Ferry to ALASKA
Transcription
Ferry to ALASKA
E E R F #154, JULY/AUGUST 2013 By RVers, For RVers, About RVing Ferry to ALASKA RV Trip with a Difference! Kenny Dam Power Trip Confessions of a Beadaholic Spring Serendipities Lake Havasu City and the re-built London Bridge An Easy Recreational Vehicle Magazine for Fun-Loving/Camping Folk! RVT 154 48 pages.indd 1 6/20/13 12:25 PM RVT 154 48 pages.indd 2 6/20/13 12:25 PM RVT 154 48 pages.indd 3 6/20/13 12:25 PM Edition 154 JULY/AUGUST 2013 26 COVER: BY RVers, FOR RVers, ABOUT RVing A CANADIAN MAGAZINE 28 Copyright 2013 Publisher, etc.: SHEILA Tourond Webmaster: JOHN Overall Our van at Moon Lake. 14 Submission Guidelines: PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050641 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: RVT PUBLISHING INC. 7160 GRANT RD. W. SOOKE, BC V9Z 0N6 Tel: 250-642-1916 • Fax: 250-642-1917 Sheila@rvtimes.com • www.rvtimes.ca RVT 154 48 pages.indd 4 So I built my own. JONES RV Trip with a Difference VASSILOPOULOS 16 18 Lake Havasu City ‘Build it and they will come’ BEGIN Knee-High Fun in Nanaimo, BC Bring along the kids! ECCLES 20 22 Display Ad Space Reservation Schedule: (please call to double check) The information contained herein is published as a convenience to our readers. Every effort has been made to provide accurate and complete information. HOWEVER, we do not and cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. Readers should consult a professional in the appropriate field before relying on such information. Reproduction of any material appearing in this magazine in any form, is forbidden without prior consent of the publisher. Couldnʻt find the Perfect RV for me 14 Ferry to Alaska CLASSIFIED ADS due before AUGUST 15 #155 September/October..............by August 9 #156 November/December ....... by October 9 #157 January/February ........... by December 6 30 CONTENTS RVT Webmaster: John Overall: Dragon@victoriabiz.com • 250-885-2888 Canadian Subscription Rates: see page 41 6 issues: 1 yr $30, 2 yrs $52, 3 yrs $75 Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta to La Penita by ATV Our total distance was 380 kms. THACKER A Special THANK YOU to the following CONTRIBUTORS: Dennis Begin, Hilda Born, Joei Carlton Hossack, Bob Davies, Catherine Dook, Kathy Eccles, Steve Joyce, Doug Jones, Larry MacDonald, Phil Megyesi, Carole Thacker, Peter Vassilopoulos The RV Times welcomes articles, tips, stories, and letters. We prefer articles that have a maximum length of 2,500 words so that they can be contained in a single Issue, and which describe a recent trip or experience. As your fellow RVers may make use of the information in your article when planning their own trips, we ask that you ensure that the information you provide on facilities, costs and distances is as accurate as possible. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Submissions preferred by e-mail, with high resolution photos. Postal mailed photos will be returned after usage. Include information where you may be contacted. Please do not postal mail originals of written materials as submissions will not be returned. Submission denotes permission for use in print and electronic version on www.rvtimes.ca. Kenny Dam Power Trip ATVing with friends, including our dog Cooper. MEGYESI 23 Spring Serendipities RVing close to home can be fun. BORN First Plot Complications Forgetting things, needing directions, down on the oil ... DOOK Confessions of a Beadaholic Shopping in 80,000 sq feet of beads can be daunting! CARLTON HOSSACK Pages 16-17, London Bridge, reassembled in Lake Havasu City. COLUMNS, etc. RVT Publisher’s Life and Times.......... 6 Classified Ads ..............................40 Distribution Locations ...................46 Humour .....................................11 RVOABC .................................42-45 RV Clubs Listing ...........................38 Word Angle Search - 3rd BC Areas .....32 RVT Subscription Form ...................41 CARTOONS: ~ Along the Way ............................ 5 ~ Embers ....................................25 COOKING: ~ Delights ...................................37 FAIRS & FESTIVALS: ~ AB ..........................................33 ~ BC ......................................34-35 ~ WA .........................................36 RV PARTS and RV SERVICE ...............31 6/20/13 12:25 PM ADVERTISERS’ WEBSITES/EMAILS and AD PAGE #s: (c) BY John McDonald ADA VIS Global Mexican Insurance .......................mexicoinsurance.com ...................39 jchinook@telus.net ALONG THE WAY Baja Amigos RV Caravan Tours ...............................bajaamigos.net ..............................39 BCLCA....................................................................camping.bc.ca ...............................39 Bridal Falls RV Resort .............................................DiscoverBridalFalls.com ................17 Chemainus Garden RV Resort Ltd. .........................chemainusgarden.com ..................29 Clearbrook Hitch & Welding Ltd. ...........................cathyparlee@hotmail.com .............38 Columbia River Wetlands RV Park..........................columbiariverwetlandsrvpark.ca ...38 Euro Driving School ...............................................eurodriving.ca ...............................39 Fisherboy Park ........................................................fisherboypark.com ........................38 Fort Greenwood RV Park........................................fortgreenwood.com ......................38 Fort Victoria RV Park ..............................................FortVictoria.ca ..............................15 Gold Country Communities Society .......................goldtrail.com.................................30 Hazelmere RV Park & Campground .......................hazelmere.ca.................................27 Hillstreet Propane ..................................................hillstreetpropanerv.com ................30 Jubilee RV Centre ...................................................jubileerv.com ................................31 “George, Let’s go canoeing today.” Martha’s Dream Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV Park ...LivingForest.com ...........................16 Lordco Auto Parts ...................................................lordco.com....................................46 Manning Park Resort ..............................................manningpark.com ...........................3 Medipac International Communications Inc ..........medipac.com ..................................7 Mexico RV Buddies ................................................mexicorvbuddies.com ...................38 Moon River Resort .................................................MoonRiverResort.com ..................38 North Shore R.V. ....................................................rvcenter@telus.net ........................39 O’Connor RV ........................................................oconnorrv.com ................................2 George’s Scheme Old Orchard Campground .....................................oldorchardrv.com..........................38 Othello Tunnels Campground & RV Park ................othellotunnels.com .......................30 Qualicum Bay RV Park & Campground ..................resortbc.com .................................38 Quality Mfg. Homes & RV’s Ltd..............................qmhrv.ca .......................................25 Rec Tech RV Service ...............................................bpwhitney@hotmail.com...............39 Save-On-Foods/Overwaitea Food Group................saveonfoods.com...........................48 Sooke Ocean Resort ...............................................sookeoceanresort.com ..................38 Sunkatchers Co-op RV Park ....................................sunkatchers.com ...........................38 Sunland RV Resorts: Golden & Emerald .................sunlandRVresorts.com...................47 Sunscape RV Resort ...............................................sunscapervresort.com ...................38 Sunwest RV Centre ................................................sunwestrv.com ..............................13 Timberline RV Campground ...................................timberlinecamping.ca ...................38 Tourism Nanaimo ...................................................tourismnanaimo.com ....................19 Trademasters Automotive Ltd .................................vehiclesolutions.ca ........................21 Travel Guardian Insurance Ltd. ..............................travelguardian.ca ..........................23 “George, you’re always paddling in the wrong direction!” RVT 154 48 pages.indd 5 Valley Auto Repair Inc. ..........................................valleyautorepair.net ......................10 Winfield Consumer Products, Inc. .........................huskyliners.com ..............................9 6/20/13 12:25 PM RVT Publisher’s Life & Times: My dear RVT Readers, I had a fun time at the Interior RV Show held in Penticton, April 26-28. The knitted doll below was won by Rosemarie Lynch ey went towards children’s charities that the Harbourside Lions ladies assist. On May 25th I had my 66th birthday. Look at one of the activities I took in to help me celebrate! Yup, that’s me way up there in the air, having a great time flying from station to station! The of Penticton. The other Sheila helping me at my booth (Sheila Wotzke of Keremeos, one of the gals on my Isagenix Team) pulled Rosemarie’s name, and because Rosemarie lived close by, she was able to drive back to the Show and pick up the doll before I left to return to Sooke. Worked great and she was very happy to receive it, saying she usually does NOT win draws, so I told her this was the start of a new pattern for her now. Winning is so much fun! The folks who stopped by my booth at that Show were so delightful and were very open with their appreciation of this magazine. I do thank all of you for your praise and encouragement AND your invitation to come to the Okanagan to live for a change! Stay tuned, as I keep saying. Also in April, I participated in my first ever Lion’ Convention held in Victoria. What a hoot! Fun, relaxation and learning too. A real delight. On May 11, I helped out at the Duck Race held in Sooke on the May 11 weekend. Over 1,000 rubber duckies were thrown in the river and those who had purchased tickets for the top 10 making it to the finish line were given substantial money prizes. The rest of the mon- AdrenaLine guides encouraged us to try different poses so I was doing cannonballs, and one-handers and having an exciting time. The Isagenix products certainly help me to have the energy to do all kinds of things I would not consider before. And the fact I am having fun is a real plus! In the Victoria May Day Parade I donned the Lion’s duck costume and walked alongside the Lions’ float, waving at the folks on the sidelines. When little children came up to me and asked if they could hug me, my heart melted. Bending down to let them hug me was one of the sweetest experiences of my life I think. Teary-eyed stuff. I returned to the Okanagan in May too, wanting to check out if Oliver, BC would be THE place for me to move to next. I had a GREAT time while I was there. My community involvements here in Sooke may keep me here, but in a different location for sure. My house seems to be getting larger every day. Or is it just I’m getting smaller? Because my beloved kids live both in Victoria and Cloverdale, the thought of having a mountain highway be- 6 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 6 RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 tween us, especially during the winter when birthdays and Christmas happen, doesn’t seem practical at all. Soooo. . . On the first weekend in June, my Sooke Lions group put on a car wash for four hours. I had the energy to participate right through and were we ever busy. Then the following day I did a whole bunch of gardening work and got the sunburn of the season without even realizing it was happening! I had on a shortened top so my lower back was exposed. Silly me!!! I put some of my Isagenix Ageless Renewal Serum on it and healed up quickly, thank goodness. More Isa info for you: Loss of sleep is strongly linked to fat gain. Dr. Michael Colgan, in his book “Save Your Brain: Expand Your Mind” states on page 67: “Many studies have discovered that sleep loss disrupts bodily metabolism of carbohydrates, further promoting weight gain. Researchers now attribute part of the current epidemic of obesity in North America to insufficient sleep.” Research is now connecting chronic sleep loss with metabolic syndrome and diabetes! Isagenix does sell a sleep spray called Sleep Support & Renewal. I use this nightly and sleep right through the night again, just like the “old days”. I am inviting all of you to check out your own health needs and let me help you gain your goals in that department. Join my Isagenix team called Choosing Forward Steps. We may be aging but that does not need to mean we have to be loosing our faculties! Be good to yourself and give me a call! Get family members to join too so you can all get on the program together! You can usually get me on my cell at 250-893-8816. June 22nd weeekd I will be on stage at the RV Owners’ Seminars in Kelowna chatting about how to write an article for this mag! This should be YOUR job, not mine. You write this, not me! A weekend in July will see me in Denver Co at a World Travel bootcamp. And in August I have a long weekend in Las Vegas for an Isagenix Celebration! Love being healthy AND busy! Luv ya, Sheila 6/20/13 12:25 PM RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 7 7 6/20/13 12:25 PM LettersFROM READERS: RV Toilet Odour Plug: Sheila, I enjoyed meeting you at the April Penticton RV Show, and sharing my invention of the “RV-Blowhole plug” with you, in which unpleasant odours from a RV “blowhole” can, in a very simple way, be contained by placing a water-filled plastic bag inside the RV toilet bowl, especially while driving. I got this idea while driving my old 26 foot “Empress”, now long retired. I had tried to use water inside the toilet bowl to stop the “RV-Blowhole” odours, but it did not work, since the air pressure force of the “RV-Blowhole” still got through the water and into the motorhome. However, Plan B worked. Fill a large “Zip-Lock”, or garbage bag, with water, seal the bag and then place it inside the RV toilet bowl. The water-filled bag has enough weight to create an effective seal against “RV-Blowhole” odours from the holding tank entering the RV while driving down the road. Jonasie Faber Inuit Artist Jonasiefaber@hotmail.com Centering While Loading a Camper: Having some problems with loading your camper straight onto the truck? I had problems loading my camper straight onto the truck, which after many unsuccessful attempt, would finally sit on straight. I, as an Inuit hunter, started to think that I needed some aiming point, just like on a rifle, in order to align the camper with the truck, when loading the camper by reversing the truck under it. Measuring and marking the centre of the bottom of the front end of the camper with a marker, and then drawing a line at the centre of the truck bed with a chalk, greatly helped me to load and align the camper correctly at the first try. It is so easy just to make certain that the marker on the camper and the chalkline at the bottom of the truck are aligned while reversing the truck bed under the camper, and voila, the camper is loaded straight on! I now call loading a camper onto a truck without the aiming point the “shotgun method” (no sight), and when using the alignment marker sights on the truck and camper it’s the “rifle method”. Jonasie Fabe, Inuit Artist Jonasiefaber@hotmail.com A Repair Job Needed? There are countless examples of technology making life easier for us. However for we who are on the “golden side” of life’s journey, the plethora of gadgets available cannot only overwhelm, but perplex. Recently during an early spring shakedown cruise with our 24’ Rockwood Ultralite travel trailer a clear example occurred. I had just backed the trailer into our RV spot at West Bay in Victoria. After leveling and hooking all the lines up I entered the trailer, only to hear a persistent hum that seemed to be originating in or around the converter. “Egads!” I muttered. “Here comes a $500 repair job.” I unplugged the power and the annoying hum continued, further completely mystifying me. I tore open doors, lifted cushions, to no avail. Just before I was about to phone the RV tech, my all-knowing mate sauntered into the trailer, asking what the hum was. Knowing her distaste for anything mechanical or electrical, I declined to elaborate. She poked around, opened one of the bathroom drawers and there it was, my gremlin. In transit, one of our electric toothbrushes fell over and turned itself on! There it was, vibrating merrily, surely enjoying the angst it had caused this flustered re-creator. I have since returned to a manual toothbrush, just generally to rebel against all things electronic. Ian Parsons Courtenay, BC 8 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 8 Re: “It Snowed in Arizona” (RVT 153 page 15): As Canadian winter visitors to Arizona over the past 10+ years I would note the following: 1. While Arizona has a considerable amount of desert, it also has a large amount of mountains – the White Mountains, the Mogollon Plateau (most of it over, etc. and much of its territory is well above 6,000 ft above sea level. SO it snows in a considerable portion of Arizona every year. 2. One can buy good Canadian (Albertan) margarine in FRY’s grocery chain stores and most of the other large grocery stores – Safeway, Albertsons, etc., anywhere in the Phoenix area and most other cities. The brand name is CANOLA and it is made in Alberta. 