Motorhoming has taken these longtime friends on a journey to intriguing destinations and careers in the culinary arts.
By Phyllis Hinz and Lamont Mackay, F175089
April 2016
We drive into people’s lives
We meet by chance
At a moment in time
At a particular place on earth
We share the hours
And drive out again
Glad to have been there
Because after all
For that moment in time
It was our favorite place on earth
— Phyllis Hinz and Lamont Mackay
For us, RVing is the ultimate freedom. As RVers, we have visited every U.S. state, and every Canadian province and territory except Nunavut. We stood at the Arctic Circle with huge, fluffy snowflakes falling on our faces; walked ghost towns in New Mexico; watched wild horses run among the Carolina dunes; and chilled our drinks with iceberg bits in Newfoundland and Labrador. We even rented an RV and slept beside the ocean in Hawaii.
As RVers, each place we visit is home. We become familiar with the grocery stores, post offices, restaurants, and gas stations. With our visitor’s perspective, we glimpse the uniqueness of the area that some residents no longer see. When we leave, we have new names in our address books.
We like to travel with our clothes in a closet, sleep in our own beds, sit in our favorite chairs, and cook in our kitchen. RVing creates a level playing field. It’s living the here and now with like-minded people. No one cares what anyone else was in a previous life. Conversations are about the weather and the best road to take to the next destination. Decisions are as uncomplicated as what’s for dinner and whether to eat in or go out.
How We Got Started
Our first RV experience was traveling Europe in a VW van. It was not the model with a pop-up roof. After nine months and 25,000 kilometers (15,500 miles), we didn’t know whether we would be able to stand up straight ever again. But we did know that living full-time on the road in North America was in our future.
We returned to Canada and co-owned restaurants for almost 20 years. The food business was not huge in either of our resumés. It just happened, and we loved it. In a previous life, Lamont was a high school teacher and Phyllis was a banker. Our first restaurant led to owning and operating three more, plus a catering company. We worked seven days a week. One of Lamont’s former students, Susan Emmott, arrived for a visit and stayed on to become a partner. Working side by side with us, she was as energetic and passionate about the food business as we were.
With Susan on board to look after things in our absence, we could once again pursue our love of RVing. We purchased a 19-foot Type B motorhome and squeezed in one or two short vacations each year.
When Susan died suddenly of an asthma attack at the age of 28, we realized how locked in to work we had become. We sold the business, our houses, and all our possessions. We held so many garage sales to get rid of stuff that people thought we were professionals. We went shopping for a larger motorhome.
Preparing For Full-Time RVing
We wanted a motorhome with a big kitchen and automatic leveling jacks. We intended to purchase one about 30 feet long. When our chosen floor plan came only in a 40-foot length, we bought it. It also was much taller than the van conversion. The day we took delivery of that huge diesel pusher, we ducked every time we drove under an overpass.
To research living on the road full-time, we attended FMCA Family Reunions and took in seminars. We learned about tires, tow hitches, and tow cars. It was unlikely that either of us would be changing the engine oil or belts, but it was important to know how to do it so that we could be knowledgeable about repairs and annual maintenance. We learned the value of toll-free customer service lines. When a hydraulic jack didn’t work, we called a company technician who walked us through a solution.
A manufacturer’s factory tour helped us to understand the construction of our motorhome. We were happy to learn that the ceiling was supposed to move when one of us was up on the roof with a hose and brush.
A seasoned RVer taught us how to avoid taking out stop signs, or pedestrians, when turning at intersections: “Don’t begin to turn the steering wheel until your bum is in the middle of the lane you are turning into. It’s not the same as driving a car. In a Class A, you are sitting on top of the wheels. Swing wide to keep the back end from cutting the corner.” It has worked perfectly every time.
A trucker friend told us how to back into a campsite by pulling parallel to the curb. His lesson meant we parked in seconds; no more entertaining neighbors with our back-and-forth configurations. We purchased walkie-talkies for easy communication between driver and director. We both wanted to drive, so we made a rule to alternate: One would drive into an RV park at the end of the day, and the other would drive out in the morning.
Living full-time in a motorhome brought some challenges. Who was going to cut our hair? We couldn’t bring our hairdressers with us on the road, so we took classes to learn how to cut each other’s. The 1-800-Clairol number became very important when Lamont’s streaks came out purple, rather than the light blonde promised on the box. Our families were concerned about our safety as two women traveling in a motorhome. We took a basic self-defense course. Then we borrowed a pair of scuffed-up steel-toed boots and set them outside the RV door at night, along with a dog dish and chain.
