RV Home Yet?

Right decision about switching from Hughes to an Aircard

I came across a blog entry by Stephen Fletcher about Hughes satellite Internet service. They are now offering WiFi to their customers - at an additional charge. That must be to make up for their slow speeds. What I didn't know was that Hughes was the lowest-scoring method of Internet connection in the annual PC Magazine Readers Survey on service and reliability. Dial-up scored better.

I experienced that very thing. I have an Earthlink account and it was faster than satellite Internet by Hughes! That plus my shoddy treatment by their customer service gave us the impetus to switch.

We did have a couple of locations on our Four Corners trip where we could not get access through our Aircard. However, I could pick up a WiFi signal by driving somewhere close or do without it for a day or two.

We definitely have faster service and are so far pleased with our Aircard. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Flying J getting friendly to RVers again?

Escapees RV Club sent out a note to club members that Flying J is accepting Visa credit cards again. In addition, if you have made a couple of positive purchases with that card, the system will override the purchase controls imposed by the card readers at fuel islands so you can go above the $75 limit. This way you don't have to make multiple transactions to fill your tank. If you switch cards it will take one or two purchases with the new card for the positive purchase history of the new card to be recognized.

No word about the discount for using your Flying J RVClub loyalty card, though. (I couldn't access their RV Club page to doublecheck.) Instead of an automatic discount per gallon for simply purchasing fuel, Flying J requires you make a purchase inside to receive the discount. So maybe they aren't that friendly! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Soaring, flying sanitation workers of the Grand Canyon

I'm trying to be politically correct here! After all garbage men or scavengers sounds demeaning. But that's what these rare birds are in the canyon - the clean up crew when it comes to dead animals.

A thrilling sight at the Grand Canyon is to see one of only 299 rare California Condors in the wild soaring high on the updrafts. With a wingspan of 9½ feet and a weight of around 22 pounds, they are the largest bird in North America. They are in the vulture family and feed on dead carrion.

In an effort to save this bird, which had dwindled to 22, all were captured and a breeding program was instituted. In 1996, several were released in the canyon and in 2003, this population had their first wild chick. Later some were relocated and released in the Vermillan Ciffs area of Utah. The total now for the AZ/UT area is 63 birds. Since they don't mature until age five or six and then only lay one egg every other year, it is a slow process to build populations. Lead poisoning from bullets appears to be the main cause of death. (For more on the conservation project to restore the condor, see this article.)

We saw one soaring high overhead in the afternoon. (photo) Around 5 we could spot a couple of condors perched on the cliff near Lookout Studio where there is a condor talk everyday at 4 p.m. Later on before sunset we saw several more clinging to the cliffs or perched on tiny ledges. They would land, stay a while, fly around some more and come back, perhaps trying to find the perfect roosting spot for the night. It is a cinch that their roosting spots put them out of danger.

NPS has a page on the condors where you can see a closeup and find out more detail about indivduals. Late afternoon and close to sunset is a good time to see them but you may see them soaring anytime after the sun warms the air. I've seen them perched on rocks quite close to the rim in the fall on the south rim and soaring right off the north rim at other times. Quite a sight! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photos by George Bruzenak

Are you an RV "staycationer?"

Channel 3, WCAX News in Vermont, calls vacationers who stay close to home "staycationers." More RVers are choosing to staycation because of fuel prices.

It makes sense. We did a trip to the Four Corners, a day's drive away, and saw places that have been on my "list" for years. Often you can have just as much fun and see interesting sights within a few days drive of your homebase or where you spent the winter.

The article mentions RVers who find a park in an area they like and then leave their RV there all summer. For families, this can be a cost effective way to vacation and spend weekends. If the park has a pool and maybe a game room, that will keep most kids happy.

Staying in one place longer also can add depth to your experience of that area if you get out and explore. Instead of hitting only the highlights, you can hike and see less accessible areas too. Taking along a picnic lunch makes the outting an adventure and saves money.

According to the article, RV sales are even up at some dealers as people figure out an inexpensive RV and staying local is cheaper than vactioning at Disney World or other popular destinations. We know full-time RVers who are traveling long distances to destinations and some that are not. A couple of RV friends are going to Alaska this year; next year fuel prices may be even higher and then they'll wish they would have gone this year. Our friend Annise has wintered in Tucson the last two years. Last year she traveled in the summer to the Northwest. This year she'll stay in Prescott, AZ in the mountains - a much shorter trip.

