THE GRAND CIRCLE PART VI – The Grand Canyon and More

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is the most visited national park in the West* and for good reason.  The scope of the canyon is awesome, and the 270 miles of dramatic geology shaped by natural forces, including the eons of etching by the Colorado River, must be seen to be truly appreciated. As the sun rose over the north rim, the only sound that could be heard at the Mather Point was clickclickclickclickclickclick.  It was the chirping of a hundred cameras capturing the spectacle that can’t really be recorded in a picture … or a dozen … or even a video.  But since most of us were there to enjoy the animated feature of early morning light streaming across mammoth rock formations, the photos and videos are the preferred way to remember the thrill at dawn a year from now, 10 years from now, and maybe 50 years hence. For our travel companions, Philippe and Solveig from France, this was one of the many highlights of our five-week trip on the Grand Circle that began in Las Vegas and took us through southern Utah and Colorado and northern Arizona.  It didn’t end there:  there were more memories to record on digital media so they could reminisce for years to come and show off to family and friends on their America nights back in Europe. Because a week earlier we decided to bypass the high winds predicted for Canyonlands National Park, our travel schedule had a hole in it that needed to be filled.  We... Read more

National treasures: Scenic byways

By Bob Difley If you haven’t made it a priority to check out the Scenic Byways in the areas you travel or are headed to, you are missing some of the most exciting parts of what makes up America, and you have the best way to see them–your RV. The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, in collaboration with other public and private agencies, and since 1992 the National Scenic Byways Program has funded 2,926 projects for state and nationally designated byway routes in all 50 states. Many of America’s most scenic drives wind across and through remote public lands managed by the National Forest Service (NF) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Though not receiving the same publicity as our National Parks and Monuments, the National Scenic Byways (NSB) and the especially notable All-American Roads are mostly low-traveled, two-lane roads that showcase the historic, scenic, and cultural treasures that define America. But since they are often remote, it can sometimes be difficult finding private campgrounds with typical amenities and hook-ups. Along the way you may have to cover the whole route in one shot–from an RV resort at one end to one at the other. Unless, of course, you have honed your boondocking skills and are comfortable dry-camping either in primitive (no hook-up) government campgrounds or boondocking in the open forest or desert. Your boondocking skills enable you to take... Read more

3 Days Left to Take Advantage of Woodall’s Free-Atlas Special

Hey folks! Don’t miss the chance to grab your FREE Atlas with the purchase of Woodall’s North American Directory. There are only 3 days left to take advantage of this great sale! Plus, we’ll even discount the North American Directory to only $14.95 -that’s way below the cover price of $25.95, to make the deal really sweet! Visit Woodall’s Website to Order Now! 2011 marks Woodall’s 75th year in print! Order the commemorative edition for Dad today – packed with over 310,003 updates from the 2010 edition. Plus… with the purchase of the 2011 North American Campground Directory you can find out how to enter to win a 7-day Hawaiian Cruise in our 75th Anniversary Sweepstakes. Plus, dad will feel safe on the road with Woodall’s North American Atlas. With extensive coverage of the United States plus Mexico & Canada including highway types, exit numbers, U.S. National Parks Guide, drive times & distances and so much more. It will become the travel essential dad will want to keep in the RV at all times. Or geez – this is such a deal, just buy it for yourself! (Again, we won’t tell dad, we promise!) Visit Woodall’s Website to Order Now! Happy Fathers Day, from Woodall’s!  Read More →

Avoid Being a Victim of Fraud

The RV Industry, unfortunately, is not immune from scam artists. Nobody wants to be a victim of fraud, yet millions of people are, each year. When it comes to purchasing or selling an RV, there are a number of ways that people can get scammed. Each year, some individuals are left feeling the pinch of fraudulent purchases, and the RV industry is no different. From odometer fraud to bounced checks, illegally pulled credit reports, and unclear titles, bad things can happen—and they sometimes do. In two previous posts I reported on stories that were in the News for All the Wrong Reasons—several relating to consignment sales of recreational vehicles: Some Days Are Diamonds, Some Days Are Stones In the News for All the Wrong Reasons During the past two months other scam artists have been trying a make a fast buck. Illinois: Business owner pleads guilty to federal fraud charges The owner of Gebhardt Trailer Sales, Jacklyn Still, also known as Jacklyn Gebhardt, 49, of Lynn Haven, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Byron G. Cudmore in Springfield to mail fraud and money laundering. Sentencing is set for July 25. Mail fraud carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison. Money laundering carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The government is also seeking forfeiture of at least $1 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois. Gebhardt admitted that she engaged in various schemes from June 2004 through about April... Read more

THE GRAND CIRCLE PART V – Everyday Is Different

By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers Ridin' the Range in Monument Valley © All photos by Barry Zander. All rights reserved Four weeks on the road with Monique’s brother and sister-in-law from France sharing a 28-foot travel trailer – we’re still enjoying the experience of seeing the Great Southwest through their eyes. There is so much to see out here when you have the time; but you can’t see it all, at least enough to appreciate what you’re looking at, no matter how much time you have.  When I tell you about a few of the places we’ve been in the past week, it will sound like we’ve rushed around without staying long enough to see anything, but that isn’t really the case. I mentioned Bluff, Utah, briefly in the last blog.  It deserves more than that, not only because of the awe-inspiring bluffs towering over the town, but also because of the history behind Bluff Fort.  In our travels we have encountered the continuing saga of the Cherokee Indians on the Trail of Tears from the Carolinas to Oklahoma.  We have crossed the path of Lewis and Clark often.  We traversed the Alaskan Highway and the Natchez Trace, and have found ourselves on Route 66 for a half-dozen stretches. We have, on several occasions, witnessed the rugged paths carved out by early Latter Day Saints (a.k.a. the Mormons) as they went westward to settle in the Utah Territory.  One of the most heroic episodes in their missionary work was their trek over practically... Read more

