Diplexers fix everything

At the park here in Hollister, we have cable TV included in the rent. The cable offerings are rather basic, but it does include the local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations.  WE also have a portable satellite dish which gives us a much better selection (at least 123 shopping networks and 57 religious ones!) but we can't get local stations.  So, we want the best of both worlds--cable plus satellite.  However, our trailer is wired with only one cable running from the outside to the TV inside.  How do we get both without having to go outside to rewire every time or add new wire? 

After researching the problem on the Internet including on several RV forums, the answer was two diplexers.  A diplexer is used to combine cable and satellite signals on the same cable.  Actually two are required.  One is used on the outside the RV to combine the satellite and cable inputs and another is used to separate the signals into cable and satellite at the TV.  A diplexer looks like a cable signal splitter, but it is a different device.  Here is the hook up outside the RV:

The top cable plugs into the trailer cable inlet outside.  The bottom left is the cable coming from the satellite and the bottom right is the park  TV cable.  Inside, at the television, is the identical setup.  Another diplexer is connected to the trailer cable wiring.  The satellite out cable is wired directly to the satellite receiver box and the cable TV line goes directly to the television.  Now to switch between cable and satellite, we only need to change the antenna source on the television menu. 

This setup sure saves a lot of stress not having to send Donna outside to rewire the hookup every time we want to watch one system or the other.  But there is still nothing on worth watching.

Geocaching

We have enjoyed mild sunny days and cool nights since Thanksgiving.  Highs have been near 60 with lows in the upper 20s.  Precautions for water line freeze ups have continued.  We have had no problems as yet. 

We have found several very nice walking trails in the area and have been doing some geocaching along the way.  What is geocaching?  It is a treasure hunt game using a GPS enjoyed by people around the world.    Other geocachers hide treasure in various containers and the game is to find the treasure without being seen by others.  "Treasure" is a misnomer.  The treasure normally consists of  small items like plastic toys, stickers, tags, whatever with no real value.  Once finding the treasure, you trade one of your treasures for a new one.  Because of these toys, kids really enjoy this game.  The whole point of the game is to get you to places--usually scenic--that you haven't been before.  For more on geocaching go here:  click here.  Once you find the treasure, you log it on a log book hidden with the treasure and log it on the geocaching website.  Membership is free.  And you can hide your own treasures for others to find.  Sometimes, the only treasure is a log book.  For example, pictured below is a cache we found on the lake shore in Branson:

What?  you can't find it???  Here is a close up:



Still can't see it?  Well, it's easy.  Here is a fake cattail stuck in some rocks.  If you pull the cattail straight up, there is a small film container taped to the plastic stem.  Inside the container, is a piece of paper to log that you were here.  The whole point of this escapade, was to get us to take a walk along Lake Taneycomo in Branson on a beautiful day.  It worked.

We do not own one of those dedicated GPS devices.  We use our cell phone--a DroidX.  In the past, we have used a Blackberry.   Therefore, this game is costing us nothing other than some shoe leather and a little exercise in the fresh air.  We enjoy it.  Too bad Kiley isn't here to navigate!  She enjoys it also. 

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a cold, wet Thanksgiving here on Turkey Creek in Hollister. The temperature dropped from 68 at midnight to the upper 20s by Thanksgiving noon. On Wednesday afternoon we were under a tornado watch until 4:00 AM Thursday morning. Several tornados were reported just to the west and north of us. The severe storms trained along a path about 45 miles west of us to the north east of us. We were fortunate that the severe weather stayed away. However, about 1:00 AM we had some gusty winds and small hail. Heavy rains followed. Then mid morning on Thursday, rain turned to freezing rain, sleet and then to snow. Friday morning started sunny with highs expected near 50.




We had a Thanksgiving potluck at 2:00 PM with 27 others from the park in the community building here. We timed it perfectly by arriving at 2:05 with everyone else already seated. It always amazes me that potlucks somehow turn out with a wide variety of food. The park provided the turkey and stuffing and everybody else brought their favorites to share. Donna made squash, real cranberry sauce, and a raw cranberry relish. A 2 dollar donation to cover the park's costs was requested. So for 4 dollars, we ate like royalty. There was more than enough food left over to feed another 29 people.

