Removing street shoes at the entrance of your RV keeps the carpet cleaner. I have a rule when we are at the fair with our grandkids - NO SHOES IN THE RV ! After my FFA and 4-H grandkids have been in the pig stalls, sheep pens and horse barns the shoes and boots are not allowed inside.We normally wear our street shoes in the house when the campground is clean and free of contaminating elements like mud and dirt. When it rains or we are camped in the dirt the shoes come off at the door. An outside vinyl or foam mat with a door mat is a must when camped in the dirt.Having a throw rug down in the entrance area helps a great deal. When we do remove our shoes we place them on the throw rug at the entrance. If you leave your shoes outside you might find a surprise the next morning. Rain water, spiders, scorpions (when you camp in the desert) and who knows what else may be in your shoes if you leave them outdoors.
Some RVers put a container at the entrance for shoes like a plastic wash basin or a laundry basket. I leave a pair of slip on sandals by the door and go barefoot most of the time. Leave a comment below and tell us what you do. Sorting out the RV shoe issue - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
I couldn't find any reliable information or statistics about RV theft in the United States. I've never met anyone who has lost an RV to theft. They are not like automobiles which have a great deal of value after being torn down into parts for resale. The RV used parts market is not lucrative enough for thieves to exploit. RVs are usually the target of petty thieves who break-in and steal the TV, VCR and other electronic gear but leave the RV where they found it.
RVs probably do get stolen on occasion (and if you have a story about a stolen RV please click on the light blue "comments" below and tell us). If you want to make it more difficult for thieves to steal your RV consider putting a lock on the hitch. Master Lock makes these hitch locks for Travel Trailers and you can find them in the automotive department of WalMart for around $25.00. No lock will stop a determined thief, but it will slow them down or perhaps make them look elsewhere for an easier target. Locks are also available for 5th wheel king pins. Receiver hitch locks are another consideration because you take your towing vehicle around town and leave it parked in unprotected parking areas. You definitely want your hitch to be there when you get ready to hook-up and leave so consider purchasing one for your hitch. Receiver hitch locks are available in the automotive department of WalMart. Helping to prevent you from parting with your property prematurely - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Leveling your rig when you move to a new campground is one of the common chores of RVing. Being level is important for older model RV refrigerators and the newer models appreciate being level as well. When I’m able to choose my own campsite I look for one that appears level. I use the word “appears” because in my experience looks are deceiving when it comes to the concept of “flat.” I always seem to spend longer than I anticipated getting my coach into a fairly level position.
My eyeballs are not calibrated for flatness so I rely on an old fashioned bubble level even though my RV is equipped with a computerized self leveling system. Seems my leveling computer is just as confused as I am when it comes to “flat.” I don’t feel so bad though, because for most of human history our ancestors thought the world was “flat.” Apparently they didn’t have a big enough level.
Because of my ancestral genetic defect of being judgment impaired when it comes to “flat” I carry extra lumber for leveling. You should only have to elevate two wheels either on the port (driver side) or starboard (passenger side) or forward and aft. When camping at a lake or seashore you will be on a natural slope and you will need to level your wheels depending on how you are oriented to the water. For heavier RVs I recommend using hard wood for leveling. The plastic leveling blocks that look like ginormous Lego blocks really only work on very light RVs. When you think you have your RV level you can preform the following tests. If you crack an egg into the skillet and it oozes down to one corner you’re not level. Assuming your plumbing system is working and you find yourself standing in three inches of water while showering you’re not level. If you turn on the water to brush your teeth and the stream slants two inches to one side you’re not level. If every time you open the refrigerator stuff slides out you either have too much stuff in there or you’re not level. When you shut the pocket door and is creeps back out you’re not level. If you drop the toilet paper and it rolls all the way to the front of the RV you're not level. The most telling sign you're not level is when you walk through your coach like you’re in the “Mystery House.”
Honestly, I probably haven’t ever achieved absolute “level” in any RV I’ve owned over the years. I feel better now that I’ve leveled with you. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
The majority of RVers have motorhomes or trucks with turbochargers to boost performance. You can thank the racing industry for this technology because it was developed to give drivers an edge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The next time you RV through Indiana consider stopping at the Speedway for a tour of the museum and the track. The museum is located on the infield and you have to drive your RV under the track (clearance 13 feet 11 inches) to get there. There is ample room for parking your RV.One of the more interesting exhibits is the “Gasoline Alley” garage reproduction. The Speedway is the original and one of the few racetracks to have these garages on the infield.
