Touring America

Colorado

The Colorado River Headwaters Byway is a 69-mile route in north-central Colorado. It follows US 34, US 40, and CR 1 between Grand Lake and State Bridge. The byway follows the river through narrow canyons and alongside several reservoirs. Camping is available in Arapaho National Recreation Area and nearby Rocky Mountain National Park.

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.

WiFi Challenges

WiFi is a wireless connection to the Internet. It can be extremely convenient and totally frustrating. There are times when the signal comes and goes. The signal can be weak or strong. There are also times when it disappears completely.

More and more campgrounds are adding WiFi. Now you can surf the Internet from your RV rather than walking to the modem connection in the office or the laundry. Of course, heading to the local library is even less convenient. When you call for reservations ask about WiFi even if it is not listed in the campground guide. It may have been added recently.

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Fun Stops U.S.A.

Indiana

The Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana, features highlights of the vehicle's history and a variety of exhibits. The museum houses the entire original Studebaker collection of 39 vehicles. About 15 miles east of South Bend in Elkhart, Indiana, is the RV/MH Hall of Fame, which displays trailers, photos, and memorabilia dating back to the 1920s.

RV Dump Stations

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

Discovering Your Public Lands

California

Pit River Recreation Area is a small campground managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The campground is on the river about five miles west of Fall River Mills, California. There are eight sites for about $10 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.

Rodent Control

I get asked a lot of questions about what can be done to control rodents from getting in your RV when it's in storage. I am by no means an expert on pest and rodent control, but after researching the subject I can offer a few ideas that other RVers use to keep rodents out of their RVers. You can be the judge on what works and what doesn't.

When RVs are stored for the winter it's not uncommon for mice and squirrels to make their winter home in the RV. These animals are notorious for chewing through vehicle wiring, plastic and rubber lines, causing extensive damage to the RV.

Possibly, the most important step is to try and prevent mice and other rodents from being able to access your RV. This can be difficult because they can enter the RV through some very small areas.

Start by inspecting the underside of your RV for any gaps or holes. Fill these gaps using silicone or expanding foam. A word of caution, if you never used expanding foam before you should experiment with it on something other than your RV first. When it dries it can expand a great deal more than you expect. Next, open drawers and cabinet doors inside your RV. Look in all of the corners and crevices, especially where plumbing and wiring enter the RV. If you can see any daylight mice can get in. Fill these areas with silicone or foam.

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Exploring State Parks

Wyoming

Boysen State Park is surrounded by the Wind River Indian Reservation and offers a variety of water sports on Boysen Reservoir. The park has eleven campgrounds and more than 200 sites; most sites are pull-thru and can accommodate large RVs. The camping fee is about $12 per night.

Camping in City and County Parks

Florida

Katherine Abby Hanna Park is located on the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean at 500 Wonderwood Drive in Jacksonville, Florida. The park features a 60-acre freshwater lake for fishing and boating. The campground has nearly 300 sites with electric, water, and sewer hookups. Amenities include a general store, laundry facilities, and restrooms with showers. Camping fees range from $20 to $34 per night. Rental cabins also available.

Texas

Gaines County Park and Golf Course is eight miles north of Seminole, Texas, on US 385. There are 18 sites on blacktop with trees surrounding the lot. Nine sites on the north side have 50-amp hookups; south side spaces have 30-amp. The cost is $4 per day with a 5-day limit. Amenities include a restroom with showers, a rec hall, and a few concrete picnic tables with grills.

Suggestions

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

Gadgets & Gizmos

Freeplay Plus Radio

The Freeplay Plus Radio is great to have for everyday use but is especially helpful in times without power. You can charge the built-in NiMH battery pack through the wind-up generator, the solar panel, or the optional AC adapter. A fully charged battery will run the radio for more than 40 hours. The AM/FM/SW radio also comes with a detachable LED light with a magnetic base.

Indigo Lantern

Another neat product from Freeplay is the Indigo LED Table Lantern. The lantern comes with an AC/DC wall charger that allows you to fully charge the built-in battery (which will provide up to 70 hours of light). You can also power the lantern with the wind-up system (a 60-second wind will provide up to two hours of light).

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.

Sunnyside - A Different Kind of Ghost Town

Twenty miles northeast of Lochiel is the old ghost town of Sunnyside. Interestingly, Sunnyside is far removed from the "typical" Arizona ghost town, as far as its make-up, beginnings, and lifestyle, not to mention its remote location. Not like other mining camps, it was not filled with saloons, brothels, and lawless elements, but rather, it was a religious community. Were it to exist today, modern writers would probably call it a commune, or worse, a "cult."

It all began with a man named Samuel Donnelly, who popular history would have us believe was a hard drinker in San Francisco, California. However, he changed his ways when he stumbled out of a waterfront bar into a Salvation Army meeting in the early 1880s. Having "seen the light," Donnelly stopped his drinking and became Salvation Army preacher.

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