Mark’s RV Garage Episode #10 Released

RV Education 101 releases Episode #10 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 installs a shower surround, tile and toilet, and starts wiring the power center in the Yellowstone restoration project. * Learn how to install and use a Tire Minder Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) in your RV * Discover a quick tip on a spray lubricant and rust remover you need to keep available in your shop or garage. * 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 # 11 will be available for viewing on 27 June 2011. Happy RV Learning, Mark Polk www.rvconsumer.com www.rveducation101.com  Read More →

Powering your tech devices on the road

We may still call them cigarette lighters, but we know they’re not used to light cigarettes. I’ve never smoked cigarettes, yet I want as many lighters in the car as I can get! Why? Because they’re power sources for our many electronic devices that we use while traveling down the road. The problem is that each device (GPS, MP3 player, cellphone etc.) needs its own adapter and we soon run out of cigarette lighters. We’ve found a simple and cheap way to make one cigarette lighter power two cellphones with this handy little USB car adapter. Many small electronic devices these days can get their power from a USB port. Simply plug this device into a lighter, and you now have two USB ports for the standard cables that come with cellphones today. We don’t even remember where we got ours, but you can google for ‘USB car charger’ and find dozens of options, all for under $10. Geeks on Tour is a membership website with hundreds of Tutorial Videos on topics of interest to travelers, such as managing digital photos with Picasa, Route-Planning with Streets and Trips, and sharing your travels with a website using Blogger. Members can view all of the videos in the Learning Library.  Read More →

Could this be the electric vehicle battery breakthrough?

By Bob Difley Those who are less than enthusiastic about the future of electric vehicles cite the immense size and weight of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, the length of time it takes to recharge them, and their limitations in output, for EVs to become mainstream in the near future. However, a couple of scientists at MIT have been working a new type of battery that has a liquid core, instead of solid state materials as are now used, and their findings have been positive according to The Independent. They say that with this type of battery, it could be half the size of current EV batteries, be cheaper to make, and provide a ten-times improvement in energy density. In addition to these advantages, the new batteries could be swapped out at charging stations, similar to battery swapping stations for current battery configurations now being installed in Israel and Denmark by the company Better Place , but still have the ability to be recharged at home or at charging stations when time permits. The time taken to swap batteries would be similar to the time taken now to refuel with gasoline or diesel. Another possibility would be to design the batteries so that the discharged core liquid could be pumped out and replaced with a fully charged fluid. The researchers said that this could be the breakthrough that the battery industry was waiting for to make EVs a more viable replacement for current gasoline and diesel powered vehicles. These steps could pave the way for electric motorhomes... Read more

Great Outdoors Month

Are you planning a camping trip this month? June is National Great Outdoors Month, which is a wonderful time to enjoy fun outdoor activities with family and friends. Presidential recognition of Great Outdoors Week was begun in 1998 by then-President Bill Clinton. Since 2004, Presidential proclamation of Great Outdoors Month has come annually, celebrating a variety of important events and actions that occur during the month. The 2011 Presidential Proclamation states in part: “America’s vast and varied outdoor spaces are a source of great national pride, and we have long strived to protect them for future generations. Our lands and waters provide countless opportunities for exploration, recreation, and reflection, whether in solitude or with family and friends. During Great Outdoors Month, we renew our enduring commitment to protect our natural landscapes, to enjoy them, and to promote active lifestyles for ourselves and our children.” Great Outdoors Month highlights the benefits of active fun outdoors and our magnificent shared resources of forests, parks, refuges, and other public lands and waters. Media attention to the proclamation triggers actions by millions of households and prompts public discussion of important issues linked to outdoor recreation, including volunteerism, health, and outdoor ethics. Additionally, the majority of governors issue proclamations declaring June as Great Outdoors Month in their states, and many take further actions ranging from Governor’s... Read more

Go RVing: The key to helping Mother Earth and finding happiness

By Bob Difley “You really do have to wonder whether a few years from now we’ll look back at the first decade of the 21st century — when food prices spiked, energy prices soared, world population surged, tornados plowed through cities, floods and droughts set records, populations were displaced and governments were threatened by the confluence of it all,” writes Thomas Friedman, the New York Times columnist, “and ask ourselves: What were we thinking? How did we not panic when the evidence was so obvious that we’d crossed some growth/climate/natural resource/population redlines all at once?” Paul Gilding, an Australian environmentalist/entrepreneur, tries to answer that question in his book, “The Great Disruption: Why the Climate Crisis Will Bring On the End of Shopping and the Birth of a New World.” He points out this dilemma: “We’re currently caught in two loops: One is that more population growth and more global warming together are pushing up food prices; rising food prices cause political instability in the Middle East, which leads to higher oil prices, which leads to higher food prices, which leads to more instability. At the same time, improved productivity means fewer people are needed in every factory to produce more stuff. So if we want to have more jobs, we need more factories. More factories making more stuff make more global warming, and that is where the two loops meet.” But do not despair, for there is a solution, according... Read more

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