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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Concerns about Cataract Surgery for Diabetics
Way to go Paulette. Gezzer said the hard part is the patch and the drops.
Keep us updated on the surgery.
Safe travels,
Judy
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Gezzer
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01/06/09 09:04pm |
RVing with Disabilities and General Health Issues
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RE: Concerns about Cataract Surgery for Diabetics
Please don't be frightened, the cataract surgery is pretty easy. Gezzer has been diabetic for over 20 years and had the cataracts in both eyes done in 2007. He has terrible astigmatism, which didn't get fully corrected, but he doesn't wear glasses any longer, just some magnifying glasses for small print or close up work. He went from coke bottles to no glasses.
He had a good Opthamologist and has had no problems from the surgery. It took longer to prep for the surgery than the actual surgery took. I'm a little surprised they can't examine your retinas before the surgery, the Opthamologist did for Gezzer.
You must be comfortable and confident with your doc's before you go into the surgery, they should be able to explain everything well enough that you are not afraid. If they don't take the time to explain everything to your satisfaction, keep asking questions until you are happy.
Gezzer said the worst part was having a patch on his eye for 24 hours and then the drops that were required.
Safe travels,
Judy
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Gezzer
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01/04/09 12:50pm |
RVing with Disabilities and General Health Issues
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RE: Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
We've never camped there, have driven out to look it over (we were there early enough in the year that there was still some snow). It is a really pretty area, on the lake side was,(probably still is) a small village area that housed silver miners from the late 1800's/early 1900's. They mined silver on one of the small islands out in Lake Superior. There are still people living in the village.
The other side faces the Thunder Bay harbor. We really enjoyed exploring the area.
Safe travels,
Judy
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Gezzer
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01/02/09 05:59pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: Microwave / Convection Oven
Make sure you get the manual that comes with the oven and READ, READ, READ it.
Your DW will love the convec oven, especially if she has ever used a propane oven. I've had both and would never go back to the propane oven.
I bake bread in my convec oven nearly every day, cakes, pies, cookies, you name it, I bake it. Have made 100's of dozens cookies in the last 5 years in it with great success.
The only draw back is if you do a lot of boondocking and don't have electric.
Safe travels,
Judy
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Gezzer
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01/02/09 09:07am |
Camp Cooks and Connoisseurs
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RE: COE listings, info
You can use your America the Beautiful pass, some have the Golden Age/ Golden Access park pass from the National Park System at COE parks. That will get you 1/2 price camping.
Safe travels,
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/29/08 01:19pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Lap top battery ??
I have a Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop that needs a new battery. Batteries Plus stores carry the battery ($129, which I will be getting right after the 1st of the year.
I would check with them or check their website. The guy that checked on mine used the model/serial numbers from the back of the battery to look it up.
Good luck,
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/28/08 01:25pm |
Technology Corner
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RE: Cashing small checks in Southern States.
I haven't seen a store in years that will cash a second party check. They all have signs at the check out counter that state No 2nd party checks.
I think banks are the same way unless you have an account with them. I think your only options are: Open an account with a bank that has branches in your location OR send the check back to MN to your local bank and use the debit card.
I would also let the family know that second party checks are hard to cash in your present location, have them send gift cards for a favorite restaurant or store.
Good luck
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/27/08 01:22am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: Best Bank for the Southern half of the US. Please close.
We also have a credit union in MN, have used the debit card all over the US to get cash. Wal Mart will let you get up to $100 per trip through the check out counter, with no ATM fees. If we need more than the $100, we split our purchases and go through 2 lines. Many grocery stores and other big box stores will let you get "change" back after your purchase. Many times ATM's will only let you get $200 per day.
We just (October) opened a Bank of America checking account in OK City with $200 as the initial balance. We haven't had to pay any fees on the checking account and our balance runs from $300 to $3000 per month. Bank of America also has a lot of ATM machines where you can get cash with no fees if you use the B of A debit card.
Our SS and pension checks are electronically deposited to the credit union, our paycheck is put in our B of A account. I haven't deposited a check in years.
If you don't want to open another bank account, I would just use the debit card at your existing bank and get cash back from WalMart or other no fee store. We have gotten cash that way for the last 6 or 7 years.
Good luck,
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/26/08 03:44pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: lake superior circle tour
The only thing I would add is to get your passport, I think you have to have one by June or July of 2009 to get back into the US.
