Author: Paul

I'm a Stress Management Consultant and a retired Nurse Supervisor. I worked in the healthcare field since 1980, in 1993 I became a Nurse and 24 years ago I started working as a Stress Management Consultant. I have been certified as a Hypnotherapist since 1999. And an RVer since 2017. Now we're talking Stress.
Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 44 – Mardi Gras …. Cajun Style

Paul

We left New Orleans and I wanted to drive across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Why? Well according to the Guinness Book of World Records it is the longest continuous bridge passing over water in the USA (it was the longest in the world but now the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China is the longest). 

Arrived in Lafayette Parish Louisiana and stayed at a Boondockers Welcome host, Lonnie and Antoinette. Wow what a fantastic time we had with these folks and their wonderful friends.  We learned what a Parish is in Louisiana.  They invited us to a cookout with cracklins and gumbo and a crawfish boil the next day.  All of it was fun and delicious!  The next day we joined our host at Little Big Cup for brunch. We had more crackling, a great jambalaya and gumbo and fantastic Creme Brulee French toast.

Then we went to the Tabasco Company Factory and Museum tour which was worth the visit. We bought a bottle of their bloody Mary mix for our host. 

The next day we went to Prairieville in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Met our wonderful host. Set up the rig right next to the bayou. By the way a Bayou is a slow-moving Creek. Or swampy section of a river or a lake.

The next day we went to Eunice to see a traditional Cajun Mardi Gras. We had heard of this on the LINK Anthony Bourdain TV show.

This was 2 hours from our location and our host graciously offered to drive us there. There was a stage with a band playing cajun and zydeco music, stands selling crafts and Mardi Gras clothing and decorations. Then the parade started with police on motorcycles having fun leading it.  Then the real fun started.  The horseback riders in full cajun garb rode down the street then the floats with bead throwers. And there were people walking in the parade holding chickens.

This was the most fun Mardi Gras Parade we have seen on this wonderful trip!  The costumes, the friendliness,  the food, music and energy were fantastic!  Thank you Louisiana!!!!

We stopped at the LARC Acadian Village. We were so under whelmed by it I didn’t even mention it in the podcast. But here’s a link to the pics (coming soon).

 

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 43 – Mardi Gras the big one and the original one too

Paul

We arrived in Fairhope Alabama and learned Mardi Gras originated in Mobile in 1703. We went to  a Mardi Gras parade in Mobile Alabama which was our 1st Mardi Gras Parade ever. What a blast. While the downtown is filled with bars, Mobile keeps their festivities kid friendly. While there we visited the Mobile Carnival Museum. We highly advise you to take their free tour, admission was $8. We then went to a 2nd parade in Fairhope, which was much smaller but still fun. We ate at a fantastic Lebanese restaurant in Fairhope called Sage.

Then we drove to New Orleans (NOLA). Camped at 3 Oaks and a Pine campground (which we reserved through Passport of America $40/night for full hookups – and there’s a membership discount code I can email you which will save you some money towards their membership fee, just let me know). We are 15 minutes away from Bourbon St. We walked to Frenchmen Street and sat at Apple Barrel to listen to Great old jazz music.

And we had Beignets at Cafe Du Monde.

The next day we took the bus into town which was no bargain. In New Orleans we took a tour (hottest hell tour) which was touted as “adults only” and it was great. The owner/guide talked about alot of the dark stuff that happened in New Orleans, we found tickets on Groupon for it.

We headed over to the parade route where we had bought tickets to use bleachers for $15. We were so glad we did that. It started at 6:15. but It didn’t get up to us until 7:30pm. And the last float went by us at 11:15 p.m. 

So now we’ve seen three different Mardi Gras parades and we agree we liked the one in Mobile Alabama the best.

But what a fun experience here in NOLA. We love all those bars with live jazz music, live bands, and oh yes the food !!!!!!!!  

We were told to be careful of the crime on Bourbon Street. But we saw no problems at all. Yes, it’s a city so be careful. But there is also Mardi Gras for kidsin NOLA (New Orleans).

