Hi <br>new to the forum but already liking it very much have found it very helpful and received some PM replies that are going to help a bunch<br>so me <br>62<br>Came over from England 12+ years ago living in WA and have enjoyed being here <br>recently went back to UK for 5 months to take care of mum <br>now i call her everyday and do her shopping on line .<br><br>I purchased a really nice camper van yesterday from a very nice couple who had owned it from new and it has a lot of good items already installed so i consider myself fortunate <br><br>For the early stages of my adventure i am probably going to be semi urban during the week and head out for long weekends till i get used to what I am doing I have a lot of friends here and like to see them as oftern as i am able <br><br>Hobbies: Photography,slotcar racing,CB radio DXing ,and the outdoors <br><br>Have been staying in a friends Bigger RV for the last week but resisted the luxury features other than light and power for charging phone and computer I will be looking for a small quiet Generator and have been following the threads on these <br><br><br>Whilst i was away i thought long and hard about doing this but finding the forum allowed me to come to a positive decision although i am still a bit nervous <br><br>I have to spend some time getting home stuff out of storage and getting the van setup but hope to be posting regulaly on here <br>Best Regards<br>Roy<br><a href="http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/rvs/3715216319.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/rvs/3715216319.html</a><br><br>
Royz (YZUK1)
- Thread starter 1977dodge
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cleanheart
Well-known member
Welcome novaz! This place is what helped me make up my mind! took me a couple of years. This place is so full of smart people! hang around you'll meet some of them!
Hi <br>had a great weekend took plenty of pix and video but you tube cancelled my account for no reason given so will upload to photobucket <br>every thing apart from the furnace went well cooker worked a treat ,had my first meal of Keenwa van ran well 12.3 appprox mpg<br>it rained most of the weekend but it was nice being on Lopez Island met some cool people and had some great Joe at the espresso there I tried sleeping in the roof and came to realise ya really gotta make that bed up before getting up there also tried the couch bed which was friendly for the two of us<img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><img src="/images/boards/smilies/love.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><img src="/images/boards/smilies/kiss.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"> all in all a good weekend and last night was my first actually on the street in the van though i have to admit it was a quiet neighbourhood but woke at 5.00am and headed off to the Y for a cardio session a great shower and dip in the hot tub, scored some free bread courtesy of a (waysafe) supermarket donation very cool am pleased about my decision to get the van and also pleased finding this forum which has already helped a bunch.<br>Royz<br><a href="http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/novaz/library/Old Blue Bell Adventures?page=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/novaz/library/Old Blue Bell Adventures?page=1</a>
Stayed at my first Walmart last night its a mega large one so lots of trucks delivering and lots of overnighters <br>did not get to sleep till early this morning and woke up at 5.00 to head to the Y <br>slightly laggard work out but the shower woke me up and just downing some Joe <br>so first experience was not so bad ,<br>A friend told me of a riverside area that the cops actually encourage people to use rather than the streets close by so maybe going to try that out tonight <br>Royz
Stayed at the riverside area mentioned by a friend it was quiet no other traffic and i had a great sleep <br>got up this morning at 4.45am and headed to the Y gym it really is good value for the shower and hot tub alone i also work out for a couple hours and get to do my IT catch up and drink free JOE<br>I feel that my being semi urban is maybe not true fulltiming but at least its a good introduction to it and easing into it is helping me a lot.
Welcome novaz! Glad everything is working out so well for you. Semi urban is true fulltiming! There's really no one right way to do this. You'll find people living in all types of vehicles, even tents, living vastly different lifestyles, but each one is doing what makes them happy.
