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Saturday, August 17, 2024
Issue 1170
The latest news for RVers
A woman dies at Disney World. Her grieving husband sues Disney for wrongful death. Now legal minds at Disney want the case thrown out of court because he’d signed up for a one-month trial of Disney+ TV (a streaming service) years ago. Here’s the background, and you can pass your own judgment. (This is baaaaad.)
Under current federal law, fully loaded semi-trucks are maxed out at 80,000 pounds. But a law pending in Congress would allow semi-trucks on freeways in the U.S. that scale in at 91,000 pounds. Just how much damage heavy trucks cause to roadways is a hotly debated issue. But if you’ve tried avoiding potholes with your trailer, or bumped your motorhome over washboarded off-ramps, you may have a strong opinion on this...
A spectacular roll-over RV accident has left a motorhome demolished and one person dead on Wyoming’s treacherous Teton Pass. The terrible incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, August 14. Adding to the fateful mix, the motorhome was towing a full-size Ford pickup. Here’s the full, sad story.
Planning a trip along California’s eastern Sierra Nevada? Check your calendar and your routing. A beautiful section of U.S. Highway 395 in California will shut down for more than two weeks soon. Here are the details.
A renowned 190-million-year-old rock formation in southern Utah, known as the “Double Arch,” has collapsed. The popular natural landmark in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area crumbled last week, as confirmed by the National Park Service.
RV dealer Lazydays reported results yesterday for the second quarter, which ended June 30. It’s not a rosy picture. Looks like it’s struggling in a down economy. Here are the highlights of the report.
Hello, new Airstream updates! This season’s key product debut is the new Trade Wind 23FB travel trailer – a nimble Trade Wind model that expands Airstream’s lineup of off-grid-capable travel trailers. In addition to the new 23-foot Trade Wind floor plan, Airstream will update its 2025 travel trailer lineup with improved features, enhanced technology, and refreshed décor packages. Read Tony Barthel’s review.
And speaking of new, cool lineups… Ford Mustang or Bronco buff? There’s an e-bike for you! If you’re old enough to remember the original Ford Mustang or Ford Bronco, then you’re probably at the age where riding an e-bike sounds better than pedaling a “regular” bike. And for the diehard Mustang or Bronco fan, now you can relive that little piece of nostalgia while riding an officially licensed Ford e-bike.
Who would guess that the most fatal tourist activity at Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park in recent years has been park visitors doing this? The popular activity has contributed to a significant number of fatal falls at the iconic American landmark.
Campground crowding (and more!)
Major camping platform charges hidden fees when booking
This week Nanci Dixon relates your concerns regarding difficulties reserving campsites for a group, the popularity of state parks and consequent difficulty getting into them, hidden fees when using online booking agents, and a Canadian snowbird’s observation that “the bottom line is everything has gone up in price, with quality and service seemingly going down.” Read them here.
RV preview
Brinkley Model Z 3515—Tell me about that office
By Tony Barthel
Today’s RV preview is of the forthcoming Brinkley Model Z 3515 fifth wheel. If you had any doubt that RV companies were looking at folks who were working and traveling, this should be of interest. Check this out.
More RVing news
The future of a popular North Carolina campground hinges on waste. In the words of a plainspoken Forest Service district ranger, Rocky Bluff Campground’s potential for reopening hangs on “poop and pee.” Yep, you read that right. Here’s the story.
Here’s a new one for you: A dumb crook says the “end of the world” made him steal an RV. Rogers County, OK, investigators say two persons pulled into a storage facility, towing a trailer. Surveillance video shows them dropping off the trailer, then hitching up to another one and pulling out. You’ll roll your eyes at this crook…
Speaking of stealing vehicles… It sounds like the plot of a B-grade comedy. A man steals a Yellowstone Park tow truck, takes it on a joyride. When authorities tackle him, he’s suddenly a U.S. Marshal. So where was he headed with that tow truck? To the U.S. Marshal’s headquarters, of course! Yeah, right…
The FMCA’s (Family Motor Coach Association) 109th International Convention & RV Expo that ends today got underway August 14 with a disappointing turnout. Learn more.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council addressed the issue of RVs being used as housing on city streets. Council members are working to identify areas where RVs would be prohibited and exploring locations where they might be allowed. Can they get it under control this time?
Getting ready to list your RV for sale on RV Trader? A robot will assist you. “The days of spending an hour creating an online ad to sell your RV or motorcycle are over,” says a press release. The new tool “makes it possible to list your pre-owned RV or motorcycle for sale in a matter of clicks.” Continue reading.
Monday, August 12, will no doubt be a memorable day for visitors to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Two people were struck by lightning that day at the popular Horseshoe Bend overlook. This is scary!
Death Valley National Park experienced the hottest month on record this July with an average 24-hour temperature of 108.5°F (42.5°C). This beats the park’s previous record of 108.1°F (42.3°C) set in 2018. The average high temperature during the record-breaking month was a sweltering 121.9°F (49.9°C). You’ll get hot just reading this! Also, the park has claimed yet another victim at the Natural Bridge Trailhead.
