When you’re traveling, the best way to get a good feel for local flavor is to hang out with the locals. In Wisconsin, indoor sports become hotter when the weather turns cool, and many locals enjoy bowling.
But not at one of those modern-day gargantuan 36-laners.
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For decades, the name “Blue Bird” has emblazoned the bright yellow buses many children ride to school. It also has been a familiar moniker in the motorhome industry.
The Blue Bird Corporation was established in 1927, when Albert L. -
Propane, the most popular of the liquefied petroleum gases, is a very safe product if handled correctly but can be a dangerous commodity if misunderstood. The combustible range of the air-to-fuel ratio actually is quite narrow.
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As the oldest continuously settled city in the United States, with one-of-a-kind attractions, Florida sunshine, and plenty to see, St. Augustine is a popular vacation destination.
It’s in a scenic location, too, on Florida’s northeast coast, 38 miles southeast of Jacksonville. -
In mid-January, as you approach Quartzsite, Arizona, from any point on the compass, you begin seeing them approximately 20 miles away from town: clumps, groups, and temporary communities of motorhomes and other types of RVs circled around common campfire rings like wagon trains of old. Many solo units also are scattered among the sagebrush.
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After a relaxing vacation in Palm Desert, California, George and Helga Dumas, F110246, were on their way home to Goleta, California, in their 38-foot Alfa See Ya! motorhome. George rounded a curve on State Route 126 and noticed a semi truck ahead in what looked like a jackknifed position at the side of the road.
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Every year, hundreds of people in the United States die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and thousands of others end up in hospital emergency rooms from breathing this noxious gas. The statistics are regrettable, as most of these incidents could be avoided.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no color, odor, or taste. -
To run a satellite TV cable or extension cord through a window without crimping the cord and also to achieve a weather-tight seal, I cut a piece of black foam-rubber insulating tube to fit the length of the window. The open tubing fits snugly over the edge of the window.
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The Buck/Whittaker Lumina LED knife features a light-emitting diode (LED) placed next to the Buck blade, enabling precise cutting day or night.
The LED light has four programmed functions — high beam, medium beam, low beam, and intermittent flash — and has an automatic shutoff after five minutes to conserve the two 3-volt lithium batteries. The light is water-resistant; has no moving parts, so it’s not prone to breakage; and has an average lifetime of 100,000 hours.
The knife has a 3-inch-long partially serrated, drop-point blade made of 420HC stainless steel and a molded nylon handle. -
Home Away From Home: The World of Camper Vans and Motorhomes ($29.95, Black Dog Publishing) chronicles the earliest days of automobile travel all the way to present-day RVing. Editor and coauthor Kate Trant and fellow authors Malcom Bobbitt and Lars Eriksen capture the spirit of automotive travel during the past 100 years both in the United States and abroad.
The book features a general overview detailing the evolution of RVing along with in-depth commentary from RVers themselves and those in the industry. -
Blue Bird Coachworks builds luxurious motorhomes that compare favorably with the bus conversions offered by today’s custom coach converters. But Blue Bird units typically cost $500,000 to $700,000 less than those conversions.
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Gardens all over North America pour out their bounty during the fall. These recipes were freshly picked to be tasty, easy on the cook, and filled with garden goodness.
Confetti Apple Salad
Splashing the cut apples with lemon juice will keep them from turning brown. -
If you use dial-arounds (10-10 services) for long-distance calls, you can learn a lot by regularly checking out www.10-10PhoneRates.com. Rates for these services vary by company and can change at any time.
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Rep. Walton J.
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Many people think of New Jersey as being filled with cities, factories, and highways. After all, it is the most densely populated state in America.
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It’s been some time since we’ve done a traveling tips column, so out came our inch-thick packet of ideas. Here we go.
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Oklahoma was the land of opportunity back in 1889. Thousands of settlers lined up for a chance to get a free piece of the territory in one day.
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The 13th Annual Northeast Area Rally was held July 13 through 16 at the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts. This year we turned the clock back for a “Fabulous 50’s” celebration that had us reminiscing about the happy days of classic cars and rock ‘n’ roll.
