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RV Travel: On the road


Issue 248 of RV Travel. Learn about RV camping, RV travel, RV news and much more. This newsletter is funded through sales at RVbookstore.com, the World's Largest RV Bookstore specializing in books and DVDs about RVs and the RV lifestyle.

Win a digital camera and other prizes in Sunday's Knowledge Quiz.
Plus: Pot of Gold pot cash prize now $100.00!
Details below.

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Editor's Corner
By Chuck Woodbury

It's hard not to do a double-take when you are following this pickup truck. Spotted in Yreka, Calif.
I drove from Seattle to Northern California last week to visit friends and family. I made many stops, revisiting places I had been before but not lately. First stop was Milwaukie, Oregon, southwest of Portland. I wanted to check out Art Lacey's Bomber Complex, once a Texaco gas station. It's a restaurant now. But for a few decades it was a gas station with a B-17 bomber perched high atop the pumps. The Flying Fortress is still there, but the cockpit is gone. Lacey flew the surplus bomber from Texas to Oregon even though he barely knew how to fly. He crashed the first plane, but surplus WWII bombers were cheap so he got another. After landing in Portland, he removed the wings and drove the plane to his gas station where he mounted it above the pumps. It's on highway 99 East if you want to see it. Hopefully, the cockpit will be back soon.

Farther south, I stopped in Myrtle Creek to check out the municipal RV campground. The last time I was there it was $5 a night: alas, it's up to $15 now, which includes 20-amp hookups. Still, it's a pretty place in the city park, just a three-minute walk from the old-fashioned main street. I also visited a couple of covered bridges: Douglas County has six of them, making for plenty of Kodak moments.
You smell this store before you see it!
In Grants Pass, I stopped at Blind George's Newsstand to check out the huge selection of magazines. The store was founded in 1922 by a blind man named George Spencer. My nose found Blind George's about 10 years ago. You see, it's famous for its popcorn, which is popped all day with the buttery aroma vented outside to spread the wonderful smell throughout town. I picked up the scent a few blocks away and followed it to the store in the town's historic district.
Ruthie and her Taco Bell medals
Two hours south in Yreka, Calif., I stopped for a pastry at the Yreka Bakery, whose name has a unique claim to fame. But I couldn't find it. The name of the business is a palindrome, meaning it's spelled the same way backward or forward. By now I was running late, so I stopped at Taco Bell to grab a burrito to go. A woman named Ruthie waited on me. She had about 20 medals pinned to her Taco Bell hat so I asked what they meant. "Some are because I've worked here so long, some are because I clean and some are because I know what I'm doing," she said. Ruthie told me she had worked at the Taco Bell store for 12 years, which must be a near-record tenure for a fast food employee.

I'll be writing more about these things and more in my blog in the days and weeks ahead. I'll be exploring California for the next two weeks.

***
Pot of Gold Contest
Check each weekday to see if you live in the day's randomly selected Zip Code. If you do, and you're the first to tell us, you win the cash prize, which increases every day there is not a winner up to a maximum prize of $1,000. The contest runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Pacific Time). The current pot is $100. Check the Pot of Gold here.

Last week's winning Zip Codes were 31561, 83342, 09880, 00926 and 16915. If you live in one of these locations and had told us so the day the Zip Code appeared, you would have won at least $90 cash.

Win a digital camera in Sunday's Knowledge Quiz
Get the details and learn the start times below.
See the long list of upcoming quiz prizes!

New DVD shows how to earn money while RVing
Learn how to earn income while traveling with your RV. In this DVD, author and work camping expert Jaimie Hall reveals what you need to know to gain employment or run your own business while traveling with a recreational vehicle. 75-minutes. Retail $17.95. Our price only $15.81. Learn more or order
ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Read RV Travel editor Chuck Woodbury's blog.

Did you miss last week's RV Travel newsletter? Read it here.

Flag Pole Buddy
A new innovative design in a ladder mounted flag bracket. Includes a 3x5 American flag. The new bracket allows you to raise and lower your flag in seconds. Includes a 12 foot aluminum pole that folds down to 6 feet & withstands the harshest desert winds. Learn more.

