Hello ! I felt like sharing with you some of our experiences and impressions that we had while travelling in an RV (Recreational Vehicle) recently, from New Jersey (Manalapan) to Maine ( Acadia National Park in the north ), a distance of about 530 miles. This wonderful opportunity I and my spouse had while being at New Jersey, in being able to accompany our second daater and son-in-law's family, in the third week of October, the precise season that is noted for viewing Nature's beauty, by way of trees with their leaves exhibiting widely different colors (from green to brown to red - orange - yellow, all in the same tree, before the leaves drop off, leaving the tree threadbare), generally termed as 'Fall-scenes', which phenomena is said to be prominent in the north-most State of Maine. Of course, there are so many modes of travel - - - flight, train, bus, and car - - from New Jersey to Maine. Our speciality was, instead of the usual car or van, we went in an RV. Of course, for such of you who have already travelled in an RV (or know much about it), this narration is redundant ( " carrying coals to New Castle " as the saying goes ), and you may perhaps skip this. But, for those who had not that experience, it may be of some interest, at least by way of some information, though not offering any full-fledged guidelines.
There are different types of RVs of different capacities, facilities, levels of comfort and luxury, with widely differing charges, operated by different Travel Companies. A matter of wide choice, with various options. The number of passengers that are to travel, the level of comfort and luxury that is expected, and, the limit of the expenditure involved that one is prepared up to, plus other factors if any, may mainly affect the choice of the type of RV. We were six of us (three elderly people, the hosting couple,and their eleven year old son), and it was left to the hosting couple to consider all relevant factors, and decide the type of RV. The choice was a pretty good one, as we all felt at the end of the trip.
The name of our RV was 'ACE' ( the most valued one in a pack of cards ! ), and I felt thrilled when I first had a glimpse of it at Manalapan. Lot of loading had to be done for the four day travel, to meet the needs of the six of us. Lot of planning must have been done by the hosting couple, in preparing the big list of things to be taken with us - - - bedsheets, comforters, pillows, cushions, - - - mufflers, gloves, caps and jackets - - - kitchen cutlery, provisions needed for cooking for four days, some semi-cooked items, cereals for breakfast, fruits and snacks, enuf of stuff, to avoid going out for eating, as much as possible - - - a few camp (folding) chairs for extra seating for any guests to our 'home' if needed. Also a few medicines for any emergent use.
The beautiful 'Swetha Vaahan' ( white RV, they arte usually white) had many good features. The trunk at the rear (open to both sides) was pretty spacious, to accomodate any big suitcases, or firewood for campfire, or any other big items. Entrance to the RV was on the left side. The floor of the RV was at a higher level compared to cars or vans, to accomodate cooking gas cylinders, battery assembly for electric supply, tank for water storage, and then, drainage tank, and other equipments that supply the needed facilities and comforts inside RV. Hence were needed three steps from the ground level. Space provision and utilization concepts in RV design, are indeed worth noting. For the half-a-dozen or so persons in the RV, there would be footwear (shoes, sandals etc.) which be better not kept inside, for cleanliness. Hence in each step, there was a lid which can be lifted up, and some footwear be placed in the hollow steps. Besides this, just to the right of these steps, there was provision of larger space (with door) for keeping shoes, sneakers etc. Now, as you go over the steps, and enter the RV, right in the front we saw the kitchenette, with cooking facility of three gas (propane) gas-burners, with a furnace above. Just behind that, at a higher level, we noticed the microwave. To the left of the burner, was the sink, and some work-space.
From the kitchenette, as you move left, there is a passage that leads to the bedroom. At the very beginning, if the sink is to the right, then, to the left is the Frig (of medium size, with a seperate Freezer component). Above the Frig is the TV that can be slightly rotated for proper viewing. In the passage portion between kitchen and the bedroom, to the left was the bathroom, with telephone-shower, and hot and cold water supply. Opposite the bathroom, to the right, was the restroom (small size) with a wash-basin (with hot and cold water supply), as also the commode and flushtank. The bedroom was decent, with a queen-size bed, and moving space on either side, with large windows and curtains. There was much storage space by way of racks and shelves. There was good lighting arrangement. Thus, the bedroom was towards the rear of the RV, and perhaps partly over the trunk in the rear.
