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Episode 129: How One Couple Uses their RV to Bring Comfort and Support for Gold Star Families

| Updated Feb 28, 2017

We love hearing how other people use their RV. In this episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast we meet Jim and Carolyn Diepenbruck who have one of the most inspirational stories we’ve ever encountered about how they use their RV to help them bring support and encouragement to Gold Star families who have lost loved ones to conflict in the armed services.

You’ll definitely want to tune in to meet the Diepenbrucks, subjects of our interview of the week.

Plus, lots of email questions, reader tips and helpful RV news and information.

Click the player below to Listen Now or scroll down through the show note details. 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 #129 March 1, 2017 of Roadtreking – The RV Lifestyle Podcast:

Episode 129: How One Couple Uses their RV to Bring Comfort and Support for Gold Star Families 1
Rhonda Phipps roasts Starburst candies on marshmallow sticks

JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK

Today’s tip is a fun one… and tasty, at that! [spp-timestamp time=”11:12″]

Quick now: What do you roast around a campfire at night?

Marshmallows, sure.

We all love gooey marshmallows and s’mores.

But there’s another treat you can put on that marshmallow stick.

Listen up as our friend Rhonda Phipps shares an alternative – Star Burst candy!

Thanks Rhonda!

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.

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. Now with free shipping! And if you are attending the Portland RV show March 8-12 be sure to see Rad Power Bikes on display!

LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK:

Listener Don has a question about the new Hymer Activ RV, a relative new Class B in the North American market. You can find more info at http://www.gohymer.com/ [spp-timestamp time=”15:13″]

Here’s a list of where you can see the Activ at an upcoming RV show – http://www.gohymer.com/upcoming-tradeshows-and-events/

Here’s an Activ dealer list http://www.gohymer.com/dealer-locator/

Meanwhile, here are some email questions that came in this week:

  • From Alan: Newbie question. If I park my RV at home and it has a 30amp cord, how do I plug it in to a cord from my house? [spp-timestamp time=”17:40″]
  • From Nancy: This question is for Jennifer. Please talk about driving your motorhome. I know my husband wishes I would drive more but, frankly, it scares me. I know you drive. I guess I need a little female persuasion that tells it like it really is, rather than my husband’s advice to “just get behind the wheel and do it!” Do you know what I mean? Men! Thanks in advance. [spp-timestamp time=”18:53″]

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.

PET TIP OF THE WEEK

This week’s pet tip is for those of you who travel with cats, although I would think those who have very small dogs will also want to take notice of it. [spp-timestamp time=”24:44″]

It comes from reader Ken Sowell, who passes along this valuable information;

Dear Mike and Jennifer:

I listened to the tip on lost pets on the podcast this week and an additional comment.  We travel with our two cats.  When we checked into Banff National Park for a stopover on our way to Alaska, the check-in ranger saw one our cats who rides on the right dash in the windshield.  She warned that coyotes in the park were picking off pet cats and we should be cautious with our pets in the park.  When we parked at our campsite I took the cats out on their leashes and harnesses as we usually do when we reach a campsite.  They were out for 20 minutes and I then put them back in the RV.  A few minutes later a coyote trotted through our campsite with me standing outside and he wasn't the least bit afraid of me.  If I had a cat out on a long leash, he could have grabbed it and made off with it.  The same could happen with small dogs.  The rest of the summer as we traveled through Canada and Alaska I was very wary of our surroundings when walking our pets on a leash and took care to keep them on a short leash and sometimes only one at time.

Thanks Ken. Good advice! We appreciate your sharing it with us. And if you have a ip about traveling with pets in your RV, please send them along. EDIT   Use the send voicemail link on the right side of the Roadreking.com blog.

Like we always tell you, his podcast is your podcast and we love featuring your voices right along with ours.

This part of the podcast is brought to you by Dozers Dental Chews, an all natural and healthy treat your dog will love. Available direct through Amazon 

INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK

Episode 129: How One Couple Uses their RV to Bring Comfort and Support for Gold Star Families 2
Jim and Carolyn Diepenbruck

We love hearing how other people use their RV. In this episode of the Roadtreking RV Travel Podcast we meet Jim and Carolyn Diepenbruck who have one of the most inspirational stories I’ve ever encountered about how they use their RV to help them bring support and encouragement to Gold Star families who have lost loved ones to conflict in the armed services. [spp-timestamp time=”29:08″]

The interview of the week is brought to you by http://sunshinestatervs.com/, where every new or used Roadtrek motorhome is delivered to the customer free, anywhere in the country

RV NEWS OF THE WEEK:

Three RV News stories for you this week [spp-timestamp time=”44:44″]

Wyoming county allowing permits to land owners as it prepares for tens of thousands of visitors for summer solar eclipse.Read more 

  • Man called the RV bandit, who stole wallets from RVs at races for decades, finally faces justice.Read more
  • Man with drone caused a 1,500 elk stampede in Wyoming.Read more

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:

Episode 129: How One Couple Uses their RV to Bring Comfort and Support for Gold Star Families 3
Steve Van Dinter

By Steve Van Dinter

Verizon Wireless

With the start of spring just around the corner I’m sure the RV community just can’t wait to get back on the road again. [spp-timestamp time=”44:59″]

And while traveling coast to coast, now more than ever it’s important to stay connected not just in major metro areas, but also America’s countrysides as well.

That’s why I wanted to share with your listeners the latest results from RootMetrics, an organization that drives across the country consistently checking how each major cell carrier performs in various criteria and then awarding winners in reliability, calling, texting, data, data speeds and overall.

For the second half of 2016, Verizon not only swept all six categories, but for the first time since RootMetrics testing began, Verizon maintained its lead in all categories for back to back testing periods.

So what’s that all mean? If you’re looking to call, text, check social media or watch videos and you’re always on the go there’s no better choice than Verizon.

And with third party validation like this, you don’t have to just take my word for it.

With this week’s traveling technology tip, I’m Steve Van Dinter from Verizon.

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.

RV CALENDAR

Here's a list of RV shows scheduled this upcoming weekend [spp-timestamp time=”57:48″]

Colorado RV, Sports and Travel Show
March 2-5
National Western Complex
Denver, CO

Greater Philadelphia RV Show
March 2-5
Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
Oaks , PA

Ocala RV Show
March 2-5
Florida Horse Park
Ocala, FL

Central Illinois Recreational Show
March 3-5
Peoria Civic Center
Peoria, IL

Eugene Spring RV Show and Sale
March 3-5
Lane County Fairgrounds
Eugene, OR

Fredericksburg RV Show
March 3-5
Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center
Fredericksburg, VA

Rhode Island RV, Camping Show and Sale 
March 3-5
Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, RI

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

 

Please Subscribe and Give Us a Rating and Review!

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:

How to subscribe, rate and review a podcast

First, open up the iTunes app on your computer or mobile device. Click on Podcasts up on the top
> From the iTunes Podcasts page, use the “Search Store” field up at the top right corner of the page. Type in Mike Wendland or Roadtreking RV Podcast.
> Click on the logo image of the Roadtreking RV Podcast on the search return page
> From there (see photo above), you can…

1) Subscribe

2) Choose and Click on a star (1-5) that reflects your rating. Five stars means you really like it, one star not so much.

3) Leave a written review.

Thanks to all for the kind reviews we’ve received so far. That got us noticed by Apple/iTunes as “New and Noteworthy.” I appreciate every review!

And remember, you can appear in future episodes. Ask a question or voice your comments about RV topics by clicking the Leave Voicemail tab on the right side of this page here at Roadtreking.com. You can then use the microphone on your computer to record your words.

Mike Wendland

Published on 2017-02-28

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

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