Issue 2534
Today’s thought
“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” ―
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is Gingerbread House Day! Check out this RV gingerbread house (yes, an RV!).
On this day in history: 1901 – Guglielmo Marconi (using an antenna suspended 500 feet by kite) receives the first transatlantic radio signal (the letter “S” [•••] in Morse code), at Signal Hill in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.
Tip of the day
How to use your RV toilet even in winter
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Just because you winterized your RV doesn’t mean you can’t use it. Plenty of RVers get the sudden “hitch itch” in the middle of a cold winter, and to escape “cabin fever” head out on the road with the RV to see how things look when Jack Frost is running the show. But just how, some wonder, can you use the biffy? Hang on, pardner, there’s no need to cross your legs in discomfort until you hit a rest area!
Really, the biggest problem for RV plumbing in cold weather is when there’s water in the water lines. A bit of liquid in the holding tanks isn’t generally a problem. So while you might not want to put water in your fresh tank and use your water pump, you can still use the toilet. But then there’s that rather delicate issue…
Ask Dave
What is the best backup camera when towing a travel trailer?
By Dave Solberg
Dear Dave,
What is the best backup camera to use when towing my travel trailer? I need to determine how much space I have when I change lanes. —Henry, 16-foot Scamp, Layout 6 Read Dave’s answer.
Video of the day
How to make perfect griddle breakfast burritos
By Cheri Sicard
In the video below, we join Matthew Hussey, aka The Hungry Hussey, for a yummy griddle breakfast burritos cooking demo using the Blackstone griddle. However, you could use any griddle and get similar results. These monster-size griddle breakfast burritos will satisfy the hungriest of campers.
Featured article
Small and mighty: Grecell T-1000 portable power station
By Cheri Sicard
Portable power stations, aka solar generators, are changing the way the world RVs. You can now plug in appliances and charge devices anywhere! Suppose you are considering a portable power station for your RV. In that case, Grecell’s 1000-watt portable power station provides a lot of power in a small, lightweight, easy-to-pack package, especially important if weight and space are in short supply. Learn more.
Reader poll
How often do you play cards?
Quick tip
Traveling with cats? Scratching deterrent!
Keeping the claws out of the RV furniture when traveling with felines is like a search for the Holy Grail. One method is to provide a scratching post they’ll enjoy more than sticking their nails in your leather sofa. By nature, cats like to hitch their front paws up high and pull down hard. If a stainless post-in-a-socket supports your dinette table, try wrapping a carpet sample around the post (cut to size as required), then using duct tape to hold it tight to the post. More details from fiveina5th.com.
On this day last year…
- Ask Dave: None of my RVs came with a towel bar in the bathroom. Why not?
- RV walk-through: Cruiser RV Essence E-25RK, a new 5th wheel for 2024
- Video: Snowbirding in Quartzsite, AZ: What to expect
- Featured article: Around the Campfire: If RVers had a magic wand, how would they use it?
Website of the day
25 Experience Gifts for Everyone on Your List This Year
Notice: This list says it’s for Valentine’s Day but we think these make great holiday gifts, too! Instead of giving your special someone something, give them an experience. This list from Country Living includes everything from Airbnb experiences to cooking classes to audiobook subscriptions. All excellent ideas!
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Does it get any better than these? If you need a holiday gift for the special lady in your life (or any other special campin’ lady), this is it. This is definitely it!
And the survey says…
We’ve polled RVtravel.com readers more than 2,500 times in recent years. Here are a few things we’ve learned about them:
• 57 percent say their current RV mattress is a replacement for the original mattress.
• 36 percent say their “dream RV” would have more than one bathroom.
• 3 percent travel with three or more dogs in their RV.
Recent poll: Do you drink the RV park/campground water?
Trivia
Did you know that the blueberry muffin is the official muffin of Minnesota? It was so declared in 1988.
Readers’ pet of the day
“We adopted Ellie (mix) in February while spending the winter in Naples. Our existing dog, Lucy, was slowing down and needed a young companion to get her active again. It worked, and now they’re inseparable!” —Gail & Ward Goforth & Simmons
Send us a photo of your pet with a short description. No blurry photos and please do not submit your photo more than once. Thanks!
• RVing with Dogs group on Facebook. You’ll love it.
Leave here with a laugh
Think your dog deserves one of these hilarious balls? We do! You can find it here.
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
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RVtravel.com All-Star Team
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Could you have a word with the folks at the Weather Prediction Center about stopping the snow at the border. It’s called the “Great White North” for a reason, and I think we’re good for the rest of the winter….which actually doesn’t even start for another 9 days.
☃️ Take it easy with the shoveling, Impavid. 😀 –Diane
Which border? I’m south of the Georgia/Florida border and have only seen snow once in the 55 years I’ve been down here. You just have to choose your borders.
Depends what side of the Border you are on??? In Canada it can stop anytime soon!! Enough is Enough Already!!
In my Travel Trailer I have an 8 inch wide board tightly wound with 5/8″ Rope Zip tied to one of the table legs of our dinette. I have also added a lay flat type of cardboard scratcher to provide our cats with preferable alternative to our seat cushions.
Thanks for CJ Jungs’ quote. I understand that it’s a practice that requires a simple shift of attention from out to in. Worth a try.
Bacon without the grease… no such thing if it is really bacon… We have tried several of these gimmicks, results pretty much all the same…
Thank you, Emily and Diane! Ellie looks adorable! Happy new year and safe travels! 🙂
For my cats I wrapped sisal rope around the round pole/leg on the dinette. Looks good and works great. I also have had them scratching on fabric around windows. For that I thumb tacked some clear packing tape sticky side out. End of problem.