It’s been a while since our last post. We have ben talking and planning but not much has happened since we purchased the RV. Until today.
If you read our other posts, you know that we want to tow a car. The advantage of towing a car is that we can take day trips easily, without moving our house on wheels. We’re looking to flat tow the car (four wheels on the ground), which is easier than having a trailer.
The cars that we currently own can’t be towed without a trailer. I spent some time searching for the right vehicle. We need something in the 3,000 pound range, with an automatic shift, since Cathie can’t drive a manual shift easily anymore. I narrowed the choices down to a Ford Focus. It’s the right size and converting it to be a toad isn’t too complicated. Our search was fairly narrow. We decided on the nicest trim package since it includes heated seats and a heated steering wheel. Cathie will love that steering wheel, since she has Raynaud’s. Her hands can get numb from even slight cold weather.
Today we found our car! It’s black with dark grey interior. You can call is a funeral car but it will work really well as a toad and as an every day, get around town car.
RV Warranty?
One item I have been preoccupied about is an extended warranty. Many people say that extended warranties are probably not worth the money for a newer RV. Our repair costs would probably be less than the price of the warranty. However, getting an extended warranty removes the worry about whether there will be a big expense. So, we decided to get a warranty. I compared two options and it appears that the one through the RV dealer is a bit better than the one through Wholesale Warranties. I have to finalize the paperwork and then have another item checked off of our list.
If you have been following our posts, you know that we settled on a Winnebago Class A RV. The Intent 29L and Vista/Sunstar 29V both met our requirements. The Vista/Sunstar model is a bit of an upgrade with the Intent more of a budget model. We saw the Intent at Hershey but not the Vista/Sunstar model. We were told that they were the same layout with the Vista having some upgrades (fiberglass roof, better refrigerator, nicer door handles for outside storage). (Vista and Sunstar are exactly the same, even though they have different names.)
After we got back from Hershey, I started looking around for new and used RV’s. There didn’t seem to be many used Intent models; even the new ones were not abundant. There were a few Vista/Sunstar models in the area, though. One seemed very interesting to us. It was a used 2019 model year. Because it was used, it was a few dollars less than the new 2019s and was at Flagg RV, a dealer only 25 minutes from our house. There were two other possibilities; one was a 2017 Vista in New Hampshire. That was doable but not ideal. There was a new 2019 Vista at Flagg’s other showroom in Boyleston, MA.
Next step was research. I found a great book, RV Buyer’s Survival Guide and ordered it. Then I studied the book over the course of two nights. At that point I felt we were ready to make a deal with the dealership. Thanks to Cathie, we also researched insurance so we would know the potential costs.
Saturday morning we headed out to the dealership. We planned to visit the local dealer first. then, based on the results, maybe we would head up to New Hampshire to visit the other used one and/or see the new one for sale. When we got to actually see the RV, we both fell in love with it. It felt like a luxurious RV to me. The sinks were nicer, better cabinet doors, a tad more storage–overall a great RV. The original owners added a second air conditioner, which resulted in a more powerful 50 amp circuit. That will give us more power when available at campgrounds.
We negotiated a bit; the sales rep didn’t offer many concessions. We left and talked about it over lunch. We decided to go back and make another offer. A short time later, we agreed on the price and were filling out the paperwork. Fortunately, we are able to leave the RV with them over the winter. They will store it for no additional charge. We will notify them when we want to pick up the RV in the spring.
In addition to being excited and scared, we’re a step closer to the next phase of our lives!
If you have been bitten by the RV bug, you probably know about the Hershey RV Show. It’s billed as ‘America’s largest RV show’. It’s possible that the one in Tampa or Southern California is larger but that’s a moot point for us. This is a big show that has lots of RVs on display. And since we are in the market for an RV, what better way to spend a few days?
We drove down to Hershey on Wednesday, ready to explore. We had the opportunity to see RVs, attend seminars, do some shopping and imagine our lives in RV wonderland. We’re excited!
