I truly love the questions about the trip so keep them coming. Also, please use the comments section--I think others who have more experience than me might have some better ideas and might share them.
The following was a question from Allison: "Where are you going? Do you have an itinerary, or are you just winging it? "
At this very moment I don't really know which direction to head in. My hesitation is only because there is more to see than I ever expected. When I started out on this trip it was 1.) to visit friends and family I had not seen in years 2.) to become better acquainted with the history of my own country and 3) to try and see the parts of the country I have missed in my first 70 years. I laid out a rough trip for the first year that took me through the south, up the east coast, and now through New England, on to Nova Scotia & New Brunswick, then back to Texas via the mid-west. I want to winter in southern Texas and Arizona next December thru March then head up the west coast next summer. And do it all in two years!
The following was an email from my cousin Cherie with my answers:
I have been so interested in your travels. You see so many places I've wanted to see but also taken us to places I didn't know about. Jerry and I traded the bigger RV we got a few months back for a smaller C class camper. Still an older model but less problems with it and easier to handle. I think we will like it better.
From Me: Obviously, I think smaller is better. I am still happy with the smaller vehicle just because it is easier to park in tight spaces.
I was wondering how do you get your mail?
From Me: Up 'til now mail has been somewhat sketchy. I still have my home address and my tenants collect any mail and hold it until I alert them of a place to mail it. I have missed out on a few things (like my new Wells Fargo ATM card) but mostly I do my banking on-line. All bills are collected and paid through the Internet. I still have to figure out how to vote, how to register my RV next year, how to get my prescription drugs, etc. So far I have been able to find a friend or relative in a city up ahead that can collect stuff for me.
What difficulties have you encountered?
Keeping Sigh Me cool during the really hot summer days. I bought the above fan that operates on D batteries and, with a few open windows and vents, it really made a difference. But I also have to look for covered or shaded parking when I am gone for more than an hour. The shopping center near the park in DC had covered parking so I went there every morning and the bus came right to the center. It worked great.
The following was a question from Allison: "Where are you going? Do you have an itinerary, or are you just winging it? "
At this very moment I don't really know which direction to head in. My hesitation is only because there is more to see than I ever expected. When I started out on this trip it was 1.) to visit friends and family I had not seen in years 2.) to become better acquainted with the history of my own country and 3) to try and see the parts of the country I have missed in my first 70 years. I laid out a rough trip for the first year that took me through the south, up the east coast, and now through New England, on to Nova Scotia & New Brunswick, then back to Texas via the mid-west. I want to winter in southern Texas and Arizona next December thru March then head up the west coast next summer. And do it all in two years!
Well, I just spent ten days in Washington DC and did not even scratch the surface. So I don't begin to know how to do it all in only two years.
The following was an email from my cousin Cherie with my answers:
I have been so interested in your travels. You see so many places I've wanted to see but also taken us to places I didn't know about. Jerry and I traded the bigger RV we got a few months back for a smaller C class camper. Still an older model but less problems with it and easier to handle. I think we will like it better.
From Me: Obviously, I think smaller is better. I am still happy with the smaller vehicle just because it is easier to park in tight spaces.
I was wondering how do you get your mail?
From Me: Up 'til now mail has been somewhat sketchy. I still have my home address and my tenants collect any mail and hold it until I alert them of a place to mail it. I have missed out on a few things (like my new Wells Fargo ATM card) but mostly I do my banking on-line. All bills are collected and paid through the Internet. I still have to figure out how to vote, how to register my RV next year, how to get my prescription drugs, etc. So far I have been able to find a friend or relative in a city up ahead that can collect stuff for me.
Have you checked with the National State Parks for a discount pass? Apparently for $10 you can get a life time senior pass that gives you up to 50% discount for entrance into National monuments, recreation areas and other places like the Jazz Park in New Orleans. Have you discovered other discounts or savings while traveling?
From Me: See that first photo up above? That is the Greenbelt National Park located inside the Beltway in Washington DC. It is conveniently situated just a short distance from the last stop on the subway line (next photo) and near shopping centers, a library, movie theatre and laundromat. With that National Park pass (it cost me $12 five years ago) the camp ground fee was only $8 per night. I did not have electricity (my 12 volt worked just fine) but the park did supply hot showers and they had a dump station plus fresh water. And I had deer in my campsite each morning I was there. All National Park attractions in DC are free to the public anyway but that pass has gotten me into many many other memorials, museums, and day use parks for free. And to spend 10 nights in DC for only $8 per night is just about unheard of. Finally, I paid $20 for a 'Senior Fast Pass' on the subway (Metro) and, after using it for 6 round-trips into DC including the bus to and from the subway to the RV, I still have $2 left on the pass. Except for an occasional lunch or bottle of water, that is all I spent while sightseeing for 10 days. Note: the State Parks do not honor the senior passes and are usually pretty expensive for camping.
From Me: See that first photo up above? That is the Greenbelt National Park located inside the Beltway in Washington DC. It is conveniently situated just a short distance from the last stop on the subway line (next photo) and near shopping centers, a library, movie theatre and laundromat. With that National Park pass (it cost me $12 five years ago) the camp ground fee was only $8 per night. I did not have electricity (my 12 volt worked just fine) but the park did supply hot showers and they had a dump station plus fresh water. And I had deer in my campsite each morning I was there. All National Park attractions in DC are free to the public anyway but that pass has gotten me into many many other memorials, museums, and day use parks for free. And to spend 10 nights in DC for only $8 per night is just about unheard of. Finally, I paid $20 for a 'Senior Fast Pass' on the subway (Metro) and, after using it for 6 round-trips into DC including the bus to and from the subway to the RV, I still have $2 left on the pass. Except for an occasional lunch or bottle of water, that is all I spent while sightseeing for 10 days. Note: the State Parks do not honor the senior passes and are usually pretty expensive for camping.
