tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378877442024-03-18T21:53:01.278-07:00Women RVersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-50555993121324179372019-03-06T10:04:00.000-08:002019-03-07T08:47:52.167-08:00RIP 'Too Crazy Ladies' - RVing cousins<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjKkEIyNwHEGiPE1hnzTkanMEt_ew1M7Fxvy5QMtIMIjbL8ddMOvgim2v5x3-9nxyHGLVEzSeQuyHidvN7N_ucVCEEffk5_9P3eONUez_MkJ3l-mLCo_Sl9KER4d959JM4aBYNA/s1600/TooCrazyLadies_3_Red_Beth..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpjKkEIyNwHEGiPE1hnzTkanMEt_ew1M7Fxvy5QMtIMIjbL8ddMOvgim2v5x3-9nxyHGLVEzSeQuyHidvN7N_ucVCEEffk5_9P3eONUez_MkJ3l-mLCo_Sl9KER4d959JM4aBYNA/s400/TooCrazyLadies_3_Red_Beth..jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Red and Beth the 'Too Crazy Ladies' <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=45" target="_blank">(Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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<i>The following feature was originally posted on May 11, 2012. Since then, </i><i>Red passed away circa 2016. Beth passed away on Feb. 11, 2019, peacefully in her motor home in Mesa, Az.” RIP Crazy Ladies.</i><br />
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These '<b>Too Crazy Ladies</b>' are longtime friends, in fact, have they have known each other all their lives, or at least all of Beth's life. Red is a tad bit older than her cousin, Beth. (Their mothers were sisters.)<br />
<br />
Since 1994 these two strong, independent women have been a familiar presence at Quartzsite, RV rallies, and numerous dog (and horse) shows. They've been engraving name badges, license plate frames, judges badges and lapel pins.<br />
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"It took us nine husbands and 30 years to get our act together," erupts Beth in laughter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6VgX_8DtqtWs24bLUJByRS_5jtp24CJYGvqFnM4uJQ_RSmnUtEYvCbZ0KQY0IK4tatxK4QBhFVmksS8wYA9kiEqf0GDTh0Lj_LjYPNDIrjlH0oc6fWMg7p3xEKM6hdy16nl1pA/s1600/TooCrazyLadies_0_van.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6VgX_8DtqtWs24bLUJByRS_5jtp24CJYGvqFnM4uJQ_RSmnUtEYvCbZ0KQY0IK4tatxK4QBhFVmksS8wYA9kiEqf0GDTh0Lj_LjYPNDIrjlH0oc6fWMg7p3xEKM6hdy16nl1pA/s320/TooCrazyLadies_0_van.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>'Too Crazy Ladies' rolling business. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=45" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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For years Too Crazy Ladies spent most of their time on the road traveling from one event to another. <br />
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"We love meeting new people, and being around the shows," says Beth, "however, the older we get, the less we like traveling long distances." These days, while they still hit the road, most of their business is done through the Internet. <br />
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In addition, each of the ladies have a few physical challenges. Four years ago, Red had a hip replacement. "But," says Beth, "they put her leg back on wrong, and she had to have a knee replacement after that."<br />
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As for Beth, she was run over by a motor home in 1978, has arthritic hips, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes. "But, by God," says this gutsy gal, "I’m not quitting."<br />
<br />
<i>-- <a href="https://www.rvwheellife.com/julianne-g-crane/" target="_blank">Julianne G Crane</a>,</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>For more writing on RV Lifestyle go to <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/" target="_blank">RVWheelLife.com </a></i><br />
<br />
<i>Photos: Red (left) and Beth the 'Too Crazy Ladies' and their traveling rig. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=45" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane)</a></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-88733303396151285852017-05-02T09:00:00.000-07:002017-05-03T20:19:22.791-07:00Fulltime solo RVer Melissa Dafnis living her RV Dream, her way<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitl_Ms-SHiYs1oSqT0UodZy12fSDy2MXTeogH4Mrgnm5ycdQwys3891jWFNr9ZoHhJYFXnlXWCJl2wO_apSRjt6MJ_j2bn114qGYPigchSWs15zg4PHScKiYE56RQ5vBygPw7sg/s1600/1704_MelissaDafnis_5er_bikes_dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitl_Ms-SHiYs1oSqT0UodZy12fSDy2MXTeogH4Mrgnm5ycdQwys3891jWFNr9ZoHhJYFXnlXWCJl2wO_apSRjt6MJ_j2bn114qGYPigchSWs15zg4PHScKiYE56RQ5vBygPw7sg/s400/1704_MelissaDafnis_5er_bikes_dogs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fulltime solo RVer Melissa Dafnis and her traveling rig. </i></td></tr>
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For more than 15 years <b>Melissa Dafnis</b> of Maryland had dreamed of living and traveling in an RV.<br />
<br />
"I wanted to live the lifestyle of freedom and adventure that full-time RVing involves," said the former professional jockey. "I love to travel, I love a challenge, I love freedom. And RVing is all of those things and more." <br />
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About five years ago, Melissa, 52, started researching rigs and going to RV shows to help her decide on the exact unit she wanted. She decided on a toy hauler because taking her Honda 750 motorcycle along was her number one priority. "I also plan to spend at least five, maybe 10 years in this RV and I wanted to make sure I had the options to do that." <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vh8iA8wBq85V1doicGfKPmPD8bsaPlxyiRU8uurRC4oTVy7mmwyuwRZJtPVU94MHou6YZoB_ffJLg1hfU8oLNqHBrh3CaX8AzeOA33CIPKXowRv2dMqV_BWD06l8vQ_e8wSd6Q/s1600/MelissaDafnis_redBike.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vh8iA8wBq85V1doicGfKPmPD8bsaPlxyiRU8uurRC4oTVy7mmwyuwRZJtPVU94MHou6YZoB_ffJLg1hfU8oLNqHBrh3CaX8AzeOA33CIPKXowRv2dMqV_BWD06l8vQ_e8wSd6Q/s320/MelissaDafnis_redBike.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Melissa Dafnis on cross-country motorcycle adventure.</i></td></tr>
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Three years ago, she bought "a brand-new, ordered from the factory (with every option I wanted) 2014 44-foot Heartland Cyclone toy hauler fifth-wheel trailer." She pulls it with a 2013 Ram 3500 Diesel Dually. "Because of all the research I did," she said, "I was able to save 30-percent off the purchase price." <br />
<br />
Melissa says she gets some strange looks when she pulls into a park and jumps out of the cab of her big pickup. "People see a 5-foot tall woman get out from behind the wheel of that truck towing a 44-foot fifth-wheel and they say, 'You drive that all by yourself?'"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMJxxInkCRdApHqKVydy4_0xdwoZ4ArOD-WQ1yTxNZwqJhSvGOHpGM9MVNLj_6KQbKAz8dHX5rfomUZqd4e2tZLAinGUmoiG8nyjBhyP5JqhoeEGZVMc2LUu3-lz5Nzmcv6qoJQ/s1600/MelissaDafnis_profJockey_Florida.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMJxxInkCRdApHqKVydy4_0xdwoZ4ArOD-WQ1yTxNZwqJhSvGOHpGM9MVNLj_6KQbKAz8dHX5rfomUZqd4e2tZLAinGUmoiG8nyjBhyP5JqhoeEGZVMc2LUu3-lz5Nzmcv6qoJQ/s200/MelissaDafnis_profJockey_Florida.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Melissa in her pro-jockey days.</i></td></tr>
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"I knew if I wanted to live my dream, I have to do what it takes," she said. "Besides, it's not really that hard if you take your time, learn what you need to do, and practice in a safe environment. It took me 45 minutes the first time I backed it into a driveway, but after a few more times I can do it pretty quickly now."<br />
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<b>Life on the road with Tigger and Roo</b><br />
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Since 2014 Melissa has lived in her RV with her constant traveling companions: Chihuahuas Tigger (male, 10) and Roo (female, 9).<br />
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So far they have spent their winters in Florida and summers in Maryland "with full hook-ups in my Dad's yard because we're very close and we like to do a lot of motorcycling together. He will be 80 years old this year and I don't want to miss a minute of time that I can spend with him."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OMUtD206vXtXh-Ja_TGu11kgDE40G-2cwCWLIOegRyWrdFylwP25x7_mOZzKw2lGFw12zZZzuwqv0JhPnNiEfk-7e7ZME4q68B4IPM9JiUCYjghaSagEZtMUTih9Jl7k2vA9KA/s1600/MelissaDafnisTiggerRoo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OMUtD206vXtXh-Ja_TGu11kgDE40G-2cwCWLIOegRyWrdFylwP25x7_mOZzKw2lGFw12zZZzuwqv0JhPnNiEfk-7e7ZME4q68B4IPM9JiUCYjghaSagEZtMUTih9Jl7k2vA9KA/s200/MelissaDafnisTiggerRoo.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Melissa with Tigger and Roo.</i></td></tr>
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She 'snowbirds' in the Sunshine State for three months because it was part of her dream -- wintering in Florida. "I spend at least a month
in each RV Park, sometimes more, because the monthly rate is less
expensive than the weekly rate." <br />
<br />
"My best experience to date was being able to walk my kayak to the canal, paddle to the manatees in Homasassa Springs, Florida, and rub a manatees belly as he rolled up right next to me on my kayak," she recalls. "He even held my hand with his flipper."<br />
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Then she added: "One of the happiest moments of my life was as I skipped along the beautiful white sand beach in Destin, Florida, with the realization that I had, indeed, made my dream come true. Everyone deserve to feel that."<br />
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To read more about how Melissa Dafnis runs her own business while on the road, <b><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b><a href="https://www.rvwheellife.com/?p=24486" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">click here </span></b>for an RVWheelLife post on her podcast series: <span style="color: blue;"><b>“Your RV Dream: </b></span>Discover the Lifestyle, Make Money While You Travel, and Live a Life of Freedom and Adventure”.</a><br />
<br />
<i>-- <b><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane </a></b></i><br />
<br />
<i>... For more on the<b> <b>RV lifestyle</b> go to<b> <a href="http://rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></b>. </b></i><br />
<br />
<i>Photos: Courtesy of <a href="http://melissadafnis.com/">MelissaDafnis.com </a> (Click on images to enlarge.) </i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-35855208192300521462017-04-19T20:00:00.001-07:002017-04-20T15:10:35.143-07:00Pennsylvania gal tours West, South 'light' <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S8eJOGhq6k_1pBcXIEOkaJj_X2jGH9OXulermZx5DJXn7hESEnkOLedg5kImFh0Zn3HXchPo6TeAH5wcL2qkgxIhDg7ypk04t8XYbwMwLug-DXE4th9rFkxEcwLxNBEA86tcLw/s1600/DawnStinson_BalmorheaSP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0S8eJOGhq6k_1pBcXIEOkaJj_X2jGH9OXulermZx5DJXn7hESEnkOLedg5kImFh0Zn3HXchPo6TeAH5wcL2qkgxIhDg7ypk04t8XYbwMwLug-DXE4th9rFkxEcwLxNBEA86tcLw/s400/DawnStinson_BalmorheaSP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dawn and Bell on a windy day in west Texas. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a></i>)</td></tr>
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One windy afternoon in <a href="https://www.rvwheellife.com/?s=Balmorhea" target="_blank">Balmorhea State Park</a> in west Texas, I spotted a solo woman traveler walking a sweet little Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix.<br />
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After striking up a conversation, Dawn, a former health care administrator, revealed she was on the backside of a five-week cross-country trip, camping in her 2004 4X4 Ford Ranger extended cab pickup with an A.R.E. canopy.<br />
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According to Dawn, her truck and canopy are easy for traveling and camping because there is "nothing to pull, nothing to set up, and has a low profile in windy conditions."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2Z8KSxGmcuRu8PhrtFAEjX968OT3j_ZUEdgdLfwCtqdJTvrxkRwZVogMLaqriIFqUwoBHfSTUppTe_1OUaprAVSizZDGii7v10oaQy23joiojS6Qb03Kpv91p7-kB_fvR39jPA/s1600/Dawn-Bell_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2Z8KSxGmcuRu8PhrtFAEjX968OT3j_ZUEdgdLfwCtqdJTvrxkRwZVogMLaqriIFqUwoBHfSTUppTe_1OUaprAVSizZDGii7v10oaQy23joiojS6Qb03Kpv91p7-kB_fvR39jPA/s200/Dawn-Bell_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="127" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dawn and Bell</i></td></tr>
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There is "plenty of room for one person and a dog and all our necessary equipment," she said. "I considered adding a roof carrier, but decided I’d rather limit how much I carried." <br />
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She left her home-state of Pennsylvania, traveling through the southern
states to the California Coast. She made her
way over to Death Valley National Park, then south through the desert
to the Gulf Coast and Florida before heading north back to the <span class="nickname">Keystone State</span>.<br />
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Death Valley National Park was the most memorable. "The mountains were truly awe inspiring for me," she said. "The flat parts of Death Valley did not interest me, but the mountains--the variety of colors, textures, sizes and how they changed as the light changed--were just breathtaking."<br />
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She added, "I discovered on the trip through the southwest states that it was
interesting to see deserts for the first time. But they are not
somewhere I want to visit again." <br />
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For her next trip, she plans to take her kayak and "camp for a few days near bays or lakes along the East Coast," she says. "My dog has a life jacket, so she’d be riding along on my paddling adventures."<br />
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<i>-- <b><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane </a></b> (click on images to enlarge)</i><br />
<br />
<i>For more on the<b> <b>RV lifestyle</b> go to<b> <a href="http://rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></b>. </b></i><br />
<br />
<i>Photo: Dawn and her rescue puppy, Bell, traveled five weeks in her Ford Ranger with <a data-mce-href="http://www.4are.com/" href="http://www.4are.com/">an A.R.E. canopy</a>. (<a data-mce-href="https://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" href="https://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">##RVT790 </span><i><br /></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com5Balmorhea State Park, 9207 TX-17, Toyahvale, TX 79786, USA30.9440217 -103.786196000000025.4219872 -145.09479000000002 56.4660562 -62.477602000000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-34261706016440640822017-04-05T17:48:00.000-07:002017-04-05T19:06:34.793-07:00Solo RVer Jacque Green travels with paint brushes and an energetic canine sidekick <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_QITvwrMXyYU_C4CsGg8h6rSfDwyKbr0eUXFCA4kqUQRnREUHBLFUxx0uAO9lk6KX_l_Ri12AKHDExfH0s3C7SfMNkGaxKCMrPI9u8GOpDfYzTm1x2BzpxNij9fanA1bqMZ4OQ/s1600/JacqueGreen-trees_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_QITvwrMXyYU_C4CsGg8h6rSfDwyKbr0eUXFCA4kqUQRnREUHBLFUxx0uAO9lk6KX_l_Ri12AKHDExfH0s3C7SfMNkGaxKCMrPI9u8GOpDfYzTm1x2BzpxNij9fanA1bqMZ4OQ/s400/JacqueGreen-trees_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jacque Green paints landscapes inspired by her travels. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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"Building up your self confidence is freeing when traveling," observes novice full-time solo RVer <b>Jacque Green</b> of Tulsa, Okla. "After years of being an accountant and always on a schedule, it is nice to come and go at a whim."<br />
<br />
In early 2016, Jacque says, she almost died. "Laying in the hospital," she recalls, "I would visualize walking on a beach with my dog, Johnson. I had long dreamed of RVing but kept putting it off." After recovering, she purchased an RV in April and by June she hit the road on her first extended RV trip to Colorado. "On my way home, I made the decision to do this lifestyle full time." <br />
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It took Jacque only two months to give, donate or sell almost "a lifetime of stuff." She closed on her house in October and has been on her RV journey ever since. "It really felt like lifting a weight off my shoulders," she says. "I no longer wanted to care for all that stuff." <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXfBRFkWJ4aPXbzT5-tSlYqbtuVNsZC5ItHvSzRsZJcjxTAN9bN5A02Pd0xiSSsI_xhKhcOVNr40V31uu9zvbyozDJ3-ED8H93YU0sfbwdonmPG5d-Qk0yAvLsLP3Kmfg7gmS5w/s1600/JacqueGreen-rig_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXfBRFkWJ4aPXbzT5-tSlYqbtuVNsZC5ItHvSzRsZJcjxTAN9bN5A02Pd0xiSSsI_xhKhcOVNr40V31uu9zvbyozDJ3-ED8H93YU0sfbwdonmPG5d-Qk0yAvLsLP3Kmfg7gmS5w/s320/JacqueGreen-rig_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jacque Green's rig: </i><i> <b>2013 </b><b>Coachmen Prism</b> (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane)</a></i></td></tr>
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<b>Her Rig: </b><br />
