April 2007
I heard that Jamestown is beautiful in the spring, and I picked this article out just for you! 400 years of American history – visit this national relic during its anniversary and grab a taste of our past! Also included this month is the Traveling With Pets column I promised you, and one of the cutest camping bloopers I've ever read… Enjoy!
Ann
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Associate Publisher
Tell me what you think!
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Issue Contents
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Book of the Month
Camping and RVing With Dogs
Camping and RVing with Dogs is a must–have reference for anyone who enjoys camping with their dog. From finding a lost dog to handling medical emergencies, every aspect of traveling with your dog is covered. The result is a great travel companion that campers and RVers with pets will refer to again and again.
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Diamond Club Coupons
Get coupons specific to your region, or regions you plan to visit soon!
Examples of the types of coupons available include 2-for-1 admission to local attractions, discounts on campgrounds, discounts on restaurants, plus more.
Select your region and download your coupons today.
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RVing With Your Pet
Ten Good Reasons to Bring your Pet
By Julee Meltzer
It has been estimated that approximately 75% of all RVers take their family pet with them. This means that conservatively, over 20 million people hit the road with their pets each year. While many of these pets are dogs, more than a few RVers with cats, birds, rabbits, horses, and even lizards.
As a full–time RVer who lives with two dogs and three cats, I've often been asked why I choose to travel with so many four–legged friends. After all – they ask, wouldn't it be a lot easier and more convenient to RV without pets? Most of the time, I quickly dodge the question with a bad joke "Yeah but who would drive?"
But in all seriousness, it is a reasonable question and therefore deserves a thoughtful answer. Why do so many of us travel with our pets?
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RV Tech
"Vista" and Wi–Fi, [for RVers]
By Alan Lidstone
Windows Vista includes major improved graphics capabilities, faster startup and shut–down, faster processing, and more stability for users than Windows XP. Vista is designed to make maximum use of the performance by the new dual–core processors, high–function graphics, high–capacity hard drives of 100–160 Gig of storage, and large internal memory (minimum of 1–Gig) in the latest notebook and desktop computers.
Users may encounter problems using some peripheral hardware devices and connecting to the Internet. In my experience, it took several weeks to get it all working in our new Gateway MX8711.
Just about all users connect peripheral hardware such as printers, scanners, mini–cams, and digital cameras connected to the computer. These devices require hardware drivers (computer programs) that are normally provided by the hardware manufacturer.
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Destined to Travel
Celebrate Jamestown's 400th Anniversary
By Bob Difley
Mark the date of May 11–13, 2007 on your calendar. Go ahead, do it now. I'll wait. This three–day spectacular, America's Anniversary Weekend, is the premier signature event of America's 400th Anniversary. It kicks off the year–long list of festivities and celebrations at Jamestown, Va., the site of the first permanent English colony in the United States, established in 1607.
Visitors will enjoy historical pageantry and ceremonies, along with musical performances (including a concert by a 400–piece orchestra with a 1,607–voice choir), dramatic performances as well as cultural presentations. Celebrity appearances have been scheduled at three locations – Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne (the actual site of the settlement) and Anniversary Park, adjacent to Jamestown Settlement. Don't be surprised if you bump into George and Laura Bush or Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The Queen addressed thousands of visitors to Jamestown at the 350th celebration in 1957.
Predictions estimate that more than a million people will attend this and other signature events, such as the American–Indian Intertribal Festival in July at the Coliseum in Hampton, where storytelling, dancing and demonstrations will illustrate the similarities and differences among American–Indian nations.
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Mark… My Words
Do you have questions about RV technical issues, the RV lifestyle
or RVs in general? Ask Mark!
Hi Folks!
This month, in preparation for the upcoming summer RVing season, we'll talk batteries. Thanks for all the great questions, and keep ‘em coming!
Hi Mark,
My motorhome has been idled for 6 mo's and now has dead batteries. I think the high temperatures during the summer here in Las Vegas had something to expedite its passing. I want to get it ready for a trip. My question is, Can I just charge it up from my car? Would it help to pay a local service to try and start them? Should I just replace all batteries?
Thanks…
Gilbert
San Diego, CA
If those batteries are completely flat, then it's my unfortunate duty to advise you to purchase new batteries. Once a lead/acid battery is discharged completely and allowed to sit in that state for any length of time, its capacity will be significantly impaired. While you can probably get it started with a jump, and the batteries will come back to life somewhat, they will never really be OK again. If you don't dry–camp, you may be able to get by without replacing the house batteries for a while, but the engine starter battery should be replaced before your next trip as it's no fun being stranded! What probably killed your batteries during storage were small parasitic loads, like the keep–alive power to stereos, clocks, alarms and appliance circuit boards. Over time, these tiny, sneaky loads will flatten your batteries. That's why it's best to disconnect all batteries if you will be storing the rig for a long period, like a couple of months or more.
