By Chuck Woodbury
Little did I know when I moved for two weeks into my current RV park that there would soon be an invasion of nasty, pesky house flies. All was fine for awhile, then the landscapers arrived with a truckload of steer manure, which they deposited in flower beds throughout the park including a few yards from my motorhome. The result: flies, flies, flies — an invasion!
But I have not just stood meekly by — I have taken action! I am armed and dangerous with the latest technology, as you will see if you watch this video, recorded after five cups of coffee so I had the courage to risk making a fool of myself.
By Chuck Woodbury In the back room of The Glass Forge in downtown Grants Pass, Ore., on a table toward the back, sits a tiny model airplane glass-blown by business co-owner Lee Wassink. It isn’t meant to fly. It’s meant to look like a miniature Piper Cherokee, a single engine airplane popular with private pilots around the world.
I picked up the plane to look closely because it was so different from the other blown-glass objects created at the Forge — vases, ornaments, lamp shades, goblets, even little pumpkins for the just-finished Halloween season.
“The pilot’s right in there,” Lee said to me, pointing at the plane. To which I responded, “He is?” I wondered what the heck he was talking about. I examined the plane closely for a figurine at the controls, but there was nothing there — just some murky-looking glass where the cockpit would be.
“No, he’s in there,” Lee said. “His ashes.”
He explained to me that a recently widowed woman asked him if he could create a half-dozen tiny airplanes with a clear stand beneath each where the ashes of her late-husband, who flew a Piper Cherokee, could be entombed. Lee said, yes, he could do that.
Nathan Sheafor works on a large glass vase.
Lee suggested instead that he put the ashes right inside the cockpit itself rather than in the stand. The woman thought that was a great idea. Later, when she returned to pick up the planes, she took five but left one behind, the one I was holding. Lee thinks maybe it was because the paint job wasn’t right.
If you are in Grants Pass, stop by the Glass Forge at 501 SW G Street, where you can watch Lee and his business partner Nathan Sheafor and their crew create beautiful blown-glass objects. They welcome guests and enthusiastically answer questions. If you come on a cold day, the 2,300-degree ovens will keep you toasty warm. Learn more at the company’s website,where you can watch a live webcam to see what’s happening right at the moment.
Etekcity’s portable outdoor LED lanterns are perfect for emergencies or for camping. They feature an omni-directional design with 30 low-current, energy-saving, bright white-light emitting diodes, yielding 360 degrees of high-intensity, long-lasting illumination.
The low power consumption keeps the lantern glowing in regular brightness for up to 12 hours. When the battery power of the lantern runs low, the brightness will dim to an energy-saving mode to provide longer lasting illumination (up to 4 hours of low power usage.
Built with military grade water-resistant plastic for long-time durability, the lamp is collapsible and portable, designed for easy storage, and promises reliability should you need it for emergencies or power outages. The foldaway handles allow you to carry the lantern by hand with ease, or suspend it above to brighten up your campsite.
The lanterns come in a two-pack along with six batteries, and have a 10-year warranty.
You can find the Etekcity LED lanterns on Amazon, where out of 3,214 reviews they have 93% 4 and 5 star ratings.
If you miss your favorite PBS mini-series, you can now at least capture a little of its charm with your very own Downton Abbey tea. There’s lady cora’s evening tea, english rose tea, grantham breakfast blend or mrs. patmore’s pudding tea.
I found this selection of teas in a kitchen shop in Grants Pass, Oregon. If you can’t find any at your local tea shop, then good ol’ Amazon can help you outwith even more choices. Or get yourself a Lady Cora “Lady of the House” mug if drinking the tea isn’t enough.
Personally, I’m passing. I’m a coffee guy. — Chuck W.
How much tread do you have left on your tires? When is it time to replace them? One traditional piece of advice is to place a penny into the groove of a tire and if you can see Lincoln’s head, it’s time. But that may not be good enough. See why in this revealing two-minute video from ABC News. What you learn could end up saving your life.
Here’s what happens when a motorhome blows a tire and the driver doesn’t know how to react. If only he had watched this video and learned the right way to react. If so, his only problem would likely have been fixing the tire.
Watch this video about what to do if you blow a tire in your RV or other motor vehicle.
RVer Tim Slack emailed us recently from Arizona with a question we hadn’t heard before: “Are there any reasonable ways to keep snakes away from the vicinity of an RV? I’m generally pretty fond of snakes, but we’re in rattlesnake territory lately and yesterday had a 3-foot diamondback heading for our cat in her outdoor playpen. When I disturbed its slithery stalk, it coiled up right under our entry steps!”
Tim had been told stringed LED decorative lights around the area might help, or encircling the perimeter of his site with a rope the rattlers would mistake for another snake and not cross.
Neither of those methods would do much good, according to Bob Myers, Director of the American International Rattlesnake Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Keep in mind snakes are shy creatures that do their best to avoid confrontation with larger animals,” said Myers. “A diamondback would probably not stalk a cat, as cats can be vicious killers and are much larger than a rattlesnake. Rattlesnakes prefer to stalk small prey. What looked like stalking to Tim was more likely the snake wanting to go from point A to point B and the cat pen just happened to be along the way.
“Other than digging a moat filled with kerosene around your RV, I can’t think of any guaranteed way to keep rattlesnakes away from your vehicle. But there are things you can do to lessen the chance of attracting them.”
RVers can most effectively avoid rattlers by removing any spilled food from their site. Pet food and birdseed attract rodents and birds, both of which top the list of rattlesnakes’ preferred prey. “Rattlesnakes rely on their sense of smell the way humans rely on their sense of sight,” said Myers. “They can follow rodent trails and sometimes will sit on them to wait for rats to return.”
Avoiding heavy ground cover and brush is also important, as such terrain can provide hidden refuge for snakes.
If you walk your dog in rattlesnake territory, think about having him vaccinated in advance by a veterinarian. The vaccination might lessen the effects of a bite, should one occur.
Don’t worry needlessly about baby rattlers. Despite a persistent belief that baby rattlers are more toxic than adults, Myers said the opposite is true. “Young snakes are potentially a meal for predators. They are more defensive than adults, but a baby rattler has only 1/30th to 1/50th the volume of venom to inject, compared to an adult.”
Myers recalled a young boy who picked up a baby rattlesnake and held it in front of his face. The snake bit him right between the eyes, but the boy suffered only swelling and discomfort.
“The truth is,” said Myers, “approximately one person in a thousand bitten by a rattlesnake will die.”
Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more. This newsletter, now in its 16th year of continuous publication, is funded primarily through advertising and voluntary subscription contributions from our readers. Thank you!
Issue 767 • Week of Nov. 5–11, 2016
Editor’s corner With Chuck Woodbury Chuck (at) RVtravel.com
My friend Dave Helgeson sent me this photograph. “Thought you might enjoy this photo of last night’s boondock,” he wrote.
