What's New With Us: Our Next Journey
Brief Article: Welcoming Your New RV
Vicki's Recipes: Mock Omelets
RVing Tip: Water Hose Connection
What's New With Us
We have been home for ten weeks now. Wanderlust is beginning to take hold and we are looking forward to getting on the road again. Our next trip will be to Lewiston, Idaho for the Life on Wheels Conference. Lewiston is about a 1,400 mile journey. We will leave home about the first of July, visit our daughter and grandaughter in Sacramento on the way, and arrive at an RV park in Clarkston, Washington (across the river from Lewiston, ID) on the 5th of July. After Life on Wheels we intend to meander through the northwest on our way home. There's no telling how long we will be on the road this trip. That's the joy of extended RV travel … going where you want, for as long as you want.
Our non-RVing friends have been asking if we have considered what the cost of fuel will be on this trip. Have we ever! We estimate we will put at least 4,000 miles on our motorhome; most of it in mountainous terrain. At an average of 7.5 miles per gallon we will consume about 535 gallons of diesel fuel. If diesel averages $5.50 per gallon our fuel costs will be about $2,950.00. There will also be campground fees and miscellaneous expenses. But that is the cost of the lifestyle we have chosen. Our non-RVing friends do not understand; that is because they are non-RVers.
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Brief Article: Welcoming Your New RV
Dear Joe and Vicki: After two years of research we have purchased our first RV, a motorhome. It will be a while before we take delivery. Is there anything we should do to prepare for its arrival?
Joe: Build a temperature-controlled RV garage with electric, water and sewer connections. Don't forget to include a grease pit and workshop so you can do your own maintenance.
If you don't have time for that, here are some alternatives:
Unless you can park on your property you'll want to locate a storage facility for your RV. Ideally, it will be close by, secure and easy to get in and out of. A really good one will have a wash rack and dump station.
Look for a nearby fuel station with convenient RV access. Check the overhead clearance. You don't want to peel off your roof air-conditioning units during your approach to the pumps.
With any luck the station will have an air-hose so you can keep your tires at the appropriate pressure. By the way, don't rely on the gauge at the end of the air-hose, invest in a good tire-pressure gauge.
Find a local place to get your propane tank filled. You can also look under "Gas" or "Propane" in the Yellow Pages of your telephone directory. Accessibility will be a major consideration since you will have to take your motorhome to the propane source.
Search out a nearby RV dump station. Your local RV dealer, accessory store or repair facility may have one or know where you can find one.
Locate a service facility that can lubricate your RV and change its oil and filters.
Chances are you'll find two or more of these facilities available at the same place. We have found a few neighborhood service stations that could take care of all these needs in one visit.
Keep your eyes open for a self-service car wash that will accommodate your motorhome. If it has a high-pressure water hose and a steam-cleaning hose you've really struck paydirt.
Vicki: Now is a good time to start looking for what Joe and I call a "guardian angel." This is a reliable, conscientious, capable person who is willing to act on your behalf while you are on the road.
Ideally, this person will check your home periodically, be a contact person for the neighbors to call if necessary and maybe even water your indoor plants.
Our "guardian angel" does all this, retrieves our mail and has even handled some minor emergencies for us.
Your "guardian angel" could be a nearby friend, relative or neighbor. Perhaps you can work out a reciprocal arrangement.
Line up someone to mow the lawn and pick up those throwaway ads and newspapers. You don't want to send out signals that your home is unoccupied.
Consider the benefits of a lawn-sprinkling system on timers. And do look into installing timers on some of the lights in your home. Our exterior lights and main interior lights remain on timers year round. That way we know they turn on and off at the appropriate times and their pattern is consistent whether we are at home or on the road.
The first RV is the most exciting one. Enjoy your adventures and build great memories.
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Vicki's Quick and Easy Recipe
(from "My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes")
Mock Omelets
We really enjoy omelets, but I'm not very coordinated when it comes to folding and flipping them. These mock omelets taste the same but are so much easier.
5 eggs
4 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pepper, to taste
Optional fillers: (Choose your favorites)
4 slices bacon
1/2 cup ham
1/2 cup sausage
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
1/3 cup bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup mushrooms
1/4 cup tomatoes
Leftover cooked vegetables
1/4 cup grated cheddar or Monterey jack cheese
1. Combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Beat well.
2. Fry your choice of meat in a large skillet. Chop or crumble into small pieces. Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels.
3. Saute raw vegetables in about 1 tablespoon meat drippings.
4. Add egg mixture and meat to the vegetables. Scramble to desired consistency.
5. If you are using leftover cooked vegetables, add them to the skillet along with the egg mixture.
6. Transfer eggs to a large plate. Sprinkle with cheese. Heat in the microwave oven for about 45 seconds or until cheese has melted.
Makes 2 servings.
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RVing Tip: Quick-Connects
Put quick-connect fittings on the ends of all your water hoses, water filters and, if possible, the water-hose inlet on your RV. It makes attaching to and disconnecting from the campground water hookup quick and easy.
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June 14 - Flag Day
".. emblem of the land I love…"
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