Midwest Trip 131002

We have been here for just 24 hours, and Cindy has accomplished some of the first items on the list: an escorted doctor visit, lists of medications, face-to-face evaluation of the situation.

I have installed Wi-Fi on their iMac (for our own convenience), tightened a dangerously and precariously loose blade on their ceiling fan, and demonstrated to them the joys of the attic fan. (They have stopped running the air conditioner, because keeping the house at 61 degrees when the outside is 99 is so expensive. It is considerably less hot than that now, but the house can be sweltering anyway.)

Alas, however, they don't like the fan because of the dirt and dust that the incoming air introduces into the house and the curtains it blows on its way in. (To clarify: This is in the middle of the suburbs; there is no perceptible incoming contamination.)

The trailer, sitting in the sun but with windows open, is more pleasant inside.

It has been a bit warm; sunny, and obviously humid. However the nights are cool and filled with the sounds of lovelorn insects--something that we both miss. (Last night we had crickets, katydids, cicadas, things I don't know [never did], and a barred owl. Excellent!)

Rush hour through Denver yesterday morning and through Kansas City in the afternoon were nearly nothing. Furthermore, the arterials here in Independence were nearly deserted as we drove between the freeway exit and the destination neighborhood.

Very different.

The trip was tough but not difficult; the challenge was in its length compressed into as few hours as possible. For Cindy, the next weeks (expected to number four) may be far tougher. Her father and his wife are likely to feel similarly.

More later, should anything interesting occur.

Mark_
_Arcadia_
Independence, Missouri

RVing Links

RVing Information-
130923

Containing links to information about plastic travel trailers, boondocking, fulltiming, RVing cheaply, and other topics.

I have not vetted these.


Forums
......

• An online index ("guide"): <http://www.doityourselfrv.com/guide-rv-forums-message-boards/>

• Camping in Oregon @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/campinginoregon/info>
• Camping RoadTrip: <http://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums>
• Cheap and Free RV Travel @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cheapandfreervtravel/info>
• Cheap RV Living: <http://www.cheaprvlivingforum.com>
• East Coast RVing & Travel @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/EastCoast_RV_Traveling/info>
• Escapees: <http://www.rvnetwork.com>
• Fulltime RVing: <http://www.fulltime-rving.com>
• Full-time RVing Seniors.... @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FulltimeRVingSeniors/info>
• Gizmo @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/gizmo/info> (Wintering inexpensively)
• Gypsy Journal: <http://gypsyjournalrv.com>
• iRV2: <http://www.irv2.com/forums/>
• Open Roads @ Good Sam: <http://forums.goodsamclub.com>
• RV Camping @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/camping_rv_style/info>
• RV Fulltime WannaBes: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/rvfulltimewannabes/info>
• RV Travel...Shoestring @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/rvtravelonashoestring/info>
• RVForum: <http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?board=10.0> 
• RVNet: <http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/21.cfm>  (Good Sam?)
• RVUSA: <http://www.rvusa.com/forum/vbulletin/forum.php> 
• Trailerlife @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Trailerlife/info>
• Travel...Shoestring @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/travelonashoestring/info>
• Wal-Mart RVing: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/walmartrving/info>
• Weapons @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RV_SAG/info>
• Woodall's: <http://forums.woodalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/21.cfm> 


Casita, etc.
............

• Casita Club: <http://www.casitaclub.com/forums/>
• CasitaForum: <http://www.casitaforum.com/invboard/> (Membership required.)
• Fiberglass RV: <http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/>
• Tiny Travel Trailers @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TinyTravelTrailers/info>
• UHaulCamper: <http://www.uhaulcamper.com> (Several GRP trailers are covered.)


Boondocking
...........

• USFS <http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/finder.shtml>
• <http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm>
• <http://cheaprvliving.com/Boondocking.html>
• <http://www.loveyourrv.com/love-your-rv-boondocking-basics/>
• <http://www.thegoodluckduck.com/p/boondocking-resources.html>
• <http://www.uscampgrounds.info> Mobile: <http://www.campfone.info>
• Boondocking RV Camping @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/boondockingrvcamping/info>
• HOW TO LOCATE BOONDOCKING SITES <http://roadslesstraveled.us/boondocking/>-
<<The US National Forest Service <http://www.fs.fed.us>, Bureau of Land Management <http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en.html>, and National Park Service <http://www.nps.gov/index.htm> all manage vast tracts of land.  Each agency oversees its land with a different mission and reports to different government branches.  Maps are available from each agency, but we've found that the Delorme state map books <http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10042&minisite=10020> are excellent and they are our primary mapping resource (Amazon does not seem to carry the most recent editions).  The map books clearly show where the public lands are, and although it is sometimes hard to see the detail of the forest roads in these books, once you are on them with your bike or truck it's easy to decide what is passable with an RV and what isn't.  Benchmark <http://www.benchmarkmaps.com> also sells an excellent series of topographical atlases.

