Jinx & Wayne

Since we've been RVing we've been in the eastern half of the country. Covid put the brakes on this year's western travel. Before that I've been in every state (although Alaska's visit was confined to the view from the drop door of a C-141 medevac flight on the ground in December at 2:00 am.) I've lived in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Hawaii, Florida and California. I visited most of non-communist Europe when stationed in Germany, and I've been to a few places in Asia. The Caribbean was confined to cruise ports with the exception of travel in Mexico. As a kid we camped our way across country between New England and California several times (tent and car, not RV). Jinx has traveled extensively in the US having been to all states except Alaska. Her family RV'd. We cruised the Caribbean together and we met at Ft. Riley, KS (both vets.) The adventure continues.

Amen. When I was in my teens and 20's sleeping on the ground in all weather for Uncle Sam was an adventure. I've lived in a remote trapper's cabin in Maine in winter, hiked 1000 mile of the Appalachian Trail and bicycle camped across the Northwestern US. Now I'm 70. Parts hurt that once did not. I get cold more easily. C-rations and campfire cooking are less appealing. A good bed, comfortable furniture, a full kitchen (I'm the cook) and even TV entertainment are much appreciated. That is especially true since we are in this full time. Life is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Our needs vary from person to person and our individual wants and needs change with the years. I'm not convinced that selling the fiver for a popup is a good idea. Wayne

Start with basics. Are you getting enough propane to the appliances? You have an older rig (as we do.) The average life of a regulator is 10 years. Gas lines gum up. Before you start buying parts and appliances have your local RV tech do a drop test to determine whether your gas flow is adequate.

We installed WiFi Ranger. That gave us good security, easy secure connection to campground WiFi and easy on/off VPN for more secure transactions. WiFi Ranger user manual

Bingo. Bigjim, you are spot on. We've been full time for over two years and have used the mail service for two years+. I ALWAYS use email to set delivery and ALWAYS check the confirming email. I'm trying to determine whether this is likely to be a continuing problem.

We used email not phone. We got confirmation from Escapees that the package would be sent Next Day FEDEX. Despite that it was sent USPA 1st class. I don't way any way to catch that mistake.

dogyard, Thank you. I hope to be at next year's Escapade, but time will tell. Maybe we will see you there.

Bill, Thanks again. I'm taking your suggestion and going down I-87 thru NY

Chalk sticks. (Headslap to my forehead). Thank you.

Last week our absentee ballots came in to Livingston. I set them for Fedex overnight on 10/12. Instead they were mailed standard 1st class which takes 6-7 days for delivery. As a result I am forced to stay in Vermont an extra 4-5 days. Has anyone had similar issues? I am asking because if this is common I need to find another mail service.

For me the phrase I is GOALS. Get Out And Look, Stupid. It is written on my checklist Folks, I know how to back up using mirrors, cameras, GOALS and a checklist. I've been doing it full time for a couple of years. I'm glad all y'all know how, too. The question was not about how to hookup. I'm not looking for lessons or advice on how to hookup. I don't use the tire alignment marks as a substitute for mirrors or cameras or GOALS or a checklist; I use tire alignment IN ADDITION to those things. For me having marks to line up tires makes hookup faster and more pleasant, particularly in bad weather. Don't do it if you don't want to do it. The question was ideas about how not to permanently mark the concrete in campgrounds. Apparently, you are as stumped as I am. So tape it is. Thanks. Remember GOALS.

Thanks. You are absolutely right about Hartford/West Hartford being a horror - crummy roads, left exits, poor signage and heavy traffic. My plan is to take 91 to Meriden and 691 to 84 which should avoid the worst of Hartford. I will probably do it Sunday which helps. I will look at the NY option. I also agree that the Delaware WG is a nice ride from Matamoras to Stroudsburg. Do you have any info about the actual pavement conditions on US-7?

Then you probably shouldn't do it. I wasn't looking for converts, just ideas.

Will, As a fellow New Englander I thoroughly appreciate your attachment to the North Country.

We are heading south from Shelburne, VT this weekend. Does anyone have recent information about the condition of US-7 from there to Danbury, CT. We came across US-2 from Maine and there were some pretty rough sections. I am trying to decide whether to take the shorter US-7 or the longer I-89/I-91 route to I-84.

