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Almost ready to go

Yahoo Message Number: 6709
Our "Grand Event of 2011" will begin in about ten days and we're
gradually making progress at getting everything ready. We'll be gone
about 9 weeks or so, maybe 10.

One of the problems we're working on is the mail. The Post Office will
hold mail for 30 days and that's it. They do have a forwarding service,
but it isn't cheap and they want to forward it once a week. That won't
work for us. I'm going to meet with out post master in a few days and
see what we can work out, but right now it looks like I'll hold for 30
days and then let them deliver it for a couple of days and then begin
another 30 day hold. Hopefully my mother-in-law can pick the load up and
stick it in the house when they deliver. I'll probably set up a couple
of prepaid boxes for her to dump it in and send it to my son's house in
Denver.

I had the motorhome detailed yesterday by a young guy who goes to the
storage place with a trailer and does it on site. He did a good job and
it's never been hand waxed before so I felt good about getting it done.
I've used wash/wax combos in the past and had it done by an RV guy who
used a similar product, but this hand wax job really made a difference.
then again he removed $400 from my wallet to do it. The Camping World
"Spa" was going to be $306 and that wasn't hand wax so I won't complain
too much.

Still have an appointment to have the generator serviced and then the
systems all checked (water, gas, electrical, a/c, etc)

I did the roof the other day myself since nobody wanted to do that for
some reason. I don't mind doing the TPO rather than have someone use the
wrong stuff. I used Murphy's Oil soap and then 303 on it.

Not sure the rear end or wheel bearings will get done before we leave. I
did the oil and lube job myself. Finding someone to do the other is a
problem.

Our itinerary looks like this:
Raleigh to Ft Rucker, AL
New Orleans
San Antonio
TX Hill Country
Silver City, NM
Grand Canyon
Lake Powell
Bryce Canyon
Moab
Arches
Denver
then I-70 east to home in NC with stops in Topeka, St Louis, Franfort, home.

Projections with $4/gal and park fees looks to be right at $5000

Take care,
Greg

Re: Almost ready to go

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6710
Greg, I'm puzzled by your comment on the cost of forwarding.

We've had ours forwarded from Florida to Canada every year for six (6) months at NO CHARGE.

Is the charge something new? I have to file the forwarding request this week.

I like the itinerary - one thing missing but maybe you've been there before or just left it out - Monument Valley.

Do have a good trip.

Don

Re: Almost ready to go

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6712
Don wrote:

Quote
Greg, I'm puzzled by your comment on the cost of forwarding.

We've had ours forwarded from Florida to Canada every year for six (6)
months at NO CHARGE.

I was looking at this where they forward it once a week:

http://www.usps.com/receive/premiumforwarding/welcome.htm?from=receiveyourmail&page=premiumforwarding

Quote
Is the charge something new? I have to file the forwarding request this
week.

I need to do some more checking I guess in the next week. I'm meeting
with the post master and he might shed some light on some options for
me. We have terrible service here and that's one of my concerns. They
were supposed to be holding it while we were gone last month and they
suddenly started delivering it half way thru the month so I had tons of
mail stuffed in the box the street. Unfortunately that means magazine
checks for articles sat out there waiting to be stolen :-\

Quote
I like the itinerary - one thing missing but maybe you've been there
before or just left it out - Monument Valley.

Been there and will be there again this trip. It's a spectacular drive.

Take care,
Greg

Re: Almost ready to go

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6713
I decided I'd better complete the form and see if there is a charge this week. I did go on the web site and you can do it there - BUT the form can't be completed if the destination of the forward is Canada.

Go to this site: https://moversguide.usps.com/icoa/icoa-main-flow.do?execution=e2s1

https://moversguide.usps.com/icoa/icoa-main-flow.do?execution=e2s1After reading click the arrow. Select temporary and follow the instructions.

I assume you want to have it forwarded to your M-I-L.

Last year we had a problem restarting after 6.5 months. Turns out you have to notify them that you want it delivered again after the forwarding period ends.

We have found the USPS to be very good. They do not charge for this forwarding.

During the period we are not in Canada we have our mail forwarded to our son's home. Cost is $13 a month and a 3 month minimum. To send out of country it is $25 per month and also a 3 month minimum. So, no charge is a great deal.

Best

Don

Re: Almost ready to go

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6714
Well,

Being gone as much as we are we try and get everything electronic. There are a few organizations (mostly government) that just do not get it. However most folks are now pretty flexible on delivery of information across email. Bills, auto deposit, etc.

As much as you plan for this there will always be the unexpected. We have had important documents shipped by Fed Ex that age gracefully in the sun. They turn that nice yellow color. ;-)

So we are pretty much on the hold strategy.

https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/landingView.do and just put in our calendar a reminder to extend it. We have given up on the little yellow forms. And Yes, we have had carriers change, spontaneous delivery of junk mail, one day lapses etc. But we have been training our neighbors to call our daughter, and sometimes that works. We also do the stop and start process you describe.

We have not used any of the formal forwarding services.