Dave and his wife Cheri like to camp in the Southwest deserts in the middle of nowhere. With rare exception, they never have a next door neighbor. They bring along two ATVs and spend their days exploring slot canyons, ghost towns and the desert itself. I envy Dave and Cheri for the way they camp. But for me, it only works in moderation.
My campsite Thursday evening in Medford, Oregon.
I have always enjoyed camping in or close to civilization and that often times means in RV parks, even crowded ones that may be anything but scenic. Especially with my new, bigger motorhome, where I now live full-time, my RV is a “home” and not just for camping. I’m not super picky about where I stay as long as it’s clean, quiet and close to interesting places to visit.
Rather than explore the great outdoors as Dave and Cheri do, I mostly like to visit places where humans have left their mark. I especially enjoy small towns. I like to walk the main street to see what’s there, maybe talking to a merchant or two, or locals who tell me about their lives. I enjoy dining in small town cafes, which, sad to say, are quickly disappearing. See the story I posted a few days ago about one I found this week in Jacksonville, Ore., where the floor is covered with 120,000 pennies.
What is it? See a few paragraphs below to find out.
And there are always public parks and other scenic and/or historic sites within easy driving distance. I never met a National Park I didn’t like.
I enjoy museums, especially small, funky pioneer museums where I search for old gizmos and gadgets. Look at the photo to the right. What do you think it is? That’s what I asked myself when I spotted it a few days ago. I’d be surprised if you can guess. I posted an 8-second video of it in action at the bottom of this essay along with the answer.
Old family photo I found in a Florence, Oregon antique shop. Who were they? Mama does not look happy.
In antique stores, I browse though old postcards and photos. Often, there are piles of family photos from years past. I sometimes wonder if some from my family will one day end up in such a store. I found the photo on the left in an antique store in Florence, Oregon. Mama sure doesn’t look happy. If you recognize these people, please let me know.
I especially enjoy visiting cemeteries where there is so much history. Yesterday, Gail and I spent an hour walking around the historic Jacksonville cemetery. Oh, so many graves of children. It was not easy in the “good ol’ days.” See pics and read my story.
Part of headstone of child’s grave.
Now that I have a car with me (I never towed one before with previous motorhomes), I am free to explore more than ever. I plan to attend minor league baseball games, county fairs, crab feeds, spaghetti dinners, pancake breakfasts, festivals, high school football games, parades, and other gatherings and celebrations in small town America. Once, years ago, I attended a “So You Think You’re Tough” boxing match. Amateur boxers would pay $100 to go three rounds with another guy. At the end of the night, winners took home a chunk of the pot. Many of the fighters were hacks — you could tell they had no formal training. They’d fling their fists every which way and hope something landed. Many would give up or get knocked down before the first bell. A 100-year-old Native American woman in the seat behind me cheered wildly for a great-grandson.
ONCE, YEARS AGO, I accidentally stumbled into a high school gym during a pep rally. The band played, the cheerleaders cheered and the captain of the football team told how he and his teammates would crush their opponent that evening. It was like traveling back through time to my own high school days.
Lucky for me, I do get to camp in the great outdoors often enough. I love boondocking in the desert — the solitude, scenic beauty and the incredible night skies. I enjoy Forest Service campgrounds, where I can savor a campfire and roast marshmallows. But after four or five days in such places I itch to get back to civilization, I suppose mostly to find stories to write (I am a write-a-holic, after all). The beauty of RVing is that we can live the kind of lives where we want, when we want, and how we want. It’s the very best!
So what is the device I showed you above? It’s an egg grading scale from 1924. Click the 8-second video to see it in action.
P.S. We have changed the way we pick winners for our contest. You’ll notice below that this week’s winner will be picked randomly from all entries received through noon (Pacific), Monday.
My Roadside Journal (about whatever is on my mind, not necessarily RV-related) • Roadside Journal entries from Oct. 30 • Buried in leaves • Truck too small? • Rainy Medford • One person stands out • Twin giants in Medford• Oh, did I ever dodge a bullet!
• Roadside Journal entries from Nov. 3 • Drop my pants? • Coffee-related things got my attention • Armed for flies • My home in a beautiful light • Bad dog
Is reading this newsletter worth 10 cents to you? Our staff works hard to bring you a valuable newsletter every Saturday. Readers help make it possible with their voluntary subscriptions. Even a pledge of $5 a year is appreciated — that’s less than 10 cents an issue! Many readers pledge more — $10 a year is less than 20 cents an issue! Your contributions make it possible for us to write about important matters, not just fluff to make advertisers and RV industry big shots happy. Enter a voluntary subscription.Use a credit card, PayPal or mail a check.
Comprehensive list of RV-related recalls for October
The list of latest recalls on RVs and other vehicles and/or products of interest to RVers has been released by the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The list includes models from Entegra, Forest River, Grand Design, Jayco, Newmar, Starcraft, Winnebago and others — plus cars and trucks commonly used by RVers, as well as some tires and cargo trailers. Is your RV or other vehicle or equipment on the list? Read more.
THIS WEEK’S CONTEST! Win a pack of these incredibly wonderful Happy Camper Cocktail Napkins! A winner will be chosen randomly out of all correct entries received by noon (Pacific), Monday. The question: “How many FEET of snow does Crater Lake get each year according to theeditor’s Roadside Journal?Email your answer to RVcontests (at) gmail.com. We’ll let you know if you win. We can only ship prizes to addresses with a U.S. Zip Code. Only one entry per household. Contest ends Monday at noon (Pacific) at which time a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or forfeit the prize. After that, another potential winner will be selected until we hear from and have a winner.
Last week’s winner: Dave Scheeler, of Sunbury, Pennsylvania.
Reader RVs
What RV do you drive or tow? Send us a photo of your RV (and tow vehicle) with a 150-200 word description of where and how often you travel with it, and what you like or don’t like about it. Include your name(s) and hometown. We’ll post them to RVtravel.com. Send to assistant editor Diane McGovern at Diane(at)RVtravel.com .
CLICK HERE to see this week’s RV Travel Reader RVs.
RVs & Electric Bikes – the perfect match! An Electric Bike is the perfect, simplest and most affordable way of sorting all the ‘challenges’ of RV’ing. Get around camp effortlessly, visit the sites or town nearby without unhooking or simply enjoy a fun ride with fellow campers! Click here to discover our electric bikesand get free shipping & returns, and 0% financing on any new EVELO.
A class action lawsuit against Norcold has been settled in U.S. District Court. The case, Etter et. al. v. Norcold, awards the plaintiffs an incentive ranging between $1,580 and $7,500 each, and the attorneys 25 percent of the gross settlement. The case related to alleged fire risks involving Norcold 1200 Series, N8 Series, and N6 Series gas absorption refrigerators. Want more info? Click on this page for the settlement website and a link to the court ruling.
