TEO
Inverness, FL, USA
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Joined: 08/07/2003
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Saturday afternoon got back from our trip out west. What a grand time we had!Here are some of my thoughts on the trip.
First, fuel prices were on everyone's mind going into the travel season and our travel budget had to be adjusted several times even before we left. Our three weeks in Mexico were a dream with diesel at $2.10 US. The most we paid was $4.959 in California, though I saw places as high as $5.299. What did the higher prices buy us? Vacancies at every campground. No heavy traffic at National Parks. Excellent treatment everywhere.
Something that I never expected was the number of people who reside in an RV campground full time. I'm not talking about full timers who are RVing full time, but normal younger couples and families who live in a travel trailer as their full time residence. The first incidence was at a campground in Texas where I met a man displaced by Katrina. He lost everything in the hurricane and now all he can afford is the used trailer he has in the campground. The monthly campground fee is much cheaper than living in a house. We found the same thing in a nicer campground near San Diego. Every morning there would be a great exodus from the campground as everyone went to work. Around 5 or 6 in the afternoon they would return. They live in conventional travel trailers and drive a small compact car, so they have no plans on moving anytime soon.
The National Parks were a joy. There was little traffic and there were campsites available everywhere early in the day. After 4 PM, they tend to fill up. Viewing the animals at Yellowstone was pleasant as there were not too many people. One afternoon we watched a large herd of elk from a viewing area. There was only one other car there. At Mount Rushmore a man told me that he had been there many times and never saw so few people there.
We did have a problem when the muffler hanger broke and took out the hydraulic line to the rear slide. With oil on the exhaust I was not about to drive, so I called my road service. They had a tow truck there in a little over half an hour. I dreaded the thought of having the motorhome towed and worried about damage to my new (in Mexico) paint job. The driver was extremely diligent and there was not a scratch put on our rig. We had to be towed 87 miles to a Freightliner service center, where we were for 4 days waiting for the necessary parts to come in and I was able to remove the hydraulic hose and get a replacement made.
Another thing we both learned is that full timing is not for us. We had a most excellent time, but I now believe that the largest motorhome is still too small for a man, a wife, and two large dogs.
Paul
Paul & Helen
2002 Winnebago Journey DL
1999 Jeep Cherokee toad 
Yellow Lab, Jodie and Chocolate Lab, Coco 
FMCA 98905
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Johng
Gilbert, AZ, USA
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Joined: 08/23/2002
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Paul, sounds like a great trip, even with the issues.
Happy RVing
John and Judy 
US Air Force - Retired
05 Beaver Santiam 40DST
08 Malibu Toad/Brake Buddy
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salem
Central Valley, Ca
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Joined: 05/01/2004
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I listened to Bill Maher last night on Larry King. He said, and partly "tongue-in-cheek" that the recession had some good points. There were less people on the road, and when you went into a store they actually acted like they were glad to see you. It appears you experienced some of that first hand. Glad you had a fun and safe trip.
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fchammer1
AR, FL, PA & points in between
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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It will be interesting to see what the upcoming snowbird season brings: both in Florida and the southwest. Last year there were quite a few vacancies in the Rio Grand Valley; while the campgrounds around Fort Myers were full. Will that change this year? Who knows!
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Hornet28BHDS
Parker, PA
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Joined: 01/29/2007
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Glad you had a good trip!
2006 Hornet 28BHDS-Bunk House, Dual Slides
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 HD
5.7L Hemi, Factory Towing Package
Reese Brake Controller, WD Hitch and Sway Bar
Life is short, why not spend it in an RV!
SPRING HAS SPRUNG!
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F.L.U.F.
Cedar Rapids Iowa
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Joined: 09/09/2006
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I am also just back from a two week vacation. However my trip was only 1600 miles but I saw just the opposite, in all the campgrounds we stayed at every one was full very early in the day. We saw so many RVs on the road it looked like an RV convention. Seriously we stopped counting at well over 500 units on the road in the two weeks we were out. And we like to drive two lane roads as much as we can I wonder what it was like on the interstates? Fuel prices were 4.35 on the high end and 4.14 on the low end.
We were in some of the same places as the poster.
Keep Smilin' It Makes Everyone Wonder What You Are Up Too!
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rlhoge
Colorado Springs
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Joined: 08/13/2007
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TEO, glad you enjoyed your trip. Its always good to hear stories with no issues occuring. Glad your repair went smoothly. Thanks for sharing.
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