September 27, 2006 at 11:12 am · Filed under FAQs
I know that a lot of people read this blog to capture ideas for their own travel in the future. That’s why I talk honestly about the good and the bad, our experiences with equipment, people, and places. It’s my hope that you can get an idea of what’s waiting for you when you get on the road yourself.
Lately I’ve been talking a lot about non-travel subjects like divesting household stuff and getting our tow vehicle serviced. That’s because it’s part of the lifestyle. It’s not glamorous dealing with some issues, but absolutely necessary. I find a lot of people have questions about seemingly mundane things like “How do I decide where to go first?” and “What do I do with my furniture?” I can relate because those little things can be the difference between going and being bogged down by uncertainty.
But there’s another, more selfish, reason that I blog. While I enjoy helping others get going, and sharing our adventures, I also benefit from your feedback. As of this month, over 5,000 people read our blog. So when I have a problem, I can call on you for help — and that’s incredibly powerful.
For example, yesterday I mentioned needing an address for our scammer, and having some things to give away. Right away, two blog readers offered their addresses, and another one made arrangements to get some of our stuff from storage. When we have had a problem, blog readers have been there to help us out. When we’ve needed a place to stay, you’ve offered us courtesy parking. This two-way interaction makes the whole thing work.
So the answer to the question of “Where should I go?” can be found if you take the time to share your experience with other people. We get invitations to camp, invitations to join rallies, and suggestions of really terrific places to go, all the time from our Internet friends like you. The Internet blog phenomenon isn’t just an egotistical expression of a few outgoing people. It’s a form of communication that really adds value to an adventure like this — changing what was a solitary pursuit (full-time RV’ing) into a group experience.
The new generation of RV’ers is different that way. A decade ago, the big full-time RV trip was almost solely for retirees, who effectively dropped out of communication for long periods of time. Now, we are a generally younger crowd (the average new Airstream buyers are still working and in their 50s). We are in constant communication through our cell phones and Internet. And it works for us, because going out on the road is no longer just about dropping out — but equally about dropping in, in other words, seeking out new experiences, new people, and sharing those things.
That’s why this blog continues. In about a week I (with occasional contributions from Eleanor and Emma) will have been blogging this experience for a full year. It has been a massive amount of work, but I foresee us continuing the blog for at least another four months, probably longer. I’m happy to do it because you make it worthwhile.
Eleanor is dropping off more stuff from storage with friends today: a box of cherry wood scraps, a cherry table (sold), kid’s stuff for the local playgroup, and leftover building supplies from our former house. I’ve made contact with a local guy who takes good household items and donates them to needy families, so he’ll meet us Saturday with his truck to take some furniture. I’m hoping by Sunday we’ll have our remaining stuff reduced to just one storage unit, which has been our goal all along.
September 26, 2006 at 1:20 pm · Filed under The scam
Dispensing of things is a curious business sometimes. Our society defines has value in unexpected ways. We have given away piles of perfectly usable merchandise, including furniture, appliances, toys, clothes, and computers. We have thrown out hundreds of items that are still functional but worthless because new replacements are readily available and no one can be found to take the used things.
A few of the things yet to be sold, or given away … Click for larger.
For example, I have a completely operational color TV, and a combination print-fax-scan device. Our local recycle place won’t accept them. Apparently the TV is too old, even though it works perfectly. I don’t know why they won’t take the 3-in-1 device.
But while I can’t sell or even give away those things, I discovered that I can sell an obsolete version of TurboTax software for up to $25 on eBay.
Why? Because as it turns out, people sometimes need to reprint their old TurboTax files. If you’ve lost the paper copies and didn’t make a PDF, you are forced to find an obsolete copy of the software to open and reprint the file. This problem is apparently so pervasive that someone has even made a business out of it. So when I discovered a 1999 version of TurboTax in my old files, I put it on eBay. It’s weird what has value.
The cameras are going on eBay …
Speaking of weird, here’s the latest from my friend in Nigeria, “Dr. Lilian Williams.” She is still interested in sending me a fake check for $2,500 for a rusted-out car.
