Decided to make a few modifications to the RV. Everyone knows RV stairs are just Ok at most, you pull them out and open them up. There not that wide or deep. So I decided to upgrade. They now make folding stairs which go into the door way. Plus they are like real stairs, with an actual tread. Plus the top step is deeper so you do not have to fall off the stairs to open the door. I purchased a set of the new Lippert Components 30″ wide stairs. The first set arrived damaged so I had to have them sent back for a new set. The second set arrived and within 15 minutes we had a new set of stairs in. They are nice and feel solid as a rock. The other thing I did was remove the original fold up stairs and put in a Morhride tool box. It took a little while to get the old set out, but the box went right in. I think I will store all my road safety stuff in there. Very happy with both installations. Pictures are below of the new stairs and tool box.

Went to Red Rocks Pond for the second time this year. We stayed from  Friday the 13th to Tuesday the 16th. It was sunny and hot the whole time, but that is fine with us. We got there around noonish and checked in. Went to our spot which was #7 a backin OH Boy. got all set up and lined up to back in Melissa guided me a little and just like that I got in the first try, lined up with the spot and I was in. I was a little surprised. We leveled up and within 5 minutes we were all set up. We had a good learning experience this trip, things felt a little more at ease.

Friday afternoon we relaxed a little, and for dinner they had a food truck there, so we had chicken wraps. Then it was off to the town of Holly, for the concert on the canal. The “Old Hippies” were playing, we had a great time. Saturday they had free donuts and coffee, so of course I was there. We went to the Cobblestone museum that day, it was almost 90, so I was a little worried about Cooper, but it all worked out. The museum and the cobblestone buildings were very interesting. It took more than 2 years to build a house that ornate with the washed stones. I have no idea how they did it back then. Sunday we went out and about to Oak Orchard marina and lighthouse by the lake, again it was hot but we walked on the beach at lake Ontario, even Cooper had his feet in. We also went to Lakeside State campground to check it out for next year when we get back, we like it so we will for sure stay there. Monday morning was interesting, the power went out at 7:30 in the morning, not just the park , but the whole area was out of power. I could not make coffee so I was a little off that day. We decide to just pack up and get ready to go, earlier than expected but that’s OK. Got back to home base around noon, and backed into the spot we have there and wouldn’t you know it, I backed right into there too. I guess I am learning from all my practicing. All in all it was a good trip to get under our belt. Below is a few pictures of our spot there.

Well, more practice, this time I took the Rv out on the Thruway. Went about 44 miles to the exit that has the Flying J truck stop. So I pulled in there and got gas and headed back home. Was driving 60 the whole time. It is for sure a little more fast paced on the highway, I did pretty good, my brother in law was with me so he kept talking to me to keep me from being really nervous. All in all it was 88 miles and I can say I felt pretty good. I could not do this for 6 to 7 hours though. Next up will be our second trip to Red Rocks Pond campground in Holly. Let you know how that goes soon.

Friday was such a nice day decided to take a joy ride with the Rv. Really it was more practice driving . I hooked up the Rv to the truck and me and Cooper were off. We went a total of 21 miles, up and down different roads around the area. Made left turns, right turns a couple of them tight and did good ,and felt pretty comfortable. got back and pulled into Steve’s from the back way, so I could back in to the new spot I made for the Rv in Steve’s back yard. Got the Rv in position and backed her in, I did pretty good, had to pull forward a few times to make some adjustments but got it in the first time. unhitched and got it all leveled up. It looks pretty darn good where it is back kind of in the woods Pictures below give you an idea. Now we can open the awning and sit there looking to the back woods, instead of looking at the neighbors house. If you listen really quiet, you can hear the blue jays, and cardinals that are around. also deer and fox come around later at night.

This is the view from the woods area, with the Rv and the shed I built for storage.

This is the view from the Rv looking into the back woods.

Our second so called shake down trip was to Red Rocks Pond Rv resort in Holley New York . Spent a full week there from June 8th to the 15th. It was a 42 mile trip, which is the longest I have towed the Rv. It all went good, I felt pretty good driving that far. We had a pull through site so it was pretty easy to get set up. Here we had all hook ups and cable Tv.  This place has many seasonal sites, which means people stay from May 1st till they close Oct 15th. A lot of people then head to Florida or such or some also have houses locally and just go back there. Of the 200 sites or so only about 35 are open to reserve the rest are seasonal.

The big thing about the park, besides it being very clean, is that it is right on the Erie Canal. Where you can walk , ride your bike on the bike path.  The park also used to be an active quarry in the past, where stone was quarried out for the canal, and in later years they made big blocks to construct churches and such. Now they are all filled with water and used for fishing and small boating.

