As the saying goes, time marches on. As I write this, national senior vice president Jon Walker, Gloria, and I have just left the Western Area Rally in Indio, California. We are getting ready for the Southeast Area Rally in Sarasota, Florida, in February, and we expect we will have a great time with many of you there.
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It’s called the Blue Ridge because, from a distance, this ancient mountain range looks pale blue. To European explorers, it was the first great barrier to the way west. To the mountain folk who made it their home (both Indians and settlers), it provided a good living, if you knew its secrets. To modern travelers it holds “America’s Favorite Drive.”This month, FMCA members will arrive in the city of Pomona, anticipating many pleasurable activities scheduled during the association's “California Gold” Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, March 26-29. That includes two nights of top-notch entertainment attendees won't want to miss.Use this treasure map to learn which companies will display motorhomes and offer RV-related products and services during FMCA’s upcoming Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Pomona.This innovative Type B+ motorhome offers contemporary styling on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis.The performance of ammonia absorption refrigerators, which are common in motorhomes, can be affected by several factors. Some, such as the weather or grandchildren who frequently raid the fridge, may not be within your control, but most are.Where's a great place to get a piece of pie in your hometown or on the road?At a typical campground get-together, meat sizzles on the grill or a turkey hisses in the deep fryer while a table is set to receive side dishes that everyone brings. You don’t want to miss a minute of the party, so recipes should be fuss-free and easy to self-serve.This is peak time for cabin fever, and it has hit us big-time. Cabin fever, as described by Wikipedia, is “a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in a small space, with nothing to do for an extended period. Cabin fever describes the extreme irritability and restlessness a person may feel in these situations.”Boondockers Welcome, C12795, which launched in 2012, now includes more than 800 North American locations that offer RVers free overnight parking on private property. RVer hosts and guests can connect online at www.boondockerswelcome.com, which was started by Marianne Edwards and her daughter, Anna Maste.Liquid DispenserBottles, bottles, and more bottles. One way to eliminate some of that clutter in the shower and kitchen is with the Classic Dispenser 3 from Better Living.Elite Resorts at Citrus Valley in Clermont, Florida, was the setting for a rally June 6-8, 2014, at which members of FMCA’s Sandpipers chapter marked 20 years of motorhoming fun.The Gateway Getaways and Ozark Ridge Runners chapters enjoyed a joint rally May 19-23, 2014, in Branson, Missouri. Thanks go out to those who planned the event, Don and Joyce Sturms of the Ozark Ridge Runners and Mark and Linda Boka of the Gateway Getaways.While camp hosting at Foscue Creek Campground in Demopolis, Alabama, Tony and Marijke Schellenbach, F83597, have met many nice people. They can now count Ernest and Ruth Aulick among them.
Members of FMCA’s Northern Lights chapter enjoyed a great rally September 4-7, 2014, at Frankfort Crystal Lake RV Resort in Michigan. The campground owner and crew did a fantastic job of welcoming us to the new resort on Lake Michigan.
Electrical MalfunctionDear RV Doctor:My Safari is always “on” in some electrical fashion. This problem has now escalated to the point where I cannot start the motorhome.The following companies have recalls delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Entegra Coach, Newmar Corporation, Tiffin Motorhomes.Out Of Step
I have a 2006 National RV motorhome. The automatic retractable steps worked as they should until I shut the door recently and the steps wouldn’t retract. What should I look for? What would make them not work?November NotesDear Editor:I almost always read the “President’s Message” columns. I find Charlie Adcock’s messages particularly enjoyable and encouraging. Thanks for sharing not only the "good" stuff but also the challenges we can relate to. It's helpful to us newbies and part-timers.On the third Monday of January each year, America pays tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a pastor; an activist; leader in the Civil Rights movement; and, equally as important, a humanitarian.Happy New Year to my FMCA Family! Can you believe that another year has slipped by? Sometimes I feel like I’m racing against a clock. I have so many things I still would like to see happen in FMCA, and it seems as though time is running out on me.Makeshift Rain HatI find those free motel shower caps so useful. They fit over a ball cap, making a perfect emergency rain hat.You’ve heard that you can’t judge a book by its cover, and that can be said for the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting in Phoenix, Arizona. It is housed in a rather plain, single-story building, but its simplicity belies what’s inside — nearly 300 years of mechanized firefighting history.It’s another dreary winter day. The kids look up from their electronic devices and moan: “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.” The weather is unappealing, so you avoid telling them to go outside and get some fresh air. It’s an indoor day. Again. What can you do?
