RV Podcast - Stories From The Road

The best way to make normally yucky-tasting campground water taste good and run clear is by using an RV water filter system that fits inline, right between the water spigot and tour RV's after intake connection.  But note this: All inline RV water filter system inline cartridges are not alike! Here's a player to listen to the full podcast. The interview of the week segment about the RV water filter system is about 29:08 in.  This week on the RV Podcast, we learn about the new RV water filter system we are now using when we fill our RV fresh water tanks or when we connect to a campground spigot. It's from a company called Clear20 and this week on the RV Podcast we interview the company's CEO about a two-stage RV water filter system they sell that consists of an inline water filter and a the Dirtguard pre-filter device that takes out the sediment and particulates before they go through the inline filter. Together this RV water filter system transforms your inline water filter into a two-stage filtration approach.  This makes the water taste good and ensures that you have the cleanest possible water.  How is the bright green RV water filter system by Clear2o different than than the normal blue or gray inline filters you pick up from Walmart or a camping store? Three ways: Flitration medium, filtration efficiency and price. First off, let me note that I have no financial interest or sponsorship relationship with this company. I sought out the interview with the Clear2o CEO  after being fed up with bad-tasting campground water and doing some research that led me to get both the Clear20 inline filter and the Dirtguard pre-filter.   Both units sell for $34.95.  The Camco inline filters we had been using cost $17 or so on Amazon, or two for $30. So the Cler2o inline filter is about twice as much. The DirtGuard pre filter is $39. That's the price difference. The filtration medium difference is the way the water is filtered. The cheaper and more common inline RV water filter uses powdered charcoal. The Clear2o RV water filter system uses solid charcoal.  And that leads to the efficiency of the filtering. The cheap carbon powder filters screen out particulates and sediment down to about 20 microns. The solid Clear2o inline RV water filter system screens those particulates down to 1 micron. It makes the star cleaner, clearer and it taste better. See why I got this Clear2o RV water filter system? Here's a link to the Clear2o inline filter- https://amzn.to/2YEZ1JX Here's a link to the Clear2o DirtGuard pre-filter - https://amzn.to/3fywywn Here's a transcript of the interview I did for Episode 299 of the RV Podcast with Keith Bernard, CEO of Clear2o on what to now about an RV water filter system:   Mike Wendland:           Well, to find out more about an RV water filter system to make that RV drinking water taste a little better and be a little healthier, I'm excited to have on the other end of the phone Keith Bernard, he is the CEO of Clear20, and I just came across this process, this product really this week. I should tell you we have no commercial relationship with these guys. This is just a really cool product that I think will benefit us and hence you guys, too, out there in the listening audience. So first of all, welcome to the program, Keith, thanks for making time for us. Keith Bernard:              Thanks very much. I'm glad to be here. Mike Wendland:           Let's talk in general about an RV water filter system. I mentioned at the top of this, on how hard it was for us to drink the water that was coming out of the campground spigot. Even though I use one of those little inline filters, I always have one of those, it just didn't taste very good. So maybe you could help us all understand it. What are some of the issues involved with campground water from that little spigot that they provided at the campsite? Keith Bernard:              Yeah, absolutely. Well, quite often everybody's more comfortable with their water at home, but once you get out on the road, you nearly never know what you're going to be getting into. When you're traveling out at different campgrounds, you may find that they have well water, they may actually have treated well water, or they may be on a public system, as well. And being that there's all different types of water, all different areas of the country, you're going to experience lots of different kinds of water, and that could be bad, or it could be good, as well, but quite often, most people's experience is bad. Mike Wendland:           One of the things many of us have done is we've put one of those inline filters in. I've never really given much thought to them. I just pick them up at a camping store and usually get, replace it once or twice a year. In general to start with, is that a good approach to making camp ground water better? The complete Clear2o RV water filter system, witg the Dirtguard and the inline filter Keith Bernard:              Well, using a filter is absolutely a good approach. And so the real question about an RV water filter system is, is the actual performance of the filter itself and what you're trying to do with it. Because when you're dealing with filters, there's a lot of misconceptions in regard to what a filter is and what it can accomplish.                                And you really need to look for the right type of filter to be able to do the types of things that you're looking for. So you're using one of the most common, which is the inline, that actually works out really great for most people because it's easy to install, it's outside, and it's easy, and portable to take care of, as well as you can find them at numerous locations, as well.                                     So it's a great filter to be able to come forward with. But the particular one you're using, that's the most common one, and it's made from granular carbon. That's what's actually inside it. And they have different versions, which are anywhere from 20 to a 100 microns in performance. So that's one key element there that you want to be thoughtful about when you're for a filter is, what is the micron performance? Micron is actually- Mike Wendland:           Yeah, yeah. What is a micron? 20 to 100 microns, what does that mean? What's best? What's worst? Keith Bernard:              A micron is a millionth of a meter, just in regard to size. So, give you an idea of what that is, the average diameter of a human hair is anywhere from say 30 to 75 microns. So a single micron is very tiny overall, but a hundred micron is actually large enough for a human hair. So just to give you some kind of idea between the two, so in microns, lower is better. Here's a link to the Clear2o inline filter- https://amzn.to/2YEZ1JX Here's a link to the Clear2o DirtGuard pre-filter - https://amzn.to/3fywywn Mike Wendland:           All right. And I guess it's impossible to get everything out with a RV water filter system, but I just picked mine off the shelf at, usually Walmart is where I find mine, and there are different brands, there's those little blue filters, CampCo makes them, and a couple of others. I don't remember the brand names, but I've never really looked at them. I figured, well, those are great. Now you guys make a product, and you make two products, actually. And that's one of the things I wasn't to talk to you about, but you make an inline filter. You talked about that granulated charcoal, I think it was? Or granulated... What was the medium you talked about? Keith Bernard:              That's right. It's carbon. That's correct. That's correct. Mike Wendland:           So is that the best medium that we should always find in one of these? Or is there something better? Keith Bernard:              No, carbon is great. Carbon is a really good material overall, and it comes in different formats. So it comes in granular, it comes in powder, and it also comes in a solid carbon block. So between the filters that you're using out there, the one that you're talking about picking up at Walmart is actually granulated carbon. So it's actual small granules of carbon that are actually inside, so if you hold it and you shake it, you can actually hear it shaking inside. That's the carbon granules inside. Mike Wendland:           In fact, is that why when I turn on the spigot and I haven't hooked up the hose to it, I actually see the charcoal come out when I first put on the water? Keith Bernard:              When you first start, you will generally see all the carbon powder. That actually is part of the process of loading it in the first place, come out, that's that black that you see. And quite often afterwards, if you don't flush it first, you'll see more come out over time. That's the carbon itself that actually is coming out of the filter in a more powdered form overall. (Heres a link to the Clear2o inline filter- https://amzn.to/2YEZ1JX) Mike Wendland:           So there's that medium, now you guys offer something called a solid carbon block filter, I guess- Keith Bernard:              Correct. Right. So our RV water filter system is a little different. We use the same carbon, the only difference is in a powdered form, we actually compress it together to make a full solid carbon block. It basically is a tube that actually is created inside our filter. So ours inside is solid. So the difference between the two is when you have granulated carbon, water comes in one end of the filter and it has a tendency to flow through the filter, and it cuts small channels in the filter, because it moves the granules aside. So when you have high flow rate, that water is rushing through, and not necessarily always through the actual carbon itself. The solid carbon block inside the Clear2o RV water filter system Dirtguard                                     When we have our solid carbon block,

We love our RV air conditioner…except when it’s really hot and we’re boondocking or moochdocking and we don’t have enough RV battery power to run it. That's where SoftStartRV comes in. This week on the RV Podcast we dig deeply into RV battery and power management challenges faced by those who enjoy off-the-grid boondocking or moochdocking (camping in the driveways of friends and relatives) and want to run their RV air conditioner. Our guest in the RV Podcast interview segment is a top RV electrical expert who breaks down our power needs and tells us about a way we can run those RV air conditioners under low power with a device called SoftStartRV. Plus, we have RV news of the week… we answer a question on why we’re getting a new Rv in a couple of weeks ...and Tom and Patti Burkett stop by with a great off the beaten path report. RV PODCAST UPDATE ON WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike & Jennifer Wendland, hosts of the RV Podcast..this week we talk about RV battery issues, a product called SoftStartRV and boondocking and moochdocking This episode comes from the road… We’re in Jacksonville, FL, staying at Hanna Park on the Atlantic, just east of town. We share what we’re doing here and look forward to our travel to Michigan next week and, at the end of the month, our purchase of a new RV… the 2021 Wonder by Leisure Travel Vans, built on the new Ford Transit chassis. We’ll share the reasons we’re making the switch when we answer one of our listener questions coming up in a few minutes, RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK If traveling to Alaska, expect to take COVID-19 test If you are thinking of visiting Alaska this summer, the state now requires a COVID-19 test before t]raveling around the state. The new rules took effect Saturday. The COVID-19 test is required within 72 hours before flying into Alaska. But, if you are unable to do that for some reason, or you are driving there, you will need to quarantine at your own expense for 14 days once you arrive or take a COVID-19 test at the airport and quarantine until the results are back. You may not quarantine in an RV, and you may not go out for groceries or anything other than medical care during this time. We recently interviewed someone about ways to get your RV to Alaska while the Canadian border is closed (click here) and wanted to share this, too. For the complete list of Alaska rules, click here. President Trump and the first lady hitting the road in an RV? Well, that's what he said At a press conference last weekend about the economy starting to rebound after COVID-19, President Donald Trump said he might get an RV, and head to upstate NY with the first lady. While that off-the-cuff comment may have drawn the headlines, we have to reiterate it again - LOTS of newbies are buying and renting RVs right now. They are making travel plans to camp because of COVID-19 safety concerns about airplanes, cruises, and hotel rooms. To see more about why many say this is the year of the RV, click here.   