Full Time RV Maintenance–This is Getting Old Fast

Well. . .as beautiful as it is. . .and as much as I love it. . .the “Beast” is acting beastly this week. . .

and is really starting to get on my last nerve!

A week ago Saturday, the master cylinder starting going out, and the brakes were mushy. 

Now of course this happened on a day that we had the RV attached,

and were halfway to a new destination, and of course the repair shops are closed on the weekends,

so we very carefully, and prayerfully continued on our way to Crystal River FL. 

Bright and early Monday morning Dave presented himself and the Beast at the local Ford Dealership.

A new master cylinder, new brake pads on the front, grind the rotors, yada, yada,

and a boatload of cash later, all was well, and we had an entire week to explore the Nature Coast of Florida. 

The Beast was performing beautifully, took us everywhere we wanted to go. . .not even one hiccup. . .

A week later, moving day again. . .get the RV all attached, headed for Pensacola. . .

get about thirty miles down the road, horrible, horrible shimmy.  What on earth?  

My first thought was, just having had front brake work done, that something was bad out of alignment,

or a tire was out of balance. . .it was that sort of vibration.  Stop. . .check everything. . .

no bubbles on any tires. . .nothing loose. . .weird. . .continue on.

Dave thinks it seems like a vacuum hose is off. . .since the next town has a Ford Dealership that is ACTUALLY open on Saturday. . .we decide we will stop by there. . .but alas, they only do oil changes on Saturdays. 

Ahhh. . .but you know how charming my hubby can be. . .he convinces them to just run a diagnostic. . .just so he’ll know if there’s a major problem.  Those guys were so nice. . .they dragged their laptop all the way out to where the truck was, since we couldn’t get it and the RV into the service bay. . .and determined that some electronic module thinga ma jiggy, which controlled the fuel injectors probably needed to be replaced. . .BUT. . .they assured us that it was not going to hurt to drive it, and that he was sure we would not get stranded on the side of the road.

Being the weekend, not wanting to be stranded in a podunk town in Florida, needing to be in Pensacola to meet up with our nephew on Monday, we decided to continue on. . . and here we are, thankfully without incident in beautiful Pensacola Beach FL. . .

Here it is. . .another Monday morning, and once again,

Dave has presented himself and the Beast at the local Ford Dealership. . .

oh Lord, please let it be something simple.

Now, I have no problem understanding that the Beast is almost 10 years old. . .that things must be replaced. . .

and Lord knows. . .a repair is still cheaper than a truck payment. . .

but please, if you could just have your temper tantrums when the RV is NOT attached. . .

that would be so great. . .really!  I promise we’ll get you whatever you need. . .

but being stranded on the side of the road with a big ole’ fifth wheel attached is just NOT a fun proposition. . .

been there, done that!

But on a brighter note. . .here we are in a campground on Gulf Shores National Seashore. . .across the street from a gorgeous beautiful,  white, sugar sand beach. . .crystal blue water. . .just fantastic.

Dave’s nephew Nick, his beautiful bride, Lindsey, and our two great nephews, Caden, 3 1/2, and Ashton, 6 months, will be here for lunch. . .Caden will be so grown up, we haven’t seen him since his first birthday,

and we will have the privilege of meeting Ashton for the very first time. . .it’s going to be a great day.

The last time we were in Pensacola,  my grandson, who is now seventeen,

wasn’t too much older than Caden is now. . .here’s a flashback. . .

My grandson Jordan, his Pa, and his Great Grammy, my wonderful mother in law on the beach. . .

right down from where we are staying this trip. . .

now. . .THIS is what I’m talking about, when I say I want to go to the beach. . .

Safe travels everybody,

Janice

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time since 2003, when we sold the house and everything in it, and have traveled fulltime since 2009. Follow our tales by signing up to follow our blog, and check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

Connect with us on our FACEBOOK Ready To Go Full Time RVing Page. . .where you’ll meet lots of other RV’ers just like you. . .traveling and enjoying this great adventure.

If you would like to receive our blog updates, just enter your email in the top right corner.

We respect your privacy, and never share your email address

Full Time RV Travel– Exploring Myrtle Beach South Carolina

As the name implies Myrtle Beach is a beach town. . .60 miles of beautiful beaches divided into basically three sections

 

North Myrtle Beach – laid back, quiet, mostly condos and private homes along the waterfront – nothing really exciting, and not too terribly many places to eat.  You almost need to go up to the main thoroughfare to find restaurants or fast food eateries. . .but free parking, and plenty of beach access. . .bring a picnic, and your own beach supplies, and enjoy a great day at the beach on this end of town.

