RV Home Yet?

Time for a Jaimie day!

Kay Peterson, co-founder of the Escapees RV Club, in her "Living in a Sardine Can" talk, said that when there was too much togetherness, she took a "Kay day." She went off on her own- to the library, window shopping, a walk or something that would give her a break and renew her spirits.

Yesterday I had a "Jaimie day." I spent the afternoon wandering in historic Eureka. I got there at the tail end of the weekly farmer's market so picked up green beans, crookneck squash and tomatoes before the vendors packed up and left.

My next mission was to locate a couple of historic buildings and find some of the city's famous murals. We'll (hopefully) miss the historic building tour next Sunday, so I went by the Arkley Center for Performing Arts and Eureka Theaters, two buildings that will be on the tour. I would have said they were art deco style, but looking at a brochure, the Eureka Theater is considered to be "Streamline Moderne Architecture" (1939) and the Arkley Center, formerly the Sweasey Vaudeville Theater, is built in Spanish Colonial Revival style.(1920) So much for my architectural eye!

The back of the Arkley Center had a huge mural as did several other places. Loved these alley cats!

The Eureka Food Co-op has this giant mural on the side facing Highway 101 South. A block away is the whale.

The boardwalk called to me. No sign of Radar but a tug was passing by, the day beautiful with clear blue skies. Then I wandered back to F Street, got a cup of coffee and sat outside and journaled. I stopped at Eureka Bookstore and bought a used copy of a mystery by a local author and at Kokopilau, a jewelry shop with an outstanding selection of cards. When we move down to Eureka I'm taking my list of birthdays and picking more out.

I love spending time with George and even had a three-day break recently to visit my grandkids (more about that in a couple of days) but walking around a city and looking in shops is not his thing. It was so relaxing and renewing to go at my own pace. Ladies, you can probably relate! George had a nice afternoon too, he said. The RV seems a little larger now. Taking a day or afternoon off after living full-time, 24/7 can do wonders for your RV lifestyle! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Update: The major part came from Mor/Ryde yesterday afternoon. The box from Kodiak with the hubs and brake pads did not. It is promised for early this morning and Rodney promises to be over today to do the first part of the work. If it goes according to plan, we'll move to Eureka Truck Repair tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Community forests - what a great idea!

On our RV travels to Alaska we encountered community forests in Canada and hiked in one in Ft. Nelson in British Columbia. Arcata, CA has one too. In fact, it was the first community forest in the U.S. It is a gem.

The forest is 620 acres and was dedicated in 1955. The forest serves as a watershed for the town but is also open for recreation. The ten miles of trails wind through huge redwoods. We hiked about three miles after parking in the Redwood Park parking lot. This is the only place with facilities so bring your own water and use a restroom before beginning your hike.

At the west end, near the park, lots of families use the park. It was fun seeing small children enjoy the trails and big trees.Tall redwoods towered over us. Bridges took us over small streams. I was fascinated with the downed trees and stumps, moss-covered and nurseries for more plants. Light streaming through the trees played on the forest floor and stump gardens. One fascinating tree was a huge burned out stump with one of its volunteer trees that had grown out of its stumps now a large tree in its own right. (I'm leaning in a hollow of the old stump.)

You will definitely want to leave your RV parked somewhere and take your towed or toad to one of the parking areas. No room for RVs. This is one of the nicest hikes we've taken. Funny- Odel of http://laurieandodel.blogspot.com/ just commented on yesterday's post that we should try this out! Thanks, Odel. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photos by George Bruzenak

Eureka!

Eureka - I have found it! In this case, Eureka is a town in northern California. It is about ten miles south of Arcata where we are staying while our RV travels are temporarily stopped.

Here are a few sights from our walk around the old section of Eureka.

First is Radar the dog who wears sunglasses. His owner began putting them on when Radar was about six months old. Now Radar won't go outside without them! We spotted Radar down by the waterfront.

Eureka has many examples of Victorian architecture and some art deco. Here are the most well known Victorian houses. One is the Carson mansion, now a private club. Across the street, is the Pink Lady. Eureka was founded in 1850 as a shipping center for the Trinity gold mines. Fishing, farming and logging added to its prosperity. These old beauties were constructed with enduring redwood.