You’ll be impressed with the many winning cars they have on display including the very first winner from the 1911 race. Car 32 was a racing version of the locally built Marmon passenger car driven by Ray Harroun. We take it for granted now, but in 1911 this car sported the first rear view mirror on an automobile. Just one of many examples of how Indy 500 racing has improved on automotive safety.
The nickname “The Brickyard” was earned after they resurfaced the track with 3,200,000 10 pound paving bricks. A narrow three foot strip at the finish line is all that remains of these bricks.Bus tours of the track leave every 15 minutes and cost $3.00. The admission for the museum is also $3.00. You’ll be richly rewarded with a visit to the worlds oldest operational automobile racetrack. Because of this race all RVers are winners because we inherit the technology. See you in the winners circle - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Ants are everywhere in every state at every campground and in every RV (eventually). So what do you do when your RV is invaded by these unwanted pests? For starters, you need to investigate where they are coming from and how they are climbing on board. I found a few stragglers working their way around Barney's food dish so I went outside to investigate. I inspected the obvious places like the power cord and hoses where they could easily move inside. Other places to check are the tires and mud flaps touching the ground. I couldn't find an obvious trail so I started looking in the storage bays. It didn't take long to find them hustling away little pieces of wood they carved from a couple pieces of plywood. It's quite possible I have two varieties of ants shopping for food in the RV. Without going to the hardware store and purchasing a commercial ant bait I decided to use talc to discourage further invasion. To be honest, I don't know how well this will work, but I put some around the wood and hopefully they'll be gone by tomorrow. I also sprinkled some around Barney's dog dish so he doesn't have to compete for dinner. I know there are many readers who have a great deal more experience ridding your RV of these pests. Please click on the "comments" section below and tell us how we can more effectively eradicate or at least discourage these insects from hitching a ride. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
I probably get invited into more RVs than your average RV journalist. If you’ve followed my writing you know the variety of great ideas coming from everyday folks who love RVing. They show me all sorts of things in their RVs and I keep a notebook full of these ideas. One of the things I frequently see is the RV pantry. A family legend revolves around my great grandmother and her pantry. Seems, when times were tough (depression era) she was able to go to her pantry and whip up a delicious five course meal with practically no food on the shelves.
When I visit fellow RVers I don’t pay much attention to what's in the pantry because I’m more interested in how it's organized or what kind of lighting it has. The other day I was at a relatives house and I snapped this photo of her colorful pantry. As I studied it I began to be jealous because her pantry was so much larger than my RV pantry. Then it occurred to me I have a bunch of stuff in my RV pantry that I rarely (if ever) use. I have spices I haven’t even opened. I have containers of stuff that will never see the light of day. But, seriously, that can of spam may come in handy someday.So tell me, be honest, what kinds of stuff do you have in your pantry that you’ll never use but you keep hauling around anyway? Let me know in the “comments” section below.
