Jacqui Leclerc

Back in Fiji, after taking a holiday from our holiday, to New Zealand.  Sitting in a hotel bar, where the wifi is the best, the keys on my laptop melding together from the heat.

Writing after nearly a year of silence. Do I have any fans yet, or just spammers who seem to like flooding my webpage with hundreds of posts each day.

Fiji is good: i just wish the dude who’s serenading the dinner guests would stop trying to sing hits from the 70’s.

** ‘Fiji Bitter’ being a term coined by my friend Julia W., who may or may not read this, but i need to give her the credit for such a brilliant description of feelings, that one may have after a) drinking Fiji Bitter, or b) being in Savusavu too long. The term ‘Fiji Bitter’ was not used with permission, from either Julia or the South Pacific brewing company, but i used it anyway b/c said brewing co. will not read this, and Julia isn’t here to hit me.

Well, we have been on our way home now for at least a month. We made the mistake of stopping by Phoenix, AZ, for “a few days” to visit some relatives.  The weather was so lovely there and it was such a gorgeous city (we were actually in a subburb, called Apache Junction), that we just had to stay. Esspecially after we kept checking the weather channel, and it very clearly told us that we couldn’t go home!

We somehow managed to dock ourselves in a 55+ RV resort. The rules of said park declare that in order for it to maintain it’s 55+ status, 80% of the inhabitants must be over 55, and the remaining 20% must be no younger than 45. Hmmm. We did tell the resort owners to please take into consideration our combined ages, and either that did the trick, or the fact that we knew people in the park. (One of the other parks that we tried to get into flat out told us that there was no way we could rent a spot there, b/c of our age). Ach, the discrimination we must face!

We ended up having to leave the resort last week due to management getting their ginch all knotted up over something. See, the lot that we were in had been paid up in full until the beginning of April. The previous renters left, without a refund. We came in the same day they left, and management was more than willing to take our $200USD for a week of parking there.  We stayed on three days past our scheduled departure date, b/c we couldn’t decide for sure if we wanted to continue staying there.  They forgot that we were still parked there I think, and then booked our site to someone else.  We were told we could move a few meters away and park in the stall over one. (Don’t ask my why the people coming in couldn’t just park in a different place). It would have been a lot of effort for us to undock, just to move over a bit, so we just decided to leave. The park owners were pretty upset with us for not re-booking on time, and really chewed a strip offa us. I was so tempted to bring up the fact that they were double charging/gouging on our lot rental, but thot better of it.  They probably woulda chased us off the premises with their electric golf carts.

We have met some really fantastic people on this trip. Made some good friends.  And the highlight of course for the last month, has been the super duper HOT weather! We are so brown (but I am sure that color will freeze off once we get near the border).

We are now in a ‘resort’ that is about an hour or two south of Vegas. Feels kinda wierd to not be in a 55+ campground.  It’s spring break right now, and we’re in a very touristy town, so there’s lotsa riffraff.

No funny RV mishaps to report this post, thank goodness.

Just found out that we have been victims of some unauthorized activity on our credit cards, and want to get the word out about this company. It’s called “Easysaver”. Not sure yet how they managed to get our information, but we are working to resolve it. I just noticed today, while going through our online credit card statement that there was a charge in US funds each month under the description “Easysaver”.  We called the # on the statement and even managed to get someone on the phone. Darryn spent 20 minutes on the phone, trying to find out what kind of company this was and what they were selling. Very elusive–couldn’t say anything,  other than that we had authorized this payment. They asked for personal information, to “see if we have it in our system”  which they did not, and once they had our address, they hung up the bloody phone! Meanwhile, i decided to google the company, and discovered that there are hundreds of people who have been nailed by this ‘business’. Anyway, so we called our credit card company, and the first moron we talked to couldn’t speak english of course, but from what we could understand, there was no way that they could reverse the charges. And she also said that they couldn’t unauthorize this monthly payment, b/c we had obviously authorized it in the first place. She told us in no uncertain terms that they couldn’t do anything and to basically suck it up, buttercup. Darryn told her that was ridiculous–I mean, what kind of credit card company can’t cover against possible fraud?! Isn’t that what we pay monthly fees for on our cards to keep our butts covered?!!! So he hung up and called again, and got someone who wasn’t an import from Uzbekistan and could amazingly enuf, not only speak english, but he promptly cancelled our credit card and said they would see about being able to reverse some of the charges.

Not sure how Easysaver is getting people’s credit/debit card information, but I sure hope to find out!

*sigh*

Note to self (and others who may try the RV lifestyle): Carefully and slowly open each cupboard, drawer and cabinet after a strenuous day of bouncing down the road. (Freezer included–being crowed with ice cubes sounds more fun than it actually is).

Watch out for attacking mops as they leap out of pantries.

Stand back when turning off your burners. You never know when your propane stove is going to bark at you.

