The Learning Curve: Half a Bubble Off

It’s approaching the end of my stay here in San Diego County and I must say, I not only have learned a lot here, but I’ve got a laundry list of questions for the trainer at the upcoming RV 101 Boot Camp.

As a member of the RV club called the Escapees, I am going to Tucson on Tuesday to attend the Boot Camp followed by a weeklong Escapade full of seminars, socializing and fun. During the entire time I’m there, I will be boon docking, which is to say, I will not have hookups for water, sewer or electricity. That in itself will provide a rich opportunity to learn! As I imagine I’ll be busy from about 6:30 am until bed time, I’m not too worried about this other than understanding how to keep the refrigerator on. This could involve using the generator but again, I won’t be in the rig all that much and bed time is usually synonymous with quiet time so that option isn’t the best. 

The real answer is Propane.

So now I have to really learn about this. I know it’s used for BBQ grills but I’ve never done that so I have no clue. When I first got the coach, it had about half a tank of propane and now it has about an eighth of a tank. I generally use it to heat water for showers and dishes, and to cook when not able to use the solar stove. I never need it to run the furnace, although during the past week temperatures here have fallen into the 20s so I have begun to use that more often. But I do not comprehend the rate of use and, this is really bad, I don’t know how big the tank is.  Propane can be dangerous, too, so fire safety is definitely one of the seminars that I will attend.

Speaking of tanks, I could not figure out the capacities of the gas tank or any of the water tanks even though the former owner provided all the paperwork that related to this rig. Through Facebook groups I was able to get the correct number for the manufacturer to get that information for all except the propane. It was particularly important to know how big the gas tank is as I’ll be leaving with a quarter of a tank and a quarter of 75 gallons gives me a lot more than a quarter of 40 gallons. The difference is that I will make it to Costco in El Centro where I can fill up both the gas and the propane. I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to figure out how many gallons the propane tank will hold at that time.

As for the refrigerator, it is very important that it be level so that it will operate correctly. Doing that involves moving the whole rig to get it as level as possible. I do not have an automatic leveling system wherein you push a button and voila, you’re level! I have several wood pieces that I can put under the tires as needed. Up until now, I haven’t needed to use them. But this campground is very hilly so I got the opportunity to figure that out.

There are little bubble levels all over the rig, including in the freezer of the refrigerator, and that’s the one I check first. The electrician who fixed it a few months back said I can be no more than three degrees off level. A bubble level doesn’t provide degrees so I make sure that bubble is as close to center as possible, then follow up with my iPhone level to verify. And the refrigerator has been working perfectly.

However, I still feel as though I could be in a Michael Jackson video. You know the one where he and the other dancers lean wwaaayyy over without falling? Yep, that’s what it feels like even though the level on my iPhone reads within three degrees. So what’s up with that? You guessed it! It’s question two on my list for next week.

Question three will be hoses. As I mentioned, temps have gotten very low and there were two or three mornings when I had no water, at least for the first half hour, due to frozen hoses. There are things to do to keep that from being a problem, but I didn’t realize that the weather app I used to check was for a nearby town that is at a lower, read: warmer, elevation, so I put none of those practices into play. I did quickly learn to make sure the electric tea kettle was full before going to bed so I could turn that on and make coffee in the morning. 

So I am indeed in the middle of a big learning curve but even so, this is a great life! Truth be told, there were days in the condo when the power was out for hours and hours and no one told any of us what was going on. The pipes in the adjoining units were very, very audible and it took a while for me to realize I was not going to be doused at any time when the neighbors used their own facilities. In any place we settle for however long, be it a home, a car, an office, or a baseball game, we all make adjustments to make the experience enjoyable, don’t we?

So off I go to Tucson to see if I can’t get that bubble to read true.

39: Training to End Breast Cancer

Most of you know that 2015 is my eleventh year with Avon. This year there are a number of new things going on. First, the event has renamed itself and I must say it states more accurately what we are doing. It used to be called The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and I always wondered who would be for this or any other cancer? The new name is 39: The Walk to End Breast Cancer and that, to me, says it much better. 

The other new thing is that my training regime is all new. This is, of course, largely due to the fact that my starting place changes so often. Even though I can stay in one place for three weeks at a time, there is always a new path to explore within each campground. 

Generally, I’ve been encountering hills with greater frequency. The Menifee campground is pretty flat, but Acton has a pretty obvious hill as well as a long incline that is a bit less apparent. That is, until I wonder why I’m breathing hard on a straightaway only to look back and see that indeed I’ve been walking uphill.

