A Mobile Odyssey

Boat and RV

April 2, 2019

Conestoga Charlie heading south after Oklahoma City and visit to the Route 66 Museum.

Thankfully nothing but normal traffic problems on the way to friends in McKinney Texas.

With one stopover in Ardmore Oklahoma to mail a package we arrived on a nice sunny day which turned cold the next day!

We spent 3 days helping our friends John and Linda as they prepared to sell many items that have been collected over the years.

Our last night in McKinney we treated ourselves to a great dinner and a few pints at The Celt Irish Pub.

The Loco Cowpoke has and and every spice or sauce that is in Texas and then some!

If one is anywhere the Dallas Ft. Worth area a trip to Old McKinney and The Celt is well worth the time.

There is even ample free public parking and we stayed the night as well.

In the next two days we will be making our way further south for a stay in Jasper and then to South Padre Island Texas.

The motor home is doing well and delivering fuel mileage in the 11 to 13 MPG range!

 

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Boat and RV

April 3, 2019

Conestoga Charlie arguing with the GPS again.

3 different times so far today our GPS led us astray.

One of the times it was a lucky accident and led us to a different but better destination.

The other 2 times we went about 5 miles out of our way on a scenic route (read narrow 2 lane road) to return to our destination.

Our Target today was the Texas State Railroad Depot in Rusk Texas.

The wrong turn was into the shops that are restoring the railroad equipment.

A little further down the road was the actual depot and large Camp Ground, there are train rides available some with dinner included.

The other was in Lufkin and the GPS indicated a turn about 300 feet too soon so it was down the scenic road and back about 7 miles total so we are now parked for dinner.

The pohtos are of the Railroad Depot and the Shops for the Texas State Railroad.

 

 

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Boat and RV

April 4, 2019

Conestoga Charlie is waiting out the rain!

I remember in the sailboat just huddling under the Bimini staying dry while continuing to the next anchorage!

Although driving the motor home in the rain is no fun it is not nearly as bad as the sailboat.

There is the issue of wet sails that need drying and even though rain gear protects the body there is a permeating cold, unless one is in the tropics.

When I started writing this blog, the idea was to compare traveling on a sailboat to traveling in a motor home.

As things progressed it expanded to include all boats and RV’s.

This has also led to the creation of a FaceBook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/425536471285181/?ref=bookmarks (no longer valid)

and the publishing of an Electronic Book

The vision was to be more than just another travel guide but a help for any that wish to embrace the lifestyle.

Past articles have included modifications and repairs, Troubleshooting, Purchasing Guides, and Campground Location Information.

Mobile Odyssey is in the process of creating a web page: A Mobile Odyssey at

www.amobileodyssey.com  , which is under construction at this writing. 

We would appreciate some input as to what content would be desired as well as the subjects considered.  

The photos today reflect the travels after leaving Arizona.

 

 

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Boat and RV

April 7, 2019

Conestoga Charlie is just preparing to leave the Lufkin, Texas Wal-Mart after a particularly fierce Thunderstorm.

A number of others holed up here last night as well, and we have not experienced as much rain and lightning since we were on our boat during Hurricane Irma!

I am working on my second E-Book which will be a guide to prospective RV owners and needed some photos of different means to tow a service vehicle.

Three different motor homes arrived to accommodate my camera.  

It is always a surprise when someone obviously in a great financial position is supremely nasty!

A woman came flying out of her motor home demanding to know what I was doing and informed me THEY did not like people taking photos around their motor home, while I was talking to the guy parked next to them about his tow dolly arrangement.

Wellll Excuusseee Meee!

The other guy was using a tow bar and was explaining that in order to tow his Toyota Rav-4 he would start it and put it in neutral and tow while the engine was running. He stated that it only used $36 in gas to bring it from Ohio!
I know this is not the usual arrangement and my friend Craig Olson does not do that to tow his!

I have 6 chapters, so far the one I am working on is “How to live in 30 feet or less!”

I chose 30 feet arbitrarily even though our sailboat is 37 feet and many motor homes and 5^th Wheels as well as some Travel Trailers are more.

I have said repeatedly (and done so) that one can sail anywhere in the world on a 30 foot boat.

We will be Boondocking until Ron’s (our friend in Jasper, Texas) muddy driveway drys out.

 

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Boat and RV

April 9, 2019

 

After two solid days of rain Conestoga Charlie has a discussion question.

What is the general concession on tire pressure (tyre for proper British Friends)?

For our motor home the placard insides states 60 front 65 rear.

A trucker suggested 75 front 80 rear and the tires themselves show 80 on the sidewall.

