Weekend of May 18, 2013

Issue 586 of RV Travel

Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more. This newsletter, now in its twelfth year of continuous publication, is funded through sales at RVbookstore.com and voluntary subscription contributions from our readers. Thank you!

Say goodbye to
“white knuckle” steering
Forces like strong crosswinds, uneven pavement and front tire blowout can push your motorhome off course and into harm’s way. To give you more confidence, safety and peace of mind, Blue Ox now offers a full line of chassis enhancement products. Click here for more information.

With Chuck Woodbury
EditorChuck@gmail.com
Follow RV Travel on Facebook

One of my favorite highways is California State Route 49, which stretches from near Lake Tahoe in the north to near Yosemite in the south. In between, it passes through rolling hills with oak and pine trees and through the mining towns from the California gold rush.

The highway is numbered 49 to honor the 49ers, the wealth-seekers who swarmed here in 1849 after gold was discovered in Coloma. It's a slow two-lane route through California's "Gold Country" and an easy drive in all but the very largest RVs, which may find a rare stretch of it too curvy to negotiate without a little nail biting.

Nevada City, to the north, is the prettiest of the towns. It was once the third-largest city in California. Its neighbor, Grass Valley, was home to the giant Empire Mine, the region's largest gold producer. Today, visit Empire Mine State Park and its beautiful grounds and walk into the main shaft. Nevada City is studded with Victorian homes, many fine restaurants, and the state's only public gas-lit streetlight system. Coloma is an hour drive south. Here, in 1848, James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, sparking a frantic western migration of mostly single men. Sacramento and San Francisco sprang to life in this period. Coloma is a state historic park today. An RV park is right across the American River. Farther south, little Amador City, with its 200 residents, is California's smallest incorporated city. Take a photo of "Pig Turd Alley," which, seriously, is named for a reason (ask a local).

The mostly two-lane highway continues south through Sutter Creek and tiny settlements like Chinese Camp — some near-ghost towns. A few miles south of bustling Angels Camp, detour one mile (in a car, not an RV) to visit the tiny cabin where Mark Twain wrote "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," the story that launched his literary career.

There are plenty of RV parks and campgrounds along the route. In the far north beyond Nevada City, choose from beautiful Forest Service campgrounds beneath pines, cedar and Douglas fir. The Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley (with hookups), under tall pines, is a great place to stay. Visit Lower Sardine Lake outside of Sierra City, one of the most magnificent alpine settings in America, but little known. Near Angels Camp, detour 25 miles to Calaveras Big Trees State Park and camp in one of the most majestic groves of redwoods in the world. Stay a few days soaking up the splendor, and walk the one-mile trail beneath a canopy of the world's largest and oldest living things.

California Route 49 is nearly 300 miles from top to bottom. Take at least two days to drive it, or stay a week or longer and enjoy it properly. Best time to visit: spring and fall, when the temperature is mild and the tourist traffic lightest.

Photos: Above: a typical stretch of Highway 49. Below: Tiny Amador City.

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DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK'S RV TRAVEL ISSUE? If so, read it here.

Our Pot of Gold cash prize is up to $340. One reader will win it, maybe you! Just check every weekday (the link is near the bottom of this issue) to see if you live in the Zip Code of the Day (selected randomly). If you do and you're the first to tell us, you win the cash! See the contest for more information and complete rules.

Sign up for our new RV Daily Tips Newsletter. You'll learn a whole bunch about RVing every Monday through Friday. America's best-known RV experts advise you on ways to improve your RVing — about fixing and maintaining things, using your RV, modifying it, camping, saving money and much more. Sign up here for an issue reminder notice. It takes about 30 seconds.

If you have a comment about this essay or anything in this issue, please feel free to leave it at our forum.

Editor's comment: We post breaking RV news throughout the week at our RVtravel.com Facebook page. "Like us" at RVtravel.com/facebook

Energy Department gurus say this summer's gas prices should be lower than last year's – by about 13 cents a gallon. The average summer price for regular is projected to be $3.50 per gallon this year, and possibly down to $3.39 in the summer of 2014.

Graffiti vandals hit a new low at Arizona's Saguaro National Park: At least eight of the timeless namesake cacti were "tagged" by vandals along the Douglas Springs Trail earlier this month. Have info? Call (520) 733-5150.

After a case of plague was confirmed in a ground squirrel at California's Palomar Mountain, San Diego County officials are cautioning campers to take care. Since squirrels and fleas are carriers, don't feed or play with the rodents and camp away from squirrel burrows.

Show promoter Kenny King, who hosts the BIG tent RV show in Quartzsite, Arizona, each year, says the show must go on. However, King is ending the associated Hobby, Craft, and Gem show, as well as the Rock and Roll Classic Car Show. King cites declines in admission for the smaller shows, but promises the Sports, Vacation and RV show will be alive and well in 2014.

Larimer County, Colo., park officials have paid $29,000 for a 31-foot Airstream trailer, which they've parked at South Bay Campground at Horsetooth Reservoir. Visitors can rent the stationary RV for $99 a night.

RVers used to free camping at Montana's Canyon Ferry, Holter, and Hauser reservoirs now will pay $10 to $15 a night at these sites near Helena. The BLM and Bureau of Reclamation began charging the fees "based on comparable rates at other non-BLM recreation sites." All fees will stay with the area and will be used for maintenance, operations and improvements.

New Mexico tourism officials are bracing for the third year of drought-related woes. Four state park lakes are closed due to low water, and fire restrictions abound in state and national forests.

A terminally ill retired man in Cardiff, Wales, UK, is heartbroken after his motorhome was stolen from outside his home. Robert Pye describes his motorhome as, "My baby; it's just like having a child," and uses it to take vacations. Pye has pleaded in the media for the crooks to return his rig.

