Eric Highland, Author at RV Wanderlust

Fulltime RV Breakdown: What Happened and How It Was Resolved

July 3, 2014 by Eric Highland 28 Comments

As a full-time RVer, one of the most unsettling things that can happen is a breakdown. I mean, let’s face it, we’re not talking about a car. We can’t just get a rental while our rig is in the shop. We’re talking about our home!

This is a LONG post, and it was a LONG few days. But we promised to be transparent, and if you really want to know about us and how we handled our breakdown…it is quite a story.

First Signs of the Breakdown

We were headed from Florida Caverns State Park to Kissimmee, FL. We had just wrapped up a week of fun in swimming holes, caverns and on trails as we headed down I-75. Brittany was driving Meriwether (our 40′ diesel pusher Tiffin Phaeton) and I was driving Smaug (our trusty Jeep). The boys were with me and Arianna had decided to ride with Brittany.

We pulled off the interstate to get some fuel at a Pilot Travel Center in Ocala, FL when Meriwether started making some strange noises. I wasn’t there obviously, but Brittany described it as a “rough idling that sounded like Meriwether wanted to lurch forward, and it kind of went like, ‘ruuum ca-chunk-ca-chunk.'” [Read more…]

Captain’s Log: RV Wanderlust 06-25-2014

June 25, 2014 by Eric Highland 1 Comment

Meriwether Navigator Brittany Highland and Captain Eric Highland of RV Wanderlust

Date: 06-25-2014

Current City: Marianna, FL
Current Location: Florida Caverns State Park
Site Number: 19
Wi-fi Signal: Verizon - Average / AT&T - Weak / Campground Wi-fi - None
Mission: Summer 2014 with the kids!

Compliment: 2 Officers, 5 Crew, 0 Guests
Captain: Eric Highland
Navigator: Brittany Highland
1st Mate: Trogdor the Burninator
Crew: Darius 17, Arianna 15, Javen 13, Silas 10
Guests: None

Weather: Clear / 83°
Precipitation: 70%
Humidity: 72%
Wind: 7 mph

Fuel: 50 Gallons of Diesel - 1/2 of a tank
Odometer: 102,687
Generator Hours: 4612.1

Estimated Date of Departure: Friday, June 27th
Next Destination: Orlando, FL

Special Orders: Repair Issues To Be Addressed. Enjoy Summer, Repairs Later.

Captain’s Remarks

11:39 - As usual, our lives are filled with adventure at every turn. This week we canoed right past a 5-6 ft alligator and then went swimming in a natural spring-fed pool. We’ve been so busy, again, I’ve had to force myself to sit down and write a Captain’s Log so we are able to look back and reflect on our adventures someday. [Read more…]

Captain’s Log: RV Wanderlust 06-18-2014

June 18, 2014 by Eric Highland Leave a Comment

Meriwether Navigator Brittany Highland and Captain Eric Highland of RV Wanderlust

Date: 06-18-2014

Current City: Milton, FL
Current Location: Clear Creek RV Park
Site Number: 2
Wi-fi Signal: Verizon - Low / AT&T - Medium / Campground Wi-fi - None
Mission: Work week before the kids come for summer

Compliment: 2 Officers, 1 Crew, 0 Guests
Captain: Eric Highland
Navigator: Brittany Highland
1st Mate: Trogdor the Burninator
Guests: None

Weather: Scattered Clouds / 94°
Precipitation: 50%
Humidity: 34%
Wind: 0 mph

Fuel: 75 Gallons of Diesel - 3/4 of a tank
Odometer: 102,485
Generator Hours: 4612.1

Estimated Date of Departure: Sunday, June 22nd
Next Destination: Florida Caverns State Park

Special Orders: None.

Captain’s Remarks

13:50 - I had mentioned earlier how full-time RV life and working from the rig reduces the amount of exercise you get. As a full-time RVer who works from the rig, you’d be surprised how much less exercise you get unless you make a point to do so. For those who full-time without working, the story is probably vastly different because they are going out and about more often. [Read more…]

Captain’s Log: RV Wanderlust 06-16-2014

June 16, 2014 by Eric Highland Leave a Comment

Meriwether Navigator Brittany Highland and Captain Eric Highland of RV Wanderlust

Date: 06-16-2014

Current City: Milton, FL
Current Location: Clear Creek RV Park
Site Number: 2
Wi-fi Signal: Verizon - Low / AT&T - Medium / Campground Wi-fi - None
Mission: Work week before the kids come for summer

Compliment: 2 Officers, 1 Crew, 0 Guests
Captain: Eric Highland
Navigator: Brittany Highland
1st Mate: Trogdor the Burninator
Guests: None

Weather: Mostly Cloudy / 90°
Precipitation: 30%
Humidity: 65%
Wind: 0 mph

Fuel: 75 Gallons of Diesel - 3/4 of a tank
Odometer: 102,485
Generator Hours: 4612.1

Estimated Date of Departure: Sunday, June 22nd
Next Destination: Florida Caverns State Park

Special Orders: None.

