RV Traveling Tales
Women's Journeys on the Open Road

Alice Zyetz

2005 RV Lifestyle columns

Full-time RVing: More Than Beautiful Scenery©

See also RV Lifestyles columns 2003-2004

Subscribe to RV Lifestyles© by sending an e-mail to rvlifestyle-subscribe@listbase.net (Be sure to add rvlifestyle@listbase.net to your address book.) For information on reprinting Alice's columns, contact youshoulda at aol.com

November, 2005 - Review: RV Chuckles and Chuckholes
October, 2005- Writing on the road
August, 2005- Disc golf
July, 2005 - Ham Radio
June, 2005 - Motorcycling
May, 2005 - My Medical Assistant
March, 2005 - Spring Escapade
February, 2005 - Elk-a-Rang
January, 2005 - Physically-challenged RVers - Part II

November, 2005 - Review: RV Chuckles and Chuckholes 

When RVers hit the road, it’s a great temptation to collect small souvenirs of their travels. Many people collect photos of the wonderful places they’ve visited, some collect matchbooks, others pamphlets of favorite historical sites. Darlene Miller has collected anecdotes from herself and others about the lifestyle itself and has combined them into a little book, RV Chuckles and Chuckholes-the Confessions of Happy Campers.

Based on her eight years of full-timing with husband Terry, she gives little snippets of life on the road starting with how to pack your "stuff" in the RV and how share your space in the oblong box with that other creature who has his own "stuff" and foibles. For those of us already on the road, who hasn’t heard from housebound relatives and friends: "Stay in our house so you’ll have a real bed," which of course turns out to be the pull-out couch with the metal frame that sticks in your ribs all night.

In a lighthearted and loving way, Darlene addresses that issue as well as the ups and downs of parking a rig, seeing grandchildren, having pets, visiting churches that vary from the Crystal Cathedral to the six-member congregation plus barn swallow that settled down when the service began. She also gives helpful tips, including a reminder to check to see if your partner is in the rig before you take off, particularly if he has no clothes on. See book for more details.

One of her best pieces of advice is about husbands that she learned from a friend in North Carolina: It’s all right to criticize as long as you say "Bless his heart" afterwards. Apparently it’s a Southern thing, but it works for me. I too have a husband. Bless his heart. Contact Darlene at rovingpen@Direcway.com for more information. RovingPen.com Book costs $9.95 plus s/h.

October, 2005- Writing on the road
When they hit the road, many people want to describe their journeys to friends and family back home or else they feel like they finally have time to write down some of their stories for their children and grandchildren.

Jaimie and I just spent two incredible days with Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones and many other books. For the last fifteen years I (along with Jaimie and many other RVers) have been influenced by Natalie’s writing advice, which briefly stated is "The best way to write is by writing." Natalie calls it writing practice. Pick a topic ( or writing prompt), set a timer for ten minutes and just write. Keep your hand MOVING. Even if you can’t think of anything, write "I can’t think of anything" and keep writing. Pretty soon something will pop into your mind.

Be specific. Don’t write car; write Cadillac or Jeep. Being specific paints a clear picture for your reader. Don’t write tree; write eucalyptus or weeping willow. Ignore the critic on your shoulder who says nobody will ever want to read what you write. Just write.

At the last two Spring Escapades, I’ve taught a workshop helping people start writing their travel or life stories. Here are some of the prompts I’ve given to help them get therir words down.

* What I love about traveling is . . .

* My family thinks . . .

* The biggest change in me since I’ve been traveling is . . . 

* Describe your heart place—favorite place.

* Happy times

* Funny stories

* Dealing with illness and tragedy

* Relationships with parents, children, spouse

* Other

* Parents: where born, educated, married. Any interesting anecdotes?

* Brothers and sisters: who, place in family, special anecdotes growing up

* Yourself: born, educated, anecdotes

* Your early childhood: family, toys, pets, books, house, favorite clothing

* First day of school: school, teacher, friends, other years or grades

* First date: what age, who was it, what happened, other memorable dates

* Spiritual experience: describe place of observance, special music, experiences

* Marriage: when/how you met, how you felt, why this person, special times

* Jobs, memorable trips, funniest moments, best moments, worst, most scary

I also have a list of 50 general prompts for writing practice put together by the people I write with at Jojoba Hills SKP Park. Send me an e-mail with writing prompts in the subject line and I’ll send them to you. Happy Writing

August, 2005 - Disc golf
This month we are looking at the joys of disc golf. Thanks to Kit Carter for sharing his special interest.

