Hey Campfire Embers!
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! We kicked ours off with a Turkey Trot, spent the day with family, and capped the weekend with an 11-mile hike at Mammoth Cave that was so boring I never even pulled out my camera. (If you want the trails actually worth hiking there, here's our list.)
Quick hits this week: → What brown water really means (and when to panic) → The water filters worth upgrading → Two AI hacks we're using for ACT/school prep → One RV gift that actually gets used
🚿 Brown Water?! Don't Panic—It's Probably Not Your RV
If you've RV'd long enough, you've had that moment: you hook up at a new site, turn on the faucet, and something looks or tastes off.
Cloudy water. A funky smell. A hint of "what is that?"
Before assuming the campground cursed your plumbing system, there's a checklist to run through—and most of the time, it's the campground's water, not your RV.
Our new guide walks through:
- Why campground water varies so much (and which regions are worst)
- What brown or cloudy water usually means
- The filters worth upgrading vs. the ones that are marketing hype
- When it's an emergency (and when it's definitely not)
Why this matters: Understanding your water system means fewer panicked calls to campground hosts and better-tasting coffee in the morning.
>> Read the complete brown water troubleshooting guide
🎁 The RV Gift That Actually Gets Used
If you're shopping for an RVer, here's my hint to Sara: I need a new American flag.
We fly ours at every campground we visit—it's part of our setup routine right after leveling. After a full season of wind, rain, and sun, ours has earned its retirement. The colors have faded and the edges are starting to fray.
Most RV gifts end up in the "seemed like a good idea" pile. A flag gets flown at every site, admired by neighbors, and sparks conversations with fellow campers. And unlike gadgets that sit in a cabinet, this one becomes part of your camping identity.
What to look for: Get one designed for outdoor use with reinforced stitching and brass grommets. The cheap ones don't last half a season.
>> Here's the one I'm asking for
🤖 Two AI Hacks We're Using This Week (Plus One for Your 2025 RV Trips)
Between ACT prep and middle school math, we're deep in the education trenches—and AI has quietly become one of our most helpful tools.
#1: Jack's Math Support Module (Notebook LM – FREE)
Jack's math teacher doesn't exactly... teach. So we snapped photos of his textbook pages and online resources (Khan Academy, etc.), dropped everything into Google's free Notebook LM, and it built a custom learning module with clear explanations and practice questions.
#2: Madeline's ACT Math Patterns
We looked at questions Madeline missed across three practice tests, identified patterns in what tripped her up, and built a personalized study plan with targeted practice. It supplements her tutor and helps her understand why she missed what she missed.
Honestly? Back in my day, we just showed up with a sharpened #2 pencil and hoped for the best. 😅
#3: Planning Your 2025 RV Trips
If AI can build custom study plans and explain math concepts, imagine what it can do for trip planning.
We built RV Travel GPT specifically for RV owners who want to skip the "48 open browser tabs" research phase. Tell it where you're going, how long you have, and what matters to you (hiking, bourbon tours, kid-friendly stops, whatever)—and it builds a complete itinerary with campground recommendations, route planning, and RV-specific considerations.
>> Try RV Travel GPT for your next trip
It's free to use, and it's already helped hundreds of RVers plan better trips in less time.
🥾 About That Mammoth Cave Hike...
David and I knocked out 11 miles Friday, and it lived up to Mammoth Cave's reputation as "one of the most underwhelming national parks above ground."
Over 11 miles, there was nothing worth photographing. Not a view. Not a rock. Not even a funky tree. First hike I've ever done where my camera never left my pocket.
That trail definitely didn't make our list of best hikes around Mammoth Cave.
>> See the trails that are actually worth your time
Your Turn,
Mike
Our Campfire Unplugged
mike@ourcampfireunplugged.com
P.S. - Heading into December feeling refreshed and ready to finish 2025 strong. Hope you are too.
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