Touring America

San Juan Skyway

Situated in southwest Colorado is the magnificent San Juan Skyway, a 236-mile loop through the Rocky Mountains. This All-American Road winds through the San Juan (http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan/) and Uncompahgre (http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/) National Forests. You'll also drive through historic towns like Durango (http://www.durango.org/), Telluride (http://www.telluride.com/), and Silverton (http://www.silvertoncolorado.com/). Also along the byway is Mesa Verde National Park (http://www.nps.gov/meve/), where you'll find ancient cliff dwellings.

There are plentiful camping opportunities along the San Juan Skyway. In addition to the numerous campgrounds scattered throughout the national forests, byway travelers can also camp in two state parks and the Mesa Verde National Park.

Learn more about the San Juan Skyway at our web site: http://www.roadnotes.com/scenicdrives/co11.htm

Weather Worries on the Road

by Donna Flanders

If you've spent most of your life in one region of the country you are certainly familiar with the weather dangers that affect your area. But once you jump into your motor home and begin exploring other parts of the country you have something to learn.

We happened to be in central Texas while it rained for an entire week. The ground was saturated, the rivers overflowed and ducks were much happier than people. Flooding is a common problem in this area. Texas has many dams designed to manage flooding. When the floodgates are closed the water is held until the areas below the dam can handle more water. Areas in the flood plains above the dam may be under water during this time.

Each day we placed a handful of rocks at the water's edge. When we returned the next day, those rocks were under water. We repeated this for three weeks and watched the water continue to rise. We don't get this kind of flooding in New England and so when the park ranger suggested we move to a campsite on higher ground we did not hesitate to comply. At the end of three weeks the water began to recede and we finally caught glimpses of our previous markers.

To read the rest of this article, visit Donna's web site: http://www.rvvacationplanner.com/article_display.php?article=15

Fun Stops U.S.A.

U.S. Space & Rocket Center

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama (http://www.spacecamp.com/) features demonstrations and exhibits of the past, present, and future of space exploration. In addition to the museum, visitors can be a pilot in "Land the Shuttle," a hands-on exhibit where you'll re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and land the Shuttle.

Casino Camping

by Jane Kenny

Free Overnight Parking at Casinos

RVers looking for a place to boondock quickly discover there aren't very many locations that will allow free overnight parking in their lots. Forget about staying overnight at shopping centers; you're apt to get a knock on the door in the middle of the night asking you to move. Even many Wal-Marts have posted "No Overnight Parking" signs. Truck stops are generally OK, but they're very noisy.

Casinos, on the other hand, are hospitable to adults traveling in an RV because they know their facility might get additional business. And RVers get a quiet, safe place to stay for the night. Casinos won't turn you away...but it's important to check in with security to verify that it's OK to stay overnight and to find out where they prefer for you to park.

You can find locations and directions for hundreds of casinos in Casino Camping, A Guide to RV-Friendly Casinos. At $14.95, this book will pay for itself.

To learn more about Casino Camping, visit our web site: http://www.travelbooksusa.com/

Road Trip Dreams

by Carol White

Phil and Carol White are the authors of

Live Your Road Trip Dream, a book that describes how they turned their dream of traveling into reality -- and how you can do the same. To learn more go to: http://www.roadtripdream.com/

The following article is from Phil and Carol's travel journal during the time when they were living their road trip dream.

And Then There Was Pebble

Just because I carry a high number on my handicap card, doesn't mean I love the game of golf any less. I have tried to get the number down, and it is slowly going in the right direction, but I don't think it is lack of trying, or lack of athletic ability, or lack of good equipment; I think it is distraction that keeps it there. Yes, distraction.

I love not just the game, but the whole experience -- whether it is watching or participating. Take me to a beautiful course and my senses go crazy. The fresh air, the wildflowers, the animal tracks, the baby ducklings, the perfectly groomed sand traps, the wind swaying the trees -- the list could go on. I also obsess with the rules, and techniques of the shots, the slope of the greens and how the putts will roll. How can a person not be distracted with all this going on?