<br />
Jacque found a previously-owned <b>2013 </b><b>Coachmen Prism</b> 24G Class C motorhome with one slide. At the time, there were only 7,000 miles on its Mercedes-Benz diesel engine.<br />
<br />
Jacque says she zeroed in on the 24-foot Prism because of its length and ease of handling. "When I started looking for an RV the most important thing was that it had to be something I could do myself."<br />
<br />
Her tow car is a Honda CR-V, "which doubles as extra storage," she jokes.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMee8lzyAlSzLrPwNa94XD2c0JqUFHTQMpUG3t9tEJxlHtBBzgovUIc5dEY0ygTXbu3KtdVzDH5HFXnjNE9a9f2ykxsfEhSD553ndugefjkHFYv86OetbKmmCSk7TP0iFshUvShQ/s1600/JacqueGreen_Johnson_JulianneGCrane.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMee8lzyAlSzLrPwNa94XD2c0JqUFHTQMpUG3t9tEJxlHtBBzgovUIc5dEY0ygTXbu3KtdVzDH5HFXnjNE9a9f2ykxsfEhSD553ndugefjkHFYv86OetbKmmCSk7TP0iFshUvShQ/s320/JacqueGreen_Johnson_JulianneGCrane.png" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jacque & Johnson (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i> </td></tr>
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<b>Her sidekick:</b><br />
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Jacque's puppy, Johnson, is an energetic two-year old, blended English Cocker and Clumber Spaniel. "Most people think he is a bird dog," says Jacque, "however, he is really an old lady's (50-pound) lap dog."<br />
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As with all active dogs, Johnson loves being outdoors and needs exercise several times a day. Jacque is always looking for campgrounds near good dog parks or walking trails.<br />
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<b>A few of her observations:</b><br />
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"There is a learning curve to handling an RV," she says. "I went to the <a href="http://www.escapees.com/" target="_blank">Escapees RV Club's </a>Boot Camp and learned a lot. I also met other solos." <br />
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She says that by living day-to-day in an RV, she is aware that there are still ways to further simplify her life. "I find myself continuing to lighten my load," she reflects. "Some items I thought I couldn't live without and had to bring with me are becoming unnecessary." <br />
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As a daughter, an artist and a former accountant, she says: "I will keep my mother's silver tray and all my tax receipts. There are still a few things you cannot escape from." And she will keep a small amount of art supplies. "I try to capture on canvas my impressions of places I've visited." <i>To read more about <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?p=24156" target="_blank">Jacque's artwork, click here.</a></i><br />
<i> </i><br />
<i>-- Text and photos by <b><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane </a></b> (Click on images to enlarge.) </i><br />
<br />
<i>... For more on the<b> <b>RV lifestyle</b> go to<b> <a href="http://rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></b>. </b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">##RVT788 </span><i><b><br /></b></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-28475162083216126112017-03-15T21:30:00.000-07:002017-03-16T13:15:21.639-07:00Native artist, RV snowbird Mary Ruth Barnes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsXmhHHEZYPDJe1osYm_M5umIfe7JqIeOvunKFabZsP8pa9HZZiK90d2yfyVw21amuvhGrAGeM6UOXha_E7aLrBcaC40GkmgMzW1l6MXboMgzs68L1nhS2obw28t15ZZ3gG5g-Q/s1600/MaryRuthBarnes_5th-wheel_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsXmhHHEZYPDJe1osYm_M5umIfe7JqIeOvunKFabZsP8pa9HZZiK90d2yfyVw21amuvhGrAGeM6UOXha_E7aLrBcaC40GkmgMzW1l6MXboMgzs68L1nhS2obw28t15ZZ3gG5g-Q/s400/MaryRuthBarnes_5th-wheel_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mary Ruth Barnes by her 5th wheel in Rockport, TX (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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During the cold winter months in south central Oklahoma, Chickasaw artist <a href="http://maryruthbarnes.com/" target="_blank"><b>Mary Ruth Barnes</b></a> travels with her husband, <b>Mike</b>, to the Coastal Bend of Texas for fishing, warm weather and good RV snowbird friends.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpwZA60CgSbIyv9N62GX5Bwg2LeynA3dLVZkrqyIMZYXMkECOEvB9ehxO4PSi8cl5ffpFRgP2byvyfRAu0B4td7ObrtFY39Jpu6aV4DEHdFa1a32GDigimHCriP207y0M-bASzw/s1600/MaryRuthBarnes_studio_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpwZA60CgSbIyv9N62GX5Bwg2LeynA3dLVZkrqyIMZYXMkECOEvB9ehxO4PSi8cl5ffpFRgP2byvyfRAu0B4td7ObrtFY39Jpu6aV4DEHdFa1a32GDigimHCriP207y0M-bASzw/s320/MaryRuthBarnes_studio_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Artist Mary Ruth Barnes in outdoor studio. </i><i>(<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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Almost every day while in Texas, Mary Ruth can be spotted painting in the fresh air studio she set up alongside the Barnes' <b>2014 38-foot Cedar Creek </b>5th wheel trailer. <br />
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"Art has been a heritage I learned from my grandfather, a Chickasaw story teller," says Mary Ruth. "He would often paint beautiful pictures in my mind as he taught me about love and caring, enkindling nature as the basis for love."<br />
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"My art is my passage into my history and my culture. I paint to revive the stories he told me and give a continuation of my culture to my children and my grandchildren."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1giO6nYv5ksE9wpWdIbNI_iQJIV2Ip4P5bgkBvbS7_2K3h895ArFnKqnqbrJSyhyphenhyphenZXv2cp2XNfkRaZqjB9JRjctwgNEmWSMlJwvUpfSPifBvMt8a9PY9YuiEHX-nC1Fh0cROKag/s1600/MaryRuthBarnes_Horse_ColorMeNative.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1giO6nYv5ksE9wpWdIbNI_iQJIV2Ip4P5bgkBvbS7_2K3h895ArFnKqnqbrJSyhyphenhyphenZXv2cp2XNfkRaZqjB9JRjctwgNEmWSMlJwvUpfSPifBvMt8a9PY9YuiEHX-nC1Fh0cROKag/s320/MaryRuthBarnes_Horse_ColorMeNative.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>'Color Me Native,' </i><i><i>gouache watercolor </i>- Mary Ruth Barnes</i></td></tr>
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"With each story he told me, I try to retell it in my images of the horse, the buffalo, the white dog, the eagle, and the turtle," she continues.<br />
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"It is a time for me to bring honor to all the Chickasaw people by creating art that is more than something just seen; art is color depicted from my heart and visually displayed on canvas to honor our forefathers. It is my legacy and my continuum in being the best Native American I can be."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLa3opNAIpqoZOj3hDsnv1VsXAqhPMrEHurtlMD9BDy2HbjfgHD3ZHoQQMmjjoUCu7jPcL7rsVnssRIPCX7hVBnnl0UwweG_-xGpzKru-u3mWo78x7G6AYBiz3YS86mupUIZ9NSw/s1600/MaryRuthBarnes_NativeFree_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLa3opNAIpqoZOj3hDsnv1VsXAqhPMrEHurtlMD9BDy2HbjfgHD3ZHoQQMmjjoUCu7jPcL7rsVnssRIPCX7hVBnnl0UwweG_-xGpzKru-u3mWo78x7G6AYBiz3YS86mupUIZ9NSw/s320/MaryRuthBarnes_NativeFree_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'<i>Native Free' watercolor on paper - Mary Ruth Barnes</i></td></tr>
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Mary Ruth has received many honors including being selected as Chickasaw Dynamic Woman of the year for 2015. She is one of 20 featured in "Chickasaw Women Artisans" by Alison Fields, a hardback book published in 2016 by the Chickasaw Press.<br />
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One of her short stories and watercolors were featured in the Spring issue of the <i>Chickasaw History and Culture Ishtunowa</i> journal. She was honored as a Chickasaw Artist in the July 2015 issue of <i>Distinctly Oklahoma</i> magazine. She was selected for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Chickasaw Dynamic Woman Forum. <br />
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During the months of January and February 2017, "Native Free," <i>(see left</i>) a watercolor on paper, was on exhibit at the Center for the Arts in Rockport, Texas.<br />
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Her paintings can be seen hanging in the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center; new Artesian Hotel; Davis, Oklahoma, Welcome Center; and Chickasaw Nation offices in Oklahoma City.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe6IZ7CWrPTv7bWbOv9BbmLJ9QsSh1viGgSPDxkXWz_1zHIo2ycqJG6up5eYqOWCffpdhJmg-AiYGuJnLLRlbnmbT4vlf20BkNTKgGYxxSv0Uc0Zj-P6pYaQaYJXRO-YjjLjY3Q/s1600/BuffaloHead-painting-MaryRuthBarnes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwe6IZ7CWrPTv7bWbOv9BbmLJ9QsSh1viGgSPDxkXWz_1zHIo2ycqJG6up5eYqOWCffpdhJmg-AiYGuJnLLRlbnmbT4vlf20BkNTKgGYxxSv0Uc0Zj-P6pYaQaYJXRO-YjjLjY3Q/s200/BuffaloHead-painting-MaryRuthBarnes.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Painting on buffalo head - Mary Ruth Barnes</i></td></tr>
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<b>Websites:</b><br />
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<a href="http://maryruthbarnes.com/" target="_blank">- MaryRuthBarnes.com</a><br />
<a href="http://artistsofthearbuckles.com/" target="_blank">- ArtistsoftheArbuckles.com</a><br />
<a href="http://cherokee-woman.com/" target="_blank">- Cherokee-woman.com</a><br />
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<i>To read more about <b>Mary Ruth and Mike Barnes</b>' RVing to the <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?p=23863" target="_blank">gulf coast of Texas,<b> click here.</b></a></i><br />
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<i>-- Text and photos by <b><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane </a></b> (Click on images to enlarge.)</i><br />
<br />
<i>To read more about the<b> <b>RV lifestyle</b> go to<b> <a href="http://rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></b>. </b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">##RVT785 </span><i><b><br /></b></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com1902 Navigation Cir, Rockport, TX 78382, USA28.02583 -97.0473220000000082.503795499999999 -138.355916 53.5478645 -55.738728000000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-463627385350267162016-02-11T18:09:00.001-08:002016-02-12T10:00:24.376-08:00Solo RVer Diana Pace loves the outdoors, hiking National Parks, and her simple van<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3gXpH_dr0-ZCW6voQVT9Vq95-HuNt1m_EZHSKT_Emfga5YindyiKzyTeZpN4Yid5mXVWUspznQ_noIPJiC-5iaDYwmQKMZA3k1ej535Jtt2kXkBLnn_xzfFXbEcJ6UdNRUu-4A/s1600/%2523DianaPace_2%253DBadlands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3gXpH_dr0-ZCW6voQVT9Vq95-HuNt1m_EZHSKT_Emfga5YindyiKzyTeZpN4Yid5mXVWUspznQ_noIPJiC-5iaDYwmQKMZA3k1ej535Jtt2kXkBLnn_xzfFXbEcJ6UdNRUu-4A/s400/%2523DianaPace_2%253DBadlands.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Diana Pace of Roseburg, Ore., visits Badlands National Park, South Dakota</i></td></tr>
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As a mom, <b><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?p=19500" target="_blank">Diana Pace</a> </b>of Roseburg, Ore., tent camped with her sons until they were about 14, "after which,” she mused, "they didn't want to be seen hanging out with their mom. Actually when they were in their 20s we started backpacking together and had some awesome trips.” <br />
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After a lifetime of camping, she wasn’t about to give it up when she became an empty-nester. Sometime in the 90’s, she went on a hiking trip with a friend who owned a VW Vanagon.<br />
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"I loved it,” Diana recalls. "I knew I didn't want a motor home or to pull a trailer and I didn't need a TV or air conditioning. I was used to tent camping and backpacking. A camper van seemed just right for me. No tent to put up, or worries about rain, and easy to get around in. Simple.”<br />
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In 2000 she found a <b>1994 Ford Aerostar converted van</b>. She named it “Dakini" after a trip to Bhutan when she learned that it means "angel."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWGC5WN_EAxljX4M5D1OedX5JxO7h_4FBTYl7OqcdJTjWiAzg1EOKOeRIxkIX7wpI8sI3QFtNDLoJ1S7Lnnei3Z1K5P5n0EkU5WHkfNLfFwMQ0XBJDsH3m32KVUUDEP7d0vkz1A/s1600/%252BDianaPace_1-Van.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWGC5WN_EAxljX4M5D1OedX5JxO7h_4FBTYl7OqcdJTjWiAzg1EOKOeRIxkIX7wpI8sI3QFtNDLoJ1S7Lnnei3Z1K5P5n0EkU5WHkfNLfFwMQ0XBJDsH3m32KVUUDEP7d0vkz1A/s320/%252BDianaPace_1-Van.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Diana Pace travels in “Dakini” her 1994 Ford Aerostar van. </i></td></tr>
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"It's a simple setup with a pop-up roof, bed, sink, counter, lights and frig,” says the retired nurse. "I use a single burner propane backpack stove to cook on.” She installed a solar panel for power because she usually dry camps where there are no electric hook-ups. Through the years Diana has had the transmission replaced and the engine rebuilt.<br />
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The 4-wheel drive van allows her to camp and hike "pretty much anywhere" she wants. And where she wants are national and state parks from Canada to southern California and from the west coast to the midwest.<br />
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In the summer of 2015, Diana made an epic 6,080-mile journey from Oregon to 14 national parks and monuments in Montana, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0BNTm7YgZR-h8b5BCqF9eShkVSinKwOK5xB6DcgtzGAJ6XABI9HSWwWuME1No4g6qhZlYDNaCLQxDkxmfFDefoRDx9fUAVQetZYWgKmjTrZTMuLDKRZjDeZOg4RLvGG9zO9WJA/s1600/%252BDianaPace_3-Sierras+Sequoia-Kings+Canyon+NP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0BNTm7YgZR-h8b5BCqF9eShkVSinKwOK5xB6DcgtzGAJ6XABI9HSWwWuME1No4g6qhZlYDNaCLQxDkxmfFDefoRDx9fUAVQetZYWgKmjTrZTMuLDKRZjDeZOg4RLvGG9zO9WJA/s320/%252BDianaPace_3-Sierras+Sequoia-Kings+Canyon+NP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Diana Pace hikes Sierras Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park.</i></td></tr>
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"Everything went smoothly on the entire trip, from getting campsites to boat tours on Lake Superior to cave tour tickets in South Dakota, to meeting great folks in spite of the demands of high tourist season,” says Diana.<br />
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"I have made many trips to the Southwest and I can't seem to get enough of the parks in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico,” says the retiree. "I love visiting the Puebloan/Native American sites.”<br />
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This past winter she spent part of the snowbird season camping and hiking near Quartzsite and Lake Havasu in Arizona; Joshua Tree National Park in southern California; and Lake Mead, Lake Mohave and Death Valley National Park in Nevada.<br />
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Diana does not hesitate to travel alone. “Early on I did several Oregon trips with my granddaughter. Other than that, I travel solo meeting nice folks from all over the country and the world."<br />
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-<i>- <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a> </i><br />
<i>Read about the RV lifestyle at <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></i><br />
<br />
<i>Photos: Courtesy of Diana Pace</i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-73449979094197532772015-07-09T07:39:00.002-07:002015-07-09T07:39:26.070-07:00Good place to store earrings in your RVEarrings are small and easily misplaced. Most RVers bring along a basic selection on their trips. Here's an easy, handy way to store them that will keep them all in one place and easily accessible when it's time to put on a new pair.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="263" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nw4FUg2vCmU?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" width="468"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-61061037452177053852015-03-09T12:46:00.001-07:002015-03-09T12:55:45.192-07:00RVer, author Judy Howard travels 'Coast to Coast with a Cat and a Ghost'<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis68o8bQx20x4VnQ0rl8fOuxefJPXviMZR8rD_uQshDrQ246A4QTC_TBFmjLdJybZdAi0u7RSMcqjmxrU0uKoB4hzQ_Vd3yhueTh1ZxT9_EonQexYb8FrYQoYwQfdeMe4JEvr6PQ/s1600/JudyHoward_Sportster_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis68o8bQx20x4VnQ0rl8fOuxefJPXviMZR8rD_uQshDrQ246A4QTC_TBFmjLdJybZdAi0u7RSMcqjmxrU0uKoB4hzQ_Vd3yhueTh1ZxT9_EonQexYb8FrYQoYwQfdeMe4JEvr6PQ/s1600/JudyHoward_Sportster_JulianneGCrane.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Author and solo RVer Judy Howard with pet companion Sportster (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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Solo RVer Judy Howard's lust for traveling became ingrained during a family vacation when she was a young girl. <br />