What difficulties have you encountered?
Keeping Sigh Me cool during the really hot summer days. I bought the above fan that operates on D batteries and, with a few open windows and vents, it really made a difference. But I also have to look for covered or shaded parking when I am gone for more than an hour. The shopping center near the park in DC had covered parking so I went there every morning and the bus came right to the center. It worked great.
Also ICE! I have a hard time keeping the fridge/icebox cold in this heat. I buy bags of ice but they melt way too fast. So I lose a lot of food if I am not very careful. My fridge will convert to propane but Ron was not able to get it to light so I am looking for someone that can work on it for me. That would solve a big problem and the expense of buying ice every day.
In the meantime there are two things that are helping--1.) milk in packages that do not need refrigeration until they have been opened and 2.) canning jars.
My buddy, June suggested the milk and when I can find the small pint containers of milk I will buy a bunch. Each pint is enough for cereal and coffee or a cream soup. I don't know what they put in the milk to preserve it (I am probably going to sprout a mustache or grow a tail any day now) but it tastes fine and I no longer am wasting quart upon quart of milk in that tepid fridge. The cartons are usually located with powdered and canned milk on the baking isle of the grocery store.
Aunt Pauline and my cousin, Tinker, gave me a number of jars of wonderful homemade jellies last fall and as I emptied them I discovered the jars were a great asset. Always, when I make soup I cannot make a small amount and I was storing it in that lukewarm fridge then throwing it out the next day. So I started using the jars and now I can keep leftovers for days without it spoiling. The jars must be boiled first, then filled with very hot soup (or chili or corned beef & cabbage) sealed, then put back in the pot of boiling water for about 10 more minutes. Leave the jars on the counter over night to cool and the lids will seal. If you can depress the top with your thumb then the jar did not seal and the stuff won't be any good. But guess what...I haven't lost one single jar of anything! And I've made a lot of stuff. After the jars cool I keep them in the fridge--I think it would be pushing my luck to try and store them in the cabinets. Also, the pint size is just perfect for a meal.
Those kitty litter plastic containers are really keeping me organized. I cut off the tops, wash them out good (come on, folks, they don't contain USED kitty litter) then enlist them for just about anything. The one above keeps my travel books and maps that I am working with right by my driver's seat so I can find that map in a hurry. If you don't have a cat, I suggest you go right to the animal shelter and adopt one immediately. Otherwise, I don't know what you are going to do with all that kitty litter.
Never, ever, go to the showers in the RV parks without wearing flip flops. Who knows what awful bugs you might encounter.
I now keep an industrial sized bottle of this stuff next to the holding tank outlet. No matter how careful I am I always feel like I need a shower after I dump the tanks. (Yes, I have had an accident when I did not attach the hose tight enough and it resulted in me throwing away my favorite pair of sandals.)
The one thing I miss a lot is gardening and after touring Montecello I rushed right out and bought this oregano plant. I add a few chopped leaves to my soups or salads--it feeds me in several ways.
As I expected, traffic is a real difficulty. The further north I go the more I notice the crazy aggression. Please note where that car is sitting while waiting for the light...in the crosswalk! I have seen this at least a dozen times now--they stop way beyond the white line then keep inching forward until they are out in the middle of the intersection. If someone is waiting to cross--then tough! And on-coming traffic just swerves around and lays on the horn. And if someone like this guy is behind me he will start honking the minute the light changes--and I have had two middle finger salutes--in one day!
So that is enough grousing for a while. Once again, if you have a question, just ask.
For my sister, Jo: When we were on the phone the other day this scene above is the one I was looking at.
For my sister, Jo: When we were on the phone the other day this scene above is the one I was looking at.
Jerry keeps a box of rubber gloves he got in the paint department at Walmart. They work great when dumping the RV.
ReplyDeleteYou can buy disposable gloves at Walgreens, too. I like them in the kitchen also--for making messy foods like meatballs. Put them on, make the mess, turn them inside out as you remove them, throw them away. No more trying to wash greasy hands in tepid water.
ReplyDeleteToni,
ReplyDeleteThat senior pass will work for free admission and half price camping in some state parks - depending what state you live in and what state you are in. Ours works in Louisiana state parks but so far I haven't tried it out of state.
Jamie
Jamie: I tried at a state park in La and they said I had to be a resident of La. Same for several other states--they will honor the 50% if you are a resident. Some states have out-of-state passes that can be purchased and will give 50% discounts but you would need to use the pass a lot to make it worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteLinda Sand: I did buy the gloves at Walgreens and use them--alas, they don't cover my feet! I will just have to be more alert.
Thanks for the comments. Toni
I dug into it a little more and found this on the La. State Parks website... Visitors who hold an America the Beautiful Senior or Access Pass, and whose home State Park system honor the America the Beautiful passes for overnight discounts, are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. So apparently Arizona won't give me half price so La. won't give an Arizona resident half price. Doesn't sound like Southern Hospitality to me.
DeleteJamie
An email From Aunt Pauline..
ReplyDelete> Hi Toni, You are so clever!!!! That is a great idea for the soups. I liked the picture of the Ball jar. ( I think you take after your old Aunt) Ha Ha!!!
> Tinker has 12 Qts of sweet pickles made. All from cukes from her garden. Now she is going to make bread and butter pickles.