Vagabond Chef

You’re getting ready to start the RVing lifestyle.  You’re all excited with anticipation then reality hits. You need to find a job to fit this lifestyle to help  you reduce expenses.  This can happen while having fun and making new adventures.

The first step towards making this happen is to identify your goals.  What are  your dreams for traveling on the road?  Do  you want to spend time a the National Parks?  How about golf or fish or maybe the races? Do you want peace and quiet?  What about exploring an area that has a special place in your heart? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to save money while living this lifestyle?

Working can help make your dreams come true; whatever they are.  Are you working to make an income or to supplement it?  Perhaps a free campsite would be enough for you.  Decide on the amount and length of time you want to earn it in.

Can you do on the road what you did before you left?  This could be the way to make the most money.  Perhaps you were bored with what you were doing and want something completely different.

Apply to many jobs (at least 20).  You’ll get a better feel for the job market and have a choice.  Be selective.  Remember your selling yourself and evaluating the employer.  Develop a list of questions to ask the employer?  How may hours will I need to work?  If I work over 40 hours do I get overtime? Does the employer provide equipment?  What kinds of perks?  How closed to doctors and shopping.  Learn from experiences and don’t set your goals too high.

Good Times, Good Friends, Good Food

Getting rid of the fuse panel and replacing it with circuit breakers could make life a little easier on you.  It is a whole lot easier to flip a switch than to have to replace a fuse.

You can buy a new panel at a marine store, they sell all kinds of low voltage stuff.

If the fuse  panel is not part of a converter/charger unit, the replacement is pretty simple.  Remove each wire from its corresponding  fuse, be sure to label for polarity and fuse value.  Hook up to the new breaker panel in reverse order, make sure you use the same value breaker as was in the fuse panel.

If the fuse panel is part of the converter/charger unit, the principals of hooking things up and breaker/fuse values are the same.  You need to set up the panel yourself.  With the shorepower off,  you will be disconnecting the main “hot”  supply lead from your existing fuse panel and running it to your new breaker panel - keeping the distance as short as possible.  You will be drawing new leads from the breaker panel back to each of the circuits the breakers supply.  Make sure to keep the panel close.  The farther they run the more voltage drops and could cause equipment failure or even a fire.

The best idea would be to hire a professional to do it  if you have any doubts.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

There are many different types of invaders but here we  are only only going to talk abouit ants, wasps and rodents.  If they get into your RV they can make yourl life miserable.

Here are some workable tips for you:

ANTS-They follow scent trails left by their scouts.  If you can eliminate the scent trail, you can stop their invasion.  You can shake some chorinated cleaning products around any part of the RV that touches the ground inclluding jacks, hoses,electrical cables and tires.   If you aregoing green try diatomaceous earth or just plain flour.

WASPS-These intruders love the smell of LP.  They will buzz on into your furnace and other propane appliance vents.  You can purchase some screens to put over the vents, but remember to remove the screens before running the appliances.

RODENTS-not only can they cause all kinds of problemsbut can also cause health problems.  YOu must keep them out of your RV.  Stuff every crack and orifice with steel wool to keep them out.  You could lay a string of rope lights on the ground around the RV.  Because rodents like darkness and won’t cross the lighted area.

If you can stop the intrsion of the invaders you will enjoy your trip a lot better.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

Here are some simple map reading hints.  A map is very helpful if you and your co-pilot can read one correctly.

Open the map and look at its edges.  Letters goes  across  both sides and numbers go across the top and bottom.  On most maps north is to the top, south to the bottom, east to the rightand west to the left.  Look for the north arrow on the map to be sure.

The map legend contains all the information you need to understand and use the map.  You’ll see road classifications and symbols that identify them on  he map.  Legends show (1) U>S> interstate highway numbers in a colored shield, (2) U>S> federal highways with numbers in white shields, and (3) numbers in white circles or ovals are state highways.

To find where your going,  look for its name on the maps index.  Next to the cities name will be a letter and a number.  Look for the number on the border of the map and then look for the letter on the border.  Find approximately where they intersect and the city should be in that vicinity.

Then figure out your route.  The easiest way to find distances is to estimate using the maps scale.

While driving down the road look for route numbers on overhead signs and those posted on the right side of the road.  Odd numbered interstates, run north and south, even numbers run east and west.  When interstates intersect with a beltway the number temoparily becomes 3 digits.

If your like me you still might get lost butwhen your RVing it is not getting lost.  It is starting a new adventure.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

6 - 9 medium size oranges

1 cranberry orange muffin mix

ingredients listed on muffin mix

6 - 9 squares of  aluminum foil

With the orange sitting on its flatter end cut the top 1/3 off the top.  Save these if you plan to bake them not in an oven.

