RV Podcast 312: RV Stories from Real RVers living the RV Lifestyle

This week in the RV Podcast Interview of the Week, we’ll hear from a group of RVers who will share their individual RV stories about how they got into the RV Lifestyle, what challenges they’ve had, and what the RV Lifestyle is really like. These are REAL RV stories from REAL RVers, unedited and I think you’ll find them very encouraging. Inspirational even. Whether you are a newbie RVer, someone just dreaming about getting an RV, or an experienced RVer for many years, I know you’re going to really enjoy these stories… coming up in just a few minutes. Also this week, we share lots of RV News of the week, answer your RV Lifestyle questions, and listen to another great off the beaten path report from Tom & Patti Burkett. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes that include links and resources about all the things we talk about. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike and Jennifer Wendland, hosts of the RV Podcast First, on the personal side, we want you to know that Jennifer and I have just launched special RV Lifestyle Supporter Communities on Facebook and on YouTube as a way for us to become more community-supported (instead of advertising-driven), to connect with you better, and to sharpen the focus of all our platforms to meet more of your needs. We won't change anything in the content we deliver each week. We'll continue to produce all that content as before, all free. These new members-only support communities are in addition to all the regular content we create each week. This new effort to build community support is a way for you to contribute to the channel and help support our work… And for us to give something extra back to you. I realize, being a supporter is not for everyone. Not everyone has the means to do so. This won’t change a thing for you, we'll still do all the content you’re used to seeing from us, still free. But for those who do choose to support us, it will enable us to do more with our content and you’ll get some cool rewards in the process. You’ll get members-only perks, badges, and emojis that only supporters get that show up in our livestreams so we can give your questions priority answers and shoutouts. In addition, there will be discounts on RV products and services, member-only meetups around the country, and exclusive content in the form of members-only posts, photos and videos. CLICK HERE to learn about our YouTube Members-Only Community CLICK HERE to learn about our Facebook Members-Only Community This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer Listeners of the Podcast can get 10% off all purchases over $99. Just go to RVLifestyle.com/campingworld and you will see all the Camping word RV gear and accessories we like the most! Just use the discount code RVLIFESTYLE10. RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Raging wildfires lead California to close of ALL national forest land and 30 state parks All national forests are closed in California totaling more than 20 million acres because of the unprecedented fires devastating the state. About 30 state parks, including the Big Sur area along Highway 1, are also closed because of fire risks. With so many fires burning out of control in California, and much of the West for that matter, you may want to get an app to help you monitor police and fire activity for safety reasons. To learn more click here. Oregon officials also close national and state lands to camping, outdoor use, due to fires and smoke Oregon is another state facing devastating wildfires roaring all across the state. More than a million acres are burning, with many reported deaths. Not surprisingly, state and federal officials are also closing campgrounds and parks. Much of the land operated by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S Department of Agriculture, forestry, state parks, and national parks are either closed or camping is banned. This includes Crater Lake National Park, Siuslaw National Forest and more. Idaho officials concerned more inexperienced campers are negatively impacting forests More Americans are definitely camping this year, and some states are beginning to analyze what that means to its forests. In Idaho, for instance, a report found five times as many people as normal camping in the Payette National Forest, with many new campers unaware of proper camping etiquette. The report said these campers were improperly disposing of human waste, not properly putting out their campfires, and not cleaning up their trash when they leave. To help all of us remember proper boondocking etiquette, thought I'd share this link from an interview we did on our podcast on this very topic not too long ago. State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninusla reporting staggering number of search and rescues of newbies This increase in new, and relatively inexperienced campers, is something we are hearing about all around the country. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (one of our favorites, click here to see why), state workers are reporting an alarming number of search and rescues. Inexperienced campers and hikers are coming to the beautiful but rugged wilderness unprepared - leading to an astonishing number of calls for help. In just 10 weeks ending on Labor Day, the park has conducted 30 search and rescues, compared to six for the ENTIRE year of 2019. The vast majority of these calls are from inexperienced people coming outdoors because of COVID-19. Click here for tips on what everyone should know before hitting the trails. Bear found scavenging on man's body in Great Smoky Mountain National Park; bear killed, investigation ongoing Rangers at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park euthanized a bear found scavenging on a man's body. The man was apparently camping in a remote area of the park and died. Whether his death was caused by the bear was not clear as of this report. When backpackers came across the bear on the man, and saw the man's empty tent, they left to find a place with cell coverage and called for help. The bear was still on the man when rangers arrived hours later. The campsite, number 82, is closed and will remain so for some time as officials investigate the very horrible incident. Apparently, there had been reports of bears attacking humans in this part of the park in years past. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping RV PODCAST QUESTION OF THE WEEK – Organizing the RV Kitchen This question comes from Lynn, one of the 42,000 members of our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group. She writes: QUESTION: We recently purchased a 2018 34’ Keystone Alpine. We retired this past December, but are not FT as yet. You all on this great site have been so incredibly helpful with advice and ideas. Can I ask for some more? I need ideas on how to better organize our kitchen. How do you store pots & pans? Glasses? Foods? Flatware, Etc? I’m usually super-organized here at home, but I need many more ideas before we take off on our month-long cross-country trip early next month. I’ve already bought museum putty, Command hooks, 3 curtain-type rods to help hold things in place, unbreakable wine and drink glasses, a new cookware set, and a few big bins, etc. I’d really appreciate more ideas and advice! Many thanks!!! ANSWER – As Lynn noted, she already bought museum putty, sometimes called museum wax. And there was lots of discussion about that. In case you don’t know what museum putty is, it is a removable and reusable adhesive putty used by museums, and others, to secure valuable objects like vases, especially in earthquake zones. Since an RV going down the road generates enough rattles, bumps, and sways to equal a 4.0 earthquake, the same principle holds true. Put some museum putty on the bottom of anything you will be leaving out on the countertop, like small appliances, the paper towel holder, and other things you don’t want rattling around and following off the counter as you drive. Quakehold - Museum putty as described in the RV Podcast The product we use is called Quakehold and it costs around $10 for a 13-ounce container on Amazon. We’ll put a link to it on our RV gear page at RVLifestyle.com/gear. If you want a direct link to this product, go to https://amzn.to/2FHTz2Z One of the things we so appreciate from our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group members is how willing they are to share their knowledge and help out a newbie. And help they did! Lynn’s question brought 71 different answers from our other members. Here’s a sampling: From Lois: Good luck. It really is a trial and error type thing. What works for some won’t work for others. I use a non-skid shelf liner for dishes and glasses. Buy LOTS of non-skid. Not only do you want it on all shelf surfaces, but also small strips between pans, etc From Nora: We recently purchased an new ourselves! And in our 1st trip I found that while traveling, some refrigerator stuff including the baking soda fell and spilled. This week I went to Ikea and purchased white bins for the fridge. Their storage items are fantastic and at a reasonable price as well as light. From Sarah: I use squares of felt (8x10ish) to put between pans and plates to keep things for rubbing. Nesting bowls are handy. Ikea has nice containers with lids for spices, or whatever. I put things in containers then I can reach up and slide out the whole thing to find what I need. From Katherine: My 2 favorite rules: 1) Less is more- don’t pack your cabinets so full that there is no room for a souvenir. I find that when I open a lightly packed cabinet that my mind is peaceful and the RV FEELS spacious. 2) There is always a Walmart. Very few necessities can’t be purchased at Walmart or ordered online. We pack in quantity things like a specific gluten-free bread or prescription dog food.