Tag: RV

2025 Travel Plans – Where We Are Going Next & How We Plan

Posted on by CruisinColemans

By this time of year (end of March), we usually have our travel plans finalized. We love to plan early because it helps us secure the campsites we want and assists with our budget planning. Most importantly, we enjoy planning throughout the school year. The school year is almost over, so it’s uncomfortable not to have our plans in place.

We didn’t know what we wanted to do or where to go; who knew there was a reason! But our travel plans are nearly finalized now! We have planned several RV trips in the Midwest, including one along the Bourbon Trail through Kentucky.

In June, we will walk the Way of St. Francis (La Via di Francesco) from Florence to Assisi. The trail continues to Rome; we are confident we will eventually complete it, just not this year. It will be a challenging walk with significant elevation gain, but we have hiked through Italy before, and the views are breathtaking!  

Photo credit: https://caminoist.org/st-francis-way/

 

Here’s a quick overview of how we start planning our trips.

What Can We Do
As we are both over 50, one of the biggest factors in deciding what to do and where to go is asking ourselves, “What can we do before our bodies will no longer allow us?” We are acutely aware that we are not getting any younger. I hope we have plenty of years ahead, but you never know where life will take you. We want to keep doing hard things, like hiking through Tuscany or climbing Machu Picchu, before it’s something we can’t do. 

Early Planning Stages
With plans in mind, the real fun begins: we love coming up with what we want to see and do. We start by watching YouTube videos, as it’s enjoyable to observe what others consider important about the area we plan to visit. These videos present genuine experiences, often unrefined, offering a true account of the experience.

Time to Budget
Regardless of where we want to travel, our budget constraints largely determine the destinations we choose. I wish we could live budget-free lives, but that will never happen during our travels. Haha! We begin by considering what we want to spend and then move on to what we need. We include lodging, food, airfare, excursions, potential side trips we may wish to add, and souvenirs. 

Dates and Routes
We look at the calendar and make sure we are making the smartest plans for the time we have to travel. It doesn’t make sense to travel all the way to Europe and spend the most amount of time. We always try to go over there for at least a month. There is so much to do and see in Europe, and your biggest expense is getting there.

Then, we consider which RV routes are sensible. If we have the time, we make plenty of stops along the way, meaning the actual destination isn’t very far. For instance, we don’t have much time for a long trip in June, so planning a Bourbon Trail trip through Kentucky is perfect for us. The destination is only a few hours away, and we’ll be staying at Harvest Hosts, so the stays will be free. If you are an RVer and not a member of Harvest Hosts, sign up here.

Creating a Spreadsheet
We love to create good spreadsheets. We have them for walking Caminos and RV trips with lots of stops. The spreadsheet includes where we are going, the miles/km to get there, what we want to do when we are there, our budget, etc. We are happy to share spreadsheets with you. Just drop us a message.

Trip planning doesn’t have to be a daunting task; in fact, it should be quite fun. It’s like a pre-vacation where your imagination can take you anywhere for free. If you need help, we LOVE to help people plan trips, drop us an email at cruisinwiththecolemans@gmail.com.

If you have any travel questions, send them our way! We love to help others. Who knows, you may inspire our next blog post. We hope you will follow our travels this year. We will highlight them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, making reels and posting photos in real time as we travel.

Until next time – we hope your travels are fulfilling!

How We Choose Brand Partners. Is It All About the Free Stuff?

Posted on by CruisinColemans

In a world where influencers can easily “get free stuff” from companies, we tend to be selective. There are many reasons for this, but two stand out. (1) We don’t need that much stuff as we continue to downsize. (2) We want to support companies whose products we believe in.

Long before we became “influencers,” we were just two people who traveled extensively! For a decade, we had been tent campers and international travelers who enjoyed hiking and backpacking. In 2017, we bought our first RV but had no intention of having a social media presence. We launched this blog in 2018 and started our YouTube channel in 2019. We had no idea what would come of our little Cruisin’ with the Colemans. It’s become more than we imagined, and we are thankful for that. We didn’t force it; it just continues to evolve.