New Zealand Department of Conservation Rangers contacted 1,200 illegal campers in the Fiordland region during the summer season, now winding down. Of these, only four were issued fines; many moved along to "legal campgrounds." "Freedom camping," roughly the equivalent of "boondocking" in the U.S., is popular in New Zealand.

More News

Forget the coonskin cap — bring bear-resistant containers when camping in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest. Because of a substantial black bear population, campers are now required to store food, garbage, or other odorous stuff inside vehicles or hard-body RVs.

Gonzales, Texas, city fathers want out of the RV park business; and to prove it, they're jacking the rates on city park RV spaces by 57 percent. Spaces that rented for $350 a month are shooting up to $550.

A $500 reward is offered for information about who vandalized nearly 50 RVs at the Big Bear Lake Family Camplands in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. Two RVs had fire damage. One was a total loss, others suffered "cosmetic damage." County sheriff: (304) 329-1611.

Camping at Fisher Grove State Park near Frankfort, S.D., will reopen Memorial Day weekend after a weakened bridge forced closure a year ago.

A rash of RV thefts in Midland County, Texas, has led to rewards for information on them. A housing shortage is blamed on the doubling of trailer thefts in the last year. Police say a simple hitch lock will deter many crooks.

National parks and wildlife refuges in North Carolina are getting a $12.3 million windfall from Hurricane Sandy relief funds. The funds, from the U.S. Interior Department, will mean repairs for walkovers, parking lots, docks and bulkheads at damaged NPS facilities.

Gulf Islands National Seashore’s Fort Pickens (Pensacola, Fla.) campground fees jumped from $20 to $26, and $16 to $22 at Davis Bayou Campground (Ocean Springs, Miss.). Officials say fees haven't changed since 1997.

A spectacular car crash in Milton, Wis., included three parked RVs. Last Sunday a 50-year-old man allegedly traveling at 50 mph, blew a stop sign, crossed two lanes of traffic, hit an embankment, and became airborne before crashing into the trailers at Lakeland RV Center. The driver admitted drinking prior to the crash and had three prior DWI convictions.

Keep up with RV Industry
news throughout the week at RVbusiness.com.

Winding Roads by Joe Schmidt

On this date in history:
May 18
Compiled by Dell Bert

1860: Lincoln nominated for presidency.
1927: Grauman's Chinese Theater opens in Hollywood, Calif.
1934: TWA begins commercial service.
1946: Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson is born.
1980: Washington State's Mount St. Helens erupts.
2012: Facebook raises $16 billion in largest tech IPO in U.S. history.

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We are THE RV Insurance Experts!
Explorer RV offers more than just standard RV insurance. As an independent insurance agent, we provide access to a wide range of RV coverages from leading insurance companies. Many aren’t available through typical agencies — such as total loss replacement, purchase price guarantee, personal effects, awning replacement, towing and more. Learn more or get a free quote.

Topics of last week's RV Daily Tips Newsletter

Monday
Keep dishes safe while on the move.
Use this handy multipurpose tool for many RV chores.

Tuesday
Don't be suckered in by RV resort advertising.
How to wire a six-volt RV battery series.

Wednesday
Watch your dumping operation closely (but not TOO closely).
Prevent your cell phone from messing up your RV trip.

Thursday
Keep the Listeria bug out of your RV.
Preventive maintenance tips on RV slideouts.

Friday
Be aware of your RV's height to avoid trouble.
Lane-savvy driving; the safe way to travel.

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Important for safe RVing!
MONITOR YOUR TIRE PRESSURE!
Our commercial-grade TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM will help ensure you travel safely without tire failure-related peril. Our system is inexpensive, simple to install and fun to use. The National Transportation Safety Board says commercial-grade vehicles need tire monitoring systems even more than passenger cars and trucks. We will meet or beat any advertised price on our system! Visit Truck System Technologies (TST) to learn more. Or call 770-889-9102.

This Week's
Reader Survey

Have you ever attended a national RV rally?
Answer here.

Last week's question
What's the longest time you have ever traveled on one trip with an RV?
Read the survey results.

Past reader surveys and results.

Planning an RV
trip this summer?
Here are some great guides to State and National Parks, Corp of Engineers campgrounds, and places to stay for a bargain or even for free. Use for research or pack along for finding campsites along your route.
Guide to Free Campgrounds
Corps RV Camping
National Park Service Camping Guide
RV Camping in State Parks
RVers Best Public Campgrounds
National Park Service Camping Guide and RV Camping in State Parks — Save!

RECENTLY UPDATED

Upcoming RV Shows
See the long list of upcoming RV shows for 2013.

FreeCampgrounds.com
More than 2,000 places to stay for free or less than $12 in an RV.

Latest fuel prices
Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.65 (on May 17)
Change from week before: Up 9 cents
Diesel: $3.86 (on May 13)
Change from week before: Up 2 cents

Ask the Doctor
The RV Doctor, Gary Bunzer, answers your questions.

Cleaning stained RV window gaskets

Dear Gary,
Is there any way to clean the white rubber-like gaskets around the windows of my RV? They are stained from mildew or something. Thanks for any information you can give me. —Mary Ann (Houston, TX)

Read Gary's response.

SEE GARY'S VIDEOS at RVdoctorVIDEOS.COM.

The RV Shrink

"Combat Camping" — RV rules are rules

Dear R.V. Shrink:
I know you have used the term “Combat Camping” in past articles. I thought it was a joke when I first started reading your column. I have come to understand the reality of it in some popular areas. My husband is not a lawyer, but he plays one at some of the campgrounds we visit. Recently, we were at Utah’s Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. Most sites are reservable. We were able to secure a site that was not reserved. The next morning when my husband went to pay for another day he was told the site was already taken. Knowing a reservation must be made 48 hours in advance he questioned how this could be. The woman in charge tried to explain the situation away, but my husband is not one to be “slam dunked” if he knows the rules and they are not being followed. I said we should just leave, but he insisted on talking to the managing ranger...