Since Hurricane Irene was coming in, a news crew showed up while we were having lunch at one of the little beach dives on North Beach.

Our little waitress was having a fit.  She says, “Here come the vultures, blowing everything all out of proportion, and scaring people away.”  I can’t really disagree with her theory, and I’m sure when things like this affect your livelihood, it’s rather difficult to just sit back and watch.    As you can see, the beach was still pretty busy at this point.

Grand Strand – is where the Beach Boardwalk, the tourist shops, and lots of excitement is. . .

Since we are not huge beach enthusiasts, this is where we spent most of our time. . .just watching the magnificent Atlantic Ocean. . .

while having a fabulous shrimp and oyster po’boy at Dirty Dons.

Just so you know, we only saw paid parking in the Grand Strand area. . .you could park at the meters, or you could use the parking lots with the paid attendants. . .pretty pricey, but worth it if you are going to make a day of it.

South Beach – if you are here with kids this is probably where you will want to be.  All sorts of go cart rides, parasailing opportunities, mini golf,  sorry, didn’t think to get any pics of this area, since we just passed through.

Overall, we enjoyed Myrtle Beach, but would probably choose a less populated area when we return.  You know. . .it’s one of those things. . .you’re that close, you gotta go see it!

See the rest of our pics in our Myrtle Beach Album

Myrtle Beach Discount Card – we didn’t purchase one of these as we were here in our RV, so did not did not need a discount on accommodations, and did not do any tours. . .but I’m sure if you are here with your family, and will be doing kids activities such as go carts or mini golf, and if you will be eating out often. . .it might be worth checking out.

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time since 2003, when we sold the house and everything in it, and have traveled fulltime since 2009. Follow our tales by signing up to follow our blog, and check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

Connect with us on our FACEBOOK Ready To Go Full Time RVing Page. . .where you’ll meet lots of other RV’ers just like you. . .traveling and enjoying this great adventure.

Full Time RV Travel–South Carolina - Hunting Island State Park andLighthouse

I had read that I would be able to climb to the top of the Hunting Island Lighthouse. . .and I was looking forward to it.

Only 129 more steps to go.

Thankfully, I could stop on each landing and read. . .and breathe!  Just kidding, it wasn’t that bad. . .

although I can’t imagine having to tote this all the way to the top

Can you imagine the manpower it took to move this thing all those years ago. . .

The view from the top was really great!

This was the foundation of the Lighthouse Keeper’s Home.  It was designed to house three families, who were stuck out in the middle of nowhere. . .so were basically required to grow and hunt their own food.  Supplies were only brought in periodically.  As beautiful as the entire place was, I don’t think I would want to live there year around with only a boat available to reach civilization.  I guess after the third time the home burned, they decided not to rebuild it.

A storm was blowing in the day we were there, the wind was really whipping the sand around, and the surf was up. . . but the South Carolina Beaches were really beautiful. . .and reminded me a lot of the beaches in Hawaii. . .being rugged, remote, and natural. . .loved it!

Loved seeing the sea turtle nest. . .I’ve read so much about them, so it was great to see one up close. . .the only thing that would have been better, would have been to see the little turtles scampering towards the ocean. . .maybe someday!

On our way home. . .looking out over the marsh. . .and seeing the shrimp boats. . .just beautiful!  They look so much prettier here than they do in our part of the country, where we only see them up close at the dock.  I know these hard working guys provided us some good eatin’ while we’ve been here in the Low Country!

Low Country Boil (Frogmore Stew) at the Steamer Oyster and Steakhouse. . .so great!  Reminded me of a Cajun crawfish boil. . .but I like shrimp so much better!

And of course we always want to pay honor to the hard working men and women who keep us safe. . .thank you so much guys for the jobs you do. . .