Kevin

Re: Almost ready to go

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6715
Sound like a great trip.
I see a few gaps in your visits. But you can only do so much in the time you have.
To save money we use Passport America.
http://www.passport-america.com/ 1/2 price camping. Russ Hill bought it this year. Save him some good money.

We also have used free places like Walmart and rest areas. Finding cheaper RV parks also helps.

We also use http://rvparkreviews.com/ in helping to select rv parks.

For mail we use Temporary Address Change. You can do it online. http://www.usps.com/

Not sure of your age. But if you are over 62. Get a America the Beautiful Senior pass. It will save a lot and is good at NP's, BLM, Monuments, and COE parks. If you are under 62 get the America the Beautiful Annual pass. $80 and lets you in all parks for that price.
http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

Just check the oil level in you rear end. It should be OK until you get home. A good place to get that kind of service on the road is Speedco. Reasonable prices and good service.
http://www.speedcousa.com/index.php

Other way to save money are not eating out.

Biggest way to save money on these trip is slow down. Stay under 60 mph. It,s good for at least 1 MPG.

Enjoy the trip.

Best
Ron Hall

Re: Almost ready to go

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6716
Ron wrote:

Quote
Sound like a great trip.

We hope so, in the past we've gone to Denver and someplace else on the
way out or back, but have always had to do it in three weeks. Too
rushed. Kathy retired last month so this year the plan is to take about
8 - 10 weeks.

Quote
I see a few gaps in your visits. But you can only do so much in the time
you have.

Gotta leave some for the next one :-)

Quote
To save money we use Passport America.

Thanks, will check into it.

Quote
We also use http://rvparkreviews.com/ in helping to select rv parks.

Yup, I know that site.

Quote
For mail we use Temporary Address Change. You can do it online.

I think we'll use the 30 day hold and then renew it. I don't want it all
forwarded on a daily basis to my son's house....not all that organized
there :-) I can get my brother-in-law to come by when they drop the
months mail off and he'll priority mail the bundle to me there.

Bills and such aren't an issue since I can do it all online and most are
debited anyway.

Quote
Not sure of your age. But if you are over 62. Get a America the
Beautiful Senior pass.

I got one as a 100% disabled vet and it's worth its weight in gold! Even
if I had to buy the pass I'd do it.

Quote
Just check the oil level in you rear end. It should be OK until you get
home. A good place to get that kind of service on the road is Speedco.

Thanks, I'll make a note of that. I've got a place I just found out
about down the road a few miles who supposedly is very good at
truck/motorhome work so will check with them before we leave. I
shouldn't worry, but did have a rear end go to pieces years ago in a one
ton van so I became gun-shy. They're not cheap to replace :-\

Quote
Other way to save money are not eating out.

We seldom eat out so that's not a huge expense. While in New Orleans I
do intend to bend that rule though :-)

Quote
Biggest way to save money on these trip is slow down. Stay under 60 mph.
It,s good for at least 1 MPG.

My cruise is usually set at 60 so that's easy to do. The Saturn Vue
isn't supposed to be dragged above 65 anyway so it's self-limiting. I
remember reading some charts on mileage though and it was a significant
change above 60.

Take care,
Greg

Re: Almost ready to go

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6717
Kevin (Real) McCoy wrote:

Quote
Being gone as much as we are we try and get everything electronic.

All of the bills are done electronically so that's easy. I mostly worry
about some checks for articles that I don't want sitting in mailboxes. I
wish they'd direct deposit, but as a "subcontractor" they don't offer that.

I'm setting two priority fixed rate boxes out pre-addressed for my son's
house in Denver so when my bro-in-law comes by to pick up the months
delivery he can drop it in a box and ship it.

Quote
have had important documents shipped by Fed Ex that age gracefully in
the sun. They turn that nice yellow color. ;-)

Yup, I came home to find several hundred dollars in checks sitting in my
mailbox that anyone could have grabbed. I think the post master
understood I wasn't happy by the time I left his office.

Quote
And Yes, we have had carriers change, spontaneous delivery of
junk mail, one day lapses etc.

I'm training my mother-in-law to check. She lives a couple doors down,
but is somewhat feeble and I hate to ask her to check everyday, although
the exercise would be good for her :-)

Quote
We have not used any of the formal forwarding services.

The problem with them is it's a permanent change of address. I'll do the
hold again and hope for the best.

Take care,
Greg

Re: Almost ready to go

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6732
Who are you seeing in topeka ?? Our old stomping grounds for 20 years

Re: Almost ready to go

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 6733


Quote
Who are you seeing in topeka ?? Our old stomping grounds for 20 years

John and Nancy Kauk. Nancy has lived there for years and John moved
there about 10 years or so ago and met her then got married. He worked
for Cargill and she was the editor in chief of Topeka Magazine. They
both lost their jobs while recovering from being run over by a truck
while they covered a charity bike ride. A very bad situation five years
ago, but both are doing pretty well. She got the worst of it with TBI
and neither will work again.

I've known John for about 20 years as he used to be here in NC. Both
very wonderful people who suffered tragic circumstances.

Take care,
Greg