Using an RV

I have been tossing around the idea of getting a small RV for the sake of making the transition of "outdoor" living a little more comfortable. Some of the OWFR members have had nothing but praise for their RV's and I can personally understand that putting a solid wall between you and the great outdoors carries a load of security and makes you feel a lot more comfortable. As readers or subscribers of this blog, how many of you have had positive (or negative) experiences with outdoor living, especially those who might have an RV?

I'm not talking about a huge 30+ foot bus. I am talking about something that could comfortably accommodate 2 people and carry all the essentials we would need to live a weekend or week in it. Oh, and when I say "RV", I mean motorhome. Not a trailer. Mind you, given the right setup, a trailer might be feasible.....

I mentioned "comfortably accommodate 2 people"

I've seen the Toyota line of RV's. The Sunraider, Dolphin, Seabreeze, Mirage. They are great. Exactly what I am talking about. Trouble is, try to get your hands on one. If you start to read up on these you very quickly begin to realize that the quality and reliability of Toyota stands quite clear. These things just keep running.

Well I have looked and have come up empty handed except for a few postings which, after calling, the thing is sold or it is several hundred km's away.

So how about this guy?
Built on a Ford chassis. This is about the max size I would go. Remember, some trips are to locations where the road is poor and would best be described as "bush" camping. Needs to be maneuverable. (cont'd below)

Why the sudden interest in a RV?
Couple of reasons. The last time we went to camp the truck was literally packed with equipment to make camp comfortable. Totes. Tents. BBQ's. Big water jug. Coolers. Typically with an RV, you have a duplicate set of everything. You have cutlery. Water tank, stove, oven, fridge. Bedding. Everything can be ready to go (within reason) so it makes it easier to do that trip, whether it be spur of the moment or meticulosly planned.
Wear and tear. Ever wonder why some RV's last so long and are well aged? Because they are not driven everyday. Saves wear and tear on your daily commute vehicle.
Return on investment. Suppose you were not in a position to use the RV for a period of time. Get some of your money back. Rent it out.

I'm disappointed that Shane M pulled his micro-blog off the net. Nowhere to be found. It's been at least 3 years now and I can find little reference to his daily meanderings about rural life. He painted a picture of being nomadic. He travelled around the province, poking his head into Manitoba and Quebec but ultimately returning to Ontario where he finally setup "camp" north of Iroquois Falls. Small RV. Well stocked and prepared. He found a piece of crown land off a poorly maintained trail; he followed the trail until he was at a junction point where he could travel no more. While his motive was unclear at first, he went on about his experiences, running our of water. Leaks and how he fixed them. Making a deal with an ATV'r for a Jerry can of gas every week or two for triple the cost. That same ATV'r also did a smoke run for Shane, bringing him a carton every so often. As you can probably expect, Shane and this fellow became friends.

His postings were sincere as they showed the good and the bad about daily life in the bush. Would you expect to wake up every morning in a nice bed with fresh linens and then walk over to the stove to start the coffee, the whole time you are "inside"? Sure, it's possible - but he addressed all the underlying components.
I remember a quip, and Shane M, I might paraphrase for I don't recall the exact verbiage.

"It is getting colder. I lied there in bed thinking about where I left my sandals. Floor is going to be cold. Have to open the windows to get rid of the condensation when it gets warmer. I need my sandals. Have to start the generator for coffee. So much work for a cup of mud."

LOL, that last sentence made me smile. To think, you are in the middle of nowhere. You woke up in a proper bed, with walls surrounding you. Lights, sink, stove, coffee maker!!!! So what is left? To enjoy the great outdoors.

J  
 

Left Sour

I renewed my XM radio a few weeks ago, having come across a great deal which I felt comfortable with. For those who don't know, XM is NOT totally commercial free as you would expect. No, for those who like the news and talk content, you are getting commercials. And some of them are really stupid. Let alone the fact that in many cases they don't even apply to Canadian subscribers.

If you just listen to music, commercials are not a real problem. They have a bit of DJ chat every now and again but not that often.

So I was in the mood for some tunes and I was scrolling through the channels to hear the end of a sentence "never never never getting back together". I paused to listen, to hear the same thing sung over and over again. "We are never never never getting back together". Taylor Swift. And I thought garbage was meant to be placed in bags and left at the curb. Well somehow they managed to transmit it through the radio.

How the heck can an artist be happy something like this ? Does it really boil down to having teen fans who don't care as much for the artistic qualities that some artists really try to promote? In this case, I think not. It's just a driving beat. You could probably play it for a whole day and the kids wont get tired of the repetitive dribble.
Scratch that song and station off my list.

So the last post was May. Long time eh? Lot's of stuff has happened, I've posted some info on the past few SS radio episodes; wanting to keep this a short post while I create the next post explaining some of the stuff I have brought up, be sure to keep an eye out.
Cheers,
J

Tether....

I was driving to work one morning and my daydreaming brought me to my blog - having not posted for some time now, I figured it was something that was dead and should probably stay that way. Then I started to read some of my past posts; it was at that point that I realized the span between posts only means that life has got in the way. Why would I be upset about that?

Well, I know a fellow who is somewhat tied down by technology - openly admitting that he cannot leave home without his tether - a black box that rings or chimes every so often to arouse his attention. On occasion, he might look at this box, maybe even type on it, or better still, talk into it. It's attached to his belt, carried everywhere. It's apparent that it has become a part of his life. From different perspectives it all turns into the same thing - convenience and accountability. If you look at a typical office worker, 40 hours a week, or 8 hours a day - nowadays that commitment is shot right out the window. Yup, work has literally been increased to the point where you cannot describe it in hours, no, it comes down to "when do you have some free time"? People think about your obligations and responsibilities - then, as a secondary thought, they think about you.

Did I mention that there is no such thing as a 24 hour day? That went out the window long ago. Every day works itself into the next, it just makes things easier. How did that happen? I suppose technology screwed us over at some point (pardon the expression), but if you are going to spend your hard earned money on a smartphone so that you are "connected", cramming more time into your day by doing electronic tasks, haven't you just added to the pile of stuff that you already have to do? Yup, goodbye 24 hour day. Now, you are not only "personally" accountable, you are now accountable to people who you only speak to on a message board or through Blackberry messenger or text messaging.

And you wonder why people get so burnt out and stressed. I suppose it's as simple as hitting the "OFF" button, but just try it...I dare you.