We went full time 2-1/2 years ago. This year COVID changed our travel plans. We were planning on attending the Escapade in WY and traveling out west. Instead we sat tight in FL for a few months to see how things shook out. That is where the flexibility of RV living helped. When hurricane season began to heat up we traveled up to Maine for the last half of summer. Evacuating to a shelter was not something we would consider and our RV has troubling flight characteristics in high winds. We are now in VT and are spending 5 or 6 weeks heading back to FL to winter. If something comes up we can move. We did have to quarantine for two weeks when we came to Maine. We will do the same when we move into our winter park. The key to traveling safely is the same as the key to living safely in S & B - be careful. You are not invulnerable because you live in a S & B or anywhere else. Follow the science. Wash hands. Mask. Distance. Avoid indoors. I have no guarantee that I won't get it, but I have no guarantee living in S & B, either. We do not go into stores or other businesses. We get groceries either delivered or do curbside pickup. Instacart is a good grocery delivery service (HINT-don't make tips a percentage of purchase price or you may find an unscrupulous shopper who substitutes more expensive items to increase the tip). For areas that are not serviced by instacart, Walmarts have curbside grocery delivery. We use Amazon and stores that do curbside. We limit our activities to outside things such as golf, biking and hiking. We do not participate in group activities. The only exception was forming a pod with our eldest daughter and SIL in Maine. We know they have solid health practices and we agreed to limit contact to the four of us. With family members outside of that pod visits are conducted outside and distanced. I've not had trouble making reservations except for Halloween. Apparently that is a big family RV holiday. So far, so good

Yes, I can back up with mirrors and camera Nonetheless, I don't always get it lined up right the first or even second time. And some mornings when I hook up it is raining. Some mornings when I have a long day on the road I want to save time. Marks on the ground are easier to line up because you just look out of the window and look directly at them. You can line up the night before (when it is not raining) without changing the trailer height. Usually I am out of the truck only once to double check the alignment once the trailer is raised. At most it takes one adjustment of an inch or so. I've found this system is easier for me. I'm looking for a way to apply the system to concrete sites without permanently marking the concrete.

No common sense allowed here,. It stifles discussion.🥴 Yes, I can buy a new hose every couple of years. However, my goal is to avoid the algae rather than drink it for a while until I get around to buying a new hose. So does common sense say one year or two before algae growth starts?

I had both blue snd white. I just bought a metal one which should do better at blocking sunlight. Do you have any information on how they work?

Darryl, You mean those things have a use beyond checking to see whether you have food stuck between your teeth? Who knew!?!? Don’t you find reattaching them every time to be tedious?

I've been looking at ways to simplify hooking up to my 5er. On non-concrete pad sites I've started marking the truck position for hookup. When I drop the RV I drive forward just far enough to clear the RV with the tailgate of the truck down. I then put two nail and collar mat anchors in the ground (using shorter nails than the mat anchors), one aligned with each of the left side tires and one inch out. The collars are painted so they are easier to see. It is easier to line up with these than with the hitch while backing up. Once I am lined up it is just a straight backup to the hitch (but still look, first.) I am thinking gorilla tape might work on concrete, but haven't tried it. I've used two color reflective tape on the hitch and have a camera, but the anchors seem to work best. Is anyone out there doing anything similar that might work on concrete? Mat anchors

Elegantly simple. I will try it. How often do you suggest?

No, the hose has been in use for 2 years except for travel days. I haven't had any health issues from the water. Not all of the parks have been municipal water. Some were on tested wells. Pretty much any water source will grow algae. Chlorinated municipal sources will grow it once the chlorine evaporates.

Does anyone have a tip for cleaning a water hose. Mine is 2-1/2 years old. It is apparently growing algae on the inner surface because it comes out in little sheets and clogs the screen on my filter. I know about sterilizing the system inside the RV, but I am not aware of a process for the hoses themselves. I've purchased new hoses but would like to avoid this problem in the future. Ideas?

Things to know about marijuana and interstate RV travel. While tolerance of marijuana use is growing, it can still have serious consequences, particularly for travelers. In some states possession is a felony. In some states if it is found in your vehicle your vehicle can be forfeit. Sometimes the difference between felony trafficking and felony/misdemeanor possession is amount. That amount varies from state to state. In some others it is a misdemeanor. In some it is legal. This is a matter of state law. Under federal law possession is illegal everywhere. This can be a serious problem if you are in a national park or other federal lands. MJ DUI laws vary from state to state, too. In some states the presence of any THC in your blood or urine is presumptive DUI. In others the DUI level is based upon the concentration of THC in the blood or urine; a common threshold is 5 ng/ml of whole blood. In other states is is an issue of impairment related to THC. Most states rely to some extent on NHTSA Drug Recognition Evaluation which has been deemed to be voodoo science in some places. If you are driving a multi-ton vehicle and convicted of DUI expect jail. If you are charged in any court having to come back to that state to appear in court can be a major issue for travelers. For a good summary of the marijuana laws in the US see NORMAL's website: