Recently we had a couple come in that were going to travel full time with three young children. They wanted to be able to put the kids down to sleep and still be able to use the living area in their coach. They had done a lot of searching for a new coach and after talking with us, decided on a model with a hallway closet that could be converted into a bunk area. We removed the closet doors (saving them for re-installation for resale) and installed two upper bunks with a slide bunk below the lowest one. Inside each bunk we installed a fan  and a reading light, with curtains to close off the two upper bunks.




 

Thanks again  for visiting our blog!

David Ast
Dave & LJ's RV Interior Design         360-225-7700         www.customRVint.com

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One of the many benefits of enjoying an RV lifestyle is the convenience of bringing your kitchen with you everywhere you go. Whether you are in Alabama or Alaska, you can make your favorite dishes, save money on meals by cooking in your RV and ensure that you have the foods that you simply cannot live without with you at all times. Additionally, having the ability to cook in your own well-equipped kitchen, makes eating healthy while on the road much easier and more convenient.

Whether you love to cook or just go through the motions in order to avoid eating cereal at every meal, herbs are an essential part of the process that make foods more enjoyable and can even make each meal more nutritious. Cooking with herbs and spices is also a great way to add flavor to your meals without the need for using salt as a seasoning, which is ideal for anyone limiting their sodium intake, as well as for anyone managing high blood pressure, watching their weight or avoiding excessive salt use due to other health concerns.

While most dried herbs are easy to find in any grocery store and are convenient to stow in even small RV kitchens, there is nothing quite like fresh herbs or herbs that you have grown yourself and dried, even while on the road. Gardening on the road may seem like more trouble than it is worth, but if you start with a simple herb garden, you just mind find yourself moving up to tomatoes, peppers and other larger vegetable plants once you see just how easy it can be.

Consider starting small with just a couple of your favorite herbs. This will allow you to enjoy healthy, flavorful dishes while on the road and will encourage you to use your kitchen and avoid dining out for every meal. Growing even a small amount of fresh produce and herbs while on the road is an excellent, portable hobby that will allow you to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables and using healthier seasoning choices at each meal.

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A doe living in the neighborhood has her tongue constantly hanging out like it has a wire holding it in that position.  She seems healthy but a friend said she wouldn’t live long. Locals claim she has lived in this neighborhood for years and always has babies tagging along.  A whole herd came by the window last night, a four point buck, a two point buck, a couple of does and two sets of twin fawns.  The fawns are losing their spots.  Time is marching on.

            You haven’t lived until you’ve walked the Uptown Street Fair and listened to the Pt. Townsend Summer Band.  Tents were filled with unusual crafts, paintings and photography. Fish tacos, sausage, and biscuit hamburgers tempted the palate.  While tourists attended, I felt that most of them were neighbors just out for the day enjoying the sunshine and laughter.  The kids loved the on-site craft creating and sidewalk pastel sketching.

            From itty-bitty babies to grandmaw and grandpaw, people were dressed up in outlandish clothes and wigs of bright green, purple, and pink.  Their eclectic and colorful parade was two blocks long and included a huge unicycle and a group of belly dancers shimmying their way along with bangles and beads  Everyone marched in front of the Uptown Theatre which is less than a half block from my room. 

            I went to this historic 1897 theatre the next afternoon to see Eat, Pray, Love, with Julia Roberts.  I couldn’t say a whole lot for the story line but everybody should have a delightful belly laugh like Julia Roberts.  That may have been worth the entire fee.

            An “Edible Seaweed” program was presented at the Fort Worden Marine Science Center this week.  I’m not sure Grace went, but she did peruse the shoreline for edible seaweed last week, cleaned it, soaked it, and prepared it for eating.  It didn’t taste too bad but I’m not planning to add it to my diet anytime soon.

            And I forgot to tell you about seeing a booth with wind chimes at the Coupville Arts and Crafts Fair a week ago.  The host looked very familiar.  It was the Tinkler Winkler man I mentioned in the third blog of my 2009 tent/car loop around the country.  We met at an ocean-front campground in California where he was collecting driftwood to make the Tinkler Winkler wind chimes.  It’s a small….

            Lynn’s little boat is still awaiting repairs so we might not get to experience navigating the waves but I could see the memories it held.  Lynn and her guy were full-time boaters for many years, then full-time RVers.  Lynn and Grace and Chris, have lived full and interesting lives seeing the world from a different angle than most of us only dream of.  And I have no regrets either.  God Bless until next time.

