Girl Camper

On this week’s show Mike Harlan, Airstream Manager at North Trail RV of South Florida answers podcast listeners questions. Mike is an industry insider who has worked in sales, service and manufacturing. I asked podcast listeners for their questions and Mike was game to answer and very candid. This is part two of our two part interview.

On this week’s show Mike Harlan, Airstream Manager at  North Trail RV of South Florida answers podcast listeners questions. Mike is an industry insider who has worked in sales, service and manufacturing. I asked podcast listeners for their questions and Mike was game to answer and very candid. He had so much to say that this is part one of the two part interview.

Girl Campers sent in their questions ahead of time on the Girl Camper Podcast Facebook page. Most of the questions had to do with dealerships and service. Mike gave insiders insight into the how’s and why’s of dealership decision making.

In the Campfire Chat I am talking about my fool proof fire starting method! Tinder, kindling and fuel wood make for a perfect fire but it’s the stacking method that’s key! Teepee versus log cabin? Tune in to hear which is superior!

On this week’s show I am talking about long distance driving.  When you hit the road this summer whether it’s a big trip of thousands of miles or across your state there are ways to make the drive more of a journey and less of a chore. Getting there can be half the fun if you follow a few simple principles for driving  while towing.

Be rested when you leave. Sometimes we pack up and get the feeling that we have to get going because  we’re “burning daylight”. It’s always a good idea to be rested and non stressed when you head out. The process of getting ready can take longer than we think and be stressful in itself. Try to adapt a “journey” not “destination” attitude about travel.

Take a break every two hours. Even if you don’t feel tired it’s a good idea to get out and stretch your legs every two hours or so. I park as far from the rest area bathroom as possible and jog over to the building. It’s good to get your blood flowing and take in some fresh air. If the driving conditions are stressful it’s even more important to stop for the mental clarity as well as the physical boost. Take a cat nap in your trailer if necessary. Staying alert means staying safe.

Eat light. Nothing brings on drowsiness like a pile of carbs from a rest stop fast food restaurant. You are barely burning calories behind the wheel and the food you take in should help you stay alert not make you tired. I keep a cool pack on the passenger seat with fresh fruit, nuts, string cheese and humus. I only drink water after my morning cup of coffee. My favorite thing is knowing that a great dinner awaits me at the campground. I like to have a marinating chicken breast or steak waiting to go on the grill when I have arrived and am set up and look forward to that on my drive.

Slow and steady wins the race. It’s always better when you can approach the drive to your ultimate destination as part of the vacation too.  If you are in a “just get there” mindset you will miss the beauty along the way. Study a map and see if you can plan a stop along the way. Be willing to get off the highway and drive a stretch on a county two lane. Be willing to stop in a town and find the local mom and pop diner, quirky gas station slash museum, or weird roadside attraction that you will be talking about ten years from now. Most of the cool things on vacations are unplanned. Be willing to be open to back road travel.

Mark Polk’s blog on trailer sway is worth the read. He always provides so much insight into the causes of RV issues. Please take the time to educate yourself on ways to minimize trailer sway and handle it when it does happen.

There are lots more tips and travel help in this weeks podcast as well as all the news on the News Roundup and Campfire Chat! Hope you enjoy this weeks episode!! Happy trails!!

 

 

On this weeks show my guest is Cindy Davidson.  Cindy is an outdoor woman who camps, hikes, kayaks and fishes. One of her favorite places to do all of those things is the Shenandoah National Forest in Western Virginia. Cindy has camped their campgrounds, hiked their trails and fished their waters and she is here today with her best advice on how to make the most of a trip to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and its remarkable Skyline Drive.

There are many hiking trails and three campground at the park. You can also camp along the Appalachian Trail and in the wilderness with a park issued pass.

My guest today is Jennifer Megliore of Artware Designs in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Jennifer also owns a beautiful vintage Shasta that does triple duty in her life. She uses it to camp like a girl with the sisters on the fly, on tours for charity fundraisers and as a pop up shop at festivals and fairs to sell her happy camper line of goods from her brick and mortar store in Hilton Head.

 

Jennifer talks about her own experiences finding festivals and fairs to sell her goods and we talk about other ways to use a vintage trailer a a source of revenue.

Jennifer is giving a $50 gift card to a lucky winner. To be in the running just sign up for newsletter at the top of this page. You can also get 10 % off your first order by using the code SAVE10.

Last year the RV Family Travel Atlas Podcast Network set out to raise ten thousand dollars to supply a campground with a travel trailer to be used by retuning active duty service personnel asa respite spot. This week we reached our goal!!

 

On this weeks show I am pleased to have my wonderful Ohio friend, Gina Corbin. Gina talks about how she overcame her fears and trepidation about solo towing to become the Girl Camper she is today. She also shares how camping helped move her from a dark place after a family tragedy to a place of hope and peace again. Gina has logged many, many miles under her belt in the short time she’s been camping and it is not an exaggeration to say that camping has changed her life.

