Teardrops…an answer to a problem?

Teardrop campers.  They’ve been around for about 70 years now, and while the originals were probably far more tank-like than we’d want to have to tow behind the average family car today, they were…and are…the smallest campers on the market.  They also have a do-it-yourself option, as well as professionally designed and constructed models.

So why consider a teardrop camper?

For me, there were the issues of health problems leading to a serious issue with summertime camping.  I cannot tolerate the heat, especially when trying to sleep.  Living in the South, that means camping was out from about May until October.  For my partner, arthritis meant that cold wasn’t making it fun anymore either, especially sleeping on the cold ground, no matter how much insulation we had under us.

We’re also frugal, as well as “fiscally challenged.”  That means that we do not like to spend more than we need to, as well as cannot afford to spend much on anything.  Buying a fancy camper or RV is fine and dandy, until you realize that you can’t afford to take it on the road.  With gas prices predicted to hit new all time highs again this summer, no one wants a gas guzzling anything on the highway.

In addition, our mini-van can’t pull a “normal” sized camper efficiently.  We don’t want to get a vehicle with a bigger motor–it would also use more gasoline, and like most people, our camping is a small portion of our actual driving.  It just doesn’t make financial sense to invest more money to spend more money!

For years, as the duly elected camp cook, I had been saying that I needed a “kitchen trailer” that could be packed with the things I needed, and just stay packed, instead of loading totes and equipment into the van for each trip, then toting it into camp, only to pack it up and tote it home again.  As all camp cooks know, there are lots of volunteers when its meal time, but they all seem to disappear when it is time to do the dishes OR pack up the kitchen!

Having spent many nights in tents that had a pinhole right over MY side of the bed…or a leak in the floor…or water tracked in from the downpour outside…I knew that having a place to sleep that was out of the weather was also nice.  It is also fantastic when you pull into your campsite, whether in a primitive area or a campground, and don’t have an hour of set up to accomplish before you can relax.  It is also nice that when it’s time to go home, you don’t have to start breaking down and packing up three hours before departure, essentially sucking away that last half-day of your trip.

That’s why the teardrop camper sounds like a great idea to me.  Here’s why:

• Rear access kitchen is great for a couple or when cooking for a group with integrated storage and cooking surface.
• Interior has a sleeping surface that is indoors and can be climate controlled with air conditioner and furnace.
• Interior can also hold additional camping gear such as tent, hammocks, chairs, screen room, canopy, etc. for travel.
• Light weight, it can be towed by almost any vehicle, adding little to the cost of traveling by increased gas consumption.
• On extended trips, it’s actually possible to get a comfortable night’s sleep in your teardrop in a rest area, etc. rather than actually stopping at a campground to just sleep.

So the next question is…do you want to do it yourself or buy a professionally manufactured model?

That’s not as easy to answer for many people.  Building one yourself does require some skills that many of us may not have, as well as tools and work space to do it in.  It requires time too.  There are lots of plans out there to do it yourself, and there are some beautiful home made ones out there.  With that said, for domestic peace, many people may want to purchase one already built.

That’s where I decided I’d look first.  I really had no idea what was on the market or how much they cost.  For us, a big part of the whether-or-not-to-do-it-ourselves depends on prices.  We really don’t have the time, tools, or workspace to devote to building one, and I can see it disrupting our domestic tranquility immensely on the road to completion.  (Yeah, remember those honey-do lists?  Even inquiring on their status an earn a wife the label of “nag”.)

• Little Guy Trailers has a number of models.  Unfortunately, their website doesn’t include the MSRP, so I tried to find a dealer within reasonable driving distance.  There is one in Alabama, but the website kept erroring, leaving me frustrated on that front.  From what I could tell from my brief look at the dealer’s sparse website, it seems that their trailers are in the $8-10K range.
• Signa Tour Campers is another manufacturer.  Their models seem pretty sparse, and while they had MSRP for their standard models, they didn’t offer prices on options like air conditioning, which is very important in our case.  Their base models range from $3-6K.  Their models are rather “bare bones” and don’t offer anything in terms of a galley.  They are also the least expensive of the models I’ve found.
• Cozy Cruiser was next, and their model was pretty sharp looking by anyone’s standards.  It also runs about $13K and is built in Oregon, requiring buyers to arrange for pick up or delivery.  That’s a long ways from Mississippi to transport even a teardrop camper.  Even so, it did have a nice looking galley and appeared to have some very classic styling.
• Camp Inn had some trailers that really did appeal to me, and being manufactured in Florida was also nice.  I liked their website too, which was well designed and easy to navigate. Their trailers, available in several configurations, run about $8-19K, depending on which model with which accessories.  I can really see me in one of their 560 Ultra models.
• Big Woody Campers is a much smaller operation.  From the website, I wasn’t absolutely sure they are still building campers at all, as they still had references to placing orders to be ready for the 2011 camping season.  They also didn’t offer a model with air conditioning built in, which was high on my list of “must have” features.  They do, however, offer plans as well as a “U Finish” model.  The “U Finish” model has the exterior complete, and the buyer then finishes the interior and galley themselves.  That’s kind of a neat option if you are skilled but want to get a jump start, as the frame and skinning of the trailer seems to be the hardest and most time consuming part of construction.
• Texas Teardrops is another small company with an attractive model at five feet wide.  With a base price just under $6K, they do offer an air conditioning option, as well as numerous other options, such as the “marriage saving device” known as the second door.  I can see where the second door would be a very important feature as well.
• I’m not sure Utilitoy is still making trailers.  Their website is pretty bare bones, just like the trailer, although the photographs show a simple convertible utility/camping trailer that has two beds (1 queen, 1 full) television, and an air conditioner.  No galley though, and you have to email them for a quote on prices.
• Tiny Trailers also has no prices on their website.  These look like the traditional teardrops, and little is said about options or customizing one with an air conditioner.  This company is also based in Washington.
• TC Teardrops is based in Wisconsin and is another small builder.  Their trailers run from $3450-5000, plus options, but they don’t list air conditioning on their website.  The trailers seem to be pretty traditional in design, although the galleys don’t appear to be as “pretty” as  some.  Their largest model comes at about 950 lbs empty, so they aren’t featherweights in this category.
• JD Trailers offers a very bare bones model.  It’s got the right shape and exterior, but the curved rear does not form the hatch, and there is no galley.  At $3995, it’s not the cheapest on the market, but it is one of the lowest priced models.  Their website also offers a neat pop up motorcycle camper.
• Treehouse Trailers make a trailer that puts a whole new meaning on “woody.”  They have gorgeous exteriors, although the interiors and galleys are a mystery.  Based in Oregon, their trailers run $3-9K and look like very custom creations.
• Compact Construction seems to make two products: Murphy beds and tear drop trailers.  Other than both using wood, I’m not sure what they have in common though!  In either case, the trailers look sharp in the photos, and are pretty traditional.  Once again, no mention of air conditioning in them.
• Teardrop Trailer Parts has some trailers for sale, both finished and as kits.  These finished trailers seem to run from $5-9K each.  They also have various components to price if you are considering building your own.
• Tears O’ Joy seems to be one guy doing custom work, not that there is anything wrong with that.  It just means that there will be a much more individualized process and pricing schedule to go with it.  As of this point, I’m not sure he’s still building trailers or how long it takes to get a trailer from him.  He’s got a great site though, so it is worth taking a look at.
• Eggcamper Teardrop is a composite molded teardrop camper made in Michigan.  I like it because the bed is raised from the floor, allowing the campers to get in out of the weather and remove shoes/raincoat without anybody or the bed getting wet and muddy.  It looks like the rear galley may be open to the interior sleeping space…which sounds fine until you realize that here in the South, we not only have the heat and humidity, but an ample supply of biting insects to go with it.  No mention is made of my heart’s desire (air conditioning) either.  It’s supposed to be just under $10K.
• Teardrop72 is based in Utah and does entirely custom work with their base model starts at $3795, plus options.  While they don’t list air conditioning on their list, they do state that about anything can be added, so I’m sure it’s possible–just the price would be a mystery.  They are classic style, with few frills in the galley area, but the price tag is among the lowest in the list too.  It also doesn’t come with some of the things some models do, such as mattress, stove, etc.
• Quicksilvers has trailers designed to carry dogs…or their larger teardrops for humans.  Their high end model lists for $8500.  The photos on the website are mostly of exteriors, leaving the interiors somewhat mysterious.
• Silver Tears does mostly custom work from what their website indicates, and the prices are apparently just as customized.  Based in Virginia, the photos indicate that they produce very custom trailers with some very nice touches.
• Mega Minis is based in Indiana, and does custom teardrops just over $7K for the base models.  Of course, adding a couple of packages of their options, such as their convenience package and their comfort package, and it will run about $10K.  Their shape is a bit boxier, and the appearance inside seems more RV-like than custom hobbyist appearing.
• R-Pod by Forest River is really pushing the whole “teardrop” to the absolute limit.  It’s got a lot, but it is also about twice as heavy as the average traditional teardrop.  Even so, it does stay under the 3000# limit, I’m just afraid of the damage it would wreak on gas mileage.  Still, for a family with kids, this might be a better compromise.

