December 5, 2009 Post

What’s New With Us: We’re Home!

Of Interest: Could This Happen To You?

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We’re Home!

Greetings from Huntington Beach, CA We arrived home exactly two months after we left.
In our October 23rd post we were headed for Little Rock where we visited with friends for a few days. Then we took a hard look at the weather predictions to determine whether we would continue west on I-40 and cross the mountains around Flagstaff, Arizona or go around the mountains by heading southwest on I-30, I-20 and I-10. Even though it was only the 28th of October, snow had already fallen in the mountains. So our decision was made for us – take the south-west route. We drove through a heavy rainstorm in east Texas but, other than that, the weather cooperated all the way to Yuma, AZ

On the way, we had brunch with John Holod and Jodie Ginter in Tucson, AZ and dinner with Mike and Terry Church in Benson, AZ. We stayed four days with Joe and Joanne Annuzzio on their lot in Yuma and had lunch with Margie Maxwell while we were there.

It was a welcome 80 to 90 degrees in Yuma. It was also my first opportunity to really check out our new solar system. Until now, we had stayed in campgrounds with electric hookups or had campsites that were covered with trees. We dry-camped in my cousin’s horse pasture for five days while in New Hampshire. It was cold so I was able to measure how many amps our furnace fan consumed and I was able to measure how many amps our various 12-volt lights and appliances drew. But the days were o’cast and rainy so I had to use our generator to recharge the batteries.

And in Yuma (because someone insisted on connecting to electricity and turning on the air conditioner when temps soared above 90 degrees) the best I could do was rely on the inverter to make coffee one morning and watch the solar system recharge the batteries until noon. So far the numbers pretty much match what we had been told to expect.

Our motorhome has been in storage for four weeks now. Prior to installing the solar system I would disconnect the ground cables from the batteries while the RV was in storage. This eliminated the possibility of “phantom loads” discharging the batteries. But I always held my breath when I went to start the engine after the RV had been in storage for more than six weeks.

This time I was relying upon the solar system to keep the batteries charged. I left the cables connected. Yesterday I checked the condition of the batteries. The coach and chassis batteries were all at full charge and there had been no loss of electrolyte.

We’re planning on spending some time in the desert next month. A few days of self-contained camping should give me a pretty good idea of how well our solar system works.

As I said, we have been home for four weeks now. We have caught up on the things that needed tending. We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving Day with our kids and grandkids. We have been home four weeks and we are ready to hit the road again.

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Could This Happen To You?

For years now, Vicki and I have been telling our seminar audiences that we consider the RVing world a relatively low crime neighborhood. And, while we know bad things occasionally happen, we have also said that in 45 years of RVing, we have never known or talked first-hand to anyone who had ever felt personally threatened while traveling or camping in their RV.

Well, now we have heard, first-hand, from someone we know.

Our friends Nick and Terry Russell recently had a nightmare encounter of the worst kind.
Nick and Terry had taken their motorhome to an RV repair facility to have some maintenance and repair work done. Since the work was taking more than one day, Nick and Terry camped overnight in the repair facility’s complimentary camping area. On what would have been their third evening in the campground, they went out for dinner. Upon their return they came upon a burglar exiting their RV. The burglar was holding a gun. There was a physical encounter. Read what happened next in www.gypsyjournal.net/blog/ (Scroll down to the December 5, 2009 entry)


Coincidentally we wrote about security concerns in our RV Notebook Post on July 14, 2009.

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October 23, 2009 Post

What's New With Us - On The Road
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Greetings from Crossville, Tennessee

We are on our way back to California. Next stop is Little Rock AR to visit friends for a few days. Then we will look at the weather map to decide whether we continue west on I-40 or travel south-west on I-30, I-20 and I-10. We are in no rush to get home but we have observed that, like a horse heading for the barn, we seem to move faster going west.

