SeaDawg

I feel all of your pain, and your wife's. Even our Sunshine skyway bridge is always a "suck it up, buttercup" moment for me, as I approach the crest. Can't see anything, til you're at the top, like you're going to launch. I will say, once you get into the big (great) room in Carlsbad, it's anything but claustrophobic, unlike a lot of caves (and tunnels.) It's magnificent. I'm truly glad I swallowed my temerity, and went. I dislike narrow, high roads. Ledges make me dizzy-- even balconies in some theaters. Hate tunnels. Side story: first time in Norway, my father's cousin and his son picked us up at the train station. Took us through the then longest road tunnel in the world (Aurland tunnel), then over the top of the old Aurland snow road. Lots of scary ledges. I made it. We've done it many times since. I've lived. And, it's amazingly beautiful. Stegestein overlook is a modern wonder. Best views from any bathroom, in the world! (Newer. Wasnt there first few trips.) If I can do it, you can do it, too. When I'm driving, I just follow the pavement and traffic . Paul can look down and around. I can't. Is what it is. I seldom look around unless we're stopped. I'm ok if I just follow the road.

Yummy. Gumbo is one if my favorites. The lighting makes it look red, but no tomato in my gumbo. Ever. Its really more brown. My recipe is 2nd hand, via an old friend, who got it from a NOLA chef. Simple , but great. The veggies, andouille sausage,, and seafood create the flavors.

I am not a good cave traveler (I get spooked out by caves. Also really long tunnels. ) But, I did actually enjoy (most) of our time in Carlsbad, many years ago. That long descent. The darkness. The beauty. I don't know if it's open, but you are so close, if it is. When the weather clears.

Over the decades, we've rented or delivered rental rvs to many locations. Many rv rental places used to have "sharing" areas. People left food, grills, propane canisters,, etc. If we found something there, like a nice grill, we'd return it at the end if our trip. (Our friend who has a rental rv company in Alaska eliminated the sharing table, at the suggestion of his insurance company.) We've benefited from grills, spices, etc., in Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. Like @Steph and Dud B, we've given a lot of things away at last or next to last night. Usually to tent or van campers close by, or that we've met in the common area. In Alaska, on our multiple delivery trips, we stop at my cousin's cabin near Denali for a few nights, to help her with projects and catch up. We offload chairs, grill, blankets, extra groceries, etc. What's open, she uses. The other stuff, she takes to her church, where it get distributed to those in need. We keep just enough to keep us going for a final night at Lake Matanuska, where we have a picnic table, so no chairs necessary. A side story. We camped one time with friends from Minnesota. One of their chairs broke, we had three, so we gave them one of ours. It became the "traveling chair," and we got photos from fun places of "the traveling chair." A few years later, we met them on a trip to Alaska. They returned the chair. It went on several thousand miles to my cousin in Alaska, went home to them in Wyoming at the end of season, and the saga continues. Some things are just plain fun. This well traveled chair is one.

+1 on topgun's post. We use reflectix, or cheap windshield covers from the dollar store, when we take new rvs to Alaska. Not only for the cold, but to cut the almost all day sun. I have a hard time sleeping when the sun is up at midnight. Store them under the mattress during the day.

Ouch. I don't think that's an option for most of us, at that price. Then again, this is targeting businesses, not campers. Hope they'll eventually come out with a moderate price structure, without the "premium" services.

That sounds yummy, @BackofBeyond. Do you use a tripod or coals for the gumbo pot? I'm making gumbo this morning, but on the stove top. It's a slow, but very rewarding process.

Although it's certainly not a prerequisite, I do think tent camping experience helps you to avoid carrying extra stuff, manage power and water, and, truly appreciate the extra comfort of a trailer. We treat our Ollie Elite like a,warm, dry tent on wheels, and it has served us well for 14 seasons. The smaller Elite is snug, but I can cook, use the bathroom, and shower inside when I want to. And, oh, so much more comfy than a tent in cooler temps. I remember frost inside my tent in the 20s and 30s and wishing I didn't have to get out of my sleeping bag, in a tent. Now in shoulder season, I just reach over, kick up the furnace, and life is really good! At my age, my arms are "too short" to push off the ground and an airmattress, easily. There are still times i wouldn't mind enjoying the simplicity of tent camping, though. Still our daughter's camping mode of choice.

@Landrover, I know! I still love "hobo" dinners, made that way. (That's what we called them, back in the day. ) Great memories. Once in awhile,, when we have a group, I'll slice and dice, put stuff out, let folks pick a mix, help the newbies fold and seal, and away we go. It's also a great way to heat leftovers, when you don't have a microwave. A bit of leftover chicken or steak, sliced, with veggies and seasonings becomes campfire fajitas. Or, a fun facsimile thereof. I, too, love playing/cooking with fire.

Is this the dometic 9500?

