August 14, 2015
I'm not sure when I became so disorganized but I have noticed on the last few trips I've taken I'm scrambling at the last minute to get everything together. Last night at the grocery I walked around in circles trying to decide what to take with me this weekend. Finally decided to go home and make a decision about how I was going to be cooking before buying food.
I considered eating out, using the electric hookups to use my coffee maker and a small electric grill, or buying a small propane stove. For what I would spend eating out I could buy a small stove and I don't want to wait for my morning coffee. In the end I have decided to just use the electric hookups for coffee and grill. With that decision made I can buy groceries. I'm planning to take a couple frozen hamburgers, a container with some lettuce and tomato slices and buns for dinner Sunday and lunch Monday. For breakfast I'll take some bacon to cook on the grill and either boiled eggs or maybe make an omelet that I could warm on the grill. I've always loved a big breakfast when camping but I'll keep it simple for this trip.
It costs $5 more for a site with electric hookups but I will need a fan since it is suppose to get into the 90's on Sunday. Overnight it is only going down to about 77 still plenty hot and humid for sleeping. I'm hoping by running the A/C to cool down the minivan before bedtime and using the fan to move the air, maybe it won't get too hot to sleep.
When I first started planning this the forecast called for cooler and dryer weather but in our area the weather changes every few days. I could cancel and wait until fall but I want to get this first camping trip under my belt so I can move forward with my plans. I have plans for setting up the minivan better but I'm too cheap to spend the money if I hate camping in it. If I enjoy this trip I know I can make the van even more comfortable.
Can you tell I'm getting excited? The last time I went camping was 30 years ago, with 3 children and a tent. The girls and I got pretty good at building fires and we had fun most of the time. However, I made a lot of mistakes and it always rained on us at least one night during our trips. When you live in Kentucky no matter how hot and dry it has been if you put up a tent it WILL rain.
Time to get to work.
Have a great day!
Showing posts with label minivan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label minivan. Show all posts
Friday, August 14, 2015
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
GETTING READY FOR 1ST CAMPIN TRIP
August 12, 2015
This past weekend I made shades for the windows in the van. I made them from foam board that I purchased from the Dollar General store. One of the rear ones is a little too short and would allow someone to see in between the shade and the back curtain but I'm not going to worry about replacing it yet.
This weekend I'll go to one of the state parks to try camping. I'm going to use my couch cushions for the bed and I have rope and sheets for curtains at the front and back. The only thing I will buy is a rechargeable LED light and a camping stove. The camping stove is the biggest issue for me. I can get a single burner that uses the small propane tank as the stand for $20 or should I get a two burner Coleman stove. I worry that the single burner would not be very stable. I haven't done anything about a canopy for shade but I've got a good idea of how I want to make it. I just don't want to spend the money for that just yet. This is a very cheap set up to start with. As I'm writing this I realize I will have no where to make coffee if it is raining. I'll have to give that some thought. Maybe the canopy is a more important investment than I originally thought.
I have customers in the store so I must go to work now.
Have a great day!
August 5, 2015
Yesterday it rained. I sat out on my front porch and watched the birds. There are 6 or 7 hummers fighting over 2 feeders. I've always liked rainy days and often took long walks during the rain. If I was retired what would my day have been like? How long would I have sat outside and then what? When I got up this morning it was cool outside and the high for today was suppose to get to 80. Another beautiful day spent inside working. Depressing!
Reading the blogs of full time travelers fill my days. There are those that will live their life in their van, trailer or motorhome and there are those that will eventually settle into another stick & bricks or at least park their rv on a permanent lot.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
MORE RAMBLINGS
Well, the Adkins diet didn't last long, about 3 days was my limit. On Sunday the 19th I had my children & grandchildren over for dinner and that blew the diet. On the bright side I have lost 3# since my last post. So, at least I'm headed in the right direction.
The plans for the minivan are coming along even if I haven't actually done any work. Just measuring and shopping around for items to make curtains. It's too hot and humid right now to sleep in it but I want to have it ready for a trip this fall. I saw a blog about a woman getting ready to travel in a mini van but I can't find it now. She has a mini van with a tent that attaches to the back of the van. I clicked onto her site through someone or something else I was reading about so I'll have to do some research to find it again.
My mother is looking to buy or rent a house in the same area where I live. Right now they live about 3 1/2 hrs southwest of here. We've looked at retirement homes but they are just too expensive. My step father is in poor health and my mother is struggling with walking because of osteoporosis in her spine. What prompted her desire to move closer to my brother and I was having shingles and pneumonia a couple of years ago and not having any help available in her small town. While there are more health care and home care advantages here I'm just not sure she would like moving.
Does this effect my plans? Not really sure. It would be very hard to leave town if she needed me here.
My mother has always been a very adventurous person. She was the first person I knew that owned and drove an RV. She loves travel and drove through all 48 states and cruised Hawaii and Alaska. She's been to Mexico, South America, China, Ireland, Germany and a few other countries.
That's enough rambling for today I better get back to work.
Have a great day!
The plans for the minivan are coming along even if I haven't actually done any work. Just measuring and shopping around for items to make curtains. It's too hot and humid right now to sleep in it but I want to have it ready for a trip this fall. I saw a blog about a woman getting ready to travel in a mini van but I can't find it now. She has a mini van with a tent that attaches to the back of the van. I clicked onto her site through someone or something else I was reading about so I'll have to do some research to find it again.
My mother is looking to buy or rent a house in the same area where I live. Right now they live about 3 1/2 hrs southwest of here. We've looked at retirement homes but they are just too expensive. My step father is in poor health and my mother is struggling with walking because of osteoporosis in her spine. What prompted her desire to move closer to my brother and I was having shingles and pneumonia a couple of years ago and not having any help available in her small town. While there are more health care and home care advantages here I'm just not sure she would like moving.