Here is a new one: Man buys an Airstream trailer for studio office during quarantine Speaking of newbies, we saw a story last week out of California about a man in the Silicon Valley who bought a 22-foot Airstream trailer for his office. He parked it in his yard,and set it up to be his office with a souped up conference table. The trailer, on a 30-year-loan, costs $370 a month, is a deductible business expense, and he can sell it when he is done. This is the first time we have seen a story of someone buying a camper for zoom calls, but in these times, we see how it makes sense! More campgrounds continue to open, but check before you go  Again, more and more states are starting to permit camping. California is expected to start opening campgrounds June 12, Wisconsin state parks are open today, June 10, Oregon opened more campgrounds yesterday, June 9 ,while other states, like Michigan, remain closed for a few more weeks.  As always, if you are heading out,  check ahead. The best place we have found for knowing what is open is Campendium which you can access by clicking here. If heading out camping, be sure to protect yourself from ticks It is tick season in much of the country, and as you prepare to get outside, and maybe even enjoy a campground, be sure to protect yourself from ticks. Ticks are showing up in more and more places throughout the country, Jennifer and I have observed, and the nasty creatures can carry a host of diseases. Best thing to do is wear long sleeves and pants when heading out, spray yourself with bug spray, and do a tick search of yourself and your pet after hitting the trails. And if you have one on you, be sure to remove it with sharp tweezers by grabbing its head, and yanking it out. To see more tips, click here or here.  This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV PODCAST LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK QUESTION: Was wondering if there is a particular CB channel that RV'ers use when they are traveling? Thank you. – Ed ANSWER: Ch 13 supposedly is the RV'ers channel, but since most road information is found on the truckers channel 19, that's where most travelers listen. QUESTION: I have been watching your channel back to back for last few days. I totally, love you guys. I have 2 questions for you. First, Why did you choose Ford over Mercedes motor home from leisure travel for your new RV? I want to know with respect to maintenance cost and fuel efficiency. Second, Do you think it is easier to get gas over diesel while on the road? Is there any restriction in city for the size of motor-home that can be driven during a certain time of the day? Thanks – Vicky ANSWER: We explain the features we like… the new Ford Transit chassis grades, availability of all-wheel drive, a gas engine, twin rear beds (something we really want), massive garage storage and to get experience on a different chassis besides the Mercedes Benz Sprinter. Do you have a question you’d like us to answer or a comment on the things we’re discussing on  the RV Podcast? If so, we invite you to leave us that question or comment on the special voicemail number we have for the podcast – it’s 586-372-6990. Or, just go to the RV Lifestyle travel blog and scroll down the page. You’ll see that number prominently posted on the blog. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Battle Born Batteries, maker of quality, safe and reliable lithium batteries that can be installed in just about every RV. Get in touch with Battle Born to find out what lithium batteries and an upgraded energy management system can add to your RV Lifestyle. Check them out at https://rvlifestyle.com/lithium RV PODCAST INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK  The SoftStartRV installs on the RV air conditioner to help it run off your RV battery system and low power hookups. It's a promising gadget for those who like boondocking and moochdocking Understanding RV batteries and how to run an RV air conditioner while boondocking or moochdocking   SoftStartRV is the solution RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK Okay. It's summertime. It's hot. And that means we depend on our air conditioner a lot. The problem is we're not always plugged into electricity and because air conditioners take so much startup energy to get them running, to get that compressor going, many times we are stuck not being able to run it. We just don't have enough power with our coach batteries or if we're moochdocking, we don't have anything except maybe a 110 volt outlet from a neighbor or relative's garage and that's not enough to run the air conditioning. At least it hasn't been until now. Now there's a new product called SoftStartRV. And we are going to talk about that in this interview of the week. We're going to show you what it looks like and how it works and why, for those of us who like to boondock and moochdock, it is a game-changer. Our special guest is Mike Sokol. Mike is an engineer and he is the guy who literally he's got a book out, wrote the book on RV electrical safety. Here's the video version of the interview about running an Rv air conditioner with the SoftStartRV: Here's the transcript of the interview: Mike Wendland:           We are lucky to have as our guest on this part of the podcast and the video, Mike Sokol. Mike's an old friend. He is an expert on all things electrical involving the RV and much more. And he joins us from his mad scientist lair, somewhere in North America. Hey Mike, how are you? Mike Sokol:                   Well, very good. It's actually, it's high atop Funkstown Hill in Funkstown Maryland. I can oversee the Antietam down there. Yes, it is the lair, I like that. Mike Wendland:           I like it. Well, hidden out there somewhere. Mike, I got this SoftStartRV just on basically hearing about it and I'm right in between RVs now. I'm not going to put on the one I'm selling in the week, but I'm going to put it on my new one. But this is, as I wrote in the blog the other day, I think a game-changer for those who like to boondock, who like to moochdock, but are frustrated every summer by not being able to run the air conditioner. Would you explain in layman terms how this works and why this indeed is a game-changer? Mike Sokol:                   Certainly. The first part of this is that RV air conditioners are pretty big because RVs don't have the best insulation. Something that can barely cool your RV, you could hang meat if you were doing this in your living room. They take a fair amount of power to run. It's not really the power that you need to run that gets you into trouble, it's the power that you need to actually get it started, which is the real problem. I can even draw a little diagram if you want to see. Mike Wendland:           Yeah, Let's do this. Mike Sokol:                   Okay. Let me go ahead and we have a compressor running on an RV.

Your summer RV Trip faces unprecedented challenges this year. We’re still in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Camping and non-essential travel is restricted in many places. Dangerous riots have erupted across America in every major city and in many smaller ones. The Canadian border is closed. There are safety concerns, financial concerns, and seemingly a new crisis every day. This week in the RV Podcast, we talk about those summer RV trip challenges and how you can make your RV travel as safe and satisfying as possible, given the very unusual circumstances under which we now find ourselves in the summer of 2020. Hello everyone and welcome to episode 297 of the RV Podcast. We have a lot to talk about this week. We have RV news, your questions, an interview about how you can get around those summer RV trip challenges, and get your RV to Alaska by ship, plus RV tips and suggestions. Shownotes for Episode #297 June 3, 2020 of The RV Podcast: RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK This is Mike and Jen at Bryce Canyon National Park...one of their favorite summer RV trip destinations What tumultuous times we live in. Last week, as we finally started to move out of the national lockdowns from the coronavirus pandemic, we were saying who could have seen such a terrible thing. This week, we look at the wave of terrible riots and violence sweeping the country in the wake of the protests over police brutality and the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and we say who could have seen such destruction and pain. This podcast is about the RV lifestyle but we certainly have to acknowledge the terrible times we are living through. Jennifer and I are people of faith and optimistic by nature and we know many of you Fellow Travelers are the same and join us in prayer for our nation. None of us know what is next. But at the same time, we believe we can move forward when it comes to summer RV trip plans but we have to do so recognizing the challenges we face. This will be a summer like no other we have expected. As this episode of the RV Podcast releases, we’re still in Florida on Okaloosa Island. We’re planning a getaway camping trip next weekend and then, the week after, barring the unexpected – which is certainly happening a lot this year – we plan to leave Florida after almost six months and head to our home in Michigan. We have lots of RV travel plans for late June and July and beyond but if we’ve learned anything this year, it’s that those plans have to be flexible. RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK - Summer RV Trip challenges Judge denies request to lift mandatory 14-day quarantine for out-of-state visitors as court challenge works way through courts As we talk here on the RV Podcast about summer RV trip challenges, let’s start in Maine, where a federal judge has upheld the governor of Maine's requirement that all out-of-state visitors be quarantined for 14 days when entering the state. Two campgrounds were among several small businesses that filed a federal lawsuit saying the quarantine is unconstitutional for discriminating against out-of-towners. The governor permits Maine residents to go camping, but out-of-towners must be quarantined for 14 days before they can travel about. The small businesses, heavily dependent upon tourism, said this order was hurting them financially and sought a preliminary injunction to lift the order as their lawsuit works its way through the legal process. While the injunction was not granted, the case is still in the early stages. We'll keep you informed when we hear more. One in four Americans interested in doing some sort of RV camping trip in next year, according to report That’s just one of the summer RV trip challenges this year. But despite the many concerns, one in four Americans plan to take some sort of RV trip in the next 12 months according to a survey released last week from the RV Industry Association. The reason why so many want to travel by RV is because of COVID-19. As people shy away from airline travel, and express concern about staying in a hotel, more and more are buying and renting RVs and planning to do a summer RV trip in a self-contained style. We've been telling you this was coming and each week we hear about people buying RVs and camping trailers sight unseen. The demand remains very strong. Yellowstone rocked by a cluster of 11 earthquakes in 24-hour period How’s this for a summer RV trip challenge: Yellowstone National Park experienced 11 earthquakes in a 24 hour period last Friday, with the largest measuring 3.1 magnitude. Yellowstone, which just opened its remaining gates to the public this week,  often reports earthquakes, but 11 in a short amount of time is notable. The park is home to a supervolcano, though authorities don't expect it to erupt soon. The earthquakes are part of what makes Yellowstone such a fascinating place. To see our favorite Yellowstone hike, click here. More campgrounds continue to open, but check before you go  More campgrounds and national parks are continuing to open across the country. Michigan just opened camping in its state parks this week. Nebraska is opening more of its state park campgrounds June 4. In Washington state, counties reopened campgrounds Monday, yet other locations still pose summer RV trip challenges, like Vermont, which only allows camping for Vermont residents. As always, if you are heading out, check ahead to see what is open. States are opening more and more, and the