Read the remainder of the question and the Shrink's response.

This issue's Knowledge Quiz

One quiz on Saturday, May 18, 2013, with a swell prize.

QUIZ QUESTION WILL NOT APPEAR until the exact start time as noted below (before the actual start time you will only see previous contests).

Answer the quiz here on Saturday, May 18, beginning at exactly 9:10 a.m. Pacific Time (12:10 p.m in the East).

Official Knowledge Quiz Rules.

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Internet Specials!
 

WOW! GREAT DEALS!

Visit Camping World for RV supplies and accessories.

TODAY'S SECRET PHRASE: Helen's rocking chair went airborne, sending her into a time warp.

Joke of the week
What do you get if you cross a computer with a lifeguard?
Answer at bottom of newsletter.

Headed to Alaska?
Check out these books and DVDs
2013 Milepost Directory
DVD: RVing Alaska with Joe and Vicki Kieva
Traveler's Guide to Alaskan Camping
Guide to the Alaska Highway
The World-Famous Alaska Highway
DVD: Alaska By RV
More Alaska Books

Send for your FREE Alaska travel guide.

Bill's Hints

Trailer brakes
“Without trailer brakes, at highway speeds stopping distances will be greatly increased.” —From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy

eBOOKS!
INSTANT READING ABOUT RVing!
With eBooks you don't have to wait to read your book. Just place your order and your eBook will be delivered almost instantly to your email inbox. There's no shipping or handling and no tax to pay, making these a bargain over printed books. These eBooks are written by RV experts and delivered in PDF format. Check out the big selection of eBooks at RVbookstore.com. Browse the RVbookstore.com eBook department.

From our newsletter
Great RV Accessories

Dress up your campsite with a Patio Mat
Add pizzazz, a touch of color, and practicality to your campsite with durable, lightweight, and reversible patio mats. They also help keep the "outside out," and provide a smooth, soft place for your chairs, pet, and barbecue. Take a look.

Read about more Great RV Accessories.

2013 Next Exit
and RVer's Friend
Here are two great guides to Interstate exits and Travel Centers — both best-sellers, packaged together to save you $4.00 over purchasing them separately. The 2013 Next Exit lists every exit along every Interstate and details exactly what you will find at each, and the 2013 RVer's Friend lists every Travel Center in the U.S. and Canada — about 6,600 altogether — and what services each provides to RVers. Learn more or order.

Tech Tips from Mark Polk

RV Roof Maintenance Tip
Safety first! Be extremely careful whenever you are working on your RV roof. You can be seriously injured from a fall. You have to get on the roof of your RV to properly clean and inspect it for any damage or potential water leaks. The first step is the ladder you use to get up on the roof. If your RV does not have a ladder on the back to access the roof, it probably is not designed to be walked on. In this situation it may be necessary to use a couple pieces of plywood or particle board to help distribute your weight on the roof. Even if the RV is equipped with a ladder to access the roof, you need to walk lightly when you’re on the roof and be careful.

Learn more about RV repair and maintenance from Mark's books, eBooks and DVDs, available — most at a discount — at RVbookstore.com.

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Two great resources
about RV repair and maintenance!
These repair and maintenance guides by Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor, are packaged together to save you $11.24 off their cover prices. The Do It Yourself RV Care DVD shows those systems and components that need regular attention and how to do it. Woodall's RV Owners Handbook is a complete, illustrated guide to preventive maintenance and repairs. The book provides a better understanding of propane, electrical, and water systems, etc., with only minimal mechanical knowledge required. Retail price $44.90, now only $29.81. Learn more or order.

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RV Short Stops

Black Hole Atomic Surplus Store

Los Alamos, New Mexico

 

Some of the great relics from Los Alamos' radioactive past are on display at the Black Hole. Grab your best radioactive suit and head to this store and museum that brazenly brandishes a fallout shelter, Geiger counters and other weird looking junk like a spectrophotometer. Since 1970, store owner and former nuclear machinist “Atomic Ed" Grothus has been collecting and dealing non-radioactive nuclear waste to the masses. The Black Hole is a popular stop for atomic-savvy tourists and anti-nuke sympathizers. Grothus' efforts to preserve Los Alamos’ nuclear history have been so profound that his story was made into an award-winning documentary in 2002.

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Recently released!

RVing Route 66
Join RVer and filmmaker John Holod as he cruises the Mother Road from Chicago to L.A. by motorhome, with stops along the way at all the classic attractions. Even though the road was bypassed by Interstates, much of it is still there, and easy to drive with an RV. If you plan to travel this historic highway or have already done so, RV Adventure: Route 66 is for you. Learn more or order at a discounted price.

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Bumper Sticker of the week
"A chocolate donut in each hand. Now that's a balanced diet!"
Have you seen a funny bumper sticker? Send it to chuck(at)rvtravel.com

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The RV Kitchen

Quickie Breakfast Squares
When you need  an early start to get into a campground that operates on a first-come basis, you don’t have time for bacon and eggs. Pack everything the night before, hit the road and eat a good-for-you breakfast on the way. Get the recipe.

Cookbooks for RVers: Big selection at RVbookstore.com.

