Not So Uneventful Day

Above, the Subaru's front end. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday would have been uneventful except for one little thing.

 We got into a car accident while exiting Grandpa's Grill after we had breakfast.

I was riding in the back seat in Greg Lucier's Subaru Tribeca with his brother Larry in the front passenger seat. We were exiting the parking lot when a pick up truck was driving in front of us in the street. Greg went to apply the brakes and his foot (he was wearing sandals) slipped off the brake pedal and we hit the truck.

Above, the pick-up truck. Photo by Armadn Vaquer.

There were no injuries to either party. The Subaru was drivable, although the plastic front end was knocked off. One part was rubbing on the driver's side front tire. I went to a nearby stationery store and bought a package of bungie cords to tie up some loose parts. After doing so, we were able to drive it back to Jamestown. We put the front end in back of the Subaru. It was basically one big piece and light in weight.

Before leaving, we filed a report with the Gallup Police Department and waited for Greg's wife Marlo to arrive. Larry's dog Niko and I rode back to Jamestown with her. 

Funny thing, a few things came back to me from my days as an insurance adjuster while we were talking to the police officer. 

Are You Required To Carry RV Insurance?

Above, at Blackstone North RV Park in Fresno, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV Life has posted an article titled, "Are You Required To Carry RV Insurance?" 

After having been an insurance adjuster, I find the question kind of silly. As an RV is a big investment, one would be stupid not to. A friend recently had his new-to-him fifth-wheel trailer totaled by a tree branch. Luckily, he had insurance on it.

But there's more to it than that, according to the article.

It begins with:

If you just bought an RV for the very first time, you likely have plenty of questions. You may wonder how to operate everything in the rig, or where to find the best campsites. Or even how to properly maintain your new trailer or motorhome. Another common question: Are you required to have RV insurance on a camper?

The answer to this is a little more complicated than you might imagine. There are a few different factors to consider. And, the answer will not be the same for all RVers. Lucky for you, we have all the information you need right here!

Let’s jump right in.

To read more, go here. 

Tarantula Causes Traffic Collision In Death Valley

Above, a male tarantula, native to New Mexico, attracts a kitten's attention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that we're in autumn, we are seeing tarantulas out and about. These are males looking for females to mate with. (If successful, their "happy endings" usually involve getting eaten by the female.)

Quite often, we see them crossing roads. I see about two or three of them a week during these mating seasons. I try to avoid running them over, so the following story is understandable. It is also getting a lot of press.

From the People Magazine website:

A tarantula was the culprit in a traffic accident Saturday in California’s Death Valley National Park, resulting in a motorcyclist being hospitalized. 

The National Park Service (NPS) said in a news release that a rented camper van carrying a Swiss couple suddenly stopped to avoid hitting a tarantula while crossing CA-190 east of Towne Pass in the park.

A 24-year-old Canadian man on a motorcycle crashed into the rear of the camper van, per the statement. An NPS ambulance took the injured motorcyclist to Desert View Hospital in Pahrump, per officials.

As a former insurance adjuster, this sounds to me like a incident of comparative negligence at best. It appears that the motorcyclist was following too close to the camper when the camper's driver jammed on the brakes. But then, suppose it was a child they stopped for. Maybe 90/10% negligence on the motorcyclist's part.

To read the full story, go here.