Reluctant Farewell
Dear Editor:
I would like to say a reluctant farewell to all my motorhome friends. I had to sell my Foretravel motorhome in 2009 after my husband’s death. I also was no longer able to climb up the steps into the coach. I will not be renewing my FMCA membership, and I will miss all our friends in FMCA.
Linda Lippincott, F182153
Newport, Washington
Notes About Glacier, Yellowstone
Dear Editor:
Your Yellowstone and Grand Teton article (April 2013, page 60) did not tell readers there is only one full-hookup RV park within each national park’s boundaries “” Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone and Colter Bay in Grand Teton. Both parks fill up quickly, with reservations from mid-June until late August. I worked at Colter Bay the last two summers and had to turn away many RVers because we had no space.
Anyone visiting Grand Teton should stop at Jenny Lake and take the boat ride across the lake and hike the 1/2-mile to Hidden Falls and then the other 1/2-mile up to Inspiration Point, if their physical condition permits. If they have more time, they should hike around Jenny Lake, because the views are more spectacular on foot than from a motorhome. Other favorite activities in Grand Teton include a float trip down the Snake River and a cruise on Jackson Lake, whether it be a scenic cruise or a breakfast or dinner cruise.
Some of the best pizza can be found at Leek’s Marina, a mile north of Colter Bay. Other good eats include Dornan’s in Moose near the south entrance to Grand Teton, as well as Signal Mountain Lodge near Oxbow Bend. The food at Jackson Lake Lodge is a bit overpriced for what you get.
Thanks for a great magazine.
Paul McLaughlin, F428391
Gainesville, Florida
Campground-Owner Kindness
Dear Editor:
We have been full-timers since March 2003. The time came when I could no longer put off having back surgery. I chose to have this done at Gainesville, Florida, because of the excellent reputation of the medical facilities and medical talent.
We checked in at the Travelers Campground in Alachua, Florida, the nearest campground to Gainesville. We were assigned to one of their “hospital sites,” which are available on a monthly basis, and promised to be yours for as long as needed.
Since my wife is no longer allowed to drive, I inquired at the office about public transportation to Gainesville, which is 15 miles away. They said there was none but a taxi, which would be expensive. There were two people in the office at that time, Linda Adleman, co-owner, and another Linda, who was the attendant on duty. They immediately decided that between the two of them they would be able to transport us to and from the medical center as required if their shifts allowed and, if not, someone would. As it turned out, Linda Adleman and her husband, Harold, provided our transportation. They were very gracious and refused any payment for this service. Harold said to me that he believes in the “pass it on” theory.
We are greatly indebted to the Adlemans. I am looking forward to the time when I can pass on their kindness to someone else, and we would like others to know about these fine people. They are also avid RVers; they turn the campground over to work campers and travel in the winter months.
Ray & Marcelle Wierschem, F328963
Merritt Island, Florida
Chapter Helps Veteran
Dear Editor:
As the newly elected president of The Wild Bunch chapter, during our October 2012 rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, I asked the chapter members present if they were aware of various programs for contributing to an organization for injured veterans. I was made aware of some veterans in need of assistance in my home state of New Hampshire and I wanted to help in some way.
Since our chapter consists of members from all over the United States, they were unanimously in favor of helping if the donation went directly to the veteran, rather than to an organization that would take a percentage of the contribution. The chapter voted to donate up to $1,000 if it went directly to the recipient. My next step was to appoint a committee of three to look into how we could help someone. Our committee moved very quickly and found an Afghanistan marine veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, who had fallen behind in various utility bills. At our January rally in Clearwater, Florida, the chapter voted to approve their choice and authorized our chapter treasurer to pay up to $1,000 of his bills directly to the utility company.
On January 31 we received this reply from him: “Thank you for everything [you’ve] done. . . . I can now concentrate on my new baby girl and give her things she needs. You helped me and my family get back on track. Once my family is back on its feet I will donate or spread the word of your organization.”
I hope this might influence other chapters to do something similar.
Brendon Wood, F142123
President
The Wild Bunch Chapter
Pelham, New Hampshire
Stars Fell On Alabama
Dear Editor:
They sure did! And two of them landed side by side in Robertsdale, Alabama, on State Route 59 south of Interstate 10. At these facilities you deal directly with the owners of the businesses, who also do the work needed and supervise factory-trained technicians and mechanics. The hourly shop rate is $30 less than a national chain approximately 1 mile down the road, and the service is faster, done right the first time.
These people are masters at handling extended warranties. Mine was a 7-year-old warranty with less than two months remaining, and my work was refused at first. But they negotiated so that my repairs were approved, saving me more than $2,000.
I recommend All Star RV Parts (22345 State Route 59 S., 251-945-1777), and B&D Automotive and RV Repair (22345-C State Route 59 S., 251-947-4400).
Bob McCarver, F373558
Lillian, Alabama
Going The Extra Miles
Dear Editor:
We would like to recommend Shade Pro (www.shadepro.net) for anyone needing awnings.
My wife and I attended the FMCA Family Reunion in Indianapolis, Indiana, in August 2012. I purchased motorized arms for my motorhome awning from Shade Pro out of California. The service tech installed the awning, and I was very happy with the results. We left the show on Thursday and traveled to Michigan for a few days of sight-seeing. When we arrived, I tried to put the awning out and the awning wouldn’t work. I called Trevor Matushek of Shade Pro and explained my problem. The next morning, he drove the 200-plus miles to Michigan to repair my awning. It turns out that the problem wasn’t related to anything he had done when installing the arm; it was the way the arm had been wired from the factory. I was very appreciative of the great service that Trevor and his company provided and will recommend this company to everyone. More businesses should provide this type of customer service.
Barry Blackwell, F252818
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Clearance Height Info
Dear Editor:
We drive a 40-foot Holiday Rambler Ambassador and tow a Ford Escape. Recently we had a close encounter with a covered bridge! Anyone who tows knows you can’t just back up. We’ve been on the lookout for something that would alert us to low clearances. We found a very reasonably priced program called Route 1 that you can easily download into your GPS. You set your preferences for not only the height of the bridge or tunnel (depending on the height of your motorhome) but also how close you need to be to the bridge before you receive an alert. We set that figure at 4 miles, which gives us plenty of time to find somewhere to turn around safely.
We were so happy with the program during our most recent travels through New England that we’ve been spreading the word to all of our friends. Maybe some of your readers would be interested. It was a very small price to pay for plenty of peace of mind.
To learn more, visit www.lowclearances.com.
Garrett & Carol Massimin, F382047
Port St. Lucie, Florida
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