When we planned our trip to see New England’s fall colors we didn’t realize that one of the colors would be white… as in snow! We enjoyed a scenic and colorful journey through Ohio, New York and Vermont. Our timing couldn’t have been better to see the fall foliage at its peak. The daytime temperatures were warm in the sun and brisk at night. Then we arrived in New Hampshire. It was October 12, ColumbusDay, historically the day the colors peak in that area of the world. And they were spectacular! We meandered along Highway 302, drove the scenic Bear Notch Road and experienced the glorious Kancamagus Highway. Brilliant reds, oranges, yellows and greens appeared to glow in the warm sunshine. Our long journey was rewarded by this one day!

That was October 12th. On October 13th we awoke to a winter wonderland. A totally unexpected fall color… white! A light blanket of snow covered everything. Beautiful but cold. It rained on and off for the next five days and temperatures never exceeded 40 degrees during the day and fell into the 20s at night. According to the newscasters we were experiencing the coldest fall in the last 30 years. Weren’t we lucky.

We spent four of those days dry-camping next to my cousin’s horse pasture while we visited relatives. No electrical hookup meant no electric heater. We relied upon our propane fueled forced-air furnace to keep us warm. It did a great job but the furnace fan was kept busy day and night and drew a fair share of our available battery power. That would have been an opportune time to observe how well our new solar panels would replenish our batteries. But, with overcast skies, the panels had very little sunlight to work with. We were forced to run our generator a couple hours each morning to recharge our batteries. Maybe when we are in Yuma…

For those of you who plan on being leaf-peepers next year… a few things to consider. Campground reservations might be advisable, especially around Columbus Day. Be prepared for huge crowds at attractions like the Norman Rockwell Museum, Shelburne Museum and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. And, of course, those two-lane highways will be lined up with tourists… and, like you, they won't be looking where they are going either. But then, viewing New England’s fall foliage when they are peaking is an experience you will never forget.

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October 7, 2009 Post

What’s New With Us:
Fall Colors, Gypsy Gathering Rally, No More Seminars, Molly Update.

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Fall Foilage. We are on our way to New England to experience the fall colors. This photo was taken near Binghamton in upper New York State. The colors in New England traditionally reach their peak around Columbus Day (October 12). Looks like we are going to arrive just in time.


It’s Over! The Eastern Gypsy Gathering Rally is over. And it was a good one. Great location, informative seminars, relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Vicki and I presented two seminars – “Alaska, The Ultimate RV Adventure” and “RV Travel and Camping Tips”. We had great, responsive audiences at both of them.

Nick and Terry Russell know what it takes to put together a successful rally. They have experienced rallies as attendees, vendors and seminar presenters. So now, as rally producers, they understand the expectations, needs and interests of rally participants. Their Western Gypsy Gathering Rally takes place in Yuma, Arizona at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, March 8 – 12, 2010. The weather and temperature is pleasant in Yuma at that time of year and the $110.00 per rig rally fee includes four nights of camping. You can’t go wrong by attending.

It’s Over! Our days of traveling from one event to another and presenting seminars are over. We have been presenting RV lifestyle seminars at RV shows, rallies and educational events since 1989. For years now that has involved making two annual coast-to-coast speaking circuits. It wasn’t unusual for us to drive our motorhome 20,000 miles a year to participate in 15-20 events. We met a lot of wonderful people, made some great friends, and had uncountable adventures. We loved it!

Along the way we discovered a number of places we wanted to explore but our work schedule forced us to move on. We promised ourselves that some day we would return. That day has arrived.

Our future RV travels, instead of taking us from one speaking venue to the next, will focus more on places to go, people to see and things to see and do. We hope to share our RV adventures and observations in our future columns. We’re not ruling out presenting seminars altogether. If the circumstances are right we may find ourselves on an occasional platform. But we are not going to actively pursue any speaking opportunities.

The Inevitable. It seems that every time we take a long trip we end up with our motorhome in a repair shop. Its not a matter of if but when the inevitable will occur. The front suspension on our motorhome experienced a boo-boo. That resulted in both front tires needing replacement in addition to an eight-hour repair job. We lucked out. The folks at Mainline Truck and Trailer in Bedford, Ohio had the facilities and the skills to do the job.