Make sure you have a final, daily destination in mind when embarking on a road trip.  Otherwise you will spend countless hours getting lost, and turning around, and missing exits and turning around, and hitting curbs and bottoming out on turning around ramp thingys, and buggering up your retractable step so that it doesn’t retract anymore, nor will it hold your weight, and have leaky substances oozing from the frontal area of your vehicle…all in a days work, i’d say.

A note to men–make sure your navigator isn’t a woman who seems to have a magnet in her brain.  I know the sun sets in the West (right?). And as it is setting, its rays burning a hole in my retina, I am fully convinced that we are going East (or North, or South, depending on the day).  We are learning now that our problems with navigation aren’t so much the GPS’s fault, but my own. It works fine when I am no where near it. But I usually end up holding it, b/c we decide to change destinations with stunning regularity.  And when i am holding it, we get lost. And as my dear husband is urging me to find a way out of our new mess, I just stare at the little map on the device, as it spins wildly, changing maps quicker than the little thingys on a slot machine spin.  The giant compass on our dash seems to be faulty as well.  The words that came to mind today were straight from the devil! (as my mother in law would have said). In case you were interested, I can’t wear a watch anymore either.  This magnetic personality thing sucks.

http://www.themagicjack.ca/idevaffiliate/a/612.php

Hi all. This is a link to MagicJack.ca. It’s a new internet phone that we are trying out. It works amazing, and you can save sooo much money! It’s a mere $20/YEAR! Unlimited calling to the US and Canada! You will need to have some kind of high speed internet service in order for it to work(wifi, DSL, cable, etc). It basically works like this: You buy the device at BestBuy (or online) for $40.00. It comes with the first year subscription (which is, I say again,  $20.00).  You then plug it into a USB port on your computer. (It’s very easy to set up). Then, you plug an ordinary land line phone into the device, and whoo-hooo! It’s free calling anytime, unlimited, to the US and Canada!!!!!! We have been using it for about 2 weeks now. It’s super portable (very tiny), and we have been using it all over the US, making phone calls to Canada, whenever we find some wifi. Just thot i would share the good news, cuz we all like to save money here and there. Even if you get it as a secondary land line to make long distance calls…seriously! $20 bucks! Totally cool! Check it out!

Our never ending quest to find warmer weather continues, and has brought us to Louisianna, where so far it has been sunny, warm(ish) and green leaves on the trees.

Yesterday we got the privilage to drive through Houston, TX.  At rush hour. In a 38 foot motor home. With a defective GPS unit that has been directing us onto roads that even a pickup truck wouldn’t venture on. Our main goal this trip has been to avoid low overpasses because we very nearly lost our airconditioners to one in San Antonio. (We had about 2 inches to spare i think).  Another goal is to just read the friggin’ map and throw the GPS outside and crush it with our dual rear tires.  It has directed us to Walmarts that don’t exist, and tells us to take off ramps at the last minute while doing 70mph, but then suddenly recalibrates and decides that no, don’t take the off ramp after all…*&$%@$#!! Who needs technology. I am going to get more familiar with Rand McNally.

Logging in from an RV park in Texas, where we are jammed into a stall next to a fleet of other RV’s.  The seniors were really getting out of hand last night, rockin’ it out to some hard core yodeling music.  It was a little scary.

We are laying pretty low here, but have gotten to know some of the folks in the park. They are telling us that the environment will start taking its toll on our RV in about 5 months. The intense sun/heat will dry rot the tires, mess up the roof and melt our window frames. Everything that is white will eventually turn yellow.  The salty air will start to rust the metal on any vehicle. Oh, the price we must pay to get out of winter!

I thought I might have more to say, but apparently not.

Things we have learned we shouldn’t do when driving at 38 foot long, 12 foot high motor home…

Listening to our GPS unit when trying to shave off a few miles–just stick to the Interstates and it’ll all be good. Do not, for any reason, attempt to take a path that was designed for goats and nothing bigger. (slight exageration, but you get the point). We experienced this in Utah, thinking we could take a jog from one Interstate to another. The map said it was a secondary highway. The GPS said we were good to go. We knew it was bad news from the get go, for as soon as we merged onto this ‘highway’ (and I’m being generous here), it began to climb. Soon we saw a sign posted saying that semi’s were strongly recommended to turn around (and turn about lots were even provided). But we, thinking that this recommendation couldn’t possibly be for us as well, sailed on past the turn out.  Once we got past there, we had some second thots. Signs were now posted saying there were 8% grades. And switchbacks…but it was too late now, there wasn’t anywhere we could turn around. So Darryn bravely carried on, the Cummins motor puffing as it pushed us up the hills, Allison transmission lurching as it struggled to gear down, jake brake growling to slow us down as we careened down the mountain. (Well, the careening started once we reached the summit of 9900 feet. Up until then, it was just the motor puffing). Some of those corners I was sure that the hind end of the bus wasn’t coming along with us thinking it might get hung up on a curve… You gotta love the signs saying to watch for falling rocks. When is a good time to watch for them? As they are falling off the side of the cliff, or when they are blocking your path and you have no choice but to ride over them? Really now, be more specific! All in all, it was an eventful 38 miles and I talked a lot to Jesus.