Now, coming back to the kitchenette and moving towards the Driver's seat i.e., towards the front of the RV, we have the seating, dining and sleeping facilities. Immediately to the right, is a three-seater sofa, which is actually a sofa-cum-bed. The seat can be pulled forward to make a comfortable bed at night. To the left i.e., opposite the sofa, is a dining table (parallel to the width of the RV), with two-seater sofas on either side. This at night, or when needed, can be transformed into a comfortable bed. The legs of the dining table can be removed, and the table pressed down. The earlier seats on either side, as also a long cushioned seat drawn from below the three-seater sofa in the front, can be assembled to make a comfortable bed for one (or even two) at night, or for comfortably seating three persons, like a deep sofa. Thus two or even three persons can sleep at night in this portion of the RV. Another excellent feature was, at night ( when RV is parked), by pressing a switch, the entire left side
assembly (dining-table -cum-bed) can be pushed back by about two or two-and-half feet, projecting outside on the left side of the RV, to provide more space between the sofa-cum-bed and its opposite assembly. But, if the RV is to be moved, this side-projection be pulled back to original position, to avoid side-projection in the RV while moving in traffic. There are big windows with curtains on either side of the RV in this middle portion.
To the right of the Driver, is one comfortable cushioned seat,with some gap between that and the Driver's seat. Another interesting feature was that, at night, while the RV is parked, pressing a switch activates some cushioned panels ( above the Driver's seat ), which finally spread to provide a comfortable double bed, to sleep at night. Thus, two in the bedroom at rear, plus two in the bed above driver's seat, enable four to sleep, plus two or even three, in the middle portion of the RV. However, one problem in RV is, as the floor is at a higher level compared to cars and vans (for reasons given earlier), the centre of gravity of the vehicle is at a higher level, due to which, there is considerable wobbling in the vehicle, as it moves. Hence, it would be difficult for people to walk within the vehicle (say to kitchenette or restroom, or bedroom) while the RV is moving. Unless one holds on to some support, there is risk of falling. One has to be careful and cautious regarding this aspect.
In our over five hundred mile onward trip, we had to stop at three RV Parks, and report at the Registration Office, to get the exact location of spot, where the RV had to be parked. The first RV Park was at N. Hampton, Massachusetts. The second was in south Maine. The third and final was at Point Sebago RV Resort in northern Maine, near to the Acadia National Park, close to the Bar Harbor township. At each of these RV Parks, the vehicle is parked close to three service connections: 1. Electric supply. 2. Water supply. 3. Drainage flush. The first charges the storage batteries. The second fills up the water storage (thru pipe). For the third, a big hose pipe is connected for the flush-out from the vehicle. These connections have to be however disconnected before the vehicle can move. Also, at most RV Parks, there are Consumer Stores that have essential commodities that are needed by the travellers.
There are different types of RVs of different capacities, facilities, levels of comfort and luxury, with widely differing charges, operated by different Travel Companies. A matter of wide choice, with various options. The number of passengers that are to travel, the level of comfort and luxury that is expected, and, the limit of the expenditure involved that one is prepared up to, plus other factors if any, may mainly affect the choice of the type of RV. We were six of us (three elderly people, the hosting couple,and their eleven year old son), and it was left to the hosting couple to consider all relevant factors, and decide the type of RV. The choice was a pretty good one, as we all felt at the end of the trip.
The name of our RV was 'ACE' ( the most valued one in a pack of cards ! ), and I felt thrilled when I first had a glimpse of it at Manalapan. Lot of loading had to be done for the four day travel, to meet the needs of the six of us. Lot of planning must have been done by the hosting couple, in preparing the big list of things to be taken with us - - - bedsheets, comforters, pillows, cushions, - - - mufflers, gloves, caps and jackets - - - kitchen cutlery, provisions needed for cooking for four days, some semi-cooked items, cereals for breakfast, fruits and snacks, enuf of stuff, to avoid going out for eating, as much as possible - - - a few camp (folding) chairs for extra seating for any guests to our 'home' if needed. Also a few medicines for any emergent use.
The beautiful 'Swetha Vaahan' ( white RV, they arte usually white) had many good features. The trunk at the rear (open to both sides) was pretty spacious, to accomodate any big suitcases, or firewood for campfire, or any other big items. Entrance to the RV was on the left side. The floor of the RV was at a higher level compared to cars or vans, to accomodate cooking gas cylinders, battery assembly for electric supply, tank for water storage, and then, drainage tank, and other equipments that supply the needed facilities and comforts inside RV. Hence were needed three steps from the ground level. Space provision and utilization concepts in RV design, are indeed worth noting. For the half-a-dozen or so persons in the RV, there would be footwear (shoes, sandals etc.) which be better not kept inside, for cleanliness. Hence in each step, there was a lid which can be lifted up, and some footwear be placed in the hollow steps. Besides this, just to the right of these steps, there was provision of larger space (with door) for keeping shoes, sneakers etc. Now, as you go over the steps, and enter the RV, right in the front we saw the kitchenette, with cooking facility of three gas (propane) gas-burners, with a furnace above. Just behind that, at a higher level, we noticed the microwave. To the left of the burner, was the sink, and some work-space.