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In 1955, she recalls, "We traveled in our Willys Jeep towing our travel trailer from Springfield, Ill., to visit Disneyland" in California. "For a ten-year-old girl, that experience was unforgettable, not only because of Disneyland, but also because of the journey itself--Route 66, small towns, horned toads and Indians."<br />
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Now, nearing 70, Judy says she still feels "just as much passion for the journey as for the destination. Every day I am filled with gratitude for the privileged lifestyle I am able to enjoy."<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_YNjTk2_Xqlp2KXHMqyLDOOWQBFMtoat3aVnjMYGZ_kd-dXgb3ftLpUfzRXJRbMnz47a5QXi5TNVrBeOWbN52-a11QL74p18F7iuf-Vbn5mNAQ6-ElxS9Zsqit-1DC83JwWDUg/s1600/UKIAH+SUNSET_JudyHoward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_YNjTk2_Xqlp2KXHMqyLDOOWQBFMtoat3aVnjMYGZ_kd-dXgb3ftLpUfzRXJRbMnz47a5QXi5TNVrBeOWbN52-a11QL74p18F7iuf-Vbn5mNAQ6-ElxS9Zsqit-1DC83JwWDUg/s320/UKIAH+SUNSET_JudyHoward.jpg" height="200" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Judy Howard's traveling rig.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She's married three times during her life. "My third was the longest of 25 years, the hardest and, amazingly, the best." <br />
<br />
"In 2000 my husband and I purchased a <b>1997 24-foot </b><b><b>Class C </b>Winnebago Itasca. </b> We were only able to enjoy a few trips before he fell ill to lung cancer and died in 2004."<br />
<br />
While she nursed her husband, she also nurtured a dream of driving their motorhome from southern California to Florida to visit a friend.<br />
<br />
"After watching the Tom Hanks movie, <i>Cast Away,</i> I created a life-sized doll like the Wilson (soccer ball) character in the movie. He would become my companion and I would tell him my plans," she says.<br />
<br />
"Afraid and alone, three months after my husband passed away, I made that trip, accompanied by the doll and my cat, Sportster, riding shotgun. With country music cranked and blaring for 3,000 miles all the way to Florida, I cried and sang my lungs out. However, the woman who drove the 3,000 miles back home had changed. She sang 'I will survive,' 'I am woman,' and 'I’m Proud to be an American.'"<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAq3ATGvGROQzvLml9DaftXNDtwqEyE7lt260SDEDdBKCvTZki3eGo-9JlIMQIe5Mt6Cwi1EfI74A08e6kVS88wLLSR57V6-yl1xWbkRpnhi1ZgsUH9BXekeuW7CmrUMCPwj8pGw/s1600/JudyHoward_rig_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAq3ATGvGROQzvLml9DaftXNDtwqEyE7lt260SDEDdBKCvTZki3eGo-9JlIMQIe5Mt6Cwi1EfI74A08e6kVS88wLLSR57V6-yl1xWbkRpnhi1ZgsUH9BXekeuW7CmrUMCPwj8pGw/s1600/JudyHoward_rig_JulianneGCrane.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Inside Judy and Sportster's motorhome.</i> (<i><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the beginning of her RVing adventures, Judy worked full time as the owner of a pet grooming business, The Canine Beauty Salon. She joined a Good Sam chapter called the Rolling Singles and tried to be content with close-by, monthly camp outs. "But I yearned to go farther and longer."<br />
<br />
Judy has traveled solo in her Winnebago for 11 years now. "I love its size and the coziness of the Class C floor plan."<br />
<br />
In 2010 Judy discovered she had a talent and love for writing. "I’ve had a custom desk built in my motorhome so that I can spend my future doing the two things I love--writing and traveling." <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzrflPm582UJzZKJekT9PEioV-H15DjgM8uaQzD7qS5BI4J_dCg3xcY6j5bb0V2Rt7pkaa4CmFGVT-oYgheCTMhLMQDonOXHc5Jwa0wujcQKlRCGGyN4pTFOzGTFRs5Mkeq3RIA/s1600/JudyHoward_books_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzrflPm582UJzZKJekT9PEioV-H15DjgM8uaQzD7qS5BI4J_dCg3xcY6j5bb0V2Rt7pkaa4CmFGVT-oYgheCTMhLMQDonOXHc5Jwa0wujcQKlRCGGyN4pTFOzGTFRs5Mkeq3RIA/s1600/JudyHoward_books_JulianneGCrane.jpg" height="160" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Judy Howard's books </i> (<i><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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She wrote her first book about her 2004 trip, <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Coast-Cat-Ghost-Judy-Howard/dp/1461153786" target="_blank"><i>Coast to Coast with a Cat and a Ghost</i>.</a></b> (2011). It is "a memoir about my loss, but more importantly, about my new beginning as an RVing widow," she says. <br />
<br />
In 2012, Judy published: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Going-Home-With-Cat-Ghost/dp/1479167983/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y"> Going Home with a Cat and a Ghost</a></i> "a romantic mystery appealing to everyone in the second half of their life who have asked themselves, What if? Even in this work of fiction, Judy Howard delivers to the reader a message about how to rise above life's tragedies."<br />
<br />
Her third book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Masadas-Marine-Service-Wounded-Warrior-ebook/dp/B00L1CRZEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425783317&sr=8-1&keywords=Masada%27s+Marine" target="_blank"><i>Masada's Marine: A Story of a Service Dog and her Wounded Marine Warrior</i></a> came out in 2014. The novel, "the uplifting message of overcoming life's dramatic hurdles is delivered. Howard draws the reader into the life of a Marine Corps veteran who struggles with PTSD when he comes home from Iraq and, also, into the life a dog named Masada, who becomes a service dog for the wounded warrior."<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>About Sportster</b>, the cat </h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7wIQuEqodjXPZmsW2iTyouUmoLFzKYa_BNa1tak7SpVktcdPliyrINmhobXV8ozfBaRUOv3b7rWs66TAMyRMNeXnPn3_VqCzJE3Y_8M4IaQ01tY1qn4K05m22r4e3DxM2KqHxg/s1600/Sportster_JudyHoward_cat_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7wIQuEqodjXPZmsW2iTyouUmoLFzKYa_BNa1tak7SpVktcdPliyrINmhobXV8ozfBaRUOv3b7rWs66TAMyRMNeXnPn3_VqCzJE3Y_8M4IaQ01tY1qn4K05m22r4e3DxM2KqHxg/s1600/Sportster_JudyHoward_cat_JulianneGCrane.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sportster</i> (<i><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"He has more fans and followers than I do," says Judy.<br />
<br />
"He arrived in my life when someone brought him into my grooming shop as a small kitten, asking where the humane society was located. I was considering adopting a dog, but I agreed to take the kitten and find him a home," she says.<br />
<br />
"I didn’t particularly like cats, but my employees talked me into making him a 'shop cat.' He didn’t last long in the shop cat position before he had purred his way into my heart, and I took him home. Now I would not own a dog. Cats are amazing, at least Sportster is."<br />
<br />
He is a traveler, a companion, an explorer and a co-author. "He writes a blog, <i><a href="http://judyhowardandsportster.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Cat’s Perspective On Reading, Writing and Life</a></i>, and has begun to write his memoirs. He too, loves to travel and gets very excited when he sees me loading the motorhome."<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>More about Judy Howard</b> </h3>
Judy also presents inspirational seminars about writing and
self-publishing at RV rallies, libraries, schools and veteran centers.
"I believe writing is healing, and that we owe it to our youth to record
our history." <br />
<br />
Although not a full time RVer, she says, "the lure to do so is strong. I travel four to five months out of the year."<br />
<br />
Always before a long trip she says she is scared. "The 'What If’s' try to consume me. Always before I publish my next book I am nauseous with worry. What will people think? Life is scary," she says.<br />
<br />
"My message to everyone–and Sportster would agree–whatever it is you want to do with your life, don’t let fear keep you from getting behind the wheel. Pack up your doubts, put your dreams in gear, and step on the gas. Life is for living."<br />
<br />
Website: <a href="http://judyhowardpublishing.com/">JudyHowardPublishing.com</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/judy.howard.716">facebook.com/judy.howard.716</a><br />
Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/SPORSTERHOWARD">twitter.com/SPORSTERHOWARD</a><br />
Blog: <a href="http://coasttocoastwithacatandaghost.blogspot.com/">The Wandering RV Widow</a>.<br />
<br />
She is currently working on books four and five.<br />
<b>
<br />
<i>– <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206">Julianne G. Crane</a></i></b><br />
<br />
<i><i>Read more RV lifestyle articles by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G Crane</a> at <a href="http://rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com.</a></i> </i><b>
</b>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-11125784909506903052015-02-20T11:53:00.001-08:002015-02-20T11:53:44.197-08:00Longtime solo tent camper Catherine Woods moves up to 13-foot Scamp travel trailer<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb2MTCTnmipOgK1WeYLFyEsfwv01HXhA1flum5OcMnyvlq8xMsygqJJK4ez4QSUGuW3lBFJHOcsrMC30m9R19JsbMDJhOHELWlXEZm_xDt5bdoDsNk0gHtcDtPzc47dsj2r9dxw/s1600/CatherineWoods_CatalinaSP_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb2MTCTnmipOgK1WeYLFyEsfwv01HXhA1flum5OcMnyvlq8xMsygqJJK4ez4QSUGuW3lBFJHOcsrMC30m9R19JsbMDJhOHELWlXEZm_xDt5bdoDsNk0gHtcDtPzc47dsj2r9dxw/s1600/CatherineWoods_CatalinaSP_JulianneGCrane.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Solo RVer Catherine Woods at Catalina State Park. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G Crane</a>) </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"It seems I was born to live outdoors," said<b> Catherine Woods of Ashville, NC.</b><br />
<br />
Catherine grew up a city girl in Syracuse NY, but always loved going to children's camp in the Adirondacks. "As much as possible, I went for the whole season because I loved being in nature."<br />
<br />
In the 1960s, Catherine's husband introduced her to camping on their honeymoon. "After that, however," she reflected, "we didn't camp much because his family had a cottage on Keuka Lake (one the Finger Lakes in upstate New York) and we went there often."<br />
<br />
Catherine, a registered nurse, and her husband soon moved to a small town of 800 on the lake and raised their family. "We hiked and did a lot of outdoor activities," she said. "But not much overnight camping."<br />
<br />
After 30 years of marriage, Catherine and her husband divorced. In her 50s, she went on a few organized outdoor group camping vacations and "loved it." The wilderness was calling her back.<br />
<br />
She soon accomplished her dream job as a camp nurse. "I live on the camp's land--600 acres--in Georgia for five years," said Catherine. "I had my dog there, as well as starting my holistic health business." <br />
<br />
The business did well, however, she discovered Georgia was not for her. "I closed it all down and with my dog and my tenting gear I went out West looking for a place to live."<br />
<br />
For two years, Catherine worked as a traveling nurse, taking jobs where housing was provided. Between assignments she lived in her tent. "Now that I recall it, that was pretty gutsy," she said.<br />
<br />
In 2001, Catherine decided to move to Asheville where a daughter lives. <br />
<br />
She found work at the local hospital as a critical care nurse. "I'm fortunate to have a PRN job where I can work when I'm available," she said. "I enjoy the work, the money and the people." Each summer she continued to tent camp in the Tetons near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. "I have loved it and have a community of friends there."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhIkK3Kn0uOgK3MgeTaDvocn6DjSzuuSkbrW-7gpQQSVZK2JufNa0Ol5ywcqL8CSux_39PVLVbyqW7LqXjPmMlcim5y4xUR4AoQaIdibEJrpH6wZNr7pPN6BQD0lxppkbFhSbxA/s1600/CatherineWoods_rig_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhIkK3Kn0uOgK3MgeTaDvocn6DjSzuuSkbrW-7gpQQSVZK2JufNa0Ol5ywcqL8CSux_39PVLVbyqW7LqXjPmMlcim5y4xUR4AoQaIdibEJrpH6wZNr7pPN6BQD0lxppkbFhSbxA/s1600/CatherineWoods_rig_JulianneGCrane.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Catherine Woods with her Subaru and 2014 13-foot Scamp.</i> <i>(<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G Crane</a>) </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last year Catherine decided she wanted to pursue winter camping. "I thought that since I'm going to be 75 years old, maybe my
future needs might include a little hard-sided camper." <br />
<br />
She did a lot of research online for new and used options. Wherever she tent camped, she rode her bicycle around the campground looking at different RVs and asking questions.<br />
<br />
Because she was single she knew she did not want another vehicle, such as a class B, C, or A motor home, and she was looking for something small enough that could be towed with her late-model all-wheel 4-cylinder Subaru.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOZRp7sE9Goe_W_yQdbcx8Om10aZuaXGd20Egk1IVNFB0WvyIKC9Z403G9ygLHkluGeqSJzyVmKTwa9-oBLYZsoG4dkpDlA6UT7m9njle6oNDB4Mm8bGXxXNHGRNCtupYP33CQQ/s1600/CatherineWoods_insideScamp_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOZRp7sE9Goe_W_yQdbcx8Om10aZuaXGd20Egk1IVNFB0WvyIKC9Z403G9ygLHkluGeqSJzyVmKTwa9-oBLYZsoG4dkpDlA6UT7m9njle6oNDB4Mm8bGXxXNHGRNCtupYP33CQQ/s1600/CatherineWoods_insideScamp_JulianneGCrane.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Front of Scamp. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G Crane</a>) </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She decided on a new <b>13-foot fiberglass Scamp travel trailer.</b> This winter has been her maiden voyage and admits that she has made a few small mistakes. <br />
<br />
"It has been a challenge," she said, "but I've always liked being challenged and think it is necessary for keeping a vibrant lifestyle. I never was in an RV nor pulled a trailer, but thought it must be in me to do it." <br />
<br />
<b>"Here's how I look at things," she mused. "I can either do these scary things or live a joyless life. Those are my only two choices."</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlLN6In8ntD6qtaWip7i6WMYdAuZfznNsuRNJMWa31bmTQRoluCl17zePkVUoJslM9mWEXLH65kc8fRd2wUa3ulQV3UK0RP51ToZzz9QfmYfojoJow4jZaHksCWjZRcKqB_fJ3g/s1600/CatherineWoods_bed_Inside_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlLN6In8ntD6qtaWip7i6WMYdAuZfznNsuRNJMWa31bmTQRoluCl17zePkVUoJslM9mWEXLH65kc8fRd2wUa3ulQV3UK0RP51ToZzz9QfmYfojoJow4jZaHksCWjZRcKqB_fJ3g/s1600/CatherineWoods_bed_Inside_JulianneGCrane.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rear bed area (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G Crane</a>) </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"However, I had some scary experiences tenting too," she said. "When I look back on them I choose to look at how well I handled them and what I might do different next time. I mostly try to be proud of myself."<br />
<br />
"I am a critical care nurse who has handled plenty of life threatening situations," she reflected. "I think it's important to know that I will be guided to do the right thing and then notice how I did and be grateful for it."<br />
<br />
"I feel so well and mostly free of fear when I am out on the road. The things I love most are the people and how we all are willing, and wanting, to share our true feelings without fear of rejection."<br />
<br />
<i>Story and photos by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G Crane</a></i><br />
<i> </i>
<br />
<i>Read more RV lifestyle articles by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G Crane</a> at <a href="http://rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com.</a></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com7Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ 85737, USA32.4165506 -110.9361559999999832.362942600000004 -111.01683699999998 32.4701586 -110.85547499999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-29383531431206900232014-07-11T15:11:00.000-07:002014-07-31T10:45:05.933-07:00Former competitive horsewoman, RCMP constable Colleen Lowing easily handles truck, travel trailer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotx1xzXMnxZ-8bUuUhhHwPWV8JJlrcI66vngbOaXhmAHw9NbZ8Iuf-zEdPUZaKrX_rNYa2ySzfYTVjn10poPfjyPjGsLd-D9tu1lDoVjdJ_8CkUdaf4d7uCuYNgH-Yl9zbo4MKw/s1600/LakeLeo_ColleenAdam_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotx1xzXMnxZ-8bUuUhhHwPWV8JJlrcI66vngbOaXhmAHw9NbZ8Iuf-zEdPUZaKrX_rNYa2ySzfYTVjn10poPfjyPjGsLd-D9tu1lDoVjdJ_8CkUdaf4d7uCuYNgH-Yl9zbo4MKw/s400/LakeLeo_ColleenAdam_JulianneGCrane.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Colleen Lowing, and son, Adam, love camping, fishing. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane)</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Colleen Lowing</b>, constable with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and former competitive horsewoman, has no problem handling her 1/2-ton Chevy Silverado truck and 20-foot 2007 Jayco Jayflight travel trailer.<br />
<br />
