RV Traveler Email Newsletter #57

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Driving through the Avenue of the Giants.

FROM CHUCK WOODBURY
editor, http://www.RVtraveler.com

Welcome to Issue 57 of the RV Traveler Newsletter.

Last issue I left off here as my family and I were about to enter
the heart of the California coastal redwood country, which is
along U.S. 101 north and south of Eureka.

Shortly after entering California from Oregon, U.S. 101 passes
through Redwood National Park. As National Parks go, this is one
of the most commercially undisturbed. There are no tourist shops,
park lodges or other commercial facilities. There are no park
campgrounds, either (although there are a few in nearby state
parks). To enjoy the park, you leave the highway and visit one
of the magnificent groves. The Lady Bird Johnson Grove is one
of the most popular, and an easy trail leads through, beneath the
forest's canopy hundreds of feet above. A park visitor center
is at the southern park boundary and is well worth a stop.
Immediately south, out of the park, the highway crosses a
wide sand bar that separates the ocean from Freshwater Lagoon.
Here, on state land, RVers may camp for $10 a night
(no hookups) literally a few yards from the beach. There's
some daytime traffic noise but at night the roar of the surf
pretty much drowns out all other sounds.

We spent most of our time in the redwood groves south of
Eureka along the 33-mile Avenue of the Giants, a road that
passes through beautiful redwood groves and dozens of
tourist attractions where you can buy anything and everything
made of redwood, a lot of it tacky. Here, and in the vicinity,
are drive-thru trees (in cars, not RVs), one-log houses, gift
shops inside redwoods, and several state park campgrounds
located right in the groves. I prefer the one at Richardson Grove,
which is actually south of the Avenue of the Giants along a
two-lane stretch of U.S. 101. You can drive the Avenue of the
Giants in a hour or you can take a few days. We poked along,
stopping at gift shops to my daughter's delight, and leisurely
walked a few trails in the redwood groves even though it was
raining cats and dogs most of our visit.

The Avenue of the Giants is a well-maintained two-lane road.
In many places, including the stretches that pass right through
groves, you can poke along at 20 miles per hour when traffic is
light (not so in the summer when the tourist traffic can be
downright heavy), and there are pull-offs everywhere. The road
is suitable for any-sized RV.

Because the weather was so dismal during our visit, we didn't
spend nearly as much time in the redwood groves as we had
planned. But for our 11-year-old daughter, it was an eye-
opening introduction to the world's tallest living things, in
one of America's beauty spots.

I should also mention that a must-visit town in this area
is beautiful Ferndale, a spectacularly preserved Victorian
village south of Eureka. Stroll the main street and be sure
to visit Golden Gait Mercantile, where you will find items
for sale that have been continuously produced for a 100 years
or more. If you saw the Jim Carrey movie "The Majestic,"
then you saw Ferndale, where it was filmed. The nearby
fairgrounds has a budget-priced RV park.

SUBSCRIBE TO THESE RV MAGAZINES. Best prices:
Motorhome, Trailer Life, RV Journal, RV Companion, Gypsy Journal
and Pop Up Times: http://www.NewRVer.com/rvmags.html

KING OF THE ROAD TO DEBUT CLASS A MOTORHOME
Fifth wheel trailer manufacturer King of the Road will soon debut
a high end Class A motorhome. The 38-40 foot diesel pusher will
reportedly feature two to four slideouts and a 300-horsepower
Caterpiller engine. Retail price should be about $250,000.

WINNEBAGO PARTS — ONLY!
If you're in the market for a part for your Winnebago, here's
a valuable resource -- a store that ONLY sells parts for
Winnebagos.

2003 Trailer Life Campgrounds and RV Park Directory
Only $13.95. Save 50%. More than 12,000 campgrounds listed!

THE COST OF OWNING A TRUCK CAMPER
At first glance, a truck camper might seem to be a very
inexpensive RV. But think again: there is more to this RV than
just the camper. Here's a rundown of the true costs of owning
a truck camper.

ALONG THE AMERICAN ROAD
Roadside Peek will take you on a roadside journey in time.
As you travel, visit old motels, bowling alleys, drive-in theatres,
neon signs, petrol pumps, coffee shops, tiki villages, and much more.
If you love the American roadside and all that's along it, this
delightful site — with terrific photos — will be very entertaining.

AUTHOR LOOKING FOR RV TIPS
Bernice Beard is looking for tips on RVing for her next book, "301
More Ways to Make RV Travel Safer, Easier, and More Fun." She
wants short, practical tips that readers can use right away. Do you
have an RVing tip, trick or technique you'd like to share? Tips can
be about any type of RV or any part of RVing, such as getting
organized, comfort, safety, children, technology, maintaining the
rig, cooking, pets, clothing, games on the road, sightseeing, handy
tools, housekeeping, planning a trip, navigation, and caravaning.
For more information, email Bernice at RVingTips@aol.com.

ESSENTIAL READING ABOUT RVing IN ALASKA AND CANADA
Alaska By RV, Western Canada By RV, Eastern Canada By RV:
http://www.RVbookstore.com/howens.html. And don't forget the
2003 ALASKA MILEPOST DIRECTORY. If you are headed to Alaska,
Yukon Territory, BC, Alberta or NW Territories, this 55th edition
guidebook is essential. Get info or order.

FIRST-HAND BOONDOCKING TIPS
Fifty-something full-timers John and Libby Veach are on the
road in a motorhome, and a part of their mobile life is spent
"boondocking" — "camping" overnight for free. Here, in
their own words, is what they learned about this money-
saving practice.

