Preliminary Planning
December 8, 2007 - Winter travel for 2 months requires much more preparation than does a summer trip. It's 5 weeks before scheduled departure and already we have been looking into information sources for weather and road conditions, potential RV parks on our intended route, methods of communication back home (cell phone bills last time were huge). Also have to consider that we're leaving our house in Calgary during winter months, and so more preparation of that is needed.
Since we will have to leave with the motor home in winterized state, we will not have fresh water for drinking, cooking or other uses. This means planning for the first 3-4 days so that we carry the water that's needed. Also, we have to be prepared to wait out any winter storms that we encounter, and so need to think those things through.
Finally, we're planning on going to Mexico. So lots of new thinking about things like Mexican insurance and driving.
December 27, 2007 - Elaine sent our planned itinerary to Rhonda and Paul. They may join us for part of our Arizona time!
December 28, 2007 - Christmas is essentially over, so we began detailed tasks surrounding leaving. Today was Mexico insurance investigation. Depending on coverage, motor home insurance can be as low as $64US or as much as $947US for the same 15 days in Mexico. We also need two policies, one for the motor home and the Saturn when it's being towed. A second policy is needed for the Saturn when it's being driven alone. There seem to only be a few companies that provide Mexican insurance, although there are many agents (brokers?) for these companies. There are also groups that you can join which may reduce the cost of insurance. This option will be looked into in another year if we go to Mexico for 3 weeks or more.
January 2, 2008
- replaced house batteries in motor home today;
- got both motor home and toad registered until 2009 since both registrations would lapse during our time away;
- tested motor home furnace and generator.
January 11, 2008 - getting close now. Today we took the motor home to Flying J, checked tire pressures and filled with gas. Checked oil levels etc.
January 15, 2008
- motor home is at home now, warming up and getting packed;
- bought insurance for the Mexico part of the trip today;
- Dennis gave the dogs their vacation clip; shorter than a winter cut.