We met friends at  drinks at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop — built between 1722 and 1732 by Nicolas Touze, is reputed to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. 

We are staying at Three Oaks and a pine Campground.

At the visitor center in town they have 24 hour RV parking (which would be dry camping) for $50 for 24 hours.

 

 Here are links to my pic’s from the Carnival Museum and parade in Mobile Alabama.

Pictures of New Orleans (NOLA) 

More pics will be added soon.

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 42 – Met new friends in Defuniak Springs visited a Fort a State Forest and a used book store

Paul

So, I fixed our slide issue (knock wood) and here’s a link to the video on how I did it!!! We avoided a tornado and then met fantastic people in Defuniak Springs Florida. We had great times meeting Rose, Marie and George from Montreal, Dan and Jan (and their kids) from Colorado and our hosts Jeff and Leanora !  We found a great used book store Anita’s Half & Half. We heard about a wonderful Christmas Light display in Defuniak Springs Fl. We visited Fort Pickens which has a wide history of transformations. We camped at Henderson Beach State Park. Here’s an article about Acadia National Park testing a reservation system soon. 

 

Here are pictures of Fort Pickens and Henderson Beach in Destin FL.

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 41 – We visited a Tiki Hut in St Petersburg, picked Oranges on a grove the Everglades, went to Tarpon Springs saw live music and finally found great hiking in Florida

Paul

We revisited a Tiki Hut bar in St Petersburg. Then we picked Oranges on Dooley Groves in Ruskin. Stopped by Tarpon Springs and ate at Mamas Greek Cuisine and bought a sponge. In Inverness we saw live music at MC Wine Bar (Twysted Vyne).  And finally found great hiking in Florida at O’Leno State Park and Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Finally we met Sean and Alli who have a RVing YouTube Channel. 

Here are links to the pics of O’Leno State Park. And a pic of the huge Lemon we saw at Dooley Groves.

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 40 – We visited the Everglades, the Keys and South Beach and Little Havana in Miami

Paul

Well, I learned I love Rt 27 in Fla, and dislike I-75 ! We had great cinnamon buns at Knaus Berry Farm then drove the northern end of the Florida Keys and found some great parks like Crocodile Lake NWR (which you can not explore) and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Pennekamp . The next day we went on a airboat ride at Everglades Holiday Park to see Alligators and I talk about the good and bad of that. The next day we visited Biscayne Bay National Park and visited Everglades National Park. And in Little Havana, Miami we ate at El Cristo restaurant….wow !!!! And there was fantastic music at Cubaocho  and you need to check out el Santo. And we went to Manatee Park where we rented the canoe. 

Pictures of the airboat ride, Biscayne Bay, South Beach and the Florida Keys can be found on Facebook.

 

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 39 – We went to the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa, visited my brother Mike and his wife Jen and enjoyed time in the RV park

Paul

We visited the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa on the busiest day of the show, and let me tell you, WOW!  But the real reason for visiting Clearwater was to visit my brother Mike and his wife Jen. This was a bitter-sweet yet very healing visit for me. We then had our 2nd one-night stop over on the trip. We are loving the slower pace. 

Here are pics from the Tampa RV Supershow.

 

Here is a link to the Florida RV Supershow.

And a link to John and Kathy Huggins instructions on “How to survive a RV show”. 

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 38 – We visit St Augustine Fla and then to Walt Disney World

Paul

We spent a few days visiting the oldest city in the United States St. Augustine Florida.

We learned (and share) a few things about this city. We saw the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, St John the Baptist Church , Flagler College (and went on a fantastic tour of it). The Shrine of Our Lady La Leche and Castillo de San Marcos Fort.

After we left the East Coast of Florida we then we went to the BEST campground we have ever been to (Trimble Park) !!!  And why are we there????    We visited Walt Disney word and Epcot !!!!!

Here are pics of St Augustine and Walt Disney World.

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – Episode 37 – More time in and around Charleston SC then south to Savannah Georgia

Paul

We spent another day in Charleston and saw a Emancipation Celebration Parade. Then we visited a Tea Plantation, a huge Live Oak tree, a Distillery and a Winery near Charleston.  Then off to Jekyll Island, St Simons island and Savannah Georgia.