And what IS disc golf, you may ask. I certainly did. "Disc golf is a fun sport," says Kit. "It uses discs, similar to Frisbees but smaller and heavier, and is played on the basis of the game of golf including etiquette, pars, tees, etc." Starting at a tee area, the disc is thrown to a target, called a "hole." Unlike golf, the hole is usually an elevated metal basket called a Pole Hole®. As in golf, the object is also to complete the hole in the fewest number of strokes.

One of the joys of the game is that it’s played outdoors, usually in a park, providing the obstacles of trees, shrubs and terrain changes. Disc golf appeals to men and women of all ages and skill levels. Kit adds, "There are usually no fees, and you get exercise, fresh air, camaraderie, and can develop some pretty good skills too! I have been playing for more than two years."

The sport is growing. The PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association), with more than 1600 members, is the governing body for the sport’s rules and standards. It also sanctions competitive events for all ages and skill levels, including individuals who are specially abled or disabled.

There are some 1200 courses in the U.S. and Canada. As RVers, we are fortunate to have the ability to visit a number of these courses and events if we choose. For information about the sport, the events, and a list of places to play, visit the disc golf site at http://www.pdga.com.

July, 2005- Ham Radio
This month we are looking at the joys of ham radios. Thanks to Joanne and Nick Alexakis, Tony Campbell, and Alice Penny for sharing their love of the experience.

Ham radio usage for RVers provides a reliable source of communication. The CB is limited, and cell phones often don’t work well in the isolated areas we like to visit. Many of the situations our correspondents mentioned are common to all of us. Tony Campbell (whose wife contributed one of our RV Traveling Tales stories about their biking experiences) says, "Just finished a week-long bike tour across Michigan where we used ham radios to coordinate water stops, keep track of riders, monitor weather reports, etc. Many of the bike ride staff are hams, plus some local hams helped out.

Alice Penny (whose husband Sam has written several fictional books about a huge earthquake in Memphis, TN) writes that they have used their radio while traveling to Alaska from Kansas in tandem with friends. They appreciate the distance and reliability of their 2-meter ham radio. They also turned off their cell phones in Canada since Cingular no longer has an inexpensive temporary plan.

Finally, Joanne Alexakis (another RV Traveling Tales author and editor of the Escapees RV Club’s special interest group for writers, Penwheels) writes that her husband Nick "has been a ‘ham’ since he was twelve so he has had all the radios (handheld, for about a 20-mile contact area, and mobile base units, for around the world communication) and various antennas (for accessing the air waves).  We began full-time RVing without a cell phone so the radios were vital to us. We each had a hand-held radio. And then we had a base unit in the trailer and a mobile unit in the station wagon."

Joanne and Nick communicated with each other when they were working on the road doing construction site-sitting. One of them had to be on the site at all times. "If he went to the grocery store," said Joanne, "he could call me and verify that I really wanted 23 Hershey's dark chocolate bars." Very critical!  They also kept tabs with each other, and with friends. They were able to keep track of weather situations as quick as the weather service put out their reports.  When their pickup broke down towing their trailer in Death Valley, Nick was able to contact a ham in Colorado who happened to be on the air; and he called a tow truck in Ridgecrest, CA for them. 

The Good Sam Hams sponsor amateur radio testing at Quartzsite. They bought the ham radio test study book. "Nick went over and over it with me for that entire week before the test. He was shooting radio questions right up until I walked into the test-taking area. Boy, was I relieved to pass that exam. I just renewed my license online for another ten years."

For more information, visit the Good Sam’s ham radio members’ site at www.srhams.org. Another good site is www.murrah.com/hamrv . If you are an Escapees member, contact Cliff Haycock for more info about the Escapees amateur radio interest group. His address is KD4ZBP @ winlink.org.

June, 2005 - Motorcycling
This month we are looking at the joys of middle-aged motorcycle riding. Thanks to Elaine and Gene Maxwell, Annise Miller, and Barb and Jerry Taylor for sharing their love of the experience.

When Elaine told me she had to miss our morning water exercise because Gene wanted to ride his new motorcycle before it got too hot in the high California desert, I immediately assumed she was the typical passenger holding on for dear life as he and motorcycle flew down the back roads. "No," said Elaine, "I’m a biker chick too. I have my OWN bike. I love riding." Aha, I thought, another one of my preconceptions pierced.