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Dear RV Doctor:
My Generac generator runs fine but no power is generated. One day it worked, and then not the next. -
Incorrect information was reported for NHTSA recall 05V362000 issued by Monaco Coach Corporation, which appeared in the October 2005 issue (page 22). It was stated that the recall affected 22 2004 Monaco coaches.
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The September 2005 article “Greenville, Ohio: Small Town, Big History” (page 102) contained an incorrect photo credit. The photo of the Lowell Thomas birthplace on page 104 should have been credited to the Darke County Historical Society Inc.
FMC regrets this error
Thanks To An Honest “Family” Member
Dear Editor:
FMCA’s 74th International Convention in Minot, North Dakota, was, for lack of a better word, awesome!
On Tuesday at the fairgrounds, my new and expensive Sony digital camera and case parted company from my belt. -
This month I would like to provide follow-up information regarding a decision made in 2004 by the Governing Board during its meeting at FMCA’s summer convention in Redmond, Oregon, and the clarifications that were enacted by the board this past August during the convention in Minot, North Dakota.
In the fall of 2004 the Governing Board approved two Bylaws amendments that changed all of the term lengths for national officers from one year to two years. At that time, a proposal was presented for phasing in these elections. -
I couldn’t possibly begin this column without mentioning Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast on August 28. I can’t begin to comprehend the problems the people there have experienced.
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One needs to read no further than the third paragraph of RVers — “How Do They Live Like That?” ($19.95, OceanView Publishers) to discover that, as the authors write, “This book is not a ‘how-to,’ but a ‘what to’ — what to expect on the roads you’ll be traveling in the months and years ahead.” But this publication, which was written by Lou Stoetzer, Ph.D., and Judy Farrow, F284778, a husband-and-wife team who share a background in the mental health field, is not a collection of road maps.
What began as a survey of couples who are members of the Escapees RV Club grew into more than 18 months of surveys and studies that included singles, RVers with health challenges, and others. Taped focus groups and private interviews added more information. -
Bird-watching is certainly much less expensive than golf. And binoculars and field guides take up much less space in your motorhome than golf clubs.
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Two for the price of one is a great deal, right? If you visit Fairfax County, Virginia, you’ll have access to the U.S. capital and plenty of other sight-seeing treasures within the county itself.
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If you love gardening and RVing, now you don’t have to give up one hobby for the other. You can take your appreciation for gardening on the road with you by creating your very own miniature fairy garden.
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While motorhoming full-time as a single female, I’ve run into my share of people who can’t believe that I’m comfortable traveling alone. Yes, it can be a challenge, but I’ve discovered it’s not too difficult as long as I remain alert, cautious, and follow a set of traveling rules that I’ve established for myself.
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Hot water is a valuable commodity while traveling in an RV. You can ensure it is always readily available by understanding how your motorhome’s water heater operates and performing the necessary upkeep.
The best place to begin is with the water heater system itself. -
When singer Dolly Parton performs, she radiates energy. Her voice is angel-pure and strong, her smile is infectious, and you get the notion that she could stand alone on a Smoky Mountain ridge, far from sound studio trickery, and still captivate everybody within hearing distance.
Like another American country-music icon, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Rebecca Parton came from humble beginnings. -
It’s been almost 10 years, but I remember it well. I arrived at Vantare (then owned by Mike Guth) to do a coach review for Family Motor Coaching magazine.
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In southeastern Utah, a desert area called the San Rafael Swell offers a dramatic, yet uncrowded, look at the powers of nature and ancient humanity.
The “Swell” is an elevated desert land, created over the last hundred million years as tectonic plates moved beneath the earth’s surface. In the latest episode, this area of Utah that was once the bottom of a huge ocean was pushed up 8,000 feet above sea level, creating what are some of the most dramatic landscapes found anywhere today. -
As the great television DIY philosopher Tim “The Tool Man†Taylor has said many times, “Tools provide everything in life!†That may seem a little overstated and oversimplified, but think about it. What in life isn’t touched or affected by a tool of some kind?
