Thanksgiving offers the opportunity to reflect on life, liberty, and the pursuit of full hookup campgrounds. As we take a fond gaze in the proverbial rearview mirror, we see another action-packed year of whimsical RV antics, mind-expanding personal growth, and charming Wal-Mart parking lots.
For the most part, life with our RV has been a joy. (Except for the bent axle, which was not a particularly joyous situation for anyone involved — except Visa.)
RV camping has brought us closer together as a couple — literally. And blogging has helped to keep the spirit alive, as we broadcast our triumphs and travails around the globe.
I’m thankful for the many kind emails and comments we’ve received this past year.
Recently, we even got an email from an RV honeymooning couple in BRAZIL.
Yes, believe it or not, we have kindred spirits in Brazil who also “got hitched” with a travel trailer shortly after “getting hitched.”
Cássio writes:
“I love travel trailers, campinground (sic)….and I have a travel trailer too, but I´m from Brazil and here is not popular have a RV. I did my honeymoon on a travel trailer too and we traveled about 3000km it was very cool. I think that I was the first to make this adventure in my country. Sorry but my English is a little poor. ”
Well done, my Brazilian friend. No need to apologize for your English, as it is far superior to my Portuguese.
You can check out Cássio’s site (Lua de Mel no Trailer or “Moon of Honey in the Trailer”) and photos here: MOON OF HONEY IN THE TRAILER!
Cássio and his wife are clearly an adventurous couple, especially since RV ownership is unusual in Brazil. His comments make me thankful that RV travel is so popular in our own vast and wonderful country. We are fortunate that the industry has grown and matured over several decades, so that RV-ing is supported coast-to-coast!
I’m thankful for our continued health and safety while traveling. Any time you venture onto highways, you are rolling the dice. So far we’ve enjoyed over 30,000 miles of safe travel. (That sound you hear is me knocking on wood.)
I’m thankful for all of our kind friends at Affinity Group, Airstream, and the RVIA (you know who you are!) who have encouraged us to keep on honeymooning.
I’m thankful that fuel prices are headed in a downward direction, so we can fill SEEMORE’s belly without scorching our credit cards.
And speaking of fuel, I’m thankful for YOU, our readers (and watchers). The Long, Long Honeymoon is fueled primarily by positive feedback, and you’ve put plenty of the good stuff in our tank this year.
Stay tuned, folks – the best is yet to come!
That was nice guys and thank you for sharing your great adventures with us (me).Can’t wait to see how the new camera works.Me and the DW are headed to my Dad’s place for a few days so have a great Turkey Day!
Thanks Jim, we appreciate your interest. As a filmmaker, it’s flattering just to have someone watching one’s work. I’ve learned a lot blogging, and met some great folks too.
The primary upside of the new camera will be its lowlight capability, so we may be able to capture some nighttime camping shots that we couldn’t before. The audio is uncompressed, so that will be an improvment. And the camera is capable of variable frame rates, so we should be able to generate some slick slow motion. The resolution is awesome — at the moment it’s higher than we could even display online. The impact of all these features will be gradual (as I GRADUALLY figure out how to manage the thing).
Anyway, safe travels over the holiday and beyond. Enjoy the turkey! 😎
Sean you dog!!!!! I want a camera too. What a great camera. I have used my buddy’s and it’s just awesome!!! It’s so easy to use it and the video out of the thing is to die for. You will be blown away by the audio as soon as you hook up your mic to it. As prosumer gear goes, that’s the best! Good luck and, I can’t wait to see footage from it! So get on the road, and have a blast!
Matt
Matt, this camera is an “embarrassment of riches” as the French say… It’s got full raster 1080p recording, 1/2″ sensors, overcranking and undercranking, superb lowlight performance, etc. etc. And you are right about the audio! It records audio uncompressed, so that’s going to be a nice upside. Really, the camera is almost a little overkill for what we do, but I figure we will “grow into it.” Next year we may tackle a feature length documentary, and if so, it will be shot with this baby (Kristy has suggested the nickname “Black Bart” for the cam — we’ll see if it sticks!).
Cheers and have a great Thanksgiving!
another thing ya need for it is STEADICAM!!!! The vest not the built in sudo steady cam. http://www.fsprostab.com/english/index.htm watch the video you will have to have one. SSHHHH don’t tell Kristy just have it just show up to the door don’t tell her I told you. 😆 I like Xanadu you know for the Sony XCAM good luck.
