Day: October 13, 2014

by

Ready

Oh, I do hope the cheque is here tomorrow because I am ready. One might wonder what I would have done without this three-day delay. Well, I could have definitely been just as ready to leave first thing Saturday morning. I just stretched out the final chores to fill the days.

Here’s what’s left on my list for tomorrow (or whatever day that dang cheque comes…)

-pack final items into the truck (overnight, computer, and food bags)

-rinse out the black tank and put away the sewer hose (I leave the grey water open so the hose is always hooked up)

-drain the water system, apply the water heater by-pass, and add potable anti-freeze

-put away my garbage barrel

-buy my  US travel medical insurance

-put my SaskTel service on hold

-pack up the booster

-turn off the power, lock the breaker box, and read the metre

-drop a set of keys off at C&Cs

I can do some of those things before checking the post tomorrow, but there’s no sense winterizing until I know for sure that I’m going.

If I am unable to leave tomorrow, I will have to make yet another run into Willow Bunch for food. 🙁 What I bought on Friday was just the right amount to get me to tonight, but otherwise I’m down to nuts and miso soup, not quite a healthy diet!

Mail is sorted by 9:30, so I should know by ten if I am good to go. If so, I’ll be out of here by noon. I’ve conceded that the Opheim crossing makes the most sense even though I haven’t had great experiences crossing there. Should I get through with minimal delay, I’ll be in Glasgow for a late lunch and then I am going to drive hard to Billings. Google Maps says I’m looking at a seven hourish drive, so I wish I could set out sooner than noon, but it is what it is.

In Billings, I need to get an oil change done on the truck (my oil levels are fine for the drive down), buy a new GPS unit (the app I downloaded on my phone is not working well for me) as well as a paper map book, and see about getting a US SIM card for the phone. So that should eat up a good chunk of Wednesday (or the first day after departure…).

Twelve hours to go before I can for mail. Hopefully my next post will be about heading out! 🙂

by

Why You Should Take An RV Trip At Least Once In Your Life

I took the ultimate RV trip, five years of full-timing in a comfortable unit traveling to the far corners of North America. From Alaska to Florida, Vancouver to Montreal, RVing allowed me to see more of the continent than I could have ever dreamed.

Regardless of how you might choose to RV, I think you should take an RV trip at least once in your life.

One of the best parts of RVing is traveling at your own pace with your bed, kitchen, and bathroom. You can keep your surroundings familiar while changing the view outside your window. You can visit large cities and quiet forests without having to pack and unpack. RVing is like going cruising on land.

RVing is also a great way to travel if you have pets. I traveled with two cats that adapted well to the lifestyle. Their perches never changed, but the view outside the window did, and I was able to give them enough routine to keep them happy and stress-free.

You will be surprised by the friendships you make RVing. The more you travel, the more you will find yourself meeting up with the same people. From happy hour to community potlucks, there’s always an excuse to socialize in the RVing world. You will find yourself sharing stories of the places you’ve been, your worst disasters emptying holding tanks, and tips on how to find those magical out of the way places you can’t find in travel guides.

Traveling in an RVing can be very economical. If you choose to make the jump to full-timing, you’ll learn that the cost of maintaining an RV is less than the cost of maintaining a residence. Even if you’re just traveling part-time, you can make most of your meals yourself, cutting down on the cost of eating out. Fuel costs can be intimidating, but are less terrifying when other costs are so low. For example, accommodation doesn’t have to be five-star resort-type parks because there are so many free or nearly free parking locations available, from Walmarts for one-night stays to beautiful beaches for an extended vacation.

If you’re unsure about RVing and just want to try it out for a bit, consider renting a unit. You can rent from large companies or from private owners through a service like RV Share. These owners recoup some of the cost of ownership by renting out their RVs when not using them.

Renting an RV is a great way to try out a variety of units before making a decision to buy. The most common rental unit seen on the road is the class C type, with the overhang over the cab. By renting directly through the owner by way of a service like RV Share, you can get the opportunity to try out a larger class A motorhome or even a towable like a bumper pull trailer, fifth wheel, or tent trailer, which are rare in the commercial RV rental markets.

RVing is a wonderful and affordable way to travel, offering all the conveniences of home on the road. Whether you choose to buy or rent an RV, I really do think you should take an RV trip at least once in your life.

(this is a sponsored post)