When Jim and I get ready to go to a new place, I am the one who goes to the computer to plan a route for us.

I have the 2005 version of Microsoft Trips and Streets software, but there is a newer version published in 2008.

Here's why I like Microsoft Streets and Trips...

At this point we drive an RV only on occasion. (Jim is transporting another RV from Indiana to Canada as we speak.)

But we have friends who drive RVs a lot. And we definitely plan to do more of it once we find "the RV of our dreams".

Recently, one of our RV friends asked us: "What's the best GPS unit for RVing?"

My first reply was "the Harman/Kardon GPS unit we currently own."

We love it. But in fairness, it's really not designed to accommodate the needs of trucks or RVs.

By that I mean... on our last RV trip through Minneapolis, we decided to swing a last-minute (as in: "There's a sign... let's go!") to the Mall of America. But we nearly lost our rolled-up awning, took out a few tree limbs, and beat the antenna up a few times when we veered off course and tried to get ourselves back on track.

Why? Because the GPS said to take downtown streets -- and most of them were down narrow (and low-clearance) side streets!

What we really needed was a GPS unit that showed "truck routes".

As recent as July 5, 2007, the sale of recreational vehicles is still on the rise. This, despite the fact that you're lucky to get 10 miles to the gallon and each fill-up can cost as much as $200!

(We recently spent $1,000 -- in gas alone -- on an RV trip from Elkhart, Indiana to Edmonton, Alberta Canada. We drove approximately 1,800 miles and got about 6-1/2 miles per gallon.)

Americans are defying high gas prices and jumping into gas guzzling recreational vehicles for their summer vacations... RV parks say changes in how the vehicles are used along with a rise in ownership among affluent people is driving higher sales." Source

Okay... I never thought I'd be doing a movie review on this RV site.

But we just returned from a cross-country RV trip and had some pretty fun adventures. Along the way, more than one person said we just had to rent the movie RV, starring Robin Williams.

So I did (...despite my better judgment, because the previews just didn't look all that great).

Surprisingly, there were a bunch of funny moments.

I can't help but think that RVers will appreciate seeing some real-life moments play out in the movies (...albeit somewhat exaggerated, of course).

Jim (and 3 friends) drove an RV cross country last week -- all the way from Elkhart, Indiana to Edmonton Alberta Canada.

This was Jim's first time being an RV transport driver. They were taking a Gulfstream motorhome from the factory in Indiana to a sales lot in Canada.

So, 2 guys rode in the Gulfstream -- a Class C RV with double slideouts -- while 2 guys rode in Terry's Renegade which is more like a truck with customized sleeping & living space than a "traditional" motorhome.

The trip coincided with an IHRA drag race in Edmonton, so the guys used Terry's motorhome as the return vehicle to get home. (It's the one he takes to all the races -- looks sort of like a semi -- and has his Alcohol Funny Car on board. They ship his Top Fuel Dragster separately in a semi tractor trailer.)

Here's how it went...

Whether you intend to eventually buy an RV at some point or not, renting an RV is always good idea (...and a FUN one, too).

It might also be the best course of action before you purchase a motorhome of your own.

If you plan to use your RV the typical number of days per year (27), and you purchase your 3-year-old RV on credit, you will pay a premium of $200 more per day for the privilege of ownership versus renting! To make ownership financially worthwhile you need to use your RV about 40 days per year if you buy the RV outright or about 50 days per year if you buy the RV on credit. On the other hand for those who live full-time in their RV the costs per day can be well under $100."

-- "Rent vs Buy" by Dave Neale (May, 2006)