's blogging inspiration is the really long range forecast. Today NOAA released its Winter outlook. This time last year I remember looking at those forecast maps in fear. Everywhere we were planning to go last Winter was expected to be cooler and wetter than normal.

NOAA got that right!

I am pleased to report that things are looking better for this Winter. Much better. The southern half of the U.S. is expected to be warmer and drier than normal. Check out the expected temps and precipitation for your destination at the NOAA web site.

Here's hoping NOAA goes two-for-two!

Comments

Comments have been a common topic in the blogosphere lately. To read them or not, write them or not, allow them or not, moderate them or not, respond to them or not, and like them or not. By the looks of things, comments can get complicated!

I've read more comments in the last few days than ever. The tragic deaths of Bruce and Margie have everyone talking. Margie's daughter's posts have generated more than 200 comments. And, I've read every one. Most of my blogging buddies have shared their thoughts about the loss of these two beautiful souls. And, every post has generated comments. Again, I've read every one. As my buds shared reflections about Margie, everyone mentioned how much she commented on their blogs and how much they loved hearing from her. Margie was a prolific commenter! She left many comments on our two blogs. I've gone back and read several of them over the last few days. I found myself looking for a response from her on my last post. But, of course, it's not to be.

All this has made me think about how little I comment. I'm a voracious reader of blogs, but I'm a lousy commenter. I think about things to say, but I usually don't. Why? I'm going to blame it on my iphone. (I blame it for lots of things, so I'll just add this to the list.) I do most of my blog reading on my iphone, which makes it super easy to keep up to date with my blogging friends. But, when it comes to writing on the iphone, I'm all thumbs. It takes me five minutes to type five words! That makes commenting a real challenge.

Comments transform a blog from a one-way communication vehicle to a many-way conversation. Some folks may just want to stand on their blog podiums and preach. And, I suppose that's fine. But, I find it much more interesting to be a part of conversations. Lots of them.

So, I'm going to be a better commenter! I'm going to read blogs at my nifty laptop with this wonderful keyboard where all my fingers can go to work. I'll let the comments fly! And, I'll respond to comments on our blogs. I won't comment just to comment. I'll do my best to foster conversation and acknowledge the work of my fellow bloggers.

For the record, I like comments. So, they'll be here on both blogs, completely unmoderated with no password required. I read every one, of course. And, now, I'll do my very best to respond.

Let's keep the conversation going!

Lunch On The Road

We left Defeated Creek Campground this morning with friends in mind. We loved spending time with new and old friends the last two weeks at this beautiful spot. We just can't wait to get back here. And, as we drove through the beautiful Tennessee countryside and soaked in the vibrant autumn colors, we had our friends Bruce and Margie in our hearts. We were heartened thinking that maybe, just maybe, they were riding along with us for awhile today in a motorhome that looks an awful lot like theirs. They would have loved the ride.

I was driving as we passed through Paducah. And, frankly, after a not-so-good night's sleep I was ready for lunch, a rest stop and a change of drivers. All that was planned for about seven miles down the road when the interstate traffic came to a stop. We idled for awhile and quickly realized we weren't going anywhere. We shut the engine off and sat. Then, Paul had an idea. He decided to fix lunch.

Herein lies one of the primary advantages of a motorhome!

As we sat immobile on the interstate, Paul whipped up a tasty lunch of sandwiches, chips and Oreo cookies, All that was served up with a icy cold cola beverage.

You just can't do that with a trailer!

We sat on the interstate and enjoyed our tasty lunch. We watched other motorists around us get edgy. Many crossed over the grassy median and headed in the other direction. With no particular place to go and all day to get there, we chilled out and enjoyed our lunch.

Gotta love it.

Yes, once upon a time such a traffic tie-up would have sent either one or both of us into a tailspin. But, today it simply provided us a chance to breathe and enjoy lunch on the road, literally.

Like I said. Gotta love it.

Bruce and Margie

The fulltime RVing community lost two of the best among us yesterday. In a senseless and tragic act, our friends Bruce and Margie were killed on their morning walk in one of their favorite places, beautiful Pismo Beach, California.