Because of the cold, we needed to disconnect our water hose from the park supply. I had previously added fresh water to our holding tank so that we would have water by using our water pump. We also ran our furnace several times overnight to prevent water line freeze ups in the trailer. This was the first time we ran the furnace since we left Wisconsin. We have been using 2 small ceramic heaters (aka the $15 variety from WalMart) which keeps the trailer very comfortable. However, they do not heat the underbelly of the trailer where the water lines are located. The furnace has air ducts which run along the water lines thereby preventing (hopefully) any freeze up. We also have electric blankets (like large heating pads) on our fresh water and two gray water tanks to prevent them from freezing. No problems. However, we would have had problems if we lost power for a long period of time.

Learned today: always park the truck facing southeast after an ice storm. The sun will melt the accumulation so you don't have to scrape the windows.

The weather lately has been warm, cool, wet and dry. Highs in the upper 60s or low 70s have been common. Lows have ranged from the upper 30s to the upper 50s. All in all, it has been quite pleasant. Lows in the 20s and highs only in the 40s are expected later this week. Then a gradual warm up by the weekend.

We stumbled upon a tribute show to John Denver this morning. We went out for breakfast in the same building as the show occurred. It was a 10 AM show and tickets were available for ONLY 25 dollars. The cashier asked if we had discount coupons for the show. Of course, we did not. However, Donna remembered to say we saw the show advertised on TV. That was the key phrase to get the tickets at half price. We were told by one of our camper neighbors that some places discount if you tell them you saw their TV ad. We didn't watch their ad, but . . The show was OK but it would not have been worth full price. The theater was very small and all seats were good ones. We were in the 3rd row center.

If you were not aware already, we are deep into Baptist land. They have not come for me as yet but I am very careful when answering a knock on the door. You can never be too careful.

Trouble of course

Trouble normally occurs when you least expect it.  We had been enjoying the Branson/Hollister area for several days.  We got a feel for the area and were about to strike out and see the sites.  But on Saturday, our truck died in a Target parking lot.  Our batteries (2) were completely dead.  Called for a jump start.  Vehicle was able to be started.  Because the batteries were over 5 years old and after discussion with the jump technician, we drove to a nearby Walmart to check out alternator and install new batteries.  According to the fine people at Walmart, we were told that the alternator was fine EVEN THOUGH the alternator was showing a charge of well under 14 volts.  Put new batteries in and drove back to the camp site.  The next morning (Sunday) the vehicle was again stone dead.  Batteries could not be jumped.  Monday called to have the truck towed to a nearby Chevy dealer.  The truck made it into the shop on Tuesday morning.  We were told the alternator needed to be replaced.  I asked about putting in new batteries also, but was told that the Walmart batteries could rise from the dead without a problem.  I doubted that.  By Tuesday afternoon, dealer installed two new Interstate batteries and stated no voltage leak was evident.  Tuesday evening the truck was sitting back at the camper.  Hopefully, the vehicle will hold a charge by morning.  Four batteries in 4 days seems to be a little bit much.

With any tragedy, there is usually at least one positive act.  So it is with this drama.  By not having a vehicle for several days, we were forced to explore the area on foot.  Our location is such that downtown Hollister is about a mile away and in the opposite direction lies downtown Branson about 1.5 miles away.  Of course sidewalks are non existent and the roads are busy.  But the weather cooperated (highs in the upper 50s to low 60s)  and we enjoyed the area.  I am sure we saw more of the area than if we drove.   We also had the opportunity to talk with several people with Wisconsin ties--our backyard neighbors from the La Crosse area in the Airstream, the cab driver with ties to Kaukauna, the couple at the Chevy dealer who once ran a resort in Hayward, etc.  So all was not lost.  In fact walking to Branson was so enjoyable, we expect to walk with a couple from the East Coast tomorrow for breakfast there.  The truck will have another morning of rest. 

Hollister Missouri

Drove 193 miles this morning to Hollister, a suburb of Branson, MO. The trip from St. Louis was very scenic, but a very hard drive. Almost constant rolling hills with very steep grades. A lot of semi traffic also. Our truck survived and averaged slightly below 12 mpg.

