Our favorite apps when traveling

One thing we have discovered when traveling is that technology has made our lives much easier and more complicated simultaneously. Learning how to utilize any new technology can be a frustrating experience; just when you think you have it mastered, it changes. You know the story.

On the other hand it keeps us from getting lost, helps us find whatever we need or want, allows us to pay bills and take care of financial matters, stay in touch with friends and family, and on and on.  Once you figure out what it is you need to do, you can probably find an app for that. Here are some of our favorite apps. Some are native to our iPhones, iPads and Nexus. Others are available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

iPad (top), Nexus 7 and iPhone.
All my devices have a protective skin on them.

GPS and maps - your mobile device (tablet or smartphone) probably came with a map app. The Google Map app is particularly good. On an iPhone, with the app open, tap the forked arrow to enter to and from points, then tap the arrow with "Start" under it and voila, you have a GPS. I think most phones have a GPS receiver built into them, so using them as a miniature GPS is usually possible.  This is particularly handy if you find yourself in a situation where your primary GPS is not working for some reason. In a previous post I explained how I use my Nexus 7 as a big screen GPS. Check it out. I have also downloaded some topo maps as well for our off road adventures.

Financial - banking business no longer has to be conducted over a counter with a teller. We can pay anybody or any business with our bank's app. If they can be paid by an electronic funds transfer, that's what happens, if not, the bank will print and mail them a paper check on my behalf. We can also deposit checks by simply taking a picture of it with my phone and tapping "Make Deposit". It's that simple. USAA pioneered that technology, but Bank of America and others now offer it as well. Credit cards can be paid online, too. Just get the app for your credit card provider and set up the account you want the payments to come out of.

Books - Amazon is well known for their selection of books, but did you know many public libraries now offer e-books? Check with your local library and see if they do. You'll need to ask what device and app works with their system. If you have the right device, the app is free. Overdrive is what some libraries use and 3M Cloud Library is another. I have both apps on my iPad and my Nexus. You can check out books which are then downloaded to your device and return them when you are finished, otherwise they return automatically at the end of the lending period....from anywhere with a wi-fi connection. Amazon, which sells the Kindle, also has an app which allows you to download and read their books without having to buy a Kindle.  Amazon, Apple and Google all offer books, magazines, music and videos for sale, but they also have a lot of books that are free.  Another source for free books is  Project Gutenberg. It is a website where thousands of books (42,000 at last count) have been digitized and are available to download for free.

Fuel - Finding fuel in an unfamiliar place can be a chore sometimes. There are several apps to help, but the one I use is Gas Buddy. It needs a device with GPS capability and a data connection in order to work best. Just open the app, tap the "Find gas near me" icon and in a few seconds it displays stations and their prices. You can sort them by price or distance from your current location and view a map to find the station you select.  This is really helpful and can save you a bundle on fuel costs. Many stations have a photo as well, so you can tell if the rig you are driving can access the pumps or not. The app is free.

Google Drive - Drive is a free service provided by Google which allows a user to store documents, spreadsheets, presentations, etc on Google's servers. You can then access your documents from anywhere with any device. Mobile devices will need the Drive app (free).  Currently creating and editing from a mobile device is a little limited, but that is changing rapidly.

Weather - I use two apps for this. Weather+ gives great current and forecast weather for multiple locations. The free version has ads and limits the number of locations you can store. My Radar is the other app I use. It shows an almost real time display of current radar. Both of these apps can be very helpful in planning, especially if you are in an area without TV reception.  We camped along the Mexican border last spring and for several days we only got one TV station and it was all Spanish speaking.  These apps were really useful then.

First Aid - Here is an app I have never used, but its nice to know its there if I need it. I haven't taken a first aid class in many years. I can see it now, "let me get you out of this burning car first, then I've gotta run get my tablet to find out what to do about that severed arm there! YIKES! Does that hurt?"  The app is free from the American Red Cross and is packed with useful information.

Communication - Skype is a great way to communicate with and see how much the grandkids have grown. With Apple users we can use Face Time to place and receive video calls from other iPhone or iPad users. For Android devices there is Google +.   Google Voice allows you to pick a free phone number and make free domestic phone calls from a wi-if connection or you can give that number to others and have it ring whatever number(s) you designate. Direct TV has an app that lets me communicate with my receiver at the cabin so I can select shows to record, etc. All free apps.