The news of this unimaginable tragedy was bravely shared by their daughter Stephanie on Bruce and Margie’s blog. Stephanie knew that was the best way to reach many of her parents’ friends. In between the lines that were so shocking and painful to read, I could see Margie’s foresight. She had seen to it that if anything had happened to them, her family would know how to notify their friends.

Bruce and Margie were blessed with many friends. With their kind hearts and energetic spirits, you just couldn’t help but like them. They shared their travels and commitment to healthy eating with the world through two blogs, which had many regular readers and followers. Margie’s comments on her friends’ blogs, including ours, were ever-present. She always knew exactly the right thing to say.

Bruce and Margie started their fulltiming journey in 2008, shortly after we hatched the idea for our own. At a time when we were soaking up all the information we could about this intriguing lifestyle, we enjoyed reading about Bruce and Margie, experienced RVers and former Californians, who were just starting their life on the road. While we were still working away, we lived vicariously through their posts.

As we got to know this lovely couple through their words and pictures, we saw in them many traits we wanted to foster in our own fulltiming journey. They shared a deep commitment to their family. No matter where they were traveling, family came first. Always. We were inspired by their obvious commitment to maintaining their health and fitness in what can easily become a sedentary, pound-producing lifestyle. Bruce and Margie also displayed a rather unique combination of talents that served them so well in their life and this lifestyle: organization and adaptability. It’s not often that those that are so well organized can roll so easily with the punches. We so wanted to be like them!

In April 2009, we needed a place to escape to while the interior of house was being painted in preparation for our house sale. After reading Bruce and Margie’s accounts of Pismo Coast Village, we knew where we were going. We missed meeting our friends there by a few weeks. But, after spending a lazy five nights in their lovely park in that beautiful town on the central coast, we understood why Bruce and Margie loved it so.

Late last Summer, when we started shopping for our new moose, we reached out to Bruce and Margie for advice. Their rolling home was the same make and model of the one we were considering. We were grateful beneficiaries of their generous spirit. They selflessly shared their insights and tips. They answered tons of questions. Thanks to them, we made an informed decision and approached this mega purchase with confidence.

Sharing similar motorhomes provided a bond for our friendship to grow. We regularly exchanged stories of Winnie life. While we subjected our Tours to sub-freezing temps last December, we kept in near constant contact helping each other keep our motorhomes, pets and selves from freezing. In moments when we were reaching the end of our rope, Bruce and Margie would offer wise perspective, practical advice and welcome good humor.

“As Bruce always says,” Margie wrote on more than one occasion, “everything can be fixed.”

After we’d all headed south to thaw, we compared travel itineraries in search of a place to meet in person. Johnson City, in Texas hill country, would be the place. Bruce and Margie were overnighting there in April on their trip east on US 50 toward a family vacation at Walt Disney World. We were on our way from Kerrville to Austin and scheduled a lunch stop in Johnson City along the way.

As happens when fulltimers meet, with our first hugs we felt like we were meeting long lost friends for the first time. We will always remember the youthful spring in their steps, their joyful smiles and the sparkle in their eyes. We admired each other’s homes and doted on each other’s spoiled pets. As we caught up over our long lunch, we shared lots of laughter. At one point Bruce told our helpful server, “Can you believe we just met?” She shook her head in disbelief.

Time passed much too quickly, of course, and it was time for us to leave our friends. With warm hugs we vowed to see each other down the road soon. As we’ve sketched out travel plans for next year we’ve looked for possibilities to meet up with these special friends again.

We are so deeply saddened that reunion is not to be.

Today our thoughts and prayers are with Bruce and Margie’s family. We join fellow fulltimers and bloggers across the country in embracing them in a virtual hug. We pray that they will find comfort in the words of Bruce and Margie’s many traveling friends as they face these most difficult of days.

Last night as I prepared to saute some veggies for dinner, I stepped through the now automatic process of placing a shower cap over our super-sensitive smoke detector just above our stove.

“Margie gave us that tip,” I muttered.

Through tears we have spent the last day reflecting on our brief friendship with these two special people who shared so much. We are so very glad we had the great pleasure to meet them. They will be missed.

We join our wonderful RVing community in celebrating two lives well-lived. Bruce and Margie spent their last years doing exactly what they wanted to do, the way they wanted to. We thank them for their selfless contributions to our community. As we continue our travels in our trusty Tour we will honor their memory by embracing their joie de vivre and living the words that Margie so frequently used to close a message or comment. In fact, she used them to close her last blog post.

