THE GRAND CIRCLE PART III – THE OLD MORMON ROAD

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Saturday afternoon we arrived in Blanding, a dot on the map in the southeast corner of Utah.  Since pulling into the RV park, we have been buffeted by winds up to at least 45 miles per hour, and as I look out our trailer window, I see tumbleweeds shooting down the main street like billiard balls headed for a corner pocket. We’ve had two branches hit our roof.  Reports from neighbors are that these RV-rocking conditions have been going on for a week and the forecast is for more of the same –– so we have decided to take advantage of the First Law of RVing:  “If you don’t like where you are, move.” The plan is to skip Canyonlands and turn southward to lower elevations.  Luckily, Canyonlands doesn’t accept reservations, so we won’t lose anything by changing direction.  BUT, before we leave, I thought this would be a good time to tell you our story of “The Old Mormon Road.”  This goes back to our very early experiences in our RV life. FROM CAPITAL REEF TO BLANDING For more than four hours we “ooohed” and “aaahed” as we rounded each curve on what has to be some of the most beautiful scenery in America.  Utah Hwys. 12, 14, 24 and 95 across the bottom of Utah meander through Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument and Capital Reef National Park.  My description and a picture or two cannot do it justice (but I will post a few photos anyway). After all those miles –... Read more

Mark’s RV Garage Episode #9 Released

RV Education 101 releases Episode #9 of the new Internet based RV How-To series titled “Mark’s RV Garage.” The new episode is available for viewing at www.rvconsumer.com and on You Tube           On this episode of Mark’s RV Garage: * Mark & Tyler install and plumb the gray and black water holding tanks on the Yellowstone restoration project. * Learn how to install a window awning in six easy steps. * Get an answer to the gnawing question on how to rid your RV of those pesky field mice. * Discover a quick tip on how to size a patio mat for your RV. * All of this and more on this episode of Mark’s RV Garage. If you missed previous episodes of Mark’s RV Garage they are archived at www.rvconsumer.com for easy retreival and viewing Episode # 10 will be available for viewing on 13 June 2011. Happy RV Learning, Mark Polk www.rvconsumer.com www.rveducation101.com  Read More →

Why do only one in four RVers boondock? Part II

By Bob Difley In last Saturday’s post I pondered why only about one in four RVers boondock and received a lot of informative comments. At the top of the comments was the concern for safety, with responses like boondocking was a “real unknown” and a preference for the “security of a campground” and “safety of others.” Other comments included “we try not to park alone,” and that there is “safety in numbers,” a fear of “people messing around outside”,and “someone would jump on me.” Non-safety comments included one who said I “love my comforts” and another that didn’t want to be concerned about “keeping batteries charged.” Another said they camp a lot in Texas where it was hot and they needed their A/C. Concerns from previous blogs included a fear of getting lost, of the unknown, and of having no one else around. There were also many comments from those who boondock regularly and would continue to do so. But it surprised me that safety was the biggest factor keeping RVers from boondocking. I don’t have any hard data or recent studies that indicate that there is a greater danger being alone on public lands than in campgrounds, but anecdotally I have never talked to anybody or heard instances where someone was attacked or burglarized while boondocking. Most boondockers, including from the commenters on last Saturday’s post, say they have never experienced... Read more

The 2011 RVSEF Lifestyle, Education & Safety Conference Deemed a Success!

Merritt Island, FL – May 24, 2011 The 2nd Annual RV Lifestyle, Education & Safety Conference, presented by the RV Safety & Education Foundation, (RVSEF), concluded a successful, three-day conference, May 8th, on the campus of Western Kentucky University at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center in Bowling Green, KY. An educational gathering rather than a typical RV rally, the RV Lifestyle Education & Safety Conference featured a multitude of training classes consisting of lifestyle, technical, driving and safety related topics, taught by the RV Industry’s leading instructors and authors including Walter Cannon, Executive Director of RVSEF, Bruce Hopkins, Vice President of RVIA Standards and Education, Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor, Randy Biles, Gary Motley, Mac McCoy the Fire Guy, Howard and Linda Payne of RV-Dreams.com, Jim and Chris Guld, Geeks on Tour, Jay and Donna Blumenthal, Rick Schafer, Al Hesselbart from the RV Hall of Fame, Phil Schafer from Amazon, Mike Hayn of Bridgestone/Firestone and Skaggs RV, as well as many individual supplier manufacturers, including Blue OX, Demco, Dicor and Winegard. RVSEF in partnership with Northampton Community College also offered ‘Hands-On’ RV driver training and weighed numerous RVs before, during and after the conference. All attendees left the conference with excited anticipation, ready to apply the lessons they learned during the three-day event. The overriding appreciation expressed by some of the attendees, can... Read more

3G vs 4G: The Tortoise and the Hare

We recently purchased a 4G mobile hotspot from Verizon.  It’s a tiny thing with magical powers.  With just one press of a button, it turns the immediate area around it into a Wi-Fi hotspot.  You can plug it into a power source, or it will run on batteries for about 4 hours. A similar device, called the Mi-Fi, has been around for a couple of years, but those are 3G only.  The 4G Mi-Fi is coming soon. What does 4G Mean? Without getting unnecessarily technical, we are talking about the technology that Cellular communications companies use to deliver wireless Internet connectivity. The ‘G’ stands for ‘Generation’ so 3G is third generation technology and 4G is fourth generation technology.  4G is better.  It’s faster and it goes farther.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is that it exists only in limited areas.  Below is Verizon’s coverage map, 4G is represented by the dark splotches, the red is 3G coverage, and the white is no coverage at all. How Fast is 4G? We live in our motorhome and happened to be staying in a friend’s driveway in Franklin, Tennessee, just south of Nashville.  It is a solid 4G area – and it was exciting to use our 4G connection.  Click a link – you’re there.  Watch a video all the way thru – no hesitations.  What a joy!  For those of you who like numbers, I ran a speed test using testmy.net and here’s the result: Read that as 9 1/2 Megabits/per second.  A really good 3G speed would be 500Kbps – that’s 500 Kilobits/second,... Read more

Money Saving Tips: Extending Your RV Travel Dollars

The latest Campfire Canvass survey of RV owners conducted by Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) revealed that 53% intend to use their RV more this spring and summer despite higher fuel prices, while 38% plan to use theirs the same amount and just 9% say they’ll use their RVs less. Of the respondents who plan to use their RVs more often, 65% said one of the reasons is to take more mini-vacations. A recent study indicates 53% intend to use their RV more this spring and summer despite higher fuel prices. Motorhome parked at Sliding Rock Overlook, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved Many RV owning families plan to take shorter but more frequent trips in their RVs. Sixty-three percent plan to spend five or more weekends in their RVs this spring/summer; 19% will reserve a seasonal site at a campground this summer and visit it on weekends. According to the report, 68% said they expect fuel prices to affect their spring/summer travel plans. Of those respondents, 61% said they’ll travel closer to home, 42% will travel fewer miles and 37% will stay longer in one place. These figures indicate that people are looking for inexpensive vacation options, and RVing leads the pack. RV owners love the RV lifestyle and rising gas prices won’t stop them from getting away. RV family vacations are, on average, 27% to 61% less expensive than other types of vacations, according to a study by international travel and tourism experts Collier’s... Read more

THE GRAND CIRCLE PART II — RANDOM THOUGHTS 1

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers LIKE ARIAS — I wrote this between hikes and touring through Capital Reef National Park in Southern Utah.  ZION /  BRYCE CANYON / CAPITAL REEF They are all SENSATIONAL in their own ways … and  I mean “sensational” in that visiting each of these parks really thrills the senses — not only the sense of sight, of beauty and of grandeur but it excites our sense of pride in being in America. Plus, a sense of appreciation for our government that preserved these fragile, unique lands, and our sense of thanks for park administrators who (along with most visitors) help preserve these practically unbelievable wonders of nature. The Incredible Natural Amphitheater in Bryce Canyon National Park Was Worth the Effort © All photos by Barry Zander. All rights reserved Zion is majestic. It features a variety of textures and colors that make it a visual buffet. The most common word heard at the overlooks of Bryce Canyon and down among the towering caprock topped “hoo-doos” was “breathtaking.” It is definitely breathtaking, and more … beyond words. And in Capital Reef, the least known of the great Southern Utah parks, the best I can say is it is “incredibly dramatic.” Philippe calls it “colossal.” All three of these parks are awesome, awesome, awesome!!! Between these grand natural wonders are hours of farmland, various-hued boulders and mountains, and quaint towns.  For opera-lovers, think... Read more