I’m sure that’s not everybody.  I know I did not include any that were pop up or used fabric side/roofs.  There are a lot of ideas there too.  It also tells me that they don’t have to be expensive, although how much of their cost is passed on if you are buying a used teardrop camper.  Next, I suppose I’ll have to check out those who offer plans and designs.

 

 

Sometimes things seem to go wrong

Sometimes, things just seem to go wrong.  We plan, we plot, we figure out when is the best time to do things, we have everything in place…and then comes Murphy’s Law.  Something goes awry with our plans for the Great Getaway, and our big trip has to be canceled.  What then?

How far will we, or should we go, to make sure we go on that long planned trip?

Each situation is individual and very unique.  This weekend, I had to cancel my own plans to join the Get Ready GO bunch for a camping weekend, along with a couple of other members.  In my case, it was vehicle mechanical trouble, and I opted out rather than go with an “iffy” vehicle.  Why would I opt out?  I couldn’t justify the risk of serious damage to the motor.  I wasn’t sure.  I decided that there would be other trips, other occasions, which I would enjoy as much.  I rationalized my decision in a hundred ways.  Was I wrong?  I hope not, but that was my decision.  I wouldn’t be along on this trip to act as camp cook.

As for the other members?  Their reasons for opting out appear to have been well justified.  One is expecting a baby, and while she wasn’t due, it appears that she’s going to be having the baby before the gang returns from their wild wood weekend.  Was her decision to opt out a wise one?  Definitely.  Who wants to give birth, on time or early either one, while camping in the woods?  Yes, I know that in the “good old days” women did just that on a regular basis.  I’m not sure what her feelings are, I’ve not asked her, so I’m going to go on my own response to that option.  I can accept that women and babies were tougher creatures then.  I have no need to prove I’m as tough as a cave woman.  I’ve already lived about twice as long as a cave woman would anyhow.

I know that initially our pregnant camper was disappointed to have to cancel her own attendance on the trip.  She thought about going ahead and going several times.  Finally, common sense (and discomfort) won out over her desire to hang out in the woods for the weekend, and she decided to stay home and take it easy this weekend.

Several of us have been trained in the past as first responders or more, but none of us would have been prepared to deliver a baby, prematurely or otherwise, while camping.  It would have been a bit too much drama to have to have made an emergency trip to the hospital as well.

So how does someone determine whether something is an acceptable risk or plain foolishness?

Like everything else, its a case of weighing the chances.  Each one of us takes a chance on life continually, whether its taking a shower or walking down the street.  Something COULD go wrong, something horrible could happen.  We don’t live our lives in fear normally, because we weigh the chances of injury or death with each and every movement we make during the day.  We know that our chances deteriorate rapidly if we step into the path of a speeding car, so we don’t do that.  We know better,, and we don’t even think about doing such a foolhardy thing.

Most of the time, our chances of things going wrong are not very high when opting to go camping for the weekend.  We usually don’t face incredible danger when we head out for a weekend of roughing it.  But, we do need to think about when things go horribly wrong before they really do.

We’ve all had the horribly wrong happen, either in our own lives or those of someone we know, while on a camping trip or other outing.  I knew one family that for about five years, every time they went on their summer vacation (which included camping) something terrible would happen, resulting in a family member at the emergency room or actually admitted into the hospital.  Every single instance was a “freak accident” as well.  I’m sure that they were more than a little nervous each year they headed out after the first few years, and I know they had received a lot of ribbing once whoever was injured had recovered.

I know of other people who have had serious mechanical breakdowns while on their big trip too.  These might be anything from a broken axle to a frozen transmission, but these too were serious problems.  There is also the problem of the digital sort, when credit card companies and banks freeze your account due to “unusual activity” when you head out on vacation.  Then there are the disasters at home–one year, my pipes  all froze, including the mains, resulting in water having to be hauled even for horses by the friend who was taking care of things. (Thank goodness for good friends who DO that sort of extra work for you!)  There is also the instances where trips are cut short due to a death in the family or the illness of a family member who is not on the trip with you.

All of these things are things that have happened to me or someone I know.  They were real problems.  They are also a case of being prepared.

Know where the nearest hospital is or how to get the information quickly.  Know where you are.  Check in with family and friends at home on a regular basis.  Have your vehicle in good mechanical shape before you leave, and roadside assistance with towing is always a good idea.  Have your credit card numbers, contact numbers, bank account numbers, and other relevant information with you, in case you lose a card or have a problem (such as frozen accounts).  It makes it much easier to get the problem solved if you have those numbers with you.   Make sure everyone has their IDs as well, including pets, along with vaccination documentation from your veterinarian along with you.  Don’t assume your rabies tags are sufficient.

Think about how to handle emergencies, and have contact numbers along with you, just in case.  Make sure everyone has their ICE (In Case of Emergency) numbers programmed into their cell phones–it makes it much easier if there IS an emergency!

Being prepared isn’t about having a survival kit–its about being mentally prepared to handle situations that come up that weren’t expected.  It is about being prepared to adapt and react to situations as they occur.  Good training is often just mental training, by thinking about the situation and how to handle it, and trying out a wide variety of situations in your mind.  Sometimes our biggest regrets aren’t about the things we did do so much as the things we didn’t do.

GPS websites & maps

Face it, juggling paper maps can be frustrating, aggravating, and a pain.  Add in inaccuracies and omissions, and it can turn into a nightmare when you are trying to navigate unfamiliar territory.  Most of us have at least TRIED some type of GPS navigation at this point.  I have been seriously thinking about replacing my less-than-satisfactory Sprint navigation on my cell phone with a real GPS.

For most of us in the USA, there are three big names: Garmin, Tomtom, and Magellan.  I know people who have bought all three, and I also know people who love or hate all three brands.  I suspect that even the worst model compares well to using my cell phone as a GPS device, so I had no preference between brands.  I am highly concerned about cost however, and that includes more than the initial cost, but the cost of upgrading maps too.  Since I haven’t bought one yet, I am also concerned about the hassles of navigation on the website.  If I can’t successfully price maps without aggravation on their website, am I really going to be happy with the software and navigation system on their device?

Tomtom’s website scored a zero.  I couldn’t get a price after choosing two different models unless I had a serial number for my device, so it could inform me whether my device had enough memory.  This was not a good sign, since I chose a model from an advertisement I had received from TigerDirect in my email this morning.  The fine print from TigerDirect also informed me that refurbished models could not get a free update from Tomtom, but new models could get a 30 day map.  Add a mysterious price to that, and Tomtom was not looking like a likely candidate at all.

