Readers’ Forum: July 2003

Correction

In the May 2003 issue, an individual was misidentified in a photo caption that accompanied the article “A California Dream Come True.” On page 99, 103-year-young Cleo Pryor attended FMCA’s 69th International Convention March 21, 22, and 23 as one of the guests of Ben and Marguerite Boyce, F59326.

FMC regrets this error.

Dear Editor:
We wish to extend a big thank-you to Bob Gummersall, F127494, for helping to spearhead the fight against a very unfair excise tax on RVs in Washington state to fund state parks. It shows that pulling together can affect what politicians plan to do.

Thanks again, Bob.

Michael & Lesta Campbell
Bonney Lake, Washington

Dear Editor:
I urge fellow FMCA members to mark their calendars, for this event is not on anyone’s caravan plans or radar screens. On August 23 and 24, 2003, at the Hood River, Oregon, airport, we will celebrate 100 years of aviation with a fly-in. The official date of the fly-in is Sunday the 24th.

Whether you arrive in a motorhome or an airplane, camping at the airport is free for the weekend. Arrive with full water tanks and empty holding tanks, because no hookups will be available.

You also can enjoy many activities in and around the Hood River area. We will be offering shuttle service to and from town if you wish to leave your motorhome parked and do some exploring.

Fly-in festivities will officially begin at approximately 5:00 p.m. Saturday with the arrival of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Cascade Warbirds Squadron. The Columbia Gorge Aviation Association will be offering a hamburger barbecue and live music in one of the hangars. Sunday will begin with the traditional Eye Openers Lions pancake breakfast. Planes will be arriving all morning to attend the fly-in, as it is very popular with pilots from around the Northwest, Canada, and California. About 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. Sunday, things will begin to wind down with the departure of the majority of the aircraft.

Camping is free on a first-come basis. No reservations are accepted, but we have quite a bit of space. There is no charge to attend the fly-in events, but the association will accept donations to help fund a pilots scholarship program for local high school students. Meals are available for a small charge (no free lunch).

More information is available from www.flythegorge.com; Flightline Services (541-386-1133, e-mail: flight@gorge.net); or the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce (800-366-3530, 541-386-2000, e-mail: hrccc@hoodriver.org, www.hoodriver.org).

Russel Paddock, F320189
Hood River, Oregon

Dear Editor:
Just a note to thank you for the Business Directory. We have been full-timers for the past three years. We travel quite a bit. On at least two occasions in the last six months, our coach needed maintenance in some area of the United States where we did not know of any service companies (west Texas and central Michigan). The directory helped us find service in a timely fashion and we were on our way to our next adventure. Upon receiving the June 2003 issue with the updated Business Directory, I felt a thank-you was in order.

Bill Pearce, F282487
Emery, South Dakota

Dear Editor:
This is in response to Bill Dils, F323184, who asked for help in finding a good RV compass (“Readers’ Forum,” June 2003, page 26). Bill, go to Camping World, if you have one near you, or find one in your travels. They have a marine-type compass that’s made for RVs. It is oversized, is easily observed, and works accurately. I’ve had one for several years, and wouldn’t be without it. I believe it’ll run you about $40, but it’s well worth it to get something that works, rather than one you’ll return as ineffective.

Rod Weiss, F326639
Palos Heights, Illinois

Dear Editor:
The Marfa Lights you have decided were headlight reflections have been seen in this area since the early 1800s. (“More About West Texas, May 2003, page 24.) I think this was somewhat before the headlight era. They were seen by drovers on cattle drives and, thinking they were Indian campfires, many a cold camp was made.

I’m sure the local chamber of commerce or the Texas Department of Transportation will be happy to furnish additional information if you would request it.

Sam & Mary Day, F170341
Cedar Hill, Texas

Editor’s note: We do not have an opinion as to the source of the lights. According to the Marfa Chamber of Commerce, no one knows exactly what causes them. In fact, the source of the lights is not a major issue on most visitors’ minds, according to Marfa Chamber of Commerce assistant executive director Sondra de Zambrano. “Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the people who come in and ask where they can see the lights just want to know where they can go to see them,” she said. “Most people don’t care what the source is. It’s just a fun thing to do.”

Dear Editor:
During a recent visit to Arizona, we saw a couple making a phone call at the pay phone in the RV park. The lady was holding the pay phone receiver to her ear, while her husband held a device to his ear, which was connected to the pay phone receiver with a suction cup or another sticking device. This allowed the husband to hear the conversation and talk to the caller, too. I should have asked them where they got the device but thought it would be available at an electronics store, such as RadioShack. However, I have not been able to find anyone who can direct me to it.

Does anyone know where this device can be purchased? It would be convenient when making phone calls to our family.

David & Janet Hubley, F276671
Milford, Nova Scotia, Canada
E-mail: d.hubley@ns.sympatico.ca

Dear Editor:
The “RV Travel To Canada” article by Peggi McDonald, F71504, in the June 2003 issue (page 112) was very informative and, from my experience, presented accurate facts. Pets, including birds, are welcome in Canada.

However, different rules apply when trying to return to the United States with birds. We found out the hard way when we checked with Canadian Customs for entry but forgot to check with the United States Customs agency about the return. We almost had a valuable Congo African Grey seized from us because of a lack of required documents.

Only certain U.S. border crossing points are able to clear pet birds to cross. On our first try, we were at a crossing point that couldn’t authorize the birds’ return, and we were directed to another location. We arrived there after 5:00 p.m., and the proper agents to handle the documents were gone for the day. Besides being seen by the usual U.S. Customs agents, the bird and its papers had to be seen by a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service inspector, and a veterinarian stationed at the border. We had to relinquish our drivers’ licenses and spend a night of dry camping in the motorhome in the Customs parking lot until the latter two came to work the next morning. Of course, we didn’t have the proper paperwork, but after lots of talk, paying a fine, and promising to mail paperwork to them, we were allowed to enter the United States with the bird.

Internet searches I have made have turned up the following statements: “Some exotic birds may require quarantine upon importation as well as a permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; call (800) 358-2104.” And “To apply for the captive-bred wildlife registration, applicants must complete an application form and submit it and the $25 processing fee to the (U.S. Fish & Wildlife) Service’s Office of Management Authority. (Consult the fee schedule to see if you are exempt from the processing fee.) Applicants should allow for a 60- to 90-day processing and review period.”

Since this incident, we have decided it is not worth the trouble to travel with our birds and now board them before crossing the border.

William A. Legant, F247520
Auburndale, Florida

Dear Editor:
I’m looking to purchase a shop-type service manual for a 1985 32-foot Honey motorhome with a Chevrolet 454 engine. I want it to include complete electrical schematics for the entire motorhome as well as for the chassis itself, and also, hopefully, have a diagram that shows where some of the different components are located on the chassis and in the motorhome.

I’m having trouble coming up with what I actually want. Some people told me that they had such a manual, but all they had was a manual for the chassis, as if it were a regular truck (such as a delivery truck, not a motorhome). I’d like the manual to include all electrical for the complete motorhome.

If any readers can help, I ask that they e-mail me and include their phone number.

Thank you.

Douglas Berekvam
La Crosse, Wisconsin
E-mail: daburke@execpc.com