On the road again with Newmar

It’s that time of year again. The 2011 GoNewmar Road Show is set to begin in five days. Four members of Newmar’s management team are “hitting the road” again this year—Newmar’s owner Mahlon Miller, Chairman and CEO Richard Parks, President Matthew Miller, and V.P. of Sales and Marketing John Sammut (accompanied by their spouses). Covering 4,500 miles through 14 eastern states in 20 days, the traveling motorhomes of Newmar hit the road on May 31 for another road show tour. Four motor coaches from Newmar’s 2012 Class A diesel line will be visiting 12 dealers in nine states and one of Newmar’s largest suppliers, Freightliner. This year’s Road Show features the 2012 Ventana LE Diesel Pusher, 2012 Ventana Diesel Pusher, 2012 Dutch Star Diesel Pusher, and 2012 Mountain Aire Diesel Pusher. As part of the GoNewmar Road Show, the corporate executives will also spend five days at the Newmar Kountry Klub International Rally in Essex Junction, Vermont in their motorhomes, where they will RV alongside several hundred owners of Newmar recreational vehicles. (Credit: Newmar Corp) This year’s “Go Newmar” Road Show is being sponsored by Freightliner Customer Chassis Corporation in Gaffney, South Carolina.  The four Newmar motorhomes being driven by the traveling team are built exclusively on Freightliner chassis with Comfort Drive Steering. You’re invited to stop by, tour the coaches, and meet the Newmar Road Show team. See you on the... Read more

Gr8LakesCamper: Michigan campgrounds with available sites for Memorial Day Weekend

Attention procrastinators: There are plenty of campsites – for tenters, RVers and cabin-dwellers – available at private campgrounds throughout Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas for the upcoming Memorial holiday weekend. Courtesy of ARVC-Michigan, here is a list of campgrounds with available campsites for the Memorial Day weekend: Betsie River Campsite Frankfort 231-352-9535 www.betsieriver.com Cedarville RV Park Cedarville 906-484-3351 www.cedarvillervpark.com Clementz’s Northcountry Campground Newberry 906-293-8562 www.northcountrycampground.com Coolwater on the Pine Wellston 231-862-3481 www.coolwatercampground.com Covert/South Haven KOA Covert 269-764-0818 www.covert-southhavenkoa.com Emmett KOA Emmett 888-562-5612 http://koa.com/campgrounds/emmett/ Flint/Holly KOA Holly 248-634-0803 www.koafunpark.com Gaylord KOA Gaylord 800-562-4146 www.gaylordkoa.com Greenwood Family Campground Alger 989-345-2778 www.michcampgrounds.com/greenwood Higgins Lake KOA Roscommon 989-275-8151 www.koafunpark.com Indian River RV Resort & Campground Indian River 888-792-2267 www.indianrivercampground.com Insta Launch Campground & Marina Manistee 866-452-8642 www.instalaunch.com Irons RV Park & Campground Irons 231-266-2070 www.ironsrvparkandcampground.com Jellystone Park Grayling 989 348-2157 www.graylingjellystone.com Kalkaska RV Park & Campground Kalkaska 231-258-9863 www.kalkaskacampground.com Kampvilla RV Park Bear Lake 800-968-0027 www.kampvilla.com Lake Huron... Read more

Why do only one in four RVers boondock?

By Bob Difley There are few RVers that hit the open road for days or weeks at a time that haven’t dry-camped (without hook-ups) at least a few times. If you’ve stayed in a Walmart or forest service campground you’re done it. Weekenders probably spend most of their camping trips hooked up since it takes more time to find or get to a good boondocking site which cuts into the actual camping time on an all-to-short weekend. However, less than 25% of RVers boondock, preferring to stay in organized campgrounds. I would guess that the reason is that convenience trumps all else. Why else would RVers prefer to pay for a campsite rather than stay at a free or cheap one? Or be shoehorned in with other campers when you could have lots of space and privacy instead? And why prefer a campground with almost incessant noise from the other campers, running vehicles,and  late night partiers around a campfire, when you could have peace and quiet and solitude? One reason is that most RVers are sociable types and like meeting other campers and being part of a campout community. There are other reasons also, like access to a swimming lake with a lifeguard to watch the kids, park campfire programs and talks put on by rangers,  amenities offered by RV resorts like  Wi-fi, cable TV, heated swimming pools, hot tubs, recreation rooms with programs, games, TV, and potlucks, proximity to cities, restaurants, golf courses, and shopping. Otherwise, choosing organized campgrounds or RV... Read more

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