Next came Garmin, which is probably the industry leader.  Their website qualified as average for navigation and finding what I wanted, and more people I know are using Garmin.  This familiarity is an attractive feature, however, upon pricing maps from Garmin, I was horrified to realize I would quickly invest several hundred dollars in maps, should I opt to use their models.  Most of the maps started at $79.99, and multiple maps would quickly be needed if a long trip was planned.  This wasn’t looking like a cost effective choice for me either.

Magellan is probably the least common of the big three, and I’d been told by the geeky sort that they were the “best buy” in the GPS market because of high quality and high customer satisfaction ratings, along with good feature sets and moderate price.  Their website is fairly decent to navigate, although I was a bit uncertain about which maps were usable on which devices.  Maps aren’t cheap, however, they seem to include more, with the USA topo map including ALL of the USA, rather than regions, and listed at $149.99.  Prices on their devices via their outlet on the website were also very consumer-friendly, with full featured devices that would both fit my budget AND my initial qualifications for a GPS device.  It doesn’t hurt that it offers a AAA discount, or that it uses AAA ratings for a number of amenities along the way either.  It may even be compatible with AAA’s trip routing.   (Yes, I confess, I’m a die hard AAA member who has been towed, had my car unlocked, been jump started, and even had a key made using AAA’s services.)

I’m not done with my research, I would really like a device that I can use in the van, and then when I launch the Swamp Thing (a beast of an aluminum boat for fishing) into one of the numerous rivers, I would like it to prevent me from getting lost in the multiple tributaries, channels and tall marsh grass, unable to find my way back to the boat launch.  Assuming my shoulder recovers, I may be concerned about using my device while hiking too.  I’m not sure that this can be done by your average GPS, and I’m also  not sure I want to deal with multiple devices all needing updated periodically.

So far though, I have to admit…Magellan is looking like a likely choice.

Emergency preparedness, camping, and interesting and helpful websites

Last night, on Gia Scott’s Dawn of Shades, I promised to post the websites that we were talking about on this blog.  (My guest was the mysterious Mississippi Hippy and the topic was outdoor survival, emergency preparedness, and outdoor/camping skills.)  I use a LOT of websites, some recently, some were favored in days gone by.  They are all worth checking out!

Emergency preparedness (food storage):  www.foodinsurance.com (recommended to me, but I have not shopped with them.)  www.beprepared.com (I like this company, have shopped with them, and will be shopping again with them…what more is there to say?) 

Camping: Each state will have a website for their state parks, with individual sections for each state park.  Typically, the address is going to be something like www.statename.gov/parks but its much easier to use a search.  Just make sure you are accessing the state’s own website!  Other sites may have interesting and relevent reviews and comments, but may not be current in their information.  For car camping, I LOVE state campgrounds.  Why?  They usually cost about 1/2 to 3/4 of what the national park’s campgrounds in the area are charging, offer better facilities, have more polite staff, have more interpretive programs that are of interest to children and families, are more tent-friendly, and are better maintained.  Even 30 years ago, I learned that state campgrounds were far better–at that time, hot showers were unheard of at any national park campground.  Today, many national park campgrounds will offer things such as flush toilets and showers, but they are NOT tent friendly.  Requirements consistently require that the tent be erected ONLY on the tent pad, which at about 10×10 is far smaller than a family tent, resulting in sometimes over a foot drop as the tent hangs over the edge of the pad.  Sites in Mississippi that I have visited were also prone to flooding during relatively minor rainstorms, resulting in not only campsites being flooded, but the roads within the campground as well.  I do enjoy primitive camping in national parks, where it is permitted, but I recommend steering away from national park campgrounds unless you have a camper.  So much for the image of a tent camping in the national parks!

Other camping and hiking information–I used to LOVE www.gorp.com and got excellent destination information for hikes and camping trips that made me look like a pro even in unfamiliar territory.  Last time I checked…that lovely feature was gone.  I haven’t been back recently to see if it has been reinstated on their website.

Current favorite is www.backpacker.com  Even though I don’t backpack right now and don’t know if I will ever be able to again, the information is good solid information about a lot of gear that tent campers find relevant even when car camping.  Their magazine is also highly recommended–great information!  There is really a shortage of websites, magazines, and communities devoted specifically to tent campers.  Those of us who cling to our tents with every penny pinching muscle we have…seem to be becoming a rare breed.  There seems to be more backpackers than car camping tenters these days, if the web is reflecting reality.  RVers seem to rule the campgrounds, and while I enjoy a comfortable stay as much as anyone, I cannot afford to haul a 6000 lb travel trailer every weekend to some destination.  I cannot afford a vehicle to tow such a trailer anyhow, let alone afford the gas to drive it anywhere.  It’s just plain good sense to tent camp in terms of environmental responsibility.  And yes, I whine when its really hot and humid.   GM whines when its cold and rainy.  We make a good pair!

I use Google Earth to look at terrain and maps at home prior to venturing out into new territory, largely so I have an idea where things are in relation to each other and the general lay of the land…it’s the next best thing to being there.

As for emergency preparedness, here’s my routine for storm season, our largest threat on the Gulf Coast and we’re now in the early stages of the worst part of it.

1) keep your vehicle in good repair, well maintained and with good tires

2) keep your vehicle fueled at all times, do not let it have less than half a tank of gas (in my case, half a tank means I can drive about 200 miles.)

3) keep your important papers and files in a grab & go box of some kind.  I happen to use a portable hanging file folder box with a hinged lid.  Everything really important from birth certificates to titles are stored inside of that box.  It’s easy to add files, find files and transport.

4) have your emergency backpack packed and ready at all times.  keep it with you (we carry ours in the van normally.)  Each person needs their own backpack, and it should be appropriately packed for that person and their ability to carry it.  Mine is very heavy for me right now with my limited ability to carry anything, as it weighs in at 27 lbs. (Yes, we weighed it.)  Its an inexpensive internal frame pack with a waist belt and chest strap.  GM has a limp and back issues, but his weighs about 38 lbs.

5) have extra supplies packed into a “drop bag.”  This bag includes extras that would be nice but aren’t essential for immediate survival.  This bag goes if you can take it, but your real needs are in the backpacks.  This drop bag will have extended supplies, additional clothing, food, and comfort items.

6) be prepared for stay-at-home emergencies as well.  The H1N1 scare turned out to be nothing, but it may not always BE nothing.  There may be times when it makes sense to stay home and wait out a problem, whether it is a pandemic, job loss,  or other problem.  Every family should keep a full year’s supply of food on hand, but if this is not possible, at least 30 days should be stored in the pantry.  Having recently suffered from “economic stress” myself, as well as having moved, and gone through my stored foods to remove items that needed used or were spoiled by insects or the integrity of the can, I recently calculated that we had approximately 22 days of food on hand.  We are also going to switch to dehydrated foods packaged for long term storage after ascertaining that loss of supplies due to spoilage was an unacceptable event that was happening all too quickly and too often.  Previously, we had been using traditional grocery store supplies, with a 6 month rotation.  We were regularly suffering losses as high as 75% per 7 day unit (it was packed in 7 day boxes) in that 6 month time frame.  Not only was that wasted money, but what if we had needed that food 5 months after the last rotation and discovered that it was unusable?   At the same time, even though it would be much easier, we cannot afford to buy the 12 month units from any of the emergency food supply companies.  We have VERY limited space for storing this food as well.  We will make our purchases a case at a time, choosing foods that we will actually also USE in our day-to-day life.  We want to make sure we want to eat the stuff, after all!  We will also supplement our long term storage food in #10 cans with more stable grocery store products that we pack using a vacuum sealer.  Sugar, salt, some flour, and some other grain based products will be sealed with oxygen absorbing packets and tested after 12 months of storage.  We already know the sugar and salt will store well in this way, but flour and grain products may become stale or become otherwise less-than-palatable.  Hard candies will also be vacuum sealed for storage–these items can be stored for very long periods of time without much degradation of quality.  I grew up eating candy in the 60s and 70s that had been made for World War II and packaged in small drums.  Those red or yellow lozenges had little flavor besides sweet, but we loved them anyhow! 