The Attendees
This is definitely a big event. There were lots of people, RV’s, vendors, speakers but no pets. Pets are not allowed, which was just fine for us. We spent the bulk of two days at the show and soaked in as much as we could.
Cathie’s new wheels
As you might guess, the population was generally older, although there were a smattering of young families. I noticed a lot of people with mobility issues–some with canes, others with electric scooters. There seemed to be more people with mobility issues than the normal population. I wonder if people with mobility issues are drawn to RVing because it’s accessible to them or if people continue RVing, even after they have mobility issues. Either way, it’s an interesting observation, considering Cathie’s challenges walking. BTW, Cathie took her new rollator with her. It was a great idea for her to get it and use it. She was much less fatigued and I noticed that she was able to walk faster by using the rollator. We wouldn’t have done half the things we did together if she didn’t have it.
The Seminars
We went to a few very good sessions. One was worth the price of admission. The presenter, Randy Sobel, discussed the RV buying process. He answered the many questions that attendees asked and even sat with some of us and gave us private recommendations on purchasing.
The Vendors
Our purchases
So true
There were lots of vendors offering an incredible array of products. We picked up a few items for the RV (that we don’t have yet).
We should probably get this sign
The RV’s
Courtesy of Hershey RV Show
Yes, there were lots of RV’s. This is one of the key advantages of the Hershey show. Almost every RV that is being sold is on display. We were able to see all the ones that are on our short list. Even so, we did a lot of traipsing around. RV’s are big and there are a lot of them.
We focused on Class A models under 30 feet. Class A gives us the ability to turn the cabin into a living area; Class C really can’t do that effectively. When we rented a Class A a few weeks ago, we learned how swiveling the driver and passenger chairs around gave us an additional seating area. It was great. After that experience, we decided that we really needed swivel chairs.
Regarding size, we didn’t want something too small, since this is going to be our home for 6 months or more. We didn’t want too big an RV, so we felt that staying under (or around) 30 feet would be relatively easy to maneuver. We looked at models from Winnebago, Jayco, Thor, the REV Group and others.
We talked with manufacturer reps at the Jayco and Winnebago areas. This was invaluable. They have a wealth of knowledge that you can’t get from the dealer. The Winnebago rep told us about the specific similarities and differences between the models. We probably spent 20 or 30 minutes talking with him.
And…
When we were driving down, we discussed whether we would actually buy an RV at the show. It was a possibility, but it didn’t happen. What did happen was that we now know what we want. We decided that Winnebago was the best company for us. We don’t want problems–Winnebagos typically have fewer problems than most other companies. We really like the layout of the Intent 29L and Vista 29V. They have a dinette across from the sofa. With the front swivel chairs, we have three seating areas plus the ability to interact with each other comfortably. The two models are basically the same RV, with the Vista having a few upgrades that are nice (fiberglass roof, better refrigerator, nicer door handles for outside storage).
Cathie in our (future) RV
Now comes the hard part–purchasing the RV. There are several 2019 models still available. We’re going to contact several dealers in the next week or two.
Before we get too ensconced in our regular life, I thought I would put down some thoughts and lessons learned.
Survey the site before parking: This should be obvious but it wasn’t for us. When we got to the campground, Cathie got out and helped me back into the site. Then we realized that the hookups were on the other side of the site. So, I had to move the RV to get closer.
Have a grab bar in the shower: All RV’s should have this but I’m guessing that RV’s are designed by people who don’t think about mobility issues. If we can’t find this in an RV, we’ll have to add it after we purchase the RV.
Space is important if you plan a long trip: The RV we rented was nice. If we were planning to take short trips–weekends up to a couple of weeks–the size we rented would be just right for us. We’re going to need something bigger if this is going to be our home for 6 months. We want more maneuvering space in the living area, probably a dedicated eating area separate from a sofa and a larger bathroom. We also decided that an island bed is the best option for us.