I don’t know about your tastes, but as far as I’m concerned, I enjoy my space. In my mind there are few things worse than getting up in the morning to look out your window only to see your neighbor staring back six feet away. I avoid sardine RV parks like grandkids avoid vegetables. I have never seen RVs parked this close together even at the dealership. I’m not passing judgment on the folks who stay at these parks, just telling you how I fell about it. I prefer roomier parks with plenty of parking and green spaces. How do you feel about these shoe-horn parks? If you had a choice would you stay elsewhere? Let us know in the “comments” section below. When you’re parked this close you don’t dare put on extra pounds. Avoiding tight spaces - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
To limit fuel expenses, full time RVers Dale and Lisa Forsythe try not to travel too much. They save money by staying at Bureau of Land Management dry camping areas during winter. To assist them with their boondocking lifestyle they added an additional solar panel, doubled the battery bank and added a smaller inverter to use with electric appliances that didn't require the use of the larger inverter. But the most significant upgrade was the addition of a 65 gallon fresh water tank to the back of their Pick-up. He hooks up this auxillary tank directly to his fresh water city connection. In order to move the fresh water from the back of his truck through the city connection he installs a water pump between them. He taps into his 12 volt battery bank with these jumper cable type clamps. Then he hooks the hose up to his rig and the big tank and flips the switch. The 12 volt water pump is a demand pump so it only runs when they turn on the water inside the rig. The big tank fits neatly behind the truck cab just in front of the 5th wheel hitch. When they go to town to shop they stop and fill it up. Having the extra 65 gallons makes their boondocking lifestyle much more enjoyable. They've been at this going on five years now and are having a blast. Squeezing every drop out of the RV adventure - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
My friend and fellow RVer John Culver uses double plastic hooks to display his Marine Corps Officer's sword over his slide-out frame. He also showed me this clever idea for combining two of these plastic hooks to hang over a closet or shower door. He modified one of the hooks by cutting a piece off the end so they fit together. He drilled a small hole and attached them with a screw. You could use a rivet or glue to accomplish the same thing. He also hangs single hooks over the slide-out frame and uses them for his hat and the occasional article of laundry that needs to hang dry.These hooks are very convienient for hanging a towel on the shower door. They have many other uses as well. If you have other ideas on how to use these hooks please share them with us in the "comments" section below. Hanging out in RV Land - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
RVers Scott & Beth Toney from Avon, Indiana share Fathers Day with their dad Jim (sitting with big George). The unique thing about this crew is they are RVing at the go-cart racetrack. They’ve been RVing for six years while supporting their kids at the track. They originally bought their RV to give them a comfortable place at the track but soon discovered it was great for family vacations. While not on the track racing, Austin and Nathan play video games in the RV. These go-cart enthusiasts pull their pit-stop trailers to the track with their motorhomes. The trailers are complete workshops where the mechanics (usually the dads) can tear down and rebuild a go-cart at the track. While dad is busy in the shop other family members are living comfortably in the RV. Cold drinks from the RV fridge make the race more enjoyable for everyone. These kids are having a great time and who knows, the future Nascar champions may be turning these turns at the go-cart track. Staying on track at the RV scene - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Explore Indianapolis from Indiana State Fairgrounds RV Campground
As a veteran RVer I tend to avoid large metropolitan areas. I don’t like driving my RV through congested cities in order to visit an attraction. I would rather find a nice RV park nearby and use my towed vehicle to explore the area. Unfortunately, many metropolitan areas don’t have conveniently located RV parks. If you find yourself in this situation you may want to investigate the state or county fairgrounds. They frequently have a designated RV park with full hook-ups and a fair price. Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis is a good example. They have full hook-ups including 50 amp service. They are near downtown, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, museums, restaurants and professional sports arenas.Staying at a fairgrounds can be loads of fun because there is always something happing. I enjoyed visiting a horse show. The go-cart races. Truck Rodeo. All free and convenient to my RV campsite. The RV park has a restroom with showers and laundry and is located next to the Monon bike trail. Several RVers told me they’ve been visiting Indianapolis for years but never knew the fairgrounds had an RV park. Don’t plan on using the RV park immediately before, during or after the fair (August 6-17) because it’s usually sold out. Other than those restricted dates, there are usually plenty of RV spaces available. So, next time you’re RVing around Indianapolis plan on staying at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Doing a fair bit of reporting - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
It's a fact, RVers are outside people. When it rains for days on end I begin to feel like a mushroom. I know being stuck in an RV can cause delusions, but I'm not kidding, when I woke up this morning this was on my windshield. We are in the Midwest and things are getting deep around here. I wish we could send some of this rain out to California to quench the fires. On rainy days it's good to be well stocked with games, books, magazines and hobby items to keep you busy. Well, time for my swimming lesson - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing.