These DVDs will make you a better RVer
Get these popular DVDs and others at RVbookstore.com

Towing Behind Your Motorhome
Guide to Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels
Guide to Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitch Work and Backing
Guide to Winterizing Your RV
Tow Your 5th Wheel Trailer Like a Pro
Choosing an RV: A Logical Approach (with Joe and Vicki Kieva)
Do It Yourself RV Care (with the RV Doctor)
Drive Your Motorhome Like a Pro
Guide to Class A Motorhomes
Guide to Class C Motorhomes
Better Business Bureau Guide to Buying an RV

Random RV Thought
 When using a public shower, like in a state park, always turn on the hot water before getting undressed. Sometimes, there will be no hot water. And if it's a cold morning or evening, you will feel pretty stupid standing there naked with nowhere to go. Of course, if you are brave and have the cold tolerance of a polar bear, jump right in. Brrrrrrr! Good luck!

SPECIALS & CLOSEOUTS!
Save more than 80%
On Books and DVDs at RVbookstore.com
CLICK HERE

Worth Pondering
"Only he who can see the invisible can do the impossible." —Frank Gaines

Win cash with our Pot of Gold Contest

To participate, click here Monday through Friday.

The cash prize is now $340. Each weekday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Pacific Time) we publish a randomly selected U.S. Zip Code. If you live there and are the first to tell us, you win the money, which increases every day there's no winner. Certain rules apply. Last week's Zip Codes: 41044, 54511, 98584, 57052, 68821. Remember, these Zip Codes can appear again at any time.

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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. So be sure to check things out. At RVbookstore.com we strive for excellence in all we do. Our customers receive super-fast service. Our motto is "You need it so we speed it™", and no truer words were ever spoken!
        
All information on this website is copyrighted by RVtravel.com. Our offices are located at 170 W. Dayton Street, Suite 103-B, Edmonds, WA 98020. Write editor Chuck Woodbury at Chuck(at)RVtravel.com. Information about advertising in this newsletter and on our other websites and blogs is available by calling (425) 744-0415 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays (Pacific Time) and/or emailing Chuck.

This website utilizes some advertising services. Sometimes we are paid if you click one of those links and purchase a product or service. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers. Any information gathered by visiting this website is kept private and never sold or shared with outsiders.

This newsletter is copyright 2013 by RVtravel.com.

JOKE ANSWER: A screen saver.

Weekend of May 11, 2013

Issue 585 of RV Travel
Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more. This newsletter, now in its twelfth year of continuous weekly publication, is made possible through sales at RVbookstore.com, by our advertisers, and through voluntary subscription contributions from our readers (thank you!).

Get paid to deliver RVs!
Flexibility and freedom
That’s why RVers do what they do — and you can get paid to do it with Classic Transport.
Deliver towable and motorized vehicles to the locations you choose — whatever distance, whatever direction. Our family of professionals is ready to help you earn a paycheck while seeing the country. See the video - These RVers can tell you what it's like!

Editor's corner

With Chuck Woodbury
EditorChuck@gmail.com
Follow RV Travel on Facebook

I've complained on occasion about the quality of our highways, how they're getting worse all the time. But today I came across a story I wrote years ago while traveling in southern Arizona — about an amazing wood plank highway that enabled motorists to travel from Arizona across vast sand dunes to San Diego. The story is a reminder about how far our roads have come. Today, it's an easy drive on I-8. But, as you will read here, it wasn't always so. Here's my story:

At the turn of the twentieth century, when auto travel was becoming the rage, Yuma, Ariz., was at a crossroads but with a big obstacle to the west — vast sand dunes.

The Algodones Dunes stretch more than 40 miles. Throughout history, travel of any nature was severely inhibited by this great barrier. Explorers, wagon freighters and stagecoaches approaching and leaving Yuma Crossing avoided the dunes by traveling north or south.

With the building of Yuma's Ocean-to-Ocean highway in 1915, a way had to be found for automobiles to cross the vast expanse of sand. A wooden plank road seemed the answer.

The first such road was constructed in 1915 and was rapidly replaced by a second one in 1916. The San Diego Chamber of Commerce, eager for the business the road could bring, donated 13,100 oak planks. The second road was built in eight-foot by twelve-foot sections and reinforced with strap iron along the edges and centers. The speed limit was 10 miles per hour.

It wasn't much of a road — a 6.7-mile one-laner with pullouts to pass. During sandstorms the road could become impassable, forcing motorists to wait. But sandstorm or not, it was always a rough ride, earning the road the nickname "Old Shaky."

In 1925, traffic increased to 30 cars per day — a problem. Officials reacted by regulating the traffic: eastbound traffic would leave on even hours, westbound traffic on odd hours. But this wasn't enough. After 10 years of use, the road was falling apart and traffic jams were frequent and sometimes nasty when the right-of-way was disputed.

On August 11, 1926, the opening of paved, two-lane California State Route 80 put an end to travel on the wooden plank road. Today, motorists speed across on Interstate 8.

A good place to see a piece of plank road is at Yuma Crossing State Park in Yuma, where a lone section of the old road has been preserved, complete with a 1909 Model T.

Sign up for our RV Daily Tips Newsletter. You'll learn a whole bunch about RVing every Monday through Friday. America's best-known RV experts advise you on ways to improve your RVing — about fixing and maintaining things, using your RV, modifying it, camping, saving money and much more. Sign up here for an issue reminder notice. It takes about 30 seconds.

Read last week's edition of the RV Travel Newsletter.

"Like" us on Facebook. News and information throughout the week.

Please consider a voluntary
subscription to this newsletter
If you enjoy this newsletter, please consider helping us continue in the following ways:
•Shop at RVbookstore.com. This is our own store, the largest devoted to books, DVDs and eBooks about RVing.
•Make a donation: A voluntary subscription donation helps us undertake new projects to improve this newsletter, and your support is very much appreciated.

Editor comment: We post breaking RV news throughout the week at our RVtravel.com Facebook page. Click here.

