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On
the road, the RV lifestyle means fun, fellowship
By Willard Swanson
for GwinnettForum.com
LAWRENCEVILLE, June 22, 2001 - My wife (Sue) and I are fast approaching
40 years of Recreation Vehicling (RVing). As we leave for yet another
camp-out with one of the two RV chapters we belong to, we think
back about the good times we have had enjoying this life-style.
We left recently on Wednesday to arrive in Gadsden, Alabama at
River Country RV park for a long weekend. The park is a few blocks
from the center of the city. Several members are from Gwinnett County,
and others are mostly from the northern part of Georgia. Out of
the 53 coaches that belong to Holiday Ramblers Chapter 88 nearly
half (23) show up for this outing. Dues are $15 per year.
We are in our ninth RV, starting with a pickup camper. We are now
in a 35 foot motor coach. Some members have travel trailers, some
smaller coaches but most now have coaches up to 40 feet. Most members
are retired, or close to it, and have been members and friends for
many years.
Most nights we gather for games and chit-chatting. Many eat out
where the locals gather. "Top of the River" is a favorite
for seafood; "The Warehouse" is great for lunch; and "Pruitt's
Bar-B-Q" is another favorite. A highlight is the Saturday night
pot luck supper.
Saturday mornings are business meeting, including reports from
those that might be under the weather, news from those on extended
travels, reports from the wagonmaster for future camp-outs (once
a month), and reports on state, regional, and international rallies.
Sunday mornings we break camp. This time about a dozen of us were
headed to Tunica, Miss. for an additional four days.
Some are headed for extended travel. Bill and Pat are on their
way to Alaska. I ask Bill, "Is this your first time to Alaska?"
"Oh no, this is our third time."
"And when are you returning home?" "Oh, I don't
know, maybe by the last of September." You see the way it goes
with RVers---wherever the roads takes them.
Some may wonder about cost. Camping fees average about $20 a night.
We tow a car so we don't have the cost of a rental car. We eat out
at least once a day but most meals are prepared in the RV, with
cost comparing to spending at home.
On a recent three day-two night trip, we flew to Richmond, Va.
The hotel was about $100 a night plus eating out three times a day.
The rental car cost was approximately $40 a day.
Then there was the cost of the flight. (A 14 day advanced stay
over a Saturday night to Richmond would cost $210 per person. We
could have driven for less.) The point is that we spent more for
the three days when flying than the eight days of RV travel.
The cost of the RV depends on how deep your pockets are. A small
used travel trailer would be around $10,000. Or you might go for
the 45 foot coach at better than $800,000. The average cost for
a well equipped new coach could be less than $125,000.
RVers have a lot of fun. And great things happen along the way.
But that could be stories for another time. The best part of RVing
is the fellowship and the friends you make.
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