3. The highway through the White Mountains is considered to be the second most difficult motorcycle ride in North America. 4. By and large, food in Arizona is about half the cost of the same food in Alberta. And liquor is even less. Wilbur Collin Edmonton, AB Special RV Ladder: I came across this RV that has a ladder attached to its window. Maybe this is homemade for their animals, to allow them (cats, dogs, birds) to come and go as they please? Bob Smith Nevada Looking for: I’m trying to locate a secure and covered storage for my 18’ Airstream trailer somewhere within reasonable driving distance from Victoria, BC. Anyone have any suggestions? Cindy Hale chale@shaw.ca RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:25 PM RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 9 9 6/20/13 12:25 PM More Letters: RV Adventures at Sea: This past spring as we made our way home from our winter away, we did the usual stopping over in Casino parking lots that cater to us snowbirds. We met up with a number of RV’ers from Vancouver Island and of course the top conversation with everyone was the tariff on BC ferries. Once again fares jumped up and we were all tired of paying the ransom. A few of us had checked out alternate routes and the ferry from Anacortes Washington looked like a good one. Price seemed great too. Reservations are a must, which is easy enough to do. Go online and make one. There is no extra charge for the reservation either. Get your confirmation number and you are good to go. This ferry offers a RV promo rate in the spring and fall; the regular rate is not that steep either. We are close to 58 feet with our tow vehicle and our fare was a little over half of what we would have paid on BC Ferries. This included tax and passengers. There are a few RV parks close to the ferry, and I recommend you stay close, as you do have to check in one hour prior to the 8:30 AM sailing. Our adventure began when we got to Friday Harbor, the halfway point of our journey. Seems one of the generators quit on the ferry and the coast guard said the boat could not proceed to Canada. We would all have to disembark here and take the next boat back to Anacortes. Once we had all got off and in line again for the next ferry, a crewmember came to chat with us and some of us wondered, if the boat was repaired, could we just wait here and get on it in the morning? They said they would let us know before the 604-576-2824 24 HR. ANSWERING SERVICE Fax: 604-576-2815 AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE DEALER valleyautorepair@telus.net www.valleyautorepair.net 17902 ROAN PLACE, SURREY BC V3S 5K1 10 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 10 next boat came in, what our options would be. There were seven RVs and a few cars bound for Canada. That being said, we all decided to explore the village. After lunch we pulled out our chairs, books, walked the dogs, enjoyed the sunny day and each other’s company. Later in the day we were informed that the ferry would indeed run to Sidney in the morning. Those of us that decided to stay needed to make reservations again. That being done, we were given a parking lot to park our rigs for the night and need I say the party was on. Happy hour at the local pub, with Pirate Andy and his lovely wench Kelly from San Francisco, pot-luck dinner in the parking lot, sausages BBQ’d by Marc, a good night’s sleep and we were off in the morning. Landing in Sidney, the Captain came over the intercom, apologizing once again for the delay, welcoming us to Canada, wishing us the best in our travels and he hopes to see us again. We all assured him we would see him in the fall and thanked him and his crew for their wonderful customer service. Thanks for the memories, Chris and Marc, Elaine and Brian, Jeff and Irene, until we meet again. Customer service is where it is at for most consumers. The ferry broke down and we were delayed, but it was the way the incident was handled. The Captain apologized and then gave us the paperwork to send in for a full refund. While we were waiting to hear if the ferry was going to sail the next morning the crew kept us updated at all times. Once we returned home and checked our e-mail and VISA statement we noticed another letter of apology and a full refund had already been credited to our account, no need for the paperwork. Washington State ferry has my attention; this experience says to me they are open for business and they want your business. Anacortes Ferry: wsdot.wa.gov/ferries Swinmish Casino: winmishcasinoanlodge.com Dianne & Rauli Kovasin Oyster River, BC Great Service in Nevada: I would like to let everyone know of the great service we received in Beatty, Nevada, USA. We had made our annual trip to Palm Springs in April, and after a wonderful month of sunshine and no rain we had to make our return trip home to Richmond, BC. We came up through eastern California and into Nevada on our way to Reno. We pulled into Death Valley RV Park in Beatty, Nevada for an overnight stay. When I checked our trailer I found RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:25 PM one wheel was loose and only held on by four of the eight studs as the other four were broken off. (We were lucky to not have lost the wheel on the highway.) We enquired about any repair facilities nearby and were given the phone number to John Starcher. I called John and he said he would come by first thing in the morning. When John showed up the next morning he checked out what parts were needed and went back to his shop to see if he had them in stock. Awhile later he returned and told us he did not stock the studs we needed but could get them in Las Vegas. John then drove to Las Vegas and back (about three hours) and returned that afternoon and replaced the studs and nuts and had us back on the road by about five that evening. The charge for all this service was very reasonable and not at all what I thought it would be. Also the owners of the Death Valley RV Park refused any extra payment for our extended stay. If you are in the Beatty, Nevada area and need help, I recommend you call John Starcher in Beatty, Nevada. His number is 775-790-4448. Kathy & Gary Hudson gkhud@shaw.ca Sani-Dump: The sani-dump near Summerland, BC at the Trout Creek pull-out is now open. When traveling north from Penticton, on Highway 97 enter Trout Creek, and 400 metres north of the traffic light take the cutoff to the sani-dump on the right. For RVs traveling south from Summerland on Highway 97, turn left/ east on Thornber Road, then turn right to access the sani-dump. It may be tight for large units, and you may have to pass by the sani-dump and make a sharp left off Highway 97, then exit to Thornbur then back to Highway 97. There may be a $5 charge to use their service. There is also free WiFi at that location. Ron Belisle ronbarbov@shaw.ca Good Sam Camping Rally – Lynden, WA: After 21 years as a solo RVer, I’m not shy by any means but walking into a room with over a hundred RVers can be a little daunting. They were sitting in small groups and reacquainting themselves with friends from other rallies. Coffee and a donut in hand I eventually chose a seat and joined a group – not feeling terribly comfortable. I noticed a woman sitting at a table alone and painting, a wagon filled with watercolour supplies and photographs on the floor next to her chair. With my second cup of coffee finished and my donut consumed, I walked over to Sara, the artist, and asked if I could get my craft project and join her at the table. During our two hours of chatting while creating, almost everyone came by to say “hi” and checked out what we were doing. My beaded spiders got mixed reviews – from revulsion to fascination and everything in between. As a very talented artist, Sara got GREAT reviews. It was the neatest way to meet people and get a conversation going. Next time I’ll be the person at the table hoping a new friend will come by and join me. Just one of the many wonderful experiences that happened to me at the Good Sam Rally in Lynden, Washington. Joei Carlton Hossack Author, speaker, crafter joeicarlton.com Pitching In: The Chilliwack Valley Sams Chapter of the BC Good Sam RV Club again this year participated in the Chilliwack City “Spring Pitch-In, a community clean-up program. The program started “Earth Day” April 22nd through May 4th 2013 in coordination with the national campaign “Operation Clean Sweep”. Our part was to clean up an area of roadway, picking up litter and trashing and bagging it. Eight members of Chilliwack Valley Sams met at our designated start point, teamed up to “Pitch In” and “Git Er Done”. We filled ten bags with considerable weight and the job was done. All monies received for our part of “Pitch In” go to our favourite charities, including PADS (Pacific Assistance Dogs Society), plus our newest charity, donated through the Langford Fire Department on Vancouver Island, that is the Orphanage of the Infant Jesus of Prague in Port au Prince Haiti. The ladies made a great lunch for the group and we all had a social meal, and chat time together to top off our day. Remember all to pitch in! Don’t litter. Do recycle. Lynn Henderson, Secretary/Treasurer Chilliwack Valley Sams Using Your Car Alarm: Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get into your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It’s a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won’t stick around. After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there, and sure enough the criminal won’t want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can’t reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn’t hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she’ll know there’s a problem. Jacqueline O’Looney Jakoloo16@yahoo.ca HUMOUR? I used to be a banker but then I lost interest. I got a job at a bakery because I kneaded dough. RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 11 11 6/20/13 12:25 PM Last Letters: Be Careful What You Wish For: A soggy good morning from Eugene, Oregon in May, where we are holed up in Armitage County Park, perhaps the nicest RV facility we have ever encountered. I gave it a 10 for dog owners, as there is a multi acre off-leash park adjacent, complete with doggy toys and everything our German Storm Trooper, Kaiser could hope for. Perhaps it would rate a nine for non-dog owners due to the high canine population. In addition to all of this, the Park is inhabited by big gray squirrels. The K Man, aka Kaiser, suffers from OSS, (Obsessive Squirrel Syndrome). There are many things that interest him, but squirrels have always been at the top of his radar. Yesterday morning, when I let him out for his morning ablution, he spotted one of the gray devils scampering along the ground. He was on leash and literally yanked me off my feet in pursuit. When we got to the base of a tree, the squirrel had ascended and Kaiser was attempting to climb the tree in pursuit. Squirrel, amazingly, lost his footing, plummeting downward, landing right on the K Man’s head. For a split second, it was impossible to tell which was Schnauzer and which was squirrel. I managed to yank the big guy back and the squirrel barely escaped. It had to be the culmination of every squirrel encounter Kaiser has had over the years, and he botched it. Now, his dreams, which are frequent, are filled with even more intense whimperings and twitchings. Everytime he leaves the trailer, he makes a bee line for that exact tree, hoping! This had to be his greatest adventure thusfar, and has earned him the enviable aboriginal name of “Squirrel Falling On Head”. Ian Parsons Courtenay, BC Sewing in Melaque Mexico: I, along with other Canadian women, teach sewing to Mexican senoras and senoritas in a small community called Melaque Jalisco on the Pacific Coast. This project began with one young woman in 2010 and this past January-March we had 15 students in three levels. All machines, fabric, thread, needles, etc, are donated by Canadians and transported from Canada via car or RV to Melaque. There have been NO problems at any border. I am asking for assistance from the RV community to take supplies down, as my husband and I fly down. Westjet has been great as they allow us one checked bag complimentary, that we fill with sewing stuff. The women look forward to our arrival each year and are making progress in their sewing skills. Eleven were presented with Certificates of Completion in March. If you can help in anyway, please contact Carol McDougall in West Kelowna BC at gncmcd81@telus.net or at 250-707-3440. Carol McDougall West Kelowna, BC Shaw Direct for Snowbirds: We subscribe to Shaw Direct Satellite TV both in Canada and also all winter in Yuma. This week we learned that Shaw Direct will not be fully available to Canadian Snowbirds either in the USA or Mexico this coming winter. Shaw Direct (formerly StarChoice) now has their third satellite operational and it will only be available for viewing within Canada. Shaw Direct will also be shutting down one of their two older satellites whose programming was fully accessible to all Canadian subscribers over the past winters in both the USA and Mexico. A Shaw spokesperson said they do not know what, if any, programming will still be accessible outside of Canada when they shut down one of their 12 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 12 older satellites. This means that Canadians will no longer have any option for viewing Canadian television programming and staying abreast of our Canadian news. Last winter many Snowbirds were scrambling to buy Shaw Direct dishes/ receivers when they discovered they could no longer access their Bell subscription while outside of Canada. Thus, the majority of Canadians chose to invest in Shaw Direct dishes/receivers. With Shaw’s new policy, all of those Snowbirds who incurred the major expense of Shaw Direct dishes/receivers last winter and this spring will be left with electronic equipment they cannot use. A great number of expensive automatic Shaw Direct satellite dishes have been installed in Canada for use outside of Canada in the winter months and those too will not be operational. Snowbirds who are upset with this need to make their voices heard both with Shaw Direct and the Canadian Snowbirds Association. Ken & Lynda Mawer, Vernon, BC 65redbird@gmail.com Let Us Entertain You! The roster of entertainers is all set up for the 2013 Garlic Festival on August 24-25 in Lac La Hache, BC, and it is an impressive one. Performers from this area and beyond will be appearing on stage throughout the Festival. ELVIS RETURNS! Steve Elliott – a.k.a. Elvis – will be making his second appearance at the Festival this year. You won’t want to miss this incredible performance that positively “wow’d the crowd” last year. NEW THIS YEAR! Roger Boucher brings his “Watching Eye Magic” to our Festival for the first time. Roger has performed for 10 years at all kinds of events including the Calgary Stampede! Festival Director Jeanette McCrea comments, “We take pride in presenting a line-up of entertainment that will have something for everyone. The Garlic Festival is a family event and we work hard to make sure our entertainment lives up to that standard.” See the entire story of the Festival on our website at www.garlicfestival.ca . Lloyd stay@minac-on-the-lake.com RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:25 PM I Made the Switch: I finally made the switch to LED lights after running out of battery power last year when the kids hung out in the trailer during a rainy weekend. I didn’t even have enough power to bring in the slides. Thankfully I was only 30 minutes away from home and was able to zip home and get another battery. We usually conserve power very well, but I worry about running out of power when in the USA, because like at home, the kids don’t turn off lights when they leave a room! So last winter I made the switch to LED lights in my 30ft Cougar trailer. I was hesitant, as I didn’t think they would make much difference but I was wrong. They made a huge difference. We dry camped for five nights over the May long weekend at the Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island. We used lots of lights and even the furnace a few times as it was cold and rainy several days. At the end of the fifth day we still had lots of power. The new LED light is very clean; the old lights looked yellow. I had the lights installed by Stu and Bob from “Light Up Your Life LEDS”. They were terrific. They came out to the house so I didn’t have to move the trailer. They explained and showed me their different products, and installed what I asked for. They answered every question I asked in detail. These guys have a growing business and are coming up with new ideas each time I talk to them. I hope to have them over again when some of the new concepts are available. I can see clearly now with lots of lights turned on, because I’m using about 80% less power. Thanks Stu and Bob for the great service and product. I am now a happy customer with lots of battery power! Darren Burrows Maple Ridge, BC darren_tracy@shaw.ca Happy with Sunwest RV: Our recent experiences at Sunwest RV in Courtenay have been so exceptional that we feel we have to bring attention to them. Early this year, we purchased a new trailer from Sunwest. During the exceptionally heavy rains a few weeks later, we discovered leaks and rot in the trailer roof. Sunwest took this unit back, giving us full value on another unit of our choice. Imagine our shock when we discovered, in a subsequent downpour accompanied by high winds, that the replacement unit’s forward hatch was very wet. A call of complaint to Sunwest resulted in an offer to trade straight across for another model of the same trailer that would be gone over thoroughly and resealed all around. As it turned out, upon detailed inspection of our trailer, no damage had resulted from the water. Sunwest offered to reseal all hatches and address a few other minor issues we had discovered, or to stand by their offer to swap straight across for the other new unit. We chose to keep our unit and they completed all necessary fixes that same day. To top it off, because of the number of trips we had taken from Parksville to Courtenay to address issues, Sunwest gave us a substantial compensation for our inconvenience! It’s not possible for a dealer to be aware of every defect that might arise in new units. The telling point is how they deal with issues that arise. The staff and management at Sunwest RV, including at their repair depot, exemplify best practices in customer service and we deeply appreciate the way they dealt with our concerns. Frank Rowe & Gail Murray Frank.rowe47@gmail.com RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 13 13 6/20/13 12:25 PM RV Trip With a Difference By PETER VASSILOPOULOS If you are able to cruise Alaska in your own private boat you are among a fortunate group. If not, and you have a motorhome or other type of RV, you have an interesting choice…going all the way by road, or using the Alaska Marine Highway. Driving our pop-up Dodge Minivan along Va n c o u v e r Island to Port Hardy, my wife Carla and I were headed for the BC Ferries north coast trip to Prince Rupert. That would be the beginning because we were bound for the town’s Alaska Ferries terminus for a voyage to Skagway, and we would be making multiple stops at islands and towns along the way. Clearing Customs and loading at Prince Rupert early in the day we set off on the first leg of the journey. First stop would be Ketchikan followed by Wrangell and getting there was as much fun as arriving. The van was in the belly of the ship and we were in the lounge. Watching the scenery unfold we observed rugged coastline, narrow waterways and interesting vessels passing by. Aboard the ferry we had Parks Branch staff doing presentations on what the islands and towns had to offer. We would find souvenir shops in Ketchikan as well as a cablecar ride to a viewpoint overlooking the town. There are other attractions in the town and one of the most intriguing is the historic Creek Street where once ladies of the night were courted by itinerant residents fanatically on their way in search of gold in the Klondike. Farther along the waterways of South East Alaska, Wrangell is a small, more sedate town where only recreational boats, the ferries and smaller cruiseships stop. Unlike Ketchikan with massive cruiseliners disgorging tourists onto its busy waterfront lined with souvenir shops, Wrangell has 14 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 14 Downtown Wrangell Ferry to Alaska a quaint downtown with a more classic main street and more conventional small town stores. A very interesting museum keeps visitors preoccupied for hours. On the outskirts of the small town we visited Petroglyph Beach where we were fascinated by the numerous and wellpreserved petroglyphs left by early Tlingit migrants. We drove out of town and half way down the island to a campground atop a hill that gave us a vantage point with a view over the waterways below. It was quiet, despite the summer season nearing its end but still being in full swing, and we had the campgrounds to ourselves. Nearby is a popular river where recreational fishermen try their luck for not-too elusive trout. Side trips by ferry offer access to other islands. It is possible from here to go as far as Sitka on the western extremity of southeast Alaska. Sitka is a former Russian town that still reflects the days of that country’s ownership. The navigation of a narrow passage north of the town makes the voyage there as interesting as the town itself. From Wrangell to Petersburg on Mitkof Island is a relatively short ferry ride. The town, distinctly Scandinavian, is larger than Wrangell and has a wide variety of interests, from the outlying buildings to the town centre, the museum and the historic neighbourhoods. The presence on the island of the Tlingit nation is strong and evident in petroglyphs and fish trap remains. The town of Petersburg was named for a Norwegian immigrant, Peter Buschmann. He set up the original waterfront structures and cannery. After all, with ice floes and bergs aplenty, ice for the fisheries is a readily available commodity and fishing still flourishes in the town. There are RV facilities nearby, and parking at the boat-packed marinas that line the waterfront. We watched a National Geographic vessel arrive with its load of enthusiastic touring passengers. We saw small private craft coming and going with sport fishing enthusiasts landing their saltwater catches of salmon, halibut and other species. Large pleasure yachts entered harbour to spend the night before proceeding to their next port of call on their leisurely, extended Alaskan cruises. In Juneau we drove off the ferry and headed straight for the campsite and RV Park at Mendenhall Glacier. We had chosen to spend the night and settled in to a fine campsite, then took it in our stride walking up to the viewpoint overlooking the glacier. It is a spectacular sight with its mass of ice sweeping RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:25 PM Petersburg fish. towards a stretch of water that trundles to the ocean carrying broken bergs of ice, to the backdrop of tall snow-capped mountains. We had come this far in slow, lumbering ferry vessels. Now a fast ferry was our choice for the leg up Lynn Canal from Juneau to Skagway, the northern terminus for the ferries as well as the large cruiseships. Walking around Skagway was like a venture through an old western movie set. A seat in the audience of a stage play depicting the shooting of a famous Skagway businessman gave us the opportunity to learn some of the history of the area. Gold mining days had been rough, and crafty individuals had taken advantage of opportunities to get rich quick, often at the expense of others. We found a quiet campsite on the shore of nearby Dyea, a former gold mining camp that played a significant role in the Klondike Gold Rush. Excursions out of Skagway offer a variety of exciting opportunities. We booked a day on the White Pass Railway Route and journeyed through the foothills parallel to the track of the Gold Rush. A clearly cut pathway followed rugged terrain to the top of the pass. The Dead Horse Pass, as it was known, was steep and dangerous and as many as 3,000 pack animals succumbed to its rigours during the “stampede” to the goldfields of the Yukon. On the train, watching the scenery unfold, we could only speculate at the hardships endured by those eager gold seekers. Miners embarking on ships in San Francisco were required to have one year’s supply of goods, about one ton, before they were allowed to cross the border into Canada. We were fascinated with nearby Glacier Bay and wanted to have a glimpse of it before leaving the area. So we signed up for a scenic flight out of the nearby airport. The flight took us over Haines and across several glaciers including the noted Davidson Glacier and McBride Glacier and over a high ridge of mountains to the eastern section of Glacier Bay. Despite whispy patches of fog we had a magnificent view of the famous glaciers and the bay that is much visited by cruiseships. After camping and visiting Skagway we set off on the drive up the White Pass on the Klondike Highway to Carcross, Whitehorse and Dawson. As we drove up and took in the magnificent mountain scenery we stopped along the way and enjoyed the view of Bove Lake and Robinson Historical Station then continued to Cariboo Crossing and Carcross. Our arrival in Whitehorse coincided with two minor celebrations, one at the tourism centre, and another at a fish trap. At both places we were treated to cake and tea before heading off to an RV park. The next day we toured the historic paddle wheeler Klondike and the Whitehorse Museum then interrupted our drive north with a good overnight rest stop at a hotel before continuing to Dawson City. There was a lot to see and do along the way but the visit to Dawson City was most fascinating. We joined a tour of the town, taking in historic houses, saloons, gold claims and events, visited the onetime home of Jack London and toured the local museum. But the ultimate fascination came with a tour of the old mining dredge and the nearby historic stream of the original gold strike in the Klondike. The rest of our journey into Alaska was filled with breathtaking views along the Top of the World Highway, Mount McKinley and the Glen Highway. It was completed with a satisfying visit to Fairbanks, and to Anchorage, Seward and Whittier on the Kenai Peninsula. We were treated to a viewing of whooping cranes, belugas up close, Teslin Museum and spectacular views of Watson and Muncho Lakes, of cariboo, bison, bears and other wildlife, of coastal communities, waterfront and dockside activities. And today while we have lots to reflect on about our RV trip to Alaska, the Marine Highway and Dawson City remain the most memorable of all. w Fort Victoria RV Park ✔ 300 Hookups ✔ Water/Sewer/Electric/TV ✔ Free Showers ✔ WiFi & Modem Access ✔ Laundromat ✔ Sani-dump ✔ City Bus ✔ Salmon Fishing Charters ✔ Playground ✔ Whale Watching Tours Just 6 km from City Centre 340 Island Hwy, Victoria BC V9B 1H1 250-479-8112 • Fax: 250-479-5806 info@FortVictoria.ca www.FortVictoria.ca RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 15 15 6/20/13 12:25 PM Lake Havasu City ‘Build It and They Will Come’ By DENNIS BEGIN For decades Western Canadians or Snowbirds have made their way south for the winter. The most popular destinations include: Mesa, Apache Junction, Casa Grande and Tucson. RV’ers usually spend their winter in Yuma because of the many RV Parks and warm temperatures. In the last decade, RV’ers have also discovered the area from Parker to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The population of Lake Havasu is approximately 55,000, with 25,000 snowbirds visiting every winter. The 42-mile (60 km) road from Parker to Havasu, along both sides of the Colorado River, has 23 RV Parks and several areas for boondocking. Lake Havasu has seven major food chains with malls in both Parker and Havasu. It has an abundance of theatres, restaurants, stores and RV dealers. The area has excellent golf courses at Emerald Canyon and in Havasu. There are many attractions to enjoy, including: • Wonderful natural scenery from Parker to Lake Havasu City along the Colorado River • Cruising Lake Havasu in a houseboat or boating on the Colorado River • A boat ride on Lake Havasu to Copper Canyon and Topock Canyon • Sunday morning flea market • A ferry ride to gamble at Havasu Landing, California • Lake Havasu Museum • Fishing for stripped bass and stripers in Lake Havasu • Special events such as the Hot Air Balloon Festival (January 18-21), and the Winterfest (February 9-10) • The Parker Dam • The Desert Bar (The Nellie E Saloon) • Gambling at the Blue Water Casino, close to Parker • Visiting the English Village under the London Bridge 16 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 16 What people really come to Lake Havasu for is to see the London Bridge. In looking at a 1965 Arizona road map published by the American Automobile Association, there is no official road into Lake Havasu City. In fact, there is no Lake Havasu City. Lake Havasu (means Blue Water) is the lake created when the Parker Dam was built on the Colorado River in 1938. The closest highway to this area was Route 66 via Topock, 22 miles to the north towards Needles. The early history of Lake Havasu City was confined to the Mojave Indians, an occasional gold prospector and a small Second World War airstrip called Site 6 at Pittsburg Point. So what happened to change the fortune of this desolate Arizona desert? The answer is Robert P. McCulloch (1911–1977). Robert McCulloch was a engineer, businessman, entrepreneur, visionary and most importantly, a man of action. In 1963, McCulloch purchased 26 square miles of land consisting of nothing but washes, ravines, shrubs, sand and rock. For McCulloch, this land along the lake was a perfect place to build a city. A city needs industry, so McCulloch moved his successful chainsaw and boat motor manufacturing plants from Los Angeles. He then branched into making the J-2 Gyroplanes as well as pumps, batteries, golf carts, go-carts, just to name a few items. A city also needs people, so he created McCulloch International Airlines, buying 11 Lockheed Electra aircraft to transport people from New York and Chicago. These ‘fly in land sales’ were met with realtors, who used white jeeps to tour the desert and sell city lots. In order to build a city, McCulloch hired C.V. Wood as city planner, who previously worked as a planner for Walt Disney. For every problem in building a city, the two found novel solutions. It reminds one of the movie, “Field of Dreams” and that famous line, “...build it and they will come”. What Lake Havasu City really needed was a tourist attraction. They needed a bridge!!!! The City of London, England was selling its 2,000-year-old London Bridge across the Thames River. Selling the bridge was necessary because, to RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:25 