In honor of Veterans Day, many national parks across the country are hosting special events, displays, and ceremonies to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the U.S. Armed Forces. The National Park Service will waive entrance fees on November 11. Click here for more information. Many state parks also offer free admission on Veterans Day. Check online with the state parks department in your location.
Wholesale prices for used RVs stunned market watchers in October, looking more like springtime sales, says industry watcher Black Book. Towable sales set a record-selling price, while the price of motorhomes in October rose to a point that hadn’t been seen since 2010. Motorized RV prices jumped 6 percent (compared to September) to $44,597. Towables were up nearly 10 percent to $12,808.
Time for (most of) us to set our clocks back an hour (Sat. night). That means it’s a good time to change the batteries in our smoke alarms. Consumer Reports says if a smoke detector is more than 10 years old, it’s time to get a new one because the sensors could be ineffective. Here is Consumer Reports’ CO and smoke alarm buying (and use) guide. And here is a link to combination smoke/CO alarms at Amazon.
Michigan’s state park reservation system no longer takes e-checks. Now you’ll either need a state-issued Park and Harbor electronic gift card, or “plastic” bearing a MasterCard, Visa or Discover logo.
If RV manufacturers are wondering why it’s hard to keep good help, this may be a piece of the puzzle. Winnebago says it will no longer provide health care benefits for retirees under the age of 65. It’s a cost-saving strategy that the company says will save $6 million on its long-term liabilities balance sheet.
The swallow-them-up saga continues as Camping World has “acquired” Monticello, Minn., RV dealer Quality RV. In addition to gobbling up the dealer, the corporate giant has also snapped up 14 acres of land next door to the dealership and will renovate and expand the dealership to include a retail store there – to be opened by December 2016. And on Tuesday, November 1, CW announced an agreement to acquire Dean’s RV dealership in Tulsa, Okla. Camping World anticipates closing the acquisition in November 2016, when they plan to commence operations, and then construct a state-of-the-art RV sales and service facility, including a full-service Camping World retail store, in 2017.
As Camping World continues to do a “Sherman’s march to the sea” with RV dealerships, they have their fingers in other pies, as well. While mixing metaphors, here’s another area of the company’s interest. While already owning 25 RV consumer shows in the U.S., the outfit, through its Good Sam Enterprises division, has bought up five shows from promoter Odyssey Management. These events are in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn.; Dayton and Columbus, Ohio; and Milwaukee, Wisc.
Do you like to camp in Washington state? Do you like to camp in the winter? Well, you’re in luck! Here is the newly released 2016-2017 Winter Schedule from Washington State Parks. More than 90 parks will remain open seven days a week, but some have restrictions so read the chart carefully.
The New TireTraker™ TT-500 with a Lifetime Warranty The new TireTraker™ TT-500 is the most innovative & user friendly TPMS on the market with an unprecedented “Lifetime Warranty,” the only TPMS company in the industry to do so. The TT-500 features a larger, easier to read display, continuous pressure & temperature monitoring, automatic update, & monitoring up to 22 tires on your motorhome, trailer & tow vehicle from 0-232 psi ! Seven day per week sales & technical support & over 12 years of experience. List price (4 tires) $389. Our price only $289. SAVE $100! (Additional Sensors $35 each). Learn more or order. Read testimonials.
More News
With the devastating blast of Hurricane Matthew behind them, South Carolina Department of Parks and Recreation officials were anxious to get the rebuilding of two of the state’s beachfront parks on the fast track. Officials floated a proposal to rebuild Hunting Island and Edisto Beach for a cost of $3.5 million, with 75 percent of the costs covered by the feds. The two parks are the state’s most attended, and generate funds for parks not-so-much visited. “Not so fast,” responded the state legislature. Lawmakers want the parks folks to come back with a plan for all of the state’s parks damaged by the storm before cutting loose any money.
Visit a Minnesota State Park on November 25 and save $5. Check before you head out — some parks may have deer population reduction hunts in progress which may affect entry.
A Largo, Fla., RV consignment seller is under investigation after RVers who have consigned their rigs with him say he didn’t pay off the underlying loans on the rigs. Consignment RV is being investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Riding on the coattails of the Pokemon Go rage, look for an interactive game at a national forest soon. The U.S. Forest Service is partnering with Agents of Discovery to bring an interactive game program to some USFS sites, one that doesn’t require an Internet connection. Users travel along routes where content “is packaged in immersive challenges that tap into real world experiences.” So says the news release, anyway. Plans are to have some 60 sites going in the next two years.
An RVing couple in Sioux Falls, S.D., got a rude awakening at the 60th Street North Walmart. A security guard banged on the door to tell them it was illegal to overnight there. The couple was flabbergasted, as they’d stayed at the cross-town Walmart on South Louise Avenue without problems. Turns out when Walmart wanted to build another store in town, local citizens caused such a ruckus that the city formed a “handshake” agreement with Walmart that no local stores would allow overnight RVing – and the Louise Avenue store didn’t get the word. A city council member feels bad that the couple felt unwelcome in the city after being given the bum’s rush. But that’s not stopping the city from moving all area Walmarts to get in line with the “no-park” agreement.
Photo: Chula Vista Bayfront, Port of San Diego
San Diego officials want to make their waterfront a destination for RVers – with a new “first class destination” RV park. As part of the Chula Vista Bayfront master plan, a 19-acre site would bring 237 RVs at a time, plus swimming pools, hot tubs, a visitor center and more. If developers respond, the new park could open in the summer of 2019. After the new park premieres, the existing Chula Vista RV Resort on Sandpiper would be demolished and replaced with a hotel and conference center.
If you want to reserve a campsite in Oregon to view the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, read this bulletin from Oregon State Parks for important reservation information and info about the eclipse.
2016 RVer’s Friend LEARN ABOUT SERVICES FOR RVers This annual directory lists 6,700 U.S. & Canadian “big rig” fueling locations and the services they provide. Services include RV parking, propane availability, truck wash, scales, laundry, food, diesel and RV accessible gasoline. Locations are listed in Interstate exit order as well as alphabetically by city and state. Learn more or order.
Police in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, had a big mystery: A pop-up trailer RV, completely deployed, parked in shallow water of the Chippewa River. After publishing a photo of the mystery rig in local media, investigators got a phone call from the rig’s owner. Apparently the family had set up the trailer in a nearby low-lying campground and boisterous Chippewa waters yanked it out of the campground for a downstream ride. Case closed.