Anyway after we got settled, we walked around the park for a while, they also have paths around the lakes toy can take. Saturday they had Myers Rv in and they gave away prizes along with free hot dogs, of course I had three of them, didn’t win anything though. Sunday we walked the Erie canal, a little and in the afternoon a lady came by and invited us over to her seasonal for a few drinks, which we did. I played darts with a few of the guys and Melissa talked with the ladies. Cooper was back at our site and was alone for over 3 hours, he did good, so I felt better about leaving him alone. Tuesday My brother and sister-in-law came by for dinner, we made chicken shischkabobs on the new grill I got, they were good.  The rest of the week we just started to get used to different things that we need to about this lifestyle.  It was the first time I really dumped the tanks into the sewer, and we also hooked up to the cable tv they had there. One afternoon I cleaned the outside of the rv a little and Melissa cleaned and polished the wheels and tires, she did a really nice job.  We did walk a lot around the park and on the canal, we also went to Holley falls just a little up the road and saw the falls and walked around the park there which is very nice. One thing I was concerned with and it came up Thursday was the wind, it really got windy that day and seeing how the Rv reacted to that was a learning experience, you cannot have your awning out in the wind that is for sure.

Overall the trip was good, Melissa, I noticed was bored a few times but she will have to adjust to this as I told her this is not a vacation, it is a new lifestyle, so a lot of adjusting will be needed. Also Cooper has a lot to learn also, as this is all new to him, he had a lot of fun , but i see he has to be trained a little more. Friday we then got all hitched up and drove back to our home base (Steve”s).

One final note, as we liked the park so much and the nice seasonal people, we put our names in for a seasonal site. Will see if they call us. We decided it was worth it if we stayed there and also at our home base when we are back in town for the summers.

Well, Our first real trip driving the Rv is in the books. It went pretty well. I was a little nervous about my first time backing in a spot. I backed in pretty good, and should have stayed where I was, it was in a little rut on the one side, so I tried again and that was a mistake, I ended up pulling all the way out to the next road, and starting all over again only to really end up in the same place I was in before, so we set up there. I was a little frustrated, but got over it . The week went good, the weather was a little cooler than we thought and Melissa was a bit cold . We went to some friends site by the lake for evening camp fires and that was nice, walked around during the day and I worked on the Rv a bit and we both tried to get the feel of it all. The only bad thing was that Cooper had two seizures during the night and it kind of put a damper on things. We thought he was doing good on his meds. In fact last week it got worse and we had to take him to the emergency vet where he was for 3 days. So far they feel it is epilepsy so he is on more meds. In July we take him to Cornell for a MRI, hopefully it is negative, if it shows something things will be a bit more complicated. I have also been at my brothers working on the area we are going to be as they put in the driveway and dirt last week, I am now planting grass seed and watering it and all that. For now that’s it.

Next week Friday we go to Red Rock Campground for a week so hopefully the weather and all else will work out. Below is a picture of our spot at Four Mile Creek State park

There it is all hitched up ready to go. This week end we are going for a shake down run to a local state park. My first time really driving it and getting it backed up to the spot, it will be quite the experience. Will update on how it went when we get back

Been busy lately, got the cover off the Rv a week ago, and it is dirty. The weather here is still cool compared to what it should be. Been getting it opened up, but the big thing is that I have been hooking it up and taking it out on the road, (YAY) not far, 8- 10 miles at time, boy is it big on the road. A lot to get used too. It tows nice and i seem to be sort of getting the hang of it. I also have been practicing backing it up, that is going slow, but when I get it backed to where I want, I feel satisfied, just need to practice more. We will be getting ready this week for our trip next week to Four Mile Creek state park. Will be there five days, that’s where I will be nervous backing it in.
Other than that I did update the blog with a new look and added more links , so for now that is done.

It’s the middle of March , usually its warmer, it’s not. This year it is staying a little cold. Hope the snow is gone for good this winter. Been a little to much for me. I cannot wait until we get moving this September on our maiden voyage for the winter. Speaking of which I have been very busy lining up places to stay for the winter and booking them for our trip down to Florida for the winter. Pretty much all done for now and it is a lot of work, wonder how it will be in a year or so with all this, may just go where the wind takes us.

Also have been busy just getting a lot of other details sorted out, so i won’t be overwhelmed in a month or two. Everything from insurance to our licenses, all of our accounts, passwords filed and all that.

I also am going to do an update to this blog, new look, and all that pretty soon.

For now that’s it.

Wow, it is the 10 th of January already. Been meaning to update, but time flies by. We had a good holiday season, saw some good friends and family. This will be the last time for a while that we will be here for the holidays. It as always went by too fast. The last few weeks have been brutal cold here 0 for the highs, it sucks. The RV is snow covered and frigid, I am not happy about it.
Condo or apartment life is going pretty good, no major issues. I am doing a lot of paper work right now. Getting everything we have like credit cards, insurances, and a ton of the like concerning our lives. All of this I am putting on spread sheets, and making copies for us and a few other people to give when we leave. That way if we lose something somebody has a copy. It is more work than I thought. Plus I am doing a lot of other stuff to get prepared. Other than that just going through the motions with everything else.
Cooper is doing good. He is growing and has a lot of energy. We take him to day care a few times a week so he can burn it off. He is really a good little puppy. He just turned 8 months old.
In a week or so will be figuring out our route for the fall down to Florida. With that also deciding where we want to stay and booking them early. This will be the hard part to figure that all out.
We have 3 months or so till we can get to the RV, and open it up. Have a lot to do then .