RV Lifestyle RV Podcast

In this episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast, we talk about food: The food we prepare and eat ourselves in our RV, and the food we serve our pets. Plus, we have a whole bunch of listener comments and questions, tips on finding the best deal for an RV, RV News, the RV Calendar and an Off-The-Beaten-Path Report. Mary Jane Curry, the new RV recipes writer for the Roadtreking.com blog, is our special guest. And Jennifer has a special report on the need to very carefully select the food we serve our pets. [spp-player] Complete Shownotes for Episode 77 of the Roadtreking RV Podcast follows. To jump directly to that part of the podcast, just click the time hyperlink: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK - Healthy Dog Food This tip is a long one and it has to do with proper feeding of our pets and it comes from Bill and Peggy Bechtell, who recently wrote us to congratulate us on the addition of Bo, our now three-month-old Norwegian Elkhound puppy. Since well over half of all RVers travel with pets, we figure this will interest many. [spp-timestamp time="6:21"] Anyway, here’s the note from the Bechtells: “We love to listen to your podcasts and met you both in Montana last year, the day before Jennifer went to the hospital. I wanted to recommend, ‘Taste of the Wild’, dog food for your new dog. We had a beautiful Labrador who was given three months to live. We took her to a holistic vet recommended by the oncologist. She changed her food to the above, and gave her supplements, which allowed her to live two and a half more years. The changes in her coat and energy due to the food were amazing. Any dog food that has, “meat by products”, as an ingredient is made from some pretty disgusting things, sometimes even including euthanized dogs and cats in the country from the SPCA, and veterinarians, road kill, and animals too ill for us to eat. So, our pets are eating cancer and flea and tick medications. I verified this with a friend that works at the SPCA, a veterinarian, and a nationally known dog trainer.” That is quite the revelation isn’t it? We spent a couple days researching this and found that while the pet food industry as a whole denies the part about euthanized dogs and cats being used, some pet foods indeed do contain them. In the shownotes, Here's a link to just one of many such reports we found that quotes a top industry expert saying as long as it says the food is from meat by-products or meat meal, there’s no way to know and, he claims, even dead dogs and cats are considered a source of protein. Disgusting! The fact is almost all the major pet food manufacturers do sell food made with meat by-products, which is a rather vague term that indeed has some pretty disgusting things. So our decision is never choose a food that has such a vague term. Mike and I have learned that human food with GMOs and additives and chemicals is not good for us and is linked to lots of our chronic diseases. So it figures that pet food, made under even more questionable regulatory standards, also contains bad stuff. In fact last year on an RV trip, our previous dog, Tai, became very ill with pancreatitis. A wonderful vet we found in Georgia had us show him the food we were feeding him, a well-known national brand. The vet showed us how high it was in fat content. The ingredient label showed the minimum fat content of about 16%, as I recall. It hardly ever shows the maximum, the vet explained, which often exceeds 50-60% and, in Tai’s case was a direct cause of this life-threatening disease. We got him on a lower fat dog food and he immediately improved. The pet food industry is very strong and while I don’t want to pick a fight with them, let me say we have sought out a quality grain free dog food made with quality meats, low fat and lots of protein. We ended up choosing the brand the Bechtell’s recommended, Taste of the Wild. We got ours from Amazon but have since found a local pet store that carries the brand. Anyway,

The major RV News of the week is the acquisition of Roadtrek Motorhomes by Europe’s gigantic Erwin Hymer Group, the largest motorhome manufacturer in the world. I was on hand in Kitchener, Ontario and Roadtrek headquarters this week when the deal was announced and have in depth interviews with the principals. Bottom line is that while Roadtrek is now owned by the newly formed Erwin Hammer Group of North America, it’s top management team is the same as its been and the company wll continue to aggressively buoid its award winning and best selling Class B motorhomes…. BUT it is now part of the newly formed Erwin Hymer Group of North America which will soon be introducing some amazingly innvatiive new products, like ultra light weight towables and even larger Class C and Class A motorhomes. You’ll get all the details, in depth, in the news of the week segment of the podcast. But there's even more in this episode! [spp-player] Shownotes for episode 76 of Roadtreking: The RV