"I have been towing trailers since I was 16," she said. "My dad taught me how to tow and park a horse trailer. We had a three-horse angle load that was max-width for the road, so my travel trailer is pretty simple in comparison."<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpV0xXqH1Jgxs_F8P8bM6AIZv6kRbgkPOPgvBTqTgcgFLh1gO5ThCX619Igtoc94fg9L09oHLHqCUHL1pSKK5nqyMC75dsIzZV8Hzim9jz-IsQpSkVmW0L6uN_usgvQOOjPHiU_Q/s1600/RCMPColleenLowing_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpV0xXqH1Jgxs_F8P8bM6AIZv6kRbgkPOPgvBTqTgcgFLh1gO5ThCX619Igtoc94fg9L09oHLHqCUHL1pSKK5nqyMC75dsIzZV8Hzim9jz-IsQpSkVmW0L6uN_usgvQOOjPHiU_Q/s1600/RCMPColleenLowing_JulianneGCrane.jpg" height="136" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Colleen Lowing (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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As a young woman, Colleen was a competitive English equestrian rider for ten years. "I moved up the levels of the Canadian Pony Club achieving the second highest level, which is B2," she said. Colleen went on to represent Canada as part of the Canadian Pony Club team that attended the Inter-Pacific Rally in Japan in 1995. <br />
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Living near Calgary, Alberta, at that time, Colleen focused on three-day eventing. "I road a 16.2 hand Thoroughbred gelding named Dancing Bert," she said.<br />
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"I spent my summers touring around Alberta for competitions and training camps." She retired from riding when she moved away from home for university. "But I miss it a lot."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YQndFxXeUaRWYDQY4jiqvhZTjFjQp2WP2O3gdpXbEQdwOxoJXnYshHohv4dHnsbSMuZaOgsAnhN1HFggjF8wh29mqoeSiF1X2PpeusURIX6jIogbLb99F-x_otO6oyHRgGxP7Q/s1600/LakeLeo_Colleen_trailer_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YQndFxXeUaRWYDQY4jiqvhZTjFjQp2WP2O3gdpXbEQdwOxoJXnYshHohv4dHnsbSMuZaOgsAnhN1HFggjF8wh29mqoeSiF1X2PpeusURIX6jIogbLb99F-x_otO6oyHRgGxP7Q/s320/LakeLeo_Colleen_trailer_JulianneGCrane.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Colleen tows a 20-ft 2007 Jayco Jayflight (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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Currently living in Nelson, British Columbia, she and her 7-year-old son, Adam, camp as often as they can at local spots, mostly just campouts with family in provincial camp grounds around BC and Washington state.<br />
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"The main benefit to owning my trailer is that we can pull in and go to bed with zero prep or set up.
It is warm and dry in any weather conditions and always provides a comfortable place to hang out."<br />
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The Jayco Jayflight has a fridge, freezer, oven, stove, furnace, and a small tub with shower. It can sleep up to seven people, "but it is quite close quarters with that many people," said Colleen.<br />
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<i>To read more about Colleen's son, Adam, and <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?p=13604">RVer Jimmy Smith</a>, fishing and day dreaming, click on "<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?p=13604">Man, boy chasing rainbows.</a>"</i><br />
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<i>Read more RV lifestyle articles by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G Crane</a> at <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-34740550583021163062014-05-24T06:39:00.000-07:002014-05-25T14:17:32.088-07:00Fulltime solo RVer Joyce Caudell volunteers for National Park Service in Oregon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s6wBBwmYg5f4itt6bwq-cRim4HuxWUoDvPmHeHYZMsxATAkZVrwd1XXci6su1B4yBjevtqArjc_a-7mFXQkim1X7_Zpc1ZjSWtxfZU-8mfVHASbvAOGX7neEz2q4rzw2fNTC7w/s1600/100828_JoyceCaudell_boy_147.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s6wBBwmYg5f4itt6bwq-cRim4HuxWUoDvPmHeHYZMsxATAkZVrwd1XXci6su1B4yBjevtqArjc_a-7mFXQkim1X7_Zpc1ZjSWtxfZU-8mfVHASbvAOGX7neEz2q4rzw2fNTC7w/s320/100828_JoyceCaudell_boy_147.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580768793337470162" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; width: 275px;" /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Editor's note: We received an email from fulltime RVer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Joyce Caudell </span>who is returning<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>this summer to volunteer at Oregon's Wallowa Lake State Park for the Nez Perce National Historic Park Service. We thought this would be a good time to update a profile on her that was first published in 2011.</span></i><br />
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<b>Joyce Caudell,</b> retired registered nurse in health education, teaching and management.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Started fulltime RVing</span>: In February 2007. Sold her house in April that year.<br />
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<b>How did you decided on the RV lifestyle:</b> "It was always a dream for me and my husband to retire and explore the remote places of the USA," said Joyce.<br />
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"Then when I was alone, I kept looking for a new dream and couldn't find one I liked better. So I took this one on as a possibility with vigor and commitment to learning to do a good job as a single woman with curiosity and a spirit of adventure."<br />
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Joyce did extensive research, joined RV online groups, took classes, and talked to anyone and everyone she could. "I made files, spreadsheets and learned as much as I could for a year before I finally took the plunge, bought the RV and sold the house," she said. "I didn't have the money to keep up a nice house and yard and do the extensive RV travel too, so I said, '<i>Who needs this house anyway</i>.'<br />
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"I knew I had to make my life happen."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianyJBRgC3KYWTmJGRisgQWyijH5dhhDVjCC1KMttqtofCaR8uKBIA8516O2hGDYzGHYWczZ6oDNn8ZibS2XDvAACzlpSLhO-lmeXB3PnGjIIvBOrRLESJ8bpCkC4dQ8bkz4nUJg/s1600/JoyceCaudell_2003Northstar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianyJBRgC3KYWTmJGRisgQWyijH5dhhDVjCC1KMttqtofCaR8uKBIA8516O2hGDYzGHYWczZ6oDNn8ZibS2XDvAACzlpSLhO-lmeXB3PnGjIIvBOrRLESJ8bpCkC4dQ8bkz4nUJg/s1600/JoyceCaudell_2003Northstar.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Joyce Caudell's 2013 Northstar popup camper</i></td></tr>
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<b>Type of RV:</b> Travels in her 2013 Northstar TC650 popup camper on her Chevy Silverado 2500 3/4 ton pickup with extended cab and short bed. "I especially like the 6 wrap around windows on the pop-up for ventilation, view,and privacy," said Joyce.</div>
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<b><br /></b><b>Her homebase:</b> Escapees Park of the Sierras in California where she parks her 2011 27 ft. Outdoors Timber Ridge 260RLS travel trailer.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you spend your time? </span>"I remember one of my daughters-in-law sitting in my new RV and asking, 'But what do you DO all day?'<br />
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"I'm still not sure how to answer that. I'm definitely not bored. I have lots of interests, hobbies, friends, family and sport activities--like walking, hiking, biking and kayaking. I spend a lot of time planning adventures and travels.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1B1M3i473Y4IzgWSW8RuxgA11EptV_eD5RsaOarO9EJe1o08miLzSP9eEAajNJNIJRK8r2jS3-PL3YpRkX1DGKHEhr7Hyxt7JNb4pdP6_PRJzLMjsZFb2SvY4dShoWCAeYZgMQ/s1600/JoyceCaudall_popUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1B1M3i473Y4IzgWSW8RuxgA11EptV_eD5RsaOarO9EJe1o08miLzSP9eEAajNJNIJRK8r2jS3-PL3YpRkX1DGKHEhr7Hyxt7JNb4pdP6_PRJzLMjsZFb2SvY4dShoWCAeYZgMQ/s1600/JoyceCaudall_popUp.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Solo RVer Joyce Caudell</i></td></tr>
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"I enjoy boondocking with like-minded friends in the beautiful desert, parked randomly on undeveloped BLM lands using solar power."<br />
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<b>Volunteering:</b> A few years back a friend suggested Joyce get into volunteering and since then she has done stints for state parks, the National Park Service and the Army Corps of Engineering.<br />
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In 2010, Joyce was asked to serve at Oregon's Wallowa Lake State Park for the Nez Perce National Historic Park Service doing demonstrations and campground presentations about Nez Perce Nation cultural items. She returns for another summer this year.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you choose this lifestyle again? </span></span>"In a heartbeat," she said. "Just thinking about settling down gives me claustrophobia. I've never been to a locale I didn't want to come back to and do more exploring. The RVing community is awesome. The friends I've made on the road are treasures that will last my lifetime. "<br />
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<i>
Photo: Volunteer RVer Joyce Caudell shows a young visitor a buffalo horn at Wallowa Lake State Park. "The Nez Perce would clean them up, polish, and sometimes decorate them to make them into useful personal items such as drinking cups," said Joyce. (Courtesy of Joyce Caudell)</i><br />
<br />
<i>Read more RV lifestyle articles by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G Crane</a> at <a href="http://www.RVWheelLife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-70788937501884252662014-04-28T15:08:00.002-07:002014-05-01T20:24:33.445-07:00Twenty-eight-year-old Becky Schade talks about her full-time RV lifeMeet solo full-timer RVer Becky Schade, who talks about her extensive planning to hit the road full time at the age of 28 and her life today in her 17-foot Casita travel trailer. She finds unique seasonal jobs around the country to earn her lifestyle, and keep life fun and adventurous. She also has advice for other women who might want to travel by RV full-time, but are hesitant to do it.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="263" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ebbo800_Rg0?rel=0" width="468"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-17804221690900163932014-03-24T17:22:00.000-07:002014-03-24T17:26:11.123-07:00Safety tips for solo women RVersMany women hesitate traveling solo because of safety concerns. One comprehensive source of information for solo Women RVers is "<a href="http://www.rvlifestyleexperts.com/rv-books/ebooks/">The Woman's Guide to Solo RVing</a>" by <b>Jaimie Hall Bruzenak</b> and (the late) <b>Alice Zyetz,</b> (CD or e-book: $13.95)<br />
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<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/guide-solo-rving.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="guide-solo-rving" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-12611" src="http://www.rvwheellife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/guide-solo-rving-182x300.jpg" height="300" width="182" /></a><br />
As they did in their popular book, <b>'RV Traveling Tales: Women's Journeys on the Open Road</b>,' and in Bruzenak's classic book on working on the road, '<b>Support Your RV Lifestyle</b>,'<br />
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Bruzenak and Zyetz have incorporated the experiences of seasoned RVers, in this case solo women, into the book. Ten women are quoted in their own words, giving real-life advice on a range of topics critical to solo women travelers. If you are a woman thinking about full-time RVing, this is a must-read.<br />
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The authors list a number of <b>safety tips for all RVers traveling alone:</b><br />
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• <strong>Cell phone</strong>: Always have a fully-charged cell phone with you.<br />
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• <strong>Driving</strong>: Keep your fuel tank at least half full. Stop well before dark and choose where you'll park for the night carefully if you do not stay in an RV park. If you park in a more remote area, check your cell phone signal.<br />
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• <strong>Anticipate problems</strong>: Think about how you will get out of a location before you drive in. Think of how you could handle situations like someone following you or deliberately causing an accident.<br />
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• <strong>Be cautious</strong>: Don't let people know you are traveling alone or tell them too much about yourself.<br />
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• <strong>Travel plans</strong>: Someone, a relative or friend, should know your general travel plans. Check in with them on an agreed-upon schedule.<br />
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• <strong>Travel with others</strong>: When you are getting started, travel with a group a few times to build confidence. (Check out <a href="http://www.rvingwomen.org/" target="_blank">RVing Women</a> or <a href="http://www.rvsingles.org/" target="_blank">Wondering Individuals Network</a>.)<br />
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• <strong>Carry ID</strong>: When you leave the rig, make sure you have identification and a card with your rig's location. Should you have an accident, the card could tell police where your RV is located.<br />
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• <strong>Trust your instincts</strong>: If an area looks unsafe for any reason or there is any suspicious-looking person, do not stop or park overnight there.<br />
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Read more about <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?s=jaimie+hall" target="_blank"><strong>Jaimie Hall Bruzenak </strong>on by clicking here</a>.<br />
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<b>Adrienne Kristine</b> wrote many posts for this blog over a number of years when she was a full-timer RVer. One that still holds as true today as it did in 2008, centers around "<a href="http://www.rvtravel.com/blog/womenrvers/2008/08/that-old-fear-factor.html">That old fear factor.</a>"<br />
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<i>Read more about the RV lifestyle by <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a></span> at<span style="color: #0c343d;"> <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></span></i>
<em>Image Source: <a href="http://rvlifestyleexperts.com/" target="_blank">RVLifestyleExperts.com.</a></em>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-61144660985639252014-03-11T08:33:00.000-07:002014-03-11T08:33:36.383-07:00Full-time RVer Lane Feicht a.k.a. mystery novelist 'Lane Stark'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3muYdqphgYFml_Q2fLdGOvF8igjHNl60A1oLP_4w2zmM4TyaFpI5E5YoYYjkLdzuLwUQx9Ux2p8n2bL-QK_8oUJanWuVdWqHYnjNwGldXjrJ2Ml9ivhoYGyhWDZ-kSnXuFtO8-g/s1600/Lane+Stark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3muYdqphgYFml_Q2fLdGOvF8igjHNl60A1oLP_4w2zmM4TyaFpI5E5YoYYjkLdzuLwUQx9Ux2p8n2bL-QK_8oUJanWuVdWqHYnjNwGldXjrJ2Ml9ivhoYGyhWDZ-kSnXuFtO8-g/s320/Lane+Stark.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Lane Feicht</b>, a full-time RVer for three years with her husband, John, has published two novels under her maiden name, <strong><a href="http://www.lanestark.com/" target="_blank">Lane Stark</a></strong>.<br />
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Lane describes herself as more a story-teller than simply a writer. She has traveled the world, lived abroad in both Europe and Asia, and experienced many cultures.<br />
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"RVing gives the writer special opportunities," says Lane. "I constantly see places that could be locales or people that would be great characters. My mystery, 'The Hour of Predators,' is set in Bella Coola, B.C., which we visited several years ago. I saw the town and immediately thought it would be perfect for a mystery. The story grew from the place."<br />
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When the Feichts retired, they rented their house, sold many belongings, and hit the road. "We’re both sufferers of itchy-feet syndrome. We’re at our best as humans and spouses when we’re on the move." <br />
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They were drawn to RVing because it satisfies their "desire to spend extended periods in wondrous locales with beautiful weather," says Lane. "We enjoy getting to know an area and its people in ways that are impossible living in hotels as tourists."<br />
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Finding a place to write while on the road has never been a problem for Lane. "I have the ability to tune out TVs, music, husbands, whatever noise threatens to intrude on the creative process. It’s a crucial ability when living in an RV." <br />
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Lane's advice to anyone who "has always had an article or book or simply words that want to be written in their hearts and minds--<i>write it.</i><br />
