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Liberty Coach of Florida, C9408, welcomed 140 guests for the company’s annual “Open House” event at its dealership in Stuart, Florida, February 2 through 5, 2006. Coach owners who attended camped in their luxury coaches at the eight-acre facility for four nights where they enjoyed meals, seminars, and entertainment.
This year’s rally raised money for the American Heart Association and Alzheimer’s research.

There’s good reason why, halfway between the Southern California coast and the area near Palm Springs, hundreds of giant wind turbines lace the hillsides and valley floor. The prevailing wind travels through a natural funnel-shaped pass that gives it tremendous velocity.

The 18th Annual Western Area Rally took place at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indio, California, January 11 through 15, 2006. The event definitely sparkled and shone in the warm desert sun, attracting approximately 1,370 family coaches and 1,900 interested visitors who purchased day passes.
The rally kicked off Thursday afternoon with a delightful parade.

Basque hotels, with their wonderful restaurants, were a second home to the sheep farmers who flocked to North America in the 1870s. Lured by the promise of “wide open spaces,” these hard-working settlers established lives in the New World, never forgetting the comfort foods of their homeland.
While traveling through Nevada last year, I discovered the goodness and huge variety of Basque dining.

After reading a terrific book on Nebraska paleontology recently, Kaye decided that some FMC readers must also be interested in really, really ancient North American history. So once we decided on our topic, we began to research archaeology and paleontology museums on the Internet, selecting the most intriguing ones to include in this column.

Every year, clever manufacturers introduce new aftermarket accessories that are a boon to full-timers, especially those who are handy enough to install the items themselves. Here are a few that you may be interested in.
Sink-Away is an outside sink system that attaches to the exterior of the motorhome to help keep messes outdoors.

On a recent drive into California’s Central Valley, we saw our first sign of spring. Although readers who live in the northern parts of the United States might think we are a little premature, what we saw was our favorite vernal pool coming to life.

Forming a new FMCA chapter takes a little time, right? Well, yes, it usually does take awhile, but it sure didn’t for the Northern Nevada Prospectors.
From the initial idea to the actual formation meeting, the entire process took a little less than two months. Add the fact that the chapter president, one of two men who thought up the idea of the chapter, had just joined FMCA, and it’s even more impressive.
A few coincidences definitely smoothed out the process.

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a 34-foot 1990 type A motorhome. My problem is that when I have the coach hooked to shore power, my coach batteries do not stay charged.

The toll-free number given for Winegard Company, maker of the Movin’ View MV3500T In-Motion Satellite TV antenna featured in the February 2006 “RV Products” column (page 48) was incorrect. The correct number is (800) 288-8094.
FMC regrets this error.

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“Towables” Addition
The “Towables For 2006” article (January 2006, page 66) failed to include the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, which can be towed four wheels down behind a motorhome.

Do you remember the famous U.S. military recruitment posters from the World War I and II eras that depicted Uncle Sam pointing straight at the observer, with the words “I Want You” in big, bold type? For FMCA, the message is the same.

Most of you know how it feels when you want to go someplace, but your motorhome won’t start. It happened to us.

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.

Ray and Nancy Lambertson, F318812, full-time motorhomers, are about as different as two people can be. Nancy is effervescent and chatty, while Ray is quiet and soft-spoken.
The two are so dissimilar that even the minister who married them in 1966 said he was sure it wouldn’t last, Nancy said, laughing.

Q: I am investigating the purchase of a new Silverado with the 5.3-liter V-8 engine and a four-speed automatic transmission with a rear-locking differential. Noting your 2005 towables guide, you only reference four-wheel-drive Silverados as being towable.

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.

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.