Life on the road

Take A Road Trip To Big Spring, Texas

If you find yourself in Amarillo, Texas for a few days, you might consider taking a drive down to Big Spring. it’s about a two hour drive south from Amarillo. When you get there, there are lots of choices of things to do and see.

Big Spring State Park

Take in scenic views from the 200 foot bluff on the loop road. Walk or job on the loop, or plan a picnic lunch in the pavilion. Stop by the season interpretive center to view indian artifacts and fossils. If you are a bird watcher, you might check off a couple of species from your life list.

The Heritage Museum

This is where you will see items of cultural and historical significance to Big Spring and West Texas. Old phonographs, dolls, a medical exhibit, and a T&P Railroad exhibit are all part of the Heritage Museum.

Moss Creek Lake

Moss Creek Lake is 400 acres, and provides water to Howard County. It also provides locals and visitors with a recreational area for wet and wild fun. There are more than two dozen campsites and two pavilions available, as are a playground, paintball and dirt bike courses, and a beach swimming area.

Hangar 25 Air Museum

From the Hangar 25 Air Museum website:

Hangar 25 Air Museum is housed in a fully restored WWII era hangar. The mission of Hangar 25 Air Museum is to promote education through the collection, preservation and exhibition of the history of the Big Spring Army Air Force Bombardier School and Webb Air Force Base while honoring all veterans, past and present. Often our museum is staffed by retired veterans and civil service employees who are ready to share their memories of the hangar when it was a hub of activity, first, during WWII as a part of the Big Spring Bombardier School and later as a part of Webb Air Force Base, supporting the training of over 10,000 pilots from 1952 to 1977.

World War II plane at Hangar 25 Air Museum

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Workamping In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Karen · Leave a Comment

The year after we worked in Virginia, we decided to go to work for a campground in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. We found the ad for the job in Workamper News, applied for it, and were hired. We were offered wages for every hour worked, a full hook-up site to live on while we worked there, and a bonus at the end of the season. Other perks included free tours and tickets to attractions, so that we could become familiar with them and sell tickets at the front desk when campers checked in.

Our campsite was beautiful! We were parked in front of a civil war era barn, that had once been used as a hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg. We had plenty of room, and our neighbors were all working at the campground.

Granite Hill Campground offered many activities for all ages. There were supervised games, fishing rodeos, dances, and twice a year, they sponsored a Bluegrass Music Festival. You can believe that the place was packed during the festivals.

Granite Hill Campground is located in the countryside outside of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The people who come there to relax on the weekends come from Washington, D.C; Baltimore, Maryland; and Philadelphia, Pa. All of these places are within an easy 2-3 hour drive from the campground. There is so much to do that your kids can stay busy, while you sit outside and enjoy the time off from your job. My favorite weekend there was when they had steamed crabs!

Things to do away from the campground include touring the battlegrounds, driving around the rural area stopping for fresh fruits and vegetables, the Land of Little Horses, and the Round Barn. The Land of Little Horses has a petting zoo and sells food for the animals so you can feed them. You can also see a show with trained horses, dogs, and goats doing all sorts of tricks, including playing baseball!

You will love Granite Hill Campground, and may even become one of their regulars if you decide to go there.

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How to Prepare for Full-Time RV Living

Karen · Leave a Comment

Many people are interested in living full time in the RV because it is expensive to get a loan to buy a house these days. An RV is cheaper than a house and more easily affordable by people with average income. There are also lesser bills if you stay in an RV. There are many other reasons people want to live full-time in an RV, such as travelling around the country and visiting attractions or to get away from condo life in the city.

Our first travel trailer. We traded it in in 2007.

Set a Departure Date

The first step is to set a departure date. Decide what you need to do before departing. For example, if you own a house, you will have to wait until you can sell it or rent it to someone else before transitioning to an RV lifestyle. If you own a business, it will take some time for you to close it down and or sell it. In addition, there are lots of things you need to pack away. You may want to take some time to visit your friends/family members and tell them about your plans.

Create a to-do List

Second, you need to compile a to-do list on what you need to do prepare for full-time RV living. The to-do list should consist of things such as shop for campers, hold a garage sale, do research on the best camping places, find a mail service, terminate utility services, and how you will be making an income while travelling in RV. The to-do list is based on your personal situations.