What are your plans for the summer? Are they affected by fuel prices? Will you venture far this summer or are you a staycationer? Jaimie

26-passenger sleeper RV

We stayed at the Grand Canyon Camper Village, below the south entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. In pulled a giant red bus. It had Alaska tags but was used for German tours.Both George and I have seen these before or something very similar while in Alaska.

In the front are seats like in a regular tour bus but halfway back are 26 windows- for 26 cubbyholes for sleeping. On the driver's side, a door on the front half swings open to reveal a cooking area. On the other side in the rear is a curtained-off area, presumably for changing clothes. Somewhere they fit all their luggage.

They stayed two nights, touring the national park during the day. We didn't go inside, but those sleeping areas look mighty small. We were probably pretty obvious about checking them out, circling the rig snapping photos. We then stopped to visit with a couple traveling in a truck camper and got the first shot hiding behind their rig. (They are probably used to being gawked at!)

You couldn't be claustophobic and enjoy your trip. This was almost as good a show as the canyon itself! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Family of 11 lives in a 24-foot RV

I came across an article about a surfer, Dr. Dorian Paskowitz, who packed his family into a 24-foot RV and traveled from surfing spot to surfing spot for twenty years. The family grew to 9 children. According to the article, two things were required of the kids: no school and surf everyday.

Dorian Paskowitz was an M.D. educated at Stanford and financially successful before the move to the RV yet his kids never went to school. The documentary, "Surfwise," chronicles their lives.

The article raises all sorts of questions for me. How did they manage with nine children in an RV? They must have stayed in fairly warm areas and utilized tents for the kids; that is a challenge in the winter. How did he earn a living? He was a celebrity of sorts in the surfing world, but still, that wouldn't support a family of 11. Why did he deny his kids an education? The documentary does include interviews with the children who have struggled to fit into today's world.

Are there others who are living off the grid and successfully staying below the government radar? Harder to do nowadays with Homeland Security requirements but maybe still possible. Not the common use of an RV, for sure.

To watch a short UTube video, click here. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

No antelopes in Antelope Canyon, instead....

Antelope Canyon, located off Hwy 98 near Lake Powell, is one of the most photographed canyons in the world. You may have seen a photo. Antelope Canyon is a gorgeous slot canyon. And- there are no antelopes in the area anymore.

It was discovered by a young Navajo girl herding sheep in 1931 but it wasn't opened to the public until the 1990s. From the air it looks like a slash in the ground, a relatively small slit. But inside, it is carved to a depth of 130 feet with swirls and sculpted designs.

Upper Antelope Canyon is more accessible. Navajo guides, or other licensed guides, drive you through a  flat wash to the opening (pictured). From there you walk through a narrow opening and through the quarter-mile long canyon. At the other end is an more open wash. (bottom photo)

I was hoping to sit in the canyon and journal. That was not to be. There were at least 100 people on tour and we were not there at prime time! The guides were quite skillful, though, at pointing out good shots, setting your camera if necessary to the proper setting, and clearing a section momentarily while their group got photos of a particular area.

Lower Antelope Canyon is similar but more difficult to get to, involving a hike and climbs down into the canyon.

Antelope Canyon has been on my "list" ever since I saw my first photos. Since the lower canyon is  probably a little less crowded, I'd like to do that one too. I recommend it both for photographers and if you just want to admire stunning beauty. I let George take photos while I stood in awe. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak Photos by George Bruzenak

Putting fuel costs in perspective

Just how much more is fuel costing? Yes, it has definitely gone up but it is it manageable?

Padriac Ley, a member of the Boomer BOF that we belong to, did some computations and came up with this chart:

The figures are based on 10,000 travel miles per year and 8.5 miles per gallon. The first figure is the price per gallon. The second is the total cost for the year, followed by how much extra it is costing you per year, and then how much more each month it costs.

• $3.25 $3,$823.53 (same)
• $3.50/gal. $4,117.65 total, $294.12 more, or $24.51/month extra
• $3.75/gal $4,411.76 total, $588.24 more, or $49.02/month extra
• $4.00/gal $4,705.88 total, $882.35 more, or $73.52/month extra
• $4.25/gal $5,000.00 total, $1,176.47 more, or $98.04/month extra
• $4.50/gal $5,294.12 total, $1,470.59 more, or $123.38/month extra
• $4.75/gal $5,588.24 total, $1,764.71 more, or $147.06/month extra
• $5.00/gal $5,882.35 total, $2,058.82 more, or $171.57/month extra

Full-time RVers - actually any RVers - have great flexibility in their lifestyle. You can reduce miles traveled by staying in one place for longer periods of time. Working or volunteering for your RV site not only reduces or eliminates this budget item, but helps reduce fuel costs too. And, with working even for short amounts of time, you can add to your income. Eating out less gives you more to spend on fuel. Fuel prices are probably not going to go down significantly so we either plan to spend more and look for ways to rearrange our budgets, or travel fewer miles. Thanks, Padriac, for the contribution. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

P.S. Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road (Hall) and Frugal RVing or Pinching Pennies without Getting Bruised (Kristine) offer suggestions for saving money. At RVHometown.com

Whenever you mess up, there's always someone watching

It must be one of those laws of the universe for RVing: Whenever you mess up, there is always someone watching.

