RV Podcast #317: When are you TOO old for the RV Lifestyle?

This week on the RV Podcast we ask and answer the question: When are you TOO Old for the RV Lifestyle? And rather than beat around the bush, let’s answer that question right now with just five words: You are NEVER Too Old! This week, we will hear the encouraging answers from lots of RVers on that question plus a very special interview with one of our favorite people, soon-to-be-90-years-old Loren Phillis, who travels cross-country in his meticulously maintained quarter-century-old RV. Loren shares his experience with solo traveling as a senior and is sure to inspire and motivate you to get out there and enjoy the RV Lifestyle as long as you can. Plus we have lots of RV News this week, an update on the still closed US/Canadian/Mexican border, and a fascinating off the beaten path RV report from our friends, Patti & Tom Burkett. But first, my lifelong traveling companion and my bride… Jennifer. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike, Jennifer and Bo being videotaped by a Video crew and still photographer last week at Holland State Park in Southwestern Michigan . The crew is doing a documentary about us. We'll share more details when it is done and ready to be seen! We’ve been on the road for the past week, finishing up our fall color tour with a visit to Southwestern Michigan and the beautiful Lake Michigan Shoreline. We stayed at the Holland State Park last week and had an awesome time, hiking and also visiting a nearby apple orchard. We brought the apples back to the campsite and even made some caramel apples. Hanging out at our campsite in Holland, MI. And we did it all being carefully watched and videotaped by a six-person crew who used two cameras and a drone to document our camping experience there for a future story being done about us. We promised not to reveal by who and where it will be shown until it's ready, but we do promise to tell you as soon as it premieres. Meantime, though, we had a lot of fun. The crew was great to work with. I will say they had us smiling for almost every shot. It was a lot of work to always be smiling! And we got a new sensitivity for what it’s like being on the other end of the camera, being the interviewees instead of the interviewers. Bo was with us and he had a ball. The crew loved Bo, especially when he got loose at the apple orchard and went running u and down the orchard, eating as many apples as he could find. And after the trip to Holland, we headed to the Michigan Indiana border for a weekend camping trip with our son Jeff and his wife, Aimee, and our grandkids Jax and Joie and Aimee’s mom, sister, and brother in law and their kids. We had five kids and three generations of family fun… plus three dogs. And although the weather turned pretty chilly, there was lots of fun and big, war campgrounds. In fact, the weather has definitely changed. Peak color has passed and those falling leaves will soon be followed by falling snow. For a lot of people in the north and Upper Peninsula, the 2021 camping season has pretty much come to an end. Maybe one more weekend but once Halloween is past, the majority of campgrounds will be closed. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Rangers seek public's help finding vandals who destroyed eight iconic saguaros at Arizona's Saguaro National Park Rangers at Saguaro National Park are searching for vandals who slashed eight iconic saguaros earlier this month. The cactuses were between one and 10 feet tall and were either slashed open or cut down along the Scenic Trail. The saguaro cactus grow very slowly, with one ranger saying a 10 foot cactus could easily be 100 years old. If you were there in October and may have seen something, call the park service’s Investigative Services Branch tipline at 1-888-653-0009. Again, that tipline is 1-888-653-0009 Campfire hops outside firepit, burns three acres in Wyoming after campers went inside trailer to eat Some campers in Wyoming recently received a frightening reminder of the importance of not leaving a campfire unattended. The campers were at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and had made a fire in their designated fire pit. After their meal was cooked, they went inside their trailer to eat and did not make sure the fire was completely out. Apparently, a strong wind blew and their fire hopped outside of the designated pit and on to the grass while they were inside. Another visitor saw the blaze, alerted the campers and called the fire department, which quickly arrived. About three acres were destroyed before the fire was out, and the camper was completely destroyed. We share this story because it is a good reminder to us all to never, ever, leave a fire unattended - even for just a few minutes. Bear takes California's family's food while family