Pet Policy
I recall a notice that there would be a Garth Brooks tribute concert at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and Campground, profiled in the August “Livin’ The Life” column (page 67). My husband and I are big fans of Garth Brooks, so we were excited about this tribute concert. We immediately cleared our calendars for that weekend. When I went to make reservations/buy tickets, I did read the pet policies section for the campground. We were so disappointed! No pets during music weekends! Our main purpose in buying an RV was so that we could travel without having to leave our beloved rescue dogs behind. Obviously, we went no further with our plans.
However, we did go to the Suwannee River State Park near Live Oak, Florida. This is an immaculate and beautiful Florida state park and we enjoyed our days there. The dogs were welcome!
— Susan Bousquet, F471891
Daytona Beach, Florida
Editor’s note: Thank you for sharing your information with other pet lovers. We called to clarify, and it was confirmed that pets are not allowed at the facility during music festivals. The park defines music festivals as events taking place over multiple days; the park offers only a few of these each year. Tribute shows are among the one-night programs offered inside the park’s SOS Café and Music Hall and are not considered music festivals.
RVers with pets should visit www.musicliveshere.com and click on the Park Policies and Rules tab for the complete details.
On The Level
While on our way home from FMCA’s convention in Gillette, Wyoming, the coach would not auto level. We found Nathans RV Service & Repair (1925 S. Timberline Road, Unit S3, Fort Collins, CO 80525; 970-232-9914; www.nathansrvserviceandrepair.com) and they got us right in; in fact, the owner, a 29-year-old, came out to the parking lot and met us. Asked a few questions and did a reset, and that was all it needed. Great service and a great all-American young man.
Thanks, Nathan, for your kind and courteous attention to our needs.
— Bruce Friedrich, F384182
Omaha, Arkansas
FMCAssist Lives Up To Its Name
Our vacation out West in July 2018 came to a halt while we were in Mountain Home, Idaho. My husband experienced a stroke. Being in an unfamiliar city and state and not knowing the seriousness of his condition, I felt overwhelmed.
Remembering that one of our FMCA member benefits is the FMCAssist Emergency Medical and Travel Assistance Program, I phoned Seven Corners, which administers the program. A mountain was removed from my shoulders as I spoke with Kathy Perret, who explained what we could expect from Seven Corners. As the days went by, Kathy was genuinely concerned about my husband’s progress and, along with other team members, made all the necessary arrangements for our son to fly from Charleston, South Carolina, to Mountain Home and drive us and our motorhome back to our home in Ohio. Afterward, arrangements were made for him to fly from Ohio back to South Carolina.
My husband’s physical therapy and speech therapy sessions are aiding in his recovery, and we feel fortunate that he’s home among family, friends, and familiar doctors.
We are truly grateful for the FMCAssist benefit given to us by FMCA. Thank you!
— Dick & Marie Packert, F264079
Port Clinton, Ohio
Mobile Repair Recommendation
Our Hollywood, Florida, “star” came in the form of a mobile RV tech named Beau Clayville. Our RV’s water heater compartment was wet with a leaking, unknown liquid that had an unusual texture and was both smelly and somewhat sticky. We contacted Beau on a Saturday, and on Monday morning, he arrived at our campsite and immediately crawled under the coach. He said the fluid was engine coolant; it was coming from hoses that had not been properly connected after we had a water heater installed.
Beau connected the hoses, filled our radiator, and patiently walked us through the process of checking/filling the radiator overflow. He recommended we have the coolant system flushed (which we will) during our next designated maintenance to replenish the coolant lost in the leak.
We highly recommend Beau at Clayville Mobile Repair (754-366-0616) should you experience any problems in the Hollywood, Florida, area.
— Bill Boyer & Karen Perry, F408777
Bushnell, Florida
Cool Once Again
A few days before the Fourth of July, my wife and I were heading for the Kansas City, Missouri, area. Two days before our arrival on Sunday, the dash air-conditioner went out on the coach. Not only was a holiday coming up, but we were experiencing one of the worst heat waves in the Midwest.
Our plans were to stay in the area for only four days and begin our trip back east. On Monday I called Transwest Truck, Trailer and RV in Belton, Missouri. The sales manager, Carl Martin, told me he would do his best to fit us in. We got an appointment on Thursday. They worked on the A/C for most of the day, and the coach was ready to go by 5:00 p.m. They were able to put us up with a 50-amp full-hookup service for the night.
If you’re in the Midwest and have trouble with your RV, Transwest Truck, Trailer and RV is there to help. We visited the one at 17327 S. Outer Road, Belton, MO 64012; (816) 892-5950; www.transwest.com.
—William & Maxine Christmas, F381293
Pleasantville, New Jersey
Rapid Repair In California
On July 9, 2018, I had just pulled into our camping space at Bakersfield RV Resort in Bakersfield, California, and the motorhome’s “check engine” light came on. I contacted the service department of Jim Burke Ford and Lincoln and was able to get an appointment for 11:00 the next morning.
I dropped off our 2015 Winnebago Sightseer at around 9:30 a.m., and Jason McLey, assistant service manager, said he would call me around 11:00 a.m. with a report. Jason called around 11:30 and said the motorhome was repaired and could be picked up. He said it had a bad coil on cylinder 3 and it was fixed under warranty; no charge. We picked it up at noon and were on our way to San Diego the next morning. Great service!
—Joe & Paula Pifer, F462547
Spring Valley, California
Courageous Battle Ends
David Palmer’s two-year battle with lung cancer ended on July 31, 2018.
David Palmer was an inspiring example of how to live a full life, even when faced with a terminal diagnosis. He and his wife, Julie, F469822, were the subjects of an FMCA member profile in Family RVing (“Making Every Minute Count,” July 2018, page 60). David’s two-year battle with lung cancer ended July 31, 2018. He was 63.
Not long after David was diagnosed in July 2016, the couple purchased a motorhome. The following March, they embarked on David’s bucket-list trip, a 16-month journey that included visits with family and friends he hadn’t seen in years.
“You can let everyone know that he was never happier than when he was behind that wheel, no matter where we were headed,” Julie said. “And for me, that was absolute heaven to see him so content and positive, even with all that he dealt with on a daily basis.”