Your letters to the editor are always welcome. Send to Chuck(at)RVtravel.com.
A request for
a subscription
donation
If you enjoy this newsletter and would like to help it keep going and growing, a subscription donation will be hugely appreciated by our hard-working staff. This is a purely voluntary contribution and not necessary to continue reading the newsletter.
Thank you.
The RV Kitchen
Recipes, tips and techniques to help you prepare healthy meals within the confines of a small space.
RVs in the News
"Concentrated RV news." Practical, useful, and breaking news on RV issues.
Motorhomes on Fire: See videos of motorhomes burning -- reminders to keep your RV in good repair to avoid having yours burn, too.
RVing Quartzsite, Arizona
Keep up-to-date with what's happening in the winter snowbird capital.
Weird RVs
If it's an RV and it's weird, wacky or oddly wonderful, you'll find it here.
RVing Florida
If you travel in Florida with an RV, check in here.
Truck Camper news
News, information and advice for owners of truck campers.
Chuck Woodbury's Roadside Journal
Sometimes serious, sometimes silly, Chuck Woodbury has developed a
unique style and what the Washington Post once called a "cult
following."
RVing Alaska
Keep up with the latest news of interest about RVing in the Last Frontier.
RV Wheel Life
Veteran RV reporter Julianne Crane keeps you up-to-date with news and
information about RVing, RVers and the RV lifestyle. Always
entertaining!
RV Tech Tips with Mark Polk
A veteran RV technician, gives useful tips and advice.
FREE SHIPPING on RV Books and DVDs
Order $49 or more & choose to pay absolutely no postage or handling fees (USA addresses only) at RVbookstore.com. Nearly ALL orders ship same day. Our motto is "You need it so we speed it." RVbookstore.com. Why We Need English Teachers CLICK HERE ARTICLES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
Issue 413 of RV Travel Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more. This newsletter is funded through sales at RVbookstore.com, the World's Largest RV Bookstore specializing in books and DVDs about RVs and the RV lifestyle.
U.S. Military
Campgrounds Directory on CD Pack this along with you to get current information about Military Campgrounds across the USA. Updated monthly. No internet access needed for most of the information. Learn more here.
To ensure you continue to receive email alerts for this newsletter, please add rvtraveler@topica.email-publisher.com to your address book so you'll be sure to receive every issue. Spam filters may place future editions of the newsletter in your delete file unless it is a recognized address. AOL users, you have to permit mail or your newsletter will be placed in bulk sender or unknown sender list. Editor's corner By Chuck Woodbury Dear reader, I'm 62 years old. Some people think I'm 100. The reason is that I was in my 30s when I started traveling by RV and writing about my travels. At age 40 I began seriously traveling by RV writing for my on-the-road newspaper Out West. Back then, people thought I was much older because most people who traveled with motorhomes were senior citizens. "We're Spending our Children's Inheritance" was the leading RV bumper sticker of the era followed by "Grandma and Grandpa's Playhouse."
Some of those readers still follow me through this newsletter. Sadly, many have died.
I recall one man in particular, Ernie Herring, who was in his mid-90s when he first subscribed to Out West. He wrote me often with great wit. When he turned 99 I told him I wanted to attend his 100th birthday. But I never heard from him again. The thing I remember most about Ernie was where he lived: The town was Leisure World. But on his return address he always wrote "Seizure World." Ernie made me laugh even before I opened his letters.
SO HERE I AM NOW, closing in on 30 years since I started seriously exploring America by motorhome. Someone who had known me years ago was asking about me the other day in an RV news group: "Is he still around?" I suspect he figured I had moved to Seizure World myself.
You know, when I was 30, single and trying to figure out what to do when I grew up, I began a personal journal in which I tried to understand why I was so restless. After a few years it became clear that I had a very deep and basic need to travel. Not take bus tours: I needed to roam -- to take road trips -- to see, at my own pace, what was around the next corner. I determined that I needed to carve out a life that would allow me to do just that. The only way, I concluded, was to write and sell my stories to magazines. So, with a small, mechanically challenged motorhome and a manual typewriter (at first), I hit the road. And for nearly three decades now, off and on, I've continued.
These days, only months away from when my only child moves 3,000 miles away to attend college in New York, I am obsessed again with the divine prospect of taking long, leisurely RV road trips without neglecting my "little girl" back home.