Lifestyle Podcast. Clock the time link to jump directly to that part of the podcast. MIKE AND JEN'S UPDATE Mike and Jennifer update listeners on their progress in training their new puppy, Bo [spp-timestamp time="3:30"], and some big RV shows to take note of - one in Phoenix, AZ where LeMesa RV will hold a huge small motorhome show in the University of Phoenix Dstadium and one in Perry, GA where the Family Motorhome Association will have it's annual reunion in Perry, GA. Both will be March 17-20 [spp-timestamp time="5:00"] JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK - Water filters for RVers I’m a fanatic about clean water. Clean drinking water. Filtered drinking water. It amazes me how many RVs I see that hook up directly to campground water spigots without using a filter. [spp-timestamp time="7:00"] They say one filter lasts an entre season. We use the Camco TastePURE Water Filter. You can pick them up at most RV dealers, Walmart or Amazon for about $15. You do want a fresh one each year. These filters reduce bad taste, ordors, chlorine and sediment in drinking water. They have a carbon filter and come with a short flexible hose connection. Here’s a hint, when you first hook it up r to your water source, allow the water to run free for a few minutes to flush the initial loose carbon out of the filter. When the water runs clear, the filter is ready for use. But please… use a filter when you connect water to your RV. And by the way, these filters aren’t restricted to RV use. Use it in the garden for reduced-chlorine watering when watering your plants and when washing your car to reduce mineral deposit spots. LISTENER QUESTIONS Anew RVer asks our recommendations about mail forwarding while on extended trips. We refer him to Episode 58, where we talk with people from DakotaPost, a mail forwarding company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that works with the Family Motorcoach Association in handling mail forwarding and offering virtual mailboxes. [spp-timestamp time="8:24"] We talk about food storage and safety in bear country and also receive a listener tip about health care while on the RV and traveling when you're not feeling well. RV NEWS OF THE WEEK: Roadtrek's new owners This week we interview in depth: [spp-timestamp time="20:55"] Jim Hammill, President and CEO of Roadtrek and the newly formed Erwin Hymer Group North America, Inc., which will continue producing Roadtrek motorhomes and introduce some new Hymer models over the next three years Martin Brandt, the CEO of the Erwin Hymer Group, who discusses the product line up, plans for Roadtrek and the drive for innovation and consumer-oriented RV products. Jim Hammil (left), new President and CEO of the new Erwin Hymer Group of North America, and Martin Brandt, CEO and Chairman of the Erwin Hymer Group Brandt said the Hymer Group has wanted to get deeply involved in North America since 2013 and has been unable to find the right partner – until they met Roadtrek and started talking to Hammill and his team...

Every RVer these days is pretty dependent on their smartphones. From directions, to finding attractions and to stay in touch with friends and families, our smartphones are overwhelmingly the most used gizmos we take with us when we travel by RV. But they could work better, right? Battery life dies too fast. Data allocations get gobbled up by apps. The dreaded "no bars" indication of no nearby cell tower happens too often. Our guest in the Traveling Tech segment of this podcast is SteveCastro, Director of Digital Development at the EGC Group, a New York advertising agency. [spp-timestamp time="37:02"] [spp-player] Steve offers a mix of security, data/power saving and everyday useful tips that most smartphone users are unaware of. You will want to tune into this episode and follow along as he shares his tips, which are written down for you towards the end of this post. But there's much more in this episode as we talk about such things as: Getting rid of black tank odors [spp-timestamp time="11:03"] Finding the right security system for your RV [spp-timestamp time="13:36"] Choosing the right small motorhome for you [spp-timestamp time="22:00"] A first-of-its-kind small motorhome RV show in Phoenix, AZ that will have more motorhomes from more Class B manufacturers than you will find anywhere. [spp-timestamp time="22:00"] And an off the-beaten path report from New York State [spp-timestamp time="57:11"] Keep scrolling down for full shownotes, links to resources and segment by segment info. You can click the hyperlinked time code to jump directly to that section from the shownotes below. Complete Shownotes for the Roadtreking RV Podcast, Episode 75, released Feb. 17, 2016: MIKE AND JENNIFER GET A NEW DOG As Jennifer joins Mike at the top of the podcast, they share the birthday present they received last week from their three kids: A 10-month-old Norwegian Elkhound we decided to name named Bo. [spp-timestamp time="3:30"] Here's a picture of him as Jennifer was trying to record her part of this week's podcast We lost our previous dog, Tai, to cancer last July. He was a great traveler and many of our readers and listeners got to meet and enjoy hi as we made our way across North America. We are unsure of this new pup. Man, a puppy is a lot of work. He's requiring constant supervision and we hope we have the energy to keep up!  