Certain items that we find to be “comfort” items such as coffee, tea, and artificial creamer, are not available from the long term storage companies.  These items will have to be purchased from traditional grocery sources and regularly rotated.  Oils and shortenings are also not suited to long term storage, and must also be sourced from grocers and regularly rotated.  Dog food is also needed by dog owners, and once again…must be sourced from traditional sources or additional meat and fats must be stored to allow for their calorie needs to be met.  Since dehydrated meat is very expensive, I’m likely to vacuum pack traditional kibble for them, with additional oil being added to my supply lists to add to compensate for missing calories and fat in the kibble.

Being prepared mostly is about thinking ahead and using common sense.  Skipping your car payment to allow for purchasing MREs does not illustrate common sense unless you have inside information that a disaster is arriving.  Since few people ever receive prior notice to an emergency, we’ll assume that we won’t have much notice that it is going to arrive.  At the same time, in a world  where jobs are uncertain, natural disasters are potential threats, and rumors of potential pandemics run rampant…having at least that 30 day supply on hand does illustrate common sense.

Here’s some things to think about:

1) most cities will run out of food, both in stores and warehouses, in less than 72 hours if supplies are cut off and cannot be delivered.

2) some of the first things that stop during an emergency situation is utilities such as telephone, natural gas, electricity, water and sewer.   How will you have lights, something to cook on, or a way to keep warm without these utilities?

3) during emergencies, hospitals, pharmacies, and doctors are often unavailable.  How long will you be able to survive without these facilities?  Do you have your medication on hand?  Can you handle minor injuries and illnesses with your first aid supplies? 

4) A group can share supplies, knowledge, skills and provide security.  Do you have a local network for your own little survival group?  Have you got a plan?

5) Do you have a plan for your family in the event of an emergency?  Have you practiced, even by sitting around the table and going over who would do what and why?  On the Gulf Coast, we typically have about 3 days before landfall when we know whether its apt to hit our area and evacuations of vulnerable areas begins.  Depending on a person’s occupation, they may be required to perform certain duties for their job before leaving to return to their own families.  In the meantime, who is going to be preparing one’s home and vehicle for the incoming storm?  Who packs what for evacuation?  Who makes sure that there are adequate supplies, whether you are staying home or evacuating? 

6) THINK about emergencies…even wildly unlikely ones.  Talk about them with your family, friends, or survival group.  Talk about what you should do, could do, or would do.  Assess risks for various actions and for the various members of your party.  Sometimes things you never dreamed could be real…can turn out to be suddenly very real.  There are many stories of people being suddenly confronted with over 6 feet deep water in and around their homes as they were forced to swim to safety, including the very elderly and very young when the surge from Katrina suddenly struck their homes.  The ones that survived had family members who had thought about the situation and were able to make a decision on how to ensure everyone escaped safely in the brief moment that was available to make that decision.  The ones that didn’t survive were the ones that no one made a decision fast enough or made the wrong decision.  Floods, fires, riots, pandemics, civil wars, travel restrictions, infrastructure breakdowns, power outages, terrorist attacks, mud slides, plane crashes, avalanches, earth quakes, winter storms, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, chemical spills, oil spills…we’ve seen all of them happen in the past few years.  What kinds of situations could happen in your neighborhood?

RVs, campers, vans, bug out vehicles, nomadic life, evacuations

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”   Mark Twain

www.cheaprvliving.com

We see campgrounds with their rows of RVs, their rumbling generators, their whining air conditioners, and their neat little canopies.  On occasion, we see them venturing into national forests, and they don’t look any different.  Even “boon docking”, they often are noisy affairs spotted from miles away, with television, microwaves, air conditioning, heaters, refrigerator, and all the other comforts of home.  Is that camping really?

Obviously, to them, it is.  But many of the people in these RVs actually live full time in them.  In researching vehicles that people have modified and turned into their homes, I was amazed at the immense variety and surprising compactness of some of these homes on wheels, as well as the features their owners have packed into them.

But what is camping?  Is camping about a mobile home or about making your home anywhere you can?  Is it only when we are doing it for fun, or does it include when we give up the idea of a fixed address and become nomads in a land that frowns on nomadic people?

The USA does frown on nomadic life styles, as does most of the civilized world.  They LIKE us to have a fixed address, to know exactly where we get our mail and fix our meals and lay our heads to sleep.  Society prefers to have all of its members chained to the routine of utility bills, mortgages or rent, mail service, telephone service, and jobs.  So what happens when we break those chains and become nomads?

It’s tough.  Very tough.  Either a friend or family member needs to provide a mailing address for you, or you have to hire a mail service to collect  your mail and periodically forward it for you.  If you receive a pension check that cannot be direct-deposited, that can be a real pain if you are truly nomadic over a very large area.  If you are forced to find work to support yourself, that’s nerve wracking, and there is the additional problem of needing a bank if you can’t deal strictly in cash (almost impossible these days.)

Many people assume that nomads are running away from something.  That isn’t true.  Sometimes, it is nothing more than a desire to see and experience new places, and modern society makes that an expensive prospect if you are going to follow societal norms.  When you jump the fence and take off into the wild blue yonder of the nomad’s life, you need to be prepared.  How can you start?

Research, of course!  Figure out how much money you need per month, and how you will get it.  How will you travel?  How will you sleep?  Where will you be?  What will you do with your time?

While a bicycle and a tent is really cheap, it completely eliminates a lot of urban/suburban stealth camping.  The reality is, if you set that tent up in a city park, you are apt to find yourself arrested, and that won’t be a good day.  Most jobs are going to be most easily found in that same environment that prohibits just camping out, and RV parks often do not want tents in their midst, eliminating a less-expensive temporary home option.  You need a stealthier camper than a tent, and one that can be secure as well.  That means a motor vehicle, complete with registration and insurance and maintenance, another addition to the outgoing money you will need.

Motorhomes, while a nice neat package that allows you to comfortably move around, along with their detachable sisters, the camp trailer, are not particularly stealthy.  You will be noticed parking in the ‘burbs.  You will get hassled to move on in the city.  Vans, delivery trucks, cars, etc. are far less noticeable, and won’t attract as much attention.  Many of these can be modified to make quite comfortable homes according to Cheap RV Living.  RV Net has a thread about converting a van as well.  Searching the internet can bring you some interesting ideas, even if they aren’t always going to have ALL of the directions or a workable plan.  With ideas, you can come up with your own unique plan.  Another blog with some interesting threads is Stealth Survival.   Another interesting forum with discusions is Survivalist Boards.

Moving back towards straight camping without the survivalist overtones,  we have Van Dwelling Wanderer’s blog.  Lots of forums will have threads on van campers and full time living in them (and other campers too).  These can give you a heads up on problems, as well as offer ideas and other links to check out.  Many of them offer free membership, allowing you to post questions and comments yourself too. Don’t automatically discard ideas from European forums and blogs-it’s much more common for Europeans than Americans to simply convert a van, as gas prices are very high there, and American RVs with their less than 10 miles per gallon mileage is a formidable cost there.  Great ideas about features and conversions can be found there too.

Sometimes, our partners may be a huge obstacle to the idea of dropping out and going nomad.  It isn’t going to work if they are not agreeable to trying it.  If they agree, it still might not work.  Not everyone is cut out to be a nomad.  There is another truth in that not everyone who THINKS they are nomadic in nature is really destined to long term nomadic living, let alone lifetime nomadic living.  In truth, many people are nomads not by a conscious choice, but by the circumstances of their life, and they wander in search of…something.  Some are nomadic for relatively short term periods of time-a year or two, exploring their world, and then returning to normal stationary life with only occasional road trips to satisfy their wanderlust. 

