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Answers to the 2035 EV Law for RVers

In 2035 all new vehicles sold in Washington State, California and now Oregon will need to be Zero Emission Vehicles in order to be legally registered. As RVers we typically drive full size pick-ups that can meet the demands for our towing needs. Or as those with Motorhomes have a need for diesel fuel while also perhaps pulling a toad or dinghy to have for their adventures once they get to a location. What does this new 2035 EV law mean to RVers?

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A Message to the Listeners

As 2022 winds down, Brooks, your podcast host, is excited to share some news & updates about the show. He has big plans for 2023 for RV Out West and they just may involve you the listener. You will want to give this quick episode a listen to find out what is in store for the show in the new year.

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12 White Elephant Gifts For RVers

From the fun, to the naughty, to the something handy we’ve got you covered with the best ideas for your next White Elephant Gift Exchange. White Elephant gift exchanges are fun, competitive and sometimes you can end up receiving a real treasure of a gift. The old expression that it is more fun to give than to receive I think rings especially true with this fun game & gift exchange. In this episode, I share 12 ideas for the perfect White Elephant Gift with those RVers in your life.

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An Army Veteran Begins RV Life Full Time

From Blackhawk missions in Afghanistan and Iraq to summiting mountains in Africa, Caleb, better known as Captain VD sits down with us at a campground picnic table and shares what he has learned about RVing in his first 6 camp set ups, what RV he now calls home to what his travel plans are for the next year or so. Captain VD now finds himself on the precipice of a great journey through the lower 48 celebrating the freedom of the open road in his brand new travel trailer.

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A Simple Safety Solution for Travel Days

Avoiding common safety check(s) can result in some frustrating travel days by leaving you stranded on the side of the road or worse it could even have the potential to be life threatening. In this episode, we chat with Tony Peterson of Outdoor Adventure Products, and we learn how to protect yourself and your family from these types of scenarios. This simple safety solution is easy to use and provides on-going monitoring so you can get in front of any potential issues.

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Good Things Happen Here

Everett, Washington has never really been seen as a travel destination with Seattle just 25 miles to the south and the San Juan Islands or Vancouver, British Columbia a few hours to the north, this city gets passed by a lot. There are so many great things to see, outdoor activities to do, places to eat & drink, it’s worthy of its own stop. Find out all the Good Things that Happen Here.

Joining us on the show is Garret Hunt. The co-founder and CEO of Live In Everett. He spills the beans from a locals perspective on all things that are a local delight.

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A Renewable Pour and Go Fuel For RVers

October is National Energy Awareness Month, and in this episode we chat with a renewable fuel expert out of Oregon, who shares the details with us about this great sustainable solution. The best part about this fuel is that it is pour and go, so you don’t need to make any modifications to your engine to use it.

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So You Want To RV?

If you are considering getting into the RV Life, and thinking of making the leap into a purchase of an RV, then this episode is for you. We discuss what you should consider when looking for an RV that is right for you.

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Solo RV Travel Can Change Your Life

The Oregon landscape showcases beautiful ecodiversity and is a pretty special place to RV. Joining us today is Kathy Belge of Solo Women RV. She spends her time solo traveling around the state for months at a time. While she is not full-time and does maintain a home in Portland, Oregon, she has found a balance of RV’ing and living in the city. In this episode she shares with us tips on solo travel, how she makes it work, and a great 10 day rv trip itinerary originating in Portland.

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NW Nomads: A Community Gathering Event

Inspired by a scenic location under the trees and surrounded by the Oregon high desert, the Northwest Nomad’s gathering encourages attendees to disconnect from the outside world and experience an unforgettable weekend. This family friends event of like-minded road travelers inspires artists, musicians and encourages the sharing of information. In this episode, we interview Ashley and Jordan, the two nomads who have built this incredible gathering of like-minded adventurers.

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The Ups & Down of Boondock Scouting

The ongoing quest for boondocking spots in the Cascade Mountains is continued. With a pocket full of GPS coordinates, we put some boots on the ground and investigated these locations. Follow along on the journey as we experience, in real-time, this boondock scouting trip.