Captain’s Remarks

14:04 - We made it to Florida!!! [Read more…]

Captain’s Log: RV Wanderlust 06-03-2014

June 4, 2014 by Eric Highland 8 Comments

Meriwether Navigator Brittany Highland and Captain Eric Highland of RV Wanderlust

Date: 06-03-2014

Current City: Galveston, TX
Current Location: Bayou Shores RV Park
Site Number: D-18
Wi-fi Signal: Verizon - Medium / AT&T - Medium / Campground Wi-fi - Slow
Mission: Enjoy the beach, work for clients, explore.

Compliment: 2 Officers, 1 Crew, 0 Guests
Captain: Eric Highland
Navigator: Brittany Highland
1st Mate: Trogdor the Burninator
Guests: None

Weather: Scattered Clouds / 84°
Precipitation: 30%
Humidity: 76%
Wind: 15 mph

Fuel: 75 Gallons of Diesel - 3/4 of a tank
Odometer: 101,506
Generator Hours: 4611.8

Estimated Date of Departure: Saturday, June 7th
Next Destination: Aviation Arbor RV Park in New Orleans, LA

Special Orders: None.

Captain’s Remarks

15:04 - You may think we’ve been MIA, but the truth is we’ve been so busy these past few days that I’ve literally had to force myself to stop and write. We arrived in Galveston on Saturday the 31st. Met with Kay at the front desk of Bayou Shores RV Resort and got checked in. [Read more…]

Captain’s Log: RV Wanderlust 05-29-2014

May 29, 2014 by Eric Highland Leave a Comment

Meriwether Navigator Brittany Highland and Captain Eric Highland of RV Wanderlust

Date: 05-29-2014

Current City: Austin, TX
Current Location: McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, TX.
Site Number: 9
Wi-fi Signal: Verizon - Moderate / AT&T - Strong / Campground Wi-fi - None
Mission: Enjoy nature, final meetings with clients.

Compliment: 2 Officers, 1 Crew, 0 Guests
Captain: Eric Highland
Navigator: Brittany Highland
1st Mate: Trogdor the Burninator
Guests: None

Weather: Scattered Clouds / 89°
Precipitation: 20%
Humidity: 43%
Wind: 1 mph

Fuel: 12 Gallons of Diesel - 1/8 of a tank
Odometer: 101,152
Generator Hours: 4611.8

Estimated Date of Departure: Saturday, May 31st
Next Destination: Bayou Shores in Galveston, TX

Special Orders: Clear out the basement.

Captain’s Remarks

15:17 - The count is now 2 armadillo, 5 jackrabbits, 6 deer and a lost looking pelican.

15:18 - Had three client/business meetings in the past two days. Picked up another social media client that we’ll start work with in a couple of weeks. Really looking forward to working with them. They have a solid operation and I’ve been a fan of theirs since I found out about them.

15:19 - It’s like we’re a magnet for [Read more…]

Captain’s Log: RV Wanderlust 05-27-2014

May 28, 2014 by Eric Highland Leave a Comment

Meriwether Navigator Brittany Highland and Captain Eric Highland of RV Wanderlust

Date: 05-27-2014

Current City: Austin, TX
Current Location: McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, TX.
Site Number: 9
Wi-fi Signal: Verizon - Weak / AT&T - Strong / Campground Wi-fi - None
Mission: Enjoy nature, final meetings with clients.

Compliment: 2 Officers, 1 Crew, 0 Guests
Captain: Eric Highland
Navigator: Brittany Highland
1st Mate: Trogdor the Burninator
Guests: None

Weather: Overcast / 74°
Precipitation: 50%
Humidity: 79%
Wind: 0 mph

Fuel: 12 Gallons of Diesel - 1/8 of a tank
Odometer: 101,152
Generator Hours: 4611.8

Estimated Date of Departure: Saturday, May 31st
Next Destination: Bayou Shores in Galveston, TX

Special Orders: Figure out blinker problem, start tracking odometer.