“Travel safe and enjoy the view.”

We will, dear friends. And, we wish the very same for you.

Valued Sites

Life is good here at Defeated Creek. The weather has been picture perfect, the company wonderful and the food plentiful. Most of our time has been spent simply enjoying this delightful place. We’ve even managed to get out and see some sights. 

Between sightseeing we’ve been thinking about sites. Web sites, that is. Online browsing fills the time we once spent reading daily newspapers and magazines (and then some). It’s our primary method of staying connected with the world in general and our fulltime RVing community, specifically. 

In a sea of sites, there are several we visit on a regular basis. We frequent all of the blogs listed over there to the right. These are folks who are sharing their experience as future, current or former fulltimers. They’re listed here because, in our opinion, they tell it like it is. Free of hype and hoopla, these good people are making a small but mighty contribution to the fulltiming community by publicly sharing what they’re up to. We find these “reality” sites entertaining, educational and inspiring. Plus, they help us keep track of our friends and meet up with them whenever we can! We can only hope that our meager little blog might provide the same for other members of this community we are proud to be a part of. 

Besides these blogs, there are five RV-related sites we find most valuable. 

rvparkreviews.com is an example of the value the RVing community can create together. This site features more than 100,000 reviews of RV parks and campgrounds across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The reviews are written by everyday RVers and provide helpful, unbiased insight to parks unknown. We use this site regularly to help us find the places we call home on the road. And, we’ve contributed reviews on every place we’ve stayed. Here’s a link to our reviews.

 

rvnetwork.com is the Escapees discussion forum. As members of this RVing club, we enjoy the campground discounts, member campgrounds and mail service. The free forum is open to any and all RV enthusiasts. With more than 16,000 registered members, we have found the collective wisdom available here to be quite valuable. Topics range from “Beginning RVing” to “Working on the Road.” Two topics are of special interest to current and future fulltimers. “Sharing the Fulltiming Lifestyle” is a very helpful and friendly thread that explores all aspects of life on the road. “Graduating to Fulltime” is an area where fulltimers check in with their “class”. We communicate regularly with our Class of 2009 and have met classmates from our class and other years. We’ve even contributed words of encouragement to future classes, like the Class of 2014!  

rv.net is a network of many sites. It’s a great big source of information for and from the community at large. Besides info on campgrounds, shows and RV reviews, there are blogs. Lots of them. The rv.net Open Roads Forum is vast. Our favorite thread is “Roads and Routes”, which contains more than 200,000 topics about to get from here to there. If you’re wondering if Highway 123 is the best way to reach Location ABC this is the place have that question answered. 

irv2.com bills itself as a friendly RVing forum. And, we’ve found it to be just that. With more than 50,000 members, there’s always someone there to help a fellow RVer. There’s gobs of information here. We spend our time in the specific owner’s forums for our motorhome, chassis and engine. We have learned so much about our moose from fellow Winnebago, Freightliner and Cummins owners. We’ve asked and answered many questions. Whenever we have a question this is the first place we visit. This is also the first place we go to offer help whenever we can. 

rvforum.net is a smaller forum, with a mere 27,000 members, that has a dandy Winnebago owner’s forum. (It touts that it is the friendliest online RV forum. We won’t dispute that!) Through this forum we had the pleasure of meeting up with several Winnebago owners at the Grand National Rally in Forest City this summer. We have found this to be a great group of friendly, knowledgeable and helpful folks.

With free and easy access to these five fantastic forums and all of these beautiful blogs, we can tap this wise and wonderful community in just a few quick clicks. We get helpful information and advice whenever we ask, and contribute the same to others wherever and whenever we can. 

It’s just one more reason we love this lifestyle. Though it’s just the two of us and the cats traveling along with the moose and squirrel, thanks to this powerful network, it always feels like we’re traveling in the company of family and friends. 

Our Favorite

When we were planning for our fulltiming adventures, I had a vision of how our new life would be: kicked back in a recliner outside with a book enjoying dappled shade and shirt-sleeve temps cooled by a gently breeze off a scenic lake. That idyllic scene had yet to manifest.

Until yesterday.

