Archived Issues
News and information from RVtravel.com Issue 192

Issue 192 of the world's largest email RV newsletter: Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more.

An alert for this issue was emailed to 112,623 RVers. . . plus you!

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Photo of the Week!

Does something seem wrong here? Actually, the sign below is for an underpass at the city limits of "sunny" Douglas.

Merry Christmas! And to those of you celebrating a different holiday, may yours also be filled with joy, good health, good friends, family and the wonderful sharing spirit of the season.

I've been busy the last few days preparing for my family's Christmas celebration and have done something nearly unheard of: I spent only minutes a day at the computer last week instead of hours. So this issue of RV Travel is an abbreviated one as next week's will be when I will be composing it from Boston on my Powerbook laptop.

I have so much to be thankful for — great friends, a supportive family, and a staff at our Edmonds, Wash., office that shares my philosophy that work should not only be productive, but creative and fun as well! It is a pleasure to spend time with such a wonderful group of people.

When next week's issue shows up in your emailbox, I'll be 35,000 feet in the air, flying home to Seattle. As I pass over the vast territory between the coasts, I'll be looking down wondering in which of all those homes someone is at their computer reading this newsletter. There are more than 112,000 subscribers now and I am thankful for each of you. I love to write, and even though I don't have much room to do it here in this brief newsletter, when I write something that I am proud of, it's nice to know that my thoughts are read by many people, and in many lands, too — across the USA, in Canada, throughout Europe and Asia, and down under in Australia and New Zealand.

Thanks for being there!

Do you have a comment about this essay? Leave it here.
Read the comments about the editor's essay last issue about how he enjoys visiting cemeteries.

As you may have noticed above, our first shipment of the new 2006 Trailer Life Directory has arrived. The thick annual campground guide retails for $24.95, but we have it on sale for $12.23 at RVbookstore.com--but only through Monday. That's the lowest price anywhere, and frankly, we don't believe that anyone but RVbookstore.com is even shipping it yet. Click here to get more information or to order.

Read last week's issue of our Full-time RVer email newsletter from editors Russ and Tina DeMaris.

There was no winner in last week's Pot of Gold Zip Code contest. So the cash prize now stands at $123. Thus far, we have awarded $909. Check each weekday at RVbookstore.com between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Pacific time) to see if you live in the day's randomly selected Zip Code. You could win!

Okay. . . on with the issue.

Last week's survey question:
"How much is the monthly loan payment on your RV?"
Learn how more than 1,500 readers responded.

No Quizzes Today. But we'll be back in two weeks with more exciting quizzes and prizes.

Look for a pop quiz or two with terrific prizes many weeks at RVbookstore.com.
Sign up to receive an email alert of quiz start times.

Generator Altitude Sickness
Just as humans can be affected adversely by high altitudes, so too is your RV generator. The higher you travel, the less dense the air is and generators need air to operate efficiently. You may find your generator won't support as heavy a load at a higher altitude than at a lower one.

Russ and Tina Demaris are authors of RV Boondocking Basics and Boondocking Tips for RVers: More Fun Without Hookups

Books and videos about Boondocking

QUESTION: What is a Conversion Vehicle? ANSWER: Simply put, conversion vehicles are luxury passenger vehicles designed for travel and everyday use. They include vans, SUVs and pickup trucks. Conversion vehicles are manufactured by an automaker, then modified for added comfort and recreation use by a company specializing in customized vehicles. These changes may include windows, carpeting, paneling, seats, sofas and accessories. Ideal as RV tow vehicles, conversion vehicles are sold by auto dealers rather than RV dealers. Typically cost is roughly $30,000 to $60,000 new.

Rector City Park: Rector/Jonesboro, Arkansas
Three sites in a small park with water, electric and sewer. Go to the water department at city hall to pay. $10 or less.

Cracker Barrel Restaurant: La Grange, Kentucky
Safe parking lot with a few spaces. Close to Louisville. Free.

