March 2002

My brother and I were grown and living on our own before my parents purchased their first RV, a 10-foot truck camper that sat high atop my father’s green Dodge pickup.

We were shocked at their purchase, because my mother didn’t seem the camping type. She never left the house without applying makeup, and her dress was always color-coordinated and accessorized.

Gordon and Janet Groene, F47166, longtime columnists for Family Motor Coaching magazine, demystify the idea of RV full-timing in the third edition of their book Living Aboard Your RV (Ragged Mountain Press). As in previous editions, the Groenes have packed this book with information for those considering the full-timing lifestyle.

The Deka “Ultimate” battery from East Penn Manufacturing Company Inc. features ultra-pure electrolyte plus an added electrolyte reservoir to retard plate dry-out.

Do you have problems with your pantry drawers sliding out when you go around a sharp turn? To keep our coach drawers from sliding open, we installed 2-inch door hinges on the inside of each drawer. When we are in transit, the open hinges catch the inside of the pantry frame.

The new Xcursion from Xplorer Motor Homes of Brown City, Michigan, is striking in appearance, features, and performance. This type C coach attracted attention wherever we took it.

For years, motorhome enthusiasts have been thrilled at NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) events at the Daytona International Speedway. In the four-county area surrounding Daytona, Florida, a plethora of temporary campgrounds spring up overnight to accommodate the thousands of RVers who attend racing events.

Columbus may not be one of the top destination cities in Georgia. However, folks who explore it are richly rewarded.

This is the eighth in a series of articles written by motorhome manufacturers that address the subject of quality control. Recently, FMCA commercial members involved in the production of type A, type B, and type C motorhomes were invited to describe the quality-control strategies they have in place at their manufacturing facilities.

Voodoo, alligators, wild horses, African culture, and the wealthiest families in the United States — all are part of the history of Georgia’s barrier islands. They’re also still a part of the islands’ modern-day heritage.
At dawn, the mist rises on the marshes that skirt the coast of Georgia.

As a full-time RVer, I find it remarkable how often I hear “I wish I were doing that,” or “That sounds wonderful,” or “You’re so lucky.” Other full-timers will agree that it is wonderful and we’re all lucky to have this option available. In fact, full-timers are inclined to tell you it’s the only way to live.

There it was, a dream come true, parked in his own driveway. It surely was an impressive piece of machinery: a sturdy-looking tan-and-brown motorhome.
The year was 1964, and the Clark Cortez was among the first breeds of type A manufactured coaches on the market.

Several years ago, we set a goal to live out our dream of traveling the United States while we still relatively young. In the summer of 1999 the dream began.

Our meandering, adventurous full-time RV journey has taken us through 46 states, countless national and state parks, Forest Service lands, historical sites and museums, busy cities, and quaint villages.
We’ve traveled through California, Oregon, and Washington on Interstate 5, and have taken the Pacific coast highways, chiseled into cliffs above tidal pools teeming with marine life. We’ve driven across the United States to Interstate 95 and the Atlantic coast, following meandering roads that led to lighthouses and fishing villages surrounded by jagged coastlines.

Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.
Georgia, Georgia, a song of you
Comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.
— from “Georgia On My Mind”
Peaches, pecans, and peanuts may be among Georgia’s most celebrated exports, but many people may be surprised by the state’s contribution to the world of music. Georgia has been home sweet home to hundreds of well-known national acts, including R&B legends Ray Charles and Otis Redding; country stars Alan Jackson, Trisha Yearwood, and Travis Tritt; rock ‘n’ roll standouts Little Richard, R.E.M., the Black Crowes, and the B-52’s; and gospel/pop singer Amy Grant.

Last year a professional market research firm sent a survey to a representative sample of FMCA members. Although it has been awhile since we received the results, I decided to take this opportunity to share some of the feedback we received, and to thank those who received and returned the survey.
I am happy to report that the response rate was 30.4 percent — very high for this type of survey, compared with routine survey response rates.

Each year during the week following Thanksgiving, a gigantic recreation vehicle trade show is staged in Louisville, Kentucky. This event — which ranks as one of the largest trade shows in the United States — is sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).

Since retiring in 1993, Juanita Freeman, F157418, has had two traveling companions — her husband, Ray, and her hand-stitched “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” quilt.
For the past eight years, the quilt, a work in progress, has accompanied Juanita across North America — from Mexico to Canada; from Miami, Florida to Washington state; and even to the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. During summers spent in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and winters in Yuma, Arizona, Juanita has carefully crafted the quilt, piece by piece.
Before retiring from her job as a school bus driver, Juanita had made machine-stitched quilts for several years.

Last month we checked out some of the national historic landmarks located east of the Appalachians — this month we’ll move westward. You’ll notice a considerable difference between the subjects this month.

Part-timers think in terms of spring spruce-up and fall storage. Full-timers live by a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week, 12-month-a-year schedule in which spring cleaning could take place during any month of the year and fall layup may never take place at all.

Call it a chinook, a sirocco, a Santa Ana, a dust devil, a whirlwind, or even a Cockeyed Bob. All are part of the same meteorological family — wind.

Here are some time-saving recipes that can be whipped up on the go or made partially at home and finished in the motor coach.
Smoked Salmon Roll
Stir this up several days ahead of time and keep it cold. Serve it surrounded by crackers so everyone can scoop and spread what they want.

I would like to bring you up-to-date on the Constitution & Bylaws Committee’s proposed changes to the FMCA Constitution and Bylaws. These changes are not final and are subject to review by the Governing Board during its meeting in Hutchinson, Kansas, on September 29 and 30, 2002.
FMCA contracted with Ms.

The word game titled “Hoops Quiz: Court To Court And Coast To Coast” (January 2002, page 186), a quiz focusing on NBA teams, did not include mention of the Toronto Raptors. FMC regrets this exclusion.

Corrected MEDEX Cards

The telephone number that appeared on the MEDEX cards that were printed on page 209 of the January 2002 issue reaches MEDEX but is not the most direct number for FMCA members to use.

Q: Recently, a coolant hose failed on our 15-month-old motorhome built on a Spartan chassis. The hose, labeled “SAE 1527 J USCG Type 2,” was severely cracked.

1. Everyone will be assigned a day and time of admittance based on the date their registration is received at FMCA headquarters in Cincinnati.