We call him Bo, in honor of Tai, whose full name was Taibo. Wish us luck! JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK Today’s tip addresses an unpleasant subject: The stinky smell that sometimes comes from the black water waste tank on an RV. [spp-timestamp time="11:03"] First, use a lot of water to flush. Yes, you may have to empty it more that way but we have found mixing water by at least two to one is the easiest way to keep odors down. By that I mean, whatever you put in the toilet, put twice that much water in. We also use something called the “Geo Method.” Essentially, this mixes two cups of water softener and one cup of household detergent in a gallon of water that we pour down the toilet after every time that we dump the black tanks. It really heps keep odors down. We use Calgon Powdered Water Softener. It supposedly dissolves the fastest. We had trouble finding it in stores and ordered it on Amazon. They make a liquid version of this product. It may work, too, though the person who told us about this stressed that we should use the powdered kind. Anyway, we’ve been using this concoction for a couple of years now and find it really does a nice job. One more related tip. Sometimes, gunk gets caked on black water tanks after a lt of use, especially if the unit hasn’t been used much. If you suspect that is an issue, buy a bag of ice, drop it down the toilet and drive around for a while. The ice bangs around in there and loosens the crud. After you think the ice has melted, flush with lots of water and then dump. That’s this week’s tip. If you have a tip you’d like me to consider,

In this episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast we answer some questions from listeners who want to embrace the RV lifestyle but have concerns because they are not mechanically inclined or good at "fixing stuff." They wonder if they'll be able to cut it as an RV owner. I do my best to assure them, with Jennifer chiming in. Bottom line is if I can do it, they can. I am not a Mr. Fix it. We share the tips and suggestions needed that will let anyone take to the road in an RV confident that, whatever comes up, they can handle it. And no, you do not have to roll up your sleeves and do-it-yourself. Help, we assure everyone, is easy to find, as we share our experiences. [spp-player] Complete Shownotes for Episode 74 of the Roadtreking RV Podcast As Jennifer joins me, we update the audience of our whereabouts and our rough travel plans for 2016, both confessing that we have a bit of cabin fever and are soon planning to hit the road.[spp-timestamp time="2:30"] JENNIFER’S TIP OF THE WEEK Let’s face it, sometimes those long drives in our RV to get to all those great places out there can be…. Well, a pain in the…. Glutes. [spp-timestamp time="4:30"] Both Mike and I have had it. And while our Roadtrek seats are very comfy and have great lumbar support, all that sitting puts a lot of pressure on your butt and the back of your thighs. We’ve seen comfort pads and padded cushions sold at truck stops and online but we were looking for something more ergonomically designed. And that took us to a store near our house called Relax the Back. Actually, there are about 100 of these around the U.S. and each one specializes in products aimed at people seeking relief and prevention of back and neck pain. It was there that we found the Travel Lite Cushion by Lifeform, a seat cushion made with pressure sensitive memory foam that conforms to your body and then regains its shape when not in use. The sales person at the store took it out to the parking lot so we could try it in our Roadtrek. He explained that it is desiged to help correct our pelvic angle and sitting posture while maintaining the natural curve of the spine. By reducing pressure to the glues and the back of the thighs, it helps improve circulation to the legs and feet. We couldn’t be happier with these cushions. We carry it between our RV and our personal car and I even bring it in the house and pur it on my office chair when we’re home. They are exclusive to the Relax Your Back stores and cost $145 each. That’s a lot but we think they are really worth it. Oh yeah, one other related tip we picked up from our Relax the Back store consultant that is for you men. And this tip is free: Don’t sit on your billfold. Do not keep your billfold in your back pocket while you drive. Even if you have one of these skinny billfolds like Mike has, siting on it makes an unnatural tilt and that will always result in back pain after a long drive. LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Two of our