For those of you who don’t know- our family loves to ski (we are Canadian after all! ) . I grew up skiing and my dad was always going to Banff and Whistler to ski. many times he went to Europe ( not good for the marriage) and would go for a week or more with his ski buddies to places like Courchevel, France or Austria staying in a courchevel chalet . This drove my mom crazy- she wen t sking once wiht him and broke her leg.
The times I remember going with him were not that pleasant- my brothers and i were were left to fend for ourselves on the less dangerous hill while my dad tried to kill himself. I mostly remember never being able to find my dad and being freezing cold.
It isi a wonder i will even set foot on ski hill!
We love goin with kids and it is more about fun than thrills.
Posted by admin as General Camping at 1:04 PM EDT
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It happens to me every year. I LOVE our Fleetwood Sun Valley and it suits our needs perfectly. With gas prices sky high I am pleased we went tih a pop up and not a full toe trailer. Having said that - every year I start boresing an dlooking at newere, bigger and so-called better RV’s. I can browse online for hours looking at local online ads and RVs for sale type sites.
They say you should by your second trailer first- meaning that many people buy their first trailer/RV - usually a folding trailer and then end up trading up a couple of years later.
At the time I wasn’t sure we would make it in a pop-up trailer over the long haul but we have been to Florida several times now and the longest we have stayed in our trailer has been 5 weeks. It does get a bit cramped sometimes but after looking a bigger models I can;t see how they would be any better. So, I guess we did buy our second trailer first.
Posted by admin as General Camping at 6:11 PM EDT
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I have to laugh - when ever I am in Hooland my German girlfreind use dto comment on the Dutch an dtheir campers. I think of it all the times and wonder how it came about that the Dutch loving camping in a trailer so much. You see many trailers that say “Dutchman” on the side. When driving in Europe you can pretty much garumtee any trailer you see will be pulled by a car with the white and black “Netherland” sticker on the back windshield.
The last time I was in Holland was almost 16 (gulp!) years ago. Feels like yesterday! I can’t believe that I am “old” and this time around won;t be going to night clubs dancing and eating falafel at 3am on the street corner.
We have plan to go in the spring and not sure if kids or going or not.
We will be renting a car and this is what i am most nervous about. There are some reputable places where you can rent a car or as they say in Europe “car hire” .
I am pretty frugal with a dollar and no intention of using a travel agency so looking at getting a car online. My husband travel a lot for business and and rents loads of cars- he says won’t be an issue at all and to stop worrying about stuff so far in advance.
I have visions of use barrelling down the autobahn in sporty convertible but somehow I think we be in the slow lane with kids in a Corolla.
Posted by admin as General Camping at 5:30 PM EDT
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I make a bunch of these in the Fall when I am making candles for gifts. I sue the left over wax for making these fire starters and citronella candles.
Making your own firestarters is very easy. You don;t need and candle making supplies- stuff you have hanging around in your kitchen will be fine. The only thing you may need to buy is some cedar chips ( can buy at any pet store or department store it is used as bedding for hamsters, etc) . Get a small bag- a little goes a LONG way.
Here are supplies:
Wax ( you can use canning was i.e. paraffin wax available at grocery store, old candles, cehap dollar store candles or buy at craft supply store. If you have a choice get wax meant for pillar or votive and not container wax)
Double boiler or similar. If you have old metal coffee can use this. You are going to melt wax and add wood chips and is messy. If you have an old pot or metal coffee can this would be good to use.
Cedar chips or similar. ( some people will also use dryer lint or shredded paper)
Optional: very small paper cups, cardboard egg cartons or large ketchup cups found at fast food restaurants.
1. Melt the was on your stove top. Do not do this without double boiler- never have pot with wax on direct heat. Keep on eye on wax so it doesn’t get too hot- when it is melted and clear you are good to go.
2. Add wood shaving/lint/paper and stir. You Will need to act fast so wax doesn’t harden. Add enough so material is pretty much covered.
3. You can just put blob on cookie sheets and use just as is. I find this messy. I prefer to put into egg cartons and cut up. Also can can spoon into ketchup containers.
4. Done!
All you have to do is light with match when you are starting a fire. these work better than any fire starter I have ever bought.
I keep in ziplock bag.
If you are using as fire starter for your fireplace I would add more material to wax- too much wax can cause creosote buildup in your fireplace liner.
Also- do NOT dispose of old wax or melted was down your drain. It will clog.
Posted by admin as Camping Advice and Camping Tips, Camping Recipes, General Camping at 11:49 AM EDT
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I am wondering what some of the best ways to get some extra money when you are travelling? We went to Disney in Florida this winter and we had some unexpected troubles with money. My bank card wouldn’t work and my laptop was stolen- yes it was a bad week! We still had another 4 weeks left of our holiday and thee as no way I could go without my computer- need it to do some work. I work part time as a freelance writer for magazine and trying to work at local library on free computer was next to impossible. i also needed access to my stuff was lucky I had a USB key with bunch of info and back-up files or really would have been an enormous headache an may have had to come home.
My credit card was maxed out with hotel and campground holds and the Best Buy wouldn’t take my card because not valid in States. ARGH. I had wandered about taking some kind of payday loan so i could buy a new laptop., the kind of a loan where you get a cash advance on your pay.
Some of the services also had no fax payday loans which would have been perfect for me.
I ended up getting my laptop returned but I still wonder what i would have done if I need some money quickly and without the hassle of wiring or waiting for money transfers.
