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Bedbugs! Why We Bought an RV

On By rvsite2sightIn Decisions, RV Life, RV Lifestyle, RVingLeave a comment

We were not going to sell everything we owned and go full-time RVing. We really did not plan to even go every weekend. Our real reason (initially) was to avoid bedbugs.

From time to time, we have to take business trips. That meant we had to stay in hotels… they are not cheap these days, and just because it’s a luxury hotel, does not mean it doesn’t have bedbugs!

Two years ago, we had to take a business trip to Melbourne, Florida. Our daughter and our granddaughter had taken a trip to St Augustine a few months before. They found that bedbugs are plentiful in florida hotels. At least they were at that time.

So, for our trip, we took my son-in-law’s advice and checked hotel rooms before we brought any luggage in. We used one of these high-powered flashlights. Sure enough, several hotels had them. Even when they offered to switch rooms for us, the other rooms had bedbugs. We finally found a Hilton at 2 o’clock in the morning that was bedbug-free.

Fast forward to last September. I wanted to go to my old home place in West Virginia to take some photos and videos of the farm where I grew up.

My dad and mom are in their 90’s and can no longer travel. Although our family moved to North Carolina in 1966, my dad still loved the farm that we sold in West Virginia. My dad, my grandfather and I built a ranch-style home there in one corner of a four-acre field… but, I digress… anyway, I thought it would be nice to show my dad some videos and photos of the area.

That would take several days, which meant staying in motels… which i was not going to do because of what we had experienced on the Florida trip. Rennie told me that she was not going to take the trip, unless we bought an RV.

She meant a small RV. We started looking at RV YouTube videos. We watched couples in small RVs. We looked at people in motor homes. We knew that a motorhome was not in the picture for us at the present time. And, we looked at everything in between.

Rennie found this cute Palomino Real Lite in Iowa on rvt.com. It was priced right, so we decided to have it delivered to a campground near my old farm-place in West Virginia. At the time, all we had to pull it was a Ford Explorer. So, it was just the right size for that vehicle.

It was really nice. It was lightweight, so that meant the Explorer had no problem towing it. The inside décor was really nice and bright.  It actually had quite a bit of storage. But… it was cute – in case you don’t know, that’s a code word for small! I’m a big guy. After our second camping trip, I knew that it was too small for me!

That’s when we decided on a Grand Design Reflection 297 rsts and a used Ford F-250 diesel to pull it. My company, Bestwaterfront.com, Inc., had a building lot that I sold to make the purchase. We were using the RV for business purposes anyway, so that made sense. We sold the Palomino to a young lady and her little boy. It was the perfect size for them.

Rennie and I have been in business for ourselves all our adult lives. Traveling in an RV and reviewing campgrounds and sights around the campgrounds sounded like a good business opportunity to us!

Back to the bedbugs… I am so happy that now when we travel, we can sleep in our own bed, with our own sheets, and our own pillows… and no worry about bedbugs!

Well, first, let me explain what you should do if you have to travel, and you don’t have an RV. Smartertraveler.com gives some suggestions…

  • The first thing you should do when you arrive in a hotel room is thoroughly inspect it for signs of bedbugs.
  • Leave your luggage in your car until you inspect your room. If you are not traveling in your own vehicle, put your luggage in the bathroom to start, as this non-carpeted room is the most unlikely place for bedbugs to linger.
  • Inspect your bed by pulling the comforter and sheets back and checking for any signs of bedbugs. Lift and check underneath the mattress and box spring and at the top and bottom of the bed. These critters are small but visible to the naked eye, so a careful examination will reveal adult and nymph bedbugs, along with their eggs. You may also see dark or red fecal spots and leftover molted skins.
  • Carefully check all other furniture in the room. Bedbugs can crawl behind hanging picture frames, hide in corners of the nightstand and disappear inside drapes.
  • Once your room has been checked, store your luggage on a hard surface or luggage rack rather than a bed, couch or fabric chair for the smallest chance of contamination.

If you find bedbugs, here’s what you should do…

  • “If you see signs of bedbugs in your hotel room, contact the front desk immediately so they can call a qualified pest management professional to resolve the problem. Leave the area and properly examine all of your clothing and belongings, and request a new room.
  • If you do suspect you’ve encountered bedbugs, leave your suitcase and belongings in the garage or another separate area when you return home. The luggage can be vacuumed and wiped down to reduce the chances of bringing bedbug or their eggs inside. Remove and examine your shoes for bedbugs and eggs before bringing them into the house.
  • For an extra level of protection, wash travel clothes immediately when you return. Items that cannot be washed can usually be run through the dryer for 20 to 30 minutes, as the heat from the dryer alone is enough to kill all stages of bedbugs and their eggs. If you are unsure of the severity of your situation, call a pest control professional for an inspection. “

Here’s what I suggest you do if you find bedbugs!!! Head to the nearest RV dealer, and buy an RV!!! I get the creepy crawlies just thinking about those things.