HELLO,
THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING BUT THE CHECK WAS SENT BACK BY THE COURIER SERVICE USED BECAUSE THEY DONT DELIVER TO P.O BOXES SOI URGE THAT YOU GET BACK TO ME WITH YOU FULL NAME AND FULL HOME ADDRESS SO THAT THE CHECK CAN BE SENT DIRECTLY TO YOU.
THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING ONCEMORE.
I AWAIT YOUR REPLY.
DR.LILIAN WILLIAMS
I’m not eager to provide this scammer with a home address, so perhaps I’ll give up on the quest for a souvenir fake Nigerian check. It’s not worth opening a private mail box just for this. If anyone else wants to volunteer an address, let me know, otherwise I’m going to say goodbye to Dr Lilian.
Yesterday: six hours at storage. Our cumulative time on this project of dispensing with excess stuff has to be in excess of 60 hours at this point. We are still at least 20 hours from our goal of having cut our total volume of stuff down by half. I am beginning to chant the mantra Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle as I work. Clearly, the first “R” is the important one. I doubt I will ever want to buy a big house again — they fill up with stuff too easily.
Eleanor and I are talking about schedule on a daily basis now. We think we will be spending Christmas Day in Corpus Christi, TX. I’ve updated the official schedule with the information we have at present.
September 25, 2006 at 10:22 am · Filed under The scam
Several years ago, when Eleanor and I were looking for our first travel trailer, we met a nice lady who had an Argosy trailer. She was eager to sell it and received a full price offer from a nice fellow overseas, who planned to ship it to his home in Nigeria.
You’ve probably heard this scam before. The next step is that the “buyer” sends an overpayment via a fake certified check, and asks that you refund the extra money to him (or his shipping agent) via wire transfer, often Western Union money order. If you are gullible, you deposit the fake check (which looks quite real), the money appears in your bank account, and shortly after you send the balance back, your bank informs you that the check was bogus and takes ALL the money out of your account.
We warned the seller that she was about to get taken, and so she didn’t fall for it when the fake check arrived.
Courtesy 419Eater.com
This is known as the “Nigerian 419 scam“. I suppose it was only a matter of time before I got contacted by someone wanting to run this scam on me. A few days ago I posted our 1991 Honda Prelude (the one that failed inspection) on craigslist for $500 or best offer. I also posted some furniture.
The next morning I got replies on both items. Both responses were identical, except for the name of the “buyer”:
HELLO,
I AM INTERESTED IN BUYING THE ITEM YOU PPLACED ON CRAIGSLIST ABOVE AND I NEED YOU TO LET ME KNOW IF IT IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR SALE AND IF YOU ACCEPT A CERTIFIED BANK CHECK PLS GET BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
LILIAN
Clues that this is a scam: “she” didn’t identify the item for sale, didn’t ask any questions, and is offering full asking price with a certified check right off the bat. Fractured English and all-caps writing are also suspicious.
So (because I’ve always wanted to see one of the Nigerian fake certified checks) I wrote back that I would be pleased to take a certified check for the 1991 Honda Prelude.
HELLO,
THANKS FOR THE REPLY,I AM WILLING TO MAKE THE PAYMENT VIA CERTIFIED BANK CHECK SO I URGE THAT YOU SEND ME YOUR FULL NAME,FULL ADDRESS,PHONE NUMBER SO THAT THE CHECK CAN BE SENT TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.THE SHIPPING WILL BE HANDLED AFTER PAYMENT IS CLEARED.
PLS GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
DR.LILIAN WILLIAMS
Not wanting to reveal all my personal details, and wondering just how dumb this scammer was, I replied with a fake name and phone number:
“Please make the check for $500 out to my cousin — it is his car.
Ayres T. Reem
PO Box 74
Ferrisburg, VT 05456
802-876-2801
I can sign the title over after the check clears.
Thanks”
I heard back immediately:
HELLO,
I GOT YOUR INFORMATION AND I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY ACCOUNTANT TO MAKE PAYMENT.A CHECK OF $2,500 HAS BEEN ISSUED BY MY ACCOUNTANT AND SENT AND AS SOON AS YOU GET THE CHECK YOU CASH IT AND SEND THE OVERPAYMENT VIA WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER TO MY SHIPPING COMPANY FOR SHIPPING FEE SO THAT THE ITEM CAN BE PICKED UP BY MY MOVER/SHIPPER.
