Xsplorin

I have long known that as much fun it is to travel and see the world, I would not want to be a road warrior or long-haul truck driver. I am too fond of the creature comforts of home. So giving in to this bucket-list dream of traveling the US for a while in an RV requires that I adjust. It reminds me of the framed print that hangs in our guest bathroom that reads “OK, so this isn’t necessarily home sweet home, adjust!” (Thanks again, to a long-ago dear friend Carol Hughes!) I should have brought that sign with us.

In the few weeks we’ve been on the road, I’ve adjusted easily to the smaller living space. Having access to all the outside space makes it manageable. Dennis and I have found a way to dance around each other when moving from spot to spot within our travel home. Finding things I packed, or thought I packed, is not as easy. I spend too much time looking for an item in one plastic bin or another. Sooner or later I will have a mental picture of where most everything is stored and this issue will resolve. (Still can’t believe I left my can of matcha green tea at home!)

Despite my love of cooking and baking, I’ve simplified our dinners to many one-dish “grain, greens and bean” combos. These dinners are healthy, quick and easy to both prepare and clean up after the meal. Herbs and spices make them flavorful. I’ll share some of these combos in future blog posts.

Adjusting to life without make-up most days is something I’ve transitioned to over the last several months of underemployment. Family and friends who know me well know that I generally wear make-up more than I don’t. For me, that’s just a part of who I am. I like face paint, thanks to growing up with the myriad Cover Girl, Revlon and Maybelline ads of Cosmopolitan magazine. Actually, I like all kinds of paint, but that’s for another post.

What has been tough to adjust to is riding in the RV and not being afraid of this boxy thing going over the edge of cliff-hugging, curvy roads either by force of wind or Dennis’ looking at all the scenic views rather than the road. I should not be so fearful of the latter; he really is a very good driver. And safe. He’s never had an accident while I’ve been in a vehicle with him, although there may have been a few close calls. Still, I dread when we have to take the next leg of our journey. Seriously, I’ve been thinking about driving the SmartCar for the next 2-hour journey to Colorado rather than endure the trip in Harvey (our pet name for the RV.)  I must focus on overcoming this fear of traveling in Harvey as conscientiously as I work on my fear of heights while hiking some of these astounding park trails. If it sounds like I’m quite the scared-y cat, don’t worry! I’ll adjust.

One week in the RV. Tonight in the Ft. Welikit campground. A private tent, trailer and RV campground filled with pine trees off Sylvan Lake road just outside Custer, WY. A small herd of deer graze each evening in a field next to the play fort built for camping children.

We’re still getting acclimated to this motorhome life. Last night was miserable. For some as yet undetermined reason the RV furnace didn’t come back on after 8:30 or so. We added the bedspread and the red Spencer tartan wool blanket to our normal sheet and blanket. We both slept in clothes and M in a sock hat. Still at 4:00AM she was up reading operation manuals for the furnace. I joined her because it was truly cold in here: 51º on the floor and 55º on the counter and table. To we who shiver in the high-sixties, that was cold.

Stuffed a pillow from the couch in the fan opening over our bed. I’m sure it helped, but who could tell? Like proving a negative. 

Intermittent hot water. There is no light on the water heater switch, just a red panel, No On or Off markings. We’ve tried it both ways and sometimes had hot water, sometimes not. We wonder if the wiring is screwed up and we needed to have the water pump on for the water heater to function. When people don’t have information they start to use coincidence as evidence. As Maureen lay shivering last night she could hear the water pump buzzing. It did not add to the night’s pleasure. In her predawn reading she learned the water pump should not be run while connected to “city” water as we are. So, don’t know yet, but eight(?) hours of running the pump on a dry well may have melted it. We’ll see tomorrow when we plan to dry camp. That may be drier than planned.

The manual offered no advice. We had plenty of LP. Before giving up we turned the furnace off, and adjusted the thermostat down to 65 or so. Then we turned the RV furnace back on and took the thermostat back up to seventy-five degrees. It came back on!!! Like a computer. Everything needs to have it’s power taken away for a while before it will function properly. (Hmmm, wonder if that would work with Congress?)

In the morning Maureen took a shower in the RV. Before we left home, to conserve hot water from our six gallon tank, I’d installed a shower head with a switch. When it seemed warm she wet her hair and shut off the water. With a good lather she turned it back on and it quickly went cool to cold. She did take a shower. It was just more invigorating than most.

Learning from M, I went to the clean, heated, individual bathrooms near the office. Took a warm shower, shaved and dressed in comfort.

Later, I went to the exterior wall of the RV and lifted the cover on the water heater to reveal the valves, wires, etc. There, on the far left side, nestled under some tubing was a little rocker switch with two options, Off and On. It was set for Off. I changed it to On. Soon we had hot water. (Who says I’m not a technician?) Real, steaming, hurts your hands, hot water. Great for dishes. Now, I just don’t understand how we had hot water ever before. Maybe from the overheated water pump? (Just kiddin’ . . . I think.)

We had talked for some time about seeing our wonder-filled national parks, memorials, preserves and monuments. But, you know, life intrudes. Then I, Dennis, started thinking about buying a motorhome and really taking off on the road while we’re well enough and temporarily free of commitments that demand our physical presence in Indianapolis.  Events conspired to also encourage Maureen it was time. We spent just two weeks choosing which RV to buy. A few days on the road and we already know we’re happy about some choices, but we’ve made some mistakes. Stay with us. We’ll share photos and feelings, perceptions and facts, painful lessons, delightful experiences and some recipes! Let’s see how it goes.