Molly Update. Molly has adapted very well to being an RVing dog. She is quite comfortable whether in the motorhome, a campground or roadside rest area. I, however, am still adjusting to owning an RVing dog. At least to an RVing dog that has a rigid morning routine. No matter what time zone we are in, Molly wakes up at 6:50 am and insists on visiting the powder room. NOW! And since going potty involves my half of the dog, I am the one Molly awakens at 6:52 am. It begins with me feeling her staring at me. Of course I ignore that annoyance. Then Molly proceeds to make a mumbling noise that can only be described as muttering. If or when muttering isn’t successful, I feel a cold nose nuzzle my neck and it isn’t Vicki. That usually does the trick (Molly emits a sharp bark if it doesn’t). I get out of bed, stumble into some clothes and take her into the brisk outside morning air. Molly attends to business, returns to the motorhome, goes into the bedroom, curls up on the floor and goes back to sleep. By now I am wide awake. This dog is going to outlive me. I am doomed to getting up at 7:00 am every morning for the rest of my life!

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What’s New With Us:

Greetings from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We left Huntington Beach, California on Labor Day Monday and zoomed past Los Angeles International Airport at 65 miles per hour about 10:000 am. Sometimes holiday traffic (or lack of it) can be an advantage.

Our RV lifestyle is changing. We plan to spend more time visiting our National Parks and dry-camping in government campgrounds. So on Wednesday we had a two-panel solar system installed on our motorhome by AMsolar in Springfield, Oregon. AMsolar is owned by our good friends Greg and Deborah Holder. Greg is the go-to guy when it comes to installing solar on RVs. He designs, builds, sells and installs solar equipment specifically for the needs of RVers.

I pulled our motorhome into the service bay of their installation facility at 8:30 am. Three technicians went to work and had the entire job finished by 5:00 pm. It was obvious from the get-go these guys knew what they were doing. That knowledge made it easier to watch as they drilled holes in our roof and cabinetry in order to run the wiring and install the monitors. They did a neat, clean job. You can read more about Greg, Deborah and AMsolar on their website.

We came to Couer d’Alene to visit with Margie Maxwell. Margies husband, Gaylord, the founder of Life on Wheels, passed away a year ago. Margie invited Clyde and Peggy Waterman, Chuck and MaryLou Thompson and us to dinner. We sat around and gossiped about all the other Life on Wheels instructors who were not in the room. The next day Margie and Vicki did their best to play all the slot machines at a local casino.

Molly, our trusty RV dog, celebrated her 1st birthday on August 8th. She has adapted very nicely to traveling and living in an RV as well as going potty in roadside rest areas and campgrounds. I have become a bonafide RV dog owner. Right down to always having a plastic bag in my pocket.

From here we will meander east to Ohio where we will attend a wedding and then present seminars at Nick and Terry Russell’s Gypsy Gathering Rally.

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August 25, 2009

In This Post:

What’s New With Us: Vicki’s Birthday - Our Motorhome

Brief Article: Losing A Wallet

Vicki’s Favorite Recipes: Cucumber Dill Salad

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What’s New With Us:

Vicki’s birthday was August 18th. But she managed to stretch the celebration over a full week. One evening our son Pat and his son, Daniel, invited us to their house for a birthday dinner, cake and ice cream. On another night our son Sean and his family took us out to dinner at Don Jose’s and followed it up with cupcakes and ice cream. Then Vicki’s dad took us to a restaurant for a birthday dinner. Add to that all the phone calls, cards and e-mails and Vicki was a happy person.


Our motorhome is almost 12 years old. As some of you know, for the past few years we have been slowly but surely refurbishing and upgrading it. A cabinet has been installed under the dash, sliding shelves installed in the kitchen cabinets, drawers built under the couch, and a head-whacking TV cabinet replaced with a shallower cabinet and a new flat-screen television.

Recently, we took a hard look at the motorhome’s exterior. Twelve years of sunlight had oxidized the cream colored gelcoat into a chalk-white surface. 200,000 miles and a number of attack trees had inflicted more than a few battle scars on the fiberglass skin. A sudden encounter with a roll of carpet on the highway and, later, a box of plumbing materials falling out of a truck, put cracks in the Lexan plastic shield that protected the front of the rig. And, during our most recent trip to Alaska, a piece of a wheel well was damaged when the edge of a rain-soaked road collapsed under the weight of our right-rear tires. Our motorhome looked like it had “been there, done that” and then some.

