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As you drive on Interstate 24 across the southwest corner of Kentucky, heading east from Paducah toward Hopkinsville, you pass in quick succession the northern tip of Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee River, and then a pair of inlets at the north end of Lake Barkley, on the Cumberland River. It’s a 20-mile drive past glittering acres of sapphire water poking emerald hills with a thousand fingers.

Once known as the Rubber Capital of the World, Akron, Ohio, no longer merits that title. Instead, this city of 217,000 has become a world-renowned center for polymer research and development.

Admittedly there are a number of tourist railroads these days. But none of them, that I’m aware of, take you through 40 miles of wild, remote, and beautiful mountains as does the Skunk, a Northern California tourist railroad.

Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes …. No matter what part of the country you live in, there seems to be some sort of disaster just waiting to happen.

Auburn, Indiana, is billed as the “Home of the Classics,” and indeed it is. The town is perhaps best known for being the site of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, held each year over Labor Day weekend.

Recently confusion has arisen in the RVing community concerning temperature adjustments of Dometic refrigerators. The confusion relates to moving the temperature sensor (the thermistor) in order to increase or decrease the cabinet temperature in the absence of, or in addition to, the refrigerator’s thermostat.

Water leaks and air noise do not have to be part of the motorhome experience. Areas that can be susceptible to water leaks and air drafts include sinks, windows, and roof components such as the antenna, air horns, and vents.

Lacing the Los Angeles, California, landscape are many fine museums. Seeing these sights can enhance your stay while in Pomona to attend FMCA’s “Celebrating Family” convention at Fairplex March 20, 21, 22, and 23.
Please note that parking a motorhome is difficult, if not impossible, at all three attractions, so you’ll want to take your towed car.

A large sign stands outside the complex of tan and forest-green buildings that house Duncan Systems Inc., C6151, in Elkhart, Indiana. It reads: “America’s #1 RV Specialist.”
Spend a few minutes talking with company chairman and CEO Ron Duncan, 61, and you’ll learn why the company makes this claim.

I had come to rely quite heavily on the 5-year-old global positioning system (GPS) in my coach. As time went on, I found that I was missing recent route changes caused by highway construction.

Wire shelves in hanging closetI have adequate hanging space in the wardrobe of my Winnebago, but I needed additional shelf space. Since the hanging closets above the nightstands are narrow, I decided to install wire shelves in them.

EG-400 Fire Detection System from RV Safety SystemsThe EG-400 Fire Detection System from RV Safety Systems is said to provide motorhome owners a reliable early warning system in the event of an engine or generator fire.
According to product literature, the system continuously monitors the temperatures in the engine and generator compartments and displays one or the other — selected by the user — on the cockpit monitor. Should the temperature of either exceed a preset number, the display automatically switches to the affected compartment and triggers a visual and audible alarm.
The system includes two levels of alarms for each compartment.

Hall of Fame pitcher and avid RVer Bob Gibson recently was honored with the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) Spirit of America Award, recognizing him as an exemplary representative of the traditional American values inherent to RV travel. He accepted the award on November 29, 2005, during the association’s 43rd Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
The former St.

DeWayne Creighton, president of Dynamax Corporation of Elkhart, Indiana, had just completed a 24-hour shift painting a new ISATA Touring Sedan when we met him at the company’s headquarters. We were there to pick up a prototype to review — the newer, bigger version of this coach.

Absentee Cook
Put these recipes in the oven or refrigerator and forget them while you enjoy the campground lifestyle.

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Tipsy Mushrooms
Make these mushrooms up to two days ahead of time and bring them out of the fridge to add a classy touch to a raw veggie platter.
1/4-cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
2 whole garlic cloves
Freshly ground pepper
1/3-cup vodka or gin
1 teaspoon mixed dried herb(s) of your choice
8-ounce package small, bite-size mushrooms, cleaned and trimmed
In a lidded container or a plastic bag large enough to hold the mushrooms, dissolve the sugar in the lemon juice. Add the garlic cloves, pepper, vodka, and herbs.

Time for a complete renovation to the interior layout of the motorhome you love? For many, the same old motorhome is as comfortable as an old house slipper. You wouldn’t change a thing.

The Texas Mountain Trail (designated by the Texas Highway Department) leads you through West Texas. It’s the least populated area of the state, and boasts 90 mountain peaks that stretch a mile or more into the sky.

Will it be a happy new year for motorhome owners? Well … that might depend on the outcome of several lingering proposals to change existing RV-related regulations.
As the year 2005 came to a close, government bodies were in the “reviewing public input” stage on issues that may affect where motorhomers park and the number of seat belts their vehicles contain.
Billings, Montana, overnight parking
During 2005, complaints about RVs parked overnight in store parking lots led city compliance officers to enforce an ordinance that limits overnight camping to licensed campgrounds.
The crackdown drew the ire of RV enthusiasts, who expressed their stance against the ordinance in e-mail campaigns and on Web site forums.
In September the mayor appointed an RV parking committee to research overnight RV parking practices in use around the country, and then make recommendations to City Council. Eight people serve on the committee, representing developers, RV users, campgrounds, retailers, and the Chamber of Commerce.
Councilwoman Nancy Boyer, who chairs the committee, told FMCA, “We definitely want to be tourist friendly and provide for RVers who need that overnight stay….

