Geocaching is the modern equivalent of the treasure hunt game many of us played as children, with the addition of global positioning system (GPS) technology. It’s so new that until May 2000, the sport never existed.

With a high-speed Internet connection, you can travel wherever you want and still be in communication via e-mail, photos, and even videos.

This past January I boarded an airplane in Corpus Christi, Texas, and left the balmy 78-degree temperatures for Bowling Green, Ohio, where I met Jerry Yeatts, director of FMCA’s Convention Department. We were conducting the final planning visit …

Wobbly Antenna

Dear RV Doctor:
I have a Winegard crank-up “batwing” TV antenna, and when it’s in the up position, it rocks back and forth when the wind blows. Someone told me there’s a tool to adjust the antenna. Do you know what kind of tool this might be and what I have to do to adjust the antenna?

Cushion Anchors

Most motorhome couch cushions have to be readjusted every time you sit or lie on them. This is especially true with a sofa bed. But I found a solution to this sliding problem: hook-and-loop fastening material, such as Velcro.

Harold “Ken” Wilson, L13812, who served as FMCA’s Eastern Area vice president during the early 1990s and also authored numerous articles for Family Motor Coaching magazine, passed away on December 27, 2008 …

Laptop computer shelter

The Planet Business from LapDome Inc. is a padded laptop carrying case that pops open to shade and protect your computer. The product offers protection from the elements, but most of all it provides computer visibility when working outdoors.

New book focuses on full-timing

Motorhomers who are considering full-timing can gain a better understanding of the lifestyle and all that it entails in Fulltiming For New & Used RVers ($24.95, RonJon Publishing Inc.) by Ronald Jones.

As we’ve traversed the United States through many years, we’ve found that some of the most memorable places are often the smallest. It’s the same way with churches. Somehow the tiny churches we have visited stick in our memory.

What is this thing called spring? Can we really pin its beginning to a particular date? Or does the date depend on specific plants — when they bloom, or when a particular locality turns from white to green?

Pack these ingredient mixes before your next trip to reduce meal preparation time and to save space in your galley cabinets.

DTV Converter Question

We hope you can clarify the DTV converter box issue with our motorhome. Do we need to purchase a converter box for our motorhome TV, or will the place we camp at have the right digital connection for us? Please clarify this dilemma.

Coachmen RV Company has announced NHTSA recall 08V639000, which includes the following Type A and Type C motorhomes: 2002 through 2006 Coachmen Santara Type C and 2004 through 2005 Santara Type A …

If you’ve visited FMCA.com lately, you’ve no doubt noticed that the Web site has been completely revamped. The new site was launched on January 28, 2009. I have asked our Web editor to share some details about the new FMCA.com.

“Queen Of The Road” Web Site

Dear Editor:
Thanks so much for the lovely mention of my memoir, Queen of the Road (“RV News & Notes,” December 2008, page 118). Readers might want to know that my Web site, www.QueenoftheRoadtheBook.com, has pictures of our bus conversion and our …

What is your motorhome’s best feature (looks, livability, a special component, etc.)?

Just when you thought you had life figured out, it seems that somewhere along the line the rules changed. Things we once believed to be true have been proven wrong or have been replaced with newer, better truths. As free-roaming citizens of the world, full-timers have their own set of needs and concerns.

The 2009 Anthem by Entegra Coach is a real eye-catcher. We recently had the opportunity to test a new 42-foot-10-inch diesel pusher in this model line.

I happened upon this story quite by accident while spending time at a four-wheel-drive shop called Moab 4×4 Outpost, located on the south end of Moab, Utah, not long ago. As I watched the shop technicians install equipment on Jeeps, I listened to them talk fondly about a group of four-wheel enthusiasts they had nicknamed “The Old Man Mafia.”

Thousands of motorhomers will descend on the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, March 16 through 19, 2009, for FMCA’s 81st International Convention. More than 100 different classes will be taught, including 30 new sessions, covering a wide scope of technical and educational subjects, along with 13 different crafts classes.

Most everyone’s heard of Jekyll Island, a barrier island along the coast of southern Georgia. It’s situated near Brunswick, and especially hard to miss if you’re a snowbird who migrates north and south along Interstate 95 twice a year.

Do you want to know what tomorrow’s weather will bring? You could rely on newspaper forecasts, but they are often outdated by the time you read them.

It was another brilliant idea.  Shortly after finishing having my head examined for taking two kids and three dogs across the country and back by motorhome, I found myself contemplating a new adventure, something that would break new ground in our RV life.