When you are in Thunder Bay, stop at the Sleeping Giant PP, it is a peninsula that sticks out into Lake Superior, they have an old silver mining town on the lake side that is fascinating to explore.
Enjoy the tour.
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/26/08 03:14pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Laptop Circuit breaker ??
This may be a totally different problem, I have a 6 year old Dell laptop that was shutting down on it's own. I took it in and the problem was caused by dirt. The inside of the laptop was packed full of dust and lint, which caused it to overheat.
Is is possible it needs to be cleaned? I had mine cleaned about 2 months ago and it is working like new again.
Good luck,
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/26/08 08:13am |
Technology Corner
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RE: DW Christmas cookies vs the Atwood Stove.
I used a floor tile when we had a propane oven, cheap ceramic about $1. You have to leave the holes open so the heat comes up around your food.
Some folks use an air pan, or tin foil or a pizza stone. You just need something to even out the heat so stuff doesn't burn. The tile worked for me, as I didn't have the air pan or a pizza stone.
Safe travels,
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/24/08 09:55pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Big Bend NP (Texas)
I wouldn't postpone my trip because of the flood, most of the affected areas in the NP have been reopened. 99% of the park was totally unaffected by the flood. It is over 800,000 acres, so you will have tons of places to hike, drive 4 x 4 and explore.
There are 2 or 3 dry camping areas right on the river that may or may not totally reopen, depending on the damage which will be assessed after they have the other cg's totally cleaned up.
Rio Grande Village, both fhu and dry camping are open, Cottonwood is also at least partially open. The Chisos Basin was totally unaffected.
Late March/early April should be just fine to go to the Bend. Spring break is usually around the 10th or 12th of March and can be extremely busy. Plan on hot weather, we have been in the Bend area the first of April and it was 98*.
There is a forum - www.bigbendchat.com that will give you tons of info on hikes, back roads, and camping. It is maintained by "Benders" (people who love the BB area) and most of the people who post there have made multiple trips to the area or live in the area.
Also, do a search here on Big Bend, there have been several threads lately about the area and some of the folks who have posted were just there recently. You can also call the NP and check on the park.
The Bend is my favorite place to live and/or visit, go and enjoy the trip.
Safe travels,
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/24/08 04:01pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: Mixer for you full time cooks
My Kitchen Aid stand mixer lives on the floor of the closet in between uses and the hand mixer goes into an upper cupboard. I don't use them often, but they sure are nice to have when I need them.
I make multiple batches of cookies 3 or 4 times a month (at least), so the big mixer is a blessing. The little one is used for cakes, mashed potatoes, etc., probably 2 or 3 times a week.
I wouldn't be without either one, but I love to bake, give most of it away. It depends on how and what you like to cook/bake if you will need either or both or none.
Safe travels,
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/22/08 06:38am |
Full-time RVing
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RE: What soap and toilet paper are best?
I've used the same dish soap, bath/hand soap, shampoo, TP in the MH for the last 7 years that I always used in the house.
The big thing with the toilet is to use lots of water.
Our farm was high class - we actually had TP in the 2 holer.
Safe travels
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/19/08 04:42pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: big bend - rio grande village - how to get hookups
Call the rangers at the park and ask about availability, usually the FHU sites don't fill up completely except during major holidays and spring break. I would say that 99% of the visitors to the park want backcountry tent dry camping.
If you are going after Christmas/New Years time frame, you will most likely be able to get a spot. You check in at the convenience store that is located right between the dry camping and the fhu areas of Rio Grande Village.
If all else fails, you could stay at one of the fhu cg in Study Butte/ Terlingua.
You will pay $20 entrance fee to get into the park, this is good for a week and then what ever the fee is for camping per night.
Safe travels
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/17/08 02:31pm |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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RE: big bend national and state park, camping in the out back
The Rio Grande Village campgrounds have both been reopened, the FHU is completely open, the dry camping area is partially open.
Cottonwood campground (no generators) is also partially open. There are 3 primitive tent only cg's on the river that were affected and have partially reopened, the campsites directly on the river were severely damaged and may never reopen.
I have been told all of the roads are open in the entire park, but some may be in poor condition and will require 4 x 4 high clearance to drive due to the flooding.
The clean up conditions change daily as the NP people are working very hard to get everything cleaned up and functioning again.
AS far as the weather is concerned, don't expect shorts and tshirts weather, it can get cold and it can snow. The rains usually come in in the summer time. Anytime you plan on driving the back roads, you should check with the rangers to make sure they are open. There is at least one road that is not patrolled or maintained, not a good place to have a break down.
