December 2007 Happy Holidays! Winter is quickly approaching and the most common question is on winterizing your RV and what to give the favorite RVer and camper in your life. Tips and ideas for these are touched upon in both our RV Tech and Mark My Word sections. Continuing on our travels back east, this issue takes us to Mystic, Conn. – home of the famed Mystic Pizza and historically recreated Mystic Seaport. Bill Siuru also tells us about his latest gadget – a 3–in–one automotive computer. Stay warm and read on! Ann Associate Publisher Associate Publisher Tell me what you think! Issue Contents RVing with Dogs – The Bottom Line RV Tech Mystic Mystique Personal Travel Journal Cooking on the Road ScanGaugeII   Printer Friendly Version {banner1} Book of the Month The American Casino Guide taps into the huge casino-goers market by providing the money-saving, detailed information that is sought by the seasoned casino veteran as well as the first-time visitor. The guide is jam-packed with detailed information on every casino/resort, riverboat and Indian casino in the U.S. Included are informative stories on all casino games including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, slots and video poker machines - plus - detailed reports on which casinos offer the best games in every major gaming jurisdiction in the U.S. Order Today!   {coupon} {banner2} RVing With Your Pet RVing with Dogs – The Bottom Line By Julee Meltzer Recently, someone asked us how much it actually costs to RV with dogs. My initial response was that it doesn't cost any more to RV with a dog than it does to live with one at home. After all, no matter where you are, your dog still needs food, medical care, toys, and so on. But after thinking about the issue a little further, I realized that RVing with dogs did, in fact, have a number of hidden costs that aren't all that noticeable until you actually hit the road. So before you decide to take your pooch with you on your next RVing adventure, consider some of the hidden costs described here. Extra Leashes For some unknown reason – we always end up buying extra leashes when were on the road. Okay…Okay. It's not exactly an unknown reason. Our male has a horrible habit of biting his leash in half whenever we're at a rest stop. The last time it happened, we had pulled into a busy rest stop on a major Interstate. I hooked up his leash and opened the door. As we were carefully navigating around the giant tractor–trailers that packed the area, he grabbed the leash with his back teeth and in one quick bite, freed himself and stood there looking at me. New Leash: $40. Near Heart Attack: Life Changing. Visit to the Vet Before you take your dog with you, schedule a trip to the vet. The vet will give them a check up, trim their nails, clean their ears, and make sure they have all their shots. In particular, make sure they're up–to–date on their rabies vaccinations. One reason is that many campgrounds require written proof that your dog is vaccinated. Consequently, ask your vet for a copy of your dog's medical records and make sure it shows that they're up–to–date on their rabies shots. Vet Visit: $150. Peace of Mind: Inestimable. Read More Back to Top {banner3} RV Tech Necessary Toys By Alan Lidstone This is the time of the year when many RVers are pondering what to do with their rigs for the upcoming season. The RV continues to evolve. Not unexpectedly, the RV industry and its suppliers continue to evaluate, select, and provide the products that improve the RVing experience and lifestyle. While the chassis and coach provide storage and living space and weight carrying capacity, RVers look to technology products to keep up with their personal interests and expand the limits of their travel and outdoor experiences. Read More

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Destined to Travel Moby, Melville & Connecticut's Mystic Mystique Where Melville Meets the Movies By Glenn Kaufmann Walking down Main Street with a slice of really good pizza in my belly, I'm struck by one terribly odd thought. Could Herman Melville and Julia Roberts really have eaten pizza at the same place? The answer, of course, is a resounding "no". Yet here, in Mystic, Conn., the question doesn't seem so odd. After all, this is a town known to the wider world principally for two reasons: Mystic Seaport – the town's astoundingly authentic re–creation of a New England maritime village (where they celebrate Melville's birthday each summer in a really unique way), and a movie about a small local pizza parlor. Located off I–95, just across the border from Rhode Island, and a short ferry ride from Long Island, Mystic is a seamless blend of past and present. This small coastal town is home to a one–of–a–kind historic seaport, numerous shops, a major aquarium, museums, plentiful outdoor activities, a devoted community of classic boating enthusiasts and one of the most unique literary celebrations you are likely to encounter. A Sense of History Just a mile or so north of downtown sits Mystic Seaport, a historically accurate re–creation of a 19th century New England port town. Complete with vintage sailing vessels of all sorts, period homes, taverns, stores, museums – fully functioning workshops, even a short trip through the seaport grounds offers visitors a well–rounded view of New England seaside life in the 1800s. Costumed docents and attendants provide guests with information on the ships, seamen and families who played a pivotal role in the development of New England's maritime trades. In addition to its land–based charms, Mystic Seaport is home to the Charles W. Morgan – the last wooden whale ship still in existence. Read More