SORRY FOR THE INCONVINIENCES.
N:b: ALL WESTERN UNION CHARGES WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE OVERPAYMENT OF$2,000,PLS GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS MESSAGE.
DR.LILIAN WILLIAMS
Gee, what a surprise! Extra money for shipping expenses. That’s a lot of money to spend to ship a $500 rusted car. And where exactly is it going? “Dr Lilian Williams” didn’t say. But I wrote back that this was fine.
HELLO,
THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING,I WANT YOU TO DELETE THE ITEM FROM CRAIGSLIST AND CONSIDER IT MINE.I WILL SEND YOU A TRACKING NUMBER SOON.THANKS.
DR.LILIAN WILLIAMS
So I’m waiting for my check now. Can’t wait to see it. I hear they make good fakes.
Meanwhile, Eleanor and I have given the car away. Yesterday while we were at storage, Colin Hyde came by. He took a few bulky things, including a desk and my old mountain bike, and then Eleanor mentioned the Honda Prelude. Turns out that Colin has an employee who has no car and is going through a divorce, so we gave him the car. He’ll need to patch a rust hole to get inspected, but otherwise it should be a good reliable car for him for at least another year.
Yesterday Emma and her grandmother worked on a Halloween pumpkin. (The best part, as always, was the perfectly roasted seeds that resulted.) Pumpkin carving means it’s really Fall in Vermont. I’ll be on the lookout for foliage developing in the next two weeks.
September 24, 2006 at 10:29 am · Filed under Uncategorized
OK, I’ve been told that my little joke of yesterday was too subtle and went right over peoples’ heads, so I’ll confess. The “mystery mounds of Addison County” are in fact septic system leach fields. See, it was a joke … there’s a lot of clay soil in Addison County and so most people have to put in a “mound” type leach field to compensate.
But I really am thinking about doing the tongue-in-cheek guidebook for “flatlander” tourists who come to Vermont. Seems like a fun idea, and it will give people a reason to visit Addison County and take pictures of something besides foliage.
Bert called yesterday from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He and Janie are anticipating being back in the northeast US in about two weeks. They’ll catch the high-speed Cat Ferry from Yarmouth, NS to Maine, and then rendezvous with us in Massachusetts or Pennsylvania.
Adam called yesterday as well. He and Susan are flying west to pick up their Airstream Class C and drive US Rt 50 through Nevada, Colorado, and Kansas. We’ve driven a lot of that route and it is a terrific (if occasionally lonely) trip.
Rich C called from Florida — he’s stuck there for at least a month, probably more, but at least he’s feeling better. And we’re still here, watching the Fall weather and frantically trying to get our stored stuff under control before it really turns cold and windy. Eleanor and I are heading up to storage again today to pull a few Adirondack chairs out and donate them to friends and family.
September 23, 2006 at 9:25 am · Filed under Uncategorized
This area is distinguished by an interesting terrain feature that people don’t often talk about. Dotting the landscape are what I called “mystery mounds” — lumps of earth that are clearly not natural in origin. Resembling ancient Native American ceremonial mounds, these can be found all through Vermont, but there is a particular concentration of them in Addison County.
A “mystery mound” on public land in Charlotte VT, near the modern-day baseball diamond.
It is known that the mounds are not Native American in origin. These mounds are typically rectangular, low, and vary in size from about 20 feet by 30 feet, to as much as 100 feet square — nothing like Native American mounds found in other parts of the country. They are more reminiscent of Roman earthworks found in parts of Europe.
I find the diversity of these mounds to be fascinating, but the fact that no one really bothers to research them is even more interesting. To be fair, the mounds are subtle enough that many people don’t notice them, or perhaps think that a given mound is a natural phenomenon. But when you begin to realize that they can be found in backyards all over Addison county, it becomes clear that some forces were at work to form them, other than natural geological phenomenae.
