Women RVers

This is my semi-annual call for a show of hands. Where are you, women RVers?

Did you know there is an organization that not only focuses on women RVers but has a forum, chat room and magazine devoted to you? When you join the national organization, you can also join a chapter in your area. There are local events every month and if you're new, you'll be adopted or mentored by an existing member. You won't be alone, you can ask all the questions you'd like, learn at your own pace and have a lot of fun while you're doing so.

Some of us are solo, some are full-timers (I belong to both chapters), and some of us are chapter members (I'm also part of the FreeWheelers chapter in northern California since I'm based here for a while). We have chapters around the U.S. and Canada.

If you're a woman RVer, don't wait another minute. Go to http://www.rvingwomen.com and find out about this great organization.

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CD Rom: The Woman's Guide to Solo RVing
This book on CD Rom provides answers to ALL the questions asked by solo women who are either planning to go on the road with an RV or else have already taken the plunge. From the basics of "Can I go it alone?" and "How do I deal with loneliness?" to the specifics of "How to drive alone?" and "What I need to know about maintaining complicated RV systems?" And much more...

Freedom to roll

This will be my fifth Fourth of July celebration since I became a full-time RVer again. I don't have a toad so when I need to go to my nearest bank branch, I travel 25 miles to Healdsburg. That means I crank up the motorhome and drive there.

Some of my neighbors offered to give me a ride in their car the next time they travel but I politely declined. Lucy needs to go and so do I.

Early Monday morning, I pulled out of the site and around the circle to the entrance road. Then I drove to the freeway and headed south. It was a cool morning with high clouds and no smoke from the fires tinting the skies brown. No smell of smoke either. There was a semi far ahead of me and I was alone on the winding stretch of Highway 101.

Then it hit me. I was smiling. I was on the road again. OK, I wasn't going very far for very long, but I was going. The RV was running smoothly and I thoroughly enjoyed the drive.

After banking and shopping for groceries, I had the gentleman who bagged my groceries help me load the bags into the RV. He peeked inside and smiled. "You got it good, lady." Yes I do.

I drove north to Cloverdale to fill the gas tank. There was a tiny gas station along the main street and I pulled in. This station had an attendant and no pay-at-the-pump yet. I walked to the small office (no store either) and handed the woman my credit card. "I bet you're glad to see me."
She looked a little confused. "Yes? I guess I am."
"Now you can pay your rent. I'm sure the manager was worried until I came along."
She laughed.

I was filling the tank when I noticed signs atop each pump. Instead of the prices, there was "Yikes!" "Ouch!" and "Whew!"

A man in a Jeep pulled in on other side of the pumps and went to pay. He returned and started pumping. I was still smiling when he said, "Boy, I bet you hate to fill that thing. How big is the tank?"
"72 gallons."
"Wow! What's your mileage?"
"Nine and-a-half."
He shook his head.
"Yes, but it gets great mileage for a house. I live in her."
"Really?"
"Yes. And you know what? I didn't even look at the pump for the price. It doesn't make any difference."
"It doesn't? Sure it does. Gas is expensive."
"Yes it is, but it's the price I pay for this RV to take me wherever I want. A tank of gas gives me the freedom to roll."
"But it must cost a lot to fill it up."
"It does. How much is your freedom worth? Mine is priceless."
He turned away to finish pumping and I could see that he was nodding.

The pump stopped at $174.80 and the tank was full.
I pulled out of the driveway and stopped at the orange cones on the main street where a side street was closed for construction. I made eye contact with the flagman, folded my hands in prayer and pointed north. He pulled a couple of cones out of the way so I could turn and waved as I went by.

I drove to the park and backed into my site. Five minutes later, the water and electric were connected, the coffee was brewing and I was balancing my checkbook. In a couple of weeks, I'm going to take a short road trip (70 miles) to the Larkspur ferry, sail to San Francisco, take a bus across town and have lunch with a friend. Lucy will have some exercise, I'll be on the road and I will again appreciate the freedom to roll.