Face it, genetically, almost all Americans descend from ancestors bitten by the wanderlust bug. That’s how they were to become pioneers and colonists often, and sometimes they were fleeing something, sometimes they were seeking something.  I suppose, in a way, I’m that way too.  Once upon a time, I packed up my kids and moved to Minnesota for about 18 months before returning to the Southwest for a variety of reasons.  Years later, I packed up what would fit in a Nissan pickup and moved from Arizona to New Orleans, and for no particular reason.  I thought about relocating to NE Texas after Katrina, and I thought of moving somewhere else too, but in the end, elected to return to New Orleans, at least for a while.  It’s been almost five years since the “while” started.  Is the wanderlust flowing through my veins again?  Will I wake up one morning and say, I’m packing up to move to ____? 

Maybe that’s where my fascination with the idea of nomadic living, at least temporarily, starts.  I don’t know where I would want to move to.  Of course, I knew very little about New Orleans when I chose this location in 2003 either.  Yep, next month, I’ll have lived here for 7 years.   Will I get the 7 year itch?

Of course, my life has changed in 7 years.  GM & I have been officially engaged for 2 years now, and as my partner, he has input in the decision too.  He hates the cold, I hate the heat.  There are also economic influences-we need jobs in whatever location we would choose to live, and to live nomadically, we would still need jobs to pay for the things that we have to have-like transportation, that roof over our heads, and even food to eat. We also have more animals than I had when I arrived here-instead of just Red Dog, there is also Sissy, Cali (cat) and Smokey Robinson (cat.)  Living in a van with 4 animals could be very difficult, even on the short term side.

The van as a home is also a reality in the event of a hurricane evacuation.  Evacuations are not an “unusual” event on the Gulf Coast, and in New Orleans, it’s really no joke.  Being so low and surrounded by water here, it is foolish to NOT evacuate.  But, at the same time, evacuations are expensive, and obviously after Katrina, we all know it might be a lot longer than the previous 3 day rule.  Even with Gustav, I was out of the city for 6 days.  Being able to comfortably cope in the van greatly reduces expenses, but in the South, the heat is unbearable in it without the engine running to power the a/c.  Even tents, which we have several of, are unbearably hot during the day even with fans running when power is available.  How can the cats cope with that?  Red Dog had heat stroke as a young dog, and her tolerance of heat is also not good.  Without cold water to cool her down, she is quickly suffering.

It doesn’t take long to realize that there would have to be some serious modifications of the van to turn it into even a temporary home as long as we are in the South and it’s summertime (storm season!)  Essentially, we would need access to shore power, and some kind of an a/c unit to cool the van and keep it tolerable, or a lightweight towable (tow capacity on the mini-van is only 200o lbs.) that could be equipped with an a/c.  That’s getting expensive, so I start thinking about alternatives.

The simplest and least expensive solution would be the purchase of the smallest a/c window unit on the market, which is about 5000 btus. Home Depot lists one at about $100, and it weighs in at 40 lbs.  For the passenger window, a wooden frame would have to be constructed that would clamp to the door’s frame with the window fully rolled down, to allow the a/c unit to be supported in this window when parked.  Stealthy? Hell no, but inexpensive and any a/c unit requires shore power or a generator, neither of which is “stealthy”.  Inside, everything would be removed and placed in the tent, since we’d obviously have rented a site in a campground to power this monster.  During the day, litter box and cats would have the freedom to move around the van, dogs would be able to come in and cool off, we could use the rear seat as a sofa and even work on small tables for our laptops.  Cooking would have to be done outside, and bathroom issues dealt with by the campground’s facilities.  With a bike rack, we could have our bicycles along, allowing us to make short trips to the store, etc.  without having to remove the a/c unit and then reinstall it upon our return.  Adding a small dorm sized refrigerator would also allow us to avoid the need-ice issue, even if we needed to place the refrigerator in the tent to keep floor space free.  At night, when we need to sleep, the cats could be relegated to a crate either located on a seat in front or in the tent.  The dogs, due to their inability to get along, have to be kept separate, and Red Dog has serious separation anxiety if she’s forced to go to another area without being able to see/hear me.  Added in with her ability to destroy crates, it would be impossible to simply crate her in the tent, and that means Sissy would be the one sleeping in the tent in a crate, unless it turns out her crate would fit on the rear seat (I know its too large for a front seat.)  Red would find enough space somewhere, she’s good about that, and GM & I would sleep on a bed on the floor of the van.  As it is a mini-van, that requires sleeping sort of diagonally in order to stretch out when the doors are closed.   (The floor space is roughly 4×5′.)  Even so, that a/c unit would allow us to sleep even on hot muggy nights.

Right now, all I have is a 12 volt oscillating fan, and while it can be run for several hours without draining the battery, I’d worry about running it all night, and it helps…but it’s still HOT and sticky.  Leaving windows open is like a neon sign inviting mosquitos to come dine too.  So, it’s still hot, sticky, and stuffy.  (GM swears I’m a fan, internet, and a/c addict too!) Making some screens to attach via magnets might help with the mosquitos and allow breezes for more moderate (and boondocking) temperatures.  The van’s windows are tinted, but there isn’t much for privacy, so figuring out a way to increase privacy without a lot of hassle would also be nice. The logical solution would be to figure out how to mount curtains with magnets or hook & loop tape, especially the front window which is a huge heat gain as well.  Something with insulating properties would be a great addition when parked! 

As for cold, that is rarely encountered except on leisure trips, and we have that down pat.  We haven’t slept in the van, but Sissy usually does.  Her crate is covered with a thick wool blanket, she has her bed and a microfleece blanket, as well as her own microfleece coat.  In addition, we tuck one or two chemical hand warmers under her bed, and they consistently radiate heat all night, keeping her snug and happy.  Red has gotten so that the cold bothers her too now that she is getting older, and she has her own fleece coat, and typically sleeps on our bed. On truly cold nights, she will crawl alongside me, allowing me to put the blanket over her (and share her heat too!) and she helps ME stay warm by sleeping on the opposite side from GM.  A few times, she has crawled between us, which has usually produced more laughter than anything, before she gives up and seeks a better spot.  She has learned that we have heated bricks at our feet, so to sleep between our feet or on top of the bricks means extra warmth, esp if the “extra” blanket is tossed over her. 

I also know, from previous vans, that if we are in it and the weather turns bitterly cold, we can actually heat it with nothing more than a candle.  That does require care, and normally, we would not sleep during the candle’s burning, but rather warm up the van, put out the candle, and go back to sleep.  A can of jelled alcohol or an alcohol burner can serve the same purpose.  Just remember to use care to not poison yourself with carbon monoxide while trying to stay warm!

So many thoughts…and sometimes, it all boils down to why am I feeling this antsy, anticipating, edgy feeling?  Is it intuition or paranoia?  Do I just have gypsy blood flowing in my veins?  Who knows…but time will tell.

How to frighten your significant other (or make something look logical in comparison)

I’ve discovered a couple of ways to really, truly frighten your significant other.  Apparently, it causes them to have horrible nightmares about crazy ideas becoming reality.

Step 1, start talking about a cross country bicycle trip…when you are overweight, nearing 50, and just starting to toddle around the park on your bicycle for your initial foray into biking after 25 years.  Do it while simultaneously complaining about a sore butt from the stock seat on your new bike.

Step 2, Start reading blogs about people who are traveling around the world or cross country on their bicycles.  My favorite is Going Slowly-it’s a great blog.  Never mind they are twenty-something not nearly 50.