PM London Bridge in Lake Havasu City. quote a nursery rhyme, “London Bridge is falling down”. In April 1968, McCulloch was the successful bidder at $2,460,000. For the next three years, 22 million pounds of granite rock that made up the bridge, had to be labeled, numbered and then dismantled. That cost another $1,200,000. Once dismantled, the bridge was shipped by way of the Panama Canal to Long Beach, California. From the coast, the granite was hauled by truck 300 miles overland to Lake Havasu. Cost of transportation was $2,700,000. McCulloch had moved history. Next the bridge was reassembled on dry land, as the numbered granite rocks had to fit like a jigsaw puzzle. In order to provide strength, the bridge was hollowed out and filled with steel and cement. Once the bridge was completed, the last step was to dredge a mile long ‘bridgewater channel’ so water from Lake Havasu could flow under the bridge. The channel created The Island where once there had only been a peninsula. The total cost of the project was $6,360,000. The official dedication date of completion was October, 10, 1971. For those who believe in the supernatural, visitors have claimed the sighting of a British bobby [police] patrolling the bridge or a woman dressed in black wandering the bridge at night. Apparently these ghosts came over with the granite rocks. Lake Havasu City continues to grow and thrive and is a favourite destination for many RV’ers. Robert McCulloch would be proud of how his city has evolved. w RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 17 17 6/20/13 12:25 PM KNEE-HIGH FUN in Nanaimo British Columbia By KATHY ECCLES Crouch down to child height on a visit to downtown Nanaimo’s MaffeoSutton Park and the ocean and green space unfolds in front of you like one giant playground. Start out on a child’s discovery tour following the park’s waterfront paths, pointing out pictures of old boats posted on the railings along the way. Cut into central Spirit Square where signs weave fascinating stories about the ancient First Nations people who once lived here in longhouses and raised white curly-tailed dogs for their wool. Once the playground is spotted, though, get ready for the tug of tiny hands. Wooden climbing structures, 18 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 18 rope ladders, slides, and swings in the huge playground are separated into sections named after local Gulf Islands, including G a l i a n o , Gabriola, and Newcastle. Children can burn energy while parents set up snacks on the surrounding picnic tables. In the summer, this is a prime viewing area for free concerts in the bandshell and a host of child-friendly waterfront events like the annual Silly Boat Regatta, and the World Championship Bathtub Race with its Sailpast on Wheels Fun Parade. Stop to take a family picture standing inside The Frame, a 14-foot high gold-painted picture frame, one of Nanaimo’s popular public art installations. Peer through the open-air Frame to the harbour where the bronze statue of a former mayor stands waving a pirate’s sword. Next to it, children can marvel at the super-sized Dungeness Crab, sculpted with power tools and a chainsaw. Just past it, they can glimpse the real thing on the crabbing pier while peaking into the traps and buckets of locals to compare who caught the biggest crustacean of the day. The hunt for sea life continues along the arched foot-bridge over Swy-A-Lana Lagoon where the ebb of low tide reveals shiny rocks, shells and more marine creatures. An oceanfront stairway leads to cascading tidal pools where children can wade and spot the spiny backs of sea stars. Flipping over these purple invertebrates, they can examine the tiny suction cups on the underside of their tube feet before returning their finds safely to the tide. Across from the bridge, Swy-A-Lana RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:25 PM Lagoon’s white sand beach curves into a crescent moon, luring children over to dig sandcastles before the ocean flows back in. From looking down into tidal pools to looking up and out, children can watch float planes taking off and landing right in front of them, while sailboats, kayaks, and ferries scurry around Nanaimo’s harbour. Maffeo-Sutton Park is the launch point for the walk-on ferry to Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park with its grassy playing fields, biking trails, white sandstone swimming beaches, and big barn-style camp and concession store. A narrow strip of water, the Pirate’s Causeway, separates Newcastle Island from Protection Island, home to the Dinghy Dock, a family-friendly floating restaurant and pub. At the Dinghy Dock, children can dangle a hook and bait into the fishing holes specially created for them outside on the deck. There are three ways to access the Dinghy Dock. At low tide, with proper swimming shoes, you can walk from Newcastle Island across the Pirate’s Causeway and later take the Protection Island ferry back to Nanaimo. If asked in advance, the Newcastle Island ferry captain will drop you off at the Dinghy Dock, or you can catch the “Protection Connection” ferry that docks in the Nanaimo Boat Basin, a five-minute walk from Maffeo-Sutton Park. Take that route and children will have a chance to stop for an ice cream before climbing the winding stairwell to the top of the steel replica of a ship’s towering mast, the perfect place to play at being the kings and queens of Nanaimo’s waterfront. w RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 19 19 6/20/13 12:25 PM Hilda listening to the birds at Loon Lake. By HILDA J. BORN It doesn’t always take a long trip to make beautiful memories. Close to home trips work very well too. For 85 years, the community of Bradner has put on a great flower show. Daffodils of every variety predominate, but there are also tulips, orchids, and numerous other varieties of spring blossoms. The two-dollar admission is worth the breath of fragrance that permeates the hall. Beginning the spring travel season with this uplifting stop is a joyful boost. We picked up our Wilderness fifthwheel from Hesslea Crescent on the way to Glen Valley and Fort Langley, BC. Granddaughter Laura and Joel’s Bellingham wedding add more bliss. A full weekend trip gave us a chance to take in the renowned Washington State Tulip Tour. Near La Connor are acres and acres of colourful flowers. You can park right beside the fields and drink in their beauty. Fortunately, it was somewhat overcast, because when the sun comes out the bright hues are startling to the eyes. As soon as the Coquihalla isn’t snowbound, we head to Sorrento for corn planting. Early April the conditions were ideal as the hawks and coyotes 20 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 20 were chasing newly-awakened, winterhibernating rodents across the freshly tilled fields. The Shuswap and Okanagan region has many hills and valleys to discover. Our new friends from Heidelberg invited us to check out their chalet off Deep Creek Road. It was an adventure to find this hideaway, but it gave us fine fertile vistas including Jansen’s straight rows of green parading corn sprouts in their rich black loam. Returning to the Tappen highland, Todd’s similarly marching sprouts greeted us. In many towns the Saturday fun features are the Farmers’ Markets. We got to check out the first one of the season in Sorrento. Not only was there fresh baking, jam and honey, but also a new craft item I had never seen anywhere. Reynold Jeanotte sold me his candy-striped needle holder for quilters. It is a safe and handy carrier, which fits into any pocket or purse. On Mother’s Day, I took the prerogative to choose the place for Sunday brunch: Dreamcycle Motorcycle Museum and Restaurant across from Balmoral Store on Highway #1 leading to Blind Bay. The barbecue lunch was hearty and delicious, but you couldn’t park there unless you were driving a Studebaker! The freshly paved lot was filled with gleaming vintage Studebaker cars. Maxine proudly pulled us over to show off her ruby red car. It was Number 31, one of only 87 made. “What year?” I asked. “Oh, I don’t know, it was so long ago, but it runs great!” she quipped. Needle holder. Spring Serendipities Studebaker display at the Dreamcycle Museum near Sorrento. Maxine is showing her car to John & Ellie Born. RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:25 PM Jake Born enjoying the Tulip Tour all the way to LaConnor WA. In the afternoon we drove north to Kamloops through ranchlands and past some of the biggest mining projects in Canada. We headed for Brookside campsite, not far from Cache Creek. Smoke was drifting over from an early forest fire. Fortunately, the breeze shifted after a bit and the air cleared enough to open vents and windows. The first thing that caught my eye was the motorhome license plate across from us. We had never seen a blue “Panama” plate in all our travels. Looking in the other direction, I saw a tiny tent with a red Swiss flag and the white cross in the centre. Ulrich told us he started riding his bicycle in California, and was on his way to Newfoundland. In the morning, after brushing my teeth in the public washroom, I greeted Geertje. When I came back after my shower, Jake told me that Geertje had come by to bring us a half-bottle of lavender dish-washing detergent and three rolls of toilet paper. We had never received such a gift before and wondered how to reciprocate. Then it occurred to me to give them a copy of our latest book, “In Changing Times” that Jack and I wrote last year. We had a little visit with Geertje and her husband who works with the Red Cross at Aalsmeer in the Netherlands. They told us, “We will soon return our rented motorhome and just wanted to share a few leftovers with some friendly Canadians!” Rows and rows of bright tulips bloom in Washington State in April. Next day the mountain streams were hurtling down with foaming muddy debris as we headed to Evergreen Resort at Loon Lake. A marmot stood at attention to let us pass. At the lakeside campsite a chorus of red-winged blackbirds, bullfrogs, and a diving display by the loons greeted us. Birdsong never let up from dawn to dusk. It is an ideal fishing spot. On Jake’s birthday we went to historic Clinton. Enroute, we were intrigued by ducks and water rings on a lake before the town. Willow Springs RV, a little south, and Gold Pan RV at the north end, are both very reasonably priced. Leisurely we strolled through the shops and indulged in a selection of antique souvenirs before enjoying a delicious lunch at the Family Restaurant. I wanted to see hanging judge Begbie’s chair at the Clinton Museum but we were a week early. The Museum doesn’t open until the long weekend in May. Because Jake had fallen and cut his shins, we visited the Regional Health Clinic. While nurse Meaghan bandaged his legs, a lady rancher came in and shared local stories with me. Fortunately, Jake’s legs healed well and we fondly recall our delightful spring encounters. w Looking for a place to hitch-up? RADEMASTERS T Truck & RV Towing Experts • ALL 5th Wheel & Trailer Repairs • Driveshaft Disconnects • Tow Bar Installs • Braking Systems • Truck Boxes • Lube Pumps • Rock Guard RV’s • 5th Wheel Hitches • Inside Cargo Trailer 44467 Yale Road West, Chilliwack BC (Across from O'Connor RV) www.vehiclesolutions.ca 1-877-TRUK TOY (878-5869) • 604-792-3132 • Fax: 604-795-7525 trademasters@shawcable.com • OPEN Monday-Friday: 8-5, Saturday: 9-5 RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 21 21 6/20/13 12:25 PM By CATHERINE DOOK First Plot Complications We woke up in the Coquihalla campsite in Hope under towering cedar trees. The night before and that morning, five little Chinese boys tore up the road with their bikes, shouting with the sheer joy of living. As I poked my head out the van to shake sleep seeds out of my eyes, I wondered if they’d biked all night. What energy they had! Then I laughed to myself. John and I had both slept as soundly as rocks. I fried bacon and eggs on our campstove, then I buttered bread and made cheese and pickle sandwiches for lunch. The coffee perked; I poured it into two mugs and dumped the rest into our thermos for later. I pulled out the flat round campfire toaster with the wooden handle our neighbour George had given us. “Pass the bread, Honey,” I said. I was completely at my ease. For some reason that month I’d spent a lot of my substitute-teaching time drilling students in the intricacies of ratios and algebraic equations, and I was heartily sick of math. “Arithmetic is all very well,” I told John, turning the toast with a fork and reaching for the butter, “but I am delighted that all I have to concentrate on right now is breakfast.” “You forgot the jam,” John said. “And the Saran Wrap and potatoes,” I replied, “But I’m sure we’ll manage.” “Who runs the Coquihalla RV Campsite?” John asked. “The District of Hope,” I replied. “That friendly young woman at the front desk told me last night.” “It’s a really nice place,” he remarked. “The bathrooms are immaculate,” I agreed. 22 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 22 “I meant all this.” His arm waved to indicate the beautiful cedar trees, the tidy graveled walkways, the newly-painted buildings and the clean picnic table. “I meant the bathrooms,” I said. “Have some toast.” After breakfast I splashed water into a basin and washed the dishes. “How about you check the oil?” I asked. My hands were encased in rubber gloves and I was rubbing a plate in a desultory manner, like someone who was just about ready to leave but wanted to linger a bit first. “I might do that,” John said. He was gone only a moment. I heard a door slam, then the hood, then he was back at the picnic table. “We’re down a litre,” he said. I froze, the last plate suspended in the air with water dripping from it. “Give me an odometre reading, Darling,” I said. I pulled a calculator, a pen and my account book out of the passenger side of the van. “What are you doing?” John asked. “I’m figuring out the rate at which we’re losing oil,” I said. “You can’t get away from math.” “Seven two three six four,” John called out. “That minus our beginning reading equals 236. Darling, we are travelling 236 km per litre of oil. Is that bad?” “Bad,” John replied. “I thought maybe so,” I said. “Are we burning or leaking oil, do you think? “I don’t know,” John said. “I’ll start the motor. You stand behind the Execuvan and look for smoke.” I stood at the rear of the van and watched closely while the van roared and thundered and shook. John turned the engine off and poked his head out the window – the window we could open now because our mechanic had fixed it. “I swear to you,” I told him, “that the smoke out the rear is no worse than it was on our Oregon trip last year, and we hardly lost a drop of oil in two weeks of travelling.” “What did we do different between last year and this?” John asked. The question was rhetorical so he answered it himself. “We stored it for a year. I bet the seals are dried out and it’s leaking oil. Look under the van.” I knelt and peered into the shadow cast by the rusty chassis of our old van. “Yup,” I said. “Small spreading puddle.” I stood up. John, who had also knelt to look, stood up as well. We looked at each other. “Is leaking better than burning,” I said finally, “and can we live with losing a litre of oil every 200 km?” I pulled out my calculator and punched in some numbers. “We have nearly 5,000 km to go.” “Sure,” John said. “Let’s go.” We climbed into the van, and with a thunderous roar we took off. Of course, we had no idea of how to get to the Coquihalla Highway from the Coquihalla RV Campsite, and I was just opening my mouth to complain, when John spoke. “What don’t you ask at the campsite office how to get out of here?” he asked. My jaw hit the console. Like most men John NEVER asks for directions, but here was suggesting I reach out to another person to admit I didn’t know where I was. I leaped out of the passenger side of the van and bolted for the campsite office before John could change his mind. A moment later I returned waving a map. “Easy,” I said. We set out of the Coquihalla Highway, aiming for Merritt. “Stop sign,” I yelled every now and then. “Turn left. Hold your course. Green sign. Ease right. Whoops, we’re on the highway.” The sky overhead was