Why you MUST take travel breaks! Too much driving is dangerous 

This week on the RV Podcast: 

• Why you MUST take travel breaks! The deadly risk of blood clots caused by too much driving.
• Wildfires are once again devastating the Pacific Northwest and parts of Canada, The smoke from more than 200 blazes is making its way all the way to the east coast.
• Updates from the road and answers to your questions about being part of an RV Caravan Tour. We’ll give our honest opinions on what it's really like.
• All this plus the RV News of the Week coming up in Episode #508 of the RV Podcast

You can watch the video version from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel by clicking the player below.

If you prefer an audio-only podcast, you can hear us through your favorite podcast app or listen now through the player below.

This episode is coming to you from the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, where we are in the midst of a 27-day RV Tour of the Canadian Maritimes put on by Fantasy RV Tours.

SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ – Wendy Bowyer

Wendy Bowyer reports on the hot issues most talked about this past week on social media and our RV Lifestyle Community group.

In the RVLifestyle Community‘s Campground Space, we asked  What is your favorite campground and why? 

I just love these kinds of posts because it is a great way to get ideas about wonderful campgrounds worth visiting, and this whole thread did not disappoint! 

A few favorites included one from Dennis, who recommended Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park near Jacksonville, Florida. Go half a mile in one direction and you have the ocean and a beautiful Florida beach. Go half a mile in the other direction and you have a gorgeous lake with fishing, kayaking, canoeing. Dennis said there are lots of trails and get this – it only costs about $28 for a full hookup site!

Alison said her favorite was MacLeod's Beach and Campsite in Inverness, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. She camped right on the ocean, next to the beach. The sound of fiddle music drifted through the evening air as people celebrated their Scottish heritage. The ocean water was warm and she said it was just a magical place. 

Barry's favorite campground is Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah. Barry said it is in the middle of nowhere, sites are excellent, and there is no light pollution – just imagine those starry nights!

Also in our Community, in the RV Cooking Exchange Space, Teena shared an excellent tip about investing in a food vacuum to save room in the frig. Teena shared a picture of some romaine lettuce and broccoli she had vacuumed and what a great space saver!

Teena bought the FoodSaver machine, and Merritt thanked her for the inspiration and asked if this would keep sliced avocados from going brown. So get this, Teena got some avocados, sliced them and vacuumed them with her FoodSaver and shared a picture of how they looked four days later. And they looked great – not a bit of brown!

Over in our RVLifestyle Facebook Group, Kathy found a Fifth Wheel she really likes, BUT it has a salvage title so she asked the group, what is your opinion about buying a rig with a salvage title?

SO many responses….  The majority said don't buy it. You will have trouble getting a loan, if you need one. And you will have trouble selling it later as many dealers do not take them for trade in and potential buyers are weary.

But sprinkled in the nearly 800 comments were MANY who urged Kathy to not immediately rule it out because it can be a way to save a ton of money and get a good rig.

Paul said he bought a rig with a salvage title six years ago. He saved $45,000 off the price and never had an issue all these years later.

And many others had similar stories.

The important thing is to learn WHY it was totaled. Was it a bent frame or a bad accident? Or was it something like hail? Fiberglass damage? A hurricane??

John said he bought a rig that was totaled because of two cracked vent covers and one cracked skylight. He was able to fix it, had 2 inspections – no other damage found, and it has been a great rig thousands of miles and five years later.

So lots to think about for Kathy and I hope all the suggestions help.

RV CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK – VITAL TRAVEL BREAKS

When sitting in a truck or RV for extended periods, such as on long drives, blood flow can slow down and cause blood clots to form. These clots can break off and travel to the lungs, causing a potentially fatal condition called pulmonary embolism.

That's just what happened to the husband of Betsy Johnson. We interview Betsy in Episode 439 of the RV Podcast.

It killed him. With no warning. Just like that, moments after arriving at a campground.

There was little to no warning, and this week, Betsy tells us how this can be prevented by taking frequent travel breaks to move around.

This is one of the most important interviews we've ever done, and Betsy walks us through this terrible tragedy and tells us much, much more. Please share this episode with your fellow travelers. It is truly life-saving.

RV NEWS OF THE WEEK

More than 100 active wildfires burning in U.S., sending smoke all the way to the East Coast

Wildfires are raging in the West, some caused by lightning, others people, in what is proving to be a bad summer.

California, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Nevada and Utah are some of the states dealing with more than 100 active wildfires nationwide over the weekend.

In California, Park Fire is the state's largest active wildfire, seventh largest in the state's history, spreading to about 546 square acres as of this writing. Four counties in northern California issued evacuation notices and Lassen Volcanic National Park evacuated staff and closed the area to recreation use.

