By now you’ve learned that I have this affinity for comparing the driving of the motorhome that of flying an airplane.
What would flying be if not for the intrepid efforts of the Co-Pilot?
I write this with all seriousness because the Co-Pilot is that extra set of eyes that quite often keeps things safe. The biggest thing I have needed to get used to was actually having a Co-Pilot.
That is, as compared to a “Back-Seat Driver”
When one has a “Back-Seat Driver” your inner voice wants to scream out (and sometimes it actually verbalizes, usually with dire consequences)
“Hey!”
“Just sit there please!”
“I know what I’m doing!”
“I’ve been driving for 750 years!”
A Co-Pilot in reality, assists the Pilot with all things pertaining to the Flight Deck and will occasionally get up and get said Pilot some Refreshments and Snacks.
Paula was my Back-Seat Driver and is now my Co-Pilot. She takes her job seriously and has more than once saved our sorry asses from disaster. I am not kidding.
Paula oversees our Pre-Flight Checklist which she laminated and has inserted in our 3-ring Motorhome Binder. After we run around doing all that needs to be accomplished before take-off and are seated, Paula brings the Checklist out and we verify that all has been completed before proceeding.
Aside from the obvious task of helping me keep eyes on the road, there is the important job of also being the Navigation Officer. Paula can read a map as good as any seasoned road-warrior and has taken to second-guessing our intrepid GPS unit.
“Why is she taking us this way?
“This road looks much shorter”!
Similar observations and comments abound. One of her favorite things to do is suggest a different route and then watch the ETA on the GPS to see if when it “Re-Routes” the ETA, in fact, decreases.
Ha! Success!
There are several other duties, one of which is to pinpoint services along the way. We try to drive for about two hours or so and then find a place to pull over and take bit of a break. Pee-Pee, snack, stretch legs, etc. This all needs to be done in a safe environment and unfortunately, we do not fit everywhere. Paula has become adept at coordinating Google Maps with the Atlas and the GPS and guides us to smooth landing for breaktime. This scenario gets more complicated when we are ready to stop for the night. State “Welcome Centers” have become our areas of choice as they have better everything; parking, vending, lighting, and security are some of their amenities. Calculating where these are in relation to our present position and time of day has become routine for her.
Another one of her duties is very similar to that of the Co-Pilot on an airliner. When the plane is lined up on the runway and starts to accelerate, the Co-Pilot calls out the groundspeed to the Pilot until it reaches the point where the Pilot can “rotate” , that is, pull back on the control arm and lift the plane off of the ground. This allows the Pilot to concentrate solely on what is in front of them and not worry about the gauges.
Enter Paula.
When pulling out onto a freeway, there are lots of things that need to be looked out for, all of them obvious, its just that it’s all compounded by our size, weight, and relative slower speed.
Watching ahead for slowing traffic and my two big rearview mirrors for overtaking big rigs, et al, is a fulltime task. Getting us to the point where I can realistically engage the Cruise Control is our goal. I do not like putting it on until we hit 60 MPH.
Paula watches the GPS unit, which displays our groundspeed with uncanny accuracy…….. She calls out the numbers as we accelerate.
40, 45, 50, 55, ……60!
At that point I engage the Cruise Control, which for a reason that escapes me, takes over and does a better job of accelerating us up to our desired speed by using the “Accel” button. We are now at our final cruising altitude and anticipating a smooth flight and on-time arrival.
We will NOT be putting our seats back, watching a movie, or taking a nap!
5 replies on “The Co-Pilot”
Sounds like a perfect match
Hey Don! I hope you’re enjoying your time, miss you!
Hi Alexis!
Good to hear from you! Miss you too, My birthday was not the same this year without all the goodies you made for me!
Hope your new gig is liking you!
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Be Well!
Don, Glenn Sumpman just sent me your blog….Wow great…We just got a RV and hope to do lots of travel…. like you….but not full time….look forward to you postings and trips….Keep safe….PS miss you at SCARC…Harold and Peggy MacMurren
Hi Harold and Peggy!
Welcome to the Road!
Glad you like the blog, I LOVE writing it.
Send me an email, donhall930@gmail.com send a pic of what you bought, I’d love to see it. Ask me anything about this stuff, we’ve learned a lot over that past couple of months and we’d be happy to share some do’s and don’ts.
Tell everyone at SCARC I said Hi!