Fold out leaf in the kitchen: This turned out to be a nice feature. Although a ‘nice to have’ this would help with the limited space available.
Swivel driver and passenger seats: This was really nice and has become a priority for us.
Bring a dustbuster, a broom, a mat for the outside and a small rug for the inside: RV’s can get dirty quickly. We ended up buying a broom and used it more than once a day.
Get a small propane grill: This can help if we want to cook outside and we don’t want to (or can’t) make a fire.
That’s it for now. We’re still interested in doing this!
Our last full day here was the one I enjoyed the most. It was a sunny day with blue skies dotted with cumulus clouds, the big puffy ones. The temperature must have been in the 80’s with no humidity. The perfect summer day. We took the bikes and headed back to the rail trail.
The section of trail from the Allen Albee beach parking lot to Wolfeboro station is the prettiest by far. It travels over the Wentworth Causeway, with water views on either side. We biked past Crescent Lake, what’s called Back Bay with its ski jump for water skiiers and, of course, Lake Wentworth.
We locked up the bikes and walked into Wolfeboro center. The shops all had end of season sales. The only store that interested me was the Country Bookseller. I can never resist an independent book store.
I found a book on scenic drives in Atlantic Canada which will come in handy on our big road trip next year. As I checked out the clerk/owner shared how much he likes Atlantic Canada. I’m usually annoyed by clerks commenting on my purchases; I prefer moving through the world inconspicuously. But everyone is warm and friendly and so darn nice in this town that I welcomed the opening for conversation.
We chatted about how much we both enjoy the Atlantic region of Canada. He told me he visited Newfoundland in the 90’s when he worked as an academic publisher and the amazing view of icebergs from the plane as it approached. He told me he thinks Halifax, NS is the most interesting city in the region. I told him we’ve been to Prince Edward Island 3 times and plan to visit again. I shared how I’ve had a long standing affinity for Newfoundland and look forward to visiting it on our road trip.
“Go for the Gold”
We sat outside North Main Cafe. I had an iced chai latte made with coconut milk, very yummy. As someone with an allergy to cow’s milk it makes me so happy when an eatery carries non-dairy milk.
As we strolled through town we noticed painted stones tucked away here and there along the way. One was painted with the peace sign, another said “Rock On”, another had the word “Love” painted on it; an attempt to inject positivity into the air? There was a small sunflower garden planted outside one of the buildings on North Main St, so happy and sunny.
Sunflower garden
We spent the rest of the afternoon at Albee Beach. A little boy, Finley, was having a beach birthday party; I overheard his mom call to him to head over to their table to have cake. Several children were swimming and splashing and chasing each other across the beach. Not as peaceful as our previous beach visits, but still relaxing.
We ended the night watching 2 episodes of The Good Place. An RV, in the right campground, affords a camping experience with a bed, your own bathroom and a TV.
This morning we pack up and deliver the RV back to its owner then head home. I’m hoping we’ll stop in Portsmouth for an early dinner; I still haven’t had my lobster.
Another day on the Rail Trail. We again parked at Albee Beach. This time we took the trail to Wolfeboro. This 2 mile section is the most interesting part of the trail. We passed houses, a boat launch and nice views of the many lakes and streams in the area.
In Wolfeboro we did a bit of window shopping, found a nice bookstore and sat on North Main Street, sipping iced tea and watching the passersby.
Lake Wentworth
After the ride, we spent some time at Albee Beach, watching the dozen or so children running free in and out of the water. Then back to the RV for a fancy ‘leftovers and vegetables’ dinner.
Yesterday we drove to the White Mountains. We enjoyed the views along the Kancamagus Highway and stopped for lunch in sight of the mountains. Not as awesome as Pike’s Peak, which we visited a couple of years ago, but still a joy to gaze upon. I think the view is deserving of the Jewish blessing recited upon seeing large-scale natural wonders – Baruch atah Ruach oseh ma’aseh breisheet, Blessed is the Spirit that forms the works of Creation. Amen.
