New Participant!!!

[ClassCRV]

Hi, Ladies:
My Name is Lori, and my stick house is in Eugene, OR. I've been RVing seriously since 2008. I say "seriously" because for about eight years before that I had a Class B which I used frequently but didn't know how to make any of the systems work, so it was a lot like camping. In 2008 I bought my present rig, a 2005 27' Itasca Cambria motorhome ("Ita). I was lucky enough to have taken the next-to-the-last Life on Wheels seminars in 2009 in Lewiston, ID, which started me on a completely new path. I couldn't believe how much I didn't know. One of the nicest things that came out of that week-long, 8:00-to-5:00 group of classes was that I found that I actually could, at my ripe old age, learn something that, to me, seemed bafflingly complex -- all the systems and how to use, abuse, and maintain them. Shortly after that I joined the Oregon chapter of RVing Women and attend nearly every monthly rally. We're all caravanning to Toppenish, WA, at the end of this month for a rally at the Yakima Nation RV Park there, and I'll do some exploring in WA after that.

For the first time in my life I became a "snowbird" this past winter, leaving rainy and cold Oregon for just plain cold Arizona. Yes, it was cold there. Everyone commented about how many freezing nights we had there. In the two months that I was in AZ, there were maybe five nights that I could hook up to water. Signs in RV parks (I stayed in probably 22) routinely hung out signs to the effect of "Freeze Warning. Open your gray valve and let your kitchen faucet drip." Since I don't set out the sewer hose until I'm ready to dump, I just didn't hook up. Some folks who were hooked up woke up to split hoses and ice making intricate designs up and down their hoses.

So what's everyone's immediate concern with their rig this month? Leveling? LP? Electric? Plumbing? Maintaining slides? Tires? I'm trying to learn how to dry lube my slideout -- no small matter since I don't know what needs lubing. That's when I turn to the women RVers I know. If that doesn't work I pester RV techs, who are loathe to reveal their secrets. The Good Sam and FMCA forums are helpful, as well.

Well, I've gone on long enough. I'll check back in soon.

Lori

[Bethers]

Hi and Welcome, Lori. Guess it depends on where in AZ you were - I had very few nights below freezing, and never had to unhook my hose. But it is the desert and it does get cold, especially at night. A bunch of us got together in Quartzsite in January ... maybe this coming winter, depending on where you go, you might be able to be part of that. Meantime, we do have a gtg planned for October in OR - make sure you check out the gtg room and that thread.

Glad to have you with us. Oh, and I missed you in AZ over the winter, and just passed you up in OR ... left WA yesterday, I'm in Canada now and on my way back to Alaska (my third trip).

[carolb]

Welcome Lori Sounds like you're doing just fine with your ClassC. I got my first RV last summer, a Class B RoadTrek--loving it, but I'm still questioning the "systems"! This site is great for finding info, but you'll also find great friends--just keep reading & posting! I lived in AZ for 10 years--this past winter was really a "freak" one!

[mtngal]

Hi Lori! Welcome and glad to see you are coming to the OR gtg!

[BirdbyBird]

Missed your intro when you first can on...but welcome anyway. Hope that you enjoy the sept gtg and find many miles of adventures ahead.

[avalen]

welcome, sorry I missed your intro too

[Redwahine]

A big welcome from Texas

[Colliemom]

Welcome. Sounds like the class was really helpful and that you are working on your learning curve. Takes time to get it all down and even then we never get it all down. There's always something new to learn. But enjoy your travels and before long you will become a "seasoned" veteran for sure.