Friday, September 27, 2019
Welcome to another edition of RV Travel’s Daily Tips newsletter. Here you’ll find helpful RV-related and living tips from the pros, travel advice, a handy website of the day, tips on our favorite RVing-related products and, of course, a good laugh. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate you. Please tell your friends about us.
Page Contents
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Today’s thought
“The most exhausting thing in life is being insincere.” —Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Scarf Day.
Tip of the Day
Fresh tomatoes on the road
From reader KB from the Corner of Hither & Yon:
Do you long for the first bite into a fresh tomato when you’re traveling in your RV? For us, a good tomato is one of the most refreshing things you can find. Many sit on shelves, get bruised or too ripe too fast but, a lot of farmers markets seem to have access to green tomatoes by the box. Early on, we learned to ask if you don’t see them. Buy a box and let them travel with you.
Grandma used to say keep some in brown paper bags, they will ripen slower. As they start to turn, pull them out and let sit on counter or shelf for a day or so. They will ripen and give you that burst of flavor as though “just off the vine.” In the meantime, if your penchant is for fried green tomatoes, you’re all set.
For less than $20 this could save your life. Millions sold. Click.
Rain clouds coming. Should you pull in your slide-out?
You have your rig settled down in a wonderful camping spot. Your camp chairs are set up, and music is softly rolling out the door. But, uh-oh — look out there. Here comes a nasty-looking rain cloud. Do you immediately jump out of your camp chair, head inside and push the switch to roll in your slide-outs? Slide-outs and weather could be put in the “great ongoing RV controversy” file. Here are some things to think about.
Reader poll
You may have missed these stories last week…
- Winnebago acquires Newmar
- Is interest on an RV loan tax deductible?
- Video: See RVs destroyed by Hurricane Dorian
- FMCA announces stiff hike in membership fee
What’s on sale?
Check out Amazon’s daily deals page to see the hundreds of items on sale.
Helpful resources
• NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION.
• ROAD AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ACROSS THE NATION.
• WEATHER ALERTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
• CURRENT WILDFIRE REPORT.
• LATEST RV RECALLS.
Essential items for day to day living
Toothpaste • Laundry soap • Hand soap • Shampoo • Razor blades • Pet food • Pain reliever pills • Pain creams • Low dose aspirin • Antacid relief • Lipstick • Reading glasses • Breakfast cereal • Coffee • Tea • Bottled water • Soft drinks
Quick Tip
Easy way to keep bottled water cool
Hankering for cold water during your days of travel? Toss a few small bottles of water in the freezer (leave some room in the bottle for expansion). Once opened, it will take several hours for the water to completely melt, and you will have ongoing sips of cold water. Thanks to Helen and Ken!
Random RV Thought
When using a public shower, like in a state park, always turn on the hot water before getting undressed. Sometimes there will be no hot water. And if it’s a cold morning or evening, you will feel pretty stupid standing there naked with nowhere to go. Of course, if you are brave and have the cold tolerance of a polar bear, jump right in. Brrrrrrr. Good luck!
Website of the day
Roadside Peek
Wow, is this a trip back in time? You must check this out — photos and descriptions of America’s roadside relics! Oh, the good ol’ days, before everything along the road looked just like what you saw 200 miles before.
Pan liners protect kitchenware while driving
These 9 pot protectors come in three sizes and are perfect for placing between pots, pans, plates and bowls while driving down the road. Nobody likes arriving at the campsite to find broken or scratched kitchenware! Learn more or order.
Clubs and useful organizations
PLEASE NOTE: We may receive an affiliate commission if you join any of these.
• Harvest Hosts: Stay free at farms, wineries and other scenic and peaceful locations for free. Save 15% on membership.
• Overnight RV parking. Directory of more than 14,000 locations where you can stay for free or nearly free with your RV. Modest membership fee.
• Boondockers Welcome. Stay at homes of RVers who welcome you in their driveways, yards, farmland or other space on their private property. Modest membership fee.
• Escapees. Best Club for RVers: All RVers welcome, no matter what type of RV, make or model.
• No park Walmarts. Best directory of stores that do not allow overnight stays with RVs.
Up to date on RV Electricity? Catch up on Mike Sokol’s recent articles here.
Trivia
The Mississippi River town of Muscatine, Iowa, was once the pearl-button capital of the world. Using clam shells plucked from the river banks, local factories produced one-third of the world’s pearl button supply for decades. But by the 1950s, they were no match for their plastic counterparts. SOURCE: Atlas Obscura
Leave here with a laugh
A drunk walks into a bar with jumper cables around his neck. The bartender says, “You can stay but don’t try to start anything.”
Notable festivals and events
Cape Cod KOA to host Crantoberfest
The 6th annual Crantoberfest will be held Saturday, October 5, at the Boston/Cape Cod KOA from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $2 per carload. The Cabin Decorating Contest is back: Try your hand at decorating a cabin at the KOA. Cash prizes of $150, $100 and $50 are awarded for cabins that receive the most votes from attendees. Learn more.
Today’s Daily Deals at Amazon.com
Best-selling RV products and Accessories at Amazon.com. UPDATED HOURLY.
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editor: Emily Woodbury. Marketing director: Jessica Sarvis. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
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Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
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Actually it’s a passport card which allows travel to Canada and Mexico; no air trips.
Ditto.