June 2007
Summer's here! The Camping & RVing season is in full swing! In this month's Wisdom we'll tell you how to make memories in Maine, as well as give great advice about how special towing products can save your transmission! Don't forget to check out our sponsor's coupons! Find one that interests you on the right, or browse our coupons online at woodalls.com. You could save hundreds this summer!
Tell me what you think!
Ann
Associate Publisher
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Associate Publisher
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Issue Contents
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Book of the Month
The Woodall’s 2007 Frontier West/Great Plains & Mountain Region Campground Guidefeatures the same reliable rating system and up–to–date listings as the 2007 North American Directory, but features just 13 states in the United States, all of Mexico, and 3 Canadian Provinces. Find places you can park your RV for a month or for a season with the Woodall’s 2007 Extended Stay Guide, which is also included.
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RVing With Your Pet
Have Kitty, Must Travel
By Julee Meltzer
RVing with Cats
When we talk about RVing with pets, most people automatically assume that we're referring to RVing with dogs. However, as a full–time RVer and animal enthusiast, I can verify that dogs are merely one of the many creatures (besides people) that can be found enjoying the RV lifestyle. In fact, the list of RVing animals we've seen to date includes horses, birds, rabbits, mice, lizards, tarantulas, snakes, and of course cats – the subject of this month's article.
The advantage of RVing with cats
While dogs clearly hold the number one position as the animal most likely to RV, cats have always held the number two position – with good reason. Aside from any personal preferences, it's hard to argue with the notion that cats are much more suited to RVing than dogs. First of all, cats don't need to be taken for walks. When you're sitting in a highway rest stop in the pouring rain, this advantage cannot be overstated. Second, cats take up considerably less space than dogs. In our motorhome, fights routinely erupt as people and dogs struggle for the last remaining fragments of open floor space. Third, cats don't bark, whine, or howl. As a result, you never have to worry about offending the cantankerous campers in the next site. Last but not least, cats use a litter box. Enough said.
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Special Feature
2007 Marks 10th Anniversary of the Confederation Bridge
In 1987, the Government of Canada issued a proposal call challenging the private sector to devise an environmentally, technically and financially sound alternative to the ferry system that existed at the time between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
After an extensive process, Strait Crossing Development Inc. was named as the Developer charged with designing, building, financing and operating the Confederation Bridge. The 12.9 km structure was completed in May 1997 and carries two lanes of traffic.
Today, ten years later, the Confederation Bridge still joins the provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, Canada and forms part of the Trans Canada Highway–making travel to and from the mainland fast and simple. A close 30 minutes from the Nova Scotia/New Brunswick border, the engineering marvel is open year–round 24 hours a day and takes a little over 10 minutes to cross.
For a complete history of the Confederation Bridge or to find out more about visiting Prince Edward Island, go here.
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RV Tech
Technological Innovation In RVs
By Alan Lidstone
There are still people who think RVs never change. One of the reasons is that properly serviced and maintained RVs can easily provide excellent, reliable and enjoyable service for 15 – 20 years.
The large number of innovations continually being introduced to meet the changing needs of today's RVers can be hard to keep up with. We were amazed by the changes we found in the Winnebago Chieftain Class A motorhome when we traded in our 1987 Champion Class A back in 1998.
We continue to be amazed nine years later at how responsive the RV industry has been in providing RVers with the products that allow them to travel, enjoy the outdoors, and RV in comfort. RVers have new types of RVs to consider, along with new power plant, drivetrain and chassis combinations, improved floorplans and interior traffic flow, and more amenities and creature comforts.
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Destined to Travel
Maine's Many Memories: Who can visit Maine without falling for its mountain
vistas, seashores, harbors and legendary fall leaves?
By Tammy Worley – This article courtesy of North East Outdoors
I remember the day my parents told me they were retiring to Maine. I had to get out the map and double check where Maine was located. We were far, very far and as a passionate city dweller I wondered why they would choose to leave the sunny state of California for a state I thought would be cold and dark. But on a recent tour across Maine, I saw the beauty behind its state slogan, "The Way Life Should Be," and why my parents decided to retire there.
Mount Desert Island
My tour across Maine started on Mount Desert Island, visiting Acadia National Park on a the 20–mile, two–lane road featuring 17 cobblestone–faced bridges spanning streams, waterfalls, cliffs, 125 miles of hiking trails, 45 miles of carriage roads, two beaches offering salt water or fresh water and many lookout spots along the way to view the amazing sights. I was awed by the island's beauty and diversity, because the park is home to many plants, animals and the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast.
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Mark… My Words
Hi Folks!
Hi folks! My apologies to all of you who have sent in questions that I haven't yet answered, I'm working on it, but there's only so much space here each month to fit my column in. One suggestion: I try to choose questions that will be of interest to RVers in general, so asking about something that would also be of general interest is a good way to get your question picked! This month's choices are some good examples. Thanks, and keep those questions coming!