“How much to repair and paint the whole rig?” we asked. “About $17,000.00, maybe more.” was the reply. We were talking to Ron Campbell, the owner of Orange Coast Auto Body and RV in Fountain Valley, CA. Then Ron suggested an alternative. He would remove the front shield, fill and paint the resulting holes, repair and paint the wheel-well damage, spot-paint where needed, buff the oxidation away and then wax and polish the entire rig. For “only” a few thousand dollars.

We had asked professional detailers in the past if they could remove the oxidation and restore the cream-colored gloss. They said it couldn’t be done. “Leave it for a couple of days and I’ll demonstrate what we can do on the engine access door on the back wall of the motorhome”. We did. He did. We saw. He got the job. A week later the entire motorhome looked like new. The photo shows the new mirror-like surface.

Next project is the installation of a solar system. In a couple of weeks we will go to AMsolar in Springfield, Oregon. Our friends and solar gurus, Greg and Deb Holder, will do the installation. Look for a detailed description in this “Blog” and in a future Highways magazine column.

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Article

Losing A Wallet
by Joe and Vicki Kieva

Do you know what to do if your wallet is lost or stolen? Who would you notify? How would you get along until the contents were replaced?

Take a look at the contents of your wallet. In addition to those cute pictures of your kids and grandkids you'll probably find cash, credit cards, driver’s license, Social Security card, health insurance card, library card, discount cards, membership cards, telephone calling card, and important phone numbers. The contents of your wallet provide you with the information you need to accomplish everyday tasks.

The contents of your wallet can also provide a thief with all the information they need to steal your identity, run up bills in your name and destroy your credit.

You can minimize or even prevent this kind of damage by preparing a list of the contents of your wallet and the phone numbers to call if your wallet is lost or stolen.

First, weed out and update the contents of your wallet. Get rid of those expired cards, old receipts and out-of-date discount coupons. And, think about it, is there any reason for you to carry your Social Security card in your wallet?

Next, place the contents of your wallet on a copying machine and make two copies of each side of your cards and documents. The front of your credit cards provide the account number. The back has an 800 number to report the card lost or stolen. The phone numbers may not be legible on the photocopy, so make a notation of them on the copies with a pen. While you are at it, make a note on the photocopies of the phone numbers you should call to replace each of the other documents (driver's license, membership cards, etc.).

The photocopies should also include the telephone numbers of the three national credit reporting organizations:

Equifax (800) 525-6285
Experian (TRW) (800)
Trans Union (800) 680-7289
and the Social Security Administration's fraud line (800) 269-0271

Put one of the copies in a secure place at home and the other in a safe place in your RV. You don't want the information on the photocopies to get into the wrong hands. Now, if you do lose your wallet, you can quickly cancel its contents, protect your credit, and arrange replacements by referring to the photocopy. You will also have a duplicate of any important papers or lists you carry in your wallet.

If your wallet does get lost or stolen, here's what you want to do:

Notify the credit card companies to cancel your credit cards. This should prevent anyone from using them.

Notify the three national credit reporting organizations to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. That way, any business that checks your credit knows they have to contact you by telephone before they authorize new credit or open new accounts in your name.
Notify the Social Security Administration to prevent identification fraud.

File a police report in the jurisdiction where the wallet was lost or stolen. Not only is it the first step in an investigation, it proves diligence on your part to the credit providers.

By the way, when you cancel the credit cards in your wallet you are also canceling those same credit cards in your spouse’s wallet. Your credit card company will quickly issue you new cards and send them to your home address. That’s fine if you are at home. But, what if you are miles from home on an RVing vacation trip? Will you be able to continue, even temporarily, without your credit cards?

Here's a thought. Most couples have both a MasterCard and a Visa card. Have one spouse carry the MasterCard but not the Visa card, and the other spouse carry the Visa card but not the MasterCard. If you have to cancel the credit cards in one wallet, you can continue to use the still-valid cards in the other wallet. If this is not convenient, or you do not have a travel companion, perhaps you can stash a backup credit card (that neither spouse carries) in your RV.

