From the Editor

Many of you are probably familiar with and participate in the Open Roads Forum. But there's another online community for RVers you should take a look at. It's called RV Scrapbook and it's much more than just another forum. Scrappers, as members are called, can share trip photos, create their own travel blog, join special interest groups, share music and videos, chat with other members, and much more. Since its creation, the online community has grown to nearly 1,000 members, all of whom are interested in the RV lifestyle. And every Saturday and Sunday evening at 5pm (Central Time), members come together for live chat.

Hope you enjoy this issue of RoadNotes. As always, I'm interested in receiving your comments and suggestions.

New Federal Land Pass

Effective January 1, 2007, a new federal discount pass program was implemented. The new passes, collectively known as the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass, replaces the existing discount pass cards including the Golden Age and Golden Access Passports. The old cards will continue to be honored but only paper Golden Age and Golden Access Passports may be exchanged free of charge for the new plastic passes. Select this link to learn more.

RVer's Friend Special

Several copies of the new 2007 edition of The RVer's Friend book were recently received that were damaged during delivery. All of the pages are intact but the books cannot be sold as new because of the crinkled cover and pages. Rather than destroy the books, I would like to offer them to you at a deeply discounted price. If you don't mind having a book with crinkled pages, you can save nearly 40 percent off the cover price. To learn more, select this link.

Touring America

Tennessee

Cherohala Skyway is a 52-mile scenic byway in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. The route follows TN Hwy 165 and NC Hwy 143 between Tellico Plains, Tennessee, and Robbinsville, North Carolina. Byway travelers climb to elevations over 5,300 feet as they cross the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests. Numerous overlooks provide opportunities for taking photographs.

There are several campgrounds within the national forests that can be accessed from the byway. Indian Boundary Recreation Area is about two miles off the byway and has nearly 90 sites with electric hookups. The camping fee is about $20 per night. Holders of the Golden Age/Access Passport (or the new America the Beautiful card) receive 50 percent off the camping fee.

RV Vacation Planner

by Donna Flanders

Donna is retired from computer programming. After 20 years of computer work, she now devotes her analytical, organizational and research skills to developing vacations for others. She is a list maker and she shares her lists with you at RV Vacation Planner.

Sticker Shock

We bought a new motorhome. Indeed the price tag is enough to cause the uninitiated to have a heart attack, but we already knew that buying a new RV would cost more than our first house. We've all heard that the difference between men and boys is the cost of their toys. Of course, I love this new house on wheels too.

In this case, the stickers I'm talking about are all the stickers inside. There were stickers on every appliance, on the walls, even the bathroom mirror. The majority of these stickers are there to idiot proof the RV.

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Fun Stops U.S.A.

Ohio

Founded in 1788, historic Marietta, Ohio, is recognized as the First Organized Settlement in the Northwest Territory. There is much to see and do in this small town of about 15,000 souls. There are several monuments including the Start Westward Monument in Muskingum Park, which pays tribute to the pioneers who settled in 1788. It was sculpted by Gutzon Borglum, also known for Mount Rushmore. Visitors can tour several historic structures including Bisantz-Bosworth House, The Castle, and Fearing House. You can tour the town on foot, by trolley, or ride the Valley Gem riverboat. Or you may wish to explore the surrounding area by following the Covered Bridge Scenic Byway, which crosses Wayne National Forest.

RV Dump Stations

Here are some recent additions to the RV Dump Stations web site:

Discovering Your Public Lands

Illinois

Rend Lake is an 18,900-acre reservoir in southern Illinois about 15 miles south of Mount Vernon. The Corps of Engineers project offers over 400 campsites in four public campgrounds on the lake. The largest campground is South Marcum, which has over 140 sites with electric hookups for less than $20 per night.

RV University

by Mark Polk

Mark Polk is the producer of training videos on how to use and maintain your RV. He is also the author of The RV Book, a personal guide to understanding and enjoying your RV.

Spring Preparation 101

Our motor home has been sitting idle since returning from a hunting trip to Pennsylvania after Thanksgiving. I winterized it, cleaned it and took the necessary precautions to store it for a few months, so it would be ready to go when we were ready to go. Well I have cabin fever, and I find myself searching a road atlas with my morning coffee for new destinations to visit. I am even convinced that the motor home is talking to me. "Come on, let's go, the weathers getting nice let's get outta here". I finally succumbed to it calling me and decided to take it out of its deep winter sleep and prepare it for spring.

March is a fairly safe bet, in this part of North Carolina, that the worst of the whether is over. If by some chance it does dip down to freezing temperatures, I figure I can turn the furnace on to avoid any possibility of the water system freezing. Now that the decision is made we need to figure out what steps to take to prepare the coach and the chassis for camping and traveling. If you're like me, you want to have some type of logical sequence to follow rather then haphazardly checking the unit out. I made a simple checklist to use so that nothing is overlooked. I prefer to do the majority of spring preparation myself. If you're more comfortable having someone else do it contact a reputable RV dealer and schedule an appointment to have it done.

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Exploring State Parks

New Hampshire

Lake Francis State Park is in northern New Hampshire east of Pittsburg off US Highway 3. The park lies in the Connecticut Lakes region of the Great North Woods along the shore of 2,000-acre Lake Francis. The campground here has a total of 42 sites; none have hookups. Camping fees range from $23 for a regular site to $29 per night for a water view site; reservations required.

Camping in City and County Parks

New Mexico

Jal Lake Park is a ten-acre park on the south end of Jal, New Mexico. The park features free, short-term RV parking (three nights, full hookups) and fishing in a man-made lake that spells the name of the small town.

Oklahoma

Purcell City Park is located south of Purcell, Oklahoma, west of I-35 Exit 91. The park features 22 sites with full hookups for about $18 per night. Amenities include restrooms with showers, a laundry room, playground, and nearby swimming area.

Do you know of a city or county park that has a campground? Tell us about it!

Gadgets & Gizmos

Cruzin Cooler

Here's something you don't see every day. The Cruzin Cooler is not just another food and beverage cooler with wheels. Nope, this one you can also ride. It's true. It has a top speed of 15MPH. Electric models have a range of ten miles; gas units, 30 miles. See the manufacturer's web site for more.

Gutter Spouts with Extensions

This is a simple little gadget, really, that helps prevent black streaks from forming on your RV by redirecting water runoff away from the sides of your RV. The gutter spouts extend outward over two inches. Look for it at your favorite RV supply retailer.

Legends of America

by Kathy Weiser

Kathy is a personal friend and webmaster of the Legends of America web site. Her site focuses on the history-rich travel destinations of the American West.

Mason County War, or Hoodoo War

In the Texas Hill country of Mason County, bad luck was on the horizon in 1874 when large numbers of cattle began to be killed or go missing. Before long, a murderous conflict called the Mason County War, but just as often referred to as the Hoodoo War, erupted between German immigrants and Texas born natives. For years, relations had been tense between the two groups, as during the Civil War, the native Texans declared themselves Confederates, while the Germans remained loyal to the Union.

The trouble began when nine Texans were jailed on charges of cattle theft. Before a trial could be held, four escaped and on February 18, 1875, a German mob of about forty men took the remaining five from the jail. Dragging them to a place near Hick Springs, the Germans hanged cousins Elijah and Pete Backus and shot a man named Wiggins. A fourth man named Johnson was able to escape, and help arrived before Tom Turley, who had also been hanged, died. Though a district court investigated the incident, nothing came of it.

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