From the kitchenette, as you move left, there is a passage that leads to the bedroom. At the very beginning, if the sink is to the right, then, to the left is the Frig (of medium size, with a seperate Freezer component). Above the Frig is the TV that can be slightly rotated for proper viewing. In the passage portion between kitchen and the bedroom, to the left was the bathroom, with telephone-shower, and hot and cold water supply. Opposite the bathroom, to the right, was the restroom (small size) with a wash-basin (with hot and cold water supply), as also the commode and flushtank. The bedroom was decent, with a queen-size bed, and moving space on either side, with large windows and curtains. There was much storage space by way of racks and shelves. There was good lighting arrangement. Thus, the bedroom was towards the rear of the RV, and perhaps partly over the trunk in the rear.
Now, coming back to the kitchenette and moving towards the Driver's seat i.e., towards the front of the RV, we have the seating, dining and sleeping facilities. Immediately to the right, is a three-seater sofa, which is actually a sofa-cum-bed. The seat can be pulled forward to make a comfortable bed at night. To the left i.e., opposite the sofa, is a dining table (parallel to the width of the RV), with two-seater sofas on either side. This at night, or when needed, can be transformed into a comfortable bed. The legs of the dining table can be removed, and the table pressed down. The earlier seats on either side, as also a long cushioned seat drawn from below the three-seater sofa in the front, can be assembled to make a comfortable bed for one (or even two) at night, or for comfortably seating three persons, like a deep sofa. Thus two or even three persons can sleep at night in this portion of the RV. Another excellent feature was, at night ( when RV is parked), by pressing a switch, the entire left side
assembly (dining-table -cum-bed) can be pushed back by about two or two-and-half feet, projecting outside on the left side of the RV, to provide more space between the sofa-cum-bed and its opposite assembly. But, if the RV is to be moved, this side-projection be pulled back to original position, to avoid side-projection in the RV while moving in traffic. There are big windows with curtains on either side of the RV in this middle portion.
To the right of the Driver, is one comfortable cushioned seat,with some gap between that and the Driver's seat. Another interesting feature was that, at night, while the RV is parked, pressing a switch activates some cushioned panels ( above the Driver's seat ), which finally spread to provide a comfortable double bed, to sleep at night. Thus, two in the bedroom at rear, plus two in the bed above driver's seat, enable four to sleep, plus two or even three, in the middle portion of the RV. However, one problem in RV is, as the floor is at a higher level compared to cars and vans (for reasons given earlier), the centre of gravity of the vehicle is at a higher level, due to which, there is considerable wobbling in the vehicle, as it moves. Hence, it would be difficult for people to walk within the vehicle (say to kitchenette or restroom, or bedroom) while the RV is moving. Unless one holds on to some support, there is risk of falling. One has to be careful and cautious regarding this aspect.
In our over five hundred mile onward trip, we had to stop at three RV Parks, and report at the Registration Office, to get the exact location of spot, where the RV had to be parked. The first RV Park was at N. Hampton, Massachusetts. The second was in south Maine. The third and final was at Point Sebago RV Resort in northern Maine, near to the Acadia National Park, close to the Bar Harbor township. At each of these RV Parks, the vehicle is parked close to three service connections: 1. Electric supply. 2. Water supply. 3. Drainage flush. The first charges the storage batteries. The second fills up the water storage (thru pipe). For the third, a big hose pipe is connected for the flush-out from the vehicle. These connections have to be however disconnected before the vehicle can move. Also, at most RV Parks, there are Consumer Stores that have essential commodities that are needed by the travellers.
Travelling thru Maine gave us an opportunity of seeing the Fall-scenes of trees, each with multi-colored leaves, a feast to the eyes. In northern Maine, we had good time in the Acadia National Park, where, apart from the vegetation, we went at dawn one day to atop the Cadillac Mountain to observe the beautiful sunrise. We also had been to the beautiful Sand Beach on the Atlantic Ocean, perhaps the eastern-most point in this country.
( Just for information, we were advised to have gas (petrol) filled, as soon as the tank became half-empty, and not wait till it was near empty )
Throughout the to-and-fro journey, we had homely meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), thanks to the facilities therein, such as kitchenette, frig, and microwave. A comfortable mini-single bedroom apartment on wheels, to go any time, any distance ! We had wonderful time, with all the comforts and conveniences that RV provided. An excellent and luxurious experience indeed !
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