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Issue 1178
The latest news for RVers
Financial analysis website Seeking Alpha released an article from a stock market watcher who questions just how much Marcus Lemonis trusts his own company. We reported that Lemonis recently dumped more than $8 million in Camping World Holding shares. Another “10 percent” shareholder, Abrams Capital, unloaded a whopping $47.8 million worth of shares last week. According to the Seeking Alpha post, Lemonis may be looking at “a rough road ahead” in the company’s financials. Is Camping World’s future in question?
As Hurricane Helene victims continue to struggle to try and rebuild their lives, an apparent “savior” appears on the scene. Elon Musk and his satellite-based internet service offered “free” internet access to those in need. Mainstream and local media quickly picked up on Musk’s generosity. But is Musk really offering free hurricane internet aid, or is this just a sharp business move? Locals suggest the richest man in the world may have mixed motives.
RV sales face unprecedented meltdown in latest stats. While RV manufacturers continue to put a positive spin on the future of the industry, RV dealers are in the real world. And the real world isn’t looking so good. An RV sales meltdown is the order of the day, as August retail registrations—the true indicator of new RV sales—show some of the worst numbers.
Scams and misinformation are spreading about FEMA hurricane efforts. The high volume of rumors and misinformation in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has caused confusion and threatens important response and recovery efforts. It’s likely that more scams will appear after Hurricane Milton. Here’s what’s going on.
Hurricane Helene has left a tragic toll in its wake. Dozens of RV campgrounds have been severely damaged, some simply wiped out. But putting the flooding damage on a closer level is a video that comes from Virginia. Floodwaters from Helene dragged an RV right over a dam. Watch the video here.
If your heart goes out to all those suffering from the devastating effects of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and you wonder how you can possibly help, here are some suggestions.
The mystery gets deeper as Colorado officials investigate the killing of a cougar in a campground near Cañon City. Last week, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said the agency is waiting on a necropsy to figure out whether the mountain lion death was self-defense, or something more.
A peaceful afternoon in the California Sierras was disrupted as members of a “motorcycle group” rolled in and assaulted campers. The local sheriff’s office is asking the public to help in what turned into a felony assault and battery investigation.
Campground crowding (and more!)
RVers feel “sadness” about the transformation of camping; “I miss it”
This week Nanci Dixon shares more of your concerns about the high cost of RVing and also the cost of living in general cutting into travel plans as well as retirement plans. A couple of RVers have pragmatic views on permanent RV park residents and increasing costs of RVing. And one RVer has high praise for a “man of his word” at one particular RV resort in Yuma, AZ. Those and more of your stories are here.
More RVing news
[Update: The portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia reopened on Friday. The portion in North Carolina remains closed as of Friday.] Probably one of America’s most scenic driving treasures, the Blue Ridge Parkway is still completely shut down as a result of Hurricane Helene. Tens of thousands of trees are blown down on the roadway, and in places, the roadway is simply gone. The Blue Ridge Parkway devastation is huge. Learn more.
A Zion National Park visitor has died in a tragic canyoneering accident. A report from Zion officials says the man perished in a fall near the exit of Heaps Canyon at Zion National Park on Saturday, October 5, 2024. He was canyoneering with three others when he fell between 150 and 200 feet. Continue reading.
The National Weather Service is changing the way it issues cold weather alerts. Starting this fall and winter, wind chill alerts and hard freeze warnings will be streamlined into broader cold weather advisories, watches and warnings. These updates aim to make it easier for people to understand weather alerts and take appropriate action. Here are the details.
Last July, a hydrothermal explosion blasted Black Diamond Pool, shaking the visitors at Yellowstone National Park. The blast demolished the boardwalks and scattered debris across a wide area. Some expressed fears that the Yellowstone explosion might somehow be related to the magma reservoir that lies beneath the park. Could it signal an awakening that could lead to a huge blast that could wipe out an entire region? Geologists issue a warning.
As we reported earlier this week, a Park Service ranger lost his life rescuing a family visiting Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park. We weren’t able to include the ranger’s name, as it had yet to be publicly released. Now the Park Service has come forward with both his name, and more details of his life.
Walmart adds pet veterinary care centers. Walmart announced key expansions to its core pet care offerings — opening new Walmart Pet Services centers to widen access to in-person and virtual veterinary care, pet prescription delivery, grooming services, pet food and supplies. The newest locations will open within the next month in Georgia and Arizona. Learn more.
Hurricane Milton raises gas prices… again. The national average for a gallon of gas increased two cents to $3.21 since last week as large areas of the country dealt with severe back-to-back storm damage. Like Hurricane Helene, Milton will not severely impact national gasoline supplies but will affect demand in areas with destroyed infrastructure, flooded roads, and power outages. More info here.
