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Imagine that you’re hiking along a stream and run across a beaver, North America’s largest rodent, busy at work. An adult beaver can grow to be four feet long (including its 12- to 16-inch tail) and weigh anywhere from 30 to 68 pounds.

Produced by General Motors from 1973 through 1978, the innovative GMC Motorhome gained a following that is still as strong — if not stronger — today. This three-part series explores the fascinating history of a motorhome still considered by many to have been far ahead of its time.

Following World War II and a lapse of auto production of nearly four years, former GIs and the general public longed for new cars.

It has been said that “necessity is the mother of invention.” Well, here is another motorhome modification that came about because of need. Most of the credit should go to my lovely wife, Jennifer.

Our 2000 Allegro Bay 36IB has a walk-through bathroom, as do many motorhomes in the 36-foot size range.

Despite its freedoms and joys, full-timing also presents its share of challenges and problems. Here are some solutions that might work for your life on the go.

Whether you’re a vegetarian or are looking for economical meals, here is a collection of recipes that do not call for meat. Imitation sausage- and ground beef-flavored crumbles are meat substitutes that are made from soy and seasonings.

As much as we love travel, there are days when our bodies can’t do anything but complain. However, that doesn’t mean we sit in a chair and pout — what fun would that be? Many minor aches and pains respond to a little TLC, so give these tips a try when you’re feeling a little under the weather.

In June, July, and August of 2003 a limited trial of a new highway symbol was conducted in Oregon on a small portion of Interstate 5. The symbol, a 12-inch circle with 8-inch-high “RV” letters inside, was created to help RV travelers locate businesses that offer easy access and parking.

A majority of FMCA members are volunteers. Whether they serve as national officers or help to put on a chapter rally, they like to give.

Father Ralph Carney, F309996, is a retired Catholic priest who serves members of FMCA as the chaplain of a new chapter called The Roamin’ Catholics, and also as chaplain of FMCA’s Northwest Area.

Q: I want to use a tow dolly and pull my 2004 Porsche mid-engine Boxster with its drive wheels on the dolly. Your article states not to pull backward.

At press time it was discovered that FMCA commercial members in Quebec, Canada, were omitted from the Business Directory, a listing of all FMCA commercial members, in the January 2004 issue (page 1073). Unfortunately, because of time and space constraints, it was not possible to publish a list of these missing companies this month.

It amazes me how much communication has changed just in the past few years, and how these changes have paved the way for smooth travels for motorhome owners. One example is telephone communications.

Why would you go to Louisville, Kentucky, in early December in your motorhome? Believe me, it’s not to camp out and enjoy the outdoors. In December 2002 when we visited Louisville, we encountered eight inches of snow.

Santa Fe, New Mexico, with its history, architecture, and art, will likely be the most popular side trip for FMCA members who visit Albuquerque in March for the association’s 71st International Convention. You can travel from Albuquerque to Santa Fe in just less than an hour if you take pedal-to-the-metal Interstate 25.

FMCA and Hartford Life Insurance Company have just put the finishing touches on a brand-new accident insurance plan for family members. It’s called the “Loyal Years Plan,” and it’s quite different from anything you’ve seen before.

As any careful insurance shopper knows, not all accident insurance plans are the same.

Albuquerque, New Mexico, site of FMCA’s 71st International Convention, March 16, 17, and 18, is a city so diverse that it cannot be defined simply by its geography, history, or inhabitants.

These differences provide the foundation for the city’s distinctive spirit. Albuquerque is ancient and contemporary; traditional Hispanic and red, white, and blue American; small town and big city.

When Spanish colonists arrived in what is now New Mexico in 1607, they found the ruins of an American Indian pueblo at the site where the state’s capital city now stands. Among the colonists were aristocrats who knew how a proper Spanish city should be laid out.

In our travels across the country, we sometimes cross time zones as well as state lines. It is customary for us to call relatives in the evening after settling in a campground.

Outdoor activities are a major part of motorhoming for many people, but wet boots and gloves can put a damper on further outdoor fun. The Sahara Shoe and Boot Dryer may be the answer to this dilemma.

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, C1731, located in Newport Beach, California, will offer married couples staying at the resort’s RV park on Valentine’s Day, February 14, a special discount based on the number of years that they’ve been married. For instance, a couple that’s been married 10 years will receive a 10 percent discount.

Motorhomers interested in taking advantage of the resort’s Valentine’s Day promotion simply need to state the number of years they’ve been married when making their reservation.

Newport Dunes’ 406-site RV park features double-wide spaces that are individually fenced for maximum privacy; cable TV outlets; and 20-, 30-, and 50-amp electrical service.

Someone once said, and I’m undoubtedly paraphrasing, “Travel is not just about the exercise of getting from point A to point B, but rather the trip itself.” RVing, in general, and motorhoming, to be more specific, confirm that notion. And RVing in a Fleetwood Excursion, to be even more specific, is the proof at the bottom of the pudding bowl.

For many years, a number of leading industry suppliers and manufacturers have been offering some degree of repair service at FMCA’s major rallies and conventions. Initially, this service was incidental to displaying their equipment and talking with coach owners, and was usually offered for emergency situations only.

On one of our earliest trips to see coast redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens), we discovered a huge redwood tree stump, crosscut so that the tree rings could be marked with the corresponding dates of historic events. To our surprise, the marker associated with the year Christopher Columbus discovered America was much closer to the outside bark than to the center of the stump.

It’s not on the interstate. It’s not anywhere between here and there.

It was a war that no one won. It was a time and place where even the men with badges wore black hats.

