RV Home Yet?

Arizona highway alert - Hwy 87 landslide

If you are planning to travel from Phoenix up to I-40 and north and are thinking about taking Highway 87 between Mesa and Payson, the highway is restricted to a maximum width of 12 feet. At the point of the landslide, both lanes are diverted to the northbound lanes, one way in each direction. The speed limit for the two-mile construction zone is 45 mph.

A landslide covered most of the southbound lanes and also severely moved and buckled them. For an aerial shot of the site see Payson's Rim Country Web site. For those interested in the geology of the landslide, this is a good site with lots of photos.

HIghway 87 is very scenic, especially now with Mexican poppies in bloom. It does have some major grades but then so do the alternate routes. Interstate 17 is the best alternative, though I wouldn't hit it at rush hour during the week since construction north of Phoenix is slowing traffic.

Safe travels.

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Hiking with dogs - what's to drink?

Last week, visiting Boyce Thompson Arboretum and hiking in the Superstition Mountains, we saw a couple of all-in-one doggie water dishes.

In both cases, the water bottle had an attached water bowl. In Boyce, we noticed a woman sit on a bench and give her dog water. Intrigued, we looked closer. The dish section folds up against the water bottle when carrying, down when giving the dog water. I found one similar on the Web called a Handi-Drink Pet Water Bottle. You can purchase optional filters to  go with this bottle.

The next day we hiked in the Superstitions. A group with three dogs were ahead of us. The two larger ones carried their own packs. The miniature Schnauzer carried nothing but his "mom" carried a doggie water bowl for him. Pictured is Charlie Brown drinking.

 

A cap at the top of the bottle allowed you to put water in the dish and also return it if you pet did not drink all you poured out. The top on this bottle did not fold down, though, making it more awkward to carry compared to the other. She purchased this one at a hiking store.

In any case, carrying water for your pet in the desert is essential. You are unlikely to find a water source out on the trail. For larger dogs on a longer hike, you'd need to carry more water, but these all-in-one water bottles are nice and save water. When I hiked with my dog, I would pour water into my hand while he lapped, but lost most of it on the ground. Wish I'd had one then. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak (Photos by George Bruzenak)

Do you get computer withdrawal?

For those of use who work on the road using our computers, we can get positively anxious when we don't have an Internet signal. Even worse is to be without our computers!

George and I decided to go down to Boyce Thompson Arboretum and also take a hike into the Superstition Mountains to see wildflowers. We didn't take our RV- not worth the trouble and gas. I decided to leave the computer home. argh....

Actually I didn't go cold turkey. We stayed at a Best Western and they had a public computer so I did check email. Nothing was there that couldn't wait, but you never know.

Actually it turned out to be quite relaxing. Where I would usually do something on the computer for two or three hours after dinner, we enjoyed a relaxing soak in the hot tub and then I read a few chapters in Boom by Tom Brokaw, a gift from my sister, and wrote in my journal. I may pick a day each week to stay off the computer. Can I do it? I'll have to let you know on that one. Actually I may not be as bad as some RVers who use their Aircards to work on the Internet as they travel down the road. Not for me.

Anyone else experience anxiety if they can't check email or take care of business? Tell me I'm not alone! Jaimie

BTW, I'll have some photos up tomorrow after George downloads them.

Why Rye? 10,000 bikes might catch your eye

Instead of heading to Alamo Lake we are searching out spring flowers and interesting things closer to our homebase. Today we ventured down the mountain a few miles to the small town of Rye on Highway 87 about ten miles south of Payson. Situated in the middle of Tonto National Forest and ranching country, there isn't much to Rye. Still if you drove by it, you might notice a sea of silver. Looking more closely, you'd see a fenced-in yard with bicycles, motorcycles and a few old cars. Turns out there are more than 10,000 of them.

We first had a chicken quesadilla at the Rye Creek Bar & Restaurant. I'd wanted to stop for ages. The inside was rustic with a huge portrait of John Wayne  overlooking the dance floor. We can't say too much about the music today, though I think it's a popular dance spot. Two songs looped over and over: "Kalija" and the theme from High Noon. After George spoke up, we got some Roy Orbison. As we finished up, Roy was overwhelmed by louder music coming from the bar. My curiousity was satisfied and we enjoyed our quesadillas.

