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| Clean and Ready to Go! |
Well, after some rapid deployment repairs and improvements I can finally get on the road for a "real" trip. Much as I'd like to go on much more extended journeys, short trips are it until I can retire. (If that ever happens!) A friend of mine has property near Lake George, New York that he has setup for boondocking. He has a toy hauler trailer and enjoys going there with his family. They've been gracious enough to invite me to stay for a few days with them. I'll get there on a Tuesday and leave Thursday afternoon. Then back to work on Friday night. Such is life. Two Nights, no shore hookup, lots of sun and good folks. Should be great! I'll test the current version of the
Solar Charging System, the entertainment goodies I've installed and cook some gourmet style meals! Oh, did I mention he's Vegan. Have to come up with a recipe that he'll be able to eat...pasta primavera maybe?
We're off.....
Arrived about 30 minutes late since traffic NEVER cooperates with anyone. Everyone was sitting around the campfire watching the huge cast iron dutch oven bubble. My buddy wasn't the happiest camper as the gravel driveway he was counting on being finished...wasn't So we had to park on a high peaked, semi-compacted dirt driveway. Did I mention he had already gotten stuck backing his toy hauler trailer in??? Not an auspicious start. What was in the pot, you ask? A vegetarian mock beef stew concoction with fresh carrots potatoes some kind of soy "meat" and peas. I kid you not it was pretty good. They had baked some biscuits on top of the stew in the dutch oven. Very tasty. or maybe it was because I was ravenously hungry? Either way, I would have it again.
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| Video Gizmos. Yes, That's a VHS VCR! |
We decided to watch a movie and I volunteered my latest gizmo, the digital media player I installed last week (
see the article here) we watched a DVD I converted that has an RV theme...well sort of. It was called PAUL and stars
Simon Pegg and
Nick Frost as a couple of English RV enthusiasts who meet up with an Alien voiced by
Seth Rogen. I highly recommend it for RV folks.
Thankfully, I filled my fuel tank just before I arrived since it was WAY too hot for 5 of us to sit in my small RV and watch a movie without air conditioning. The outside temp read 93 degrees! Ran the generator for a couple of hours, played the movie and stayed cool. I believe that RV's were created for this kind of social entertaining. Had snacks, cold drinks, comfort and a movie with good friends. Who could ask for anything more!
After the movie we retired to our respective "homes" and had an uneventful night. Well, except for the torrential downpours and occasional lightning and thunder. My only concerns....did my
leak repairs work or would I be getting my morning shower early and would the dirt driveway disintegrate and slide us into the field beside it. Answers? No and No. Thanks for small miracles! In the morning my friends wife made corn meal pancakes and coffee....mmmmm... Then off to their beach with kayaks and lunch. Ate a grilled veggie burger. It was...OK. Still firmly in the beef camp on that one.
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| Why Don't They Make 4 Burner Stoves Anymore? |
On a side note, if you (like me) don't spend a lot of time outside, it's a bad idea to spend all day at the beach, not drink enough water and get broiled by the sun. Thankfully I didn't burn, but I did dehydrate a bit and ended up with a nasty headache. Once back to the RV I went to the medicine cabinet and had some aspirin (well, Tylenol really) and turned the A/C on for a while. (Ain't RVs great!) After about a quart of cool water I was feeling well enough to cook. I had forgotten just how much, quantity wise, you have to chop up when serving 5 people! Vidalia and purple Onions, three colors of peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, peas (I know, I DIDN'T cut these!) and mushrooms. Sauteed it all in a garlic and oil wine sauce with parmesan, pepper, parsley and a few other "secret" ingredients. Boiled up some rotini and mixed it all together. Voila! A vegeterian dish. Of course, forgot I had brought Caesar salad fixin's but heck, no ones perfect.
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| Here's to Good Friends! |
Delivered it to their trailer (their turn to run the air conditioner/generator combo!) and we had a great meal with some great conversation. Then off to get some ice cream sundaes and watch the fireworks at Fort Ticonderoga, New York. Got a great spot even though it was beginning to rain again...the show went on and it was great! Their young daughter was especially entranced by the show. She is a sweetie!
Driving back in the pouring rain, we saw an older biker on the side of the road with his bike on it's side. Remember, in bad rain, the roads AND the visibility can make travel treacherous. We stopped and rendered assistance, getting his big cruiser motorcycle up on two wheels. The damage was mostly cosmetic (and maybe his pride as well?) and he was off down the road. We went back to the campsite and retired. Again torrential rains...same concerns....still OK. Yay!