Here are links to the pictures of the Angel Oak Tree the Charleston Tea Plantation, Wormsloe, Firefly Distillery and Deep Water Vineyard. And we visited Savannah Georgia and Jekyll Island and St Simons Island. 

Here’s links to the places websites: Angel Oak Tree the Tea Plantation the First Baptist Church. and the Cathedral  of St John the Baptist.

The Firefly Distillery the Deepwater Vineyard and an article about the ship that sank with the Hyundias on it.

The Wormsloe park and the Hollings Basin. And the Dungannon Plantation.

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – Episode 36 – We visited Wilmington, Conway and Myrtle Beach NC then into SC to spend time in Charleston

Paul

Visited the beautiful and historic city of Wilmington North Carolina and the temp was 75 degrees fahrenheit !!! Saw a fantastic sunset on Holden Beach. Enjoyed time with 2 of my old coworkers and friends Kim and Kathy. Spent time in Myrtle Beach and Conway. Then headed south with the rig to Charleston South Carolina.

Here’s some pics from Wilmington North Carolina ,  our beautiful sunset on Holden Beach.

Here are the pictures of the gorgeous Charleston South Carolina.

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 35 – Heading south to Virginia and then to the Outer Banks NC

Paul

We left Assateague and stayed at a Harvest Host in Melfa Virginia. We then went south to the Outer Banks (OBX) in North Carolina, driving over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. While in OBX we visited Kitty Hawk, drove on a beach and ate some fantastic tuna. We stopped at the Jarvisburg Colored School. Then off to Burgaw.

We visited a wonderful light show at Lake Linda’s and took the rig for a mile long drive in mud …..

Pictures will be posted soon. 

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 34 – On the road again, the start of our Southeast 2019 trip

Paul

We finally left our stone and mortar home for our Southeast 2019 trip. We didn’t get out of our driveway before the problems started, Then our 1st night out … NO 110v in the rig !!!!! Ugh. This may be a trip ender. We stayed in Barnegat NJ, visited the “Christmas Vacation House in Mickleton NJ. Then off to Chesapeake MD. Afterwards we drove down to Assateague MD to see the wild ponies and went over to Ocean City MD.

 

Here are some pics of the Barnegat Light house.

And some from Chesapeake Maryland and our stop at 503 Legends Court in Mickleton NJ to see the Christmas Vacation House. 

Here’s photos of Assateague and Ocean City MD

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 32 – Back in our mortar and stone house. Made some improvements to the rig.

Paul

We arrived home from our 2019 Northeast trip. We were gone for 4 months and traveled 6,000 miles. In this episode I talk about how many nights we stayed at various types of places (Harvest Hosts, Campgrounds and Boondockers Welcome). Made some improvements to the rig. 

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – Episode 31 – Ohio, Pennsylvania, N.Y. and ….. home

Paul

 

We were pleasantly surprised with the service at Thor!!!

We then headed back east and revisited Ohio, Pennsylvania and some wonderful towns in upstate NY. Then for our last night, we stayed at a winery in the finger lakes. Along the way we also found a casino. 

This is episode is the last one for our Northeast 2019 trip.

With over 6,000 miles of memories and problems, it was wonderful!!!!!

Pictures of:

Rock City

Kinzua Bridge

Thunder Rocks in Allegany State Park

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – Episode 29 – U.S. border crossing then to Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan again

Paul

Presque Isle State Park, near Erie PA

Nelson Ledges State Park

Cleveland AND the house from The Christmas Story

Squire’s Castle

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – Episode 28 – Montreal, Kingston Ontario, and make our 2nd visit to Port Dalhousie …. and then another water leak

Paul

Here’s links to my pictures of:

 Old Montreal, Chinatown and the Waterfront

Notre Dame Cathedral Also, check out the video below !!! 

The Montreal Botanical Gardens 

Gay Village Montreal

Kingston Ont.