Hunting Island State Park | Davis & Strother
Hunting Island State Park, located a short drive from Hilton Head Island just outside Beaufort SC, is South Carolina's most popular state park. The Hunting.
Publish Date: 09/06/2011 12:33
http://www.davisandstrother.com/Blog/?p=1044


Fun Hands-on Learning Activities at Hunting Island State Park ...
Hunting Island hosts the only lighthouse open to the public in South Carolina. Campers can readily see the lighthouse if they take a short walk from the campsites to the beach and peer to the right. Children may think they are ...
Publish Date: 04/16/2010 1:13
http://katrenawells.suite101.com/fun-hands-on-learning-activities-at-hunting-island-state-park-a226218


Nature spots: Hunting Island and the sea
The Hunting Island Lighthouse, though no longer operational, is open for visitors to climb to the top and take in beautiful views of the islands, salt marsh and ocean. It's located on Hunting Island State Park, currently ...
Publish Date: 04/17/2011 11:31
http://nature-spots.blogspot.com/2011/04/hunting-island-and-sea.html

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time since 2003, when we sold the house and everything in it, and have traveled fulltime since 2009. Follow our tales by signing up to follow our blog, and check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

Connect with us on our FACEBOOK Ready To Go Full Time RVing Page. . .where you’ll meet lots of other RV’ers just like you. . .traveling and enjoying this great adventure.

If you would like to receive our blog updates, just enter your email in the top right corner.

Full Time RV Living and Travel - Fall Foliage Tours

As many of us full time RV'ers begin thinking of our fall and winter plans, taking a fall foliage tour is often on our list. . .but normally when I think of taking a fall foliage tour, I think of the East Coast, and the New England States. . .not often have I ever considered the Pacific Coast as a destination for a fall color tour until I read this article at Better RVing. . .check it out.

The 2011 Foliage Tour

In addition you might enjoy perusing these links as you make your tour plans. . .have a great trip. . .and be sure to join us on FACEBOOK, and let us know how it was.

Autumn Delights in Mendocino County | The Culinary Scoop

Fall in Northern California's Mendocino County brings warm days, crisp nights, turning leaves, crush season and some of the most exciting food and wine festivals and events of the year – all in the relaxing atmosphere that prevails after peak season is over and the County settles back into a more mellow groove. ... Savor these lush and elegant wines while you meet and mingle with the winemakers at our seaside setting overlooking the spectacular Pacific Coast. ...

Publish Date: 08/23/2011 10:35

http://www.theculinaryscoop.com/2011/08/autumn-delights-in-mendocino-county/

Autumn Scenery in CA and NV | Tricom Management, Inc.

People mainly associate “changing of the leaves” or fall foliage to colder climate areas like the New England area or Canada. However, portions of Southwestern states like Nevada and California boast quite an abundance of ...

Publish Date: 08/15/2011 10:55

http://www.tricommanagement.com/1172/autumn-scenery-in-ca-and-nv/

California Travel Insider: Fall Foliage Abounds in California ...

The Colors of Fall in California State Parks (Columbia State Historic Park) Many state parks in Northern and Southern California have fantastic displays of fall colors. Cooler weather, fewer visitors, and the changing ...

Publish Date: 03/03/2011 3:00

http://californiainsider.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/10/fall-foliage-abounds-in-california-state-parks-1.html

Is it Time for New England Fall Foliage Yet?

With the Fall Foliage Surf & Turf package you'll see foliage by land and by sea! This is not your ordinary fall foliage tour! To expand your fall foliage viewing even more, you can also do as one of our guests did, and drive ...

Publish Date: 08/02/2011 9:50

http://blog.brewsterhouse.com/2011/08/is-it-time-for-new-england-fall-foliage.html

5 Top Ways to Enjoy Fall Foliage | Blog of the Bernerhof Inn, Glen NH

Offering not only spectacular foliage but a wide variety of ways to enjoy the harvest hues of Mother Nature's artistry, there's plenty of great ways to enjoy Mt. Washington Valley's fall foliage throughout this autumn. Here are some conventional and a few ... Book your seat on the Cog Railway and take this famous train ride to the top of Mt. Washington or enjoy fabulous scenic tours to Conway, Bartlett and Crawford Notch on the Conway Scenic Railroad. ...

Publish Date: 08/18/2011 16:45

http://www.bernerhofinn.com/blog/5-top-ways-to-enjoy-fall-foliage/

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time since 2003, when we sold the house and everything in it, and have traveled fulltime since 2009. Follow our tales by signing up to follow our blog, and check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

Connect with us on our FACEBOOK Ready To Go Full Time RVing Page. . .where you’ll meet lots of other RV’ers just like you. . .traveling and enjoying this great adventure.

If you would like to receive our blog updates, just enter your email below.

As a bonus, you will receive a link to our Seasonal Job Listings Page, and a follow up email linking to a sample copy of our personal Seasonal Jobs Resume.

