More Woes for LA "Burb" Parking

On July 1, those who parked their RV on the streets of Lakewood, California, a suburb city southeast of LA we apt to find a warning citation on their rig. That's because, like so many other municipalities, Lakewood's governing body and area residents by majority vote determined that RVs on the streets just couldn't be neat. Or, rather, that RV parking was incompatible with safety.

To lessen the blow, the city pursued a plan which would have provided RV storage spots for hundreds of RVs in an otherwise unused tract of land: A space directly beneath California Edison power transmission lines. 'Not so fast!' came the reply from the local fire agency. Putting a "nix" on the proposal, the local fire department determined the risks to both the public and firefighters were just too high. Citing the possibility of electrocution to RVers or firemen should the lines catch fire, the fire department's objection put an end to the storage suggestion.

While one RV trade journal decries the decision as a, 'lame excuse' there may be some precedent for the call. Earlier this year north of Perth, Australia, a 26-year-old schoolteacher lost her life trying to escape a fire caused by the "clashing" of high tension power lines. And for decades the debate has gone back and forth regarding the dangers of electromagnetic radiation associated with high voltage transmission lines.

For the story on the fire department's decision, visit the Long Beach, CA Press Telegram.

Stock photo courtesy U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Agency

On Texas Gulf? Wanna be on TV?

The CBS television network is bringing its popular morning show, The CBS Early Show to South Padre Island's KOA Campground. On Thursday, August 2nd, crowds will gather to cheer, scream, and generally make themselves look silly, all in an effort to be part of a national TV happening.

The Early Show is presenting a special series called the Great American Vacation Giveaway. Where better to hype vacations than at an RV park? “Bring your signs and your voices to the campground on Aug. 2,” said KOA spokesman Mike Gast. “We hosted this same event last summer in Billings, Montana, and it was a great chance for everyone to appear on national TV.”

With a broadcast start time of 7 a.m., if you "drop anchor" at the KOA, you'll be ready when the video starts rolling. The shooting will continue to 9 a.m. Refreshments, prizes and entertainment will highlight the live festivities. For reservations, call the KOA at 800-562-9724.

Photo courtesy cbsnews.com

RVing family crosses country promoting biodiesel

Here's a whole new spin on the age-old, "What did you do over your summer vacation?" routine. For the children of Taylor and Christina Jenkins of Nampa, Idaho, the story may be too much for some to swallow. It might go something like this, "We spent the summer crossing the country to talk about alternative energy." But it's all too true.

The Jenkins family of six have been crossing the US in their bio-diesel fueled Monaco Class A motorhome, promoting earth-friendly fuels and lifestyles. The family left their Idaho home on the 25th of June, and have already made it to the east coast. The problem, they've noted with the east is that many of the biodiesel sales outfits sell to "members," and often during limited daylight hours. Perhaps things will go better as they make the 'flip flop' heading for their final event in Shoreline, Washington slated for July 21, the Sustainable Living and Renewable Energy Fair.

Check out their website with interesting commentaries on all forms of alternative energy, and traveling blog entries.

Washington State Parks Concerts Draw RVers

Seems like even governments are trying to sweeten the deals they make. Wifi at highway rest areas? Well, why not free concerts at state parks? Washington State Parks has kicked off a summer series of free concerts at its popular Cape Disappointment State Park along the blue Pacific, near Ilwaco.

These freebie concerts take place at 2:00 in the afternoon on Saturdays in the Confluence Project Amphitheater, which--when the rain isn't too thick--provides neat views of both the ocean and the confluencing Columbia River.

If you hurry you can catch the Beerman Creek String Band who tune up in the key of bluegrass this Saturday, July 14. Miss them, catch up with a Celtic music group from Portland called Circled by Hounds on the 28th. The August lineup includes Juan Manuel Barco and his Tex Mex Band on the 11th, and rounding out August on the 25th is the Naselle Marimba Band.

Photo courtesy Circled by Hounds.

Supplier Predicts Free Wifi Coming to RV Parks

Kelly Hogan keeps RVers keyed into the internet. As the man-in-charge of NomadISP, Hogan makes sure his RV park owning customers keeps the internet signals flowing to RVers around the country. To make sure it happens, Hogan's company has service trucks parked in strategic places around the country. If a problem comes up, or a new customer needs service, one of Hogan's employees hops a plane and flies to where the service truck is located.

Hogan's company is big: Looking to pull in over a million dollars in revenue this year, NomadISP is KOA's choice of wireless internet providers. But to Hogan, this should be no surprise--after all RVers are becoming more and more dependent on internet access, to pay bills, do banking, and surely to keep up on blogs like these.

With wifi at your local coffeshop or fast food franchise, it's only natural that the internet would be at the RV park. Since you'll probably only spend a couple of bucks for a java and get your web access for nothing, it seems only natural your wifi should be free after you'd laid out considerably more dollars to spend the night at the RV park. Hogan agrees, "The consumer has pretty much come to the conclusion that Internet access should be anywhere and free." He predicts paying for wifi at RV parks will become a thing of the past. Check out the whole story on the Corvallis, Oregon, Gazette Times.

Photo courtesy Imeallach on flickr.com

Motorhome Europe, Asia, Australia . . . .?

For decades folks from around the world have "swapped holidays," by making arrangements to "loan out" their home in one country for a home in another. Now the concept has taken another stride: Loan out your motorhome in the states for one in say, New Zealand.

MotorhomeHolidaySwap.com asks an anual fee of about $90 to register on their service. Members provide information and photos about their motorhomes, and a computerized database "matches" up potential swaps. After that, it's up to the individual members to contact one another to ensure they're happy with the deal. "Borrowers" agree to cover the rig they're loaned with appropriate insurance, and the matchmaking company suggests everyone have a close friend or relative check out the returned rig to ensure everything's in order.

To build the company database, motorhomeholidayswap is offering to waive the first year's fees to the first 175 members. For more information, visit the company website.