Camping - These two are not apps but rather websites you'll have to access with your browser.  Since this blog is about RVs and camping I felt they ought to be  included.  RVpark Reviews (www.rvparkreviews.com) is great for getting honest information about almost any campground you can think of.  Actual users tell anything from the personalities of the employees to the condition of the restrooms and everything in between.  Campsite Photos (www.campsitephotos.com) has photographs of individual campsites in hundreds of campgrounds.  When making reservations in advance at an unknown campground this is a big help in choosing a site.  You can usually see where the hookups are,  where the trees are, if the site is paved, etc.

We also have a few games on our mobile devices for the grand kids to play with when we get to see them along with some other apps that we have just because they were there. I would love to hear what you use or like and see where that might fit in with your travels. Now what I REALLY need is an app to mow the yard while I'm gone.....hmm, let's see.....

We hope to see you on the road soon!

A new reader makes a suggestion

A new reader of this blog made a suggestion recently and I have to admit it sounds like fun. Here is a excerpt from his email. See what you think.

"..... boy that's a fire-cracker little blog you've created...[plus now I know where I can stow my extra SEWER hose]...whew... I was tired of carrying it up in the cab with me and Gus... keep up the good work...might be good to include tips for finding cheap spots to buy booze,or economical titty bars for the motor-home crowd, oh and maybe some pictures of 5th wheeling calendar babes would spice it up a little...just a thought."

Wellllllll now, I thought that was just a dandy suggestion. If I can get Betty on board, this next summer ought to be a blast. She can put on that thong, and I will get some pictures in scenic locations.  I know Sam's Clubs in certain states sells premium liquors at great prices, so that part is covered.  Then all I need to do is stock up on liquor, find the right campers and turn on some music, right? Bingo! THE BAR IS OPEN! The rest is just research, really, just research.

Be watching for the "2014 RV Babes" calendar coming soon to a RV dealer near you! If it doesn't show up check the hospital for an unconscious white guy with a big old number 10 iron skillet imprint on his head.

We hope to see you on the road!

Searching for the right device.

As technology advances at warp speeds we mere humans struggle to keep up.  Some of us struggle more than others. Not too long ago our daughter convinced us to get iPads.  We did, and we really like the feel and responsiveness of the screen. However, if you don't really love Apple you may want to think twice.  Apple makes quality products but they are expensive.  Also they seem to go out of their way to make non-Apple products and software next to impossible to use.  That gets irritating.

I wanted to make the most of my iPad by also using it as a big screen GPS. I searched the App Store tirelessly and found several apps that would allow me to do just that, but I had to have a built in GPS chip set before I could install the app. Since I had the "WiFi only" iPad rather than the 3G version (which costs about $100 extra) there was no GPS chip set built in.  I considered the Dual Electronics external GPS receiver ($100 on Amazon) which pairs with the iPad via Bluetooth, but since it was not a built in GPS receiver I still wasn't allowed to download the app.

I was stumped and frustrated.  It was along about that time that I read a review on RV net written by the Geeks on Tour.  They had tried out a Nexus 7 tablet doing exactly what I had been puzzling over. The Nexus comes equipped with a built in GPS receiver and chip set in both the "WiFi only" and 3G versions.  The device costs $199 for the 16 gigabyte version and $249 for the 32 gigabyte version.  For around $10 Google Play offers a GPS app from CoPilot Live which downloads maps directly onto your device.  I downloaded all of the US and Canada maps which took about an hour and 1.5 gigabytes of memory.  The GPS receiver then shows your location on the map and there is no need for a data connection in order to have the map data continually streamed to your device.  The maps are already there!

So, what I wound up with is a 7 inch tablet that I can use to browse the web, take care of banking business, store books, movies and generally do everything else tablets can do, but it also serves as a large screen GPS with voice guidance.  I ordered a protective skin and windshield mount from Amazon for less than $25.  Scrolling across the screen is not as smooth as the iPad, but so far I am pretty happy. For the price I am VERY happy. I rarely use a laptop anymore, so now I have only one device to keep up with.  Instead of books to read, a laptop, a tablet and a GPS, its just a tablet.  How cool is that?

An added benefit of CoPilot Live is the ability to program the height of your RV into it. Then, when routing a trip, it takes you around low clearance bridges.  You can also set it to avoid propane restricted tunnels.  We don't have many of either of those issues to deal with in the Texas panhandle, but our future travel plans appear to include a lot of the east coast and it is an issue there.

We hope to see you down the road!