Oh, and before you buy your RV, and you still have to travel, I highly suggest you check bedbugreports.com to see if there are any bedbugs where you plan to stay.

Night, night. Don’t let the bedbugs bite. Having your own RV will keep them out of sight!

BTW Please check out our latest video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKUbsLlUe_0&t=74s.

The Dreaded Drone Recurrent EXAM

On By rvsite2sightIn Aerial RV Video, Decisions, Drones, RV Life, RV Lifestyle, RVingLeave a comment

Two years had passed. I received my notice that my drone license was about to expire. I knew what was next… the dreaded drone recurrent exam, or as it is more formerly known 14(CFR) Part 107 recurrent exam for small unmanned aircraft systems (uSAS).

When I took the test two years ago, I studied for days. I passed the exam without a problem. So, now it was time to take the recurrent exam. “No problem,” I thought, “I got this.” I knew most of this, and I might miss a few answers, but all one has to do is pass. It’s amazing what one can forget in two years! I failed! I have never failed… well, not recently… maybe a couple of exams in college.

I decided it was time to order a course. I watched a video by Next Exit, and he mentioned about a course offered by Remote Pilot 101. It is a very good course. Once you pay for it ($150 at the time of this writing), it has both the courses for the initial drone license test and recurrent test. It is continuously updated, and you can take the course over and over for life.

I scheduled my exam, and started watching videos offered by Remote Pilot 101. I studied the books. I read maps. For two weeks, I studied! I headed to the testing facility at the New Bern, NC airport. I was nervous! I hate doctor’s offices, and this was just as bad.

The proctor was a nice young lady. She recognized me, and from the way she looked, she had pity on me. “Don’t worry,” she said, “you’re not the only one who has had to retake this test… it’s hard.” Somehow, knowing that I was among a group of failures didn’t make me feel any better.

The test consisted of 40 questions – all multiple choice. The proctor read some instructions; then told me I had 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the test. She gave me a book with a bunch of maps. I began. The first two questions were doosies! “Where in the world did this come from!” I thought. I almost panicked. The next two were familiar, so I felt better. One by one, I tried to answer to the best of my ability. Number 40 seemed like a “given.” It was like, “You are getting ready to take aerial photos of a home for a real estate broker. Prior to takeoff, do you: (A) Feed your dog; (B) Go through your pre-flight checklist; or (C) make an offer on the house.” Okay, the answer is obviously (C). Of course, I am a real estate broker, so that makes sense to me!

Well, I passed – and with a good grade. The course and the study paid off. My hat is off to the gentleman on “Next Exit.” I am good for two years. I’ll study again for the next time.

My first YouTube video is coming up soon, so please go there and subscribe. I need 100 subscribers before I come up on the YouTube search, so please tell some friends, too! While you are at it, please subscribe to my blog. Thanks!

Choosing a Name

On By rvsite2sightIn Decisions, RV Life, RV Lifestyle, RVingLeave a comment

We have watched dozens of videos on RVing. Some are weekenders, some are part-timers, and some have decided to go full-time. Honestly, we enjoy all of them, as long as they have interesting or informative topics.

I want to be honest with you… I am not a fan of a couple or individuals who simply stand in one spot and talk. They do not show how something is done, or show photos and video of their experience.

Rennie and I have often said, “Why didn’t they show more of the destination?” Or, “They didn’t show any of the journey.” I realize that different people like different things, but Rennie and I want to know something about the trip, and the likes and dislikes about the park facilities (or lack of them), costs, and interesting tourists sites around the area.

Because of this, Rennie and I want to do something a little different. As I mentioned in my earlier blog, we are not “spring chickens.” As for now, we do not do long hikes, nor do we want to do rock climbing.

One of my favorite couples “You, Me & the RV” recently visited hot springs, I think in Missouri. They had to strip down in front of an attendant; then, after their hot springs bath, they had a massage. Ok. Cool. But, not for us!

Another couple we love, are Marc and Trish and their family with “Keep Your Daydream.” channel. I enjoy every video that they have done, but still, I would like to see more of the journey and destinations.

I could go on and on, but it came down to this… Rennie and I could start a channel that featured more of the journey and destinations. We have a lot of preparation to do, so it may take some time. I need to learn how to edit videos. I have several cameras, but I’m not sure they are the right kind. I actually have a drone pilot’s license from the FAA. Did you know that if you are flying a drone, and you make a cent off of your website, you are required to have a license? It is a hefty fine (thousands) if you don’t. However, my drone is big and cumbersome. I will need to get something smaller.

Rennie and I have decided to name our journey, “RV Site to Sight.” Our tagline is, “RV Places to Stay, and Sights Along the Way.” I hope you will join us.

Steve