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"If the words on the pages live up to expectations and publication is the goal, take the plunge and publish it on Amazon or submit it to agents," she said. "Send it out for review to book bloggers, get the opinions of people you respect and pay attention to them. If you’re told it’s not ready for prime time, start again. Keep trying. For me the writing itself is the joy. I’ve sold some books, not enough to pay the bills, but enough to satisfy a lifetime desire to have my writing read and appreciated."<br />
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When not on the road the Feichts live at their home base, <b><a href="http://parksierra.net/" target="_blank">Escapees Park of the Sierra</a></b> in central California near Yosemite National Park.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hfqb3chVtZAV88nhmGU5i3Td_d2VzjxIlivV_FC_bMiHHLb_lbX2gW66lpW0BPJ4wmYuXSKI5g1ajB88V0DvVB0tP5fYMU67KdeOJW0P5O-5vUXBFsbq9OEyIAIEw3FxoIszzQ/s1600/HourOfPredators.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hfqb3chVtZAV88nhmGU5i3Td_d2VzjxIlivV_FC_bMiHHLb_lbX2gW66lpW0BPJ4wmYuXSKI5g1ajB88V0DvVB0tP5fYMU67KdeOJW0P5O-5vUXBFsbq9OEyIAIEw3FxoIszzQ/s200/HourOfPredators.jpg" /></a><strong>The Hour of Predators </strong>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0068TMYJW?tag=lanstanovofmy-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B0068TMYJW&adid=0FHB3F2QYDD6DQQE47XW&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lanestark.com%2F" target="_blank">e-book and paperback on Amazon.com</a>)<br />
<br />
<b>Book description</b>: “It was the hour of prowling bears, circling nightowls, vengeful spirits, and savage hearts. It was the hour of predators.<br />
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"Two murders have shocked and divided the Canadian community of Bella Coola, a small, isolated village in a remote river valley on the coast of British Columbia. The evidence points to a teenaged Nuxalk boy, and the simmering tension between whites and tribe members heats up. To find the truth RCMP Inspector Marcus Chao must sort through misleading clues, cultural conflicts, tangled relationships, sexual scandals, and even indications that the crimes might have been committed by a sorcerer.<br />
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"Marcus is a man whose life has skidded into remorse and misery. His own infidelity has ended his marriage to the woman he still loves, and now he finds himself with only two things to keep his sinking spirits afloat: the need to serve justice and his eternal fascination with solving the mystery of the crime. This latest puzzle, however, is proving to be a maze of intrigue and suspense, and his mettle as a detective as well as his principles will be tested."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VKxWt809f8Zx8dG5_6kLJ8oV7ybUVVkXsVk5hyphenhyphen2p9kh2hFpmszcw1UPAm3kjC3k8y8oEkXewPZJAIkRY2cwgHXFLh9pscnFqRUiFpx74CjpZuwobJvTFtD2_AKTOHqwdbz-s6A/s1600/ATolltotheDevil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VKxWt809f8Zx8dG5_6kLJ8oV7ybUVVkXsVk5hyphenhyphen2p9kh2hFpmszcw1UPAm3kjC3k8y8oEkXewPZJAIkRY2cwgHXFLh9pscnFqRUiFpx74CjpZuwobJvTFtD2_AKTOHqwdbz-s6A/s200/ATolltotheDevil.jpg" /></a></div>
<strong>A Toll to the Devil </strong>(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Toll-Devil-Lane-Stark-ebook/dp/B0068TMV2C/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1JR16YEEFX0W9DX1V3N1" target="_blank">kindle edition click here</a>)<br />
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<b>Book Description:</b> "On a chilly January night in 1962, two men stand on the roof of a hotel in Long Beach, California. Both know that every moment of their parallel lives has brought them to this meeting. Through his fifty years, a life that has spanned the Jazz Age, the Depression, and two world wars, Joe Knight has been dogged by the mysterious and violent presence of the man he now faces for a long-awaited showdown.<br />
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"'A Toll to the Devil' takes the reader on a breathless journey through American history as experienced by a professional trumpet player. From the raucous jazz clubs of Kansas City to the traveling shows of the Depression to the ballrooms of the Swing Era, Joe chases his dreams, runs from his demons, suffers great loss, and rises to the heights of fame and fortune, all the while seeking the truth of his life, a truth he will find on this January night."<br />
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URL: <a href="http://www.lanestark.com/">www.LaneStark.com</a><br />
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<i>Read more about the RV lifestyle by <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a></span> at<span style="color: #0c343d;"> <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></span></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-46437086320118590212014-02-28T17:28:00.000-08:002014-03-12T08:52:51.577-07:00All-terrain Macabi skirt, great traveling gear for RVing women, including Sisters on the Fly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyDn3YYIwYo6LbDYI0fh9xclGcwfhPf_D_BMfmRJcHSr7gObDYleQJnrt4bkDoCYs6EgMTlvQz0cS7RyLu-lttWRB-Fr47EfbEjCA9B18dW27bZlQj3SPhbBongo3phJS55iCiQ/s1600/Macabi_fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyDn3YYIwYo6LbDYI0fh9xclGcwfhPf_D_BMfmRJcHSr7gObDYleQJnrt4bkDoCYs6EgMTlvQz0cS7RyLu-lttWRB-Fr47EfbEjCA9B18dW27bZlQj3SPhbBongo3phJS55iCiQ/s320/Macabi_fishing.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
I first heard about this all-terrain Macabi Skirt from <a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Sisters on the Fly</strong></a> founder <strong>Maurrie Sussman</strong> back in 2004. “Honey, not only do we wear those skirts fishing," she said, "we're also making a fashion statement.”<br />
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The <a href="http://www.macabiskirt.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Macabi Skirt</strong> </a>-- billed as “the original Adventure Travel Skirt” can be worn in six different configurations and is suitable for hiking the trails of Big Bend National Park and fly fishing the rivers of Idaho. <br />
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"The Macabi has proven to be one of the most rugged, versatile, well-traveled garments on the planet." Like Carol Louder, the designer of the Macabi Skirt, active outdoor women have found "a skirt that travels as well as they do," especially where there is very little storage space.<br />
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I purchased one because sometimes, especially when I'm RVing, I simply want to wear a skirt out to eat or to church, but know that later that day, the skirt could quickly adapt to changes in "weather, activity or mood." I might be climbing into a boat or touring an art exhibit. With the versatility of this skirt, I can quickly convert it into a pair of pants or shorts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqDe5okWgCm36xGRAeY-4eND_DiS2lq53MjPi9Sczyf0Z7m9v4wpZueyPw_GcgzZqpGlBipIiLnUW1NRjQr9vA1NheO07eqgCFFqdy4WVFdloF3RObQ6FHrbvujWEG3enJo0dcg/s1600/MacabiSkirtWebPage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqDe5okWgCm36xGRAeY-4eND_DiS2lq53MjPi9Sczyf0Z7m9v4wpZueyPw_GcgzZqpGlBipIiLnUW1NRjQr9vA1NheO07eqgCFFqdy4WVFdloF3RObQ6FHrbvujWEG3enJo0dcg/s1600/MacabiSkirtWebPage.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
Now, <b>more about Sisters on the Fly</b>--Maurrie and her sister Becky Clarke started the "outdoors adventure club for women" in 1999. It has grown from three members, the two sisters and their Mom, Mazie, to nearly 4,500 worldwide. Many of these women tow some really tricked out vintage travel trailers. <br />
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According to Maurrie, "We are committed to empowering women through sisterhood and exceptional outdoor adventures."<br />
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<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?s=%22Sisters+on+the+Fly%22" target="_blank">Click here for other items about Sisters on the Fly</a>.<br />
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<i>Read more about the RV lifestyle by <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a></span> at<span style="color: #0c343d;"> <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></span></i><br />
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<em>Photo: Carol Louder, the designer of the Macabi Skirt, named after the Mayan name for bone fish. (MacabiSkirt.com)</em>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-16727689138705507312014-01-17T09:16:00.000-08:002014-03-12T08:53:14.316-07:00Tribute: Margaret McNevin, an elegant lady, full-time RVer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWNJxsLlnSnX9BNjkIys1niVaNt1Gn9Yz-IGKCHLk1jkTIUT1RQI6w57OTA2sp9ScKzOrLuyaYV2bBLlb05FhenJAoAWW2h_RsylZvj0MD-AeXPBQiotJjFQab9O5672paGkrcw/s1600/MargaretMcNevin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWNJxsLlnSnX9BNjkIys1niVaNt1Gn9Yz-IGKCHLk1jkTIUT1RQI6w57OTA2sp9ScKzOrLuyaYV2bBLlb05FhenJAoAWW2h_RsylZvj0MD-AeXPBQiotJjFQab9O5672paGkrcw/s320/MargaretMcNevin.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Margaret McNevin</b> was a beautiful and elegant woman with a gentle, sweet soul. She passed in late July 2013 from complications resulting from an aggressive form of Lymphoma.<br />
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I only recently heard of her passing and feel a profound sadness. The last I saw Margaret was in the spring of 2013 at the <a href="http://parksierra.net/">Escapees Park of the Sierras</a>.<br />
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She and <b>Dave Danielsen,</b> her life partner since 1986, had been our neighbors. Everyday we would see them walking together through the park or along the nearby nature trails.<br />
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According to <a href="http://www.trinityjournal.com/obituaries/article_02e0a56a-2008-11e3-b989-001a4bcf6878.html">an obituary</a> in the Weaverville, Calif., <i>Trinity Journal</i>, Margaret was born in June 1938 in New Hampshire and raised in the San Francisco area after World War II. She married, worked in administrative positions, and had four sons.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OwM8cNQsCAKkO-EVv95O2fNzMc4keA2L3nwMmhkMJa7oSJb3S5No8u-YWpCmO5tYJf1K32J6Gu9e453aQQ2T8MWrUPniuF42fMDUnqKVzwazhyphenhyphenRlhwG-wfyrlXP6ze-smWWIuQ/s1600/DaveDanielsen_MargaretMcNevin_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OwM8cNQsCAKkO-EVv95O2fNzMc4keA2L3nwMmhkMJa7oSJb3S5No8u-YWpCmO5tYJf1K32J6Gu9e453aQQ2T8MWrUPniuF42fMDUnqKVzwazhyphenhyphenRlhwG-wfyrlXP6ze-smWWIuQ/s320/DaveDanielsen_MargaretMcNevin_JulianneGCrane.jpg" /></a></div>
After her divorce, she met Dave at an ‘over-40′ church singles’ group in the Bay Area. Every Wednesday night back then there was a singles’ hike and it seems Dave would always finagle a way to end up walking beside Margaret. Finally she noticed and took pity on him … they walked together for almost 38 years.<br />
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They lived and traveled simply in a 1991 21.6-foot Toyota Winnebago Warrior that they purchased in 2002. They took many trips from their homebase in California … including as far away as Nova Scotia and Florida. Their little class C motor home put on more than 135,000 miles. They were still dreaming about the ultimate RV trip to Alaska.<br />
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Margaret and Dave loved RV travel, exploring their few acres of land in the forest near Weaverville, Calif., and each other.<br />
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I will miss her dancing lightly on this earth.<br />
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<i>Read more RV lifestyle articles by<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank"> Julianne G. Crane</a> by clicking on <a href="http://RVWheelLife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a>.</i><br />
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<i>Photos by<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank"> Julianne G. Crane</a></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-68516730142807160552013-12-08T11:35:00.002-08:002013-12-11T11:19:48.448-08:00'Museum on the Move' - repurposed 1954 Airstream - Honors Louisiana Women<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEriYh3xYd4vR3MmH0VNs1-QZyjiiEoTulitdjqFKeoemhQUeBHzfhnip3w0mb8JF57xXTgwx-II0Cp-NwrfugrP0EBd03OQ3h75VFuK1UUcvxvuLYhjKyPBIUrDAXQfEhYwoew/s1600/ULL_Airstream_LAwomenMus_BradBowie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEriYh3xYd4vR3MmH0VNs1-QZyjiiEoTulitdjqFKeoemhQUeBHzfhnip3w0mb8JF57xXTgwx-II0Cp-NwrfugrP0EBd03OQ3h75VFuK1UUcvxvuLYhjKyPBIUrDAXQfEhYwoew/s200/ULL_Airstream_LAwomenMus_BradBowie.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>'Museum on the Move' - </i><br />
<i> repurposed '54 Airstream</i><br />
<i> (The Advocate/Brad Bowie)</i></td></tr>
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An article in Baton Rouge, LA, <b>Advocate</b> newspaper by <b>Marsha Sills </b>highlights a unique museum exhibit "that’s going places — literally."<br />
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A group of University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduate students "created the first exhibit — on influential Louisiana women — for the <a href="http://www.museumonthemove.com/">Museum on the Move</a>, a <b>23-foot 1954 Airstream travel trailer</b> stripped down and converted into a mobile museum."<br />
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As part of a new project of the university’s public history program, the students put together the inaugural moving exhibit, <b>“Crossing the Line: Louisiana Women in a Century of Change.” </b><br />
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"The exhibit featuress 10 Louisiana women from the late 19th century to the present who created extraordinary change in the state," said UL-Lafayette associate professor of history <b>John Troutman</b>, who learned about the mobile museum concept at a conference.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2a4Nhn4rDm2gnvNJP8aLjo_GzJ58aSt1sEDDHquXZTsyc7xvVEdZYP2vpQXHQ3z92fAFS0MsePbKNTQazBb2knCBe2iHbrmAS7kXISYchIVPQO-RI21iNbIyIT_7wjRADVsvPFA/s1600/Museum+on+the+Move_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2a4Nhn4rDm2gnvNJP8aLjo_GzJ58aSt1sEDDHquXZTsyc7xvVEdZYP2vpQXHQ3z92fAFS0MsePbKNTQazBb2knCBe2iHbrmAS7kXISYchIVPQO-RI21iNbIyIT_7wjRADVsvPFA/s320/Museum+on+the+Move_art.jpg" /></a></div>
The "Airstream cost about $10,000 and a local contractor, John Steinman, helped transform the space into a museum. All the retro comforts of the 1954 travel trailer were replaced with wood flooring and industrial framing to accommodate museum panels. The exhibit is based on research provided by students in a Louisiana Women course taught by history professor <b>Mary Farmer-Kaiser</b>."<br />
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Read the full article and see more photographs by<a href="ttp://theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/7557719-123/ul-lafayettes-museum-on-the"> </a><a href="http://theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/7557719-123/ul-lafayettes-museum-on-the" target="_blank">clicking here.</a><br />
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<i>Photo: Top: (Advocate staff photo by<b> Brad Bowie</b>) -- University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduate students Daniel Manual (front) and Eric Scott hang museum exhibit panels about Louisiana women inside of a repurposed Airstream. Once completed, the Museum on the Move will travel to various schools and festivals across Louisiana. (Bottom) Source: <a href="http://www.museumonthemove.com/">Museum on the Move</a>.</i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-5800521560848386042013-11-27T00:00:00.000-08:002014-03-01T17:18:36.346-08:00Active RVer Judy Holmes goes for ease of towing, maintaining 17-foot Casita trailer<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFikBIjK379_Gmh57vr_kDDQi_RQuzR01CB7_N9S1e1Y1Qs_6VmZdorhzDVe8K_eigzbTahhzPiEFaKYnCqgmsLWaYWrH3qtpf4h-xHg0x00Yj2yvubTtq-osP72LU76mCPwdfQw/s1600/JudyHolmes_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFikBIjK379_Gmh57vr_kDDQi_RQuzR01CB7_N9S1e1Y1Qs_6VmZdorhzDVe8K_eigzbTahhzPiEFaKYnCqgmsLWaYWrH3qtpf4h-xHg0x00Yj2yvubTtq-osP72LU76mCPwdfQw/s200/JudyHolmes_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Judy Holmes (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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<b>Judy Holmes </b>of Tyler, Texas, has always enjoyed an active outdoors life ... hiking, bicycling, canoeing, camping. After retiring in her mid-60s as a social worker from the Area Agency on Aging, this energetic woman continues to work as a substitute teacher in middle schools.<br />
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Two years ago, after 28 years as a tent camper,<b> Judy </b>purchased her first recreation vehicle, a used <b>38-foot Foretravel Class A</b> motor home.<br />
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She remembers her scariest moment was when she accidentally killed the motor home's engine as she was going up an incline and it started rolling backwards down the hill. "It was my first outing in any type of unit," recalls Judy, "but I made it out alive with no damages. That very day I even took it to a state park and backed into a small, angled parking place. I felt like the Queen of Class A RVing."