This is the third time I am writing this blog entry. The first one was posted but syncing with another device caused an early draft to overwrite the good version. The second draft went merrily into the ether as well, which resulted in my lack of interest in trying a third time. Now, a couple of days later, I am writing in Word and will copy into WordPress when ready. Isn’t blogging fun!! So, this will be a ‘catch up’ of a few days.
Day 3 and 4
Cotton Valley Rail Trail, Fernald Station
On Monday I biked several miles on the Cotton Valley Rail Trail, a 12 mile multi-use trail. No, they weren’t growing cotton this far north. The area is named after the Cotton family who had lots of babies that settled in the area. The trail is a narrow, packed gravel trail. Because it’s narrow, you often have to stop for oncoming traffic. Everyone is very nice so it’s not a big deal. On Tuesday Cathie and I both rode on the trail, starting at Albee Beach, a quiet lake beach. As Cathie mentioned in another post, the beaches here are lazy and peaceful with the requisite number of kids, parents and a smattering of us ‘old folks’.
Cathie on the Cotton Valley Rail Trail near Wolfeboro
Day 5
Couple taking their duck for a walk
Cathie had a minor health issue, which she mentioned in another post. After we came back from Alton, we went to Carry Beach. We came back just in time to skip the rain, bringing things in before the skies opened up. After dinner Cathie tried to teach me Cribbage. Let’s just say that it’s not likely that we will be playing Cribbage every night on our RV trip.
Day 6
Today we went to the White mountains, travelling from Lincoln to Conway via the Kancamagus Highway. Pretty views. In Conway we stopped at a bakery for bread and some yummy lemon and fig squares. Then back to the rig for dinner over the fireplace.
Hanging out in our (messy) RV
Some thoughts on the RV life: Neither of us have been dissuaded from buying an RV. It’s a bit like camping, without squeezing into a tent and having all sorts of aches and pains the next day. Having an RV will allow us to take a road trip and stay in our vacation home at the same time. We like the layout of this one but might opt for something a bit larger. This RV has driver and passenger swivel chairs and a small removable table, which we like. We had dinner there last night and it worked fine. For a week or two this would be fine. For six months … Anyway, we seem to be hooked.
The first order of business today was a trip to an Urgent Care Center in Alton, 16 miles from Wolfeboro. I had to address a pesky health concern that I’ve been dealing with since before we left. It’s nothing serious, I hope. I’ve got my fingers crossed that this 3rd round of antibiotics will do the trick. Enough about that, except to say that I’m grateful my PCP’s practice has a good patient portal; I was able to get prompt medical attention, guidance and reassurance via email in the comfort of the RV. It was also reassuring to know that, even on the road, medical attention is accessible.
We spent the afternoon at Carry Beach, one of 4 lake beaches in Wolfeboro (Allen Albee, Brewster, Carry and the beach at Wentworth State Park). Such a lovely little beach, perfect for kids. We even had a unicorn sighting.
Lonely looking unicorn waiting for playmates
There was a young family not far from where we were sitting; a mom, dad and a little boy about 4 years old.
The little one was busy building his version of a sand castle, enlisting his mom and dad’s help. The dad dutifully carried buckets of water back and forth from the water’s edge to where they were sitting. Such a simple, ordinary family activity for a summer afternoon. It left me feeling nostalgic for the days when M and I sat on a beach overseeing young Aaron and young Tessa taking turns burying each other in the sand. What I wouldn’t give for a chance to re-live some of those days.
I woke up at 6am and went for a walk. The air is brisk. A few degrees colder and I would need to wear something heavier than my pj pants. I wonder if I should have brought gloves. That has more to do with having Raynaud’s than the actual temperature. Folks with Raynaud’s will sometimes wear gloves in the freezer department of the grocery store; I’m thinking of you Regina 😊. So don’t look to us to gauge the comfort level of the temperature. It’s quiet and peaceful. I could get used to waking up to this, as long as there’s a grocery store and Rite Aid 10 miles away.