Another thing to watch out for when driving a motor home is parking lots, esspecially the entances (Lowes seems to be the most threatening thus far). Just because you have zipped about in parking lots with your Volkswagen, you should never believe that your Gulf Stream is as nimble as your Golf. There are special entrances/exits for tractor/trailer units, and you should use them too, instead of thinking you can peel off of the highway and zip into the car entrance. Absolutely NO zipping!

And here is a special note to drivers who have never driven/ridden in a vehicle that is larger than a compact car. We don’t stop quickly. This incident happened in the Grand Canyon (well, it didn’t go so far that we actually went INTO the canyon, but it was a learning curve, nonetheless).  Cruisin’ along nicely at about 40mph, along the road winding thru the Grand Canyon National Park. Ahead of us was a Cavalier and another car of similar proportions. Ok, so we’re doing 40 ok? So this means, when you espie a scenic pullout, you should signal your intentions (the little orange lights that blink). Not just hit the brakes at the last minute and then slowly ease into the parking area. I don’t think the two cars ahead of us even saw us bearing down upon them, but they quite possibly had heart attacks when at the last minute, (as we were literally 2 inches away from having them encased in our front end), Darryn laid on the air horn and blasted them good. It was amazing that we were able to almost stop from 40mph. Man, that was a rush, for everyone involved I am sure.  I will always remember to respect big rigs from now on!!!

I have learned other things as well, but I think I will save them for another day. I wouldn’t want to overwhelm anyone who is reading this, nor do I wish to over tax my brain writing this.

And so begins our journey, deep into the United States. We left Alberta behind two days ago, loaded up the old diesel pusher and fought our way through scattered snow storms, ferocious head winds and mini-vans.

We got on the tail end of the old-timers brigade, frantically driving south. Every motor home we see is from Alberta, the average age of the drivers being at leat 73. Imagine their surprise when we roll on by them, as they peer out their windows at us, hunched over the steering wheel, and see us young punks waving like morons at them.

We have discovered that there are oldtimers (who have always wanted a motor home, but don’t because they have not retired yet), who seem to stalk us. Darryn got attacked by a 70 (at least) year old the other day, who would, been given the chance, cheerfully left his job at the Flying J, and come along with us. I had to peel this old guy off of D, cuz else we woulda never gotten back on the road, he was so full of questions. Good times.

We are the only ones so far who aren’t towing a vehicle. Maybe note to self…don’t RV w/o secondary set of wheels…so far it’s been fine b/c D has a knack for pulling into small parking lots, and for the most part, when we are stopping, it’s for fuel or Walmart.  I don’t think it will be too much fun if we have to go off the beaten path. So hence, we are planning this trip around truck stops and Walmarts.

Yesterday we experienced the RV life at its best–filling up with diesel, propane, and water, and dumping our tanks. So imagine this–72 Gallons diesel-Check (don’t forget the Auxillary. tank), 100 Gallons of water-Check, 24 Gallons of propane- Check, Empty the sewage tanks-Eww! 

We figured out our mileage; the harsh conditions played a huge part, I’m sure (extreme wind and mountainous terrain).  We got 6.8mpg (I was a little sad about that, so I figured it out in Canadian mpg, but when you’re dealing with #’s that low, it only gave us another mpg) *sigh* So we are hoping for some better mileage, once we get to some flat roads, and perhaps no wind. At least 10mpg…

Ahh, the snow is gently falling. Big fluffy flakes. The temperature is in the minus regions.  The roads are promising to be interesting, come morning. Oh, the joys of living in Alberta. I have lived here my whole life, and yet, I still can’t seem to drum up any enthusiasm for snow, cold, ice, horrendous roads and people who drive like wing nuts.  A lot of people here actually look forward to winter. Think of all the fun you can have, doing winter sports, like sledding, and skidooing, and hockey. Snowmen, snow angels and snowballs. What people who don’t live here never hear about is this: Imagine gearing up, just to step outside. I actually have a winter coat that is rated to keep me warm when it’s 40 degrees below zero, doing 60mph on a snowmobile. My boots come near my knees, and are rated for -40degrees. Being that I am cold all the time, I wear the coat as soon as it hits freezing, the boots come out at around -5 degrees C.

There are days when it’s so cold that the battery freezes in the car. (Being smart Albertans that we are, we take a hair dryer, plug it in and stick it under the hood on full blast for a few hours to thaw things out). Hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. We also have to plug in our cars when the temps start to plummet, just so’s they’ll start.  And then there’s the days when there is so much snow, that either you stay home, or start to shovel. (We have a snow blower which is a nice alternative to shoveling, although if the wind is blowing, you usually get a nice face full of snow). Blech.

So all I’m sayin’ is this; winter seems to have hit here, and global warming hasn’t made its way to this area of the globe yet.