Joan's Excellent Adventure

[Travelinana]

Being a list maker, I have a check list for getting 'Destiny' ready for travel, a list for what to load, one for after I get there, and then the one for preparing to pack up for home. Each list is always being amended, and has given me more peace of mind. I hate forgetting something I consider high priority for my enjoyment, and as most of us have learned the hard way, it has saved me money..BIGGEE

[AlmostThere]

Great job, Joan!! Looking forward to hearing about your next adventure!

[Pooker]

And another one earns her wings (or wheels)! You did mighty fine, my girl. You may look forward to many adventures - some good and some bad. That's why we love this lifestyle.

You know how flight attendants make that final walk down the cabin checking every overhead cabinet and seat? That's what I do before take off, too, both inside and out. If I'm hurried, or forget to do this I usually discover something I missed even though I, too, have a check off list. Nothing like a fridge door flying open or dishes flying out of a cabinet to teach a good life lesson.

One time my flat screen tv came tumbling down off the over cab bunk and landed between the driver's seat and passenger seat. It could have knocked me out! Before that the tv had stayed in place for two years of bumping down washboard roads, but guess you know it has a velcro strap now!

Pooker

[Redetotry]

Glad your maiden voyage went reasonably well. I'm sure you will get the hang of it all down soon and it won't be so tiring.

[OutandAbout]

It sounds as though Joan really had an excellent adventure. And she is planning for more. Way to go!!!!!! Linda

[BarbaraRose]

I am a BIG fan of checklists! I make one for every trip I take (no RV yet), since I have a really lousy memory and tend to forget the most obvious things! You could make one up on your computer and then print out a new copy for each trip to check off each thing as you go.

[Colliemom]

You did good girl. Now that first trip is under your belt. I just took my first trip for this season last week and had to remember how to do some things after being away from the TT for several months. But it's all back now.

I too walk around my rig after I get hooked up and am ready to roll. But no matter how many times I have done that. I always leave the block of wood I put under my trailer tongue jack every time. Good thing I have a supply of wood around here Maybe I should paint some with bright yellow paint so I see them. Always get the ones for the trailer jacks though.

[JoanE]

I am a list maker and tedious organizer/planner however for this trip, I literally just grabbed stuff from my fridge, my closet, my cabinets and left. I knew there was a super Walmart just down the road from the campground, if necessary. What was very convenient is that the former owner had a laminated checklist in the drink holder. I kept it. Not as comprehensive as I would make but it was good to have nevertheless.

I also find that if I don't quite know how to do something, doing it incorrectly almost guarantees that I will not do it wrong again. (almost guarantees....I did get married twice) Just as you have all come up with ideas for organization, packing, etc based upon your experiences, that is what I realized as I spent those few days in the RV. My bedding did not work. I need to plan my meals more carefully to be sure I have what I need. Don't camp on dirty Florida sand, it tracks all over and into everything. Etc, etc.

I could not get my TV to work. The previous owner had SAT TV and I have not subscribed to a service. So the TV is hooked up to the satellite on the roof and not the antenna. Instead I listened to some great music on my outside entertainment radio. A woman I met invited me to her rig to show me how she organizes her things. Immediately I saw that we have such different cooking and eating styles that her ideas would mostly not work for me. She also had a lot of "stuff" under her awning and I like minimalism whenever possible. Different strokes..

But it was fun. I have new ideas for organizing, some of which I garnered from this forum or the links that others have provided. When I read some, I have those "ah ha" moments. Things I would never think of. So keep on giving me ideas.

[Acadianmom]

Did you check to see if there was a switch to change to antenna? If not you can get one at Wal-Mart and change to your antenna if you can get to the back of your TV. Or just take the wire from the satellite off and run a cord to the antenna. If it's an older TV you need a converter box to get the digital channels. I hate the new system. On the analog channels if you could get a signal even if it wasn't great you could still watch it . Now it's all or nothing. If you have one of the crank up antennas there should be a booster switch, usually on the wall where the wire comes in. With the digital tvs you have to run a scan every time you move to find the channels. If you get a cable for the campground cable tv you might as well get a long one because you never know how close you can get to the connection. I think mine is 25'. I know some people don't watch TV but I like to at least be able to see local weather.

Martha

[Sojourner]

What a great trip description!
I would never have thought about the snakes, but I sure will now!

-Megan

[khenrie]

Hooray for your first trip!

[rvgrammy1953]

Ah, Joan....if you do decide to stop for the GTG....The Sultan is very good with going over stuff like the TV hookups, awnings, etc. with ya', if you want.....just ask some of the gals we've camped with at other GTGs... He's a great Chief- cook, handy-man, tour-guide and bartender for this group.....

[bluepinecones]

So glad your first outing went reasonably well and you are already looking forward to the next one.
As you plan your trip north, don't forget to check the member map to see who might be along your way. Good way to meet others as you go plus the gtgs are always good.

[Nasoosie]

CONGRATS on your first voyage, Joan! It sounds as if you had a great time and learned a lot. I think there is nothing quite like that first time you haul your camper with you, arrive somewhere, smugly set up, get out the lounge chair, and settle back to gloat about having made it! Of course, there are always those Oh-Oh moments-----like parking too close to a tree to put out the awning after unhitching, lifting up the jack to unhitch without making sure wheel chocks are in place to keep the trailer from rolling off the jack into the ground, forgetting to put up the steps, forgetting to put down the antenna, forgetting to lock the door, and so forth! Looking forward to reading about more of your adventures!