SOME TERMS TO HELP IT MAKE SENSE

Musicians share a vernacular specific to the profession and its idiosyncratic qualities, late nights, quirky stage experiences, etc.

GIG: the job. The word has migrated into other professions associated with the arts but not just the arts. Gig also refers to the specific venue – in fact, “see you on the gig” usually means “see you on the bandstand” or “see you at the bar” or wherever the gig is going down or happening.

DOWNBEAT: the first beat of music of the first song of the night, also the name of a jazz magazine. This term is more often used in jazz than other forms. So when you’re talking to a ‘cat’ about his upcoming ‘gig’ – and you want to be there for the start of the show – you ask, “Hey daddy, what time is downbeat?”

BACKBEAT: the 2 and the 4 beat in a standard measure of popular music, where the snare drums falls in the rhythm track. When you find yourself clapping along to blues or jazz music, it’s the backbeat that you’re clapping along with – which is different from celtic or old time Irish music which is more likely to feature the 1 and the 3.

TRAINWRECK: a musical crash or mishap. Usually only egos are bruised and the more spectacular the trainwreck the more likely it is to enter the realm of lore going forward for the attending musicians to be forever memorialized in stories and jokes. For real music fans, trainwrecks are the equivalent of multi-car accidents in NASCAR minus the fire, death and car parts. For musicians, what matters most is not the scale of the trainwreck – epic or minor – but the finese of the recovery. Many small trainwrecks happen in the course of a given gig without the audience catching on. Only trained observers know how to decode the non-verbal language of a successfully overcome trainwreck.

HOTDOG: a musician who can’t hear enough of himself solo – also called “hotdogging.” Usually a term of derision as in “nice gig but an awful lot of hotdogging.” Being a hotdog is not cool, unless you’re a “monster.”

MONSTER: a player of outsized talent or skill, usually a compliment, as in “he’s a monster bassist.” Monsters can get away with a lot because they have been touched by the music gods. Every musician knows a monster that is beyond rehearsal or practice or discipline, who just has the gift.

STANDARD, or JAZZ STANDARD: a song from the big book of American jazz and pop associated with the glorious 20^th century of songs created for Broadway, Hollywood, Tin Pan Alley and the big bands of the post-war era. A song becomes a ‘standard’ when it has been recorded a sufficient number of times by a sufficient number of A-list artists – but there is no definition of how many recordings by which artists elevates a song to ‘standard’ status.

TRIO: a verse and chorus in which the rhythm section drops out of the song to make way for all the soloists soloing at once. Often used in traditional or old time Dixieland music. The effect causes the audience to begin clapping on the backbeat and smiling involuntarily.

THE BASICS

We are Class B RV people. For those of you new to the world of RV travel, a Class B RV is a camper van conversion. The two other motorized types are Class A (bus style) and Class C (the mid-size motorhome with a boxier style built onto a commercial chassis). We write what we know about (i.e. tips for buying a used Class B RV) - our current Class B camper van is our third. They’ve all been older models. But a lot of these questions and tips would apply to the process for buying any used RV, regardless of the class or size.

First - and most importantly - determine exactly what sort of traveller and camper you are:

• Are you comfortable driving a larger unit?
• Who’s going to be doing most of the driving?
• What are your budget limitations? Obviously, the larger the unit, the thirstier the engine. There’s also the question of gas vs diesel fuels (diesel gets better mileage).
• Are you looking to visit out-of-the-way places? Some campgrounds - some of our favourites, as it turns out - have narrow roads and tight campsites. You don’t want to be trying to do three-point turns to shoehorn a Class A into a Class B-sized site. Some older cities like Santa Fe and New Orleans have narrow streets that would be a nightmare for larger motorhomes to navigate.

When we ticked the boxes, we found that a Class B vehicle is our best fit. It’s our comfort zone: smaller environmental impact, more flexibility, easier to manoeuvre. We lean toward the minimalist approach (don’t need or want TV or toasters). But it’s important to find your own level of comfort.