How would we receive our mail? We signed on for FMCA mail forwarding. With just a phone call, our mail was sent to wherever we happened to be. What if we drove into bad weather? We purchased a weather radio that set off an alarm when threatening conditions were imminent. Whenever we heard the alarm, we set purses, laptops, and an emergency kit at the door, ready to grab and run if, and when, the weather watch turned into a warning. On arrival at an RV park, we always scouted out the best building to vacate to in the event of severe weather.
What if the motorhome caught on fire? In addition to placing extra fire extinguishers strategically near the front doors and in the rear, we conducted a fire drill. It was helpful to discover that the emergency exit window needed more than just a gentle push.
What about insurance? In addition to coverage for driving the RV, we took out a policy on all our personal contents as well as out-of-country insurance for health emergencies. We returned to our home area at the same time each year for doctor and dentist appointments.
What about keeping in touch with family and friends? In our first years, we used calling cards at pay phones, and the FMCA message service. Now, cell phones, Skype, and email do the job. These days, good Wi-Fi at RV parks makes us happy campers.
From day one, we kept track of all our expenses so that we could compare from one month to the next, as well as year to year. This allowed us to calculate our financial needs and keep track of any expenses that got out of line. Early on, we bought travelers checks, but now online banking and credit cards are the norm. We always have an emergency fund for unexpected expenses. As when living in a stick house, full-time RVers have to consider the “what ifs.”
All RVers have common expenses, but when it comes to personal lifestyle on the road, there can be noticeable differences in costs — for example, boondocking versus RV parks with basic facilities or more expensive resorts with a ton of amenities. Our expenses each month depend on how often we eat at restaurants. Our excuse for eating out is that it is research for new recipes. Some RVers rarely eat out; others never dirty the kitchen. We love to cook, so we travel with a grill, a slow cooker, and other small appliances.
New Opportunities On The Road
Full-time RVing was the catalyst for our new careers as travel writers, cookbook authors, and bloggers. Every adventure becomes fodder for a story. Scouting out the food unique to particular areas leads to new recipes. Our RV-friendly creations have few ingredients and simple methods.
Our first cookbook, The Cooking Ladies’ Recipes From The Road, was written entirely in the motorhome. We spent hours preparing the recipes and taking hundreds of photographs in order to capture just the right shot. Our RV park neighbors arrived every day at 5:00 p.m. with chairs and drinks, ready to sample. Another endeavor is shooting cooking videos that are posted on our website, www.thecookingladies.com, and on YouTube. As consultants, we also help design, launch, or reopen restaurants, eateries, catering kitchens, and cafeterias. Our newest cookbook, Let’s Get Grilling — On the Road and Off the Grill Adventures with The Cooking Ladies, will be available in early summer 2016.
Part-Time RVing, Full-Time Mentality
After nine years as full-time RVers, we purchased a tiny cottage on the north shore of Lake Erie and created a test kitchen. The appeal of the property, apart from the crashing waves, was a side yard large enough to park the motorhome. By owning real estate once again, we always have an available RV site when we come off the road. With the chassis batteries kept on a trickle charge from a small solar panel that soaks up the sun on the dashboard, the motorhome is ready to go at any time.
Now as part-timers, we spend six months each year traveling in our motorhome. So, we spend less time on the road, but we still face every day with a full-time mentality. We know that life is short and meant to be an adventure. We know that when we turn the ignition key, hear the sound of the engine, and feel the wheels move beneath us, every care in the world is replaced by the excitement and anticipation of what’s down the road ahead.
Checklist
Considering either full-time or part-time RVing? Here’s what to think about:
Before your RV purchase:
- Talk to RVers.
- Research online.
- Attend seminars.
- Choose the type of RV that suits you.
- Tour manufacturers’ facilities.
- Select appropriate floor plan/model/options to suit your style of RVing.
- Choose an RV dealer; develop a relationship for advice and future trade-in or purchase.
- Do you require a towed vehicle? Choose a vehicle that is easily towable.
- Study motorhome weight restrictions for towing.
After your RV purchase:
- Study manuals.
- Create a maintenance schedule.
- Join RV clubs.
- Obtain park and campground listings/apps.
- Acquire maps/GPS.
- Establish a budget for on-the-road living.
- Set aside funds for emergencies, the “what ifs.”
- Purchase an appropriate cell phone plan (no roaming).
- Choose insurance for both vehicle and contents.
- Register for an emergency road service.
- Rehearse emergency fire and weather procedures.
- Set up Internet capability: satellite/WiFi with computer/laptop/iPad/smartphone.
- Purchase travel health insurance: Canadians require out-of-province medical insurance.
- Register for a mail forwarding service such as FMCA Mail Forwarding powered by Dakota Post.