Edwin Way Teale, who lived from 1899 to 1980, couldn’t have imagined the impact his writing would have on the people who have read and reread his works. Of course, after writing 26 books and editing another five, he could safely assume that they weren’t just used for display on the coffee table.

Mmmm. Fresh fish, perfectly prepared.

Nashville, Tennessee, home of the Grand Ole Opry, was the destination for the Tri-State Traveliers’ fall rally, October 13 through 16, 2005. Forty-three coaches made the trip on one of the most beautiful weekends, weather-wise, of the fall season.
Our home base was the Nashville KOA, which is close to many of the attractions in the area.

Dear RV Doctor:
I have an oldie, a 1973 Lifetime motorhome with a Dodge chassis. It looks as though the batteries are connected together with one 10-gauge wire from the alternator charging circuit going to some kind of box.

Q: I own a 1999 Monaco La Palma with the Ford Triton V-10 engine. For the last year or so the starter fails to engage right away when the ignition key is turned.

The local telephone number that the editorial staff was given for VDC Electronics, maker of a battery and alternator tester featured in the December 2005 “RV Products” column (page 56), was incorrect.
The correct number is (631) 445-1064.

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Rations Can Be Fun
Dear Editor:
I am writing to say how much I appreciated your article in the December 2005 issue by John P. Brackin titled “Road Trip Rations” (page 126).

In the August 2005 Executive Director’s Commentary, I introduced you to the Privacy Matters Identity Theft Protection Plan that FMCA has decided to offer as a member benefit. As I indicated at that time, this new benefit will provide protection against identity theft and will assist members in restoration if they should ever become a victim.

After FMCA’s Executive Board and committee meetings ended in Cincinnati this past November, Darlene and I traveled home to Illinois for Thanksgiving with our family. On November 28 we traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, as did FMCA’s senior vice president, Connie Pool, F140306, and her husband, Corbett; national secretary Ginger Painter, F23514, and her husband, Charlie; and national treasurer Jim Kern, F63208, and his wife, Jo Ann.

My friends Paula and Rosemarie are both professional crafters. They each have workshops set up in their garages with band saws, sanders, sewing machines, and enough paint supplies to rival a craft store.

Most of us know something about the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in the Sierra Nevada foothills on January 24, 1848, but we may not be aware that many of the immigrants who came to mine northern California’s rich ore also brought with them gold of their own in the form of wine grape rootstock. By the end of the 19th century, El Dorado, Calaveras, and Amador counties had more than 100 wineries, with more acreage devoted to the growing of grapes than anywhere else in California.
The mines continued to extract ore until they were shut down in 1942 by the War Production Board.

Motorhomers who roll into Fairplex in Pomona, California, for FMCA’s 75th International Convention, March 20 through 23, 2006, may find themselves wondering how they’ll find time to see and do everything that’s been planned for this gathering. Besides the usual fellowship that takes place at such get-togethers, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about their motorhome and the RVing lifestyle through the many seminars presented; tour the newest motorhome models on display; peruse products offered by suppliers in the indoor display area; create a lovely craft; or take an in-depth tour of a Southern California landmark or area of interest.
Trying to squeeze so much into a handful of days is sure to wear out even the hardiest of convention-goers, so FMCA has scheduled an array of daytime and special entertainment to help people unwind and relax during their stay in Pomona.

In most cases it’s difficult at best to avoid dissension when talking about the modern American presidency. But in the case of President Ronald Reagan, most people can agree that he accomplished great things and truly earned his nickname, “The Great Communicator.”
The 40th president led the United States from January 1981 to January 1989.

When many people plan a Florida vacation, their thoughts turn to the theme parks of Orlando, the beaches of Daytona, or the cultural heritage of Miami. Yet there’s a destination that combines all of these attractions and much more to create one of the Sunshine State’s best all-around vacation destinations: Tampa.
Located on central Florida’s Gulf Coast approximately 80 miles west of Orlando, Tampa has grown from a small Indian fishing village to the third most-populous city in Florida.
Ponce de Leon sailed into Tampa Bay in 1521, but for three-and-a-half centuries after that, the area remained largely unsettled.

When Marathon Coach Inc. opened its doors in 1983 to design and build custom coach conversions, an uncharted journey began.

Small-town hospitality mixed with Old World charm; gourmet dining; superb wines and wine tasting; hiking trails through fields of wildflowers into the back country — that’s a good description of the treats in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Add to this an old Spanish mission, museums, a fishing lake, wildlife cruises, llama ranches, and an ostrich farm.

It’s a bright and breezy morning. You’re heading north on Interstate 15, leaving the Los Angeles basin behind and looking forward to spending the first night on the road in Las Vegas.

Shelf liner under door handleSelf-stick shelf liner can be used to protect the wood cabinets in your motorhome, especially in areas where water often is splashed. I put a strip of clear liner along the edge of the cabinet door.

