Episode 111: What You Need To Know About Traveling Solo

Estimates place the number of solo RVers at between 20 to 30 percent of all the RVers on the road. In this episode, we talk to a recent solo traveler, a widow who has crisscrossed North America and loves her new lifestyle.

You’ll meet Joette George who, with her Golden Retriever, routinely is on the open road for weeks at a time. She shares her experience and offers some great advice for all RVers. [spp-timestamp time=”31:57″]

Also this week, we talk about everything from a recent Bigfoot sighting to fun off the beaten path spot in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, plus listener questions, tech tips and RV news.

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

[spp-player]

Mike and Jennifer begin by sharing their recent trip to Mackinac Island. [spp-timestamp time=”2:48″]

They Mike talks about that recent Bigfoot sighting, and shares a funny story of his own [spp-timestamp time=”4:45″]

This week, Mike and Jennifer will travel to Pennsylvania.  [spp-timestamp time=”7:48″] On Friday at noon eastern time, they’ll do a Facebook Live report from Fretz RV in Souderton, PA on the Roadtreking Facebook Group.

JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK

According to a survey Mike recently did on our Facebook Group, almost 70% of all RVers travel with pets, most often a dog. But one concern many of us have is how to keep our pets secure while traveling, or from bolting outside when we open the door. At a recent Roadtreking gathering, I asked fellow traveler Lisa Gruner for how she manages her dog while on the road.

Lisa shares a simple trick…and another tip on how she gets total darkness in her RV. [spp-timestamp time=”9:43″]

And be sure to send Jennifer 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. 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.

Jennifer's tip of the week is brought to you by T RadPower Bikes (www.RadPowerBikes.com_… an electric bike manufacturer offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes.

LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK:

• Mariane is a single listener who wants to get an RV and hit the road and asks Miked and Jennifer for advice. [spp-timestamp time=”14:31″]
• Sue asks about showering in a Roadtrek Class B Roadtrek, specifically about how much room there is. [spp-timestamp time=”20:40″]
• And Allen, who can't wait to get an RV,  has a suggestion on keeping dogs safe when outside during hunting season [spp-timestamp time=”22:52″]

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 – Joette George

This week we talk to solo traveler Joette George, a widow who travels all over North America in here Roadtrek motorhome, accompanied only by her Golden Retriever. [spp-timestamp time=”31:57″]

Joette talks about:

• How she came to be a solo Roadtreker
• How she came to choose the right RV for her
• What’s involved in solo travel
• Security concerns for the solo traveler
• What her kids and friends thought of her decision
• What she likes most about the RV lifestyle
• The places she’s been and her best memories
• Suggestions for those thinking about solo travel

RV NEWS OF THE WEEK:

• RV Shipments Soared Last Month [spp-timestamp time=”43:05″]
• Puppy caught in trap while on a hike with its owner [spp-timestamp time=”45:50″]
• All RVs banned from parking in Santa Barbara, CA [spp-timestamp time=”47:37″]

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 on New Fitness Tech: [spp-timestamp time=”51:25″]

Given how much you and your listeners are on the road, I’m guessing you’ve wondered at least once in a while if you’re moving enough during your pitstops?

Well as you’ve probably guessed, there’s a gadget for that.

Newly released from Fitbit is the Charge 2 and it takes fitness tracking to a whole new level.

Ever been curious if you’re pushing yourself hard enough when you do work out? With its built in heart rate monitor, Fitbit Charge 2 continuously checks your pulse and gives you credit for a job well done and a little encouragement when you need to work harder.

It’s easy to keep track of the number of steps you’ve taken in a day by glancing at your wrist. And if you’re not moving enough, you’ll get a gentle reminder from the device.

And no longer will you need to open up an app and select bike ride, versus run, versus working out in the gym. The sensors are smart enough to recognize what you’re doing and record it accordingly.

Getting enough sleep is just as important as making sure you’re moving! And if you wear your Fitbit Charge 2 to bed it’ll keep track of not only how long you sleep but how restless you were as well. Now when you’re groggy on Monday you’ll have a better idea why!

All of this information is easily viewable thanks to Fitbit’s well-designed app. Your device talks to your phone via Bluetooth to relay the information. It also receives from your phone notifications of calls, texts and even calendar appointments.

All of that…and the battery lasts for up to five days before you need to charge again!

The Fitbit Charge 2 can be found at any Verizon store or 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 –  Lakenland

By Tom and Patti Burkett

We recently enjoyed a Roadtrek get-together in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan’s upper peninsula.  Our way home took us along Michigan route 28, on the southern shore of Lake Superior, where we passed a colorful metal sign advertising Junkyard Art.  Pulling off into a surprisingly large parking area, we chuckled at a sign that said, ‘Donations welcome but not expected.’  As we sat in the lot getting our bearings, a man driving an ancient tractor rolled past, giving us a wave and a smile. [spp-timestamp time=”56:36″]

The man was Tom Lakenen.  Lakenen grew up in a family of construction workers, and in mid-life happily spent his days on the job site and his evenings drinking beer with his friends.  After a few too many years of this, his wife laid down the law—quit drinking or else.  “I needed something to do in my off time if I wasn’t going out drinking,” he says, “so I started bringing home scrap metal from the job and making things.”

His first efforts went into the front yard of his house, and soon drew a warning from the local officials—no signage on residential property.  The pieces were trundled off into the back yard, and a few years later were moved to a larger piece of land down the road.  Tom continued to work, bending, welding, painting and imagining.  He scraped roads through the property and began arranging his work.

Though he never trained as an artist, there’s obvious talent in the clever and fanciful creations on display.  If you’re small, you can climb inside a pink elephant and have a tea party at the table hidden there.  Bigger people can picnic on an industrial size saw blade crafted into a picnic table under a shelter that looks hewn from living trees.  Politics, religion, environmental issues?  None are off limits to Lakenen’s fertile mind.  You’ll laugh, puzzle, ponder, and look twice as you wander along the roads of this drive-through gallery.

We discovered later that this attraction is especially popular with snowmobilers, who are legion in the Michigan winter.  The artist will often build a big bonfire and hand out snacks and hot drinks while visiting with his guests.  The collection continues to grow and change, so no two visits are likely to be the same.  No matter the weather, you can enjoy the Lakenland Sculpture Park west of Marquette, Michigan on route 28.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/john-carlisle/2015/03/02/north-sculpture-park-born-controversy/24235675/

http://lakenenland.com/

RV CALENDAR

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

West Palm Beach RV Show
November 17-20
South Florida Fairgrounds
West Palm Beach, FL

Fall Clean Sweep RV Show
December 2-4
CenturyLink Sports Complex
Ft. Myers, FL

Palm Springs Area RV Show & Sale
December 8-11
Riverside County Fair Grounds
Indio, CA

For a complete list of RV shows this weekend and for the rest of the year, click here.

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Many listeners are asking how they can subscribe, review and rate the Roadtreking Podcast on iTunes. With a new podcast like this, those reviews and ratings are really important to be able to show well in the iTunes listings. So if you can, I’d sure appreciate it if you’d subscribe and leave me your review.

Here’s how:

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