RV Travel Email Newsletter #99

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Just in! 2004 edition!
Complete details on 400 new model RVs. Only $6.99

RV Travel #99
March 7, 2004

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RV BOOKSTORE -- GIANT SELECTION
Visit RVbookstore.com for the world's best selection of
books, videos, DVDs, magazines and eBooks about the
RV lifestyle. WEEKLY SPECIALS.

Email circulation of this issue: 66,022

This newsletter brought to you by
Beginners Guide to RVing
Free Campgrounds of the West
Florida RVer
RV Bookstore
RV Links
Full Timer RVer

PRIVACY STATEMENT
The email addresses of RV Travel subscribers are never sold
or made public. They are guarded by vicious, foul-smelling guard dogs
with huge razor-sharp fangs. For dinner, we feed these animals Spam.

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

Dear reader,
The weather here in Seattle has been hinting of spring, and
that always gets me dreaming about getting out on the road.
For me, 2003 was a "stay at home" time, and it wasn't easy.
For the dozen years before, I had spent at least a month or two
traveling in my RV (sometimes more). And so not getting away
last year for more than a couple of short hops has left me with
a terrible case of wanderlust.

I used 2003 to build up my business, the goal to get it to
operate pretty much on auto-pilot so I could hit the road
again and act like a gypsy. For nearly the full year my
staff and I worked to completely revamp and improve our
RVbookstore.com website. We are done now and the hard
effort was worth it. If you haven't visited, please stop by.

RVing means different things to different people. To some,
it means an occasional weekend camping trip with the family
in a pop up trailer. To others it means full time or
"most-time" living -- staying in one place for awhile and
then moving on to another.

RVing has always been both of these to me. I love to
get away to a Washington State Park for a weekend with
my family. But I also love to use my RV for extended trips,
in my case business trips where my RV serves as both my
home and office. My "work" for the past 20 years has been
writing and publishing, and my RV has served as a rolling
newsroom. My first trip in my first motorhome was an
experiment to see if I could make it as a freelance writer.
I spent several months on the road and managed to pay
my expenses with income from my writing. Back in those
days it helped to furnish photos with your stories and so
I carried along a bare bones darkroom for printing black and
white photos. What fun it was to set it up in a dark campground.
I loved being able to find a story, snap a few photos, write the
story that night, print the photos and then drop the package in
the mail. It was way too much fun. And even though I was only
modestly successful as a freelance writer, I did well enough to
conclude that a "portable life" was possible. The Internet has
made that especially true.

Today, a writer's work is digital. We send our stories by email,
not postal mail, and include color photos taken with digital
cameras. I haven't bought a roll of film in five years. What an
incredible change from when I set off in my first little
motorhome with my mini darkroom and a manual typewriter.

As you may have gathered by now, I love the RV life. And in
my case it's because I can combine my love of travel with
my work. And that's a very wonderful thing -- that is if
you love your work (as I do).

And now. . . on with another info-packed all-digital issue.

GOOD SAM VIP INSURANCE
Get a free, no obligation rate quote. The only vehicle insurance
program endorsed by the one-million-strong Good Sam Club.

Last week's reader survey
We asked: "What would you pay for high speed
satellite Internet access in your RV?" See the responses.

This week's reader survey
"Do you drink the tap water from your RV's freshwater tank?"
Please tell us, and/or learn how others responded.

Survey questions and responses from previous issues

SHOPPING FOR AN RV EXTENDED WARRANTY?
The Good Sam Club's Continued Service Plan covers your coach,
engine, appliances and accessories in your new or used
motorhome, trailer and even tow vehicle! Get an online quote.

TERRIFIC CAMPGROUND RESOURCE
If you're looking for a campground, you can't go wrong
checking first with the GoCampingAmerica.com website.
It's mostly RV parks, but there are a heap of them listed,
and it's easy to search.

. . . and check out the information about campgrounds that
allow pets. . .

SPEAKING OF CAMPING WITH PETS. . .
Most RVers who travel with a pet usually do so with a dog
or cat or maybe both. But some RVers bring other pets. We've
seen bunnies, birds and we assume someone out there is carting
along a frog or snake. Here's a story about an RVer who travels
with a parakeet named Jack.