listeners have questions this week that expressed their eagerness to hit the road in an RV but were worried at their lack of mechanical skills. Listener Brian is a Texas attorney about to retire and hit the road in a Class B campervan. But he worries that his lack of fix it skills will leave him in a bind. [spp-timestamp time="10:00"] A listener asks about traveling to Alaska in an RV and seeks advice on what to see and where to go. Mike refers her to the Alaska Tourism office and their excellent book Milepost 2016, which details literally every single mile of the Alaska Highway. [spp-timestamp time="18:35"] And Listener Dan, whose looking to buy used class B, also has concern's about not being good at fixing things and wants to know where he can find one for about $30K. Mike and Jennifer suggest he try Roadtrek International or RV Trader for used RVs, besides calling various Class B dealers around the country and ask them. Jennifer warns him that because they are in such high demand,

One thing we all need, no matter what size RV we have, is organization and space saving. In this episode of the podcast, we hear from the lady whose known as the RV Space Saver. Her name is Gail Alexander and she does seminars all across the US on ways to organize, maximize storage and save space. Gail shares her top five tips that every RVer can incorporate in their traveling lifestye. But we have so much more in this episode: Some food preparation tips from Jennifer, listener questions, RV News of the Week and three apps you will want to have on your smartphone or tablet s you travel this year. [spp-player] Complete shownotes for Episode 73 of the Roadtreking RV Podcast: JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK - Cooking Tips for RVers I’ve had several emails from listeners of this podcast who want to know some simple recipes they can make ahead of time and take on their RV trips so when they stop, they can have a nice meal ready fast, without a lot of fuss and muss. One tip is to find a small crock pot for your RV that fits in the sink. You’ll have to do some measurements but we have found that the 4-quart size works best for us. The one we got a few years ago cost less than $20 and was made by Rival. But it doesn’t seem to be available anymore so we made an Amazon page that lists a whole bunch of crock pots you can look at. We found that round ones fit best, not the oval shapes. You’ll need to measure the size of the sink and then find one that fits your RV. Why the sink? Because you can put the crockpot in the sink and not worry about it falling out as you drive. You’ll need your inverter on of course but you can start your crock pot meal in the morning and leave it cooking as you drive. Then, when you stop in the afternoon, you have a delicious meal just waiting for you. Something else we like to do is prepare some easy meals ahead of time. Our favorite is salsa chicken. It’s easy to prepare right in the RV. But as we often do before setting off on a long trip, we like to make several meals ahead of time that we can put in the Roadtrek’s freezer and then bring out when we want. Salsa chicken consists of chicken breasts and salsa. That’s it. First, you pound down the chicken, tenderizing it and making it easier to cook. Then I place it in a sauce pan. On top of the chicken, I pour a container of salsa. We use the sugar-free chunky style that you can get at Whole Foods. But you can use any kind you want. Then, occasionally stirring and turning the chicken, let the salsa come to a boil and then have it simmer as the chicken cooks in the salsa for 20-25 minutes. We make a double batch – two large chicken breasts and a full container of salsa. That’s enough to serve the two of us, twice. Salsa Chickem with a side salad, long grain brown rice and broccoli. Healthy, low calorie and very tasty. We like to serve it with long grain brown rice, a side salad and broccoli. Simple, huh? We have a blog post and video of this that we will link to in the show notes. So give it a try… crock pot meals as you drive, make ahead salsa chickedn for your RV’s fridge. I hope you enjoy! LISTENER QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: Q: We joined the FMCA and they just sent us a humongous lexan placard. Have you found a way to display this thing without defacing your coach? I thought I saw suction cups available as an accessory, but wondered if this is secure for travel. Perhaps it's possible to just put it on the coach at rallies or when you're parked, etc.? Obviously we have more questions than answers. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :) - Carol A: To affix the FMCA placard, I use Industrial Strength Hook and Loop tape. it costs about $25 and it has proudly held my FMCA membership plaque to the back of my Roadtrek for years, as well as lots of other things inside and outside the coach.. Q: Please talk about driving in ice and snow. How does the RT handle in those conditions. Do you use snow tires, chains?

