From the Editor

If you haven't been to the RoadNotes web site lately, take a look at it. We've added some more things to the Travel Info section like Cracker Barrel locations, Love's Travel Stops, TA Travel Centers, an Interstate Guide, and more. Our goal is to make the web site an invaluable source of information for camping and traveling in America. Let us know what you think.

New this month is a column called Road Trip Dreams. This new monthly feature is written by Carol White. A few years ago, Carol and her husband Phil decided to turn their one year road trip dream into a realty. Each month she will offer tips and tidbits of information to help road trip "dreamers" become road trip "doers."

-- David

Touring America

Blue Buck Knob Scenic Byway

Located in south-central Missouri about 75 miles east of Springfield is the 30-mile long Blue Buck Knob National Forest Scenic Byway. Following Missouri state highways, the scenic route winds through the Mark Twain National Forest in Ozark Hill Country. October is a good month to travel the byway as the forest comes alive with vibrant colors of red and orange.

Noblett Lake Recreation Area is a good place to set up camp for exploring the area. It features a ten-acre lake that was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s. Anglers may want to spend some time fishing for bass, bluegill, or catfish. Those interested in hiking will find access to the Ridge Runner National Recreation Trail. The campground here has 25 sites and can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet. There is no fee for camping but the campground usually closes in mid-October.

To learn more about this scenic byway, visit our web site.

Casino Camping

by Jane Kenny

New Casino RV Parks Open In Kansas & Missouri

Casino-going RVers in the heartland will be pleased to hear about two brand new Casino RV Parks:

In Kansas: Harrah's Casino in Mayetta just opened a modern 67-site RV Park. All sites are pull-thrus designed to accommodate any size RV including big rigs with multi slides. Daily RV rates are from $15. For reservations call 1-877-2-RVPARK. Shuttle service to the casino is provided. Boondocking is also permitted in the casino parking lot. The newly-expanded casino features over 1,000 slots and 30 pit/gaming tables plus two restaurants and the Prairie Pub. Harrah's is located north of I-70 exit 358. Take US-75 north for 17 miles, then west on Hwy-150 for 1.8 mile to Harrah's.

In Missouri: Casino Aztar, in Carutersville (southern Missouri), announces the grand opening of its new modern RV Park with great Mississippi River views. The Park has 27 full hookup sites with wireless Internet, 24-hour security and shower and laundry facilities. A nature trail is open dawn to dusk. Daily rate is $20 and RV guests should check in at the gift shop in the pavilion between noon and 10pm. At other times security will assist with parking. For reservations call 1-800-679-4945. Shuttle service is available to the riverboat casino that has 650 slots and a variety of table games; the first deck is smoke-free. To get to Casino Aztar take I-55 exit 19 (Hayti), then east on Hwy-84 for 4.4 miles, then continue straight ahead on Third St, for .8 mile.

Want more information about RV-Friendly casinos? Hundreds of casinos across the country are featured in Jane Kenny's

Casino Camping. The book lists so many places for free overnight parking, it will pay for itself many times over. To learn more, visit our online bookstore.

Fun Stops U.S.A.

Galena, Illinois

In this small town of about 3,500 residents, you'll find the home of Ulysses S. Grant, Civil War general and 18th president of the United States. Constructed in 1860, locals gave the house to Grant in 1865. Many original furnishings are on display.

National Motorcyle Museum

Anamosa is a small town in eastern Iowa that is home to the National Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. Here you'll find an extensive collection of vintage motorcycles, thousands of photographs, postcards and pieces of motorcycle memorabilia. It's also the place to see the authentic

Captain America Bike from the 1969 movie,

Easy Rider.

Giant Omelette Festival

In southern Louisiana you'll find the small town of Abbeville and the annual Giant Omelette Festival. This year's event takes place November 5th and 6th. There's a parade, live music, antique car show, and the making of a 5,000-egg omelette.

Pioneer Park

Pioneer Park in Ferndale, Washington, has one of the largest collections of original log homes in the Northwest. Each log cabin is a museum containing interesting artifacts.