You can download a to-do list PDF template online and use a PDF editor to fill the blank fields with all your chores. The most important chore should be in the number one position in the list. As you complete a chore, you can cross it off the list. Get more details at Movavi

Don’t Take All Your Stuff into Your RV

RV’s are small and you probably have more stuff in your house than you will ever need. You will need to get rid of some stuff to save space in the RV. Good organization is the key to packing all your stuff away neat and compact. Start with packing away the small stuff that you are not using regularly. Label the boxes appropriately so you can easily find what you need when you unpack them. Group together the stuff that you want to either discard, donate, or sell in a garage sale. If you have a busy lifestyle, you can set aside 1 – 2 hours daily to pack your stuff. You might consider renting a storage unit to store your stuff while you are travelling full-time in your RV.

Clothing

Clothes are one of the things that take a lot of space in your RV, so try not to take too many clothes. You will most likely only need casual clothing. A couple pairs of jeans, a couple of shirts, a few t-shirts, a sweater or two, and a winter jacket. Of course you’ll need pajamas, underware, socks, and shoes. The rest of your clothes can be put on eBay to sell as second-hand clothes or you can donate them to a charity.

Kitchen

Kitchen tools can also take up a lot of space. Choosing items that can be used for several purposes saves space. For example, a small food processor can be used for many things. An instant pot can replace a rice cooker, a pressure cooker, and a slow cooker. Because you won’t always have access to electricity, get a manual can opener instead of an electric one.

Outdoors

Don’t forget to bring some furniture for the outdoors, like foldable chairs and table, a hammock, an outdoor rug, and a barbecue grill.

Join an RV Club

Joining RV clubs can help you to save money on RV living. When we lived full-time in our RV, we had membership to Passport America. Club members enjoy up to 50% discounts when they park their RVs in selected campgrounds. KOA members get access to an RV job board. Prior to joining a club, make sure you read the fine print. Some campgrounds don’t give discounts for weekend camping. If the club does offer discounts on the campgrounds, make sure to check the amenities they offer before visiting.

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5 Things You Need to Know about Living in an RV

Karen · Leave a Comment

Living in an RV is a new experience for most people, and a completely different lifestyle than buying or renting a home. You’ll essentially be living in a space comparable to a tiny home with your spouse or the entire family. Whether your kids are grown and it’s just you and your spouse living in an RV or you’re living with your spouse plus kids in an RV, there are some things I’d like you to know about living in an RV to prepare you for this lifestyle change.

Fabgrandpa and I lived in this Jayco Eagle Travel Trailer for the last six years we traveled full time. This photo was taken on Hwy 89A in Arizona.

You’ll Need to Embrace Minimalism

While you don’t have to be a minimalist to live in an RV this lifestyle option will help in making sure you have more space. While living in an RV full-time you’ll need to downsize and get used to living a bit smaller. This means space and wardrobe as well as extras such as not having a huge selection of household items that you may have gotten used to having while living in an apartment or home. I had nowhere to hang photos of my children, and I missed that while I lived in my RV.

Roadside Assistance is a Good Thing

When you’re living in an RV, you’re essentially living in a vehicle which means a roadside assistance program will pay for itself. Research the various roadside assistance options available in your area and be sure to purchase one. There’s nothing worse than getting a flat tire on your home and having to figure out where to stay or what to do next.

Campsites Can Be Costly

While the good news about RV living is that you can actually stay at select Walmart parking lots overnight in an RV, the reality is that you cannot live in a Walmart parking lot. This means you’ll have to opt for a campsite at some point to shower and hook up your RV to drain out the sewage. Campsites can be cheap or costly, so do your due diligence in researching the options available. You can join some organizations that will save money on the per night stays at some campgrounds. Check out Thousand Trails and Passport America.

Find Work on the Fly

There are many campgrounds that will hire you to do odd and end tasks while out there living full time on the road. You can look for RV jobs at sites like WorkamperNews for various RV tasks and jobs that will hire you. This can be a great way to add some extra income to your budget and get a little change of scenery while living in an RV full time. if you have always wanted to live in a national park, you may want to take at look at seasonal jobs on USAJobs.org. Be sure to find out if the national park you are applying for has employee housing or employee campsites available.

