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Family RVing Magazine

Readers’ Forum: December 2013

December 1, 2013

Another Texas World War II Museum

Dear Editor:
We enjoyed the article about the National Museum of the Pacific War (November 2013, page 72), in Fredericksburg, Texas. We would like to suggest another museum, this one in Lubbock, Texas, about the gliders used in World War II.

The Silent Wings Museum (806-775-3049) is in a former terminal building on the grounds of the Lubbock International Airport, on the north end of town. You can see gliders, learn how they are built, view special equipment they transported, and learn about the history of gliders and those who flew them during the war. It is a great stop for those interested in history. We spent about half a day there.

Dan and Nancy Shanley, F426883
Hendersonville, North Carolina
 


Famous Ouray Resident

Dear Editor:
The “America’s Switzerland” article (September 2013, page 54) about Ouray, Colorado, was a nice piece that discussed the San Juan Mountains, Ouray, and the Durango-Silverton Train. It does not mention C.W. McCall (whose real name is Bill Fries), and that is unfortunate. In 1975 the novelty song “Convoy” was his big hit.  He had other country music hits and wrote songs about the Ouray area.

C.W. is still alive. Mentioning this country star, who has lived in and promoted this area most of his life, would have added to your article.

Gary Lewis, F340150
Brooklyn, Wisconsin
 


A Stop On The Natchez Trace

Dear Editor:
The July article “Natchez Trace Rolling Rally” (“Family & Friends,” page 30) clearly showed how the participants enjoyed their time and the things they saw. Unfortunately, it appears they missed “Te-Lah-Nay’s Wall,” or Indian Rock Wall. It is only about a block away from the trace on County Road 8 near Florence, Alabama.

I lived near the Natchez Trace for 27 years in Sheffield, Alabama, and the Rock Wall was one of my favorite places to take visitors. It is an awe-inspiring place. It was built by Tom Hendrix in honor of his great-great-grandmother who, as a young member of the Yuchi (or Euchee) Indian tribe, was forced to walk to Oklahoma on the infamous Trail of Tears. After a few months in Oklahoma she returned, walking back all by herself. The 1 1/2-mile-long wall is Mr. Hendrix’s tribute to her and all American Indian women.

Barbara J. Hustler, F425921
Thomasville, North Carolina
 


Healthful Food For Kids, Too

Dear Editor:
In your July 2013 issue you have a great article called “Fit For Travel” (“Open Mike,” page 86) about a visit to Tennessee Fitness Spa.  It promotes the need for healthful eating as well as exercise to maintain a healthful lifestyle.  But the very next article titled “Campground Cooking With Kids” (“Cooking On The Go,” page 88) does not support teaching kids how to eat for good health.  Ingredients include sugar, cold cuts, hot dogs, canned vegetables, etc.  There must be fun food that encourages kids to eat in a more healthful way. Healthful eating starts with early childhood learning.

Joan Krall
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Janet Groene’s reply: Concerned parents know about organic and low-sodium canned foods, safe sugar substitutes, and health-wise hotdogs and cold cuts, including some that contain no meat. I’ll be glad to counsel with readers who aren’t aware of healthful ways to use our recipes. E-mail me at janetgroene@yahoo.com.
 


Vibration Cause

Dear Editor:
The April 2013 “Tech Talk” column included a letter from Len Afremow, F188775, asking about a problem with front-end vibration on his 1995 Bounder (page 23). I had a 1993 Southwind on a Ford F-53 chassis and had this problem twice. It happened the first time after I repacked the front wheel bearings, and the second time when I replaced the front brake pads. Both of those operations involve removing/replacing the front calipers.

It always started vibrating after hitting a rough spot in the road, and then never returned. I think the cause of the vibration on the Southwind was the brake calipers sticking, causing the pads on one side to grab the rotor.

Lewis Thomas, F409837
Alamogordo, New Mexico
 


Friendship Is Best Fmca Benefit

Dear Editor:
Thank you so much for the “Chapter Spotlight” story about the Travlin Texans chapter (April 2013, page 34). Although we are longtime RVers, and even full-timed for nine years, we did not belong to FMCA. It was not until we settled down in a regular house and purchased a motorhome that we decided to join FMCA “only for the benefits.” We had no intention of becoming socially active in the club at all. But we did read the magazine.

Shortly after we got our small Type C motorhome, we saw that the Travlin Texans were having a rally in Fredericksburg, Texas, and it was on our itinerary for the trip we were making to Arlington, Texas. We decided to attend the rally and see what FMCA was all about.

The Travlin Texans members were generous, warm, and welcoming. We had such a wonderful time playing games and sharing road stories with the members that we decided on the spot to join the chapter.

We are now socially involved in FMCA and enjoying it. We volunteered at the Family Reunion in Gillette, Wyoming, and attended a rally of yet another area FMCA chapter. All of this is due to the warm welcome of the Travlin Texans.

I would like to invite other FMCA members who also joined “for the benefits” to give an area chapter a try. I think that you will find open hearts and open minds and friendships that will be the “true” benefit of FMCA membership.

Barry and Janet Wilder, F418000
San Benito, Texas
 


Fuel Filter Problem Fixed In Ontario

Dear Editor:
We fueled up our 38-foot Berkshire diesel motorhome on the west side of Montreal, Quebec, on September 19, and got back on Route 20 heading west.  Soon we got a check engine light, with sputtering and loss of power.  We called the Freightliner hotline and were advised to check the in-line fuel filter, located on the chassis between the tank and the engine.  Many mechanics are not aware of it and do not change it routinely. We also were advised of the location of the nearest Freightliner shop, in Cornwall, Ontario, just a few miles farther.

The service manager at the shop, Shawn Levac, was helpful and had a Cummins-certified tech on the job within two hours.  After 5 hours of testing fuel and engine components with the computer, the tech announced he could not find the cause of the problem.  We dry-camped in the Freightliner parking lot that night.  Next morning, another certified tech, Elmer, skipped the testing and proceeded to change the fuel filter that mounts on the engine.  He was able to find the in-line filter on the chassis and promptly replaced it. The in-line filter was original, never changed in 51,000 miles.

After less than 24 hours, we were back on the road with renewed power.  Shawn did not charge us for the five hours of testing.  We recommend Cornwall Freightliner, in Cornwall, Ontario (613-933-0570).

Bob Carey, F379005
Cincinnati, Ohio
 


Rooftop Rescue

Dear Editor:
After a day out running errands, we returned to our coach to discover that the door would not open. Neither the electronic key fob nor our key would actuate the locking mechanism properly.

After some calls to locksmiths who could not help, we called the service department at Affinity RV (3197 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, AZ 86301; 928-445-7910).  Their service manager, Mark, sent a technician, Cliff, out to the RV park where we were staying. We thought we would have to break a window to gain access, but Cliff thought otherwise. He climbed up onto our coach’s roof and proceeded to “squeeze” through the commode room’s 14-inch-by-14-inch ceiling fan vent. This was an especially great relief to our little dog, who was waiting patiently for us to open the door.
Once in, Cliff was able to unlock the door from the inside. They scheduled us into their shop the next morning to reconstruct the ceiling vent and to repair the broken spring in the door latch. By noon, they had us back on our way.

We are very grateful for their compassion for our plight and for the efficient and capable work that was performed. They literally went “above and beyond.”

Charlie and Bev Di Pietro, F269192
Livingston, Texas

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