best place we have found for knowing what is open is Campendium which you can access by clicking here. Looking to visit Rocky Mountain National Park? Be sure to sign up in advance Here’s a new summer RV trip challenge. Advance reservations to visit… that’s right, I said just visit… a national park. Anyone seeking to visit Rocky Mountain National Park will now need to reserve an entry time. In an effort to limit visitors during COVID-19, all people entering the park beginning June 4 need to sign up in advance for a permitted entry time. The goal is to reduce visitors to 60 percent pre-COVID-19 numbers. The system permits 13,500 vehicles to enter per day between 6 am and 5 pm. We'll be watching to see if the timed entry system spreads to other parks as well. Speaking of National Parks, Arches National Park had to close three hours after opening because of huge crowds this past weekend… that’s how desperate people are to be outdoors after the long shutdown caused by the pandemic. And up in Canada… where the Canadian-US border remains closed for non-essential travel including RVing until June 21… Canada was opening some of its national parks but will not allow camping at least until June 21. (Our RV podcast interview of the week coming up in just a few minutes will talk about how to still do your summer RV trip to Alaska) When you talk about summer RV trip challenges in 2020, canceled RV shows is another casualty of the pandemic. For four months now, every regional RV show and gathering and rally has been canceled, messing up the travel plans for tens of thousands of RVers. Now it appears that those plans will stretch into the fall. The biggest RV show in North America is the annual Hershey RV show held every year during the first week if September. While that show is technical still on the calendar, it suffered a major blow this week when Camping World, perhaps the show’s biggest exhibitor, announced it would not be participating in 2020. Here’s a sound bite of how Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis announced that decision in a corporate video,  “As you might imagine, RV shows tend to draw large crowds, with long lines and packed aisles – all very exciting,” Lemonis said. “But in light of COVID-19, it feels irresponsible to subject our associates and our customers to this type of environment. I’m concerned not only about the density of crowds, but the travel required to get there. I’ve been attending the Hershey RV Show in Harrisburg, Pa., for years and I always look forward to it. But because of the lack of clarity around guidelines, our company – Camping World, Gander RV and Good Sam – will not be attending.” I’m betting that with things so unsettled because of the virus and now the riots, that the whole event will be canceled. That hasn’t happened yet. But I bet Hershey will cancel.  Then there’s the question of what will happen to The California RV show, scheduled fr the first two weeks of October. California is one of the most restrictive states in terms of shutdowns and travel restrictions and Los Angeles, just a few miles south of Fontana where the show takes place, has been hard hit by riots this week. It’s going to be a tense summer out there and I predict that California will cancel its show, too. Let me stress, both the Hershey and California shows are still scheduled to take place. But my advice to you is make flexible RV trip plans if you plan to attend either of them. I wouldn’t bet on them happening.  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV PODCAST LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK ABOUT SUMMER RV TRIP PLANS QUESTION:  We are supposed to leave for a long-planned summer RV trip in two weeks. We have confirmed our campground spots will be ready for us. But we’re scared to death as our route as us traveling through several cities that have had very bad rioting this week. First the pandemic and now this! Should we go? We trust you and Jennifer and respect your advice.  - Callie ANSWER: Some of our suggestions (amplified on in the podcast): Don’t believe social media (fake news accounts) Travel during daylight hours Get through the cities on the interstates as fast as safely possible. Monitor local news radio stations before you are there, Be aware of your surroundings as you travel, ie smoke ahead, people on the interstate, brake lights.

The RV Lifestyle and camping looks different than it does before the lockdown but on this episode of the RV Podcast we have lots of news about the RV Lifestyle resuming. People are out and about in their RVs, and we’re going to report on the RV Podcast about what’s open for camping, what’s not and how RVers are finally setting out once again after a very active Memorial Day weekend that saw many campers getting out there for the first time in months. We’ll have the latest…plus RV tips, an off the beaten path trip idea and an in-depth look at Care Camps, one of the most inspirational places on earth and one that shares the joy and excitement of camping with those who need it the most. All that and much, much more in this, episode 296 of the RV Podcast. Click the player below to listen. Show Notes for Episode #296 May 27, 2020 of The RV Podcast: Mike & Jennifer Wendland, hosts of the RV Podcast RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Rocky Mountain National Park seeking approval to limit visitors to those who reserve a time Let's start with what potentially may be one of the most controversial changes to the way we visit National Parks that have ever been considered. Rocky Mountain National Park has proposed having all park visitors sign up in advance for a time to enter the park in a move to promote social distancing. If approved, the advanced sign up is estimated to reduce visitors by 40 percent, and hopefully eliminate confusion visitors may feel wondering if they will get in on a particular day or not. This will likely be tried by other National Parks as they almost all are exploring different ways to limit the number of daily visitors. We predict this will be approved, by the National Parks Service and will most likely go into effect over the summer. Experts rank COVID-19 infection risk by activities, including camping As states begin to open up from COVID-19 restrictions (some more quickly than others), we're faced with a new list of considerations. Is it safe to swim? Hike on a busy trail? And what about camping? We found a report by NPR this weekend that runs these questions by experts and we're pleased to report that the risk of catching COVID-19 from a camping trip is low. (click here to see the details.)  Border closure between Canada and the USA extended, hints of significant changes should it reopen this travel season If you are hoping to cross the Canada/ USA border for a camping trip - or a road trip to Alaska - anytime in the immediate future, we have some bad news. The ban on non-essential travel between the two nations was extended to June 21 last week. And we’re also hearing from several sources that if the border does open for nonessential travel in late June, there might be new requirements for all who enter Canada - such as quarantines for some travelers. This is being watched closely by US RVers who want to visit places like the Canadian Rockies or pass through Canada on the way north to Alaska. And of course, many Canadians plan RV visits to the US. There is a tremendous amount of confusion about this right now and lots of pressure on the two governments to open up. We’ll keep you informed. More campgrounds continue to open, but check before you go  As we noted, lots of RVers went camping this past weekend. Several stories out over the weekend told of campgrounds with closed showers, campsites being filled with every other site left open. Mist private campgrounds were open, some state parks were only open to in-state residents and some state parks, like Michigan, remain totally closed. But the good news is that in most places, you could find open places to camp and more are opening u each day.  As always, if you are heading out, we can't stress enough, check ahead to see what is open. Every state is different and Campendium is keeping daily updates you can access by clicking here. Bison at Yellowstone National Park charges, injures woman who got too close We've been sharing in this podcast several recent reports about wildlife in many many parts of the country and the national parks getting used to having the parks all to themselves. Officials worried that the animals would get a bit overwhelmed once tourists returned. It happened. On the second day after partially reopening last week,  Yellowstone National Park reported a woman injured by a bison after she got too close. The animal knocked the woman to the ground and slightly injured her, but she declined medical treatment. A few years back we interviewed a ranger about the Yellowstone Pledge. It is worth taking a look to review. (click here) Additional RV Podcast stories this week: Here were lots of other stories about outdoor activities, hiking and camping being reopened including: Forty people charged with fishing, hiking in New Mexico park Wolves attack couple's dogs on camping trip in British Columbia Hiking trail shut down in California after too many show up, avoid social distancing  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   RV PODCAST LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK From Mark and Lauri – We are looking at a new RV that has a diesel engine. We've never had diesel before and we’re told we need to use DEF fluid… What is it, how much does it cost and how often do we have to add it? It sounds like a hassle to us. Do you have a question you’d like us to answer or a comment you'd like to share on the things we’re discussing on the RV Podcast? If so, we invite you to leave us that question or comment on the special voicemail number we have for the RV Podcast – it’s 586-372-6990.  If you are driving and can’t write it down right now, just go to the RV Lifestyle travel blog at rvlifestyle.com and scroll down the page. You’ll see that number prominently posted on the blog. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Battle Born Batteries, maker of quality, safe and reliable lithium batteries that can be installed in just about every RV. Get in touch with Battle Born to find out what lithium batteries and an upgraded energy management system can add to your RV Lifestyle. Check them out at https://rvlifestyle.com/lithium RV PODCAST INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK One of the most inspiring charities out there is called Care Camps. First started by KOA and now a full-fledged nonprofit supported by the RV Industry, many other campgrounds, and every day RVers like you and me, Care Camps gives a week-long camping experience to children with cancer. You need to know about Care camps. And so in our RV podcast interview of the week, we’re going to take a few minutes to learn about how our help is especially needed now, in these post COVID-19 days when social distancing and protecting these young and vulnerable kids is presenting some really significant challenges. But the Care Camps kids have been looking forward to camp all year long. They’re counting on us as the Care Camps director of development explains in this week’s RV Podcast Interview of the Week: Here’s a transcript of the RV Podcast interview: RV Podcast:                  To find out more about Care Camps, no one better than my friend, Jennifer Mercer, who joins us on the phone right now. Hi, Jennifer. Jennifer Mercer:           Well, hello, Mike. How's it going there in Florida today? RV Podcast:                  Well, we're anxious to get out traveling, but like most of the world, it's slowly opening up. I have been looking for a good opportunity to tell my RV Podcast listeners all about Care Camps ever since we got together back in Arizona in, I think it was February, early February. Jennifer Mercer:           Yeah. RV Podcast:                  So now is as good a time as ever, especially with all of the confusion hurled our way by COVID-19 and the pandemic. But for my listeners who are not familiar, why don't you give us an overview of what KOA Care Camps are, how it came about, and then let's talk about how COVID-19 is affecting the Care Camps this year. So take it away. Tell the RV Podcast about Care Camps. Jennifer Mercer:           All right. Well, as for what Care Camps is, Care Camps is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to help ensure that children with cancer and their families have the chance to attend special oncology camps. And at these camps, they get to experience the healing nature of the outdoors, the way we all do in the RVing industry. And they find joy that comes from spending times with building friendships, with having fun with friends and all the normal stuff that normal kids get to enjoy that are oftentimes changed in the face of crisis like cancer. So thanks to- RV Podcast:                  How does a typical camp work, and how many are there around the country? The RV Podcast interview about care camps tells how much kids with cancer enjoy care camps Jennifer Mercer:           Well, I'd love to say there is no typical camp, because each one is unique and different. Care Camps funds 135 different special oncology camps all over the United States and Canada. The one thing they have in common tends to be that one of their main functions tends to be a kind of a typical summer camp experience that most of us would recognize. If we didn't get to experience it ourselves, we would recognize the summer camp, camping around a big lake and going hiking and zip-lining and doing all these things that kids do just to have fun together. The only difference is that these are medically supervised oncology camps.                                     Kids with cancer have some special medical needs, and so each of these camps is equipped medically as well as with professionally trained counseling staff to handle the unique needs of these kids. And then many of the camps now are also doing some special weeks specifically for siblings of kids with cancer,