Photo: Mountainaire CG & RV Park on FacebookPhoto: cheknews.ca
Folks at a campground Halloween party in Cassidy, British Columbia, would have been appropriately costumed as firemen. As last Saturday’s party at the Mountainaire Campground and RV Park was winding down an excited camper called out than an RV was on fire. After determining nobody was inside, several partygoers grabbed water hoses and fire extinguishers to combat the blaze. Despite their best efforts, the rig was destroyed, but happily there were no injuries and no other rigs caught fire.
RVers have found many uses for their rigs, but here’s one we don’t recommend – as a weapon. A Hayward, Calif., park ranger at Tennyson Park called for backup when dealing with an unruly guest last week. When police arrived, the man tried to get away in his motorhome, clobbering a row of cars in a sort of domino effect. He then drove at the officers, who responded with a volley of bullets. The driver was hit, subdued, pulled out of the rig and arrested. His bullet wounds were not life-threatening.
Keep up with RV Industry news throughout the week at RVbusiness.com.
Even the simple things — Keep your windows fog-free!
Rich “The Wanderman” hates not being able to see out of his windshield and windows while underway (don’t we all?), or even when camped, for that matter. But he has recently discovered a simple and inexpensive item that easily takes care of the problem of foggy windows. Learn more.
Full-time RV travels — Heat with gas or electricity?
For full-timers, keeping an eye on the budget can be critical to your lifestyle. When boondocking, your heating source choices are limited – gas prevails. But if you’re calling an RV park a temporary home – or any other place where you’re paying for electricity – the question is clearly which is cheaper, gas or electric. Here are a few statistics to help you make the call. Read more.
Preventing winter freeze-ups while RVing
Chris Dougherty, certified RV technician, received a question from a reader while he was serving as RVtravel.com’s technical editor, about traveling during very cold temperatures. The readers’ RV wasn’t built for cold temps, and they asked for advice to prevent freezing pipes. Read Chris’ response.
How to use an RV microwave convection oven
In this video Nikki Wynn shares a few tips on how to use an RV microwave convection oven combo. Nikki shares how to set the oven for proper cooking including times and temperatures, and shares why a convection oven is perfect for RVers. She also includes advice about choosing the best convection oven bakeware. Watch the video.
Loss prevention in your RV
“The bigger the RV, the greater the loss.” Or, put another way: The bigger the RV, the more “stuff” we can load up, and the greater the chance of losing the stuff somewhere in the rig. So the question is this: How do you keep track of your stuff? We’ve heard the high tech, the low tech, and the laughably sublime, and we share them here.
America’s Largest RV Consignment Dealer Buy or sell your used motorhome, diesel pusher, fifth wheel or travel trailer hassle free at PPL Motor Homes. And check our huge selection of parts! PPL is the largest RV consignment dealer in the USA, selling more than 24,000 consigned RVs since 1972. Visit the PPL website.
No Shock Zone, Part Seven
This is the seventh episode of a 12-part series about basic electricity for RV users and how to protect yourself and your family from shocks and possible electrocution. In this episode, we’ll cover how wattage works and how to keep from tripping the circuit breaker. The information in this 12-part series has saved lives. It’s very important. Take the time to read. If you missed last week’s episode about how amperage draw causes voltage drop, read it here.
Little-known RV boondock land — Goldwater Air Force Range
More than four times the size of Rhode Island, the 2.7-million acre Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range (BMGR) in southwest Arizona is one of the largest unbroken land tracts left in the lower 48 states and is open to boondocking! Located near Yuma, you’ll find it a fascinating place to explore. Read more.
What color RV tire cover protects best from harmful UV rays? In this episode of Ask the RV Expert, RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury talks with RV tire expert Roger Marble about white and black covers on tires and whether one is better than the other. Watch the video.
Why do we RV? Statistics tell a tale
Why do we RV, and who is RVing? If statistics are something you look for, here are some that might interest you. Learn more.
2017 Winnebago Paseo Class B packs in features The 2017 Winnebago Paseo Class B motorhome is the first in its class to be built on a Ford Transit Van chassis. It features a spacious floor plan with an expansive rear dinette that converts to a 53 x 72-inch sleeping surface, equipped for cross-coach and longitudinal sleeping. The gas engine gets about 15 miles per gallon. Watch the construction and take a tour of the RV in this 10-minute video.
RV Deadline Approaching: Don’t Wait! Temperatures may be dropping, but RV repair costs are still on the rise! Whether you’re winterizing your rig or hitting the road, now is the best time to protect your home-on-wheels. RV Warranty pricing and eligibility changes hit January 1st, 2017. Take advantage of current year rates from WholesaleWarranties while you still qualify! Click Here to Get Your FREE Quote Before it’s Too Late.
This week in history Week of Nov. 5–11 Compiled by Dell Bert
“Galloping Gertie,” Nov. 7, 1940; Photo from YouTube.com
1903 – Mary Anderson patents windshield wiper.
1918 – World War I ends.
1940 – Tacoma Narrows Bridge (“Galloping Gertie”) collapses. (Watch this amazing actual film footage.
1944 – Franklin D. Roosevelt wins unprecedented fourth term.
1965 – The Great Northeast Blackout leaves 30 million people in the dark.
1975 – Edmund Fitzgerald sinks in Lake Superior.
1980 – Actor Steve McQueen dies.
1989 – East Germany opens the Berlin Wall.
1994 – George Foreman, age 45, becomes oldest heavyweight champ.
Unique RV overnight stops at wineries and farms With membership in Harvest Hosts® you can stay overnight at 500 wineries, farms and attractions across North America. Harvest Hosts offers an exciting alternative to traditional overnight stops where you can meet interesting people and learn about their lifestyle. Learn more at the Harvest Hosts website, or watch an interview with the founders by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury.
RV Club of the Week Here is an RV club we like. We hope you do, too!
Starcraft International Camper Club
With chapters throughout the U.S. and in Canada, Starcraft International Camper Club is open to all owners of Starcraft RVs. The purpose of the club is to promote family camping and to meet others with similar interests in the RV lifestyle. In addition to International rallies and tours, the club offers a variety of local and regional activities throughout the year, as well as other membership benefits.
Reduce air drag and boost fuel efficiency — Airtab® your RV! Just peel and stick Airtabs™ to the rear sides and the rear roof of your RV coach or trailer to create swirls of air that reduce aerodynamic drag, save fuel and improve stability. Airtabs™ dramatically reduce trailer ‘fish tailing’ and crosswinds pressure to RVs from passing trucks, while improving fuel efficiency 2% – 5%! Click on the video.
Bumper sticker of the week
Sign on the back of a septic pump truck: “Caution: Stoolbus” —Thanks to Paul Schwengel.
Funny/clever business slogan From Lee Wilmonen a couple of years ago: In Naples, Fla., last winter I saw a sign on a chiropractic office that said: “Crawl-ins welcome.” Thanks, Lee.
