Issue 1179
An essay from Chuck…
Readers demand “Keep politics out of RVtravel.com”
Last Saturday, we posted an article about FEMA hurricane disaster scams based on a FEMA press release. We have received such releases from FEMA for years and have never known them to contain misinformation. However, many readers were outraged, posting 250 comments, with about 100 deleted for being outrageous or hateful. A common theme was, “Do not trust anything the government says; the government is evil!” Well, here are Chuck’s thoughts.
The latest news for RVers
A missing RVer’s tragic fate has been revealed after a police shooting incident. Russell Vinton, of Prescott, Arizona, failed to turn up for jury duty on October 8th. Vinton’s wife called authorities to report him missing while camping north of the Grand Canyon. The call led to a chain of circumstances that ended with another man shot and killed by police hundreds of miles away. Only later did police realize the RVer had been murdered. Now we know the full story.
A popular RV boondocking spot outside Las Vegas has been closed since August 1. The Government Wash site in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area was blocked off to the public after illegal campers and illegal roads threatened the area. Now the recreation area’s top dog says, “Don’t blame the homeless.” Here’s the real reason the Lake Mead boondocking area was closed.
RVers around the country complain they see supposedly “full” campgrounds with many sites never occupied. Call them “ghost” campground reservations. People aren’t sure where they want to go, so they reserve campsites at multiple campgrounds, pick their favorite, and never show up for the others. In the end, it maddens people who want to go camping but can’t find a site. Would you “ghost” a campground reservation if it cost you a $3,000 fine?
In a surprise announcement, Forest River, Inc., says it will close all of its California RV manufacturing plants. The shuttering will affect employees in both Hemet and Rialto, California. The move will hit some 400 employees. What else will follow the Forest River California closure? Here’s the scoop.
And speaking of California… Live in California? Plan to RV the Golden State? Heads up! A California regulatory agency will be making a decision on November 8 that could cause you to see a 64 cent increase per gallon of motor fuel. More details here.
Authorities have arrested a man who formerly managed Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park RV Camp Resort in Elberta, Alabama, again on charges of sex crimes involving children. Prosecutors allege that in 2023, Patrick Chiranjit Streeter lured a 12-year-old boy into a campground cabin and sexually assaulted him. That led to Streeter’s first arrest for the RV park child abuse. Now police have arrested Streeter again, as more witnesses have come forward.
A study of RVers suggests that many RVers are now interested in staying at luxury RV parks. At the same time, it says interest in just plain old RV parks has seriously dropped. Is it a fluke, or are RVers upgrading their tastes? Do you prefer luxury RV parks? Here’s more info, and please take our poll.
Campground Concerns (formerly Campground crowding)
“Now, RV parks are catering to a richer and more spoiled clientele”
This week, Nanci Dixon relates more of your concerns regarding the increased costs of campsites, and one opinion that it is due to “greedy price gouging by corporate-minded entities buying up the mom and pops.” There are some more tips on finding a campsite, and a comment regarding a state that has a “perfect reservation system” for their parks. (Do you agree?) Read them here.
More RVing news
We’ve posted scam alert stories before. Usually, we’re warning readers to be on the lookout for scammers targeting RVers. This time there’s a twist: The traveling scammers are RVers, preying on local communities they visit. It’s a twist on the old “traveling” construction company scam, and it’s causing alarm among RV park owners. Here’s what they’re doing.
Imagine camping in a beautiful spot with perfect weather, only to be met with an alarming smell—sewage! This is the reality in San Diego, where a sewage crisis is affecting RVers and visitors. Last winter, storms damaged the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park Campground, but the main problem remains the sewage. The park is closed, and trails are off-limits due to water tainted with raw sewage. Learn more.
Most RVers rely on prescription medications, and extended road trips can make getting them more challenging. According to The RVgeeks website, using a national pharmacy chain can simplify the process, as they can access your file and refill prescriptions anywhere in the country through a centralized database. But Walgreens, listed as a top option for this convenience, is now closing many of its locations, making it harder for RVers who rely on them.
Blame it on a mild winter. Call it a “natural breeding cycle.” Whatever the cause, a surge in the mice population in a popular Wisconsin campground has caused authorities to shut the place down early—and perhaps pray for a cold winter. A mouse invasion has closed Rock Island State Park and sent its campers scurrying.
Another busy camping year in Iowa state parks is coming to an end and staff are preparing for the first freezing temperatures of the fall. State parks will begin winterizing their facilities this week including shutting off water in the campgrounds and closing shower houses. See you next year, Iowa!
Despite chilly weather in Kananaskis Village, Alberta, a campground has issued another safety notice. The Mount Kidd RV Park has posted an alert, warning guests, “There have been recent sightings of an unclothed individual near the campground.” It’s not something new—the naked intruder has been strutting his stuff since at least July. Be on the lookout (but maybe close your eyes…).
If you’re a fan of the California redwoods, you’re likely concerned about the damage caused by the 2020 wildfires. Two major players, California State Parks and Save the Redwoods League, have teamed up to not just restore but to protect three state parks that feature these towering giants. The projects may affect your camping plans, but there’ll be much to see.
LAST CHANCE to watch our own RV tech expert Dave Solberg present his very educational (not to mention entertaining) RVing seminars at the Myrtle Beach (SC) RV Show at the Convention Center today and tomorrow, Oct. 19 and 20. Click here.
RV and RV-related recalls
Jayco RVs recalled for wrong information about tire load range
Jayco is recalling certain 2021-2025 Entegra Ethos, Ethos LI, Jayco Swift and Swift LI vehicles. The Tire and Loading Information Label incorrectly lists the tire load range. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, “Tire Selection and Rims.” Learn more.