Web site:  www.full-time-rver.com

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Last week we looked at how to conserve your batteries in the boondocks, this week we will look at how to recharge them when they get low.
Generators:
The most common mistake RVers make is buying a generator large enough to run their air conditioner and think that the larger the generator the faster their batteries will recharge. In 99% of the cases this assumption is false. The average RV comes equipped with a 40 amp converter charger. By description you would assume that this unit would charge at 40 amps per hour. Again a false assumption. The charge circuit is a meager 3 amps per hour. In other words, to put 30 amps back in the battery bank, you will have to run your generator 10 hours! Good thing you are boondocking or your RVing neighbors would not be happy campers. Most generators also have a 12 volt outlet for charging batteries. Unfortunately, the results aren’t much better than using the converter charger as the 12 volt output on most generators is less than 10 amps per hour. There are two easy ways to get more amps in your batteries while running your generator less:
1) Purchase a high quality battery charger with at least a 40 amp charge rate and hook it up when your batteries need a good charge. Now for every hour of generator run time you will put 40 amps back in your batteries rather than the 3 amps your RVs stock converter charger would provide.
2) Install a 3 stage converter charger in your unit of at least 40 amps. (Sizing is dependant on the capacity of your battery bank). This will let you quickly charge your batteries like the example above, but is permanently installed and will do a much better job of maintaining your batteries when hooked up to shore power. Some converter chargers can be easily upgraded to a 3 stage unit, check with your RV dealer for details. Note: You will only need a 1,000 to 2,000 watt generator to power the above two options. A smaller generator means less weight, less noise and less fuel consumption.

Plan on doing other activities that require battery power when recharging your batteries, like showering, doing the dishes, watching TV, etc. The converter portion of your converter charger will supply the power for these items while the charger portion charges the batteries at its rated capacity.

Solar:
Pages have been written about using solar panels to power the needs of your RV. Solar power is: quiet, efficient and requires no fuel. If you are going to become a serious long term boondocker, you will want to look into solar power. Google: Solar power RV, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy an afternoon of reading.
Automotive:
If you are just starting out boondocking and haven’t had the chance to invest in a generator or solar panels, the charge system on your motorhome or tow vehicle can be used to charge your battery bank.  Idling the engine isn’t a very efficient way to charge your batteries, but it can be used to extend your boondocking adventure for a day or two.



Don’t let the availability of a 120 volt outlet keep you from enjoying one of the best camping experiences in life. Get out there and try an unplugged boondocking RV adventure today!

Next week we will look at how to maximize the use of your holding tanks when boondocking.

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Looking for that million-miles-away-from-it-all feeling that only an island setting can provide? Prefer to get there in the comfort of your roomy RV instead of a tight airplane seat? You absolutely can do that when visiting Northeastern Ohio’s scenic Lake Erie Islands! The Buckeye State has islands?  You might be surprised, but actually more than a dozen small islands (not all inhabited) lay between mainland Ohio and its northern neighbor Canada.

Although no coconuts sway in the breezes here, you won’t miss the typical tropical setting that “island” usually brings to mind. The most popular and populated, close-in South Bass and Kelleys Islands, are as carefree and charming as any saltwater island retreat—minus the geckos and palm fronds. Each island has its own personality—South Bass is more lively, Kelleys more laid back—and large retailers and hotel chains are absent from both. Instead, you’ll find friendly folk and the small-town pleasures of ice cream stands, local festivals, nice campgrounds, and family-owned businesses surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Walleye, Warblers & Wine

If you’re an angler, don’t forget the rod and tackle box. Greater numbers and varieties of fish are caught here than in any other Great Lake, so you’re sure not to have to tell tall fish tales! This region is known as the “Walleye Capital of the World” but smallmouth bass, white bass, and catfish are also plentiful. If you’ve never tasted fresh Lake Erie perch, you’re in for a very tasty treat!

Birding is a particularly popular pastime, too, so bring binoculars. Especially during annual migrations (May and September), over 200 species of songbirds and birds of prey can be spotted across the diverse island habitats. And not just common crows, cranes and cormorants either—Audubon Club members track everything with wings, from Bald eagles to Eastern Bluebirds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Blackburnian Warblers, and Yellow-billed Cuckoos.