Here we are in what feels like a shoe box of a living space in the Lake Winnipesaukee region of New Hampshire. Although for a significant portion of the world’s population and, of course, the homeless, this RV is luxurious. The setting is quiet and peaceful and we’re surrounded by trees. Wolfeboro Campground is a find. It offers the pleasures of tent camping, but, thanks to the RV, the comfort of a bed and your own bathroom (the limitations of an RV bathroom nothwithstanding). Fun fact: the town of Wolfeboro is the oldest summer resort in America, founded in 1759 and named for Gen. Wolfe who fought in the French and Indian War. Throughout our week here the question foremost in our minds will be, “Can we live like this for an extended period of time?” said with a skeptical tone, at least in my mind. Michael in his post said his highlight of yesterday was the campfire dinner. My highlight was going to Job Lot (yes, Job Lot has jumped the borders of the Ocean State) to buy pajama pants and a long sleeve shirt. I’m not sure where I packed for, but it wasn’t for the Lake region of NH in late August. As Michael pointed out to me, I packed a swim suit but not appropriate to the weather sleepwear; not sure where I thought I would go swimming. I’ll be back to Job Lot today for socks, maybe an inexpensive afghan, if they have one. Tea bags might be a good addition, too.
This is a nice campground (Wolfeboro Campground). It’s quiet and it feels like we are in the woods. The fireplaces have large stones that shield the fire and direct the smoke upward, instead of in our faces.
Yesterday was mostly low key. The highlight of the day was a campfire dinner.
Here is our roaring fireplace
The results of our labor
Last night was cool enough that we turned on the heater. Pretty simple, although the blower was a bit loud. It was on a thermostat so it ran a few times through the night.
This rv is fine, although it might be a tad small. We probably will get one with an island bed. Cathie needs one that is easy to get into and out of. I’m still ruminating about Class A vs. Class C. At this moment I’m sitting in the passenger seat, writing on the fold out desk. There are windows all around me, so it feels a bit like I’m in an atrium. I wouldn’t have this with a Class C setup. How much is that worth, though?
Whew. Long drive to Ossipee, NH with traffic problems much of the way. We picked up the RV, got a nice lesson from John, the owner and promptly drove… to the supermarket. Cathie shopped, getting food for the week, while I found a place to park. Then we drove down the road to Wolfeboro, about 10 minutes away.
Our rental, a Thor Axis
At the campsite we unpacked and sorted everything out. Or most everything. By that point neither of us wanted to make dinner so we headed off to Wolfboro. We found a reasonable Chinese restaurant.
So, how are things after one night? I’ll start by contrasting this vehicle to the Class C we rented a couple of years ago. Although they were similar size, this feels bigger. The cab space is usable as living space. There is a desk at the passenger chair that I am currently using to write this. I’m also able to swing the chair around and talk with Cathie, sitting on the couch. This has a slide for the couch, which opens up the area around it. The bathroom doors open up to close off the bedroom, which adds some privacy.
This is a small Class A, probably the smallest made, and it does feel a bit small. Staying in something this size for a week is fine. Going off for six months? I don’t know. We may adjust to the space and be fine with it. But what if we’ve invested $70,000 in an RV and we feel cramped? What is tbe right size for us? That’s what we have to answer before we invest in something.
The campground is great. It’s rustic and has an old style campground feel. It’s a cool morning with the sun filtering thru the trees. It looks like it will be a great day.
We’re planning another rental in an RV this summer. We decided to experiment with Outdoorsy (www.outdoorsy.com) and have rented a Class A for late August!
More to come on planning for the trip and the trip itself!
I’ve been thinking about towing lately. One of our criteria is that we need an everyday vehicle when we are on the road. That means we have to tow something. What should we tow and how?