overcast and cool, and centre console joggled free of its anchor and rattled about, and the Coquihalla unwound before us like a curving ribbon, up and up into the mist. I poured myself a cup of coffee from the thermos I’d filled that morning. John turned on the windshield wipers. Once again my jaw dropped. “Darling,” I breathed. “The wipers don’t squeak.” I turned an emotion-filled face to my husband. “We’re leaking oil like there’s no tomorrow, and the console has wobbled free of its moorings, but my seat doesn’t wiggle, the driver-side window opens and shuts, and the wipers don’t squeak.” “Things are looking up,” John said. “This old van is doing well.” w To read more from Catherine Dook, take a look at her latest boating book Offshore ($18.95) available from oberonpress.ca. Her other two novels, Darling, Call the Coast Guard, We’re on Fire Again ($15.95) and Damn the Torpedoes ($16.95) are published by Touchwood Editions and can be ordered by calling 1-800-665-3302. RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:25 PM Confessions of a BEADAHOLIC By JOEI CARLTON HOSSACK Travel Writer/Photographer/Entertaining Speaker I always envied my RV friends who took their time getting from “here” to “there” stopping along the way to visit museums, a favourite department store, a unique restaurant, or who had a passion for yard sales or antique shops. My latest trip home was that kind of treat. For the first time I had almost two weeks to drive from my camping spot in Yuma, Arizona to Surrey, British Columbia. Not only could I make a few stops along the 1,437-mile trek but if there was snow on the mountain passes in Northern California and/or Southern Oregon I could wait it out without having to drive out to the coast. The 90-mile drive to Quartzsite, home of one of my many “favourite” bead shops, had my heart singing in anticipation. I spent almost the entire afternoon at Gem World on the main street. I walked around the store for hours looking at large centre beads, small accent beads, odd-shaped, coloured and sized beads, fingering whatever caught my fancy as I wandered. Once I got to the “spacer” section I never left and decided to stock up since I frequently run out. I purchased $65 worth of spacers that would have cost me at least three or four times that amount anywhere else. As the hours passed I knew I was becoming slightly addled when I picked up spacers in a bronze colour and agonized over purchasing three or five packages until I realized that three packs were $6 and five packs were only $4 more. Needless to say I bought the five. When I had done enough damage to my bank account in that store and my legs were shaking from my hours of walking, I wandered down the street to Hardies, the shop next door, to purchase “twisted bugle beads – any beader worth their salt know about those “twisted” beauties. I stayed overnight at the Flying J at Exit 1 in Arizona. I left the next morning a happy camper and within 15 minutes was over the border into California. It was a five-hour drive to my next stop where I spent four days with my nephew and family in Sunland, California. The following Monday, when Michael went back to work, Kate had an audition for a television commercial and the kids went to school, I hit the road for parts north. That evening I camped at another Flying J in Lodi, about 30 miles south of Sacramento. Thankfully the weather stayed on my good side and I sailed over Mount Shasta and the highest point on the I-5, the Siskiyous, without a hint of a problem. Grant’s Pass, Oregon (Rogue Valley Overniters Campground) is one of my VERY favourite campgrounds. While heading south, on three separate occasions I arrived on the American Thanksgiving Day and there was always a campground-wide food spread fit for a queen and I was always included. I never pass their door without staying a night or two. This time it was two nights because I planned on visiting my favourite on-line bead company, Fire Mountain Gems, whose advertisements on the back of every beading magazine make me drool. They are located right in Grant’s Pass so I called and made arrangements to visit their warehouse. I was delighted when my friend, Sheila, the manager of Rogue Valley decided to join me on this jaunt, leaving her husband to mind the shop. ❖ Single Trip / Annual Plans ❖ No Age Restrictions ❖ Broker for 15 Different Insurance Companies Travel Guardian Insurance Ltd. 1-888-310-7505 www.travelguardian.ca RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 23 23 6/20/13 12:25 PM We toured every section - from the media room, photography room, designing room, ordering room, the gemstone grading area to hallways filled with pictures on every wall and carvings and gemstones from other parts of the world occupying much of floor space. The only thing missing were the BEADS. I wanted to see them all. I wanted to touch them all. I wanted to roll them around in my hands. BEADS – I wanted beads. Unfortunately that wasn’t going to happen. They were in a whole other building. Fire Mountain Gems is an online company only, shipping to all parts of the world. I’ll still be ordering from them throughout the year – after all – they are one of the best. But I left the building wanting…….. Do you think I’m a beadaholic? Well, do you? Just tell my friends – they don’t seem to mind my addiction…… I left early the next morning and since I was a little weary decided to stop early, spend an extra couple of days on the road and check out another bead store that I had only heard about – Shipwreck Beads in Lacey, Washington at Exit 111 on Highway 5. The minute the door closed behind me they knew I was a first-timer just by the look on my face. I walked into the main part 24 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 24 Some of my handiwork. Shipwreck Beads in Lacey, Washington. RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:25 PM of the building and the first room was 22,000 square feet of beads. I’m sure my eyes started glowing like burning-hot coals and my jaw dropped open and stayed that way as I looked around the room. It was FILLED WITH BEADS…. beads I could see right from where I stood. Beads I could touch and when I recovered from the shock of that many beads I went looking for what I wanted. Believe it or not, they didn’t have them! Their beads were in six strands of each colour when I wanted one strand of 30 or 40 different colours. I don’t know how many other rooms they have because I didn’t check BUT there are 80,000 square feet in total. I did purchase some interested ones but within a couple of hours I just couldn’t “look” anymore. It was a GREAT trip home…..and I’m definitely going to travel slower from now on and check out more places along the way…..after all…..WHAT’S THE RUSH? w Joei Carlton Hossack is the author of six adventure travel books and four mini reads. Her Mini Reads are available in print or as e-books for the Kindle from Amazon. Joei is an entertaining and inspirational story-teller and travel writing/memoir writing teacher. She is an amateur photographer and a lover of all kinds of crafts especially (at this moment) bead work. You can check out her website at www.joeicarlton.com and her bookmarks combining bead work and photography at www.etsy.com/shop/BookBlingbyJoei Small part of Shipwreck’s 80,000 sq feet of beads. “EMBERS” by John McDonald Production Send cartoon ideas to jchinook@telus.net www.qmhrv.ca Canada-Built for OUR winters! PARK MODEL SPECIALIST Over 30 yrs of Industr y Ser vice WE WILL MEET OR BEAT ANY DEALER PRICING! “George, just watch the tennis match, don’t yell at the Umpires!” 45116 Yale Rd., Chilliwack, BC 1-800-339-5133 RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 25 25 6/20/13 12:25 PM KENNY DAM POWER TRIP The riding crew on top of Kenny Dam. By PHIL MEGYESI, Quesnel BC pmegyesi@xplornet.com On this trip I headed north from our home in Quesnel BC, west from Prince George, and south from Vanderhoof with riding buddies, Tom and Beryl Maxwell, my wife Delle, and of course my riding partner and official wildlife spotter and observer, our dog Cooper. The road south of Vanderhoof is called the Kluskus Road. It is a good gravel road with wide shoulders. At the junction of the Natalkuz (500) Road turn right and travel about 15km to the first sighting of Knewstubb Lake. After another 22km you will see the Kenny Dam with several forestry and recreation campsites to choose from to make camp. After looking for the best spot to set up camp, we decided on a small side road to the right of the dam itself. It wasn’t very wide, but we had good access to the lake and it was a dead end road with no one passing by us. Next morning we loaded up the 4-wheelers with our lunch for the day plus plenty of bottled water as the weather had been extremely warm. It was somewhat hazy with a few forest fires being reported in the area. We had researched the history of the man-made Kenny Dam prior to our coming here and had found that this dam was built back in the 1950’s for power consumption for the Alcan Aluminum Smelter in Kitimat, and was one of the largest earthen-filled dams in the world at the time. A small construction town had been built north of the dam for the many workers to live at while they built the dam, and we wanted to see what was left. We found the entrance to the townsite after a careful search in the overgrown forest that has taken over along the road. There were numerous old hydro poles, house trailer pads, an abandoned shop, a gas station, and other buildings in various forms of decay and rot. The entire area has been constructed on a flat area above the river, and now lots of small willows and poplar trees have taken over the area. After taking a few pictures of the area, we moved on down the road on the west side of the river to where we had been told there was a huge waterfall and display of Mother Nature’s power. After a short time we came to a bridge on the Holy Cross FSR and a massive thundering river below. Parking our 4-wheelers off to one side we saw a sign, which advised us: “Due to loud river rapids, use caution when proceeding across bridge on foot, approaching logging truck traffic cannot be heard”. Boy, was that sign ever correct! We couldn’t hear ourselves talk in a normal voice; we had to yell to 26 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 26 be heard as the water pounded under the bridge below, with the entire ground shaking around us. Lots of pictures were taken here, as we couldn’t hardly believe the way this water was going through the canyon. There are lots of walking trails on both sides of the huge display of Mother Nature’s water force. We found a small side road going down into the valley bottom and followed it to see the huge display of the water coming through the canyon to form the Nechako River. The valley bottom was filled with sandbars as this used to be the old river bottom where the river used to run until it was dammed off. The water that was coming through the canyon was the overflow from the spillway west on Ootsa Lake after the entire reservoir was filled to the top. This was called the “Skins Spillway” and the Cheslatta Falls were in front of us at the end, and what a sight it was to see. There are four or five lakes formed in this huge reservoir that sends water to the west coast for the Kemano Power Project, which in turn sends power to Kitimat for the Alcan Aluminum Smelter. After dinner that evening we went for a walk along the edge of the mountain adjacent to our camping spot and saw what was left where the rock had been removed for the Kenny Dam. There were lots of round rock cores from the drilling that had taken place prior to the blasting to break apart the mountain oh so many years ago. Back in camp we planned the next day’s ride west on a old abandoned logging road that paralleled the water coming from the “Skins Spillway” which formed a slowly moving river, but was called Murray Lake. Next morning, with still more smoke and haze in the air from the burning fires around us, we ventured west on the Marilla Road and along Murray Lake, which turns into Cheslatta Lake. It was hard to believe this same water would be cascading through the falls a few kilometres away as it hardly seemed to be moving. We were able to get down to the water’s edge and cast a few flies searching for a fish or two but none appeared interested in what we had to offer. The road climbed quite a bit and we found ourselves on the top of the RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:25 PM Cheslatta Falls Nechako Plateau; this offered a considerable view in all directions. We could see heavier smoke to the west from the forest fire that was giving us all the smoke and haze. We decided it was far too unhealthy to travel any closer to the fire, so we returned to our campsite. Next morning we loaded up the quads and decided to head north along the Kenny Lake Road which would take us ultimately to Vanderhoof, BC. Along the way we saw several large ranches, one being the Rimrock Ranch owned by Rich Hobson, famous in this part of the world for being a partner with Pan Phillips of the Home Ranch. Rich also wrote several books about their ventures in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. (We visited that area and wrote a story a few years ago in this magazine.) We continued on, and before we knew it were traveling back on a asphalt road and heading into the outskirts of Vanderhoof. Once again we decided we had seen some wonderful country in this province. A great deal of history has been made when those large lakes had been man-made by building the Kenny Dam to hold all that water to produce the power for the smelters on the west coast. Another great trip!! w Our RVs on Kenny Dam. RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 27 27 6/20/13 12:25 PM Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta to La Penita by ATV By CAROLE THACKER My new passion is exploring and riding my ATV in Mexico. We have been doing this for four years now as a group from La Peñita RV Park, with friends both tourist and national from the area. We have gone on many rides, usually going out every Saturday and sometimes more often. We have explored many back roads and gone through coffee country, over mountains and to hot springs. We have traveled the back roads to San Sebastian de Oeste, an old silver mining town, to Compestelo, Talpa, Mascota and other towns and villages. This season we got together and decided that since most of us were over 60 we better get on with our bucket list. The main one we had was to ride the route of the Vallatarzo. In September (the rainy season) they have a ride from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta. This is done when the rivers are full and some of the roads are waterfalls. Since we are not here in September and we didn’t really want to ride with hundreds of other young extremists, we decided to do the ride in January. Several of our Mexican friends have done the ride and we enlisted them to help us plan the trip. Oscar stepped up and arranged the whole thing. He hired a freight truck to take our Our Gang! 13 ATV’s from La Peñita to Guadalajara; arranged to store them overnight, hired a guide, mechanic and tail-gunner and arranged food and hotels for the three nights on the road. We loaded our quads on Wednesday morning We made sure we took a picture of the license plate of the truck carrying our ATVs! Thursday morning we all took the bus up to Guadalajara and got a hotel for the night. It was much cooler than normal so we got some last minute clothes and went to the Can Am dealer because it was nearby. We all had an early dinner and turned in for the night. We were up early for breakfast and to be ready for our pickup and ride to the place our quads were. We only knew they were in a body shop on the road to Colima. Oscar arrived with Yukon in a Cadillac Escalade. I’ve always wanted one. Angie arrived a few minutes later with Oscar’s Toyota truck. We didn’t all fit in but we did get 12 people in the Escalade and six people in the Toyota. Three had to ride in the back with the luggage. It was only a 20-minute drive. Break time. 28 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 28 RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:26 PM We spent some time getting fueled up and meeting everyone, getting