Defeated Creek COE Campground in Carthage, TN is simply gorgeous. There isn't a bad site in the place. Each one enjoys at least a bit of shade and a view of water and tree-covered hills that are just beginning to display their autumn colors. The weather since our arrival - and the forecast for the foreseeable future - is perfect. We'll take all of the 80-degree highs and 40-something low days Mother Nature will dish out.

Yep. This place will definitely work.

Of course, in our travels we've come to learn that it's the people who really make a place. And, that is certainly true here at Defeated. We're here with friends, which makes this spot extra special. So far, Ellie and Jim, JoAnn and Doug, Netters and Mac and Leno and Kevin have arrived and more are coming. We've all come to meet locals Lisa and Tony and their family and friends. They've warmly welcomed us here to their home park. We so look forward to hanging out with everybody for the next couple of weeks.

In these parts, neighbors are most friendly folks. Dinner at home last night was accompanied by impromptu bluegrass from the site next door. (It was all good!!!!) After dinner, we stepped out to catch the second half of a Big 12 football game at Jim and Ellie's, and were greeted by our neighbors at the site outside our door. We chatted around their campfire and time flew by. By the time we bid our neighbors adieu, the game was long over.

There's lots to do around here. And, we will get around to it, eventually. For now, we're thinking we might just have to spend a second morning sitting outside in the shade, with a book, watching the water.

Yep. We think we may have found our favorite spot....so far, anyway!

Frozen

Every so often we are reminded that this lifestyle we've embarked on doesn't quite fit with the day-to-day world. Case in point: Chase.

Paul has a Chase Freedom card. He's used it to pay for everything for years and paid off the balance every month. There's never been a problem, until a few months ago when the card was compromised. Chase promptly issued another card with a new number, and we've been humming along since. Until the other day when we popped into the local IGA to pick up a few things. Paul produced his card, and it was declined.

Say what?

Well, of course this would happen in a place where we have no cellular service. Paul didn't get a call from Chase and couldn't make one. While he was suspended in credit card limbo, his card was frozen.

Yesterday, during our topless adventure from the peaceful side of the Smokies to the crazy side, we found some 3G service in Pigeon Forge and Paul made a call. Seems a fuel purchase in South Carolina flagged the Fraud Department. (Let's see....we've been buying fuel with that card all across the country for the last 15 months. What's so unusual about that?) Paul convinced the lovely voice on the other end that the purchase was legit. So, she moved the conversation along.

"When will you be done traveling and return to Texas?" asked the cheerful Chaser.

You see, in her world, there are only two ways for a customer to be. One is happily spending close to home. The other is in "travel mode". The former is a permanent state of being. The latter is temporary.

"We won't be done traveling," Paul explained. "It's what we do."

The woman repeated her innocent question hoping for a return date she could plug into her computer. But, it wasn't to be. Minutes later she was as frustrated as Paul. The two agreed to disagree and she assured Paul he could use his card again.

Crisis averted.

Back at our rolling home, Paul tried to log on and check the activity on his card. The cheerful Chaser had been much more concerned with our travels than she was about any recent transactions, so Paul really wanted to check it out. But, his online account access was suspended for the next three to five business days.

How crazy is that?

In a flurry of emails that followed Paul explained that he wanted to see the activity on his very own account so that he could check for any fraudulent activity. Suddenly he had access. He checked and all was well.

Then, he checked his email. He had a response from halfway across the world explaining that the access was temporary. Like Cinderella, his temporary access would be revoked at midnight. Permanent access will be reinstated in three to five days. He shared the message with me. I asked him to forward it to me so we could share it with you. Here's the best part.

Dear Paul,

I have addressed your concern to the best of my ability and you can be rest assured of exceptional service every-time an opportunity arises.

A frozen account is thawed, but our temperament as customers is definitely on the rise.

You can be rest assured!

Topless

On this absolutely gorgeous 70-something sunny day in east Tennessee, we had a first.

We went topless.

Rocky has a soft top. And, back when we lived in a stick and brick house there was many a day when we unzipped the windows and stored them inside. Then, we pulled back the top and went - you guessed it - topless.

We hadn't gone topless since we started fulltiming. It just never seemed to work out. But, today called for us to pull the windows out, peel back the top and go cruising in the National Park just up the road. So, we did!