At this point in our online journey, many companies have contacted us. We see that as a huge compliment—at least, we did until we remembered the impact of our decisions and what we chose to promote. Yes, we have made mistakes along the way. We have accepted free products and created a video or reel about them, only to later realize that wasn’t a wise choice. We are much more careful and selective now. I will never forget that awful drone we promoted for a short time. It wouldn’t harm anyone, but it was a terrible drone. 

There is a significant difference between free products and a brand partnership. However, let me clarify: we have decided that if we either can’t or won’t use an item, we don’t want the free products at all. People can expect quality reviews of the brands and products we support. We might review a single item from a company without it being a brand partner; it will always be a product we believe we can use.

For instance, the company “Airplane Pockets” sent us two free samples of their pockets. We tried them out, enjoyed them, and created a reel about them. Since we liked them so much, we added them to our Amazon Storefront under “Travel Gear.” We avoid receiving gear that we wouldn’t use. While these Airplane Pockets aren’t something we’d use if we were only traveling with a backpack, we love using them when traveling with a suitcase. This is a perfect example of a company we will collaborate with that isn’t a brand partner.

An example of a brand partner is RecPro—we LOVE their products for our RV. We had been purchasing from RecPro long before we connected with them as a brand partner. We began remodeling our RV within the first six months of owning it. From removing the jackknife sofa and installing a backup camera to upgrading our blinds, RecPro has everything we need for our renovations. They became a brand partner in 2023 when we reached out to them. What we appreciate about this partnership is that we already knew we loved their products.

That’s the same reason we partnered with Coachmen Apex. We loved our rig even before we bought it. In fact, we purchased it sight unseen! We viewed similar models and many online tours, but we knew the Coachmen Apex 269RBKS was the right choice for us! We researched it while backpacking across Spain in 2017 and bought it within a week of returning home so we could explore and travel more 

It wasn’t until 2023 that we partnered with Coachmen, and we signed the contract on Christmas Day. It was the best Christmas gift we could receive because we love Apex. We adore our rig, but most importantly, we appreciate the people who work for Apex. What they admire about us is who we are – people who love to travel and embrace the way they travel. They don’t ask us to change. And thank goodness, because we have no intention of being anyone other than who we have always been.

Another example of a brand partner is a husband and wife duo who founded Rivet Supply Co. They create “adventure boards” designed for your RV. We instantly fell in love with their board when we first spotted it on Instagram. They qualify as a brand partner because we continue to work with them as their company grows.

Our channel will continue to focus on us, covering RV travel, international travel, hiking, backpacking, beaches, and everyday life. The products and brands we connect with will simply be part of the story we tell. Perhaps discussing Coachmen will inspire you to consider RV life, even if you choose another brand; we love that you are getting outdoors. If we feature the products we use when renovating our house or RV, we make them accessible to you so you feel it’s something you can tackle when you are renovating.

What’s in it for us? If we do a product review, it’s just free product(s) to evaluate. Every brand we collaborate with is a little different. Sometimes, we receive free product(s) and also have a discount code to share with you. Other times, we get a discount code for you while also receiving a percentage back. Those partnerships help Cruisin’ with the Colemans feel more worthwhile when we are tired from our day jobs but have blogs to write or videos to create.

Clear Source Water Filter is a brand partner and a product we’ve used for many years prior to partnering with them.

This is a labor of love—we enjoy sharing our adventures with you. We hope our grandchild(ren) will read about and watch our travels to learn more about who we were when we were younger. We certainly aren’t getting rich from being influencers, and that’s completely fine with us! But our travels now have another layer, and that’s pretty cool!

How do we generate revenue? A few brand partners provide a small percentage of compensation for items purchased, but it’s not substantial. We also earn a bit from our Amazon Storefront. When you buy products through our affiliate link, we receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you more to use our link, but it helps us. Our accountant appreciates it when we earn some money because it shows the distinction between this being a hobby and a business.

Our Amazon Storefront is filled with all the products we use and love!

If you watch our YouTube videos, we earn a small income. So please watch those ads—we appreciate it! Brian creates our videos, and I manage the blog and social media. These roles help us determine what needs to be done and who should do it. We like to call Cruisin’ with the Colemans our 5-9 job, meaning we work on it after our 9-5 jobs that pay the real bills. Haha! But, as I mentioned earlier, it gives our travels more purpose, and that’s a huge win! 