Currently I’m parked in Descanso, CA in the Cleveland National Forest east of San Diego. I should have known what I was in store for when I drove the rig on I-8 from an elevation of 817 feet to 3760 feet at a 6% grade. The campground itself is such that a step in almost any direction takes you either up or down!

Up or down pretty much describes how training is going overall. Some days I’m up and out early to stop by the lodge for some information while taking a look at the other rigs tucked throughout the landscape. Other times it’s a late day stroll to join other campers for a pot luck dinner. 

But there are lots of days when I don’t get out at all. I start working on a project and before I know it, the sun is setting. Or I do get out: out to the shopping districts or the post office. 

Still, in case you are thinking ‘I would never have time to train for a walk like that,’ it’s very possible to get in quite a few steps by parking farther away from the door or taking a few laps around the mall. Lowe’s is a great place to train because it’s so big. And if you have access to stairs, they actually do give you a workout similar to climbing hills.

Walking is a good way to help ward off breast cancer, per recent studies. Plus it helps release those hormones that make you feel good. So whether you are planning to join a walk event or not, lace up and head out anyway.  

This year I’m walking with my Peggy’s Spirit team in New York City in October. I’m already at 20% of the minimum goal of $1800 required to walk in the event. If you are so inclined, please consider making a tax-deductible donation at http://tiny.cc/MaureenKay.

And Walk On!

Blanche DuBois

Lest you think I liken myself to this character from “A Streetcar Named Desire,” I simply mean to refer to her famous line “…I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”

Although that isn’t entirely true. I don’t feel I’ve depended upon it as much as I have often been pleasantly surprised by and greatly appreciative of every instance during my entire life. I’ll go one further and rewrite the line to suit me: 

"I have always been humbled and grateful for the kindness of friends and strangers.” 

How’s that for poetic license?

As I was looking into the full-time RV lifestyle a common theme is that everyone is so friendly and helpful. I know what those words mean but it was still hard to figure out exactly what that would look like. Now that I’m on my way, I have a much better idea.

Before I encountered any strangers, I first felt kindness from friends. 

As I introduced the idea to friends and colleagues, I was listened to and encouraged. No one suggested that I should be locked up or, at the very least, suggest I talk to my doctor about medication. I appreciate the questions that led me to evaluate concepts that hadn’t yet occurred to me, many of which showed their concern for my safety and well being.

As mentioned in prior posts, the rig I purchased was owned by friends. Here again I appreciate how well they cared for the coach and how willing they were to work with me to make the purchase, change some of the interior features and learn how it all worked. 

Then there were the friends who gave me their campground membership, which was an especially kind and generous offer. This membership has contributed greatly toward making this move affordable and has also allowed me to park in very beautiful and friendly places.

During the months of transition during which I had to get out of the condo, out of the storage unit, have systems on the rig checked and repaired, and to actually move in, I greatly appreciate the kindness and generosity of friends who often allowed me to store  several totes of things I was moving into the rig all over their house. They also let me take over a room and to park this giant RV on the street in front of their home. During these many weeks, they always made me feel welcome and at home. 

So much kindness to be grateful for! Might I add that while these kindnesses were unexpected, they were not a surprise as I’ve always felt as though I were a millionaire when it came to friends.

Strangers are another matter. 

During the first week spent in an actual campground, I really didn’t notice anything that stood out with regard to the ‘friendly and helpful’ adjectives frequently applied to the RV lifestyle. I remember trying to hitch my car to the back of the rig for the first time so I could tow it to my next destination. As I sat on the ground, scrutinizing directions and the pictures of the proper setup on my phone, not one person approached to offer assistance. 

So, when I got to the next campground, I was pleasantly surprised by the waves and smiles and offers of assistance! One gentleman stopped by a few times to offer to help with the canopy, which I was not planning to set up because I was far too busy trying to put things in place inside. But that was very kind.

I have a tendency to get to campgrounds after sunset. This, by the way, is never a good idea. When I arrived at the next campground where I could choose my own site, I drove around and around trying to figure out what a site even looked like. It was so hard to tell where one started and stopped. Finally, after getting out and walking around, I made a selection and pulled in. As I was struggling to unhitch the car, a neighbor walked over and offered to help. He helped me get the car unhitched, the electricity plugged in, and the water hose connected. The rest could be taken care of in the morning when I could see. When morning came, he and his wife were there again to help with everything. They taught me a great deal and made the whole learning process so much easier. 

