RV Why? RV History. RV $$$

I am back around the old home turf in New York visiting friends and family so the posts may slow down but the adventure continues. All is well.

WHY?

I came across a quote that explains the why. The RV is part of the journey but more a means.

"We shall not bring back a single bit of gold or silver, not a gem, nor any coal or iron. We shall not find a single foot of earth that can be planted with crops to raise food. It's no use. So, if you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go. What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for."

George Leigh Mallory, 1922

HISTORY.

Four or five years ago I was walking home from the store in Ballard and saw an RV parked across the street. I though that is a cool looking RV and took a picture of it and forgot about it.

Last September as the story goes I was in Missouri and saw an RV in A park and thought that is a cool looking RV and took a picture of it. This time I went home and Googled it. Hit! One for sale on Mercer Island. Phone call. Drive over with checkbook and friend (to drive my car home just in case). An hour or so climbing in and around. Test drive. Make an offer. It's mine!

The cool strange thing is the one I saw 5 years ago is the same model.

RV Costs:

1986 Winnebago Chieftain 22' P-30 Chevy Chassis with 454 engine 75,000 miles, new tires. $8,000

Repairs / Additions:
New Step: $275
Trailer hitch: $325
Chassis AC repair: $1000
Front Breaks: $750
Steering: $1000
Cruise control: $600
Rear suspension Air support: $400
Solar panel: $400
Roof racks: $400
LED TV: $145
LED lights: $150
CB radio: $100
WIFI signal booster: $260
Cell signal booster: $300
Stereo (w/USB): $155
Mattress: $600
GPS: $140
Starter: $100
Battery/cables: $200
CO/Propane monitor: $75

Maintenance
Oil change: $100
Oil change: $100
Window chip repair: $100
Transmission service: $200
Oil change: $100
Generator & AC service: $300

Other modes of transportation:
Raleigh bicycle: $300 (already had it)
2011 Suzuki TU 250 Motorcycle: $4000 (new)
Hitch rack for motorcycle: $300 (Craig's List)
Emotion / REI sit on top kayak: $200 (on sale last years model )
10' x 6' Load Runner Cargo Trailer: $3700 (new - to haul remaining belonging to Missouri for storage)
Bic Sport 10"4" Stand up Paddle board: $500 (LL Bean outlet sale demo)

RV Total: $15,375
Maintenance Total: $900
Other Total: $9,000
Total Total: $25,275
Debt: $0
Happiness: "To infinity and beyond!"

Hudson River, Rogers Rock, Fort Ticonderoga

On a tip from the guide at the garnet mine I found an outfitter who does shuttles on the Hudson River (he works there too). So yesterday I drove about an hour and was able to use my kayak to float down the river. A nice day and mostly clear skies. To me it's strange to see the Hudson looks like a "mountain" river. Where I grew up its huge as it goes by New York City. These are the headwaters donuts just getting started. The section of the river was mostly calm with a few fun spots and faster moving water. After 5 miles at the take out was the pickup and drive back to the start. A nice way to spend the afternoon. On my way back I drove through the city of Lake George. I'm glad I didn't stay there as it looked like half of NY and NJ was there walking around. Quick loop and escape to the other end of the lake.

This morning was a nice stand up paddle on Lake George. Not far from the campground was the large rock face into the water do I paddled up to it. There where people who had canoed and kayaked to it and where climbing. Looked pretty challenging. Later in the day I learned its named Rogers Rock after a local militia man from the revolutionary period. Tails say he faked out the Indians after being cornered by walking to the edge with his snowshoes, turned them around backwards and walked out to escape.

In my trip to revisit childhood memories I came to this area to see Fort Ticonderoga. Its an old fort built on a hill between Lake Champlain and Lake George. It was originally built by the French but went back and forth between them and the British and as factored in the revolutionary war. It was fun to walk around and make new memories and re-learn some history.

Music: Carbon Leaf "On Any Given Day"

Traveled:
115 miles by land (RV)
5 miles by river (kayak)
2 hours by lake (SUP)

Garnets.