Thank you for reading this blog. If you have any questions about the products we use or the companies we partner with, please comment. We appreciate you following our adventures, and we hope they inspire you to take an adventure with us.

[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]

Upcoming Presentations!

Posted on by CruisinColemans

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”]
[et_pb_row admin_label=”row”]
[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]Want to connect with us and hear about our adventures? Here is where you will find us this Spring 2025:

February 15, 2025, at the Dayton RV Show located at the Dayton Convention Center in Dayton, Ohio. At 9 a.m., we will talk about “From Florida to Maine: The Blunders and Beaches along a 2,000-mile RV Roadtrip.” At 1 p.m., we will talk about “Part-Time, Full-Time, Anytime RVers: Tips for Planning your Next Adventure!”

February 27, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Base Camp Outdoors Co., to talk about “Hidden Gems Around Dayton, Ohio,” where we will discuss Dayton as the Gem City because there are so many treasures to explore! The Colemans have been exploring and hiking Dayton’s trails for over 10 years. Join us to learn about their favorite trails and biggest surprises, and maybe you will discover a new hidden gem to check out.

March 20, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Base Camp Outdoors Co., to talk about “Navigating Dayton’s Five Rivers MetroParks Hiking Trails,” where we will discuss how, like most people, we walked our neighborhood to lose weight and be more active. When we got bored of their neighborhood, we bravely ventured to our local MetroParks. With no experience in trail navigation and zero hiking gear, we started hiking short trails in jeans and sneakers. The Colemans have hiked every mile of the MetroParks trail system multiple times. This Hiking 101 seminar will encourage you to hit the trail with what you have and begin your adventure. Further, we will give you a few gear tips to level up your hiking game.

Mark April 17th and May 15th on your calendar; we will be back at Base Camp Outdoors Co. with more topics!

If you have questions, email us at cruisinwiththecolemans@gmail.com
Of course, always follow our socials!
Happy adventuring!
Michelle[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column]
[/et_pb_row]
[/et_pb_section]

RV Slideout Upgrade

Posted on by Cruisin Michelle

Making modifications to our CC (the name of our travel trailer is Casa del Camino or CC) can take away from the adventure, relaxation, and wine time of RV living, however, the payoff is huge. The more we have modified CC, personalized her, the more we love her. I remember wanting to sell, upgrade, and go bigger, but really what we needed to do is make her our own rig.

I think it’s that way with anything you own, if you take care of it and make it your own, you love it more. My son and I lived in a townhouse that was very small for 19 years, 11 of them joined with my husband and stepson. It was crowded at times, especially when we had company over, but with creativity, it never felt too small and it certainly felt like home. The same goes with anything you own, you have to personalize it and learn how to make it work for you.

In this week’s video, we are tearing out the dinette, adding wallpaper, and upgrading our recliners. I didn’t know how important this upgrade was until it was done. I knew the space felt crowded but I didn’t know this modification would make that big of a difference.

Links to the products used in this modification:

The Dinette and the Carpet

We wanted to keep this dinette for two reasons: (1) We needed a table and (2) so we had an extra bed. Well, we sit at the picnic table outside a lot, especially with guests, and we don’t have overnight guests who need to sleep in our rig. We spend most of our time in CC either in our recliners or in bed. The benches of the dinette became storage areas and created clutter that drove us both crazy. Remember, we are pros at creativity in a small space, we just had to give ourselves permission to demo our rig.

We were concerned about the carpet and what was behind the wall, rightfully so. We have seen enough demo’s to know that we should be ok, but one can never be sure. The walls had screw holes from where the dinette was screwed to the wall, this is why wallpaper was necessary. But, thankfully, the floor was fine. I just took a wire brush to the floor to pull up the matted down parts and then vacuumed it really well. You cannot tell there was once a dinette there at all!

The Wallpaper

Picking out wallpaper wasn’t too much of a debate, we both wanted something that complimented the look we had already. We like the color scheme we have which is shades of brown with bright colors in our accent pieces. As we scrolled through Amazon, this wallpaper popped up. We weren’t sure because the name of it included “berry” but once it was on the walls it was perfect! The slideout has this warm, wood-grain, shiplap feeling with trinkets on the walls from our travels. All of our wall hangings are up with command strips.

