Become a Savvy RV User
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out drinking sake with my fellow Rotarians — the Japanese ones, not the American ones! Tired and a little tipsy, I realized that I didn’t remember what room I was in, having just checked in earlier that day. In my wanderings, I stumbled across an events room with perhaps 20 Japanese men sitting in armchairs and talking quietly. And drinking sake, of course. All wore suits with identical lapel pins. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but they were delighted that an American spoke a little of their language and asked me to join them. We visited for perhaps 20 minutes — the time it takes to nurse a glass of rice wine — and then I bid them goodnight, off to bed at last. The next day, while relaying this incident to my translator, I watched as his expression changed to concern, then to humor. He started to laugh. “The lapel pins are a dead giveaway,” he said. “You were drinking with the Japanese Mob!” I couldn’t believe it, but hey — they’d been nice to me! Looking back, I would love to visit Japan again sometime. I made many friends, and for years afterward, people I had stayed with would contact me and ask if they or their family members could visit me in Oregon. I played host to many college-aged Japanese kids over the years, and I learned that respect and meeting people in the middle can bridge the widest of cultural gaps.
This past fall, RV manufacturers reported a 31% increase in sales compared to 2019. This was no doubt related to an effort to stave off the spread of COVID-19, which had more families opting to take road trips and camp instead of going on tropical and European vacations. While the great outdoors can be the perfect affordable backdrop for family vacations, it doesn’t come without a cost. AND SAVE MONEY ON YOUR SUMMER ROAD TRIP
Even with the Japanese Mafia.
– Garry Liday
You can hit the road without your bank account taking a hit with these three must-do tips!
Stay for Free If you’re on a cross-country adventure, you will need a place to park and rest each night before continuing your adventure the next day. Rather than shelling out money every night, consider free options. Search for public land that’s part of the Bureau of Land Management or in a Wildlife Management Area that allows overnight camping. Walmart allows RV parking at no cost, but some locations pose safety concerns. To mitigate this, well-meaning RVers have listed Walmart locations with red flags. You can check them out at AllStays.com. Save on Fuel Fuel could be your biggest expense, but you can cut down on the inevitable by driving slower than 60 mph when it’s safe to do so. Once you hit 60 mph or above in your RV, your gas mileage will drop. Furthermore, you can keep your gas bill in check by sticking to trips within your state, planning your route to avoid unnecessary detours, and leaving early to miss the traffic. Each little action could make a big impact on your fuel bill. Re-Use Items in Your Home You may have a long to-buy list for your RV, but not everything on there may be necessary. Before splurging on the latest gear, consider what you have in your home. Use old kitchen utensils and plates, cleaning supplies, bedding, and entertainment items like books and toys in your RV to save money and clear some clutter from your home. It’s a win-win!
Shaved Asparagus Salad Inspired by ACoupleCooks.com
Tangy citrus and salty Parmesan cheese complement earthy, fresh asparagus, a favorite spring vegetable with a short growing season.
INGREDIENTS •
1 lb asparagus spears 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard
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3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
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1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. With a vegetable peeler, shave each asparagus spear from tip to base. This is easiest to do if the asparagus is on a flat surface. 2. Place shaved asparagus in a bowl and blot off excess moisture with a paper towel. 3. In a separate bowl, make a vinaigrette by whisking together lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and olive oil. 4. Pour vinaigrette over shaved asparagus and add Parmesan cheese, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Looking for more RV tips? Check out GanderOutdoors.com or download apps like AllStay, RVParky, and State Lines. Happy trails!
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INTEGRITY, RELIABILITY, & COMMITMENT
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