Galloping RVer

Graham and Treena Kerr know what it’s like to live in a small space—even though they’ve only logged a few hundred miles in their motor home.

“I spent 30 years as a sailor,” said the former Galloping Gourmet and best-selling cookbook author. “We’ve done 30,000 miles under sail.”

Between 1972 and 1973, the Kerrs and their three children lived aboard their 71-foot ocean-going ketch, the “Treena.” During that time they navigated more than 24,000 miles, plowing the waters of the Mediterranean, Atlantic and entire Eastern Seaboard of the United States.

After moving to the Pacific Northwest in the 1980s, they did another 6,000 miles in a 36-foot sailboat.

They explored Puget Sound and coastal waters as far north as Glacier Bay in Alaska.

“We’re very familiar with what it’s like being in a space the size of a recreational vehicle,” said Graham last week during a break at the RV Life on Wheels Conference on the University of Idaho campus in Moscow.

“We came here to learn how to do all the rest,” he said.

The “rest” includes such things as learning how to confidently drive a bus-size motor home, perform simple maintenance checks, understand onboard electrical systems and find the best camp sites.

The Kerrs want to learn as much as possible because, at the age of 70, they are embarking on the next journey in their lives — full-time RVing.

Over the next four years they plan to meander down the blueline highways of America, stopping along the way to talk informally with small gatherings about healthy-living. (More about that later.)

“When we started looking at RVs,” said Treena, “we were just thinking about something to replace the boat for recreation and short vacations. We thought maybe something small and simple.”

But when their vacation idea turned into a full-time vocation, they realized they needed to do more research.

“We learned that if we were going to put over 40,000 miles on our rig, we would need at least a 300 horse power, diesel pusher engine for safety and power,” said Graham. “We would also need something with an Allison 6-speed transmission, Freightliner chassis, air suspension and a 7.5 horse power diesel generator.”

They settled on a 38-foot 2001 Class A Fleetwood Discovery and christened it the “Gratitude.”

On Tuesday the “Gratitude” will be parked alongside the Rockin’ B Ranch restaurant near the Idaho/Washington border. There, at noon, the Kerrs will be talking about their new vocation, something they have coined “Outdulgence.”

‘Outdulgence’

“We have a serious, serious situation in our nation today,” said Graham. “Nearly 400,000 people are dying every year from overeating.

“At the same time 18 million children around the world will die from under consumption,” he said. “By any single means of measurement this is obviously unacceptable.”

The Kerrs are on a mission to do something about it.

“We strongly believe that if we can’t offer a worthwhile solution to a problem,” said Graham, “then we just shut up.”

But providing tools for healthy eating is something the Kerrs know a great deal about. Over the past 45 years they have published dozens of cookbooks and produced thousands of television shows seen by millions of people around the world.

Some of their information was learned the hard way.

In 1987, at 53, Treena suffered a stroke. Five months later came her heart attack, then diabetes.

After years of whipping up foods rich in fats and sugar, Graham focused his energy on healthier recipes and lifestyle choices.

Their latest cookbook, “Charting a Course to Wellness: Creative Ways of Living with Heart Disease and Diabetes,” is just out and they are launching “Outdulgence,” a program focusing on healthy choices.

Basically, said Graham, “it’s a way to convert a habit that harms into a resource that heals.”

Lunch with the Kerrs

Graham and Treena will share their insights about healthy, creative living when they visit the Inland Northwest at noon on Tuesday at the Rockin’ B Ranch, just south of exit 299 off I-90.

The cost is $15, including a Lite ‘n Healthy lunch.

Registration is required by noon on Monday.

Call 891-9016 and be sure to mention the “Kerr luncheon.”

The menu includes Grilled Chicken Sandwiches with Red BBQ Sauce, Trail Music Pinto Beans, fresh tossed greens with ‘lite’ vinaigrette, Liberty Lake lemonade, Cowboy Coffee and Cyrus O’Leary’s Lite Original Cheesecake (This recipe was created in partnership with The Heart Institute of Spokane).

For more information

“ If you can’t make it to the lunch, learn more about “Outdulgence” by going online at www.outdulgence.com.

“ “Charting a Course to Wellness: Creative Ways of Living with Heart Disease and Diabetes,” ($18.95, 484 pages) is published by the American Diabetes Association and distributed by McGraw-Hill.

“ “Graham Kerr’s Gathering Place” show airs Saturday at 11:30 a.m. on KSPS-TV.

“ To reach the Kerr Corporation, write to 1020 N. Sunset Dr., Camano Island, WA 98282; go online to www.grahamkerr.com; call (360) 387-3807; Fax: (360) 387-1898 or E-mail: graham@grahamkerr.com.