The RV industry has been a leader in innovation for many years. Crafting comfortable living quarters in the confines of a small space is where RV manufacturers have excelled. But sometimes we find inspiration outside the confines of the RV world. I recently visited a relative in the hospital and discovered a chair that converts into a bed. This is my nephew Joe Manley relaxing in the chair. RVs have couches and dinettes that convert into beds, but you don’t see many chairs that convert into beds. This is called the “Cascade Slumber” by the Brandrud company. They say it is, “designed to provide a dimensionally compact and visually comforting sleep solution for guests.” The company is named after Harold Brandrud who established his furniture business in the Pacific Northwest in 1955. His company provided furnishings for the Space Needle for the 1962 World’s Fair. The company now produces furniture for health care institutions like the Mayo Clinic, Harvard University and many other famous institutional customers. The chair is unique because it slides out to make a chase lounge and slides out again to make a bed. Most hide-a-beds are not very comfortable, but this chair/bed is exceptionally comfortable. I would like to see more of these kinds of chairs incorporated into RV interiors. They are functional, comfortable and multipurpose. These units are not cheap costing six times as much as a brand name recliner. I believe they could be made for a more reasonable price and fit nicely in the RV environment. Learning to relax - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
RVers enjoy truck rodeo at Indiana State Fairgrounds
The RV campground at the Indiana State Fairgrounds is a great place to stay while visiting Indianapolis. It’s also a great place to see events like the Indiana Truck Driving Championships. RVers share the road with professional truck drivers and when you attend a truck rodeo you come away with renewed respect for these drivers. To be eligible for competition the driver must be accident-free the previous year and a full time truck driver. Most competitors had flawless driving records and millions of miles of accident-free travel. These events not only test driving skill but promote safety in the profession. The course problems are designed to simulate conditions drivers encounter every day. They don’t get to drive their own trucks or pull their own trailers. This is the only time you will see a WalMart driver in a UPS tractor pulling FedEx trailers. Drivers are also interviewed and judged on their attitude and character. Some of the problems include Expanded Parallel Park, Side Park, Alley Dock, Front Stop Line, Right Steer Tire, Left Turn Duck (don’ hit the duck), Straight Line Right Side Tires and Right Steer Tire Scale. Check out the video to see how these drivers tackle some of these problems. Professional drivers are great folks, like Robert Harmeyer driving for Batesville Casket Company. He was excited to compete at the event for the first time. Transportation Manager and RVer Keith McWilliams watches the event with his son Ben as they take shelter out of the rain under their 5th wheel. WalMart had their safety truck on display and many of the top name carriers were represented. The rain let up long enough for the event to proceed and the diehard fans had a great time. All you professional truck drivers I want you to know we RVers salute you for you skill and commitment to safety. Keep on truckin’ - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Do you realize how many times your RV is scrutinized as you journey along to your next RV destination? Hidden in the pavement are sensors that report data to state highway departments. Thousands of sensors are located on roadways throughout the country. These sensors are attached to poles and overpasses and embedded in the pavement and include passive infrared, active infrared, passive magnetic, Doppler microwave, radar, passive acoustic and pulse ultrasonic not to mention photo and video. It’s a fact of life, modern travelers live in an era of increasing electronic surveillance. Most surveillance equipment gathers information like frequency of use, vehicle weight, traffic congestion and helps state and local transportation departments improve overall road quality. Most of you have see these alien looking objects reaching over freeways across America but don’t have a clue what they are. I thought they were speed measuring devices and always checked to make sure I was legal when driving under them. I contacted Shelly Haney at the Indiana Department of Transportation and it turns out these devices are actually “PrePass” transponder readers. “These are deployed before our weigh stations as part of the PrePass program. There are 10 scale locations in Indiana, all of which have the PrePass equipment,” she said.