Getting ready for a trip to Tucson

We are planning a trip in February to sunny Tucson but that is a subject for another post at a later date.  For now I had a weekend project in mind, and although it was a windy day, the temperature was a very pleasant 70 degrees.  Something not to be wasted in January. The project involved fixing a problem that was created when the previous owner of our KZ 5th wheel replaced the rear bumper.    

  

The modification he did was a great idea.  The new bumper was heavy duty 4x4 steel tubing and a receiver trailer hitch.  Now a trailer could be towed behind the 5th wheel allowing us to bring along ATVs or we could add a platform to carry a generator or whatever.

The problem was this: many RV bumpers are large enough to also serve as a place to store the sewer hose that travels with the RV.  That is made possible by the thin walls of those types of bumpers.

This new bumper with thicker steel walls could no longer hold the sewer hose, so it was stored in the basement of the trailer until we needed to empty the holding tanks.  Not a great alternative.  Even though both ends were capped I didn't like it in there and besides we needed the space for other things. 

I wanted to add an outside storage tube, but they cost close to $60 plus shipping and installation. They are made of white ABS plastic, have screw on caps, and look nice if you are into big white pipes hanging onto the outside of your RV where they can be seen.  My thought was to put it under the trailer, out of sight, so appearance was not so important.  This was all about functionality, not looks.

My solution was to make my own storage tube using a 5 foot piece of 5 inch galvanized steel duct which costs about $6.  I also bought two brackets ($7 each) to attach it to the chassis of the trailer, but that was not really necessary.  There are other less expensive ways to attach it.  I used a couple of pieces of scrap slotted angle iron I had on hand and drilled holes in the chassis to attach the slotted angle iron with bolts. Then I attached the brackets to that. You could use perforated metal plumbing strap, baling wire or whatever works for you.  This photo is a little deceptive.  Nothing I added extends any lower than the existing pipes or axles, so there is no chance of anything dragging.

I sloped the tube so anything draining out of the hose would go out the back end and away from where I would be working. The back end was closed off with a couple layers of duct tape, leaving the bottom 1/4 inch open for drainage.  At the front end I drilled a couple of holes and inserted a piece of wire through them to keep the hose in place while driving.  I was careful to place the seam of the duct on top so the hose would not slide over any sharp edges when being taken in or out.  Also, the ends of the duct are different.  One end is crimped and has a sharp edge.  The other end is not crimped and has a rolled edge which is not sharp.  I used the rolled edge end for the end I will access the hose through.

I picked up my parts at an air conditioning supply house, but Lowe's and Home Depot also have pretty good HVAC departments.  It took me a about 3 hours to figure out where and how to attach everything and actually do the work. Next time I think I could do it in about an hour.

Oh yeah, two more things, if you decide to try this yourself, wear gloves when working with the duct and be sure to secure your connections by using lock washers, locking nuts, Loc-Tite thread locking compound, or all of the above.  You don't want the whole thing to fall off while going down the highway.

I hope to see you on the road soon!

Rock Climbing and Crazy Water?

We had a free weekend approaching and decided to go camping for a few days somewhere, anywhere. It had been a busy summer and fall was approaching.  I emailed our son and told him we were thinking about trying Caprock Canyons SP and invited his family to join us.  He replied that they had just made reservations at Lake Mineral Wells State Park and would like for us to join them there.  Their trip was a birthday request of their oldest son, Will.  He is now 12 years old and this park has great rock climbing areas, which he loves to do and excels at. How could anyone say no to that?

 On our way down to Mineral Wells our route took us through Archer City, Texas, the home of famed writer, Larry McMurtry, author of Lonesome Dove and many other works.  We stopped at his book store for a look around and a break from the heat.

We arrived in the heat of the day on Friday.  It was 106F as we set up.  Later, a cool front came through and Saturday was pleasant for a day of rock climbing or watching.  We chose watching.  That afternoon the boys swam while we got a campfire ready for hot dogs and s'mores.  A scary story after dinner and then every one slept well.

 Brock practices climbing on the lower rocks.

 Cory coaches Will and all the other climbers in safety and technique.

Me, Cory and Grant pause for a moment.

 Christi and Cory.  Hey, she climbed to the top too!

Will, Sam (the boys' friend and neighbor), Grant, Brock, Cory and Christi at Penitentiary Hollow, where all the rock climbing action occurs. 

 Around the camp fire.

On Sunday, the kids went fishing while we prepared lunch after which they left for home. We planned to stay an extra day.  Our plans changed a little when Betty received word that an elderly aunt was not doing too well.  We were only an hour away from the nursing home she was in, so we decided to stay an additional day in order to go visit her.