Now, I struggle with a dilemma that is not uncommon to many other RVers: whether to travel alone, which I know is ultimately lonely (at least for me) or moderate my travels because of a partner who has less wanderlust. My partner, Kathy, is rooted in her community with friends and family. So I ponder my options -- how often to travel, how long -- how often to go alone, how often can I expect Kathy to come along? So many questions, so many options. Pretty soon I'll need to put the pieces together. Why We Need English Teachers
Please check out my new blog "Why We Need English Teachers," a collection of photos of misspelled signs I've snapped on my RV travels around the USA. If you're a lousy speller, then maybe you won't "get" what's wrong with many of these messages. But I think most of you will enjoy them. I'm not sure if you will laugh or cry at the mistakes, but you will likely be entertained.
* * * Read Chuck Woodbury blog Roadside Journal. We have updated our list of upcoming RV Shows for 2010. Check it out to find out about a show coming to your town.
* * * Do you get an email alert every Saturday morning notifying you of a new issue of this newsletter? If not, sign up here. It takes about 10 seconds.
Our RVtravel.com & RVbookstore.com Pot of Gold Contest continues on Monday. The cash prize is now $96. Each weekday we randomly select a Zip Code. If you live there and are the first to tell us, you win the money which increases every day there's no winner. To participate, click here Monday through Friday (bookmark this page.)
LAST WEEK'S ZIP CODES:
71369, 69142, 81201, 80117 and 92392. If your official residence is in any of these Zip Codes, you probably would have won between $91 and $95 if you had checked the contest on the day your Zip Code was published.
Florida RV dealer
building giant mansion Who
says the RV business is suffering? On the shore of Lake Thonotosassa,
the founder and a primary stockholder of the Florida's (and nation's) largest single-location RV
dealer is building a huge mansion. It measures 40,000-square feet,
about two-thirds the size of a football field and 20 times larger than
the average-sized American home. Read more.
JUST RELEASED FOR 2010 2010 Trailer Life RV Parks &
Campground Navigator CD-ROM America's most popular RV campground directory is now on 2 CD-ROM disks. The user friendly interface provides the ultimate RV travel planning software for the U.S. and Canada. This is the best CD-ROM RV park and campground directory. Retail price: $59.95. Our price only $36.96. Learn more or order
Yellowstone is rumbling There's been a whole lot of shakin' goin' on in America's first National Park. Since Sunday, there have been 901 measured earthquakes. The largest has been a magnitude of 3.8. Is a cataclysmic event coming? Actually, it's overdue. Read more.
California State Parks need help from voters
California nearly closed its state parks last year because of budget problems. Hoping to not experience the same fate as the Arizona State Parks, California State Parks and other organizations have created the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 to be placed on the ballot. Read more
Yet another RVer acting stupid!
Here comes another stupid RV trick -- a guy in an old Winnebago with awning extended spinning "donuts" in a parking lot. At one point, the RV nearly tips over. . . Just when you think you have witnesses the absolutely stupidest RV trick, along comes another. Don't people have better things to do? Watch the one-minute video.
Closing of Arizona State Parks should not be tolerated
The unanimous vote by the Arizona State Parks Board to close two-thirds of its states parks was a blow not only to RVers who use them for camping and other recreational and educational interests but to all the state's residents and other visitors. Read blogger Bob Difley's comments.
A handy solution of where
to put a kitty litter box in the RV
Russ and Tina De Maris have come up with a very creative way to assist their cat when Mother Nature calls, and in a minimum of space and out-of-sight in their truck camper. This would work in other RVs as well.
Replace your RV carpet
One of the biggest ways to make your older RV feel new is to install new floor coverings. Face it, after spending lots of time in your RV, those, "show every spot of dirt" carpets that manufacturers so thoughtfully install begin to look a bit doggy. Can you replace it, or will you need a professional to help? Much depends on the design of your rig. Learn more.
Luxury Fleetwood motorcoach is a goner
In the opening moments of this video, you see smoke pouring out the door of this luxury motorcoach, with firemen all around. It appears the fire will be stopped fast. Then, from out of nowhere, come flames and then an explosion. At one point a bystander says there's an injury, but you can't really tell. Watch the video.
Driving your RV (or car). How to avoid a dangerous rollover
If you drive a motorized RV, you are more likely to roll it over than if you drive a passenger car. Here, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is advice about why rollovers happen and how to prevent them.