If you can't back into a spot, need several tries to get it level, the hitch won't release, you can't find the satellite signal- someone in the campground is watching. Maybe they don't openly snicker but we know they'll go into their rig and have a good chuckle- all the while being glad it isn't them.

Today we pulled into Black Bart's in Flagstaff. Our new neighbor was sitting out in his chair in spite of gusts of a chill wind at 25-35 mph, ready for a show. Now Black Bart's TL description says "poor" inner paved roads. That is an understatement. The outer ones are pretty poor too. The RV sites could stand a grading. The good thing about Black Bart's is the price plus they have Black Bart's Steak House with a musical revue right on the premises. We're checking that out in a bit.

Anyway, George drove into our spot and the bubble showed level. He went forward more and could not find level. He backed up, he went forward, backed up, went forward. Level was nowhere to be found. We got out a board. Then the hitch would not release. Inside the 5th wheel, I was moving back and forth, which doesn't normally happen. George finally figured out it was because of the domed road and finally found the exact position to put the landing legs in after several ups and downs and it released.

But George got the last laugh. It turns out our neighbor is new to RVing, purchasing their Class A in March of this year. When George used a dogbone adapter to connect our 30 amp to the 50 amp service (Black Bart's only offers 15 and 50 amp service), our neighbor pointed to the dogbone and said, "What's that?" He had used his only adapter to plug his 30 amp into the 15 amp receptacle. We hope he knows not to plug in the hair dryer the same time as the coffee pot or microwave!

We've all been in the spot where setting up just doesn't go smoothly. Perhaps the laughter is more relief that it wasn't us this day. I think there was a little laughter coming from both rigs about 11:30 this morning. Me? I was just glad the motion stopped. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Ghosts of John Wayne and the "oaters"

If you can catch a view of Monument Valley with no tourists - from Hwy 163 or from the boondocking area early in the morning or at the end of the day- it's not hard to visualize a scene from a John Wayne movie or other westerns (known as "oaters," in case you didn't know!). Across the red plain ride 20 or 30 Indians. You hear war cries and thundering hooves and see the stagecoach frantically trying to outrun them- the driver's whip lashing the horses to greater speeds, passengers shooting towards the fast approaching war party. From behind a huge spire comes the calvary - heralded by a bugle - racing towards the stage and war party. Guns and arrows fly. The Indians retreat - this time.

Whew! For George and me, the old westerns come to mind. John, our Navajo tour guide, who took us  around the main drive and the restricted area on a 2 1/2 hr tour, never mentioned one western even though finding out where the movies were made is a staple of the tours. Instead he told us about more modern films and several commercials: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Eiger Sanction, Chevy Chase's National Lampoon Vacation, Windwalker, Trial of Billy Jack, Back to the Future 3, and several others I can't remember and never saw. The generation gap!

A tour is worth the money if you've never been. The guides do share history and information you  wouldn't otherwise know. Going into the restricted area takes you to see several arches with descriptive names like Sun's Eye, Ear of the Wind (pictured to left), Mocassin, Big Hogan (also pictured below with John and me standing at the bottom). We visited a 96 year old Navajo woman in her hogan. For $1 you could enter, see her weaving and take a photo. She spoke no English but had a wonderful smile when George gave her a little extra.

John pointed out the names of features - some take some imagination, some were easily seen. He knew  where every commercial was filmed, we think: Marlborough cigarettes, Jeep and Chevrolet (on top of a butte), a dog food commercial, and several foreign ones, to name a few.

I especially enjoyed going in the restriced area because it was much quieter - it was only $5 more than a tour of the main loop. A few vehicles passed but we had the various stops at arches and the hogan to ourselves. It was quiet and peaceful. A far cry from vehicles racing from feature to feature and getting out for photo ops and to look over native American jewelry.In the restricted area, it much easier to visual an "oater" and John Wayne coming to the rescue. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak 

Photos by George Bruzenak

Our boondocking spot at the tribal park.