We are staying at the Turkey Creek RV Village which is one of the Escapee's "rainbow" parks. The site includes a concrete pad, water, sewer, 30 amp electric service AND cable TV all for $87 per week! And if that isn't good enough, they also have a buy 3 weeks get one week free special beginning November 15.--that's $9.32 per night.  Not bad when compared to the high prices in Wisconsin.

A day of travel

Left the Wisconsin Dells area an hour later than expected. We had hoped to leave by 8 AM but left by 9. Drove 472 miles to Sullivan Missouri and are parked at a Flying J for the night. There are several other RVs parked here for the night also. Drove through St Lois at about 5 PM. What fun. Beautiful sunset in MO .

Ready to move

Finally we are ready to move. Tomorrow we are on the road south. We expect to take 2 days to reach southern Missouri. Unfortunately, the weather is fantastic here at Mirror Lake and we again have the place to ourselves. We are ready to move though.

Crowded Park

Well all good things must pass.  We have company here at Mirror Lake.  A couple of tenters, a Class B and a pop up trailer.  AND a large group of scouts in the group camp.  Things change quickly.  Its crowded here.  Now we know for sure that "we are not alone."

Wildlife have moved into the area also.  We saw an eagle fly straight down the road directly at us.  It was well below the tree tops.  I thought we would be eagle lunch.  But it looked us over and kept going.  I think it was looking for something more palatable.   We have also seen several deer including a rather good sized buck with a a large rack.  The deer don't seem to fear us.  They just slowly go about their business after giving us the eye.  Perhaps they know we left our bazooka in storage.

Its been quite chilly the last few nights--down in the low 20s.  Cold during the day also with highs barely reaching 40.  The furnace has been getting a work out at night.  Our little (and cheap) ceramic heaters keep us adequately warm during the evenings. 

 It's amazing how dark the mornings are here in the woods.  If we got up with the sun, it would be well after 8:00 AM.  Ask me how I know.

A Lazy Day

We continue to be the only campers in the park. We did extend our stay here through Saturday night (leaving Sunday).  I complained to the park ranger about the extreme privacy that we have had here.  She said we should expect neighbors this weekend.  All good things eventually come to pass.

Much warmer last night so we didn't need the furnace to keep the water pipes from freezing.   The sun was out today, so this afternoon we walked to the boat landing and through the woods to the beach path and then through the camp ground.   It was a very nice walk.  A bit breezy near the lake, however. 

The good news: oil change for the truck was $30 cheaper than in the Madison area.
The bad news:  replaced a front wheel bearing on the truck.
The best news: we had lunch with Donna's friend Connie.

Still Alone

As of this writing, we continue to have Mirror Lake State Park all to ourselves except for the occasional deer and raccoons.  And, yes, by 7:00 AM Monday, the bathrooms are locked and all water is off.  Fortunately we came prepared.

Sunday night was cold--down to 25.  Last night it was warmer at 28.  Both nights required getting up at about 4:00 AM to turn on the furnace to prevent water pipe freeze ups.  The furnace is forced air and the ducting runs over the water lines and water pump.  The low tonight will be in the low 30s so running the furnace won't be required.  We normally have no heat on once in bed.

Our rent on this site runs out tomorrow but we are considering extending our stay here through Saturday night, 11/06.   Then we expect to be on the road south to Missouri. 

Halloween 2010

Here we sit at  Mirror Lake State Park site 65E, day 1 away from the DeForest area.  Got here about 1:30 from the DeForest KOA--they closed for the season today.  We signed up here for only a 3 day stay to keep our options open.  $20 a night with electricity.  Upon getting here, we were told by the friendly ranger that the bathrooms are closed and that water would only be available during the day time when the temps were above freezing.  We were lied to.  Bathrooms are open, and water is running.  But we suspect that all will be different in the morning.

There appears to be only one other camper in the entire park!  No trick or treaters at our door this Halloween.   All this candy and no one to bother us.  Maybe our doorbell isn't working?  Could be true.

37 degrees now(8:30 PM)  and a low of 27 expected.  Chilly.  Keeping warm with our little electric heater.  Great device. Can't get a clear view of the southern sky for our sat TV.  Only the radio to watch.  It's about as interesting as TV on most days.  It's going to be an early night as both of us are tired.