Have you seen a funny bumper sticker or business slogan? Send it to Diane (at) RVtravel.com
No more roof leaks, for life, guaranteed!
Now with locations in TX, FL, MS, AZ and NC!
RV FlexArmor® is a sprayed RV roof that is 187 mils thick, has no more caulking joints and is the proven RV roof alternative for over a decade. Guaranteed not to leak for your RV’s lifetime! “Your company gets an A+.” —Marsha G., customer. Click to see our new video from the FMCA family reunion in Perry, GA. •Click here for more information at our website, or call 1-844-FLEXARMOR. •Click here to visit our Facebook page.
Upcoming RV Shows See the list of upcoming RV shows for 2016 and 2017.
The Most Scenic Drives in America GREAT GIFT! The newly updated trip planner & travel guide will steer you down the most scenic road every time. From Florida’s Road to Flamingo, to British Columbia’s Sea to Sky Highway, to Cape Cod’s Sandy Shores, each featured road trip is pictured in stunning full color and described in vivid text, keyed to an easy-to-follow map. Whether you choose a drive on a distant road or a back road in your own state, this book is your ticket to North America’s most beautiful byways. Learn more or order.
Websites of the Week Here are three we like:
You winterized your RV but did you prepare it for storage?
When you winterize your RV, you also need to prepare it for several months of storage. RVing expert Mark J. Polk tells you what needs to be done in this very thorough list. From KOA.com and Mark J. Polk.
Fabulous Florida springs Here are some of the best springs (out of more than 700) to visit in Florida. These are beautiful and amazing. From Southern Living and msn.com.
The 50 best small towns for antiquing Here is a list of the best small town in every state to go antiquing like a professional. From House Beautiful and msn.com.
Batteries last a long time! Motion detection nightlights can
last a year on a set of batteries When you need a nightlight when without hookups, these are great: they light only when they sense motion, shutting off after 30 seconds of no movement. They use no wires & install in less than 5 minutes. Use outdoors, too. Lights come in a 3-pack. Can last up to a year! Watch the short video for a demonstration or learn more (or order at a great price) at Amazon.com.
Good reading from RV123.com
• Prepare for the unexpected with SOL Origin Survival Kit
• This new app from Google helps you plan your entire trip from one place
• This video teaches you a useful trick to keep your wiper blades lasting much longer!
Fast, inexpensive way to level your RV! This leveler from Camco is very handy, even if you have automatic levelers. It mounts with screws or adhesive and provides front-to-back or side-to-side leveling, making it easy to get your RV leveled quickly and just right. What a great deal for less than $6! Learn more or order.
Ask the RV Shrink
Campground Robo Ranger check-in problems for RVer
Dear RV Shrink: I think I may be too old to travel. I just spent a half hour with a Robo Ranger trying to pay my camping fee at a National Recreation Area in Arizona. My eyes are still in good shape, but the plastic screen on the Robo Ranger was sun bleached and almost impossible to see through. I was on my knees, holding my hand over the screen trying to create enough shadow to read the crazy thing. Every time I reached the point where the machine wanted to charge my credit card it froze and reset itself to the beginning without charging me or issuing my stub….
Strengthen your hands, fingers and forearms Here’s a great, easy way to build up the strength in your hands, fingers or forearms. Perfect for RVers. If you suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel, tendonitis or tennis elbow this is for you. It’s also great for simply building up the strength of your grip. This is a best-seller and costs about $8. GREAT GIFT! Learn more or order.
RV Tech Tips from Mark Polk
An overlooked RV weight rating
One weight rating that is often overlooked is the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). This applies to any vehicle pulling a trailer or any motorhome pulling a vehicle or trailer. The GCWR is the maximum permissible weight of the tow vehicle and trailer COMBINED when both are fully loaded for travel. Look for the GCWR on weight labels or in the vehicle owner’s manual.
Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101, the premiere source of educational DVDs about buying, maintaining and using an RV. Learn more.
Space heater uses only 200 watts! It’s hard to believe that an electric space heater could use a mere 200 watts — the same as a couple of light bulbs —a fraction of other space heaters. And this one really works! It’s meant to heat a nearby person, not a room. Put it on your desk or at your feet. It’s perfect for the RVer who’s “always cold.” For about $17, this is a winner. Click the video by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury. Or order at Amazon.com.
Latest fuel prices Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel: Regular unleaded gasoline: $2.23 (on Oct. 31). Change from week before: Down 1.3 cents; Change from year before: Up 0.6 cent. Diesel: $2.48 (on Oct. 31). Change from week before: Up 0.1 cent; Change from year before: Down 0.6 cent.
SAVE MONEY! Don’t toss away good batteries! Most RVers rely on battery-powered devices while on the road, whether flashlights, radios or cameras. But sometimes you just can’t tell how much life a battery has remaining so you toss it to “be sure.” This small tester, for less than $7, will alert you instantly to the condition of your batteries, saving you money from needlessly tossing ones with lots of life left! Works on AA, AAA, C, D and 9V batteries. Learn more or order.
RV Travel Reader Pets
Do you travel with a pet? We’d love to introduce your pet(s) to fellow readers. Send a photo or two of Fido or Boots and a 150-200 word description of your furry friend(s), along with your name(s) and hometown to Diane(at)RVtravel.com .
Click here to see the last issue of RV Travel Reader Pets.
It’s Fall: Time to change your water filter! Camco TastePURE Water Filter with Flexible Hose Protector This best-selling product reduces bad taste, odor, chlorine and sediment in drinking water with a 100 micron fiber filter. Its durable in-line, exterior mount filter has a wider body to increase flow. Use it at your campsite to keep sediment out of your RV water tank and to improve the taste and smell of your drinking water for a whole season. Many RVers consider this essential equipment.Learn more or order at a big discount.
The RV Kitchen with Janet Groene
Slow Cooker Manicotti Slow and easy manicotti.
No need to cook the pasta shells ahead of time — your slow cooker does all the work. And it’s surprisingly easy to stuff the uncooked manicotti tubes. Find out how and get the recipe.
Cooking with Convection Don’t know how to cook with your RV’s convection oven? Then this book is for you. Beatrice Ojakangas, an authority on convection cooking, explains how to use your convection oven to achieve perfect results in dramatically less time than with a conventional oven – from meat to side dishes to dessert — all at the same time. GREAT GIFT!Learn more or order.
RV Fire Safety Tip
Check the flue after storing RV
If you store your coach, be sure to check the flue before starting your refrigerator on propane. Birds and insects can build nests and clog the flue, causing a fire or excess carbon monoxide to enter your coach. Courtesy:MacTheFireGuy.com
Endorsed by Roger Marble of RVtireSafety.com! An excellent tire pressure gauge The Accutire MS-4021B digital tire pressure gauge has an easy-to-read LCD display that provides pressure readings from 5-150 PSI. It’s ergonomically designed with an angled head and a rubber-coated easy-grip handle. If you forget to turn it off, it will do so automatically. The included lithium battery never needs to be recharged or replaced. All for less than $14! Learn more or order.