RV sales are booming these days like we haven’t seen in years.  But knowing the ins and outs RV financing and RV loans can be a daunting task. With the economy taking a big hit because of COVID-19, you may have heard interest rates are at an all-time low. That may be true for home mortgages but it sure isn’t for RV financing rates for RV loans. So, this week in our interview of the week segment (scroll down), we talk to an expert on getting  RV loans and RV financing. We’ll talk about what’s involved in getting new RV loans and how existing RV loans can be refinanced to save you big money. Plus, we have lots of RV news, tips, questions, and an off the beaten path report for you… all coming up in Episode 295 of the RV Podcast. Click the play button below to hear this episode of the RV Podcast. The interview about RV Financing and RV loans is about 20:25 into the podcast.   Here's the RV Podcast Show Notes for Episode #295, released on  May 20, 2020  WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK There’s lots of news this week about the different parts of the country opening up. Many states are now well into phased reopenings, with non-essential travel being allowed again and state and national parks and campgrounds once again being opened. One piece of bad news, though, has to do with RV travel to and from the US and Canada. The border remains closed. Officials announced yesterday that it will stay shut to all no essential travel at least until June 21. That is a long time. It’s been shut since March and a lot of RVers on both sides of the border are naturally very disappointed. Down here along the panhandle of Florida, the area known as the Emerald Coast because of the blue-green color of the water, things are very close to the normal we had back in early March. Most businesses are open, limited to 50% of their capacity. And while social distancing is the new norm, people are acting responsibly. The private RV parks are open. Hotels are open and busy and short-term rentals of condos for vacations are once again allowed We plan to stay down here for another few weeks. And yes, we will continue our Friday night virtual campfire and Happy Hour at 7 PM Friday nights on our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel. These are in addition to our Sunday night Ask Us Anything live streams as well. RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK KOA campgrounds see reservations rise and expect the trend to continue Interesting story out of Forbes last week with Kampgrounds of America. The network of privately owned campgrounds in the United States and Canada reports that bookings started to outpace cancellations in mid-April so much that today reservations for July and August are only 15 percent below last year's numbers. KOA conducted its own research and found 4 in 10 campers are still planning to take their planned trips this summer, and leisure travelers who camp, and had plans canceled, are planning to replace original plans with a camping trip.As crowds soon return to national parks, rangers concerned about the impact on wildlife Rangers preparing to reopen parts of the national parks are expressing concern about the safety of wildlife when people return. Animals throughout the national park system have relaxed as people have vanished, venturing into places they wouldn't normally dare go. At Joshua Tree National Park a ranger discovered an endangered tortoise sunning himself in the middle of what is normally the park's busiest road. Yellowstone's elk - which can get quite testy after their babies are born - are able to not worry about people getting too close. And at Yosemite, bear have been spotted in meadows near California’s Yosemite Valley Visitor Center - not to mention the many parks spotting coyotes and other animals in their parking lots.  Americans expected to stay home for kick-off of summer, AAA not issuing travel report This Friday is Memorial Day weekend, what many consider the official kick-off for summer. But for the first time in 20 years, AAA will not be issuing a travel report. Why? Too many states still have travel restrictions because of COVID-19, making it difficult to get an accurate estimate. But the amount of travelers is expected to be low. Last year 43 million Americans traveled for Memorial Day Weekend – the second-highest amount since AAA began tracking holiday travel volumes in 2000.  What a difference a year makes. Some national parks, some state campgrounds begin to open Yellowstone National Park has opened its Wyoming entrance today for day use. Colorado state parks campgrounds are now open and operating at 50 percent capacity. West Virginia state park campgrounds are open to state residents only and this Thursday, May 21, camping will open again in Virginia state parks. Every state is different. Many have restrictions. As always, if you are out (or thinking of heading out), be sure to check first. Campendium is keeping daily updates and you can access by clicking here. Heading out for a hike? Remember, it is rattlesnake season If you decide to head for a walk anytime this week, be sure to stay alert for snakes. From Nevada and Arizona (where an experienced hiker was bitten last week) to New York's Hudson Valley, stories filled the news last week of rattlesnake sightings and tips on how to be safe. A few years back we spoke to a snake expert who shared tips and general know-how that is good to review. To hear the interview click here.  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK   QUESTION: From Virginia - I have watched a few of your videos.  Did you ever find the right carrier for your van? I know you had a Stowaway 2 but wanted one for bikes but were not sold on the Nicova, the other one you tried.  Any others have come on the market since?  We have a class B van and we have 2 teens, 2 dogs and want to bring along a tent and that’s 4 duffel bags and 4 camping chairs.  If we could take bikes or a kayak we would but can’t imagine how. Thanks- Virginia ANSWER - We have not been happy with any of the rear carriers and returned both of them. For our Rad Power eBikes, we use the Hollywood brand rear hitch-mounted bike rack. QUESTION: From a newbie- When you two a car behind your motorhome, does it put miles on your car, too? ANSWER – Assuming you mean flat towed, with all wheels down. No it doesn’t as you are towing in neutral with the transmission disabled. But it does add wear and tear…on the brakes and especially the tires. We’re talking about cars made since 1991 or so, with newer odometers. It will add to the odometer on really old cars with the old-style cable-driven speedometer Do you have a question you’d like us to answer or a comment on the things we’re discussing? If so, we invite you to leave us that question or comment on the special voicemail number we have for the podcast – it’s 586-372-6990.  If you are driving and can’t write it down right now, just go to the RV Lifestyle travel blog at rvlifestyle.com and scroll down the page. You’ll see that number prominently posted on the blog. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Battle Born Batteries, maker of quality, safe, and reliable lithium batteries that can be installed in just about every RV. Get in touch with Battle Born to find out what lithium batteries and an upgraded energy management system can add to your RV Lifestyle. Check them out at https://rvlifestyle.com/lithium RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK It can be tricky figuring out the best way to do your RV financing or RV loans RV financing is very different from car loans. And even though you may have heard that interest rates are at all-time lows, that is not the case with RV loans. In fact, RV financing rates are actually going up. Below is a transcript from Episode 295 if the RV Podcast where we interview Jeff McLeod, a top expert on RV financing, who explains exactly what you can expect with RV financing and how you can use a free tool to find out exactly your payments would be for RV loans of varying lengths and interest rates. Click the play button below to hear this episode of the RV Podcast. The interview about RV Financing and RV loans is about 20:25 into the podcast. Here's the full transcript of our interview about RV financing and Rv loans. Mike Wendland:           To help us figure out the ins and outs of RV financing and RV loans, we've asked our friend Jeff McLeod from Newcoast Financial Services to stop by to help us understand the ins and outs of financing an RV, particularly as it relates to the unique challenges posed by COVD-19.  Here's the deal, all you have to do is look at the news these days and you'll see everybody is hyping RV sales as the way for people to have a vacation and not have to worry about COVID, and all the stuff about cleanliness, because your RV's pretty clean, and you can easily social distance in it. The question is what's involved? What do people need to know about RV financing? We're used to buying a car and financing a car, but explain, first of all, the big differences in RV loans. RV financing involves more red tape Jeff McLeod:                 Well, an RV is a recreation, a luxury item, and that's what lenders look at it as. A marine product, a boat, an RV it's going to be looked at as a, not a need item, but a luxury item. And so when it comes to financing an auto, the criteria is, or the bar, if you will, is a little bit lower than what they look for for an RV application. Buying an RV requires RV financing or RV loans for most people The thought is, is a car loan is going to be generally a shorter term. And it's something that people need and rely on to get back and forth, to work every day and to shuttle their kids back and forth to school. So when you're looking at an RV loan, generally credit scores are in the 700 and above credit range,