The Recliners, Bench, Ottoman, Snack Table

If you have been following along for a bit you know that we are now on the 3rd set of furniture in CC. The rig came with a jackknife sofa, perfect if you have guests. We hated it because it was terribly uncomfortable. We found new recliners on Amazon, linked here, which we really liked but they weren’t comfortable enough and we didn’t want fabric recliners. However, we couldn’t justify spending the outrageous price RV stores wanted for Thomas Payner recliners. I searched on Facebook Marketplace for about a month when we found Bargain Furniture Barn. I think once we sell the previous recliners, we will only be out $100 on this part of the upgrade. Not bad!

We still needed storage space!

Though we didn’t use all of the bench storage in our dinette, we needed something. The 30″ bench that you see above between our chairs is perfect for grocery bags, our laptop bags, and miscellaneous items. The bonus: Brian removed the hinges and arms, moved them from the long side to the short side, now it opens up from what is the front for us. The table is perfect for beverages, stuff, and of course, it’s a cat hangout. The bench tucks right under it and because Brian moved the hinges to the back, it opens perfectly. Easy access and a ton of storage!

The white ottoman took a bit of searching as well because I wanted one that was the width of the table and tall enough for 2-liter bottles of soda. Most of the ottomans I found came in at 12″ and seemed to be too flimsy for our needs but this one is a whopping 18″ square. It fits 2-liter bottles of soda and wine bottles (wrapped in bubble wrap for travel) perfectly. I think I had 4 or 5 sodas and 4 bottles of wine with a bit of extra room. The ottoman also has a tabletop on the flip side of the lid and it came with a smaller ottoman which we don’t use. We can move this around for guests and can have a 3rd person at the table.

What You Don’t See – What We’re Repurposing

What you don’t see in our video is how we are repurposing parts of the dinette and we didn’t talk about it in the video because we didn’t know at the time what we were doing. The cushions from the bench were used to re-cushion the IKEA chairs and we re-covered them with fabric from leftover from the curtains. The chairs are so comfortable you can play games for hours!

The doors from the dinette are going to be used under the bed. We have a very thick queen size mattress on our bed and it’s too heavy to lift up even with the upgraded lift arms we installed. Therefore, Brian is working on figuring out how to install the doors and then we will have under the bed storage bins that we can roll out. This will probably be where we store our hiking and biking gear, maybe…

The dinette table itself will be used for a stovetop cover. Brian is going to have to get creative here, but I know he is up for the task. Stay tuned to our YouTube channel for a video on that once it’s complete.

The Final Look

This modification took a small space with impractical storage for us and created an ideal living space. When you live small you, of course, have to downsize your stuff but the things you use regularly must be practical, comfortable, and provide easy access to your storage. It took us a bit but (I think) we have created that space that is perfect for us.

Have questions? Need help with your upgrades? Have better ideas? Share, ask, comment below. We love to hear from you. Follow our journey on social media if you want to see where we are this week.

Until next time…

RV Upgrades are Coming!

Posted on by Cruisin Michelle

Bonus Topic: Installing a new USB Port

Today we begin talking about the modifications we have working on this fall <insert happy dance>! Besides adventuring outside, working on the rig is so much fun! I think it’s all about watching our ideas come together and creating a space that just makes us smile every time we open the door.

This video is an overview of what is coming up in the series of RV renovations and modifications. I will link all of those topics as the videos come out. But for now, here is what modification we made and included in this video. Here is what we have been working on:

  • Installing a backup camera
  • Finding a better use for those countertop covers
  • Removing our u-shaped dinette and putting in a free-standing table
  • Wallpapering the slide out
  • Installing Fantastic Fans
  • Upgrading our stabilization

Installing a USB Port

I should be clear, there was a port already in there but it didn’t work. When we first bought the rig it worked intermittently, we checked the wires and tried to tighten things up, but it stopped working altogether. We originally bought a standard USB charger from Lowe’s but we learned we needed a 12-volt charging station vs. a standard residential port. The other big lesson here was RV wiring colors. I don’t know about you but we don’t have the standard red and black wires. We have white (ground), blue (12 volts), and green (shore power). You will see us talk more about wire colors when we install the Fan-tastic Fan <insert face palm>. It all turned out fine in the end but we learned a lot about video recording, wires, and just because one fan goes in easy doesn’t mean the other one will too.