After interviewing Elaine and Gene, Annise, and the Taylors, I discovered that they all shared the same responses. They love the unfettered nature of traveling down the road. Elaine says she feels like she’s flying, as if she were a bird. Elaine and Gene agreed that all your senses are alive. Annise says the nicest part of riding is "the unencumbered exploring while being in the scene vs being behind a shield of glass & chrome. Makes the immediacy of the experience fresh & vibrant from the cool morning air, the smell of fresh cut grass, the dampness of the night's dew, the warmth of the summer sun." 

Gene says the disadvantage is that when other vehicles are present, you have no right of way and never assume that a car or truck will see you. "It’s made me a better driver when I’m in my own truck," he adds. "I always let them in and I hold no grudges." As for the weather, the nice thing is that you can get just so wet although you should always have rain gear with you. Elaine mentioned that they recently bought new lightweight mesh jackets for the hot weather, which contain "armored" pads for protection.

All agree that safety is critical. Wear helmet at all times, including plastic face mask ("also guards against bugs flying into your face," adds Elaine), and be sure to take a motorcycle safety course first. Visit the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (http://www.msf-usa.org) to find a local course, or call 800/446-9227.

Finally, Elaine reminds us that the joy of motorcycle riding is in the journey, not necessarily the destination—as is life and RVing.

May, 2005 - My Medical Assistant
This month I want to talk about what happens when we need medical care on the road. You are usually seeing a new doctor or are in a new medical facility that does not have your records. You or your traveling partner must fill out those long forms asking about prior surgeries, illnesses, medications, and your parents’ illnesses.

Just recently, a new doctor asked my husband Chuck when he had a particular surgery. Chuck looked at me and I looked in the air trying to remember. "Well it was before we went on the road, so we were still in Los Angeles, but it wasn’t the surgery you had when we were helping friend Rhea move and you couldn’t lift anything, no it was after that, but before . . ." You get the picture?

As travelers, it is hard to remember ALL the vital facts at a time when we are not feeling our best. In addition, the person accompanying you may not know all your information. When Jaimie and I did the RV Authors’ Cooperative at Escapade, we came across a book that will help you resolve this problem.

Donna McCaslin has created a portable records organizer specifically for medical and insurance data, recording personal as well as family histories, previous tests, current medications, allergic reactions. Her book, My Medical Assistant, is sold as a three-ring binder, 9 inches long and 7 1/4 inches wide, small enough to travel easily. Using separate colors, there is enough room to keep information for two people traveling together. Refill pages can be ordered from her Website.

We highly recommend this clearly designed medical journal to accompany you as you travel. You will only have to sit down one time and gather your information. From then on, just bring the book with you to your appointments and immediately add new information as it happens.

March, 2005 - Spring Escapade
Jaimie and I just returned from the Escapees RV Club’s Spring Escapade, a gathering of 1200+ rigs that come together twice a year for education and fellowship.

What struck me this year is this is not just another "rally." The Escapade provides a snapshot into the rich and varied lives of RVers. First of all are the 49 BOFs (Birds of a Feather groups) ranging from Alternative Medicine to Worldwide Travelers, including artists, writers, birders, quilters, workers, Jews on Wheels, Travel-Loving Catholics, Solos, Stonewallers (gays and lesbians, etc.), families traveling together, and so on. Each BOF had an opportunity to meet at the Escapade.

There are 50 regional chapters in the organization, many of whom met during the Escapade. During the year, each chapter meets at various times and often plans trips together to beautiful locations in their regions.

The Escapade sponsored more than 60 seminars, taught by volunteers, covering a variety of topics important to RVers, such as safety issues, driving tips, WiFi, working on the road (Jaimie), writing on the road (Alice). In addition, crafts classes during the day included woodcarving, beading, painting. Vendors provided RV-related products and services. Jaimie and I were part of an experimental program, RV Authors’ Cooperative, where we joined with ten other RV authors in one booth to provide attendees with a one-stop shopping mall of RV-related books.

The last aspect of the snapshot included the money raised for the CARE program (Continued Assistance for Retired Escapees), a center at the Livingston, TX, headquarters that provides temporary help as well as long-term assistance to those facing medical issues.

On the surface the Escapade is an RV rally. In truth, the Escapade represents the incredible diversity of life on the road, in addition to the beautiful scenery.