We respect your privacy, and never share your email address

Full Time RV Travel: Photo of the Day: Colonial Williamsburg VA

Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia was a great experience. . .

I highly recommend it for every American!  They definitely figured out how to maintain and showcase their historical treasures. . .completely amazing, from the feel of stepping back in time,

to the wonderful street performances. . .worth every penny!

Admission : The official site of Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg tickets grant access to all Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area sites (including 35 exhibition sites, 16 trade shops, and more than 100 gardens)and museums, use of Historic Area shuttle buses, and regular programs. ...
Publish Date: 05/08/2011 2:00
http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit//planyourvisit/ticketplans/


Colonial Williamsburg - Kids - Games & Activities
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: Visit · www.colonialwilliamsburg.com. Plan your visit to Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area. Special Events, Lodging, Dining, and more. Learn. www.history.org. Find history, education, museums, kid's ...
Publish Date: 01/22/2007 9:30
http://www.history.org/kids/games/


Living In Williamsburg, Virginia: Grand Illumination, Colonial ...
Welcome to a daily peek at our beautiful Williamsburg, Virginia which includes the "Historic Triangle" consisting of Colonial Williamsburg -the world's largest living history museum- Yorktown and Jamestown. ...
Publish Date: 12/05/2011 1:42
http://livinginwilliamsburgvirginia.blogspot.com/2011/12/grand-illumination-colonial.html

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time since 2003, when we sold the house and everything in it, and have traveled fulltime since 2009. Follow our tales by signing up to follow our blog, and check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

Connect with us on our FACEBOOK Ready To Go Full Time RVing Page. . .where you’ll meet lots of other RV’ers just like you. . .traveling and enjoying this great adventure.

If you would like to receive our blog updates, just enter your email below.

As a bonus, you will receive a link to our Seasonal Job Listings Page, and a follow up email linking to a sample copy of our personal Seasonal Jobs Resume.

We respect your privacy, and never share your email address

Full Time RV Living and Travel–The Colonial Williamsburg Experience–WeHighly Recommend It

If your travels take you anywhere near Williamsburg VA,

do not miss the Colonial Williamsburg – Historic Jamestowne experience.

Rather than include a history lesson in my story,

I’ll just include the links to the websites

I found interesting during my research.

There are three ways to go about seeing the area:

#1 – purchase tickets at the Visitor Center which will allow you

to visit all of the historical buildings and ride the shuttles from one place to the other

Colonial Williamsburg Street Performer

#2 – park in the visitor center parking lot, hike over to the Historic Area (it’s quite a ways)

but you can enjoy almost everything for free. . .there will be a few buildings you will not be able to go into. . .

but overall you will get a feel for the history of the place. . .

and all the street scenes are available to everyone. . .

you will be handed a schedule of events by a costumed performer.

         Street Scene

#3 – drive over to the Historic Area and park in one of the 2 hour lots for a fee. 

This will get you a lot closer to the action, but you will need to limit your visit to two hours,

or go and move your vehicle to a different location.

 Benedict Arnold

We chose to purchase tickets that were good for three days in Colonial Williamsburg,

and we still do not think we saw everything, but what we did see was magnificent. . .

and an added bonus, once you pass through the shopping area at the end of Gloucester Street. . .

you can walk over to the William and Mary College Campus.

We drove over to Historic Jamestowne and the Jamestown Settlement,

rather than purchasing the combo pass to all three. 

If you have a National Park Pass, then the entrance fee at Historic Jamestowne is waived. 

There is a nominal entrance fee to the Jamestown Settlement. 

You could easily spend and entire day, or longer touring these two.

If you can only choose one of the two, I would probably say the Jamestown Settlement,

although only a replication, offered a more complete picture of life in the colony. . .

Replicas of the three ships are available for a tour

Due to my extreme claustrophobia, I only lasted a few minutes below deck. . .

I can’t imagine living like that for four and a half months.

My RV is palatial in comparison!

Historic Jamestowne is located on the actual site of the landing and the fort. . .

but is currently in the midst of an archeological dig. . .

and while intensely interesting. . .required a lot of imagination.

We were thrilled to find the remnants of the church

still standing within the area of the stockade. . .

if you checked out the map of the dig,

you can see the church’s location within the fortress.  

