Hey Campfire Embers!
Last weekend I logged nearly nine hours in the truck with Madeline as we headed to North Carolina for Nike Cross Country regionals. When your kids are little, you get all their time. You’re their first friend, their first audience, their whole world.
Then the teen years hit, and suddenly you’re sharing them with friends, school, sports, and whatever universe TikTok decides to open that day.
So getting two full days of uninterrupted dad-and-daughter road time? That felt like a Thanksgiving gift before the holiday even arrived. We talked music, school, weird road signs, and all the little things that don’t fit into rushed weeknights.
And honestly — she’s making good choices. Sara and I have tried to give the kids a solid framework, but you always wonder how it’ll shake out. Seeing Madeline think through things, choose good people, and stay grounded? That mattered more to me than the race itself.
🛠 Pre-Season Prep: Why Now Is the Time to Think About Your RV Water System
If you’re in the central or northern U.S., your RV is probably winterized by now. (If not… here’s your guide → Help Me Winterize!)
Winter means family time, holiday chaos, and planning next year’s adventures — not hauling your camper down icy roads.
But it is the perfect time to line up your pre-season maintenance.
One thing you don’t want to forget?
Sanitizing your RV’s fresh water system.
We updated our guide so you can bookmark it now and come back to it before your first spring trip (or that early-season shakeout run in February or March).
👉 How to Sanitize Your RV Fresh Water Tank
And if you want to dig deeper into how your entire RV water system works (or troubleshoot things before the season starts), here’s our full hub:
👉 Read Now!
🤖 AI Corner: 3 ChatGPT Prompts to Make Black Friday Less Annoying
Your inbox is about to get stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey.
So here are three prompts to help you cut through the noise and only shop the deals that actually matter.
Prompt 1:
“I need gifts under $____ for a spouse, two kids, and one outdoorsy family friend. Give me Black Friday deals that match their interests.”
Prompt 2:
“Map out my Black Friday week. Tell me when Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and REI usually drop doorbusters versus late-week deals. Then give me a daily plan for checking prices.”
Prompt 3:
“What’s the normal price range for ___ over the past year? What would be a true Black Friday deal?”
Use these so you don’t get tricked by flashy 20 percent off banners that aren’t real savings.
Share them with your friends — or better yet, invite them into our Ember community.
And for RVers planning 2025 trips…
👉 Try RV Travel GPT — your AI planner built for RV life
🦃 Poll of the Week: What’s Your Thanksgiving Energy This Year?
Which one feels most like you?
- 🥧 “Feed me and leave me on the couch.”
- 🧳 “We’re traveling — wish us luck.”
- 🤝 “Hosting. Pray for us.”
- 🚐 “Honestly? I’m planning RV trips during dinner.”
🏃 About that race…
North Carolina gave us mid-70s temps (in November!) and a tough course, including a half-mile uphill finish. Madeline went out fast, pushed hard… and hit the wall at mile two. She fell on one of the uphill climbs — brutal.
But here’s the part that’ll stick with me: another runner put her own race on hold, linked arms with Madeline, and helped her to the top. A total stranger. That moment says more about character than any PR time ever will.
Madeline missed her goal of 24:30, but she learned something bigger: how to grind when your legs quit and your pride’s already bruised. And she finished. That’s the good stuff.
Meanwhile, Jack is gearing up for wrestling season — so expect mat-side stories soon. 😅
Thanks for being part of our OCU Ember Community!
Whether you’re road tripping, cooking, resting, or escaping into next year’s travel plans — I hope your week is full of good food and even better people.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Mike
Our Campfire Unplugged
mike@ourcampfireunplugged.com
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