I was talking to members of the trucking industry while attending a commercial truck rodeo and discovered these “PrePass” transponders are saving truckers thousands of dollars each year. Trucking companies pay a monthly subscription fee which allows them to participate in the program. Each truck is then equipped with a transponder which sends a signal identifying the truck. There are weight reading sensors embedded in the road and when the truck passes by the “PrePass” transponder reads their ID and allows them to continue without having to waste time and fuel pulling into the weigh station. If they are overweight a signal tells them to turn off for inspection. It’s a good thing they don’t require RVs to do this otherwise there would be long lines of RVs at weigh stations. Keeping an eye on the spies - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
There's good reason this RV is listing to the port side. RVers Paul and Wilma Carson from Sebring, Florida were enjoying their stay at a well known campground chain near Indianapolis, Indiana. Severe storms have pounded the Midwest this spring bringing torrential rain and flooding. One night last week Paul and Wilma went to bed in their Holiday Rambler Imperial motorhome. The next morning they discovered their motorhome was now an island. A stream overflowed and cascaded into the campground rising high enough to fill RV storage bays with water and silt. The water line comes up to the bottom of the motorhome stair-well. Paul moved his coach to higher ground at the Indiana State Fair Grounds in Indianapolis. He couldn’t get all the water to drain out of his storage bays so he tilted to the driver side and drilled holes in the floor of his bay to drain the remaining puddles. The muddy water deposited silt in his bays and got into the towed vehicle as well. He’s been busy cleaning up before the next series of storms hits. “The moral of the story is to camp on high ground,” he said. What would you do if you knew storms were heading toward your RV park with a strong possibility of flooding? Click on the “comments” section below and tell us how you would handle it. Striving for the high water mark in RV journalism - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
We recently stopped at an Indiana welcome center and I was somewhat confused about where to park. I have a 40 foot motorhome with a towed vehicle which adds another 25 feet. Here is the sign that greeted me as we pulled into the rest area. Because my rig is almost as long as most commercial trucks, I opted for the truck parking area. Had I stayed to the left I would have seen the RV parking area and driven past it to the truck parking area because the RV spaces were too short to accommodate our size. I know if I follow the trucks I'll be able to park and maneuver so as a general rule I always go with the trucks to be sure. By the way, welcome centers are great places to pick up free state maps and information on attractions. Resting up for the next road trip - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Two words RVers like to hear when it comes to gadgets
Two words RVers like to hear when it comes to gadgets are "portable" and "rechargeable." Take my cordless drill for instance - I use it at least twice a week mostly for RV repair and maintenance. My cordless electric razor, tooth brush, camera, GPS, cell phone and a host of other small appliances are all "portable" and "rechargeable." Keeping with the theme Coleman, maker of fine camping products, has introduced a cordless blender. It's true, you can now blend up drinks, deserts and scramble up a dozen eggs with this "portable" and "rechargeable" blender. It costs around $65 and is available at sporting good stores and online. Who thinks up these things? Whoever it is, if you're reading this, I want you to start working on a "portable" and "rechargeable" icemaker right away. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Did you know that Texas has a huge coastline? Next time you have the map out take a look at just how much shoreline occupies southern Texas. Bordering the Gulf of Mexico a huge strip of Padre Island was set aside as a National Seashore for our enjoyment. The National Park Service strives to keep this chunk of beach as pristine as possible. The island is a nesting area for endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle as well as other sea turtle species. When you visit the park be sure to stop by the visitor information center and view the video on the sea turtle recovery effort on Padre Island. If you see a turtle ambling up the beach report it to a park ranger immediately as they will mark the nest and prevent people from disturbing it. Besides the beauty of the Gulf side beaches, the inner channel offers RV camping and is one of the top wind surfing areas in the United States. This campground is called Bird Island Basin and you camp next to the beach. It's no wonder wind surfing RVers flock to this campground.There are no hook-ups but there is a dump station located nearby. The spaces are large enough to accommodate the biggest RVs. The camping fee is $8 per night plus the park entrance fee with a 14 day limit. Malaquite campground located on the Gulf side also has no hook-ups but they do have a restroom and showers and there is plenty of room for self contained RVs. Primitive camping is allowed on the beaches and in Texas beaches are considered roads so if you have a 4x4 you will enjoy exploring the beaches. If your vehicle becomes stuck the park will not help you extract your vehicle - you’ll need to call a towing service. Birders will especially enjoy this seashore because many varieties of terns, gulls and other seabirds migrate through each year. For more detailed information visit the Padre Island National Seashore website here: Padre Island. Out combing the beaches of North America - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