Curious about Harvest Hosts? Here's our ultimate Harvest Host review featuring a podcast interview and videos of what you can expect at a Harvest Host location. By now, everyone's heard of Harvest Hosts, that awesome membership service that lets RVers stay overnight for free at leading wineries, farms, golf courses, and tourist attractions. But it's time for a Harvest Hosts Review in which we tell you - from our first-hand experience and an interview with Joel Holland, the CEO of Harvest Hosts - just what to expect. Click this link and use the code HHFriends15 for 15% off the $79 membership:  https://rvlifestyle.com/hh Joel was our special guest in Episode 294 or the RV Podcast. He gives us a Harvest Host Review from his perspective, talking about new locations, what hosts are open during the COVID-19 restrictions, and why Harvest Hosts has become so popular with RVers. RV Podcast Harvest Host Review from RV Podcast Episode 294 Here's the podcast episode with the  Harvest Host review featuring Joel... just click the arrow to listen right now on your computer or smartphone, or download it for later review. You can also hear it on your favorite podcast app or player like iTunes, Stitcher, TunedIn or Spotify. Joel's interview is about 17:24 in. But we invite you to listen to the entire podcast from start to finish. Then, Jennifer and I want to share our own Harvest Hosts review, showing you from our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel videos exactly what to expect. Harvest Host Review videos Here's the first Harvest Host review video we did. Honestly, Harvest Hosts locations are our favorite place to stay.  It's a membership site that offers free overnight camping all across North America. How does it work? Check out this Harvest Host review video to see some of the unique places we visited.   0 Comments in moderatio Here is another Harvest Hosts review video we did that shows you three more spots.  Okay, now the good news. Of you listened to the podcast, you've heard the CEO and seen our videos of what to expect with our Harvest Host Review videos. Now here is the best part: We can save you money! If you join with our link - you get 15% off so you'll pay just $63/year for your annual membership.  Using this link and the discount code: HHFriends15 you save get 15% off Harvest Hosts annual membership of $79. This is a still photo from one of our Harvest Host review videos taken in the Finger Lakes region of New York. We were camping at the Heron Hill winery as Harvest Host guests Harvest Host locations across North America We covered much more in this podcast besides the Harvest Hosts review. Here's the rest of what we talked about: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK The RV Lifestyle can be quite daunting, especially when you are just starting out. We've heard from a lot of new RVers over these past several weeks during the lockdown, especially women who will be traveling with husbands of significant others, seeking some newbie advice. Some of those women aren't quite as enthusiastic about the RV Lifestyle as their traveling companion, It's not that they don't want to RV. They just have some basic questions and are seeking advice on how to adjust and handle things as they start traveling in their RV. So this week, Jennifer has put a lot of time and effort into writing a very detailed article on our RV Lifestyle blog, offering up helpful advice to RV women newbies. It's filled with lots of tips, links to how-to videos, and other resources. We think this free article will greatly ease those newbie jitters as it answers many of those basic beginning questions women have. Men will find helpful info in this article, too, But this one is clearly aimed at women. I plan to do a similar article aimed at men for next week.  To read Jennifer's article offering Helpful NewbIe RV Advice: Just for Women, CLICK HERE. RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK Oregon closes its state forests to boondockers because of health hazards caused by vast amounts of trash, human waste left behind While Oregon closed its state campgrounds because of COVID-19 some time back, it was permitting dispersed camping on Oregon Department of Forestry land - until this week. As of Monday (May 11) the state closed land to dispersed campers - also called boondockers - because of the vast amount of trash and human waste these campers left behind. State officials said they are not sure how long the forests will be closed, but current conditions are so bad they pose a health hazard. State workers now will send teams out to pick the debris up. Some RV dealers report surging sales as people seek way to self-isolate and travel this summer Some RV dealers are reporting soaring sales as more and more Americans want to travel this summer but want to control their surroundings, according to a report out last week. With gas prices at record lows, and people hesitant to book a plane flight, use a hotel, or even eat at a restaurant, some are finding RVs an attractive choice. RV dealers say appointments, calls and sales are up, and many expect it to continue in the short term. This is something I have seen among friends, and even wrote about a friend's decision to do just this. (See story below.) Can't afford to buy an RV? Story out last week says another booming company is RV rentals Besides buying RVs, guess what else is on the rise in parts of the country? If you guessed RV rentals, you would be right! For families who want to travel, but can't afford to buy an RV, many are doing the next closest thing - renting them. Some RV rental companies are reporting a RV rental boom, especially as more and more campgrounds begin to open. Some national parks, some state campgrounds begin to open  Some national parks are starting to open for day use. Some states, including Florida, are opening some campgrounds. Some states are only allowing state residents to camp. Others are opening to non-state residents. To stay up-to-date about campgrounds and parks near you, we recommend visiting Campendium by clicking here. Better yet, check out last night's Ask Us Anything weekly live stream that we did on YouTube. We had RV Lifestyle Fellow Travelers check-in from all across North America to report what RV facilities are open and what are closed. CLICK HERE to watch it. That baby animal you come across while walking through the wood probably isn't abandoned If you decide to go for a walk in the woods during this time of social distancing, and come upon a seemingly helpless, abandoned baby animal, Wildlife officials all across North America share a similar message: Leave the cute critter alone. While it might seem the baby animal needs help, most likely the mother is nearby or out getting food and will soon return. We interviewed an expert some time back on the subject. To learn more about what to do, and when to know if the animal really needs help, click here.  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK From Brenda: Well, we got a phone call from Wyoming State Parks that our reservation is canceled for our trip in the end of July to mid Aug because they are closed to non residents and only open to in state residents. What do we do? Our advice… look into private campgrounds. Right now, Montana Governor Bullock announced on April 22,2020 the gradual reopening of the state but, extended the directive that “travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine”. In addition, Yellowstone National Park has not yet made an announcement as to when the National Park will open to visitors. Do you have a question you’d like us to answer, or a comment on the things we’re discussing. If so, we invite you to leave us that question or comment on the special voicemail number we have for the podcast – it’s 586-372-6990.  If you are driving and can’t write it down right now, just go to the RV Lifestyle travel blog at rvlifestyle.com and scroll down the page. You’ll see that number prominently posted on the blog. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Battle Born Batteries, maker of quality, safe and reliable lithium batteries that can be installed in just about every RV. Get in touch with Battle Born to find out what lithium batteries and an upgraded energy management system can add to your RV Lifestyle. Check them out at https://rvlifestyle.com/lithium Interview of the Week - Harvest Hosts Review This week, our Interview of the Week features a Harvest Hosts review with CEO Joel Holland. Among other things, Joel tells us what to expect at a Harvest Hosts location, noting that there are 1,409 of them in every state every Canadian province and even Baja in Mexico, His Harvest Hosts review interview notes there are: 427 wineries 288 farms 209 museums and attractions 363 golf courses 121 breweries A couple of things about Harvest Host locations: Most do not have electric or fresh water hookups. Some do. Most don't. So if those are a must for you, be sure to ask when you call the host  Similarly, most do not offer restrooms or showers. So you should be self-contained. Something else we must tell you in this Harvest Hosts review:  While overnight camping is free, it is considered good manners to patronize the business run by your host. Buy some farm produce, fruit, wine or beer or a souvenir. Play a round of golf or eat in the restaurants. In otherwise, give a little back for the host's hospitality. That's not hard to do, as you can see in our harvest Hosts review videos. Each location is a place you would want to visit and patronize even if you weren't spending the night. Click this link for 15% off the $79 membership:  https://rvlifestyle.com/hh and use the code: HHFriends15   OFF THE BEATEN PATH REPORT

This week on the podcast, we talk about getting your RV ready for travel again. For most RVers, it’s been a long wait and their RVers have been just sitting there waiting for the 2020 RV travel season. We tell you what we do to prepare our RV and hear from Tim Marriott, our mechanic from LT Truck and Trailer in Pontiac, MI. Plus we have lots of RV news about what is open and what isn’t, where travel is allowed, plus your questions and a great off the beaten path report from the Burketts. Show Notes for Episode #293 May 6 2020 of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK and Getting Your RV Ready for Travel Again It wasn't long and it wasn't far and we maintained social distancing the whole time but we did get out this weekend for a nice campout in the RV, making our way from NW Florida to SW Georgia. Both states have eased travel restrictions and the stay at home orders. Just being able to go for a drive and spend a beautiful weekend in the RV chased away those quarantine blues built up over the past two months.. By no means are we all out of the coronavirus woods and many other places remain locked down, but there are regions where restrictions are easing and people are starting to venture out again. And that is Good News! Speaking of Good News, we are very pleased to announce that our latest 7 Day Adventure Guide is now available for instant download!  It's on the Florida Keys and Key West and we are thrilled to release it.  CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY TODAY! The book is jam-packed with maps, photos, and helpful info on what to see and where to go and camp in the Keys. It joins our library of ebook guides and is the third one in Florida. The Keys guide as a standalone is just $7. But you can bundle it at a special price with our other two Florida guides - one for the Atlantic Coast and one for the Gulf Coast. The book is jam-packed with maps, photos, and helpful info on what to see and where to go and camp in the Keys. It joins our library of ebook guides and is the third one in Florida. The Keys guide as a standalone is just $7. But you can bundle it at a special price with our other two Florida guides - one for the Atlantic Coast and one for the Gulf Coast. All three Florida guides are available as a three-pack bundle for just $16.99! You can also get all eight of our 7 Day Adventure guides at a huge discount for just $39.99!    RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK RV industry prepares to gradually reopen manufacturing plants this week Much of the RV industry in northern Indiana is planning to restart operations this week. Gulf Stream, Thor, Airstream, CrossRoads, Cruiser, Dutchmen, Entegra Coach, Heartland, Jayco, Keystone RV, Starcraft, and others, along with most suppliers and parts manufacturers are now reopened. The restart will be slow, with employees at many factories receiving temperature checks before entering the building, plastic shields between work stations, sanitizing between shifts, personal protective equipment worn, and more. But the bottom line is the RV industry is back in business.   