Issue 2286
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Happy New Year, readers and friends! We are so excited to share another year with you. Thank you so very much for continuing your journey with us. If you missed yesterday’s RV Travel newsletter, make another cup of coffee and read it here. It’s filled with all our best stories from 2023 (and we mean FILLED!).
Today’s thought
“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” —David Bowie (Jan. 8, 1947 – Jan. 10, 2016)
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is New Year’s Day! It’s also National Bloody Mary Day! And National Hangover Day!
On this day in history: 45 B.C. – The Julian calendar takes effect as the civil calendar of the Roman Empire, establishing January 1 as the new date of the new year.
Tip of the Day
Health and driving skills are related. How to keep them sharp in the new year
By Gail Marsh
For many of us, the RV offseason (wintertime) is the perfect time to sharpen our driving skills. After all, we want to be ready to hit the road as soon as the springtime flowers appear. The great news is that it’s possible to improve reaction time, flexibility, and more from the comfort of our own homes. Come on, RVers, let’s sharpen our driving skills now.
“As we age….” I remember the first time my doctor said those three words to me. I think my head practically swiveled off my shoulders as I searched the exam room to locate the elderly person my doctor meant. The words “Who me?” very nearly came out of my mouth. I took a deep breath to steady myself as I realized the doc was talking to me. Me! Me?
Ask Dave
Got lithium batteries with used coach; they’re dead. BMS Bluetooth doesn’t work. Now what?
Dear Dave,
I bought this camper used; I’m the second owner. It came with these batteries. Original owner told me they were lithium. My question is, what is or are the extra pieces with the batteries? [See picture.] Went to one RV dealer and asked; he said he didn’t know. I didn’t get any paperwork on the batteries. Thanks. —Ed, 2016 Coleman Lantern
An all-metal RV water heater tank rinser wand that works and won’t fly off!
Nanci Dixon shares her new favorite all-metal water heater tank rinser. She writes, “It is practically guaranteed to not come apart in the tank. They had two similar ones and I made sure to pick the one that came with an adaptor to fit a garden hose with an on/off lever. … The wand can go in far enough to cover the whole tank and the nozzle can be turned down to flush out the deposits on the bottom of the tank.” Read Nanci’s story here and order one for your RV.
RV Reviews
The best (and not so best) RVs and gadgets of 2023, Part 2: Features, trends, and tech, plus my favorite RV of 2023
By Tony Barthel
Yesterday I got off on a tangent about all the new RV technologies and systems that I’ve seen that, I believe, might come to a campground near you. But the RV industry has been burning the midnight LED lights on some gadgets that you can touch and feel today.
Before we get into gadgets and gizmos, let’s talk about some design features.
Video of the day
Quick, easy, and healthy RV breakfasts: Overnight oats 6 ways
By Cheri Sicard
The video below from the team at Toasty Apron wasn’t specifically made for RVers, but RVers who enjoy a healthy breakfast will certainly want to put its techniques into action. In the video, they show six creative ways to make no-cook overnight oats. If you have not yet heard of overnight oats, it is the easiest way ever to make oatmeal. Add ingredients to a jar and let them sit overnight and in the morning you have breakfast. Brilliant!
The story of America’s most-loved roadside attraction… and a testimony to the power of ice water!
By Chuck Woodbury
The story of Wall Drug always inspires me. If you have never heard of Wall Drug, then you have not spent much time traveling the West or reading about America’s roadside attractions. Wall Drug is along I-90 in western South Dakota, about five miles from Badlands National Park. Continue reading.
Reader poll
What is your 2024 New Year’s resolution?
Quick Tip
TV: Turn it down—not the sound, but the picture
When boondocking, I turn down the brightness of my TVs. Most LED and LCD TVs have a power-saving setting which essentially darkens the picture. You can get the same power-saving results by turning down the brightness on any TV, then turn the contrast up slightly to improve the picture. —From Joe B.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
This is serving up something we love! Want to get in better shape for the new year? Enjoy playing games? Well, this is something you can do right from your campsite and you’re guaranteed to have fun while doing it!
Website of the day
New Year’s Traditions From Around the World
Do you know why, and in what countries, folks make noise at midnight? Do you know what foods are lucky? What do other countries “pop” other than champagne? All that and more.
Recipe of the Day
Foil Envelope Fish
by Brenda Clark from Houston, TX
We loved this technique for cooking fish. Baking the fish fillet in foil is a foolproof preparation method. The fish turns out perfectly light and tender with a hint of lemon. Use your favorite white fish and scale the recipe based on the number of people you’re serving.