Scattered throughout the town are murals painted on the sides of buildings. Here's one visible from Highway 101 south.

Eureka is definitely worth a stop if you are exploring northern California by RV.

Update: The main beam assembly should be delivered to Humboldt Truck Repair tomorrow. After trying to find where the other shipment is, we found it is coming via UPS freight and will also be delivered tomorrow. Whew - Eureka! (Keeping our fingers crossed.) Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photos by George and Jaimie Bruzenak

Waiting for RV parts in Arcata

"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." That's what we are doing while waiting for RV parts in Arcata. We were told that the parts to fix the axle (See "Traveling - Trials and Tribulations") would be shipped Friday a week ago. The major part- the torsion beam - had to be made up and didn't ship until the next Wednesday. We have a tracking number and it is supposed to arrive on Tuesday. Humboldt Truck Repair's UPS shipments normally come in the afternoon so, in all likelihood, they'll start work on Wednesday. Rodney, a great guy, offered to do the repairs on the weekend, but that isn't going to happen so, we have an extra week in Arcata.

Arcata and nearby Eureka are interesting towns. The two towns are separated by Humboldt Bay and about 10 miles apart. Both are college towns so there is an eclectic group of people to be seen whenever we venture downtown to the Arcata square or to old town Eureka. It looks like we stepped back into the 60s! Tom Vineski, columnist for RV Lifestyles ezine, told us how Arcata pioneered the technique of using its marshes to purify waste water so their sewage does not contaminate offshore oyster beds. The marsh, adjoining Humboldt Bay, is a nice place to walk, though some parts are off limits during the week while FEMA does work on the system of dikes. This is tsunami country after all!

We enjoy bird life and the plants in wetlands so we hiked around the part of the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary that was open, following the Butcher's Slough Nature Trail. We saw several egrets, ducks, possible a pelican. Once a month personnel at the interpretive center offer a tour explaining their waste water treatment system, which has been copied by other municipalities.

Another interesting place to walk in the area is through the Manila Dunes and along the ocean. A narrow peninsula separates Humboldt Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Several sections of the dunes along the peninsula are designated and protected. Samoa Dunes, further down, allows ATV use on a portion. PIctured below is one of the very few still-blooming beach buckwheat flowers. Most were dried to a dark rust color.

Two things we look for in an area are independent bookstores and health food or natural food stores. Both are in abundance. Each has a food co-op and Eureka has another natural foods store. There are interesting coffee shops and vegan restaurants plus many restaurants feature organic or local food.

Arcata has three bookstore, one of which is a used bookstore. Eureka has two that we've found so far. Eureka Bookstore has a display of altered books, a fascinating hobby that seems popular here. You take an existing book and turn it into a travel journal or other interesting creation. The International Society of Altered Book Artists defines an altered book as "... any book, old or new that has been recycled by creative means into a work of art. They can be ... rebound, painted, cut, burned, folded, added to, collaged in, gold-leafed, rubber stamped, drilled or otherwise adorned ... and yes! It is legal!" (Click on their link to see examples.)

Eureka has some unique sights so I'll do another post about that town. In the meantime, we have good food to eat, books a plenty and places to hike. The Mad River Rapids RV Park is a good place to stay and has a hot tub to boot! We're anxious to get down the road, but also are enjoying these serendipitous days in Arcata. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photos by George Bruzenak

How clean is that fresh water spigot?

Tom and Mary, members of the Boomer group (a subgroup of the Escapees RV Club) we belong to, posted something to think about in this RV lifestyle. They watched an RVer set up his rig. He hooked up his sewage first, taking off the end piece because it didn't fit and cramming it into the ground opening. He wore no gloves.

After that, those bare hands that had touched end of the sewage hose opened the electrical box to attach their electrical cord and touched the fresh water spigot as he attached his hose. 

Tom and Mary now carry Lysol spray to mist the water supply. Another Boomer suggested a spray bottle of bleach water - cheaper. Both will spray the electrical boxes in the future.