And, it was fun. Lots of fun.

Truth is, Rocky doesn't have a lot of room. And, if we want to take friends along it's down right cumbersome. But, today we remembered why we really love this little Wrangler.

We can go topless!

Long Weekend

Yesterday, while we were dodging falling walnuts, Paul had a brief chat with a workcamper who told him they were expecting 18 rigs to roll in before the day was over.

"Everybody wants to get a jump on the weekend," the yellow-shirt wearing worker said.

That's right. We had to remind ourselves that it was Thursday!

Through the course of the day our spacious park became a little tighter and a lot more populated. About an hour before sundown, two motorhomes and a fiver pulled into three sites next to us within a few minutes of each other. In the blink of an eye they had their rigs backed in, hooked up and everything set up under their patio awnings. It was obvious they were friends who were here to enjoy the weekend. But, they had something else in common. They were all dressed in business casual attire that told us they had all worked some today. As soon as they were able they got out of the office, hooked up their rolling weekend homes and headed for the hills. We heard our next door neighbor tell the others that he hadn't just had a long day, but a reaaaallly long day.

We looked at each other and smiled.

Oh, how we remember the freeing feeling of finding a free Friday on the calendar and managing things so we could leave the office early Thursday afternoon to get a head start. We'd spend Tuesday evening grocery shopping and Wednesday night getting everything packed. Then, we'd go to work and scramble to get everything done so we could make our early escape. We'd dash home, load the Jeep as fast as we could and head for the storage facility. Our goal was always the same: To beat rush hour traffic. Sometimes we did it. Other times we weren't so lucky. But, we always got away. To have the feeling of putting our feet up under our patio awning outside our moose on a Thursday night was worth all that trouble. Sure, we were always exhausted upon our arrival. But, the prospect of three, count 'em THREE, nights in a campground was sheer bliss.

That's exactly what these three couples were feeling last night. We could see it. And, we're so happy for them. We hope they have a great weekend. We'll tolerate smoke from their must-have campfire and the noise of the happy conversations they have sitting around it. These folks need this long weekend for their health, well-being and sanity. We know. We've been there.

We don't miss the hassle. Not one bit. But, we do miss the rush. Just a little. (Really, just a little!) That feeling you get when you meet friends in a campground after a crazy week at work is absolutely wonderful. Of course, when you have to pack it all up and say goodbye on Sunday knowing you have to go to work on Monday, that's one of the worst feelings in the world.

We're meeting up with a bunch of RVing friends next week. So, we'll get a taste of the best part of the long weekend rush. We're really looking forward to that.

We won't have to pack a thing or scramble anywhere. And, the best part is we won't have to go to back to work!

We can't wait.

Pitter, Splat, THUNK!

If you're anywhere along the eastern seaboard today, it's raining. Actually, that's putting it mildly. Remnants from Tropical Storm Nicole are forecasted to dump six to 10 inches of rain in some places. Thankfully, here in the hills of east Tennessee all we've had were overnight showers that should be out of here by noon today. It's quite a soaking, but nothing compared to the flooding threat east of here. Our thoughts are with family and friends along the coast. We hope everybody stays safe.

Generally, we love rain. Of course, too much of even a good thing can turn bad. But, most of the time, we're happy to hear the pitter patter of rain on our fiberglass roof. We never have to wonder if it's raining. If it is, we hear it. This "can't miss" sound is a wonderful sleep aid. A good pitter patter will put all four of us (cats included) to sleep in minutes and keep us asleep for the duration. It's one of the things we dreamed about when we were planning to become fulltime RVers: A lovely spot in the woods...on a cool autumn morning...with the pitter patter of rain on the roof.

That dream has been realized more than once. And, this morning is just such an occasion. It's cool and it's raining. And, while it is lovely, it's not exactly as we dreamed it to be.

You see, we are in the woods. That means we are parked under trees. Big, tall ones. These big, tall trees hold water in their leaves and drop them on our motorhome in splats. And, that turns Mother Nature's gentle pitter patter into a random collection of pitters and splats.

Pitter, pitter, splat, pitter, pitter, pitter, splat, splat, pitter.

We're really not complaining. After all, it's not annoying. It's just a different rhythm, that's all.