RV Quick Tips
See the prototype of the very first Fleetwood Bounder at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana. When it was released in 1987, the Bounder changed the RV industry by placing basement storage in Class A motorhomes.
Don’t use stabilizer jacks for leveling
Don’t try to use trailer stabilizer jacks to bring your rig up into level – most are designed simply to give more stability to the rig once leveled. Using these to try and level a rig can cause damage.
Watch where you point your vents!
Got “pointable” air conditioning vents in your RV? Be careful how you point them! If you accidentally aim them at your thermostat, you may find the A/C system cycling erratically. The same is true for heater vents blasting at the thermostat.
Clean your Plexiglas shower door without scratching it
If your RV shower door is Plexiglas, it’ll scratch real easy. Here’s a recipe/directions for cleaning without scratching: To an empty spray bottle add 1 cup of water with ½ teaspoon of dish-washing detergent. Add ¼ cup of vinegar. Mix contents GENTLY. Now spray the Plexiglas with a light, thin mist. Let sit a few seconds and wipe clean with a soft, lint-free cloth. Wipe in large circles. Repeat until clean.
Do you have a Quick Tip? Send it to Diane (at) RVtravel.com and you just might see it here!
Liquefy solid wastes in sewer holding tanks Happy Campers Treatment liquefies solid waste and household tissue. It’s a natural formula that’s environmentally friendly and biodegradable, with no formaldehyde or harsh chemicals. Basically, the good bacteria overtakes the bad bacteria to eliminate odor and accelerate the natural decomposition of waste. Because it is totally organic and odor free, you won’t be embarrassed by bad odors inside or when you dump. Learn more or order at Amazon.com.
Ask the RV Doctor The RV Doctor, Gary Bunzer, answers your questions
How do I winterize my ice maker?
Dear Gary,
How do I winterize my ice maker? I have a Norcold refrigerator in a Fleetwood motorhome. —Larry R.
Which state is best for a full-time home base? The full-time lifestyle gives you the unique opportunity to choose any state to call “home.” But there are many factors to consider; a state with the lowest state income tax is not always the best option. This guide provides a wealth of valuable information to help you select the state where you will benefit the most. Learn more or order.
Gizmos and Gadgets
RV stove top cover provides more work space
Enhance and complement your RV kitchen decor with the Camco RV Universal Fit Black Stove Top Cover that protects and hides burners while adding counter space in your RV. Cover is hinged for easy access to the front burners and acts as a splash guard between the burners and the wall when it is folded back. Read more.
Sidekick grill attaches to RV for easy use
Fleming Sales has released a new 11,000 BTU LP gas grill designed to be used on a tabletop or attached to the side of a recreation vehicle with a foldable mounting bracket. The RVAD400 Sidekick grill offers 214 square inches of cooking surface plus a 66-square inch warming surface. Learn more.
HELPS PREVENT UGLY BLACK STREAKS Keep rainwater away from your RV These inexpensive Camco Gutter Spouts with extensions divert water away from your RV, helping to keep damaging water out and prevent ugly black streaks. They are made of durable UV stabilized resin for years of use. Set of four installs easily in just a few minutes. Learn more order.
RV Short Stop
Dramatic geology at Red Rock Canyon State Park 25 miles northeast of Mojave, Calif.
The 50-site campground at Red Rock Canyon State Park is tucked into the base of colorful desert cliffs. The area is rich in history, and the cliffs, caves and narrow canyons behind the campground are fun to explore and offer great views from the top. The park is 25 miles northeast of the town of Mojave on Route 14 near Cantil, Calif. The no-reservation, no-hook-up campground has water and pit toilets but no dump station.
Read more in this article from “Boondock Bob” Difley, including an unforgettable experience he had at Red Rock Canyon State Park!
Cutest pet ‘bedroom” ever! GREAT GIFT! Your pet will love this comfy puppy bed and bed mat and you’ll get a good laugh every time little Fido or Boots emerges from the shark’s mouth. What a great birthday or holiday gift! Perfect for dog or cat up to 20 pounds. Washable. Learn more or order.
Joke of the Week
A motorhome broke down along the freeway one day, so the driver eased it over onto the shoulder of the busy road. He jumped out of his driver side door, walked around his rig and opened the side door to the coach. Out popped two men in trench coats. The men stood behind the motorhome and immediately opened up their coats, exposing themselves to the passing traffic. The result was one of the worst pile-ups in the road’s history. Later, when questioned by an angry highway patrolman why he put two deviates along the side of the road, the RVer replied, “I was broken down, so I just used my emergency flashers!”
Avoid moisture damage to your RV DampRid FG50T Hi-Capacity Moisture Absorber, 4-Pound Tub eliminates musty odors in RVs and other spaces, protecting them from moisture damage for up to 60 days in areas up to 1000 square feet, and up to 6 months in a 250-square-foot area. Don’t let your rig get damaged from moisture this winter. Learn more or order.
Videos you’ll like
How to repair an RV’s rubber roof
Stew Oleson and Bill Gehr show you an easy way to repair a tear in an RV’s rubber roof. Watch the video.
Man lived in this 1947 trailer for 66 years!
RVtravel.com correspondent Sandy Burns talks with RV historian Al Hesselbart about a 1947 Westcraft travel trailer, the home to Navy veteran John Culp for 66 years. Culp would pick up and move after about two weeks in one place. Watch the video.
Visit our YouTube Channel.
More than 500 great videos about RVing!
Random RV Thought Always know the location where you are camping. Write down important information on a post-it note and paste onto your RV fridge. Include the address and phone number of your RV park, or the specific name of a public campground with information on closest road, highway or GPS coordinates. You might need this information in an emergency.
Trivia In 1958, newsman Larry King smashed into John F. Kennedy’s car. JFK said he’d forget the whole thing if King promised to vote for him when he ran for president.
Worth Pondering
“When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.” —Elie Wiesel
Readers’ Birthday and Anniversary Greetings
Happy Birthday! • November 7: To Bruce from Kathy. Happy 63rd Birthday! 3 more until it’s full time RVing.
• November 8: To Mrs. Geek, Chris Guld, from Mr. Geek, Jim Guld. Another orbit around Sol completed. I love you. This could be the best year yet. Happy (belated) Birthday! • November 3: To Topcat from Debbie. Happy 70th to a long-time RVer Tom C., or who we know as Topcat.
Happy Anniversary! • November 9: To Sparky from Fred. Thanks for a GREAT 31 years – my copilot on the bus and in life!