Hopefully, you won't need that precautionary list. But, if your wallet is lost or stolen, you'll be prepared.

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Vicki's Favorite Recipes

Cucumber with Dill Salad (Quick and Easy)
(From Vicki's book "My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes")

This is a pleasant change from the usual lettuce salad.

2 medium cucumbers, sliced about 1/8" thick
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/4 cup fresh dill, snipped
1/2 cup white vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

1. Place cucumber slices in a colander over a plate; sprinkle with salt and toss. Let stand for 15 minutes stirring once. Rinse and drain well.

2. In a large bowl, combine the dill, vinegar, sugar and pepper. Add cucumbers and toss to coat.

3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 6 side-dish servings.

Cucumber slices soaked in salted ice water for 30 minutes will make them extra crisp. After crisping, drain the soak water and rinse the cukes.


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July 14, 2009 Issue

What’s New With Us: Happy Birthday – Anticipation – Rally Seminars

Article: Personal Security – Guns

Vicki’s Favorite Recipe: Antipasto Salad

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What’s New With Us:

Happy Birthday! I hit the big 70 on July 7th. Vicki arranged a great birthday party for me. In attendance were my kids, grandkids, brothers and sister-in-laws and Vicki’s dad. We gorged ourselves on barbecued baby-back-ribs and chicken, Vicki’s infamous potato salad, baked beans and a bunch of different salads. It was washed down with beer, wine and soft drinks. My gifts consisted of Tequila, candy and peanut brittle. After I blew out the candle on the birthday cake, Vicki announced that she wasn’t sure she wanted to sleep with somebody’s 70-year-old grandfather. Okay, no Tequila for her!

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Anticipation is a big part of the fun when planning an RV trip. During the past 12 months, due to circumstances beyond our control, we added less than 2,000 miles to our motorhome’s odometer. That is a far cry from the 20,000 to 30,000 annual miles we have traditionally traveled.

But… this September we hit the road again. We could do it sooner but, while July and August inflict heat and humidity upon the rest of the nation, Huntington Beach, California enjoys temps in the mid to upper 70s with soft afternoon seabreezes. We’ll just enjoy the summer here, thank you.

Our fall plans have us leaving home after Labor day. We will go north to Portland Oregon. Turn east for northern Idaho, and then travel along the northern tier of states to New England for the fall colors. Along the way we will make a point of visiting with friends and relatives.

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AND… WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT SEMINARS at Nick and Terry Russell’s Gypsy Gathering Rally in Celina Ohio. The rally is being held at the Mercer County Fairgrounds just west of downtown Celina from September 28 through October 2. To read about the rally Click Here . After reading about (and, of course, registering for) the rally, switch to Nick’s Blog. But, I have to warn you, it’s addictive.

We will be presenting our popular seminar, “Alaska, The Ultimate RV Adventure”. This is a “how-to seminar” where we tell you what you can really expect in the way of road conditions, accommodations and services along the Alaska Highway. Vicki does a dynamite job of explaining how to arrange passage on the Alaska Ferry System. Then we tell you how to prepare yourself and your RV for this great adventure. We will also be presenting our “RV Travel and Camping Tips” seminar. We offer tips for dealing with holding tank odors, invading critters, condensation and more. It is a fast-moving, fun seminar. This is our only public appearance this year. Don’t miss it!

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Personal Security - Guns

Do you feel safe out there? Do you carry a gun?

Joe: Vicki and I are asked these and similar questions at most of our seminar presentations and in many of the letters we receive.

What these folks are really asking is "Aren't you afraid of becoming crime victims?" and "What can we do to protect our valuables and ourselves?"

Our standard reply is that we feel just as safe in our RV as we do at home. Maybe safer.
I'm not going to tell you that enjoying your RV is without risks. RVers can be victims of crime just like anyone else. But I will tell you that when you are RVing you are in a relatively low-crime neighborhood.

There are a number of logical reasons for this.

The activities and attractions that appeal to RVers are not usually located in high-crime areas.
Most RV parks and campgrounds are located on the outskirts of cities and towns. A bothersome commute for most criminals.