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Mark… My Words Hi Folks. Since it's time for some of us to put our rigs away for winter, I tried to include some questions along that line. For those of you in more temperate climates, I hope you get out and enjoy your RV! Hi Mark, I recently purchased a 2005, Dutchmen, and this is my first RV. I am anxious to hit the road. However, this time of the year it can get pretty cold. What can I do to the RV to insure my plumbing does not freeze? Any guidance will be gratefully appreciated. Also, are there any heater elements to place on the black and gray tanks to keep them warm and from freezing? Thank you for your efforts in this matter. Gene Hi Gene, —There's no doubt that winter in an RV can be a bit of a challenge, but it can be done with some preparation. Most folks find it easier to fill their onboard fresh water tank and disconnect the hose and drain it between uses to prevent it from freezing. The same principle can be applied to your holding tanks. Don't leave your sewer hose hooked up when at the site. Only hook it up to drain your tanks, and then rinse it out and stow it. Make sure that the park water source will stay active and unfrozen. Many RV parks shut off water systems in winter to prevent frozen pipes. You'll probably be OK if the temps stay above freezing during the day and don't fall too far below the 20s at night, but if you get a cold snap, it will be tough to keep everything working. If your tanks are exposed underneath the rig, you really need to add tank heaters, which attach to the tanks and plug into your rig's 12V electrical system, and also add additional insulation to the outside of the tanks. Don't forget to insulate connecting pipes and the dump valves as well. Some folks who winter–camp build insulated boxes to cover their holding tanks and use a small light bulb to provide heat. If your tanks are enclosed already, you may be fine as is, but tank heaters of some sort will definitely add to your peace of mind. You will also need to run your rig's furnace for heat (most furnaces supply some heated air to help protect holding tanks and plumbing), and keep cabinet doors open where plumbing is routed to help prevent freeze–ups if it gets really cold. Here is a website that shows some of the tank and plumbing heaters that are available. www.ultraheat.com/rv_products.html You can order from most RV parts sources, and I believe Camping World also carries tank heaters. Also, take a look at this article I did on winter camping, and do a Google search on "RV in winter" for additional resources. www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/skp/survive.htm Good luck, and stay warm!! 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 Submit Your Question

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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, Tschumper's Alaskan Journey 2007 or browse other locations. Back to Top {banner7} Camping Blooper Newbie Parking Brake Blunder We owned our travel trailer for a total of four days at the time of this email. The first night, we stayed in Kansas on our route back home. We packed up bright and early the next morning to make the long journey back home. I made sure all hitches were tight and secure and jumped in the truck to take off. Unfortunately though, I couldn't move. I gave the truck a lot of gas and it moved but only by a few inches. So I jumped out and checked the wiring and all the hitches again. Read More

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Cooking on the Road Panettone Bread Pudding Priscilla Martel Bread pudding is the ultimate comfort food. Priscilla's recipe is a sophisticated interpretation of the white bread nursery version. Panettone is the traditional Italian Christmas sweet bread that is now available year round. It is delicious with just a smear of butter or turned into succulent creations such as golden French toast or this delicious pudding. If you don't have panettone on hand, substitute with commercial raisin bread. six to eight servings ½ cup heavy cream 2 cups milk 1/3 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 lb panettone such as Motta, cut into 2–inch cubes 2 to 3 thin slices panettone (optional)   Pinch of salt   Butter for greasing baking dish   Whipped cream for garnish   Caramel sauce or brandy syrup for garnish Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter a 9 x 12–inch baking dish with 2 to 3 tablespoons butter. Set aside. Combine the cream, milk, sugar, salt and eggs in a large bowl. Beat until the mixture is well blended. Add the cubed panettone, stirring so all of the bread is moistened with the custard. Let set for 30 minutes. Spoon the custard–soaked panettone into the prepared pan. Place thin slices of panettone over the top of the custard, if desired. This will give the finished pudding a more uniform surface. Bake the panettone until evenly browned and the custard is set, about 1 hour. Cool for 15 minutes before serving. Slice and serve with unsweetened whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce or brandy syrup. Layering thin slices of panettone over the top of the custard will give a more elegant uniform surface to the finished pudding. For more great recipes & campsite cooking tips, visit Woodall's Camp Cooking!.

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Gadgets & Gear By Bill Siuru ScanGaugeII "3–in–One" Automotive Computer I have a trip computer on my later model sedan, and wanted one for my Class B motorhome – mainly to monitor my driving habit in order to get the most miles per gallon. I found one and have installed it. This is the ScanGaugeII from Linear Logic, with a list price of $169.95 including shipping. ScanGaugeII uses the vast amount of data available from the vehicle's On–Board Diagnostic version 2 (OBD2) system, four parameters at a time, and displays it on an LCD screen. The OBD2 has been installed on vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada since 1996. It also works with the EOBD system used in Europe. The website for ScanGaugeII has a complete listing of vehicles on which the unit can be used, some dating back as early as 1994 models. Also look at the emissions sticker under the hood to see if it says OBD2 or OBDII. Called "3–in–One," this handy device combines a trip computer, digital gauges and scan tool. In the trip computer mode, the display shows average and maximum speed, driving time and distance, maximum coolant temperature, engine RPM, fuel used, trip fuel economy and distance, time and fuel amount to empty. Read More

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RV Search Tip: Research, Research, Research! Go to an RV show and walk the models. Be sure to talk to the sales staff and attend the informational seminars. More info & photos   Featured RV 2008 Fleetwood Bounder Price: $119,518 Description: FURNACE, AM/FM/CD, COLOR TV …continued   Yr Make Model Length Price 2007 Alpenlite Voyager 34 $52,657 2007 Safari Simba 38 $138,754 2008 Damon Challenger 37 $120,445 Powered by

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