Step 3, start talking to your tinkering friends about how to modify bike trailers to carry your cats along on your cross country bicycle trip, and catering to their needs for a home away from home.  This one gets really truly great reactions as you discuss dimensions, placement of platforms, litterbox, food dishes, and creating things such as shade and weather protection.  Further discussion about the cats’ reaction to riding behind your bike while being passed by busy traffic really can become vivid images in your significant other’s mind.  I haven’t read a blog for anyone who has brought along a pet on a bicycle trip, so the cats’ condo is a very creative exercise.  Don’t forget to calculate the amount of water that is needed, and its weight…at 8 lbs per gallon.  Compare brands of trailers and discuss the packability of the different brands.

Step 4, start shopping for methods to take your dogs along.  Obviously, they will enjoy running alongside part of the day, but can’t do that all day, obviously.  One dog could possibly ride in an over-sized handlebar basket, and the other would need trailer space.  This too will raise alarm flags of many colors, especially as websites for trailers and dog-along-the-bike products are displayed prominently on the computer screen.

Step 5-the previous step will cause horrified concern, but then start bringing up websites on how to modify a mini-van, car, or regular van into a “home.”  I suggest Cheap RV Living.  Great blog, by the way!  At this point, start talking about living on the road and the romance of being a nomad.  Blogs & websites about how to find jobs while living the nomadic life are also useful to increase concern.

Step 6 is when you then turn your attention to the gypsy “vardo” and being wistful about the ornate nature of such beautiful works of art.  Start looking for websites for people who build or have built one, and suggest you attend a renaissance faire to see if there are any present.

With Step 7, you are waxing historical, and dragging your significant other to all possible historical sites and museums, in search of…something.  You start talking about re-enactments (Civil War, Revolutionary War, pioneer, etc.)  and mentioning how people live like that as part of a living history exhibit.  Searching for jobs as a living history exhibit and displaying them prominently on the screen are beneficial as well.

Step 8 is going to really bother those with fears of heights and a lack of fondness for wilderness & remote areas, as you start talking about taking a seasonal job as a fire spotter in one of the many locations that employ them during the summer months.  these jobs are always in very remote locations with long hours perched in a very high tower.  Make sure you mention the true importance of a fire spotter in the overall scheme of things too!

Step 9 is when you start talking about going to work for an outdoor outfitter as a chuckwagon cook.  this is really good if you can’t cook worth a hill of beans and hate smokey fires.  Discussing the joys of living a life in a wagon or tent alongside hunters and tourists and preparing their meals is going to make you just go nostalgic for the Wild West.  Another potential is discussing becoming a sheepherder and living in a sheepherder’s wagon for a year or two while tending sheep and writing your great novel in your spare time.  It wouldn’t be THAT lonely, you’d have each other, a sheepdog, and a lot of sheep to talk to!

With Step 10, you will have probably achieved your goal as you describe life as a homesteader in Alaska, the last great American frontier, as  you struggle to raise a pitiful garden, catch fish, hunt, and survive in a land filled with giant bears who are craving a human steak served up rare.  Start shopping online for the right sized gun to hunt moose, caribou, musk ox, and whatever else lives way up there…while also shopping for a gun with the ability to stop a 14 foot Kodiak Grizzly.  Photographs with graphic illustration of the size of the claws and teeth on one of these bears will also help a lot.  You wouldn’t be lonely there either, since you’d have to have a dog team for transportation!

By this time, your significant other will either be packing to depart into the sunset or will be relieved by any plans that seem to be based on a reality they understand.  Believe me, you will get attention with this basic plan!

Core camper-basics without frills and lightweight enough for a passenger car

I was thinking today, most of us aren’t doing the really off road thing, and the features found in off road campers weren’t measuring up.  What was I REALLY looking for?  I wanted an off-the-ground sleeping area for 2 people.  I wanted an indoor area big enough that 2 people could work on laptops, play cards or eat a meal without crowding.  I wanted space to carry extra gear, and I wanted something that had a built in kitchen.  (I could give up the kitchen if there was room to carry the kitchen gear that I currently use.)  I wanted a place that would be comfortable and cozy in cold or rainy weather, yet something that would still work in hot summers, and wouldn’t get the “here comes the hillbillies” look at campgrounds.    I wanted it to be affordable and I wanted it light enough that a typical car or mini-van could safely tow it.

The problem?  Most so-called “ultra lights” aren’t all that light, and certainly aren’t that affordable.  Off road campers were coming close, but I really couldn’t get over the “here comes the hillbillies” look they had.  So off to search again I went, and this time, I came across a company called “Livin’ Lite” with their “Quicksilver” line of campers.

This company had a lot of really great looking choices.  These campers are literally stripped down to the basics, constructed of aluminum, without ANY wood-they have been chosen as “green campers.”  Everything in them is recyclable and rot resistant.  In Louisiana, rot resistant is a very attractive feature!

The pop up campers use marine grade upholstery, which means getting it wet isn’t going to cause a problem.  The dinette set not only  makes into a bed, but can be carried outside and used under a canopy there.  These pop up campers do require two people for set up, which isn’t thrilling, but the set up is about 2 minutes, which means that it isn’t unbearable, assuming there are two people present!

With base prices from $5299 to $6758, plus options, it doesn’t feel like you are buying a second home either.

Downsides? No built in kitchen, although there is a sink with a 7 gallon reservoir or the option of hooking up at the campsite.  There is enough space to add the kitchen gear, which means there is always the option of cooking inside or outside too.  With the aluminum cabinetry, my normal fears of not being fire-proof in case of a spill, etc. are avoided as well.  There is also options such as electrical wiring and even an air conditioner (I have to admit, summer nights in Louisiana have me thinking that that option is VERY attractive!)

Not having to purchase a gas guzzler to tow your home-away-from-home is very important, and I loved the idea of these stripped down campers being light enough to ride behind my mini-van.  They also sleep more than 2 people, which means that more family or friends can come along.  There are some complaints about workmanship and minor design issues, but they seemed to not be consistent.  Most owners loved them.

The Quicksilver 2.0 is designed to be pulled by a motorcycle or ATV, and talk about compact!  The most amazing part was how much room it has when it is folded out!  Once again, it offers very little in terms of amenities in the base unit, but it does have a bed and an interior area where a table and chairs can be set up to seat at least 2 people.  It lists at $3499, and if a motorcycle (granted a big one!) can tow this, I’m certain that the most compact of cars could manage it as well.

Livin’ Lite also offers a traditional camp trailer.  This trailer starts at 1500 lbs, an important consideration when your towing capacity is rated at 2000 lbs.   Staying under that marker doesn’t mean no amenities however, they even have a model that comes in far enough under the weight limit that has a wet bath!  (Wiggle room for cargo weight must be figured in the 2000 lb limit for the van.)

There are also some options for the toy hauling crowd (or the mega gear of some kind crowd anyhow!) One is a cargo trailer that has pop out bunks.  Very utilitarian and spartan.  No worries about looking luxurious here!  Another option takes their standard pop up camper, turns it sideways on an expanded chassis, and leaves a spacious flat cargo space in front.  Photos showed no signs of tie downs, which I imagine exist somewhere-this is just smooth aluminum!

Visiting the manufacturer website is a bit disappointing-they had less information than what I got from the forum listing, but they did have information about dealers.  There is a dealer located just 60 miles from me, and it might be worth a trip to take a look at one.

All in all, if you are looking to expand beyond the tent in the trunk, but aren’t wanting to become one of the gas guzzling yacht on wheels crowd, this might be an option.   It definitely is better looking than the off road campers with their messy and complicated rooftop tents.

Outdoor gear advertisers & spammers

I am absolutely amazed at the number of comments that this blog attracts from people wanting to advertise their company or product, written in a manner that they are deemed “spam.”  So, for all of you out there who want me to advertise your products on this blog or on my website, I’m going to offer you a solution.

I’m not even being sarcastic, this is sincere.  IF you are a legitimate vendor with a real business, and not someone trying to make a quick buck off of unsuspecting buyers, I want you to send me some very specific information.  Part of it is also requiring that you speak English and are capable of reading this post, which may not be particularly fair in some people’s eyes, but I think it is entirely fair since that’s the language I speak & write, and the language that this blog is written in.

