Category: Rv

Could it Be? #3 in the Countdown to the Greater Philly RV Show

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The  Greater Philadelphia RV Show is Tomorrow!!. We’ve given you our #1 and #2 things to look forward to, but we were only halfway!  There are a lot of great things that go along with RVing — gadgets, gizmos, and thingamajigs.  We understand the extras that go along with RVing. That’s why we built HD Indoor with the free air pump, vacuum, dump stations and NOW — RV Wash.  But, that is for www.hdindoorstorage.com. This is about the RV Show coming to our neck of the woods in Oaks, Pa starting February 28th.  And if you haven’t been to the Philly RV Show before, put on your Pirate hat — it’s time to hunt for treasure.

RV Show Excitement: #3 Accessories

This is the great unknown — those RV extras that you didn’t even know you needed.  We don’t know what will be at this year’s RV show.  But, we do know this: Be prepared to buy.  This learning comes from a cautionary tale of last year.  While walking around the RV show, I saw the sharpest condiment holder.  It was a little picnic table that held ketchup and mustard. It was handmade and decked out with different sports teams.  I did not buy it. And I have regretted it all year (actually two years now).  So, I am hoping it is there because I need to move on.  It would give the awning area of our RV site that extra bit of personality I am always striving for.

The Outdoor Space

Which brings me to the importance of the outdoor space.  The RV outdoor space is a real canvas for RVers.  Everyone takes great pride in how they set it up: carpet, lights, tables, chairs, flags (All possible finds at the RV Show). I found this article that gives some inspiration, The Ultimate RV Patio.  I think the picture with the article is a little goofy — where is this RV parked? And who carries a wicker furniture set in their Motorhome? So, I found some additional inspiration online…

We love walking around and checking out people’s campsites when we travel.  And we love to deck out ours.  The RV Show is a great place for those unique, handmade accessories that will spark a conversation at the campground. We hope to find some new treasures at this year’s show.  If you are there condiment holder, I will find you.

Since I have updated this from last year. You know I still haven’t found my condiment holder.  But, I will share some of my treasures from last year: Ice Wine from the Cardinal Hollow Winery and awesomely BEAUTIFUL handmade chocolates from Chocolate Moonshine. Just called they will be back!!!

For those that still have their Pirate Hat on in search of treasure, I’ll leave you with a few of these gems, Me Hearty:

What does a Pirate Santa say…? “Row row row..”

Why does it take pirates so long to learn the alphabet? Because they spend years at C.

Have you heard any good pirate jokes? Well, neither have ayyye.

By the time you stop laughing, it will be time for #4 — stay tuned.

#2 As We Countdown to the Philly RV Show

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We continue our countdown to the  Greater Philadelphia RV Show and the excitement is building for the HD Indoor Storage Team.  We love RVs a and we love going places in our RVs. That’s why we built HD Indoor off Exit 31 of the PA Turnpike because it’s easy to get to the Mountains, Shore, and More.  But, that is for www.hdindoorstorage.com. This is about the RV Show coming to our neck of the woods in Oaks, Pa. And if you haven’t been to the Philly RV Show before, you will be happy to know what else there is to discover.

RV Show Excitement: #2 Campgrounds

Have an RV — will travel.  And one of the many perks of our area is great campgrounds.  There is great destination inspiration at the RV Show.  We were very RV focused when we went last year and were pleasantly surprised to see some of our favorite Camping Spots at the show. And this year we look forward to check-in with our Old Friends and find some new getaways.

Old Friends

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Enjoying the Brandywine River at Philadelphia/West Chester KOA

Philadelphia/West Chester KOA is a favorite for us. It is close which means that enjoying our RV and outdoors can be a reality on a weekend that may be packed with other obligations.  Some come far and wide because of its close proximity to Philadelphia and ability to accommodate day tours to the City of Brotherly Love.  We love the location on Brandywine Creek where you can canoe and fish.  The owners are always updating to keep the facilities top-notch.  We hope to check in with them at the show to hear the latest. Last year, we got the early news of a stunning store remodels. Hey Gary, what’s new?