February, 2005 - Elk-a-Rang
On January 30-February 2, 2005, immediately after Quartzsite, 83 rigs convened in the parking lot of the Gila Bend, Arizona, Elks’ Club for the annual Elk-A-Rang. I was in one of those rigs; your esteemed editor, Jaimie Hall, was in another.

Although you can join throughout the year, every February we (the Boomer Elks) have a giant installation/work party to induct new members and perform projects in the lodge as well as in the wider community. It’s our way to say thank you and give back to the little lodge that has welcomed so many RVers as members. The benefit to them is that they have a willing and able-bodied membership in what would otherwise be a declining club. The benefit to the RVer is access to Elks’ lodges throughout the country, many of which have RV campgrounds for national members.

Gila Bend is among those lodges that encourage women to be members now. Jaimie was one of six women initiated out of forty-six. Not only were those new members wielding rakes and paint brushes for two days (our Jaimie was awesome as she yanked the reluctant weeds out of the dry ground), but the other hundred attendees were working right alongside them as well as cleaning and reorganizing the lodge kitchen, washing windows at community members’ homes, picking up trash. Some of us went to the Senior Center to socialize and do art projects with the residents. My husband and I led a sing-a-long one day before lunch. Best sing-a-long we ever did: nobody left or they would have missed their food!

As Barb and Soren Walther, this year’s hosts, said, "We have hosted, co-hosted and attended this rally for the past four years. Of those years, this has been the biggest turnout of people and rigs that we can remember. It is really gratifying to see so many existing members return to help out their home lodge. We also had several members from other lodges across the country."

To join: You will need a Membership Application and a sponsor (any current Elk member). This applies to any lodge. After the application is completed, send it to the lodge with the application fee attached. For any questions contact the respective lodge and speak with the secretary. For the Gila Bend lodge, call 928-683-6396 for more specific information. To learn more about the entire organization, visit http:://www.elks.org. You don’t have to wait until the next installation in 2006 although it is more fun with the huge group. Did I mention there’s also food: happy hours, pot lucks and two catered dinners. What more could you ask for?

January, 2005 - Physically-challenged RVers - Part II

This is Part II of a two-month column that explores the world of physically challenged RVers. A longer version of this column originally appeared in RoadTripAmerica (RoadTripAmerica.com) that features a monthly column by Jaimie and me.

WHERE TO TRAVEL
Another challenge is finding places to travel that have accessible sites. Most campgrounds now provide sites for disabled campers. In my brief experience in a wheelchair this year, I discovered that despite all good intentions, some details are always overlooked. For example, although the spaces are flat and wide enough to accommodate a unit and a lift, the utilities may be surrounded with railroad ties or crushed rock, or the office is not accessible for check-in. On the plus side, people are most gracious about lending a hand when needed.

Since 1990, there is a greater awareness of the need for access to the beautiful sites in our country. Last summer when my husband and I visited Olympic National Park, we went to the Visitor’s Center as usual to find out where to go. The ranger recommended a beautiful waterfall that required a half-mile hike to get to it. "I can’t walk that far," I said, the disappointment showing on my face. "No problem," she said, and guided us to another waterfall that was easily accessible from the parking area. I learned a valuable lesson that day: Even though accessible places may not be clearly marked in the written material, speak to the rangers or campground hosts to find out what may be available.

Fortunately, more books are being written about accessible places to travel:

Wheelchairs On The Go: Accessible Fun in Florida, by Michelle Stigleman

Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers & Slow Walkers, by Candy Harrington

Guide for the Wheelchair Traveler, by Patricia Smither

Walks in the Northeast for the Not So Young and the Disabled, by Marina Harrison

HANDICAPPED TRAVEL CLUB 

The Handicapped Travel Club, Inc.(HTC) was formed in 1973 to encourage RV traveling for people with a wide range of disabilities. They currently have more than 250 active members, publish a newsletter, have local get-togethers and sponsor an annual rally as well as an occasional regional rally. Check out their resource information and links for a comprehensive view of the lifestyle from lists of companies that modify rigs, listings of used rigs for sale, traveling suggestions, and general support so the disabled traveler is never alone out there. I highly recommend this excellent club, whose fee is $10 to join and $8 a year thereafter—probably one of the best bargains in the RV world for the support and friendship they offer.

MORE EXCELLENT WEB SITES

For even more information and links:

Travelin’Talk Network: An international information network providing assistance to travelers with disabilities. 

Access-AbleTravel Source: Information on accessible attractions and HTC-identified accessible RV parks. 

Enabled RVer: Hope Sykes' site.