If officials had followed recommendations made 20 years ago, they might have prevented the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse… Here’s why.
Nacogdoches, Texas, has passed a new ordinance limiting the parking of RVs on city streets to 24 hours. The ordinance will take effect after Labor Day. Here’s more info on the new rule.
Bear spray? What spray? We’ve frequently urged folks in bear country to be bear-prepared. That includes carrying bear spray where permitted. Now we need to publish a disclaimer: Some bears don’t read RV Travel. We surmise this from an incident at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where a bear chased hikers and ignored blasts of bear spray.
Speaking of bears… A 3-year-old girl was attacked by a black bear Sunday night at 10 p.m. while she slept in her tent at a campground near Red Lodge, Montana. Continue reading.
BLM fees could jump for camping and day use in seven Colorado counties. The Bureau of Land Management says it wants to hear from the public about a new management plan. The fees could increase up to $12. Here are the sites that would be affected.
Crater Lake National Park’s north entrance remains closed to allow firefighters on the Middle Fork Fire to prepare control lines along the North Entrance Road, which will be closed from North Junction to the park boundary at the junction with Highway 138. Learn more.
Delays ahead! Southbound Interstate 17 will be closed at Jomax Road in north Phoenix, Arizona, this weekend for ongoing pavement improvement work, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. More info here.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is warning its visitors that ocean conditions are forecast to be dangerous along all beaches through this weekend, due to distant Hurricane Ernesto. More details here.
In the U.S. Army, it’s said “Rangers lead the way.” In the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it’s often park rangers leading the way at the nation’s lake projects. At Rathbun Lake, located in southern Iowa, one park ranger leads the way by being a proponent of the cashless fee system at the lake’s campgrounds and boat ramps, containing 400 campsites.
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What’s new at campgrounds and RV parks
Stay up to date on news about campgrounds and RV parks across North America.
Read this week’s latest news here.
Saturday giveaway
How would you like to win this 37-in-1 survival kit?
How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today by 7 p.m. Pacific time. You can only enter once and after we notify you by email that you won, you have 24 hours to respond.
Click here to enter or see last week’s winner.
Reader poll
Should you tip campground workers if they help you?
HAVE YOU SEEN THESE STOLEN RVs?
We are discontinuing this as a weekly feature due to trouble locating stolen vehicles. We will post if necessary on occasion.
Latest fuel prices
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.41
Change from week before: Down 3 cents; Change from year before: Down 44 cents.
Diesel: $3.70
Change from week before: Down 5 cents; Change from year before: Down 67 cents.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Brain teaser
This is a mysterious place where yesterday follows tomorrow, departure follows arrival, front follows back, start follows end, past follows future and even life follows death.
Where is this mysterious place?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Recipe of the day
Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
by Rhonda O from New Albany, IN
Need an easy meal that will satisfy your family? Try this chicken pot pie casserole. It has all the elements of a pot pie but less work. The filling is full of veggies and chunks of chicken. We cooked a chicken breast, but store-bought rotisserie chicken can easily be used. Cheddar soup and chicken gravy are combined for a delicious sauce. Golden brown and flaky crescent roll dough is the crust and adds a nice crunch. Click here for the recipe.
Trivia
The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., is the largest library in the world! It has more than 170 million items in its collections, including books, recordings, photographs, maps, and manuscripts. It adds approximately 12,000 items to its collection every day.
The perfect scam
Toll Road Scams Are Trending
Summer is the prime time for road trips. And as more people are out there on the roads, scammers are eager to cash in. Drivers across the country are receiving fraudulent text messages claiming they have unpaid tolls. In this episode, Bob invites Eva Velasquez from the Identity Theft Resource Center to discuss this trending con game.
Laugh of the week
Now that’s a laugh!
Today in history
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
Thanks to all!
One of the most informative issues, special thanks to Russ and Tina.
Keep it up guys!
The font is so small it’s hard to read.
Agreed!
Change font size in the settings on your device
When and where will RV travel have RV rally before to honor Chuck before he retires?
What a great idea..even do it without his retiring!
Thanks for improving the reading experience on iPhones!
The arrow on the left upper does not work now. the one that would take you back to the last story. i have to go out and reinter to continue each time I finish each story.
Thank you, Emily and Diane! 🙂 I look forward to tomorrow’s newsletter! Among other reasons is to see if I got the brain teaser right. 🙂 The Library of Congress is a really neat place. The downside, as with many DC attractions, is finding nearby parking. 🤔😯 Thus, many find walking the best way to get around, especially the Mall and Capitol Hill. Thanks again, have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
I really don’t care for brain teasers but this one sure appears to be my life since retirement.
I think the answer to the brain teaser is much easier than your life recently, Kelly. (I even got it!😮) Have a good night. 😀 –Diane
I knew that Alice and I had fallen down the rabbit hole and on to the Mad Hatter but didn’t know that you had fallen too? (Teasing my brain and then trying to get in there to figure it out …. Yep, good luck.)
Oh, yeah. I either fell down the rabbit hole, or more likely tripped on it and knocked myself out. Not sure. Take care, Kelly.🤗 –Diane