I did some reading recently about the advantages of 4-down (flat towing) vs. using a dolly. It seems that dollys have the advantage of less wear and tear on the toad and more types of vehicles can be towed. We could probably use one of our current cars. Using a dolly takes more time to connect and disconnect and it’s a messier process. Flat towing is easier but the toad needs to have brackets attached and a brake system installed. Plus the resale value goes down even though it isn’t being driven.
Two years ago we went to our first RV show (in Boston). We were overwhelmed. There was so much to see. We went into so many motor homes and trailers that we were exhausted by the end of the day. It was exciting. We learned so much about the industry in general. We also learned a lot of terminology, like wet bath vs. dry bath.
This year it was different. First, we now know the layout of the show and what to expect. Also, before the show we decided that we are leaning toward a Class C RV (more on that later). So, at this show we didn’t set foot into any trailers. That alone reduced the times needed to see everything. It also gave us a chance to focus, and learn.
What did we learn? Remember that Class C design we liked so much few weeks ago? That went out the window. We are now fans of small Class A motorhomes.
A or C (but not B)
A quick review of terms: Here is a typical Class C RV. Note the hump over the cab. Class C’s have a truck front and drivetrain with the RV added on.
Jayco Melbourne 24M
In contrast, a Class A RV is much sleeker looking. But that’s not why we are fans of this layout. It’s what is on the inside.
Thor Axis
Because the Class A design is an RV from the ground up, the inside is set up for living, in addition to driving. The cab section of the RV is part of the living area. That includes swivel seats, tables and more. Getting out of the drivers’ seat and going to the rear of the RV isn’t a chore. The view when driving is incredible, with all that glass in the front area. Overall, it all feels more integrated with more usable living space.
About halfway through the show, Cathie asked me to sit in the cab section. What a great learning experience! Some cabs are quite cramped. The hump in the front between the seats can be quite large. In a few of the Class C RV’s the footroom was very compact. On the passenger side you couldn’t even put both feet down together, let alone stretch out. I would never want an RV with this limitation. Oh, that hump between the seats is ‘the doghouse’. Such fascinating terms!
The Class C RV’s made on the Mercedes Sprinter chassis are much better than many other Class C’s. But the footroom in a Class A is much more roomy. One more advantage of Class A.
Another thing we learned at the show was that we had a misconception about repairs on a Class A RV. It turns out that the ‘diesel pushers’ (think bus) are harder to work on but the smaller Class A’s are not any harder to work on than a Class C.
So, now we are fans of small Class A’s. There are a few that meet our needs: Thor Axis/Vegas, Jayco Alante, Winnebago Intent and Winnebago Vista. We’ll be looking at these further as we continue our adventure. Of course, we may change our preference again.
Should we get an SUV and a trailer? How about a Class A? Maybe a fifth wheel is best? These questions have created more discussion between us than any other topic. It’s actually funny how many times we have changed our minds.
At one point one of us had one opinion and the other had a different one. We even switched back and forth, never agreeing. Then, maybe a year ago, we both settled on a SUV and trailer. We liked that combination. This fall we even went to an RV showroom to check out some models. Then we shifted again. I got interested in a fifth wheel. Cathie shifted to a Class C. I have now shifted to a Class C as well. Who knows how long this will last.
Comparing options
One of the things we liked least about our RV trip in 2017 was having to drive a large vehicle, even for day trips. Because of the hassle driving the rental, we decided we needed something smaller for excursions. There are three options:
SUV pulling a trailer.
Truck pulling a fifth wheel.
Motor home (Class A or C) pulling a small car
Class B wasn’t an option for us. It’s too small for extended use, longer than a few weeks. Here is my take on the options.
SUV and Trailer
The appeal here is dedicated living space and car-like driving. There is also plenty of room in the SUV for storage. One negative is towing, with all the adventures that involves. I’m sure I can learn to tow but it seems a bit daunting. Sizing the tow vehicle with the trailer can be a challenge as well. We don’t want a tow vehicle that is so big that it is hard to drive. Too small a vehicle could cause problems. At this point I think the best safe tow vehicle for us would be a large SUV, like a Chevy Tahoe. They are big vehicles.
