Medicare In Canada
Dear Editor:
The writers of the “Border Crossings” article in the January 2017 issue of Family Motor Coaching (page 84) were correct in saying that Medicare coverage does not extend outside the United States. However, they left out an important consideration, one that has given us some peace of mind about making short forays into Canada. Some, but not all, Medicare supplement plans do provide 80 percent coverage after a deductible. We would suggest that you check your particular plan before heading out of the country, or invest in traveler’s medical insurance.
James & Rosalie Swickard, F271283
Summerfield, Florida
Real Evidence
Dear Editor:
I am responding to Fred Raymond’s suggestion that pet owners pay a deposit at campgrounds (“Readers’ Forum,” January 2017, page 18). He said the money would be refunded when they departed and presented “evidence” of being responsible.
What, pray tell, would that “evidence” be?
No. Let’s not even go there!
Anne Oppegard, F281135
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Easy Reading
Dear Editor:
I like the new FeatureFlo capability in the digital edition of the magazine. It saves me the trouble of hunting down my reading glasses, which always seem to disappear into my pocket or somewhere else that I’ve forgotten about.
Carl Douglass, F418313
Bothell, Washington
Editor’s note: The digital edition of Family Motor Coaching comes with a text-viewing option called FeatureFlo, which lets readers see the article text separately in a larger text size. Click on the green highlighted area in an article title, and the text box will appear. Text size can be increased by clicking on the “A” located at the top of the box. The digital magazine and the FeatureFlo text-viewing option work on desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.
Assistance After Accident
Dear Editor:
While touring the Northeast this past summer, my wife and I stopped in Nova Scotia at Broadcove Campground in Ingonish. We don’t have a towed car, and one day we decided to take our motorhome up to Cape North to see the unique culture and meet the locals. While we were returning to Broadcove, someone driving a car crashed into us head-on. Nobody was hurt.
After depositions were given to the local police, we contacted our insurance company to get the coach towed to Sydney. Two local guys, Duncan and George, came to help us. We had to decide whether to attempt to drive it. The front driver’s-side tire had a lug sheared off, and another one bent. We could not see any other mechanical damage. Knowing we had to get this fixed right away, I had no idea where to go.
George suggested we meet Jason, the new owner of Don Hatcher’s Truck and Equipment Repair in Bras d’Or. George followed us on his motorcycle. I could see him in the rearview mirror swerving left and right to get a good view of the tire. The tire held, and there was no shimmy coming through the steering wheel.
We met Jason the next day, which was a Saturday, at the truck facility. He said his mechanics could do the repairs to the tire, check the front end alignment, balance the front tire, and perform temporary body work so we could get back home safely.
We had to find a campground to stay in until Monday and learned that the North Sydney/Cabot Trail KOA keeps a few full-hookup sites available for emergencies such as ours, and at a greatly reduced daily rate.
Hatcher’s mechanics were excellent and friendly and took the time to show us and explain to us what had been done. We were on our way by 4:00 Monday afternoon.
If you ever find yourself around Bras d’Or, Nova Scotia, and need a truck center, I wholeheartedly recommend Don Hatcher’s Truck & Heavy Equipment Repair (479 Villa Drive, Little Bras d’Or, NS B1Y 2Z2; 902-736-2600). Whether you need an emergency campsite or not, consider staying with Jason and Bonnie Christopher at the North Sydney/Cabot Trail KOA (3779 New Harris Road, New Harris, NS B1X 1T1; 902-674-2145). We were overwhelmed by everyone’s friendliness.
L.A. (Al) Philips Jr., F440123
Melbourne Beach, Florida
Front Film Removal
Dear Editor:
We are writing to pass on a recommendation from us as well as two other FMCA member couples: Vaughn and Margie Wood, F334650, and John and Lil Stichberry, F333428.
All of us were impressed by the work we recently had completed at Ugly Shield Removal in Fort Myers, Florida. The owner, Wayne Michalski, does an excellent job completely removing the clear protective film applied to the front end of motorhomes by many manufacturers.
Wayne is very experienced in the process, having removed literally hundreds of these protective films. Wayne and his dad complete the job in just one day. They remove the film and glue, and then wax and polish the front end. The front of our coaches looked like new after the job.
Ugly Shield Removal is at 16065 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, FL 33908; (239) 240-0793; www.uglyshieldremoval.com.
Dave & Kathy Cramer, F304295
Davenport, Florida