PROPANE GAS LOCATOR
Need to refill your propane tank? Search for a nearby location.

GOOD SAM EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE
Protects you, your spouse, AND all children age 25 or younger
(living at home or attending college), your RV, AND all household
cars, SUVs, minivans, and pick-ups! Only $79.95!

WORKHORSE OFFERS SHORTER WHEELBASE OPTION
Workhorse Custom Chassis is now offering a 190-inch wheelbase
for its W20 gasoline chassis. This will add another wheelbase option
to the 208- and 228–inch wheelbases available with the 20,700 lb.
GVWR W20 chassis. The 190-inch wheelbase was previously only
available for Workhorse P Series chassis with GVWRs of 14,800
to 18,000 lbs.

EX-GOV'S KIDS TELL OF THEIR RV TRIP
Ex-Maine Governor Angus King and his family are traveling the USA
in a 40-foot Dutchstar motorhome. The two children onboard, Ben and
Molly, are publishing web journals of their grand adventure, and it's
fun reading. We enjoyed seeing the pics of the kids tiny "bedrooms."
Wrote Ben: "I love my room, all 36 cubic feet of it. No. . .really I do!"
The ex-gov also contributes a trip update — short commentary with
many photos.

CALIFORNIA HIKES CAMPSITE FEES AT STATE PARKS
A campsite at a California state park now costs between $7 and $20
a night, but there can be additional charges as well. Get the scoop.

DIESEL PRICES DROP AGAIN
According to figures released by the Department of Energy’s
Energy Information Administration April 28, the national average
diesel price fell last week to $1.508 per gallon from the previous
week's average of $1.529.

BUMPER SNICKER
Submitted by Dave Lamothe: "Want a Stable Life? Own a horse."
Have you seen a good one? Email it to Chuck Woodbury
at outwest@seanet.com .

HOME VIDEOS HELP NEW RV OWNERS LEARN TO USE THEIR RIGS
RV Education 101 presents home videos on how to operate everything
on an RV. The VHS videos are very useful to anyone new to RVing.
Read more, view a Quicktime video clip, or order at:
Class A motorhome video
Class C motorhome video
Trailer/5th wheel video
Pop Up Trailer Video

RV WATER FILTERS
It's true that you can buy just about anything and everything on
the Web. Here's a store that only sells RV water filters. And what
a selection!

OH. . .THEY'RE SO CUTE!
Although most RVers are not in the market for a king-sized pet,
if you are the exception, and would like to adopt a wild burro or
horse, you are in luck. See why.

Best-selling books and videos about RVing

RV TRAVELING TALES:
WOMEN'S JOURNEYS ON THE OPEN ROAD
Women who travel by RV tell about their lives. Superb!

THE NEXT EXIT 2003
Learn what stores and services are located at every Interstate exit.

2003 BIG RIGS BEST BETS CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY
A directory of campgrounds that accommodate large RVs.

'CAMPING' AT WAL-MART HOME VIDEO AND DVD
Documentary film interviews RVers 'camping' at Wal-Mart

THE RVers BIBLE
Superb, bestseller reference, from buying an RV to using it.

SURVIVAL OF THE RV SNOWBIRDS
A classic guide about "boondocking" (RVing on the cheap)

HOW TO GET PAID $50,000 A YEAR TO DELIVER MOTORHOMES

2003 RVer's FRIEND
Learn what services America's truck stops offer RVers. Best Seller!

2003 GUIDE TO REST AREAS
Plus locations of Wal-Mart, Flying J, etc. Only $9.95

SUPPORT YOUR RV LIFESTYLE:
AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO WORKING ON THE ROAD
A superb guide about find work as your travel by RV.

VIDEO: TOP 40 RV CAMPING TIPS
RV experts Joe and Vicki Kieva reveal some very clever
ideas to save RVers time, money and hassles.

DON WRIGHT'S GUIDE TO FREE CAMPGROUNDS
Don Wright's long-awaited 2002 Free Campgrounds Directory is hot off
the press, this time in two editions, Eastern USA and Western USA. Lists all
free and inexpensive campgrounds including those far off the beaten path.

QUARTZSITE HOME VIDEO AND DVD
Take an armchair visit to the RV Boondocking Capital of the West
on VHS home video or DVD

MOUNTAIN PASS GUIDE, WEST AND EAST EDITIONS
Ever get surprised by a steep or narrow road on a mountain pass?
Don't be surprised again. These guides tell you everything you need to
know about driving over 700 mountain passes in the USA.

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION LAKES GUIDE.
Learn what to see and do at 250 lakes in the West and Midwest.
Most of these areas have low-cost campgrounds. Only $7.95

RV BUYERS SURVIVAL GUIDE (Also available as an instant ebook)
Buying an RV? You must read this first. Written by an ex-RV
sales manager who reveals all. Read this and save big money!

BILL'S HINT:
From Trailers Made Easy
"Do not stop your generator with the air conditioning
running. Doing so can damage the air conditioner's motors."

The RV Traveler newsletter contains links to sites on the Internet
that are owned and operated by third parties. It is not responsible
for the availability of, or the content located on or through any
such third-party site.

This newsletter is copyrighted 2003 by Chuck Woodbury. You may
forward it to as many people as you like, but re-publication for
commercial purposes brings out the worst in our lawyers.

Advertise in this newsletter. Reach 52,000 RVers next Sunday.