I am amazed at how many RVers are content to put their RV in storage for the season and never think of using it for winter camping. In this week's podcast, you meet a group of hearty winter campers who participated in our annual Winter Campout at Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan's snow-covered Upper Peninsula this past weekend. I think you'll find their perspective interesting as they share their thoughts around one of our nightly campfires.  [spp-timestamp time="30:35"] [spp-player] Complete shownotes from Episode 72 of Roadtreking: The RV Travel Podcast... Also this week: Jennifer's Tip of the Week - Boot and Glove Warmers Lithium-ion powered boot warmers that keep you warm in cold weather [spp-timestamp time="4:25"] Similarly powered heated gloves Listener Questions This week we answer questions about: Our plans to attend and do seminars at the FMCA Family Reunion in Perry, GA March 17-20, 2016 [spp-timestamp time="8:00"] Running a space heater in an RV [spp-timestamp time="10:26"] Getting a high pressure LP hose to connect a barbecue to a Roadtrek - available from Maureen at LeisuretimeRV.com or 800-800-1662 [spp-timestamp time="12:46"] RV News of the Week Authorities are looking for the people responsible for vandalizing saguaro, prickly pear, and cholla cacti in Saguaro National Park. – Read more [spp-timestamp time="17:10"] Millenials are forgoing driving – read more [spp-timestamp time="19:30"] RV Calendar We’re in the heart of the RV show season, with RV lots of RV shows opening this weekend. For a list of RV Shows, click here [spp-timestamp time="20:14"] Off the Beaten Path Report - Cincinnati attractions Off the Beaten Path Reporters Tom and Patti Burkett say if you’re traveling near Cincinnati, be sure to check out the American Sign Museum. [spp-timestamp time="25:38] And they have some great Cincinnati chili parlors to recommend and a very unique ice cream brand to sample that is sold thereabouts, as well. This episode of Roadtreking the RV Podcast is brought to you by: Van City RV in St. Louis, and their Partner Dealerships Creston RV in Kalispell, Montana, and Wagon Trail RV in Las Vegas. Bringing You the largest Inventory of class B’s from three locations Alde… the only name to know when choosing a heating system for your RV

One of the neatest things about RVing is how it complements so many other hobbies like hiking, kayaking, photography and.... amateur radio. Yes, amateur radio, or ham radio is it is often called. There's a huge resurgence in the hobby these days with more people participating in the hobby that ever before. Joining me on this week's episode of the podcast are Sean Kutzko and Norm Fusaro from the American Radio Relay League. Both love camping and the outdoors and say it's the one sure way to have reliable communications no matter how far off the beaten path the RVer happens to be. But more than that, it is a hobby so rewarding and enjoyable that there should be a spot for it in every RV. [spp-player] Complete shownotes for Episode 71 of the Roadtreking RV Travel Podcast: I've been a ham operator since I was a teenager (K8ZRH) and now use it all the time in my RV travels. You can hear the full interview with Sean and Norm at [spp-timestamp time="24:55"] into the podcast. In it they discuss: What is amateur radio? How easy is it to get licensed? What can you do with amateur radio in an RV? What equipment do you need and how expensive is it? Relevant Links about amateur radio mentioned in the interview: The American Radio Relay League What is Ham Radio Report National Parks on the Air The Family Motorcoach Association Amateur Radio Chapter Before the interview, we reported on many more topics in this week's episode. Jennifer's Tip of the Week - The Best Way to Pack Your Clothing In an RV, space is at a premium. And few things take up more room that suitcases packed with clothes [spp-timestamp time="5:52"] That’s where eBags Packing Cubes come in so handy. We heard about them from fellow RVers who sang the praises of this very affordable way to pack and carry clothes on an RV trip. Some RVers are so hooked on eBags that they even put them in a suitcase when they do traditional and  airplane travel. But in an RV, they’re the hands-down best way we’ve found to pack. I’ve done a video that shows how much you can get into an eBag. A three piece set of the packing cubes costs $19 from Amazon. They come in different colors. Mike uses blue, I use raspberry red (the closest they come to pink). They have a mesh top panel for easy identification of contents, and ventilation We store them in the overhead bins above the bed in the Roadtrek. It keeps everything wrinkle free and compact. They let you “unpack without unpacking” –that is, you can remove the cubes to get at your stuff, but still keep things neat and tidy. Watch the video we’ll link to in the shownotes fopr this episode to see how much you can get in one. Trust me, in an RV, or on a boat, or if you want to make your suitcase neat, these are what you need. [spp-player] Listener Questions: Heating an RV – Is carbon monoxide an issue? Carbon