Texas RV Travel blog

This video highlights some of the breathtaking landscapes that The Nature Conservancy of Texas has protected over the years.

The landscapes, skies, waterways, and wildlife of Texas will astound you

Posted by CyberCelt under Beach & Birding & Education & Lakes & Nature & Rivers & Skywatching & Wildlife Watching | No Comments »

Author - Ken Freund

Brought to you by Good Sam Club RV Road Service

Coming out of Hibernation

Winter elements can take a toll on stored RVs. If your coach has been in storage, now is the time to start preparing for those spring getaways. Taking a little time now will help ensure enjoyment all through the year.

Before hitting the road complete this RV spring-prep checklist: Begin with a thorough exterior inspection. Examine the outside, including the body and roof, for any cracks or separation and look inside for stains on the ceiling, sure signs of roof leaks. Look beneath the coach and/or or tow vehicle for signs of fuel or other fluid leaks.

Once you’ve determined there are no exterior leaks, wash the RV with a specially formulated soap designed for the exterior. Work in the shade, since washing a hot surface can result in hard-to-remove spots and streaks. Use specialized wheel cleaners to make tires and trim look new.

An RV that’s been stored all winter needs to be aired out. Vacuum the carpet and clean the floors and other surfaces as needed.

Spring prep should include a fluid and connections check. Look for insect and rodent nests and chewed wires and hoses. Check the amount of LP gas and test appliances for proper functioning.

Drain and flush the freshwater tank. Add 1/4 cup of household bleach for each 15 gallons of capacity. Then fill the tank almost to capacity, leaving room for sloshing. Drive or tow the coach to mix the bleach. Run the hot water to get the bleach through the water heater. Then drain the freshwater tank. Refill, along with 1/4 of baking soda per 15 gallons. Drive or tow to mix the water, run the hot water, then drain and refill with fresh water. Test the water pump and water system, including the water heater.

On motor homes, generators and tow vehicles, change the oil and filter and perform all recommended services according to the owner’s and maintenance manuals.

Batteries should be check for electrolyte level and connections should be removed, cleaned and after re-assembly, treated with an anticorrosive product.

Make sure all of the lug nuts are secure, check tires for cracks and other damage and set inflation pressures. Trailers should have the wheel bearings repacked.

Replace batteries and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Check the gauges on fire extinguishers. Check and refill your first aid and emergency kits. An emergency kit should include: flares, a gas can, reflective triangles, duct tape, jumper cables, wheel chocks, flashlight and basic hand tools.

Stock up with necessities for cooking, cleaning and entertaining. Review kitchen equipment and the inventory of favorite games, books, cards, puzzles, CDs, DVDs or videos.

To have peace of mind when you hit the road, get Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service

Posted by CyberCelt under Education & RV Travel | 2 Comments »

. . . You should plan to see stunning documentary called Texas: The State of Flowing Water that will air on PBS stations throughout the state at 8 PM on February 12. The program will feature environmentalists, landowners, anglers, river enthusiasts and others who know and love Texas rivers and the rich coastal bays and estuaries.  See the beautiful natural water features and the fish and wildlife that they nurture.

From the Lone Star Chapter of Sierra Club:

Texas is blessed with an incredible bounty of water resources.  The preservation of those resources is not assured, however; their future depends on the efforts of all of us to protect our natural water heritage.  The Parks & Wildlife program will highlight some of the steps being taken now to insure that our rivers continue flowing.

Tune in to the program on the following PBS stations:

• KACV Amarillo
• KLRU Austin
• KAMU Bryan-College Station
• KEDT Corpus Christi
• KERA Dallas
• KCOS El Paso
• KMBH Harlingen
• KUHT Houston
• KNCT Killeen, Temple
• KTXT Lubbock
• KPBT Odessa-Midland
• KLRN San Antonio
• KWBU Waco

For more information about Texas water, visit the website of the Texas Living Waters Project (a joint project of the National Wildlife Federation, the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, and Environmental Defense Fund) at:  http://www.texaswatermatters.org

Posted by CyberCelt under Beach & Birding & Education & Fish/Hunt & Kayak/canoe/tube & Nature & Rivers & Wildlife Watching | 2 Comments »

Over 40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and this nation lost one of the greatest leaders for peace and justice that we have ever known. Dr. King’s words still resonate with reason decades later; they still inspire new generations of folks to action.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ His words ~~~~~~~~~~~~

“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”

“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God bless you, Dr. King. I am glad you lived during my lifetime. I wish your journey could have lasted longer. I wish you were alive today to guide our nation and our people.