I want your website, a list of your products/brands carried, and a brief paragraph telling me why I should want to list you on my lists of websites and vendors.  If you have something unique, tell me about it.  If you offer a unique service, I’d love to hear about that too.  If you are the owner of a website, and would like me to link to your website because of the information that you could offer to readers of this blog, send me that email!  If you have a product that you would like us to review, that is a possibility too, but send the email first.  We don’t want you to waste money sending us a product that doesn’t fit the type of camping and outdoor activities that we participate in and advocate for others.  (Examples are things like mountain climbing gear-we are a bit short on mountains on the Mississippi Delta, and I don’t have any immediate plans to schedule a mountain trip at this point.)  We do a lot of different things, and while we don’t go mountain climbing, I am supposed to learn the basics of rappelling this year.  Yeah, imagine that…a fat middle aged woman hanging upside down off of a cliff…it ain’t pretty, folks! Especially if it scares me enough (I’m deathly afraid of heights) that I end up peeing my pants…upside down.  That’s one outdoor adventure that doesn’t sound appealing, to be honest, but…I agreed to it, and I’m going to go through with it.  I figure its safer than free climbing on a rock face, and I’ve tried that too.  I will not, and I repeat that one more time, I will NOT agree to bungee jump.  No way, no how, and I’ll freely admit in public that I’m too chicken to try it.  There is NOTHING appealing about bungee jumping to me!  That also goes for sky diving.  I may have a sister who loves it, but I have sense.  I cannot see any good reason to deliberately jump out of a perfectly good airplane for the “fun” of it.  I have friends who have done it, for fun and/or for military training.  I’m not a soldier, I’m too old and too fat.  No thank you…I like the ground under my feet!

See now that I’ve digressed enough that any insincere spam type person has given up, I’m going to give my email address.  Make SURE you put “Get Ready GO blog” in the subject line to prevent ending up in THAT spam folder too!  The email address you can send this letter to is (take out the spaces, you know the routine) giascott (at symbol) gmail dot com.

In the meantime, all you spammers out there, you may as well give it up.  You get deleted, that’s all.  If you can’t be bothered with reading a whole entry and following directions, I can’t be bothered with your spam comments, plain and simple.

New tires on van, new bikes in the van, life is good!

I did it.  It’s a done deal.

We bit the bullet and bought our straight-off-the-rack-from-Walmart bicycles.  Against our cycling friends’ advice too!

We had a basic theory…a bike under your butt gets ridden a lot more than none at all.

Even the Walmart specials were the result of some good fortune, as Greg received some unexpected pay, allowing us to cover the last pair of tires for the van and leaving the other money to buy the bicycles.  Even a pair of cheap bikes was not all that cheap–we spent about $260 before we walked out of the door with our $88 bicycles between the “warranty”, a locking cable, a new seat for mine, and a pump for the tires.  As you may guess, Walmart bicycles come complete with new flat tires!

That still leaves us with no bike rack for the van, no helmets, no pump that attaches to the bike, no water bottle rack, no tools, no spare tubes or tires, and with Greg riding on a stock seat, which he will do without saying a word simply because he’s hard headed.  But…they are beautiful and I’m ecstatic.  I told Greg that today was a very rare day, as I got to eat my cake and have it too!

You may wonder about the cake remark, but I had given up on the bicycle idea because of the tire situation on the van.  We need a reliable vehicle, and the tires had reached the point of being dangerous, much to my surprise when they were brought to my attention.  I get to thinking about the miles that they had driven, it shouldn’t have been a surprise, as those tires were on the van when I bought it three years ago.  In the meantime, I’ve made a trip to Minnesota, a good 20 trips to Houston, about 20 trips to Mobile, another dozen trips to Florida, a dozen trips to Lafayette, and a good forty trips to various points in Mississippi…and that doesn’t include the “local” driving I’ve done around here!  Just in the past week, without “going anywhere” we’d clocked over fifty miles on the odometer.  It seriously adds up remarkably fast.

I should be pleased, tires rarely lasted me over 2 years in Arizona, and often died a horrible mangled death at the hands of sharp edged rocks on the dirt roads I often traveled.  That minor detail has made me a huge fan of the “road hazard warranty.”  I don’t know how many times I’ve had a tire destroyed by slashing from a sharp rock or broken bottle in the last ten years, but I do remember vividly having to walk home one cold winter night when I was about 7 months pregnant because of a three day old tire being slashed.  I was less than a mile away from home, on a cold dark night on a very lonely dirt road and it was late at night.  Without a flashlight, it was going to be nearly impossible to change the tire, so I took off across country (I knew the area VERY well!) and was home in 10 minutes.  The next morning at about dawn, there I was, back at the truck, changing the tire so I could get back to the house, pick up my daughter, and then take her to school before making the 1 hr trip back to the tire store and getting a replacement tire so I could be to work on time that afternoon.

Flat tires, for any reason, totally suck.  There was no way, if there was any way around it, that I was going to “make do” with used tires, no matter what people said about them.  People don’t replace tires because they want a new pattern…

With that said, I’m happy.  Greg, after mowing part of the yard, announced it was shower time and the bikes were just fine lurking in the van.  They need unloaded, tires aired up, seat changed, and minor adjustments and tightening on various parts, all of which is beyond my abilities right now with the shoulder injury.  A critical point on the bike shopping was whether I could reach the handlebars with both hands and to make sure it was not necessary to ever lean on the handlebar for support.  Even the initial loading was frustrating Greg, who had momentarily forgotten my little handicap and couldn’t figure out why I was so little help until I reminded him why–I was equally as frustrated at my uselessness at the project.

So now I’m forced, like an excited kid, to wait until tomorrow…

Anticipation, it’s making me wait…

Bike shopping and a reality check

I visited traditional brick & mortar stores yesterday on the quest for a new bike.  In the meantime, I had a number of reality checks.

Reality check #1-Overweight middle aged women with gray hair are not a high priority in at least the one real cycle shop I did actually visit.  Zero for customer service at Eastbank Cyclery, and I won’t be visiting them again, and even if I could afford the bike that I fell in love with there, I’d not buy it there.  (Trek’s Navigator 2.0 WSD-it fit PERFECT!)  It was quite obvious that had I been 30 years younger, I’d have received a lot of attention, or if I was a lean male with an eye on racing bikes.  There are still a few other bike shops in the Greater New Orleans area, and also in the Gulfport-Biloxi area (I liked Long Beach’s bike shop’s website-it just SOUNDED friendly & helpful!) GNO Cyclery’s website is “under construction” and the other shops on the east bank don’t have websites at all.  So…maybe I’ll visit them at some point.

Stores such as Walmart, Academy Sports and Sports Authority also do not score high on customer service.  But, with lower prices, you somewhat expect zero in that category, so there is a difference in expectation.  The cycle shop’s staff was a total surprise-they would do anything to avoid eye contact, resulting in a visit to the store of about 10 minutes, and a vow to never return.  I’ll shop online and wait for delivery first.  Since Trek bikes are not sold online (weird, huh?) I’ll drive to Long Beach first–it’s only an hour or two down the interstate.  Barring a lottery win, I’m not anticipating being able to purchase the bike I liked so much any time soon.

Reality check #2 was the serious need for at least 2 tires on the van.  This is a serious issue, because it has to come out of the so-called “discretionary” portion of the budget.  There may not be a bicycle at all in the foreseeable future, depending on what that ends up costing.  They have to be bought in pairs, and since this is the first tires to be bought in the three years I have owned the van, it is a huge unknown as to what its going to cost.  So, once Greg gets the tire size off of the current (and worn out) tires, I need to start pricing them online before I head to brick & mortar stores for replacing them.  To NOT replace them is foolish-they are worn out and a potential danger, and we cannot afford an accident as a result of tire malfunction.  We had a near miss last year with a rear tire blowing out (not once, but twice in a 2 week period) and they were replaced with used tires (probably resulting in the second blow out.)  It caused substantial damage in the area around the tire & the gas tank intake gizmo on the first blow out, when I also discovered the spare had dry rot 2 miles down the interstate where it went flat as well (where you put gas into the tank.)  Cosmetic damage but it was still damage.  I am not buying used tires to replace the worn out front tires-the van is a front wheel drive, and they are critical for steering as well.  Just the thought of the potential cost is making my stomach knot-I really REALLY wanted to buy a bike!