Monoxide is an invisible, odorless, and deadly gas, produced by the partial combustion of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. Carbon monoxide is the number one cause of poisoning deaths each year. [spp-timestamp time="7:53"] Almost all of today’s RVs come with carbon monoxide monitors. But they can, and do malfunction. Thus,  as a matter of routine, you should test the carbon monoxide detector every time you use the RV If they have batteries, replace them at least once a year, twice if the unit is exposed to extreme cold. A good tip is to change the batteries when when you change clocks for daylight savings time. Here's a complete report I did for the blog on RVing and Carbon Monoxide - https://rvlifestyle.com/rvers-biggest-danger-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/ What is the difference between a Class B RV and a B+? B+ is a made up category. There really is only Class A, Class C & Class B sometimes they are referred to Type A, Type C & Type B. [spp-timestamp time="10:26"] Basically, if the RV base vehicle is a van then it is a Class B. If the RV base vehicle is a cutaway chassis then it is a Class C.

Internet connectivity for RVers is a must have. In the last year, so much has changed, so many new products have been released and so many good deals are available from the various companies that we've put together a primer for everything you need to know about staying connected while you're on the road in your RV. Helping us navigate the online option for RVers are Cherie Ve Ard and Chris Dunphy, also known as "the Technomads," publishers of the RV Mobile Internet Resource Center. This couple knows more about staying connected while traveling in an RV than any other source you'll find. They live, breathe, test, review and compare all the different Internet plans and gear available and in this episode of the podcast, they share with Mike the ins and outs of the Internet and RVing for 2015. [spp-player] Complete Shownotes for Episdoe 70 of Roadtreking: The RV Travel Podcast: Jennifer's Tip of the Week - Staying warm on cold weather campouts This week’s tip is for those f you who camp all year round, not just in warm weather. Sometimes, when it’s cold outside, you need a little extra help for those cold nights. [spp-timestamp time="6:24"] The solution for us  was to pick up a small ceramic heater. The one we have is the Lasko Model 5307 Oscillating Ceramic Tower Heater. Quite frankly, we can’t remember where we bought it but we think it was Walmart. But you now how hard it is to find something at Walmart. So we looked it up and found it available on Amazon for $34. It is 16 inches tall and easily stores in one of the cabinets on our Roadtrek. It has three speeds, low, medium and high and you can turn the oscillating feature on or off. Typically, on really, really cold nights, besides our regular heater, we’ll plug this in and set it up on the galley counter and run it overnight. I need to point out though, that this heater takes a lot of  power…. 1,500 watts, in fact. So in most cases, unless you have tons of battery and solar power, you’ll want to be plugged into shore power. And since it is such a big power drain, you may have to turn it off briefly of you want to use other high power drain appliances like the microwave or coffee maker. This little heater kicks out a surprising amount of heat. Other users say it can heat a 10 by 12 foot room all by itself. I don’t know about that but we are very impressed by how well it warms up our RV when we do winter camping. It has overheat protection and comes in a something they call the cool-touch housing, meaning that you can pick it up and carry it around without it getting too hot. We are very pleased with our unit. It heats very fast and is also very quiet. Listener Question: Apps to create and share a travel journal Listener Tom H asks: I'm looking for an easy to use way to keep family and friends up to date on our wandering. Some time ago it seems like you did a feature on several but I can't seem to locate it. [spp-timestamp time="11:14"] Mike's Answer:  Besides keeping a record or journal, we love sharing our travel with friends and families. In this digital age, instead of postcards, we’re posting real-time maps, photos, video and travel reports. Let me show you three ways apps and the Internet can help you share your traveling adventures. For iPhone and iPad users, check out the free Track My Tour app and website. You start a route and through the app, add updates as you travel. It grabs your GPS location from your device and  dispays it, as well as your comments and the photos you take on an interactive map.  It’s free, though there is an upgraded version that lets you have some extra features. Check My Tour is a similar app, geared towards cyclists and motorcycle trips, though it will also work with regular roadtrips. It is for Apple devices but also Android smartphones. Then there’s My Trip Journal. This allows you to set up your own travel blog website. It maps your routes and lets you write reports and updates and allows you to have a travel journal t...