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While Judy soon found the motor home easy to drive, she also discovered it needed more complicated maintenance than she wanted to handle as a solo woman RVer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBMtI7ImTKbEbcxX8wKtIm8_jfj01EPgpfeIZLUu6IWP-W6rN0vAB6m-NAJABl6fnjNgl1lat4XzZMPQ3YCkKpHzmFadI0yGhs4BAqgLLJlFXgO1aWd1o-2ovDv9Zr2kJxidxdw/s1600/JudyHolmes-JohnGannon_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBMtI7ImTKbEbcxX8wKtIm8_jfj01EPgpfeIZLUu6IWP-W6rN0vAB6m-NAJABl6fnjNgl1lat4XzZMPQ3YCkKpHzmFadI0yGhs4BAqgLLJlFXgO1aWd1o-2ovDv9Zr2kJxidxdw/s320/JudyHolmes-JohnGannon_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>John Gannon & Judy Holmes. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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Last year Holmes took a trip over to the Casita trailer plant in Rice, Texas, and left owning a<b> 2012 17-foot Casita Deluxe,</b> a molded fiberglass travel trailer.<br />
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In addition to being lightweight and easy on fuel, molded fiberglass rigs are designed to be durable, sturdy and simple to maintain. “It is much less complicated to operate and maintain than the motor home,” said the retired social worker. </div>
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Judy says her Casita is easy to pull with her six-cylinder SUV. “I like being able to unhitch the trailer at the campsite and go off on excursions in my SUV. With the Class A, I couldn’t do that unless I towed a car behind the coach.”<br />
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"The only downsize to a molded fiberglass trailer is that it probably should not be stored out in the hot Texas sun. My current unit is stored under cover," she says. "Another problem that I found was that the single axle bumper pull is harder to back into campsites than the Class A unit. Most people would probably not agree but it is what I found to be true for me."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkTvMIMZl6PHWBJcz6wqR8dANLIzRIDJbw67FDY46nAW-T-o5sgMmkG_ZBcPdXJEeIpRikRJNMOSW_ZC75VIQ1GfiGn2IhdRerwHNl1CZlNMQgU_iiDccfcFz1ett8heBgF4UsA/s1600/Judy-John_canoe_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkTvMIMZl6PHWBJcz6wqR8dANLIzRIDJbw67FDY46nAW-T-o5sgMmkG_ZBcPdXJEeIpRikRJNMOSW_ZC75VIQ1GfiGn2IhdRerwHNl1CZlNMQgU_iiDccfcFz1ett8heBgF4UsA/s320/Judy-John_canoe_JulianneGCrane.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Judy & John love canoeing Texas lakes. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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While she has used the Casita to travel solo through the southwest, she says she hasn't gone to any "exotic places."<br />
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However, she adds, now that "I have a great traveling companion, <b> John Gannon,</b> who is game for trying some longer trips, perhaps up to South Carolina this spring, I hope to even go on to the East Coast."<br />
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“With air conditioning and heating, I never hesitate to go places in any season of the year,” says Judy. “The Casita is a tight little pod.”<br />
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<i>Photos by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>.</i><br />
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<i>To read more about molded fiberglass travel trailers from their owners, <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?s=Molded+Fiberglass+Trailers%2C+Part+">click here</a>.</i><br />
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<i>Read more about the RV lifestyle by <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a></span> at<span style="color: #0c343d;"> <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></span></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-56876465935131301102013-11-17T00:00:00.000-08:002013-11-17T00:00:11.721-08:00Two books by Irene Rawlings feature Women RVers 'Sisters on the Fly' <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pEP67hWq4t5Mzw1kOBgwuWu8TwP_i2HD-mV_mw7pTi6G310P_OxubwBxfk2VByf5rCa7fIe2DyatuNlmsoN6VnhkTG_A4eysLGYwhToy9UZsQBRftN0L3Yfq6dggJTAPJKhsuQ/s1600/SistersontheFly_bookcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pEP67hWq4t5Mzw1kOBgwuWu8TwP_i2HD-mV_mw7pTi6G310P_OxubwBxfk2VByf5rCa7fIe2DyatuNlmsoN6VnhkTG_A4eysLGYwhToy9UZsQBRftN0L3Yfq6dggJTAPJKhsuQ/s320/SistersontheFly_bookcover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
RVer and author <b>Irene Rawlings</b> has written two books featuring that fun-loving group of vintage trailer owners: <b><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/" target="_blank">Sisters on the Fly.</a></b><br />
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The first was the light-hearted book, "<i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7996866-sisters-on-the-fly" target="_blank">Sisters on the Fly: Caravans, Campfires, and Tales from the Road</a>"</i> ($14.99) published in May 2010. In the book the Sisters share tales of the road and their cool vintage rigs because "they know that once you see all the fun they're having fly-fishing, riding horses, camping, eating, laughing, and loving, you just might want to join their cowgirl caravan when it heads out for the next adventure."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSBxNT_I8RkZosqmv4-4aj0oXuwkgdpN-re12WpSsqZrtYoPGcjvXvUsjn0r5n-zJ3P9-2XZdVMwpplXWuB5Bc5wCm6D8GEfyAXlh18KONentUgDsDS3AYrMLxd-ivkaj4GkCBA/s1600/CastIronCooking_SisterontheFly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSBxNT_I8RkZosqmv4-4aj0oXuwkgdpN-re12WpSsqZrtYoPGcjvXvUsjn0r5n-zJ3P9-2XZdVMwpplXWuB5Bc5wCm6D8GEfyAXlh18KONentUgDsDS3AYrMLxd-ivkaj4GkCBA/s320/CastIronCooking_SisterontheFly.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
The second book starring this road-warrior band of Sisters was published earlier this year: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cast-Iron-Cooking-Sisters-Irene-Rawlings/dp/1449427367" target="_blank"><i>"Cast-Iron Cooking with Sisters on the Fly"</i></a> ($14.55).<br />
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The cookbook highlights heirloom and contemporary recipes "that are simple to shop for and prepare on the road, for the backyard grill, or in the kitchen, using cast iron cookware." It also includes engaging stories and action photos of the Sisters in their homes and "out on the range in their trailer caravans."<br />
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Author Rawlings also hosts a syndicated radio show. Her other books include <em>"Portable Houses"</em> and "<em>The Clothesline</em>." Read more about Rawlings by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?p=477" target="_blank"><b>clicking here. </b></a><br />
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Learn more about the Sisters by clicking on: <a href="http://womenrvers.blogspot.com/2011/05/sisters-on-fly-and-their-vintage.html" target="_blank"> "Fun-loving Sisters on the Fly" </a><br />
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<i>Read more by <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a></span> at<span style="color: #0c343d;"> <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></span></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-800814328375061172013-11-11T09:29:00.000-08:002013-11-11T09:44:17.658-08:00A dozen safety tips for solo RV women from Laura Robinson, a solo RVerNaturalist and birder<b> Laura Robinson</b> has been RVing solo for more than two years with her big dog <b>Ruka </b>in her Roadtrek RS Adventurous Class B motorhome.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU9o2m6wxEG7avlV5vnlnzq3M9mfuF9rl__Q92c-B0cHZBfm21qMdOv335dqXMtO4PAaSDXNqQs1vAO2iXx__Npky-zSuHuD_8jiqbGnKQN7pJ6QY2KVDeDbX6qRjnDppl-8Q3w/s1600/LauraRobinson_dog.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfU9o2m6wxEG7avlV5vnlnzq3M9mfuF9rl__Q92c-B0cHZBfm21qMdOv335dqXMtO4PAaSDXNqQs1vAO2iXx__Npky-zSuHuD_8jiqbGnKQN7pJ6QY2KVDeDbX6qRjnDppl-8Q3w/s320/LauraRobinson_dog.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Laura Robinson and pet companion, Ruka</i></td></tr>
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This writer / photographer from Missouri is an experienced world traveler who loves the freedom of touring the U.S.A. in her recreation vehicle.<br />
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She calls her rig OLGA for “Old Ladies Get Around” because she plans on traveling until she "can't see over the steering wheel."<br />
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She adds: "I believe that single women, over 50, are one of the the fastest growing groups of RV buyers right now. We are divorced, widowed, have disposable income and are living longer. We are on the move! It is rare that I don’t run into another solo gal as I travel."<br />
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Because as a solo RVer she frequently gets asked about her safety concerns, Laura wrote a guest column about the subject for <b>Roadtreking.com. </b><br />
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One of her hints involved technology ... "I use the ALLSTAYS app on my I-Pad. I can look at the satellite image to see if where it is, if it looks neat and if there are permanent mobile homes, which I don’t care for. Read the reviews posted by other campers. Pass on if it doesn’t meet your standards, there is usually something down the road. Plan accordingly. I look one to two days ahead when planning my routes, and check for availability. ALLSTAYS also gives phone numbers so you can call ahead to make sure there is a spot available."
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Read her complete post by clicking on: <a href="http://roadtreking.com/12-tips-for-women-traveling-solo-in-an-rv/" target="_blank"> "12 tips for women traveling solo in an RV."</a><br />
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<i>Photo: <b>Laura Robinson</b> and Ruka. Courtesy of Roadtreking.com</i><br />
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<i>To read more articles on RV lifestyle by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206">Julianne G. Crane</a>, go to <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a>.</i></div>
Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-66231444497509154412013-11-04T08:41:00.002-08:002013-11-04T08:43:20.185-08:00Academy Award winning actress Kathy Bates loves her RV, freedom of the open road<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfL3015Del1g9pqaAaXZBlXMIbqH4SKBWdjVH5th6NS5rVHX1BUdwhLhkG4BENBUh2p9K_R4A4X8jwRqJjssC_rXSXarIdY4CHDOc2z3lZo0fDP8UKe8Xb7YbsNZ9AI3fNDvxgew/s1600/KATHYBATES_HOTTUB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfL3015Del1g9pqaAaXZBlXMIbqH4SKBWdjVH5th6NS5rVHX1BUdwhLhkG4BENBUh2p9K_R4A4X8jwRqJjssC_rXSXarIdY4CHDOc2z3lZo0fDP8UKe8Xb7YbsNZ9AI3fNDvxgew/s320/KATHYBATES_HOTTUB.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kathy Bates' famous hot tub scene in 'About Schmidt.'</i></td></tr>
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<b><a href="http://mskathybates.com/" target="_blank">Kathy Bates</a></b> talked about her affection for hitting the open road in <b>AARP Magazine's</b> October-November edition, reported an item in <b><a href="http://RVTravel.com/">RVTravel.com</a></b>.<br />
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"I've always loved driving. I own an RV and drove it to Memphis a couple of years ago. I stayed in an RV park on the Mississippi. It was wonderful to watch that river roll by," she said.<br />
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"On the road, some people don't have any idea who I am; they just see some old woman doddering around. I don't have paparazzi chasing me — I'm not of that ilk."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoINkJ3HCBcMpSgFJkhlL-cM-Jg3W6mU8pAi_UOb1RgBp97CIfk3fLgSCAKhx9YEzRz8iYSXMXbD4HMFD57yO_jgIErsN6oykYf_o6oOLUNxd0UNlpSFevF8DKP3WHHIRi9VxLA/s1600/JackNicholsonMotorhomeFuel.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoINkJ3HCBcMpSgFJkhlL-cM-Jg3W6mU8pAi_UOb1RgBp97CIfk3fLgSCAKhx9YEzRz8iYSXMXbD4HMFD57yO_jgIErsN6oykYf_o6oOLUNxd0UNlpSFevF8DKP3WHHIRi9VxLA/s200/JackNicholsonMotorhomeFuel.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jack Nicholson in 'About Schmidt'</i></td></tr>
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When I read that quote, I flashed on the film "<b>About Schmidt,</b>" where <b>Jack Nicholson</b> (right) plays a middle-aged Omaha executive who, after his wife’s unexpected death, takes his new Winnebego motor home on a road trip to his estranged daughter's wedding in Denver. Along the way Schmidt experiences various adventures and self-discoveries — including a hot tub encounter with <b>Kathy Bates </b>(above).<b> </b>Both actors received Academy Award nominations. It is a sweet, sad and funny film. Well worth a Netflix and bowl of popcorn.<br />
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On that 2010 RV trip she mentioned above to her Memphis, Tenn., hometown, Bates and her travel companion stayed at the <a href="http://www.tomsawyersrvpark.com/">Tom Sawyer RV Park</a> on the Mississippi River. "You can just sit there and watch the barges go by. It's beautiful," she said.