If you want remote, isolated and not many people around, then the BB is for you.
Safe travels,
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/15/08 09:21pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Prepare House for Summer Travel
Don't forget mail, newspaper, trash and I think I would check with my insurance agent to make everything is in order. Some people leave a radio and lights on a timer so it appears someone is home.
Prescription for meds on the road, arrange for someone to check on the place at least weekly, lawn service, get copies or have access to your medical records.
Make sure your pets shots are up to date, get them on heart worm and flea tick meds now, some places have tick and mosquito problems year round. Get copies of their records also.
Enjoy the road, safe travels
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/15/08 02:27pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Big Bend National Park and State Park
This is not a huge snowbird area as it is very isolated and doesn't have the amenities that most snowbirders want. There are several campgrounds in Study Butte/Terlingua and also in Presidio that have long term camping.
The only crossing into Mexico is at Presidio, Ojinaga is a farm/ranch town, not a tourist town. They do have all of the services, but if you don't speak some Spanish, it will be hard to communicate as many people in OJ don't speak English.
You are limited to 14 days camping in both the SP and NP. There is NO BLM land in the area. All of the land is either park land or privately owned, so to go boondock someplace is not possible. There is a lot of remote, backcountry camping in both parks.
I know you can't ride ATV's or dirt bikes in either park, you would have to get permission from the land owners to ride on their land. If you are going to ride a street bike, the main roads are blacktop, but the side roads are usually gravel, sand or clay, can be tricky for some people even with 4 x 4.
I would definitely call the rangers at Panther Junction and get information from them.
Check out the NP website and also www.bigbendchat.com for more info.
Good luck, enjoy the area.
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/15/08 02:15pm |
Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping
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RE: big bend national and state park, camping in the out back
We lived in the area, so Ditto what Everesttraveler reported. There are many off road campsites in the BB that are suitable for truck camping. If you are going after Christmas, you shouldn't have any trouble finding a campsite. I would plan on staying on the west side of the park, while I explored that side and then move over to the east side and explore that side.
Resources you might want to check out are:
www.bigbendchat.com. It is a forum sponsored by people who hike and camp in the BB. You can get tons of info on hikes, camping and everything else you want to know about BB.
NPS.Gov - do a search on the Big Bend NP.
There is only one fhu cg in the park, which is run by a concessionaire. All of the others are run by the NP. It can be cold at night in the park, but you will probably be ok with just a sweatshirt during the day, nights will require the second sweater. It will be quite a bit colder in the Chisos Basin as it is at a higher elevation. They had snow in the Chisos last week, but it was gone by the weekend. It was suppose to be in the high 70's in Terlingua on Sunday.
There is only one restaurant in the park, and it is at the Chisos Basin. There are several in Study Butte/Terlingua. There are 2 gas stations in the park and 2 in Study Butte/Terlingua. A couple of convenience stores in the park, a couple of small groceries in Study Butte/ Terlingua, I would buy a decent supply of food in Alpine or Fort Stockton before coming into the park. It is over 100 miles from Panther Junction to either Alpine or Fort Stockton. Make sure you have enough prescription meds before you go into the area, the nearest pharmacy is over 100 miles north.
As far as things to see or do, hiking is the main thing in the park, it is over 800,000 acres and huge. There are a number of 4 x 4 roads you can drive.
Big Bend Ranch State Park is near the NP, they also have a lot of hiking, the interior of the park is a former working cattle ranch and the still have about 100 head of longhorn cattle present. They have a great exhibit area and a desert garden at the Barton Warnock Center, both of which are worth checking out.
Enjoy the Big Bend area, It's on the top of my favorite list.
Safe travels,
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/15/08 01:55pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Big Bend Nat'l Park
Information I have from friends living in the BB area is the FHU are is open, the dry camping area has been moved to another location until they can get everything cleaned up.
Cottonwood has been partially reopened, they just are not done with clean up yet, two or three of the primitive cg's along the river are still partially closed.
I would call Panther Junction visitor's center or check with the NP website for the absolute latest info. Another resource is www.bigbendchat.com, this is a forum used by serious BB users and has a lot of up to date info. I do know that the NP was really busy over Thanksgiving, so you should have no trouble with camping, hiking or driving through out the park.
The info on the park changes almost daily as they get the mud and debris cleaned out of the camping areas.
Enjoy the park,
Judy
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Gezzer
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12/13/08 08:16am |
Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
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