I’m seeing something of a trend in RVing lately that involves the use of apartment sized refrigerators. These units are small enough to take with you and very nice for storing beverages on the patio. This frees up space in the RV refrigerator for more goodies and is convenient for outdoor living. Besides storing beverages, you can prepare a platter of burgers for the BBQ and store them in the outdoor refrigerator while you’re waiting for the coals to heat up. I frequently see these units plugged into the extra 110 outlet at the campsite utility box which frees up the 15 amp circuit in the RV for operating things like hair dryers and coffee pots. If you plan on staying at a park for a few weeks, and enjoy patio living you may want to consider picking up one of these small refrigerators. If you’re camping where there are bears, raccoons or teenagers forget it! Try to keep these refrigerators out of direct sunlight because they work better in the shade. Keeping you posted on cool RV ideas - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Champion RV window cleaner gets Bugs Off in the first round
Need a bug collection for the front of your RV? Love bugs are abundant in south Texas in April as evidenced by my motorhome windshield. These creatures are greasy and very difficult to remove especially after they’ve baked in the sun and welded themselves to the glass. You almost need a sand blaster to get these things off. Fortunately there is a great product that does the job the first time. The product is called “Bugs r' Off” and is sold by a company supplying a wonderful line of RV products. The company is Coil n’ Wrap and you may purchase Bugs r' Off online by clicking here: Coil n’ Wrap. I put this product to the challenge by cleaning the driver side window with regular blue window cleaner and the passenger side with Bugs r' Off. I can tell you without hesitation that Bugs r' Off is up to the task of removing these tough to clean bugs. The blue window cleaner left streaks and basically smeared the greasy bug mess making it worse. The hands down champion of this contest is Bugs r' Off. The product is shipped with a full spray bottle ready to use and a bottle of concentrate that will fill four more bottles. It will not remove wax finishes, leaves no soap residue and can be used on glass, chrome, fiberglass, leather, woodwork, counters and tires. I carry an extra bottle in my towed vehicle because there is nothing worse than touring a special place with a dirty windshield. I can see clearly now the bugs are gone - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Flushing the water heater is essential RV maintenance
I know you’ve been putting it off, but now that the good weather is here it’s time to do essential RV maintenance. One of the best things you can do for your hot water system is flush the hot water tank. This procedure rids the tank of dirt and mineral solids and is easy to perform. First be sure that the electric and gas switches to the hot water heater are off. Next turn on the hot water at the kitchen faucet and allow it to run until it is cool to the touch. This will ensure that the water inside the tank is cool enough that it will not scald you. Turn off the water pump and shut off the city water supply. Open the water heater compartment door and locate the drain plug. On my Atwood the drain plug is nylon but on the Suburban models it is a metal plug which also has an anodized core. You will need to purchase a replacement plug for these models prior to performing this procedure. Open the drain plug with a suitable wrench and allow the water to drain out. If you want it to drain faster you can open the temperature control valve. You may need to use a wire of screw driver to help break up any solids that plug the drain opening. After the tank has drained turn on the city water and allow it to run through the hot water heater for approximately five minutes. Rinse off the residue. turn off the city water, replace the plug and turn on the hot water faucet at the kitchen sink to expel the air and refill the tank. Turn on the heating element switch and you are done. With my warmest regards - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
RV visitors may be surprised to discover Hot Springs National Park is part of the city. Visiting Hot Springs, Arkansas, the boyhood home of Bill Clinton, brings you back to the era of the 1920’s. During the late 1800’s bath houses began to crop up along “Bath House Row” taking advantage of the natural hot springs that occurred in the valley. A wealthy railroad man and banker named of Samuel Fordyce came to Hot Springs in 1873 for treatment of his ailments caused by Civil War wounds. Benefiting from the treatment he moved his family to the town and began developing the community by investing in hotels and infrastructure. He erected the world famous Fordyce Bath House which now serves as the National Park Visitor Center.At this entrance counter patrons could purchase tickets in 1919 for 21 baths for the tidy sum of$15. Fortunately, you can tour the entire facility for free.At this same desk you can now talk to a Park Ranger and pick up a free self guided tour brochure.
The bath house had separate areas for men and women. The guys, wrapped toga-style in bath sheets, would lounge around on marble seats drinking cups of the hot spring water until their turn in the bath. The fountain is called “The Fountain of Youth” depicting Hernando de Soto receiving a gift of water from a Caddo Indian maiden. The elegant stained glass on the ceiling is entitled "Neptune’s Daughter" and is composed of 8,000 pieces of stained glass.People would come here for three weeks or more to enjoy the bath houses, hotels, restaurants and race track. It was a kind of medical tourism because these waters in Hot Springs were thought to have healing qualities. When these bath treatments were popular modern drugs like steroids, penicillin, vaccines, and even sulfa drugs had not yet been developed. So, these bath and shower treatments were the best you could hope for beyond primitive medicine.The hydrotherapy room contained vapor cabinets, cooling cabinets, sitz baths, needle showers and even an electric bath. Shocking as it sounds, it was thought to bring relief to certain maladies.