RV Travel staff Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Assistant editor: Diane McGovern. Contributing editor: Russ De Maris. Contributing writers: Greg Illes, Bob Difley, Richard Miller, Richard Mallery, Janet Groene, Roger Marble, Julianne Crane and Chris Guld.
ADVERTISE on RVtravel.com and/or in this newsletter. Contact Chuck Woodbury at Chuck(at)RVtravel.com.
RVtravel.com is rated PG* by the Professional Underwriters and Cashiers Keeping Ethical Reports United against Plagiarism. (PUCKERUP)
About the RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury has explored America by RV for three decades. In the ’90s he published the quirky travel newspaper Out West, and was an “on the road” writer for the New York Times Syndicate. His book, “The Best from Out West” is available at Amazon.com. Woodbury’s RVing adventures have been profiled on ABC News, CNN, NBC’s Today Show, and in People Magazine, USA Today and in hundreds of newspapers. He is the host of the Better Business Bureau DVD “Buying a Recreational Vehicle,” the definitive guide to purchasing an RV the right way.
Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake.Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
Our offices are located at 610 5th Ave. S, Suite F, Edmonds, WA 98020.
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Enhance and complement your RV kitchen décor with the Camco RV Universal Fit Black Stove Top Cover that protects and hides burners while adding counter space in your RV. Cover is hinged for easy access to the front burners and acts as a splash guard between the burners and the wall when it is folded back.
Flip up one side to use two burners, or fold and store it away compactly when you need all four burners. The rattle-free design is compatible with 3 or 4 burner stoves. Cover is made of durable 20 gauge steel with powder-coated finish.
Features
Stores compactly- 10.88″ long x 21.5″ wide x 3.5″ thick
21″ long x 21.5″ wide x 1.75″ thick
Durable steel construction
Powder-coated finish
Expands counter space
Helps keep burners clean when not in use
Rattle-free design
You can find the Universal RV Stove top cover on Amazon.
Drop my pants?
Gail and I were walking down the main street in Central Point, Ore., population 17,000, when we encountered this sign. Gail looked me squarely in the eyes. “You need to obey,” she said. “You must drop your pants!” I told her that no, I would not drop my pants. “I do not do that in public.”
Then I said, “Well, if you think I should drop my pants, then you go ahead and drop your pants!” But she said she wasn’t dropping her pants —”no way” — which made perfect sense. So we kept walking. But I was worried. I looked over my shoulder to be sure the cops weren’t coming to bust me for breaking some sort of local pants law.
Okay, I made up this story. The sign was in front of Central Point Cleaners.
Coffee-related things got my attention I love the name of the business pictured on the right. Human Bean coffee kiosks are all over southern Oregon.
The other day, driving from Eugene to Medford on I-5, I spotted the truck on the left. A tanker filled with coffee? There couldn’t just be beans in there, right? So it must be filled with coffee! But no that can’t be! So what was the deal? When I got closer I could read the small print. It was a Pilot Travel Center gasoline tanker. The message said “Best coffee on the Interstate!”
Armed for flies
My friends make fun of me because of my rabid dislike of flies. If there’s a fly in my presence, I stop everything, and I do not rest until it’s dead or out the door (usually dead). I’m crazed. For example, say it’s Thanksgiving and I’m having dinner with friends or family. If a fly appears, I am virtually powerless to not stalk and destroy it. People laugh at me. I don’t care. It’s all about the fly.
Armed for flies with electric and traditional fly swatters
And so, a few minutes ago, I found myself laughing my head off at Gail. I was writing in my bedroom/office, with the door closed. She was in the front part of the motorhome. I yelled a question. “Quiet!” she responded loudly, which surprised me. It’s not like her to be so blunt. What could possibly be happening? I opened the door.
“There’s a fly!” She was holding two fly swatters and staring at a piece of tape on the kitchen counter. “What’s that?” I asked. “It’s double sided tape. I put honey on it!”
Honey-dabbed tape on the counter.
Oh, my god, she was attempting to trap the fly with a piece of baited tape!
I cracked up. It’s no wonder I adore this woman so much — she’s as quirky as me! But even I would not go to such an extreme to kill a fly!
We were both laughing uncontrollably, all over a fly.
And then, just like that, the filthy little creep landed on the back of a chair. Gail was right on it. Swat! . . . squished, gone from Earth, on to the great pit toilet in the sky!
My home in a beautiful light
I took this photo with my iPhone at about 6:15 this evening at my campsite in Medford, Oregon. Oh, what a magnificent sky!
Bad dog cocktail napkins!
Oh, this is too funny! I spotted these napkins in a store in Jacksonville, Oregon. I looked around at Amazon and found them there for $5.50. In case you can’t read the photo, the dog is saying “My name is No No Bad Dog. What’s yours?”
By Chuck Woodbury
How many tears were shed in the Jacksonville Historic Cemetery? When I walk through a historic cemetery like this one, I can’t help imagining the scenes when each person was buried, and the tears that were shed.
I love to visit cemeteries. I typically walk from grave to grave, looking for clues to each person’s life. Cemeteries are usually very quiet and peaceful. They cause me to celebrate how lucky I am to be above ground and not below. They make me realize that won’t always be true.
There is so much history in these places, and this one in southern Oregon in particular. The West as we know it had barely been settled when the first graves were dug. George W. Harris died at age 35 in 1855, “killed by Indians,” his tombstone reads.
What I noticed most walking around this cemetery were the many graves of children. We are so lucky today that when we have children, we fully expect them to live to become adults. It wasn’t so 150 years ago when so many children died young. Modern medicine was a long way off.
Oh, the sadness in families where children were taken young. The photo above to the right with the child atop the headstone marks the graves of Willie and Lena Robinson, who died a week apart in 1890. He was six, she five — an age when our children are the most adorable. I can’t begin to imagine the heartache their parents must have felt.
A few newer graves here include a photo of the deceased on the headstone. Eugene Parks died in 2013. He’s smiling in his photo. Who was he? He looks like a nice guy. Somebody’s dad, I bet. When my parents died, we put a photo of the two of them on their headstone. I believe it was taken at one of my father’s high school reunions. I think the photos help people who wander by to know better who is beneath their feet.
If you are near Jacksonville, which is only a few miles west of Medford off I-5, try to visit the cemetery. Docents provide tours on occasion. Check out the Friends of the Cemetery website for information.
By Chuck Woodbury
If you have never been to Crater Lake, you have not seen the bluest blue on Earth — its water! It’s amazing. It’s breathtaking. It’s gorgeous!
Crater Lake, in south central Oregon, is just shy of 2,000 feet deep at its deepest point, the deepest lake in the United States. No water comes in except snow melt and no water runs out. It’s the purest water on earth. Evaporation is compensated for by rain and snowfall. Every 250 years, the water is replaced.