Thanks to the tempering effect of the relatively shallow, warm water, the Lake Erie islands remain frost-free longer than any other part of the state. This condition makes it ideal for growing many types of fruit, including grapes. In fact, the cultivation of grapes has always been profitable for island residents (except during Prohibition) and continues today. Concord, Catawba, Delaware, and Niagara are native-grown grapes you’ll find in local libations produced by small family-owned wineries. You might even hear South Bass and Kelleys referred to as the "Wine Islands."

 Now that your interest is piqued in the Lake Erie Islands… check back for parts 2 and 3 and find out what to see and do on South Bass Island.

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Travel days are not always the part of the trip everyone looks forward to the most, but they certainly have their own enjoyable features that we can all agree on, such as opportunities to stop at fun roadside attractions, gazing in awe at the beautiful scenery passing by your window and, of course, the anticipation of arriving at your destination. The darker side of travel days is long hours of sitting, which can very easily lead to poor circulation. Poor circulation, in turn, can lead to a number of health conditions, including blood clots, less efficient transportation of nutrients through the body, less efficient elimination of toxins, and decreased heart, liver, kidney and immune system function.

As if those health issues were not reason enough to be concerned about proper circulation, you should also be aware that poor circulation causes your organs and tissues to receive inadequate amounts of oxygen and can lead to heart disease, as well as other major health issues.

It may not always be readily apparent if you have poor circulation, but some of the symptoms can include cold feet and hands, tingling fingers and toes, swelling (edema) in the lower extremities and wounds that are slow to heal. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is always wise to consult your physician.

Here are five ways you can improve your circulation while on the road:

1. Stay hydrated – Drinking water can aid circulation, and staying hydrated is a good idea for your overall health and wellness.

2. Walk and move around – The motion of walking encourages the pumping of blood back up the legs, making this a key component in improving circulation while on the road. Stand up and stretch as often as possible, and use this as an excuse to stop at that quaint little antique shop or bookstore just off the highway.

3. Stop smoking – If you are a smoker, I know you don’t want to hear this one, but nicotine is one of the main causes of poor circulation.

4. Elevate your feet – When sitting or lying down, elevate your feet. Even a few inches helps, which can be accomplished with a small footstool when it’s your turn in the passenger seat.

5. Invest in a Sitting Stepper (or something similar) – The Sitting Stepper is not the only option on the market, but it is less than $10 and is small enough for easy use in the passenger seat. Plus, it folds up even smaller for convenient storage. This handy little stepper provides a low-impact, seated exercise option that mimics the movement used when walking.

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It was Jefferson County Fair time last week.  Grace and I wandered through the photo display for inspiration, talked to the horses in the barn, ate a yummy Elephant Ear (Almost as good as the Berrien County Fair in Michigan, and listened to the great music and singing of the group, Dukes of Dabob.  I love fair time and it brought back a lot of good memories.

            You do not go much of anywhere from Pt. Townsend without running into water so your life is scheduled around ferries.  Saturday Grace and Lynn and I caught the 9:30 ferry to Whidbey Island for the huge amount of $1.30 each as walk-ons.  On the other side, we caught the free shuttle that dropped us at the Coupville Arts and Crafts Festival, a great combination of interesting 170+ artisan booths, a variety of entertainment, and of course, the inevitable food vendors. We welcomed the warm, sunny day.  We haven’t had all that many of them and this one was perfect. 

            Lynn and I went scrounging through three of the local second-hand stores yesterday.  I hadn’t intended to buy anything but you know how that goes, I bought a huge vase I’m going to have to wrap VERY carefully to get it back to AZ in tact.  In the process we saw this very interesting truck with all kinds of “stuff” glued to it including a whole lot of bottle caps.  Each to his own I guess.  God bless until next time.

Web site:  www.full-time-rver.com

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Last week we looked how to conserve potable water in the boondocks. This week we will look at how to conserve battery power.

For the purpose of this week’s entry, we are talking about the 12 volt system of the average RV with a couple of deep cycle batteries. Buses with all electric systems and RVs with large battery banks are a whole different animal.

The first obvious item is keep non essential 12 volt items turned off. Do you really need to play the stereo, have the porch light on all night or run the exhaust fan?

Next look for parasitic loads on your 12 volt system. Possible sources:

- Stereo
- Indicator Lights                                                                                                                                                           

- Gas detector
- Clock
- Monitor panel
- TV antenna booster
Then ask yourself, can these be eliminated or used intermittently while boondocking?


The next step is to minimize the use of essential items.

