RV Home Yet?

Hopi festival in Flagstaff

After visiting the Hopi reservation last month, I read about the Hopi Festival put on by the Museum of Northern Arizona. They would have dancers and artisans so we made plans to go. The museum also sponsors a Zuni festival earlier in the year and a Navajo festival in August.

On the way we stopped at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff. The Homolovi Dance Group would be performing from 11 to noon. We enjoyed the young dancers. It turned out we were better able to see this group than the one at the festival. Not only were they out in the sun instead of under a canopy, but we had an unobstructed view. Elders chanted and shook gourd rattles as one drummed the beat.

At the museum grounds, booths were set up in various rooms of the museum and on the patio. There were some marvelous kachinas, jewelry, pottery and quilts. Ongoing talks and performances were held outside under a canopy. We watched a bit of a pup pet show, then got a fry bread Indian taco and returned to watch the Nuvatukya’ ovi Sinom Dance Group. We questioned the time for the dance group since one program said 1:00 and the other said 1:30. A couple of people hinted that the dancers would be late. In fact, they were early and started about 10 minutes before one. All the chairs were filled and it was rather difficult to actually see the dancers, but they were elaborately costumed and a pleasure to watch. In both groups there were a couple of very young dancers who were learning who were, of course, very cute.

On the Hopi reservation, photography was prohibited. George was able to get some photos here. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Get a real deal on a campground stay

The National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds ARVC  Foundation is auctioning off stays at campgrounds as a fund raiser. The auction opened today and runs through August 10. There are some excellent deals at the moment. For example, the Chicken Gold Camp in Chicken, AK has a two-night stay, which includes a day of gold mining has a value of $130 and a current bid of $43. Check out their site. You'll find campgrounds from Florida to Maine to Alaska included. When you enter the auction, click on "camping trips."

While many campgrounds are seeing fewer out of state travelers, locals are still coming, realizing that a campground stay can be an inexpensive way to vacation. ARVC hopes the auction will promote camping by allowing campers to obtain a package at a reduced price.

Check out the campgrounds and see if one is where you plan to travel. You might get a good deal. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

RV choice and fuel mpg

If you are in the market for a new (or at least new-to-you RV), which type of RV will give you the best fuel mileage? Class A motorhome, Class C motorhome, or a truck and 5th wheel or trailer?

Most Class A motorhomes get 5-8 mpg, with diesel-powered motohomes doing a little better. A Class C would be comparable, though a very small Class C would also better the mileage a larger one gets. With our 5th wheel and GMC Duramax, we get an average of 11 mpg towing, 18 mpg when not. A Class C and Class A motorhome can tow a small vehicle that gets excellent mileage. If you are willing to use a dolly, the Prius gets more than 50 mpg. You should be able to find a vehicle towable on the ground that gets 30 or better.

If you are aiming to lower your fuel costs with your RV choice, consider how you are traveling. If you travel a lot of miles with your RV in a year, the truck and 5th wheel could be the best choice. However, if you travel a few hundred miles and then stay there for two or three weeks before moving again and use your toad most of the time, you'll save with a motorhome and a toad with good fuel economy. At one time, diesel fuel was less expensive than gas. Now that is reversed so take that into account too.

Of course, driving habits also impact your mileage. The faster you drive, the lower your fuel economy. Driving against a headwind can decimate your fuel mileage. What until it dies down, if possible, even if you have to stay an extra day or so.

Who knows when the price of fuel will go down - if at all. Your choices, of RV, how much you travel and how you drive, will affect how much you spend on fuel in a year. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

The Verizon Aircard -- Reprise

Andy, one of our readers, has asked a pertinent question: Could you please give an update after 4 mos. of using the Verizon air card? What model of air card/modem, antenna & router?

You can read the original post where we made the decision to switch from satellite internet (Hughes) to the Verizon air card. There you will find the reasons we made the switch.

Since then, we have traveled extensively through the Four-Corners region of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. In only one place, Canyon de Chelle, did the air card not work. But, in that same place Internet satellite would also not have worked. That was due to the heavily-treed campground where we parked. To solve that problem, we carried our computers about 150 yards to the lodge where free, public WiFi was available. Problem solved.