Truck and Fifth Wheel
Fifth wheel trailers offer the most home-like experience. The bedroom is separate, usually with a couple of steps to get to it. But the tow vehicle is a truck, and a big one.
Class A (with a toad)
We’ve never been fans of Class A motor homes. Typically they are bigger than we think we want. We have also heard that there are fewer places to have them repaired.
Class C (with a toad)
Class C RV’s come in lots of sizes and styles. They aren’t cheap; they can run over $100,000 easily. The depreciation is significantly more than trailers. The towed vehicle also depreciates quickly as the mileage goes up even though no one is driving it. But towing is easier as the larger vehicle is pulling the smaller one. You can’t back up with the toad connected but that removes the problem of learning how to back up a trailer.
So, the Class C makes sense now. I even found a model that could work for us: the Jayco Melbourne. Let’s see how long this idea lasts.
We rented a Class C RV in August of 2017. Here are my notes from that adventure.
First Day (Saturday)
Got to the RV rental place around 12:00. Had to load up in the rain. At least it wasn’t pouring out. Got a bit lost getting onto the highway. Long ride to the campground. Some rain, mostly cloudy. Arrived after 9:00. Made it to the campsite and unloaded some of the items. The rest will have to wait until tomorrow.
Driving is fine on the highway. It’s a bit of a challenge on the secondary roads.
Sunday
Relaxing on a Sunday
afternoon. We started the day by getting organized. We brought out various
items and looked for the most appropriate place to put them. There isn’t much
room but there is enough room. We just have to get creative regarding where to
put things.
I took a bike
ride–very hilly. There were some off road trails. There was a nice spot at a
boat launch area.
Cathie commented and
I agree that just having this RV is very limiting. I wouldn’t want to take it
out for a quick ride somewhere. We both feel ‘stuck’ in this campground. It’s a
nice place to be stuck. But if we bought an RV, we would have to have smaller
transportation as well. I’m not sure if that would be an SUV with a trailer or
a motor home with a small car in tow. Something to think about.
Additional post: OMG. We just took a hike on a trail that would have been hard for any able-bodied person. Down steep hills. Over countless tree roots. At the edge of steep inclines. I don’t know why Cathie wanted to go on that nature hike. She said she wanted an adventure. She certainly got one. I’m sure she wouldn’t have done the hike if she knew it would be that hard and that long.
Cathie on our hike, before things got too difficult.
Monday
After yesterday’s hike, we took things a bit less active. The big event for the day was showers. The intention was to shower in the RV. Unfortunately, it appears that the water pump is broken. Last night we were washing dishes and the pump just stopped working. After lots of testing with the RV rental place, we decided it needed to be replaced. They offered to have someone come here to fix it but that seemed too much for only one day. The rest of the week we will have ‘city water’ which means we won’t need the pump. So, we’re making do. The showers involved walking 1/2 mile each way.
One thought about owning an RV is that you need to be prepared for equipment breaking. We’ll have to find out if there is a system for finding repair places or if we are on our own. Of course repairs means delay in any travel plans so we need to make sure that reservations are flexible.
Tonight we will build a fire. Then we will officially be camping.
Cooking dinner in Cobscook
Tuesday
Lesson learned: Being in an RV isn’t the same as camping. You have to have a different mindset. We now realize that the Cobscook campground wasn’t right for us. We were isolated and didn’t have much to do. We would have been better off if we stayed in a campground that was more geared to RV’ers. Then there would have been a center to hang out and maybe some activities.
We’re now set up at Hole in the Wall campground on Grand Manan. This looks to be more of the RV style. We have hookups, with electrical, water and sewer. We don’t have to worry about turning on the water pump. We don’t have to worry about the battery level. The gray water goes right out. There is a reception area. We also have neighbors. I wonder if we will say hello to them?
Thursday
What we learned
today: It’s very hard to turn around a 23 foot vehicle. That was at Swallowtail
lighthouse. We managed but it was tight.