The Fordyce Bath House was more than a bath, it also had a state of the art gymnasium where the likes of Jack Dempsey worked out. There was a bowling alley and a modern elevator that would move you between floors. The upstairs lounge was a great place to relax after your treatment. Once you leave the bath house you can take a leisurely stroll down Bath House Row and see the renovations they are making on the grand old Quapaw Bath House. Here you will soon be able to experience first hand the bathing experience of a bygone era.
The area is plush with restaurants and entertainment including a wax museum and be sure to visit the grand old Arlington Hotel. Your visit is not complete without a tour of the Hot Springs Mountain Drive. Don’t plan on taking a large RV on this road because the hair-pin turns are very tight. Once at the top you can take an elevator to the top of the tower for a fee. The view is very nice with both an outdoor observation platform and an enclosed deck which houses a museum. A National Park, even one in a city, would not be complete without a campground. Gulpha Gorge Campground is typical of National Park camping with no hook-ups, or shower facilities. They do have a dump station and water hydrants. If you want hook-ups there are several RV parks nearby including a couple near Magic Srpings Amusement Park. Cloud Nine RV Park is about six miles north of Hot Springs at the top of a hill.Hot Springs, Arkansas is a great place to spend time relaxing and exploring. Watch the video for a closer look at what awaits you when you visit. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
RV yourself into beautiful Arkansas for scenery, history and entertainment
RVing an area is best done from one central location fanning out to take in the sights. The state of Arkansas is full of great cities and landscapes to explore and in this two part series I will touch on Little Rock and Hot Springs. Little Rock is an exceptionally nice capitol city with many venues that will delight and entertain. The second capitol building pictured below was designed to duplicate the look of the nation's capitol.The zoo, museums, downtown, and river park are enriching and pleasant. The Clinton Library overlooks the river and you can stroll along the river park where they hold art exhibits, festivals and other events throughout the year.The most striking place for me was a visit to Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.On the morning of September 4, 1957, the Arkansas National Guard, at the order of Governor Orval Faubus, blocked nine black school kids from entering Little Rock Central High School. This action was in direct defiance of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision handed down in Brown v. Board of Education making school segregation unconstitutional. President Dwight Eisenhower backed the Supreme Court’s constitutional authority by calling out the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division and on September 25th soldiers escorted the teenagers into the school. The school is a beautiful structure still in use as a High School and a National Historic Site with a visitor center. The Magnolia Mobil gas station on the corner near the high school was preserved as part of the historic site. The price for gas in 1957 was 22 ½ cents a gallon . We stayed a week at the I-30 RV park. The access roads on and off I-30 are crazy. If you miss your off-ramp you have to travel several miles to the next exit. Save the fuel and take a look at the map before you travel. In my next blog I take you to Hot Springs National Park - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing
Fulltime RVer and Professor of RVing Jim Twamley shares details of his life on the road, in the campground and around the campfire. If it has to do with RVs or the RV lifestyle, the Professor's on top of it.
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Removing street shoes at the entrance of your RV keeps the carpet cleaner. I have a rule when we are at the fair with our grandkids - NO SHOES IN THE RV ! 
After my FFA and 4-H grandkids have been in the pig stalls, sheep pens and horse barns the shoes and boots are not allowed inside.
We normally wear our street shoes in the house when the campground is clean and free of contaminating elements like mud and dirt. When it rains or we are camped in the dirt the shoes come off at the door. An outside vinyl or foam mat with a door mat is a must when camped in the dirt.
Having a throw rug down in the entrance area helps a great deal. When we do remove our shoes we place them on the throw rug at the entrance. If you leave your shoes outside you might find a surprise the next morning. Rain water, spiders, scorpions (when you camp in the desert) and who knows what else may be in your shoes if you leave them outdoors.
