The Next Chapter

 I think it's pretty normal to daydream about the perfect house. We've looked, cruising by houses for sale in places we've traveled wondering if this might be home. For now, home is an RV for us, so we get to daydream about the perfect RV. 

We actually started visiting RV dealerships and touring the RVs when we were in Oregon having repairs done on the Winnebago...yes, repairs on that same leaky slide. Some of the RVs we've seen have been pretty amazing. No wonder we're daydreaming.  

We are now to the stage where we are seriously considering a RV, a Newmar Ventana, preferably around 35'. Ventanas under 40' are few and far between, so when Tom finds a promising 2014 Newmar Ventana listing in Texas (hey, closer than the ones listed in Florida),
he calls the dealer, and off we go. 

We're already in San Diego, so Texas is a straight shot east. We leave on March 20th, and it takes us three days just to cross into Texas and another two days before we arrive in Boerne (pronounced Bernie) to see THE RV. The trip has taken an unexpected turn of the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with the shelter-in-place orders, states are trying to mandate the closure of RV parks to prevent people from traveling. All well and good if you have a lease in a mobile home park, but for those of us who are on the move, where do we go for our water and electricity if all the parks are closed???

Fortunately, most RV parks are still allowing overnight stays to allow travelers out on the road to get home. 

Luckily, we make it to Boerne, and the dealership has a "campground" (electric and water hook-ups) at the rear of the lot. 

We are able to take up residence there while we make our decision and figure out where we can go. One good thing I notice is that the Corona virus buying panic has not really hit Texas. The benefit? Toilet paper at the Walmart!!! OK, done with that...

Now, about the RV, the Ventana is 36' vs 33' for the Winnebago, and it's a diesel where the Winnebago is a gas rig. Tom spent a considerable amount of time researching diesel vs gas engines and the deleterious effects of both (links to a few articles are below). What he found was the following: modern day diesel engines are now required to use ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD), particulate matter filters and selective catalytic reduction systems (SCR's), all of which combine to dramatically lower emissions. "In some respects, the newer diesel engines are actually cleaner than gasoline engines...", Scientific Reports.

Update: We have found our mileage averages 20-25% higher in our Newmar versus our old Winnebago.

 

It has some features that we're pretty excited about: 

1. dual roof air conditioners with additional insulation. This will make a huge difference in the places we will be able to stay in the summer and winter. 

2. bigger water holding tanks. This will definitely make it easier to boondock/dry camp for a longer number of days. This opens up more campsite possibilities at some national and state parks.

3. 4 slide outs. The Winnebago only had 2. This makes the interior sooo much more spacious it's amazing. 

4. a full-sized refrigerator with a frost-free freezer. We've been getting along with the equivalent of a giant ice chest. Now, we just have to figure out how to keep the food from falling out of the frig after a day of driving! 

5. washer and dryer. I don't know whether to be excited about this or if it's just a waste of space. Time will tell.

6. It's a "diesel pusher" which means the engine is mounted in the rear. Locating the engine about 30 feet behind the driver and passenger makes for a dramatically quieter ride.

First dinner in the new RV