The National Park Service continues to assess conditions and address damage following the impacts from Hurricane Helene in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The park experienced substantial damage, particularly in North Carolina, including Balsam Mountain, Big Creek and Cataloochee Valley. Learn more about the closures here.
At the Mountain River Family Campground in western North Carolina, the tranquil North Toe River usually steals the show. Lately, it’s been the campground’s guests who are in the spotlight. A week ago, Hurricane Helene completely destroyed this wonderful RV campground. Since then, RVers from across the country who have enjoyed the campground in the past are stepping up. They’re helping in a unique and compassionate way.
Yellowstone visits are slightly behind their record year of 2021. Yellowstone National Park hosted 852,435 recreation visits in September 2024. This is a 2% increase from September 2023 (838,458 recreational visits). This September’s visitation showed a 3% decrease from September 2021 (882,078 recreation visits). Find the rest of the numbers here.
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Saturday giveaway
How would you like to win this cow-print heated blanket?
We love heated blankets, but we especially love this cow-print one. It’s not something you see every day!
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.
Reader poll
Do you return to the same campground/RV park each year?
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
We’ve shown you this in the past, but it’s been a while and we think you should be reminded of it. Get ready to be spooked! (In a great, informative, historical way…)
Latest fuel prices
The latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of October 7, 2024:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.14
Change from week before: Down 4 cents; Change from year before: Down 55 cents.
Diesel: $3.58
Change from week before: Up 4 cents; Change from year before: Down 91 cents.
For fuel prices for specific regions, states, and cities, go to U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Recipes of the day
5 recipes straight from the pumpkin patch
Bring the pumpkin patch straight to your kitchen. These recipes, both sweet and savory, are all made with pumpkin. Some even say they’ll convert the non-pumpkin-lover, so we say give it a try. They sound gooooooood. Here they are.
Trivia
According to the Farmers’ Almanac, early American farmers used corncobs as toilet paper. They write, “Dried corncobs were plentiful and quite efficient at cleaning. They were also softer on tender areas than you might think. Even after toilet paper became available, some people in Western states still preferred corncobs when using the outhouse.”
The perfect scam
Part two: Scam targets local darting community
In Part 2 of this 2022 episode, Darlene Asher, as the head of her local dart league, has been leading the charge to help Jeremiah Jon Smith, who club members believe is dying from cancer. But when Jeremiah’s wife leaves him, she shares her doubts with Darlene about his illness. A police investigation reveals the devastating truth: Jeremiah has been faking his cancer and exploiting his friends’ generosity in order to line his pockets.
Laugh of the week
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.
Sure hope it’s a misprint on the contest – your newsletter is dated the 12th and the contest ended the 11th. 😉
Thanks, Donna. It’s been fixed. I forgot to proof that page yesterday. (Well, she was consistent, anyway, since it was listed as the 11th in two places.😉) Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I really like this newsletter and I have learned a lot from your past articles over the years, but leave the politics out of this (FEMA/Starlink reporting). I must have missed that it had anything to do with RVing. This newsletter was one of the few places you could go and not get bombarded by (opinion) politics…..please!
Starlink is 💯 an rv thing. Stop musk simping. He’s a loser and that makes you something worse.
Musk a loser. The richest man in the world. Yea OK!
I’m not worse than a loser …No need to be ugly because of an opinion.
Ditto!
I just reread both stories and could not find a political side to them. They have facts and sources for more facts. No parties or candidates mentioned.
The most political thing here is your claim that discussion of scams is political. I have seen some seriously biased articles is these newsletters and agree that politics should be avoided.
No email for the newsletter this morning. Had to get onto the website directly.
Sorry, Bob. It shows it was sent to you at 2:34 a.m. PDT. Maybe it somehow ended up in your Spam folder? In any event, we apologize for the inconvenience. Have a great day. 😀 -Diane at RVtravel.com
To echo Jack’s comment, “leave the politics out of this (FEMA/Starlink reporting)”. While posing as informational stories, you know full well that these non-RV related hit pieces would ignite political feedback. This is not the place for that. Please, stick to RV stories.
I am still hearing the I 40 is still closed towards Asheville. Maybe I read it hear but the Biltmore is now closed until further assessment is done with the building and grounds. So glad I saw this beautiful city and the Biltmore last year. NC is still having issues with FEMA and relief aide.
I do have sympathy for those affected by the two recent hurricanes however, as for helping them by coercion through guilt – I refuse. I view any private assistance as another tax. I pay this country way too much in taxes already, only to see the money be sent overseas for the same type of help that we need here at home. I am sorry for what may be viewed as cynical but that’s what poor Government spending creates over time.