Sometimes, it really sucks to be a grown up!

Well, he came in with the tire size, and it’s not as bad as I was afraid it was going to be.  We can get Cooper tires for it from Tire Kingdom for $69.99 plus an unknown fee for road hazard warranty, tire disposal, etc. and the tires are a 60,000 mile tire–not great ones, but not the cheapest on the market.  Hopefully, they aren’t being made in China from used condoms or something…another gripe I have.  We are still fighting the whole Chinese dry wall problem with post-Katrina rebuilds here on the Gulf Coast.  The last thing I want is to discover that I’ve bought tires from China with who-knows-what-recall down the road for me.  The problem with those recalls is that they only happen after a tragedy has occurred.  Sam’s Club has a BF Goodrich tire (Made in the USA) for $72.66, but I can’t tell from the website if it includes installation/balancing.  It looks like they package a road hazard warranty with a “premium installation” package at $15 per tire–higher than Walmart’s tire warranty, and they also have a much better tire selection in my tire size.  For the few extra dollars, I am inclining towards Sam’s Club-there are more Sam’s Clubs across the nation than there are “Tire Kingdoms” (I think?) so if there is ever an issue with the tires…

I still say, being a grown up really sucks! I’m depressed because now the bicycle budget has to go to tires instead.  Grrrrr

At least its simplifying things-I’m much more likely to just buy an $88 special and be happy with the fact I have two wheels now.  I keep telling myself that it is critical to emergency preparedness to have decent tires on our sole motor vehicle at all times, and right now, they are NOT decent tires, especially on the front.  Greg has expressed serious concerns over relatively short drives to Mississippi right now on these tires, and stated firmly they need replaced now, not in a few months.  I can’t argue, I know better–they really DO need it.  So, either tomorrow or Tuesday, Nellie goes off to get new shoes on her front end.

I’m going to talk myself into being happy with the cheapest bike I can find now–the other alternative is no bike at all, and I really DO want to start riding.  I truly expect to be able to ride for a year on a cheap bike, even though I know its highly likely I will have to buy a 24″ bike because low end bikes are designed for Amazonian women.  I think they are simply moving how they place the cross bars from the front fork to the rear & seat post and slapping on a “women’s” label from the male design, not taking into consideration that women are much smaller & proportioned differently.  In reality, spending under $100 for a temporary fix, changing the seat to a gel seat, and getting into the groove of riding is smarter than spending $200 for a bike, still having to change the seat out, and not being any happier with it than I would have been with the under $100 version because it still uses low-end components.  No one in town has a Lamborghini bike in stock, so I was going to end up buying it without ever trying to see if it really did fit, which is also a nightmarish decision with such a huge unknown.  The Trek bike I loved had a 13.5″ frame…the Lamborghini has a 17″ frame…was it also going to fit and it was nothing more than a difference in measurement?  I don’t know.  There was no way I could afford the $400 bike now, which meant that even with a $200 one, it was a second best to the one I really wanted…

Decisions!  I am also obviously going through the sour grapes routine, trying to talk myself out of wanting the Lamborghini bike and into an $88 Walmart special, or else into realizing that I’m going to be just as unhappy with a more expensive second best as I am with a cheap third best.  My reality check might be a very good thing, I can still manage to get a cheap bike, start riding the local trails, and take it along on camping trips.  I will learn what I am comfortable with, and what changes I would like in a better bike.  Then, when we can afford it, I will not feel guilty at all at donating the cheap bike and riding off happily into the sunset with my new “real” bike.  It’s a long ways from that heavy Huffy I rode a million years ago on that day the dog came after me and ended up sending me to the ER to have a hand x-rayed before I went home to doctor a million “boo boos” from road rash. (that was when I gave up frequent bike riding-it became an infrequent thing, and my last one like that, I rode my daughter’s bike occasionally to the bank/post office/etc.)  I’m hoping that the dog situation has improved, and that I don’t have some peculiar phobia about potential dogs chasing me on a bike from that long ago nasty fall.  I honestly don’t know-it’s been that long since I’ve ridden. My daughter was in kindergarten when I took the fall, now she’s far closer to 30 than 20,  and expecting my first grandchild!

In another sense, perhaps this reality check situation has relieved some of the stress in the bike shopping.  I no longer feel obligated to visit cycling shops and study forums for information.  Now I’m going to be content with my cheap bike and willing to explore my world on 2 wheels, which is going to go a lot further towards physical fitness & trail riding than researching was, and is much less stressful than trying to make a decision!

Oh I did find a large sized “delivery” basket for a front wheel mount that looks like it will be big enough for Sissy to ride in, as well as heavy duty enough to carry her 25# behind.  Obviously, we’ll have to put a stiff bottom in for her, and teach her to ride without her usual fidgeting, but I think she will do quite well as she rides with her “daddy.”  Red, because of her immense size in the ride-along category, will have to ride in a trailer.  Her age means that running alongside is not feasible for rides longer than a mile or two, so I need a way to carry her in between running sessions if she is to accompany us as well.  When camping, leaving them behind is not an option, as that is not allowed at most campsites and doesn’t make any sense anywhere.  Red is too much of an escape artist with some serious separation anxiety issues about being left behind–I couldn’t even think about leaving her behind longer than just to go to the bathroom.  I rarely leave her anywhere but at home without a babysitter.  Sissy just barks so damned much that she would annoy anyone with that “woo woo…woo…woo woo woo…woo” over and over.  I’m wondering if she’s going to do the “woo woo…woo” and cujo routine when she’s riding with Greg.  We will definitely have to strap her in securely using a harness to prevent mishaps.

Oversized front bike basket (largest I have found) from Amazon.

Inexpensive bike rack for van from Amazon.

Bike rack, once again from Amazon.

Bike trailer–from our familiar & easy to use Amazon once again. This is a cargo trailer-I really liked the price & style on this one for a general purpose trailer.  At just under $100, it’s a great price!

Dog trailer-this one is designed specifically for a large dog.  Its weight rating is high enough it is really depressing that Red and Sissy cannot be anywhere together!  This is more expensive than the cargo trailer, with a more limited use.  It might be wiser to get 2 cargo trailers, and then fasten a dog crate to the trailer (if possible)  A custom cover for rain would be easy enough to make, and shading a crate isn’t hard either.  Some people may find my desire to protect the dogs from rain as foolish-but keep in mind, that Red sleeps in the tent with us, on our bed with us.  If she’s coming into a tent completely drenched, she can be carrying over a gallon of water in that coat of hers.  Nobody will be very comfortable then!  At home, if she is drenched, we’ll easily saturate three full sized bath towels getting her dried off, and that is not an attractive prospect when camping.  It would be mildly annoying when we have access to washers & dryers, but downright dangerous if the temperatures are rapidly dropping into the cold zone in winter, not just for Red, but for all of us.  Sissy, with her single coat, can actually be dried entirely with a thick hand towel.  Her position riding in the basket with Greg would mean she’d need warm coats (warmer than her fleece one now) and a rain coat, just like he would wear.  We would also consider devising some sort of weather protection, including shade, for her in the basket, but that will be a DIY job.  First, we’d have to teach both dogs about riding and about running alongside (on leash) the bikes.

Just imagine if we were taking the cats along too!

If you are going to go shopping, check out the gear at the Get Ready GO! General Store (powered by Amazon, so its totally safe too!)