Two of us use the air card system, usually simultaneously. Jaimie does extensive updating of this blog, and the associated web page, plus monitor and administer a Workamper forum. I have my own writing projects. Our usage has been running around 3.5 GBytes/month, well under the 5 GByte limit that Verizon imposes before charging extra. We have had few, if any problems with upload/download speeds. They are at least comparable, or faster than what we experienced with Hughes. And, the cost per month is the same.

We both connect to our system through a Cradlepoint 350 WiFi router. The air card is a Verizon USB727. Those two work in our home base without the need for an external antenna. In our trailer, I have a Wilson 3 amp amplifier with a Wilson Trucker antenna mounted externally. When we use the system in the trailer, we have noticed no decrease in throughput.

There is no doubt that we will find areas where there is no coverage for Internet access using this system. Maine would be a good example. We traveled there two years ago when we were still using the Hughes satellite system. But, we couldn't get a signal where we were parked, again because of the heavy trees. What we had to do then was drive to Damariscotta and sit in the local coffeehouse, buy a coffee and use their free WiFi. That, in itself, is one additional reason for our change to the Verizon air card. When we have had to leave the trailer to access the Internet, it is a relief and we get a break from sitting in the trailer.

In short, we are extremely pleased with the Verizon air card system.

New CA cellphone law takes effect

July 1 a law requiring drivers to use a hands-free device when making calls took effect. This applies to out-of-state drivers too. If your travels will be taking your through California, the only kind of call you can make (or receive) on your cell phone while holding it in your hand while driving is an emergency call.

Drivers younger than 18 cannot use any kind of mobile device while driving, hands-free or not except in emergencies. A funny aside: the law does not specifically mention texting! However an officer can pull over and cite driver of any age if, in the officer's opinion, the driver was distracted, and not operating the vehicle safely.

Drivers can be stopped for using a cellphone while driving even if they are not violating any other law. The base fine for conviction is $20 with $50 for subsequent violations. In addition, penalty assessments could triple the base fine.

Be fair warned! Get that Bluetooth device working or pull over to even answer your phone. One note - you could buy a toad that has a built-in hands-free system; it's the BMW M3 Coupe with a base price of $56,500!  Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Be safe this weekend - don't start a fire

Most RVers are already hunkered down somewhere. A holiday weekend is not the time to be out and about looking for a campsite or fighting traffic.

Please be careful of your campfires if you are camped on public lands, especially in the Southwest. In many forests campfires are already prohibited due to dry conditions. Too many campers disregard this. They want a campfire because that is part of the camping experience and by golly, they are going to have one. The Forest Service and other agencies do not have the personnel to be patrolling the whole forest so they have to depend on people voluntarily complying.

Crown King, south of Prescott in the National Forest which we visited in April, has a 9000+ fire still burning. Officials suspect that the Lane 2 fire was started by hikers who were lost. See the news report. A related article, below right, discusses the hikers. Read my first post on Crown King here, and the second one here. I'm glad we got to see the area before the fire. Four houses have been lost along with several outbuildings. Let's hope a good thunderstorm comes through and douses the fire.

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing this weekend, use caution and common sense and be safe! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

400 gallons, 1500 miles

1500 miles is the average number of miles food travels to get to your plate and 400 gallons is the amount of fuel on average used in its migration. If everyone grew some of their own food or bought from local farmers, we could reduce that amount - and live healthier.

How does that work in an RV? How about at least an herb garden? George found this three-lobe planter and planted oregano, rosemary, parsley and basil. All but the basil are in their second summer. The basil went to seed and we stopped harvesting it so it had to be replaced. We are on basil #3 this season; this one seems to like it's spot. (lower left)

If you will be in one place for the summer, either visiting or Workamping, you might try gardening in an Earth Box. You can purchase an Earth Box for about $55 each - or do a Google search, find the plans and make your own. George spent about $10 each for ours made of Ru bberMaid containers. It took him only a few minutes each using a saw and a drill. So far we have nine green tomatoes, one green pepper and one Anaheim pepper. I do have to advise you that you do not (and probably cannot) move an Earth Box once it has been planted, unless you have it on a cart with wheels. The lower half is water and the thing weighs a ton! A five-gallon bucket would do nicely for a vegetable planter too.

