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Women RVers tell their stories Essential reading for women RVers

RV Traveler #63 June 15, 2003

RV SIEMENS SOLAR PANEL KIT SALE
75 Watt Solar Panel + 5 Amp Charge Control + RV Flush Mounts
$349 to 6/18/03, Reg. $480. Up to 14,000 Watt Hours/Month
of free electricity. Call 800-222-0017 or click here.

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This newsletter brought to you by
Beginners Guide to RVing
Free Campgrounds of the West
RV Bookstore
RV Links
RV Jokes

Sponsors
Camping World
Explorer RV Insurance
RV Trader. Buy or sell an RV

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This issue's email circulation: 55,613

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RV FINANCING. GET A QUICK QUOTE
Financial Underwriters Network provides exceptional customer service
and exceptional interest rates. Get a quick online quote and caring service.

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

In my many years of RVing, there have been little moments
that I will always remember fondly. I don't think these special
times will ever leave me. They will always be there to
recall again and again, each time bringing a smile to my face.
Here is an example of one such moment.

One summer day, about a dozen years ago, before my
daughter was born, my wife and I were traveling across
central Colorado on I-70. That night, the annual Perseid
meteor showers were expected. Thousands of shooting stars
an hour would be streaking through the night sky. We chose
the remote town of Parachute as our stopping place, and
outside that small community we found a dark, treeless
campground to observe Mother Nature's entertainment.

After the last daylight had vanished, we grabbed pillows and a
wool blanket and climbed to the roof of our motorhome. And there
we lay, our heads upon the pillows, peering up at the Milky Way,
the blanket keeping us cozy. As our eyes adjusted to the darkness,
the Milky Way came into full view, like a wispy cloud spreading
nearly from horizon to horizon. At home, with so many city
lights, it's easy to forget that the Milky Way even exists. I recall
a TV interview with a woman from a poor New York inner city
neighborhood about the 1977 power blackout. She said that in her
entire life she had never left her neighborhood. On the night when
the glow of millions of lights was extinguished, her city went
black. The reporter asked, "What special memory do you have
of that time?" She answered, "The sky. I had never seen stars
before. There were so many. I never knew they were there."

For us, that night in Parachute, Colorado, the sky and its stars
were indeed there, providing for one of those magic times that
come only so often. The Milky Way was but the stage. The show
was the dazzling bombardment of one shooting star after another,
blazing across the heavens. From the comfort of our perch atop
the motorhome, the two of us shared a special moment, "oohing"
and "awing" until we were too hypnotized to stay awake.

That night is but one of many magical moments from my RV
travels that I will always remember fondly. More will surely
come. And that's a very good thought.

Finally, thanks to the hundreds of you who wrote to me with
your kind words in response to my comments last week. Many of
you wrote with your own "junk drawer" stories. I'll publish some
of them soon at RVtraveler.com. There were so many letters,
however, that I have not yet found time to read and answer them
all. So if you wrote and did not hear back from me, please standby.

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NEW AT OUR RV BOOKSTORE:
FACTORY OUTLET SHOPPING
Like to save money shopping? Factory outlet stores offer big
savings. Learn the location of factory outlet centers, what
stores are there and what they offer.

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DRIVERS LICENSE CHANGES FOR CALIF., ALBERTA RVers
Some RVers in California and Alberta, Canada may no longer
drive with a standard-issue driver's license, or be able to in
the future. In Canada's Alberta province, Legislation is being
considered to require RVers to get a special drivers license
due to an increasing number of accidents with the vehicles.
While RVs don't necessarily get in more accidents, they can
cause problems when trailers come loose, motorhomes hit
overhead objects, or break down on two lane roads causing
traffic delays. Meanwhile, in California, the DMV now requires
state residents who drive motorhomes longer than 40 feet to
be screened by a physician every two years in order to
receive a special license endorsement. Read more about
the new California requirement.