RV park WiFi a little slow? Park WiFi supplier, Tengo Internet, says it's seen a 42 percent increase in both data usage and the number of devices connected to its networks in the last year. One expert says 20 park guests simultaneously "Skyping" can wipe out a park's entire Internet access.

California wildfires have toasted 12,000 of Point Mugu State Park's 14,000 acres. Sycamore Cove and Thornhille Broome Beach campgrounds are closed — probably until late May.

Four-year-old Jennie-Lee Moule of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, just got a big wish from The Children's Wish Foundation — a new travel trailer for her family. Jennie-Lee, who has a congenital heart disease called pulmonary artesia, camped a couple of weeks last year in an RV without a bathroom. She's delighted her new rig has a full bath.

The U.S. Forest Service may extend a ban on dispersed camping in Oregon's Willamette National Forest near McKenzie Bridge. Why? Homeless camps are blamed for accumulations of trash and human excrement. Public comments are being taken until May 17.

An armed woman and a teenage boy robbed a Citgo gas station May 2 in Wallworth, Wisconsin, fleeing the scene in a pickup truck — towing a 30-foot travel trailer. The tan pickup sports dually tires and the trailer has three windows on the street side. Police want info: (262) 275-6585.

County officials are mulling a proposal to build an RV park at Riverside Park in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Commissioners are concerned that a county-owned RV park could "put them at an advantage" in comparison to private RV park owners and are checking to see if a private entity could qualify for a state grant to develop the park.

Hamburg, N.Y., RVers now need a permit to park a rig 24 feet and longer at home. The annual permit requires planning commission approval, and gives a 10-day notice to neighbors for their input. No permit required for up to five days parking in the driveway.

Wholesale auction prices for used RVs were a mixed bag in April: Motorhomes averaged $39,081, down 2.3 percent from May. Towables were up 4.9 percent in the same time frame to an average price of $11,243. Source: Randy Beggs, Black Book.

You could win a butane-fired mosquito-repelling lantern made by ThermaCell. The company is giving one away each day this month in a "refer a friend" contest. A grand prize includes a New Hampshire vacation. Click here for more info.

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Bella Terra of Gulf Shores
Opens Final Phase of Resort
One of the nation’s top RV Resorts, Bella Terra of Gulf Shores in Foley, Alabama, has opened the third and final phase of its luxury resort this spring with over 60 new waterside and woodland-facing lots. These oversized Class A-only lots provide endless customization opportunities including outdoor kitchens, gazebos, fire pits and more. Come see how we live at BellaterraRVresort.com or call the resort team at (866) 417-2416.

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More news

Wholesale shipments of RVs went up 11 percent the first quarter of this year over last year. Projections for this year show an increase of 7.5 percent ahead of 2012. If so, it'll be an 85 percent increase ahead of the recession low in 2009. Source: Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.

Fulton, N.Y., police say they found a motorhome submerged in a pond — with a broomstick pushing down on the gas pedal. Two area teenage boys were arrested in the theft and mischief case.

The Army Corp's park, Highland Ridge Campground in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, may be closed until late this month after 14 inches of snow damaged trees earlier this month, creating a safety hazard.

RVers cause a lot of work at Talladega, Alabama, Superspeedway. One speedway official says with 14,000 reserved RV sites and hundreds of acres of free camping, the track must increase its workers from 42 full-timers to 3,000 on race weekends.

Drake Campground, an RV park in Drake, Colorado, can reopen the gates after officials approved park flood emergency plans. The park was forced closed in October 2011, in a "slow knee-jerk" reaction to the devastating 1976 Big Thompson flood.

Frank Moore thought he heard a prowler outside his RV at the Phoenix RV Park in Salem, Oregon. Arming himself with a .22-caliber rifle, he stepped out, tripped, and shot himself in the jaw. Hospitalized, his condition is unclear. Police found no sign of a prowler.

State Police say the shower at Otter Lake Campground in Marshalls Creek, New Jersey, was "bugged" last summer with hidden video cameras. The cameras were found August 18, and were allegedly placed by Kenneth Dale Schiff of Somerset, N.J., presently charged with invasion of privacy.

Keep up with RV Industry
news throughout the week at RVbusiness.com.

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Winding Roads by Joe Schmidt

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On this date in history:
May 11

Compiled by Dell Bert

1910: Montana's Glacier National Park is created.
1927: Louis B. Mayer forms the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
1934: Dust storm sweeps from Great Plains across Eastern states.
1947: B.F. Goodrich Company announces development of tubeless tire.
1949: First Polaroid camera sold — $89.95.
1967: 100,000,000th U.S. phone is connected.

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Clean your roof. . .
. . . and stay safe
Be safe cleaning your roof! Use a regular ladder to access, or build a scaffold alongside with stepladders and planks. If you need to go on the roof, remember: safety first, exercise caution.  First feel out its weight-bearing capacity on your hands and knees. If you do step out, make sure it’s not slippery. Learn more.

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Topics of last week's RV Daily Tips Newsletter

Monday
Keep temps under control digitally.
Basic motorhome driving advice.

Tuesday
How to care for an RV after a rainy getaway.
This inexpensive device could save your life. Keep one in your RV or car.

Wednesday
Protecting your RV's bathroom door.    
How propane tanks on towable RVs work.

Thursday
Lingering in the desert? Keep cool the low-energy way.
Buying an RV? New or used?

Friday
Use self-fusing tape for weatherproof connections.
Add a simple, clever RV closet door hatch.

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RV Technical
and Roadside Assistance!
Add a roadside assistance plan today from Coach-Net and give yourself valuable peace of mind while you're on the road, away from home. We've got you and your family covered. Your membership includes coverage on your RV and all other personal vehicles (including motorcycles) — owned, rented or borrowed! Learn more about our RV plans.