Were they in fact built by a previously unknown prehistoric people? Are they just heaps of discarded trash, like the shell middens found in Florida, or do they contain human remains (more likely, in my opinion).
Next summer, I am planning to work on a book which photo-documents and describes about two dozen of the most spectacular and well-revealed examples of mystery mounds in Addison County. There are many more, but I hope that by publicizing this unique feature of Addison County, the region will become as well known for mounds as Madison County (IA) is known for its bridges. Perhaps someday, there will even be a movie resulting. The region could certainly use the extra tourism. 😉
We were going to drop in on the Northeast Street Rod Nationals today. It’s being held at the same fairgrounds as the 2003 WBCCI International Rally, just about 20 miles from here. But the weather is gray and rainy today, not great for walking around the fairgrounds and seeing the cool cars. If things clear up a bit maybe we’ll still go, and if so I’ll snap some photos.
September 22, 2006 at 9:37 am · Filed under Uncategorized
It has started. I got a peek of foliage when we were up a thousand feet in the Adirondacks last weekend, but now the foliage has started even down here in the Champlain Valley. We’re in the “banana belt” of Vermont, so if we can see trees turning here that means it’s beginning all over the state. So far the colors are good (nice and bright) and at this rate I would expect a peak in a valley’s foliage around Oct 1-6.
I took a walk after work yesterday, down the road which I walked every day for a couple of years in high school to catch the bus. Things have changed since then, of course. Now many of the little ranch houses along the lake have been replaced by McMansions with huge vegetation barries to give them more privacy. But at the end of the road, a massive red barn still stands. It has not been used as long as I can remember, but the owners still paint it once in a long while, and it has become such a landmark on the road that I can’t imagine the local residents ever allowing it to be torn down.
The weather was spectacularly crisp and clear — a classic Fall day in Vermont, the kind that sends the Vermont Life magazine photographers scurrying out to capture images for next year’s magazine.
My walk took me down to a small covered bridge a mile away by the Town Beach. This bridge is full of memories … good summer days climbing among the beams with my friends, and one bad day in the winter when a 10-year-old friend fell through the spring ice and disappeared, swept away by the current. I can’t ever see this bridge without remembering that. The tourists who come through are lucky — they can see the bridge for what it is: an innocent and historic little piece of architecture in a quiet idyllic setting.
We’ll be getting out & about in Vermont in the next week hopefully, and this will give Eleanor and I a chance to spot some foliage, if the weather cooperates. Although today is perfect for that, it’s still too early, so we plan to spend today at the storage units, once again culling out stuff. Eleanor spent a few days this week dropping off things with friends, and four boxes of trash went out yesterday, so we are getting close to our goal. Another three or four sessions and we should be ready to consolidate the two storage units into one.
September 21, 2006 at 9:53 am · Filed under Maintenance
The first curtains are up in Emma’s room, and they make a big difference in the space.
Fall-like weather has arrived. There are a few red maple leaves on the deck, and the sky is getting that “northern fall” look in the evenings, scudded with white clouds and a cool breeze. Our days are in the low 60s now, and sunset is creeping closer. We’re back to needing the furnace at night, so a couple of days ago I plugged in the trailer and refilled one of the 30-lb propane tanks.
There’s a skunk living under the deck this season. Last week he sprayed a visiting dog, and every few days we can smell evidence of his nocturnal prowlings. At night, when we are heading out to the Airstream in the driveway, I have to walk very slowly and cautiously until the motion-sensor light on the deck comes on, lest I surprise Mr Skunk in the dark and get a dose of perfume myself.
Skunks don’t have good vision but they can hear quite well, so I make a lot of noise as I walk. For some reason, I’m always the first one out of the house each night. Eleanor and Emma follow …
This is also the end of rally season in New England. There’s one more Airstream rally Oct 6-9 in Townsend VT that we are hoping to attend before we head south. When we lived here year-round I always hated winterizing in October, but it’s unavoidable: we will have freezing nights in three weeks. In the upper elevations of Vermont (2000 feet and up), there will be snow flurries toward the end of the month. It’s amazing how fast Summer bows out and Fall flicks by.
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