Come Hail and High Water

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

Thunderstorm season is right around the corner in the deep south.  With it will come torrential rain and frozen projectiles that can ding cars and roofs with abandon.  Hail and water damage are some of the most prevalent insurance claims during the long, hot Florida summer.  If you’re unfortunate enough to be under the center of a thunderhead during an afternoon gulley washer, don’t be surprised if you wind up filing either a homeowner’s or a comprehensive claim in the next few months.  To help you avoid the worst of the damage that hail and high water can accomplish, as well as to let you know what to do if you need to file a claim, I’ve come up with a top-10 list you’ll want to peruse.

Are You Ready for National Bike Month?

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

May is National Bike Month.  That means it’s time to save some gas by putting pedal power to the test.  May 5 was Bike to School Day and May 17-23 is Bike to Work Week.  That means whether you choose to participate or not, you’re likely to see a lot more bicycles on the road than usual in the next two weeks.  To help you make the most of two-wheel human-powered transportation, I thought I’d give you ten helpful tips to make bicycling better.

More Trouble with Travel

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

In last week’s blog, I reported on the fact that while many Americans are dying to go on vacation after a year of being cooped up due to COVID-19, possible complications can arise if you happen to catch Coronavirus while away from home.  This week, I intend to share with you some little-known laws that you may inadvertently break while overseas.  Yes, Virginia, you can indeed run afoul of the law for doing things or possessing things in foreign lands that are perfectly legal in the good old US of A.  While some of the infractions will cause you to be fined, others could get you locked up. 

The Trouble with Travel

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

After being cooped up for better than a year, the good news is that the travel scene is starting to get back in gear.  Bolstered by COVID vaccines and declining infection rates, recent surveys have indicated that Americans are gaining confidence in their ability to travel with each month that passes.  With summer being only just around the corner, I thought I’d take the time to give all of you a glimpse at the promise and the perils of travel in 2021.

Hey Dude, Where’s My Spare Tire?

 

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

If you’ve been driving for more than a few decades, you’ll remember when every car on the road came with a full-sized spare tire.  Then the auto industry decided to short-sheet every driver by including only a compact spare tire, more commonly referred to by drivers as ‘The Donut.”  While it was better than nothing, every compact spare came with a warning that it shouldn’t be driven at speeds in excess of 50 MPH or for distances greater than 50 miles.  Well, now the automakers are taking the spare tire away altogether in many late-model vehicles.  This means if a tire goes flat, you’ll have only two options: hope that can of Fix-a-Flat will reinflate the tire or call the auto club for a tow.

Driving in the Rain

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

As the saying goes, “When it rains, it pours.”  In Florida, this sometimes means driving in a white squall on the interstate where you can barely see past the hood of your car.  It also means expecting torrential downpours on a nearly daily basis during the summer months.  Due to the nature of the peninsula, you can literally go from having to deal with driving rain to bone dry and back again every mile or so as you head north or south in June, July, and August.  If you’ve ever been stuck in a monster traffic jam caused by a weather-related car crash, then you’ll appreciate today’s ten tips that are designed to help you drive safely in the rain.

COVID and Camping

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

If you own an RV or travel trailer, you’re no doubt itching to get back on the road this summer.  Like everything else, the Coronavirus spoiled last year’s camping season. That meant everything from national parks to campgrounds was closed due to COVID-19.  The good news is that 2021 is seeing the lifting of restrictions, although it’s still on a case-by-case basis.  If you’re planning on taking to the road this summer, I thought I’d give you a few pointers that will help make your camping trip a success.