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July 2007

Welcome to Woodall's Wisdom newsletter. This month we will be exploring St. Augustine, FL, established 42 years before Jamestown, which we reviewed in our April issue. Mark helps readers with GPS, Tire Pressure, and more. In RV Tech, we'll reveal some great ways to make the most of your next trip to find something to do when you're in a new area. Don't forget to take a peek at our book of the month!

Ann
Associate Publisher 		Ann anns_sig
Associate Publisher

Tell me what you think!

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Issue Contents
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bullit RV Tech
bullet St. Augustine, Florida
bullet Personal Travel Journal
bullet Cooking on the Road
bullet Noncontact Thermometers
  Printer Friendly Version

Book of the Month

Support your RV Lifestyle Most full–time RVers have one regret… they didn't start sooner! Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road gives you tips, tools and resources to live where you want, when you want. With key points on topics like writing an RV resume, networking, and how to negotiate for better compensation, it is the ultimate handbook for those who are thinking about working or volunteering as they travel in their RV. Last chance to order the 2007 Directory at a reduced rate.


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Diamond Club Coupons:

Hat Creek Resort & RV Park
OLD STATION, California
WHAT A GREAT DEAL!

Rancheria RV Resort
HAT CREEK, California
BUY ONE MEAL & GET ONE FOR 25% OFF!

Chula Vista RV Resort & Marina
CHULA VISTA, California
Stay 2 nights, get 3rd night FREE

Grand Canyon Railway RV Park
WILLIAMS, Arizona
RIDE THE TRAIN - STAY ONE NIGHT FREE

Sunrise RV Resort
APACHE JUNCTION, Arizona
10% OFF SITE RENT

Traveling outside of this area?
View more coupons for locations
throughout North America online.

PDA_image RV Tech
Is There Anything to Do Here?
By Alan Lidstone

One of the joys of RVing is traveling to new destinations with new travel itineraries and layovers. Since we're traveling to places we've never been to, we may not be aware of the opportunities for new places to see, including restaurants, outdoor recreation, historic sites, and shopping.

This month's column hopes to provide you with answers to the dreaded "There's nothing to do here!" Tools to find whatever you need include asking "Can you tell me where…?," a mobile wireless phone, and a smart phone or notebook computer with Internet access.

For starters, the campground or RV resort map usually contains a variety of ads for local businesses, such as hardware stores, fast food restaurants and pizza places, RV dealers and repair facilities. The campground office staff generally know the area very well and will be glad to provide informed suggestions most of the dining, shopping and recreational amenities available. In our various trips, we've received excellent and helpful information about dentists, dining, and RV and auto repair service.

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camara_image Destined to Travel
St. Augustine, Florida
Preserving Its Treasured Past
By Tom and Joanne O'Toole – This article courtesy of Florida RV Traveler

St. Augustine Hugging the Atlantic Ocean along Florida's northeast coastline is the spot where Don Juan Ponce de León claimed all of Florida for Spain on Easter Sunday, 1513.

Today, St. Augustine has become North America's oldest continuously occupied city founded by Europeans – and a focus for tourists perhaps seeking their own "fountain of youth."
Visitors can gain an excellent and relatively quick orientation at the visitor information center, near the ancient city gates and within sight of the massive fort which, for years, protected the city.

It's also a good idea to climb aboard the open–air St. Augustine sightseeing train for a fast–paced, narrated tour. The driver/guide details the highlights and stops at a few major attractions. Another option is the open–air Old Town Trolley Tours. Both options will provide direction for striking out on your own and offer on/off privileges for three days.

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question_image Mark… My Words

Mark Hi Folks. I hope you are enjoying the summer months by getting out in your RV! All too soon, we'll be talking winterization again.

Dear Mark,

As a returning RVer from 20 years ago I have purchased a 2007 Bounder Gas 35E. I had a Class C before. So driving on the highway is much different. I have read up on trying to control the steering stabilization of a Class A. (Steering Stabilizer or anti–sway bars.) The wind, grooves in the road and truck push seem to be an every day way of life. Before I invest in a solution, do these products really help the Class A motorhome to control the highway?

