Almost Ready........

Only a few more days until I'm "on the road again".  I'm taking my cat with me this time and I will be traveling for a month, so this should be an interesting trip. I had a route mapped out, been watching the weather reports, trying to avoid rain, may have to change my route. I need to make up my mind soon, because I wanted to make a reservation at a state park for the holiday weekend, I wanted to avoid driving in the holiday traffic.
I checked weather.com early this morning, most of the flooding is in Southern IL and MO - and further south - near my original route. More rain is predicted for this entire area all week.  I have decided to change my route and cross the Mississippi in Southern Iowa or Northern  Missouri.
Ladynomads blog showed flooding at campsites at Table Rock Lake.  Is there a central place I can find out about flooded areas, or do I need to contact each states Department of Transportation?
I will be traveling through Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and maybe a corner of Oklahoma before I get to Texas.      I checked out a few State Park websites and some were updated to include flood and road closings details on the home page of their website, this is very helpful information.

I still have to learn how all of the electrical stuff works. The water and sewer are a lot less complicated than making sure I have enough power for all of the gadgets and toys and for cooking and lights. On the way home from Florida, I had an electric hookup at each campsite, I did not hook up to water and sewer everyday.
    
I will have to read about the Inverter, vs shore power, vs generator. At a class I attended at LazyDays, they warned about plugging in chargers (for cameras, cell phones, etc) to inverter power, because its not a "pure SineWave". ??? They said a laptop is ok, the cord has that adaptor on it to regulate the power coming in. (I always wondered why laptop cords have that big "brick"). I would like to add solar to the coach - so that I'm not dependent on electrical hookups.
 
I went to the DMV for my license plates. They were not very helpful, luckily I know how to fill out tax forms. They handed me the application and Use Tax form and said they could not do them.  I had called the SOS office the day before, so I had the tax rates and all of the info I needed. I received a credit for the sales tax paid in Florida.  Their website had an Environmental Plate with a Cardinal on it, they did not have these at the office I went to. I have plain RV plates for now. They expire on December 31st, so I will try to get the Cardinal plates when I get a renewal form in the mail.  Not sure if I want a personalized plate, or to just get a random number when I renew. Do you have "vanity plates" on any of your vehicles?

This weekend I've been busy filling up the cabinets and closets with dishes, food, clothing, electronic gadgets and books. The outside storage bins will have a lawn chair, chair umbrella, cleaning solutions, tool box, extra blankets and an extra water hose, cat litter and jugs of water. When I was first looking at RV's, I didn't think I would be able to take books along, thought I wouldn't have space or they would be too heavy. I have one upper cabinet filled with books, they are mostly travel books.  I found a file folder full of maps and travel brochures in the garage. I will sort through this and find a place for it in the coach.

Also, from the garage is a computer monitor that is also a TV. I originally purchased it for my office, and then later we used it in the garage - hooked up to cable TV. I purchased a wall mount for it today, and have to figure out where in the coach to put it. I like that it can be used as a computer monitor and/or TV. I can use it to watch DVD's for now.
I'll have to get a cable outlet installed on the coach.

The dollar store had some nice fabric bins in a bunch of sizes. I am using them to hold books, clothes and kitchen stuff. I took the coach for a short ride the other day and a lot of things moved around in the cabinets. I'm hoping these bins will keep things corralled. I splurged on a set of Corelle dishes this weekend. I have been trying to find some on sale or at a resale store.  I finally went and bought the design and style that I liked.

"SOLOing consists of
three consecutive takeoffs
and landings"
-unknown author

Alaska

All the talk of Alaska is driving me crazy. When my niece was helping me shovel the 2 feet of snow last week, she sculpted the edge of the snow pile, and she said "look, I made you a glacier, now you don't have to go to Alaska". I have wanted to go on an extended trip to Alaska for many years.
I've had the opportunity to take a one week cruise, but I wanted more than that, so I waited.

Many years ago, I started a subscription to the Alaska magazine and bought a pair of MukLuks (warm & comfy here in Illinois, too). I have many books about Alaska and people who live in/traveled to Alaska.

I was thinking.... when I buy my RV this year, I would plan a trip to Alaska for 2012. Now I'm going crazy trying to decide if I should just go this year. It would be totally crazy and insane, and probably not a good idea for a first solo trip.

But I have been known to do things impulsively.

I started blogging after reading Jen's blog "livinginmycar.com".
She took a solo trip to Alaska and the Arctic Circle.
So, it can be done.
**********************
STOP!!!
Take a deep breath, think this through. Alaska will still be there in 2012. Use 2011 to travel around and get used to my new life.

Tortoise

Diane and Karl

sent me a Tortoise Totem

a pretty little piece of pink quartz

I'm hoping to have my tortoise home soon,

 and will keep this totem on the dashboard

 as a reminder of their support.

Tortoise: they represent independence,

travel, and the ability to not be tied down

or chained to one place as they carry their home

with them wherever they desire.

The Tortoise symbolizes

fortitude and perserverance.

In both Sioux and Chinese culture

it represents birth and new beginnings.

It also means longevity, protection, support, wealth and prosperity.

This is a new beginning, as this dream of traveling

 around will be a solo trip. In October 2009

I suddenly became a widow and will have to

continue on this journey by myself.

Hopefully my husband is looking over me

and will help me get through the

challenges that I am sure to face.

We had 33 great years together and

many trips over the past 10 years

but not in a camper, we drove and stayed in

cabins or motels. The best and last was our

2009 trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

and then to Zion, Bryce & Arches N.P.