We have registered our best fuel mileage with 75 and 80 (a range of 10.3 to best of 14.2MPG) and wonder why the lower tire pressure!

I remember a few years back when so many Ford SUV’s were having tire failure and after a long round about investigation it was found that dealers were under inflating the tires to smooth out the ride.

This caused overheating of the tires and eventually a blowout.

We found another superb Texas rest area located just a few miles south of Lufkin off the Highway 59 (Polk County 59 Northbound) complete with Wi-Fi!

Saving your hinnie department! A few post back I constructed a handy jumper for the house relay so we could charge the truck battery from the generator in the motor home! (See Photo 1 and 2)

The headlights inadvertently were left on and drained the battery.

The rest of the photos are some highlights of our travels!

  

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Boat and RV

April 12, 2019

Conestoga Charlie will be camped in Jasper Texas for awhile.

Just before arriving we celebrated Dawn’s Birthday on the road.

Just another adjustment to live a mobile life and the steaks were great!

The main reason for stopping here for an extended period of time is for Dawn to do some extensive IT service for our friend Ron and also for me to help with some mechanical problems.

We are also taking a logistical break to plan what is going to be the next step concerning the sailboat.

 Last year we did the same in Thompson Falls Montana. Dawn also does a lot of computer work for people while we are on the road.

To accomplish this we use “Team Viewer”

http://ourdawntreader.com/home (click on the teamviewer download button to install)

So those who may need help with a computer problem Contact us by Private Message or through the web site and we will be happy to provide details.

Photos are from our last destinations.

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Boat and RV
April 15, 2019

Today Conestoga Charlie is going to highlight some of the many highway safety rest stops that have been stops along the almost 15,000 miles of travel.
These rest areas are part of the Interstate Highway System and are supported in part by Federal Highway Funds as well as State funding. (The Gasoline Tax at work!)
The various rest areas range from bare bones (Partial Facility) with only a pullout with trash cans and perhaps a picnic area with tables to a plush facility with air conditioned lobbies and tourist information. The one in Pensacola, Florida, even passes out samples of orange juice.
Most offer safe overnight parking with some notable exceptions and are good alternatives to the Wal-Mart Parking lot.
We have only found a few that did not allow overnight parking; one exception was the one in South Dakota with Dignity Statue at Chamberlain Rest Area, South Dakota.
I suspect because it is also a tourist destination, overnight parking would cause an overload. There were very few places to park when we visited.
Between the Highway Rest Areas, Wal-Mart, and many free campgrounds we have found through www.freecampsites.net, our traveling costs has been minimal.
Most RV people have heard of Boondocking but hardly anyone is familiar with the term “Coyote Camping!”
The term was coined back in the 60’s during the formative years of RV’s as we know today.
None of the places mentioned so far qualify as “Coyote Campsites.”
By definition Coyote Camping is finding and camping in non-public places.
Examples; Middle of an orange grove, an abandoned factory or shopping center parking lot, any empty lot with street access, etc.
On a motorcycle trip I once set up my tent in an abandoned California Highway Maintenance Facility.
This type of camping is most likely a holdover from the Hippie Era but can still be practiced today. Sadly some of the potential sites today are occupied by various homeless types and not particularly safe!
We have used that savings to visit interesting museums, special historical sites, as well as some interesting restaurants.

 

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Boat and RV

April 16, 2019

Conestoga Charlie highlighting rest stops across the country.

In continuing the salute to the rest stops that we have seen serves as a reminder from 3 years ago when we made our trip through California in the old trusty Volkswagen Westfailia and the condition of many of the rest stops in that state.

It is not certain if it has changed, however, at that time almost to a point, the Highway Rest Areas were either closed for repairs or on the verge of destruction.

The State Highway Department has long given up using glass mirrors and instead had polished metal which on the whole were etched with Gang Graffiti as were the sinks and any other surface that would yield to sharp objects.

Most were filthy and appeared unkempt.

Compare to photo15 Donley County Rest Area Clarenton, TX, which is a shot during a normal day of the Men’s Toilet Area!

This was typical of every stop we made, not just in Texas, but in most every state we have traveled so far this trip.

One must wonder if it is the California State infrastructure or the population that is unique to that state?

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Boat and RV

April 18, 2019

Conestoga Charlie with the last of the Roadside Rest Area photos.

We are holed up in Jasper Texas on our friend’s level concrete pad that once housed a triple wide mobile home.

The creation of Mobile Odyssey was to be not only a guide for those who wish to have our lifestyle on land or by sea but a place to share travel experiences.