This is the USB port charging station we purchased. It works great. The only challenge we have is that it’s not the same size so we need to wood putty the old holes and color match the paneling so it doesn’t show. That is easier said than done.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please leave them below. We don’t claim to be experts but we are certainly always willing to give something a try. Maybe it’s the teachers in us or we don’t have the time to wait a month for an RV shop to finally have the time to help us out.

Until next time, take an adventure!

Meet our new YouTube Channel!

Posted on by Cruisin Brian

For some reason, we have been really nervous to start a YouTube channel. I think that watching our favorite vloggers such as Keep Your Daydream, Less Junk More Journey, and Gone With the Wynns has created some pressure that was just overwhelming. We tried shooting a video back over the summer but never pulled the trigger to upload it because we just weren’t happy with the content. I think it’s also about making sure we have the time to dedicate to a good YouTube channel. I don’t know if we have found the time, but we certainly have the motivation to record our adventures.

This week in the Smoky Mountains we bit the bullet, we have two videos up so far and hope to put out a couple more before the end of the week and then start releasing videos from time to time as we continue our Camino training through the Spring. Here’s our first video.

Why do we feel the need to start a YouTube channel in the first place? We want an interactive visual way of sharing our travels with our families and friends as we travel across the country and around the globe! Our long term goal is to be full-time adventurer’s once we have retired from our teaching jobs and we know that YouTube is one method of eventually making some income.

One of the reasons we were hesitant to start the channel was the intimidation I mentioned above that we felt when watching so many other channels. Their production value is so slick and polished, we just are not sure we could compete. We’ve decided to throw caution to the wind and go for it! Since we will be walking across Spain and Portugal over the summer, we will not be able to carry much gear in our packs. Because of this, our videos will be pretty low tech for the time being. Before I go any further, the links below will take you to Amazon through our affiliate page, meaning that we get a VERY small commission if you buy. Here is what we’ve decided to take along:

iPhone 7

The iPhone 7 has a great camera and the video quality is pretty good too, I might be upgrading my phone before we go, but that’s only if I can convince Michelle that we can work it into the budget, but she won’t be upgrading her phone. Not only will I be shooting on my iPhone, but also all of the editing will be happening here using iMovie.

Michelle and I both do video and photos for the blogs and now, videos.

Monopod

Again, because we can’t carry items unless they fulfill several needs I really want a monopod that would double as my hiking pole. After testing out several monopods that felt either too flimsy or too heavy, I’ve finally settled on the Go2Gether trekking pole with integrated camera mount. The pole feels sturdy and the locks have kept it from collapsing with moderate pressure. It comes with snow and mud baskets and several different tips. The handle is a little small for my hands and I’m going to be adding some bike handlebar tape to give them some extra padding. I bought two because I want my poles to match.

Using the monopod and gimbal takes some practice.


Gimbal

The go-to company for smartphone gimbals seems to be DJI and after checking out several, I am really happy with my Osmo Mobile 2. I’ve come across a couple of problems so far. The Bluetooth connection between the gimbal and phone really eats up my phone battery. So far the solution has been to power off the gimbal whenever I’m not shooting video and that is helping. Problem number two is not being able to readily connect a mic at the same time as the gimbal because of the port placement on the phone. I’ve found an adapter but it is not a graceful solution that I am pleased with.

Wide Angle Lens

In order to get some special shots, I wanted to play with adding some lens onto the phone too. Some Genius at the Apple Store recommended the Olloclip Core Lens and Clip. The core pack comes with a super-wide angle and a dual fisheye/macro lens. Also, the clip that holds the lens can attach to your pack with a carabiner and converts into a mini phone stand. You can purchase additional lenses that just clip on including telephoto and ultra-wide.

