RV Home Yet?

St Augustine, FL

This is long overdue but with travel and a resulting cold....

On our way back from visiting George's brother and sister-in-law (Sonny and Jackie) near Jacksonville, we allowed for a few hours in St. Augustine. This city is steeped in history. Not only is it the oldest, continuously occupied U.S. city, an RVer friend has relatives from one side who are from here that lived a little known story- Minorcans were brought as indentured servents to this area to help build it, however, they were a long time winning their freedom. Kathy says there is prejudice today against those of Minorcan extraction. You can read about this aspect of St. Augustine history.

We headed to Castillo de San Marcos, a fort begun in 1672, which replaced the nine successive wooden   fortifications that had previously protected St. Augustine. This fort is constructed of a sedimentary rock called Coquina. It is strong and absorbs cannon fire, but at the same time crumbles easily. Crews were repairing the walls in one section, damage more from modern-day tourists than warfare.

Costumed interpreters gave programs and you could wander throughout the fort, imagining what it would be like to be assigned here. Summers must have been dreadful in the small closed rooms built into the walls. During seiges,the entire town would move inside the walls.

We also had time to wander through the old section of St. Augustine. At 2 o'clock, we found a coffee shop with Wi-Fi to get online to get our boarding pass! We had lattes waiting for the exact moment to click on the link.

Like most places, we could have spent more time there. The huge and amazing Ponce de Leon hotel built by Henry Flager is now a school but offers tours. A trolley ride would give a good overview of the historic area and allow for stops in several locations. The Fountain of Youth supposedly has the spring Ponce de Leon was seeking. Hmmmm... Another place we gotta come back to!

Photos by George Bruzenak

Is it a crime to transport a dead body across state lines?

Apparently not in Oregon. A family fulfilling their grandmother's last request drove her in their RV from Oroville, CA to visit family in Arkansas. They were on their way to Hillsboro, OR to visit other relatives. She passed away before getting there, probably somewhere in Wyoming. The family continued to Oregon before calling police, reports The Oregonian.

I would have thought not reporting the death right away could have gotten them in trouble, but Oregon police said they see no evidence of foul play and that no laws have been broken.

It was a wonderful gift to the grandmother. She was very frail and wanted to see her relatives once more. At least part of her wish came true. Actually the family was fortunate she could be transported to Oregon where she had family rather than having to deal with her death and possible transport in a strange place. RVs can sure come in handy.

I miss home-cooking and my bed!

We flew to Tampa, FL to the Workamper Job Fair held in Lakewood. We also took a couple of days to visit George's brother and sister-in-law near Jacksonville whom I had never met. On the way back to Tampa to catch our plane today, we spent a few hours in St. Augustine. We'll be away for a week.

We had a very nice trip - but I miss home-cooked meals! We did have one excellent dinner (plus breakfasts) at Sonny and Jackie's, but our other dinners and most of our other meals were at a restaurant or the hotel breakfast bar. I am so ready to get back to regular portions and food cooked with love! I should note; my crawfish ettouffe at Harry's Seafood in Lakewood was outstanding.

Last night in Tampa we met a couple in the restaurant by our hotel where we ate dinner. They are traveling in their van for a couple of months. They stay mostly at housing on military bases since he is retired military. They started in Pennsylvania, went to the Grand Ole Oprey in TN, are here in FL. They also plan to go at least as far west as Las Vegas, maybe even to San Francisco. Their plans are loose, much like an RVer. My first thought, though, was how could they eat every meal out for two months?

Right now fuel is high and it wouldn't have worked to travel from Arizona to Tampa by RV and then right back to Arizona for the next Workamper Job Fair in Mesa at the end of the month. But I sure miss our regular meals. The other thing I miss is my bed! Each new bed takes an adustment period for my back. Some are too hard; others are lumpy. We are spoiled by our air mattress. And no pillow is like mine- just the right amount of firmness and support.

So there you have it. RV travel has some important advantages, especially for extended travel. Some RVers hardly know what their oven is for - they use it only for storage. For us, eating good meals with healthy ingredients is important. And no sleep beats that in one's own bed with one's own pillow.

Happy travels- however you go!

Today at the job fair

Today was day one of the two-day Workamper job fair in Lakeland FL. We had a nice turnout of Workampers and employers. I was impressed with the variety of employers. We have a couple of circuses/carnivals, some RV parks and resorts, Adventureland amusement park, Silver Dollar City and Disney World. There are opportunities for being independend contractors through selling photos of homes, ranches and estates (which practically sell themselves), advertising, kitchenware and RV products. You'll also find a forest service concessionaire and a couple of national park concessionaires and a company that does sales at all the NASCAR events. (photo of setting up the booths)

Workampers could attend six different seminars today: Basic Workamping, RV retirement, legal & finanical considerations, the employer point of view, Workamping 101 and using the Workamper News online tools. Tomorrow's attendees can choose from six seminars as well. Besides a repeat of the basic class, RV retirement and Workamper online tools, Workampers can attend seminars on success on the job, advanced job finding techniques, and Workamper resume makeover. Instructors are Jody Anderson, Alice Zyetz, Phyllis Frey, and Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak. (left to right in photo)

Alice, Phyllis and Jaimie are also offering individual resume sessions for an additional fee.

