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06-04-2014, 10:44 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: White Rock, BC
Posts: 782
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It’s done – official “Retired RV’r” status achieved
After what seemed like eons of dreaming and planning I am now both retired and the owner of a ‘new-to-us’ motorhome, a 43 ft, 2005 Newmar Mountain Aire.
The retirement part was predictable and simply took about 45 years of hard work. Acquiring the motorhome took about 44 fewer years but required an equal amount of focus and hard work. After deciding what we felt would best suit our post retirement goals I searched high and low across all of the US and Canada for the right unit and finally found it at Midtown RV Ltd, a mere 250 miles east in Penticton, BC.
My last day of work was Friday, May 30. I was off the clock at 2:00 PM and by 4:00 PM my wife, who retires in two short months, and I were on our way to take procession of our coach, purchased the prior weekend. Midtown did an awesome job preparing the coach for us, cleaning t up spick ‘n span and addressing a number of required and standard maintenance e items. After spending three and a half days camped at their dealership with other new RV owners, any remaining small items and our many questions were addressed and I drove the coach home, back to the west coast yesterday.
It was a great initial driving experience through the Pacific Coast Mountain Range with elevations rising from 385 metres (1,263 ft) up to 1728m (5,669 ft.) and a TripTek calculated a respectable average fuel mileage of 7.8 miles per gallon. Having been about 35 years since I last drove a large vehicle (fuel tanker and B-train) I was a little nervous at first but by the time I reached the coast I was as comfortable in congested Vancouver traffic as I’m likely to get.
We have few practice runs planned, including a weeks long trek to the FMCA Rally in Redmond, OR in August and then we’re off to Chicago in late August start our westbound trip along Route 66 and wonder around California for awhile.
Thank you all for the invaluable information provided through this forum and as I gain my own experience and perspective on the RV lifestyle, I hope to be able to contribute and help others.
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06-04-2014, 11:03 AM
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#2
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Community Administrator
Pond Piggies Club LA Gulf Coast Campers Outdoors RV Owners Club Entegra Owners Club Skyline Owners Group
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 40,769
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Congratulations & safe travels. I'm envious.
Lori-
__________________
Lori (& Dave, my spirit guide) - RV/MH Hall of Fame Lifetime Member | My iRV2 Photo Albums
2016 Phoenix Cruiser 2350S, 2018 Phaeton 40IH,2006 Bounder 36Z, 2004 Cougar 285EFS, 2000 Aerolite 25FBR
There is great need for a sarcasm font. 
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06-04-2014, 11:16 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Posts: 1,717
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Very cool!...I'm envious too! enjoy the hell out of retirement!
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2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4328 K2
2017 Grand Cherokee Summit 5.7
2008 Beaver Contessa 40' Pacifica 425 Cat
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06-04-2014, 11:17 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Denton, TX, 76207
Posts: 2,160
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Well done! Congratulations
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Steve Pinn
2008 Newmar Essex-4514
2009 Honda CRV
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06-04-2014, 11:21 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 69
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Congratulations! Enjoy!
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06-04-2014, 11:28 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,492
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Welcome to the " Retired RVer" club . Hope / Princeton would be a real shake down run . I do wish Midtown, had a rig that I liked when I was shopping. Is, Randy R. back working or did his health issues force early retirement?
I'll be very interested to find out from you , which border crossing into the USA you prefer to use with your rig. Pacific Crossing is OK northbound, but the security posts in the southbound lanes make maneuvering a pain. I've attempted to get info on using the truck lanes there , but can't get a firm answer.
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99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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06-04-2014, 11:37 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 272
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Congrats!! I went last August and never looked back!!
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Tom and Gail McKeon
2007 Beaver Contessa 43' Tag CAT C9
2010 Jeep Wrangler,2015 HD "Ultra Limited"on Hydralift
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06-04-2014, 11:49 AM
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#8
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,555
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Glad to have you here with us. Good luck with your retirement. Welcome to the Newmar family. Post pics when you get a chance we love seeing them!!
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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06-04-2014, 11:53 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 587
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Will be three years June 30!
Coast to coast and border to border. 38 of the lower 48.
Not looking back! Good luck.
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John and Susan. New 2018 Chevrolet 2500 2 WHD . 6.6 Duramax 3.73 rearend. .4 door ,Short, Bed W/Topper. 2017 Grand Design 297 RSTS. Our rescue dog Annie. Still ,Full timing since 07-01-2011. No sticks and bricks.
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06-04-2014, 11:56 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 894
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Congratulations, I hope you enjoy this next phase! 
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Judy & Ralph, w/Molly (in our thoughts), Sadie (the Fourche Terrier) & Abigail(the Westie) 2011 Ford F350 6.7 Lariat 2013 Infinity 3850RL
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06-04-2014, 12:40 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Naples, Fl.
Posts: 1,303
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Thanks for sharing your excitement.
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Camping Rig: 2006 Outback 27 RSDS--
2005 Dodge 3500 - Dually- Cummins
Full time since June 2006
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06-04-2014, 12:49 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 552
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What an awesome story. You guys sound like fun people. Safe travels, enjoy your hard earned freedom 😜
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06-04-2014, 01:34 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Thor Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wherever the rig is parked
Posts: 8,092
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Welcome to the club!
__________________
Bruce Dickson 2013 Thor Challenger 37GT, 5 Star Tune, Safe-T-Plus Steering Control with Air Trim, Roadmaster front and rear Sway Bars, SuperSteer rear Track Bar, Crossfires, 2018 Honda CRV . Full timers since Jan 2012.
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06-04-2014, 02:51 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Crystal City, Mo.
Posts: 442
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Ron H, congrats to you and your wife on your retirements. Its a great gig, for sure.
Route 66, I grew along 66 in St. Louis, well not directly on the route, but I did walk over to watch the big trucks go by, wondering where ther wer headed, and looking at the license plates on cars to see where ther were from when they stopped at the stoplight. That was many years ago.
When coming through St. Louis, make a stop at Ted Drewes on old route 66, in St.Louis, its been there forever. A custard stand You can go there in the summer and the place is packed, all orders are placed outside at the window, no inside service You can hear so many foreign people talking, who are traveling 66. Tour the brewery, Grants Farm, The Arch. Like any large city so much to see.
I plan to travel the length of 66 someday soon. Have to wait for my sister to retire, with luck, in a little over 2 years. She is the driver, my vision does not allow me to drive anymore.
Enjoy your trip along 66, lots of stuff to see, lots of books on the subject available. If you have time, Route 66 State Park out Hwy I-44 can be a good time.
O jave beem pm almost of 66 in IL, traveling to see my son and his family about an hour and half northwest of Chicago.
I live sout of St.Louis out I-55 about 35 miles.
One more stop, Gus's Pretzels a block from the A/B brewery. Great pretzels an institution in St. Louis, like Ted Drewes.
Safe Travels
Bill
__________________
Safe Travels
Have A Pleasant Day
Bill
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