Road Trip Dreams

by Carol White

Believe in Your Dreams

Traveling for a year? It's something many of us baby boomers have long thought of doing after we are through with the family raising stage of life, and before we succumb to old age!

Phil and I are two early boomers, who, like many of our contemporaries, have had the good fortune and opportunity to leave the full time work world early - with all the possibilities and decisions that that life change brings. Early in our lives, we did all "the right things," like many children raised in the 50's and 60's. We went to college (run off to Europe for 6 months - who does THAT!?), graduated, got jobs that we stayed with throughout our careers, married, and raised our family. Never did we have the luxury of taking off on an adventure of more than a few weeks at a time.

When we left the work force, we found that we became just as involved and immersed as we had been when we were working. Of course, the time is filled we things of our choosing - playing with the grandchildren, serving on boards and committees, traveling, golfing, exercising more regularly, etc. But, none the less, a new routine develops that make it just as difficult to break away for a long period of time.

Select this link to read the rest of the article.

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.

Discovering Your Public Lands

Lake Koocanusa

Lake Koocanusa is a Corps of Engineers project in northwest Montana about 18 miles north of Libby. The lake is 90 miles long, 42 of which extend into British Columbia. Six recreation areas surround the lake that are managed by the Corps but only three have camping facilities. Other campgrounds along the lake are managed by the Kootenai National Forest.

Wild Rivers Recreation Area

This Bureau of Land Management recreation area is located 25 miles north of Taos, New Mexico. Here the Rio Grande and Red River are preserved in their natural, free-flowing state. Within the recreation area is the Wild Rivers Backcountry Byway, which winds along the rim of the Rio Grand gorge. Visitors will also find five developed campgrounds. The camping fee is $7 per night.

Don't Forget to Wave

by Donna Flanders

As you are traveling down the highways and byways of this great country keep in mind that you can spread good cheer with a simple act. Wave! We always wave to other folks that are driving any type of RV. And we're not prejudice. We even wave to the folks who are driving an RV which costs ten times what our rig cost. We get rather enthusiastic when we come across another RV just like ours and include hooting and hollering along with the waves.

I can't tell you how disappointing it can be when you wave to a fellow camper and no one waves back. It doesn't cost anything. It makes someone else feel good. It makes a connection with a fellow camper. This is a win-win situation. So why don't some folks wave back?

When we have guests with us in the motor home, we often offer a ride in the passenger seat because it's an exciting vantage point. No longer are you looking up at other rigs or trucks. You are at eye level. You can see right over cars. But as someone is ready to move into the passenger seat, give your guest a test. Ask if he or she knows how to wave. Demonstrate your best Miss America wave and have the person practice before buckling in. Give strict instructions – wave at any fellow camper.

As the song says – "Smile and the world smiles with you." How about a wave? So let's start a campaign to wave. Pass on a little friendliness. What goes around, comes around.

Visit Donna's web site, RV Vacation Planner, to learn about the trip planning kits she offers.

Exploring State Parks

Michigan

Michigan's Department of Natural Resources manages nearly one hundred state parks in The Wolverine State. About 70 have campgrounds for RVers and tent campers. Most have sites with electric hookups. Three state parks have campgrounds with full hookups for RVers that'll run you $23 per night. Camping fees are generally between $12 and $20 per night for modern campsites. Rustic campsites are $9 per night. Rental cabins are available in some state parks; prices range from $45 to $75 per night.

You can visit Michigan's DNR web site for detailed information about each state park. You can also download brochures in Adobe Reader (PDF) format that will give you basic information about each state park.

South Dakota

South Dakota's Division of Parks & Recreation manages 12 state parks and 42 state recreation areas. Camping is available in nearly all of these areas. Nearly 30 parks offer camping cabins and a few have group lodges available. Camping fees range from $6 to $15 per night depending on amenities. Cabins rent for $32 to $37 per night.