It makes sense to invest a little to save a lot. Rent (or borrow) the size motorhome you are thinking of buying. Take it for a weekend and see if it is a good match for your needs and lifestyle. You’ll either be smitten (as we were) or the small space and minimalist approach may be a total turn off. Only you can decide.

NEW OR USED?

Ahhh . . . that is the question. It’s a matter of how deep your pockets are, and again, finding your comfort level with the mileage on the odometer. Campers and motorhomes are no different from passenger vehicles: the more miles on the ticker, the more wear and tear, the chance that something will eventually wear out or need to be replaced.

Just know that the motorhomes on the road these days can be very expensive new: $120,000 for a decked-out Class B would not be unusual. Class C motorhomes start at around $60,000 and rise rapidly and a bus-size Class A can easily top $200,000.

If you’re on a budget, it’s easy to make a case for buying used. May we suggest:

1. Start searching now. The more units you see, the better idea you’ll have of the different models, interior layouts, price points and conditions. There’s a lot of variety on the market. That way, when you find the right unit for your needs and wallet, you’ll know right away. Check Kijiji, autoTRADER, local newspaper ads, online discussion boards for RVers and local RV dealers. Keep your eyes open when you’re driving around town - some units are parked in the driveway with For Sale signs in the window.
2. Keeping an eye on ads at autoTRADER or Kijiji gives you an idea of what sale prices are for units by year and mileage. It’s all part of the education. You can also search online at the NADAguides - although the prices given are tracking U.S. sales.
3. Talk to other RV owners to ask what they’d wish they’d known when they purchased their first unit.
4. If buying an RV is a new venture for you, try to bring along a friend who has been down that road before. They’ll have ideas for what to look for and a familiarity with the basics of a camper van.
5. When you find something you’re interested in begin with a phone call and a list of questions (see below). If things look good arrange a time to see and test drive the unit. When you call, ask that the camper features be up and running so they can be tested: the propane for the fridge and cooktop, the fridge should be turned on and running, etc. Bring along your full checklist of things to ask and features to test. Take a lot of notes.
6. Seeing makes all the difference. Layouts vary from one model to the next and you’ll need to find the one that works for you. Craig is over six feet, so testing the comfort of the driving compartment, the length of the bed and headroom standing in the living quarters of the van were make-or-break.
7. Make sure to connect with your insurance agent to get a quote. It’s an important budgeting step.
8. Be patient. Look around and sooner or later the right one will come onto your radar.

FEATURES TO THINK ABOUT

• Type of fuel and rate of consumption.
• How comfortable are you backing up? A back-up camera may be for you.
• Is a shower in the unit important? Or will you be relying on showers in campground comfort stations?
• Do you need a microwave?
• Planning on camping in either hot weather (need an air conditioner?) or cold weather (need a heater?).
• Space requirements: length of the bed, height inside for standing, size of the driving compartment, inside table space (for working or eating), storage space for clothing, instruments, fishing gear, etc.
• If you plan to do a lot of cooking, you’ll want adequate pantry space and storage for pots and pans.

BUYING CHECKLIST

• Why is the current owner selling? How long have they owned it?
• Year and odometer reading?
• Is the body dinged up? Has it ever been in an accident? Ask about any body work (accident related and not).
• Gas consumption - gas or diesel, miles per gallon? City or highway driving?
• How has the camper been used - how often, what times of the year, long trips or short trips, everyday driving or vacation travel? According to our mechanic, infrequent use is not necessarily a good thing.
• How has it been stored - especially over the winter months?
• Who does the regular maintenance - owner or mechanic? Are there records showing regular oil changes, tune-ups, etc.?
• Wear and tear on the tires? Check the condition of the spare.
• Test the batteries - both the engine battery and the leisure battery (the one that runs the interior lights, water pump to the sink and toilet, etc.).
• Have major mechanical parts been repaired or replaced. This would include transmission, brakes, shocks and struts, timing belt, alternator, etc. Are there any written records of this work that show the date/mileage point and the work done?
• Run the water systems: turn the taps on at the sink, flush the toilet, run the showers (inside and outside if there is one).
• Test the propane burners on the stove. Propane regulations vary and are different in each province or state.
• Test the microwave if there is one - you’ll need to be connected to a land power source.
• Turn on the heater and play with the thermostat to make sure that it blows hot air.
• Turn on the air conditioner (you’ll need to be hooked into land power for this).
• Test the ceiling vent fan. The brand Fantastic Fan is the most common and it moves a lot of air very efficiently.
• Test all the inside lights.
• Test the fridge on all settings. We have three-way fridge that runs on 12V, electrical hookup and propane. Chances are you’ll be using the propane hookup and the electrical connection at a campground.
• Inspect the condition of the carbon-monoxide alarm, smoke detector, fire extinguisher.
• Check the condition of walls, ceiling (have there been any leaks?) and flooring.
• Check the condition of the cushions - especially on the bed area - and the curtains.
• Check the outlet valves for the grey water and black water (sewage) tanks.
• Unroll the awning (if equipped) and check for rips, tears and condition of the mechanism.