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Long, long list of RV recalls for April
Wow! The list is really long this time. We're included both RVs and other products commonly used by RVers including tow vehicles, tires and accessories. We hope your vehicle is not on the list. But if so, get it fixed! Read more

Using a tablet or smart phone to get online? Be careful!
We love our mobile devices. Unfortunately for us, so do hackers. The 2013 Javelin Strategy Research Identity Fraud Report found that tablet users in the U.S. are 80 percent more likely to be victims of identity fraud than all consumers – 9.6 percent compared to 5.3 percent. Read why, and how you can protect yourself.

Defective tire or incorrect diagnosis?
Our tire safety expert Roger Marble writes: "I have been following a thread on a forum for an iconic RV. This RV company makes trailers that are all silver, but no names. A few of those posts insist the tires are defective because, first, they failed and, second, because the owner didn't want to admit the possibility of some external cause as they want to find someone to blame. They will insist that there's 'not a scratch on the sidewalls anywhere,' and they have 'never hit a curb or anything else with them.' But somehow two tires failed after 9,000 miles." Read more.

Replacing a shower skylight, part one
During a recent storm, Rich Miller's shower skylight took a hit from a wind-propelled chunk of tree. It smashed straight through the skylight and landed on the bottom of his shower stall. "I really just wanted to replace it with another same size and type," writes Rich, but "unfortunately, they no longer exist. I had to measure and have a dome-style one manufactured." Read more, about how Rich replaced the shower skylight, step by step.

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Stop the shaking in your
parked fifth wheel or travel trailer

"This stops the shaking that wakes me up." This system provides the best possible movement reduction of a fifth wheel or travel trailer. And it's a breeze to set up. It mounts permanently on your trailer and works without a tripod, expensive chocks or slideout jacks! For more information click here. Or call toll-free: (866) 498-8754

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Avoid waiting games at the RV service center
Does your rig spend more time in the shop than on the road? Don't let delayed service times ruin your RV trip. Here are some tips that may help.

RV awnings recalled. "Don’t use your RV," feds advise
While there’s never a good time for a recall, the opening of spring RV season is certainly a bad time for telling potentially thousands of RV owners to NOT use their recreational vehicle. But that seems to be the sad case for many RV owners whose rigs are equipped with certain awnings. Read more.

The $800 truck camper project
Seems like truck camper owners are a breed apart from many other RVers. We've seen plenty of do-it-yourselfing in the community. Here's an interesting video from a gentleman who took an $800 pop-up truck camper, 30 days, and plenty of sweat equity to return a run-down rig into a unit ready for use. Watch the video.

Rent out your rig to recoup costs
We've heard some comments from a few RVers, and a bit of information from a firm that acts as a go-between for RVers who'd like to rent out their rigs and potential renters. Here's a roundup of thoughts from both sides of the issue.

Canada bound?
The Canadian national anthem doesn't begin "Oh, Canada!" for nothing. It's a big country with much see. Here is some advice about how to plan a trip to this magnificent country to our north.

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DIRECTV for Your RV with RV Satellite Kit!
(With purchase of new DIRECTV home service). Take all of your favorite shows, movies and sports teams with you on the road! Packages start at just $29.99/mo for 12 mos*! (ENTERTAINMENT pkg)  PLUS, you'll get 3 FREE months of HBO, starz, Showtime and Cinemax, and you'll have access to DIRECTV ON DEMAND, with thousands of shows and movies! With this much entertainment you'll never be bored! CALL NOW for additional, non-advertised promotions and savings! 866-365-4372. Visit website for complete information.

LEGAL: Offers end 7/31/13. Credit card required (except in MA and PA); NEW approved/qualified customers only. *All offers require 24-month agreement. RV KIT: $99 one-time fee. Requires NEW residential home service activation and purchase of ENTERTAINMENT programming or above.  Standard Receiver Required.  Existing DIRECTV customers may purchase the RV Kit at an additional charge. Additional terms and conditions apply. Call for details.

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This Week's Reader Survey

What's the longest time you have ever traveled on one trip with an RV?
Answer here.

Last week's question
If you were a multimillionaire, would you spend $500,000 or more for an RV?
Read the survey results.

Past reader surveys and results.

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FREE
Information Guide
Now during Pennsylvania RV and Camping month, visit an RV dealer or campground for a free information guide or request one at PARVing.com. Almost 9 million households own an RV, and now’s the time to buy one for yourself! Picture your RV parked in your driveway! Let yourself go…. Go RVing!

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Resources

Upcoming RV Shows
See the long list of upcoming RV shows for 2013.

FreeCampgrounds.com
More than 2,200 places to stay for free or less than $12 in an RV.

No Shock Zone: Learn all about RV electricity and its dangers. This information could save your life.

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Monitor your
tire pressure and temperature
The TireTraker™ TT-400C is a full-time wireless electronic tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) designed to monitor and display tire pressures from 0 psi up to 145 psi, and also to monitor tire temperatures from 14°F to 185°F. Monitor tires on your motorhome, trailer and tow vehicle — up to 22 tires! Low pressure is the leading cause of premature tire failure! The TireTraker™ TT-400C, with its industry-leading 3-year warranty, can provide early notice of potential problems and assist in maintaining proper pressurization. List price (four tires) $319. Our price only $219. SAVE $100! Learn more or order. Read testimonials about TireTraker.

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Latest fuel prices
Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel.
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.56 (on May 10)
Change from week before: Up 5 cents
Diesel: $3.84 (on May 6)
Change from week before: Down 1 cent

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Essential for owners of large RVs!
2013 Big Rigs
Best Bets Campground Directory
If you drive a king-sized RV, this directory is for you. The authors provide details about RV parks in 49 states and eight Canadian provinces that welcome long RVs. All parks personally visited by the authors, who even recommend best sites in each one plus nearby attractions. A must for big rig owners. Learn more or order.