Man airlifted from Wyoming wildlife area after being attacked by a grizzly If you find yourself social distancing outdoors in bear country, be sure to bring bear spray and be stay alert. Bears are definitely out now, and a grizzly attacked a Wyoming man who was outdoors last weekend near the Sunlight Wildlife Habitat Management Area. Thankfully the man was able to send an SOS signal from a satellite communication device, rescuers found him and airlifted him to a hospital. He suffered severe injuries to his neck. A few years ago we interviewed an expert on bear spray. We always travel with it and recommend it. Here is a link to read more. Public campground closed? Family heads to a private campground in Michigan and practices social distancing in their RV  Many states, such as Michigan, are still under stay at home orders, and state parks in Michigan are closed to camping until June 21. But in many places, including Michigan,  RVers are allowed at private campgrounds as long as they are totally self-contained. While the private campground's showers and restrooms were closed, the RVers that are self-contained are welcome as long as they use their own onboard bathroom and shower facilities. That’s how it was for us in Georgia this weekend at the campground where we stayed. So check out private campgrounds if you can’t find a state park open near you. Some state campgrounds, national parks opening  Speaking of campgrounds opening, many states - such as Florida, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas - are starting to open up, as are some national parks. The situation is changing daily. To stay up to date about campgrounds and parks near you, we recommend visiting Campendium by clicking here. This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK QUESTION From Anne – Is it Okay to travel now? Will there be a normal summer RV travel season? Will this end? We’re trying to plot out our summer and are frankly worried about everything we hear, like local anger at visiting RVers, police roadblocks, meat and food shortages, and predictions of continued shutdowns. Help us, Mike and Jennifer, we trust what you say. ANSWER Listen to the podcast for our full reply but basically, we do believe there will be RV travel but we do think there will be areas where it is not advisable to go. Do you have a question you’d like us to answer or a comment on the things we’re discussing? If so, we invite you to leave us that question or comment on the special voicemail number we have for the podcast – it’s 586-372-6990.  If you are driving and can’t write it down right now, just go to the RV Lifestyle travel blog at rvlifestyle.com and scroll down the page. You’ll see that number prominently posted on the blog. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Battle Born Batteries, maker of quality, safe, and reliable lithium batteries that can be installed in just about every RV. Get in touch with Battle Born to find out what lithium batteries and an upgraded energy management system can add to your RV Lifestyle. Check them out at https://rvlifestyle.com/lithium Battle Born's motto is Get out there, Stay out there. And that's their mission, to provide RV and marine batteries made with the highest  RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK For most RVers, it’s been a long wait and their RVers have been just sitting there waiting for the 2020 RV travel season. This week on the podcast, we talk about getting your RV ready for travel again. We tell you what we do to prepare our RV and hear from Tim Marriott, our mechanic from LT Truck and Trailer in Pontiac, MI. Here's a video version of the original report, showing our previous RV. Even though we have a new RV, the tips remain the same. For most RVers, it’s been a long wait and their RVers have been just sitting there waiting for the 2020 RV travel season. This week on the podcast, we talk about getting your RV ready for travel again. We tell you what we do to prepare our RV and hear from Tim Marriott, our mechanic from LT Truck and Trailer in Pontiac, MI. The interview of the week is brought to you by SunshinestateRVs.com, where every new  motorhome is delivered to the customer free, anywhere in the country OFF THE BEATEN PATH REPORT    By Tom & Patti Burkett The late winter and early spring, when the waterfowl are migrating along the Atlantic Flyway, is a great time to visit this beautiful and little-known parcel of national lands.   Tucked right in the armpit of the Florida panhandle, Saint Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge boasts miles of trails along ponds and dikes, an auto tour, and a beautiful lighthouse on the coast.  We spent quite a while exploring this area of the state, not too far from the Emerald Coast where Mike and Jennifer like to hang out.  Our home base was the county-owned Newport Campground just outside the entrance to the refuge on US highway 98. The first day we visited was a bit blustery and cold, with overcast skies and the refuge nearly deserted.  It was late morning and the tide was an hour short of low.  The roadside ditches were sprinkled with alligators large and small, and the ponds were full of waterfowl.   We saw egrets and herons, as you might expect, but also a flock of glossy ibis and, in a large raft of snow geese, a much more unusual blue goose.  There were also a variety of migrant songbirds flitting through the mangrove and slash pine trees.  The refuge is actively involved in the recovery of the red-cockaded woodpecker and is one of the best places to see this rare bird. The main road starts at the visitor center, where an observation deck overlooks a pond and marsh.  A steady stream of birds passes through, and a list of sightings is kept for the entire refuge.  There are several exhibits worth looking at, and a small but well-stocked bookstore.  From there the main road runs several miles out to the lighthouse, with numerous pullouts at viewing areas and trailheads.   Interestingly, our second visit was on a sunny day, again about an hour before low tide, and there were many fewer birds and alligators. The Newport campground is small but attractive, with lots of mature trees and a fairly new bathhouse.  Sites offer water and electric.  We got in without a reservation but were told that’s unusual.  Walking the campground loop in the afternoon, another guest asked if we were going to family supper, then had to explain to us what family dinner is.   Just across the St. Marks River from the campground is a bar/restaurant called Outz’s Too.  One night each week they serve a set menu for $4.  It’s a full meal with iced tea and dessert.  How could we pass that up?  Tonight it was baked ham, sweet potatoes, butter beans, and strawberry shortcake. Not far away,

Worried about how you’re going to get healthcare when everything is closed? For many RVers during the recent lockdown, the answer was telemedicine. And what better way for RVers to learn about telemedicine than from. . . an RVer who does telemedicine. In this episode of our RV Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Tom Davis MD, a practicing Family Physician and full-time RVer who talks telemedicine; how to use it, how not to use it, and why telemedicine is the way of the future. Plus your RV Lifestyle questions, RV News of the week and a great off the beaten path report from the Burketts. Show Notes for Episode #292 April 29, 2020, of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK It's been seven weeks now since most of North America began to self isolate and practice social distancing under stay at home orders and travel restrictions. Finally, we're seeing many places starting to ease up on those restrictions as many parts of North America begin the process of reopening. Most of the big RV manufacturers and suppliers will be soon restarting production. State parks are taking reservations again in many parts of the country and it now looks like there will be a robust camping season this summer after all. We're not quite there yet, but optimism is running high that we will be able to get out there and enjoy the RV Lifestyle again within the next few weeks. We remain in Northwest Florida where the beaches will partially reopen later this week after a shutdown of more than a month. A full reopening is expected in two or three weeks. So there really is light at the end of this long tunnel. Hang on, stay home, and be safe a little longer. It will soon be better! This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK Visit your favorite national park - virtually Are you wishing you were at your favorite national park during this stay-at-home time? If so, why not do the next best thing - and visit that special spot virtually? The National Park Service has a web spot (click here) where you can see web cameras of famous locations, join in live programs the various parks are offering online, or just enjoy some amazing photo and video tours. Animals in some closed national parks enjoying walking on roads and resting in parking lots as people are away Speaking of national parks, did you see the picture released last week of a lone coyote lying down, looking almost like he was enjoying the view from the parking lot at Yosemite National Park? As many of the national parks are closed, the animals are able to wander where they please without fear of running into people. And apparently, but the looks of this photo (click here) they are enjoying it. Will RV living be the preferred vacation mode when COVID-19 travel restrictions ease? For those who are joining our Friday night virtual campsite chats or Sunday night Ask Us Anythings, you know Jen and I have shared that we could see a greater interest in RV vacations when travel restrictions start to lift. Why? When you are in an RV you are outdoors and bring along your own bed, kitchen, bathroom, and living space, which may appeal to a lot of folks who want to go on a summer vacation but want to limit their interactions with others. Apparently we aren't the only ones speculating about this. An article in Forbes magazine was a Q and A from an RV industry spokesperson, sharing very similar thoughts. (Click here.) Some states starting to announce dates when campgrounds will reopen  We are getting word that more states are permitting campgrounds to open. While right now most are closed, some states are saying they'll allow campgrounds to re-open May 1, others May 15, others May 30. Some are open now for full-timers and medical or other essential workers seeking to isolate themselves from their families. To know what is the situation near you, please check out Campendium site (click here), as they are keeping track of the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 restrictions. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK This from Jerry and Marie: We are in our mid 70’s and have been careful to shelter in place as required but now that our state (Georgia) has opened up and warm weather is turning to hot weather, we are ready to hit the road. We have a Fifth Wheel. We usually are gone May through October and we were about to head to Texas and then make or way west and north. But we are very concerned that there will be resentment as we travel to various areas that may see RVers as bringing the COVID 19 virus. We’d normally be gone by now but we are nervous. Do you think it would be okay? Have you heard of RVers having issues in some communities? We answer... we have heard of no incidents but advise waiting a couple of weeks more. Do you have a question you’d like us to answer or a comment on the things we’re discussing? If so, we invite you to leave us that question or comment on the special voicemail number we have for the podcast – it’s 586-372-6990.  If you are driving and can’t write it down right now, just go to the RV Lifestyle travel blog at rvlifestyle.com and scroll down the page. You’ll see that number prominently posted on the blog. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Battle Born Batteries, maker of quality, safe, and reliable lithium batteries that can be installed in just about every RV. Get in touch with Battle Born to find out what lithium batteries and an upgraded energy management system can add to your RV Lifestyle. Check them out at https://rvlifestyle.com/lithium RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK Dr. Tom Davis Worried about how you’re going to get healthcare when everything closed? For many RVers during the recent lockdown, the answer was telemedicine. And what better way for RVers to learn about telemedicine than from. . . an RVer who does telemedicine. In this episode, Dr. Tom Davis MD, a practicing Family Physician, and full-time RVer talks telemedicine; how to use it, how not to use it, and how he used it to RV full time just like you. Dr. Davis has worked in telemedicine all his life and currently teaches other clinicians how care for patients with telemedicine. He’s the author of the Amazon “Hot 100” book Telemedicine Confidential---Keeping Your Family Safe (https://amzn.to/3f3AxSe) He also helps RVers cover their healthcare costs for 40% of the cost of Obamacare, through https://wow.healthcare/individuals/ No networks, great coverage, one simple award-winning app. It lets you get care anywhere... and know exactly how much it will cost beforehand. It was like it was specifically created for RVers. Here is a video version of the interview: The interview of the week is brought to you by SunshinestateRVs.com, where every new  motorhome is delivered to the customer free, anywhere in the country OFF THE BEATEN PATH REPORT    By Tom and Patti Burkett When you’re on the road in your RV, a furniture store is one of the last places you’d be likely to stop in any random place you visited.  