The chances are that the unit you’re looking at will need some modifications and/or repairs. Best to know what they are right from the start.

For a printable version of this checklist, click here: Camper van - inspection checklist

This is bound to be highly subjective since it depends on the road, region, and mood you’re trying to evoke. Take these as suggestions and please offer other worthies.

So, in no particular order . . .

Running On Empty, JACKSON BROWNE
Route 66, NAT KING COLE
Reach Out (I’ll Be There), THE FOUR TOPS
Take It Easy, EAGLES (*check out the actual corner at the town of Winslow, AZ)
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
Born To Run, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
I Walk The Line, JOHNNY CASH
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch, THE TEMPTATIONS
Cinnamon Girl, NEIL YOUNG
Graceland, PAUL SIMON
Sailin’ Cross The Devil’s Sea, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
Roll On Down The Highway, BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE
Blue Suede Shoes, CARL PERKINS
Good Golly Miss Molly, LITTLE RICHARD
(Sitting On) The Dock Of The Bay, OTIS REDDING
Green Onions, BOOKER T. & THE M.G.s
Heatwave (Your Love Is Like A), MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS
Dancing In The Streets, MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS
Soul Man, SAM & DAVE
Highway 61 Revisited, BOB DYLAN
Callin’ Baton Rouge, GARTH BROOKS
The Bug, MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER
Let It Roll, LITTLE FEAT
The Way, FASTBALL
Born To Be Wild, STEPPENWOLF
On The Road Again, WILLIE NELSON
Going Up The Country, CANNED HEAT

It was a long, intense trip - six weeks and 9,000 km exploring the roots of American music across the Southeast states. By the end, it had been like following a serpentine music trail and we began to appreciate how the various musical genres were intertwined and cross-influenced. Craig’s fingers got a workout on his guitar, as he jammed and played with the talented musicians from old-time to Zydeco to the Delta blues. We had the time of our lives.

JAZZ

Two decades ago, the United States Congress designated jazz “a rare and valuable national American treasure.” Indeed, there is no other spot on the continent steeped in the origins and early history of jazz. It’s on every street corner and along every boulevard. In New Orleans, the landscape of jazz isn’t just abstract. It’s real.

Best musical stops: Frenchmen Street jazz clubs, Congo Square, Preservation Hall, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, almost any street or square in the French Quarter for the street performers

Backstory:
Jazz is one of those terms that everyone knows when they hear it but no one can adequately define. It’s a fusion of different influences, notably black slave field songs, African-American gospel, rhythms from the Caribbean and harmonies and melodies from European classical music.

Chronologically jazz is the little brother of the blues as they both sprang from the same cultural, ethnic and geographical womb. The earliest origins of jazz are contested but most historians cite New Orleans as its birthplace. From there it gets really complicated and — for a while — politically interesting as it made inroads into white culture and upset established conventions because of its proclivity for improvisation: i.e., for going beyond the notes authorized by the composer and printed on the sheet music, and its close association with former slaves and their descendants. Even the label — ‘jazz’ — is contentious because of its early association with the bordellos of Storyville in New Orleans.

Today jazz is properly regarded as America’s greatest gift to the world of culture, and jazz artists are among the most revered of all musicians. Names like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Charles Mingus and Miles Davis bestride the musical landscape like titans, as indeed they are.