Hot and tasty are the key words for winter RV recipes that are quick and uncomplicated. There is nothing more inviting than an appetizing aroma, whether it’s cinnamon and cloves, onions sizzling with fresh peppers, or a long-simmering stew.

This month’s column is devoted to discovering the age of trees, also known as the science of dendrochronology. Listed here are 13 tree species found in North America that include some of the oldest trees in the world, although several of the largest are no longer standing.

The 100%ers chapter of FMCA is a fun-loving group whose membership includes full-timers who have no residence other than their motorhomes. The chapter received its charter on March 6, 1989, and has four founding members still active: R.J.

FMCA’s South Central Area celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Six-State Rally at the Multi-Purpose Events Center (MPEC) in Wichita Falls, Texas, from September 29 through October 2, 2003. Dubbed “Waltz Across Texas,” it was the first Six-State rally held in the Lone Star State since 1992.

While driving through town one day, I stopped for a red light, and when I started to move again, the brakes did not completely release on both front wheels.

The “Great Architects, Great Houses” article in the November 2003 issue included two maps of Virginia — one on page 117 and another on page 127. In both cases, that state’s Eastern Shore area was inadvertently omitted.

FMC regrets this error.

Here we are again at the beginning of another new year. Each January issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine, also known as the Membership Directory issue, includes the “Member Benefits Guide,” a detailed description of FMCA member benefits, along with other information that is published only once a year.

The president of the United States gives a “State of the Union” address each year, usually in January. Along that line, I believe this is a good time for me to address FMCA members on the “State of the Association.”

As I write this article, the committees of our association just completed 10 days of very successful meetings in Cincinnati.

Whether or not you are dreaming about becoming a full-timer, if you enjoy reading about RVing or reading about people’s personal experiences, I predict you will find that Steeles on Wheels; A Year on the Road in an RV goes by all too quickly. It’s a fact-filled, practical book spiked with adventure.

The Steeles are Mark and Donia — 50-somethings from the Virginia suburbs near Washington, D.C.

Everyone would agree that good communication is an essential part of RVing. Technology has now made it possible for us to surround ourselves with cell phones, e-mail, satellite dishes, and many other electronic devices so we can stay in touch with the world from which we are trying to escape.

Oceans are dazzling, but travelers who venture beyond Florida’s beaches into its heartland will find that the state is strung on skeins of water. It’s a good bet that your campsite in Ocala National Forest will be on or very near a creek, river, spring run, canal, or wetland that teems with wildlife.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast may be short in distance, but it is long in activities for the visitor lucky enough to discover that small section of oceanfront property. Mississippi packs plenty into a small stretch of land.

Remco Manufacturing, C1590, has provided motorhome owners with towing solutions for 25 years. Since 1978, when the company introduced its first product, the Drive Shaft Coupling, it has continually developed new products, making it possible for RVers to tow nearly any type of vehicle four wheels down.

Who says you need a driver’s license to be a motorhomer? Kids can enjoy the Camper Fun Playhouse manufactured by Step2, a company based, appropriately, in Streetsboro, Ohio. This motorhome wannabe is sure to start young imaginations rolling.

What to do about the mail is always a concern for the traveling family. Motorhomers who enjoy extended summer trips or winters in warmer climes and full-timers who travel wherever the winds may take them are especially aware that keeping up with the mail can be a source of frustration and worry.

While in Buffalo, New York, at FMCA’s 70th International Convention this past July, I took the opportunity to test drive two different motorhomes built on GM Vortec 8100-powered foundations from Workhorse Custom Chassis. I also had the opportunity to tour the GM Powertrain Engine Plant in Tonawanda, New York, a suburb of Buffalo.

Imagine you have recently purchased a new motorhome and are ready to set off on your dream journey across the continent. You pack the necessary food, clothes, patio furniture, and entertainment equipment.

I had two nightstands in the bedroom of my motorhome. One three-drawer stand was rarely used, so I decided to make a clothes hamper out of it.

Described as the younger brother of the Bone auto creeper, the new Bone-ster is designed to be durable, comfortable, and unlikely to tip while in use.

The one-piece molded body is made of engineering-grade copolymer and is said to be easy to clean and resistant to gasoline, oil, and almost all common solvents.

Dodge, a DaimlerChrysler company, and Airstream, a division of Thor Industries, C847, have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement to market the new Dodge Sprinter Westfalia type B motorhome. The Westfalia, which is built using the Dodge Sprinter van, offers the outdoor enthusiast increased benefits in terms of comfort, convenience, safety, functionality, and quality.

Change is a fact of modern life, but each day seems to present more challenges for the full-timer. You must be nimble to keep your balance (and your bankroll), and even small changes can mean a big difference in comforts or costs.

As any traveler will tell you, the need for good telephone communication is heightened when the road beckons. To help enhance enjoyment of life on the road and provide peace of mind to members, FMCA began offering an emergency telephone message service in 1982.

Effective January 1, 2001, FMCA contracted with MEDEX Assistance Corporation to provide active family and life members with coverage under the MEDEX PLUS Program. This program helps traveling members to effectively manage the complexities and expenses of out-of-area medical and travel emergencies.

You’ve watched as pounds seemingly melt off your friends who are on one of the new, low-carb diets. Now, with the help of the late Dr.

Can you imagine seeing a half-pound ground squirrel taking on a rattler? Believe it or not, this is normal behavior for a California ground squirrel. You see, when a ground squirrel senses a rattlesnake around, it assesses the situation for a few minutes, and then it gets confrontational.