Furnace: If you are camping in cool weather, the number one item that will draw down your batteries is your forced air furnace. Several options to consider:
- Install an alternate heating system like a catalytic safety heater that requires little or no 12 volt power.
- Wear warmer clothes and turn the furnace thermostat down a few degrees.
- Put more blankets of the bed and turn the furnace off at night.

Lights:
The next biggest power draw are the ceiling lights. Several things you can do to keep your use of ceiling lights from drawing down the batteries are:
- Install LED or fluorescent lights in place of the factory incandescent lights.
- Are there activities that you normally partake in at night that could be performed during daylight hours using sunshine for your light source instead of your RV lighting?
(Example: Shower in the morning letting the sunlight streaming through your RVs bath skylight provide the illumination).
- Do you and your spouse enjoy different evening activities at opposite ends of the RV?
Find a spot in the RV where you can share the light source and still enjoy your separate activities.

If you learn to minimize the use of your furnace and lights, power savings from other sources let you extend your stay in the boondocks that much longer.

Next week we will look at ways to recharge your batteries.

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Originally named for the dead trees found in narrow Deadwood Gulch, lumbering helped legendary Deadwood, South Dakota get its economic start. Deadwood’s true roots, though, took hold in 1876 during the famous Black Hills Gold Rush. Seemingly overnight, Deadwood was the center of gold fever, with tents and saloons springing up fast and furious.

Although Deadwood became a ghost town when the gold rush ended just a couple of years later, and remained so for decades, the streets and architecture have since been authentically restored and now the entire town is a national historic landmark. The fully restored Adams House, built in 1892, is especially elegant and filled with original furniture and other household items. For a small town, Deadwood is big on entertainment. Gambling was legalized over 20 years ago, and since then, more than 80 historic gaming halls offer everything from nickel slots to $100 poker bets. If you run out of Lady Luck, take a walk down Main Street to find contemporary saloons, gift shops, restaurants, and museums.

Thanks to the successful HBO series, you might already be familiar with some of the many legends of yesteryear who lived and died in Deadwood—especially Wild Bill Hickok. You can pay your respects to Wild Bill and many other colorful Wild West characters at the Mount Moriah cemetery. Although walking tour maps don't quite seem appropriate for a cemetery, grab a guide at the information center anyway. The hillside graveyard actually feels more like a peaceful park, and is also the final resting place of Calamity Jane, Potato Creek Johnny (a local who found one of the largest gold nuggets in the Black Hills), Preacher Henry Weston Smith (credited with first bringing Christianity to the Black Hills), and Blanche Colman (the first woman admitted to the South Dakota bar) to name just a few. Records exist for about 3,627 people buried at Mount Moriah, although historians think the actual number may by higher due to lost or incomplete information. Mount Moriah also provides a panoramic view of the town below and sweeping vistas of the Black Hills.

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When it comes to treating high blood pressure through your diet, there are some things you should add, as well as some that you should avoid. Most of us know that we should limit our salt intake and maintain a healthy diet overall, but we don’t often hear about the variety of herbs, spices, vitamins and minerals that can also make a significant difference.

Herbs and spices that have been used to treat high blood pressure for many generations include dandelion, motherwort, chamomile, saffron, fennel, ginger, yarrow, cat’s claw, linden, parsley, kudzu, hawthorn, valerian, marjoram, sage, nutmeg, thyme, tarragon, curry, cloves, basil, fennel, dill, oregano, cayenne, cinnamon and chili powder.

Some of these are available as herbal supplements or teas, while others you will probably recognize from your own spice rack and can be easily incorporated into meal preparation. Fresh herbs and spices are the best option when using these items for medicinal purposes; however, dried spices and herbs are often more convenient when on the road and also offer healthful benefits. It is always best to purchase organic options, which are often sold in bulk in the natural foods section of most grocery stores. This is because conventionally processed spices and herbs found in the baking aisle are processed in a manner that robs them of the majority of their healthful benefits.

There are also a number of vitamins and minerals that you may want to pay attention to when planning your meals. Calcium, vitamin C, lutein, folic acid, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), potassium and magnesium are all minerals and vitamins that you should have in your diet for overall health; however, you may want to talk to your doctor about supplementing your diet with these nutrients. Potassium and magnesium levels, in particular, should be monitored in high blood pressure patients, especially those who take prescription medications that have diuretic qualities.

Before you decide to supplement your diet with herbal supplements or vitamins, keep in mind that some of these products do not interact well with prescription drugs; therefore, it is important to discuss supplementation with your doctor before running out to the vitamin store.

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