Captain’s Remarks

17:16 - We left Austin Lone Star Carefree RV park around 10:50 and we got to McKinney Falls State Park, about 4 miles away in short order. We were hooked up and settled by 11:20. [Read more…]

Captain’s Log: RV Wanderlust 05-26-2014

May 26, 2014 by Eric Highland 3 Comments

Meriwether Navigator Brittany Highland and Captain Eric Highland of RV Wanderlust

Date: 05-26-2014

Current City: Austin, TX
Current Location: Austin Lone Star Carefree RV Park
Site Number: 64
Wi-fi Signal: Verizon - Very Strong / AT&T - Strong / Campground Wi-fi - Average
Mission: Work, Meet with Bloggers, Appointments

Compliment: 2 Officers, 1 Crew, 0 Guests
Captain: Eric Highland
Navigator: Brittany Highland
1st Mate: Trogdor the Burninator
Guests: None

Weather: Mostly Cloudy / 77°
Precipitation: 30%
Humidity: 77%
Wind: 1 mph

Fuel: 12.5 Gallons of Diesel - 1/8 of a tank
Odometer: 101,142
Generator Hours: 4611.8

Estimated Date of Departure: Tuesday, May 27th
Next Destination: McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, Texas

Special Orders: Departure Tomorrow

Captain’s Remarks

09:57 - We leave tomorrow for McKinney Falls State Park. Yesterday we went to see 1.5 million bats at the Congress Avenue Bridge and eat some amazing BBQ, and the day before I bought 24 DVDs for $47. [Read more…]

Captain’s Log: RV Wanderlust 05-23-2014

May 23, 2014 by Eric Highland 3 Comments

Meriwether Navigator Brittany Highland and Captain Eric Highland of RV Wanderlust

Date: 05-23-2014

Current City: Austin, TX
Current Location: Austin Lone Star Carefree RV Park
Site Number: 64
Wi-fi Signal: Verizon - Very Strong / AT&T - Strong / Campground Wi-fi - Average
Mission: Work, Meet with Bloggers, Appointments

Compliment: 2 Officers, 1 Crew, 2 Guests
Captain: Eric Highland
Navigator: Brittany Highland
1st Mate: Trogdor the Burninator
Guests: Steve and Dawn Custer

Weather: Overcast / 80°
Precipitation: 20%
Humidity: 62%
Wind: 0 mph

Fuel: 12.5 Gallons of Diesel - 1/8 of a tank
Odometer: 101,142
Generator Hours: 4611.8

Estimated Date of Departure: Tuesday, May 27th
Next Destination: McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, Texas

Special Orders: Secure Grey Water Tank in Preps for Flush

Captain’s Remarks

12:43 - Wednesday we gave our first “On the Road” social media presentation for one of our clients. It went really well, the response was fantastic, the conversion rate extremely high and the powers that be were pleased. I think it is fairly safe to say that this [Read more…]

Captain’s Log: RV Wanderlust 05-20-2014

May 21, 2014 by Eric Highland 6 Comments

Meriwether Navigator Brittany Highland and Captain Eric Highland of RV Wanderlust

Date: 05-20-2014

Current City: Austin, TX
Current Location: Austin Lone Star Carefree RV Park
Site Number: 64
Wi-fi Signal: Verizon - Very Strong / AT&T - Strong / Campground Wi-fi - Average
Mission: Work, Meet with Bloggers, Appointments

Compliment: 2 Officers, 1 Crew, 0 Guests
Captain: Eric Highland
Navigator: Brittany Highland
1st Mate: Trogdor the Burninator

Weather: Clear / 88°
Precipitation: 10%
Humidity: 38%
Wind: 0 mph

Fuel: 12.5 Gallons of Diesel - 1/8 of a tank
Odometer: 101,142
Generator Hours: 4611.8

Estimated Date of Departure: Tuesday, May 27th
Next Destination: McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, Texas

Special Orders: None

Captain’s Remarks

19:21 - Part of being “home” in Austin means taking care of the regular humdrum routine things. You know like appointments with the doctor. Today I had to get my eyes checked and they dilated them. My pupils were HUGE and [Read more…]

First Signs of the Breakdown

Special Orders: Repair Issues To Be Addressed. Enjoy Summer, Repairs Later.

Captain’s Remarks

Special Orders: None.

Captain’s Remarks

Special Orders: None.

Captain’s Remarks

Special Orders: None.

Captain’s Remarks

Special Orders: Clear out the basement.

Captain’s Remarks

Special Orders: Figure out blinker problem, start tracking odometer.

Captain’s Remarks

Special Orders: Departure Tomorrow

Captain’s Remarks

Special Orders: Secure Grey Water Tank in Preps for Flush

Captain’s Remarks

Special Orders: None

Captain’s Remarks

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