Thanks guys<br>well i spent last night at the back of a rural industrial unit lot no problems and very quiet ,<br>one problem arose is that the leak on the side sliding door is getting worse and making the seat/bed damp ,I looked on the vanning site for replacement weather strip but nobody makes it any more for a 77 Tradesman,so I am wondering do i just try some generic weatherstrip or seal the door in so that it does not open would be a shame to lose that feature of the van <img src="/images/boards/smilies/confused.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br>Royz
Stayed on an old logging road turnout at the base of Mount Rainier really quiet i mean you could hardly here the ants shuffling around <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><br>awoke to find it snowing which is normal here around Rainier<br>cooked up a mess of teriyaki chicken and tomatoes and had some sweet hot lemon tea<br>made an early start back to find the gym dont open Siundays till 11.00 so killing time at my Hobby Place and looking forward to another good week<br>Royz<br><br>
well completed my first week on the street so to speak <br>stayed at a casino last night told the security guys where i was parked and they were cool with it and mentioned they would keep an eye on the van if i was staying a while<br>so I am happy how things have gone so far a few problems with the van but i am getting those worked on pleased to feel free er and enjoying my Independence from the mortgage ,credit score and work<br>Royz
Pikachu711
Well-known member
<p>Welcome to the group novaz!</p>
Thanks for the welcome<br><br><br>well last night was eventful found a new turn out not far from my daytime hobby place off the main road and some tree cover<br>11.30pm lights come on in through the only gap i left in side window and a loud knock on the side door<br>turns out to be a police officer who politely asks me if i am alone and why am i parked there i explain my situation and he checks my drivers id and clears it ,<br>he tells me that my spot is not good as it gets a lot of dropped off trailers and i could get blocked in looks inside the van asks how i keep warm and am i eating OK i show him the furnace and cooker working and he thinks its cool then suggests that i can stay if i want but be better to move somewhere less active and wishes me good luck .<br>so although a sleepless night due to moving and thinking too much <br>its was an OK experience<br>Royz
had a great weekend slept by the river twice <br>found a couple more stops in my area to travel in <br>walked a 10 mile trail and drank way too much coffee before bed but slept anyway <br>up at 4.35am and heeadd to the Gym for another 90mins on treadmill great hot shower and a 1/2 hour in the hot tub<br>Royz
Had a good day yesterday my solar panel kit arrived from Bob looks good and am looking forward to using it every day if we have light enough this is Seattle after all.<br>Had another wake up last night from a local officer in one of my riverside stops very cool about it did not call me in just looked at my Licence and asked how long i had been there, liked the van wished me well <br>so apart from waking up both these encounters have been ok and no hassle I am sure being polite and offering my docs even before they are asked for helps .<br>Royz
WheelEstate USA
Well-known member
Welcome to the group and to the lifestyle.<br><br>Glad you are having a positive experience and enjoying your van. Sounds like you are developing a pretty nice situation in that area.<br><br>As you venture out to other parts of the country I think you will find there are many places you will like, such as BLM land and National Forests.<br>While traveling in our motorhome, we have been able to stay overnight at most shopping centers unless there are local laws that prohibit it. Casinos are usually good for a few nights and truckstops are always good for a layover, as well as roadside rest stops.<br><br>Take care and have fun.<br><br>
Had a great weekend did not make it to Greenwater but spent the weekend at Mount St Helens very quiet still some snow on the sides of road <br>cooked up some good Keenwa and tuna stopped at Cabelas on the way back purchased a Mr Heater Buddy and then stayed in their lot this is the store in Lacy WA if you happen to go there to stay go to the very back of the lot on right its quiet and no problems .<br>Royz
WheelEstate USA
Well-known member
We've heard that all Cabellas are cool for an overnight stay, unless local laws prohibit it.
We've also used Safeway grocery a few times with permission of the manager. One layover was spent at an Albertsons, and one at Smith's coming up out of Az and Nv.
We're not stealth, by any means, driving a 28 class A, but we seem to find plenty of places to park.
We've also used Safeway grocery a few times with permission of the manager. One layover was spent at an Albertsons, and one at Smith's coming up out of Az and Nv.
We're not stealth, by any means, driving a 28 class A, but we seem to find plenty of places to park.
Spent a great weekend in Greenwater WA up on FR70<br>Really nice to find a deserted spot up in the woods away from it all <br>weather was just right not so blazing hot and i found a nice 5 mile hike <br>also planted some seeds by a small pond for future veggie meals <br>WA is really beautifull <br>Royz