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In a 2009 article in the <i>Memphis Commercial Appeal</i>, Bates was quoted as saying she "spends much of her free time driving around the country with her boyfriend, in an RV. 'Sometimes I just take off, just get away from L.A. and drive around and see real people. I like getting out at truck stops. I've always kind of liked the open road. So I'm often kind of on the lam.'"<br />
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<i>Read more </i><i>RV lifestyle articles by</i><i> <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206">Julianne G. Crane</a> in <a href="http://www.RVWheellife.com/">RVWheellife.com</a></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-77590160102308585692013-10-23T00:30:00.000-07:002013-11-17T08:44:28.767-08:00Update on the fun-loving 'Sisters on the Fly' and their vintage trailers<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_TfZgy4H1InhR3_a-HXQDe7_yNVG9dNA0K0iENqGeI1fO5bYIB0UewualfWGdvt9gjcG3QkqE0ZH4vNU6nL8UP1Qx8FSB7setRX6dXKniYI2GpcptBsK-tdwXR1HGuDAZxUKqA/s1600/MaurrieSussmanBeckyClarke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_TfZgy4H1InhR3_a-HXQDe7_yNVG9dNA0K0iENqGeI1fO5bYIB0UewualfWGdvt9gjcG3QkqE0ZH4vNU6nL8UP1Qx8FSB7setRX6dXKniYI2GpcptBsK-tdwXR1HGuDAZxUKqA/s320/MaurrieSussmanBeckyClarke.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Maurrie, Sister #1 (left) and Becky, Sister #2</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">The 2014</span> season will be<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Sisters on the Fly's</span> 16th year of: "<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Offering empowerment and sisterhood through exceptional outdoor adventures.</span></i>”<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Maurrie Sussman</span> of Phoenix, Ariz., and her real-life sister, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Becky Clarke</span> of McCall, Idaho, are the driving force behind <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Sisters on the Fly</span>,</a></span> a unique group of women who love to fly fish, ride horses and caravan with vintage trailers.<br />
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It all began in the summer of 1999, when Becky and Maurrie were sitting on a drift boat in Montana. “We were happily drinking a glass of wine in celebration of catching an 8-pound Brown trout,” recalled Maurrie, “and we thought it would be fun to share this with friends.”<br />
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Since then their “sisterhood” has grown to more than 4,000 women ranging in ages from 21 to 95. “We are average women having extraordinary adventures,” she said.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFytwz93s8PMlN5kLwv4JwopkhqRgZxUroXM8bZxWxKzxsQASt75mnS73S_mJPdNLr0rj6X-CnB04s0cgUcJhlEqln9mWmfiSRA8imUEg2tuiMmuNM47O-YiDgbjEPGT8vWW5i_A/s1600/SOTF_caravan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFytwz93s8PMlN5kLwv4JwopkhqRgZxUroXM8bZxWxKzxsQASt75mnS73S_mJPdNLr0rj6X-CnB04s0cgUcJhlEqln9mWmfiSRA8imUEg2tuiMmuNM47O-YiDgbjEPGT8vWW5i_A/s200/SOTF_caravan.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sisters on Caravan.</i></td></tr>
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"Along the way we decided it would be much more fun to outfit some vintage trailers and drag them down the road with us," said Maurrie. "How good it is to fall into your own feather bed at the end of a long day of fishing and wake to the smell of coffee right outside your door in the morning. Pretty good, I’d say."<br />
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A number of the rigs are from the 1950s and '60s and range from 12 to 16 feet. Models include Shasta, Scotsman, Aloha, Airstream, Scotty, Holiday, Aljo, Leigh, Crown and Empire.<br />
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“These trailers took on personalities of their own, and that of their owners," said Maurrie. "They are proudly, and some fantastically, decorated with kitschy themes and love.”<br />
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There are a number of Caravan Events on the books for<b> 2014 </b>including:<br />
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<tr><td><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">May 9-13, 2014</span></span></td><td><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/mazie-s-birthday-celebration" style="color: #bc2b1f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Mazie's 95th Birthday Bash</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> </span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">June 5-12</span></td><td><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/cowgirl-college" style="color: #bc2b1f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Cowgirl College</span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">July 25-28</span></td><td><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/grammas-on-the-loose" style="color: #bc2b1f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Grammas on the Loose</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> </span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">July 31-4</span></td><td><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/montana-rivers-fishing" style="color: #bc2b1f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Montana Rivers of Awe </span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">August 9-14</span></td><td><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/fly-fishing-school" style="color: #bc2b1f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Fishing School 101</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> </span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">August 22-28</span></td><td><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/cowgirl-boot-camp" style="color: #bc2b1f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Cowgirl Boot Camp</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> </span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Aug. 31-Sept. 7, 2014</span></td><td><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/dude-ranch-retreat" style="color: #bc2b1f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Dude Ranch Retreat</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> </span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">September 15-20</span></td><td><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/epic-glacier-craig-mt-trip" style="color: #bc2b1f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Epic Glacier & Craig Trip</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> </span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">October 4-8</span></td><td><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/couples-on-the-fly" style="color: #bc2b1f;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Couples on the Fly</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text-common" style="font-family: Palatino, 'Times New Roman', Times; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt4KOqUuvSiEzqzj82t59P9oRZGMVwhl9Hq_gtqRVNdWhPnE92xPoTicg-WPz5gdBVjbUpNtrphbP_QOeHaMltLjWCIv2z0OEexU_09fB6KuDDjWN484xZtOQNaKx0AMDtDx4Ng/s1600/maurriecowboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt4KOqUuvSiEzqzj82t59P9oRZGMVwhl9Hq_gtqRVNdWhPnE92xPoTicg-WPz5gdBVjbUpNtrphbP_QOeHaMltLjWCIv2z0OEexU_09fB6KuDDjWN484xZtOQNaKx0AMDtDx4Ng/s200/maurriecowboy.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Maurrie and Cowboy</i></td></tr>
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The one-week<a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/cowgirl-college" target="_blank"> </a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/trips/cowgirl-college" target="_blank">Cowgirl College,</a></span><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/events/event_detail.php?event_id=226"> </a></span>set for June 5-12, 2014, "Is pure heaven for all cowgirls and I mean pure heaven. You don’t need to know how to be a cowgirl, but it helps if you know the front from the back of a horse," said Maurrie.<br />
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You can reach them through their Web site, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">www.sistersonthefly.com</span></a>.</span> You can join this incredible group of women for an annual fee of $60.<br />
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<i>Photos: Courtesy of Sisters on the Fly.</i><br />
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<i>Read more by <span style="color: #073763;"><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a></span> at<span style="color: #0c343d;"> <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></span></i><br />
<br />Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-41822364007493052782013-08-09T13:56:00.000-07:002013-08-09T18:39:01.038-07:00Margo Armstrong is full-time RVer, author<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9ePoJ_x-dUwXFupwyvRN0IEginHx2Uyvtrr0N5mpZVWMnqpkDN7iUG1Zac8xBSrIoSMAoIynpJlXYxU0xj76AJ_Yc1Vz-jPMNLd67JfSt55hIdSeqXZM4NCGwXDrsXqshK0VkQ/s1600/Margo-Armstrong_Oval.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9ePoJ_x-dUwXFupwyvRN0IEginHx2Uyvtrr0N5mpZVWMnqpkDN7iUG1Zac8xBSrIoSMAoIynpJlXYxU0xj76AJ_Yc1Vz-jPMNLd67JfSt55hIdSeqXZM4NCGwXDrsXqshK0VkQ/s1600/Margo-Armstrong_Oval.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Author Margo Armstrong</i></td></tr>
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<b>Margo Armstrong</b> is one of those women who loves helping others. She's been an entrepreneur all her adult life and now, in her "senior years" (her words), she is sharing her experiences through her prolific writing online and her 16 eBooks. <br />
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A full-time RVer since 1995 and solo since 2010, Margo travels the West in her 1999 28-foot class A Safari Tek 2830.
"Everywhere I go I am home."<br />
<br />
Her background includes owning a technical writing company specializing in high-tech clients until 2003, then switching to manufacturing, selling and supporting portable satellite Internet systems for RVers through 2010.<br />
<br />
When asked about a memorable woman she's met in her travels, she didn't hesitate: <b><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?tag=jaimie-hall-bruzenak">Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak</a></b>. <br />
<br />
Jaimie "was my role model when I started self-publishing," said Margo. "She is a successful award-winning author and publisher in the <a href="http://www.rvlifestyleexperts.com/">RV lifestyle field</a>. We met when Jaimie and her husband purchased a portable satellite system from my company and they attended one of my training rallies. We kept in touch over the years and when I started to enter the publishing field after my official retirement, I attended one of her workshops. She was very supportive and helped to give me the confidence needed."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlwp97hrfBA6vMPLJFPjrP9uJ4B-xvXFGgpXCQeqPwuwe_LfY7uiCY4AEnBEyAgRXie_TsByTQ_yD1cERWwSnBkgcyiGmCGAKUMCYjWkD677A3vaQaoECCM6LrKGbPt2BnD9lnQ/s1600/For+Women+Only-cover-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlwp97hrfBA6vMPLJFPjrP9uJ4B-xvXFGgpXCQeqPwuwe_LfY7uiCY4AEnBEyAgRXie_TsByTQ_yD1cERWwSnBkgcyiGmCGAKUMCYjWkD677A3vaQaoECCM6LrKGbPt2BnD9lnQ/s200/For+Women+Only-cover-blog.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
Margo's most popular book is: <i><b>For Women Only – Traveling Solo In Your RV, The Adventure of a Lifetime</b></i><br />
<br />
"This book just wrote itself when I started solo RVing," recalled Margo. "It examines the RV lifestyle from a woman's point of view. There are a few things about RVing that traditionally are handled by the male partner, such as the water and dump tanks. Women need to know the basic routine and why it is important."<br />
<br />
Others topics covered include how to decide on the size and type of RV, managing the electrical system, keeping a trip diary, and earning an income on the road.<br />
<br />
"I could have written a 1,000 pages on the subject but kept it brief as an easy reference," she said. "For example, I include plenty of photos so women can see what a 50 amp plug looks like versus a 30 amp. These are the kind of things that women are not normally exposed to while traveling."<br />
<br />
After writing five more books about the RV lifestyle, Margo switched topics. "I decided to devote two volumes of work to women in the leadership role," she said.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipp6-xjdbMLngFHiDZbovEu_r3Q8ZfiVblorUtw_b-r_3-HqJl7HbCQ1TmYgdfC_BiAxge1KeDHNap-WcWOw3L5S4pQd5x5R9wt8Cw6UaH0RVKsZvOZ80nuuqP-H12AYz9lb8ZKg/s1600/AnsweringCall-Vol1World-cover-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipp6-xjdbMLngFHiDZbovEu_r3Q8ZfiVblorUtw_b-r_3-HqJl7HbCQ1TmYgdfC_BiAxge1KeDHNap-WcWOw3L5S4pQd5x5R9wt8Cw6UaH0RVKsZvOZ80nuuqP-H12AYz9lb8ZKg/s1600/AnsweringCall-Vol1World-cover-blog.jpg" /></a></div>
– <b><i>Answering the Call - Women in Action: Vol 1 Women in the World</i> </b> gives a short bio and photograph of all the women currently serving at that time as heads-of-state in the world.<br />
<br />
"We rarely hear about these women from our news media," observed Margo, "so it should come as a surprise to most readers that there are so many woman already running entire countries."<br />
<i><br /></i>
–<i> <b>Answering the Call - Women in Action: Vol 2 Women in America</b></i> exposes the women in action here in the USA with a short bio and photograph. "Unfortunately the list is short, but there is hope for the future," said Margo.<br />
<br />
<b>RV LIFESTYLE</b><br />
– <i>For Women Only – Traveling Solo In Your RV, The Adventure of a Lifetime</i><br />
– <i>How To Save Money While Enjoying The RV Lifestyle</i><br />
<i>– The RV Lifestyle – A Dream Come True</i><br />
<i>– Selling Online – Supporting the Traveling Lifestyle</i><br />
<i>– Staying In Touch, A Traveler’s Guide</i><br />
<i>– Working On The Road – For Professionals and Just Fun-Loving Folks</i><br />
<br />
<b>TRAVEL</b><br />
<i>– Welcome to Las Vegas – The Essential Guide</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6InYOUo6JPdqBCK14fugh9G1d2ZzzcXjKud1XDPNQJ75IkG66sa_9kHF43rOC5tIY4aCiQ4_RZVACw-R7MPtBAwacOyrbCFfPpSeCGy0JF6vqrRUS4cEAkTW903JTFAf8jiOrjg/s1600/AnsweringCall-Vol2America-cover-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6InYOUo6JPdqBCK14fugh9G1d2ZzzcXjKud1XDPNQJ75IkG66sa_9kHF43rOC5tIY4aCiQ4_RZVACw-R7MPtBAwacOyrbCFfPpSeCGy0JF6vqrRUS4cEAkTW903JTFAf8jiOrjg/s200/AnsweringCall-Vol2America-cover-blog.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<b>WOMEN’S STUDIES</b><br />
<i>– Answering the Call – Women in Action, Vol 1: Leaders in the World</i><br />
<i>– Answering the Call – Women in Action, Vol 2: Leaders in America</i><br />
<i>- About Men – Myths Revealed, How to Love, Live, and Work With Them</i><br />
<br />
<b>WRITING EBOOKS</b><br />
<i>– Writing & Publishing eBooks – One Person’s Journey</i><br />
<br />
<b>TOOLS FOR LIVING</b><br />
<i>– Get Amazing Photos From Your Point & Shoot Camera</i><br />
<i>– Buying and Selling Gold and Silver – A Primer for the Beginning Investor</i><br />
<i>– Selling Your Home – How the Real Estate Market Works</i><br />
<i>– Do Your Own Probate – Summary Administration for Small Estates</i><br />
<br />
<b>FOOD FOR THOUGHT</b><br />
<i>– What Determines Our Destin</i>y
<br />
<br />
For all of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Margo-Armstrong/e/B0072NR29A">Margo Armstrong's eBooks available through <b>Amazon.com CLICK HERE</b>.</a><br />
<br />
Read her blog at: <b><a href="http://movingonwithmargo.com/">MovingOnWithMargo.com</a></b>
<br />
<br />
<i>To read more articles by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane </a>on the RV lifestyle, go to <a href="http://RVWheelLife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-40104230059814277612013-05-27T15:30:00.000-07:002013-05-28T08:59:37.519-07:00Three generations of Southern Women RVers 'workamp' at Florida State Parks<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPUAx9bLGoasPPFnXdTwMICcZ8Ev4BTcbmXA3F_QOof_W42rBDc76EyNjaHcREO6Ew5Vv_hk3JfAr6X6cccLrB-uUk90GBwVdT57qqnx5-kI87xGROPp4vFYQWToOUxxln5erFw/s1600/KatieJoleneSandraAroundCampsite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPUAx9bLGoasPPFnXdTwMICcZ8Ev4BTcbmXA3F_QOof_W42rBDc76EyNjaHcREO6Ew5Vv_hk3JfAr6X6cccLrB-uUk90GBwVdT57qqnx5-kI87xGROPp4vFYQWToOUxxln5erFw/s320/KatieJoleneSandraAroundCampsite.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Katie, Jolene and Sandra workcamp at Florida State Parks.</i></td></tr>
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<b>Jolene MacFadden-Kowalchuk</b> needed to retire from her job due to medical reasons and her mom, <b>Sandra MacFadden</b>, had always wanted to travel.<br />
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"So, we decided it was time for a drastic change," says Jolene. "We sold some stuff, stored some things we wanted to keep, gave away what we could, and threw away the rest. I cashed in my pension fund, bought an old RV and a minivan."<br />
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Since November 2012 Jolene, Sandra and Jolene's youngest daughter, <b>Katherine Kowalchuk</b>, have lived, worked and traveled in a <b>1984 Pace Arrow Class A motor home.</b> They use their toad vehicle, the minivan, for local touring and trips into town for supplies and errands. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3JMr9gzNFFH9GJ0trWwr4hSqhwMgOL4Xq26754yZEYOJhTjbSQuPH4s8J4Dw1SSJcuCKoc2oQvAW2qAY2HXt5nFZTsJUdFk2yjFG54N0IU2pi0NHp-fRn682n01UvEmhTMtbPg/s1600/Suwannee+River+Wilderness.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3JMr9gzNFFH9GJ0trWwr4hSqhwMgOL4Xq26754yZEYOJhTjbSQuPH4s8J4Dw1SSJcuCKoc2oQvAW2qAY2HXt5nFZTsJUdFk2yjFG54N0IU2pi0NHp-fRn682n01UvEmhTMtbPg/s200/Suwannee+River+Wilderness.png" width="90" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Suwannee River </i> <style><!--
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In the beginning their plan was to visit every Florida State Park campground with RV facilities and write about it from a women's point of view for their blog: <span style="background-color: #20124d;"><b><span style="color: #20124d;"><a href="http://our-great-adventure.whatthehellblog.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #20124d;">"Our Great Adventure -- 3 Southern Women Hit the Road: Women can camp too." </span></span></a></span></b></span><br />
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"We have only seen a few single women RVers," reports Jolene. "Mostly, there are a lot of older couples. We are hoping to encourage more women to head out and camp through our blog postings, tweets and Facebook page."
