2009-2010: Ideas on where to go/what to do this year? - Page 2

Mike · 09-20-2009, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by judyallen

We took a trip from St. Louis area, to Oklahoma City, and then up through Kansas to visit an old, family Cemetery. and back home last week. We resently bought a 1999 Dodge Leisure wide body. So this was a "test-trip" We, have always had "A's and C's", so this was to see if we could get along in a B.......it was GREAT!!, so comfortable. So this Oct. we are going to get up to Niagara Falls, and down to Ocean City. and hopefully go see our sons who live in St. Petersburg, and Bradenton, Flo. this winter. We absolutely love this B. We "boondocked" and thoroughly enjoyed our short trip.

Class B motorhomes are just so easy to move around, they have to be the most flexible option for travellers
like us, and boondocking is just so much easier in a smaller sized rig.

FL is always nice in the winter, although we like the US mountain states for the canyons for hiking in the fall.
Maybe next spring we'll head down to FL again for a week of MLB spring training. Or maybe for another shuttle
launch like last November.
It's always nice to hear a positive story about a class B and it's owners and their journeys and adventures.

judyallen · 11-12-2009, 06:33 PM

Hi Everyone. Well the leaves are gone off our trees, here in Missouri, where we live. And my feet are getting itchy to start traveling. We want to be in St. Petersburg, Florida, for Christmas and New Years. But we aren't wanting to go there yet. We, decided to go to New Orleans, and just take a leisurely trip down through Arkansas, and down through La. taking in whatever sights are on the way. It will be new roads for me, but my husband is a retired truck driver, and he has been everywhere. We are gassed up, loaded up, and ready to hit the road tomorrow. We will come back to Missouri and then go south to Florida in Dec. One problem we have being gone too long, is my husband is on coumadin, and has to have his blood checked once a month. We have to keep him healthy.

Mike · 11-12-2009, 07:01 PM

In a word "jealous".
Have a great trip and enjoy the holidays in the heat!!!

markopolo · 11-13-2009, 01:18 AM

That sound like a great trip.

I have been researching Florida RV parks for about a week now and am more confused than ever with all the choices, prices, amenities, average temperatures etc. Here's a good site for looking up average temperatures: http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/florida/

How do you handle medical issues like the one you describe while on the road?

Mike · 11-13-2009, 03:57 AM

Given any thought to Nat'l or State Parks? They can be more economical and I think you can
use them for 14 consecutive days before you have to "move on". Hallibagger stays at a
commercial place in Punta Gorda on the Gulf Coast. You might tap him up for more info.
I just looked at Everglades Nat Park and they charge $16 per night which isn't too bad.
Although they do mention some drawbacks related to bugs and weather, but those are more
a summertime problem, I think. And it's probably primitive camping, but maybe you don't
need all the hookups with your C? I believe they have toilets and possibly a source of
fresh water.

markopolo · 11-13-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

Given any thought to Nat'l or State Parks? .........

Just a little. I'll look into them some more. We'd certainly get to see much more of the State.

VernM · 11-14-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Mike wrote; I just looked at Everglades Nat Park and they charge $16 per night which isn't too bad.
Although they do mention some drawbacks related to bugs and weather, but those are more
a summertime problem, I think.

It's always summer time in the Everglades. But it's awsome. And, if you're self-sutained, I'd camp on the beaches as possible. Be sure to include commercial county-owned Manatee Hammoc at Titusville, though, if you can plan your trip for a space launch. They've got a best place to be and see. Reservations a must,though.

Mike · 11-14-2009, 11:57 PM

We watched the nighttime launch last November from a business parking lot
kitty corner across from the McDonalds on S Washington Ave. (aka US1).
I seem to remember Manatee. I'm sure it was full when we drove by looking for
a place to watch from.
We drove through the nearby air base with the "antique" aircraft. Kinda like a mini-"boneyard".
Lotsa small 2-seater choppers there, too.
Nice area, lotsa stuff to do and see. Saw gators sunning themselves along the
spillway parallel to the causeway road out to Merritt and the Cape. Lotsa scared
looking wading birds too.

judyallen · 11-30-2009, 09:47 PM

Well, we did the trip to New Orleans, let me tell you (and you already know) getting through those narrow one-way streets in New Orleans was a breeze. Loved parking in regular parking lots. That were somewhat secure, haveing two small dogs. Got a shady area to park, cracked a couple windows, opened the over head vent, and those two Chihuahua's were as comfy as could be. We enjoyed the Frnech Quarters. We drove back up through Mississippi, and stayed at Tunica overnite. At Harrah's RV park, had a shuttle take us to the casino. Had a Great Trip. Now Dec. 20th we are headed south for St. Petersburg, Florida.