The lake was born 7,700 years ago when 12,000-foot Cascade volcano Mt. Mazama blew its top and then the sides of the mountain caved in on themselves, forming the deep caldera that after about 700 years filled up with snowmelt. It holds 4.9 trillion gallons of water, the equivalent of about 74 million Olympic-sized swimming pools.
There’s a lot of snow to melt into the lake, about 44 feet a year. Yes, feet, not inches! Look at the picture of the stacked motorhomes and car to the left. If these vehicles were left at Crater Lake in the fall just as you see them, they would be buried by snow before spring.
Crater Lake is a National Park. People come from around the world to see it. Unlike most lakes, there are no fishing boats, no jet skis, no rubber rafts! Just water — deep blue water. The only way to get to the lakeshore is to hike a trail that descends 700 feet from the crater’s rim. From there, you can board an NPS tour boat to Wizard Island, a cinder cone volcano that rises from the bottom of Crater Lake.
Here’s interesting and/or useful information about Crater Lake:
•If all the ash from Mt. Mazama’s eruption 7,700 years ago was gathered, it would have covered the enter state of Oregon eight inches.
•A 30-foot tree stump, named Old Man of the Lake, has been bobbing vertically in the lake for more than a century. The low temperature of the water has slowed its decomposition. The tree can sometimes be seen from National Park Service tour boats.
•A midge fly lays its eggs on the surface of the lake. The eggs then sink nearly 2,000 feet to the pitch dark bottom where they then hatch and feed as larvae, maturing into pupae. The pupae then wiggle their way to the lake’s surface, where they emerge as an adult.
•The park’s two-lane rim road is 33 miles. It’s closed in the winter, usually by November 1. The park has two campgrounds, most sites primitive, open in the summer season only. There are a handful of sites as long as 50 feet with electric hookups. The lake has no native fish, but rainbow trout and kokanee salmon (landlocked version of sockeye) were planted. No fishing license is required. Inquire at the visitor center about the two areas where you can toss in your line.
•Seven-hundred-foot Wizard Island is impossible to miss, but most visitors never see the lake’s other island, Phantom Ship, even though it’s the height of a 16-story building!
•To get an idea of the depth of Crater Lake, at 1,943 feet, you could stand the following at the deepest point and they would still be underwater.
•1.5 Empire State Buildings •3 Space Needles •12 Statues of Liberty •310 NBA players
•150 Winnebago Adventurer motorhomes
The park is open year-round, although most roads and trails are closed in the winter. Roads are plowed in winter to Rim Village, where there’s a visitor center and snack bar (excellent grilled cheese sandwiches).
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In the back room of The Glass Forge in downtown Grants Pass, Ore., on a table toward the back, sits a tiny model airplane glass-blown by business co-owner Lee Wassink. It isn’t meant to fly. It’s meant to look like a miniature Piper Cherokee, a single engine airplane popular with private pilots around the world.
“The pilot’s right in there,” Lee said to me, pointing at the plane. To which I responded, “He is?” I wondered what the heck he was talking about. I examined the plane closely for a figurine at the controls, but there was nothing there — just some murky-looking glass where the cockpit would be.
RVer Tim Slack emailed us recently from Arizona with a question we hadn’t heard before: “Are there any reasonable ways to keep snakes away from the vicinity of an RV? I’m generally pretty fond of snakes, but we’re in rattlesnake territory lately and yesterday had a 3-foot diamondback heading for our cat in her outdoor playpen. When I disturbed its slithery stalk, it coiled up right under our entry steps!”
Win a pack of these incredibly wonderful 
An Electric Bike is the perfect, simplest and most affordable way of sorting all the ‘challenges’ of RV’ing. Get around camp effortlessly, visit the sites or town nearby without unhooking or simply enjoy a fun ride with fellow campers! 
A class action lawsuit against Norcold has been settled in U.S. District Court. The case, Etter et. al. v. Norcold, awards the plaintiffs an incentive ranging between $1,580 and $7,500 each, and the attorneys 25 percent of the gross settlement. The case related to alleged fire risks involving Norcold 1200 Series, N8 Series, and N6 Series gas absorption refrigerators. Want more info? Click on this page for the settlement website and a link to the court ruling. 
The new TireTraker™ TT-500 is the most innovative & user friendly TPMS on the market with an unprecedented “Lifetime Warranty,” the only TPMS company in the industry to do so. The TT-500 features a larger, easier to read display, continuous pressure & temperature monitoring, automatic update, & monitoring up to 22 tires on your motorhome, trailer & tow vehicle from 0-232 psi ! Seven day per week sales & technical support & over 12 years of experience. List price (4 tires) $389. Our price only $289. 
Keep up with RV Industry news
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No more roof leaks, for life, guaranteed!
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Fast, inexpensive way to level your RV!
Strengthen your hands, fingers and forearms
It’s hard to believe that an electric space heater could use a mere 200 watts — the same as a couple of light bulbs —a fraction of other space heaters. And this one really works! It’s meant to heat a nearby person, not a room. Put it on your desk or at your feet. It’s perfect for the RVer who’s “always cold.” For about $17, this is a winner. Click the video by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury. 
Cooking with Convection
Endorsed by Roger Marble of RVtireSafety.com!
Liquefy solid wastes in sewer holding tanks
Which state is best
Sidekick grill attaches to RV for easy use
HELPS PREVENT UGLY BLACK STREAKS
Avoid moisture damage to your RV
Visit our 
The other day, driving from Eugene to Medford on I-5, I spotted the truck on the left. A tanker filled with coffee? There couldn’t just be beans in there, right? So it must be filled with coffee! But no that can’t be! So what was the deal? When I got closer I could read the small print. It was a Pilot Travel Center gasoline tanker. The message said “Best coffee on the Interstate!”
By Chuck Woodbury
I love to visit cemeteries. I typically walk from grave to grave, looking for clues to each person’s life. Cemeteries are usually very quiet and peaceful. They cause me to celebrate how lucky I am to be above ground and not below. They make me realize that won’t always be true.
What I noticed most walking around this cemetery were the many graves of children. We are so lucky today that when we have children, we fully expect them to live to become adults. It wasn’t so 150 years ago when so many children died young. Modern medicine was a long way off. 
A few newer graves here include a photo of the deceased on the headstone. Eugene Parks died in 2013. He’s smiling in his photo. Who was he? He looks like a nice guy. Somebody’s dad, I bet. When my parents died, we put a photo of the two of them on their headstone. I believe it was taken at one of my father’s high school reunions. I think the photos help people who wander by to know better who is beneath their feet.
By Chuck Woodbury
There’s a lot of snow to melt into the lake, about 44 feet a year. Yes, feet, not inches! Look at the picture of the stacked motorhomes and car to the left. If these vehicles were left at Crater Lake in the fall just as you see them, they would be buried by snow before spring.