Somebody sent an e-mail yesterday saying that they were very dissatisfied with this blog. They come here to read about RVing, not sitting around a campground, or tech toys and Christmas gift ideas, or my e-book publishing efforts. I guess I’ll probably disappoint them again today, because when we are sitting still for a while, there isn’t much to write about in the way of travel. And fulltime RVing is not about traveling every day of the year. Nobody can do that. Our wallets, our RVs, our marriages, and our bodies could not stand the constant strain.
So here we go, another update on the e-book thing. Feel free to skip down a paragraph if you’re not interested, you won’t hurt my feelings. As of midnight last night, I was up to 1,690 copies of my e-book Big Lake sold this month. I’m more than a little thrilled, and if you want to read more about all of that, I have a new self-publishing blog titled The End Is Near.
And yes, much of yesterday was spent working on my next mystery, Big Lake Lynching. While I did that, Miss Terry tried to master her new Sock Loom. There’s definitely a learning curve there, and several times she had to unravel what she had done and start all over again. And I won’t lie to you, I heard a grumble or two that would probably make a lesser man turn tail and run to hide in the garage. I would have too, if I had a garage to run too! But I know my wife. She’s a stubborn lady, and she’ll keep plugging away until she has the hang of it.
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During the afternoon, we looked out the window just in time to see our friends Wil and Cyndy Olsen’s truck and fifth wheel trailer going by. They snagged a site right down from us, and then called to say that they had arrived at the Thousand Trails campground. Wil and Cyndy have helped us at our Yuma rally, Cyndy with the registration, and Wil on the parking crew.
When they’re not doing that, they spend a lot of time working for Adventure Caravans, and have made four or five Alaska trips as tail gunners, the last RV in a caravan, which is responsible for making sure everybody gets where they are going, and stopping to help anybody who has a breakdown. Wil told us that this year at our upcoming Arizona Gypsy Journal Rally, he and Cyndy will be manning the Adventure Caravans vendor booth. He thinks that will get him out of volunteering, but I’m smarter than old Wil! We park the arriving RVs before the rally starts! 🙂
About 5 p.m., they came by and picked us up, and we all went off to Santa Fe Cattle Company for dinner. They had a two for one dinner special, and it was really good. I had the chicken fried steak, and Terry had a smothered chopped sirloin. The company was as good as the food. A nice couple named Sandy and Roger Mitchell, who had been on their Alaska caravan this last summer joined us, as did Sandy’s brother Don, whose last name I did not get.
Terry and I have never been on a caravan, so it was interesting to hear their stories about their adventures, both from the perspective of caravan staffers and caravan travelers. I’m not sure that Miss Terry and I could ever do a caravan, since those folks seem to get up and on the road by 7 or 8 a.m., which is several hours before we even open our eyes! But it was still fun to listen to them talking. I wonder if they have caravans for night owls?
Thought For The Day – I would really like to procrastinate, but I never seem to get around to it.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
The way I see it Nick, your blog is about what is happening in YOUR life and for those of us who are interested in what’s going on with you and Terry, we will continue to read it! By the way, I just finished reading Big Lake and really enjoyed it. Can’t wait for the next one!
I agree with Rod. As fellow full-timers, we are interested in not only the travel information but all the other neat stuff you pass on, even the mundane. Congrats on the great sales of Big Lake – I’m looking forward to BL Lynching!
Lu
I agree with Rod and Lu. Full-timing is a lifestyle, not just about traveling. We would never know you as people if all we read were travelogues. Keep up the good work and congratulations on the book sales.
Selene, NC
Hey Nick – I think Big Lake deserves its own Facebook page. Whaddaya think?
Bah Hum Bug to the whiner complaining about your blog…keep on the good work you entertain the heck out of me.
Happy Thanksgiving Nick and Miss Terry!
Nick, there are lots of RV travel blogs. Yours is an RV lifestyle blog. In addition to sightseeing, the RV lifestyle includes mundane things like running errands, playing at our hobbies (tech gadgets, writing, photography, etc.), going out to eat, and sitting around the campground. I enjoy your blog and look forward to it every day. Your writing style is as entertaining as your subject matter.
Congrats on the success of your book. My wife was just notified by Amazon that her new Kindle Touch has shipped. She ordered the Kindle based on your recommendation. Big Lake will be the first book she downloads.
Nick,
I know that you are secretly grateful for fools who tell you stupid things. That way you have an interesting way to start your blog. Let’s face it. Even as good of a writer as you are sometimes has to dig for something interesting to write about, and we faithful blog readers just love to see you take someone to task.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Miss Terry!
We didn’t think we were caravan people either but we have been on a number of them. The ones we liked the most are the ones that are NOT up early. Most of the caravans we have been on let us either travel on our own (the best way for us) or travel later in the day. Only occasionally did we have to get up early example for a ferry crossing.
We do understand on the Scandinavian trip why the leaders wanted us together: language, getting fuel, stopping along the way to see attractions. But we were able to travel several days by ourselves when we wanted to deviate from the planned itinerary. We just informed the wagon master, gave him maps of where we would be and our cell phone numbers in case of emergency.