last minute instructions and we were off – right through Guadalajara morning traffic, on the highway. Yikes! We had to travel the speed limit and keep the ATV in front in sight. We did it and shortly turned off on to a dirt road. The dust was bad but we were equipped with masks, etc. We had a great ride through the countryside and arrived at a small town for lunch. Neto, our tailgunner had delicious tortas (sandwiches), drinks, snacks of fruit and vegetables and special candied fruit. He had remembered my daughter Rebecca was a vegetarian and brought food for her. We had a great lunch, bought some coconuts and were on our way. The country was made up of mostly farms and we were steadily climbing. There were a few farmhouses and we saw lots of cows and goats. About 4 p.m. we stopped for a snack and were told we had to make it short because we still has a long way to go and we would be in the dark. We were in the dark for about three hours! All our guides had done the ride before and had big lights and knew the road. They assured us we were OK. We were going through pine forests on fairly smooth dirt roads but I knew we were going up and there were some lights a long way below! We arrived in Mixtlan at 9 p.m. There was a yard with four bungalows and an outdoor restaurant. The couple living there had a dinner all ready for us. Three couples stayed in the bungalows and the rest of us walked the one block (six blocks) to the hotel. We all got rooms and there was hot water but not much electricity in only half the rooms so we shared our rooms with others so we could all get showers and get back for dinner. We were really tired and knew we had a long day coming up. We had a great dinner and went back to our cement beds. Next morning we went back to the restaurant for breakfast. The lady had made coffee in a huge stockpot. It was so good. It had cinnamon sticks in it. I added hot cream and it was delicious. We wanted to get on our way early but there were a few problems with the mechanic’s ATV so we went off to fuel up. We should have taken a tour of the town because we had lots of time to kill while they fixed the quad. The town of Mixtlan is famous for its mineral water that comes out of the ground carbonated. They say it is very good for you. They also have witches and wizards and dwarfs who perform in the town and have mystical powers. The couple in the restaurant wanted us to stay one more night so we could see them. I couldn’t take another night on a cement bed! On the map it looked like our next destination, Mascota, was only a few miles away. Certainly it was not the great distance we had come the day before. We thought we had an easy day. NOT! Oscar said we would be riding the river. We were riding the waterfall, with no water but it was straight up and full of boulders and ruts. It was extreme and we were at 8,200 feet. That takes your strength away, or at least mine. We spent three hours going a short distance all up hill. I looked ahead and saw at least the same distance again, up hill. I asked if we had to go over that and was told we did. At that point, if I could have turned around I might have. It turned out the worst was over and after a few challenging spots we started going DOWN hill. It wasn’t as steep but there were lots of washouts. We arrived in Mascota to the St Elena Hotel, which is a beautiful old colonial hacienda. We were greeted by the staff at the door with a huge bucket of margaritas and were they welcome! We also all got a massage included with our room. The rooms were lovely and the mattresses were comfortable! We had hot water with lots of pressure and heaters in the room. I was in heaven. I went for my massage at 8:00 and floated down to a 5-course dinner, the best I have had in 20 years in Mexico. We were all ready for bed! Our last day together was from Mascota to Puerto Vallarta. We rode through an ecological reserve, up some nice hills and down through rivers. It was a pleasant ride with only one incident and we got to PV around 5:00. We drove down the highway all in a line, and when the police went by they waved to us! We stayed at the Hotel Krystal where they also had nice beds. We all met at the hot-tubs and relaxed and soaked our tired muscles. I wanted to go to bed but we had not eaten dinner so we headed out to the best tacos stand in PV. We ate 1,000 pesos worth of tacos between 20 of us! We then went to the Malecon and walked to Bodegas del Medio, a Cuban restaurant and Salsa dancing place. We had a great time but we didn’t get out of there until 3:00 a.m. Now I was really tired and we still had to ride to La Penita in the morning. We headed off about 11:00 a.m. Our Mexican friends loaded their quads on a trailer, and some drove, and some took the bus back to Guadalajara. We took a back road to La Palmas and then up a back way to Cucuatcha and then over a trail to La Penita. Our total distance traveled was 380 kms. Would I do it again? We have already set out plans for next season. You can see our trip on http://www.everytrail.com/fullscreen.php?trip_ id=952295. I’m the one on the yellow CAN AM. w RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 29 29 6/20/13 12:26 PM Couldn’t find the Perfect RV for Me By DOUG JONES / djones@bvwireless.com I’ve had them all. Tents, canopies, tent trailers, travel trailers, fifth wheels, campers, Class A and C motorhomes; you name it. They all seem to have a purpose, but no unit will do it all for you. My last Class C motorhome was great for long distant travel, but not for backroads or launching the boat. Since I decided to do more backroading again, I thought about going back to a camper. Then I thought of the last one I had. A 10.6 unit bought new in 2001. They said it had a dry weight of 3,700 lbs but I think they meant 5,700 lbs. I put it on a dually and boy you knew it was there. The entrance door was four and a half feet off the ground, and after happy hour it was down right dangerous getting in or out. It was also difficult getting in or out of the bathroom especially with my arthritis. Then out of nowhere I thought about building my own. Why not? I have a large garage. I’ve been building cars and trucks and repairing RV’s all my life. Then I could have it the way I wanted it, and not the way someone else thought I should. First I needed a truck. I bought a Ford 350 Superduty single rear wheel regular cab {keep it short} two wheel drive {keep it low} V-10 auto. Just loved that engine in my motorhome. Next I took the box off and built a deck out of two inch square tubing and bolted it to the frame in the original holes from the box. This gave me a flat floor for the bathroom and baggage doors on the outside for storage. The jacks I made out of drop leg implement jacks that plug into the two inch tubing on all four corners. They each have a 5,000 lb. rating. The wind can blow all it wants now when I’m loading or unloading. It takes about four hours to switch over to the box. I used good sturdy steps from a trailer that fold under the deck. The floorplan is 7ft wide and 9ft long with a 6ft 10in ceiling and a bunk over. A big dinette is in the front with large tinted windows on both sides, this allows for lots of light. I also put in a proper deep sink {you can actually put dishes in it} as well as a range and lots of cupboards for storage. A large fridge with separate freezer was a must, as I like my ice. The 2x2 wall framing was covered with Luan and then Filon. I made my own curved trusses and covered them with Luan and then with rubber roofing {very solid}. I also used an underbelly propane tank {like a motorhome} so there is no lifting of tanks. I just pull up to the pump and fill up. Lasts all season. I did this over the winter of 2008-09 and have totally enjoyed it since. The truck handles like a dream; you can’t tell there is a camper on it. No sway on corners and no effect from the wind. I had the unit weighed at the government scale in Kamloops. With two people in the truck, full of gas, water, propane, food, drinks, and all our gear, it weighed 8,030 lbs. The truck has a GVW of 9,600 lbs. Perfect. A Ford 350 4x4 crewcab diesel dually weighs 8,100 lbs empty. In order to buy insurance for the camper I had to give it a name, so it became the Cariboo Special. A local sign shop made the signs and graphics for me. I really enjoyed this project and would like to do another sometime. Maybe this winter? The cost of materials {no labour} was about $10,000 so it’s not cheap, but you do get what you want, and that’s not always easy. w Problems with your RV Fridge or Cooling Unit? Providing Dependable Repairs for RV Propane Fridges. Performance GUARANTEED! 7 yeraarnty war HILLSTREET PROPANE 608 Railway Ave, Enderby BC 250-838-9540 www.hillstreetpropanerv.com 30 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 30 Othello Tunnels Campground & RV Park From Hwy #5, take Othello Rd, Exit 183, Hope BC • 10 minute walk to Quintette Tunnels • Clean washrooms • Hot showers • Laundry • Sani-dump • 30 sites with full hook-ups • 12 sites with electricity & water • Cooking shelter for rainy days Playground & Rainbow Trout Toll-free: 1-877-869-0543 pond for the kids! camp@othellotunnels.com 604-869-9448 www.othellotunnels.com RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:26 PM RV PARTS RV SERVICE BY BOB DAVIES, Parts Manager Jubilee RV Centre, Kamloops, BC BY STEVE JOYCE, Service Manager Jubilee RV Centre, Kamloops, BC parts@jubileerv.com service@jubileerv.com The heat has finally arrived. Here are a few accessories that will help you to enjoy the summer. MaxxAir vent covers are designed to go over your standard roof air vents. These units will allow you to have the vent open while you drive and also have your vent open during less than ideal weather conditions. Vents covers mount to the side flange of the vent, not to the roof. MaxxAir also make the MaxxAir II cover. These covers have a larger front air opening and are also hinged for easy opening for cleaning the vent lid, great for the high volume air power vents. MaxxAir vents are available in white and smoke color. Also check out models made by RV-PRO Free Flow and Camco Aero-Flo. Vinyl wheel covers are a good way to help protect your tires from UV rays of the sun. Cracking on the sidewall of tires can occur when the intense summer sun is shining on the tires for extended time. Vinyl wheel covers are available for single/double and triple axles. Generally tire covers are available in white but some suppliers may carry grey and tan in limited supply. Classic and ADCO are two popular suppliers. One of the things I often hear is that your fridge in not cooling enough during the daytime summer heat. RV fridges work by absorbing the heat from inside the fridge chest, transferring that heat via the cooling unit at the exterior (backside) of the fridge then dissipating that heat thru the roof or sidewall vent. It is very important not to block the exterior vent. The heat is dissipated by convection, heat rises. Cooler air is drawn into the lower vent and exhausted out thru the upper vent. An accessory to help with the convection is a small fan. These fans are powered by 12v or solar power. The fan is mounted at the back (exterior) of the fridge. By helping to remove the heat from the fridge’s cooling unit, your fridge will be more efficient resulting in better interior chest cooling. Another great product is the “Fridge Airator” by Camco. This is a small (D size) battery operated fan that you put into your fridge. This works to evenly distribute the cool air, and with a replaceable charcoal filter helps keep the fridge from getting bad odours. Another issue for the dry camper is power. A great simple solution to conserve power is replacing the most used incandescent light bulbs to LED bulbs. The variety of styles of LED bulb has increased so whatever style of bulb you have there will probably be an LED replacement. The best part is more and more suppliers are stocking LEDs so the price has come down. If you have any questions or comments please let me know. Enjoy your summer! Here we are, July and August, the height of camping season for so many fellow RVer’s to enjoy. As a service manager, I cannot stress enough the importance of doing a pre-trip shake down of your RV. I would advise all owners that are planning for a week of enjoyment to start at least a week ahead of time in preparing your RV for usage. Major issues we come across are the last minute phone calls from owners advising that a specific appliance is not working. Rule of thumb is that just because it worked last year, doesn’t necessarily mean it works this year. You must realize that the unit will generally sit unused from October-May, which is roughly seven months. This extended period of down time presents a great opportunity for bugs, bees, wasps and dust to enter critical areas of your RV appliance vents. These vents are not sealed and the critters love them. Please take the time to cycle all your appliances prior to your adventure. Ensure to operate your fridge on both 110 volt and propane systems. Always precool your refrigerator the day before and always try to load it with pre-chilled products. As most RV’s today require a good 12 volt supply to operate and maintain correct appliance operation, ensure that when you bring the RV batteries out from your house to re-install them in the RV, that you check to see that the fluid levels are confirmed to the correct capacity. Always do a visual walk around of your RV just to be sure everything looks good. Unroll the awning and clean off all the mildew, torque the wheelnuts, inspect the suspension, lubricate your stabilizer jacks and door locks, plug the tow vehicle in and check all your exterior light operation, and always change your carbon monoxide and smoke detector batteries. A pre-trip list of RV items is always a good thing to run through. Nothing worse than having to stop on your way out of town to stock up on toilet chemicals and paper, when what you really want to do is just go and have fun. Hope to see you out at camp. The BC Interior’s LARGEST RV Accessory Department! Full line of RV Solar and Inverter Packages. RV parts shipped throughout Canada. Phone orders welcome. We install a full line of Winegard Satellite Systems! Emergency drive-by service provided for out-of-town customers. JUBILEE RV CENTRE: Largest parking facilities in Kamloops. www.jubileerv.com parts@jubileerv.com / 250-372-0600 Turn West off Hwy 5 North at the Husky Station RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 31 31 6/20/13 12:26 PM 3rd BC AREAS Angle Search: Words are NEVER in a STRAIGHT LINE. T A E B P W O B U A E D R T H A Q I N O E B O O T H R O O H E P R C L A E R M P A A O N U S L U R R E K R A B Y N C M E E H D S Q E U O L S U O A T C L I V A W Y C R D S U A A S A O O U M K P O H S T A M C L I D L I O X A D D N I C P S E G E S A G R R E E M R T E A S E P S I K N N A L H A T O U Y A L C S C Y D B E O N L W R A L U M A D E V T S N U D H U R S E F L I L B M A B O S R L A L O A L I E I F E K C A M T M C B R E S I D E B H E F E E K U I N R F E N Z F I E O S H A N C I R R E C A I G Q U E Q C E A L E X I E D L B W E L L E N G T O O L W O O D S P U A I Y A A N D R I A M E R E V E H C N B O U N T N N R M E S S N E P B R O O K E S Q I R L L E A E L C I O E O G R U I S I E M B L A S N O U L R I R B R M A B F T L B U R Q T H H C B E R N I O S I L Y V O O K F I E U C P T N I G L A M A E O O Y O S K M E C U R N U B D L L I E O I B N O A L T R S C O M O C A G L B A L R T O N K T N N L S O O B F T T O N I M X A L O A Y D N E R A N I N N B C X O T N O A E K I T A T J T L R E V K E L O W B U A E V A Y I O U S R B R A N N E L D E N I L O R B N I R I N R L N S T R S O M N L O I H C T A F M A E U A R A N R V A E A C F W O L Y A O D L L I E R T O N R N K R T A D O D E C H O R C I L N R L C A W N M G O G T S C A N B Y U L I N E N I A K E E B A K B A R I N L D S W I S U O F Each word stands alone & bends at an angle, one or more times. NO words cross each other! All letters are used. AHOUSAT BARKERVILLE BURQUITLAM CRESTON GOLDSTREAM LAIDLAW PENTICTON AIYANSH BARNET BURTON CROFTON GOODLOW LARDEAU POPKUM ALBERNI BASQUE CEDARVALE DARCY GASMERE LIKELY PRESPATOU ALEXANDRIA BEATON CHASE DEVINE HAIG MACKENZIE PROGRESS AMBLESIDE BENVOULIN CHEMAINUS DUNSTER HANCEVILLE MCBRIDE QUALICUM ANMORE BOOTHROYD CHERRYVILLE