Posted by CyberCelt under Education & Holidays & Remember | 1 Comment »

Click here to submit your comments to the EPA on formaldehyde

Right Reading for RVers Revisited - view two related posts on this blog on this issue.

Posted by CyberCelt under Alerts & Causes & Education | No Comments »

This post on AIDS/HIV is made in support of Bloggers Unite. On December 1, 2008, bloggers from around the world are uniting for World AIDS Day 2008. Why? To help raise awareness about the 33 million people in the world who are living with HIV. In the United States, an estimated one million Americans are living with HIV.

---

When I was growing up, the danger of unprotected sex was pregnancy or perhaps a nasty STD or Herpes. Intravenous drug use put you in danger of overdose, adulterated drugs or Hepatitis.
Today, you can contract HIV from one risky sexual encounter or one needle sharing incident.
Make sure you, your children and grandchildren know the dangers and protect themselves.
Also, ensure that they are educated about HIV/AIDS so they do not hold outdated ideas that could harm them or cause them to isolate friends and family that are infected.

---

What is HIV/AIDS?

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).  Unlike most viruses, HIV attacks the human immune system. The immune system gives our bodies the ability to fight infection and is severely compromised by HIV. Reducing the amount of virus in the body with anti-retroviral therapies can dramatically slow the destruction of a person’s immune system and the onset of AIDS.

AIDS is the final stage of the HIV virus, where the immune system is compromised, multiple systemic infections exist and T cells are almost non-existent. T cells belong to a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes, which are crucial to the normal function of the human immune system.

---

The Past

Being diagnosed with AIDS used to be an automatic death sentence; a painful, lingering death.  Many people died from AIDS without ever having a diagnosis of HIV first.

The Present

With access to treatment, people live for years with HIV without developing AIDS.

The Future

With research, hopefully a cure will be found for HIV/AIDS.  Hopefully we will share this cure with countries whose populations are being decimated by AIDS.

---

Facts From aids.gov

HIV can be found in body fluids, including:

• blood
• semen
• vaginal fluids
• breast milk
• some body fluids sometimes handled by health-care workers (fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord, bone joints, and around an unborn baby)

HIV is passed from one person to another by:

• having sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with a person who has HIV
• sharing needles with a drug user who has HIV
• during pregnancy, birth, or breast-feeding if a mother has HIV
• getting a blood transfusion from a person with HIV

Abstaining from (not having) sex is the most effective way to prevent HIV transmission. There are several ways to protect yourself or to prevent transmitting HIV during vaginal, oral, or anal sex if you choose to have sex:

• Get tested for HIV and know the HIV status of yourself and your partner
• Be faithful to your sexual partner
• Use condoms or other latex barriers during vaginal, oral, and anal sex, and never reuse condoms or latex barriers

HIV cannot be transmitted by casual contact. Here are the facts:

• You cannot get HIV from shaking hands or hugging a person with HIV/AIDS
• You cannot get HIV from using a public telephone, drinking fountain, restroom, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, or hot tub
• You cannot get HIV from sharing a drink
• You cannot get HIV from being coughed or sneezed on by a person with HIV/AIDS
• You cannot get HIV from giving blood
• You cannot get HIV from a mosquito bite

Transmission of HIV while getting a tattoo or through a body piercing is possible, but it can be prevented through:

• Single-use instruments intended to penetrate the skin being used only once, then disposed of
• Reusable instruments or devices that penetrate the skin and/or contact a client’s blood should be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized between clients according to medical guidelines

These guidelines are the same as those practiced within any medical facility where there is a risk of instruments coming into contact with blood.

Posted by CyberCelt under Blog Events & Causes & Education | 2 Comments »

Emergency

The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you are out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number.

Locked Out of Car

Does your car have remote keyless entry? If you lock your keys In the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home from your cell to their cell. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button while holding the clicker close to their cell phone.  The car will unlock. Update 11/19/08: According to Snopes, this is impossible.  However, I have had people report they have unlocked their car. Try it before you need it.  Let me know if it works.

Battery Reserve Power

If your cell battery is very low, press the keys *3370#.  Your cell phone will restart in reserve power mode.

This was sent to me in an email from a friend.  I had heard of the remote unlock, but not the other two.  If it helps you in a pinch, I am glad.

Posted by CyberCelt under Alerts & Did You Know & Education & Trouble | 12 Comments »