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By Katrina Kane, on February 8th, 2013
The new (old) rig is getting better and better. I finally pulled the awning out to see what I got. The 5th had been parked in a backyard next to a fence when I bought it so I couldn’t check the awning then. I figured if it was any good it would just be a bonus for me after the purchase and since every time I put an awning out the wind comes up to make me close it like ants to a picnic, it just wasn’t important to me. Amazingly, it is in great shape with no holes or tears. It is dirty of course so I cleaned the bottom part already but it looks great and it is HUGE! It is 18 feet long and has the optional center support and tension bar. It opens and closes easily. I found the manuals for the awning and bar online and saved them. What a nice bonus!
 
I also changed the propane regulator out. The previous one worked as far as changing tanks but the indicator on top of it was broken so I had to guess when to get more propane. I purposely bought a Marshall 250 series regulator so I could also get and install the optional remote indoor indicator by the front door. It is just a dummy light that blinks constantly when the service tank goes empty and switches over. I can turn it off by flipping the regulator lever to make the other full tank the service tank. It may seem silly to some folks to bother installing it but I really like not having to check the outside indicator all the time and many others agree it’s a nice luxury to have.
 
The door tieback has been changed. I hate those old style ones with a metal bracket that pushes into a plastic socket. They stink at holding the door open in high winds. The newer more positive ones with a long prong that slides into a receiver are much better. That door isn’t going to slam shut again!
Now I am changing out the stripping that covers the screws in the edge trim on the corners and roof. It is ragged in a couple places so I got 100 feet of it to re-run in the channels. I’ll change out the broken rain spouts at the same time.
 
Used RVs do require some work but in doing these things, you make a used rig yours. You learn everything about it. You learn its quirks. You bond with it as with a precious pet. Ah, my precious… With all things used, you also save a lot of money up front. The little things get fixed as time and money allows. You don’t pay for that new smell or a brand name.
Do be aware of the ridiculous 10 year rule some parks have. They won’t allow older rigs to stay in them for long periods and some not at all. They are far and few between thank goodness and some just have the rule as a way to reject truly dirty, old-looking, or damaged rigs they don’t want on a case by case basis. If you do buy an older RV, it is important that it be kept up in good repair and looking nice. Keep it washed, waxed, and without rust. Many folks with rigs that are not that much older than 10 years will lie when asked the age and I personally have no problem with that. Campgrounds rarely challenge unless the rig looks really old or unkempt. Honestly, are you going to replace a $150,000 motorhome that looks and works great every 10 years just because of the snobbery of others? Get real!
By Katrina Kane, on January 31st, 2013
Spent the day in Los Algadones in Mexico yesterday to replace my glasses which got severely scratched in the accident in October. Working through them has been very difficult. The day was sunny and warm. The town was buzzing with winter RV snowbirds everywhere. The benches in the plaza were full.
I started out at the optical store. They say they can make glasses in 1-2 hours and usually they can but plan to get there early to be sure they have enough time to make them before you leave. I managed to get my glasses with progressive lenses for only $49. That includes the eye exam. Many visitors pay much more for designer frames and to add all the extras like polarizing. The various additions seem to run between $50 – $99 each. I just wanted good looking glasses without scratches and that is what I got.
While waiting for the glasses, I picked up medications at the pharmacy and perused the wares of the other vendors. Handbags, jewelry, and craft items are big sellers there. For anything you buy in Los Algadones, be sure to shop around and feel free to dicker. Usually if you tell a vendor no thanks, they will lower the price a little. They definitely need to work on their T-shirt patterns and prices. Most of their patterns would not be acceptable to an older RV snowbird and after buying T-shirts in Quartzsite for only $6, we are not going to pay $10.
I got lunch at the brick courtyard restaurant. Look for the big yellow building. I love the colorful chairs and tablecloths there. The food is excellent. I like the combos on their menu like a taco, burrito, rice, beans, and a tostada for $6.99. That day they had a musician playing a keyboard to entertain guests. Even in Spanish, there is no mistaking "On the Boardwalk" or "Jambalaya". He knows his clientele well. It was a very enjoyable lunch.
After lunch, I finally got a long overdue haircut at the beauty parlor that is also on the courtyard. Men’s haircuts are $2.50 and women’s are $4.50 so plan that into your schedule if you go.
As the day drew to a close and vendors slapped covers over their goods, I picked up my new glasses and headed for the customs line to cross back over the border. The line was long this time though it moved constantly forward. It took a little over an hour to get back to the U.S. side. Due to the poor economy in Mexico just like everywhere else, we had vendors constantly showing us more to buy all the way up to the circular gate.
By Katrina Kane, on January 15th, 2013 Quartzsite is already hopping with vendors and buyers though it is not as busy as usual this year. There is some traffic through Tyson Wells though not too bad yet. Parking is already at a premium so expect a walk. The big tent is up but not open for a while yet. I do see some new vendors there and plenty of the old. For those of you who camp in the BLM LTVAs, there is plenty of room still.
Weather is sunny but cooler than usual. Be sure to take a jacket with you when you go out. Come afternoon it gets pretty chilly.
For more in-depth reporting this year, I’ll be posting on my new site RVQuartzsite.com so if you don’t see the info you want here, try over there. It is still under development but live and the home page has the local weather for you.
By Katrina Kane, on January 13th, 2013 I finally got everything melted and pulled in to leave Provo, UT and head south. I even had to melt the ice encasing the main electrical cord, sewer slinky, wheel blocks, and jack pads! Geez! Headed out in sunny but foggy weather that was blinding. Drove down to the St. George RV RPI-Encore park in Hurricane, UT for a couple nights. Ice was falling off behind me as I drove but the big sheets started falling off as soon as I reached Hurricane. Even when I parked my truck a big sheet fell right off. Wow! Spent a couple nights there to warm up a bit.
Next stop was the Thousand Trails park, Las Vegas RV, in Henderson, NV near Las Vegas. That is one busy park. I was lucky to get one night there at all as it is full. The park itself is just a big parking lot type with rigs squeezed in very close together. They do have a nice clubhouse, swimming pool, and spa as always and folks were actually in the outdoor hot tub that night despite the cool weather. The bathrooms are lousy. While they are clean, they smell a bit and the two showers in each of them share a common dressing room like the old state park showers. Yuck. At least they have full hookups to avoid those and it only cost me $3 for the night as a Thousand Trails member.
With only one night in Las Vegas, I made the most of it by cruising the strip, catching an all-you-can-eat buffet with Prime Rib at Sam’s Town casino, and hitting up the big Fry’s electronics store. No time to take in a show but definitely enjoyed it. Sam’s Town also has a bowling alley, movie theater, arcade, indoor park and waterfall with light show, and lots of dining places including the Firelight buffet and even McDonald’s and TGI Fridays. Get a free player’s card there to get the discounts.
 
For more Las Vegas pics click here.
The next day I pulled out into windy crappy weather all the way down to Blythe, CA. I was glad I was pulling a more stable 5th wheel instead of my old trailer but it was still a tough drive bucking winds all the way down. The wind got even worse within 25 miles of Blythe. Between the gas sucking wind and a long wait at a road construction site on a hill, I pulled in late and on fumes. Didn’t even bother to unhitch until the next day. Still plenty of spaces at Mayflower County Park if anyone else is coming down for the Quartzsite RV Show or Bluegrass Festival. Cost is only $275 a month which includes electric, water, free tank pump outs 3 times a week, nightly campfire, potlucks, lawn bowling, dominoes, and very friendly people. There is also a boat launch on the Colorado River right there.
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