watches just feet away from tent A family camping at California's Mammoth Lakes area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains last week were in their tent when they heard a weird noise. Just a few feet away a large bear was tearing through their cooler, eating their food. The family had just arrived at the campground, was taking things out of their vehicle and had just finished setting up the tent. The bear left and came back to their cooler three times, hauling off all their "good" stuff. Thankfully no one was hurt. It is a good reminder, however, of the importance of practicing bear safety. Click here to see a story we did previously on how to camp safely in bear country. US border with Canada and Mexico remains closed The US Border to Canada and Mexico will remain closed to RVers and nonessential travel at least another month, due to concerns over COVID-19, At least until Nov. 21. Some experts don’t see it reopening until spring, at the earliest. The borders shut down in mid-March and although essential business travel is allowed, RV travel is not. The closing has disrupted the winter travel plans for thousands of Canadian snowbirds, who usually winter in Florida, Arizona and Texas New Mexico state parks extend ban on non-state residents through mid-November Out-of-towners hoping to camp in a New Mexico state park will have to wait a little longer. The New Mexico State Park division is keeping state parks and state campgrounds off limits to those who do not live in the state through Nov. 13. Previously the ban on out-of-state residents was to end in mid-October. Anyone who had a reservation and does not live in the state will get a refund. New Mexico state campgrounds have been among the nation's strictest in battling COVID-19. This part of the 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 - A reader asks: Are We Too Old for the RV Lifestyle? This question comes from Diane via our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group: QUESTION: “Hubby and I are 64/62 and we were thinking we want to get an RV to start doing some traveling. But, we’re wondering if we’re too old to do it! We’ve recently started making day trips with our dogs. It’s exhausting - lol! By the time we pack for the day, drive 2-3 hours, hike with the dogs, and then drive back, we need a nap! How do people our age do it? Did we miss the window to travel due to our age?” ANSWER: The answer to this is an unequivocal NO! Diane’s question brought a huge response from members of our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group. More than 400 in just the first day! And the answers are awesome: Jerry: We're 73 & 70 love it. Take longer trips with some do-nothing days. Take a drive, then a nap. Henrik: My dear, I'm 60, my wife 65.. we are currently prepping our house to go on the market in the spring.. plan is to get a 30' TT and get out! Never too old! If your body can tolerate the adventures, I say go for it! I can not imagine starting our retirement doing this.. it's our dream. And it will come true! Good luck and hope to bump into you and some of the great people in this group next year! Larry: Diane Alverez your only too old if you think you are. I am 63 tomorrow and will be taking off in my MH in March with a friend who is turning 62. Lindsay: Your not. Do it do it now. So many older ppl wait till the last minute and can’t. Do it while you can enjoy. Amy: I'm 64 and a widow. I'm doing it! Carol: We are 69 wife, 65 husband. Husband and wife good health …feel our age… hubby still works own business retires in July. I have a very bad back and use a walker or electric trike. I wanted this lifestyle but hubby thought I was nuts. We have never camped out, know no one who did this. Reluctantly he agreed and we bought a very nice new Class C. From day 1 to now, 5 yrs later, we love it. We still stay 1-2 hrs from home until retirement, then we will do our long trips and we can’t wait. We are not athletic, adventurist or very social. We do as we please, always meet new people and there are weekends I don’t leave our now Class A. Do it .... Patricia: We are 73 and just bought a 25ft class c. Use to have a 40 ft diesel pusher for twenty years. We got rid of it a year and a half ago. Missed the freedom to travel. So bought something smaller. Ann: I'm 68 & my husband is 73. We bought a used motorhome 4 years ago & have been heading South for 3 months in the winter. We do not pull a car. We have ebikes. We previously stayed in about 20 different places, shopping or doing laundry between campgrounds. We stay mostly at state, county, & municipal campgrounds with a few “ Boondockers Welcome” spots thrown in. This year we only have reservations at 7 campgrounds. Hard to get reservations, even 11 months in advance, when you have a budget. We have enjoyed it immensely!