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Ask the Doctor
The RV Doctor, Gary Bunzer, answers your questions.

Awning tube bent. What to do?

Dear Gary,
Is it possible to straighten an awning tube? If so, how? —Steve D., Neola, Iowa

Read Gary's response.

READ GARY'S LATEST NEWSLETTER.

SEE GARY'S VIDEOS at RVdoctorVIDEOS.COM.

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America's most-watched RV channel on YouTube
Watch hundreds of RVing videos at
the RVtravel.com Channel on YouTube
Watch helpful videos by America's best-known RVing experts, including RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury, at the RVtravel.com YouTube Channel. The hundreds of entertaining videos have been viewed more than 2.4 million times — more than any other YouTube channel devoted to RVing!  Visit the channel to watch videos and/or to sign up to receive notices of each new one posted.

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The RV Shrink

To tow or not to tow, that is the question. Part two

Dear RV Shrink:
Wow! I always read your column and the comments each week. I can’t remember anything more controversial than last week’s “To tow or not to tow” question. Some of the comments made no sense, but a lively discussion for sure. We are also getting ready to travel with this same rig configuration. We appreciate the feedback. We are still a bit confused but leaning toward pulling a small vehicle behind our new Class C motorhome. My only concern is looking like a train going down the road and constantly worrying about the toad trailing behind me. Am I just being paranoid? —Terrified of towing in Toledo

Read the RV Shrink's response.

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Buy your next RV at Camping World!
 

WOW! GREAT DEALS!

Visit Camping World for RV supplies, accessories and RV sales

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From our newsletter
Great RV Accessories

Clever idea: Collapsible sunglasses case
Protecting your sunglasses from scratching or breaking when not on your face usually means a rigid, bulky case — which takes up a lot of room in backpacks, purses, or pockets. The new collapsible Flipcase flattens out to a mere one-quarter-inch thickness when not guarding your shades, yet expands to a microfiber-lined hard case when needed. Learn more.

Read about more Great RV Accessories.

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Headed to Alaska?
Check out these books and DVDs

2013 Milepost Directory
DVD: RVing Alaska with Joe and Vicki Kieva
Traveler's Guide to Alaskan Camping
Guide to the Alaska Highway
The World-Famous Alaska Highway
DVD: Alaska By RV
More Alaska Books

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This issue's Knowledge Quiz

One quiz on Saturday, May 11, 2013, with a swell prize.

TODAY'S PRIZE: The best-selling directory, Guide to Free Campgrounds.

QUIZ QUESTION WILL NOT APPEAR until the exact start time as noted below (before the actual start time you will only see previous contests).

Answer the quiz here on Saturday, May 11, beginning at exactly 9:15 a.m., Pacific Time (12:15 p.m. in the East).

MORE QUIZZES WITH PRIZES.
We hold contests with prizes in every issue of our weekday newsletter, RV Daily Tips. Sign up here so you don't miss out.

Official Knowledge Quiz Rules.

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Save on Mountain Directories
East and West
Driving into the mountains with your RV? Be careful, there are some nasty grades. Here, in two volumes, are the premier guides to the mountain passes and steep grades of the American East and West — more than 700 passes altogether. You save $5 when buying both these guides together. Learn more or order for only $26.90 for both volumes.

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Tech Tips from Mark Polk

Lock your RV
Always lock the RV when you’re not physically at the campsite. Do not store valuable equipment in outside storage compartments. Believe it or not, a vast majority of RVs use the same exact key as yours for outside storage compartments. If you store valuables, like golf clubs, fishing gear or tools in the outside compartments, you may want to have the locks changed.

Learn more about RV repair and maintenance from Mark's many helpful books and DVDs at RVbookstore.com.

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Recently published.
2013 EDITION
Guide To The Firearm Laws of the 50 States
RVers who travel with a firearm may not know that what's legal in their home state may be a felony in another. This 2013 book explains current, specific gun laws for every state. Don't cross a state line with a gun without knowing the laws. Learn more or order.

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RV Short Stops

Johnny Carson birthplace
Corning, Iowa

The small home where late-night TV host Johnny Carson was born will soon become a museum, most likely to open by the end of this month. Carson, who hosted "The Tonight Show" for 30 years, was born in a 9x10 foot bedroom in the 800-square-foot home at 500 13th Street. The structure has been restored to appear as it did in 1925. Corning, population 1,600, is 85 miles southeast of Omaha. The Johnny Carson Birthplace Society hopes to eventually build a visitors center nearby to honor Carson and other successful Midwesterners.

More great RV Short Stops

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2013 Next Exit and RVer's Friend
Here are two great guides to Interstate exits and Travel Centers — both best-sellers, packaged together to save you $4.00 over purchasing them separately. The 2013 Next Exit lists every exit along every Interstate and details exactly what you will find at each, and the 2013 RVer's Friend lists every Travel Center in the U.S. and Canada — about 6,600 altogether — and what services each provides to RVers. Learn more or order.

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Odds and ends

Midwestern RVer
Free fishing at South Dakota State Parks May 17-19.

RV Short Stops
Rocks, geology, hikes and gawking at Zion National Park.
House on the Rock is a Wisconsin attraction.
See spectaular Bryce Canyon National Park.

RV Wheel Life
"Sisters on the Fly" still having fun in their vintage trailers.

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National Park Service Camping Guide
and RV Camping in State Parks - Save!
Here are two great guides to RV Camping in State and National Parks packaged together to save you $4.93 over purchasing them separately. Both were expanded and updated in 2013 and are a wonderful resource for anyone who enjoys camping in a National Park or State Park. Learn more or order.