ERRINGTON HORSEFLY MCCLURE QUATSINO ANYOX BOSWELL CHILLIWACK ESQUIMALT JACKSONS NAMU QUESNEL ARRAS BOUNTIFUL CLAYBURN FARMINGTON KEEFERS OLALLA WOSS ATTACHIE BOWSER CLAYHURST FIELD KELOWNA OLIVER BALDONNEL BRALORNE CLEARBROOK FIFE KINNAIRD OOTISCHENIA BALFOUR BROOKMERE CLINTON FOUNTAIN KISPIOX OSOYOOS BAMBERTON BRUNSWICK COLWOOD GIBSON KITIMAT PEACHLAND BAMFIELD BURNABY COMOX GOLDEN LADNER PEMBERTON 32 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 32 RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:26 PM Why leave that RV sitting in your yard? Confirm an Event, load the RV, fire up the unit and go play! AB E V e n T s 1 1 1 2-23 3-13 4 5 5 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-14 5-14 6 6 6 6-8/6 7 7 7 8 8-22 9 9-12 10 11-13 13 13-14 15 16 17 17 17-17 17-21 18-21 18-27 18-04 19 19-20 19-20 19-21 19-28 20 20 20 20 20-21 20-21 21 24 25 25-28 26-28 27-28 27-29 29 29-04 31-04 2 2-4 2-4 JULY Everywhere Celebrates Canada Day High River, “Christmas in the Park” – car club ....403-652-4366 Olds, Draft Horse Classic ....................................403-556-3770 Innisfail, Zookeeper for a Day Camps .................403-227-3211 Edmonton, Anything Goes, Walterdale Playhouse Calgary, Stampede Sneak-A-Peak........................800-661-1260 Calgary Stampede Parade....................................403-269-9822 Red Deer, Ross Street Patio Party.........................403-348-5078 Benalto 96th Pro Rodeo & Fair .............................403-746-2433 Calgary Turkish Festival ..................... calgaryturkishfestival.com Lethbridge Rotary Dragon Boat Festival ..............403-381-6325 Calgary Stampede Rodeo ....................................800-661-1260 Edmonton International Street Performers Fest.....780-425-5162 High River, “Seanachie” – live music ..................403-601-8774 Lethbridge Garden Tour ......................................403-381-7153 Rimbey Show ‘n Shine ........................................403-843-2004 Calgary Stampede Art Exhibit ..............................403-265-1630 Red Deer, Mayor’s Garden Party .........................403-309-4091 Red Deer, Summer Sundays in the Park ..............403-348-5078 Stony Plain, Great White North Triathlon .......gwntriathlon.com Calgary Stampede Parade....................................403-269-9822 Innisfail, Ultimate Bear Experience, Discover Wildlife Park Calgary Stampede, Western Heritage Day ...........800-661-1260 Olds Summer Synergy.........................................403-556-3770 Calgary Stampede, BMO Kids Day .....................800-661-1260 Red Deer, Canada’s Gospel Music Celebration ...800-410-0188 Fort Mcleod, Historic Empress Theatre Tours .......403-553-4404 Rimbey Rodeo Parade .........................................403-843-2113 Leduc, Skateboard Park Clean-Up, 4pm Red Deer, Outdoor ‘Barn Dance’ on Little Gaetz Ave ...........................................................403-340-2013 Calgary, Golf Tournament for Life ............... 403-243-7800x503 Red Deer, Westerner Parade ...............................403-340-2013 Calgary, Antiquing at the ARC ............................604-316-1933 Red Deer, Westerner Days Fair & Exposition .......403-343-7800 Lacombe Days ....................................................403-782-4323 A Taste of Edmonton, Sir W. Churchill Square .....780-423-2822 Red Deer, The Bard on Bower.............................403-343-7800 Calgary, Full Flex Express Tour features Skrillex ..403-265-3338 Olds, World Plowing Match ................................403-556-4762 Rocky Mountain House Centennial Celebrations 403-845-2866 Devon, International MusicFest ..................... town.devon.ab.ca Edmonton, Capital EX .............................................capitalex.ca Calgary, European Classic Car Meet ............................ vsccc.ca High River, Leather ‘N’ Chaps ....................... foothillssnaps.org Leduc, Main Street Festival, 11am Olds, Oldsmobile Show ......................................780-417-4062 Calgary, Fiestaval Latin Festival ...........................403-880-1562 Stettler Car Club Shoot Out ................................403-741-9558 Calgary, Creekfest Family Fun .............................403-238-3841 Rocky Mountain House Airshow .........................403-322-0034 Leduc, Woman’s Junior A National Championship and Women’s Junior B Westerns Calgary Folk Music Festival .................................403-233-0904 Edmonton, Interstellar Rodeo .............................Edmonton.com Innisfail, Discovery Wildlife Park’s Zoofest ..........403-227-3211 Red Deer, CentreFest – Street Performers ............403-340-8696 Olds, Classic Rock Concert .................................403-556-3770 Calgary International Blues Festival ...........calgarybluesfest.com Leduc, Dynamo Dog Show, Lede Park, noon-midnight AUGUST Red Deer, Ross Street Patio Party.........................403-348-5078 Edmonton, Blueberry Bluegrass & Country Music Festival .....................................................780-922-4973 Stony Plain, Western Canada’s Largest Bluegrass Festival ................................................................888-915-4973 2-5 3 3-4 3-5 5 5 8 8 8-11 9-10 9-11 9-11 9-11 10 10-16 11 11 14-18 15-18 15-25 16-18 16-18 16-18 17 17 17-18 18 18 18-21 20-25 24 24 25 25 25 26 30 30-01 31-01 31-02 30-02 30-02 31-02 Gull Lake Centennial Celebrations ......................403-748-2572 Calgary, Inglewood Sunfest.................................403-829-9175 Cochrane Ranche Days .......................................403-851-2535 Edmonton, 38th Servus Heritage Festival ..............780-488-3378 Calgary, Heritage Day at Fort Calgary .................403-268-8500 High River, Heritage Day Celebrations ...............403-652-1128 Bow Island, Country Cruzin .............................. bowisland.com Red Deer, Summer Sundays in the Park ..............403-348-5078 Edmonton Folk Music Festival .................. Edmontonfolkfest.org Elnora, 15th Brahma Rama...................................403-773-2200 Edmonton, Caribbean Arts Festival ............. cariwestfestival.com Irricana, Pioneer Acress 44th Annual Show..........403-935-4357 Sylvan Lake, Shake the Lake .............................shakethelake.ca Lethbridge, Drop’nBeats .....................................403-382-8221 Leduc, Softball Canada Men’s & Women’s Slo-Pitch National Championship Edmonton, Ukrainian Day ........................ 780-662-3855x1112 Markerville’s Cream Day ....................................403-728-3006 Rocky Mountain House, Battle of the Rockies Chuckwagon Races .............................................403-895-0446 Sylvan Lake, Jazz at the Lake Festival ..................866-887-5550 Edmonton Internat’l Fringe Theatre Festival ....... fringetheatre.ca Edmonton Blues Festival ....................bluesinternationalltd.com Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival, Louise McK Riverfront Park Red Deer, Central Music Festival ...................centralmusic.com Cochrane, Springhill RV Annual Charity Show and Shine ........................................................ springhillrvpark.com Edmonton Northlands Park 84th Canadian Derby Red Deer, Norwegian Laft Hus Society’s 25th Anniversary Festival ............................................403-347-2055 Markerville, The Creamery Show & Shine ...........403-728-3006 Red Deer, Fiestaval – Latin Festival .....................403-340-8696 Edmonton, Fall 2013 Alberta Gift Show, EXPO Centre Olds, Cutter’s Classic ..........................................403-556-3770 Leduc, Rock the Rails – Skateboard Park .............rocktherails.ca Lethbridge, Open Minds Walk/Run.....................403-327-4305 Cochrane Old Tyme Country Fair, Spray Lake Sports Centre Edmonton, Friends of Ukrainian Music Fest ... culture.alberta.ca Olds, Cutter’s Classic – horse show .....................403-556-3770 Leduc Community free BBQ, Alexandra Park Cochrane Slimdor Ranch Rodeo .........................403-932-3928 Innisfail, 12th Independent Music & Arts Festival .....abown.com Red Deer, Harvest Festival ..................................780-361-1351 Cochrane Lions Rodeo ..........................cochranelionsclub.com Edmonton, Symphony Under the Sky, Heritage Amphitheatre Leduc, AMP’T Fall Ball Classic Stettler, 5th Steel Wheel Stampede ......................403-742-3181 SEPTEMBER Cochrane FREE Pancake Breakfast, Alliance Church ..................................................403-932-6100 1 Red Deer, Summer Sundays in the Park ..............403-348-5078 1-2 Edmonton, TALES Fort Edmonton Storytelling Festival 2 Cochrane Labour Day Parade....................cochraneparade.com 2-3 Edmonton, Tour of Alberta Pro Cycling Festival 6 Red Deer, Ross Street Patio Party.........................403-348-5078 6-8 Blackfalds, Country Gospel Weekend .......gospelinthepark.com 7 Lethbridge, Parkinson Step ‘n Stride ....................403-317-7710 7 Olds, CLC Mud Run............................................403-507-7782 7 Red Deer, Bike Parade ........................................403-340-2013 9-15 Edmonton, Visualeyez 2012 - Canada’s Annual Festival of Performance Art .................................. visualeyez.org 11 Olds, Heritage Fall Golf – Centennial Celeb........403-556-4762 13-15 Edmonton, Kaleido Family Arts Festival ................ kaleidofest.ca 14 Lethbridge, Schwartz Reliance/LRPS Half Marathon for Special Olympics...........................403-330-5020 14 Lethbridge, Walk for ALS ....................................403-359-1192 21 Lethbridge Lions Club Pig & Pumpkin Festival ....403-388-2780 21 Olds, CIB Harvest Festival ...................................403-556-6981 21 Red Deer, Earthdance .........................................403-340-2013 21 Red Deer, Old Fashioned Fall Fair.......................403-340-2013 1 RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 33 33 6/20/13 12:26 PM Why leave that RV sitting in your yard? Confirm an Event, load the RV, fire up the unit and go play! BC E V e n T s JULY Everywhere & Everyone Celebrates Canada Day! Fort St John Classic Car Show ...........................250-261-0085 Invermere, Mountain Mosaic Festival of Arts.....250-342-4423 Oliver, Bubbles for Breakfast, Road 13 Vineyards Richmond, Steveston Salmon Festival................604-238-8094 Saturna Island Lamb Barbeque .........................250-539-2452 Oliver, Desert Sale Spinners & Weavers Summer Studio, Quails Nest Arts Centre .........................250-485-0088 1-8/31 Revelstoke, Summer Street Festival....................250-837-5636 1-8/31 Whistler, ArtWalk .............................................604-938-9221 2-8/31 Vernon Sights & Sounds of Downtown .............250-542-5851 3-8/28 Nakusp, Music in the Park.................................250-265-4234 4 Fernie, Scott Thursday Night Race Series – Mountain Biking at Fernie Alpine Resort ...........250-423-2037 4-7 Prince George, Les Sinnott Memorial Boys Soccer Provincial Cup ..................................................250-791-6647 4-7 Whistler Longboarding Festival .........................604-630-3815 4-8/24 Alert Bay, T’sasala Traditional Native Dance ......250-974-5475 5-7 Tour de Delta – cyclists .....................................604-952-3545 5-7 Nanaimo, Save-On-Foods Dragon Boat Fest ......250-754-1991 5-7 Smithers Midsummer Music Festival .................250-847-4343 5-7 Tofino Saltwater Classic Fishing Derby ..............604-928-5013 6 GrandForks & Greenwood, Garden Tour ..........250-442-5835 6 Nanaimo Toy Run .............................................250-668-8294 6 Oliver Library’s Outdoor Book Blast ..................250-485-0088 6 Revelstoke, Timber Day – logging sports ...........250-837-5345 6 Victoria, Provincial Heritage Fair ......................250-374-1509 6-7 Anahim Lake Stampede ....................................250-742-0029 6-7 Chilliwack Heritage Park, BC Big Rigs ..............604-580-2092 6-7 Edgewater, Steamboat Mountain Music Fest .....250-347-7757 6-7 Fernie, Roller Derby Association of Canada Regional Finals ...................................... rollerderbycanada.ca 6-7 Fernie, Mudd, Sweat & Tears .............muddsweatandtears.com 6-14 Bamfield, Music by the Sea ...............................250-728-3887 6-14 Harrison Hot Springs Festival of the Arts ...........604-796-3664 6-14 Oliver, Summer Okanagan Wine Festival 7-8 Abbotsford, Berry Beat Festival .........................604-850-6547 7-8/22 Vernon, Civic Sounds (7-9 Thursday nights) ......250-542-5851 7-8/25 Fernie Market & Summer Socials, Sundays ........250-423-6868 7-8/25 Port Moody, Pacific Coast Terminals Concerts ...604-341-4813 9-13 Victoria Ska Fest (reggae) ..................................250-385-0051 10 Vancouver, Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix..604-484-6630 12-13 Horsefly, Arts on the Fly Music, Arts, Dance .....250-620-0592 12-14 Atlin Arts & Music Festival ................................867-335-1428 12-14 Chilliwack Heritage Park, West Coast Classic ...250-819-1609 12-14 Courtenay, Vancouver Island Music Fest ...........866-898-8499 12-14 Victoria, Festival Mexicano ...............................250-380-1280 12-14 Tour de White Rock ..........................................604-536-4951 12-22 Surrey, Scotiabank Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship ..............................604-536-9287 13 Fernie, Lost Boys Lungbuster Hill Climb ...........250-423-4655 13 Fort Steele, Kootenay Trout Hatchery Anniv.......250-429-3214 13 Vancouver, Khatsahlano! Music & Art Festival ..604-263-6443 13-14 Kimberley, Canadian National Cycling Championship downhill mountain bike race .....800-663-2929 13-14 Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival ........................604-467-5535 13-14 Valemount, Canoe River Mountain Rodeo ........250-566-4500 13-14 Victoria, Rock the Shores ..................................855-985-5000 13-21 Surrey, Arnold Mikelson Festival of Arts ............604-536-6460 13-8/18 Parksville, Canadian Open Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition ..............................250-951-2678 14 Burnaby, 25th Symphony in the Park..................604-876-3434 14 Invermere, Heart of the Rockies Triathlon .........250-342-3373 14 Ladysmith, Brits on the Beach Car Show ...........250-756-0452 14 Oliver, Paella Event, Quinta Ferreira Winery 14 Quesnel, Cottonwood House Heritage Day ......250-992-2071 1 1 1 1 1 1 1-6 34 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 34 14 14 14 14-21 17-18 17-20 17-21 18-21 19-20 19-21 19-21 19-21 19-21 19-21 19-21 19-28 20 20 20 20 20 20-21 20-21 20-21 21 21 21 25-27 25-28 25-29 26-27 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-29 26-8/5 27 27 27-28 27-28 27-28 27-28 27-28 27-02 27-03 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 1 1-4 1-5 1-10 2-4 2-4 2-4 2-4 2-5 Salmon Arm, Forestry/Pioneer Day....................250-832-5291 Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra Fling .................250-642-2849 Vancouver, Subaru International Triathlon ........250-220-2259 Fernie Writers’ Conference 2013 ......................250-423-7461 Invermere, PyneStock Concert ..........................250-342-4423 Invermere, Summerlude Festival & Lake Regatta .....................................................250-342-2844 Mission Folk Music Festival ...............................604-826-5937 Quesnel, Billy Barker Days Festival ...................250-992-1234 Cranbrook, Brothers I.A. Charity Car Show .......250-426-2542 Aldergrove Fair Days ........................................604-418-9507 Chase, Squilax Pow Wow..................................250-679-3203 Crawford Bay, Starbelly Jam Music Festival.......250-225-3333 Duncan, Islands Folk Festival ............................250-748-3975 Kimberley 40th Annual JulyFest..........................250-427-3666 Victoria, Northwest Deuce Days.......................250-385-8571 Victoria International Buskers Festival 2013 ......250-590-8709 Harrison Hot Springs 9th Dragonfest .................604-858-8464 Invermere, Valley Appreciation Day .................250-342-2844 Kimberley, Julyfest KNP Race ...........................250-427-3666 Skidgegate, Totem to Totem Marathon ...............250-559-8316 Squamish Gearjammer (mountain bike race) .....604-982-8000 Chilliwack Heritage Park, Truck