Although jazz took root in many American cities — Kansas City, New York and Chicago to name a few — and acquired its own distinctive qualities in those places, you really need to visit the corner of South Rampart and Perdido Streets in New Orleans where a young Louis Armstrong fired a pistol into the air on New Years’ Eve and got himself incarcerated in the Coloured Waif’s Home where they gave him a cornet (probably Civil War vintage) to occupy his time.

The world of music is a better place for that first cornet at young Armstrong’s lips. Of course he grew up in a veritable stew of music and culture and life in all its forms. And there were lots of great musicians to mentor the young Armstrong on his climb to the top. One of the reasons we revere “Pops” is because he left behind a huge archive of recordings and because he so obviously enjoyed the presentation of his craft — just listen to how often he laughs in his many live recordings — to say nothing of the millions of players who were drawn to the honeypot of jazz by exposure to his musical legacy.

Must-See Jazz Locations in NOLA (*New Orleans, Louisiana)

Any street in the French Quarter is likely to feature a jazz band — usually young but deeply committed devotees of their craft out on the street cutting their chops for coins. You’ll see some wonderful players, singers and dancers in the most unlikely places.

The Court of Two Sisters boasts the French Quarter’s largest courtyard, amply shaded by a 120-year-old wisteria. The brunch buffet is the perfect way to combine tasting all the NOLA classic dishes (from turtle soup and shrimp étouffée to bread pudding and bananas foster) while the notes of a live jazz trio percolates across the courtyard.

Preservation Hall is the iconic setting for traditional New Orleans jazz. The 45-minute show is held nightly at what is probably the oldest largely intact jazz venue in the city. It’s hot and cramped, but the music is as authentic as it gets, played by some of the city’s finest jazz artists. Sit as close as possible for the full jazz experience.

Enjoy the city’s excellent, spontaneous street musicians (and leave a tip in their fiddle cases). You’ll find them on most street corners, but head for Royal Street and Jackson Square where they play in front of St. Louis Cathedral.

Just east of the French Market, the two-block area of Frenchmen Street is where the locals have migrated to hear the strains of authentic jazz. Clubs like Snug Harbor, Blue Nile and The Spotted Cat Music Club host big names like Ellis Marsalis and trumpeter Kermit Ruffins.

Louis Armstrong Park, also the location of Congo Square, is where jazz fans go to gaze at the statute of “Pops” a.k.a. “Satch” a.k.a. “Satchmo” a.k.a. “Dippermouth” a.k.a. “Satchelmouth.” It’s also a great place to catch a “second line” jazz band and follow them around for a couple of tunes. Dance if you dare — or dance if you don’t dare!

New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park is located at the Old U.S. Mint building at the east end of the French Quarter. Climb the steps to the second floor for a display of period photographs and video on jazz in NOLA, with special attention paid to Preservation Hall. You can fawn over Louis Armstrong’s first cornet (considered the “Holy Grail” of jazz history) and Fats Domino’s white grand piano.

Music spills out of various venues along Bourbon Street, but with a lot of debauchery mixed in too. The locals reminisce about the good ol’ days on Bourbon Street – when clubs and restaurants were filled with authentic jazz and ladies and their escorts dressed to the nines for an evening out. We found that 15 minutes in this milieu was quite enough for us. Frenchmen Street is just as hip without the depravity.

Classic artists and tunes:
Jazz Me Blues, Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Take The ‘A’ Train, Duke Ellington
On The Sunny Side Of The Street, Louis Armstrong
Right Place Wrong Time, Dr. John
Beale Street Blues, W.C. Handy

MUST HAVE

• leash & collar with ID tags
• veterinarian certificate/immunization records - rabies, Lyme disease
• medications - tick/flea meds, Heartgard, any prescription medications
• dog food (in original packaging) and treats
• food and water bowls
• poop bags (what goes in, must come out . . .)
• “poo finding flashlight” (for those nighttime runs)
• paw towels
• ball and thrower
• brush
• dog bed
• favourite chew toy
• photo of your pet, in case you (gasp!) get separated
• finally . . . don’t forget the dog!