Today we explored
the island. It isn’t really that big but it is very hilly. We went to the
southern end, where there is a lighthouse and a nice view. We saw Seal Cove,
where there used to be a thriving herring industry. We saw where they collect
Dulce and where they dry it out and package it for sale. We picked up bread at
the local bakery. We went to Swallowtail lighthouse where the parking was…
interesting and the views were amazing. A good day.
Driving in this
behemoth is actually ok. Parking and turning around is an adventure.
Cathie driving
Cathie and I continue to talk about whether we would want to buy an RV/trailer. There are so many considerations. It certainly is still an option. More thinking and discussing before we get to a decision.
Saturday
What do we like the
least about this RV:
Can’t just pick up and go
Some cupboards are hard to access
No couch. Dinette area is inefficient use of space.
Can’t get into bed easily.
Can’t lock outside door open
More windows?
More mirrors
Yesterday was low key. Cathie made breakfast: pancakes, fake bacon and eggs. I went on a short bike ride to some beaches. It started out very foggy and cleared out slowly by mid-day. I read a bit as Cathie worked on learning embroidery.
Unlike camping in a
tent, there isn’t as much tendency to go to bed early. We have lights and a
reasonable space to sit. We have been going to bed around the same time as we
do at home.
Another item: Don’t count on always on internet. We had a number of situations where there was no signal. Even when there is supposed to be a Wi-Fi connection, it doesn’t always work. I wonder if satellite is an option.
Let’s start with some history. A few years ago Cathie and I got the bug. We became very interested in getting an RV. We didn’t know what type–we were mostly focused on the experience. We talked about it a bunch and then decided to go to our first RV show, in Boston in 2017.
After the RV show, we decided to rent an RV. We figured, we would either love it or hate it. In the summer of 2017 we spent 8 days in a Class C RV.
Our RV rental, in 2017
Michael Working in the kitchen
Well, we liked it! There were some issues but it was mostly very good.
Since then we have gotten more and more convinced that we should do this, buy an RV.
It’s now January 1, 2019. Our plan is to buy something in early 2020 and go on the road. We imagine a 6 month trip but aren’t stuck on the length. Our goal is the experience, not the destination.
The purpose of this blog is to chronicle our experience. Stay tuned!
A little more history…
Neither one of us remembers how we came up with the idea of RVing in retirement. We’ve done some tent camping. Our honeymoon was a camping trip through Nova Scotia. We spent 2 weeks traveling and camping through Arizona. We took several camping vacations with the kids (they didn’t love it). But RVing was never on our radar. So how did we land on the idea of an extended RV trip? We don’t remember; it will remain a mystery.
Whatever the origin, the idea grabbed hold of us and hasn’t let go. I’m intrigued by the thought of travelling while taking your home with you, kind of like a turtle. You can follow the road, but know which bed you’ll be sleeping in that night. You can cook your own meals and don’t have to rely on restaurant food of questionable nutrition and varying quality. You can decide to take a day – or 2 or 3 – to sit, read, watch a movie, do a crossword or just be in your surroundings without feeling like you’re wasting your vacation time. For me, given my health issues, it feels like controlled adventure (as controllable as adventure can be).
I’m excited by the idea of discovering off the beaten path places, little towns, small cities, stumbling on places we’ve never heard of. I have only one place I want to get to – Newfoundland. Don’t ask me why, I know virtually nothing about Newfoundland other than it’s a remote Canadian province. (Fun fact: Jews gathered at Cape Spear, NL on Rosh HaShana are the first Jews in North America to greet the new year). Something about Newfoundland calls to me, maybe I’ll discover something of myself there. Other than NL, and spending a week or two on PEI, I have no specific destinations in mind.
I recently suggested to Michael that this quote by Lao Tzu should be our RV travel motto: “A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving”. I’m looking forward to having no fixed plans. Cathie
The Cruznick Adventures 