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Trivia
In the 1920s, Americans saved Ecuador’s economy by consuming millions of Eskimo Pies (now called Edy’s Pie). Yup, that’s right! In the 1920s, Ecuador went through its own depression and was in need of a massive infusion of money. At the same time in the U.S., the Eskimo Pie was invented. (If you’re unfamiliar, that’s an ice cream treat covered in chocolate.) By 1922, Americans were consuming so many Eskimo Pies that global cocoa prices were driven up 50 percent. Since Ecuador was, at the time, the world’s largest cocoa exporter, they received enough money to lift the entire country out of its depression.
Readers’ Pets of the Day
“Izzy (4.5-year-old Golden/Aussie mix) and her sister Maggie (3-year-old Golden Retriever) have been RVing with us since they were babies. Their favorite part of camping is when we put up our dog fencing and set up the chairs. They like to sit in the chairs and greet everyone walking by.” —Colleen Matthies
Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. We publish one each weekday in RV Daily Tips and in our Sunday RV Travel newsletter. No blurry photos, please! Please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!
• Compostable Doggie Poop Bags (Used by RVtravel.com publisher Chuck Woodbury for his dog Archie).
Finally, a gas lighter that works—without gas!
This USB-rechargeable lighter works without gas! Russ and Tiña De Maris love theirs and write, “Inside this ingenious device creates a small arc of electricity across the tips which instantly lights off our rig’s propane appliances. And if you’re a candle geek, it will set your wick to wiggling in a hurry, too.” It’s the Rolls Royce of lighters for a reason, and one charge provides more than 500 uses. Read more about it here, or order one for yourself here.
Leave here with a laugh
Did you miss the latest RV Travel Newsletter? If so, read it here.
Contact information
Editor: Emily Woodbury
CONTACT US
Editorial (all but news): editor@rvtravel.com
Editorial (news): chuck@rvtravel.com
Help desk: Contact us
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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Izzy and Maggie- you two look like true Happy Campers….and I know you bring lots of happiness to your family! Don ( a fellow Golden Dad)
Probably should have a choice of no new Year’s resolution in today’s reader poll
Mystery product of the day? Does anyone remember “Paddle Ball Brown”? I could only find one YouTube video that even came close. Am I just imagining this from the 50’s? I guess inventing stuff in my memory is better than losing stuff from my memory – eh?
Is this what you’re thinking of Tommy? https://www.amazon.com/Wooden-Paddle-Ball-Toy-Carry/dp/B07F1PRLHZ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=M9I3BZBQS62Z&keywords=Paddle%2Bball&qid=1704132200&sprefix=paddle%2Bball%2Caps%2C250&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1
Kinda, but I can’t find ole Paddle Ball Brown. Here’s a link to something close.
I remember having one of these as a kid in the 50’s but I was never any good at it. The rubber band always broke or slipped out from under the staple that was supposed to keep it attached to the paddle. 😀
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4k8aJVNTrs
I remember those very well, along with the slippage of the rubber band. ☹️ didn’t know that was what it was called though 🤔
I remember them, then the rubber bands broke and I had just purchased a paddle for my parents to use on us kids. 😊
Thank you, Emily and Diane! What an unexpected and pleasant treat; a January 1st newsletter! 🙂 I figured that all y’all would take the day (or yesterday?) off. You certainly deserve a day off. 🙂 Have a wonderfully blessed 2024! 🙂
Thanks, Neal! What’s this so-called “day off”?🤣 Are you feeling better today?🤞 Best wishes to you and yours in 2024.🤗 –Diane
No New Year resolutions. Why make up something I won’t honor anyway?
Are you going to provide the click-thru link, provided at the top of this newsletter, to Amazon in each issue? I purchase many RV related items after finding out about them in the this newsletter. I would like you guys to get some credit.
Hi, Don, thank you so much for asking. If you’re using a desktop computer, at the top of every page is a blue bar. On that blue bar is a place that says “RVT Amazon Store”. If you click that when you do your Amazon shopping, we’ll get a tiny percentage of your purchase (at no cost to you, of course). If you’re on a tablet or phone, that same Amazon menu item can be found by clicking “Menu” in the top left corner and scrolling down to “Amazon Store.” Thank you very much–we appreciate you! –Emily
Disconcerting problem: when I go to an article link within the newsletter and then try to go back, it takes me to the very beginning of the newsletter rather than back to where I was before I clicked the link. Very annoying.