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

• microchip number
• collapsible water bowl for hikes
• dog backpack
• dog PFD/lifejacket
• crate
• harness/restraint for inside the RV
• pet shampoo
• with a vet’s approval - antihistamine for allergies, motion sickness medication, anti-diarrheal

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Pet Poison Hotline 24/7 (Canada and U.S.) 1-800-213-6680
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (Canada and U.S.) 1-888-426-4435

PRINT HERE: Dog packing checklist

Up-to-date vaccinations are mandatory. In fact, you could easily be turned back if you don’t have the proper, up-to-date paperwork. In our travels, sometimes we get asked to produce vaccination certificates, sometimes we don’t. But we always have them on hand. In addition to border crossings, many campsites require a current certificate of rabies vaccination. It’s a good idea to scan and keep a copy on your laptop, just in case it gets misplaced, lost or, you know, the dog eats it.

HEADING FROM CANADA INTO THE U.S.

U.S. border crossing requires a valid rabies vaccination certificate for dogs and that both dogs and cats be free of disease communicable to humans. Note that pet foods containing lamb, sheep and goat products are not allowed into the U.S. (you may be asked to show labels). All the details are here.

HEADING FROM THE U.S. INTO CANADA

Generally, most dogs entering Canada “on holiday” with their owners must have a valid rabies certificate of immunization. The exact requirements vary depending on the age of the dog - see the government website for exact details.

We travel in a 1996 Class B van. It’s older but still has lots of miles of life left. So, prepping for a long time on the road is especially important. We may be battling vehicle age, but we’ve got relatively low miles and tender, loving care on our side.

We start early. A month or so before we’re rolling down the driveway we make an appointment for a front-to-back once-over at our local mechanic. Minor issues can turn into major headaches when you are in the middle of nowhere. How long has that Check Engine light been on? When’s the last time you had the oil changed? Do you remember that rattle from last year? You don’t want to be dragging these unanswered questions along.

Getting the RV in to the mechanic early means that should any parts need to be special ordered, we aren’t scrambling at the last minute (yes, it happens). We make sure all the fluids are topped up, the batteries are working, the electrical system is causing no problems and that there are no drips from the plumbing or holding tanks. Here’s what happens:

• Check and fill all the fluids.
• Test the battery levels (both the engine and leisure battery).
• Check all tire pressures (including the spare).
• Check the electrical system - lights, inverter, etc.
• Check the pump - to the sink, the toilet, outside shower, etc.
• Test the furnace, air conditioner, microwave, etc.
• Test the fridge on all settings (we have a three-way fridge that runs on electricity, 12V and propane and we test it on all settings).

Once the mechanics have been attended to, we do a top-to-bottom of the inside of the van:

• Wiping down all the shelves and cupboards.
• WD40 on any squeaky hinges.
• Make sure the mattress and linens are clean (we use a 4-inch thick memory foam on top of the van bed and love it so much you’d have to tear it from our hands!).
• Wipe down the dashboard, cup holder area, wash the linoleum floors and vacuum the carpeting.
• Clean out the glove box and then make sure everything we need is repacked there.
• Make sure the maps we need are packed and that the GPS is working.

Looking for a printable version of our checklist? RV prep checklist

We’re also big fans of CAA (a partner of AAA in the U.S.). For a relatively modest amount we have annual PlusRV coverage that gives us up to 200 km (125 mi) of towing services, $600 of road trip interruption and 24/7 roadside assistance (empty gas tank, flat tire, locked doors, dead battery). Just one “help us!” call pays for the annual membership.

Still, things do go wrong on the road (hopefully nothing major). If it’s too big a job for our expertise, like replacing the sewer line, we sourced a local repair shop and gladly handed over the keys to get the - ahem - “fragrant” job done. Craig has tackled minor jobs - like replacing the water pump - with no problems at all. The wait to squeeze us into the service schedule at a rural Texas RV dealer was two days (not happening) so Craig completed the installation of a new pump in about an hour. It turned out the dealer even lent us the tools to get the job done!

