Friday, September 17, 2010

Neighborhoods

You know we just got back from a nearly month-long trip, most of it by (ugh!) motel. Let me tell you a few things!

No, if you are already an RVer, you already know these things, and if you aren't an RVer, you don't want to know. But here I go anyway.

There are real values to going by motel:

(1) You get to carry everything in from your car when you arrive, and then carry it out when you leave. This way, you are reminded of all the stuff you brought that you really didn't need to bring.

(2) You get to meet the nice people at the front desk who will charge you exorbitant fees, plus about 12% room tax as well as regular sales tax.

(3)  There may be a swimming pool somewhere nearby that all the 3- to 8-year olds will already have peed in.

(4) It's possible there will be a "free" continental breakfast consisting of canned orange juice, stale pastries, cold cereal and a tiny cup of yogurt.

What could go wrong?

If you are an RVer, you already know that you will sleeping in a bed where who knows who has done who knows what the night before. The blankets will have a strange odor. You will need to eat most of your meals out-- foods loaded with calories, cholesterol and sugar. Oh yes, there is in-room coffee, two tiny cups of it each morning.

What's really neat is the "neighborhood" you'll be staying in. How do you like these neighborhoods we recently visited?

This one in Simi Valley, CA, wasn't too bad.


Then there's this one in Tonopah, NV.


And this one in Caron City, NV.


This one's nice -- it's an outdoor neighborhood in Kingman, AZ.



But what's with all these neighborhoods? They seem sterile. And can you see yourself, meeting your neighbor who just arrived, and inviting him over to sit under your awning and discuss the realities of hydraulic levelers? Would you suggest you go out to the Golden Corral for a dinner, then come back to sit around the campfire and solve the world's problems? Discuss which toilet chemical works best?

I don't think so. In your RV neighborhood, you sleep in your own bed, cook in your own kitchen, relieve yourself while sitting on your own toilet seat. If your neighbors are noisy, maybe they'll leave tomorrow, or you can drive away today!

Check out some of these neighborhoods we have been to in 8 years of RVing.

Rusty's Ranch in Rodeo, NM


Ponderosa Thousand Trails, near Lotus, CA


Pheasant Ridge, Wilsonville, OR


Snowflower NACO, on I-80 across the Sierra Nevada


Thousand Trails, Ponderosa, near Lotus, CA.


Sequoia National Park, CA


Rancheria, between Mount Lassen and McCloud, CA


Thousand Trails, Morgan Hill, CA


Thousand Trails, Palm Springs, CA


Hidden Valley Ranch, north of Deming, NM.


Manzano's, Silver City, NM.


SKP Chapter 21 Rally, Bowie, AZ


Randlett City Park, Anadarko, OK (FHU, no charge!)


Pettit Bay, Corps of Engineers, near Claremore, OK


Rush-No-More, near Sturgis, SD


El Mirador, San Carlos, Mexico


Eagle Canyon Hideaway, near Ogallala, NE.


Lidtke Park, Lime Springs, Iowa


Saguaro SKP Co-op, Benson, AZ


Rincon West, Tucson, AZ


Rusty's RV Resort, Rodeo, NM


So, what do you think? Motel neighborhood? RV neighborhood? You know our pick for the rest of ... Our Life on Wheels!

16 comments:

  1. You spelled it out just right with the pros and cons on motel travels. Oh, that's right...there really aren't any "pros" are there? Glad you folks made it home safe and sound.

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  2. No comparison! But if I do ever have to stay in a motel, I much prefer the outdoor neighborhood kind. I hate those long hallways, especially since I have to carry everything in and out, must make several trips - to say nothing of walking the dog down a long hallway just to take her out.

    Sleeping in your own bed is the clincher though.

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  3. we are with you!!..rv's all the way!!

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  4. Let me see...what shall I choose...tick tick tick...RV wins! You documented it well. We are truly fortunate when we can travel by RV. But if it means that we can travel, I will put up with motels if necessary. Glad you made it home safely, Jerry and Suzy!

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  5. Been many, many, years since I've been in a Motel & 'no' it wasn't me there doing a nasty. I think it would be the people contact at the Motel's front desk that would annoy me the most & the kids can pee their pants off all they want because I never go in those big water infested pools anyway. And good luck to those who do....yuck!! Great photos of all your RV Park stays. Nice touch. Some I liked but most looked too crowded for us. As far as sitting around with new RV neighbors talking up a big storm about a whole lot of absolutely nothing......I think I would prefer spending my time at the Liberace museum.) Good post Pardner.......:))

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  6. I couldn't agree more with your viewpoint on motels vs. campgrounds/RV parks. Having spent most of my career traveling and living out of a suitcase, even the best and most expensive luxury hotels pale in comparison to our home on wheels. We recognize several of the places you've parked your Rosie, and even spotted ourselves in one of the photos. Glad you're safely back home with some new experiences under your belt.

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  7. Glad to see you guys made it back to your home safely, You are so right about Motels, I spent a lot of nights in them while I was driving the bus, and some are worse than others, especially some of the trucker specials for $39, Remember the old saying you get what you pay for, this really proves it. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  8. WE ALWAYS TRAVELED VIA MOTEL FOR THE 33 YEARS WE WERE WITHOUT THE HIKER...I REALLY HATE TO DO IT NOW. HAVING AN RV REALLY CHANGED HOW WE FEEL ABOUT HAVING OUR OWN SPACE!..ALWAYS A CLEAN BED, TOILET AND GOOD FOOD..GLAD YOU HAD A SAFE TRIP.....AND WELCOME BACK!

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  9. 100% behind you on this one!!Love the postings of all the places you have stayed!!

    Cindy and Walker

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  10. Well said Jerry! We could not agree with you more, the RV neighborhood is the only way to go.

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  11. Nice post. We only use motels in a must do situation. Much prefer having our wheel estate along. The tax on the rooms is a real downer.

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  12. Exactly correct. Our few expeditions into hotel/motels in the last four years have been universally unpleasant.

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  13. I agree with all the comments so far - even Al's! RV'ing certainly does beat the hotel/motel route, even the fancy ones as far as we're concerned.

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  14. A big "yes" vote for the RV neighborhoods. We hope to spend some time in YOUR neighborhood this winter. Glad you had a good trip & made it home safely. JoAnn & Doug

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  15. I most certianly know EXACTLY what your talking about,,,,,,Its for the BIRDS!!!!

    Hard to believe I spent so much time in them when I was working... It does help a little when someone else is paying the bill...:-)

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  16. Let's not forget now, if you're super careful to pick a good motel they just might give you a free gift to take home....BED BUGS!!! And who wouldn't want that?? :D

    Great pics of your rigs at the RV parks, they inspired me (a wannabe FT) to keep working and dreaming!

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