We are kicking it up a notch and finishing off our campaign to raise 10K for the 501c3 organiztion, Tents for Troops. The RVFTA Podcast Network set a goal to raise $10K  for the purchase of a travel trailer to be used by active duty service people and their families. I can think of no better way to reconnect after a long deployment than to spend time around a campfire. We are nearly at our goal but I am offering an incentive.  I will send a Girl Camper decal to anyone who makes a donation of at least $10. You can make a donation at Go Fund Me. After you make a donation, send me your address at [email protected] and I will get your decal out to you ASAP.

Thank you to all who ordered from the Girl Camper Shop this week. We were blown away by all the love and are almost done filling all the orders. I have had to place a new mug order and will be picking them up when I visit Blackwater Falls State Park this week. I got the idea to have a spot for everyone to post their news and mugs and rigs and created the Facebook page “Girl Camper Podcast”. Please join the fun and share your adventures, recipes, favorite campgrounds and Girl Camper mugs!

 

 

 

 

On this week’s show I’m talking about prepping the outside of your trailer for the coming season. From tires to outside storage solutions to maintaining your vinyl awning, there are things to be done before you hit the road in 2017.

I’m also talking about my great fishing trip with guide Kai on the oyster beds of Hilton Head. We had a great day even without catching any fish! I learned so much about this regions natural habitats and the value of an experienced and knowledgeable guide.

The Girl Camper mugs are back in stock! You can purchase one at Girlcamper.com.

On this week’s show I am talking trailer preparedness. I have been sorting and sifting through my St. George trailer and fixing some issues that bothered me last year while also reevaluating my use of available space. I have also been finding space for those camping themed Christmas and Valentine’s Day presents.  When the cold weather breaks and the camping season begins, I am going to be ready to roll.

I grew up in the Midwest where Lake house vacations in  family cabins were the rule. I can still remember the feel of the old pine walls and kitchen items that were several generations old but still put to use.  The loved and worn furnishings and old wool blankets somehow made the cabins feel so safe and warm. I always find myself buying the things that remind me of those days and now I want to use them in my St. George trailer and recreate that vintage cabin feel.

I have been collecting wool blankets for years. I love the old striped ones with the satin edges. I also love to collect knitted or crocheted blankets that are wool. It’s not unusual to find them and see that someone has washed them in hot water and they have shrunk. This is a negative to most people but they make great camping blankets. The tightened stitches make them extra warm and they are usually less expensive.

Spring Clean Tips

* It’s a good idea to reevaluate your use of space and items at the beginning of each camping season. As you go through each cabinet, ask yourself how often you used that item and if it warrants the space its taking up.

* Decide if you really want to give space to a camping gift. When you have a passion people tend to give you gifts that surround it. If you don’t have a need for a well intentioned gift, regift or use it in your home.

* The annual Spring clean is a great time to top off your first aid kit and make sure you have what you use most and that what you use least has not expired. Stock up on bandaids and don’t forget the butterfly bandages.

* When getting ready for the new season give some thought to things that bothered you last year and come up with some resolutions. New reading lights by the bed and a refrigerator fan to even the cooling in my refrigerator are two problems I addressed this year.

* Use the space in your trailer in a way that is best for you. Just because the RV designer intended the closet for hanging clothes doesn’t mean you have to use it that way. I am turning my closet into what will be more practical for me – shelves that will hold a lot more of what I need on trips.

* Prettify your trailer! It’s a great time to work in some design aspects for your trailer that will make it feel like home. I ordered a National Parks map for the wall in my booth and am finally going to hang some pictures I have been meaning to get to. Think of your trailer like a second home because it is! Find the balance of things you love and make you feel at home but not too cluttered.

* The bed in your trailer should be as comfortable as your home bed. This year I will probably spend at least 75 nights in my trailer. I am making the investment in comfortable sheets and blankets and pillows. Don’t forget good reading lights !

Being a happy camper is all about balance. By keeping your camper cleaned out and assessing your needs for it each year,  you will be more likely to enjoy using it. Having the camper comfortable but clutter free makes it easy to hitch up on a Friday night and head out in. Happy trails everyone.

 

On this weeks show my guest is the co-founder of  Sisters on the Fly , Maurrie Sussman. The Sisters on the Fly is the largest outdoor women’s adventure group in the country with over 8 thousand members. She and her sister Becky Clarke founded the group over 20 years ago and have been having “more fun […]

On this weeks show my guest is the co-founder of  Sisters on the Fly , Maurrie Sussman. The Sisters on the Fly is the largest outdoor women’s adventure group in the country with over 8 thousand members. She and her sister Becky Clarke founded the group over 20 years ago and have been having “more fun than anyone” ever since. Maurrie is here today to talk about the groups beginnings, the coveted trailers, their bucket list trips and the women who join them.