November 2016
As witnessed elsewhere in the United States, in small-town Oregon, community renewal has often centered on city face-lifts achieved by painted murals. Colorful scenes decorate aging structures and naked concrete to tell a community’s story.
On the day his life changed forever — May 15, 1975 — Ronnie Graves, F249255, was working at a fertilizer plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa. To prevent a foreman from being struck, Ronnie stepped between two railroad cars to set a brake. One of the cars knocked Ronnie down, and a wheel ran over his lower left leg.
This year, Jennifer and I have made a concerted effort to stay off the interstates as much as possible. And in doing so, our serendipity style of travel has opened up new sights and experiences that only the back roads offer.
The area around Tallahassee, Florida, is often referred to as the “Real Florida.” It’s missing a multitude of condos and parking lots. Instead, large swaths of unspoiled forests and bear-crossing signs are seen, with a few grand old Southern mansions for flair. The crowds in the southern part of the state rarely find their way up here.
Coachmen Galleria Earns Green Certification
Coachmen Galleria motorhomes have earned the Certified Green designation by TRA Certification, an organization that specializes in green building and energy efficiency programs for the RV industry and others.
An entrepreneur rents a different type of RV that enables campers to see his beautiful country on their own terms.
Antiglare Film
RVers love electronic devices but despise glare on the screens. NuShield makes screen protectors that are designed to significantly reduce glare. The films are available in sizes that fit GPS, digital cameras, high-definition TVs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and more.
The 360 Siphon RV holding tank vent cap is designed to create an updraft that forces fumes out of the tanks.
The GMC Greater Midwest Classics chapter celebrated its 25th anniversary at a rally held July 7-10, 2016, at St. Cloud Campground & RV Park in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
A 50th wedding anniversary is cause for a grand celebration with friends and family. King and Jackie deBord, L16686, reached that milestone in 2002, and they held their golden jubilee during that year’s Northwest Area Rally in Moses Lake, Washington. It showed just how much FMCA meant to the couple.
Memorial Day is also a day for honoring military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice. The holiday this year allowed my wife, Mary, and me to deepen our memories of those who died in service to the United States.
Don and Margaret Hoffman, owners of Hoffman Coach, joined FMCA in 1966 and became members of several chapters. But none of them were near the Hoffmans’ northwestern Pennsylvania business and home, so in 1975 Margaret led the way for a new chapter in western Pennsylvania.
Privacy Curtain
My husband and I like to take in the view when we’re parked at campgrounds, but if the front wraparound curtains of our Winnebago are closed, we may miss a sunrise or sunset. So, I made a curtain that offers privacy with a view.
DIY Tank Replacement
Dear RV Doctor:
I bought an old motorhome a couple of years ago. It certainly was not perfect, but for an old one, it was in good condition. Last year I noticed the black-water holding tank developed a leak right at the output of the tank.
The following companies have recalls delineated in this month's Recall Corner: Daimler Trucks North America, Forest River Inc., Jayco Inc., Thor Motor Coach, Tiffin Motorhomes, Triple E Recreational Vehicles, Winnebago Industries.
Weighing The Options
I learned a lot from Mark Quasius’ article about proper chassis alignment (“Chassis Alignment Checkup,” June 2016, page 50) and have one question. All manufacturers recommend weighing coaches loaded, but the only place to get this done seems to be at a rally.
Windshield Repair Along The Alaska Highway
Dear Editor:
As we were driving on the Alaska Highway this summer, a rock went through a window of our towed car. We were in British Columbia, between Muncho Lake and Tetsa River. I discovered the absence of the window while getting fuel at Tetsa River Lodge.
Jean Pryor, L12913, was presented the Kenneth T. Scott Pipe Dreamer's Award by FMCA national president Charlie Adcock during the annual membership meeting in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
Hello, My Fellow FMCA Family. Gloria and I finished this summer in really busy fashion. We returned home to Searcy, Arkansas, in late August to find that everything had grown like wild. We spent several weeks working harder than I can remember. Right in the middle of all that, the floods in south Louisiana occurred.
Eyes orange-red in the glow of headlights, the nighttime marauder creates terror in the hearts of grasshoppers, crickets, grubs, and grapes. Well, not grapes, of course. But there isn’t much a raccoon will not eat.