Blue Rock’s Family Campground is so unique. It’s located near Hamburg, PA (that’s right, near Cabela’s — make time for a visit). It has an amazing Boulder Field left behind by a receding glacier from the last Ice Age. We were able to camp right up against it — it is unreal scenery.  There are great hiking trails from within the campground that let you hook-up to the Appalachian Trail. If you really enjoy Hiking, it’s worth taking a drive to nearby Hawk Mountain as well.  But, it is really worth looking for them at the Philly RV Show because last year they brought a classic car and vintage trailer — a must see!

New Friends

So much left to discover! We are always looking for new finds in the Poconos.  We have not really explored Western Pennsylvania.  And while we are no stranger to the Jersey Shore, we haven’t camped there yet. So, we are on the hunt for some new Campgrounds this season and now is the time to plan.  Hey Campgrounds — if you are going to be at the Philly RV Show, let’s hear about it. And if you know of any great destinations, give us your favs!

Could there be a #3 item of RV Excitement? Stay tuned to find out.

HD Indoor Storage: Location! Location! Location!

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Took a field trip on Friday to HD Indoor Storage to get an update on the ongoing construction of our Best-in-Class Facility. And what a ride! The HD Indoor family is spread out a bit in our neck of the woods of Pennsylvania. While some live nearby in Montgomery County, I live near West Chester about 10 minutes from the PA Turnpike.  It took me about 40 blissful minutes to get to the site and here are my thoughts from the road…

Location #1: Turnpike Easy Breezy

I talked about upgrading over the summer from a trailer to a motorhome — and we did it! We took an Epic Road trip this summer. And yes, I stood at the foot of Pablo at South of the Border.  While I adore the new Motorhome, it has its challenges: It is bigger, taller, wider than our old set-up.  And on the open road, it’s a dream.  But, navigating some backroads to a campground get-away can be a little stressful.

But, as I jumped on the Turnpike and headed up the Northeast Extension. I thought “This is a breeze!” Three lane highway –I’m in heaven. And off the Lansdale Exit 31, is populated with Industrial Parks. Industrial Parks = Trucks = Big Rig Friendly Roads. Every second is an eternity on a narrow, winding road in the motorhome. So, getting to HD Indoor is a quick and EASY ride.

Location #2: Good Neighbors!

Another advantage of HD Indoor Storage is the neighborhood. And I don’t just mean the neat and clean Industrial Park it is located in.  Within minutes of 630 Hagey Road, Souderton you can find the following help for your RV, Boat or Classic Car…

I wish I could say we didn’t come back from a trip with a problem from time to time. It is nice to have someone nearby to help. There was a tire pressure issue in South Carolina that I wish I had 3 RV providers nearby, but that is a story for another day. (Makes me “tired” just thinking of it — Ok, moving on….)

Location #3: On the way to the Mountains, Shore and Bay…

HD Indoor Storage is on the way to many great destinations.  I made these nifty graphics to show how central we are to fun!

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Being on the way to so many great places, changes how you think about storage.  Instead of packing your RV away and saying “Good-bye for the winter.” You are saying, “See ya soon!” Because when ideal conditions hit with indoor storage — you are on the road, on your way to fun. Remember Christmas 2015? I do — I have the pictures of the kids in shorts in the backyard. This year chestnuts roasting by the campfire can happen.

Those are my thoughts from my ride to HD!
Look for my construction update — you can be taking that easy ride to our great location soon!

 

RV Trips to Satisfy Your Wanderlust….

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I’ve got a case of wanderlust, which simply means “a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about”. The term comes from mid-1800s German. I may have a particularly bad case because I really want to hit the road in a RV with a pantry full of pretzels and a fridge full of bratwurst and beer. Hey, let’s go everywhere…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kGHmIZ4IUY

Camping Trip Vs. Road Trip

I look at our trips in two categories: Road Trip and Camping Trips.  In my mind, it is about the journey vs. the destination.  We have had some great RV trips this season, but they would fall in the “Camping” category. We traveled less than 2 hours. We hunkered down in the campground till we left a couple days later. Great time, fits well in a weekend.

RV Camp with Friends

Road trips take more time –at least they do for us and our 4 kids.  These are farther and when you “stop and smell the roses” – you take in the sights along the way.  And if you have a lot of time, you can recreate the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup of trips both Road and Camping – two great trips that go great together. (PS. Camping at Hershey next – can you tell I’m ready?)