Many RVers plan their travels to coincide with fun events such as festivals, or to pursue their hobbies at pet shows, antiques displays, car rallies, and more. In Oregon, my home state, just about every weekend of the year is booked.

When I was growing up, buttons from discarded clothes were removed and put in a large coffee can, ready to be sewn onto the next handmade garment. I used to love going through that button can. I would sort them by size, color, or favorites. Sometimes we used them in games of tic-tac-toe, tiddlywinks, or checkers.

I have been asked some questions recently about the FMCA Commercial Council and the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and have noted that some confusion seems to exist. So, I thought I would dedicate this month’s article to discussing FMCA’s commercial members and our relationship with RVIA.

This month, I’m sharing a list of questions we often receive at the FMCA national office and providing answers to them in the hope that other members will benefit from the information.

Fresh water chlorination

Dear RV Doctor:
The water in our RV had a bad odor — a musty smell — so we added some household bleach to the tank and let it sit awhile. Now we cannot get the bleach taste out. What do you suggest we do?

Although there are always interesting places to explore, in February we’re focused more on planning than actual travel. Between short trips to our favorite winter places, we spend this time of year making sure the motorhome will always be ready when the weather turns warm. Here’s how we do it.

It’s a juggling act to keep meals pretty and nutritious, yet simple and easy to clean up. At the same time, many RV chefs also are conserving their dollars, water, and propane. The following recipes are easy on the taste buds, the cook, and the budget.

Remembering Jim Hodge

Dear Editor:
In the November 2008 issue of FMC was a lovely article about one of FMCA’s founders, Jim Hodge (“Jim Hodge Was Proud Of His FMCA Roots,” page 32).

Frozen freezer

Our freezer section built up with frost and ice to an amazing degree. I had to defrost it every week (the refrigerator section is fine). It is level enough so that water seems to drain. The ice and frost collect in the upper part of the freezer.

Double Dog Bowl

We have two big, thirsty dogs, so to keep their water from spilling while we are on the road I created this bowl-in-a-bowl system.

The 25th Rocky Mountain Ramble — “Black Tie & Blue Jeans” — took place October 15 through 18, 2008, and was a rousing success. This year for the first time, all of the chapters within FMCA’s Rocky Mountain Area were invited to hold pre-rallies at the fairgrounds.

Folding table

The Magic Table from B&R Plastics Inc. is a portable, plastic version of the popular wooden Amazing Magic Table and, like the original, has many uses inside the motorhome.

New state park near Brownsville, Texas

Resaca de la Palma State Park recently opened to become Texas’ newest state park and the eighth link in the World Birding Center chain stretching the breadth of the Rio Grande Valley. 

Certain plants are so closely associated with particular locations that they take on a symbolic nature. When you mention the desert, particularly in the Southwest, nearly everyone thinks of the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea).

Describe a favorite snack or meal you enjoy on each motorhome trip.

One great thing about full-timing is that you’re free to choose the home state that works best for your situation. There are no easy answers, so each full-timer has to do some research in order to find the right address to call home.

The annual compilation of cars, trucks, and SUVs that have been approved by their manufacturers for flat towing behind a motorhome without major modifications. (Requires member or subscriber login.)

For many RVers wintering in Texas, one of the finest gems they will find in the state is Brazos Bend State Park. This wildlife preserve also is one of only a handful of state parks in the United States that has a research-quality astronomical observatory that's open to the general public.

Since 1988, Bob Helvie, founder and owner of Startracks Custom Lifts in Elkhart, Indiana, has built devices designed to make life easier for the physically challenged. The work, he said, “began humbly, a seat-of-the-pants production, when I designed a travel trailer with a lift.”

Those attending FMCA’s 81st International Convention, March 16 through 19, 2009, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Georgia, will have plenty of opportunities for fun and entertainment throughout the days and into the nights.

Whom should you contact for travel information when planning a motorhome trip? To answer that question, the staff at FMC has compiled this list of tourism offices in the United States and Canada. The following information was accurate as of November 2008.

FMC magazine's January 2009 Motorhome Regulations chart contains the following information for all 50 U.S. States and the Canadian provinces …

I love maps … all kinds of maps. I enjoy old charts, United States Geological Survey topographic contour maps, road maps, even GPS screens. Being a Navy brat during and immediately following World War II, I traveled a lot, mainly with my mom when we were meeting my father at his new stations, but also with both parents.

Five times since 1996, FMCA members have set sail for Perry, Georgia, and the huge, state-of-the art fairgrounds there. The Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter is a terrific venue for hosting the thousands of motorhomes, vendors, and FMCA members who come for the convention.