I thought about this thread today. A bit of my camping cooking sometimes starts at home . Chicken tenderloins were on sale last week at the market, so I picked up a big package . I froze a few packets (vac packed, flat on a cookie sheet) of raw, for campfire or grill. I seasoned and cooked a few, for quick salads, or protein for tacos, burritos, jambalaya, etc on rainy days. I'll vacpack and freeze those, 2 up. 1 each is more than enough protein. I chopped all the veggies while those cooked, and I'll make gumbo and freeze a quart or two, tomorrow, and use up the rest of the chicken. My vac pac machine was pretty inexpensive, on Amazon, but it keeps my bulk purchases from freezer burning pretty well. I also use it to make up seasoned burger patties, seasoned steaks and chops, sometimes marinated meats. The advantage is, I know exactly what's in everything, and no unknown seasonings to mess with my allergies, less sodium, no added chemicals. Our tiny freezer in the Truckfridge only allows for so much frozen food, so I freeze flat, for stacking. You folks with the bigger freezers can hold more.

I can't be of much help with this, as we have a manual awning, different brand. Any of you with the same awning had a similar issue?

November in Hohenwald is often beautiful. It's in the edge of the Cumberland plateau. It may be chilly, but likely beautiful. I'd be more worried about campsites on the way home, than in Tennessee. But, many others have done the trek west in much colder months.

Maybe the setting button is the menu? Idk.

@John Welte, I think picking a Monday was a great idea. Camp three or four days around Hohenwald, try everything, learn all the new systems, and enjoy.

@mossemi, I saw her post on Facebook. She doesn't have a "tv" input, which is what I use for my mom's vizio with no cable box. Her choices are "watch free," hdmi1, hdmi2, and streaming. I'd personally start with watch free, since that's likely tv. Then work my way through the hdmi choices. She has no menu button, either, but channel scan probably comes up when you change input, using the left/right, up/down functions around the ok button. At least, I would think so. I took a screenshot of her fb photo of her remote. I rarely watch TV, but I'm the designated person to fix mom's when she messes up the buttons and settings, or settings are lost in a power outage. We have a similar Samsung remote, but it does have a menu button. Too complicated. So, any of you who actually have the newer smart vizio have any suggestions for these new owners? I think @mossemi and I have probably offered what we can... for what it's worth.

+1 on what Mike said. Over 10 years now.

The smallest microwave I've seen, recently, was a .7 cf at Walmart. If they'd had it in red then, I might just have bought one for the garage. Weighing in at 20 lbs, even if it doesn't fit in your cabinet, it wouldn't be difficult to move from the closet or pantry to a tabletop for use. Walmart also has a Galanz combination .9 cf microwave/air fryer, but it didn't have consistent reviews. (In all fairness, most combo products I've had do an ok job on both, at best. The exception I've found is a Ninja air fryer/toaster / roaster/ oven, but it's way too big to drag around the country.) You may get some other ideas from this thread, if you have a cabinet.

@DJM, if you would put your model and year in the signature or post, it would help you to get better advice. When you say "space provided," I think you may mean you have a storage compartment with wooden sides (which Oliver no longer offers, btw.) The storage box is much smaller than the microwave cavity, because the box squares up and cleans up the curved cavity. Would a small toaster oven meet your needs? Several people here carry one on their storage compartments. I assume they still have to pull it out to use it, at least partway, as the compartment doesn't allow for proper space for venting the heat. That would likely be true for a convection microwave, also.

That, and not carrying 6 gallons of water weight that can only be accessed by draining the heater, are probably the best arguments for boondocker use of a tankless. Most of the time, if I only need a bit of hot water, I heat it in a tea kettle on the cooktop. Zero cold water down the drain. I think we conserve quite a bit of water that way.

Just curious, but what do you have for options already? Do you usually stay in campgrounds with full hookups? If so, adding solar, other than maybe a portable suitcase panel, probably isn't necessary. The base Oliver is pretty well equipped.

@Landrover, I was reminded of your camera install by a recent thread. How has it worked out for you? Do you leave it installed, or remove it from the velcro mount before getting underway?

If you get there, don't ignore the northern Badlands. Many do. Teddy Roosevelt park is amazing. I actually like the northern badlands more than Southern.

So, a bit late for throwback Thursday. But, this is still a favorite. My husband and I have traveled so many places. I had tears in my eyes when our plane circled Norway for the first time, decades ago. We've camped on so many fun and exotic places, with, and without our Oliver. We've enjoyed camping in so many places, here, and abroad. And, sailing expeditions, as well. It's all about trust in each other, your vehicle, and what you are willing to risk, and, enjoy, together. Our life has always been about "will you go with me.," And, it's been a great travel. I only hope all of you can or have enjoyed the journeys, too.

It depends In our situation, with boondocking most of the time, I'd say no. Better to fire up the 6 gallon to warm shower temp, and call it done , If you camp with full hookups, its irrelevant. Get the truma.