Juice the oranges being careful not to split the oranges.  Use a spoon to scoop out the pulp out of the rind - including the tops.

Mix the muffin mix as usual.  Fill the oranges to 2/3 full with the mix.

Cover  each muffin eith the top.  Place in center of foil and bring the foil up (twist to seal).  Place in a cast iron pan and cover the pan.  Place over medium  _ medium high fire.  Cook until muffins are cooked through and dry in the middle.  Approximately 45 minutes.

Holding tanks need to be cleaned.  Back flowing happens when a fresh water system gets crossed with a source of bad water or other contaminant.  It is ass simple as a garden hose left in contact  with contaminated water, hooked up to the hose bib.  Under the right conditions that water can  backup into the hose bib, and into the fresh water of your RV.

This can be caused by anything that causes a sudden drop in water pressure that allows black water to pulse backwards up the garden hose and into the RV.

You can prevent this by buying a tank cleaning system  device.  It should come with a simple backflow preventer to be installed between your hose bib and the garden hose. If a loss of pressure were to occur this device steps in and stops the backflow of fluids, protecting your RV’s drinking water.

Remember a mouthful of bacteria can ruin a whole trip and fill your tanks quickly.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

Finally got youpself a RV and are ready to take your first trip but there are a few things you should do first.  Before taking an extended trip you should try a shakedown trip somewhere cl;ose by.  This is the time to try everything out to make sure you understand how and that everthing works.

The first night in your RV go to a full service campground.  Get a site that has full hookups including cable if you need it.  Some parks will have people that can help you set up if needed.  Just ask.

Some items forgotten on these trips are a sufficiently long enough sewer hose, water pressure regulator, leveling boards or chock blocks you can pick these up at camping stores or get it cheaper at some discount stores.

Test and inspect the parks power before you hook up.  It’s a good idea to use a multi meter to test it before plugging in.  Common problems are reverse polarity and low voltage-both can cause damage to your RV.

To test the shorepower run the microwave and air conditioner at the same time.  Try all your appliances to make sure they work.  Don’t just turn them on use them.  Also try the furnace to make sure all the vents blow.

Use a water pressure regulator in line with your water hookup, some city water pressure will blow out your plumbing.  Flush any spiders out of your hose before hooking up.  This way you won’t have as much air in  your lines either.

Once city water is on make sure water water pump is off, check all the faucets.

Fill black water tank up to the toilet bowl.  How is the seal around the toilet?

Hook up the sewer hose to be sureyou have enough without having to stretch it.

The black water tank gets everything from the toilet.  Where semi solids hit the bottom of a dry tank, they solidify.  Be sure to add enough water to the black water to avoid any problems.

Don’t just hook up the sewer hose and leave the black water tank valve open.  You need to build a reserve of fluids to flush out the solids.  Also let the gray water fill, this is what you will use for the first rinse after dumping  the black water.  After dumping and closing the valves; add enough freshwater back into the black water tank to cover the bottom of it.

Most importantly learn to understand  your RV and you will avoid a lot of problems and enjoy it more.

GOOD TIMES,  GOOD FRIENDS,  GOOD FOOD

Staying fit and not gaining weight can be difficult  while on the road in your RV.  While your at a RV park or a campground get out and walk around it or ride your bicycle it.  Use the swimming pool and do some laps.

You can bring handweights and exercise bands to use in your RV.  If you have space usae exercise dvds.

The biggest problem to exercising is getting into a routine of doing it 3 or 4 times a week.  It’s a lot easier with someone else (spouse or traveling companion).  Don’t forget your pets need exercise too.  So take them on walks with you.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

Spring is here and you got the itch; some call it the “hitch itch” but you don’t know where to go.  Thes don’t have to be far trips just far enough to check everything over to make sure everything is ready to go.

If you like baseball how about a trip to watch your favorite team at spring training or trying your luck at some nice spring fishing.  Maybe try something new like white water rafting or how about a nascar race.

Spring is a beautiful time of year.  How about visiting some gardens to help you put things back into perspective  by stopping and smelling the roses.  The fragrances and the vibrant colors  can be just breath taking.

Spring is not only for fresh starts in nature but after a long winter we can all use a fresh start.  So let’s get ou  there and get going.

GOOD TIMES, GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD

POT ROAST ALA VAGABOND

2 lb. beef roast (any kind)
4 medium onions peeled and cut into 1/3 sideways forming rings.
6-7 medium potatoes peeled and cut in half (or one per person)
1 large bag of baby carrots (1-2 lb.)
½ cup celery chunks
1 pkg. Gravy mix
Salt and pepper to taste
Place beef, onions, potatoes and celery in a large pot or roaster.  Cover with water.  Season.  Place covered on fire and cook slowly for 2 ½ hours. Make gravy-using drippings.  Can be cooked on grill or campfire