Pocahontas  StatueStatue 

If you saw the Disney Story of Pocahontas,  it was based loosely on the Historic Jamestowne  Saga. . .

although, according to the Powhatan Tribe, great liberties were taken in the telling.

and of course. . .the Jamestown Ferry

Unfortunately, we did not make it to the Yorktown Victory Center. . .

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little story of our week touring the

Williamsburg/Newport News area of Virginia. . .

and that you will be intrigued enough to check it out.

Be sure to let us know what you think. . .safe travels!

TOUR COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG - INTERACTIVE MAP

MORE PICS AND HISTORY OF COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

In The Direction of Our Dreams - Colonial Williamsburg

In the Direction of Our Dreams - Colonial Williamsburg - The Coffee Shop

In the Direction of Our Dreams - Colonial Williamsburg - The Drama's of War

In the Direction of Our Dreams - Colonial Williamsburg - Things are Heating Up

In the Direction of Our Dreams - Colonial Williamsburg - The Governor's Palace

In the Direction of Our Dreams - Colonial Williamsburg - The Maze

In the Direction of Our Dreams - Colonial Williamsburg - Saying Goodbye

Full Time RV Living–Being prepared for the unexpected

Three things have happened this week that have served as reminders to update my files.

First, a few hours after we left an RV Park in Louisa, VA. . .a couple we had met there sent an email to say that the fifth wheel at the end of our row had caught fire. . .and that by the time the fire department was through, she was sure their rig was a total loss. . .they were home and everyone got out safely, but still. . .their lives are going to be a mess for a while. . .especially if they were full timers.

So I’m thinking, how far are they from home?   Do they have their paperwork in order, or has it all been destroyed in the fire?  Did they not have a fire extinguisher on board, or did the fire just spread so rapidly, all they could do was get themselves out of the rig? 

When you hear of things like this, it reminds you again, how the events that happen in a moments time can change lives.

and then, the writers of two different RV Blogs that I read everyday wrote about losing friends. . .

One to cancer. . .and another to a freak accident while whitewater rafting.  The husband stated how thankful he was that his wife had taken the time to get things in order before she was so tragically taken from him.

Reading these things prompted me to follow through on the promise I have been making to myself for weeks to make sure our files are in order.

The first thing you need, in my opinion, is a fire proof/ water proof safe. . .especially if you live in your RV fulltime, and have all of your files with you. 

In this safe you should keep:

Birth Certificates

Passports

Life Insurance Information

Vehicle Titles

A backup copy of all the files on your computer. . .(I still need to do this one.)

and your WILL, your living will, and your medical directives. . .with instructions for your executor. . .

If you don’t have a will. . .at least do handwritten instructions and have them notarized.  Unless your estate is very, very complicated. . .this should suffice in a pinch. . .however, you should have a will drawn up just to save unnecessary grief.

Sorry to be so morbid today, but all of this has been on my mind. . .so I decided I would share my thoughts.  I started putting together a packet with instructions in case of some incident when we would go on a cruise. 

My brother in law is listed as the executor of our estate (such as it is). . .and I would always tell him. . .our “death packet” is in this drawer or wherever it happened to be.  We always had a chuckle over it. . .but really, if something happens to you when you are RV’ing far from home, it would be good for someone to know your wishes.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten things that are important to others. . .if you have any thoughts please share them by leaving a comment. . .it may be helpful to someone else. . .

Safe travels,

Janice

P.S. A friend sent me this article which I very highly recommend that you read.

Organize your family's essential information in case of an emergency

My mom had a minor stroke last week and was unable to speak. (She's fine now, thank God.) But when it happened, we had no idea where her "stuff" was - her insurance info, her bank accounts, even the location of the keys ...

Publish Date: 06/04/2007 14:00

http://lifehacker.com/264969/organize-your-familys-essential-information-in-case-of-an-emergency

From Blogger Pictures

Dave and I have lived in our RV Full Time since 2003, when we sold the house and everything in it, and have traveled fulltime since 2009. Follow our tales by signing up to follow our blog, and check back often as we share the tips and tricks of living the lifestyle.

Connect with us on our FACEBOOK Ready To Go Full Time RVing Page. . .where you’ll meet lots of other RV’ers just like you. . .traveling and enjoying this great adventure.

If you would like to receive our blog updates, just enter your email below.

As a bonus, you will receive a link to our Seasonal Job Listings Page, and a follow up email linking to a sample copy of our personal Seasonal Jobs Resume.

We respect your privacy, and never share your email address