1000 islands … and a tunnel

Paddling through the KINGSTON MILLS Locks

Niagara Falls, Ont

 

Here’s a video of Aura (the light show at Notre Dame Cathedral) in Montreal

 

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – Episode 27 – Nova Scotia to New Brunswick and then to the Walled City of Old Quebec !!!!

Paul

We drove on another beach and pulled a car out that was stuck in the sand. We visited some cute towns in Nova Scotia and also the capital, Halifax. 

Here’s pics of Levis and ile d’Orleans Quebec, Levis is across from Old Quebec on the St Lawrence River. ile d’Orleans is an island on the St Lawrence. 

Here are pics from a waterfall park (Chute de la Chaudiere) it was really really nice. 

And pics from Quebec City

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – Episode 26 – Back to Nova Scotia … to be locked out of our RV

Paul

We arrived back to Nova Scotia and stayed a few days with our friends Patty and Andrew. Then headed south-west through Nova Scotia.

We visited Tiverton and went on a whale watch and took these pics.

And check these photos out of Truro, Victoria Park and the Tidal Bore

 

Here’s videos about being locked out of our rig, when the lock failed:

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – Episode 25 – A wonderful garden on Eastern P.E.I. then back to Nova Scotia and …… home :(

Paul

We spent a total of 10 nights on PEI. This episode we talk about the Eastern side of the island and the trials of getting off of it.

When we got back to Nova Scotia, we stayed with our friends Andrew and Patty. Visited Tatamagouche, wait till you hear about the train ! We then visited Cape Breton Island, wow!!!

Not sure if you know, Nova Scotia translates to New Scotland. And Cape Breton is where the Irish settled, it’s so Irish, the street signs are in Gaelic. 

Pics of places I talk about in the episode:

 Cavendish N.P. and the Hope Gardens

A beach and light house in Panmure

Cape Breton Island and the Highlands National Park

Truro, Victoria Park and the Tidal Bore

Here’s a video describing our route across PEI

 

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – Episode 24 – A water leak, wineries in New Brunswick and fresh lobster on P.E.I.

Paul

 

Check out the photos of:

 St John and New Brunswick

 Sea Caves just north of St John on the Bay of Fundy – New Brunswick. 

Tyne Valley and western PEI (Prince Edward Island)

Here’s a video describing our route around PEI

Podcast

Relax RV – Episode 23 – Dead batteries and furnace, Acadia National Park, Campobello Island and a couple of border crossings

Paul

 

Here’s a link to the pics of:

Acadia National Park

The little known Schoodic Peninsula (a part of Acadia NP)

Campobello Island 

More photos to come, I’m still editing them 🙂

Here’s my youtube video showing the furnace issue

Here’s my youtube video showing the furnace SOLUTION

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – Episode 22 We start our 2019 Northeast Trip

Paul

 

Here’s links to pictures from the places we visited in this episode:

Mystic Seaport in Connecticut

Rock Harbor Cape Cod, Massachusetts 

We drive on the beach in Cape Cod

A day at a lake on “the Cape”

Salem, Massachusetts

Gloucester Massachusetts

 

blog

Can downsizing lower your Stress? 

Paul

In episode 20 of my RelaxRV podcast I talk about how living on the road in our 30′ motor-home for four months changed my view of “size” and things.

It is a fact that today buyers aged 35-54 are the largest segment of RV owners, according to the 2011 University of Michigan study. This is the 1st time that the average age group of RVers are not retirees. During our travels we met a lot of young families living fulltime on the road while homeschooling their children.

While writing my notes for episode 20, I did some research and found a couple of articles and a great book that talk about the reduction of stress associated with downsizing.

In the article in WebMD (https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/cut-stress-simplify-life#4) the author talks about how living “smaller”,  can reduce your stress by lowering time constraints. She also talks about the importance of “disconnecting” and reducing debt as associated with downsizing.

In another article “6 Reasons Downsizing Your Home Can Lower Stress” (https://seniordirectory.com/articles/info/can-downsizing-really-lower-your-stress) the author focuses on the financial benefits of downsizing.

And an interesting book (Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich by Duane Elgin) which looks at ways to live without being obsessed with “things” and may inspire you to start living a life that is simple, happy, and less cluttered.