After yesterday's hike it was a slow morning start. Sleep in. Coffee. Fix the rear mud flab that got ripped off backing into my camp site last night. There was a 4" stump that pinned it between the tire and pulled it. Relative easy fix. I trimmed the broken screw holes off, drilled new ones and reattached it (just and inch shorter).

Today was a planned travel day. I took the long way around and toured the Adirondack's and found a unexpected rock shop on the way to the Garnet mine. The Barton Garnet mine has been operating for a hundred years and is a large supplier of garnet. It is the state mineral and gem stone (and January birth stone). The main product is producing garnet "dust" and grains that is used in industrial sanding and polishing. They used there stuff to polish the Hubble Space Telescope. It's also used in deck painting on ships and most of the Navy flight decks have Barton Garnet in the coating to help slow down the planes. A large block of the stone (made of feldspar, garnet and hornblende) was cut and polished and used as the corner stone for the new Freedom Tower in NYC. I spoke to a lady in the shop (a family member of the original mine owners). The corner stone was place 70 stories down on bedrock but later removed and is now in storage in Long Island awaiting placement in a more "commemorative" location on site. The garnets are also used in sand paper and water jet cutting and the space shuttle tiles.

The tour takes you to the original mine site and you can sift through the gravel and rocks and pick up pieces of garnet. The road is made of garnet gravel and I found the biggest piece next to where I parked. I got some larger stones to try another sphere.

Mt Marcy NY

I spent a couple of days in the Lake Placid area of the Adirondacks waiting for the better weather day. Before this trip I didn't know there was a Mt Marcy. It's the tallest peak in NY and about the center of the mountains. Park of the trail in was "normal" hiking but anything going up was more river bed and rocks. The only thing different is that it's a relative long approach at 7.1 miles. I started out at 8:30 am and made it to the summit at 1pm. Five fingers again on the way up did well. I also added a walking pole which helped more on the way down. Not sure it was the distance, day or diet change (probably all) but not my fullest energy but just kept going. As usual once making the summit most all pain forgotten. Nice views of the Adirondack's and Lake Placid valley.

At the trailhead was a sign and pile of rocks. "Carry one to the top" and help alpine preservation. How could I not? The 10 pound rock could have slowed me down too? (that's my excuse:-). There are pictures of my rock and it's new home. There where some teenagers at the start who grabbed a rock and where in front of me. One dropped it about 1/4 mile in. At the top the summit steward (someone from the parks service who hikes up every day and keeps people from mashing the plants and also for information) said she had asked someone to get rocks for people to carry up but meant ones half the size. Too late for me.

The hike out was "long" even though it was the same trail in. Left the summit at 3 and back to the RV at 7pm. Tired and glad to be done. Back to the campground. Soup. Shower. Sleep.

Orthopedic Note: Had my second trail side consult for ITBS (illeo-tibial band syndrome). Hiker limping on the way down walking like Tiny Tim. Maybe I need to carry some marcaine?

Music after hike: Tracy Chapman "At This Point in My Life"
Miles driven: 16
Miles hiked: 14.2
Hours: 11 round trip ( with 1 1/2 hours of hot rock therapy at the summit)
Elevation gain: 3166 feet

Winnebago, Oops.

I started the day on Grand Isle, VT in the middle of Lake Champlain after a couple days of R&R. The drive north was nice and reminded me of many places.

San Jauns (farms and island life)
Florida (causeways between the islands)
Cape cod (quaint little towns)
Lake Washington (but not as developed and much bigger)

I crossed over into New York and that's when things changed. I stopped at a Walmart in Plattsburgh to get supplies. While I was waiting to check out at the four station self-serve registers an older lady walked in front if me. I said I was waiting. Well I was doing the Seattle polite thing and waiting in the middle in "one line" for the next open machine. Then pursued the the verbal attack from this woman. Her clearly brow-beaten husband just leaning on the cart and saying nothing. She proceeded to tell my there are four lines so I should pick one. Guess I'm out of WalMart protocol. Just so you know that not all NY'ers are rude, another lady that had been waiting and talking about my Five Fingers let me go ahead. Exit Walmart and let it go.