Get Your Free Autumn Lover's Guide
With all the delights of a Tennessee autumn - bonfires, snuggling, cider, hayrides, colorful rustling leaves, warm pies, the season's first hot chocolates, picking and carving pumpkins - falling in love with Tennessee is a sure thing. Learn more and get a free vacation guide here.

This Week's Reader Survey

Have you ever ordered a takeout pizza delivered to you at a campground? Answer here.

Last week's survey question
Is your RV's bathroom too big, too small or just right? Read the results.

Past reader surveys and results

Stay free in Wal-Mart parking lots
Learn where to find Wal-Marts, most of which allow RVers to stay overnight for free in their parking lots. It's not "camping," but it's free. Get driving directions to every store in the USA. New in the 2006 edition: Stores that sell diesel fuel! Retail price $24.95. Order now at our Everyday Low Price of only $19.83 -- the best price anywhere!
Articles from the RV Travel family of websites

TO RETURN NEXT WEEK

ROADTREK MOTORHOMES:
The Fuel Efficient Motorhomes You'll Love to Drive! Learn all about them here.
Check out our RV Travel Forum discussions

Looking for the Ideal Sales Experience
"I am a newbie from San Diego. Could someone refer me to a wonderful and reputable salesperson whom you bought from who works in the greater SD/LA area? If you can't give a specific name, perhaps a dealership?"

Dealing with a Pitch at End of Driveway
"Does anyone have suggestions for modifying a pitched driveway? I am trying to back in a Starcraft tent trailer with a Toyota Sienna van (lower than most) and everything at the hitch scrapes the concrete." Offer advice

Anyone Stay at Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds?
"If so, what did you think of it? I haven't heard much about them, but a couple years ago, I know I saw a book on the subject." Reply here

Looking for Ideas/Info to Winter Some Months in Florida
"I live in a travel trailer in Texas and am looking for a financially acceptable means of spending a few months this winter in central Florida (not gonna take my TT), either buy a very small, well-used motorhome to use for wintering or find an inexpensive apartment for the duration." Offer advice

Need Advice on Canadian Travel
"I'm in the planning stage for trip with kids from Florida to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Anyone have any insider tips or advice on general travel, incoming food restrictions, cool places to see or fun things to do, things/places to avoid, good/bad campgrounds, etc.?" Reply here

And in the FreeCampgrounds.com forum
. . .check out the latest on boondocking in Biloxi, Miss. Read the posting.

Travel America's Loneliest Highway
Get your free Hwy 50 Survival Guide and discover nearly 300 miles of history, adventure and intrigue along "America's loneliest road."
All the Stuff You Need to Know About RVing
Advice for new and novice RVers
"Flying J Truck Stops allow free, overnight parking in most locations. Many have a different area away from the big trucks. Go in and buy something and say thanks." This tip is one of more than 500 in All the Stuff You Need to Know About RVing by Ronald Jones and Robert Lowe.
Hear the hit RV tune "Waltzing Through Wal-Mart"
Have you ordered your copy of Cliff Boyd's hilarious collection of RV songs? What are you waiting for? Learn more about this best selling album and hear 30-seconds of Cliff's hilarious hit tune "Waltzing Through Wal-Mart."

K/M Resorts of America
Eight beautiful resort locations in Washington's favorite camping region. Truly great Northwestern getaways with all of the comforts of home. Learn more.

Bill's Hint 
"A bad connection on an electric stop will keep the step from extending or retracting. The ground connection is usually immediately adjacent to the step itself." From Trailers and Fifth Wheels Made Easy. 
On Sale Now at Camping World!
From flexible sewer hoses to extra wide lounge chairs and everything in between. Over 200 products on sale now at Camping World. Check it out!
Suzanne Somers to headline big RV rally next summer.
Actress and entertainer Suzanne Somers will bring her nightclub act next July 19 to "The RV Rally" the huge annual get-together sponsored by the same people who own the Good Sam Club and Trailer Life. Somers is most famous for her role as the dumb blonde in the TV sitcom "Three's Company." The Rally will be held at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, Oregon.

Lassie star to appear at RV trade show
Jon Provost, who as a child played Timmy on the Lassie RV show, will be a special guest at the annual National RV Trade Show on Nov. 28 in Louisville, Kentucky.

RV shipments plunge
Overall wholesale RV deliveries dropped 16.3 percent in September, primarily because of a 20 percent decline in travel trailer shipments. September shipments totaled 27,800 units, down from 33,200 the previous year. Class A motorhome shipments declined 17.6 percent from the year before.

Restaurant chain offers Good Sam signups
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, a national restaurant chain is now offering Good Sam Club membership signups at its 548 locations across the U.S.

Propane explosion sends RVer flying
A Sandy, Oregon man was sent flying after he tried to light the propane stove in his 19 foot motorhome and the gas exploded. The force of the blast sent the RV roof flying along with the man, who received second-degree burns on his forehead and face. No reason was given for what caused the blast, but it’s a reminder to other RVers to be careful with propane and its systems. See a pic of the RV (and weep).

Riddle: The day before yesterday, Chris was 7 years old. Next year, she'll turn 10. How is this possible? Answer far below
Traveling to Alaska by Ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway?
Visit the official website. Check out great deals. Get prices, plan your trip and make a reservation.

Corp of Engineers Campgrounds
One of the Best Kept Secrets in the RV World!
This 288 page guide, updated in 2005, describes more than 850 campgrounds across the United States developed or managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Learn more.

Bumper Snicker
"My other car is a broom."
Read other funny bumper stickers or buy them.
Read the new RV Travel Magazine
If you like this newsletter, you will love the new printed RV Travel Magazine. It's packed with great articles, columns and photos, and edited by RVtravel.com editor Chuck Woodbury. Wonderful reading! Only $9.95 for one year! Hear the editor talk about the new magazine or subscribe

Finally, a book about how to drive a motorhome!
Drive Your Motorhome Like a Pro tells and shows you how to drive a motorhome. Written by a bus driver and trainer for Gray Line Tours. First book of its kind. Only $9.95! Learn more or order.

Boondocking Tip
By Russ and Tina De Maris

Don't Go Postal!
Getting your mail on the road can be a test of your faith and patience. When traveling, having mail sent via General Delivery is what most RVers fall back on. But mail can be delayed, so be prepared to hang out for an extra day or two if your shipment doesn't show up. If you must move on before your expected mail arrives, fill out a change of address form, showing General Delivery as your "old" address, and your next stopping point as the "new" address. To avoid this hassle, if someone back home is forwarding your mail to you, you can take the expensive (but possibly more reliable) method of having your mail sent by an overnight company like UPS or FedEx and "held for pickup," at its nearest facility. Call the carrier of your choice and ask them about "hold for pickup" service. -- Russ and Tina De Maris are the authors of the book RV Boondocking Basics and the eBook Boondocking Tips for RVers.

Join the Good Sam Club
Only $19 a year. World's largest RV club. Save on camping fees plus free RV magazine and much more.
RVing in Australia
Motorhoming in Queensland
Aussie Gail Bennett begins a series profiling the states of Australia and opportunies each presents to RVers. In this installment she begins in Queensland, where she shares one of her favorite boondocking spots. Read the story.
NEED AN RV LOAN?
Learn if you qualify in only seconds.
Financial Underwriters Network (F.U.N.) provides exceptional service and low loan rates. Learn if you qualify.
Trivia 
Elvis Presley died of an accidental drug overdose while sitting on the toilet.
Check out these great titles from RVbookstore.com
RVers Guide to Casino Camping. Learn which casinos offer free camping, RV parks and gaming bonuses.
RVers Friend: Find out what services truck stops provide to RVers: free camping, WiFi, RV repairs, diesel, etc.
The Next Exit: Never take the wrong exit off an interstate highway.
Guide to Free Campgrounds: Get the scoop about where to stay for free or nearly free.

This issue's
Knowledge Quiz

Win this digital camera in this weekend's Quiz. Or win other swell prizes!
Three Quizzes on Sunday
with fabulous prizes!

The prizes:
--A beautiful container can of Road Kill Grill Seasoning. "Makes All Critters Taste Great!"
--A one year subscription (or renewal) to RV Travel Magazine!
--A 5 megapixel Kodak EasyShare C530 Digital camera.

Prizes will not necessarily be awarded in the order shown above.

QUIZ QUESTIONS WILL NOT APPEAR until the actual start time of the Quiz.

Answer the first quiz here on Sunday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m, Pacific Time.
Answer the second quiz here on Sunday, November 5 at 11:30 a.m., Pacific Time.
Answer the third quiz here on Sunday, November 5 at 1:00 p.m., Pacific Time.

Knowledge Quiz official rules

Buying an RV?
Don't plop down your hard-earned cash without reading RV Travel editor Chuck Woodbury's new eBook, Buying an RV the Smart Way. For $9.95, you'll learn how to save money and avoid making buying mistakes that could cause big headaches later. The eBook is emailed to you immediately after ordering, and can be read online or printed out. Covers buying both new and used RVs.
RV Tech Tip by Mark Polk
Care of Rubber Roofs
Rubber roofs on RVs should be cleaned three to four times a year and depending on where you park or store your RV it may need to be cleaned more often. Regardless of the type of rubber roof you have, NEVER use any cleaners or conditioners that contain petroleum solvents, harsh abrasives, or citrus ingredients. These types of cleaners can cause permanent damage to any rubber or vinyl surface. Most manufacturers of rubber roofs recommend you use a medium bristle brush and a non-abrasive cleaner. For light cleaning you can use warm water and a mild detergent like Dawn dish washing liquid. Hard to clean areas like stubborn stains caused by leaves, sap, mold or mildew may require a second treatment. Use caution to prevent the cleaners from getting on the sides of the RV. ALWAYS rinse the sides, front and back of your RV before rinsing the roof to prevent streaking or damage to the finish on your RV. Learn about Mark Polk's RV "How-to" DVDs and eBooks.

Books and DVDs about RV Technical Topics: Click here.

RVing Resources. . .

Visit the RV Travel Reader Forum to discuss everything to do with RVing with other RVers.

Upcoming RV Shows

Great RV Stuff
Learn about new and groovy products for your RV.

RV-Links
Loads of links to great websites about RVing.

RV Buying Tips: Spend five minutes here and help ensure you don't make classic RV buying mistakes.

RVing With Dogs: Got a pooch onboard? You'll love this website.

Life On Wheels
"Go to school" to learn about RVing. Five annual conferences.   

Investigate a company with the Better Business Bureau before making a purchase.   

Full Time RVing
    
RV Recalls
    
Workamping Information: Workamper News is THE best place to find jobs on the RV road. 

Worth Pondering 
"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint -- and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you." -- Oprah Winfrey  
Read back issues of the RV Travel newsletter. Click here.    
Random RV Thought
Some cars today cost as much as motorhomes. It's easy to spend $60,000 on a car, even more for fancy high performance imports. The difference between buying a high priced car and a motorhome is that the car doesn't have a kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. So who would want to spend a whole lot of money on a car when they could buy a fully-furnished home on wheels for the same price?
New arrivals at RVbookstore.com.
Check them out
RV Travel staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Contributors: Russ and Tina De Maris, Gerry Bruder, Gail Bennett, Mark Polk. Forum Administrator: Adrienne Kristine. Office Manager: Jody Allcott. Web Operations Director: Zoey Platt. Clapper Loader: Emily Woodbury.   
Riddle answer: Today is Jan. 1st. Yesterday, December 31, was Chris' 8th birthday. So on December 30, she was still 7. This year she will turn 9, and next year she'll turn 10.
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 just because we said so, or fixing something like 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 and that's the honest truth (as opposed to the dishonest truth). Our customers receive really, really fast service. We move so fast in sending out a customer's order that sometimes we pass through the sound barrier, which really upsets our neighbors. Our motto is "You need it so we speed it," and no truer words were ever spoken!

RVbookstore.com and RVtravel.com are members of the Better Business Bureau. We are proud commercial members of the Escapees, the Family Motor Coaching Association, and a sponsor of the 2006 Life On Wheels Conferences. We are also darn good people.

RV Travel is copyright 2006 by RVbookstore.com. Our International Headquarters: RVbookstore.com, 170 W. Dayton Street, Suite 103, Edmonds WA 98020, USA, Earth, Milky Way, Known Universe, Unknown Universe.



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