VIOLight Travel toothbrush sanitizerInformation from the Centers for Disease Control states, “Even after being rinsed visibly clean, toothbrushes can remain contaminated with potentially pathogenic organisms.” But the VIOLight Travel toothbrush sanitizer can help folks keep their toothbrushes bacteria-free when on the road.
VIOLight technology utilizes a special germicidal ultraviolet (UV) bulb — the same used in hospitals and dental offices — to eliminate germs and bacteria on toothbrushes. According to company literature, VIOLight’s UV bulb has been proven to eliminate 99.9 percent of germs it comes into contact with on a toothbrush.
Simply place the toothbrush in the pencil-case-size unit, close the lid, and the sanitizing begins.

Along Florida’s Expressways guidebookDave Hunter, author of the popular Along Interstate-75 guidebook, which takes travelers from Michigan to the Georgia-Florida border, has published a new book specifically for those driving Florida’s highways. Along Florida’s Expressways ($23.95, Mile Oak Publishing) is intended to help anyone travel through the Sunshine State with ease, comfort, and safety.
Unlike a destination guide, this book features 77 full-color maps with detailed information about exits and services for all of Florida’s expressways (main and subsidiary routes), along with the author’s personal observations and suggestions, not to mention fascinating trivia.
Mr.

A leader among luxury motor coach builders is based in what might be a surprising location to some: not a mainstream, high-tech venue, but a small town in northeastern Oklahoma. The company in question is Newell Coach Corporation of Miami, Oklahoma. Last summer I visited Newell headquarters to pick up one of the company’s new P2000i motorhomes for a test outing.

Parking for FMCA’s 75th International Convention will commence on Saturday, March 18, at 7:00 a.m. Please display your admittance card on the front windshield, lower left hand corner of the passenger side.

The word ferret is often used as a verb, but in this column we’re interested in the furry little critters you seldom see in the wild. The black-footed ferret was once common in the prairies and grasslands of North America, from central Canada to Texas and farther south.

Following is a list of advice, books, reminders, and places to find products that will help to keep your life on the road happy and healthy.
Have any ICE?
When you’re unable to speak for yourself because of injury or illness, what is the fastest way to get word to your loved ones? To first responders, “ICE” stands for In Case of Emergency. It’s one of the things paramedics and other emergency workers look for in your wallet or, more recently, on your cell phone.
Put ICE numbers where they easily will be seen.

In our own times, it can be tough to make a living. But imagine building a railroad without heavy equipment.

The Alaska Travel Industry Association’s new slogan is “Alaska B4UDie.” Many motorhome travelers put the Great Land at the top of their travel wish list and, for a lucky few, the state is a second home. Thank your lucky stars that you travel with your own kitchen, allowing you to shop for fresh Alaskan seafood and produce to prepare recipes such as these.

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Kodiak Wild Salmon Piroshki
This is my simplified version of a recipe from Kodiak Island.

Back in October 1988 a chapter called the Pace Arrow Wanderers was organized. Geographically, it encompassed FMCA members in the South Central Area.

The theme for the South Central Area’s 32nd Annual Six-State Rally, September 27 through 30, 2005, at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas, was “Return to the Yellow Brick Road.” The title was selected to carry on the “Wizard of Oz” theme that was used the last time the Six-State Area Association presented the event in Hutchinson in 1999.
The staff and cadre — led by South Central Area vice president Tony Innocenti, F56315; senior vice president Ben Loganbill, F164247; North Regional vice president Dale Johnson, F157253; South Regional vice president Dave Davies, F230525; secretary Irene Renfro, F138913; and treasurer Tom Drennon, F18175 — arrived early to prepare the fairgrounds and set up directional signs, made by sign maker Shelby Rash, F219015, in time for the volunteers’ arrival. The volunteers were from the host chapters: GMC Flatlanders, Heart of America Coachmen, Hi Plains, Midwest Prairie Schooners, National RV Central States, and Ozarks Prairie Sooners.
As the 337 family coaches, 42 display coaches, and 72 vendors began arriving, the parking crew, under the direction of parking captain Ted Snell, F242374, made parking the coaches a simple task.

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a 1994 Winnebago, gas-powered, that I have been living in since the firestorms in this area awhile back. Upon checking the batteries, I found they are dry.

Q: I have read articles on supplemental brakes until I am blue. I find I just get confused.

The telephone number listed for Sooner Coaches chapter secretary Rita Millspaugh in the November 2005 “Chapter Spotlight” column (page 44) was incorrect.
The correct number to call for more information about the Sooner Coaches chapter is (405) 820-7177.

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Here And There
Dear Editor:
The article “Old And New In Fairfax County, Virginia” (November 2005, page 100) has a map on page 103. The cartographer has placed Mount Vernon on Chesapeake Bay, over 100 miles from Washington, D.C.
Indeed, Mount Vernon is only 10 miles south of D.C.

The January issue of Family Motor Coaching always includes updated information regarding the many benefits and services available to members of the Family Motor Coach Association. I hope you are aware of them all.

As I write this month’s column, the Executive Board and committees of our association have just completed successful meetings at the FMCA national office in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Executive Board consists of the four nationally elected officers  —  president, senior vice president, secretary, and treasurer  —  along with the 10 national area vice presidents and the immediate past national president.