WOMEN RVers CORNER. . . by Peggi McDonald

Food you can take across the U.S./Canada border

Exploring countries north and south of the border makes for
interesting RV travels. However new situations continually
surface about what we can and cannot transport. In the past,
RVers traveled north and south with sufficient food on board
for personal use, even a freezer full of meals was common.
Don't do this any longer. As of January, 2004, the ban has
been lifted on chicken (fresh, frozen, cooked or by-products
including pet food) entering Canada. But as of January, 04,
no meat from hoofed animals (fresh, frozen or by-products
including pet food) can be transported into Canada or to the
States. Taking citrus across the border has always been
challenged but recently some RVers lost bananas, too. Pet
food stored out of the original package was also confiscated.
For border info or custom questions about Canada, call
204-983-3500 and heading to the USA call 1-877-Customs.
You may need to press 'O' to talk to an agent. Ask about
current restrictions. To avoid surprises be prepared and
check for specifics as needed.

Peggi McDonald is an RV lifestyle consultant, author of the
book "Spirit of the Open Road" and webhost of RV Living.

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
ALASKA MILEPOST DIRECTORY. If you are headed to Alaska,
Yukon Territory, BC, Alberta or NW Territories, this 2004 edition
guidebook is essential. Get info or order.

OWN A TRUCK? A TRUCK CAMPER MAY BE FOR YOU.
Truck campers are among the smallest RVs, although
not always. But, boy, can they pack a lot in their small
spaces. Read more about these terrific RVs.

WHEN IN TEXAS, DO NOT FEED THE WILD ANIMALS
It's wrong to feed wild animals. Once exposed to people food
they can become dependent on it, and then die when it's
not available after their benefactors return home. But in
Texas, feeding the critters is not only discouraged, it's now
illegal in state parks where violators are subject to hefty
fines. Read more.

RV GADGETS ADD APPEAL OF RVing to NEWBIES
The RVs rolling off the lines at factories today are often
equipped with gadgets and gizmos that would never have
been included even ten years ago. Read what RV makers
are now including in their RVs and how they have increased
the appeal of RVing to many newcomers.

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:
Winterizing Your RV
Class A motorhome video
Class C motorhome video
Trailer/5th wheel video
Pop Up Trailer Video

PLANNING TO VISIT OREGON?
If you plan to do any RVing in Oregon, then you will
find Oregon Online's travel section a lot of help. Learn
where to go and what to do in one of America's most
beautiful (and RV-friendly) states:

. . . You will love Oregon State Parks. See why.

TOWING LAWS FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
If you plan to tow a vehicle or trailer in BC, then be
sure to read this rundown of the laws.

Best-selling books and videos about RVing

2004 RVer's FRIEND JUST PUBLISHED
Learn what services America's truck stops offer RVers. Best Seller!

WOMEN'S GUIDE TO SOLO RVing
Women who travel alone by RV or want to will find this
eBook an incredible resource.

ALL ABOUT CLASS A MOTORHOMES
Advice for Class A buyers about rig selection, getting a good deal, and
how to inspect a rig before taking delivery.

Water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon. A filled 40-gallon
fresh water holding tank adds 332 pounds of weight to your
RV. Depending upon the type and size of your RV, the added
weight and the movement of the water you carry when
traveling can be a concern. You should only take the amount
of water that will be required to get to your destination and
refill as required. Don't forget your gray and black tanks, too.
Try not to travel with full holding tanks if at all possible.

ABOUT THE EDITOR
Chuck Woodbury has been roaming America by RV off and on
for nearly two decades. During that time he published a quirky
travel newspaper about his adventures and for six years was
a member of the stable of writers for the New York Times
Syndicate. Nowadays, he lives near Seattle where he drinks
massive amounts of coffee (required by law) and travels when
he can in his motorhome and sometimes by plane when vast
expanses of saltwater would doom his RV to Titantic-status.

PRIVACY STATEMENT:
We never sell or share any information about our readers or customers with any outside party.

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