RVers generally park in close proximity to other RVers. There always seems to be at least one person sitting outside who seems interested in everything that's going on around them. Non-campers are pretty easy to spot and, as a result, attract attention to themselves. And you never know when a ranger, camp-host or strolling camper will pass by. These are people who could come to an RVer's aid or act as witnesses. Criminals prefer to avoid the inconvenience involved with getting caught.

It's difficult to establish patterns of movement or occupancy in and around RVs. We come and go unpredictably. It's also not easy to determine who or what may be inside an RV. It could be a lineman for the Rams, a Great Dane or a little, old lady with a big, new gun. Criminals have the same aversion to pain as everyone else.

An RV can be more difficult to break into than a house. (Those of us who have managed to lock ourselves out of an RV can attest to this.) And it certainly can't be done inconspicuously. Again, that getting caught thing.

Finally, RVers are perceived by many as bloodthirsty, gun-loving, rednecks just itching for an opportunity to blow someone's head off. An image I don't agree with but see no point in discouraging.

Essentially, the criminal is an opportunist looking for an easy target, a quick grab and a fast getaway. RVers and their lifestyle generally do not present this kind of opportunity.

So compared to how we feel at home, yes, we do feel very safe while we are traveling and camping in our RV.

Vicki: We are just as cautious when we are RVing as when we are at home. Exterior doors, windows and storage lockers are always locked when not in use. When we had a Class C motorhome we had to make an extra effort to remember to lock the driving compartment’s doors. We also lock our doors while driving.

Hitch locks on trailers are an inexpensive theft deterrent. We don't leave anything outside overnight or while we are absent unless it's secured to the RV, picnic table or a tree by a lock and chain.

Along the same lines, we avoid tempting thieves by not displaying cash, cameras, computers, cellular phones or other possessions.

We keep cash, jewelry and other valuables secured and hidden inside the RV. A dog can be a good theft deterrent, so can a burglar alarm. Some RVers install additional exterior lights.

Over the years, we've met many women traveling alone in their RVs. They are, definitely, among the most creative RVers, especially when it comes to deterrents to would-be intruders.

One evening, after sharing our campfire with a woman traveling alone, we watched as she returned to her rig. Before she went inside, she opened an outside cupboard and pulled out a huge dog dish. Then came a very large collar attached to a hefty chain. She set the dog dish on the ground, attached the chain to her step, turned around and waved goodnight.

Can you imagine the would-be intruder targeting that RV and then seeing all that paraphernalia that obviously belonged to a huge dog? Especially when he realized the dog didn't even have a collar on? And was the dog inside or outside?

Another single woman we met told us she went to a war surplus store and bought a pair of the biggest, most well-worn boots she could find. Before retiring each night she sets the boots outside her door. Would you want to be confronted by the owner of those oversize boots?

Joe: We frequently "boondock" during our travels. Our definition of "boondocking", by the way, is spending one or more nights in our RV at a spot that is not a designated campsite.

Obviously, our personal safety is uppermost in our minds when making the decision to "boondock". Vicki and I have "boondocked" in friends driveways, empty lots, quiet streets, roadside rests, truck stops and the parking lots of stores, churches and police stations. Years ago we "boondocked" to save the cost of a campsite. Now, we "boondock" only when we can't locate a convenient or acceptable campground. It's not unusual, however, to find us "boondocking" in the parking lot of an RV show where we are presenting our seminars.

And, of course, we're always on the lookout for more friends with long driveways.

Vicki: We have three rules about "boondocking". Obey the law. Seek permission. Apply common sense.

We look for a "boondock" site that is well lit and doesn't make us an easy target of opportunity.
We never park alone. Joe and I prefer to park in the company of other RVers. He claims the best spot is between two RVs. One with a bumper sticker that proclaims "Insured by Smith & Wesson" and the other with a bumper sticker boasting membership in the National Rifle Association.

We avoid or leave any place where we are not comfortable about our safety. Even if we can't explain why we feel that way.