But, we're not in any ordinary woods. No, no. We are parked under a canopy of Black Walnut trees. And, it's the end of September. Just before the leaves start to change in these parts, the black walnuts fall. These tennis-ball-sized nuggets land on our fiberglass roof with a sharp thunk that gives us all a jolt.

Just when we're settling in to the pitter patter and adjusting to the sporatic splats we're greeted with a deafening thunk that sends the cats running for the exits. We'll adjust, I suppose. We always do. But, I'm wondering if hard hats are in order. By the the sound of things around here, stepping outside could be hazardous to our health!

Meanwhile, the cacophony continues.

Pitter, patter, pitter, splat, pitter, THUNK, THUNK, splat, pitter, pitter, patter, THUNK, splat.

Chassis School

We are definitely ready to get out of Gaffney!

After back-to-back days of service last week, and back-to-back days of chassis school, we are in serious need of a few back-to-back days of hiking. All of this sittin' around has worn us out!

I can hear you now. Did she say chassis school?

Sho 'nuff!

We spent the last two days at the Freightliner Custom Chassis Owner's Training, which is also known as "Camp Freightliner". It's designed for diesel motorhome owners to answer any and all questions they have about the "innards" of their rolling home, provided it's Freightliner o'course.

We joined folks from 14 other motorhomes for this two-day learnin' fest. And, learn we did. Every question we had was answered. We now know enough about our chassis, engine, transmission, batteries and tires to be, well, dangerous! Now, I will confess that late yesterday when the talk turned to suspensions, I was on information overload. So, I just let the rest of it flow over me and trust that any information we need will be there when and if we need it.

I can't speak for Paul, but I definitely feel more comfortable with this new-found knowledge. It's one thing to turn the key on this big ol' moose and cruise ignorantly down the highway. (Been there, done that.) With a much better understanding of how things are supposed to work and what to do to when or if they don't, I know I'll be a much more confident commander of this beast, and a much more worry-free passenger.

Besides learning how to run down the road with our moose, we got the low down on its care and feeding. We are definitely not DIY types. But, now we have a much better idea of what service we need and when, and how to ask for it. And, we have a couple of helpful hints that might get us out of a pinch somewhere down the road. Although it was a couple of long days that followed a couple of long days, it was definitely worth the time and money.

With the moose freshly serviced and our brains full of all kinds of new stuff, we are hitting the road this morning and headin' over them there hills to do some hikin'!

(You know it's time to go when you start blogging with a local accent!)

More soon from the Smokies.

Virtual Happy Hour

After a much needed day of rest here in Gaffney, we had one heck of a happy hour. The participants were nearly 3,000 miles apart!

It had been ages since we'd chatted with our dear friends Cindy and Rick in California. Cindy and I exchanged emails earlier this week and she made a novel suggestion: A Virtual Happy Hour.

We were all over it.

We set today as the date. Because we are three hours apart, the timing was a little tricky. But, our left coast friends opted for the early shift and proposed 7PM ET/4PM PT. Now, y'all already know we like to eat late, so this schedule worked just fine for us.

Minutes before the agreed upon time, Paul mixed a couple of Manhattans. That was the frequent drink of choice whenever we got together with these two. At a minute or two past the hour, we dialed them up and pressed the "speaker" button.

For the next 90 minutes it was as if the four of us were in the same room. They introduced us to their new puppy. We gave them the lowdown on getting motorhome service in Gaffney. Together we caught up on each other's lives since we last met in May. Lots has happened. We honored memories of lost loved ones and celebrated the birth of new family members. We laughed like we always did. And, interestingly enough, we took pictures on each end and shared them with the other. Totally unplanned, of course. But, absolutely in sync. That's how these friends are.

One Manhattan turned into two and before we knew it we were making plans to meet up next year in Texas, New Mexico or Utah. Or, perhaps all three! Whenever it happens, it'll be wonderful to see these dear friends.

After catching up and sharing lots of laughs, it was getting way past time dinner time for us and approaching that time for our friends in the west. We wrapped up the conversation and made plans to have another happy hour next month. We can't wait.

As much as we love life on the road, we do miss our friends. We're thrilled to have created the virtual happy hour to share with them over many miles and several time zones. We look forward to the next one.

Cheers!