Recently we asked FMC readers to describe activities they enjoy while motorhoming. We shared some of the responses last month. Because the topic was so popular, we’re running more reader contributions this month.
Describe a craft, hobby, activity, or sport you enjoy during a motorhome trip.
We enjoy geocaching while motorhoming. One of the biggest joys for motorhomers is discovering interesting places. This is one of the things that geocaching provides. It frequently takes you to really neat places you might never have found otherwise. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure-hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. There are almost 3 million located around the world. We have found more than 1,600 of them in 40 states and 12 countries so far. For additional information, go to www.geocaching.com.
Chris & Jeannie Christensen, F420774
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
While my dear husband, Steve, steers our Itasca motorhome to our next FMCA chapter rally, I weave caps on a loom so that my mind and hands are busy. As a volunteer for the Golden Friends Craft Group, which meets weekly at the Senior Center in Livermore, California, I am in charge of hat donations for our local ChemoCare Bag Ministry. Most of the bags are mailed to women who have breast cancer. This ministry operates totally by donations. Each hat takes about five hours to complete and is woven in pink, blue, or purple yarn. To date I have woven about 30 hats. Even though I will never know who will wear each homemade hat, I know that it will keep her head warm and maybe her heart, too.
Jeanette Shade, F395353
Livermore, California
I knit hats and scarves. I knit on the road when not driving, while watching TV, or sometimes while visiting with friends. Not fancy ones, just warm ones for anyone needing them, in homeless shelters, on the streets, or in low-income families. I am part of a small knitting group called the Knit Wits, based at the First United Methodist Church in Deming, New Mexico. The yarn is donated, for which we are deeply grateful. Some of us knit, some crochet, and some use a loom for the hats. Regardless, we are able to send/deliver several hundred hats or hat-and-scarf sets each year. Just about the time we are low on yarn, donations come in that restock our supply. We just “pass it on” in the form of warmth to someone in need.
Ellie Wolf, F139894
Deming, New Mexico
Our family enjoyed a learning activity. We ventured off on an 18,000-mile trip across America, visiting 22 states (going as far north as Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay), four Canadian provinces, and 12 U.S. national parks. Almost all national parks administer a Junior Ranger program that has activities for ages 5 to 13 and teaches them about the park’s preservation, history, science, and geography. Our children received Junior Ranger booklets. As they completed a series of age-based activities and questions, a park ranger reviewed with them. Upon completion, the children were sworn in as Junior Rangers and received an official Junior Ranger patch and Junior Ranger certificate. National parks provide great activities that allow us to enjoy and learn about an America we are not familiar with and never knew existed.
The Castagna Family, F428793
Bronx, New York
Our favorite hobby or activity, which we have enjoyed for more than 40 years of RVing, is putting together jigsaw puzzles. It is a great pastime, one not affected by weather. However, we made a board on which to work each puzzle, and if the weather is suitable, we take the puzzle outside. We especially like puzzles that are special shapes: an outline of the United States, a butterfly, a golf bag and clubs, etc. Before we sold our concrete home more than 15 years ago, we assembled a jigsaw puzzle shaped like a grandfather clock and hung it in our motorhome. It really works! As for our favorite sport, it is golf. We love the different terrains we have encountered throughout the United States. Billiards is another top sport, which we can play in any weather. There is so much to do and enjoy while traveling (and living) in our motorhome. One does not have to give up anything to RV; instead, you can expand your horizons!
Eric & Bernadette Berland, F270976
Kissimmee, Florida
Motorhoming supports all kinds of sports, from tailgating at the grandkids’ soccer matches to dog shows to exploring the backcountry on foot, horseback, or Jeep. The hard part is finding time to enjoy the many activities. But in my opinion, there’s nothing like parking the coach with a vista, be it a warm mountain meadow; an overlook of the restless sea; a wide-open prairie, where the long winds blow; or a desert, as cloud shadows chase each other in the crystal-clear air. In other words, parking the motorhome on a beautiful overlook, deploying the awning and antigravity chairs, fixing an iced-down lemonade, grabbing a good book or e-reader, and just plain relaxing! As you lean back, you can rest your eyes on the view or slip into the alternate world of literature. It’s called recharging your battery, and some of us think of it as a sport. And we all need to do it once in a while.
Jim Brightly, F358406
Kingman, Arizona
Crafts and hobbies keep you happy and active. We have enjoyed 13 years of sight-seeing all over the United States, and as full-timers, we plan to enjoy many more. As you grow older, you may need to pick new interests. My husband loved riding his Harley and driving our motorhome. After shoulder surgery, he realized it was time to replace the motorcycle. I was new to wood carving and suggested he try it. What a natural. Now he spends hours outside hand carving beautiful pieces of art. His eyesight is now failing because of glaucoma, so he may have to find another interest. I have no doubt that he will. His hardest adjustment may be the day I do all the driving . . . and for me, the day I have a backseat driver!
Sandi Schneider, F288975
Roseburg, Oregon
Future questions:
1. What’s the ideal duration for a motorhome trip (weekend, week, season, etc.)? Please explain why.
2. What one thing would you change about your motorhome if you could, and why?