Ok, so you don't want to carry around a garden? or are moving too frequently? Look for farmer's markets as you travel. It's early for a lot of produce but you'll find some already. Local Harvest has lists of farms throughout the country. Or type in farmer's markets and the state you are in to find ones where you are traveling. Indiana actually had a booklet at the visitor centers listing all the farmer's markets in the state, so look there when you stop. Verify, though, with each booth where they got their produce. In some locations sellers go to the food distribution centers, buy produce that could come from anywhere, and then resell it. Buy local, if possible.

There's nothing like the taste of fresh produce right off the plant or tree that is picked when it is ripe. Yum... Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Camping in state parks increased in 2008

According to a recent report on NPR (National Public Radio), camping attendance in state parks has increased this year by 20 percent in some states. That statistic matches the reports all year that despite the fuel increases, RVers are still traveling, but not as far. Reservation data indicates that campers are more local. Even the popular Calgary Stampede in Canada has fewer U.S. reservations.

In his book, RV Camping in State Parks, Dave Davin details everything you want to know about 1650 state parks throughout North America, including available facilities, directions, size limitations, and much more. Another excellent source for locating state parks is RV Net Linx.

This is definitely the year to stay close to home for your travels. Consider all public campgrounds as well as private. Check out your local automobile club for maps and camping and sightseeing guides. RV Net Linx is a great resource for public and private campgrounds. Spend some time exploring RV Net Linx. You can also find links to Visitor Guides for each state and much more.

Instead of traveling long distances to national parks, check out the more prevalent national monuments. Many don't have camping on the site, but there's usually camping nearby. Read my Road Trip America column I did 18 months ago. George's photos provide examples of the unique scenery to be found.

Safe travels and a happy Fourth,

Alice

It's an RV, it's a yacht, it's..... a lot of money!

The price will keep it exclusive - $850,000 is the base price. This vehicle doubles as a luxury RV and a yacht. The Terra Wind has features like custom teak wood cabinetry, marble floors and shower, 8 jet whirlpool tub and more. The back opens up to be a swim deck for your boating pleasure. And it has two slides.

This is probably the type of RV where you need to be pre-screened to even go in and look at it! With sales of luxury RVs and yachts dropping, it will be interesting to see if these is any demand for this vehicle/craft. 

To see more photos and all the features, check out their Web site. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

The big hole in the ground on old Route 66

While we were in Winslow, we visited a huge hole in the ground- Meteor Crater to the west on I40. It is one of the enduring Route 66 attractions.

The surroundings are pretty bleak. Sparse low shrubs and bushes dot the countryside as you travel back to the visitor center. Admission was $13 each - we got the senior rate - normal adult admission is $15. As you get off the interstate, you pass the Meteor Crater RV Park, one of the nicer RV parks in the area- nicer than Winslow.

Inside is a Learning Center with interactive displays and exhibits. Astronauts trained here and there is an actual Apollo test capsule. You can't actually descend into the crater so the next best thing is to pose for a photo with the barren crater behind you. (See George below.) A 10-minute film is shown in the theater every 30 minutes. From there you can go out to the viewing area or go with a guide for about 1/2 mile as he points out features. Another guide does speak about the crater in the patio. If you don't have on closed toed shoes or aren't able to walk on rough ground, skip the walking tour.

When you step out to the edge of the crater you see how enormous it is. It is 3/4 of a mile across. The circumference is 2.4 miles. The floor of the crater is large enough to accommodate 20 football games being played at the same time with more than two million fans watching from the sloping sides! Whew!

One way to get perspective is to look at the very bottom, then look at through binoculars or one of the telescopes they have provided. You are looking at buildings!

After you've been blown away by the wind and climbed up and down a couple of sets of steep stairs, you can visit the gift shop and snack bar inside the visitor center.

Actually the crater is not a beauty but the thought that a big rock or chunk of ice came hurtling through space about 15,000 years ago and made this big indentation is enough to make you a little nervous about the sky. Remember Chicken Little? The sky is falling, the sky is falling..... I hope not! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photos by George Bruzenak