Consider Bringing a Car

You may want to have a car towed by your motorhome so that you can enjoy traveling to various places while parked at a campsite. Having a car in tow will ensure that you have a vehicle that will use less gas than your RV while parked at a local RV campsite. If you don’t want to bring a car, then look into car rentals or an UBER to get you where you need to go when parking at a campground.

Our first travel trailer. We traded it in in 2007 for a new one.

Living in an RV is such a fun experience, but it’s also a learning experience. Many full-time RV’ers have said it takes about one year to fully adjust to this lifestyle. Living in an RV full time is a great way to enjoy life a bit more than you can when living inside the four walls of an apartment or house. Fabgrandpa and lived in our travel trailer for more than 13 years. If you have any questions about this unique lifestyle, please don’t hesitate to ask them in the comments.

Buying or Selling an RV? Visit RvDealers.ca .

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What to Pack When Camping with Family

Karen · 1 Comment

Years ago, my husband and I would go camping with just a sleeping bag, an iron skillet, pancake mix for the morning meal, and some corn meal and cooking oil for frying fish. All this fit into the trunk of our car. We slept under the stars, and truly enjoyed our days camping by the lake. We stopped doing that when our 18 month old son got out of my sleeping bag before I woke up, and we found him at the edge of the lake!

No matter how you do it, camping is a great way to spend quality time with family. When you choose to go camping it is important that you have everything that you need. One way to make sure you have everything you need is to make a Camping Check List. The list can be elaborate, or simple. The main thing is that you need to make sure that the essential items are on the list, and packed to go with you.

Campsite

Tent
Sleeping bags and pads
Pillow
Flashlights or headlamps
Camp chairs and table

Camp Kitchen

Fuel and stove
Firestarter or matches
Cooking pots and utensils
Frying pan
Plates and bowls
Cups or mugs
Water bottles
Sharp knife

Most campsites have drinkable water. Bring water on your own or be prepared to treat water if you don’t have drinkable water at the campsite.

Clothing and Footwear

The choice of clothing and footwear should be done based on the weather conditions prevalent during the months you choose to go camping.

A wrong choice of clothes and footwear will ruin the entire experience.

Long sleeve shirts
Moisture resistant underwear
Quick-drying pants and shorts
Sleepwear (pajamas)
Socks
Boots or shoes depending on the terrain
Gloves and mittens if the temperature is quite cold

Health and Hygiene

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Toiletry kit
Quick-dry towel
First aid kit and supplies
Insect repellant
Sunscreen
Toilet paper
Hand sanitizer

If you are camping with kids you should pay extra attention to what you want to pack. You will need books, toys, a favorite blanket or toy or stuffed animal, games, headlamps and other essentials.

And last, but not least, is what to pack for your vehicle. If you are camping in a remote location, or a very rural place, here are some things you may need, just in case you get stuck in the mud or sand. You’ll be glad you had them with you:

A shovel
A rake (for raking up leaves or pine straw to put under the wheels that are stuck. )
A flare gun, so you can send a signal for help.
Make sure the spare has enough air in it.
A jack
Water for the battery

Make the camping trip fun for everyone, and memorable for the stories told around the campfire, not the ones told later about the horrible times you had because you forgot something you needed.

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How To Drive In Snow

Karen · Leave a Comment

I just looked at the weather forecast for west Georgia , northern Alabama and Tennessee for the next ten days, and shocked to see that ugly four letter “S” word on there for two days in a row! I know that those of you who live in places like Montana, and Colorado, and Nebraska are probably laughing at me right now. But you just don’t understand. We got snow so infrequently that when we do get it, people don’t know how to drive in it. We weren’t supposed to have snow down here. At least I don’t think so.

That’s 4-8 inches over 2 days! in Georgia!

So, here are some tips for my fellow southerners for driving in inclement weather. From snow, to black ice, to heavy rain, to tornados, we need to learn how to get from here to there when Mother Nature has a hissy fit!

First, let me say that if the authorities on the news and on The Weather Channel say to stay at home, then you really should listen to them.