Mike · 12-01-2009, 03:28 AM

When you get settled in St. Pete's if you find a nice place, post up your location if you don't mind.

I like the St. Pete's Beach area, but I'd be surprised if the campgrounds weren't full over the holidays.
Actually, I don't think we saw too many RV camping places in the St. Pete's Tampa area??? Maybe we
weren't looking for any, as we were mostly just driving around, enjoying the warmth in last November,
and then again last March.

We (my wife and I) were thinking about heading south for Xmas, but have no idea where we'd like to go yet.
It'd be a first for both of us not being in Canada for Christmas, but we're thinking we might like to give it a try.
We were leaning towards the Keys, but one of the other posters on here stays near Punta Gorda
until spring, so we may want to head down there for a day or two. Beyond that, we'd be happy jut driving
around and seeing the sights of Christmas in Florida. Would definitely be a first for us!!

judyallen · 12-02-2009, 01:19 AM

Try Robert's Rv, on Gandy Blvd. St. Petersburg. I am thinking they have some parking for folks just staying a day to two. I think alot do keep some on first come, first served. We are thinking also of going down to the Keys, never been there before. I have friends staying in Texas on Mustang Island. So we plan on going there, for a few days, before we come home.
My husband has a son in St. Pete....so I am thinking our van will be parked in his driveway. And thats ok, he lives about 6-7 miles from John"s Pass, at Madiera Beach, one of my favorite places. The other son lives at Bradenton, and I love Sarasota beach, and the town is fun....of course I love shopping, so if a town has nice shops, I say its fun.

Mike · 12-02-2009, 03:45 AM

Thanks for the suggestion. If we're in the neighbourhood we'll have a look.
Maybe we'll see you in the Keys, if we decide to head south.

markopolo · 12-10-2009, 09:50 PM

Mike - did you get much snow last night? I'd guess we got 6 inches or so here. I cleared a path to get the RV out just in case we decide to head south!

Mike · 12-10-2009, 11:55 PM

Not much. I think we got more on Tuesday, and it crept up over 0C for a few hours and melted
it. It's dropping down well below freezing tonight and tomorrow, but supposed to be above
freezing Sunday/Monday and beyond. We were just lucky I guess. That big storm missed us.
I was thinking about you last night when I saw Miramichi on the Weather Network.
I think you've moved into a natural snow belt, with only NS and NL getting more precip
through the winter months.

shezonit · 12-12-2009, 04:46 PM

Moving on to 2010...
Any Class Bs going to Arizona? I'll be leaving Montana about Jan. 10th, headed to Lake Havasu first. It'll be my first trip in the Bigfoot B. I've taken out the 3rd seat for a bit of floor space. Packing for a 2-3 month trip.... I need hot weather ,cold weather,camp and motorcycle gear.
There's not as much storage as my old bare bones van! The old van had a lot of open space. The Bigfoot has a big armoire/closet between driver seat and washroom, then a very small one in the dinette/foot of bed area. All other storage is in several small upper cabinets.
I guess this will be an ongoing challenge---where things go and how to keep them from rattling, and how to find things. Plastic drawers,baskets,trays? Separate specific activity gear into the waterproof duffles I use on the motorcycle? Then they'll only fit in the closet.
And where, pray tell, does stuff like extra oil/fluids for the van motor go, so I'm not smelling petroleum fumes. ??
If you see me on the road, please say hello. I'll be the only Bigfoot B with Montana plates!

Mike · 12-13-2009, 03:28 AM

January and February might still be a bit cold down there, even during the day. We were
in Bryce in UT, GC in AZ, and Yosemite in CA back in March, and all 3 had snow/ice in some
form or other. We ran the furnace at night, as I remember the fan noise being louder than
I thought it would be. How warm were you hoping for? You might have to head to the Brownsville
TX area or south FL to get warm days. SoCal was warm and comfortable during the day in March.
There were people on the beach and in the water in San Diego and as far up as LA back then.
Near SF and Sacramento it was cooler. We just got back in October from a tour all over the
southwestern states (again, we like them!!!) and then back through the southeastern states.
It was sunny out west, and cool, but not freezing, as we came east it cooled off and got rainy.
We wish we'd stayed out in UT/AZ for an extra week, instead of doing the southeast return
route. It was just cold, wet, and a bit depressing. If we had gone a month earlier, I think it
would have been much better. Just unlucky, in a year of cooler wetter weather everywhere?