The next part is my fault. I went on to Lake Placid to camp and was driving around checking out the sights. I pulled into a spot with three car lengths open but as a made the turn the rear support for the awning clipped a parked car and ripped off. The cars owner cam out and was nice about it. It mostly just scratched his bumper. No one was hurt (except my pride). I guess if you drive long enough something will happen. Exchanged insurance info, called my agent and headed back to the camp ground.

And just to end the day, when I left the camp ground after checking in I left my "reserved" orange cone by the came sight number. When I got back it was missing. I checked with the ranger and they hadn't moved it. Lifted in NY. I guess someone liked my idea.

All in all a bit of a rough day. I know in the big scheme it's not that bad. No one hurt. Just stuff. A little frustration and being hard on myself. The real hard part may be fixing/repairing the awning. But I guess that's for the insurance.

My first RV Oops if you don't count when I pulled out of the driveway with the extension cord still attached and made it two blocks before I noticed.


Morning music: Colbie Coliet
Driving music: DMB Crash
Evening drink: Black Box

Maybe I should be careful of the music albums I pick :-)

Winnebago Diet

Since I've gotten some good travel and adventures in I've been thinking about what more should I be doing to take advantage of my free time. One thing that came up was diet/food. More specifically what to eat. I've been a vegetarian for almost 30 years. Darted for mostly health reasons. Some times more or less dairy. Almost always seafood. I don't think I'm unhealthy and I don't necessarily feel bad, but maybe I could feel better? Everything is up for questioning. Lately I've described myself as a vegaquarian and opportunistic carnivore. I try to eat when I'm hungry and sleep when I'm tired. I've always been a grazer when it comes to eating.

There are two new "diets" in the news. The Paleo Diet and the Low Carb High Fat diet along with the anti-sugar lecture from Dr Lustig. The Paleo basis being eat like a caveman would given that is how we evolved for millions of years. There is no dairy. Cows being a recent domestication.

The LCHF people saying avoid most all processed carbohydrates and stick with the energy dense high fat fuel. No sugar, bread, pasta etc.

My task is to read and watch and learn what I can and then decide what makes sense to me. I'll post my findings and thoughts here as I go along. Its all confusing but one step at a time.

The two pictures are what my current food in the RV separated into based on Paleo/LCHF allowed and not. Looks like I need to go shopping. Although it may change as I go along.

I'll update this as I go.

Mt. Mansfield , VT

Another hike up another tallest point. There is an auto road and a gondola but they don't actually go to the summit, just nearby. Overcast and humid but no rain to start. Up the Long Trail 2.3 miles and 2800 ft to "The Chin". Still better trail then NH but still just seems to be up a stream bed. Used the Five Fingers for the approach and did well with 2 hours to the top which was a rock scramble in the clouds. Took the ridge trail down below the clouds and could see the valley. The trail dropped onto a black diamond ski run and then back into the woods. Made it back to the RV just when it started to thunder and really rain. I took advantage of having the RV and got a cold iced tea and took a hot shower while still parked in the lot. Getting spoiled.

And the way back stopped at the Trapp ( as in the Sound of Music family) Brewery to refuel and rehydrate. The family settled here and over the years developed a lodge.

On the trail down the original five fingered animal crossed my path. Made me think that if humans weren't supposed to use toes when do we still have them?

Coffee, Ice Cream, Chocolate, Rain, Rocks, Beer, Cheese

Last night was thunder storms and lightening and heavy rain. Showers continuing today so it's a good day to be a tourist. First stop Green Mountain Coffee. No tour just a small visitor center and cafe.

Drink: Medium Iced Vermont Maple Chi tea. It was like drinking a gingerbread cookie with icing.

Lunch: Carrot Cake. ( had three food groups dairy-grain-vegetable)

Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour
Free tasting: special trial flavor "Hawaiian Cool" vanilla and pineapple.

Lake Champlain Chocolate
70% Dark chocolate factory seconds: yum
Dark chocolate truffle: ok

Rain. Rain. Rain.

Stowe Jem's
Lapis sphere and Vermont Jade

Rock Art Brewery
Beer tasting at small brewery. Yum
(what else is there to do when it's raining and the hills are clouded in)

Vermont made Gouda cheese. Yum.

Miles traveled: 118
Calories: didn't count.