On to All Bikes. They claim to be the largest bike yard west of the Mississippi, though they may be largest in the U.S. or even the world. Visiting Easterners and Europeans say they have never seen larger. A few paths wend through the sea of bikes. George posed near a Husqvarna. It was hard to say if it was old, scavenged for parts or sun damaged. I asked which was the oldest bike they had. It was a red 1910 Matchless.

People from all over the world contact the owner for parts. He does restorations too plus will sell any of the myriads of bicycles and motorcycles on the place. Quite an experience!

We crossed Highway 87 and entered Tonto National Forest. This is mostly grazing country with only a few pinon and juniper trees. We had spotted patches of yellow on the northern slopes and wanted to get up close to see what species they were. They turned out to be Mexican poppies. At a little over 3100 feet in elevation, I wasn't expecting poppies to be blooming this far up. Snow is still on the Mazatzals but it is warm enough for poppies at 3100+ feet.

RVers with ATVs found this area a nice place to boondock and explore during spring break. We enjoyed seeing the patches of flowers and the little gardens they created when viewed up close.

Nice day for exploring.

Alternative to passport for land border crossings

RVers who do not have a passport but plan to cross the border into Mexico or Canada by land can instead obtain a less expensive alternative, a U.S. Passport Card, starting this spring. It will be smaller, thus easier to use.

If you already have a passport you can complete an renewal form and obtain one for $20 (adults). If you do not have a passport, the cost will be $45 for the first time for adults.

According to the government Web site, the passport card will contain a vicinity-read radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. This chip will link the card  to a stored record in secure government databases. There will be no personal information written to the RFID chip itself. (their emphasis)

For more information on where to apply and the difference between a passport and a passport card, see the State Department Web site. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

RVing Internet acquaintenances meet up

It's always fun to meet people in person when you've gotten to know them on in the Web in some way. Forums are a great way to meet people. Sometimes you luck out and are in the same area as a forum or email buddy.Today, George and I met up with David and Patricia Baker, their friends Don and Candy Warner, plus Jordan Engle in the hamlet of Pine, AZ in the moutains below the Mogollon Rim.

David is the Web master for the new Workamper.com websites. David and I interact regularly on the forums since I am a moderator. We met David and Patricia in person last week in Verde Valley for the first time at the Thousand Trails park there and invited them up to Pine where George and I have a homebase.

David and Patricia brought Don and Candy who are also staying at the Thousand Trails park. They met Don and Candy when they both worked at a Thousand Trail park near Santa Barbara, CA. and they have been friends ever since, crossing paths frequently. 

Jordan is a new full-time RVer out of Vermont. He left last month when temperatures were 5 below. Considering that his RV is a tiny tear drop trailer, those first few days getting out of New England must have been a challenge! I met him originally on the Workamper forums. When Jordan saw the post about David and I meeting in Verde Valley, he headed that way and decided to join us in Pine. Last night at the West Clear Creek Forest Service Campground, it was so cold, his coffee pot froze! He emailed a confirmation this morning from a nearby Starbucks where he had gone to warm up.

We had a nice lunch at HBs Place, a relatively new restaurant, one that George and I hadn't tried. Nearly everyone had the chicken and dumpling soup and pronouced it very good. The menu had a selection of burgers, salads and sandwiches.

We are heading in different directions. Jordan was leaving for Flagstaff and then on to Page, AZ. Then he works his was north to Whidbey Is., WA by Memorial Day where he'll be a camphost in a WA state park there. David and Patricia and Don and Candy were visiting nearby Tonto Natural Bridge State Park this afternoon and then driving back to Verde Valley for a few more days. From there David and Patricia will be traveling east and plan to be in Heber Springs next month where Workamper News is located. Don and Candy will spend the summer near Lake Tahoe and nearby area.

George and I leave for Alamo Lake in western AZ on Sunday or Monday for a RoVing Rods gathering. When George was there in 2005, the group had a Spam night; everyone brought dishes made of Spam. Someone even made a cake with Spam! From the schedule we'll have potlucks and a night out, but no Spam. I'm relieved. I don't do Spam!