Thank You
Bob K

Steering stabilizers do help, but no combination of anti–sway bars or stabilizers will completely eliminate that push from wind or passing trucks. The stabilizers are designed to reduce the effect to a comfortable level. If you are currently having to white–knuckle it, I suspect that adding stabilizer hardware will help. However, if the sway or wander is not really significant, or if you feel reasonably comfortable driving the rig, and just want it to handle more like a car, the limited improvement you'll get from adding a stabilizer may not be worth the cost. Tires can also have a big effect on the way the rig handles. You might want to try experimenting with tire inflation pressures a little. Sometimes that will help reduce sway or wander. Also, have the steering gear and suspension checked. One loose component or an alignment problem can make a huge difference in the way a rig handles.

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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pencil_image My Trip Journal

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, Karen and Larry's 06–07 winter adventure or browse other locations.

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fire_image Camping Blooper
Almost wet!

Several years ago we owned a pop–up. We had been camping enough times to know what to do in set–up, but you know what happens when you get in a hurry. We were at a campground in NC. We had found a lovely campground that had sites located all around a beautiful lake in the middle. We drove around twice to locate just the right one.

My husband proceeded to disconnect while I relocated some items from vehicle to the trailer. He then left to go register our site. I climbed into the back bunk to make our bed. Well, suddenly my world was turned topsy–turvy and I was thrown onto the very back of the bed. For a moment I couldn't figure out what was going on. Then I realized he hadn't put the jacks down under the trailer. As I was laying there laughing I could hear and feel a strange scraping sound. I stopped laughing when I realized he had also not put the chocks under the wheels which meant the trailer and I were now rolling down the few feet to the lake! To this day, I don't know how I got to the other end of the trailer that was over my head in order to right the trailer. I wasn't sure if it was going to stop rolling, but it did and I got out. I chocked the wheels and waited. When my husband returned he wanted to know why I moved the trailer so close to the lake! Well, he never again forgot to jack and chock when he saw the murder on my face.

Verla,
IN
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pot_image Cooking on the Road
Grilled Country Bread with Native Tomatoes,
Basil and Fresh Mozzarella
Jamie Roraback

Cooking On The Road A few years ago on a camping trip, Jamie proposed to his girlfriend over these luscious crostini. But, really, you don't need a special occasion to enjoy them. They are the essence of summer.

four servings

4 slices country bread, about 3/4–inch thick
½ cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, peeled and halved lengthwise
4 thick slices fresh mozzarella
12 slices native tomatoes, about ½ – inch thick
½ cup thinly shredded fresh basil
  Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the grill to medium. You can also use a broiler.

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.

Place the bread slices on a cookie sheet and brush both sides with some olive oil. Reserve the remaining olive oil. Place the bread slices on the grill or under the broiler and toast for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side or until deep golden on both sides. Remove from the heat, return to the cookie sheet and cool slightly.

Generously rub each slice with the garlic halves on one side and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Top with a mozzarella slice and place the pan on the grill; cover the grill, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes just to warm the cheese. Remove the pan from the grill and top each crostini with 3 slices of tomato and a sprinkling of fresh basil. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil, season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

For more great recipes & campsite cooking tips, visit Woodall's Camp Cooking!.
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gear_image Gadgets & Gear
Noncontact Thermometers
By Bill Siuru

A noncontact thermometer, which is technically known as an infrared pyrometer, is one of the most useful tools I carry in my motorhome toolbox. Temperatures can provide valuable diagnostic information when troubleshooting a problem.

Unfortunately, until recently, determining temps beyond touching and finding the item "too hot," has not been easy.

Noncontact thermometers that can measure temps with typical 1%–4% accuracy can now be purchased for as little as $35. They are easy to use – just push the trigger and read the temp.

Pyrometers measure the infrared radiation emitted by virtually any object and can calculate its temp in less than a second. The heart of the unit is a thermopile–detector whose voltage output is directly proportional to the amount of emitted infrared radiation detected. This voltage is then converted to a temperature reading that is shown on a digital display. Battery–powered portable pyrometers are compact enough to fit in a toolbox or be carried on a tool belt.

Read More
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rv_image 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.
2007 K-Z Montego Bay

  Featured RV
2007 K–Z Montego Bay
Price:$65,239
Description: 3 slide–out(s), slide awning, fantastic fan, patio awning…continued
  Yr Make Model Length Price
2005 Winnebago IItasca Sundancer 30 $94,903
2007 Forest River Sandpiper 29 $26,608
2007 Carriage Cameo 31 $39,846

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