With gas prices low and the National Parks Service celebrating it's 100th anniversary in 2016 with special events, there's never been a better time for RVers to visit a National Park. But what to see? In what order? We talk about that a lot this week with Rob Bignell, author oa=f a new book called the Best Sights in America's National Parks. Rob offers some bucket list suggestions and shares his favorite sites, as well a suggested trip RVers should take this year. That's just one of many interesting things in this week's podcast. [spp-player] Complete showotes for Episode 69 of Roadtreking: the RV Travel Podcast: Sleeping in an RV Vs Sleeping in a Hotel Room We begin with a discussion between Mike and Jennifer on their first excursion of the winter, an a lesson they learned about why sleeping in an RV is often much more preferable than staying in a hotel room.[spp-timestamp time="4:08"] And we offer an invitation to join us for a Jan 23-25 winter campout at Tahquamenon Falls.[spp-timestamp time="5:50"] Jennifer's Tip of the Week - Trekking Poles Like all RVers, we love to explore. And the best way to explore as we travel around North America, is by hiking. And so one of our Christmas presents to each other this year was something that will make that hiking and exploring a little esier on our knees and joints – Trekking poles. [spp-timestamp time="6:54"] Trekking poles, like ski poles, allow your arms to help propel you forward and upward. Whether walking on flat ground or up steep hills, poles can help to reduce the impact on your legs, knees, ankles, and feet. This is especially true when going downhill. In fact, I came across a 1999 study in The Journal of Sports Medicine that found that trekking poles can reduce compressive force on the knees by up to 25 percent. Besides that, trekking poles and the two extra two points of contact they provide significantly increases your traction on slippery surfaces like mud, snow, and loose rock. I found a whole bunch of reasons why trekkling poles are such a good thing to have in a n article by a website called Outdoor Gear Lab. We’ll link to it in the shownotes so you can check them out yourself. So, what poles to buy? They start at around $20. And they go up to over $200. Like anything, you get what you pay for but we knew we wanted good ones. We visited our local REI store and tried out several. We checked out the grips. They come in rubber, cork and foam. Some were comfortable, some not so much. Some poles are for women, some for men. They come in three sections, or two. Some twist lock – not so good, we learned – others have secure locking tabs. Some are aluminum. Some are carbon. Carbon is lighter and tougher and that’s what we eventually chose, paging about $125 for a set. We will link to a whole bunch of them at Amazon for you to check out. But we do recommend you do what we did…. Go to an outdoor store and try them in your hands. That’s the best way to assure you’re getting a set that is comfortable. We’ll also link in the shownotes page to a helpful guide we read from REI on how to choose the right set of hiking poles. Questions and Answers We take listener questions about: Do we have an itinerary for our planned trip out west? [spp-timestamp time="10:07"] What's our experience with Roadtrek's solar power and lithium ion batteries?[spp-timestamp time="14:20"] What should you know about winter camping in an RV? [spp-timestamp time="18:58"] RV News of the Week Gas princes are likely to remain the same or drop even lower in 2016, says the AAA[spp-timestamp time="23:46"] The "Python Challenge" hunt for giant snakes starts Jan. 16 at the Everglades National Park [spp-timestamp time="26:06"] RV Calendar There are lots and lots of RV shows this weekend. [spp-timestamp time="28:36"]Here's the full list - http://www.rvia.org/?esid=rvshows&all=1 Off The Beaten Path - Pioneer Village in Nebraska Tom and Patti Burkett report on Pioneer Village in Nebraska.