Joe: People we don't know frequently ask if we carry a gun in our RV. I'm concerned that if I answer "yes", they may be tempted to steal it and if I answer "no" they will think we are an easy target. So, I politely respond, "If you really want to know, kick in my door and step inside". Everyone then assumes I am a bloodthirsty, gun-loving, redneck just itching for an opportunity to blow someone's head off. An image I don't agree with but see no point in discouraging.

There's a lot of discussion these days about carrying a gun in an RV. I'd like to contribute my observations. The purpose of using a gun for self-protection is to kill someone. Hopefully, the bad guy will back off when he sees you have a gun but, ultimately, you had better be willing to pull the trigger. If you're not prepared to take someone's life, perhaps you should think twice about carrying a gun.

Police officers receive hours and hours of professional training about the use of deadly force. And they occasionally make fatal mistakes. If you do decide to carry a gun, please take a thorough training course in how and when to use it. More importantly, learn when not to use it. After all, I might be parked next door to you some night.

By the way, if you decide to carry a handgun in your RV, be sure to familiarize yourself with the handgun laws of the cities, counties, states and nations you plan on visiting.

Vicki: Generally speaking, the RV world is a low crime neighborhood. Obviously, Joe and I feel quite comfortable out there. Our comfort level comes from knowing that RVers are generally not perceived as a target of opportunity. We also use common sense to avoid becoming crime victims. And then there's this odd perception people have about my husband that he sees no point in discouraging.

Enjoy The Journey!

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Recipe (from My RV Kitchen and Favorite Recipes)

Antipasto Salad (Quick and Easy)

This is one of our favorite summer main-dish salads. Be creative. Use whatever types of meat, cheese and vegetables you like. Gauge the amounts to the number of people you are serving.

When I am making a main-dish salad, I usually start with the lettuce and plan on two big handfuls per person. Then I add the other ingredients in proportion to the lettuce.

Lettuce (We prefer a combination of romaine and iceberg )
Red onion, sliced
Cucumbers, sliced
Bell pepper, cut into julienne strips
Tomato, chopped
Salami (or other cold cuts), cut into julienne strips
Provolone (or other cheese), cut into julienne strips
Marinated mushrooms (from the local deli)
Olives (any kind you like, or a combination)
Artichoke hearts, marinated (from the local deli)
Italian salad dressing

1. Assemble all salad ingredients.
2. Add dressing, toss and serve.


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June 16, 2009 Issue

We have just returned from a 17-day bus tour of the British Isles. Originally, we intended to rent a motorhome and explore England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. But for a variety of reasons, one of them being to avoid the stress of learning how to drive on the left side of the road, we decided to book a bus tour. It was an interesting, first-time experience.

We spent some time with Barbara Perry, a travel agent with the Automobile Club. We told her that leg room on both the plane and the bus was very important to us. She suggested business class on our 11-hour non-stop, flights and steered us to a tour company whose 49-passenger buses had their seats configured to give 40 people lots of leg room.

Round trip, business class airfare between London and Los Angeles cost more than the 17-day bus tour but it was worth it. The seats were bigger and more comfortable than economy seats and there was plenty of room to stretch our legs. Other perks like express check-in, express security check and a comfortable waiting lounge made the airport experience more tolerable.

We really lucked out with our fellow tour passengers. Not a stinker in the bunch. Everyone was friendly and considerate. Our group had 40 people. Most were either Australians or Canadians. There was only one other American couple.

The weather really cooperated. We were prepared for cool, wet weather. Instead, we had only three days of drizzle. The rest were sunny and warm.

Highlights of the tour included London, Windsor Castle, medieval York, Edinburgh Castle, the highlands and lakes of Scotland, Dublin, Ring of Kerry, Blarney Castle (yes, I kissed the Blarney Stone), the Roman Baths and of course, Stonehenge. Our bus traveled some 2,200 miles.

The good news … I didn’t have to drive; I was just a sight-seeing passenger. The bad news … we couldn’t linger in places where we would have liked to stay longer and we had to linger in a few places that just didn’t appeal to us. But, that’s group travel.

Living out of a suitcase, sleeping in strange beds and eating unusual food, while considered part of the adventure by some, did not particularly appeal to me. I still prefer traveling first class in the comfort and convenience of our RV.



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