Along the main strip of Poplar Bluff, Missouri there are two big furniture retailers, seemingly competing for your attention with outsize advertising and eye-catching storefronts.  And just down the street is the constantly changing giant LED sign in front of Sluggo’s Bargain Basement, another sofa and mattress emporium. It takes only a second look to see that the dean of these enterprises is Hefner’s, which sports vintage neon and, yes, a real full size 1960s racing speedboat on a pole.  Great advertising and in this case a promise of more wonders to come for those who take the time to step inside. J.A. Hefner a mercantile store in tiny Qulin, Missouri in 1925 and turned it over to his two sons in the early 1940s.  They ran the store in Qulin for twenty years, then moved it to Poplar Bluff.  Two decades after that, Joe Hefner sold it to a Tennessee company.  Furniture Center hired Slug Hefner as a salesman the day they reopened the store.  A month later he’d been promoted to general manager.  He worked in that capacity for four years, then worked out support from local investors to buy back the store.  The size of the store tripled in the ensuing thirty years.  Slug would say it’s because “Hefner’s loves its customers!” The speedboat on a pole out front hints at the other side of the story.  Hefner is a legend in the powerboat racing world.  He raced offshore through much of the 1990s, then moved back to lake racing in 2004. His Dirty Duck catamaran has set numerous speed records and was for some time the fastest boat on the water.  It’s no surprise that a variety of watercraft are on display in the store, scattered among the recliners, end tables, and dining room sets. Things to see in the store are certainly not limited to fast rides.  There are some beautiful antique bicycles sprinkled around, just hanging out as if the rider were shopping, and along one corridor, a whole row of banana-seat Schwinn Sting-Rays with price tags!  Another shopper told me the store has always had Sting-Rays.  Since they were last made almost forty years ago, he said, nobody knows where Slug gets his steady supply.  “I bought one for each of my girls,” he said.  “They don’t ride them anymore, but they’re both holding on to them for their kids.” Hearing this I looked a bit closer and saw that most of the antique items in the store are for sale, like the dazzling Wurlitzer jukebox that turned out to be an update fitted to play CDs! We wandered for an hour, looking at cars, fire trucks, airplanes, farm machinery, devices for stuffing sausage and grinding apples, and cutting shapes from tin.  This day, the day after Thanksgiving, was customer appreciation day, and a table offered scrambled eggs, biscuits, sausage gravy, and a big pot of coffee.

Campgrounds across North America are getting ready to open as we’re seeing many places in the US adopting a three-phased process to ease mandatory stay at home orders and travel prohibitions. The question is… when? Some campgrounds in a handful of states are planning to book new campers starting in May. Others have tentatively set reopening dates to a little later. Still, others say they have no idea. But whenever they do open, as we learn in our Interview of the Week segment, camping as we know it will be different, sometimes vastly different, with new procedures and policies that may be with us long into the future. We update the current open and closed list of campgrounds and hear from two industry experts, both of whom are voicing cautious optimism that the 2020 camping year will soon be starting – in one form or another. Plus, we have RV News of the week, your questions, and an off the beaten path report. But first, my lifelong traveling companion and my bride… Jennifer. Show Notes for Episode #291 of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Like you, Jen and I have pretty much been staying at home during this pandemic and while we are not in as strict of a lockdown as other places, we are starting to feel the strain of no travel and closed businesses. While there is a strong glimmer of hope that things are starting to improve and some of those restrictions will be lifted, I think we all have at least a couple more weeks yet where unnecessary travel will be prohibited by health and governmental authorities. But I am very optimistic now that, come summer, we will all be able to get back on the road. To that end, while we're all hunkered down, we now are doing two YouTube live streams. Our regular Sunday evening "Ask Us Anything" show on our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel has been joined with a Friday night Virtual Campfire. Both start at 7 PM Eastern time and are a great way to stay connected and interact with the online RV Lifestyle community. Join us at https://youtube.com/rvlifestyle We invite you to pull up a chair and join us for the live streams! Here’s hoping that soon we'll be able to have real campfires again! We’ve been watching the Super B RV Show online this past week Like all in person RV shows, this year’s annual Super B Show I Phoenix was canceled. So the event organizers – LaMesa RV -moved it online and have been featuring video tours of various small motorhome models, along with live Q&A on their Facebook Page and YouTube Channel. The online Super B Show will continue all week. Here are the ones we’ve watched so far. The Pleasureway Ascent TS  - https://youtu.be/_pOmtyH0sDI The Pleasureway Tofino - https://youtu.be/MFqmsBWZqE8 The Leisure Travel Unity - https://youtu.be/iye_CPe0Dqw LaMesa is doing a live broadcast each day of different Class B units at 10 AM PT at https://www.facebook.com/lamesarv RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK Homeowners association refuses request by COVID-19 treating physician's assistant to live in RV in her driveway A New Jersey physician's assistant treating COVID-19 patients was denied the right to live in an RV in her driveway by her neighborhood homeowners association in Burlington County. The physician's assistant and her husband have a 6-year-old daughter, so the couple thought if she lived in an RV in the driveway she could see her daughter and husband and be close, but have the separation needed to protect their child. But apparently the homeowners association still denied the request.  Gary Bunzer, widely known as the RV doctor, dies after four-week fight against COVID-19 Last weekend we shared over our RV Lifestyle Facebook group, the very sad news that Gary Bunzer, known far and wide in the RV Community as "the RV Doctor," died in a Washington hospital after a four week battle with COVID-19. Gary was a frequent guest on our podcast and he made appearances in several of our videos. We last saw Gary in October in Elkhart, IN at the opening of the RV Technical Institute which trains RV techs. Gary was instrumental in designing the curriculum for that school. Gary was gracious, fun, a true expert in all things RV and always willing to share his expertise. To see the post in our RV Lifestyle Facebook group click here. As you're out walking during this time of lockdown, beware of ticks As more of us head outside to exercise during this time of social distancing, be aware that in much of the country, tick season is just beginning. A story out of Idaho last week talked about how ticks are quick to latch on to dogs, which then carry them into your home. But they can also latch on to people and can carry a variety of diseases. Ticks often live in grassy, bushy areas, and here is a story with some helpful tips on how to remove them from your dog.  This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK From Erin via the RV Lifestyle Facebook Group: I’m new here to the RV world and can someone explain to me why in the world do some campgrounds not allow RV’s that are over 10 years old? By the time mine is paid off it will be over 10 years old! (This question generated 110 answers from members! O avid that but, say most of our readers, overlook it routinely if the Rv is in decent shape. Most upscale parks do not want ratty, duct-taped, and unsightly RVs. They make that rule. This is from Jason via the RV Lifestyle Facebook Group: My wife and I are planning a trip from Oklahoma to Alaska. We are thinking about utilizing the ferry system and bypass Canada altogether and was curious if anyone else has used the ferry for their RV and approximate cost to do so.  (Transporting an RV on the ferry can cost $5,000 and more round trip and the ferry schedules have been cut back and are described by many members as erratic) Do you have a question you’d like us to answer or a comment on the things we’re discussing? If so, we invite you to leave us that question or comment on the special voicemail number we have for the podcast – it’s 586-372-6990.  If you are driving and can’t write it down right now, just go to the RV Lifestyle travel blog at rvlifestyle.com and scroll down the page. You’ll see that number prominently posted on the blog. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Battle Born Batteries, maker of quality, safe, and reliable lithium batteries that can be installed in just about every RV. Get in touch with Battle Born to find out what lithium batteries and an upgraded energy management system can add to your RV Lifestyle. Check them out at https://rvlifestyle.com/lithium RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK The US is adopting a three-phased process to ease mandatory stay at home orders and travel prohibitions. The question is… when? Some campgrounds in a handful of states are planning to book new campers starting in May. Others have tentatively set reopening dates to a little later. Still, others say they have no idea. But whenever they do open, as we learn in our Interview of the Week segment, camping as we know it will be different, sometimes vastly different, with new procedures and policies that may be with us long into the future. We update the current open and closed list of campgrounds and hear from two industry experts, both of whom are voicing cautious optimism that the 2020 camping year will soon be starting – in one form or another. Before we hear from some industry experts, let’s update the current situation. As of April 21, as we record this, about 60% of U.S. based campsites are closed due to COVID-19. Forty-two out of 50 states have closed or delayed opening their state park system campgrounds: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, All Army Corp of Engineer campgrounds, nationwide, are closed. Some states have classified private RV parks as ‘non-essential’ businesses, and have ordered them closed – or have placed restrictions on access to them: Connecticut, Indiana*, Illinois*, Iowa*, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio*, Vermont, Virginia*, West Virginia Many casinos and their corresponding parking lots, which often permit overnight parking, are closed. Have a back-up plan if intending to utilize a casino parking lot as an overnight resting spot. All  National Parks are closed to camping and many are also closed to day use.  While most facilities and events are closed or canceled, outdoor spaces in some parks remain accessible to the public. Before visiting, please check with individual parks regarding changes to park operation All U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed campgrounds in every Division and District in the nation have closed at least May 15th. Multiple military RV parks and campgrounds have closed. U.S. Military Campgrounds & RV Parks is tracking these closures on their website. Thousand Trails / Encore Resorts RV remain open to guests currently on site, however, they are not accepting new reservations through April 30, 2020. Guests currently at locations may extend their stay. KOA campgrounds are generally open, unless, as in many states, they have been ordered closed by state or local officials. KOA lists the status of each campground state by state on this website. Our friends at Campendium have the most detailed list of what is and isn’t open at https://www.campendium.com/camping/covid-19-state-by-state-campground-closures-responses/. Their up-to-date information can help you find what areas are/aren’t accessible as you travel. You can also filter your campground search by open campgrounds removing those with temporary closures. Now, that said, May first will be a critical date for many campgrounds as a growing number of states will be entering phase one of the reopening plans being suggested by federal and many state officials.

