Rene | Live Work Dream

Life as a Campground Host

December 15, 2012June 24, 2007 by Rene

I’ve always wondered about what it was like being a campground host. Then, over the weekend, a really nice host named Jim Wagner helped Jim and I back our RV into a tight spot at Silver Lake, off Hwy. 88 near South Tahoe. He seemed to be really seasoned at being a host, and with RVing in general, so I asked him if he would …

This is Not a Drill

June 22, 2007 by Rene

For what, two years now, we’ve dreamed about this day. Sitting here in the great outdoors, our “office” is a picnic table overlooking a raging brook, with boulders and trees all over. The sun is shining and Jerry’s laying in the dirt soaking up every ray. Solar power allows us to use our satellite internet and charge our laptop batteries. Forget putting on music, the …

Campground Review: 49er Village RV Resort, Plymouth CA

March 9, 2023June 20, 2007 by Rene

Rene rants about the poor customer service at a certain RV park early in our travels.

Be Healthy on the Road, Or Else!

June 21, 2007June 19, 2007 by Rene

One bit of advice that I just learned the hard way: when you’re traveling, listen to your body and take care of yourself immediately if you suspect something is wrong. It’s easy to brush off symptoms of some kind of illness when you’re out on an adventure like this and having fun, but ultimately if you ignore what your body is trying to tell you, you will pay a hefty price. This past week, I sure did.

Campground Review: Lake Francis Resort, Dobbins CA

June 20, 2007June 17, 2007 by Rene

Last week we discovered Lake Francis Resort thanks to our hard copy of the Woodalls Directory, after trying so hard to find a place that wasn’t booked up for Father’s Day weekend. Located in the Gold Country Foothills about 2 hours from Sacramento, we had no idea what to expect.

Pulling into the registration area, we saw a kitschy old west style restaurant, saloon, theater area and swimming pool with lawns and chuck wagons. My first thought was “uh oh, we’ve arrived at Wally World.” We drove back up the hill to the campground. What a relief to see that, as far as RVing goes, it was real camping. Only the pull through spots were paved, the rest were gravel and dirt spots, with lots and lots of shade to help stay cool in the hot afternoons (not so good for satellite internet/TV connections). Although the sites are almost a little too close together when the place is crowded, at less busy times the resort layout offers a lot more elbow room. It reminded me a lot of a great place I used to go to with my family as a kid, Camp Edison Shaver Lake, just outside of Fresno CA.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

June 16, 2007June 15, 2007 by Rene

While camped out at kid-centric Lake Francis Resort in Dobbins, CA, riding out the busy Father’s Day weekend, our fridge crapped out. Brand spankin’ new. One would think that when you pay good money for something . . . Jim’s been on the phone all day with Norcold Manufacturing I’ve been dealing with our extended warranty people. Looks like we may need to take it …

And Now for Something Completely Different

June 12, 2007June 5, 2007 by Rene

Stick Home Vs. RV Home There’s so much to learn, it’s hard to pick where to begin. Everything’s a lot smaller in the RV versus the house. It’s Simple Living at it’s finest. Organizing our things so they’re easy to grab but not in the way is a puzzle, and figuring out how to make the most use of limited space requires some doing. Downsizing …

We’re Outta There!

September 20, 2019June 5, 2007 by Rene

First week on the road…