<<It is relatively easy to locate beautiful places to camp.  It just takes a little time.  If we don't have information on boondocking sites in an area, we sometimes stop at the ranger's office for the agency that manages the land.  They often have maps and suggestions of places to go.  If we can't find the ranger's office (sometimes they are in a distant town), we will set up camp for a quickie overnight somewhere nearby and then explore the area on our bikes or with the truck.  It's a lot easier to decide whether the rig will fit into a particular site when we don't have it with us. And there's nothing worse than going down a narrow dirt road with the rig -- only to find there is nowhere to turn around.

<<Day's End Directory-
<<A lot of times we will hear about places by talking to other travelers.  But the best source of information we've found for boondocking sites is the Day's End Directory <http://daysenddirectory.com>, available [only] to members of the Escapees RV Club <http://www.escapees.com>. This is, without doubt, the most comprehensive list of boondocking sites available, and is an incredible value for the money.  In 2009 it filled two one-inch 3-ring binders and has expanded dramatically since then.  We use the Day's End Directory as our only travel guide, rather than relying on any campground books, Lonely Planet guidebooks or anything else.  Annual membership in Escapees is about $70, and an annual subscription to the Day's End Directory is about $10.>>


Other
.....

• Many topics of interest: <http://www.rvlifestyleexperts.com/index.php> 
• Mountain road grades: <http://www.mountaindirectory.com>

• Pleasure-Way @ Yahoo: <http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Pleasurewayownersgroup/info> 
• Class B: <http://www.classbforum.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=35&sid=35fe0826be2c49f87ca50af2089e1434> 
• Woman RVers: <http://www.womenrv.com/forum/index.php?sid=6236264f2bb4965fd9f775b4ec49d51a> 


Mark_
22 September 2013

Cindy's First Day of School

Cindy is, as she had desired, out on a beach on what would have been her first day of school 2013-14.   (Pic @ my Picasa.)

We spent three nights in Iron Creek campground, an extremely beautiful place full of big trees (not all of which are standing).  P. & I. Far. slept in a tent on our campsite, and P. & A. Rou. were just feet away in _Andy_.  Quite a few feet, actually.  Despite their being in the next "slip", we could barely see them.  The sites were well separated, and were secluded by considerable vegetation.

This is a great park; we will return.

This trip will take us into the Bend area where we hope to rendezvous with H. & M. Sch., who insist that there are many things of interest and beauty nearby.  We already have a list, and (once again, after last summer's big "Ranger cruise" to Yellowstone) vulcanism will be a major theme.

Alas (or not) these volcanoes seem to be largely defunct.

All good!

Mark_
R/V _Arcadia_
Fort Stevens S.P., OR

Making telephone calls without a telephone

I have just had an experiment with telephoning from Apple's iPad; any microphone-equipped iOS device can do it (even if by use of a headset such as Apple's earbuds with in-line mic).  (Actually, the oldest of the iPod touches may not run a sufficiently recent OS for the required software.)  Instead of using the cellular voice network, it uses wi-fi or 3G to connect to the world; therefore it does not "use minutes".

For quite some time, Apple banned software that could imitate or replicate iPhone functions, but through whatever change or policy alteration there is now a way of making non-phones seem very much like telephones.

Required:

• iOS device, microphone equipped: The first iteration of iPod touch lacked a real speaker, and the first two generations lacked microphones.  I am not certain offhand about the original, but in the second generation both deficiencies can be made up by use of a set of earbuds with in-line microphone.
• Wi-Fi: Network access to the outside world.
• Google Voice telephone number: A popular and free-of-charge way of connecting with real telephones <http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html>. Originally, a way to use a computer as a telephone and to add "features" to one's existing telephone service(s). Will take voice-mail and notify you of a missed call. (With a transcript--although those can frequently seem /odd/.)
• Talkatone: iOS software "telephone" <http://www.talkatone.com>.  (UPDATE: there may be other apps that can serve here.  MagicJack <http://www.magicjack.com> and Skype <http://www.skype.com/en/offers/skype-number/> can also imitate telephones.  There may be others.)

After installation and configuration, the combination of hardware, network access, account, and software permits the iPod touch and iPad to work as telephones, both originating and receiving calls from real telephones out in the world.  Not a bad thing to have on a real iPhone, too; permits having free calls via wi-fi with telephones that don't have your cellular provider's _no-minutes_ privileges.  (In which case--at home--don't have it receive calls over wi-fi; the interface gets confused when both the iPhone and Talkatone receive the same call simultaneously; yes, this can happen.  When you explore Google Voice features, this will make sense.)