Are your chapter rallies getting a bit stale? Are you doing the same things over and over? If so, how about a cardboard boat race? This may not work for everybody, but it sure was a success for our chapter.Just a few miles from Interstate 70 near Vail, Colorado, is the wide, broad valley of the East Fork of the Eagle River. It’s dotted with weathered concrete foundations and crisscrossed neatly by a grid of roads. This was Camp Hale, training center for the 10th Mountain Division, the Army’s elite winter warfare unit of World War II.In a few short months, FMCA members will be arriving in Pomona, California, anticipating fine entertainment, motorhome exhibits and related displays, enlightening seminars, and that most valuable commodity of all: each other’s company. All of these are mainstays at FMCA international events.
Ask a guy what he wants for Christmas, Father’s Day, or his birthday and odds are the answer will not be socks, a tie, or a really cool sweater. The more likely choice: tools. Many of us just have to have more, because with the right tool, we can fix anything.Family Motor Coaching magazine's annual guide to flat-towable vehicles includes cars, trucks, and SUVs that have been approved by their manufacturers for four-wheels-down towing behind a motorhome without major modifications.
Though its name may be familiar, this luxury diesel pusher from Newmar Corporation is a completely new model for 2015.
Save money and gain satisfaction by performing certain diesel pusher maintenance yourself.
Full-timers are easy targets for a fast shuffle. It’s not really fraud. After all, it’s all there in black and white. Small type is everywhere, from government regulations to websites, warranties, services, and even the most innocent disclosures, agreements, and waivers.
All eyes this month will be on the tiny town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. More specifically, attention will be focused on a hilltop called Gobbler’s Knob, where every February 2, a shy little rodent named Phil is pulled out of his makeshift den to tell the world whether winter will last another six weeks.Roadtrek Touring SeriesRoadtrek Motorhomes Inc. has launched its new Touring Series coach, the TS Adventurous. The coach, built on the Mercedes-Benz chassis, continues Roadtrek’s trend of clean and sleek exterior lines. On the interior, exclusive to the TS Adventurous, are charcoal cabinets with subtle hints of gray throughout and chrome accents.Pill OrganizerIt is not our place to remind you of the importance of taking the right medications at the right time. We can, however, suggest something that might help keep that routine running smoothly.The CHAI-Chavurat Yehudim chapter was formed at the 2004 FMCA Family Reunion in Albuquerque, New Mexico, shortly before the Jewish holiday of Passover. Since then, nine of the Jewish-oriented chapter’s rallies have centered on the celebration of Passover. These rallies have been held at full-hookup campgrounds all over the United States . . .In 1974, in the midst of a worldwide gasoline shortage and spiraling inflation, a group of RV enthusiasts decided to organize and form FMCA’s Over The Hill chapter. Several versions circulate as to how the group decided on the name, but whatever the reasoning, the chapter has hurdled many hills and is still going strong 40 years later.Jane Key, L23527, wife of former Rocky Mountain Area national vice president Perry Key, died on November 8, 2014.Chester “Chet” Stewart, L23883, a former Rocky Mountain Area national vice president, immersed himself in many organizations. But perhaps none brought him greater joy than FMCA.Reducing Noise
After our first motorhome trip in 1997, I wanted to eliminate the noise that kitchen utensils, dishes, and pots and pans made in the drawers, while still being able to access them easilyGenerator Is Not Charging BatteryDear RV Doctor:I have an older 31-foot Type C motorhome on a Ford E-350 chassis with an Onan MicroLite generator, model number 4KYFA261000B. One weekend while at a remote location, the generator was used for about 18 hours for the air conditioner and RV power, and then early in the morning the generator died . . .Leveling JacksThe leveling jacks work perfectly on my 2001 National RV. However, when they are retracted, the warning light indicating that the jacks are down sometimes will stay on for 10 miles or more (and on one occasion, 50 miles).FMC Magazine CollectionDear Editor:We have retired from motorhoming, and we have copies of Family Motor Coaching magazine dating back to 1995. We thought someone might like to have them.What happened to last year? I guess we were having so much fun in 2014 that it just flew past! It certainly was a busy year for FMCA. This month’s column is devoted to a look back at the accomplishments and changes of 2014, and a brief look forward to some great experiences that lie ahead for this new year.Let’s look at some common picture-taking mistakes and find out how to fix them. Then our friends will smile right along with us when they see our pictures.
Along Florida’s southwest coast, islands extend in a long string like emeralds on a necklace. Almost 50 islands, many of them mostly covered by mangroves, are surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico’s crystal-clear, bluish-green water.Not long after the arrival of spring, FMCA members will assemble in Southern California for the association's 91st Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, March 26-29, 2015. The event, bearing the theme "California Gold," will take place at Fairplex, the annual site of the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona.
Southern California is crowned by not one but two presidential libraries, and they are located within 90 minutes of each other (depending on traffic). Each library makes significant contributions to visitors’ understanding of the history of the United States.The good news: Pomona, California, where FMCA members will stay on the grounds of Fairplex while attending the association’s 91st Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase March 26-29, is just an hour from Los Angeles by mass transit.