Does this effect my plans? Not really sure. It would be very hard to leave town if she needed me here.
My mother has always been a very adventurous person. She was the first person I knew that owned and drove an RV. She loves travel and drove through all 48 states and cruised Hawaii and Alaska. She's been to Mexico, South America, China, Ireland, Germany and a few other countries.
That's enough rambling for today I better get back to work.
Have a great day!
Friday, July 3, 2015
4th of JULY
Hi, I hope everyone has a great 4th.
I thought about trying out camping in my minivan this weekend then realized it was a holiday weekend. A crowded campground did not sound like a good place for my first experience.
I put some couch cushions in my minivan to test out the sleeping arrangements. Then I decided to sleep in the van in my driveway last night. I went to sleep just fine but soon woke up with a pain in my neck and decided to move inside. The cushions provided plenty of support but the uneven floor was the problem. I will get a piece of plywood to level the floor out and I may build a raised platform for the bed. I was considering an air mattress but I like the solid feel of the couch cushions so I'll be looking for hi density foam cushions.
With the bed in place there is plenty of room for storage in the back of the van. I'm considering building a box for storage that will have a flip down lid that can double as a cooking table when it is raining. When you are standing at the back of the van with the rear lift gate open you would unlatch the door and it would drop down to provide a table. I could store all of my kitchen needs in this box for easy access. I will need a place for the cooler and shelves for clothing. I'm thinking milk crates will work best for the clothing and the cooler can sit behind the passenger seat.
Since I'm still working there won't be time for long trips so should I consider solar power or just stay in campgrounds with elec hookups? Keep in mind that living in KY means the solar unit will not get much use unless I'm going either south or west for a weeks vacation.
And I'm confused about propane choices for a camping stove. I once had a little propane grill that used the small green propane containers. These would only last for 3 o 4 dinners. I don't see how one of these would make coffee and heat meals for a week. On the other hand I don't like the idea of carrying a large propane container in the van. Are there any other choices out there?
Thanks for any advice you might have.
Have a great day!
I thought about trying out camping in my minivan this weekend then realized it was a holiday weekend. A crowded campground did not sound like a good place for my first experience.
I put some couch cushions in my minivan to test out the sleeping arrangements. Then I decided to sleep in the van in my driveway last night. I went to sleep just fine but soon woke up with a pain in my neck and decided to move inside. The cushions provided plenty of support but the uneven floor was the problem. I will get a piece of plywood to level the floor out and I may build a raised platform for the bed. I was considering an air mattress but I like the solid feel of the couch cushions so I'll be looking for hi density foam cushions.
With the bed in place there is plenty of room for storage in the back of the van. I'm considering building a box for storage that will have a flip down lid that can double as a cooking table when it is raining. When you are standing at the back of the van with the rear lift gate open you would unlatch the door and it would drop down to provide a table. I could store all of my kitchen needs in this box for easy access. I will need a place for the cooler and shelves for clothing. I'm thinking milk crates will work best for the clothing and the cooler can sit behind the passenger seat.
Since I'm still working there won't be time for long trips so should I consider solar power or just stay in campgrounds with elec hookups? Keep in mind that living in KY means the solar unit will not get much use unless I'm going either south or west for a weeks vacation.
And I'm confused about propane choices for a camping stove. I once had a little propane grill that used the small green propane containers. These would only last for 3 o 4 dinners. I don't see how one of these would make coffee and heat meals for a week. On the other hand I don't like the idea of carrying a large propane container in the van. Are there any other choices out there?
Thanks for any advice you might have.
Have a great day!
Thursday, June 11, 2015
PURCHASED A MINIVAN
I purchased a used minivan last week. It needs tires and a few other things but I'm ready to take a trip. Every time I get in it I want to just keep driving.. heading south or west. I've checked the prices on blowup mattresses, portable potty, tent, and an enclosure that allows you to sleep with the back door open and keeps the bugs out.
This is no RV but will allow me to travel some without making a commitment to full timing until I'm ready. On June 21st I head to Cumberland Falls for our family reunion. I have a cabin there so will not be sleeping in my minivan. After that I will take a few one night trips to see how well I do sleeping in the minivan. It is very humid here during the summer but if I stay at campgrounds with elec. hookups I will be able to run a fan. I don't want to spend a lot of money on camping supplies until I decide how much I will use it. Since I only have 2 days off, the camping will be pretty close to home. If the weather is too bad I may end up waiting for fall to do much camping.
It is so exciting to have a vehicle for travel. I have to force myself to come into work everyday and I know I will have to force myself to come back home after Cumberland Falls.
I'll try to post more often now that I will be doing something beside whining about making decisions.
Have a great day.
This is no RV but will allow me to travel some without making a commitment to full timing until I'm ready. On June 21st I head to Cumberland Falls for our family reunion. I have a cabin there so will not be sleeping in my minivan. After that I will take a few one night trips to see how well I do sleeping in the minivan. It is very humid here during the summer but if I stay at campgrounds with elec. hookups I will be able to run a fan. I don't want to spend a lot of money on camping supplies until I decide how much I will use it. Since I only have 2 days off, the camping will be pretty close to home. If the weather is too bad I may end up waiting for fall to do much camping.
It is so exciting to have a vehicle for travel. I have to force myself to come into work everyday and I know I will have to force myself to come back home after Cumberland Falls.
I'll try to post more often now that I will be doing something beside whining about making decisions.
Have a great day.
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