Saturday giveaway
How would you like to win this 10-flavor variety pack of exotic meat jerky sticks?
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
Have you ever lived in an RV for at least six months in a row?
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of October 14, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.17
Change from week before: Up 4 cents; Change from year before: Down 41 cents.
Diesel: $3.63
Change from week before: Up 5 cents; Change from year before: Down 81 cents.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Brain teaser
If 3 cats can catch 3 bunnies in 3 minutes, how long will it take 100 cats to catch 100 bunnies?
(Answer in tomorrow’s Sunday RV Travel newsletter.)
Recipes of the day
5 flavor-packed burrito recipes
There’s something for everyone with these burrito recipes. Breakfast burritos, anyone? What about a burrito casserole? Yes, please! Or if you want something a little healthier, we’ve got inside-out burrito bowls here. And, as a surprise, we’ve even got a dessert burrito recipe. Yes, yes, yes, please! Click here to see all the recipes.
Trivia
A baguette means wand, stick or baton in French, which refers to the shape of its long, narrow loaf. No one knows why the baguette is the shape it is, but one story is that Napoleon Bonaparte insisted that all bread baked for his soldiers should fit into the pocket of their uniforms. It’s an interesting theory and could be true. If not, it sounds good! Speaking of baguettes…
The perfect scam
Beware the Boardwalk Psychic
In this 2019 episode, Marlene is enjoying the Atlantic City boardwalk with a friend when a young woman approaches her. The woman introduces herself as Savannah and offers to give Marlene a psychic reading. Figuring it will cost her just a few dollars, Marlene takes her up on the offer. Savannah takes Marlene back to her shop. During the reading she picks up on many of the troubles Marlene is facing in her personal life. Having gained Marlene’s trust, Savannah offers her various items for sale in the shop, promising that they will solve her problems. Marlene chooses a few things within her budget to purchase and starts to leave. But Savannah’s not done with her yet. She gives Marlene her phone number with an offer to continue to help her. It all seems innocent to Marlene, but this chance encounter with a boardwalk psychic will morph into a long, complex relationship that will leave her nearly broke.
Laugh of the day
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
Visit Current National Radar Weather Map
Headed on an unfamiliar highway? Learn if it has low bridges you might not fit under.
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Click here for information about our staff and how to contact us.
I enjoyed your recent article about FEMA and the devastation in NC. I did not find it political in any way but that is the world we live in now. Please DO NOT stop writing/printing articles such as this and other articles that may have an impact on RVing. Thank you
Ditto Chuck. I always find your articles balanced.
Ditto!
Ditto! Keep up the good work Chuck!
Ditto to Jesse’s ditto.
Another ditto. Too many people believe what they want to believe, and are enraged when presented with anything that disagrees with their beliefs.
Ditto squared. So, there!! hahahaha!!!
“Laugh of the day”…Good One!
Thank you Chuck for your article. Don’t change a thing about RV Travel.
Keep up the good work; reporting facts is not a political statement but news we need.
I find your replies to the various comments submitted by readers to be excessively vitriolic. You lowered yourself to their levels. I understand both sides and just wish people would be intelligent enough to respect that we are currently a deeply divided nation and it is more mature/considerate to just keep our opinions to ourselves, as in the old adage that it’s better to not discuss religion or politics. Our nerves are a bit too raw right now to do otherwise. Otherwise, I greatly enjoy your newsletter.
I guess the anti-goverment types want no NOAA info, also?
As I see only comments that applaud your opinion being posted after my very neutral comment was submitted, I assume you eschew neutral journalism…?
Wow! One can pretty quickly realize how divided our country is if this edition is any indication. I do not recall any Rv news-letter in the past which generated so many personal “attacks” by a couple of individuals against fellow Rvr’s. This newsletter, IMO, has always brought together and fostered the commonality of our interests. Having an opinion is one thing, personal attacks and comments to virtually everyone who has expressed an opinion is entirely something else. A lot of the division, mostly fostered, again IMO, by the news media and this extended political campaign season, has divided some us down to the personal attack level!
…Anyone attacking another for a differing opinion should be removed from this newsletter and further discussion! (Just my opinion!)
It’s great to “see” your voice again. Your level headed comments and replies are always welcome, and your advice is spot on.
Thank you Bill – just getting back into reality again – still very short on time – but this one stirred my ire!!!
Not sure why, but I subscribe and pay. But today an ad to subscribe and pay keeps popping up. Annoying.
Like a number of others I have followed Chuck since the hard copy Newsletter days. He is eschewable in the best sense. Always himself. Balanced and thoughtful! RV Travel is a place for me to relax, enjoy and learn.
My AI Copilot sez:
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“Eschew” means to deliberately avoid or abstain from something. For instance, you might eschew unhealthy food if you’re on a strict diet.
Here’s a quirky sentence for you: He decided to eschew social media for a month to reconnect with the real world.
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Not a bad idea.
It’s almost impossible to remove the politics from any discussions regarding California gas,diesel, or any other fuel prices.
They hate because they ain’t us
In southern NV the gas at my corner station went down .24 in one day. $3.21 yesterday and $2.97 today. Glad I didn’t fill up yesterday!
“How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?”
Just keep on chuckin’, Chuck, if you would.
I like that, Kelly. Thanks! Have a good night.🤗 –Diane
I missed you guys for almost two weeks until we got the power back on. I had no idea how addicted I was to the computer and the RVTravel Newsletter. Ain’t the English language fun?
Welcome back, Kelly! I’ve missed you! (And I’m sure others have, also!) I figured it was because of not having power, from your last couple of comments. I got such a kick out of your comment to Chuck a few minutes ago that I just emailed it to him and sent him a text to look at the email. Thanks! Take care.🤗 –Diane