Posted by admin as General Camping at 11:25 PM EDT
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Go to love this! The maker/creator claims this only takes 10 minutes to do- which means it would take me x 10, so 100 mins. It si a leather band that has wires an d built in battery- a bracelet/band that lights up with neat little charm. Cant wait to make thse for camping this Summer- my girls will love them
Take a peek at these neat electronic leather bands to make yourself. Looks like materials are simple to work with but hard to come by- will have to do a special order I don’t know if local Radio Shack has supplies or not.
Posted by admin as General Camping at 3:25 PM EDT
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I am in a bit of a tizzy this week. Going camping this weekend for a few days and I have lost 2 crucial items for camping.
1) I cannot find my sunglasses anywhere.
1b) I broke my glasses
2) I cannot find my cell phone.
I used to think when I lost stuff it would eventually turn up but after having children I realize this just isn’t true. Last year we lost a Nintendo DS somewhere int he house and also ANOTHER cell phone. I was convinced they would show up and when we moved I thought I would discover them- nope. I am pretty sure my son put my phone in recycling box.
I have also discovered that the minute I find something i will lose another.
Add to all of this my OCD. I can;t stand when things are broken or lost. Makes me uneasy and impossible to live with and I go into a bit of a frenzy. Not being able to find my sunglasses has been a HUGE hassle. It has been 90 degrees all week and full sun and miserable driving.
This weekend if I don’t have them and we are camping will be awful. I need to see when hiking. Most of the fun is looking for wild life and I REALLY need them- not to mention the long drive with glaring sun going in my eyes, I will pick up a pair of cheap ones at dollar store for the drive but will be flipping out if there are lots of bears and deer on hike and I don’t see them!
Posted by admin as General Camping at 11:21 AM EDT
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I am an avid candle maker . Every fall when I make candles for Christmas gifts I make a couple of things for camping with my leftover wax- citronella candles and campfire firestarters.
Here is the simplest way to make your own citronella candles
Supplies:
Container ( I use clay flower pots) fill in hole on bottom with silicone caulking. You can also use any container where the mouth is not smaller than the rest of the container. Jam jars are great but I don’t like using glass. Metal also fine if it does leak- so test first by filling with water.
wick - buy at online candle supply place or crafts store ( Michael’s, etc) The type of wick you need depends on width of container. The wick will have a label. The hotter it burns then the wider the container. I would stick to something in the 4-5 inch width container. When id doubt go bigger.
Wax- You can use paraffin as for canning but it is crappy quality. If you can buy candle was it is pretty cheap. You can also use up old candles buts. Look for container wax ( it is more creamy and will hold more citronella). You will need about 1 lb to make 2 larger candles.
Any questions let me know.
Citronella oil- get purest you can get. Add 1-1.5 oz per pound of wax. I do suggest a candle supply company if you can.
Other oils to try adding: Lemongrass, rosemary, clove and eucalyptus.
Something to stir.
Double boiler.
Candy Thermometer.
Get containers ready.
Melt wax. Put in double boiler or similar- never melt wax on direct heat.- use candy thermometer to check temperature. If you buy wax it will have a guide how hot it should be. It will be in the 140-160F range. READ instructions for temps.
You can add color with old crayons or old candles but don’t worry about it.
When was is melted take of heat an add oils. stir with bamboo skewer or similar. Pour into your containers. When they have set a but- add oil.
You can also “prime” wick by soaking in the pure citronella oil.
wait a day or so for them to “set”
These also make great gifts. You can get kids to decorate outside of clay pots with paints, etc.
Posted by admin as General Camping at 10:53 PM EDT
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I cannot stress this enough-when you are traveling with your pop-up ANYWHERE you must get yourself roadside assistance or have some kind of a plan purchased from auto club. Murphy’ Law means you WILL run out of gas at 3am in the mountains of West Virginia because your husband thinks there is cheaper gas “around the corner” and at some point you will blow the tire on your pop up on a busy highway. If you have children it is just plain irresponsible to not have any kind of road side assistance. Please get some!
Posted by admin as General Camping at 8:29 AM EDT
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I recently when through an issue with the Atwood heater in my Fleetwood Sun Valley 2007 , This rv dealer site has graciously put up a list of manual for pretty much every type of heater and water on the market/ He is super nice guy.
http://bryantrv.com/owners.html
Here is list of Manuals he offers:
Dometic NDR 1292 Installation/ Operation
Dometic RM2310 Installation/ Operation
Dometic RM2301, 2401, 2501, 2601, 2801
Dometic RM 7030 InstallationWater Heater owners/ installation manual- covers most models
Suburban SW Series Water Heaters DuoTherm Briskair owners/installation manual- for the basic “generic” ceiling air box
DuoTherm Ducted installation/owners manual-for the electronic/analog thermostat- covers Briskair and Penguine models.
DuoTherm Infrared remote control owners guide
Dometic “Americana” RM2652/RM2852 Owners manual
Dometic DuoTherm 6600 furnace owners manual
DuoTherm 6500 furnace owners manual Hydroflame
Hydroflame (Atwood) FA79XX and HF8012 series installation/owners manual
Emerson Quiet Cool EQK1100 and 1350 Roof Top Air Conditioner Owners Manual
Emerson Quiet Cool Parts and Installation Manual (including heat strip)
A&E Instamatic 3000 awning installation/ operation manual
A&E 8000, 85000, 9000 Awning Operating manual
A&E Horizon Awning Installation/ Operating manual
A&E Sunchaser” 8300 awning operating manual
Posted by admin as General Camping, Heating and Cooling at 11:01 AM EDT
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