So, take a deep breath in ……. let it out and relax.

 

There are links to the articles and to the book on Amazon (of which I am an associate and. Following the link will not cost any more in your purchase but I will receive a small financial boost for each purchase.

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 10 – a ghost town, Jackson MT and Yellowstone

Paul

We headed south-west and stayed in Bannack State Park, where we were pleasantly surprised. It’s a great place for kids of all ages. Jackson (NOT Jackson Hole) is a small, warm, welcoming western town, here’s a link to Jackson.

Then we stopped at a RV shop and bought a new topper for the rig. Eric Stark is the owner and he has a great podcast that focuses on repairs. We called Dee and Kevin – see episode 8 – and had it shipped to their house (for free), as we planned to stay with them soon.

We stopped and saw Antelope and Bison at the National Bison Range.

Then off to Yellowstone N.P.  Wow wow wow. Geysers !!!!!!!!!  Hot springs !!! Elk and Bison!!!!  Many hikes and a SWIM in the Boiling River !!!!

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 9 – Glacier National Park finally

Paul

We could see the glaciers even before we arrived at the park. There was a lot of road construction outside of the park which slowed our travel. But oh well, because Glacier is so beautiful !!!  We did many hikes including our 1st hike on the Continental Divide, we saw Bighorn Sheep, Moose (mom and calf) and came face to face with Mountain Goats ! Wow wow wow ! We will be coming back.

I’m still figuring out the Podcast, formatting and file sizes and how it sounds on your end)

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 8 – We picked up bear spray and made life long friends

Paul

Stayed in (and liked) Billings Montana then off to White Sulphur Springs and it was cold, sleeting and snowy and this was in August 2018 !!!!!!  Remember you are in the Rockies. 

We wanted to get out the cold and figured a glass of red wine would help so we looked and found 2 bars, “The Lane” and “The Sockman”. We figured Stockman sounded more like Montana so we went in a met a couple of locals (transplants from PA). We sat, talked, laughed, and made life longs friends with Kevin and Dee. 

We find that even with the stresses, RVing is fun and fantastic !

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 7 – Traveling west and saved Trish’s life

Paul

We visited the Mall of America (the largest mall in the US) then stayed in Wisconsin, nice.  We visited the Badlands National Park in South Dakota where Trish developed Heat Exhaustion !!!! It was over 100 degrees when we did an easy (for us) 4 mile hike. Here’s a link to the signs of heat emergencies.     Then off to Montana (big sky country) and the Purple Mountains Majesty. 

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 5 – finally on the road and ugh

Paul

We started our 1 year long road trip on July 8th 2018, but befoe we left I fried our battery cutoff switch and blew the solenoid behind the BCC (battery control center) which killed our camera system on the rig (back up and side view) and is killing the house batteries faster than normal.

And if that ain’t enough stress, our generator died in 90 degree weather.  So with the hot weather we are staying in more campgrounds than we expected and thus spending more money than we expected.

The stress continues.

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 4 – solar install pt2 and preparing to hit the road

Paul

After weeks of working on the solar we finally get it installed, but we still need to wire the inverter to the rig.  All that while heading into the final weeks of my career as a RN. All of this is new to me, RVing, solar, retirement, podcast production etc. So, be patient I will continue to tweak this podcast. Paul, remember to breathe …..

Uncategorized

Where do you RV?

Paul

Share with me where you RV or Caravan.  And how you travel.

I have backpacked, tent camped in a campground and now traveling in a RV (class A) and will be doing our 1st night boondocking in April 2018 !   Looking forward to a free nights stay and all of the challenges that come along with it.

Podcast

Relax RV Podcast – episode 1 Introduction to me and my podcast

Paul

This is the 1st episode, I will focus on RVing and its stressors.  It is a work in progress so if you have any comments or suggestions, let me know at relaxrv@hotmail.com

I will talk about our RV travels (trip planning, travel updates, problems encountered in relation to the RV, our travels AND how to deal with those stressors and stress in general.

Peace, Paul