This points out that you don't know what is on the end of your fresh water spigot or handle. Here are some steps you can take when hooking up:

1. As Tom and Mary suggested, connect (and disconnect) the sewage last.
2. Wear gloves for your own protection. Watch how you handle your gloves so you don't touch contaminated parts; disposable gloves are better.
3. Besides spraying the spigot, if you like, let the faucet run for 30 seconds or so and rinse both ends of the hose before attaching it. Let water run through the hose too before connecting to your rig in case dirt got in it.
4. Mark your drinking water hoses if you carry other hoses too of the same color. Screwing the two ends of a hose together when not in use will keep them from touching a contaminated surface between uses.
5. Filter the water with a filter that removes bacteria. We have a second filter for the kitchen sink for cooking and drinking water.
6. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after hooking up (or breaking down) or use disinfectant wipes.

While I'm not one to be paranoid about germs, I would not want to take a chance of sewage on the other hookups. Taking a few extra minutes will give you peace of mind - and perhaps better health. Thanks Tom and Mary for reminding us! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Read latest RV Lifestyle Ezine #185

Read the latest RV Lifestyle Ezine - Formaldehye Verdict in!

Here are just a few of the many resources and tips in this issue:

• The RV lifestyle is less expensive than the stix-n-brix life. Read how you can save.
• Grilling safety tips.
• Don't fall for Twitter scams or this RV scam.
• Gulf Stream found "not guilty."
• Has your RV been recalled?

Click here to read. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Knives and forks- a way to make a living on the road

While we were in Winchester Bay for a couple of nights, we talked to some of our neighbors, members of the RoVing Rods. They were early for the annual crab fest. Two couples work on the road so, of course, I asked them what they do.

Duane and Janet are wood carvers. In the summer they stay at the Arrowhead RV Park in Idaho. The Arrowhead Carving Pavilion is located here and this is the center of the Raven Carving Club. The club offers seminars and open carving times under the direction of a master carver and several instructors. Duane is in charge of chain saw carving. This last summer he made the "blanks," or rough cut that the chain saw carvers start with. Both Duane and Janet worked on carvings of their own. The griffin is Janet's creation and the whimsical woodsman is Duane's. Duane also completed a large totem pole this summer.

Gary and Dee, the second couple, travel in the summer, but in the winter they come back to Salem, OR to their home base. While in Salem, Dee works for Warehouse Distributors and does food demonstrations at Costco, doling out samples and coupons.

I recently read an article about a family who went a whole month without spending any money except for things like milk. The father spent several different days with his son "grazing" on the samples for their lunch. Dee confirmed that she will see the same people stopping in for their samples day after day. I'm sure she has some funny stories to tell. One thing she likes is she can pick how many days a week she wants to work.

Gary works security through an agency. Each winter he is sent to a different company. Costco was one of his assignments; he's had others at manufacturing facilities. Because he is a valued employee, Gary can travel during the summer and yet be assured of an assignment when he comes back.

RVers can work in RV parks. It is a good fit, but as Duane and Janet and Gary and Dee illustrate, there are lots of other possibilities. A hobby or interest could bring in some money. Agencies are also a good source for temporary jobs that could suit your travel schedule. Broaden your horizons, get creative. You could have an interesting summer or winter ahead! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photos by George Bruzenak

Strattec locks- their time has come

Reading RV Daily Report today, I saw a product review for a lock that will be popular for many applications. What this lock does is align itself to your vehicle key on its first use so your vehicle key then opens it. Strattec Security Company makes code-able padlocks but is also making work trucks with code-able locks as well. One key then fits all.

The automotive-grade lock cylinder has spring-loaded plate tumblers that move until they match exactly your key. They lock into place when you first turn and remove it so only your vehicle key can open the lock.

RVers can use these locks for hitches, securing bikes or boats on their RVs or tow vehicle, for securing a free-standing generator to their RV  - any application that requires a lock. If Strattec could convince RV manufacturers to put similar locks on the outside compartment doors of their RVs, keyed the same as the door or even the vehicle, think how much easier life would be. One key would suffice where now we need a key ring with several keys. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Traveling---Trials and Tribulations

This 12,000 mile trip has given us many things to remember; views of the most breathtaking scenery that British Columbia, Yukon Territory and Alaska have to offer, up-close encounters with animals and sea life, gorgeous panoramas of glaciers, lakes, mountains and rivers. Unfortunately, the trip has also provided us with some up-close and personal views of small pieces of roadway while we had to make repairs on our trailer.