In our interview of the week for this episode of the RV Podcast, we continue our profile of various YouTube influencers by introducing you to Christine and Aaron, of IreneIronFitness.com, who do online fitness, health, and nutritional coaching as they travel North America in their Class B RV.   We’ll learn some tricks about how to get more food in those small RV refrigerators, what foods to eat while on the road and some easy ways to get and stay fit. Also this week, we have lots of RV news updates, your questions, and a great off the beaten path report from the Burketts. Show Notes for Episode #290 of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We remain in Florida, with travel suspended as we wait for the crisis to ease and the all-clear is signaled for our RV adventuring to resume. SUPER B SHOW TO GO ONLINE This is the week we were scheduled to be on the road, headed to Phoenix and the annual Super B show of small motorhomes, a premier event where the latest Class B, B+, and C motorhomes are on display. Like all other such shows and events, this year's physical show was canceled but LaMesa RV, the show's sponsor, is taking the Super B show online, with a virtual show scheduled to start this Thursday, April 16. The online version of the show will feature detailed video tours of a different motorhome every day through the end of the month, with live questions answered about the featured vehicle. Brands being shown include small motorhomes from Tiffin, Leisure Travel Vans, Pleasure-Way, Story Overland, Winnebago, and Thor.  To "attend" the online version of the Super B Show CLICK HERE. Before we came off the road, we had been shooting video on a number of great Florida RV destinations. We have four different stories we will be releasing over the next several weeks, with the first this coming Saturday, April 18. We will let you decide which one you want to see first. You can vote for the one you most want to see on the Community tab of our RV Lifestyle Channel on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/roadtrekingmike/community WE'RE HAVING LOTS OF FUN ON INSTAGRAM Last week we announced that Bo has an Instagram Page at https://instagram.com/bothervelkhound. This week, Jennifer launched her own page at https://instagram.com/rvlifestylejen And Mike's is at https://instagram.com/rvlifestylemike We invite you to follow all three as we are sharing our adventures there on a daily basis and love interacting with you! Also, we just did a guest blog post for Leisure Travel Vans about working remotely, something a lot of people are doing as we’re locked down during this coronavirus pandemic.  We have been working remotely since 2012 and, as RVers who are on the road and work from our LTV Unity FX almost three-quarters of the time, we have some easy suggestions that will help you navigate all the ins and outs of not being able to physically go into the office while working from your sticks-and-bricks home. . Read the post right here: https://leisurevans.com/blog/remote-working-tips/ This part of the podcast is brought to you by THE RV LIFESTYLE 7 DAY ADVENTURE GUIDE TRAVEL BOOKS…at https://rvlifestyle.com/books RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK Van lifers rent homes, move back to their parent's house, or hunker down under quarantine What to do when you are living the van life and under quarantine? This story focuses on a few people living full-time in their van, and details how they adjusted. For some, it meant renting a home for a bit and moving out of the van. Others moved to relative's driveways. And others? They are trying to hunker down, and live 24/7 in a VERY small space.  Wisconsin now needs to close 40 state parks after record numbers of visitors flock to the outdoors States are starting to run into a new problem. Many closed their campgrounds long ago when COVID-19 first surfaced, but kept the park and trails open so those who live nearby could visit and practice social distancing outside. But then, people started arriving - in record numbers - causing new problems. In Wisconsin's High Cliff state park, 16,000 people visited over two days - the amount that typically comes in a month. With such crowds, the state governor said there was no choice but to close 40 parks entirely. And this is happening elsewhere. Our friends at Campendium (click here) continue to do a great job keeping an up-to-date list of what is open and what is not as things are constantly changing. Take this 'test' to see how many national parks you can recognize So as you're stuck at home, dreaming of the day you can head out to the great outdoors, here is something fun to do. Travel & Leisure has a video "test" where the name of a park is shown, along with several images, and you can test yourself to see how many you can correctly name. (And may discover a few new places you absolutely need to visit!) And while we're all dreaming, here is a link to a story Jen and I did some time back of our Top 10 National Parks of the West (click here).  London dad and two sons go on a camping trip - in their tiny backyard We could all use a little cheering up these days, which is why I had to share this story. It is from the United Kingdom and is a delightful read about a dad who, after having to cancel a planned trip, decided to go camping with his two young sons in their backyard or "garden" as he calls it. The family slept in a small tent, roasted marshmallows, and enjoyed the change of scenery by going camping at home.   This part of the podcast is brought to you by RadPower Bikes, America's #1 e-bike brand, offering direct to consumer pricing on powerful premium electric bikes. Now with free shipping   LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK QUESTION: In one of your videos you speak very favorable about the "SnapPads" you put under the hydraulic cylinders under you Leisure Van. Googled for the SnapPads for the RV that we hope to get this summer, but see there are quite a few models. Can you tell me the type you bought and where you bought it? - John ANSWER: Try https://rvsnappad.com/ The system we have fits on the Equalizer brand jacks we have on out 2019 Leisure Travel Vans Unity model. The one we got from SnapPad is called the EQ Compact model. It’s for seven-inch square leveling pads. Here’s a link https://rvsnappad.com/collections/eq/products/eq-compact-4-pack Do you have a question you’d like us to answer or a comment on the things we’re discussing? If so, we invite you to leave us that question or comment on the special voicemail number we have for the podcast – it’s 586-372-6990.  If you are driving and can’t write it down right now, just go to the RV Lifestyle travel blog at rvlifestyle.com and scroll down the page. You’ll see that number prominently posted on the blog. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Battle Born Batteries, maker of quality, safe, and reliable lithium batteries that can be installed in just about every RV. Get in touch with Battle Born to find out what lithium batteries and an upgraded energy management system can add to your RV Lifestyle. Check them out at https://rvlifestyle.com/lithium RV INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK - How's Your health? In our interview of the week for this episode of the RV Podcast, we continue our profile of various YouTube influencers by introducing you to Christine and Aaron, of IreneIronFitness.com, who do online fitness, health, and nutritional coaching as they travel North America in their Class B RV.   Here’s a video version of the Interview: The interview of the week is brought to you by SunshinestateRVs.com, where every new  motorhome is delivered to the customer free, anywhere in the country OFF THE BEATEN PATH REPORT    By Tom & Patti Burkett Lots of us, I’m sure, collected things as a child.  I had a cigar box under my bed with feathers, rocks, bits of polished glass, metal objects, and other treasures encountered in my daily wanderings.  It’s no surprise that the desire to collect extends into adulthood. Many of us RV travelers have things we look for wherever we go, be it artworks, magnets, pale ales, or imprinted pencils.   This fascination with gathered objects was widespread in the days before television and radio, and many amused themselves by putting together a cabinet of curiosities.  Objects from the natural world were most prized, specimens of interest from biology, geology, anthropology, zoology, and botany were common.  Sometimes the items were faked, like the tail of a monkey sewn onto a fish, or the classic Western jackalope. There are a number of places you can see these collections around the USA, two of the most notable being the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, FL, and the Woolaroc Museum near Bartlesville, OK.  These are elegant and comprehensive collections, well displayed and professionally curated.  On the other end of the spectrum are small local collections made by one person, often getting moth-eaten after a hundred or more years, and offered in dimly lit back rooms for a dollar or two.  One such can be found in Wilmington, NC, and is called the Museum of the Bizarre. Pony up your Tom at the door (two-dollar bills are often called Toms because they have a picture of Thomas Jefferson) and step into the one-room museum.  For a few extra dollars, you can play laser tag or visit the hall of mirrors.  Wind your way through the dimly lit, somewhat dusty space.  Cabinets along the wall feature small exhibits, with larger items taking up floor space.   There are recreated scenes from movies, life masks of actors and movie creatures, bones and fur and feathers, and fins, mixed with extraterrestrial artifacts and genuine shrunken heads.  My favorites in the collection were the walnuts carved by sailors into amazingly detailed scenes.  We paid the extra freight for the mirror maze, and it was worth it. Some of these funny little places specialize in just one thing, like the appliance museum in Diamond, MO,