Photo taken with the regular iPhone 7 camera, no zoom
Same photo with the Olloclip Super Wide Angle Lens
Using the Olloclip Fisheye lens yields some interesting results
Finally with the Marco lens, great detail becomes visible

Microphone

I was concerned about wind noise, especially when hiking near roads or in windy situations and wanted to add a microphone. Rode makes good quality mics at an affordable price point so I picked up a Rode VideoMicro Mic that comes with a shock mount and windshield. I had to add a ring clamp to attach it to a hiking pole and an adapter to plug it into the phone (it has a 1/8 inch plug, not lightning). I’m still working battery issues and haven’t used both the gimbal and the mic at the same time yet.

So there it is, our setup to get started on YouTube. Of course, I know that there will be more gear to come (anyone want to buy me a DJI Spark Drone?) and that we will probably have to make some adjustments as we travel along the Camino. Check out our first two videos and give us some feedback! Also, make sure that you click on the subscribe button and click the bell to get notifications every time we post new content.

Mackinaw City/Mackinac Island

Posted on by Cruisin Michelle

Two places where we have never seen so many fudge stores! As a matter of fact, the residents of Mackinac Island are called “fudgies.” Yes, fudgies! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. We started with a day in Mackinaw City which is a small little town. In our opinion, the draw of this town is the Mackinac Bridge with views of both Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and the ferry to Mackinac Island. For us, there isn’t a lot to do in the city, and I don’t know how, but we managed to leave without even sampling a piece of fudge.

We stayed at a fantastic campground called Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground which has been run by the Rogala since 1964. This campground was the largest one we have ever stayed at, but it felt surprisingly small; it was also the one of cleanest and nicest campground with plenty of staff around to take care of business. Mill Creek has campsites for all types of people – on the beach, on the lake, in the woods, primitive, full hook up, and cabins. There were easily over 700 campsites. They had playgrounds, a pool, a beach, mini-golf (though it could have used a serious face lift), and a huge camp store. The best part for the kids was an old time fire truck, re-named the fun truck, which drove kids around most of the evening. We had a lake front campsite, made friends with fellow Apex owners, and enjoyed a couple nights around the campfire by the lake visiting with them. I seriously love camping on the lake, it is so relaxing just listening to the water.

On our first full day we decided to walk in to Mackinaw City from our campsite. The town was 4 miles away and I believe we walked about 7 miles that day.  We planned to walk on the bike trail but it was a haven for mosquitoes so we had a nice walk on the shoulder of the road, really it was nice because we could see the water for much of the walk. We spent the day wandering in to gift shops, smelling the fudge, visiting the pier, and watching the sailboats come in. Then we took a free shuttle back to the campground which was fantastic, thanks to Star Line Ferry!

The next day we rode our bikes in to town and took the Star Line Ferry to Mackinac Island. This island is one of a kind with no motorized vehicles on the island (except for a fire truck and an ambulance). You can get around the island on your bicycle or a horse drawn carriage. I was told there are 600 horses that reside on the island in the summer and there are 492 permanent residents on the island.

You can stay busy with one day on the island as there are gift shops, fudge shops, a state park, you can have afternoon tea at the Grand Hotel, wander through the historic fort, and of course, make the 8.2 mile trek on your bike around the island. I have to pause here and tell you that I will not do this island justice in my blog post. I can only tell you it is gorgeous. It is a step back in time and will mesmerize your soul. The buildings, homes, and hotels are in pristine condition and all belong on a post card. I could easily see spending a quiet, romantic weekend on the island.

We decided to start our visit by riding our bikes around the island. It is an easy ride if you only consider the terrain. However, they rent bikes to anyone and everyone. They rent tandems, mountain bikes, small bikes, and regular bikes. No biking experience required. Every single visitor wants to rent a bike and ride it around the island – which is a big challenge. The perimeter loop is set up like a road with a yellow dashed line down the middle. The problem is that tourists think since there are no cars they can ride where ever they want on the road, even 5 people wide, with no regard for oncoming bike traffic. They also randomly stop on the road without warning. Needless to say I had two very close calls and I was done with biking the island ever again. I don’t need that kind of stress on my bicycle.
Once we put our bikes up we enjoyed a fantastic lunch outside at the Pink Pony overlooking the marina. This was the highlight of our day as we watched the sailboats come in. The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac was going on and sailboats were coming in all day long. This is a 333 mile distance race from Navy Pier in Chicago to Mackinac Island. About 300 boats participate with more than 3,000 sailors. Needless to say, we left the island before the parties began that evening. 😉 After lunch we once again wandered the gift shops and smelled the fudge before we left the island. All I can tell you is if I don’t see anymore gift shops or fudge shops on this trip, I will be just fine.