So: When a household has only one celephone, the _other_ spouse can still have a telephone number with access to the device's iOS addressbook--which is much superior to what most cordless (or other?) household telephones have.  That "virtual telephone" would work while it had access to wi-fi at home, at a friend's, at the library, or at a coffee shop.  Hardly as ubiquitous as real cellular, but perhaps good enough to seem attractive to people who already have iPods touch or iPads, and who would be interested in extending their functionality in that way--with no charge whatever.

If that sounds intriguing--and if I have explained it badly here--get in touch.  It does seem to work pretty well (so long as nobody is running the microwave, of course).

Mark_
06 July 2013

Cindy has left her job.

Briefly, Cindy has retired a year earlier than she had anticipated being able to.  It was pretty sudden, and we are still processing it, but it is an accomplished fact.

Also, we are headed for Yellowstone in caravan with Phil & Ann R. (_Andy_), Dick & Dorothy S. (Bigfoot), Dick & Evalyn L. (Forest River), and Henry & Miriam S. (rented 27' something MH).  We hope to see Charless & Marjorie F., who live near part of our itinerary, and Larry & Cheri C. (Lance), who will be passing by on their way home from the Canadian Maritimes.  We will be in our very new-ish hard-side travel trailer, the Casita Liberty _Arcadia_, for our second big trip since acquiring it only seven months ago.

Our original plan was to do the trip (roughly three weeks), then head home so she could resume her duties as principal.  Now she doesn't have to consider that when considering when to end the trip.

We expect to post pictures to our two Picasa albums.

In other news, reliable cellular coverage has finally filled in at our house; we have abandoned our household LL telephone in favor of our two cellphones.  Those and our four wi-fi-based comms systems should permit us to remain in contact with the outside world during Retirement.

All excellent!

Mark_
06 July 2013

AMBER Alerts on iPhones

Several of us were awakened in the middle of the night recently by AMBER Alert notifications to our iPhones (and to other "modern" smart-phones, apparently).  It made a very loud Emergency! sound different from anything else I had heard the phone do; I was very, very, annoyed.

I looked online, and found what we need to turn off AMBER Alerts on our iPhones.  One thing said "opt in", but it is obviously _on_ by default, requiring _opt out_.  Not polite.

  Settings > Notifications > [scroll down] > Government Alerts ...

I disabled AMBER; I'll leave Emergency Alerts enabled, just to see what happens.  (I don't yet know what's covered by that feature.  Weather?  Nuclear attack?  Car alarm?)

I have been through the list of Notifications many times, and this feature was never there before.  I don't know if it arrived with the most recent update (weeks ago), and I just had not happened to need to see the bottom of the Notifications list since then, or if they pushed a mini-update while we were not looking.  At any rate, that's how to avoid having that particular feature awaken us in the middle of the night in future.(Stupid, intrusive "feature".)

Oh--I guess it isn't actually Verizon's fault, as I had assumed at first.  It is, as they say, BIGGER THAN WE THOUGHT!

I hope this is helpful.

Mark_

Down the Coast with _Arcadia_

We spent Cindy's spring break driving down US-101 toward Jedediah Smith State Park in northern California, "camping" along the way in the new Casita travel trailer.

It was Big Fun among Big Trees, and served as another illustration of our belief that, for some kinds of things, the impulse to do them may not be satisfied by actually doing them.  We hope to return along that route, to that destination, soon.

Along the way, we visited trees, beaches, hiking trails, some of Cindy's relatives, and a king ("Lear", in Ashland, OR).  We increased our acquaintance with our new trailer, and were pleased to find that a week in it was not too much.  

Our itinerary: 

Down US-101 to Jedediah Smith in northern California, and back up I-5 from Ashland, OR.  We were out for eight days.

• Cannon Beach RV Park, Cannon Beach, OR

• Honeyman State Park, Florence, OR

• Humbug Mtn. S.P., Port Orford, OR

• Harris Beach S.P., Brookings, OR

• Day-trips into the woods; one day to Jedediah Smith.

• Glenyan RV Park & Campground, Ashland, OR. (a little commercial place; we saw a play ["King Lear"], and enjoyed a very nice visit with Cindy's relatives)

The southern half of the drive north on I-5 from Ashland is very beautiful as it winds along valleys and over passes; it was most enjoyable.

It was a great trip.

Pictures are in place on my Picasa collection.

Mark_

Seattle