Nothing ruins a trip like a health crisis. We pay attention to the condition of our van before we leave (getting a top-to-bottom check of all the safety and wear and tear aspects) and we most definitely do the same when it comes to our health. So, being properly covered as we head down the highway? Absolutely.

Plan ahead. To leave finding adequate health insurance until the last minute is courting disaster. Best to do a little legwork first - find out what coverage you may have (as an employment benefit, credit card coverage, annual add-on to your home policy, etc.) and then top up if necessary. And make sure to do a little research into the rules governing the length of times Canadians can visit the United States annually and how it effects their provincial health coverage.

Pack prescription medications you will need for the time away (bringing extra doesn’t hurt) and bring the original containers from the pharmacy, a list of your regular prescription meds and the contact info for your doctor back home. You just never know when you’ll need the information (and if you don’t bring it along, that’s usually when you need it!).

We’re both self-employed and as a result we are without out-of-province health care coverage. We’ve signed up for travel health coverage through our credit card, the AMEX Gold Card. There is an annual fee for the card (although there are frequent sign-up specials that waive the fee for the first year) and it comes with a host of benefits, including out-of-province health coverage for eligible emergency medical expenses for the first 15 consecutive days of a trip (under age 65). We’ve signed up for the additional multi-trip plan coverage because we travel several times over the year (and often for longer than the 15 days of basic coverage). The exact cost will vary depending on individual circumstances but we’ve found it provides great coverage for a very reasonable cost.

According to CBC News:
“OHIP pays up to $400 CAN per day in U.S. hospital costs, depending on level of care. The plan also reimburses outpatient visits at $50 CAN per day. And it reimburses physicians costs at the rate they would be paid in Ontario. If a U.S. physician charges more than a Ontario doctor for the same procedure, the Ontario patient pays the difference.”

And costs in a province like Ontario are generally significantly lower than in the United States.

Now, a few sobering numbers about costs to a U.S. hospital visit:

• broken arm: $5,000
• stitches: approximately $500/stitch
• kidney stone treatment: $4,300
• urinary tract infection: $2,600
• sprained ankle: $1,500
• headache: $1,700

You get the idea. The smart thing to do is to determine your exact circumstances and your needs. Call around, investigate and gather information on the alternatives. Try CAA or AAA, your credit card company, travel agents and your insurance provider (the latter often has separate coverage available). It’s a matter of finding the right fit for your needs. But whatever you do, don’t do without.

FINDING IT

Gas Buddy gathers information from stations all across North America and then sorts it by region. The interactive gas price maps are great as prices vary as you cross state or provincial lines (and even from one county to the next). There’s a link on the site for free mobile apps.

AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report collects price info on a daily basis by U.S. state. The website has a very cool fuel cost calculator that allows you to plug in your trip start and finish points (drawback: it only uses major cities), the vehicle you are driving and - voila! - it calculates trip distance (in miles), gas (in U.S. gallons) and the estimated fuel costs based on the day’s prices at the pump.

In Quebec, it’s possible to track the prices of gas by region at the CAA-Quebec’s Gasoline Watch website.

DOING THE MATH

The fast way is to take the price per gallon at the pumps in the U.S. and multiply by .26 = $/litre.

For example: $3.60/ U.S. gallon X .26 = 94¢/litre
(in U.S. dollars, so this is the point where you’ll need to make the currency conversion).

Or, you can head to a conversion website, plug in the dollar amount on the pump and let the experts do the math.

Remember the number you come up with is in U.S. dollars, so to convert to Canadian dollars multiply the number you calculated by the current exchange rate.

PAYING AT THE PUMP

Across the U.S. it is standard to pay at the pump or pre-pay inside the station before pumping fuel. Many pumps ask for a U.S. zip code before they will authorize the use of a credit card.

Enter: a combination of any three numbers + 00 for your zip code and you’ll be away to the races. For example, we use “01000.”

How to get started.

How to get moving.

How to keep “the wheels on the cart” while you’re travelling.

We’ve got advice on health insurance, filling the gas tank and staying connected while you’re away.

Also check out GoRVing.ca for lots of RV 101 information including a trip planning section, how to choose the right RV for your lifestyle and the basics of camping.