Week 851-852 - Full Time Motorhome Travel - Part IV-A - The People - 12-11-2022
Full Time Motorhome Travel - Part IV-A - The People
It will be no Surprise to our faithful readers that the best part of full time travel is meeting people. Before we bought the MotherShip and for the 17 years since, we have met the most incredible folks.
During all of 2005 we did research to determine what RV to buy. We looked at everything from tear-drop trailers to million-dollar Prevost RV buses.
Before we visited any RV dealers, we did Internet research to learn. We spent 8 months on websites, mostly on RV.net, an RV forum. Through our research we determined we would buy a Monaco Diplomat diesel pusher Class A motorhome.
We "met" several RV.net people online who shared a vast amount of RV knowledge.
For 17 years we have hesitated to share personal stories as we cherish our privacy and don't want to violate the privacy of our friends. We have been careful when mentioning these people in our travelogues to never write anything that would allow anyone to "find" them. No last names, no addresses, phone numbers and sometimes not even a city name. As we share about these friends, it will not be their biography but experiences with them that have blessed our lives.
We set out to write about a few people that are a blessing to us and to give you a glimpse of what is waiting for you in the RV world. We ended up with 28 stories and that is because we cut off the list! We broke this up into four travelogues to avoid reader's cramp.
To learn their story use your mouse to hover over their names. On a touch screen, touch once to read, touch outside the story to close.
Charles
Charles was our first mentor. We met on RV.net when he complimented us on choosing the Monaco Diplomat. Charles lived 3 hours to the South. He suggested we meet to discuss motorhomes.He took the time to move his motorhome from his house to the Rincon Parkway beach. He opened up the slides and compartments to show us everything about our future MotherShip. We spent hours learning from him about the Monaco and about motorhome travel. This was a great first in-person education.
Our first "mentor" when researching motorhomes.
Dar and Cindy
We also met Dar and Cindy on RV.net. They lived just a few miles from us. Pete met with Dar for coffee and shared questions and answers for hours. Dar was focused on a Holiday Rambler, a Monaco product identical to the Diplomat.We met with Dar and Cindy at an RV show in Pleasanton, California. We both purchased our Monacos. Dar/Cindy off the lot. We ordered and waited 12 weeks for the MotherShip. As such Dar/Cindy got a head start on travel but we managed to catch up a few times. We miss them as they no longer travel full time.
Bought our motorhomes from the same dealer on the same day.
Ben and Sid
Ben and Sid were our California neighbors for 13 years. We had adjacent 4 acre lots and our houses were not close. It was difficult to see if the other was home. As such we only met occasionally when we spotted them outside. We guess (total guess) that we met annually and chatted for an hour.They also purchased a Monaco Diplomat motorhome like ours. So after meeting for 13 hours in 13 years, we have been together for 74 RV days. We have spent time together in Yuma AZ, Tucson AZ, Albuquerque NM, Wakarusa IN, Niagara Falls Canada, Blanchard ID, Vancouver Island BC, Harrisonburg OR, Avila Beach CA, Port Angeles WA, Surprise AZ, Casa Grande AZ, Lancaster CA, Pomona CA, Elkhart IN to mention a few! Great neighbors and better RV buddies.
Atascadero neighbors for 13 years, RV friends for 17 more.
Charlie and Cheryl
In May 2006 during our first few months of "shakedown" of the MotherShip, we spent a few days in Las Vegas. On a Saturday Pete came back at 10pm from a Basketball Coach Convention. We went to the spa to relax. Ellen tells Pete she met Charlie and Cheryl who travel in their high-end Monaco Signature Series MH.We returned to the MotherShip at 11 o'clock and a voice in the dark says "Ellen, is that you?" "Yes, Charlie". "Bring Pete over, we want to meet him". Charlie and Cheryl were leaving in the morning for Georgia. But, they stayed up with us until 2am. We learned so much about our Monaco and RV travel. In the morning, Cheryl came over to give us their Georgia phone and address so we could visit.
In May of 2007, we were in Georgia. Ellen was not feeling well. Pete called Cheryl to say we were close to them and would see them in a few days. Cheryl knew exactly where we were and told us "Come now! There is doctor where we could park the motorhome. Get a prescription, bring Ellen here and we'll nurse her back to health." We did, Ellen recovered in a couple of days and we spent 12 days with them. They showed us amazing hospitality. We have not seen them since, but will always be grateful for the friendship and hospitality.
Our first "mentors" after purchase and our first stay at friend's home.
Jerry and Judi
In our second month of full time travel we visited Zion National Park for seven days. We hiked throughout Zion Park including to the top of Angels Landing. Pete needed many hours a day to service our computer business clients. Ellen wanted to play when at times Pete needed to work.In ride Jerry and Judi to the rescue. They were the Zion RV Resort hosts, but also hiked everyday. They took Ellen with them everyday so Pete could pay for this life style. Win, win! We become good friends with J/J and have met them in Quartzite AZ, Mt. Rainier WA, their home in New Mexico and our home in Atascadero CA. We have not seen them in a while, but will be instant friends on our next visit.
Met them near Zion National Park and many places since.
Ed and Sheryl
In November 2006, we visited Motor Coach Country Club Resort in Indio CA. This 80 acre resort has 400 owner lots. The Privacy lots sold for $189,000 and the Waterfront lots were $339,000! Owners would enhance the lots with outdoor patios, kitchens, bars and landscaping. We received a free two-day stay to investigate.The MotherShip was just seven months old, looking new, no scratches, beautiful. The people we met were very nice. But, compared to the million-dollar Prevost buses were felt like trailer trash!
Then we met Sheryl at one of the many pool/spa areas. What a sweetheart! We became instant friends. Since then we met her and her friend Ed again in Indio, in Aquanga CA, Burien WA, Desert Hot Springs CA and our home area Avila Beach CA. We still stay in touch.
Friends from the world class Motor Coach Country Club Resort in Indio, California.
John and Gloria
John and Gloria were also investigating Motor Coach Country Club Resort. They were about four empty lots away on the waterway like we were. Pete walked over to introduce us. John was taken by the friendliness and responded down the road.In San Diego he and Gloria took us out for fine dinner. They purchased two lots at Pacific Shores Resort in Newport, Oregon. We visited them in 2007 and stayed on their second lot for two days.
In 2009 we called to visit again but they were in Florida. Yet they told us stay on their primary lot even though they were gone and stay as long as we wanted. Such generous people and a true blessing to those around them.
John, a Navy veteran and Gloria, his wife.
More people next week.
With love, Pete, Ellen and Mandy
Photos from 2005 to 2006
The Full Time Motorhome Living Guide
Get a Better Browser Design by MattsonExpress.com © 1977-2024 MattsonExpress All Rights Reserved. Click to email us