Yesterday was yet another day with clear skies, abundant sunshine and warm temperatures. We drove the rental car to the Old Town district in Gilbert. We met Tom and Diane Rowe at Joe’s Real BBQ. This is a cafeteria-style restaurant housed in a brick building that dates back to 1929. It’s a popular place – the line to order stretched all the way out the front door.

We all ordered the half slab of pork ribs. All of the barbeque is cooked over a pecan wood fire. It was delicious. I had cut sweet corn and BBQ pit beans on the side. The beans were outstanding. If you have the opportunity, you should eat at Joe’s.

Half slab of Joe’s BBQ pork ribs

We sat outside and enjoyed our meal while we talked. I think we were there for about an hour and a half. The time always flies by when we’re catching up with our friends.

On the way home, we took advantage of the Enterprise rental car. First we stopped and shopped at Trader Joe’s. Then we made a Costco run.

Last night I was reading about mishaps of some fellow RVers on the IRV2.com forum. This got me thinking about the things we do to ensure that everything is properly stowed and road ready before we leave. It’s important to have a system or checklist; otherwise it’s too easy to overlook something.

One mistake we’ve seen other people make a couple of times is driving off with the TV antenna still up. I have a method to ensure that won’t happen to us. The antenna has a handle in the ceiling of the coach. I crank the handle clockwise to raise the antenna, counter-clockwise to lower it.

Whenever I raise the antenna, I immediately hang the ignition key for the motorhome on the crank handle. That way, when we’re getting ready to leave, I find my keys on the handle and crank the antenna down.

Ignition key hanging from antenna handle

Donna has a checklist. She goes over it and asks me if everything has been done.That’s our method of hitting the road with everything safely stowed as it should be.

Today, we’ll return the rental car. Nothing too exciting on the agenda.