As far as storage goes, that's what B's tend to lack, so you have to be creative when it comes to
stashing your stuff. Does it have outside storage like some newer vans have, along the lower sides?
Could you mount a "coffin" (Thule?) on the roof somehow? I've seen them used on B's and they're
lockable I believe.

Good for stuff you don't need quick access to.
I'm realizing that the real problem is usually we bring more than we need. So you learn how to
prioritize what goes where, based on what gets the most/least amount of use, but you still
think you might need it. So you bring it "just in case". About 33% of the stuff we drag along isn't
necessary and we never pull it out of wherever we stuff it. But we're learning.

I'd try to keep toxic/smelly stuff outside if possible, or buy some sort of airtight container
that'll keep it under control inside. If you're trailering your bike, maybe there's room on it
for stuff you can afford to lose if you get ripped off. I hope you don't, but it happens.

Your trip sounds like fun, no matter where you wind up, with your motorcycle along.

We might head to Titusville for the next shuttle launch in February, but it'll be a short trip,
likely just down for a few days, and then back up here to finish the rest of winter.

p.s. Here's a map I use once in a while, when I'm feeling like the weather up here is crappy
and I want some assurance that it's not just us that are freezing or sweltering.
I believe it's an infra-red satellite picture of North America.
It shows, via isobars, the real time temperatures anywhere on our continent.
Try it.
http://weather.unisys.com/surface/sfc_con_temp_na.html

judyallen · 12-18-2009, 03:07 AM

Well, the "stuff" is ready to put in the motor home, and we will be headed out Sunday morning.(Dec. 20th) We are going to go to Florida. Its not all that cold here in Missouri, right now. But, I am ready to look at the Gulf. We are going to go down through Mississippi, and across Alabama, I despise driving through Atlanta. Georgia. The traffic is awful, every time we travel through...so rather than listen to me complain, my navigator husband, gave me an alternative travel suggestion, and I jumped on it. We are going to St. Petersburg, Florida. and we will be parking our "B" in our sons driveway. Hopefully we will drive around the state some. I really would like to go to the Key's. Seems like whenever we get down there, the 2 son's who live in Florida, always have plans for us. So we usually just play in by ear, and I know we will have wonderful trip.

When you folks from way up north, travel down this way, do you put water in you holding tank? in the winter? We was wondering, about freezing. We are still learning about our "B", haven't got it all figured out yet.

Mike · 12-18-2009, 04:14 AM

We play that by ear too. We live in Ontario, which is sub-freezing right now and mostly will be until after March.
So, it depends on when we're leaving, how cold it is when we start out, and how far we think we'll be able to
get before our first overnight stop. Last March it was below freezing when we left, so no water in the fresh tank,
and antifreeze in both holding tanks. We could fill up at a filling station, as we don't drink our fresh water,
but last March we didn't bother as we usually boondock at places with amenities like Walmart and such, or
at National Parks, so we didn't need fresh water for flushing toilet and sink water. In August and October,
we did carry water. It's nice to have water in the fresh tank so we can use the RV toilet in a pinch, but we
can usually work around it. Even in warm weather, a bit of antifreeze may be good for the holding tank
dumping valves, so I'll add a bit before we start out to prep them for our first dump. When I winterize,
I do my best to completely empty/dry the fresh tank, and dump/drain and add antifreeze to the holding tanks.
We might head out at Christmas, or maybe beginning of February, haven't decided yet, but in either case,
our tanks will be empty and still winterized. When we reach warmer climes, we decide if adding water is
worth it, because we'd have to re-winterize before going home if it's still cold there.

shezonit · 01-08-2010, 04:48 AM

Thanks Mike-- I see I am in a dark blue area and headed for a yellow area....... has to be an improvement. I'm looking for sunshine and palm trees-- I don't care if its only 40 degrees, I have warm clothes and a sleeping bag.
Onward.....

Mike · 01-08-2010, 12:53 PM

If you're close to pink or purple you have to start worrying.

We're blue up here too!!
Up until Christmas the only red zones were extreme southern CA and southwestern AZ and
the lower half of FL during the day and into the early evening.
Now everyone's yellow or colder during the day it seems!

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