Dear Mark,
Recently, I got the scare of my life. After driving down a steep grade for ten miles, I suddenly realized my brake pedal was getting spongy and as I got to a level portion, the pedal went to the floor. Fortunately, I was able to get into an empty lane and then off the highway to a rest stop. As I pumped the brake I gained a little function. I stayed over night off road and the next morning found that my brakes were functional again. I went right to a Chevy dealer and had the system checked out and they found nothing wrong. I drove the rest of the way home – a few hundred miles without a recurrence but all they way I was very nervous. It could happen again. My RV is a 1993 Allegro Bay – 28 ft – gas engine – 50,000 miles. Before this trip, I had my brakes checked by my mechanic and he told me I was in good shape. What is your best guess?
Steve Matlin
Hi Steve
No guesses required! What you experienced was almost certainly brake fade, caused by overheating of the brakes on your rig. Overheated brakes can be caused by descending long downgrades, and in severe cases, brake fade can result in a total loss of braking. Once the brakes cool down, the brakes will work again, however, severe overheating can also cause damage to the brake components, warping rotors, melting seals, etc. The good news is: it's easy to prevent!
Whenever you start down a long grade, always keep your speed low and downshift to use your engine to help slow the RV. On really steep grades, like 10% or more, grab first gear and really take your time. Don't ride the brakes all the way down the hill. Apply brakes with moderate pressure to reduce your speed and then get off them if you can. If you start to feel a reduction in braking effectiveness, pull off the road if you can do so safely and bring the vehicle to a stop while you still have working brakes. Let your brakes cool for at least 30 minutes, and then continue on down the hill.
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 Woodall's Wisdom 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, Pushee's Alaska Expedition or browse other locations.
Camping Blooper
That Pesky Fifth Wheel!
My husband, Jim, was driving our fifth wheel to our new home and the drive way was quite narrow with a 90 degree turn off of a narrow dirt road. There was a deep ditch on both sides and as you can guess the truck made the turn but the fifth wheel went off the drive way and into the ditch twisting the fifth wheel hitch and close to flipping over. I went into our new home and tried to find the number of a tow truck company big enough to tow a fifth wheel and the truck out of the predicament while Jim walked nervously around the fifth wheel cursing and praying that the fifth wheel wouldn't topple the truck over onto its side. I finally found a tow truck that could handle big rigs and within an hour or two he arrived and calmly stated that he'd seen worse! He quickly sized the situation up and pulled both truck and fifth wheel to safety.
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Cooking on the Road
Black Bean Chili
Melissa Perello
Because she is a chef and cooking is one of her favorite parts of camping and because there is nothing like a satisfying meal after a full day of hiking, over the years Melissa has developed some superb grub full of sophisticated flavors. This dish is one of her favorites.
two to three servings
| 1 |
tablespoon vegetable oil |
| 8 |
oz ground beef or pork |
| ½ |
cup finely minced onion |
| 1 |
garlic clove, minced |
| ¼ |
teaspoon chili powder |
| ¼ |
teaspoon paprika |
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Pinch of ground cinnamon |
| 1 |
large tomato, diced into 1/2–inch pieces |
| 1 |
cup rinsed and drained black beans |
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or 3/4 cup dehydrated black beans (see note) |
| 1 |
dry ancho chile pepper, seeded, rinsed
and cut into thin strips |
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium–high heat. Add the meat and brown, stirring and breaking it up into pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook thoroughly. Pour off most of the fat from the pan, leaving about 2 teaspoons.
Add the onion, garlic, spices, salt and pepper and cook over low heat until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the tomato, lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring once in a while until the liquid is reduced and mixture is almost dry. Remove from the pan and cool.
When you are ready to serve, add the beans, ancho pepper and ½ cup water to the meat mixture. Cover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring once in a while until the beans are warm and the liquid reduced. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Note: These are black beans that are cooked and then dehydrated; they come in a flaky form. You can usually find them in grocery stores that sell bulk foods or most health food or organic stores.
Serve immediately.
Tip: The recipe can be prepared up to step 2. The meat mixture can then be packed into a freezer bag and held in a cooler for 2 days or frozen until ready to use.
For more great recipes & campsite cooking tips, visit Woodall's Camp Cooking!.
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Gadgets & Gear
Towing Products Can Save Your RV's Transmission
By Bill Siuru – This article courtesy of CamperWays.
You want to tow a "dinghy" or "toad"? Besides having a tow vehicle with sufficient towing capacity and the proper towing gear – hitch, tow bar, braking system, etc. – you must have a vehicle that can be towed without damage to the transmission.
Many cars, SUVs and trucks with either manual or automatic transmissions can be towed for long distances with all four wheels on the road. The owner's manual will tell if a particular model can be towed and how to do it. There may be other restrictions, too, such as maximum speed and safe towing distance.
Many other vehicles that are not approved by their manufacturers for towing on all four wheels could still be towed, if properly modified. The procedure includes installing an auxiliary lubrication pump on automatic transmissions, a driveshaft disconnect or a front axle lock. If none of these work for your dinghy, you will have to use a dolly or trailer.
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RV Buying Tip
Get a detailed statement from the seller that specifies whether the RV is being sold to you with a warranty or "as is". This can be in addition to the receipt, or included on the receipt.
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