HOT OFF
THE PRESS 2010 Next Exit Directory Essential
guide! Learn what you will find at every Interstate highway exit:
gas/diesel, campgrounds, truck stops, casinos, stores, malls,
hospitals, factory outlet stores, parks and more. Learn more. DID YOU MISS
LAST WEEK'S ISSUE? If so, read it here.
NEW 2010 EDITIONS National Park Service Camping Guide
& RV Camping in State Parks - SAVE! Here are two great guidebooks -- both published for RVers and both just updated for 2010 -- to RV camping in State and National Parks, packaged together to save you $4.78 over purchasing them separately. Learn more or order.
READ BACK ISSUES OF THIS NEWSLETTER: Click here.
Get the latest RV news headlines at Twitter.NEW ARRIVALS
at RVbookstore.com Check 'em out. Good stuff. DID YOU KNOW?
Out of millions of websites in the USA, RVtravel.com is the 21,394th largest. A typical reader visits for an average of 7.1 minutes, reading 4.4 pages. -- Source: Alexa.com RV Classified Ads
If you're looking to buy an RV, new or used, please check out the new RVtravel.com RV classified section. There are literally thousands of RVs of every size, price and model available. Search by location, price, brand or model RV, new or used to find your perfect rig!
How to maintain a safe onboard water supply If you don't like ingesting germs, then be careful about the water you drink in your RV. No need to deal with "typhoid, diarrhea, pathogenic microorganisms, intestinal parasites," as explorer Owen Lattimore noted while traversing the Silk Road in camel caravans. Here are some tips about how to keep your RV water system flowing, germ free.
School bus converted to motorhome is impressive
A fellow named Jake shows off the motorhome he made using an old school bus. He explains why he built the motorhome rather than just buying a manufactured one (hint: he saved lots of money and the RV is very sturdy). You'll be very impressed with this attractive coach and the creativity that went into making it. Watch the video.
When buying an RV, think about how you will use it
If you like to get away from it all in the backwoods you will be limited to what size RV will work for you -- in other words, shorter is better: a pop-up trailer, truck camper or hybrid might be your best choice. On the other hand, if you plan to travel cross country and not spend much time in any particular spot, a motorized RV might make more sense. Read more. Newest eBooks at RVbookstore.com Order now and read within a few minutes
Toyota will increase the production of its hybrid Prius automobile in 2011. The company plans to add about 10 hybrid models in the next few years. More.
Kansas State Parks has announced its free admission days for 2010. View the dates for each park.
Camp host positions are available in July and October at Pennsylvania's Kohler-Andrae State Park. Call park manager James Buchholz at (920) 451-4082 for details.
Glendale International Corp., a Canadian manufacturer of Travelaire Canada trailers has filed for bankruptcy three months after saying it thought the worst was over for the battered RV sector.
The Justice Department has settled an Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit against an Alabama RV park that barred an HIV-positive toddler from its swimming pool in 2007. Wales West RV Resort and Train and Garden Lovers Family Park will pay a $10,000 civil penalty to the government and $36,000 to the family. All roads into Yosemite National Park were closed Friday because of severe snow and ice. Weekend visitors should check ahead for road conditions and carry chains (even those with 4WD).
Idaho announced a plan Friday that would remove funding for its state parks out of the general fund, which should ensure they remain open. "We will remain the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation by changing our management philosophy and operating more like a business," said park director Nancy Merrill.
Allstar Coaches will accommodate a group date on an upcoming episode of The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love. In the episode, the entire cast takes an RV trip with the newest Bachelor, Jake Pavelka.
Heavy flooding in the Black Canyon City, Ariz., area last week devastated the Rivers Edge RV Park which one observer said was under 15-20 feet of water. Some RVs got out ahead of the water, some didn't. The city council of Lodi, Calif., is considering prohibiting parking RVs on city streets for more than 72 hours, or requiring RVers to get a permit to do so.
Three men who operate the web feature Motorhome Diaries are suing the Jones County (Mississippi) Sheriff's Department for what they claim were their unfair arrests. Among the various charges was possession of beer in a dry county after an unopened beer can was found in the RV's refrigerator.