You'll find a good deal of information at the Division of Parks & Recreation web site. There is also a bunch of guides and booklets in Adobe Reader (PDF) format that you can download for free.

Vermont

Vermont's Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation maintains more than 50 state parks. Nearly 40 parks have camping facilities. Rental cabins and cottages are also available in a handful of parks. Camping fees range from $14 to $16 per night.

More detailed information is available at Vermont's web site. Campground maps in Adobe Reader (PDF) format can be downloaded for free.

Gadgets & Gizmos

PocketMail Composer

With the PocketMail Composer you can send and receive unlimited e-mail and faxes from anywhere in the country. The gadget also includes a personal organizer with alarm, calculator, address book, reminders, and memo pad.

DVD in a Bag

This gadget allows you to take your entertainment system anywhere. It's a portable system that includes a DVD/CD/MP3 player and a 5" LCD monitor in an easy-to-carry bag. It plugs into any 12V outlet or 120V outlet.

Bumper Sticker Wisdom

• I took an IQ test and the results were negative
• UFO's are real - the Air Force doesn't exist
• Work is for people who don't know how to fish

Legends of America

by Kathy Weiser

Bodie, California - A Ghostly Ghost Town

When mining began to decline along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, prospectors began to cross the eastern slope in search of their fortunes. One such man named William (a/k/a Waterman) S. Bodey discovered gold near a place that is now called Bodie Bluff in 1859. Alas, the poor man died in a snow storm that very winter and never saw the new town that would be named after him. Though one legend attributes the change of spelling to an illiterate sign painter, the citizens deliberately changed the spelling in order to ensure correct pronunciation.

In 1861 the Bunker Hill Mine was established as well as a mill, though the camp was called home to only about twenty miners. Bodie grew slowly and remained an insignificant mining camp for 17 years. The Bunker Hill Mine and Mill, on the west slope of Bodie Bluff, changed hands several times during the years before being sold to four partners in 1877. The name was changed to the Standard Mining Company and within months the partners discovered a significant vein of rich gold ore. Profits rose dramatically and by the end of 1878 Bodie's population had soared to some 5,000 people. The Standard Mine would yield nearly 15 million dollars in gold over the next 25 years.

During the winter of 1878-79 Bodie's citizens saw many hardships. Particularly savage, the winter claimed hundreds of lives from exposure and disease. Falling timber in the mines and the explosion of a powder magazine took additional lives.

Miners, gamblers and business continued to flood the area and by 1879, Bodie boasted a population of about 10,000 and 2,000 buildings. Before long the town supported some 30 gold mines, 65 saloons, numerous brothels, gambling halls, and opium dens, as well, as a number of legitimate businesses, including three newspapers, several churches, a couple of banks and a school. Every other building on the mile long main street was a saloon. Three breweries worked day and night, while whiskey was brought into town in 100 gallon barrels.

Select this link to read the rest of the article.

Humorous Classified Ads

• Semi-Annual After-Christmas Sale
• Wanted: Hair Cutter. Excellent growth potential.
• Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated? Come here first.

Roundabout Roundup

RV Education Videos

Mark Polk has produced several videos on how to use and maintain your RV. You'll find videos for pop-up campers, travel trailers, Class A and C motorhomes, and one about winterizing and storing your RV. Take a look at the RV Education 101 web site for more information.

Top Ten Places to See by RV

Here's a list of the top ten places to see in an RV (according to the Travel Channel, anyway!).

Mansions on Wheels

Here's an interesting article I found on CNN's web site.

RV Travels Across North America

This is the personal web site of Bob and Laura Madigan. Their site contains information and pictures about the places they have been to.

Ohio Campgrounds

Visit the Ohio Campground Owners Association for information about private campgrounds in the Buckeye State.

Christmas Cards

It's not too early to think about sending Christmas cards to friends and family. These cards from Camping World will reflect the RV and camping life you love.

RV Inspection Checklist

The RV Consumer Group has several checklists that you can download for free. Among them are the RV Inspection Checklist, a Routine Service Checklist, and more.