Is retirement all it's cracked up to be? Yes, a new study says it makes you happier and healthier. In this episode, we focus on retirement and it's many benefits, particularly retirement and RVing. Plus our usual tips, RV news, Tech news and destination reports. [spp-player] Complete shownotes for Episode 68 of Roadtreking: The RV Travel Podcast Mike and Jennifer share their New Year RV resolutions, their immediate travel plans and a look ahead to a year of RV stories from across North America [spp-timestamp time="2:43"] JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK: RV Travel Map with State Stickers If you are like Mike and me, you love keeping track of the different states and Provinces you visit in your RV. For us – since we started our RV travels nearly five years ago – that works out to 38 different states. [spp-timestamp time="12:33"] I’ve seen folks who have maps on their RVs that show where they’ve been so when we found one on Amazon, we ordered it. The one we got is called the RV & Travel USA State Sticker Map and it shows each state in vibrant solid colors. It’s printed on durable, premium 3M automotive vinyl/ You can put it on an inside wall or outside. In our case, on the rear door of our RV. It measures 12.7" x 19.6", so it’s not gaudy or too big. You get the map on one sheet and the individually cut self adhesive states to apply on the outline of the states on the base map. It’s all very simple, though you want to take your time sticking the states on the mark, lining them up on the outline. We are very happy with it. The vinyl is of excellent quality. We’ve long wanted one like this, just a simple map with bright colors. It costs $35 and is shipped free. It's available at http://amzn.to/1R1QDe0 READER QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK Mike answers reader questions about streaming video in the RV and using a 50 amp to 30 amp power adapter and why he and Jennifertraded up to a Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL this year [spp-timestamp time="15:56"] RV NEWS - RV saves big money over traditional vacations A follow up study confirms the findings of the Recreational Vehicle Institute of America that RV travel saves money. [spp-timestamp time="28:54"] TRAVELING TECH TIPS - Apps to help you stay organized in 2016 The beginning of the year is a great time to get organized and a number of great apps can help you make 2016 your best organized year yet! [spp-timestamp time="33:58"] Any.do wins lots of praise for its ease-of-use and number of smart features, including the ability to simply add tasks with your voice. You can share lists with friends, family, or anyone else. You can also sync to the cloud for accessing tasks on any iOS or Android device. You can even add tasks by sending an email. The app is free for iOS and Android. 2Do is one of the most powerful and customizable task managers around. It features clean graphics, a great interface, and a bunch of super handy features. Creating a to-do item is easy and can be done with the touch of a button. It can be synced with services such as Dropbox and iCloud Reminders. The app is $7.99 for iOS and $3.80 for Android. The Clear app is another great one for making to-do and task management tools. The goal is to make it as easy to use as pen and paper. Among other things, the app gives you the ability to make multiple and customizable theme-based lists, along with the ability to set reminders. The app is $4.99 for iOS. OFF THE BEATEN PATH - LIMEKILN STATE PARK, CALIFORNIA Terri Speakman tells us about the little known Limekiln State Park in California, a park that offers breathtaking views of the Big Sur Coast, the beauty of the redwoods, the rugged coast and the cultural history of limekilns. The park has 24 campsites. The park is 56 miles south of Carmel, off Highway One; two miles south of Lucia. [spp-timestamp time="36:14"] Main Topic: Retirement and the RVer We report on a new study that shows surprisingly strong health and happiness benefits from retirement and we fact check it through th...