We especially recommend a caravan if you are going somewhere you are unsure of what to do and see. The first time we went to Canada to the Maritimes we went with a caravan. We went to many activities we would not have gone to by ourselves. The wagon master was especially helpful in going over how to cross the border and all the dos and don’ts. On our Alaska trip with our FMCA club we traveled from place to place on our own just showing up at the required time for activities.
We wouldn’t recommend going on caravans every year but if there is some special event like the Rose Bowl parade or Mardi Gras you might want to consider a caravan. They know all the ends and outs and have all the tickets, etc for the best places to see and do the event. While they are not inexpensive, this is probably a one in a life time occurrence for you. We think it’s worth the money.
Nick; Your site was recomended to me by a saleswoman at a RV dealership up in CT while Lydia and I were shopping for our first and current motorhome.As a result of the information in your Blog and other sites I feel that I had gained a wealth of information while also getting to know a whole lot about the lifestyle that we were about to embrace and have found your site to be very informative and entertaning.
I’m wondering why someone would continue to open any site that they didn’t like on the web,not just yours and upon reading what was there to continue to do so,never mind send an Email to the editor to complain about the content or subject matter.
It’s like all of that foreign aid given out while the recipients complain that it doesn’t meet their expectations,whatever those may be. Don’t eat it.don’t read it.
Hi Nick, My first ever Kindle (the Touch) arrived this past Friday. My first download was Big Lake. I’m looking forward to reading it as soon as I finish the paper book I am reading now. Your blog is great as it is, and it’s usually the first thing I read in the AM. Don’t you dare change a thing! 😉 Bob
I don’t comment often but I do read your blog daily. Anyone can read your blog (or not) – after all it’s free, so who has any right to complain about content? If they want something more they can subscribe to Gypsy Journal and get all the travel info they want. I personally enjoy reading about your daily activities – especially when it involves new chapters being written in your Big Lake sequel!! Can hardly wait for that.
I read with interest today’s blog. It covered something that I’ve worried about in the past when writing my blog. We don’t travel all the time but we still continue to live in our RV fulltime. I try to share the experiences that I think will help other RVers whether we’re in one spot or on the road. I’m not quite sure what your complainer really wanted…perhaps just to complain.
I’ve learned a lot of things from your blog and will continue to read it. I also enjoy Terry’s adventures into different areas. I read with interest about the Tunesian crochet hooks because I had just read an article about them. Hopefully, Terry will share her experience with us. Oh wait…that’s not about RVing is it? Well, just go for it anyway:)
I’m not sure what their complaint was all about. First…a blog is about what is happening in your life, not just to create an entertaining diversion from someone else’s life. Secondly…what you do in your everyday life IS part of RVing. If all you wrote about was driving behind the wheel I’d be sorely disappointed.
Keep us posted on Terry’s success with the sock loom, I’ve thought of buying one but it looks intimidating and have not yet made the plunge. I have so many other things in my life to frustrate me already!
Too bad Terry couldn’t take a class on her sock loom. It would be very simple with a demo.
You cannot please everyone. For me I enjoy knowing what you are up to. Travel information is nice,but that is not the reason I read your blog, It is more interesting to know what you are up to or what trouble you have gotten into. You have given us information on places to stay and what to see, you also tell us where not to go and what parks not go. This is very helpful. WE are waiting for the next book to come out
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Terry. Nick do not eat to much of turkey and especially Terry’s pies;
Caravans for night owls. I love it! You, me, Greg, Dave O’K.
I like the way Dennis HIll’s most recent caravan to Alaska worked. They scheduled meet up places and the early birds went early and the night owls came when they were ready and not everyone took every diversion. That would suit me.
I couldn’t start the day without your blog, Nick. And don’t forget me when you get the movie deal on your books.
Here’s a tip for Miss Terry: When I am learning a new craft, I rely alot on you tube video demos. Just Google what ever it is you are having trouble with. For example, I learned to do ssk in knitting this way simply by Googling “knitting ssk”. Usually there is more than one video, so you can find the one that makes the most sense to you. Good luck!
Living in an RV is not just about RVing, but living too. It’s good not to have a one dimensional site, and to cover more general matters too!
My first time here today, for what it is worth i’m enjoying the blog:)
I agree with everyone that your blog is great, if you want just the travel part get the Gypsy Journal. Keep up the great job, it is great to hear that I am not the only one making little mistakes now and then. Oh’ by the way Nick I may be able to help park for a little bit, and Cyndy at registration. It was great have dinner with you and Miss Terry. We had a great time and eenjoyed the laughter!!!!!
“They snagged a sight right down from us…”
You just have to love spell checkers!
I had to grin at the idea of people taking the time to email you to complain about your content. Millions of blogs out there, and they can’t simply find a different one that suits them? Like most bloggers, I post what I feel like posting. You don’t like what’s on TV, change the channel; you don’t like a particular blog, click elsewhere. Simple!