Our meandering, adventurous full-time RV journey has taken us through 46 states, countless national and state parks, Forest Service lands, historical sites and museums, busy cities, and quaint villages.
We’ve traveled through California, Oregon, and Washington on Interstate 5, and have taken the Pacific coast highways, chiseled into cliffs above tidal pools teeming with marine life. We’ve driven across the United States to Interstate 95 and the Atlantic coast, following meandering roads that led to lighthouses and fishing villages surrounded by jagged coastlines.
Category:
2002
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Several years ago, we set a goal to live out our dream of traveling the United States while we still relatively young. In the summer of 1999 the dream began.
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There it was, a dream come true, parked in his own driveway. It surely was an impressive piece of machinery: a sturdy-looking tan-and-brown motorhome.
The year was 1964, and the Clark Cortez was among the first breeds of type A manufactured coaches on the market. -
As a full-time RVer, I find it remarkable how often I hear “I wish I were doing that,” or “That sounds wonderful,” or “You’re so lucky.” Other full-timers will agree that it is wonderful and we’re all lucky to have this option available. In fact, full-timers are inclined to tell you it’s the only way to live.
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Voodoo, alligators, wild horses, African culture, and the wealthiest families in the United States — all are part of the history of Georgia’s barrier islands. They’re also still a part of the islands’ modern-day heritage.
At dawn, the mist rises on the marshes that skirt the coast of Georgia. -
This is the eighth in a series of articles written by motorhome manufacturers that address the subject of quality control. Recently, FMCA commercial members involved in the production of type A, type B, and type C motorhomes were invited to describe the quality-control strategies they have in place at their manufacturing facilities.
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Columbus may not be one of the top destination cities in Georgia. However, folks who explore it are richly rewarded.
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For years, motorhome enthusiasts have been thrilled at NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) events at the Daytona International Speedway. In the four-county area surrounding Daytona, Florida, a plethora of temporary campgrounds spring up overnight to accommodate the thousands of RVers who attend racing events.
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The new Xcursion from Xplorer Motor Homes of Brown City, Michigan, is striking in appearance, features, and performance. This type C coach attracted attention wherever we took it.
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Do you have problems with your pantry drawers sliding out when you go around a sharp turn? To keep our coach drawers from sliding open, we installed 2-inch door hinges on the inside of each drawer. When we are in transit, the open hinges catch the inside of the pantry frame.
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The Deka “Ultimate” battery from East Penn Manufacturing Company Inc. features ultra-pure electrolyte plus an added electrolyte reservoir to retard plate dry-out.
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Gordon and Janet Groene, F47166, longtime columnists for Family Motor Coaching magazine, demystify the idea of RV full-timing in the third edition of their book Living Aboard Your RV (Ragged Mountain Press). As in previous editions, the Groenes have packed this book with information for those considering the full-timing lifestyle.
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All organizations should spend time thinking about, working on, and putting in place a long-range plan, also known as a strategic plan. FMCA is no exception.
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Do you ever have days when you want to use the coach oven or slow cooker to prepare a recipe that can be forgotten for many hours? In her new book The 150 Best Slow Cooker Recipes ($29.95, Robert Rose Inc.), Judith Finlayson supplies inspired recipes that are far too fussy for most motor coach cooks, but shortcuts can easily be figured out. For example, I used 4 cups of cooked, leftover turkey breast in the following recipe instead of raw turkey, and I bought pre-sliced Portobello mushrooms.
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Joshua trees really aren’t trees at all. But how were Mormon pioneers supposed to know this when they named them? The upturned, uplifted branches reminded them of the Biblical Joshua praying.
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National Historic Landmarks are so designated when the federal government recognizes a property’s national significance — places where significant historical events occurred or where prominent Americans worked or lived; or places that present outstanding examples of design or construction or represent ideas that shaped the United States. From personal experience, they’re terrific! This month’s column will concentrate on landmarks east of the Appalachians; next month, we’ll travel a little farther west.
