I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Talk about anything under the sun! Just remember to be respectful of others.

I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby Cudedog » Sat Nov 09, 2013 7:54 pm

Some time back grammynmaggie suggested that I start a blog.

I have taken her advice - thanks, grammy!

This is the result. All of you have read my cargo-van-to-camper-van story (still working on posting the last part of this), but after working on the van for more than a year, as of the end of last month (October, 2013) with the van finished, I finally was able to take my very-first-ever-trip/maiden voyage!

As I was working I always had a slight fear in the back of my mind that I might not like the camper/travel lifestyle. I had never done anything like this before in my life!

Well, I am here to report that with my nerve-wracking "First Time" now behind me, and I can't wait to get back out on the road. :D

Here is my story:

http://heartdogs.net/wordpress/?page_id=308

Enjoy! Suggestions and comments appreciated!

Northern California Anne
The Stone Wind
Hand Made Hammered Copper & Natural Stone Jewelry
https://www.etsy.com/shop/thestonewind/
User avatar
Cudedog
 
Posts: 2955
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:39 pm

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby BarbaraRose » Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:19 pm

Whew! That had my heart racing! Can't wait for the next part...
Barbie, Romeow, and Sophie, missing Lola! (and lots of ferrets running around in my heart!)

Image

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened"
-Anatole France
User avatar
BarbaraRose
 
Posts: 11417
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2009 8:23 pm
Location: Indio, CA

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby VickieP » Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:20 pm

That's a great maiden voyage, beautiful up there, just be careful taking risks on the remote roads. It made me think of people who have been stranded when it was off season.
VickieP
2014 Newmar Canyon Star 3911

Image
User avatar
VickieP
 
Posts: 6250
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 10:41 pm
Location: Southwest Louisiana

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby Azusateach » Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:26 pm

Great blog, Anne! Gorgeous pics, and I smiled with you as you hit pavement at the end of your adventure.

Did I miss pics of the interior of your van?

Laura
Image
User avatar
Azusateach
 
Posts: 526
Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:56 pm

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby monik7 » Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:30 pm

Love the start of your blog Anne. I love volcanoes too, but maybe not to the same extent as you. I do love geology and have a library's worth of books, so I can easily relate to your excitement in your adventures. Have fun and congratulations on the completion of your van project and your first successful trip.
Sandi
Bindi (Maltipoo) and Abby (Shih Tzu/Poodle)
Image

"Without the animals men would die of a great loneliness of the spirit." ~ Chief Seattle
“A dog can change the way you see the world.” ~ Anyone who has a dog
User avatar
monik7
 
Posts: 3017
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:49 pm
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby cnq50b » Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:46 pm

Love your blog, Anne.
I could relate to so many aspects - getting a late start on my first big adventure, each stop at a store takes forever & especially the final sentence - I frequently have to tell myself to breathe as I drive mountain passes & the only ones I take are on 4-lane highways! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Love your writing style - please, please keep it up.
Catherine & Sadie
California

Image
User avatar
cnq50b
 
Posts: 1675
Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:31 pm
Location: LA area California

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby Rufflesgurl » Sat Nov 09, 2013 9:11 pm

Good job Anne! Loved the photo with the sun in the left corner and the one of the snow on the road. YIKES!

Linda
Rufflesgurl
 
Posts: 1943
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:59 pm

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby cpatinjones » Sat Nov 09, 2013 9:13 pm

Great first time out!
Carolyn
35' Cougar 5th Wheel, F-250
Escapees, Good Sam, RVing Women
Image
Slept in my RV
User avatar
cpatinjones
 
Posts: 2956
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:17 pm
Location: Butte La Rose (Breaux Bridge), Louisiana

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby Cudedog » Sat Nov 09, 2013 11:35 pm

Azusateach wrote:Great blog, Anne! Gorgeous pics, and I smiled with you as you hit pavement at the end of your adventure.

Did I miss pics of the interior of your van?

Laura


Laura, here are a couple of pictures of the interior - will post more when I finish that part of the blog:

Image

This shows the construction of the bed frames and the crate frame. All storage is underneath the beds and the crates via large plastic (lightweight!) tub.

Image

This shows the beds with the memory foam mattresses in place, and the beds made. Cooking/washing up will be done outside. There is a porta-potty under the dog crates for night time emergencies.

