How To RV Across America

Above, at the Double J Campground near Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I went cross-country from Los Angeles to Metropolis, Illnois for Noel Neill's memorial service in 2016, I made reservations at some RV parks along the way. That only scratched the surface in planning the trip.

I got plenty of maps and tour books from the Automobile Club. Before leaving Los Angeles, I made sure my refrigerator was fully stocked. What was planned for a two-week trip, ended up stretching into three weeks. I had one mishap in St. Louis, Missouri that necessitated the purchase of two new tires. That cut into the funds and I had to wait out the Veterans Day holiday in Topeka, Kansas before I could replenish my cash and proceed on. Despite that, it was a good trip.

RV Life has posted an article on how to RV across America.

It begins with:

So you finally have the time to RV across America? The sights you will see are going to create so many lasting memories! Before you leave, here are 12 things you need to know to avoid making memories of RV catastrophes. As a full-time RVer myself, I’ve learned that many cross country RVing problems can be avoided with a little planning. 

The Top 10 Things to Know Before RVing Across America

Most of your RV trip planning can happen before you get on the road.  Here is where you want to do a little research. My list of ten things to know before taking a cross-country RV road trip can make your planning easier.

 To read more, go here.

New "Arvie" Booking Service Isn't Pleasing Everybody

Above, the Double J Campground in Chatham, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As the old saying goes, "you can't please everybody."

That's the way it is with a new online RV campground booking service. One major campground company is not pleased with it and wants no part of it.

RV Travel reported:

RVers tired of endlessly searching the internet for available campsites now have access to a new service that creator and founder Mark Petersen thinks could change the way people plan their trips.

But at least one major campground operator (Kampgrounds of America Inc.) isn’t happy with the new service, and has sent the new company a “cease and desist” letter protesting the methods used by Petersen’s new “Arvie™” booking service. KOA is demanding that all KOA inventory be immediately removed from the Arvie.com website.

Petersen said Arvie is a subscription service and acts as an online travel agency for RVers, designed to help campers find, compare, and instantly book the best campsites for all of their trips using a sleek and centralized interface.

To read more, go here. 

In The "Land of Lincoln" On Election Night 2016

Above, The Beast at the Double J Campground in Chatham, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow is Election Day.

It will hopefully have the same result as Election Day in 2016 with a Trump victory. This time, I will spend Election Night at home.

Four years ago, I was in the state of Illinois on the longest road trip I've ever taken. It was three weeks long. 

Above, watching the returns on Election Night 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On Election Day in 2016, I watched the returns in my motorhome at the Double J Campground in Chatham, Illinois, which is on the outskirts of Springfield. The Land of Lincoln!

It was a long election night and I decided to lie down with the television on around 10:00. I woke up at 3:00 in the morning and on the screen it was announced that Trump won the election and was giving his victory speech.

Above, at the Lincoln Tomb the day after Election Day.

After watching that, I turned of the television and went back to sleep. 

The next day, I visited the Lincoln Tomb, Lincoln's home and Presidential Museum. 

It is amazing how fast the last four years have passed.

Minnie Winnie Owners Facebook Group

A couple of months ago, the "boss" of the Minnie Winnie Owners Facebook group asked the members to submit a photo of their Minnie Winnie to use for the page's header photo.

I just noticed (it's been up since last Thursday) that the photo I submitted of The Beast is now the header photo. It is a shot taken at the Double J Campground in Chatham, Illinois (near Springfield) I took last November.

The group is open to any Winnebago Minnie Winnie owners.

Here's the link to the group.

The Modern RVer

Above, The Beast at the Double J Campground in Chatham, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Life has some "infographics" and statistics on today's modern RVers.

They begin with:

RVing has always been something that families and retired people did for fun, but not anymore. A new lifestyle infographic based on current RV buyer trends shares an enlightening profile of modern RVers. 

A company that makes RV cell phone booster products recently published an entertaining look at the modern RVers lifestyle. Look below for the infographic that’s based on data compiled from several industry sources, including the Recreational Vehicle Industry of America (RVIA). 

If anyone has the most knowledge about RVing it’s the RVIA. This group is the national trade association representing RV manufacturers and RV parts suppliers. These companies design, build and sell about 98 percent of all RVs produced in the U.S. Among other roles the RVIA works to ensure members comply with important RV safety. The group helps enforce building standards for electrical, plumbing, heating, fire and RV life safety systems.

To see more, go here.

Finding Good RV Parks and Avoiding Bad Ones

Above, The Beast at the Double J Campground in Chatham, Illinois, near Springfield. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Finding a good RV park and avoiding bad RV parks is less of a crapshoot today because of the Internet, where there are plenty of websites filled with reviews and information.

One such tool for finding good RV parks is RV Park Reviews. There, recent reviews by fellow travelers keep the site up-to-date. I am a regular contributor.

RV Life has an article on how to avoid bad RV parks while traveling.

They start with:

RVing is a rich and rewarding way to travel, but a nagging fear of “bad” RV parks can hinder the experience. If you’re too afraid to visit bucket list destinations after learning bad things about nearby RV parks, you’re shortchanging yourself. Before reaching a conclusion, take a minute to review our three RV trip planning tips to avoid bad RV parks and pick good, safe ones during your travels.

To read more, go here. 

Double J Campground

Above, The Beast at Double J Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When planning my cross-country trip to Metropolis, Illinois, I looked for campgrounds/RV parks located along the routes I would take and at my final destinations.

For the travel to and from my destination(s), I tried to keep each day's drive at around 350-400 miles. KOA Kampgrounds were generally located at those mile points. The task was somewhat difficult as many campgrounds were closed for the season. I had to find campgrounds/RV parks that are open all year.

I also stayed at non-KOAs. One of which was the Double J Campground in Chatham, Illinois. Chatham is next door to Springfield, where the Abraham Lincoln attractions are located.

The Double J Campground was nice campground with level campsites with plenty of trees for shade. It is located on Historic Route 66, but also next to Interstate 55.

I made use of their laundry room and Wi-Fi. They have several routers for Wi-Fi, all one has to do is use one with the strongest signal. They do have cable television available, but I opted to go with the local broadcast stations for Election Night coverage.

If one is planning to see the Lincoln exhibits in Springfield, the Double J Campground is an ideal place to stay.

Here's some photos of the campground:

Above, the campground has easy access roads. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the campground is located in farmland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, although the off-season, there were other campers at the Double J. Photo by Armand Vaquer.