Since we were going to be spending the day at home yesterday, I had big plans. I had a lot of emails to catch up on, a bunch of photos to sort through from our day trip to Morro Bay on Saturday, I was going to install the Silverleaf engine monitoring system on a new Acer computer that I just acquired, and I was going to install the new Green LongLife LED tubes I ordered from Amazon to finish upgrading the florescent light fixtures in the front of our Winnebago. I got less than half of all of that accomplished.
We slept in a bit, and Miss Terry made some of her delicious buttermilk pancakes for breakfast while I got a start on the backlog of emails. Then Barbara Westerfield came over and we spent some time working on computer issues.
When I replaced my iMac with this Dell PC back in April, I wanted to install Microsoft Streets and Trips on it. Microsoft no longer makes the program, but I had a 2011 version that I had used before and really liked. When I tried to install it I kept getting an error message about an incorrect version of Microsoft Visual C++ and the installation would stop. I tried to figure it out, I attempted a couple of fixes recommended by blog readers, I even tried Google to find a way to fix the problem, and nothing worked. I finally gave up. It took Barbara about five minutes to figure out that I needed to delete three versions of Visual C++ that were already on the computer. Once I did that the program loaded right up.
I also have the latest version of DeLorme Street Atlas USA but I just don’t care for it. I know some people swear by it, including my pal Greg White, but I’ve used Streets and Trips for as long as I can remember and I’m just more comfortable with it. Yes, I know, even old dogs can learn new tricks. But sometimes we just don’t want to.
About 5:30 we left to go to dinner with Tom and Barbara, and since we had talked so much about how good The Grub Shack was, we decided to try it again. And once again the food was absolutely delicious. I think Tom and Barbara have a new favorite restaurant to go to when they visit this area again.
Back at home there were more emails to deal with, and after they were all answered I tried setting up the Silverleaf program on the new computer. It took some trial and error, but I think I finally got it. I still need to do a little bit of tweaking to customize the gauge setup to the way I want it to be but by then it was getting late and I had a blog to write.
We’re supposed to have some rain today but if it’s not too bad we will probably run down to Pismo Beach. The monarch butterflies migrate there every year and the local news has said there are a bunch of them. It’s something we have wanted to see for a long time, and I’m sure Terry will get some great pictures.
Congratulations Linda Huber, winner of our drawing for an audiobook of Mountain Angel by Suzie O’Connell. We had 89 entries this time around. Stay tuned, a new contest starts soon.
Thought For The Day – Of all bodily functions that could be contagious, thank God it’s the yawn.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Ahh yes I love Streets N Trips too! Having a large screen with a lot more map to watch and discover nearby things as we go is sooooo nice! The dongle that I hang on the suction cup on the window works better than the GPS on my phone or tablet.
I like best using the “create GPS trail” feature that leaves a blue line on the map wherever we have been. I keep a master map file, and then after each trip I rename and save that particular one. It includes all the little pushpin notes of where we stayed, what campsite, how much we paid, or other things of interest that we might like to go back and see. It helps in going back and giving other RVers information on where we stopped, or address of a good repair place, etc.
I like being able to easily add, subtract or change the order of our routes or stops. I like using the “search nearby” feature for things like gas stations, walmarts, a post office or certain brand chain store. Using the keyboard on the laptop is a lot easier than pushing buttons on a tiny GPS screen. I have uploaded POI files of all the state and national campgrounds, Cracker Barrels, Walmarts and anything else we like to see and save them on my Master Map. I sure wish Microsoft would still support and update it. As for now, I will keep on using it, being the old dinosaur that I am.
Same as the old program PhotoImpression that came free with a camera I bought back in the early 2000’s. I have used other programs, but this one lets me “batch” edit a whole bunch of photos at the same time changing size, or renaming, or convert file types. Don’t wanna learn a new one, like what I got… right?
Our motorhome has the Silverleaf program built into a little screen right on our dash and came original that way back in 1996. It’s a great way to monitor your engine specs and not rely on the “idiot gauges” on the dash. I hope that never changes either.
Why do they go and invent things, and then change them? When we find things we like, and get used to, I would hope the company would keep producing that product instead of always trying to make it different/newer/complicated or discontinued????
Have fun viewing the monarch butterflies, we were there just less than a month ago and there were a few in the trees, hope Terry gets some great pictures.