To read the rest of this article, visit Carol's travel journal web site: http://home.att.net/~retirement_lifestyles/news4.html

Discovering Your Public Lands

Wheeler Reservoir

Wheeler Reservoir is a Tennessee Valley Authority project located in northern Alabama. The 67,000-acre reservoir was created in 1936 when construction of Wheeler Dam on the Tennessee River was completed. Wheeler was the second dam completed by the TVA.

Mallard Creek Campground, managed by the TVA, has 56 campsites with water and electric hookups. The camping fee is about $18 per night.

Learn more about Wheeler Reservoir at the TVA web site: http://www.tva.gov/sites/wheeler.htm

Exploring State Parks

Connecticut

Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection manages more than 60 state parks and forests throughout the Constitution State. Of these, 13 have campgrounds for RVers and tent campers. Camping fees range from $10 to $15 per night. You can learn more about Connecticut's state parks at their web site (http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/).

Gadgets & Gizmos

Bicycle Security

http://www.bicyclealarm.com/

Cy-Curity is a remote-activated alarm system for your bicycle that gives you additional security and peace of mind. The unit mounts under the bike's seat and is equipped with a motion detector and a 110-decibel siren.

Walking on Ice

http://www.yaktrax.com/

If you've ever felt a bit skittish when walking on snow or ice, take a look at YakTrax. The gadget easily attaches to your shoes or boots and provides better traction when walking on snow or ice.

Bumper Sticker Wisdom

• If only closed minds came with closed mouth
• Consciousness: that annoying time between naps

Legends of America

by Kathy Weiser

Frisco, Utah - A Ten Year High

Located in Beaver County, Utah are the silent remains of the once booming mining camp of Frisco. Though its life was short, it was filled with history, from millions of dollars in ore taken from the Horn Silver Mine to shoot-outs in its dusty streets. Today its crumbling foundations, charcoal ovens, and silent cemetery speak eloquently of its rich and varied past.

Frisco's story starts with two prospectors by the names of James Ryan and Samuel Hawks in September, 1875. The pair worked at galena mine in the San Francisco Mining District, which embraced approximately seven square miles on both flanks of the San Francisco Mountains. One day while on their way to work, they stopped to test a large outcropping for ore. When they found a solid ore body, they immediately staked a claim. Fearing that the mineral body was not very large, they decided to sell their claim rather than work it. Sadly for Ryan and Hawks, the new owners extracted some 25,000 tons of ore with high silver content by the end of the 1870s.

Near the mine, the town of Frisco soon sprouted up, named for the San Francisco Mountains. Another mine called the Horn Silver Mine was also discovered in 1875, and would soon become largest producer in the area. With the success of the Horn Silver Mine, the Frisco Mining and Smelting Company expanded its workings in July 1877 by constructing a smelter that included five beehive charcoal kilns. Frisco soon developed as the post office and commercial center for the district, as well as the terminus of the Utah Southern Railroad extension from Milford, some fifteen miles to the east.

To read the rest of the article, go to: http://www.legendsofamerica.com/UT-Frisco.html

Roundabout Roundup

Factory Tours

http://www.factorytoursusa.com/

At this web site you'll find information on more than 450 factory tours across the U.S.

Motorhome Reviews

http://www.motorhomereviewonline.com/

This web site is for owners and potential owners of motorhomes. You'll find informative articles, letters, and motorhome reviews by owners.

My Prime Years

http://www.myprimeyears.com/

This is the personal web site of Mike and Donna Yeaw. Here you'll find articles they've written about the RV lifestyle.

RV Internet Access

http://www.rvinternetaccess.com/

Check out this web site for current information about Internet access for RVers.

All Across Texas

http://www.allacrosstexas.com/

Planning a trip to Texas? Take a look at this web site for information about traveling in the Lone Star State.