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According to crime statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, more than 2 million residential burglaries are committed each year in the United States. In 2000, a burglary occurred once every 15 seconds, with average loss in each occurrence amounting to $1,462.
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We came from as far away as Titusville, Florida, and as near as Prineville, Oregon, to the high desert town of Redmond, Oregon, to build a house. Following FMCA’s 38th annual summer international convention in Redmond, Oregon, this past August, volunteers from the Safari International chapter stayed a few more weeks to work with the Redmond affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International to help with what is known as a “Blitz Build.â€
Safari International was the first motorhome chapter to participate in a Habitat Blitz Build in 1998 in Junction City, Oregon.
As usually happens with a Habitat build, the house was created only through the caring generosity of a large number of people, companies, and church organizations.
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This is the third year that I have been asked to contribute to the “Executive Notes” column. If you were in my shoes, what would you pick for a subject? I wanted to choose something that would be fresh, of interest, and beneficial to FMCA.
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Once again, the new year brings a new membership directory inside Family Motor Coaching magazine. You’re holding the latest version of the “big book” that we carry with us in our motorhomes all year.
I have learned to appreciate the Membership Directory issue of the magazine more each year.
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Q: I have a 1993 Pace Arrow with a RM2807 Dometic refrigerator. Two years ago, I burped it (turned it upside down) when it would not cool below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Editor’s note: Robert H. Faulks, F211803, who wrote “Concert Sound In Your Motorhome” (October 2001, page 62), has pointed out that an error entered his story during the editing process.
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As FMCA president, one area that I promise to apply my efforts toward is membership growth. Early in 2001, we introduced the FMCA North American Road Atlas & Travel Guide.
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Cypress Gardens, in Winter Haven, Florida, is a popular place for motorhome rallies these days, and for good reason. Its serene beauty and relaxed atmosphere beckons those who just want to relax and enjoy life.
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Enter a magnificent building crowded with fine art objects, or a modest structure specializing in a single area, such as glass, automobiles, or textiles. Did you ever wonder how that museum came to be? Museums were not created with the wave of a wand.
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This is the seventh in a series of articles written by motorhome manufacturers that address the subject of quality control. Recently, FMCA commercial members involved in the production of type A, type B, and type C motorhomes were invited to describe the quality-control strategies they have in place at their manufacturing facilities.
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DaimlerChrysler’s Jeep division slides its newest sport utility vehicle (SUV), the 2002 Liberty, into the niche between its rugged Wrangler and the super-plush Grand Cherokee. The Liberty will take the place of the recently retired Cherokee.
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Tired of “crowning” ourselves on the awning brace of our motorhome, we came up with a remedy. We took two lengths of foam pipe insulation, approximately 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter, and placed them around the edges of the awning braces.
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Outwater Plastics offers Flexilight decorative rope lighting in 120-volt and low-voltage formats for as little as 66 cents per foot. Flexilight features 1/2-watt sub-miniature incandescent bulbs, rated at approximately 35,000 hours, spaced 1 inch on center in highly flexible PVC coils.
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Blue Bird Wanderlodge, C4, welcomed 1,200 participants to the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, October 28 through 31, 2001, for the company’s 14th annual “Rally In The Valley.” More than 450 motorhomes attended the four-day event, which included seminars, entertainment, vendor displays, driver training, and tours of the Wanderlodge motorhome manufacturing facility.
The company also used the rally as an opportunity to introduce plans for its newest coach, the Blue Bird Wanderlodge M380. According to company literature, this 38-foot motorhome will feature a totally different design — chassis, body, interior furnishings, and components — than current Wanderlodge models.
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My wife, Nita, and I recently returned from a motorhome trip to an area many of you may have visited — western New York and southern Ontario. Nature had just started to dress this beautiful countryside in its autumn colors, and the Niagara Falls were every bit as awesome and beautiful as we had heard they would be.
But I want to focus on a slightly different aspect of this trip: the unique motorhomes that brought us there, as well as their owners.
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Julie, my wife, had always intended to learn how to drive our old gasoline-powered 32-foot motorhome. But, as things turned out, she never did.
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