Doing some mods

Decided it was time to do a couple accessibility mods to the Apex. So to start things off we went to the RV show in Hershey to check things out and see how a new pair of steps might help Barb get in and out of the camper. After trying a couple out we decided that this was indeed something that needed to be done so we headed to the MORryde booth to discuss our options with them. they helped us out with selecting the right stairs, I did think ahead and bring my measurements for the door, and getting the hand rail. Gave us a nice show special price and delivered them to a local RV dealer 2 days later.
The install was pretty easy except for the fact our screen door was too long. I had to grind about an 1/8 of an inch off the bottom but other than that it was straight forward. These make a great addition to the RV and I am less worried about anyone falling down the stairs. And since they reach the ground when level there is no more need for an extra stool to make up for the first 14" step we sometimes had if the passenger side was raised a little.

After that I decided to add a grab bar to the bathroom. My concern was being able to mount it securely to the wall. I didn't trust molly screws on the 1/4" paneling. As luck would have it i found that the studs in the wall were 18" apart. BINGO! We now have a grab bar that when you pull on it you can rock the camper.

Now on to my next project. I ordered a toilet extension that will add 2 1//2 inches to the height of the toilet to made it more like an ADA fixture. I have that but I also needed a filler hose extension that I needed to order and will not have until later this week. So a post for another time.

Barb has said that she is not going to let a few issues get in the way of our life. And we are going to do any mods that we can to make sure that life is as easy as possible. Please comment if you have made any changes to your RV to help with accessibility issues.

Accessibility Issues

As we travel around visiting different places in this country we notice more and more people who are challenged by some type of accessibility issue. We are , of course, more aware of this because my wife has this problem. Her knees are bad and a replacement would not solve her problem so she is very limited on how far she can walk. About 18 months ago we bought a mobility scooter, that is now our traveling companion, that has freed her to go most places. There are, however, still places that cannot be accessed. Many by no fault of their own.

Case in point, we recently spent time in Williamsburg VA. Many of the historic homes cannot be accessed because they were built 250 years ago and have stairs to enter the home and very narrow hallways and doors. I do need to give Colonial Williamsburg credit for everything they have done to help with that issue. In some of the larger buildings, including the Capitol, they have installed lifts allowing access to at least the first floor. They also offer a discounted ticket to folks they know will not be able to access all their buildings. And we found the people who work there were all very willing to go out of their way to help by opening back doors that may have been more accessible and offering other help where they could. Again high praise to them. Just recently we found that Luray Caverns in VA is now completely accessible. Who would think that you could use a scooter to tour a cave? They opened a new entrance this spring allowing this to happen. We plan on a visit there this fall. 

On a recent visit to Virginia Beach we found that the Back Bay nature preserve had 2 hiking trails that were completely accessible as well. The trails were gravel covered and boardwalks traversed any wet area. Another great place to spend a morning exploring.

So we are now planning our trip for next year. We are going to be heading west to visit many of the National Parks. Along the way we are planning our stops based on places we find that will have access for us.

Our question for you is simple. Do you or someone you love have this issue? Leave a comment here about that issue and how you have been able to travel with it.

Free parking and admission

Seems like it's the norm these days when you go to an amusement park that they not only charge you a large fee to get in but to add to your cost they charge you to park your car so you can get there in the first place. Well there still is a different palace. A park where the parking is free and so is the admission. Instead you pay by the ride, which many of us remember was the way it used to be. It is a very family friendly park and if you don't ride it costs you nothing. ( but be aware the smell of the food will drag you in and you will will still leave with a lighter wallet than you arrived with.)

This place is called Knoebels and is in Elysburg PA. The park has over 60 rides, some dating back 50+ years and others built within the last couple of years. There are 6 roller coasters including 2 wooden coasters. One, called The Phoenix, was named the second best coaster in the country by USA Today. If riding is not your thing and you want to just sit and relax for awhile there are tons of benches throughout the park. In fact many folks go there to eat and just enjoy the atmosphere. The park is full of trees that provide plenty of shade for those benches..

Knoebels runs two campgrounds. One is attached to the park and a second is only a couple miles down the road. They run a shuttle bus between that campground and the park so you don't have to worry about parking. It basically makes the amusement park park of the campground.

Over the years we took our kids there and now we go with the grand kids. So if you are in the northeast part of Pennsylvania take a day to visit and take a step back in time. It costs you nothing and you will leave with some great memories. After all that is what we are looking for.