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Bill's Hints

Waste outlet cap
“Carry a spare waste outlet cap.  If you fail to put the cap back on after dumping, it will probably be torn off while driving.” —From Motorhomes Made Easy

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eBOOKS!
INSTANT READING ABOUT RVing!
With eBooks you don't have to wait to read your book. Just place your order and your eBook will be delivered almost instantly to your email inbox. These eBooks are written by RV experts and delivered in PDF format. Check out the big selection of eBooks at RVbookstore.com. Browse the RVbookstore.com eBook department.

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The RV Kitchen

Chili for two

If you’re an RVer who is also an empty nester, it’s possible you never made chili for less than a crowd. Here is a down-sized recipe that feeds two hearty eaters for one meal or one person for two meals. Get the recipe.

Cookbooks for RVers: Big selection at RVbookstore.com.

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Hosted by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury
Learn how to buy
an RV the right way!
from the Better Business Bureau
Learn to make the right choice when buying an RV in this 50-minute DVD from RVtravel.com and the Better Business Bureau. Host Chuck Woodbury, editor of RVtravel.com, and many of America’s other best-known RV experts show you everything you need to know to determine, then shop for the RV that’s best for you without making any costly mistakes. Learn more or order.

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Bumper Sticker of the week
I got a Nobel Peace Prize in my Happy Meal.
Have you seen a funny bumper sticker? Send it to EditorChuck@gmail.com

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Win cash with our Pot of Gold Contest
To participate, click here Monday through Friday.
The cash prize is now $335. Each weekday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Pacific time) we publish a randomly selected U.S. Zip Code. If you live there and are the first to tell us, you win the money, which increases every day there's no winner. Certain rules apply.
Last week's Zip Codes: 74884, 06076, 80323, 44637, 49012. Remember, these Zip Codes can appear again at any time.

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Trivia

The first man to appear without a woman on the cover of "Ladies Home Journal" was Robert Redford in October, 1980 — after the magazine had been published for 97 years.

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These DVDs will make you a better RVer
Get these popular DVDs and others at RVbookstore.com

Choosing an RV: A Logical Approach (with Joe and Vicki Kieva)
Do It Yourself RV Care (with the RV Doctor)
Drive Your Motorhome Like a Pro
Guide to Class A Motorhomes
Tow Your 5th Wheel Trailer Like a Pro
Towing Behind Your Motorhome
Guide to Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels
Guide to Trailer Towing, Weights, Hitch Work and Backing
Guide to Winterizing Your RV
Better Business Bureau Guide to Buying an RV
Guide to Class C Motorhomes

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Joke of the week
Why is a baseball catcher like a nightclub bouncer?
Answer at bottom of newsletter.

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SECRET PHRASE. Toe lover Manny Moore married Nora Nelbin because she had six toes on her right foot.

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Best-sellers at RVbookstore
•Baby picture has nothing to do with this ad. It's just a cheap trick to attract your attention.
RVers Best Public Campgrounds. Directory of public campgrounds along major roads.
Guide to Free Campgrounds. An all-time best-seller.
Mountain Directories East and West editions. Learn about steep grades ahead.
DVD: Deep Cycle Batteries. Learn all about this essential RV item.
Big Rigs Best Bets Campground Directory. THE directory for owners of big RVs.
The Fifth Wheel Bible: The only book just about fifth wheel trailers.

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Random RV Thought
Pack along a small fan in your RV that can operate on 12-volt power. It will come in handy on a hot day when you simply need to cool yourself and don't have the power to run your air conditioner, or don't want to. It can also double as a hair blow dryer, although it might take a long time to do the job.

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"Don't pay to stay!" Visit FreeCampgrounds.com. (Free is good!)

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Worth Pondering
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." —Groucho Marx

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The essential guide
to locating Wal-Mart stores
Learn where to find more than 4,100 U.S. Wal-Mart stores, most of which allow free overnight stays in RVs. Get specific driving directions to each. Learn which stores sell gas and diesel. The Walmart Atlas is an RVbookstore.com best-seller. SAVE 20% off cover price. Learn more or order.

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RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Assistant publisher: Jody Allcott. Contributing editor: Russ De Maris. Contributing writers: Gary Bunzer, Roger Marble, Bob Difley, Mark Polk, Janet Groene, Julianne Crane, Richard Mallery and Richard Miller. Cartoonists: Jerry King, Joe Schmidt. Warehouse operations: Eric Brotman. New York City correspondent: Emily Woodbury. ADVERTISING INFORMATION: Contact Chuck Woodbury at chuck@rvtravel.com

If you enjoy and appreciate this newsletter and would like to help it improve and innovate, please consider making a voluntary subscription contribution. We invite you to do so here. It will be appreciated very much.

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 RVing adventures have been profiled on ABC News, CNN, NBC's Today Show, and in People Magazine, USA Today and in hundreds of newspapers. These days, he lives near Seattle, where he drinks massive amounts of coffee and travels often in his motorhome and sometimes by plane when vast expanses of saltwater would turn his RV into a leaky submarine. 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.

At RVbookstore.com we strive for excellence in all we do. Our customers receive super fast service. Our motto is "You need it so we speed it," and no truer words were ever spoken!    

Our offices are located at 170 W. Dayton Street, Suite 103B, Edmonds, WA 98020. Write editor Chuck Woodbury at EditorChuck(at)gmail.com.

This website utilizes some advertising services. Sometimes we are paid if you click one of those links and purchase a product or service. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers. For information about advertising in this newsletter and/or on our many websites, contact Chuck Woodbury at chuck(at)RVtravel.com.

This newsletter is copyright 2013 by RVtravel.com

JOKE ANSWER: They both throw out people.