If you are in the area tomorrow, Friday January 11, come join us! See Workamper.com for more details.

Photos by George Bruzenak

We're off to the Workamper job fair in FL

George and I are off to the Workamper job fair in Lakeland, FL. Alice is headed that way too. Alice and I will be giving seminars and doing individual resume sessions as well on January 10 & 11.

If you'll be near Tampa or Lakeland, this is a great opportunity to meet employers, learn a lot about Workamping, and maybe even line up a summer job. See Workamper.com  under Job Fairs for more information. We will also be attending and presenting seminars in Mesa, AZ on January 29 and 30.

Hope to see you then!

Is travel to Mexico safe?

Articles have recently stated that travel in upper Baja has gotten dangerous with more frequent carjackings and robberies. "Tourists Shun Crime-hit Mexico Beaches," at Yahoo News outlines recent events at beaches in northern Baja.

This doesn't mean that travel to all of Mexico is unsafe. Friends DeAnna and Al crossed the border right after Christmas to spend a couple of months in San Miguel de Allende in the interior. Other friends went to Puerto Penasco/Rocky Point area before Christmas without incident.

If you are thinking about travel to Mexico, get informed instead of getting scared off by a newspaper article. It would be similar to someone reading about murders and robberies in New York City or Washington, D.C. and then deciding the United States was unsafe. Use common sense and avoid known bad areas.

Some suggestions for obtaining more information on what to take with you, where to go and how to stay safe:

• Travel with a group. Commerical RV caravans travel to Mexico each winter. The Escapees RV Club's Mexican Connection social group has outings. You might also find an experienced Mexican RVer to travel with through word of mouth or a forum.
• Participate in a forum on Mexican travel. RV.net and RVTravel have forums. Search YahooGroups for discussion groups too.
• Read a book or two. Mike and Terri Church have written a couple of books on camping in Mexico.

As in all things, learn all you can, then make an informed decision about whether travel in Mexico is for you. I would avoid Baja, even though Baja del Sur may be quite safe. San Miguel de Allende is on my list of must-see place to visit. Hasta luego! (See you later!)

Winter RVing?

"Cold weather is no excuse to get wimpy with your Winnebago -- hit the road now for some enjoyable camping" 

So says Joan van Dolder in an article in the Vancouver Sun. Her book, RVing With Kids Twelve Months a Year: The How-To Book of Family RVing, will be out this spring.

While most full-time RVers have headed south and part-time RVers have winterized their RVs until spring, Joan says you can have lots of fun and a totally different experience camping with your kids in the winter as long as the temperature gets to at least -15C (5F) during the day. Brrr..

To enjoy below freezing temperatures, you'll need adequate clothing. Joan suggests storing snowsuits and boots in the shower or tub if you won't be using those. Snow on the ground means wet clothes, another good reason to put them in your shower.

Extended stay tips:

Staying for extended times in below-freezing weather means taking some precautions with your RV. Most are not made for winter camping.

1. The main concern is freezing water hose and tanks. Use a heat tape on your hose or fill your tank as needed and disconnect when temps plunge.
2. A basement model RV is superior when winter camping. The enclosure keeps the temperatures higher. You do no want your tank to freeze and crack! We added a light bulb in the water tank compartment which we leave on when temperatures drop.
3. For longer stays, put some sort of skirting or bales of hay around the bottom of your RV to trap warmer air inside and keep freezing air from cooling your tanks and floor.
4. The second conern is staying warm. Your RV furnace is inefficient. A catalytic heater or ceramic heater uses much less propane. And, if plugged in, a small electric heater can warm your RV quickly. Remember propane heaters need a source of air and so a window or vent should be left slightly open.
5. Cover windows with foil or insulation material. You can cover vents too, but you'll need some air to clear out condensation and provide fresh air.
6. Be active. Getting out and walking, snow shoeing or cross country skiing will keep you warm even after you come back to the RV. Kids, particularly, will want to be outside most of the day.

I've always loved winter hiking and exploring. Everything looks so different. In areas that normally are thick with brush, you can see trails and features more easily. In winter, visitors often have areas to themselves. You're more likely to see wildlife plus hear the sounds of nature instead of people noises.

Joan, I have to agree. Winter camping has its appeal - especially if you can camp near a hot springs as she describes!