Paths cross, then part. We'll track the others' progress on the forums or through emails. Now we have faces to put with the names and have gotten to know them a little better. In the case of Don and Candy, we've made new friends, ones we'd be delighted to meet up with again. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

George's camera took both photos! We recruited a lady to take the top one. He took the one of Jordan and his tear drop trailer. Top photo: L to R Don, Candy, David, Patricia, Jordon, Jaimie and George

Fuel getting expensive?

Are you finding it more expensive to travel? Fuel has gone up. Campgrounds cost more. Does it make you wonder if you can afford this lifestyle?

My column at RoadTripAmerica is about this very thing:

"My late husband, Bill, and I spent two summers enjoying the RV lifestyle in Skagway, Alaska -- and we left with more money than we'd brought. We did the same in the Grand Tetons and at Lake Powell. How did we do this? We worked while we were there. Working on the road made our RV travels not only affordable but also rich in many other ways."

Read the rest of the article and find out how working and volunteering on the road can help you earn money, save on expenses and enrich your travels.

April --- Script Frenzy Month

Ever have the urge to write a screen or stage play? We've all seen bad movies and unfortunately paid to see them. And, you know that you can do much better. Here's your chance...April is the month chosen by the folks at The Office of Lights and Letters, otherwise known as the people who sponsor the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), for Script Frenzy, a month dedicated to play or movie writing. Starting on April 1 and ending on the 30th, writers from around the world try to complete a 100-page script.

It's free and it's fun! Dust off that idea that's been running around in your head, accompanied by that tune that won't go away, write it down and submit it. Write about the time your blackwater hose broke, or the time you backed into the tree you swore moved. Every RV'er has tons of stories to tell, just from the experiences of travel. Put them together and who knows...you might write the sequel to the movie "RV" and get Robin Williams to star in it.  At the very least If you write the 100 pages by the end of the month you will receive a certificate proclaiming your accomplishment and suitable for framing to show off to your RV friends.

Check out http://www.scriptfrenzy.org for details. As of today, there were over 3,200 creative writers chafing at the bit to begin the fun. Come on over and join us.

Ask for a discount

Thursday I had two dental implants done. While a lot more expensive than bridges, they do last at least twice as long. I had met the surgeon in December, gotten an examination, estimate and scheduled an appointment. March was the first available date.

While I was waiting to be called back I heard the woman at the desk speaking on the phone to a new client saying, "Yes, we do have a discount." Right before my procedure, I went up to pay and schedule my followup appointment. I thought, "What the heck- maybe they'll give me a discount." So I asked if they offer a discount for cash since I don't have dental insurance. She said she'd ask the business manager.

She was gone so long I thought she had gone on break. When she finally returned, she said she could give me 5 percent! Not a huge amount but it more than paid for the two prescriptions I had to buy afterwards.

Medical care list prices are high. Insurance plans have negotiated lower rates for these services. Cash patients pay retail - unless they ask for a discount.

In addition to asking for a cash discount for more expensive procedures ask if you can get the Medicare rate. Or, If you can find out what insurance patients pay, ask if you can get the same rate if you pay cash. Your account won't take the paperwork so it is easier to manage.

Remember, if you don't ask, you don't get!

CDCP names RV brands with formaldehyde

The  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report naming specific RV brands that  contained significant health-threatening levels of formaldehyde. According to the USAToday, quoting the report,

"Fumes from 519 trailer and mobile homes in Louisiana and Mississippi were — on average — about five times what people are exposed to in most modern homes, the CDC found. In some trailers, the levels were nearly 40 times customary exposure levels, raising fears that residents could contract respiratory problems."

The RV manufacturers named were Gulf Stream, Keystone, Pilgrim and Forest River. Sales of RVs are down anyway, but this report surely won't help.

FEMA is supposed to be making an effort to get hurricane victims out of trailers but in some areas like Mississippi, funds have been used for building casinos rather than rebuilding dwellings for victims. FEMA will also give refunds to certain qualified individuals who purchased the trailers. See my earilier post on this topic.

I'm sure the named manufacturers didn't knowingly expose their workers and buyers to formaldehyde. By purchasing the cheapest materials and with the rush to tap into the government goldmine, they used products that aren't safe. Let's hope this serves as a wakeup call to all RV manufacturers. A short-sighted penny saved can cost a lot of dollars down the road in a case like this.