We are heading to the Upper Peninsula next to see the fifth Great Lake to complete our tour of all five of the Great Lakes! We are excited to see Pictured Rock National Lakeshore again, it is a true natural wonder!

Parking the RV (sometimes it isn't easy)

Posted on by Cruisin Michelle

IMG_5813
This space looks roomy enough, and seriously once you are in the site it is very roomy! But do you see those trees on the right side of the image? We almost had the small one permanently imprinted on the bumper of CC. If you don’t know, the name of our rig is Casa del Camino or CC which means “Road House” or “House of the Journey” and a perfect name for our rig. We will blog about how CC got her name later this fall.
This week we have been at Traverse City State Park. We love this park! The location is wonderful if you want to walk across the street and play in Traverse Bay. If you want to bike, the TART Trail is right behind the campground. If you want to take a long walk, there is plenty to walk to including mini golf and zip-lining. But that is another blog post, look for it later this week.
Back to parking CC. We are not experts by any means. We purchased CC in August 2017 and have backed her in to a site at least 25 times plus every time we park her in the storage lot. We are newbies. But we have back up assist on the truck and Brian is pretty darned talented. However, we have plenty to blog about over the next year about our biggest mishaps like the time we almost dumped CC in to the lake and the time we almost let her roll down the hill. We are experts at mishaps that is for sure.
We do have a system for the process of backing up. It begins with me (Michelle) getting out of the truck with my cell phone and calling Brian on the phone. We have learned calling on the phone is better than hand signals that he may or may not see or yelling at each other so the whole campground can hear us. Then there are the cats who love to lurk out of the windows while we tried giving directions while yelling, “watch out for Lola” or “Pepe is going to jump out of the window!”
I assess the site situation and if it looks complicated I have Brian join me for the assessment. Sometimes I look at the site and have no clue how we will get in to it so the brainstorm helps us both. The complicated part of my job is watching both sides of the trailer and in a sharp turn watching both sides of the truck. Here is a case in point as we watched another couple back in!
IMG_4224
What you need to notice is how narrow the road is at this park. It is literally no wider than our 8 foot trailer. Our trailer is only 30′ long but with the truck and the fact that we are new at this, sometimes it is overwhelming. On days like this one, I can’t believe that we both want a bigger rig. For our retirement RV we want a class A and will tow a car. That will be interesting. 🙂
We have watched a lot of people get very creative as they parked their rigs in this state park. We have also watched a lot of bystanders help and in here it was welcomed by the driver. What’s deceptive is that the sites are large enough but the road is narrow, the sites are close together, and trees are plentiful.
On this particular day my biggest problems were: (1) We had been driving for 7 hours and we were both crabby and hungry which is never a good combination when you need to calmly communicate with your partner. (2) I was behind the rig and there was a small tree that neither one of us could see behind the truck and when Brian made the sharp turn I told him to make, that small tree almost took out our back truck bumper. Thankfully he saw it at the last minute. (3) When I felt things were good in the back I walked around to the front to watch Brian brush the front bumper with another tree. Thankfully it was a small brush and didn’t leave a mark. (4) Finally, there were the bystander helpers. Yes, we needed them. Yes, they empathized because they both had the same troubles. But when you don’t know who to listen to, sometimes helpers can be stressful.
I talked to two other wives after this backing up ordeal and the consensus among us was that backing up is always hard and there is always an argument. The Communication professional in me hates that idea so we will continue to improve our communication and our system. It is all about learning and growing – and not denting the rig. Thankfully we did not end up with a dent this time around.
 
 

★ 25 years guiding ★ 48 U.S. states ★ 10 countries ★ 3,000+ Camino miles