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<br />
However, because of unanticipated repairs required on their motor home and van, they soon found they needed to supplement their budget. They heard about<b><span style="color: #20124d;"> <a href="http://www.workamper.com/">Workamper News</a></span></b> and signed up.<br />
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They learned about camp hosting positions with the Florida State Parks department, filled out an application online, specified the regions they were interested in, and within a week received their first call.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydwsnoGMU-VENUg5r41brXAsjVo18Kk2ZIaijvV5SuGU5Pfe1CvH9c2O1m4ZoWaKibWVmFrfh3l9SgPh-7f4m161EHN1PPB1kSpU8Dr0jJSvn28tn4sghuw3SIWinkNbCx2ndIw/s1600/JoleneBlowingOuttheLawnMower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydwsnoGMU-VENUg5r41brXAsjVo18Kk2ZIaijvV5SuGU5Pfe1CvH9c2O1m4ZoWaKibWVmFrfh3l9SgPh-7f4m161EHN1PPB1kSpU8Dr0jJSvn28tn4sghuw3SIWinkNbCx2ndIw/s200/JoleneBlowingOuttheLawnMower.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jolene maintaining grounds.</i></td></tr>
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Since March they have been camp hosting at the <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/rivercamps.cfm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Suwannee River Wilderness Trail River Camp</b></span></a> called Adams Tract located between Mayo and Branford, Florida. The campground is accessible to canoers and kayakers traveling down the Suwannee River.<br />
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"There are no fees for camping here overnight just donations asked for a
bundle of firewood," says Jolene.<br />
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In exchange for camp hosting and light maintenance work, they receive their campsite with water, electric, sewer, picnic table, barbecue grill and firewood.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6QtUisWlsiQ7BKXdjF3Gc0a_5OxAHY85gQqpRKm9omTZzPYp1hTuWQx2oi-iuVNesERrqD0y_zkjxx4BSnW6BnIAYLE6QWXa05AbTtaMlpscYzAGFtCenlPgekr9BHNT14pQlg/s1600/SandraGettingReadytoCleanBathrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6QtUisWlsiQ7BKXdjF3Gc0a_5OxAHY85gQqpRKm9omTZzPYp1hTuWQx2oi-iuVNesERrqD0y_zkjxx4BSnW6BnIAYLE6QWXa05AbTtaMlpscYzAGFtCenlPgekr9BHNT14pQlg/s200/SandraGettingReadytoCleanBathrooms.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sandra handles restroom cleanup chores.</i></td></tr>
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"We have a washer and dryer in a garage building that we can use for extra storage and a regular-sized refrigerator to use while we are here," says Jolene.<br />
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In addition to her share of the cleaning work, <b>Sandra</b> fills her time reading, fishing (although she hasn’t caught anything yet), and crocheting scarves, hats, purses and other items the women offer for sale on: <b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthernWomenCrafts">Southern Women Crafts</a>.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizxv-Ymb3OPeb17hYRpV2GocdtoHyWTEGNvzxKkAOyrw1Mtn1mpbPlXHO9dfqavgPvKpEJHm0pTCatBnGbBE1KL3EM3z3EFItZ3WG9PRFPrNQEPZU2urD-vQ7QqKNHrZ_fev6ag/s1600/KatieShovelingOffSandBuildupAtTheEntrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizxv-Ymb3OPeb17hYRpV2GocdtoHyWTEGNvzxKkAOyrw1Mtn1mpbPlXHO9dfqavgPvKpEJHm0pTCatBnGbBE1KL3EM3z3EFItZ3WG9PRFPrNQEPZU2urD-vQ7QqKNHrZ_fev6ag/s200/KatieShovelingOffSandBuildupAtTheEntrance.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Katie shoveling sand at canoe takeout.</i></td></tr>
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Still a high school student, <b>Katie</b><b> </b>participates with the "Florida Virtual School which is a free service offered to Florida residents who wish or need to homeschool their children."<b> <span style="color: #20124d;"><a href="http://katieshomeschoolingjourney.grindingblog.info/" target="_blank">Katie’s Homeschooling Journey</a></span></b> website follows her adventures.<br />
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Traveling around Florida gives Katie the opportunity to learn first hand about her home state. "Each park is unique and offers programs for everyone to learn about the history of the area, the type of animals that live in the area, the plant life and ecosystems as well as seeing the stars away from the blinding city lights." <br />
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In addition to homeschooling assignments and helping with camp hosting duties, teenager Katie is studying for her driver's license and learning photography.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhCn7JbA8TLxTrmK_8XCM1fmePxc3h4sdmxyYoWFBH0KurojcDVZj5x87N4wm1Nd0G4aUKaWtgp38glkG1CLfkwTcMVUW_rgU7sEGoQPiUlRs1J4hfuEheQsA4By2LIhZWiTwLw/s1600/Linus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhCn7JbA8TLxTrmK_8XCM1fmePxc3h4sdmxyYoWFBH0KurojcDVZj5x87N4wm1Nd0G4aUKaWtgp38glkG1CLfkwTcMVUW_rgU7sEGoQPiUlRs1J4hfuEheQsA4By2LIhZWiTwLw/s1600/Linus.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Linus</i></td></tr>
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They have one male in the RV--Katie's dog <b>Linus.</b> He is an 8-year-old Black and White Jack Russell Terrier. "He doesn’t really like male visitors and might tolerate female visitors if they have food."<br />
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<b>What next:</b><br />
<br />
They will be staying at the <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/wilderness/rivercamps.cfm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Suwannee River Wilderness Trail River Camp</b></span></a> until the end of June then it is off to their next campground hosting assignment at <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/stjoseph/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>St. Joseph's Peninsula State Park</b></span></a> near Port St. Joe, Florida, off U.S. 98.<br />
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<b>Would they recommend other women seek out camp host positions?</b><br />
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"Yes, we would," says Jolene. "However, I would suggest that they travel at least in pairs. Sharing the workload is best and most of the parks are looking for couples or pairs. It is just nice to have someone to talk to, share expenses and share driving." <br />
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To follow the Three Southern Women ... click on: <span style="color: #20124d;"> <b><a href="http://our-great-adventure.whatthehellblog.com/">our-great-adventure.whatthehellblog.com</a></b></span><br />
<br />
<i>To read more by<b><span style="color: #20124d;"><a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank"> Julianne G. Crane</a>, go to <a href="http://rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a></span></b></i> Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37887744.post-65182471643980619792013-04-25T15:01:00.000-07:002015-10-13T13:23:26.149-07:00Solo RVer Kate Bright converts van <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNxw-FN1CGuxp7tKb1LyERHlNXlmXZ3PiafSYRkN9kY1UcYFs0Z7xGak_h49gVITE-g7gHYSdXjs2poMsMu8rMklk8zRHqzy9p1Ha8HmDuf8drGOyaMSaSZM-J0ZkgNW0WHye9g/s1600/KateBright-VANessa_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNxw-FN1CGuxp7tKb1LyERHlNXlmXZ3PiafSYRkN9kY1UcYFs0Z7xGak_h49gVITE-g7gHYSdXjs2poMsMu8rMklk8zRHqzy9p1Ha8HmDuf8drGOyaMSaSZM-J0ZkgNW0WHye9g/s400/KateBright-VANessa_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Solo RVer Kate Bright converted her 2012 Ford e250 Van <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">(Julianne G. Crane</a>)
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<b>Kate Bright</b>, a former teacher at a post-secondary vocational-technical school, enthusiastically took on converting her no-frills 20-foot <b>2012 Ford e250 cargo van </b>into her own customed recreation vehicle.<br />
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She purchased this particular van because it came with a high roof already installed, but it was otherwise stripped down. "I really wanted to have a unique camper van, and doing it myself seemed
like the best way to do that."<br />
<br />
With the help of a friend, her first job was to put down a floor in the van's cargo area. "I'm not sure how well I would have been able to do anything else without first having that properly-installed floor."<br />
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Sitting on her new floor, Kate started looking at all the
bare metal walls and panic set in. "What was I thinking," she reflected. "I didn't have the slightest idea how to start or what to do next. Finally, I got myself together and decided to just take the first trip with nothing finished but the floor."
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<br />
She outfitted her bare-bones van with an air mattress, a mixing bowl that served as her sink, plastic bins for clothing and kitchen gear, an ice chest and a one-burner butane stove. That trip lasted two months, and Kate knew that "one way or another" she was going to figure out what to tackle next on her conversion.
<br />
<br />
She did know that she did not like feeling closed-up in a tight little space. "All the commercially built vans, whether Class Bs, or even campers, seem to have a tiny, narrow hall and teensy kitchens," said Kate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89s-XUk6PtQmxfvuEofIoc5vjt7YptZHlDVYpXo2878FVacm5v3vgTpKxUpx3jybaHB3oTUcfYdPcBe_R_4AzHa9toa051MtUUMfqIsJdFaj7pxw21tNs53FsBKsCVpQ78XJUuw/s1600/KateBright_inside_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89s-XUk6PtQmxfvuEofIoc5vjt7YptZHlDVYpXo2878FVacm5v3vgTpKxUpx3jybaHB3oTUcfYdPcBe_R_4AzHa9toa051MtUUMfqIsJdFaj7pxw21tNs53FsBKsCVpQ78XJUuw/s320/KateBright_inside_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Inside Kate's van. *Read details below. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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"My kitchen has a 6-foot counter, and my aisle is wide enough for a twin-sized air mattress."<br />
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She also didn't feel the need for a bathroom, and her 'toilet' resides in a small space under the fridge.<br />
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"I prefer the butane stoves to a built-in propane stove top. Now I have two of them. Whenever reasonable, I take them outside to cook my meals." <br />
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Kate decided to have some of her rig done professionally including the fridge and propane system; the batteries and the AC/DC electrical system; and a large side window. <br />
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Kate built all the cabinets, shelves, sofa bed, and everything else herself. She said her biggest challenge was the water system. "I installed a DC pump for my 3.5-gallon fresh-water tank and another one for my 3.5-gallon gray-water system. I also installed in-line switches so I can just flip a switch to start the water or the drain," she said. "It's definitely a unique rig."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VwU4FbFdE744AoSJLJG3IRrYFJVqbh1nCZassHkxXp4eX-A2Zsg6gVElwFjN68P6OHsOK_aVBrjey4wQe11vjzAuPdihC6peHy8qyKyTw1JRtlPdxfgzHD6MQkH8gUCXrLLP0g/s1600/KateBright-Van_back_med_JulianneGCrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VwU4FbFdE744AoSJLJG3IRrYFJVqbh1nCZassHkxXp4eX-A2Zsg6gVElwFjN68P6OHsOK_aVBrjey4wQe11vjzAuPdihC6peHy8qyKyTw1JRtlPdxfgzHD6MQkH8gUCXrLLP0g/s200/KateBright-Van_back_med_JulianneGCrane.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Van's back storage space. (<a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>)</i></td></tr>
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The retired teacher, mother and grandmother said she took on the conversion because she is "a frustrated architect wannabee who likes a challenge. <br />
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"I love to play around with wood and build stuff. My expertise is
creating piles of sawdust, but once in a while I get something right.<br />
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"I doubt I'll ever get her ("VANessa") totally finished the way I want; there will
always be small projects that need fine-tuning. It's a lifetime project
that's keeping Grandma off the streets."<br />
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When not traveling<b> </b>to national parks and boondocking ("I
prefer that to hookups") on other public lands, Kate is home-based
out of the <a href="http://parksierra.net/" target="_blank">Escapees' Park of the Sierra </a>in Coarsegold, Calif., where she volunteers on the maintenance crew.<br />
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When on the road her favorite activities include destinations where she explores and day hikes. "I used to do whitewater canoeing and rock climbing," she said. "I miss both terribly, but it's just not prudent for an 'old woman' to do those things anymore."<br />
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<b>Advice to other Women RVers: </b><br />
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"Not everyone wants to tackle a big job like building your own camper van," said Kate, "but there is something for everyone out there. <br />
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"Make sure you know what you really want, and how that fits with your lifestyle," she added. "If you like to visit out-of-the way places, don't get a big rig. If you just absolutely have to have a hot shower every night, stay away from camper vans.<br />
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"Remember, there are plenty of women out there who are doing pretty neat things. You can be one of them. And for heaven's sake, do not feel like you can't do it on your own; you can. If you can drive, you can RV."<br />
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<i>To read more RV articles by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206">Julianne G. Crane</a>, go to <a href="http://rvwheellife.com/">RVWheelLife.com</a> </i><br />
<i>Photos by <a href="http://www.rvwheellife.com/?page_id=1206" target="_blank">Julianne G. Crane</a>.</i><br />
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<i>* Middle photo: According to Kate, this photograph “shows the sink (a $5 find from IKEA--on closeout), the sofa bed (a twin sized memory foam mattress from IKEA), and back (made of fence boards covered with foam mattress pad and upholstery fabric). IKEA boxes are over the bed. Cupboards on both sides (unfinished on the left). There is a microwave at the back of the cupboards on the right. Half the back curtains are finished. ‘Daisy Bear’ (on the sofa) is my traveling companion. There is a huge drawer under the sofa that can be accessed from inside the rig. The sofa back unsnaps and pushes all the way to the back of the rig for sleeping.”</i>Julianne G. Cranehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15847618013876039288noreply@blogger.com1