Re: [A/S] Thanks Hunter

["Terry Tyler" <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Hunter,

You asked where we are going. During September, our route will be from New England to Colorado with
a stop at the Escapade in Goshen, Indiana during 9/10-15. After that, we'll wing it in the southwest
for the next seven months between visits with family at their homes and friends in SKP parks and on
BLM land. If we spark on another excursion to Mexico with the SKP Mexican Connection Chapter, that
may be in the picture, too. We have explored 21 of the 31 states with our Airstream and have
traveled to Guadalajara by ourselves. The San Jose Del Tajo Trailer Park in Guadalajara is home base
for several WBCCI Full Timer friends. There is always room another Airstreamer.   

You asked how will we stay connected with our email. Fifteen years ago, we started out with a IIc in
our Airstream (I converted a bookcase door into a second fold up table) and 200 feet of telephone
cord. We connected to house phone lines from the owner's driveway. Some of our friends would
disassemble pay phones and use alligator clips to get on line. Back then, evangelistic zeal ran
rampant with many folks.  

For the last few years, I've been using an antique Macintosh (refurbished by Apple at no cost)
laptop (5300c with OS8.6 and AW5.03). I routinely use phone plugs in restaurants, campgrounds and
Flying J Fuel Stops, but never in hotel lobbies as some of our friends have done. Usually, there's a
local access number (easily obtainable from Mindspring, AOL, etc.) although we do have an 800 number
(10 cents a minute) as back up. Each time I use the 800#, those calls are "flash sessions" for the
sole purpose of sending and receiving email. The typical time on line is 3-4 minutes (30 to 40
cents), unless someone includes photo attachments. 

We looked into using a cell phone for email, but found the signals unreliable (connections not
always stable) and too slow (BAUD 9600). It only takes a couple of failed attempts for costs to
mount up. The AppleWorks Users Group discussion group (677 members) on Temple University's server
keeps us current on latest developments. Like the Airstream group, we know which people have
expertise in specific narrowly defined areas. I contact them directly when a solution eludes me. 

The most dependable and economical email technique of all that we've tried is our Sharp TM20
Emailer. It does only email. The device cost us $100 (at an Escapees Park during a Seminar by a
Pocketmail representative), plus $100 for unlimited use of an 800 number for one year. The devices
are available at Office Max/Circuit City type stores or from the rep (ronmcd@pocketmail.com). The
deciding factor for us was there are no wires to connect. The acoustical connection has a 100% track
record since we began using it and is a far cry from how they worked 10 years ago. The AA batteries
last 3 months with our level of usage. When we take a lunch break while traveling the Interstates, I
often pick up email at the rest area phone booth. We may write one or two short replies and send
them before leaving the rest area. This is the cat's meow. It's a great supplement to my laptop. 
 
You said you weren't sure how airstream.net address works. It operates on the same principle as any
US Postal mail forwarding service (we have the Escapees Club take care of forwarding our US Mail on
a weekly basis - or whatever). The biggest convenience for using an email forwarding address is our
address will never change no matter how many times we change our Internet Service Provider (ISP).
I'm still getting flak from friends who tried and failed to reach us via email with our old 1980s
email address ISP. That address still pops up in directories, even new directories. Unfortunately,
not every directory Editor applies an equal amount of attention to detail.

Hunter, I've read the first half of your trip narrative at:
http://members.aol.com/hhamp5246/roadtrip.htm
 Some of that is a hoot. I like your graphic language style. 

Later,

Terry 
mailto:Tylerbears@airstream.net