Thursday, March 29, 2012

Maneuvering into the tight spot

   The driving skills I have been acquiring really came in handy today when we arrived at our campground east of Los Angeles to find the site we had been assigned was not going to give us satellite access for the trees.  We asked the manager if we could relocate, which caused George to turn the coach around to approach a back-in on the other side of the park.


   My gut told me that George needed to pull further forward before he began backing into this rather tight spot, but he started back despite my forward signal and I thought it would be okay so we proceeded -- WRONG!  The next thing I know we are straddling the street with the mud flap folded forward and the bottom of the radiator about to make contact with the concrete.  I stopped George and asked him to get out and look over the situation and, with the help of a kind neighbor, we managed to hold the mud flap up to keep it from damage against the pavement as George inched forward to correct this approach.


   As George proceeded to explain to me how I should direct him into the spot on the second try, I asked if it might be easier if I got behind the wheel and followed his direction.  Dennis Hill, the former owner of the RV School, always suggested that as crazy as it seems, the more experienced driver should be on the ground directing the less experienced driver into the site, and I have to admit that today's encounter made a believer out of us!  And our new neighbors were more than impressed -- I even got a "bravo, bravo, bravo!" from the lady.


      Note to self -- first instincts are usually right, even if you're not sure of the reason.  And, my first instructor, Dennis Hill, is one smart dude!  We are believers in his method and are going to heed his excellent advice from this day forward!  And now we can enjoy a relaxing evening, despite the challenges presented by backing into a rather tight spot.



Monday, March 19, 2012

Women Drivers

   George gave a seminar for women only at the Gypsy Journal Rally in Yuma, Arizona, recently.  There were about 30 women in attendance (and a few men, too).  Approximately one fourth of those in attendance drive their RVs regularly and a small number drive only occasionally, but the majority of the women indicated they never drive it.


   Sadly, we often hear from women wanting lessons only after their partner becomes incapacitated or worse.  We just returned from Quartzsite, Arizona, where we helped a delightful lady who was competent but afraid to drive and her husband was no longer capable of doing the driving.  


   There still seems to exist that negative preconceived notion of the "woman driver" in the mindset of some men.  Even sadder, some women I have known even buy into it!  I personally think women today, having driven carpools and "Mom's Taxi" to soccer practice, choir, etc. are exceptionally good drivers.  Most of us were driving well before we met out spouses and often have better driving records to prove it.


   It may be time to gently remind the husband when he expresses these kinds of doubts.  If you can drive a car, you can probably drive the RV!  And, wouldn't it be good to know how, just in case it became necessary?



Saturday, March 17, 2012

Mountains

I never experienced a fear of heights until after the birth of my first child.  Shortly thereafter, I thought I was going to "lose it" on the ferris wheel at the county fair.  And then a few months later, we attempted the trip to the top of the St. Louis Arch -- a sight I hope never again to experience!

For nearly forty years I have avoided air travel like the plague.  I had hoped the fear would dissipate once the kids were grown, but it didn't.  I bought the books and avoided the mountain roads whenever possible.  I reluctantly made the trip to Silverton from Durango but lived in fear of the trip on to Ouray because of the stories I had heard about Red Mountain Pass.

Little did I know when we took ownership of the RV School that I would become a guinea pig.  Yes, we were in Congress, Arizona at the Escapees' North Ranch park when our instructor, Denny Orr, pointed out the mountains in the distance and the two lines along the side of the face of them and told me that was where he took his students.  I later shared this information with George, whose reaction was "Oh, Denny is just kidding."  I was rather confident that Denny was not kidding about the matter.

As fate would have it, around the first of February, a new instructor we were wanting to train did not have a student and was scheduled to leave the next day.  So, we decided that the thing to do was to allow him to ride along as Denny gave me another lesson.  

The Mountain Directory West states that Highway 89 is "Not recommended for trucks pulling trailers over 40' long."  Between Congress and Yarnell, Highway 89 has a 5-6% grade with lots of 25 and 30 mph curves and some 20 mph hairpin curves for approximately 5-1/2 miles.  This is what it looked like from the dog park in the distance...

Weaver Mountains between Congress and Yarnell (highway lines are barely visible near the top).

Denny began with some serious backing exercises.  I backed the Mandalay onto a small side street, into his driveway between Dennis and Carol Hill's awning and Denny and Susie's rooftop.  We then began the climb up the mountains, on a road on which I told Denny I probably would not have allowed George to take the motor home.  After a short break at the top in Yarnell, we began the drive down the mountain where I pretty much had to look at the valley below me and watch the rocks that jutted out nearly to the roadway.  I could do this!  I had not one but three instructors on board!

At the end of this lesson I felt much more confident.  I could back it.  I could climb mountains.  I could descend mountains.  Actually, I think it probably felt better from the driver's seat than riding along next to the cliff.  Another pat on the back!



More Miles

Well, it wasn't the reason I learned to drive the Mandalay, but it certainly proved to be helpful when we found ourselves in Florida and needing to be in Arizona, a drive of over 2000 miles, in just five days.  My husband, George, had never complained about being the sole driver, and we typically only took on around 250 miles per day so he was sure to get plenty of rest.


My capability was a huge relief for him as we departed Ocala, Florida on January 13, 2012.  I think I may have actually put on nearly as many miles as George during this journey.  It was a great opportunity for me to get more miles under my belt as we headed west on I-10.  I even drove over the 18-mile bridge in Louisiana with confidence.  I still need practice backing and turning, but feel that I am well on my way!


I learned how tiring driving the motorhome can be, (especially in the wind), and George learned it is not all that easy to fix a sandwich or take a nap while the coach is in motion.