When I had mentioned to my 85 year old mother that we were going to Mineral Wells her immediate response was "See if you can still buy Crazy Water!" (that is a story in itself).  The high mineral content of some of the water from wells here was said to have cured a demented woman who drank it in the 1880's.  It was later found that the water contains trace amounts of lithium, a mineral used in the treatment of certain mental disorders.  On our way out of town we stopped at The Famous Water Company and found that yes indeed, they still sell Crazy Water and in fact the Crazy Water Festival is coming up in October.  We bought a case of the miracle water and then pointed our rig towards Amarillo.

Another fun trip in the books.

Kids, bikes and the Canyon

Spring break was here.  Our son and daughter in law were making a trip to Denver and asked us to keep their three boys for a couple of days.  Yippee!  All we needed was a reason to try out our new (to us) 5th wheel.  We took the boys and their bikes down to Palo Duro Canyon State Park.  This park is about 25 miles from our house, so that makes it one of our favorites when the weather is not too warm.

While I checked us in at the gate the Texas Longhorn cattle exhibit got a good looking over.

A brilliantly colored cardinal was a regular visitor at our campsite.

Will and Grant hone their skills in the fine art of cooking bacon in camp.


A downhill sidewalk provided hours of biking fun.

Hiking with Capitol Peak in the background.

Climbing the red rock bluffs.

Our crew.

Brock keeps up with his big brotherts.

More biking fun.

The famous Cave.  Always a favorite destination for a short but exciting hike.

Stopping to read a little about our surroundings.

These kids are part mountain goats.  Yes, there are kids in this picture.

It was a short, but memorable camping trip.  It gave us another chance to iron out any kinks in our rig and hopefully the boys will remember it for a long time.  I know we will.

2300 miles and we never left Texas!

It was April, 2012 when Betty got a phone call from a customer requesting that she come to the Rio Grande Valley (Los Fresnos, Texas, to be exact) to do a product show and demonstration.  Betty sells the Longaberger family of products (baskets, pottery, wrought iron and more) at home shows.  She will go almost anywhere to do her job.  After a little thought we decided to hitch up the 5th wheel trailer and make a little vacation out of it, after all our route would take us through Midland, twice, where some of our grand kids are!

Our first stop was Midland where we stayed and played.  The next day after hugs and promises to be back in a week or so, we moved on.  Two days later we arrived at Port Aransas on the Gulf Coast.  There we visited a cousin I hadn't seen in years and got a tour of the beaches, neighborhood and town.  We stayed at a great RV resort, but didn't have time to fully enjoy it since our schedule called for us to be in Los Fresnos the next day.

After the work was done in Los Fresos we continued northwest along the Rio Grande River leaving the Valley behind.  Most of the snowbirds were gone, but I can see why they come here by the thousands every winter.

Our next destination was Big Bend National Park, but it would take a couple of days to get there, so we stopped along the way at Seminole Canyon State Park. What an awesome place.  Uncrowded, beautiful desert scenery, Native American pictographs, gorgeous sunsets and even a nighttime thunderstorm!

Big Bend was as vast and awe inspiring as always.  The history presentations and exhibits were great.  The RV "campground" with hookups was really just a parking lot, and a crowded one at that, run by the store at Rio Grande Village.  Thankfully we were there after the peak season, so there weren't too many rigs in the lot.  The really pretty camping is in the National Park Service campgrounds, but there are no hookups there and with daytime temperatures reaching into the 100's, electricity was a mighty fine thing to have.  It makes the air conditioner work better, you know.

After a few days there we headed on to Davis Mountains State Park, but we took the scenic route through Big Bend Ranch State Park.  This park is nearly as big as BBNP, but newer and not very developed yet.  The drive  along the river has been ranked by National Geographic as one of the most scenic in America.  They were not kidding.

















Overnight at Davis Mountains State Park, we skipped the "Star Party" hosted by nearby University of Texas' McDonald Observatory.  We had attended it before when our kids were young.  Let me tell you, in case you didn't know, there are a LOT of stars up there and you can see most of them from here on a clear, West Texas night.  Do it if you ever get the chance.  You can bring your own telescope or use one of several they set up just for the event.

After another stop in Midland we headed back to Amarillo. We had traveled 2300 miles, seen umpteen Border Patrol officers, burned more diesel than I care to calculate, but we had a great time.  And we never left Texas!