Hopefully the blog will also contain helpful ideas for those wishing to own either a boat, RV, or both.

We ourselves own both a motor home and sailboat and sometimes it is a bit much financially.

Many like us put the boat in hurricane storage (Florida and Gulf Coast Boaters!)

Storage yards and marinas require insurance just like the motor vehicle department.

However, because the boat is secured and will not be moving all that is necessary is liability insurance, which for us is a saving of a bit over $400 a year.

Our insurance carrier assured us that when we finish repairs and are ready to re-launch we can then resume standard coverage.

It is a good idea to check with your carrier before making this move, and be sure it will be possible to  make the move without loss of full coverage when the time comes!

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Boat and RV

April 20, 2019

Conestoga Charlie camped in Jasper Texas at Ron’s place!

Today is laundry day and Dawn is also making bread!

One of the reasons that RV life is so easy for us is because we have basically lived on board boats since early retirement in 2002.

Our life in the motor home is similar to before in the boat except for two luxuries, a generator, and Micro-Wave Oven!

Dawn uses a “Bread Machine” to make the dough, but prefers to bake in the oven. Mostly because she makes hamburger and hotdog buns as well as different types of loaves.

Two other bits of news, is that my second E-Book is out and the third is on the way.

Currently “Camping in Comfort” and for our boating friends “Now for the Davits” a construction manual using Composite Materials (included in today’s photos)

A third is on the way for potential new RV owners.

To prepare for the launch or this E-Book the RV Newbe series will be re-ran starting Monday!

This is primarily for all the new members that have not yet decided, or have just obtained an RV of some type.  

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Boat and RV

April 21, 2019

Wishing everyone a Glorious Easter from Conestoga Charlie and the Crew of the Dawn Treader.

Just a reminder that tomorrow (see this link) I will be starting my newbie series for all those who are considering a RV and those who already have a boat and want to add an RV to tour land destinations. 

We made our decision to ad a motor home after surviving Hurricane Irma and the sailboat’s Diesel developed Injection Pump problems.

Even though we do miss the boat there have been many wonderful adventures so far.

The Photos today are places we parked and camped to date and only one snow fall.

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Boat and RV

April 28, 2019

Happy Sunday from Conestoga Charlie and crew!~!

Tomorrow I will continue posting my new owners file.

Two things I am wondering about. Do people actually read stuff or do they just look at the photos and hit “Like”?

The other is a much more serious discussion.

I was in a conversation about electric needs.

One issue was about having 30 or 50 amp service. This same issue is going on in marinas as well.

Why do people take up a mobile lifestyle in the first place? I always thought it was for freedom.

I must interject here as to why I have trouble understanding.

My first RV as such was a Volkswagen Diesel Rabbit with the back seat removed and a tent.

I considered it a big move up when I got a 1970 Volkswagen Westfailia with an extra battery!

The sailboat I bought after I retired had kerosene lamps and the only electric was to start the engine and power the anchor light.

Both of these only had an Ice Chest!

I did two years of Nature Photography as well as a monthly camping article in a magazine out of the VW’s and sailed from Acapulco to Seattle on the west coast in the Ericson 32.

Make no mistake I do appreciate what we have now. 

So back to the 30-50 Amp discussion!

Looking at a sample laundry list of what people had in their RV’s.

Twin Air Conditioning, household style refrigerators, microwave ovens, Electric (?) cook tops, and some other things worth mentioning but I will let the reader fill in the blanks.

I think some people are looking through the wrong end of the telescope here!

“Gee I really want to go Boondocking" “but I need a gajillion Kilowatts of power to get through the day so we need to add a roof full of solar cells and two tons of batteries to survive!"

I know it is an exaggeration but honestly some conversations seem to go this way.

The reality, that is if someone is really looking for freedom, is to reduce dependence on outside power.

Does that mean to become a minimalist?

I don’t think so.

I understand in theory why some equip an RV with a home style refrigerator, it save initial cost, however in the long run it actually cost more in terms of generator use and maintenance, power requirements and so forth!

 Naturally the RV industry wants us all to believe we NEED all this as they make their profit putting highly marked up accessories in the RV’s they sell.

Honestly we appreciate some of the conveniences ourselves, but we survived 5 years living on our boat in Florida without a microwave or built in Air-Conditioning.

Because we are Mobile, we try to match our travels to our desire for moderate weather, however We Are Not Opposed to firing up the generator for occasional microwave use or to cool off the coach before turning in or during the hottest part of the day.

The idea in not to deny oneself just to seriously question the motive and goal of why one takes up RV living in the first place.

My usual photo spread is absent this post.