In Oregon, the Durkee Fire scorched at least 600 square miles. There are currently 37 large fires burning as of this weekend in pretty much every corner of Oregon. For a list of camping and outdoor areas closed in Oregon because of wildfires click here.

About a million acres have burned in Oregon so far, and in neighboring Washington, about 126,000 acres have burned. 

The bottom line: If you are planning on camping out West this summer, be sure to check for fire and smoke activity throughout this week and do all you can to reduce the likelihood of inadvertently starting a blaze. 

Last year we talked to a spokeswoman with the National Interagency Fire Center about ways campers can avoid accidentally starting a wildfire. Click here to watch – the interview starts about 21 minutes and 25 seconds in.

Wildfires devastate Canada's Jasper National Park and town

Speaking of fires, the wildfires ravaging Canada's Jasper National Park are just heartbreaking to see.

Over a third of the historic town of Jasper is destroyed and about 89,000 acres burned. Some 25,000 people – 20,000 of whom were tourists – forced to evacuate.

Witnesses describe a wall of fire descending on the town last week, leaving in its wake flattened city streets and scorched forests. While fire in the city of Jasper was nearly all put out as of this writing, the fires rippling through the national park are not.

Jasper is a popular camping destination known for its wide variety of wildlife. Elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, grizzly bears, cougars, lynx, and even caribou—to name a few—are all now scattering, fleeing for their lives. The whole thing is heartbreaking.

Located in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park is only about 110 miles from Banff National Park, which so far is okay. But wildfires—hundreds of them—are also scattered throughout neighboring British Columbia, and smoke from all these areas is spreading east throughout North America.

If you are camping in Western Canada be sure to watch for evacuation warnings and air quality alerts. Here is a story we wrote on air quality not too long ago.

Hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin sends visitors scrambling as dark steam, rocks, dirt explode in air

Did you see the pictures last week of the hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone National Park last week?

Billows of dark smoke, steam, dirt and grapefruit size rocks exploded some 100 feet in the air at Biscuit Basin, sending tourists on the boardwalk scrambling to get out of the way.

Several managed to capture video of the terrifying scene and it was something else. The boardwalk the tourists were on is now destroyed.

The dark color of the explosion was a result of mud and debris mixed with steam and boiling water and miraculously no one was hurt.

Geologists are now monitoring the area, stressing that hydrothermal explosions happen a couple of times each year in the park and do not signal volcanic activity.

Yellowstone is an incredible place. If you are planning a trip there anytime soon be sure to check out our e-book to help you plan your trip. To learn more click here. 

Dog lost while camping in Michigan's Upper Peninsula found nearly 50 miles away one year later

A dog that went missing during a camping trip more than a year ago was recently captured some 45 to 50 miles from the campground, thanks to the persistent efforts of a local woman.

The dog, Barley, was camping at one of our favorite places, Rivermouth Campground in Michigan's Upper Peninsula's Tahquamenon Falls State Park in late May of 2023.

On the last day of the camping trip, while his owners were packing up their things, Barley jumped out of the window and ran into the woods, declining to come when called.

At first the owners searched for their dog, described as extremely skittish, putting up posters and notices on Facebook. But somewhere along the 14 months of constant searching the couple, who lived roughly 365 miles away in the Detroit area, gave up ownership. Barley had not been with them very long, rescued from a previous bad situation and adopted from an animal shelter.

But locals never gave up.

Barley was spotted in the rugged Upper Peninsula during summer, fall, winter, and spring. A local woman patiently worked to build his trust, feeding and tracking him. She brought in a professional dog catcher, and miraculously, the efforts paid off last week.

The dog is now found and safe. The whole story can be found on Chippewa County Animal Shelter's Facebook page here.

This story made us think of other stories where the animal is never found. Every year people lose their dogs when camping and what is so sad is that there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of this happening.

Last year we interviewed an expert who shared tips on how to keep your pet from getting lost while camping. To listen click here. The interview starts 13 minutes and 25 seconds in. 

Questions we answer this week about our experiences so far on the Fantasy RV Tour of the Maritimes:

RV Questions of the Week

Questions we answered this week regarding the Fantasy RV Tour of the Maritimes. Watch or listen to the podcast for our answers.

• What kind of RVs are allowed in these kind of tours? Jeff
• How’s the Internet up there? Cell coverage? –Mark
• Do they provide all your meals? –Lacy
• They seem very structured and organized. Do you have any free time? –Jim
• What happens if you break down or have a problem with your RV? Is there a mechanic along? –Liz 
• What is the summer weather like up there right now? –Marsha