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Unlocking the Mystery of Lot F at Stevens Pass

The F lot at Stevens Pass ski area on Highway 2 in the Cascade Mountains is a mystery to me. We are a family of active skiers and snowboards who love to RV. The idea of ski-on-ski-out from our travel trailer is something that we want to try next season. Lot F is the only RV lot at Stevens Pass and it’s tricky to navigate getting into the lot and the process for securing an overnight pass is a bit elusive to me as well. In this episode we chat with Meg of norm_betty_adventures who have been accessing this family friendly RV lot just about every weekend during the ski season in their vintage Airstream. Meg shares with us about the scene in Lot F and what’s involved in both getting into the lot and how to get a reservation.

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How Geocaching Can Help Up Your RV Game

When the United States unlocked consumer access to the satellites for GPS, a new outdoor recreational activity sprung up — Geocaching. Members of this community place caches at locations marked by GPS coordinates all over the world for other Geocachers to locate. In this episode, we interview Chris Ronan, Senior Public Relations Manager of the Seattle based company. Our family loves to Geocache and it’s an activity that we also like to do on our RV adventures. Learn more about this fun activity in this episode.

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The Ultimate Hiking Resource for Washington State

If you are an experienced hiker, new to hiking, or just planning a visit to Washington State and are in search of great hikes, THE reference to use is WTA.org. Joining us in this episode is Anna Roth, a hiking content manager for the WTA. Now, she researches hikes and works with a team of correspondents who help her improve Washington Trails Association's online hiking guide. If you are an avid hiker or looking for great hikes to explore in Washington State this is a great episode.

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A Nomadic Chef: Eat Well on the Road

A. J. Forget is a chef, writer, photographer, traveler, and dilettante. He left a career as a wildland firefighter to pursue his lifelong passion of writing and his outlandish goal of a modern nomadic life. Currently, he is a carney and follows a circus around the United States. He lives in a converted school bus with his partner, a silversmith and dreamworker, and their eternally-sleepy dog, traveling the world in pursuit of natural beauty, grand adventure, and the tastiest food out there. He is an author of an upcoming cookbook, The Buslife Kitchen, and in this episode he sits down with us and discusses how we can eat well while on the road. In the Pit Stop, I share about a great state park in Northeast Washington State that my great grandmother used to travel to every summer all the way from Oxnard, Calif.

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Don’t Hold Back Your Inner Weekend Warrior

To the part timers, the some timers, the weekend warriors getting outdoors and maximizing your RV usage is paramount to happiness. Isn’t that why we all bought them? In this episode, I share successful tips on how we are able to spend 50+ nights in our travel trailer — most of them as weekend getaways. In the Pit stop I tackle the exciting topic of recreational vehicle tires and how to avoid rolling down the road with maypops. As they just may pop on you leaving you stranded.

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Cape Disappointment State Park: A Nugget in the Northwest

Cape Disappointment State Park is nestled between the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean in the southwest corner of Washington State. The name of this park is very deceiving, but I promise it does not disappoint. In this episode, I discuss the campground, the different sites, where I think some of the best sites are, and share about all the fun activities there are to do both in the park and in the surrounding area. In the Pitstop I had a conversation with a friend and we talked about generators. Specifically, we cover topics that you should consider if you are thinking about getting a generator.

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A Washingtonian's Guide to Exploring Seattle (EP026)

Seattle is the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest and there is something for everyone to do in the city. Rich with history, art & music events, museums to outdoor activities our family still enjoys heading into the City to play. In this episode, I share some of our favorite activities, places to eat and where we like to explore. If you are planning a trip to Seattle, be sure to give this episode a listen.

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Avoid The Madness of Road Trip Planning (EP025)

Planning a Cross Country road trip can be maddening or can it be fun and exciting? Dreaming about all the wonderful sites and experiences I find thrilling. In this episode we discuss the details with route planning, campground reservations, ways to make travel days enjoyable, how to manage laundry & food along the way. Plus, it’s important to prepare your RV and tow vehicle to make the journey. In the Pitstop, I share my tactics and processes for managing our black tank and I share a simple five word mantra about black tank sensors.

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The Most Secure Way to Avoid RV Battery Theft

It takes about 27 seconds for a thief to steal your batteries. Our first tent trailer didn’t come with a battery when we bought it as it had been stolen and the previous owner’s sold the trailer before replacing the battery. Surprisingly battery theft is pretty common. In this episode, I chat with Jason Tracy, owner of RV Lock Box based out of Spokane, Wash. RV Lock Box are manufacturers, in Washington State, of a diamond plated aluminum box solution to store your RV batteries on your trailer which allows you to secure them so you don’t become a victim of theft.

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