To date, we've lost three tires to road punctures (1) and blow-outs (2). Two aluminum wheels (hubs) have cracked and been replaced. One injector on the tow vehicle failed and was replaced, thankfully that only took one day while we were parked with friends.

Our travels took us into Oregon for a two-night stay in Winchester Bay to visit with some old friends. From there we traveled south on Highway 101, through the twists and turns of the Redwood National Forest on that two-lane road, with the intention of stopping overnight at the Eureka, CA Elks Club. We never made it.

Just north of Arcata on the four-land divided portion of Highway 101, we heard a loud "boom". I looked back and saw a large puff of white smoke and immediately pulled off to the shoulder (luckily, one was there).

When I got back to the trailer, this is what greeted me. Note that the front tire is sort of bent at an odd angle. Not a good sign. There was smoke pouring out behind the tire---Jaimie grabbed one of the three extinguishers we carry and I doused the flames. (The white stuff on the ground in front of the tire is the powder from the fire extinguisher.)

 What you cannot see in the photo is the red glow from what was left of the axle. That's what caused the fire.

While I was setting up the jack and waiting for the axle to cool, two men traveling in their own trailer stopped to offer help. There was really nothing they could do, so we thanked them for their concern. Jaimie was on the phone with my insurance, arranging a tow. 

  When I raised the trailer and removed the wheel, hub and all, I discovered the source of the problem. One of our "NeverLube" bearings had failed. This photo shows what's left of it. Those gray pieces are all that remain.

Here's a photo of something you never want to see--the rotor from a disk brake. I was able to pull it off without any effort at all, it came off after I jacked the trailer up and pulled the tire free. Perhaps that was one piece of luck--it stayed with the trailer and did not go bouncing off into the woods or worse, down the road into traffic.

 

 

 

 

This is what greeted the tow truck operator when he arrived. We were able to contact Rodney Smith at Humboldt Truck Repair in Eureka, who arrived within the hour. After studying the situation, he came up with the idea of raising the suspension and securing it with a chain (to keep it off the road.) Quite obviously we weren't going anywhere far. We discussed our options and eventually Rodney suggested that we make our way to a RV park about eight miles south. He followed us with his tow truck, lights flashing as we made our way at 30 mph to the Mad River Rapids RV Park in Arcata. There we now sit.

 

 The following morning I called Mike Butler at Mor/ryde in Indiana and explained the problem. After detailing the issue, we came up with a plan. Parts will be shipped (update---they're on the way, arriving early next week), and will be installed by Rodney's company.

One thing Mike suggested, and I agreed with, was that we should replace the rest of the "NeverLube" bearings. If one dies after 5 years, the rest can't be far behind. "NeverLube" really doesn't mean "forever".

We were lucky. The problem happened on a wide road near a town with both a truck repair shop and a place for us to park. No one was hurt and the tire stayed with us. Mad River Rapids RV Park has a heated pool, hot tub and wifi, and the manager made it clear that there was no problem for us to stay as long as necessary, even shuffling future reservations around our crippled RV.

The only thing that is hurting is my wallet.

The ultimate fuel mileage for a camper!

I shouldn't say miles per gallon. That's not quite accurate. These two campers by Kevin Cyr require no fuel other than your energy. One is a bike camper, the other a camper cart.

Thanks to Lloyd Treichel, Wandrin' blog, for the link to these unusual campers.

I can't tell what country this is, except that it is in Asia. Kevin apparently made these to do a series of painting. Follow the link to see the layout inside the camper bike.

Kevin also made the Cart Camper. This is balanced on a  shopping cart for urban camping. Push the cart where you want to go and then set up. This link shows the layout of the Cart Camper.

What I'm wondering is how they maintain their balance when the person is inside sleeping or moving around. They don't seem too sturdy to me. Maybe there are legs that come down to stabilize them. Still, what a concept. I thought Tabs, Burros and Scamps were small; these are amazing!

Hmm... could this be a solution to our urban housing problems? :-) Jaimie Hall Bruzenak