Raquel

As I was reading posts from the past few years I was amazed to see so many familiar names. If those think back ... really hard ... you'll probably remember when I was posting quite regularly. Well, we're finally doing what we always knew would happen, but it's happening sooner than we thought it might. We have a 2013 Heartland Landmark that we've been in 8 years. We pull it with a 2005 Volvo VNL 780. We've had a wonderful time traveling most of the U.S. and the Maritimes of Canada. But, it's time to move on to the next adventure, we're moving to Boquete, Panama. We're trying to sell the tractor and trailer as a unit. We're staying on the property of some friends and they're wanting the space back and we don't want to become like "company and dead fish", starting to smell. We already have our flights schedule and tickets paid for, so we'll be gone in 30 days. Raquel Rice

We've spent the last almost 2 months in the Maritimes and slowly heading back to the U.S. Our "touring" is being hampered by the failing health of our little Chihuahua, Bryce. We're trying to wait until we stop in RI (to visit some friends) where there is a veterinarian who we know will treat him with respect. He's been my little buddy for the past 13 years and this is very difficult.

Our departure from here was delayed 3 weeks, so I was just looking last night about adjusting our schedule. I've only gotten to Colorado Springs on our "re-imagining", so far. We're on our way to Box Elder, SD to change our domicile and register to vote. I should know more in just a few days.

Looks like we'll miss each other in ABQ. We're staying for a couple of days in Colorado Springs, visiting friends before moving on to Denver to see some friends, he just had open heart surgery and is recovering in Denver.

We finally get to leave Bullhead City on Saturday. From here we're heading to Albuquerque, up to Colorado Springs and Denver, and then on to Box Elder, SD. Maybe we'll cross paths along the way somewhere, Jack?

Welcome Marcel and Lisa. We've found this forum quite helpful as we've progressed from being in your position to having our own HDT.

I have no idea. It was "just that way". I didn't touch a thing.

Oh my. I go away for a few hours and everything changes

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6gh0o5bbzjqxuj3/2013-02-17%2006.44.25.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/9a0zypmmhay70io/2013-02-18%2006.48.03.jpg

We left our home base for the 3-day weekend. It was only 60 miles, each way, but it was nice to see some different things and to walk some different walks. The biggest difference besides the view out our windows is that besides this being our first fun trip in our new home, we boondocked for 2 days! We went to an Army Corps of Engineers campground where there are no hookups. We amazed ourselves that we got along quite well. It was a bit chilly (49 degrees in our living room when we got up this morning ... we didn't know if we would run our batteries down) but, we're learning. We usually turn our heat down to 55 at night so it was cold. We're not sure how long things will last so, next time we're thinking that it'll be a bit warmer, so we'll turn the heat on with the timer set to our normal temp and schedule. Where we parked was away from everyone else and it was so nice. It was sooooo quiet. The wind blew hard for 8 hours yesterday, so we stayed inside and talked and read and talked some more. Late in the afternoon the died so we were able to take a 2 hour walk, so it was all good. And at night there were a gazillion stars that we don't normally get to see. The lake was really low but, we got to see some really pretty sunrises. The two pictures were taken before the sun rose, one Sunday morning and one this (Monday) morning. On Edit: Picture 1 Picture 2

Trish and Raquel: Paradise, California (5er) for the foreseeable future.

No. Your truck has 3-pedals, a clutch, a brake and accelerator. Our truck has 2-pedals, a brake and an accelerator. When we stop or start out we don't push in a clutch because there is none. All we do is let off the brake pedal press on the accelerator. In every other sense it's like yours in that it shifts automatically.

Trish has the same situation. We do each try to drive the truck half the time, meaning that when the truck goes out we each try to drive it half the way. However, Trish drives the GMC each day to work and back while I usually stay home. After driving the car during the week, getting into the truck things are just enough different that she has to think about everything a little more ... and our truck is a 2-pedal auto.

A New Horizons would have been nice but, it was more than we wanted to spend right now. We got a 2013 Heartland Landmark San Antonio. It's beautiful and we're loving it.

Thank you, Alicia. We LOVE our truck and learning to love our trailer too.