In the past 18 months, New York has cut its state parks budget 25 percent. In California, with a projected $20 billion deficit projected for 2010, state park supporters hope an $18 surcharge on vehicle registrations will be passed, raising $500 million for parks. See hundreds of Internet Specials right now at Camping World
New iPhone app to photographing Yosemite
A new application "iFotoGuide" helps photographers, amateur or pro, with tools to help them get better photos during a visit. Read more.
A St. George, Utah, man is homeless after his 20-foot travel trailer burned New Year's eve. Mark Knight had 19 pet snakes of which 18 survived. He is looking for a new trailer for himself and his reptiles.
Attendance at RV shows earlier this month were up 28 percent in Denver and 65 percent in Chantilly, Virginia.
RVers Guide to Truck Stops The 2010 RVers Friend
directory lists RV services at truck stops free "camping," dumps,
Internet, propane, repair services & more. Truck stops offer more
to RVers than ever. Let this best selling book be your guide. Learn more or order.
How about a wood-powered RV?
Sounds like a crazy idea, doesn't it? Actually, during World War II, wood-burning vehicles were not uncommon. A man named Joost Conjin traveled Europe with a wood-powered vehicle. "You can go anywhere in the world with a saw and an axe," he said. Learn more from Bob Difley about wood-burning vehicles and why they are probably not a good idea.
See how easily a travel trailer can fall to pieces
Here's a rare opportunity to see how easily a travel trailer can go from fully intact to a scrap heap. In this instance, a fellow decided to use the frame of a water-damaged trailer for another project. In this 50-second video, watch as the trailer easily falls to pieces with a tug of a rope attached to a pickup truck.
Sleeping in your RV in Colorado town could cost you $100
In Boulder, Colorado, you can be fined $100 for sleeping in your RV. The ordinance states that no person shall camp within a park, recreation area, open space or other property without permission. In 2009, 353 tickets were issued for violating the law. Read more.
The incredible, shrinking RVer
Yup, we're all shrinking -- age does it to us. But not only do we get shorter as we age, our height varies from day to day. Read more about the "incredible shrinking RVer" in our blog Healthy RV Living.
RV TOURS
Chosen by Discriminating RVers since 1975 Drive the Alcan to America's Last Frontier, envision yourself on Nova Scotia's miles of coastal drives. Cross the border to sunny Mexico. Celebrate Mardi Gras. Experience Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, Pacific NW, Great NW, Great Lakes, Old South, Oregon, California, Rose Parade, Branson, Calgary, Gaspe, S. Africa, New Zealand/Australia, Russia, Turkey. All arrangements, including RV parks by TRACKS RV TOURS! **FREE Catalog** Tracks RV Tours.com, 800-351-6053.
Historical feature
Your driving lesson of 1951 This is fun -- a General Motors publicity film from 59 years ago that celebrates driving and the promise the automobile holds for Americans. Yet it also addresses the dangers driving poses to those who don't follow the rules. "Your driver's permit is a privilege" says the announcer. Enjoy the great visuals and breezy music in this 10-minute film -- the two lane roads, happy couples in convertibles, main streets before Wal-Mart and more. Don't miss the RV park scene: Wow! Those RVs were pretty primitive!
Books & DVDs about Full-time RVing Largest selection in the World. By Jim Twamley Professor of RVing Full-time RVers need a suitcase The Professor explains why every full-time RVer should carry along a suitcase. He and his wife carry four "nested" pieces (one inside the other for efficient storage). Learn why he thinks a suitcase is essential. Read more.
Tailgating Oval Football BBQ Grill Set Reg. $59.99. On sale for $13.95
Now this is just way too cool -- a grill that looks like a big football! It's portable size allows you to grill anywhere yet large enough for grilling your delicious meals! It even has more surface space than a portable round patio grill. So try our Tailgating Oval Football BBQ Grill set. It's synonymous with outdoor cooking and backyard fun! ONE PER CUSTOMER AT THIS LOW PRICE. Learn more or order. Free and cheap camping in your RV
Here are two locations submitted by the readers of FreeCampgrounds.com about places to spend a night in your RV for free or nearly free.
Wiley "C" Store Near Wiley, Colorado
Boondocking, truck stop located on Highway 287 about 11 1/2 to 12 miles
northwest of Lamar. Has large area for parking trucks and RVs. Has an
RV dump, diesel, gas, diner, snacks. The dump is designated for
customers so you might want to purchase some fuel or food. Learn more.
