June 1st Post

In this Post:

What's New With Us: RV Seminars & Classes
Brief Article: Expert Opinions
Vicki's Recipe: Hamburger Rice Scramble
RVing Tip: Sleeping Cool


What's New With Us

Check it out! Our latest e-book, RVing Alaska, Insights and Observations, is now available for downloading. Read all about it on our E-Book Page. An excerpt from the e-book is available on our Articles Page. It gives you a sample of one day's travel in Alaska.

We are still at home in Huntington Beach, CA enjoying our beautiful Southern California weather. It is usually gray and overcast at the coast this time of year (known locally as June Gloom) but aside from a few gray mornings it has been bright and sunny with daytime temps in the 70s.

If you are one of those who follow our seminar schedule (we're amazed at how many of you do) then you have noticed that we cancelled our appearances at the September Life on Wheels Conference in Harrisburg PA and the Pensylvania RV Show in Hershey, PA. Vicki and I decided that we have reached a point in our lives where we want to work less and play more. We will continue to present seminars around the country, but at fewer events. Our RV travels will become less destination oriented and more meandering.

Next month, July 6 thru 11, we will be conducting RV classes at the Life on Wheels Conference in Lewiston, Idaho. This 5-day educational event took place at the University of Idaho in Moscow for many years. This year it has been moved to Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho.

We will be teaching seven classes (Learning Priorities For New RVers, Choosing An RV, RVing Made Easy, Full-Time & Extended RV Travel, RV Travel & Camping Trips, Alaska: The Ultimate RV Adventure, and The RV Kitchen). The first five classes, taken in sequence, are designed to be a 10 ½ hour comprehensive course on RVing. Read more about Life on Wheels.

By the way, free dry-camping will be available on the Lewis-Clark State College campus for those students who prefer not to stay in a local RV park. Be sure to arrive with your water tank full and your holding tanks empty. Keep in mind that it gets quite hot in Lewiston in July. The only way you will be able to operate your RV air-conditioner is by running your generator. Be sure it is in top condition. Consideration should also be given to your pet's safety in the event your air-conditioning unit fails while you are away from your RV.

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Expert Opinions

Joe: Recently, while we were presenting our "Choosing An RV" seminar at an RV show, a member of the audience commented “You could make life a lot easier for me if you would just tell me what kind of RV you and the other "RV experts" have and how they are equipped.”

OK! But I don't think the answer will make life any easier for you.

During one of the Life On Wheels Conferences, Vicki and I were among 12 "RV Experts" who participated as panel members in an RV Lifestyle forum.

Among the panel participants were: a single, full-timing woman; a single full-timing man; two full-timing couples; a couple who had full-timed for many years but are now extended travelers and two couples (including Vicki and me) who travel extensively in their RVs but are not full-timers. For the sake of discussion we'll say there were three extended travelers and four full-timers; with a total of seven RVs.

Two extended travelers and the full-timing woman have Class A motorhomes. Each tows a small car. The extended travelers who used to be full-timers have a Class C motorhome. They do not tow a transportation vehicle.

The full-timing man and one full-timing couple have fifth-wheel trailers with one or more slideout rooms. One tows with a medium duty tow vehicle; the other tows with a pickup truck.

The remaining full-timing couple has a fifth-wheel trailer without a slideout room. They also tow with a pickup truck.

One of the Class A motorhomes and the tow vehicles of all three fifth-wheels are powered by diesel engines. The three remaining motorhomes have gasoline engines.

Vicki: The four full-timing RVers and one extended traveler have their rigs equipped with solar panels and inverters. The two remaining extended travelers don't feel the need for them.

Interestingly, the extended travelers without the solar panels prefer boondocking and government campgrounds while one of the full-timing couples with solar panels favors commercial campgrounds with full hookups.

Two full-timers belong to membership campground organizations. The remaining panel members do not.

Preferences in overnight accommodations depended upon each RVers interests, needs and budget at the moment. While most of the panel preferred campground hookups at least some of the time, one couple prided themselves on rarely having hookups. None of us stayed exclusively in any one type of campground.

One extended traveler couple travel with a small dog, and one full-timing couple has a large cat. The rest do not travel with pets.

Only one full-timing and one extended traveler have a washer/dryer in their RV.

As the panel continued to answer questions posed by the audience it was obvious that we all have equally diverse opinions and preferences when it came to the various aspects of choosing, using and enjoying our RVs.

One thing we did agree on though. We all love the feeling of independence and the sense of freedom we get from traveling and living in an RV

Joe: So you see, whatever type of RV you choose, however you equip it, wherever or however you camp, you'll be doing exactly what the experts do.

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Vicki's Quick and Easy Recipe
(From: My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Hamburger Rice Scramble

Vicki: If Joe had his way, every meal, every day, would include dishes with ground beef. Many years ago we were in our motorhome and, for dinner, I decided to throw together a dinner that would use up some of the veggies in the refrigerator. I just happened to also have some ground beef on hand. I came up with this. It is one of Joe's very favorite dinners.

1 cup long-grain rice
2 cups water
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1/2 cup bell peppers, chopped
1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Put rice, water and bouillon into a microwave-safe dish. Cook on high for approximately 15 to 20 minutes until tender.

2. While the rice is cooking, brown the ground beef in a large skillet. Add the green onions, pepper, mushrooms, salt and pepper. Cover and cook until tender.

3. Stir cooked rice into the meat and vegetable mixture and serve.

Makes 2-4 servings.

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RVing Tip: Sleeping Cool

On warm evenings, when you can't or do not want to run your RV's air-conditioner, open the windows on either side of your bed a couple of inches. Close the remaining windows and turn your high-volume roof-vent fan to high-speed exhaust. This will draw the cooler outside air across your body while you sleep.

Enjoy The Journey!


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