After taking a few days to adjust to “the normal” and thinking about the 2019 Journey, I thought I would share a few lessons.  

LESS IS MORE

Thinking back, I think I was trying to accomplish too much in a relatively short period of time; to see as many great spots as possible.  But I also forgot that one of the goals of the trip was to relax, enjoy the beauty of these spots, and contemplate life’s gifts in general.  I spent a lot of time getting to the next spot and wasn’t really able to fully embrace where I was at the moment.

Lesson: Less is More – I think on future journeys I will plan to spend more time, in a few select spots, instead of trying to hit as many spots as possible.  For example, I spent 5 days in Yellowstone, which was perfect, but only spent two half-days in Grand Teton.  I would have loved to have enjoyed more of Grand Teton’s hiking and rafting opportunities but felt a little constrained to get to the next spot. I hope that makes sense.  

Boyles Law – Tire Pressure

I have heard so many stories about tires that it has become an obsession.  I don’t have tire pressure sensors on my coach, but I made it a habit of checking the pressure at least every other day and visually checked the tires every day.  Remember, tire pressure can vary from day to day, minute to minute – altitude and temperature play a big role. 

Lesson: First, I always check my pressure in the morning (when the tires are cold) as suggested by the manufacture.  Second, don’t be afraid to release pressure – over inflated tires are just as dangerous and underinflated tire.  And third, don’t forget to monitor your oil (engine and generator), coolant, and wiper fluid – neglecting any of these checks can lead to wasted time and/or major repair bills.

New Pet Peeve 

Parking a 31’ Motorhome is not always easy, particularly in crowded areas.  The National Park Service does a pretty good job designating parking locations, but I have noticed that these are largely unobserved by a number of visitors (mostly by those in cars but occasionally by RV users).  I can’t count the number of times that cars were parked in spots clearly designated for busses or RVs, even when there were ample car parking spaces still available.  Without going on a rant, I think this is inconsiderate, if not just plain lazy.  These areas are designated for a reason and everyone’s park experience would be better, if they were just obeyed.

Lesson: Always park in designated parking areas based on the type of vehicle you are driving and try to leave yourself an “out”.  Getting blocked can occur quickly and only creates frustration.  I try to park in the first or last RV spot, if I have a choice – by doing this, I lessen the degree of chance that I will be blocked in and unable to get out of the parking lot.  I do this in other parking lots as well – parking on the outskirts of a parking lot and walking a bit further will minimize the potential for future frustration.

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SCREWS AND LATCHES

It never ceases to amaze me, even after two years of ownership, that I find random screws laying on the floor of the coach.  Sometimes it is obvious were the screw was supposed to be, but other times it is a complete mystery.  Just remember that your RV bounces around a lot on the road and screws have a tendency to loosen and eventually fall out.  I’ll replace the screw, if I know where it came from or put it with all of the other screws that are temporarily homeless.

As for cabinet latches, I have had a number of them break in the last few years and this trip was no exception.  After all, most of them are plastic and not designed to withstand heavy jarring.  There are a number of different latches in the RV, most are available online and inexpensive.

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Lesson: I have yet to see a screw that is properly anchored into a wall or cabinet fallout.  One thing that helps is that purchased an assortment of drywall anchors from Amazon and use them as needed.  I also purchased extra cabinet latches from Amazon.  Having both with you when you are on the road make quick fixes easy and prevents the overabundance of duct tape use, in an attempt to keep something in place.  Yes, I still carry duct tape because everyone knows that duct tape and Windex solve 90% of life’s problems – lol.

I hope some of these lessons help. Every time I go out, I learn something new about Amerigo. It is all part of the Journey that stimulates the mind. So go do some fun shit and learn your ass off!!!!!!

#dofunshitalways #dfsa247 #roadlessons #nps #resist