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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

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MOST RVers OVERLOAD OR UNDER-INFLATE TIRES
Almost a quarter of all recreational vehicles on the road today
have overloaded tires. Nearly 40% of RV users say they go six
months or more between inflation pressure checks, and 85% of
motor homes or campers are unevenly loaded or have out of
balance loads by 400 pounds or more. Learn more, including why
not maintaining your RV tires can be bad news.

... WARNING SIGNS OF TIRE FAILURE

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

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OKLAHOMA PUTS SKIDS TO SPEED TRAP-HAPPY TOWNS
RVers who have been tagged with speeding tickets in certain
speed trap-happy Oklahoma towns will be glad to learn that
the state is about to apply the brakes to some towns' ability to
use speed traps as moneymakers. "There are a number of
areas across the state where we think traffic citations are
being abused," said the author of a legislative bill recently
signed by the governor. An investigation by the Oklahoman
newspaper revealed eight towns get more than 50 percent of
their money from police fines, and another 18 receive more
than 26 percent. Towns like Glenpool, Big Cabin, Caney, Valley
Brook, Stringtown, Tushka, Asher and Watts are well known
for their speed traps. Under the new law, the state's public
safety commissioner may take local law enforcers off certain
state highways and interstates and reassign them to the
Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The law takes effect Nov. 1.

SPEAKING OF SPEED TRAPS. . . here's where to find where
they are across the USA.

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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.

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BARBECUE SAFETY
It's that time of the year when men do more cooking than usual
and when a dead chicken has a greater chance of ending up on a
grill than in a fryer. We're talking barbecuing here — that great
American pastime where it's okay for a guy to wear an apron,
and where the main course is cooked over an open fire instead
of in an oven. If you're into barbecuing, then it's important to
know two things: how to cook the food so it tastes good, and,
equally important, how to do it safely. This website will help
you with the latter.

And one item that usually ends up in a barbecued meal:
KETCHUP! Here's a very groovy site about the red stuff.

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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!

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GUESS WHAT? DIESEL PRICES DOWN YET AGAIN!
On-highway diesel prices declined, but just barely, for the
13th week in a row, according to figures released June 9.
The national average, at-the-pump diesel price decreased from
$1.423 to $1.422 a gallon, the Energy Information Administration
reported. Three areas still retain the dollar-fifty mark:
New England, where the average price is $1.563; the Central
Atlantic, $1.555; and California, $1.517. The lowest average
price of $1.365 is in the Gulf Coast region.

GAS PRICES HEADED SOUTH, TOO: See the latest prices

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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

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FLIGHT TRACKER
Although we travel by RV, most of us also step on a plane
now and then. Here's a terrific website where you can learn
the status of a flight while it's in progress. Simply punch in
the flight number and you'll learn where the plane is
located, how fast it's flying, its elevation, how long it has
been airborne, and its expected time of arrival.

DO YOU OWN AN OLDER AIRSTREAM TRAILER?
If so, you should check out the Vintage Airstream Club.

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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.

RV WATCH DOG
Don't get taken on an RV repair job. Learn the scams that shady
repair shops pull. Plus tons of great advice about RV repair.

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

ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR RVers II
Covers everything the RVer needs to know from A to Z

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

CAMPING WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Describes more than 900 campgrounds across the USA managed by the
Corps of Engineers. A fabulous resource! Seniors camp for half-price.

FREE CAMPGROUNDS OF THE WEST (Also available as an instant ebook)
2002 edition: How and where to camp in an RV in the West for free.
Includes official campgrounds and "unofficial" places to stay.

MOTORHOMES MADE EASY, TRAILERS MADE EASY
These two books explain how to use everything on a motorhome
or trailer (or 5th wheel). And what a bargain at only $8.95 each!

VIDEO: DELIVERING MOTORHOMES TO RV DEALERS FOR PROFIT

THE ABCs OF RVing (Also available as an instant ebook)
A primer for new RVers written by Chuck Woodbury. Lots of info!

GUIDE TO BUYING A USED RV (ebook only. Free preview edition)

GUIDE TO NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CAMPGROUNDS
An awesome directory of campgrounds in National Parks