Petro Travel Center: Bordentown, New Jersey
Large parking lot off Route 206 on Rising Sun Road with an Iron Skillet Restaurant. Restrooms. $10 or less.

The information above was provided by visitors to FreeCampgrounds.com. The information has not been verified. Learn about more than 920 free and inexpensive campgrounds.

Guidebooks and DVDs about RVing in Mexico

Canyon de Chelly
Less well known than Zion and the Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly (pronounced de shay) is another red rock natural wonder. Located within the Navajo Reservation in eastern Arizona, the canyon has been occupied by Native Americans for thousands of years. Pictographs and ruins of early pueblos remind us of their presence. The Navajo still farm the canyon and consider it sacred. Except for hikers at White House trail, visitors must be accompanied on hikes by an authorized Navajo guide. Tours are available. Drives along both sides of the canyon provide several overlooks providing views down hundreds of feet of the meandering sculpted walls, the cottonwood-lined valley floor and the Navajo farm lands. At the mouth of the canyon, the National Park Service runs a visitor center and a free campground. Availability is first-come, first-served, with a 40-foot limit. It’s dry camping only, but restrooms are provided. Most of the sites are shaded by tall cottonwoods.

Christmas Festival of Lights at the Grotto: Portland, Oregon
Welcoming more than 50,000 visitors annually, this ecumenical lighting and music festival may be the largest Christmas choral festival of its kind in the world. The festival features 140 holiday music concerts performed in The Grotto's 600-seat chapel with more than 5,000 singers and musicians giving their gift of music during the annual celebration. 5-9:30 p.m. every day through December 30. For information: 503-261-2400.

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This issue's
Knowledge Quiz

NO QUIZZES TODAY
Look for new quizzes beginning in two weeks!

Knowledge Quiz official rules

Care of Rubber Roofs
Rubber roofs should be cleaned three to four times a year and depending on where you park or store your RV, it may need to be cleaned more often. Regardless of the type of rubber roof you have, NEVER use any cleaners or conditioners that contain petroleum solvents, harsh abrasives or citrus ingredients. These types of cleaners can cause permanent damage to any rubber or vinyl surface. Most manufacturers of rubber roofs recommend you use a medium bristle brush and a nonabrasive cleaner. For light cleaning, you can use warm water and a mild detergent like Dawn dishwashing liquid. Hard to clean areas like stubborn stains caused by leaves, sap, mold or mildew may require a second treatment. Use caution to prevent the cleaners from getting on the sides of the RV. ALWAYS rinse the sides, front and back of your RV before rinsing the roof to prevent streaking or damage to the finish on your RV. -- Mark Polk (Learn about Mark Polk's RV "How-to" DVDs and eBooks.)

Visit the RV Travel Reader Forum to discuss
everything to do with RVing with other RVers.

Archives of early issues of RV Travel

Upcoming RV Shows

RV-Links
Loads of links to great websites about RVing

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RVbookstore.com is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau. We strive for excellence in all we do and that's the absolutely, 100 percent and honest truth. Our customers receive really, really fast service. We move so fast in sending out a customer's order that sometimes we move too fast to even see. Our motto is "You need it so we speed it," and no truer words were ever spoken! If you're in Edmonds, Wash., stop by to tour our offices and warehouse and meet our staff. We're a block from the fishing pier near the passenger terminal of the Kingston Ferry, gateway to the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.

RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Contributors: Russ and Tina Demaris, Chris Dougherty, Mark Polk, Jerry (RiverGuy) Brown, Bill and Dot Bell. Forum Administrator: Adrienne Kristine. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. Web Operations Director: Zoey Platt. Warehouse Administrator: Walter Cardwell. Phone Operations Supervisor: Martha Lamb. Clapper Loader: Emily Woodbury. Mascot: Georgie, the "give me food now or else!" Jack Russell terrier.

RV Travel is copyright 2005 by RVbookstore.com. Our International Headquarters: RVbookstore.com, 170 W. Dayton Street, Suite 103, Edmonds WA 98020, USA, Earth, Milky Way, Known Universe, Unknown Universe.

*Pretty good