After determining that I would store the rig and drive to Colorado to see Evan for Christmas, my neighbors helped me prep the rig for storage. The rangers at the campground helped me find a good spot in the storage yard and worked with me to book my next two campground reservations. After a faux pas that will be revealed in the upcoming blooper reel, the rangers were helpful in getting it resolved and making needed repairs for which they refused to accept any tips. 

When I returned from Colorado, the battery in the rig was dead. I was able to hook up my jumper cables but another camper who was out walking the dog with his young daughter, and who happened to be a mechanic, recognized that it would take a long time so he brought over a booster and got things going. Then, while looking for a space in the dark, another camper jumped out of their vehicle and helped guide me in. Without the help of these other campers, I fear I would have had to spend the night locked in the storage area with no water or electricity. Did I mention the temperature was in the 20s?

I contracted with two different companies to install tires on the front of the rig and to install the hard-wired voltage/surge protector to protect everything from the unknown and often inconsistent voltage at the various campgrounds. Both completed all work as promised and both went over and above with regard to customer service.

Just a few days ago I arrived at my latest campground home. In the dark. Of course. I find it very hard to drive in the dark, looking for a space in an area with which I am entirely unfamiliar, especially knowing that I cannot back up the rig when my car is attached to the back. But once again I experienced the kindness of strangers. The ranger took me around on the golf cart until we found a spot where I could pull in for the night. After leading me back and guiding me in, he hooked me up to the electricity. The next day a different ranger helped me find a great spot and guided me in so I would be secure and level. 

Secure and level. These words cover so much more than just the position of my rig. They describe how I often feel thanks to the kindness of friends and strangers.

Sunny Side Up: The Ballad of the Shapes of Things

After several days of rain and overcast skies, it’s been great to go outside to cook! My latest meal consisted of roasted potatoes and steak cooked out in the beautiful sunshine. It was a bit chilly but that doesn’t stop dinner from being served! As long as there’s sun, there’s supper!

I’ve never been much into cooking outdoors. Matches, lighter fluid and charcoal never would come together the way they are supposed to, at least not for me. I can recall a number of times during Ohio summers when I would try so hard to light the hibachi so Evan and I could make hamburgers, or roast hot dogs and marshmallows. It never happened. After several frustrating tries, I’d go inside and light the stove. This doesn’t happen anymore! 

Nevertheless, I am still learning a lot about cooking outside. One lesson I’m especially trying to learn with regard to the Go Sun Stove reminds me of an old song by the Kingston Trio. It’s called “The Ballad of the Shapes of Things” and you can find it on YouTube.

You might have noticed that the stove part is a long tube and the food goes into the tube in a long tray. I tended to think that the foods I cooked had to be shaped that way, too. However, I recalled after years of baking Irish soda bread in loaf pans that I could also bake it in muffin tins, Bundt pans, whatever pans I had. Guess what? It tasted the same! What a revelation!

So I’m applying the same thinking now to the Go Sun Stove and have a list of things I’m planning to cook in the upcoming weeks. As I mentioned, the steak cooked up beautifully. It was a chuck steak cut in individual pieces by the butcher at the grocery store. The potatoes were cut in chunks. I’m planning on making steak and eggs for breakfast. The cooked steak will just need to heat up a little; the eggs will need to be scrambled and cooked. 

Soup is also on the menu! We all know what soup looks like when it’s cooking so I’ll definitely take a picture when cooking soup in the Go Sun Stove!

As cornbread muffins go well with soup, those are also on the menu. I’ve learned from other Go Sun aficionados that there’s a way to use silicone baking cups to fit in the tube perfectly.

Speaking of silicone, I’ve recently decided to use a silicone baking sheet to line the food tray rather than the parchment paper or foil suggested in the directions. I bought one from The Pampered Chef because it’s good to 500 degrees, does not have mesh encased in the silicone, and is easy to trim to size. It is so much neater to use and easier to clean up! And no added expense or landfill! I also learned that if you are planning to cut a silicone sheet to size, you may want to avoid the ones that have mesh in them as their instructions say to avoid putting food on the cut ends. 

Are you salivating yet? I sure am! Stay tuned to see what’s up…er, cooking!!

<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=576342&u=1053873&m=52143&urllink=&afftrack=">GoSun Stove</a>