Read More Questions
Do you have a question for Mark?
Please submit your question via email to woodalls@escapees.com
Please remember, material will be edited. Because of the large volume of material and correspondence submitted, individual replies will not be possible, nor can we acknowledge receipt of your material. Selected questions will be answered in future issues of the Diamond Club newsletter in the Mark, My Words column. The Mark, My Words column also appears in Escapees magazine, a bi–monthly publication of the Escapees RV Club. For more information visit
www.escapees.com/magazine
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My Trip Journal
 Follow along with RVers and travelers just like you by reading their trip journal. We've selected the best websites of people who have traveled in North America. These travelers have agreed to let us feature their website. Take a look.
View this months featured personal website, Syl & Ken's Journeys Across the Americas or browse other locations.
Camping Blooper
Gray water woes
We took our recently purchased used RV on its maiden voyage to So Ca from So Or…we made it a point to stop at a state park to empty holding tank…noticed off and on a foul odor during the drive so emptied again at our destination…only to discover a couple days into our stay that the bathtub was filled with foul smelling water…so…no showers in the RV. We emptied yet again when we left for home. Was not until after arriving home and several days later we noticed that there are 2 release valves! One back further which would have emptied gray water tank which we did not realize was almost full when we had left to start our trip! We wondered why we were getting such poor mileage! (As well as such poor air quality while driving!) We felt very foolish, indeed.
Linda,
Oregon
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Cooking on the Road
Poached Chicken Breasts with Spring Vegetables and Herb Broth
Jamie Roraback
Quick and easy, this aromatic recipe is perfect for a light supper. It is delicious served over couscous for a more substantial meal.
Makes four servings
| 4 |
cups low–sodium chicken broth |
| 4 |
boneless and skinless chicken breasts, about 6 oz each |
| 8 –10 |
pearl onions, peeled |
| 2 |
carrots, cut into 3/4–inch pieces |
| 8 |
asparagus spears, cut crosswise into 1–inch pieces |
| 2 |
tablespoons cold butter |
| 3 |
tablespoons minced mixed fresh herbs: Italian parsley, tarragon, chives, etc. |
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Salt and black pepper to taste |
Bring the chicken broth to a simmer in a shallow saucepan large enough to hold the chicken breasts in a single layer.
Rinse the chicken breasts and pat dry. Season on both sides with salt and pepper. Add the breasts and pearl onions to the broth and bring back to a simmer; lower the heat and gently poach for 10 minutes. Add the carrots and asparagus and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables tender.
Remove the chicken breasts and vegetables from the broth with a slotted spoon and divide among 4 shallow bowls.
Whisk the butter into the broth and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle over the chicken breasts; sprinkle each serving with the mixed herbs and serve with the remaining broth on the side.
For more great recipes & campsite cooking tips, visit Woodall's Camp Cooking!.
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 Gadgets & Gear
Driving Green – Reusable Air Filters
By Bill Siuru
Today, every car, truck, SUV and RV has an air filter to protect its engine from airborne contaminants. Original–equipment air filters should be changed according to manufacturer's recommendations. Typically, this is annually or about every 12,000 miles; more often if you drive in dusty areas. Besides letting dirt particulates get into the engine, a dirty air filter can restrict airflow. When an engine cannot "breathe" properly, mileage and performance decrease.
Expense and Environmental Cost Considerations
If you keep your vehicle six to 10 years, you will replace, and discard, six to 10 dirty filters that wind up in landfills. Along with them will be the packaging in which new filters come. A "green" alternative is a reusable air filter that can last the life of a vehicle. Reusable air filters cost about two to five times the price of a disposable filter, but will be less costly over the life of a vehicle that is kept for many years. Some reusable filters can be used for up to 500,000 miles – longer than most of us drive our vehicles.
Performance Characteristics
Reusable air filters do more than save the environment. The typical disposable air filter is made of paper. While it does a decent job of filtering out dirt, a paper air filter can restrict airflow, causing a loss in power and fuel economy. Reusable air filters are made of materials that allow the engine to breathe more efficiently, resulting in better fuel economy and increased horsepower and torque.
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RV Buying Tip
Know what your state requires to transfer the title to the RV from the seller to a buyer, and fulfill all requirements. This information can usually be found from your local Division of Motor Vehicles.
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