Road Trip Inspiration

So, if you are ready to hit the road.  I found this fun link with lots of inspiration: 75 Road Trip Attractions. There are some great picks from our neck of the woods in Pennsylvania, like Frank Lloyd Wright’s House on Kentucky Knob to where Route 66 ends at the Santa Monica Pier in California. And in between, some fun stops I will add to my route like the Fast Fiberglass Mold Graveyard in Sparta, Wisconsin and the Route 66 Arcade Museum in Atlanta, Illinois.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S HOUSE ON KENTUCKY KNOB
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S HOUSE ON KENTUCKY KNOB Photo credit: Martina C./yelp.com

Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

Photo credit: Courtesy of wikimedia.org

So, I also can across this link: The Worst Tourist Traps In Every State. And to some, this may read as “Stay Away!” I can’t resist. Others must feel the same way because South of the Border in Hamer, South Carolina makes both lists. And while it may not be a destination, the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas is definitely worth a stop.

KANSAS: THE WORLD’S LARGEST BALL OF TWINE © Flickr/Ethan Prater

Until the Rubber Meets The Road…

As always, I leave you with some distractions until your heart can wander. If you cannot quell your wanderlust right away, a good Road Trip Flick may do the trick. My “go-to” is National Lampoon’s Vacation. I really don’t think we need much explanation here — a definite Road Trip Classic.

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) IMDb

But, another Flick worth the Road Trip is Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. This ride will get you a glimpse of the Cabazon Dinosuars in Palm Springs, California and the Alamo — deep in the heart of Texas!

CABAZON DINOSAURS © Atomazul/shutterstock

Until then, Happy Trails. If you have any Flicks, Trips or Tips to share park them below…

Now We’re Camping! Keeping RV Trips Running Smooth

Keep Rv Trips Running Smoothly
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Hello Camping Season! The RV is out of storage and we just returned from our first trip. Unfortunately, the weather was not ideal. It rained a lot.  And the pristine condition that we left the RV in when it went into it’s winter slumber is now covered in mud.  We are still trying to get the tent ends to dry out, but the sun has been very shy this May. Once again, the opening on HD Indoor Storage cannot come soon enough — I wouldn’t be waiting for third day to dry outside.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sour on our RV camping.  The right attitude and packing can make the difference.

Camping Requires Letting Go of Perfection

I think the greatest lesson from camping is that it will not be perfect. It may not be what you expect. But, if you can let go and roll with it – great things can happen. Despite the weather it was a good trip.  A little rain can slow things down. But, a good conversation can take off, an old board game has a new life and you remember how satisfying a puzzle can be.

As I have said before, Is there such a thing as a bad camping trip? I was just reading “Go Forth and Camp: Tips for making camping easy” and the author also recalled her history of camping with her family.

And while that week was never without incident — on one trip we lost a tent into the lake and my dad sunburned the bottom of his feet — it was always worth it in the end.

But, Don’t Leave Everything Up To Chance

“Letting go” is easier when you have some options, like a few board games or puzzles. Remember the Scout Motto of “Be Prepared” — think through some situations that might occur, so that if they come up, you’re covered.  I enjoy our RV because I have the room to tuck away those necessities that smooth the bumps in a trip.  My tweezers came in handy this last trip when a nasty splinter appeared. Poison Ivy Wash was a lifesaver last summer.  And there is a basket of sunscreen, bug spray and itch cream that are along for the ride for the season.

What Is Your Camping “Necessity”?

I can do without a lot of things.  And I have weathered, quite a few unpleasant scenarios (i.e., nursing a little camper’s late night stomach bug while dry camping). But, I have found one thing that can make or break me is Coffee.  To be a little quirkier, iced coffee.  I find I can weather almost every storm if I have my iced coffee. So, after our first season of camping, I made sure I had a coffee maker and I pack ice or ice trays for the freezer. My fellow campers appreciate this commitment.

Think about one or two things that might make you a bit more comfortable? Your pillow, a camping chair with a footrest, chocolate.  I found this link with new camping gear suggestions.  I think the canned wine may be a new camping necessity.

I’m looking forward to a Camping Season full of adventure and challenges. As always tips are much appreciated!