What to do when driving in snow:

If you really have to go out when it snows, do these things:
Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Take it easy when you start up and when you get ready to stop.
Slow down. Drive slowly. Driving slower helps you keep better control if you start to skid or spin out.
Keep a bag of sand or kitty litter and a small shovel in your trunk in case you get stuck in snow. Don’t push on the gas pedal if you are stuck. Get out of the car and move the snow out from in front of the tires. Pour sand or kitty litter under the tires. Get back in the car, and press lightly on the gas pedal , and slowly back up a little, then go forward a little, rocking the car back and forth, until the tires get traction and you can drive off.
Leave at least three car lengths between your car and the car in front of you.
If you start to skid, take your foot off the gas, and do not hit the brakes. Slowly turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the car to go.
If you are driving in mountainous terrain and there is significant snow, use tire chains. The chains help give your tires traction on the slippery snow and ice.

All of these things will hopefully help you get home safely, but wouldn’t it be much better to just stay home and have a cup of hot chocolate?

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Six Great Apps To Use On Road Trips

Karen · 1 Comment

This post is sponsored by Sandoval Buick GMC

Google Maps

Having Google Maps on your phone eliminates the need for a GPS. You can put in your home address, or starting point, and the destination address, and Google Maps will tell you turn by turn how to get there. It will give you two or three routes you can take, such as shortest route, and scenic route. This app is free, and I use it all the time. Just be sure to have a car charger for your phone, because Google Apps uses up the battery quickly. Rated 4.3 by users.

Weather Underground

I also use Weather Underground. This app shows you at a glance what the weather is in the area you are in. It is helpful because you can see the weather radar, so you know if there are any storms around, and how far away they may be from you. Rated 4.5 by users. Free.

Flashlight

Just in case you don’t have a real flashlight in your car, Flashlight app uses the camera flash to send out a high beam of light, so you can see your way around in the dark, unlock the car, even signal oncoming traffic that you are on the side of the road. Rated 4.6 by users. Free.

iExit

iExit tells you what is up ahead at the next exit. Whether you are looking for a restroom, a gas station, or somewhere to eat, iExit will let you know just how far away you are from the exit where you’ll find it. Rated 3.6 by users. Free.

Gas Buddy

Gas Buddy helps you find the gas stations with the cheapest gas, no matter where you might be. The app shows you the gas prices for each station up ahead. Rated 4.6 stars by users. Free.

AAA Mobile

AAA Mobile is a free app for members of AAA. If you’re a member, you can use the app to call for road service , get maps and directions, and more. Rated 4.0 by users.

What other apps do you use when you travel?

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Seven Things To Have In Your Car During Winter

Karen · Leave a Comment

Whether you are taking a road trips to get a peek at the fall colors in the mountains; to the football stadium to watch your old college team play; or going to Grandma’s house, you need to make sure you are prepared for Winter like weather. What exactly do you need to be prepared for emergencies? Here is a list of things you should gather together to keep in your car “just in case” that light snow turns into a blizzard.

Tire Chains

I don’t need these in Georgia, but if I was traveling to Michigan or Indiana, I might look for some to keep in the trunk. I don’t want to be caught out on the highway standing still because I can’t get traction under my tires.

A Blanket

I usually keep a blanket in the trunk during the cold months, just in case I were to get stranded on the road. They also come in handy for covering up when you are the passenger and the driver wants the inside temperature to be cooler than you like.

A Water Bottle

If you get stranded, it is amazing how fast you get thirsty. Bottled water can freeze and burst, but if you keep a water bottle in the car, you’ll have a container to put snow or ice in so it can melt

Dried Foods

Dried foods like trail mix, nuts, granola, or dried fruit will keep your energy up even if you are stranded overnight. Other things you could have on hand are jerky, cereal, or rice krispy treats.

An Ice Scraper

An ice scraper will work so much better than a drivers license or credit card to remove ice and snow from your windshield.

A Small Folding Shovel

You might need something to help you dig out of the snow or mud if you wind up in a ditch. Keep a shovel in the trunk and you’ll be prepared.

A Flare

A flare will help people find you if you are stranded in a storm. Make sure to replace it if you use it.

What else can you think of that would be good to add to your winter emergency kit in your car?

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