RV Rookies

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So who said you needed to drive an RV on all six wheels? Certainly not my Princess!

 

As one who was accustomed to freeway driving in the San Francisco Bay Area for most of her life, learning to drive a newly acquired, 25 ft. Fleetwood Pulse across three states during a season of raging fires was a piece of cake.

 

There were moments that I felt this cake was gonna be of the upside down, pineapple variety, but I’m happy to report that me and our little blue house-on-wheels are right side up and safely home.

 

I’m currently taking multiple antacids for my stomach and need a new prescription for anti-anxiety medication, after our little road trip. Other than that, life is good on the Olympic Peninsula of Northern WA.

 

During the spring of this year, my oldest brother and his wife decided that tooling around the United States in a 30 ft. RV was something that was worthwhile and adventurous for two young’uns new to retirement. And the Princess and I – getting too old for sleeping on leaky, plastic air mattresses and squatting in poison ivy bushes to pee – decided that maybe my brother and his wife were on to something. After all, there’s something to be said about sleeping on a mattress without a rock, the size of Gibraltar, poking at one’s plump, highly sensitive hinny. And having access to an indoor plumbing facility, minus the thrill of an ivy bush, we felt was just peachy for these two old gals.

 

So we set out on an earnest search in the local area for an RV that we could afford and was to our liking. Unfortunately, after scouring the area and not finding anything we liked (and could afford) we were ready to throw in the towel until next season, when my brother, Anthony, called and got involved in the search… and within hours had us a perfect little house on wheels.

 

The one minor detail: this rolling abode of adventure was located in the state of fry sauce and mini vans (a.k.a. Utah). Other than that, it was a perfect vehicle for the two fur-balls and us.

 

The only thing the Princess and I needed to do was to drive out there – thru 3 smoke-filled states on fire – purchase it, clean it out, learn to drive and operate it, and get it back home before we took off for NY to check on Momma B.

 

And we did just that.

 

In between time, we learned to drive on a 7 lane freeway with wall to wall traffic, navigate tornado-like winds without steering off a cliff, question the quality of mom and pop gas stations selling old diesel fuel; and utilize friendly truckers, when navigating Mt. passes on fire about to get a snow storm.

 

And the mother of all-important things that these RV rookies are truly grateful for learning is that you ALWAYS (Yes, People, ALWAYS!) empty your black water BEFORE your gray water!

Or you may unwittingly find yourself the butt of your fellow RVer’s jokes and campfire conversations.

 

Yep.

 

With the addition of a gas additive the former owner left in the vehicle, the advice of a friendly trucker in Idaho, named Jolene, and all kinds of suggestions and prayers from family members and friends, we made it safely back home; where we were promptly greeted by two sick kitties, who were happy to have their mommies back for some special, bed-time snuggling.

 

Now we just need to figure out why our “Kwikee step” on the RV ain’t so quick to open, and get a local auto dealer here in no man’s land to replace Li’l Blue’s recalled passenger airbag.

 

Other than that, the Princess, Li’l Blue, and I are doing just swell here in the land of long underwear, rain slickers and roundabouts.

 

Hope the Fall Season is finding all of you healthy and happy. Take care and I’ll catch ya the next time, looking at life from my shoes.

 

 

 

 

 

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Lucie

I'm a retired special ed teacher, born in upstate NY, who spent most of my adult life in the SF/Bay Area and moved to the Olympic Peninsula of WA in June of 2017. At the encouragement of family and friends, who followed my silliness on my FB page, I started this blog a few years ago. I try to keep my topics as humorous as possible (because I believe "LIFE" is pretty serious these days), but will, on occasion write about more solemn subjects. I sincerely appreciate all who take the time and effort to read and make comments and am truly humbled when people actually "like" what I write. I do not participate in the "Wordpress awards" because I feel "awarded" when individuals actually read me and comment, but sincerely appreciate all of you who have considered me "award worthy" and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Hugs, Lucie

19 thoughts on “RV Rookies”

  2. Hi Lucie, Toni Klimas here. I hope you’re enjoying life on the Olympic Peninsula. We used to really enjoy our RV road trips all over Washington and Oregon and especially the scenery on the Peninsula. Loved camping in the Hoh Rainforest and visiting the wild west coast beaches. A bit envious here! I’ll enjoy your further adventures in the RV!! Miss talking with you!!!!

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      1. Hi T!

        Knew who you were BEFORE you identified yourself! Miss talking to you, too, Sweetie….I dropped a line to Ruth and she wrote me about her husband….broke my heart. ) Hopefully, we’ll be having RV adventures, soon. Trying to take off between snow storms developing around us…..

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  3. Sounds like an adventure in deed! Sadly, I have no idea what black water and gray water are. Too bad you couldn’t just head east from UT rather than back home again first. The hubs and I hope to tool around in an RV someday. Perhaps once my parents are done with theirs. It could be a while. You and/or your brother might like the book, Heading South: Tales from the RV trail, about my parents’ adventures in their RV. Really entertaining read. 🙂

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    1. Yes indeed. It was an adventure that I’d like not to repeat any time too soon, thank you very much. ; > ) As far as your lack of knowledge of black and gray water goes, you may wanna inquire about this “rookie mistake” with your parents… :>) I’ll check out their book. Hope all is well with the family and the baby. Thx for stopping by! Hugs, Lucie

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  4. Hm…my comment to you ended up on the top of Aunt Beulah’s comment….whatever…..some day maybe I’ll learn how this blogging thing works!! ;>)

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  6. Oh, what a time you are having. The idea of the two of you in Li’l Blue conquering freeways and mountain passes makes me smile; as did your black water, gray water anecdote. My first husband and I learned the same lesson many, many years ago. Your clever beginning and equally clever ending tied your story together well, and you moved it along, covering lots of interesting material, at a comfortable pace. And your humor, always your humor delights. I’m not sure what advice your friendly reader could have offered; but I’ll get in touch with you in November so maybe we can reconnect before Joel and I take off again. I miss you.

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    1. It certainly WAS a trip! When I first started writing this, the piece was so long that I had to step back and rethink it! It still ended up a tad too long, but I couldn’t really shorten it much more without having it read like a “summary”! ;>) Thx for stopping by!

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    1. Actually, a lot of the folks that we ran into that were retired had bikes AND kayaks strapped to their vehicles…..The Princess would like to tow a little “midget car”….I’m thinking maybe a BIKE would be more my speed. That’s all we need to be doing is towing something as she takes the corners on two wheels!!!! : >)

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