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| Badly Framed Gauge Picture. |
In the morning I helped them get packed up and hitched up. Most times I am glad I have a Class A. getting ready to go is much easier for me. Especially since I usually travel alone. My friend offered his campsite for me to stay an extra day, but we all decided to travel together most of the way back. Stopping for Iced Coffee (VERY important!) and at the outlet stores. yes, I know. rampant consumerism...but hey they had a Coleman's outlet AND a Kitchen store! Back on the road. Down the New York State Thruway with a final fuel stop in Kingston, New York where we split up. My transmission temps, even on long hills were around 200 degrees when I switched on the
supplemental fan. Worked as advertised! Arrived home without further incident.
The ease of RV travel lends itself to short trips with friends. Spontaneity is a good thing! I love my RV and I'm sure you love yours as well. The best memories on made on the road!
Be Seeing You...Down The Road,
Rich "
The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com
First, I have to say that I really like the looks of your RV!
ReplyDeleteNext, if high temperatures bother you, imagine high 90's and 100+ every day for three months AND no rain! I know I must have been sick in the head when I landed in Texas!
Finally, cutting back on red meat works for some. I dated a woman who had dated a devout vegetarian before me. At 45, she had lost her short term memory and had other health problems. I could not convince her it was related to diet until a newsletter I received from Mercola.com (Hight trafficked alternative health newsletter in the world!) offered a nutritional "typing" test we both took. Seems abotu 25% of all women are allergic to vegetable only diet, even with substituting plant proteins in place of meat or fish. In days after she started eating a small amount of meat or seafood, her memory began to come back. The biggest problem with meat is not the meat itself, it is the way it was raised and what was fed to the animals (hoof or fin!)and, finally, the way the meat was slaughtered. Slaughtering red meat in the "biblical" way produce radically better meat, the only kind I would eat ever! Check all this out or write to me for more details. I have extensively researched this subject! And the information is free. Write to: info@dallasfilters.com
John,
DeleteThanks...I looked for quite a while to find just the right RV for me. Then countless hours updating and improving all systems.
Strangely enough, one of our friends present at the campsite is from Texas. He didn't seem as bothered by the heat! Now I know why.
I have no desire to fight this fight with any and all Vegans. They do what they want, I do what I want. Live and let live!
Easier that way....
Rich "The Wanderman"
The thing I most like about your RV is all the windows. If your exploring or just camping out you want to at least feel "out" and all your windows allows that feeling. We cannot stand RVs or trailers with few or little windows. Might as well just live in a box.
ReplyDeleteAnon,
DeleteThanks. Without the windows, I believe my RV would make me claustrophobic! The only real down side is keeping it cool in the summer sun. I have dark tint all the way around and mylar/bubble reflective window covers..PLUS metal venetian blinds and drapes. It get's very dark, but not always that cool.
But the view is amazing!
Rich "The Wanderman"
What kind of rv do you have?
ReplyDeleteAnon,
DeleteIt's a 1991 Gardner Pacific "Aero Cruiser" 23RBa. They only made 350 Total from 1989 to 1992 WIth the late 90's to 91's on a different (better) chassis. It has a Chrysler 5.9L (360 cu. in.) TBI (Throttle Body Fuel Injection) I get between 10 and 14 MPG.
You can take a look at :
http://www.thewanderman.com/2011/11/welcome-to-my-little-corner-of-internet.html
Thanks,
Rich "The Wanderman"
I have been reading your blog from the beginning and just got to this post. Hmmm....you said they made the Aero Cruiser from 1989, but I just bought a 1988 one. Do you think my registration is inaccurate?
DeleteChris,
DeleteThe Chassis/Engines for 89's were from 88. That is VERY typical of the RV industry. Usually they are 1 year behind. Depending on the state, the registration could be either year. Manufacture or Model year.
Congrats on your Aero Cruiser!
Keep reading, lots more to do.
Are you in Vermont?
Rich "The Wanderman"
Hi Rich, Yes, I am presently in Vermont...Newport area. I am a full timer, so just "home" for the summer months. My new-to-me Aero Cruiser is in NM (Yikes....I have 2 RV's and no home!) and that is where the title came from. I have lived in a Toyota camper for the past 10 years, so this will be a big change! Whole new learning curve and your blog has been most helpful as I am researching and learning.
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteFull timing in two RV's now that's what I call Living! If you bring your Aero back to the East coast, I'd love to see it. Maybe I can help out too.
Rich "The Wanderman"