So what kind of tools should you have to survive on the road? The following suggestions and lists could help you with that decision, whether you opt for a minimum kit (#1), an essential kit (#2), a recommended kit (#3), an advanced kit (#4), or an in-between tool kit, depending on your comfort level. -
It’s impossible to get away from it — even in the RV there is still cleaning to do. The problem is finding a place to put products such as window cleaner, furniture polish, etc.
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The WeatherBuster from Brilliant Bob is an all-season, custom-fit windshield cover that can be used to keep snow and ice off your vehicle’s windshield in the winter and the sun’s destructive rays off its dashboard during clear days.
The cover, which is available for type B and type C motorhomes as well as towed vehicles, installs over the outside of the windshield. The cover’s patented design features handles that are inserted through both front door jambs before the doors are closed and locked. -
Winnebago Industries Inc., C93, celebrated 35 years of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, September 9, 2005. The company (NYSE: WGO), based in Forest City, Iowa, joined the exchange on September 9, 1970.
To commemorate the event, Winnebago Industries company representatives took part in the closing bell ceremony to officially end trading on the exchange floor that day. -
Over the past couple of years, Rexhall Industries has incorporated a revolutionary design in its motorhome lineup: the T-Rex. T-Rex is an apt name for this floor plan, which is available in Rexhall’s RoseAir, RexAir, and Aerbus motorhomes.
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Homeowners can throw a load of laundry into the washing machine as necessary. Motorhome vacationers typically bring dirty laundry back to their stationary home after a trip.
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If this month’s “Window on Nature” column sparked your interest in seeing manatees firsthand, here are some of the most highly recommended locations. Even though manatees are endangered, they’re not difficult to find.
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Manatees, or, if you prefer, sea cows, are clearly warm-water creatures. That’s why they spend most of their lives in the shallow coastal waters off Florida.
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Ohio is home to the Family Motor Coach Association’s headquarters, and to many native Buckeyes who ventured afar but never forgot the tastes of fresh-picked Ohio sweet corn, farmhand casseroles, and sweet Amish desserts. Ohio’s Hocking Hills area, southeast of Columbus and near Wayne National Forest, is only a few hours from Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis.
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Iowa is the home state and scope of the Midwest Trailroaders chapter. And just like the state’s peaceful farmland atmosphere, its members enjoy relaxing activities.
Chapter secretary-treasurer and newsletter editor Bob Burgstrum, F141465, said the chapter holds rallies each month between May and October. -
Howdy, partner! What a powwow we had during the Great Lakes Area Spring Spree (G.L.A.S.S.), held May 26 through 29 at the Berrien County Youth Fair in Berrien Springs, Michigan. I’ve never seen so many covered wagons (motorhomes) in one place.
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Dear RV Doctor:
I have a question regarding a toilet flange. The flange that holds my toilet down has rotted away and will NOT hold the bolts that secure the toilet in place. -
Q: I have a 1992 30-foot Newport motorhome from Cobra. Unfortunately, the coach is an orphan as Cobra went out of business around the mid-1990s, and one side of my windshield has a crack in it.
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Dear Editor:
While we were traveling in Missouri on May 23, 2005, the refrigerator in our 2004 Fleetwood Pace Arrow completely quit. Outside the temperature was 86 degrees and climbing.
We called Coach-Net and they were helpful right from the beginning. -
Editor’s note: Mr. Eversmann presented the following report to the FMCA Governing Board during its meeting in Minot, North Dakota, this past August.
I am pleased to share with you an update on Family Motor Coach Association and activities that have been occurring related to its operation since we last met. -
I’m indeed honored to be your new national president. The Governing Board elected me on Monday, August 15, in Minot, North Dakota, as the 18th person to hold the position and the first to be elected for a two-year term.
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At first glance, it seems as though everyone on Sanibel Island, Florida, has a penchant for keeping their eyes on the ground. A closer look reveals that all of their bending over has a purpose.
Find the seashell; stoop; and snatch it. -
The word “allegro” is a musical term that calls for a quick and lively tempo. Back in 1972 when Bob Tiffin began designing and building motorhomes, his wife, Judy, who had a background and education in music, suggested that they name the coach the Allegro.