Dear Readers: In an earlier column, I addressed a question from Mike D. about hooking up Direct TV via a standard cable connection on the RV. Here's his original question: "Why can you not hook up Direct TV through the standard cable hookup on the RV, and how can you get around this?" I must admit I could have worded my original response better as I neglected to broaden the context to include similar situations found in other brands of RVs. Read more.
Dear Gary, I
have trouble with a Winegard crank up TV antenna. It seems to continue
to work loose where it travels through the roof of my motorhome. I have
had it tightened three times, and the main section replaced once. I
still have the problem. Any suggestions? --Gerry Read Gary's response.
Watch Gary's last video about how to seal a roof leak by using EternaBond tape.
Sign up to receive Gary's free email newsletter. You'll receive great tech tips once a month. Your privacy is assured -- never any spam, just the informative newsletter. Gary's website The RV Doctor offers a wealth of information.
2010 Big Rigs Best Bets
Campground Directory Do you drive an RV or RV/car combo over 30 feet? Then this directory is for you. Learn where you can stay where you'll fit in comfort, and not like a sardine. The authors have personally visited every park in this comprehensive directory. Learn more or order.
News from Quartzsite, Ariz., the Southwest Boondocking Capital Shopping for RV solar? Quartzsite is the place
If the estimates of a million or more RVers coming to Quartzsite during the season are anywhere near true, then the vast majority must boondock out on the desert -- there aren't enough available spots in local RV parks. And to successfully boondock you'll need a way to generate electricity. Perhaps this is what makes Quartzsite such a great place to buy solar equipment for your rig -- everybody wants it. Read more. Looking for a job
while you travel?
In Louisiana: "It is illegal for a woman to drive a car in New Orleans unless her husband is waving a flag in front of her."
In New Mexico: "During lunch breaks in Carlsbad, no couple should engage in a sexual act whilst parked in their vehicle unless the car is equipped with a curtain."
More next week. . .
JUST PUBLISHED. 2010 Guide To The Firearm Laws of the 50 States RVers who travel with a firearm may not know that what's legal in their home state may be a felony in another. This 2010 guide explains current, specific gun laws for every state. Don't cross a state line with a gun without knowing the laws! Only $13.95. Learn more or order.
Fire Safety Tip from Mac McCoy A hard-working engine manifold can get as hot as 900 degrees F. The heavy insulation in the compartment reflects the heat back to the top of the engine, and a fire can easily break out. Inspect your radiator and have any problems repaired by a qualified person as soon as possible.
Big Rigs Best Bets
RV Park of the Week An outstanding park for RVs 30 feet and longer. Get a bird's eye view of the water from many of the paved full hookup sites at Sunset Point Waterfront RV Resort on Lake LBJ in Marble Falls, Texas. Launch or dock a boat, swim, fish or just relax in a lawn chair. Several golf courses and many Texas Hill wineries are nearby. The Longhorn Caverns are worth exploring. History buffs will enjoy a tour of the LBJ Ranch. See the Texas State Capitol and LBJ Presidential Library in Austin. The Riverwalk in San Antonio is about an hour's drive away. Free WiFi in the park. Learn more about 1,150 campgrounds and RV parks for large RVs in the Big Rigs Best Bets Campground Directory.
Bella Terra RV Resort A Lifestyle You Can Call Home Bella Terra of Gulf Shores, the # 1 rated Class A RV resort in the Southeast is the perfect Oasis to enjoy Fall, Winter and Spring. Call NOW and ask about our SNOWBIRD SPECIALS (certain restrictions apply). Also inquire about special pricing incentives on the few remaining Phase I lots! Be sure to mention promo code RV Travel. Call (866) 475-7746 or visit us at BellaTerraRVresort.com.
Boondocking Tip By Bob Difley Develop the habit of always carrying a filled Jerry jug of water even if you don't plan to boondock. You just may happen upon the perfect campsite and you will then be prepared with an additional water supply, no matter how much is in your tank. Bob Difley is the author of the eBook Boondocking: Finding the Perfect Campsite on America's Public Lands ($9.95) and the editor of the RVtravel.com Boondocking Blog.
Editor's corner
A handy solution of where 
Sleeping in your RV in Colorado town could cost you $100
Casino Camping: 
Boondocking Tip