P.S. Man I could spend your money faster that you can think just Give me the word and before you know it you will be shooting in IMAX!!!!!!!
Matt
LOL – I could easily be talked into a steadicam! I actually have the poor man’s version of that thing. Mine’s called the SteadyTracker, and it works pretty well. We also have a DVRigPro (great mobile camera rig, in which the belt supports the weight of the cam), a Glidetrack dolly, and a few other filmmaking gadgets. I guess you can tell where all of my spare change goes.
Really, it’s gonna take me a while to just get the new camera workflow figured out. The trick will be mixing new XDCAMHD footage with good ole HDV. My first few projects have crashed my video editor! Ugh, I hate when that happens… 😯
😯
wow… a new sony PMW… ouch ouch ouch.. now what does the other half get?
You need to go check out the Cannon ones at this address… it was a trailer made to show the features off on the current one we are using. (if nothing else study their way to get effects that they want.) Note why are you watching, what is the subject doing in the action to keep your interest.. and how do you show this… note also the audio effects used… These are things we look for in the production of simple trailers. The XLH seems to be quite versable.
http://downloads.canon.com/seethedifference/XLH1/XLH1_Watchmaker_FULL_low.mov
So far its been a good camera with no problems .. yet… 😉
Next stop … mixer board for adding sounds and doing a lot of the editing/effects.
I think there are several of the industry manufactures which also have seminars on the use of their products. I know our camera ops went to some sort of school on the new cannon…
As to gyro stable … best get the battery powered one that screws to the table or bottom of the camera for hand held shots. Without it your going to have some real jerky shots that will be exagerated by the digital today.
Of course we never travel to a shoot without at least 3 cameras. Let the editor then pick and choose which shots he wants.. also lose the mic.. go with the wireless clip pack. Again using no less than one per person per track and two for background noises so that its not a can’ned item. (by the way use a 4-8 track sound recorder and not the camera audio… again mix and match back at the editing room not on site.
One thing also… standing in direct front of the camera is good for you smile.. but the backgrond shots leave a lot to be… you have a video (motion camera) to show movement… ahhhh… so why stand their with a mic in your hand??? best take a shot of you first and then let the VO take care of the rest. You get more interest (hook) that way) … shooting from the ground level up at the actors direct in front is a no..no too… (home movie) also if you leave them with the … next time… hook .. or see what happend to…. next .. causes them to beat your door down for the next blog…inquireing minds want to know kinda thing.
Lighting the subjects (actors) is another area that needs some help. Background foreground lighting helps give the contrast the camera can’t. (i.e you and christie are discussing issues… she and you should be brighter than the background…) Also now that your into effects… little pic on pic inside the fraim helps keep ’em looking. Cut too effects also help keep the viewer on their toes…
Just some suggestions for the camera guy and editor… 🙄
Looking forward to seeing your blogs extend now that you have over 140 min of camera time.
Hope you and yours had a great thanksgiving. Now on to Christmas…
To leave you on a lighter note…
Seems a 70 year old dad called his son in Michigan from tucson and said.. son were getting a devorice. I am tired of looking at your mom and we just can’t stand another day… were through..
The son said.. Pop how can you do this you have been married for over 40 years. What will mom do.
He hangs up with the dad and calls his sister.
The sister says to the brother.. well we will see about this..pack your bags and book the flight were going down to Tucson
She calls her dad back…
Pop she says… don’t do a thing till we get their were on our way…
As he hangs up the wife says.. well…
He replys.. ok their on there way down for thanksgiving and we don’t have to by them airfare…
… he pauses .. and smiles at his wife.. then says… but now what are we going to do to get them to come for Christmas….
Looking forward to seeing the new improved Blog… next comes adventures…
Congrats on the new camera. I just picked up a new HV30 to play with and was reviewing the HV20/30 site when I followed your link. I knew I have head of this couple before, I to have 25 foot Airstrean then it dawned on me I have seen some post on Airstream Forums. Did you guys deal with Airhog1? Great work and some great tips, keep enjoying the road.
Jim
You guys just opened my eyes to something. Im on facebook more than Kristy! Oh boy, I think I have a problem. Thanks for the wonderful message and hope you both enjoyed your thanksgiving! So who won the Iron Bowl this year?
ROOOLLLL TIIDDEEE