I forget that many do not read the "guy's" forum, so, despite having posted pictures to the "guy's" forum, I didn't post pictures here. Below are a couple of pictures that can be found in the "truck link" in my sigline and which were posted in the "guy's" forum. This photo was taken as we were preparing to mount up and leave the dealership with our new home. We spent our 3 days there in one of the worst storms in a long time. Nearly the entire time it was raining (3 inches an hour) and the wind was blowing (60 mph) but, it gave us a good chance to look for problems with the coach. We found a few things which were fixed, and a few other things which we need to go back for. This photo was taken at a rest area on our way to our S&B. We got there after dark and managed to get the trailer parked in the dark. Our across the street neighbors let us park in their driveway which was really nice. There was no way we were getting the trailer into our driveway! The next 3 days we spent moving things from the S&B into the trailer. Last Wednesday evening ... after dark ... we got parked in the RV park where we'll stay for awhile. We still have so much stuff that's stored in the basement and even upstairs. It will sure be nice to get all the stuff sorted, scanned and either shredded or stored to take to kids or other family members.

Guess I'd better pass on the news. Our trailer arrived in Sacramento yesterday afternoon! WOOHOO!! We're going down to the dealer in Sacramento tomorrow morning for an introduction. Then we're spending 3 days/nights on their lot using everything there is and making sure she's in good shape to come home.

I used to make all of our jam/jelly plus most of the jam/jelly for some friends (apple, sweet pepper [with a kick], pear, peach, strawberry, mint). I enjoyed it, especially when Trish was able to help and it was great to enjoy summer's fruits all year long.

The Prickly Pear jam and jelly sound interesting. Can't wait to make some and try it out. Trish is nearly finished clearing out 2 4-drawer filing cabinets, scanning and shredding the contents. Now there's a 2-drawer left with tax filings. Trish has photos and memorabilia of her 2 kids to digitize and then pass on. I have my baby books, my first birthday cards and photos, school photos, my report cards, photos of my grandparents and parents. I have photos of my kids as well as assorted memorabilia (drawings, cards, "letters" from them ... all those things that went up onto the refrigerator). All that personal stuff will get digitized before passing on to kids. Like you said, it's so overwhelming, even as the pile goes down.

For years we've done a huge dinner for people we know who don't have family nearby. This year, because of when our trailer is supposed to arrive and trying to be out of here without paying another month's rent, we've cancelled that. We'll most likely be here going through boxes of stuff and trying to get moved into our new home.

Quoted from a different topic: Yeah, we're a bit busy here, trying to sort through everything and decide what to sell, what to give away and what "just goes away". Our 5th wheel should be here in 2 - 3 weeks (we're hoping) so we're scanning all our paperwork and records up onto the cloud, and then shredding them. We have boxes and boxes of pictures and momentos. My youngest son is going to get the lion's share of those. It's just a monumental task, as you are probably too aware yourself.

The 5th wheel we've ordered, but haven't gotten yet, will be our first RV. However, I think that frameless windows are easier to maintain because they are similar to automotive windows, installed with a gasket that doesn't require caulking to seal/re-seal and supposedly doesn't leave black streaks down the side of the RV.

Sharon, We're both really anxious to get our trailer AND to be on the road. I see it getting harder and harder each day for Trish to go to work and even for me just to be here. We're sooooo ready to start moving around. And, we're so ready to show up at an HDT rally. We both grew up in the Portland, Oregon area and love the Oregon Coast. Our first "trip" after Trish retires is to go up to the central coast and parking for a month. The idea is to let Trish "wind down", get used to the idea of not having to get up and rush out of the house; give her time to slow down a bit. After that, we have no idea where we'll head. I'd kind of like to head towards the Northern Rockies after that. BTW, I appreciate you "taking the bull by the horns" and keeping this thread going.

That means that turnabout is fair play. Have I ever seen pictures of you? I'm the blond holding the little dog in my arms. The brunette is Trish. We're getting a 2013 Landmark San Antonio. What else would you like to know? By Christmas we should be FULL-TIMERS!

Sharon, obviously since we weren't there, this has nothing to do with the poll/ideas you started from the rally. However, for us, it's exciting! The loan for our trailer was approved this week and tomorrow we go down to Sacramento to write the purchase order for our trailer! <bouncing off the walls!>