Episode 110: Slow Down, You’re Moving Too Fast!

The biggest mistakes many RVers make are they stay in Walmart parking lots, cover too much ground, too fast, and they overplan!

To maximize the RV experience we all need to slow down and enjoy the journey. In this week’s episode, we interview a couple who have been doing just that for 19 years and they offer some of the most helpful, practical and pointed advice we’ve ever shared in the podcast.

Bill and Peggy Bechtel also tell us how they were able to retire at the age of 55 and fully embrace the RV lifestyle, unworried about running out of money.

This week’s episode is a must listen!

Plus we have RV news, tips, questions and an off the beaten path report about a place called the Dead Horse Park that – despite its off-putting name – belongs on your bucket list.

Click the player to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details and resources and click the player below to start listening. When you see a time code hyperlink, you can click it to jump directly to that segment of the podcast.

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Show Notes for Episode #110 Oct. 19, 2015 of Roadtreking – The RV Lifestyle Podcast:

As we begin this episode, Mike is joined by Jennifer and we discuss: [spp-timestamp time=”2:05″]

• Our recent 10 day trip through Michigan’s UP
• Hunting season in the woods….time to beware!
• The friendships that RVing brings
• Cold weather is coming, and the first wave of the Great Snowbird Migration is underway
• Our travel plans for Mackinac Island this week, Souderton PA next week

JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK

This week’s tip is for all of you who have diesel RVs. And it’s a warning about what could happen if you are not careful at the pumps… [spp-timestamp time=”7:21″]

Jeff and Mary Jane explain on the podcast in an interview with Jennifer just what happened when they mistakenly filled their diesel tank with gasoline.

Here’s a link to additional details in a story they wrote on the blog about it – https://rvlifestyle.com/word-caution-regarding-deisel-pumps/

The reverse could be true, for those of you with gasoline engines. Diesel in a gas engine can also be very damaging. So pay attention out there!

And be sure to send me your tips and suggestions for the RV lifestyle. You can use the “Leave Voicemail” link at Roadtreking.com. Just click it and then use the built-in microphone on your computer or mobile devise to record a message to me. You can do it over as many times as you want, until you are satisfied. And then you just click a button and it comes right to my email inbox.

If I use your tip in the podcast, we’ll send you a free Roadtreking hat!

I love hearing from you!

Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes.

LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK:

Jake from Kansas is a disabled Vet and part time RVer in a Fifth Wheel… he wants to get a bigger one (a toy Hauler) to convert to a mobile radio room for his amateur radio hobby and make it available to share his hobby for the public. He asks Mike’s opinion, knowing Mike is also an amateur radio operator (K8ZRH) [spp-timestamp time=”14:05″]

Jason is a brand new RVer from Canada and he and heading off to Florida in the spring looking for info on where to send a month in FL. [spp-timestamp time=”19:15″] Mike and Jennifer share their thoughts.Mike shares his three favorite Floida State parks. Mike suggests he go to http://yesyoucamp.com website and enter the information – the campground you want, dates and length of stay desired. For $3 they’ll check the site every 5 minutes and text you if something opens up. For no charge, they’ll check every four hours and email you. If you book, they request a donation. For a list if all Florida state parks, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Florida_state_parks or to search by a map, you can go to https://www.floridastateparks.org

And with the cold weather, lots of readers and listeners emailed this week asking about winterizing and when to do it. We asked Roadtrek Motorhomes Engineer Yan Seiner to weigh in with his suggestions about when you need to winterize and when you don’t. [spp-timestamp time=”23:02″]

Sponsoring this part of the podcast is Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations.

INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK – Slow Down, You’re Moving Too Fast!

This week, we interview veteran RVers Bill and Peggy Bechtel, who’ve been boondocking and exploring North America in an RV for 18 years now. They have been in every state, most of Canada, the Baja in Mexico and in an interview with Mike they share their most excellent travel style, tips and more. [spp-timestamp time=”27:24″]

Here’s some of the topics we cover:

• How driving too many miles can ruin a trip
• Why it’s better to boondock in the woods than a Walmart marking spot
• Why to devote extended time (two or three months) to touring one state
• Why you should never drive more than 200 miles a day!
• Plan on getting into camp by 2:30 pm, latest!
• Overplanning can stifle your experience and lock you into schedules
• Volunteer for local events to really experience an area (they did so for the Iditarod in Alaska!)
• Where the best and least expensive camping spots can be found
• How they prepared so they could retire at 55 and live the RV travel lifestyle

RV NEWS OF THE WEEK:

Here's the big RV stories this week: [spp-timestamp time=”40:45″]

Is Walmart Camping Dangerous for Rvers?

Camping Word CEO hates motorhomes

Lemonis would Rather sell Cars than RVs

This portion of the podcast is brought to you by Alde  the only name in heat that you need to know for your RV

TRAVELING TECH TIP:

Verizon's Steve Van Dinter reports: [spp-timestamp time=”47:05″]

It’s hard to believe but we’re only two months out from the holidays…and you know what that means? Time to start thinking about gifts for the person that has everything.

And one gadget that’s on my list this year is Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones.

Most people are familiar with android phones, but these two mark the first time Google has designed both the hardware and software – and it also means, like with Apple’s iPhone, users will get the latest and greatest software right when it’s available – no more waiting months after the announcements for your phone manufacturer to push down its own version of android.

Pixel and Pixel XL have the highest rated camera ever in a smartphone which means you’ll get amazing photos every time – and Google is throwing in UNLIMITED Google Photos cloud storage for all your pictures and high definition videos.

Pixel and Pixel XL also come with Google’s new assistant built in – just talk to your phone and it’ll not only answer your questions like Google Now does today, it’ll also help you select restaurants or sights of interest and even make dinner reservations for you – now that’s smart!

Google Pixel and Pixel XL are available in Verizon retail stores and online beginning October 20. But you can pre-order and get Google’s free Daydream VR headset for free by visiting www.verizonwireless.com

This part of the podcast is brought to you by Verizon, which operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with more than 112 million retail connections nationwide.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH REPORT –  Dead Horse State Park, Utah

This week, we heard from listener Kevin in Nashville who shared a great off the beaten path report about Dead Horse State Park in Utah. [spp-timestamp time=”52:42″]

RV CALENDAR

All this month, campgrounds across North America are hosting Halloween themed weekend events. See https://rvlifestyle.com/halloween-makes-for-a-busy-month-at-campgrounds/   Most KOAs, Yogi Bear Jellystone Park campgrounds as well as hundreds of state, county and private campgrounds. [spp-timestamp time=”58:19″]

Upcoming RV shows

Oregon State Eugene Fall RV Show
October 21-23
Lane County Fairgrounds/Event Center
Eugene, OR

Tampa Bay RV Show
November 10-13
Florida State Fairgrounds
Tampa, FL

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