Reading light goes on top of the dog crate at the "head" of the bed when the van is parked. In cold weather I have one of those electric heaters that look like an old-time radiator that sits on the floor in front of the dog crates. This radiator was the best bet for me, although they don't heat up instantly they do slowly radiate heat and don't themselves get extremely hot. Thus it can be placed fairly closely to interior structures and still remain safe.

and my a/c unit:

Image

I needed this because I don't "do" hot weather!

There is a false wall behind the open door that contains the a/c (2 inches of styrofoam panel insulation sandwiched between two sheets of paneling), and this door needs to remain open when the a/c is running to exhaust heat to the outside (the a/c doesn't take up much room because it "sits" on top of the door step). The other door is sealed (unless it is opened, of course).

This a/c installation worked really well for me when I was laboring on the van last summer. Outside temp would hover at around 105 degrees, inside temp a cool 75 degrees.

Thanks for asking!

Northern California Anne
Last edited by Cudedog on Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
The Stone Wind
Hand Made Hammered Copper & Natural Stone Jewelry
https://www.etsy.com/shop/thestonewind/
User avatar
Cudedog
 
Posts: 2955
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:39 pm

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby JudyJB » Sat Nov 09, 2013 11:45 pm

If you don't already have it on your list, you might be interested in Sunset Volcano National Monument just north of Flagstaff, AZ. It is a bit cold there during the winter, but very nice in spring and summer. There is a national forest campground there, but you need to remember to fill up your water tanks before you go.

Campground is on black cinders and ash. Not much growing there, but I was amazed at the shocking pink flowers growing in the black ash!
JudyJB
http://grandmajjb.blogspot.com/
https://2022humongousukadventure.blogspot.com/
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts." Mark Twain.
JudyJB
 
Posts: 7344
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:15 pm
Location: In CA for holidays. Winter: NV, AZ, & NM.

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby dpf » Sun Nov 10, 2013 12:33 am

Well....another deceiving title on a thread! :lol: :?
My mind works like lightning...one brilliant flash and it's gone.
dpf
 
Posts: 1939
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:15 pm
Location: SE SD

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby VickieP » Sun Nov 10, 2013 1:20 am

dpf wrote:Well....another deceiving title on a thread! :lol: :?

Get yer mind out of the gutter, Pat! :lol:
VickieP
2014 Newmar Canyon Star 3911

Image
User avatar
VickieP
 
Posts: 6250
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 10:41 pm
Location: Southwest Louisiana

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby snowball » Sun Nov 10, 2013 2:07 am

Wow what a trip! glad you arrived safely....and did you camp at the lake in your last photo?
awesome photos
sheila
snowball
 
Posts: 9503
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:14 pm
Location: we full time right now in Quartzsite AZ

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby Cudedog » Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:35 am

VickieP wrote:That's a great maiden voyage, beautiful up there, just be careful taking risks on the remote roads. It made me think of people who have been stranded when it was off season.


Good advice!

When I came to the "T" in the road there was actually a Forest Service sign saying something to the effect that the road was closed for the season. Wish I would have taken a picture of it.

Anyway, I thought "that's nice" and just kept right on going towards Hwy. 89.

Didn't really have much choice. . . :|

Anne
The Stone Wind
Hand Made Hammered Copper & Natural Stone Jewelry
https://www.etsy.com/shop/thestonewind/
User avatar
Cudedog
 
Posts: 2955
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:39 pm

Re: I'll Always Remember My "First Time"

Postby Cudedog » Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:42 am

JudyJB wrote:If you don't already have it on your list, you might be interested in Sunset Volcano National Monument just north of Flagstaff, AZ. It is a bit cold there during the winter, but very nice in spring and summer. There is a national forest campground there, but you need to remember to fill up your water tanks before you go.


Thanks for the suggestion, JudyJB.

I actually visited Sunset Volcano about 35 years ago. I found it fascinating. When I get that way I will definitely plan for a stop, and will fill my water tanks before I go. My "water tanks" are two 5-gallon jugs. :shock:

Enough for a day or two, anyway!

Anne
The Stone Wind
Hand Made Hammered Copper & Natural Stone Jewelry
https://www.etsy.com/shop/thestonewind/
User avatar
Cudedog
 
Posts: 2955
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:39 pm

Next

Return to General Talk

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests