Subject: Arizona officials focus on which state parks will close
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PHOENIX, Ariz. -- It\'s not a fun time to be the director of state parks in Arizona. Renee Bahl had her hands tied a few weeks ago when legislators reduced state park funding from $19 million in 2009 to $7.5 million in 2010. That move ensures that some state parks will close, but which ones.
Bahl told the East Valley Tribune that the system is being crippled because legislators took away revenue from the funds the park system normally gets from other sources, such as admission fees and assessments on registration of boats and off-road vehicles. The decision on which parks will close will be released within two weeks.
One of the most important criteria Bahl will use is to determine which parks make money or, at the very least, don\'t lose a lot. Parks like Kartchner Caverns, Rock, Lake Havasu and Catalina state parks are big money producers for the states. However, according to the Tribune, costs at Tonto Natural Bridge near Payson exceed revenues by $541,000, Red Rock State Park at Sedona operates on a $190,000-a-year loss, with six-digit deficits at Tubac Presidio, Picacho Peak, Homolovi Ruins and the Riordan Mansion.
Bahl said the board will consider one-time costs, like fencing, or costs associated with added security to reduce fire hazards and prevent tresspassing.
According to the Tribune, board chairman Reese Woodling said the parks bring in more in tax dollars from visitors to communities than the cost. He said that message seems lost on lawmakers. But board member Arlan Colton said it\'s not that they don\'t understand. He said that, facing a multi-billion dollar deficit, \"I don\'t really think they give a horse\'s patootie\" about the effect of taking a couple of million dollars from the parks system.\"
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Subject: Cummins employees support breast cancer treatment program
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JAMESTOWN, N.Y. -- Employees of Cummins\' Jamestown Engine Plant raised $7,564.77 so the WCA Hospital and the Center For Imaging could buy a new full-field digital mammography imaging system.
The money was raised in October in an effort to heighten breast cancer awareness, according to an article in the Observer.
Throughout October, the Women\'s Affinity Council conducted a series of events and activities entitled \"Filtering Change,\" to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. More than 2,800 pink filter coin banks were produced by Cummins\' Lake Mills Filtration Plant. These banks were distributed throughout Cummins\' facilities in North America and many were purchased as gifts for family, friends, and survivors of breast cancer. At the Jamestown Engine Plant, as employees purchased the banks, they were also asked to collect change for donation through the Women\'s Affinity Council to WCA Hospital.
\"Our move into digital mammography is both important and urgent,\" Dr. Lyndon Gritters, a hospital radiologist, told the Observer. \"Detecting early breast cancer saves lives, and digital mammography will improve our ability to find these early, potentially curable cancers. I can\'t thank the Cummins\' employees enough for their generosity and enthusiastic support of this effort!\"
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Subject: Winnebago employees working more hours
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FOREST CITY, Iowa -- Winnebago Industries employees missed their tradtiional time off around the holidays, thanks to an increased backlog of sales orders, according to an article published by the Globe Gazette.
Winnebago employees typically have an extra week or two of vacation over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, said Sheila Davis, company spokesperson. However, this year, some employees even worked on New Year\'s Eve.
Working through that traditional plant shutdown will help ease the impact of four holidays and a physical inventory day planned during the second quarter of fiscal 2010, Winnebago Industries Chief Executive Officer and President Bob Olson said during a Dec. 17 review of the first quarter results, the Globe Gazette reported.
He said the company, which laid off about 900 workers at its Forest City and Charles City plants and closed a Charles City plant in a restructuring process begun in January 2008, has been using all three Forest City production lines since October. “We are now working overtime and have increased our hourly employee base by approximately 350 since the end of the fiscal year on Aug. 29,” he said.
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Subject: The place to buy your first or next RV.
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Hello Bill: Greg Vogt here. Just wanted to tell you that the coach ran great all the way. Total miles travelled 1703-Trouble free. Thanks to you and everyone else for all your time and patience. I would recommend to anyone that Arizona RV Supercenter is the place to buy your first or next RV. Being a business owner it’s refreshing to see a dedicated group at work. Thanks again man. Don’t feel bad if you have to wear a jacket tonight. Here it is -25 with about 15-20 Cm. of snow. Wind gusts to 70 Km/Hr.
Greg Vogt
Vogt Interiors Inc.
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Subject: NBA on ESPN RV Tour
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The “NBA on ESPN RV Tour” is continuing its national road trip, now into its third consecutive season.
The RV, in which ESPN personalities “travel” to games in ESPN’s NBA on-air promotions, will be on-site at more than 20 regular season NBA games this season, the NBA All Star Weekend and the NBA playoffs, according to a news release from the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). The tour begins with the San Antonio Spurs home opener vs. the New Orleans Hornets tonight (Oct. 28).
“We’re excited that ESPN has decided to continue this promotional effort in which the motorhome plays such a key role,” said Gary LaBella, RVIA vice president and chief marketing officer. “The tour and the commercials help promote RVing to another important television audience and enhance Go RVing’s advertising on other ESPN programming such as NASCAR, PBA bowling and thoroughbred horse racing.”
The “NBA on ESPN RV Tour” promotes ESPN and ABC’s expanded NBA television coverage, airing games on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays throughout the season. As the RV travels from game to game, it also makes a number of in-market stops including visits at ESPN Zones, ESPN the Weekend at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, and at a number of charitable organizations. Last season, the RV crisscrossed its way across the country, making more than 36 different stops at NBA games in more than 14 different states, while logging more than 40,000 miles.
At each tour stop, NBA fans have the opportunity to tour the RV, parked in a prominent location of the hosting arena, as well as participate in activities such as free throw contests, vertical jump challenges, souvenir photo stations, and more. NBA on ESPN branded premiums, such as mini-basketballs, T-shirts, backpacks and rally towels are also given away at the RV. Fans can also track the RV’s progress online and view photos and videos of tour stops via the RV’s Facebook Fan Page and Twitter feed.
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Subject: Arizona RV Resort opens new park along Colorado River
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LAKE HAVASU, Ariz. -- The Havasu Springs RV Resort in Havasu, Ariz., has opened its gates and is officially ready for RV campers from across the nation. This state-of-the-art RV campground in features amenities like pull-through RV spaces, tennis courts, heated pool and golf course.
Havasu Springs Resort also offers a boat launch, making it easy to get boats and personal watercraft in and out of the lake. The Colorado River RV campground also offers the luxury of nearby boat rentals, allowing everyone the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon on the lake. Visitors will enjoy a sporting goods store, daily planned group activities, and on-site laundry facilities.
The nearby attractions make this RV resort one-of-a-kind. The park is conveniently located on the shores of Lake Havasu with access to both Arizona and California, via Interstate 40. The marina offers a cocktail lounge, restaurant and boat launches. The resort boasts an exquisite 18-hole golf course, wet suit cocktail bar and luxurious dining room for a formal night out.
The opening of the park is the latest in a solid line of RV campgrounds in the Colorado River Adventures Family.
For more information on the Havasu Springs Resort, call 866.217.8111 or visit www.coloradoriveradventures.com.
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Subject: Arizona commission allows RVers to camp on private property
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PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- The Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend allowing residents to camp temporarily in recreational vehicles and travel trailers on private parcels of 10 acres or more.
It would limit camping to 10 consecutive days as many as three times a year. The vehicles may not connect to utilities and owners may not rent them to other campers. The Board of Supervisors votes on the commission\'s recommendation at its Nov. 5 meeting in Prescott.
Current zoning ordinances do not allow the public to camp on private property in RVs and travel trailers.
Commissioner Curtis Lindner wondered why the ordinance amendment specified 10 acres instead of five or fewer. Land Use Manager Steve Mauk said that he thought 10-acre parcels would have the least amount of visual impact on neighbors.
\"This is a first step; let\'s give it a go,\" Commissioner Tom Reilly said. \"We can always come back and re-address it.\"
Commissioners discussed, but did not vote, on two zoning ordinance amendments: the dark sky ordinance and allowing park model trailers as dwellings. Commissioners re-hear and could vote on the proposed amendments at their Oct. 21 meeting in Cottonwood.
The amendment to the dark sky ordinance would allow certain lighting systems that the current ordinance restricts. Restrictions now allow for low-wattage holiday and landscape light systems; motion-sensor security lights that do not shine onto adjacent parcels; and flagpole lights that are fully shielded.
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Subject: California RV park to host 200 bicyclists involved in arthritis fundraiser
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BUELLTON, Calif. -- About 200 bicyclists will begin arriving this afternoon at Flying Flags RV Park in Buellton as part of the ninth annual Amgen California Coast Classic, an eight-day bike ride from San Francisco to Santa Monica to benefit the Arthritis Foundation.
Through pledges by the riders and their supporters, the foundation hopes to raise more than $1 million for the 46 million Americans who suffer from more than 120 forms of arthritis.
Among the riders are several people who suffer from arthritis themselves, organizers said.
For more information on the bike ride, visit www.californiacoastclassic.org.
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Subject: Friend Communications to provide online reservations for Olympic campgrounds
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ORANGE, Calif. -- Duckworth Management Group and Friend Communications have joined forces to provide 24/7, online reservations and a front office management system for the Vancouver Park Board\'s Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach Parks during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
This service will provide RVers planning to attend the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver the convenience of instant access for looking and booking online at one of the two city parks, which are being converted to overnight RV parking to house out-of-town RVers.
Stan Duckworth said the integration of the Friend Hercules system will allow staff to easily manage both front office and online reservations creating a reduced work load on the staff. \"By providing the Olympic RVer with the online tools to plan their visit to our area, we are able to instantly reach more visitors with fewer phone calls. This partnership allows us to offer a streamlined reservation system to our customers, speeding up our response time,\" he said.
Friend Communications developed this online reservation system specifically for the campground industry. It combines real-time Internet reservations with sophisticated, Web-based front office management tools.
Deb Kohls, Friend Communication\'s vice president, said the web-based application service gives Duckworth the tools necessary to reach the online visitor and eliminates the need to install a costly network infrastructure to support the operations of both parks.
\"Because Hercules is a completely centralized system, Duckworth can maintain control of their inventory in a single application and can concentrate on delivering the service requirements to the City of Vancouver. We are pleased to be partnering with Duckworth Management to provide this service for the 2010 Winter Olympics,\" she said.
Headquartered in Langley, British Columbia, Duckworth Management Group provides management and consulting services in both the tourism and not-for-profit sectors. Visit www.duckworthmanagement.com for more information.
Friend Communications Inc. is an Internet technology services organization, whose products enhance the consumer experience and improve business processes by utilizing Web-based tools to connect consumers, businesses and partners within the leisure travel industries. Friend Communications uses e-business strategies to increase online visibility, create new revenue opportunities, improve operational efficiencies and create on-going relationships with the online consumer.
For more information, call 888.333.9383, ext. 223 or visit www.friendcommunications.com.
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Subject: Keystone recalls 25 Laredos to correct problem with ladder mount
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WASHINGTON -- Keystone RV is recalling 25 model year 2009 Laredo 301SLR fifth wheel travel trailers manufactured between Sept. 29, 2008 and Feb. 24, 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced.
The exterior side wall ladder mounts may pull loose from the wall during use. If the ladder mounts pull loose while someone is on the ladder, injury could result.
Keystone RV will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began today.
For more information, owners may call Keystone at 866.425.4369. Reference recall No. 09-124 when calling. |
Subject: On the road again: RV sales see an upswing
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A closely watched report Tuesday on consumer confidence is expected to show modest improvement, but some economists are heartened by a more obscure measure of buyer sentiment: recreational vehicle sales.
RV wholesale shipments jumped 16% in August from July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 209,800, the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association reports Tuesday.
While that\'s about half the industry\'s torrid sales pace in 2006, it\'s a 136% surge from January. The trade group predicts 146,200 shipments in 2009 and a 27% increase in 2010.
Sales of motor homes and travel trailers are seen by some economists as a leading indicator of the economy\'s health, because they\'re among the largest discretionary purchases a consumer can make.
Trailers cost about $6,000 to $60,000, while motor homes — which include a living space within a vehicle — typically fetch $50,000 to $300,000. About 8% of U.S. households, mostly families and retirees, own an RV.
RV sales began dipping in early 2007, many months before overall retail sales declined and the recession\'s start in December of that year. In recoveries, camper sales often heat up early, as buyers who put off purchases grow optimistic enough to open their wallets.
\"Prospects that we talked to a year ago, even in spring of 2008, are now beginning to come out and buy,\" says Scott Hayden, president of Driftwood RV, the largest RV retailer in New Jersey.
After plunging by a third in 2008 and early this year, Driftwood sales in September are 15% ahead of a year ago and up 4% vs. September 2007.
Industry officials attribute the rebound to improved credit for dealers and consumers, low dealer inventories and stable gas prices. The big driver is rising buyer sentiment, which could augur more robust retail sales than predicted.
\"It would suggest the worst of the (stock market) decline seems to be over, and the consumer is in a position to come back,\" says Indiana economist Morton Marcus, who studies the RV market.
Manufacturer Airstream has boosted production 30% the past six weeks. Keystone RV is hiring 200 workers to fill added demand.
Some economists put less premium on RV sales. Wells Fargo\'s Mark Vitner says buyers are likely retirees who deferred purchases, a trend that won\'t extend to other big-ticket items, such as cars.
Economists\' consensus forecast for the September consumer confidence report Tuesday indicates that the Conference Board\'s index rose this month to the highest level in a year but is still well below normal.
By Paul Davidson, USA TODAY
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Subject: Ooops! Plane crashes into travel trailer at New York RV park
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MONTAUK, N.Y. -- The pilot of a 1979 Cessna Skylark II attempted to land just 500 feet short of the end of 3,200 feet of runaway at the Montauk Airport on Saturday at about 2:30 p.m.
The plane crashed through a fence on East Lake Drive, crossed that road, shearing off branches from a stand of Russian olive trees, and crashed into a trailer parked at Rick’s Crabby Cowboy Cafe. No one was hurt.
“They were going too fast,” Helen Gil, the manager at the Montauk Airport, said. “I was in front of the wind-sock” on the runway, she said. “They came in a little too high and fast,” she said as she walked over skid marks on the runway.
Stanley Urbanowiecz was in the camper next to the one the plane crashed into. He and some friends heard a loud crash. “We looked out the window. It looked like the other trailer had jumped. We were the first to the plane. There was fuel leaking. The pilot was all right.”
“You get to something like this, everyone is a little on pins and needles,” Montauk Fire Chief Robert Gosman said on Monday. The first thing he said, was the smell not just of aviation fuel, but of propane from the camper. “The worst part is the fumes, the vapors. Any little spark can ignite,” he said.
Chris and Judy Bodecker, the owners of the Forest River Cherokee trailer that the plane crashed into, were home in Tenafly, N.J., at the time celebrating Mrs. Bodecker’s mother’s 83rd birthday.
When he and his wife were told “I have some bad news for you. Your trailer has been struck by a plane,” they thought the phone call was a practical joke. “We had joked about it when we parked, ‘I sure hope it doesn’t get hit by a plane,’ ” Mrs. Bodecker said as she and her husband assessed the damage the next day. The interior of the trailer was covered with shattered glass, the frame of the vehicle bent from the impact.
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Subject: One arrested after fire and explosion at Maine RV park
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NAPLES, Maine -- Police said a woman was arrested and a man was taken to a hospital after a recreational vehicle parked at a Maine campground caught fire.
Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion said authorities responded Wednesday night after receiving reports of an explosion and fire at the Four Seasons Campground on Long Lake.
Naples Fire Chief Chris Pond said the apparent owner of the trailer left in a car, which he crashed a short distance from the campground. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of second-degree burns to his arms.
At the campground, Jessica Jackson, 29, of Casco was arrested on the charge of assault and obstructing government administration after allegedly assaulting an investigator from the state fire marshal\'s office in the face. |
Subject: Full-time RVers opt for cheap and friendly
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NANAIMO, B.C. -- With summer over, all but the diehard campers have packed up and gone home, allowing a peace to settle in for Nanaimo\'s permanent RV park residents.
Resort living became a legitimate form of housing in Nanaimo about 10 years ago when city council passed a bylaw creating specific zoning for the purpose.
Today, RV residents make up an entire subculture of mostly retirees and some blue-collar workers for whom home ownership is an unrealistic dream.
With housing now costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, people are turning to RV life as an affordable option. RVs can be bought second-hand for less than $10,000 and pad rental is typically less than $500 a month, including electricity, sewer and water services.
The lifestyle also offers the freedom to pick up and go whenever and wherever a person wants. Still, it\'s not a secure form of housing since landowners could sell or redevelop a park.
Nanaimo has three RV parks zoned for permanent residency: Resort on the Lake, Brannen Lake Campground and Jingle Pot RV Park. A fourth, Living Forest Campground, allows temporary residency for up to eight months of the year, allowing snowbirds to travel south for winter.
The lifestyle means a closeness to neighbors often unknown in suburbia, even though RV park life can sometimes carry a social stigma. For those who embrace their permanent RV homes, it\'s a viable alternative to urban living.
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Subject: California State Parks Get Reprieve from Closing
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California State Parks officials — who had planned to tell the public this week which state parks were going to be closed this year due to budget cuts — admitted Tuesday (Sept. 15) that the job of determining which parks to shutter is more complicated than they thought it would be.
As a result, they indefinitely delayed naming the 100 parks to be closed. They also said they did not know when the closures will occur, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
“We are involved in a process we didn’t understand was as complicated as it is,” said Roy Stearns, spokesman for the park system.
One big problem, officials said, is that they don’t know exactly how they’re going to keep the public out of closed state parks and beaches. Officials fear a free-for-all among squatters and ruffians for dibs on thousands of acres of unpatrolled parkland.
Hard to fence in
“That’s the difficulty and also the worry as we try to come up with a list of closures,” said Stearns. “It’s pretty impossible to close (many of the beaches and parks) or put a fence around them. People are probably going to go there. We hope they are careful and don’t put themselves at risk.”
Stearns said local sheriff’s deputies will primarily be responsible for patrolling the closed parks, but many state beaches and remote wildland areas will be impossible to supervise adequately.
“We hope there is a kind of statewide neighborhood watch where people make a call if there is something that shouldn’t be there,” Stearns said. “Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of our visitors are very watchful of these places and are as disappointed as we are that they are closing. I would suspect people will be eager to be watchful and report unscrupulous activities.”
2010 ballot measure
Stearns said the final list, when it is released, will be a working document that may change if funding changes or if there are new ideas to keep parks open.
One idea is to put a $15 vehicle license fee on the ballot in November 2010. The initiative, being considered by a coalition of environmental groups, would raise about $400 million a year and eliminate entrance fees for motorists at all state parks.
The California Conservation Action Fund, which lists the California State Parks Foundation, the Nature Conservancy and the National Audubon Society as contributors, will decide this fall whether to spend some of the nearly $1 million in the committee’s coffers to get the issue on the ballot.
”We want off this roller coaster ride, and we are looking for a tool that will be viable and will provide a long-term funding source for the state parks,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, executive director of the parks foundation, which is leading the effort.
Voters unpredictable
But a ballot initiative is not a sure thing. Legislation for such vehicle fees failed in 2008 and 2009 after Republican lawmakers opposed new taxes. Despite initial support in polls, it is unclear whether cash-strapped voters would agree to another Department of Motor Vehicle fee.
The agreement to close as many as 100 of the parks was part of a deal signed in July by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to erase a $24 billion budget gap this fiscal year. The deficit-elimination plan means virtually every state department will lose personnel and see funding slashed, but the state park hit list is weighted with a huge amount of public anxiety and outrage. It will be the first time in the 108-year history of the park system that a park has been closed to balance the budget.
California’s 279 state parks, which cover 1.5 million acres, were already operating on little more than a shoestring budget, having absorbed years of cost cutting and staff reductions. As it is, the state parks have $1.2 billion in deferred maintenance on the books. Now, many of these under-maintained parks are facing outright abandonment.
Which parks?
Which parks will be closed remains a mystery. Park officials had said that parks that don’t make money, cannot be operated with minimal staffing and are not self-sustaining through fees are in jeopardy. Stearns said the project now is to determine which parks can be patrolled by personnel from nearby parks or by part-time workers.
“The last thing we want to do is close parks if there are alternatives out there, so if someone shows up the day after we release the list with an idea, then it would behoove us to listen,” Stearns said. “The goal would be to have this run its course in two years or less when hopefully the economy improves, state revenues improve and we can put our state parks back together.”
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Subject: RVers Commemorate Epic Trek Across Africa
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Dale “Pee-Wee” Schwamborn was a 20-year-old college student when he led the way as an advance scout during the 1959 Airstream caravan from Cape Town, South Africa, to Cairo, Egypt, a trip that took about six months to complete.
Fifty years later, Schwamborn, a California native, was again at the front of the pack as a caravan of Airstreams made their way across the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge on Friday (Sept. 11) on their way in a tribute to the original trip, according to the Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, Mo.
This time they were going from Cape Girardeau to Cairo, Ill., a 68-mile trek that falls considerably short of the more than 4,000 miles of the original journey, and there were only 17 recreational vehicles in the caravan compared to the 41 that made the Africa trip.
Still, the trip was special, Schwamborn said.
”I can’t think it went anything but great,” said Steve Burrows, an Airstream trailer owner and aficionado who planned and led the caravan.
Burrows got the idea to recreate the trip as a celebration of the 50th anniversary when he met Schwamborn at an Airstream event in Texas.
“I thought it was a really fun idea,” Schwamborn said.
Schwamborn’s mother, Helen Byam Schwamborn, founded the international Airstream club WBCCI. Her husband, Wally Byam, who died in 1962, founded Airstream.
Though Burrows said Friday’s caravan was “smooth sailing,” and credited Cape Girardeau and Cairo police with their assistance in making sure there were no problems, the Africa trip was not without obstacles.
Schwamborn recalls helping to dig caravans out of deep sand as they crossed the desert of the Sudan, and everyone lending a hand as they crossed quagmires in Ethiopia.
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Subject: North Carolina plans "Take A Child Outdoors Day"
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Children and their parents can reconnect with nature and themselves at Lake Norman State Park and other North Carolina state parks during \"Take a Child Outside Week\" from Sept. 24-30.
Lake Norman State Park will join environmental education organizations across the country in presenting special nature programs during the week. Last year, state parks rangers offered over 300 educational programs to reach nearly 10,000 visitors during the weeklong celebration.
State parks will make available \"Get Outside!\" kits to families and small groups that prompt do-it-yourself activities to rediscover nature\'s wonders. Also, the first 50 parents or adult leaders to use the \"Get Outside!\" kit with children will receive a gift certificate for a free night of camping.
\"Take a Child Outside Week\" originated in 2007 with environmental educators at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and was sparked by the book, \"Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder\" by Richard Louv.
For more information about North Carolina state parks and their environmental education programs and events, visit www.ncparks.gov.
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Subject: Vancouver Olympics - RV on the Beach
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Enjoy easy access to the 2010 Winter Games as well as all Vancouver has to offer from the comfort of your RV at picturesque Spanish Bank and Jericho Beach!.
350 non hook up RV sites will be available at Spanish Bank and Jericho Beach Parks from Feb. 10th to March 2nd.
There will be potable water available for fill ups, a sewage removal service as well as propane available to purchase.
Sites can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet. Each site is 20 feet wide.
We can accommodate A class, C class, truck campers and van conversions.
Centrally located, guests can explore Vancouver\'s beaches, parks and trails or catch a shuttle and make their way to the many 2010 Games Venues.
Ask our knowledgeable staff anything, they\'ll be able to point you in the right direction. From restaurants to the theatre or the best place for a \"pint\", they\'re here to help.
RV sites are $95.00 per night plus 5% GST. A minimum 4 night booking is required. Anyone wanting to stay 21 nights or 2010 Games Volunteers please email us at info@vancouver2010rv.com for information on specials and discounts.
Please see our reservation page to make your on-line booking now.
We are unable to accommodate 5th wheels, travel trailers or any unit that is towed. If you own a towed RV please contact Fort Camping at (604)888-3678,
email info@fortcamping.com or visit FortCamping.com.
The Vancouver 2010 RV Park is the temporary use of the Jericho Beach and Spanish Bank Beach parking lots as granted by the City of Vancouver development permit for the period of Feb. 10th to March 2nd, 2010 . The Vancouver 2010 RV Park is managed by DMG LTD. Please note: Services may vary from area to area.
Make sure to look at all the pages on the website which include: activities, local interest, facilities and map, rates, reservations and directions.
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Subject: Elkhart seeing plenty of signs of economic recovery
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ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- The Economic Deovelopment Center of Elkhart County is reporting significant signs of recovery. This economically challenged region brought into the national spotlight briefly as the center of the recession is working together to establish an impressive comeback. This economic resurgence is marked with over $105 million of new investment and approximately 2,600 new jobs in 2009.
\"The variety of economic activity we are seeing is extremely positive,\" said Dorinda Heiden-Guss, president of the EDC of Elkhart County. \"Our existing industries are adapting and retooling operations during these tough times. The result is we are seeing manufacturing diversification into refrigeration products, commercial furniture, and new green industries such as hybrid engines and lightweight composites,\" comments Heiden-Guss.
Heiden-Guss says existing companies in the truck and RV segment are now \"leaner and greener\" capitalizing on high energy costs in the marketplace with lighter weight, more fuel efficient offerings.
National and international exposure brought high interest from a myriad of entrepreneurs ready to launch companies and those considering green business expansion opportunities. \"Companies looking for a winning location for expansion in need of an experienced manufacturing workforce, a variety of affordable space for lease or purchase, and educational institutions ramped up to handle industry specific training, should take a closer look at Elkhart County, Indiana. This is the highest level of interest the EDC of Elkhart County ever experienced,\" says Heiden-Guss.
Elkhart County Businesses Adapting, Diversifying and More Efficient
As the manufacturing center for the region, Elkhart County businesses are ideally suited to adapt to market trends through customizing products and diversifying quickly. Many industry expansion inquiries align with the national trend of the burgeoning green industry, new energy and life sciences.
As the primary contact for existing business expansion and business recruitment, Dave Ogle, Director of Business Retention & Expansion for the EDC of Elkhart County, continues to see opportunity for economic growth.
\"These are industries that will provide us with the diversification we must have for our future economic stability. The fact that many of these green and other industries locating here will help our existing recreational vehicle and specialty truck clusters is a great advantage. These companies will provide our existing firms with new fuel efficient hybrid engines, lightweight sustainable composite technologies and other technologies to provide a competitive edge in the marketplace for our existing industries,\" he concluded. |
Subject: 1910-2010 The Rv industry Celebrates 100 Years of Exploration and Innovation
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A century ago, the popularization of the automobile, improving roads, and America’s passion for exploration gave rise to mass-produced, manufactured recreation vehicles, and the RV industry was born. In 2010, RVIA and the RV industry will mark this centennial with an array of special activities celebrating the 100-year journey of a uniquely American product.
In 1910, there was no TV, no air conditioning and no phone, but there were RVs. Through war and peace, booms and busts, fuel lines, fads and the cyber revolution, the RV lifestyle has endured and is still going strong, even in today’s challenging economic times.
“Think about how far we’ve come in the past 100 years in terms in technology, yet the reasons to RV remain the same,” says RVIA President Richard Coon. “RVing has been able to thrive and grow because people still enjoy the freedom that it provides.”
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Subject: NHTSA Issues Latest RV-Related Recalls List
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued recall notices for the following products related to the recreational vehicle industry:
Certain (2009-2010) Dutchmen Manufacturing Co. trailers because the federal identification tag tire and loading information label does not contain the correct size.
Certain Winnebago Industries Inc. (2007-2008) Access, Aspect, Sightseer and Vista motorhomes, (2007-2008) Itasca Impulse, Cambria, Sunova and Sunstar motorhomes (2009-2010) Access, Sightseer and Vista motorhomes and (2009-2010) Itasca Impulse, Sunova and Sunstar motorhomes. The RVs may have a missing stove partition that isolates the furnace air.
Meanwhile, the following companies are reclaling units in conjunction with an ongoing Norcold recall:
Certain 2003 and 2004 Newmar Corp. motorhomes and trailers.
Certain (2001-2003) KZRV recreational trailers. |
Subject: Oregon RV park could become year-round tourist magnet
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WINCHESTER BAY, Ore. -- The third phase of the Winchester Bay RV Resort project will add 46 campsites, a restroom and a multimillion-dollar community center.
The three-part construction project in Salmon Harbor began in the mid-1990s. The third phase will cost an estimated $5.5 million — near the combined $5.8 million price tag of the first and second phases, completed in 1999 and 2000.
Harbor Manager Jeff Vander Kley said the community center could provide visitors with increased indoor space for festivals or group events.
Winchester Bay RV Resort, overseen by Douglas County, essentially sells itself during the town’s festival season, Vander Kley said. Campers keep the resort’s 138 spaces full from May through September.
With the Phase III improvements, festivals could keep the resort busy the rest of the year. That could be a boon to other businesses in Winchester Bay.
“That’s true for the entire community,” Vander Kley said. “It’ll keep our businesses solvent.”
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Subject: Goshen chamber officials react to news more RV jobs coming to city
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With the news of Keystone hiring last week, and Wednesday\'s news about Dutchmen hiring, workers at the Goshen Chamber of Commerce say things are starting to look up.
The Chamber President David Daugherty says they hold monthly meetings with local business owners to talk about the economy, and most agree things are slowing starting to look optimistic.
While Dutchmen\'s announcement of 50 new jobs is not a huge number, the president says it\'s hopefully a sign things are changing.
\"The nice thing is it\'s getting good people back to work, that\'s the important thing from a chamber standpoint. You have to feel good about that,\" said Daugherty.
He doesn\'t expect things to get better overnight, but he says most business owners feel they\'ve hit the lowest and our now bouncing back.
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Subject: Reservations open for RV spaces for 2010 Winter Olympics
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VANCOUVER, B.C. -- What could be one of the cheapest and most scenic places to stay in Vancouver, B.C., during the 2010 Winter Olympics is now taking reservations.
Two city parks are opening up their beachfront parking lots to RVs for about $88 ($95 Canadian) a night. Online reservations for the 350 RV spaces opened Monday afternoon at www.vancouver2010rv.com.
The Vancouver Park Board said a minimum four-night booking is required for an RV site at Spanish Bank and Jericho Beach parks. Both are on the English Bay waterfront near the University of British Columbia campus, and shuttle buses will take campers to a nearby light-rail station for a quick ride to many Olympics venues.
The RV camping will be available from Feb. 10 to March 2, 2010 (the Olympics run Feb. 12-28). There are no hookups, but there will be potable water available for refills; a sewage-removal service; and propane for purchase. Both parks have public restrooms.
RVs can be up to 30 feet long; A class, C class, truck campers and van conversions will be accepted. No 5th wheel or other towed units can be accepted.
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Subject: RV runs on food and water
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Now, this is one \"Green RV\" -- no gas or diesel needed. Just water and food to power the one-human-powered engine.
Artist Kevin Cyr built this pedal-powered RV in April, 2008. The camper sits on a modified three-wheeled bike. Inside, it includes small but efficient appliances, a place to sleep and storage space. Kevin Cyr was born in Edmundston, NB, Canada, in 1976 and grew up in the paper mill town of Madawaska, Maine. He now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. For the past couple of years, his work has focused on vehicles he\'s encountered in his neighborhood and where he\'s traveled in the U.S. and abroad. Cyr finds beauty in derelict and unkempt vehicles, in particular, those often associated with working-class society.
So far, only one bike camper has been built, so don\'t look for it on the lot of your local RV dealer. |
Subject: Golfer Ken Green takes first steps to rebuild life after RV accident
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For the past two months, Green has slowly but surely started to put the pieces of his shattered life back together. On June 8, Green, his brother Billy; his girlfriend, Jeannie Hodgin; and his dog, Nip, were driving east across Mississippi toward Florida on Interstate 20 in Green\'s recreation vehicle after he had finished playing the Champions Tour Triton Financial Classic in Austin, Texas.
Near Hickory, Miss., the RV\'s right front tire blew, sending the vehicle down an embankment and into a tree. Billy, Jeannie and Nip were killed. Green, who remembers being in the back of the RV, suffered serious injuries, one of which eventually forced the amputation of his right leg below the knee.
Now, the Danbury native, who grew up honing his golf game on the fairways at Ridgewood Country Club and Richter Park, is in the process of making the greatest comeback in the history of golf. Green wants to become the first person to play professionally with a prosthetic, and on Aug.12, in the office of his therapist, Stan Patterson, Green took his first steps toward accomplishing that goal.
\"It was a little weird. How else can you describe it? You go from an everyday normal walker to nothing,\" Green said via cell phone in his first public comments since before the accident. \"He [the therapist] says it\'s going to take countless different times of fiddling and readjusting everything. In the first three months your leg changes so much that literally I\'ll have a new prosthetic every couple of weeks.\"
But so far, so good.
Just a day after taking those first steps, Green took his first swings with a golf club. He says that he\'s hoping to be able to play -- from the white tees -- on Sept. 28, when Ridgewood hosts a charity event called \"The Friends of Green.\" Longtime PGA friends Mark Calcavecchia and Curtis Strange are playing in the event and the organizers, Michael Goodman, Gary Michael and Greg Begler, are expecting even more pros to turn out.
The event, which has already sold out, is expected to raise more than $100,000 for the Ken Green Living Expense Trust.
\"What they have done is absolutely phenomenal. You know, it\'s \"¦ you just never know until something of this magnitude hits what people have done for me. Every time I think about it I get goose bumps,\" Green said.
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Subject: After RV catches fire, ammo inside explodes in Ohio
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SHELBY COUNTY, Ohio -- Authorities in Shelby County said an RV caught on fire and led to high-powered ammunition that was on board to explode.
The fire happened around 1 p.m. Tuesday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 near the 98 mile maker south of the village of Anna.
Fire officials said the exploding high-powered ammunition created some tense moments for firefighters when they arrived at the scene. The fire was put out.
Investigators said both lanes of I-75 was shut down during the fire. They said one lane is being reopened to allow traffic to flow.
No one was injured in the fire, according to officials with the Anna Fire Department.
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Subject: Fleetwood RV to Add 300 More Jobs to Decatur Plant
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Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will be in Decatur, Ind., today (Aug. 19) to announce additional job openings at the Fleetwood RV Inc. plant in that city, according to WANE-TV, Fort Wayne.
Nearly 600 jobs have already been saved at Decatur’s Fleetwood plant, and now 300 more jobs are on the way.
This all comes after much campaigning by residents in the city of Decatur.
Decatur has been known for decades as a large manufacturer of RV motorhomes and people rallied to make sure that would continue.
That possibility came into question when Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. filed for bankruptcy this spring.
In July, the Decatur operation - and the Fleetwood name - was purchased by American Industrial Partners.
That company will be consolidating its California and Pennsylvania operations into one operation headquartered in Decatur.
Shortly thereafter, the new company started to recall more than 600 workers, and plans to create an additional 300 jobs at its Decatur headquarters by 2012.
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Subject: Family escapes motorhome blaze
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CALDWELL - A motorhome was completely destroyed by fire early Monday morning.
The Batallion Chief with the Caldwell Fire Department tells NewsChannel 7 a mother and a young girl were asleep inside when the fire broke out.
It happened just before 2 a.m. Monday on Highway 20/26 while the father and two older children were moving the home.
The father noticed the smoke-- and tried putting out the fire.
When crews arrived, they were able to put the flames out in just three minutes-- but the home was still a total loss.
No one was injured in the fire.
The cause remains under investigation.
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Subject: Arizona RV park to open microbrewery
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BENSON, Ariz. -- Benson may be getting a microbrewery and winery as part of changes being made under new ownership at the Turquoise Hills Golf and RV off State Route 80.
The Benson City Council approved two resolutions Monday night, supporting the new owners\' effort to become state-licensed to have a microbrewery and sell wine at the golf course and RV park.
Art Bale, one of the new owners, said they came across someone with experience in microbreweries and one thing led to another, and they soon realized the golf course kitchen was big enough and the prospect could become a reality.
\"We are asking your permission for a microbrewery,\" Bale said. \"We have the room to do it, and we have applied to the state. We think it will be a lot of fun for the people who live here.\"
Bale said if the state approves the license, they will make no less than 5,000 gallons per year, and no more than 10,000 gallons. Bale said the beers will also have different names to represent the San Pedro Valley.
While the council had few worries about a microbrewery, Turquoise Hills\' request for council approval to move forward with a winery drew some concerns. Councilman Al Sacco\'s motion to table the issue to investigate further died for lack of a second. Sacco said the city needs to be careful moving forward, citing concerns with whether or not a winery should be in a residential neighborhood.
Bale explained that one of the residents in nearby Cochise Terrace RV park has been making wine for many years and just giving it away. Now, Bale said Turquoise Hills will buy the wine from him and sell it by the glass or bottle. |
Subject: Five teenagers stabbed at California beach popular among RVers
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August 16, 2009
LOS ANGELES -- As many as five teens are recovering after being stabbed during a bonfire party at Dockweiler State Beach late Friday night.
The attack took place about 11 p.m. Friday at the beach, between Playa del Rey and El Segundo, said Los Angeles police spokeswoman Officer Sara Faden.
The beach is the only one in Los Angeles County that allows bonfires and is typically busy with partygoers and vacationers traveling in motor homes throughout the summer months.
A single suspect stabbed all of the victims, who were taken to hospitals, treated and released, said Faden. The motive for the stabbing was not known, but police believe a fellow partygoer may have been responsible, said Faden. |
Subject: Not-so-happy-campers don't want California RV park to close
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SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The west side of Palomar Mountain, where the 1,683-acre Palomar Mountain State Park has sat since the 1930s, feels more like the Sierra Nevada then it does Southern California.
The park\'s Doane Valley Campground is aesthetically the best, or at least one of the best, in the county. It has been a favorite of families for decades. That\'s probably about to end. The park is likely to close indefinitely after Labor Day because of the state\'s budget crisis. Although final decisions have yet to be made, Palomar appears on the closure list based on a number of factors, officials say.
During the middle of this past week, the small Doane Valley Campground (just 31 sites) was nearly full. Retired park ranger Pat Valenta said that on summer weekends, he could sell the sites three times over.
The Cedar Grove Group Campground includes three separate areas. Group Camp 1 can accommodate up to 25 people and trailers and camper vans up to 21 feet. The other two camps accommodate up to 15 people each and are suitable for tent camping only.
Gail Sevrens, acting supervisor of the Colorado Desert District of the state park system, which includes six parks or recreation areas in San Diego and Imperial counties, said no final decisions have been made, but some parks must close because of a 22 percent budget cut at the parks department.
Decisions will be based primarily on revenue. Palomar Mountain State Park has only two small campgrounds, so it doesn\'t bring in the cash like some others do. A site at Doane Valley costs $20 per night, but that rises to $30 tomorrow as part of a statewide increase in fees. |
Subject: Obamas are Camping at National Parks This Weekend
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America’s First Family is headed to two national parks this weekend. And while they will bring along a small army of security and communications staffers, they will enjoy experiences remarkably similar to those enjoyed by millions of other American families who will visit one of the nearly 400 national park units this year.
The Obama family plans to visit both Yellowstone National Park – the nation’s first park – and Grand Canyon National Park to do some hiking, biking and gazing at natural vistas and wildlife. Their visit will coincide with the summer’s third and final ”Fee-Free Weekend.” All 391 national parks will offer free admission this weekend, and many park concessionaires — including tour operators, hotels, restaurants and gift shops — will provide discounts and special promotions for visitors to further enjoy the parks.
The fee-free weekends have attracted more of America’s 30 million RVers to national parks this summer. Surveys of RV owners conducted by the Recreation vehicle Industry Associaton (RVIA) show that national parks continue to be a popular destination for RVers, with more than 63% reporting in RVIA’s spring “Campfire Canvass” survey that that visiting national parks is a favorite activity.
“RVers love visiting the outdoors and experiencing the wealth of recreational opportunities the national parks offer,” said RVIA President Richard Coon. “The National Park Service’s fee-free weekends have come at a terrific time. RVing is already the most cost-effective way for families to vacation, and this initiative has allowed thousands of America’s budget-conscious families to enjoy inexpensive vacations in some of America’s most beautiful places.”
American Recreation Coalition (ARC) President Derrick Crandall added, “This year, Americans are rediscovering the wonder of our parks. Attendance is up at national parks – and also at many state and local parks. Time spent with family and friends in the Great Outdoors produces healthy bodies and healthy relationships.”
In a speech this spring celebrating the 160th Anniversary of the Department of the Interior, President Obama also emphasized the importance of the great outdoors to America’s children.
The President said of the experience of visiting America’s natural treasures, “these are experiences that enrich our lives and remind us of the blessings that we share. That was certainly the case for me.”
Obama told the crowd of his grandmother’s decision, just before the president’s 11th birthday, to take him to these iconic parks: “We drove down the coast of California and then east to the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. … It was an experience I will never forget. It is an experience I want for my daughters and for all our daughters and sons.”
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Subject: Keystone RV Hiring 100 at Pendleton, Ore., Plant
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Keystone RV Co.’s manufacturing site in Pendleton, Ore., was buzzing Saturday (Aug. 8) with job seekers and employees, according to Pendleton’s East Oregonian.
The company, which builds recreational vehicles, advertised that it was looking to hire 100 full-time employees and threw a “job fair” in conjunction with an open house for current employees. The event went from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“At a quarter to nine we had people lined up to get in,” Loren Schmucker, manufacturing manager, said. “Turnout has been very good.”
Schmucker said that employment ads were not working so the decision to do a “media blitz” was made.
“We adjusted accordingly when the economy went south and we want to get back to full-production capacity,” he said.
Keystone has retained a presence in the recreational vehicle manufacturing industry of eastern Oregon. That’s opposed to Fleetwood Travel Trailers, which closed in March, leaving 253 Pendleton workers out of work.
Keystone’s literature for job seekers said that “qualified persons are needed in all departments,” including plumbing, electrical, carpentry, framing, aluminum welding, finishing and material handlers.
Schmucker said the positions in manufacturing have a starting pay rate of $13.25, as well as benefits packages and merit raises.
The pay, $4 more than Oregon’s minimum wage, is a rare opportunity in this economy, job seeker Liz Raiston said.
Raiston, a student at Blue Mountain Community College, said she currently works part-time at Starbucks in Pendleton, and was surprised to hear on the radio that Keystone was hiring.
“I just really need another job,” she said. “It’s kind of hard to find (a job) in Pendleton.”
Greg Hughes, site services manager for Keystone, said he recently transferred from the company’s headquarters in Elkhart, Ind., America’s RV manufacturing capital.
“Back in Indiana it seems a lot of places are going out of business, but we’re staying strong,” he said. “With Fleetwood shut down, there is an opportunity (here in Pendleton).”
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Subject: RV Stocks Rise on Good News from the Fed
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Several RV stocks rode the shirttails of encouraging news from the Federal Reserve Board to close higher on Wall Street today (Aug. 12).
Six of the 10 publicly held stocks tracked daily by RVBUSINESS.com closed higher on Wall Street, led by Spartan Motors which rose 6.64% to close at $5.62. Drew Industries Inc., Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc., Flexsteel Industries Inc., Thor Industries Inc. Winnebago Industries Inc. and Navistar Internal Corp. also closed higher.
A more upbeat Federal Reserve is reassuring investors that they’ve been making the right bets, according to an analysis by Associated Press. Stocks bounded higher today after the central bank said the economy appears to be “leveling out” rather than simply shrinking at a slower rate.
The Fed’s more positive take on the economy compared with its assessment in June wasn’t surprising but it still bolstered hopes that the economy is in fact rebounding.
Today’s advance restarted the market’s summer rally after a pause on Monday and Tuesday. Major market indexes jumped more than 1%, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which jumped 120 points.
Investors drew reassurance from Fed policymakers’ comments. The central bank left interest rates unchanged, as expected, following a two-day policy meeting.
“They did really endorse the fact that we’re moving into recovery, not searching for the bottom,” said Bruce McCain, chief investment strategist at Key Private Bank in Cleveland.
Stocks have been rallying much of the past four weeks on expectations that the economy is strengthening.
The Fed also said it would slow the pace of its program to buy $300 billion worth of Treasury securities so that it will close at the end of October, rather than September as originally intended. The central bank has bought $253 billion of the securities so far. The program is designed to reduce rates on mortgages and other consumer debt.
“The fact that they are going to wind down the Treasury purchases I think leaves the clear impression that they are quite satisfied with the progress we are making in the recovery,” McCain said.
But some analysts are skeptical that the market can maintain its climb even with the Fed’s more optimistic words. The S&P 500 index is up 14% in little more than a month and 48.7% since it fell to a 12-year low in early March.
“I looks like a pretty sharp rise to me to have a lot of sustainability,” said Dan Cook, senior market analyst at IG Markets in Chicago.
According to preliminary calculations, the Dow rose 120.16, or 1.3%, to 9,361.61. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 11.46, or 1.2%, to 1,005.81, while the Nasdaq composite index gained 28.99, or 1.5%, to 1,998.72.
Rising stocks outpaced those that fell 5-to-2 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to a light 1.2 billion shares, flat with Tuesday. Light volume can skew price moves but is typical of late summer when many traders take vacations.
The gains came a day after the market posted its biggest loss in five weeks. The Dow fell 97 points as investors worried about the health of banks.
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Subject: Man charged with shooting teen at Oklahoma RV park
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ONAPA, Okla -- A 56-year old man named in five criminal charges Tuesday is accused of shooting a 19-year-old through the ankle Monday in Onapa, officials said.
Scott Boecher, 56, is charged with shooting and assaulting the teenager at the Onapa RV Park, said McIntosh County Sheriff Joe Hogan.
“(Boecher) had lent the boy a large ATV to ride, and the boy kept it longer than the man thought he should,” Hogan said. “He went looking for the boy on Onapa Road, struck him with a cane, and the boy grabbed the cane.”
Boecher then allegedly shot the boy in the ankle. Boecher is charged in McIntosh County District Court with assault and battery with a deadly weapon and other charges.
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Subject: RV Rental Outlet experiences record growth in RV rentals for vacationers and businesses
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TEMPE, Ariz. -- Economic times have not slowed down vacationers and businesses that are turning to RV Rental Outlet for luxury recreational vehicle rentals to extend their travel budgets. In the past six months, RV Rental Outlet has experienced 60 percent growth in the number of RV rentals and a 50 percent increase in the number of days rentals are on the road.
In order to accommodate for the explosive growth, RV Rental Outlet has nearly doubled the fleet size of Class C motor homes and moved from a 1/4-acre location in Mesa to 1 and 1/2 acres in Tempe. The additional space has allowed RV Rental Outlet to expand services with onsite secure RV customer storage facilities, an RV parts store, RV service and repair, propane sales and a waste dump station. They even offer firewood. The new services and growth in rentals has also resulted in new jobs, with a 50 percent increase in staff size.
\"The growth we have experienced from 2008 through 2009 is evidence that people are not letting the economic times take away valuable vacation time spent with their families and friends,\" said Donn Kaebisch, co-owner of RV Rental Outlet. \"Our goal is to be a complete service provider to the RV renter, whether for personal travel or business, as well as a convenient location for complete recreational vehicle services.\"
In the period of January-July 2008, RV Rental Outlet had 276 RV rentals reserved for an average of four days. During the same period in 2009, RV Rental Outlet booked 435 rentals for travelers taking the vehicles out for an average of six days. RV Rental Outlet also contributes the rapid growth to new service programs offered in 2009 including concierge services, an elite partner program, business travel services, temporary housing, and travel agent incentives. They also have seen new business result from local affiliate marketing programs and social media programs.
RV Rental Outlet is a recreational vehicle rental center in Arizona. They offer a wide variety of Class C motor homes, toy haulers, travel trailers and tent campers from Winnebago, Sandstorm and Rockwood. RV Rental Outlet is a member of RVDA, RVRA, KOA and GoRVing.com. RV Rental Outlet, co-owned by Mike Ciardullo and Donn Kaebisch, is located at 2165 East Apache Boulevard, Tempe, Arizona. For rental information and pricing, visit www.rvrentaloutlet.com or call 888-461-0023.
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Subject: Where to fish without a license around the USA
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Until a national fishing license is available, it will continue to be an inconvenience for RVers who travel from state-to-state to fish: a license is required for each state, and it\'s often difficult to find a place to buy one. And it can be expensive, even though permits for a few days are usually affordable. One solution is to stay at private RV parks where no license is required. Typically, the only requirement to fish these lakes is that you\'re a registered guest.
I have fished from coast to coast and in many places in between and never had to buy an out-of-state license. A good number of RV parks have their own private lakes. No streams feed these lakes and no public money goes to stock fish. So an RV park owner can make his or her own fishing rules. Most have a \"catch and release\" policy: have fun landing your whopper, but then throw it back to be caught another day. Other parks will allow you to keep a fish, but you\'ll either pay per fish or by weight.
The fish may be tiny perch, great for kids\' fishing, or trout and whopper bass. I caught my largest bass ever at a KOA in Florida, and, at age 3, my daughter caught her first fish, a five-inch perch, at an RV park in Ohio.
You can find RV parks with no-license fishing by searching on the Internet or by reading ads and descriptions in printed RV campground directories. But be warned: Just because an RV park advertises fishing or a fishing lake, it doesn\'t mean you can fish without a license. If a steam feeds the lake or pond or it\'s not entirely on the RV park\'s property, then a license is probably required. So call first to get the scoop.
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Subject: RV rolls over steep cliff as RVer walks dog
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Sheriff deputies in Lincoln County, Ore., say an RVer stepped out of his motorhome at Depot Bay last Sunday afternoon to walk his dog and then watched helplessly as his 36-foot Sea Breeze motorhome rolled over a steep cliff along the Pacific Ocean.
According the owner\'s report to deputies, the motorhome\'s brakes somehow failed. The RV rolled over the cliff, eventually stopping midway down the 100-foot rocky slope just off U.S. Highway 101.
The 79-year-old man was not injured (nor his dog), but the RV was stuck on the sharp rocks. A heavy-duty tow truck was called to pull the RV back up to the road.
There was no report on damages.
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Subject: Critics say RVs alongside city beaches goes against the idea of a "green" Olympics
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VANCOUVER — Allowing noisy and polluting recreational vehicles alongside city beaches during the 2010 Winter Olympics goes against the idea of a \"green\" Games, say opponents to the plan.
But residents of Vancouver\'s Point Grey area insist their opposition isn\'t a matter of having multi-million-dollar beach-front views sullied by 365 RVs and hundreds of tourists milling around the neighbourhood.
The plan, as approved by the Vancouver park board on Monday night, is to have a B.C.-based company run the parking lots at Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks as RV sites during the Games.
It will cost $95 a night, and the fee will cover washrooms, showers, waste disposal and a free shuttle to public transit in order for people to get to Games venues.
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Subject: Study confirms cost-effectiveness of RV travel
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Go RVing Canada released a major new independent Family Vacation Cost Comparison Study. The study found typical family RV vacations to be up to 75 percent less expensive per day than the other types of trips. Several forms of travel were compared, and in all cases, RV vacations were more economical than other types of travel, regardless of trip duration, distance or region of the country where the vacation took place.
\"This study confirms what we have been saying for years now,\" said Jeff Redmond, chairman of Go RVing Canada. \"RV vacations represent the most economical way for families to travel and see the beautiful country that we live in. In today\'s economic environment, people need to know that RVs represent an adventurous form of travel that is more cost-conscious than any other vacation.
The comprehensive study, completed by PKF Consulting, took into account every aspect of RV travel and all expenses associated with RVs and other forms of travel, including the cost to own an RV. With purchase prices starting at $6,000, there is an RV to fit every budget and lifestyle. PKF compared the cost of RV vacations with two other popular forms of travel: driving and staying at hotels, and travelling by air and rental car with hotel accommodations.
\"Prices of sample trips were calculated in every region of Canada and in each case, RV vacations were the most cost effective,\" continued Redmond.
\"Regardless of the type of vehicle, nature of the trip or where it happened in Canada, RV travel came out on top every single time in terms of cost efficiency, and by very significant margins.\"
As an example, the average cost per day of a three-day camping vacation to Algonquin Provincial Park from Montreal using a folding camping trailer was found to be about 41 percent less expensive than the cost of a comparable car/hotel combination vacation; and about 75 percent less than the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation.
The average cost per day of a 10-day camping vacation to Quebec City from Halifax using a folding camping trailer was found to be about 51 percent less expensive than the cost of a comparable car/hotel combination vacation; and about 66 percent less than the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation.
The average cost per day of a three-day camping vacation to Sturgeon Falls from Toronto using a Type C motorhome was found to be about 35 percent less expensive than the cost of a comparable car/hotel combination vacation; and about 67 percent less than the cost of a comparable air/hotel vacation.
\"As summer heats up, Canadians are realizing more and more that RV travel is not only adventurous, cost effective, and just plain fun, it is a lifestyle that leads to more quality family vacation time,\" said Redmond. \"People who own RVs spend much more time traveling than those who don\'t because those who own them have known all along that there\'s no better way to see Canada than in an RV.\"
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Subject: How To Camp Affordably This Summer
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Pedata RV advises RV travelers on benefits of camping on Public Lands RV camping experiences on public lands are often what make an RVer and RVer
(Advertiser Talk) 05-Aug-2009 — With over 400 million acres of public lands offering free camping, RV travelers can save even more on vacation costs. National Forest Land, City & State Parks, National Recreation Areas and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are all paid for with tax dollars and as such, camping is free or low cost. Amenities may be rustic; no water, no pools, cable TV or miniature golf courses. However, public lands offer spectacular views and rustic get-a-ways.
Some states offer recreation permits that allow free Motorhome camping on state lands. Arizona for example offers a public lands recreation permit for $20 which allows the permit holder free camping on all state land in Arizona.
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Subject: Production restarts at Oregon RV plant
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COBURG, Ore. - About 400 workers are back on the job at the Monaco RV plant in Coburg eight months after it shut down.
Roy Wiley, spokesman for Illinois-based Navistar International, the new parent company of Monaco RV, says the plant is producing about seven recreational vehicles a day.
Wiley said there are no indications the RV market has begun to recover, but Navistar decided to resume production about two weeks ago to build some inventory.
Monaco halted production last December after it was battered by record-high gas prices, the financial meltdown, tight credit and sagging consumer confidence in 2008.
Monaco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March and laid off about 2,000 workers. Navistar completed its purchase of Monaco\'s major assets in June, paying $47 million for plants in Coburg and nearby Harrisburg, and in Wakarusa and Milford, Ind.
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Subject: Two Alberta seniors injured when their RV explodes
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Two seniors had to be airlifted to Edmonton from Hardisty after an explosion in their RV.
The man and his wife had gone into the motorhome Wednesday evening and started up the propane-powered fridge to get ready for a trip the next day. The propane exploded with a loud boom and those outside saw smoke at about 8:30 p.m. When fire crews arrived, the motorhome was fully engulfed in flames.
Both seniors were treated for burns, said RCMP Cpl. Joe Sangster. The 83-year-old man looked like he will need intensive care and is listed in serious condition at the University Hospital. His wife, 69, is doing better.
The motorhome was parked at a farm house just off Highway 13, about 10 kilometres west of Hardisty, which is about 180 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.
Provincial fire investigators have been contacted to help with the investigation but fire officials from Hardisty will be leading the effort. \"It will take a little while to sift through the debris,\" said fire chief Todd Baumgartner. \"It\'s pretty much a shell.\"
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Subject: Arizona's Karchner Caverns a Great Summer Cool Spot
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Traveling through the Arizona hot country? It\'s seemingly endless desert landscape can tire the patience of even the most sainted RVer. Will this hot stuff ever end? It does under the ground, and we aren\'t talking about taking a \"dirt nap.\" Just off south east Arizona\'s Interstate 10 you\'ll find a cool place to visit, along with some spectacular underground scenery like you\'ve never seen before at Karchner Caverns.
Back in the 1970\'s, two young cave explorers were poking around in a big sinkhole near Benson, Arizona. A blast of warm air emanating from a crack in the sinkhole led them into a huge limestone cavern filled with thrilling sights: Unusual limestone formations, apparently unseen by human eyes, perhaps forever. They held the cave a secret for many years, finally bringing the property owners in on their find. Eventually a deal was banged out with Arizona State Parks, who purchased the property, and carefully protected their new asset until they could be developed in a way that would safeguard the cavern\'s outstanding features.
These caverns are \"living,\" in that the growth of limestone formations is still ongoing. The slow, steady drip of mineral bearing water over the centuries has slowly built up formations. And they are truly outstanding--you may have seen stalactites and stalagmites before, but have you ever seen a turnip shield? How about birdsnest needle quartz?
The \"off season\" of June to early September yields tour bargains. The one and a half hour tour is well worth the regular admission price. Adding a big discount is just icing on the--cavern.
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Subject: Campground Gains National Attention After Fatal Accident
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August 6, 2009 by RV Business
Diane Schuler crashed her brother’s red Ford minivan killing herself and seven others about four hours after leaving an upstate New York campground where she spent the weekend with her husband, two children and three nieces, according to WABC-TV, New York City.
Families continue their summer vacations at Hunter Lake Campground in Parksville, but it is certainly with a sense of sadness and extreme shock over the latest revelations about 36-year-old Diane Schuler. “I think it turned all of our lives upside down here. All of us. I literally dropped the phone, when I got the call,” campground director Ann Scott said.
The news that Diane Schuler was drunk and high on marijuana when she left this campground, and drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway is something these campers find hard to believe. The rules about drinking are strict. Campers who drink outside their campsites are to be evicted.
“I don’t ever remember seeing her with a drink. I don’t ever remember smelling alcohol on her,” Scott said.
Maybe not, but today Eyewitness News heard from a viewer who spent at least 10 years as a seasonal camper here. He claims he noticed lots of drinking at least in years past. The viewer did not want the TV station to use his name.
“It was not for me, that’s for sure. How people could do that pretty much every weekend still amazes me,” he said.
“The guide rule is if you abuse it, you lose it and you’re out of here. I’m gonna tell you, we did have a group of drinkers at one time and I evicted all five of them,” Scott said.
The campground director insisted they never saw this coming, as authorities try to find out if anyone did see something at a McDonald’s in Liberty where Schuler stopped prior to the crash. Investigators want a glimpse of the surveillance video.
The station’s news crew also tried to talk to the manager, but he declined to comment.
Back at the campground, support continues for the Schuler family. They’re even having a fundraiser for the next couple of weeks, but also, hoping, somehow, to put this horrible tragedy behind them.
Meanwhile, Schuler’s husband said today she didn’t have a drinking problem and suggested diabetes and other health problems were to blame, according to Associated Press.
“She was not a drinker. She was not an alcoholic,” Daniel Schuler said at a tearful news conference with his sister and lawyer. “Something medically had to have happened.”
Schuler’s attorney, Dominic Barbara, said the 36-year-old Cablevision executive had previously had gestational diabetes, had a suspicious bump on her leg and had an untreated mouth abscess before the deadly July 26 wreck.
“I think she had a stroke of some sort,” Barbara said. “From the stroke came all the other issues.”
Police say Schuler downed more than 10 vodkas and smoked marijuana before driving her minivan nearly two miles on the Taconic State Parkway and slamming head-on into a sport-utility vehicle. Her 2-year-old daughter and three nieces were killed with her, along with three men in the SUV. Schuler’s 5-year-old son survived.
Her blood-alcohol level was more than twice the state’s legal limit, and she had smoked pot as soon as 15 minutes before the crash, according to toxicology reports from the Westchester County medical examiner’s office.
Daniel Schuler said that he never saw his wife drunk since he met her, and that the couple went through a normal routine on the Sunday before he last saw her at a campsite in upstate New York.
“She was fine,” he said. “We had a cup of coffee in the morning, we packed the cars up like we always do and we headed out.”
Schuler had gestational diabetes, Barbara said. The condition usually begins during pregnancy and goes away after childbirth, experts say.
Daniel Schuler went fishing for the day, while Diane Schuler began a 140-mile trip home to Long Island with her kids and three nieces, ages 5 to 8. The fiery wreck happened about four hours after she left, and after motorists called 911 to report her erratic driving on several roads.
Barbara said a frequent babysitter for the West Babylon couple never saw Schuler drink or smoke pot. Her sister-in-law also defended her.
“Family was the most important thing to her,” said Joy Schuler, Daniel’s sister. “There was no way she would ever jeopardize the children.”
The family has not decided whether to seek another autopsy for Schuler and is awaiting more information from the county’s autopsy report, Barbara said.
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Subject: 1,200 Rigs Expected for Winnebago/Itasca Owners Rally
By:
Doug Formanek would love to see the look on the faces of those first Winnebago International Travelers (WIT) Grand National Rally attendees if they could see the rally today.
“I think they’d be absolutely shocked just at how far the units have come,” the Winnebago Itasca Travelers general manager said on the eve of the 40th anniversary GNR that is set to kick off on July 19, according to the Forest City (Iowa) Summit.
“At the same time, I’m guessing the one common bond between the first rally and the one coming up is the love for the lifestyle.”
Back in 1969, more than 600 Winnebago vehicles - motorhomes and travel trailers - descended upon Forest City for the first-ever GNR. And they’ve been coming back every year since, well, almost every year since.
In 1970, the rally was held at the Lake of the Ozarks, but it returned for good to Forest City the following year.
And with another rally, this one themed “Witstock,” soon upon him, Formanek knows he and his staff are about to embark on a string of 16- to 18-hour days.
“It’s a lot of work and you want everything to go just right,” Formanek said before adding with a smile, “but there are just a few things we can’t control, like the weather.”
And when the weather turns bad, it is Formanek who has to make the tough decisions - like the one he made a year ago when he closed down the rally grounds for a short time because of heavy rains. During the “shutdown,” motorhomes were not allowed to enter the grounds and were parked across the highway until conditions improved.
“You’re not always the most popular guy, but it was the right decision,” he said. “You don’t want to tear up the grounds and, more importantly, you don’t want units sliding into other units. You do what you can.”
And Formanek said he does not hold the key to a successful rally; instead, his staff members and the hundreds of volunteers - many WIT Club members - who help organize events, park motorhomes, move people to and from events and plan activities do.
“We have people showing up already,” Formanek said last week, “and we couldn’t do it without them.”
And while the days are long - during pre-rally and rally weeks, they begin with a 6 a.m. meeting and don’t end until after midnight sometimes - Formanek said adrenaline and the reunion-type atmosphere carry him and his staff through.
“It is like a big family reunion,” he said, “and I’ve always enjoyed the people aspect. It’s one of the reasons I’ve always wanted this job. Now, I’ll tell you that we’re pretty tired folks when it’s all over, but it’s hard not to have fun with so many people around.”
Formanek is expecting at least 1,200 Winnebago owners to attend this year’s rally and well over 3,000 people will fill the grounds.
And the rally that brings motorhome enthusiasts from all over the U.S. and Canada actually has its roots in rallies held before that first GNR back in 1969.
Winnebago spokesperson Sheila Davis said a group called the Winnebago Travelers held rallies as early as 1965. Those first rallies were held in the Pammel Park area. The Winnebago Travelers officially became Winnebago International Travelers in 1969. In addition to the Winnebago International Travelers Club, a new club was formed in 1977 called Itasca Travel Club. Then in 1980, the two clubs were merged to its current name: Winnebago Itasca Travelers Club.
“The units have changed, the people have changed,” Formanek said, “but when it comes right down to it, the one thing that has stayed the same is people still love their Winnebago. And they love getting together and catching up. To be a part of that is pretty special.”
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Subject: RVer may have robbed bank in Colorado
By:
RVer may have robbed bank in Colorado
Greg Gerber posted on July 09, 2009 08:46
LYONS, Colo. -- A man wearing makeup and a black hat with a brim may have robbed a bank in Lyons this morning, according to police radio traffic.
A dispatcher told officers responding to the scene that the suspect may be in an RV and reportedly got away with money loaded with a dye pack.
Boulder County Sheriff\'s Office spokesman Cmdr. Rick Brough said the suspect targeted the Valley Bank & Trust at 304 2nd Ave. and passed a note to a teller there.
He said the robbery suspect is described as a white male, wearing a black hat with a full circle brim, a light green shirt, and black or brown pants.
Dispatchers also described him as smooth shaven, wearing sunglasses and possibly makeup.
SOURCE: Colorado Daily News
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Subject: Cops warn of RV scam on refurbishing
By:
Cops warn of RV scam on refurbishing
The Moorpark Community Services/Crime Prevention Unit is warning vacationers about scammers targeting people at beach campground areas.
The scammers seek out trailer and recreational vehicles that are made of fiberglass and have an application of gelcoat. The scam is to offer a new gelcoat application for a fraction of the cost, only to apply colored machinery grease.
The \"bad guys\" find a trailer on which the gelcoat has aged and faded. The scammer will say the RV has sun damage and offer to sell gelcoat product left over from a past job that they can apply to make the vehicle look like new again.
The scammers state they can complete the application at the campsite and can revitalize the RV decals and seal them.
They state this can be done for half the price of a regular application.
The scammers will tell RV owners not to touch the newly coated surface for up to 15 hours.
They also bring along an adventurous young child to distract the owners so they don\'t watch the application process.
The material they are applying to the vehicle is not gelcoat but machinery grease. The product smells like automotive/machinery grease.
Victims of the scam will need to strip the grease off the RV so real gelcoat can be applied.
The grease will damage the vehicle if it isn\'t removed.
This scam has recently been reported along the Rincon Beach area north of the city of Ventura.
Authorities warn consumers not to accept services or sales from anyone who does not have a valid vendor license that can be verified.
Individuals who have been victimized or approached by the scam artists are urged to call the local police immediately.
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Subject: WE LOVE OUR HOLIDAY RAMBLER
By:
07-17-2008
I just wanted to let you know we made it back to Philly. We love our Holiday Rambler, 2900 miles and it drove awesome! We had such a nice ride home and we made new friends at your shop - Rodney and Karen from Virginia - they bought an RV from you the same day. It look like we will be traveling together! I look everyday at your new listings on your web site to upgrade ours to a newer one! Thanks for taking care of whatever we wanted to make the deal even better! Talk to you soon.
Thanks, Ed and Heather
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Subject: 2,800 miles, 16 days on the road, Not one problem!
By:
07-18-2008
Hi: 2,800 miles, 16 days on the road, Not one problem! 1997 Safari Sahara, with 50,000 miles when we picked it up from you. Job well done. You hear the crap when it’s a problem, Tell your folks they done good- keep it up! Take care.
Don and Joy Foster
Greer, South Carolina
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Subject: The Southwind ran beautiful the whole trip, 1,700 miles!
By:
05-13-2008
Hey Bill and Bobby,
Just wanted to tell you that me and my wife had a wonderful trip home to Omaha, NE. It took us 7 days but as I told you we were making a vacation out of the trip. The Southwind ran beautiful the whole trip, almost 1,700 miles. I wanted to tell you that the buying experience, the service, and the caring and support of you and your family truly made this a GREAT EXPERIENCE! My only regret is that I can’t do this again.
Thank You So Very Much.
Jim & Chris Mattingly
Omaha, NE
P.S. I think That I might just do this again in the future…
See you in the Future….
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Subject: Keep up the good work.
By:
05-09-2008
To Bill and all the friendly staff at Arizona RV Outlet,
My wife and I wanted to let you know how pleased we are with our new trailer. You guys made the buying and getting acquainted with our new fifth wheel experience a pleasure. I don’t write many of these types of letters, but our hats are off to you. Keep up the good work.
Kim and Kathleen Toelke
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Subject: 1,400 mile trip without a problem. Great coach!
By:
03-07-2008
Hi Bill!
Thanks again for the excellent service, and your kindness. The Pace Arrow drove beautifully, and I made the 1,400 mile trip without a problem. Great coach, and an appreciation for an honest RV broker. Thanks again!
Bob Siebert
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Subject: 2,000 miles to Vancouver Canada
By:
03-05-2008
Hello!
I just wanted say Thank You to you and your Team. We drove our Motorhome over 2,000 miles to Vancouver Canada from Tempe to Yuma then up the coast from San Diego, it ran fantastic all the way, I will be telling my Friends and Family to check with you before Buying their next RV.
THANKS Again!
Mike Weinberger & Jamie Aeichele
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Subject: We are so pleased with our RV.
By:
1/30/2008
Hi Bill,
We are so pleased with our RV. We will tell everyone locally you are the place to go for RVS! Thanks so much for everything. God bless you all.
Ron and Jo Mesa, AZ
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Subject: We love our motor home and can’t wait to take our next trip.
By:
12/27/2007
Bill,
Thank you very much for all your help and advice when we picked up the motor home. We enjoyed our trip home, it was about 1,600 miles. We took 3 days and nights to make the trip with a few short side sight seeing stops. Your state of Arizona is beautiful!
We love our motor home and can’t wait to take our next trip.
Steve and Tammie Jackson
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Subject: Holiday Rambler all the way to Winnipeg Manitoba
By:
October 21, 2007
Hi Bill…. I just wanted to let you know I got home last night from Phoenix. The Holiday Rambler ran great all the way and everything worked as it should!.. Had a great time!! Thanks again to you and your team for making this a very positive experience for me, and a personal thanks to you Bill for all of your help and assistance!!
Jan DeVries
Winnipeg Manitoba
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Subject: Our new trailer
By:
11/26/2007
Thank you so much. Trailer pulls really good. Why wouldn’t it, this Dodge has power to spare. I would recommend you guys to anyone, you guys are a pleasure to do business with.
Thanks Laryl Foster
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Subject: All the way to Westbank BC without a hitch!
By:
11-28-2007
Bill:
Just wanted to let you know that we arrived home safely in Westbank, BC. The motor home performed flawlessly the whole way. We are extremely pleased with the rig and of course the deal we feel we got. We can’t thank you enough for your help once we arrived to pick up the motor home, one could not ask for more. The time you spent with us going over everything in the unit was greatly appreciated. I won’t hesitate to recommend your company to anyone we know that is looking for a motor home.
Again, thanks for everything.
Jim and Marie
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Subject: Thanks for everything!
By:
10-26-2005
Hi Bill, How are you. Just wanted to drop a note to say hi and let you know how things have been with our new motor home. We, or should I say I, names her Miss Molly. I love her to bits.
We are in a war right now with some mechanic that was referred to us by another RV repair place. We took it there just to get it safetied so she could get her papers and stay in Canada. The idiot so far took us for $7,000.00. He said this and that needed to be fixed. We drove that thing for over 2,000 miles and had no problems but this clown said there was lots. We knew there wasn’t so we finally got it out of there and took it to an honest mechanic. The guy even said not all that work needed to be done. He tried to turn a 1993 motor home into a 2005. If we could have afforded and wanted a 2005 we would have bought a 2005 but we were happy with what we had. We knew it wasn’t in brand new condition and we were fine with that. I mean she was nicer than we ever expected to have. What was this guy trying to do. Anyways I really just wanted to say thanks again for our motor home and thanks for making everything with our transaction so easy. We really enjoyed ourself.
Take care,
Monica Ramard
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Subject: 2002 Fleetwood Bounder
By:
10/10/2005
Hi Bill. We made it home this evening. The coach ran great. It seemed a little sluggish at first, but about the middle of Utah it started to pull hills a lot better. We only had one mishap on our 1400 mile trip. In Dilon MT. the tail pipe decided it didn’t want to finish the trip and fell off. In the process of falling off it tore the tread off the inside dual and dented the storage compartment behind the right rear duals. We limped into Dilon got a new tire and then finished our trip today.
The Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona scenery was awesome.
Thanks again for all your hospitality and friendly service.
We really enjoy the coach and should put it to use for years to come.
Thanks,
John and family
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Subject: 2100 miles and it drove like a dream
By:
08-04-2005
Hello Everyone! Tom & I got home to PA yesterday, and the coach drove all 2,100 miles like a dream(no worms in the apple!) Our trip was relaxing and Tom is enjoying reading the manuals and teaching me…yawn… how all the systems work. You guys (and gals) are great, thank you all for helping us pull this trip together so beautifully. Blessings to you,
Gin (&Tom) Burda
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Subject: I love Arizona RV!
By:
10-09-2002
Just wanted to say, thank you for your kind words on my feedback. Also, the RV is terrific and my daughter LOVES it!
I’ve never purchased an RV this way, and I can say I had my reservations. However, I would not hesitate to give you my highest recommendation.
Thank you for making this such a smooth transaction.
Chris
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Subject: 1995 Ford F250 Diesel
By:
07-12-2005
Dear Michael,
We purchased a 1995 Ford F250 Turbo Diesel truck to tow our 5th wheel. When we arrived at the airport you furnished us a ride and we were very impressed with your service, secondly you processed our sales documents very quickly. We really appreciated that you changed the oil, installed new tires, and replaced a taillight body part that was broken even though we purchased our truck as is with no warranty. The truck is in great condition and we are very pleased with our purchase. We just wanted to thank you for your exceptional service and professionalism.
Barry and Margaret Hempstead
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Subject: 1991 Rexhall Aerbus
By:
03-17-2005
Thank you Michael,
Purchasing a vehicle on eBay is a somewhat daunting thing. Pictures of the vehicle go along way in describing it, but there are so many things that pictures just can’t show. You have plenty of stories about happy customers who had no issues with their motor homes, but the real test is when there is an issue on the way home- that is the true test of integrity. Michael, I want to personally commend your operation for not only taking care of the rig before the sale, but for your follow through on an unforeseen issue we encountered on the way home. Please use this note for any reference needed.
Thank you again,
Jason Perry
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Subject: KMLE Camel Country 108
By:
04-25-2008
Mike,
A sincere thank you for all you have done for KMLE this year at Country Thunder. You are much appreciated!!! It was great to finally meet you. Keep in touch.
All my best,
Dave Pratt
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Subject: Grand Canyon was awesome
By:
10-05-05
Hi Bill,
We made it home today, Saturday about 3:00 p.m. The trip was 2,168 miles, the Grand Canyon was awesome, the old coach motored along at 65mph like nobodys business… very happy with it… averaged about 8 ½ miles to the gallon.. Thanks so much… if you ever get a chance to come north I’d be happy to show you some of our wonderful area… all along the road home we have the best grain crops in the 2,000 miles, in both Dakota’s the farmers are cutting the crops for feed for their stock instead of grain harvesting… thanks again hope to do business again… best regards Keith Zimmer
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Subject: Harry Truman's
By:
Harry Truman\'s
Excellent Adventure
Because of my love of roadtrips I was excited to come across the new book \"Harry Truman\'s Excellent Adventure.\" It tells of Harry and wife Bess\' 2,500-mile roadtrip from Missouri to Washington, DC and back only months after Harry had left the Presidency.
On the trip, they had no Secret Service protection. It was just Harry and the former First Lady traveling like ordinary folks. Harry would walk into a motel office to get a room just like anyone else, and the couple would visit diners for meals. Imagine how surprised the workers and customers must have been at these places to see the man and woman who had just recently left the White House!
Harry got pulled over for speeding by a Pennsylvania State Trooper named Manley Stampler. When the officer reached the driver\'s window, he immediately recognized the former President. \"What am I going to do now?\" he thought (we\'ll never know: the author didn\'t say).
At a coffee shop, a man approached Harry and told him about his sick 92 year-old mother, who, he said, was a life-long Democrat. \"Will you please come over to the house and cheer her up?\" he asked. \"Who could say no to that kind of an invitation?\" explained Harry. He ended up spending 30 minutes with the woman, talking like old friends.
I loved this book, in part because the Truman\'s roadtrip as ordinary citizens seems so improbable in today\'s times. Imagine George and Laura Bush heading off alone in their car, stopping at Denny\'s and checking into Motel 6\'s.
We have a dozen copies of the book at RVbookstore.com at a 25% discount if you would like to read it (we\'ll order more if we run out).
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Subject: RV tax advantages explained
By:
April 30, 2009
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With economic times tough, the benefits of owning a motorhome continue to increase with federal economic credit and stimulus packages as well as tax deductions. Environmentally friendly solutions such as solar panels are rewarded with tax credits as well as costs saved on fueling generators.
RV loans can qualify as tax deductions under the IRS code section 280A(f)(1) as long as the RV can pass as a \'dwelling unit.\' A dwelling unit is defined as having basic sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities. Pop-up campers that have a portable stove and port-o-potty would technically qualify. The RV must be used as security for the loan. As such, the loan becomes deductible as a second home mortgage interest.
FOR NEW RV OWNERS, a provision in the stimulus bill offers a deduction for sales or excise taxes on the first $49,500 of any new RV or motor home purchase. Savings would vary state to state, but on a $40,000 RV, state taxes can equal $2,450 or more.
The solar powered tax credit can cut 30% off the purchase price of equipment for solar powered RV installation, not to mention the savings cost of no longer needing a generator. RVs qualify as a second home and are thus eligible for the same solar power tax credits as a traditional residence.
\"Always consult a tax adviser, financial expert or accountant to ensure your eligibility,\" |
Subject: Go RVing launches "Tails From the Road" video contest
By:
RESTON, Va. -- Here’s a great way to encourage RVers and their pets to hit the road this June and July: tell them to enter the Go RVing “Tails from the Road” Video Contest, win great prizes and show the online world how much they love RVing.
Any RVer with a video camera, a pet and a catchy idea for a five-minute video about their travels is eligible to enter. Videos will be judged by thousands of RVers on Go RVing’s Facebook Fan Page. The grand prize winner will receive $1,000 and a Motorola Motonav GPS and have his or her video featured on GoRVing.com, Facebook and YouTube. The second prize winner will receive $500.
To make it easy for manufacturers, dealers, campgrounds, owners clubs and publishers to help get the word out, Go RVing has posted a downloadable flyer on GoRVing.com to e-mail, direct mail, distribute or display at your place of business.
For more information, click here to view contest rules on Go RVing\'s Facebook page.
SOURCE: RV Industry Association press release
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Subject: RVer's mistakes prove costly but teach a lesson
By:
June 3
By Don Wright
I\'m writing this as an object lesson that other long-time RV travelers might appreciate. Keep in mind before reading it that not only have I been an active RVer for more than 40 years, but I also spent a decade testing and writing about RVs for Trailer Life and Motorhome magazines. I\'m nothing if not confident in my ability to diagnose troublesome RV problems.
When gasoline prices went through the roof several months ago, I decided we were going to cut way back on our travels by motorhome, and using that line of thinking, I did not renew our road service insurance program. Mistake number one.
After a few months passed, however, I figured I\'d better give the coach a little exercise with a short drive around town. I wasn\'t surprised to discover that my chassis battery was dead and would not recharge. So I bought a new battery, installed it and took the coach out for a spin. That\'s when I discovered a fuel line was leaking gasoline. I returned home and parked the coach in front of our house instead of in its berth at the side of the house. Mistake number two.
I made an appointment with the local Chevrolet dealer to repair the fuel line, and on the morning of the appointment, I went out to the motorhome and tried to start it.
The new battery was dead. I tried jumping it and charging it, and nothing happened. So I called an emergency road service. Mistake number three.
THE ROAD SERVICE GUY was unable to start the motorhome either, and he said there was probably a serious electrical system problem. I was in a bind. I could not let the motorhome sit there in front of our house all winter, and because I couldn\'t start it, I could not park it where it belonged. The road service guy said he could call in a tow trick and take it to the Chevy dealership. I told him to do it. Mistake number four.
In order to tow the motorhome, the driveshaft had to be disconnected, and that brought my road service bill to a total of $480. Of course, I paid it. Mistake number five.
After the coach was delivered to the dealership, I got a call from the service manager there, and he said before any work could be done on it, the driveshaft would have to be re-connected. The bill -- another $300. I told him to go ahead. Mistake number six.
That afternoon, I got another call from the Chevy service manager, and he said the reason the motorhome would not start was NOT an electrical system failure, but a BAD BATTERY! They\'d be glad to put in a new battery for only $100, he told me. I said to do it. Mistake number seven.
My leaking fuel line has been repaired, and in a few minutes I\'m going to pick up the coach and bring it home. And it occurs to me that I will have shelled out nearly $900 because I wasn\'t smart enough to consider I bought a bad battery from the neighborhood Wal-Mart store.
rvtravel.com |
Subject: Traveling fulltime by RV -- a good life
By:
June 3, 2009
Editor\'s corner
By Chuck Woodbury
How often do you use your RV? A couple of weeks a year? A few months? Probably not surprising to you, there are hundreds of thousands of RVers who live all the time in their RVs, or at least most of the time. Nobody knows how many people live full-time in RVs. It could be a million or more.
But what I do know is that a lot of people live and travel full-time in an RV and many others dream of the day when they can, too. For most, it\'s a very good life.
RVs are so comfortable now that it\'s easy to live in one, enjoying nearly all the comforts of home. And the freedom is incredible -- to go where you want, when you want and bring along your easy chair, too. It\'s a satisfying, stimulating life for people who yearn for adventure.
Recently, during a brief visit to Quartzsite, Ariz., I was invited into the fifth wheel winter home of a full-timing couple. They were parked in the wide-open desert with no hookups. As I drove toward the RV, it seemed lonely out there. But as I got closer, I noticed that the couple had manicured their little piece of desert with a rock-lined front walkway and had placed a few potted plants in the shade of their awning. And several lawn chairs were atop a few square yards of artificial turf.
Inside, there was plenty of room for two people with all the creature comforts -- spacious kitchen, TV, computer, big bedroom with bathroom -- everything two people would need to live with ease and comfort. Outside, solar panels harnessed the energy of the sun to provide ample electricity.
Just as I had entered the RV, the cell phone rang: one of the couple\'s children was calling from the Midwest. The cell phone did double duty as the link to the Internet. \"How different was this from a \'home\' that didn\'t move?\" I thought.
It seems to me, as even more of the baby boom generation enters their senior years, that even more of them (as well as younger people who can work while on the road), will take up full-time RVing. It\'s a heck of a lot less expensive in most cases than maintaining a home, a lot \"greener\" (overall, even factoring in gas for travel, you use less energy in the small space than in a traditional home), and in most cases more exciting than sitting at home.
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Subject: Pine Mountain RV resort opens in Georgia catering to luxury RVers
By: AZ RV
PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- Concierge service, massages, free high-speed Wi-Fi and even a Wii game room -- this list of amenities reads like the perks offered at a high-dollar luxury hotel; but actually it is just a sampling of the services now available at the newly renovated Pine Mountain RV Resort in Pine Mountain, Ga.
The new and improved resort, nestled near Georgia\'s most popular outdoor attractions, such as Callaway Gardens, offers activities and services not found at typical campgrounds and RV parks. Designed to accommodate RVs of all shapes and sizes, the resort provides paved pull-through, full hookup sites with 60-foot concrete pads. But the resort is not just for RV enthusiasts. Guests who stay in the resort\'s cottages and yurts can also take advantage of on-site amenities such as a fitness center, Saline Swimming pool and Hot Tub with Water Spray Park, Bike Rentals and Coffee and Wine Bar.
The improvements don\'t stop at the Resort. The just-launched Pine Mountain Website combines great design with incredible functionality, much like the resort itself. In addition to being able to find basic information about the resort, such as rates and local attractions, the website offers a number of interactive features that let users personalize their visit to both the site and the resort. These features include the following:
Mountain Musings Blog: Provides guests - both current and future - a forum to share their experiences at the resort and ask questions from fellow RVers.
Virtual Visit Photo Gallery: Allows site visitors to explore all that Pine Mountain RV Resort has to offer without ever leaving home.
Build an Itinerary Feature: Lets guests design their perfect vacation ahead of time by allowing them to choose the area attractions that most interest them.
Online Reservations Requests: Gives guests a map of the site and lets them request a specific site.
Contact Concierge Service: Offers guests a chance to request assistance from Pine Mountain RV Resort staff to help make their stay one to remember.
Pine Mountain View eNewsletter: Keeps guests up-to-date on Pine Mountain RV Resort news.
The Pine Mountain RV Resort represents a new kind of RV experience, and the new website provides a first step in tailoring the RV experience.
For more information, call 706.663.4329 or visit www.pinemountainrvc.com.
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Subject: San Diego family plans to visit 50 states in 50 weeks
By: AZ RV
SAN DIEGO -- The Bacon family is making the trip of a lifetime. They packed up their Scripps Ranch home last June and moved into an RV to tour 50 states in 50 weeks. They are 38 states into their journey and made a stop in San Diego as they prepare to visit the final 12 states on their route.
The entire trip took four years to organize and many more to save the money to go. Beth and Dan Bacon planned the trip after Dan’s retirement from his 20-year career in the Navy. Their boys finished school at Miramar Ranch Elementary on June 16, 2008 and on June 17th the Bacons left San Diego in their luxury RV.
Beth and Dan are home-schooling their kids during their 50 weeks on the road. For the boys Arthur, 12, and Henry, 10, the RV has become a mobile classroom. They’re learning geography and U.S. history by seeing things first hand and every day is an adventure. At first the boys said they were skeptical about the cross-country curriculum.
\"When we were first starting it we didn\'t know if it was going to be great or boring. So we just said, let’s do this and we\'ll see if it\'s fun or not,” and Arthur and Henry Bacon both agreed it turned out to be really fun.
The family has titled their tour, \'Bacon Across America.\' They\'re tracking their trip online at www.baconacrossamerica.com. The family members are blogging along the way. Dan writes restaurant reviews and Beth takes pictures of the unique animals they’ve spotted to post online.
Dan Bacon said it has been the trip of a lifetime and an amazing bonding experience for the family. “If you think you can do it save your money and do it because it really is. Everyone says that it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Everyone wants to do it and they really should. It\'s really been fun,\" he added.
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Subject: Interior Secretary Addresses Value of Park Visits
By: AZ RV
June 2, 2009
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar visited Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park today (June 2) to announce several “fee-free weekends” this summer at national parks.
Representing the recreation vehicle industry at the event was a travel trailer provided by Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) member Airstream Inc., a Thor Industries Inc. subsidiary.
The initiative is designed to stimulate visits to national parks, which boost economic activity in communities surrounding parks, according to a news release. The “fee-free weekends” will permit people to enter national parks at no charge during one weekend per month between June and September. In addition to announcing the “fee-free weekends,” Salazar is expected to discuss the economic benefits of Americans enjoying outdoor recreation.
“Outdoor recreation is vital to local businesses and to ancillary industries like ours,” said Bob Wheeler, Airstream president and CEO, who is expected to speak at the event. “National parks and access to camping destinations are important to our customers.”
The “fee-free weekends” are likely to attract more of America’s 30 million RVers to national parks this summer. Surveys of RV owners conducted by RVIA show that national parks continue to be a popular destination for RVers. More than 63% said RVing at a national park was a favorite activity in RVIA’s spring survey.
“RVers have always loved the outdoors and the natural world,” said Richard Coon, RVIA president. “The future of camping in the national parks will be increasingly green RVs that help families take eco-friendly and cost-effective vacations.”
Surveys also show that RVers are conservation-minded and protective of the environment. For example, 77% recycle on RV trips vs. 57% who recycle on other kinds of vacations. RV manufacturers are making green RVing easier than ever with eco-friendly features, materials and components.
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Subject: 1999 Pace Arrow
By: AZ RV
01-05-2003
Mike,
Thank you for all you did for facilitating the purchase of the Pace Arrow. I appreciated Bill picking me up at the airport. After picking up the RV I drove it back to Colorado 847 miles with no problems. We are really enjoying it!
We are very happy with the transaction and would gladly recommend you.
John Graham |
Subject: 2000 Georgie Boy!
By: AZ RV
11-26-2004
I would like to congratlate all the staff concerned at Arizona RV on the professionalism and honesty in the purchase of our motor home.
Our task to purchase a used motor home from the other side of the world was what I would consider a daunting and risky business. However from my first contact with Arizona RV, I was given a full and honest description of the RV and was also told that any unseen problems would be promptly addressed.
Like any other buyer I was skeptical as to their promises and in view of the fact that I was on the other side of the world, I hired and independent company to do a full inspection of the RV. The report came back good with the only conceren being very minor.
They had also helped me with insurance and having a solar panel fitted prior to my picking up.
I would recommend them to anyone as an honest and good reliable company to deal with.
Regards,
Steve Kingate
Australia |
Subject: Our Southwind we purchased from AZ RV
By: AZ RV
03/07/2003
Just a quick note to thank you for the excellent customer service you provide. The RV was even better than the pictures and description and had several more options. I can\'t be more pleased and would buy from you any day without hesitation!
Peter Slade
Lake Havasu, Az |
Subject: 1998 Holiday Rambler
By: AZ RV
05/28/2003
Michael,
I must say that Bill was great! He offered on his own to meet me halfway between Phoenix and Tucson to deliver the RV at no additional cost to me!
I would highly recommend you and your company. You can be assured that I will send referrals.
Thank you,
Mike Harris
Tucson Arizona |
Subject: 1994 Fleetwood Southwind
By: AZ RV
12/02/2004
Bill,
Just wanted to let you know the two motor homes worked well all the way back to Canada.
Thanks,
John Manoin |
Subject: Our new motorhome!
By: AZ RV
01/22/2002
Michael,
I was nervous as hell buying an RV \"sight unseen\",but not only am I pleasantly surprised with the rig, but the service, communication, and follow-up that you and Bill provided were top notch!
I can\' believe you made much money on this deal (although I hope you did). I believe that I got a GREAT deal on a nice RV in great condition.
Thanks for a pleasant buying experience....I will continue to watch what you have up for sale and refer you to my friends and family.
Mike Walters
San Diego |
Subject: We love our Bounder!
By: AZ RV
03-10-2005
Hi guys! We LOVE our Bounder!!! It is so much more than we expected it would be! We left there on Wednesday, and didn\'t get home until Sunday - but we had a ball!!
Thank you so much!!
Bobby, Monica and Brock Welborn
Liberty NC |
Subject: Our Winnebago motor home!
By: AZ RV
03/14/2005
Dear Arizona RV,
The trip home in the Winnebago was almost perfect, just a funny experience with the LP alarm, but we are going to have that checked. It was so nice to meet you Bill, your a great guy with a class-act operation. Thanks a million and all the best to you and your handsome son.
Thanks,
M. Meeors |
Subject: Rockwood Diesel Pusher 301
By: AZ RV
05-31-2004
Bill,
The diesel came up the hill without a grunt. I have not forgotton you...you did more than anyone could expecta dealer to do..one hell of a man
Bill Roloff |
Subject: For full-time RVers, everywhere is home
By: Mike
LONG NECK, Del. -- RVers can call many places, including the road, their homes while they see the country without every really leaving the comfort of their own living rooms.
That\'s the life for Mike Sclafani and his wife, Nancy. The Long Island, N.Y., natives have been living on the road for nearly seven years, splitting time between the Leisure Point Resort, an RV park and campground in Long Neck, and points elsewhere.
\"During the winters, we reside in Florida,\" Mike Sclafani said. \"I have a mobile RV service that I do down there. During the summers, we travel about the country, visiting places we\'ve never been to.\"
The same can be said for Penny Lenich and her husband, Scott. The couple sold their home in North Carolina four years ago and now also reside part time at Leisure Point.
\"It was mainly for us to see different parts of the country,\" she said. \"We sold our house and decided we would travel while we\'re still capable. It\'s our option to stay. If we want to go somewhere else, we can.\"
Kevin Broom, a spokesman for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association in Reston, Va., said there are an estimated 400,000 full-time RVers nationwide. With little or no means of income, some RVers who frequent campgrounds can find ways of financing their stays. Many work at a campground in various capacities to afford their stay, according to Stu Moore, operations manager at Leisure Point.
Mike Sclafani said life on the road opens the door for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. \"When we first started this, my wife and I decided we wanted to see America because it is so beautiful,\" he said. \"The flexibility of being able to go to where you want, when you want is the thrill of RVing.\"
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Subject: Plans for high-end RV park in Texas unveiled this week
By: Mike
KERR COUNTY, Texas -- A conceptual plan for a proposed “high-end RV resort” near Center Point was presented to Kerr County commissioners Tuesday during their regular meeting.
The planned site for the Old River Road RV Resort is 350 Colvin Ranch Road, across from the airport, and includes a half mile of riverfront property. The location lies within an unincorporated area of the county and the city of Kerrville’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. A private entrance will front Texas 27.
Developer Dick Colvin told county commissioners the commercial venture will feature 280 lots on 101 acres and will create an estimated $35 million in taxable value.
In addition to individual lot sales, the project calls for a 7,000-square-foot clubhouse, a boat dock, two swimming pools, laundry facilities and asphalt or naturally paved roads with concrete curbing. He said there would be lots of green space and recreational opportunities, including private hiking trails, picnic and barbecue areas, gazebos, fishing spots and putting greens.
The complex will use surface water instead of groundwater and have stormwater retention capabilities. Regarding wastewater, the plan is to treat the effluent and spray it on the grass.
While most of the project was greeted enthusiastically, possible concerns included determining which governmental body has primary jurisdiction, as well as fire code, drainage and floodplain issues. While the county granted conceptual approval, the developer next must present the plan to the Kerrville City Council.
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Subject: KOA completes fundraising events to raise money for Care Camps
By: Mike
BILLINGS, Mont. -- Kampground of America\'s sixth annual Come Kamp & Care With Us Weekend, held this year on May 8-9, once again kicked off the camping season by caring for those in need.
Three-hundred and seventy KOA Kampgrounds in the U.S. and Canada participated in the event, which benefits KOA Care Camps for children with cancer, the official charity of the KOA Owner\'s Association. The event also allows campers to stay free on Saturday night with their paid Friday night stay.
Registrations for Friday, May 8 totaled nearly 16,000, resulting in more than 34,000 total nights. The Come Kamp & Care With Us Weekend event continues to consistently rank among KOA\'s top ten camping weekends in terms of registrations and total camper nights.
Each participating KOA Kampground chooses the events, recreation, auctions, meals and other activities to offer their campers, with the common goal of raising funds for KOA Care Camps. These camps are a network of independent, specialized summer camps that provide fun, friendship and the health and medical attention needed by children with, or recovering from, cancer, and their siblings.
KOA Kampgrounds are continuing to raise funds for KOA Care Camps throughout the year; dollar amounts submitted to KOA by the campground owners through June 15 are matched by the KOA Holdings Board of Directors. Last year, the total amount KOA donated to the Care Camps fund was $250,000.
SOURCE: Kampgrounds of America press release
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Subject: Volunteers can get free RV site in exchange for park hosting
By: Mike
RVeNEWS Contributor posted on May 28, 2009 06:40
TACOMA, Wash. -- The Mason County Parks Department is looking for park hosts to work through the fall at three parks.
In exchange for working through October, the county will provide an RV site, water, power, electricity and septic service at no charge.
Park hosts are responsible for opening and closing parks, site security, customer service and light maintenance duties in return for the free RV space.
For more information, go to www.co.mason.wa.us/parks/index.php or call 360-427-9670, Ext 669.
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Subject: Pair Envisions Fleet of RVers Serving Others
By: Mike
May 29, 2009 by RV Business
Two North Huntingdon, Pa., residents are heeding the call to help others by taking a monthlong cross-country road trip and serving others along the way.
Adam Kunes, 24, and Andrew Blythe, 22, hope their journey, dubbed “The Call to Serve,” shows others that two people in a RV can help change the lives of others, according to PittsburghLIVE.com.
Blythe said they plan to turn the Call to Serve into a nonprofit organization with a fleet of RVs traveling the country to help others.
“We want to provide an outlet for other young adults to help people that is unique,” Blythe said. “Young people are always looking for something new and that’s what we’re providing — I think it will help do great things.”
The trip began this week, but the idea took shape in October.
Kunes and Blythe met in 2007 while helping Catholic Charities with rebuilding homes in New Orleans destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Since then, they have worked on other projects and became roommates.
“Ever since New Orleans, we’ve been best friends and thought everything happened for a reason,” Blythe said. “We were always trying to think of ways to keep that spirit and drive going, and he had the idea and it’s been snowballing ever since.”
Kunes has helped others around the world, going to India, Vietnam and Burma. He saw a need and realized how privileged he was.
“We’re so blessed and lucky to have what we’ve got and this is our way to give back,” he said. “Being in those areas for a short amount of time, you feel like a part of something that is bigger than yourself.”
After talking about what they could to help people across the country, Kunes said he had a vision, which led them to buy a RV and plan their trip.
Kunes and Blythe plan to start in Pittsburgh, traveling to New York City, New Orleans, Galveston, Texas, and San Diego. Projects on the trip include working with pediatric patients in Brooklyn, providing disaster relief in New Orleans and Galveston, Texas, and working with refugees in Phoenix.
Kunes and Blythe raised about $9,500 to buy the RV and put some money away for the trip by holding kickball tournaments, hosting open mike nights and other events.
“It’s been pretty crazy, because I’m trying to run my own business and do it all at the same time,” said Kunes, who owns Rewind Memories, a Shadyside-based media services company. Blythe is a student at the University of Pittsburgh who majors in athletic training.
The 30-day trip allots five days for each city, with one day of travel in between.
“It’s not for the faint of heart, especially since this is our first trip,” Blythe said. “It’s going to be a lot of traveling in a short time.”
But the trip is bigger than both of them, Kunes said.
They hope it is an inspiration to others, not only to help their new organization, but also to serve others.
“We’re not just two guys taking a trip — this won’t stop,” Kunes said. “We want to send out crews across the country.
“We could just join another organization, but we want something unique. We want to build bonds within the RV and within the people we’re serving.”
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Subject: National Parks on Facebook
By: Mike
FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- My student Steve Ander recommended in his report on how the federal government could improve its recruiting, which I discussed in a blog post a while ago, that government agencies should establish fan pages on Facebook. That is increasingly a way that young people learn about organizations they are considering working for.
Well, last week I saw on a Facebook friend\'s page that the National Park Service had a fan page. I signed up, and now I have been receiving regular \"status updates\" on my Facebook home page from the National Park Service.
I invite blog readers who are, like me, admirers of the National Park Service and the beautiful treasures it maintains for all of us, to become Facebook fans of the Park Service. (I would urge the same for non-U.S. blog readers on Facebook who would like to keep up with the National Park Service should they become tourists in the U.S.)
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Subject: Summer fun guide: Five great Utah campgrounds for you to visit
By: Arizona RV
By Tom Wharton
The Salt Lake Tribune
Utahns can spend their summers camping in dozens of different campgrounds on federal, state and private lands while enjoying parks close to water, in high elevation mountain areas, near urban areas or on the desert. Here are five of Utah\'s best campgrounds:
1. Devils Garden, Arches National Park » There is a reason this ranks as one of Utah\'s fastest-filling facilities each night during the busy tourist season from March through October. With the amphitheater framed by Skyline Arch, clean sand and great nearby hiking, and difficult to beat redrock scenery, this is a wonderful campground. Located 18 miles from the park entrance, Devils Garden has 52 individual sites, 28 of which can be reserved in advance through www.recreation.gov. The fee is $20 per night for up to 10 people with a $9 booking fee. Facilities include picnic table, fire pit, restrooms with cold running water and flush toilets and drinking water.
2. Kodachrome Basin State Park » Guarded by the towering rock pinnacles popular with photographers, this park\'s campground nine miles south of Cannonville off Utah Highway 12 near Bryce Canyon National Park is popular with campers because its 27 units are a great distance from each other, ensuring better privacy than found at many areas. Couple that with great modern restrooms that offer showers, a nearby concessionaire that provides horseback rides and rents cabins, and good hiking and riding in the nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and this is a good place to create a base for further exploration. Cost is $16 per night and there is a 45-foot limit to the length of a recreation vehicle.
3. Dixie Red Cliffs » This Bureau of Land Management area near Leeds just north of St. George can get a bit warm in the summer, though shade structures over most of the 10 individual units coupled with nice trees and a small stream can cool things off. No reservations are taken at this site, which includes a hiking trail to a pretty canyon and is near the Silver Reef historic area. Cost is $8 a night. Located near Cedar City, this is a quiet little area for those who don\'t want to be surrounded by a lot of people.
4. Tanner\'s Flat » Located 4.15 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon, this U.S. Forest Service facility might be near the city but at 7,200 feet in elevation, it is a wonderful place to beat the heat on a summer night. There\'s a creek flowing nearby, some sites guarded by large slabs of granite and great facilities that include flush toilets. The cost to rent one of 42 available campsites is $18. Reservations are strongly suggested, especially on the weekends.
5. Cherry Hill » This privately owned Kaysville facility might be between two of Utah\'s busiest highways -- Interstate 15 and U.S. 89 -- but you would never know it when camping in the quiet, shaded area. This is a wonderful place for a weekend family get-together. Kids love the miniature golf course, batting cages, water park, hamster house play area, aeroball and climbing wall and it is also a short drive from the Lagoon Amusement Park. Cost is $38 for full hookups and $30 for a tent site for two people. Each person older than 6 above two costs an extra $2. There is also a charge to use many of the recreation facilities. Reservations are suggested, especially on weekends. Call 801-451-5379. |
Subject: RVers Planning to Travel and Buy Despite Recession
By: Arizona RV
RESTON, Va., March 27 -- Consumer confidence may be down, but RVer confidence remains high, according to the biannual Campfire Canvass survey of RV owners, conducted by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). Fifty-five percent of survey respondents intend to use their RVs more this spring/summer than last year, and 45 percent are considering another purchase.
Only four percent say they\'ll use their RVs less this year. Three-fourths said they planned to take more mini-vacations so they could escape stress, spend more quality time with family, and enjoy nature and other outdoor activities.
A primary reason why so many RVers will be traveling -- and even buying in this economy -- this spring/summer is that they appreciate the value they get compared to flying, driving and staying in hotels. Eighty-six percent say RVing is an affordable way to travel. Three-fourths save at least 25 percent when they travel in an RV -- more than a quarter save 35-50 percent. These results echo the findings of a study by international travel and tourism experts PKF Consulting, which found family RV trips are 27-61 percent less expensive than other types of vacations.
\"RV travel continues to appeal to people looking to save money and cut costs,\" says Richard Coon, president of RVIA. \"By having their homes-on-wheels with them, RV owners receive a bigger bang for their buck than other types of vacations offer.\"
In what has to be a positive sign for the economy, 68 percent of RV owners said they believe this is good time to buy an RV, with 94 percent of those respondents saying great deals are available. RV buyers who meet income requirements also will be able to take advantage of the new federal stimulus plan that provides for a deduction of sales and excise taxes on the first $49,500 of a new motorhome purchase.
Tim Lundy, 40, of Feasterville, Pa., and Mike Seay, 42, of Lindenhurst, Ill. are recent RV buyers who took advantage of the market to get great deals.
Lundy, who works for the Philadelphia Electric Company, bought a 40-foot 2009 fifth wheel trailer, an upgrade from a 28-foot travel trailer.
\"I shopped for several months and there\'s definitely a lot of great buying opportunities out there,\" says Lundy.
\"If you\'re going to buy, this is the best time to do it,\" says Seay, an electrical contractor, who recently bought a Type A motorhome.
According to the survey, 45 percent of RVers are considering another RV purchase. Twenty-four percent are looking to buy in the next year; another 48 percent within two years.
Thirty-four percent of survey respondents said they have attended RV shows this year, helping generate surprisingly robust attendance and strong sales at recent RV shows nationwide. More than 44,000 visited the Florida RV Super Show; 35,000 came out for the Utah RV Show; and 30,000 showed up for the Maryland RV show. Dealers at the shows reported that people were not just looking at RVs, but buying them, too.
Tim DeWitt, executive director of the Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds, said attendance at the recent Flint Camper & RV Show was up 25 percent over last year. He attributes the increase to consumers recognizing that there\'s never been a better time to buy an RV. \"This is a buyer\'s market,\" he says. \"You can negotiate with dealers, who are discounting heavily.\"
When RVers hit the road this spring/summer, state and national parks will be among the most popular destinations. Seventy-seven percent of the survey respondents said they\'ll visit state parks, while 64 percent will visit national parks. Favorite activities while on the road include sightseeing, grilling/cookouts, hiking/walking, attending festivals and fairs, visiting theme parks, and going to family reunions.
RVers also plan to be on the move during major holidays, with 58 percent planning to travel over Memorial Day weekend and 60 percent over July 4th.
The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association is the national association representing approximately 500 manufacturers and component suppliers producing approximately 98 percent of all RVs made in the United States. |
Subject: Even during recession, RV parks invest in improvements
By: Arizona RV
LARKSPUR, Colo., March 17, 2009 –Despite the recession, private RV parks and campgrounds are collectively spending millions of dollars in capital improvement projects for RV enthusiasts.
“The recession is temporary, and most campground and RV resort operators believe that it behooves them to move forward with their improvement plans if they want to remain competitive with other travel and tourism options,” said Linda Profaizer, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds in Larkspur, Colo., which represents more than 4,000 private parks across the country.
As a result, she said, many private park operators are investing in new facilities and amenities this year, which include everything from cabins and yurts to miniature golf courses, skate parks and waterslides.
The push by private park operators to improve their facilities has been going on for many years. In fact, three quarters of private park owners made an average of $147,508 in improvements to their parks in 2007, according to a national survey by the Arizona Hospitality Research & Resource Center at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
Profaizer cautioned that not every park is investing in capital improvements this year, and some may hold until later this year until they get a better sense of where the economy is going. However, there are numerous examples of parks across the country that are making substantial investments in improvements and, in some cases, expansions. Consider these examples:
Adventure Bound Camping Resort in Gatlinburg, Tenn.: This Great Smoky Mountains area park, whose amenities include a 500-foot waterslide, is spending $70,000 in swimming pool, water heating and other improvements this year.
Arctic RV Park in Cosmopolis, Wash.: This park, located on the southern border of Olympic National Park, is making an effort to accommodate bigger rigs by investing $10,000 for improvements this year, much of which will involve converting four back in sites with 30-amp electrical hookups to three, pull-through sites with 50-amp service.
Buttonwood Campground, Mexico, Penn.: This central Pennsylvania park plans to invest $160,000 in improvements this year, including a miniature golf course, a new satellite cable TV system, an upgraded wireless Internet or WiFi system, laundry facilities and two park model cabins.
Campland on the Bay, San Diego, Calif.: This RV resort, located near Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, is spending up to $50,000 this year on a skate park, which is expected to open by Memorial Day Weekend. The park is also spending $100,000 on other infrastructure improvements.
Flying Flags RV Resort, Buellton, Calif.: This RV resort, located near the Dutch-themed town of Solvang, has budgeted $550,000 for improvements this year, including three park model cabin rental units, a fitness center, electrical and sewer service upgrades, renovation of campsites, cable television system upgrades and new landscaping.
Fox Hill RV Park in Baraboo, Wis.: This park, located 45 miles northwest of Madison, is planning to invest $10,000 to $15,000 in improvements this year, which will pay for improvements to its pool, construction of new seasonal sites and new activities.
Holiday Cove RV Resort in Cortez, Fla.: This park just completed $1.4 million in a complete overhaul, which included the addition of 50-amp electrical hookups at every site, brick paver pads and patios at each campsite, a new laundry and fitness center building, new pool decking and landscaping, the paving of all roads inside the park and the installation of security fencing.
Kozy Rest Kampground, Harrisville, Penn.: This western Pennsylvania park is investing $300,000 in improvements this year, including the addition of two full-service cabins, a new maintenance building, a new bathhouse and laundry, as well as the installation of sewage service to 22 of its campsites.
Lake George RV Park in Lake George, N.Y.: This park is investing $150,000 to $200,000 in upgrades this year, which will include new landscaping, a new cable television system and other infrastructure upgrades.
Normandy Farms Campground in Foxboro, Mass: This park, located 30 miles southwest of Boston, is adding 20 new campsites and an additional yurt this year and next at a cost of approximately $40,000.
Port of Siuslaw Campground in Florence, Ore.: This campground, located near the famous Oregon sand dunes, is investing $53,000 in electrical upgrades this year as it upgrades many of its campsites with 50-amp electrical service.
Stony Ridge KOA in Perrysville, Ohio: This park, located 90 miles southeast of Cleveland, is spending $6,000 on a new pavilion and plans to spend another $1,000 on hay rides and other new activities this year.
The Vineyards Campground and Cabins in Grapevine, Texas: This park plans to begin making $1.5 million worth of capital improvements this year, including additional RV sites, cabins, sewer system upgrades, a new gatehouse and store and landscaping. Geocaching and kayak rentals are also being added to the park this spring.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Cave City, Ky.: This 129-site park plans to invest roughly $400,000 in new facilities and other upgrades this year, including new cabins with fireplaces and pull out sofa beds, upgrades to its miniature golf course, improvements to its water slide as well as new landscaping and new tile in its bathhouse.
RESORT CHAINS ALSO SPENDING BIG
Resort chains, too, are also moving ahead with expansion plans, including Chicago-based Equity LifeStyle Properties, which spent more than $13 million in improvements to its 170 RV resorts last year. This year’s improvements include $2 million in upgrades to its Thousand Trails campgrounds for interior roadway improvements, new electrical hookups, new kayaks, paddleboats, picnic tables and barbecue grills. Other ELS projects include new fitness centers and pool area upgrades at Sunshine Key RV Resort and Marina in Big Pine Key, Fla. and clubhouse renovations at Crystal Isle RV Resort in Crystal River, Fla.
Other RV resort companies making improvements this year include Salt Springs, Fla.-based Elite Resorts of America, which is overseeing $1.2 million in proposed renovation work at Ocala Sun RV Resort in Ocala; $300,000 worth of improvements at Desert Gardens RV Oasis in Florence, Ariz.; and roughly $500,000 worth of improvements at Palm Lake RV Resort in Foley, Ala., according to Ed Mayer, president of Elite Resorts, which is managing these properties on behalf of a Philadelphia-based investment group.
Elite Resorts is also planning to invest $200,000 in improvements at its namesake parks in Salt Springs, Clermont and Crystal River, Mayer said.
Of course, not every park is spending money in facility or amenity improvements right now. Some, in fact, have not been able to move forward with their expansion or improvement plans because of difficulties obtaining loans. But that’s doesn’t always stop them.
The Jellystone Park in Cobb, Calif., north of Napa Valley, was planning to spend half a million dollars on a miniature golf course when its lender stopped issuing loans after the golf course was 75 percent completed. But that didn’t stop park owner Brian Barnhart. He negotiated a deal with the golf course builder that allowed him to finish the golf course himself.
“This is looking like it’s going to be a very good year for our campground business,” Barnhart said, adding, “I think we’re going to do a lot better than last year.” |
Subject: Top Ten RV Fixes
By: Arizona RV
Leveling jacks and slideouts lead the Coach-Net Top Ten RV Fixes for 2008 list, which tallies the items that generated the most phone calls in 2008 for Coach-Net assistance regarding coach- and towable-related components.
Coach-Net, a leading provider of emergency roadside assistance for RVers, provides a 24/7 on-call staff of RV Master Certified Technicians to help RVers, either with over-the-phone instruction or by arranging assistance from authorized mobile mechanics and RV service centers.
“We are releasing this list to give RV owners a heads-up about the kind of things that RVers have found most troublesome or annoying, so they can pay extra attention to these areas,” said Patrick Cipres, RV technical service manager for Coach-Net. “These all involve components that RVers should make sure are in good working order before they hit the road, and which they should know how to handle and how to troubleshoot if necessary.”
“Of course they can count on our expert help if needed, but we hope that it won’t be,” said Cipres.
Either leveling jacks or slideouts usually lead the top ten list, said Cipres. “Leveling jack concerns range from basic operation and power requirements to troubleshooting failures,” said Cipres. “The most common call on leveling jacks is retraction failure. Two options that we offer are a walk-through on how to manually retract or dispatching a mobile mechanic who will help get the jacks fully retracted. We will then locate a service center to have the concern diagnosed and repaired.”
Retraction failure is also the main problem people run into with slideouts, said Cipres. Coach-Net also fields a number of basic operational questions, including power requirements, for the slideouts.
Electrical 110v concerns, including shore power connections, appliance power requirements, and basic troubleshooting with such things as GFI testing and resetting procedures, were No. 3 on the list.
Here is the complete list of Coach-Net Top Ten RV Fixes for coaches and towables in 2008:
1. Leveling jacks
2. Slide room
3. Electrical, 110v
4. Batteries
5. Electrical 12v
6. Plumbing — fresh water
7. Water heater
8. Exterior accessories
9. Generator
10. Furnace
Common issues with the rest of these components include knowing what appliances require 12v power; how to fill the fresh water tank and city water connection requirements; purging and filling the hot water heater; starting the generator; basic operation and power requirements for the furnace; re-attaching awnings undone by high winds while driving.
Coach-Net has also assembled a list of top chassis concerns, led by various engine problems including odd noises, maintenance needs, low power concerns, fluid leaks, turbo charger issues, and a vast range of minor and major failures. The top ten list for chassis.
1. Engine/exhaust
2. Brake systems
3. Chassis electrical
4. Wheels-tires
5. Transmission
6. Cooling system
7. Fuel system
8. Suspension
9. Gauges
10. Axle
Calls about the rest of these components most often involve operational failures, operational and maintenance questions, fluid leaks, and basic performance requirements and concerns.
“RVing is a lot of fun, but there are also a lot of operational systems involved,” said Cipres. “These lists offer priorities to focus on in terms of maintenance and education to ensure trouble-free operation. At Coach-Net, we want to do everything we can to provide our members with the best RV experience possible.” |
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