October 2005

One of the newest and most spectacular Midwestern routes for RV travelers is the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, located along Iowa’s western border. This panoramic roadway, which received its national designation in 2000, traverses the Loess Hills, an unusual land formation that is up to 15 miles wide and 200 miles long, and stretches from Sioux City in the north to St.

The all-new type C Itasca Navion from Winnebago Industries Inc. is a departure from other motorhomes made by this company.

Airstream, a division of Thor Industries, C847, based in Jackson Center, Ohio, tapped coach converter Creative Mobile Interiors, C9705, located in Grove City, Ohio, to help design and build the prototype interior used in Airstream’s new A-Series motorhomes.
The A-Series is designed to appeal to sophisticated motorhome enthusiasts. Its modern décor features clean lines; a restrained color scheme; and contemporary finishes such as leather, Ultrasuede, and highly polished Corian surfaces.

RVers with roof-mounted or portable satellite dishes often have difficulty finding a clear line of sight though trees or other obstacles to allow for good reception. The Align-A-Site satellite dish alignment system can help locate openings so the dish can receive an unobstructed signal.
Using the system’s handheld sighting unit, motorhomers can survey the area for a suitable parking location with a clear line of sight.

We have a 2004 Newmar Mountain Aire motorhome. In one of the exterior storage bays, a piece of fiberboard with 1/4-inch holes covers the right side of the water tanks.

The compressed air system is relatively new to the typical diesel-pusher motorhome chassis, and coach owners may not understand how it all fits together. This article is merely an introduction to the compressed air systems and is intended to provide readers with a working knowledge of the systems.

Whether you’re a newcomer to RVing or have enjoyed the activity full- or part-time for decades, there’s always something more you can learn about it. And, of course, the more you know about the mechanics of your vehicle and the RVing lifestyle, the safer and more pleasurable your experiences on the road will be.
Such was Gaylord Maxwell’s reasoning when he began to develop the highly informative and popular RV Life on Wheels program a decade ago.

Some people consider the House on the Rock an architectural wonder; others, a boondoggle; and others suggest it’s just plain weird. The house, perched atop a 60-foot-high sandstone pinnacle seven miles south of Spring Green, Wisconsin, is a museum-like structure visited by a half-million people each year.

Kentucky is aptly nicknamed the Bluegrass State. But it could just as appropriately have been dubbed the Cave State, so riddled is its wide midsection with subterranean passageways and elegantly adorned, light-free halls.

It gives me great honor and pride to announce a continuing alliance between the Family Motor Coach Association and Passport America. Passport America and FMCA have supported one another over the years in this great industry by offering FMCA members the opportunity to become Passport America members, and thus receive some of the best campground discounts available.
Throughout history, great alliances have created new realms of possibility.

Black and white streaks, the RVer’s version of barnacles, are a by-product of dirt and grime buildup, mixed with moisture, which has spilled down the sidewalls of the RV. There is no easy way to remove streaks; however, the best way to prevent these unsightly blemishes is to regularly wash the roof.
Now I don’t say this lightly, because while crawling around one story above the ground may be matter-of-fact to some people, for most of us it’s an episode straight out of “Fear Factor.” However, getting up there and washing away dirt and grime is the only way to avoid the backbreaking task of scrubbing away streaks that can permanently stain the sidewall surfaces.
It goes without saying that if you are on medication that can cause dizziness, or suffer a condition that can leave you feeling weak or light-headed, traipsing around the motorhome’s roof is not recommended.

Dr. Dean Edell, F10003, is one of the most recognized physicians in the United States.

Before the Wild West existed in the minds of Americans, a place called Greene Ville was at the heart of history in the making.
Today, Greenville, Ohio, is a small town that epitomizes America’s heartland, but in the late 1700s and early 1800s, it was the epicenter of history that helped form this great nation. It was Annie Oakley’s hometown and also is the place of her burial.

When full-timing, it pays to be flexible, aware, and always up-to-date on how to make the best of life on the go. Here are some solutions and suggestions full-timers might find beneficial.
Sole food
Ladies, if sandals and other open-toe shoes are a must in your on-the-go wardrobe, discover Summer Soles.

From a distance, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has the foreboding, medieval appearance of a haunted castle. With 30-foot-high stone walls and even taller towers, the penitentiary — the first of its kind in the United States — looks like and is a fortress.

Previous FMCA presidents have told me that this is the magazine article they enjoyed writing the most. By the time you read this, I will be out of office and relieved of the tremendous responsibilities of being president of Family Motor Coach Association.
I don’t see how any man could serve in this position and do an acceptable job without a talented, intelligent, and loyal wife, as I have been blessed to have.

This month I am dedicating my column to the questions most frequently answered by the staff in our Membership Services Department. I have found that although the facts are quite familiar to those of us who work with the issues daily, they may not be to members who deal with us infrequently, or those who are new members of FMCA.
Beverly Spurgeon, director of membership services, and the Membership Services Department staff have compiled the following list of the most frequently asked questions and the answers.

Dear Editor:
Technical articles in RV magazines often leave you blank. But I must compliment writer Peter D.

Q: I have a late 1990s type A chassis with a Chevy 454-cid engine. It has 46,000 miles on it and I’d like to make it ride better.

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a Sportscoach III on a P-30 chassis. I need to either shorten or modify the 3-inch down tube connecting the toilet to the black water tank.

There is something truly fascinating about watching huge, heavy vehicles, which look more like toy trucks when seen at the bottom of a 900-foot-deep mining pit, moving tons of rock and ore around in search of gold. Members of the Rocky Mountain Motorcoach Association (RMMA) planning team were fortunate enough to experience this sight during their meeting in Winnemucca, Nevada, at the beginning of June in preparation for the 2005 Rocky Mountain Ramble, scheduled for September 14 through 17 at the Winnemucca Events Complex.
The Newmont Mining Corporation, which operates the Lone Tree mine east of Winnemucca, offers public tours of the facility.

The first meeting of the Arizona chapter was held at a ballpark in Casa Grande, Arizona, with 15 members attending. The chapter was chartered on July 13, 1968.

Let’s get back to basics with recipes that are easy and quick, yet chic and delicious.
Foil-Poached Salmon
Fish is one food that is best cooked outside the motorhome, unless you want to enjoy the aroma for hours afterward inside. Here is a way to cook juicy fish outdoors.
1 large shallot
1 large clove garlic
1 large plum tomato, diced
4 pats butter
4 servings filleted salmon, preferably wild
Dill weed
Salt, pepper
8 tablespoons white wine, vermouth, or chicken broth
Set out four squares of nonstick foil.

Many people don’t like lizards any more than they do snakes, but we find these creatures interesting and often delightful. There are more than 100 species of lizards in the United States that sport a variety of shapes, patterns, and colors.
Lizards can be found in every state except Alaska, but the greater numbers occur where temperatures are warm.

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 of each year to mark the independence day of five Latin American countries — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Our nearest neighbor to the south, Mexico, celebrates its independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.