Rodeo .............604-419-3628 Peachland, Dancin Barefoot in the Park – Cousins Park Surrey Fusion Festival – multicultural, free ........604-591-4011 Agassiz Slow Food Cycle Tour ...........................604-796-2619 Nanaimo, Silly Boat Regatta..............................250-753-0251 Revelstoke, Stoked to Get Spanked Mountain Bike Race..........................................250-837-5345 Chilliwack Heritage Park, Canadian National Championship Andalusian & Luistano Show .....250-359-7740 Victoria’s Festival of Food and Wine..................250-385-1527 Golden, Motion Notion Festival ........................403-274-5978 Alert Bay 31st Annual Seafest ............................250-974-5024 Hazelton, Kispiox Valley Music Festival ............250-842-6390 Nakusp Rodeo – BCRA sanctioned ...................250-265-2207 Nanaimo Marine Festival and International Championship Bathtub Race .............................250-753-7223 Powell River Sea Fair.........................................604-483-4220 Ucluelet, Ukee Days .........................................250-726-7772 Gray Creek Museum Days ................................250-227-9315 Sooke Fine Arts Show, at Seaparc ......................250-642-7256 Castlegar, Kootenay Festival ..............................250-365-3386 Delta, Boundary Bay Airshow 2013 ..................604-946-5361 Chemainus Bluegrass Festival ............................250-246-1389 Fort St. John International Air Show ..................250-787-7100 Gibsons, Sea Cavalcade ....................................604-866-9648 Kelowna International Dragon Boat Festival ......250-863-4902 North Vancouver, Caribbean Days Festival .......604-515-2400 Fernie, TransRockies Challenge – mtn bike........403-668-7537 Vancouver, Honda Celebration of Light ............604-642-6835 Alert Bay 12th Annual Music Fest ......................250-974-5024 Colwood Rotary Art & Wine Festival .................250-474-5287 Delta, International Bog Day.............................604-572-0373 Parksville, Jazz, Tea & Cheesecake ....................250-954-3931 Peachland Triatholon, Community Centre .........250-767-2133 Salmon Arm Classic Triathlon ...........................250-833-2889 Victoria, Rotary Art & Wine Festival ..................250-474-5287 AUGUST BC DAY CELEBRATIONS Coombs, 35th Country Bluegrass Festival ...........250-248-1009 Squamish Logger Sports Festival ........................604-815-4994 Hornby Island Festival ......................................250-335-2734 Kamloops Pow Wow – Secwepemc heritage .....250-828-9782 Kaslo Jazz Summer Music Festival .....................250-353-7577 Taylor, World’s Invitational Class ‘A’ Gold Panning Championships / Festival .....................250-789-3392 Whistler, Cdn Nat’l BBQ Championships .........604-905-2146 Abbotsford Agrifair & Rodeo.............................604-852-6674 RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:26 PM If you had an interesting time and maybe took some pictures too, please write us a story about what you experienced! 2-5 2-11 2-11 3-4 3-4 3-4 3-4 3-4 3-4 3-5 3-5 3-5 3-11 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4-13 5-10 6 7-10 7-11 7-11 7-12 8 8-11 9 9-10 9-10 9-10 9-10 9-11 9-11 9-11 9-18 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10-11 10-11 10-11 10-11 10-11 10-11 10-11 11 11 11 14-15 10-15 15 15-17 Revelstoke Glacier Challenge Baseball Tourney 250-837-9351 Terrace, Riverboat Days ....................................250-638-8887 West Vancouver Harmony Arts Festival .............604-925-7268 100 Mile House Interlakes BCRA Rodeo ...........250-593-0123 Fort Steele, Farming Days .................................250-417-6000 Ladysmith Days ................................................250-245-2112 Tumbler Ridge, Grizfest ....................................250-242-4246 Valemount, Northwest Mud Racing ..................250-566-4500 White Rock, Spirit of the Sea Festival ................604-535-9890 Comox, 2013 Filberg Arts Festival .....................250-941-0727 Comox Nautical Days .......................................250-338-1120 Delta, Tsawwassen Sun Festival.........................604-952-3000 Osoyoos, 27th Mt Kobau Star Party ....................250-763-6962 Abbotsford Tradex, BC Supermoto National Championships .................................................604-832-0384 Alert Bay, 5th Annual 360 Eco Paddle ................250-974-5024 Invermere, Columbia Valley Tour of the Arts .....250-342-4423 Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, The Western Open Downhill Mountain Bike Race ................250-439-5425 Nelson, Cyswog ‘n’ Fun Triathlon......................250-352-3433 Tlell 31st Fall Fair ...............................................250-559-8975 Vancouver Pride Parade & Festival ....................604-687-0955 Victoria Symphony Splash ................................250-385-9771 White Rock, Tour de British Columbia ...............tourdebc.com Oliver, The Fibre Broads & Friends Summer Studio, Quails Nest Arts Centre Duncan, BC Day is Kids Day ..............................250-715-111 Penticton Square Dance Festival .......................peachfest.com Dawson Creek & District Fall Fair/Exhibition/ Stampede ..........................................................250-782-6272 Penticton Peach Festival ....................................peachfest.com Salmo, Shambhala Music Festival......................250-352-7623 Penticton Sandcastle Competition.....................peachfest.com Prince George Exhibition ..................................250-563-4096 Kaslo, Pirate Day on the SS Moyie ....................250-353-2525 Fernie, Wapiti Music Festival.............................250-423-6868 Kelowna, Okanagan Summer Wine Festival ......250-861-6654 Mount Washington Alpine Food Festival ...........250-338-1386 Squamish Valley Music Festival .........................604-733-7171 Abbotsford Airshow ..........................................604-852-8511 Chilliwack Heritage Park, Chilliwack Fair .........604-824-8191 Kimberley, Koocanusa Wakesurfing Challenge .250-278-7873 Whistler, Crankworx Freeride Mtn Bike Fest .....604-935-3357 Burnaby Blues & Roots Festival .........................604-291-6864 Chase, Cornstock ..............................................250-679-8432 Creston Museum Old-Fashioned Tea.................250-428-9262 Galiano Island, Galiano Wine Festival ..............250-539-5976 Invermere, Loop the Lake & Lakeside Splashdown ........................................250-342-6773 Kimberley, Arts on the Edge ..............................250-427-3666 Peachland, Rattlesnake Island Swim..................250-767-2133 Penticton Peach Fest Grande Parade .................peachfest.com Squamish 50 Ultramarathon & Relay ................888-295-8181 Tumbler Ridge, Emperor’s Challenge Mountain Half Marathon ..................................................250-242-4242 Coombs Fair......................................................250-248-4478 Elko Country Festival of Entertainers ..................250-529-7418 Invermere, Lakeside Event – aviation meet .......250-342-2844 Nelson, Columbia Basin Culture Tour ...............250-505-5505 New Westminster, New West Cultural Crawl....604-521-6288 Osoyoos, Glattstein Studio presenting the Verano Show ....................................................250-495-5104 Victoria, Arts & Music at Glendale Gardens ......250-479-6162 Delta Community Animal Expo.........................604-940-7111 Salmon Arm, Classic/Antique Car Show ............250-832-5243 Youbou Regatta .................................................250-749-6742 Quadra Island Paint Out! at Heriot Bay Inn .......250-285-3390 Victoria, Medieval Village .................................250-478-5849 Port Coquitlam, Terry Fox Run, everywhere ......604-701-0246 Mission, Rockin’ River Music Festival ................604-733-2235 15-18 16-18 16-18 16-18 16-18 16-18 16-18 16-18 16-18 16-18 16-18 17 17 17 17-18 17-9/2 18 18 18 18 22-25 22-25 22-9/1 23-25 23-25 23-25 24 24 24-25 24-25 24-25 25 25 25 25 26 28-01 30-01 30-01 31 31-01 31-01 31-01 31-01 31-02 31-02 31-03 1 1 2 5-8 5-15 6-7 6-7 6-7 6-8 6-8 6-8 6-8 6-8 Sechelt, Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts.......................................................604-885-9631 Castlegar, Kennel Club Dog Show ....................888-365-6313 Cranbrook Pro Rodeo .......................................250-426-5792 Dunstar, Robson Valley Music Festival ..............250-968-4411 Fort St. John, North Peace Fall Fair....................250-261-4899 Nanaimo, Vancouver Island Exhibition..............250-758-3247 Revelstoke Railway Days ..................................250-837-6060 Salmon Arm 22nd Roots & Blues Festival............250-833-4096 Vancouver, Anime Revolution – Japan culture ..604-862-1180 Vanderhoof, 46th Nechako Valley Exhibition .....250-567-3011 Victoria Dragon Boat Festival ............................250-704-2500 Langley, Arts Alive Festival ................................604-539-0133 Oliver, Romancing the Desert, Osoyoos Desert Centre Sechelt, 6th Astronomy in the Park .....................604-740-5860 Chilliwack Heritage Park, NW Mud Racing ......604-725-1947 Vancouver, Fair at the PNE ...............................604-253-2311 Cowichan Lake, Master Cycle Race ........bcmasterscycling.net Delta, Ladner Quilt Walk & Car Show ..............604-946-4611 Parksville, Children’s Sandcastle Competition ...250-248-4004 Victoria, Fab Forts .............................................250-478-5849 Smithers, Bulkley Valley Exhibition ...................250-847-3816 Yale, Fraser Rvr Gold Panning Championship ....604-948-4941 Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival..........................250-383-2663 Chilliwack Heritage Park, Rising Star Dressage Championship ..................................................604-823-6768 Courtenay, Comox Valley Exhibition Fall Fair....250-338-8177 Fort St. James, Music on the Mountain .............250-996-8233 Cobble Hill Fair ................................................250-743-4377 Richmond, Steveston Dragon Boat Festival ........604-688-2382 Kimberley, Sullivan Shakedown ........................250-427-0021 La La Hache, South Cariboo Garlic Festival..... garlicfestival.ca Princeton & District Agricultural Fall Fair ..........250-295-6993 Abbotsford Tradex, BC Supermoto National Championships .................................................604-832-0384 Oliver, Challenge Penticton Pender Island Fall Fair .......................................250-629-3372 Tofino Lantern Festival, 7:30-10:30pm ..............250-725-2560 Youbou, Summer Carnival.................................250-749-6742 Armstrong, 114th Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede ...................................................250-546-8155 Chilliwack Heritage Park, Peruvian Horse Club of Canada Event ................................................604-626-0011 Victoria Classic Boat Festival ............................250-385-7766 Surrey, Crescent Beach Concours d/Elegance ...604-980-7429 Fernie, BC Cup DH MTB Race at Fernie Alpine Resort Kimberley, Grizzly Ultra Race – mtn bikers ......800-663-2929 Merritt, Nicola Valley Fall Fair & Exhibition ......250-378-5925 Valemount Marina Association Fishing Derby ...250-566-3094 Barriere, North Thompson Fall Fair & Rodeo.....250-672-0055 Victoria, Vancouver Island Blues Bash ..............250-388-4423 Saanichton, 145th Saanich Fair ..........................250-652-3314 SEPTEMBER Chetwynd Half Marathon .................................250-788-2214 Honeymoon Bay, Blackberry Pie “Fest” Fort Langley, Old & New Day at BC Farm Museum ...................................................604-888-2273 Port Alberni, Alberni District Fall Fair................250-723-9313 Vancouver International Fringe Festival .............604-257-0350 Abbotsford Tradex: MCC Festival for World Relief ................................................................604-823-4044 Creston Valley Fall Fair .....................................250-428-2920 Victoria, Great Canadian Beer Festival ..............250-383-2332 Chilliwack Heritage Park, Western Canadian Reining Association Show .................................604-790-3433 Hope Brigade Days ...........................................604-869-2744 Peachland Fall Fair, Community Centre Rossland, Golden City Days ..............................250-362-5666 Salmon Arm Fall Fair .........................................250-832-0442 RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 35 35 6/20/13 12:26 PM Why leave that RV sitting in your yard? Confirm an Event, load the RV, fire up the unit and go play! WA E V e n T s 1 4 4 4 4 4 5 5-7 6 6 6 6 6-7 6-7 6-7 7 10-14 10-14 11-14 12-13 12-14 12-14 12-14 12-14 12-14 12-14 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13-14 13-14 13-14 13-14 13-14 13-14 13-14 13-14 13-14 13-14 13-14 13-14 14 17 18 19-20 19-21 19-21 19-21 19-21 19-21 19-21 20 20 20 20 20 20-21 20-21 20-21 20-21 20-21 36 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 36 JULY Gig Harbor, Freedom Fair Wings & Wheels .......253-507-9357 ALL COMMUNITIES CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY Aberdeen, Splash Festival...................................360-537-3229 Auburn‘s 4th of July Car Show ............................253-931-3043 Leavenworth, Kinderfest ....................................509-548-5807 Tacoma Freedom Fair .........................................253-326-4444 Long Beach, Clean-Up Day................................360-642-0033 Seattle, International Gem & Jewelry Show ........301-294-1640 Bellevue, Factoria Market Place Car Show .........206-214-8308 Ilwaco, Firecraker 5K Walk/Run .........................360-642-2400 Langley, Cool Bayview Nights Car Show............425-223-2987 Tacoma Narrows Airport Freedom Fair ...............253-507-9357 Langley, Choochokam Arts Festival ....................360-914-1863 Long Beach, SummerFest ...................................360-642-2400 Newport, Pend Oreille Valley Lavender Festival .509-671-0295 Return to Renton Car Show & Cruise-In .............206-200-3721 Arlington Fly-In Event ........................................360-435-5857 Long Beach, City Sandsations.............................360-642-2400 Enumclaw, King County Fair ..............................901-867-7007 Bellingham, East 542 Music Fest .................. 542musicfest.com Grayland, Windriders Kite Festival .....................800-345-6223 McCleary, 2nd Growth & Bear Festival ................360-495-3031 Redmond Town Center Arts Festival West Seattle Summer Fest 2013 .........................206-419-4237 Spokane, Early Ford V-8 Swap Meet ...................509-994-4924 Tacoma, Puget Sound Bead Festival....................253-572-5529 Blaine, Art-2-Jazz Street Fair ...............................360-332-6484 Hoquiam, Hot Rod Rally & Fun Run ..................360-637-6040 Ilwaco, Free Waikiki Beach Concert Series.........360-642-2400 Lyman Car Craft Show ........................................360-826-3315 Seattle, American Heroes Air Show....................206-250-3209 Seattle, Seafair Milk Carton Derby .....................206-728-0123 Tacoma, Miss Behavin Show & Shine .................253-576-7567 Chehalis, Wes Knodel Gun & Knife Show ..........503-363-9564 Elma, Antique Tractor Pull & Engine Show .........360-482-2651 Lakewood SummerFest ......................................253-983-7887 Kent, Bracketstars Nostalgia Car Show & Drags..206-354-3152 Long Beach, SummerFest ...................................360-642-2400 Mill Creek Festival & Street Fair..........................425-422-4721 Olympia Airshow ...............................................360-705-3925 Seattle, Urban Craft Uprising Summer Show, Seattle Center Seattle, 39th Ballard SeafoodFest ........................206-784-9705 Seattle, Wedgwood Art Festival .............wedgwoodfestival.com Sumner, Third Annual Rhubarb Days .................253-720-9846 Trout Lake Festival of the Arts.............................509-395-2294 Kirkland, Yuppie Taverns Pit-A-Billy Car Show ....425-350-7043 Spokane County Interstate Fair, Job Fair ..............509-477-1766 Ilwaco, Art Night ...............................................360-642-2400 Lynden, Northwest Raspberry Festival ................360-354-5995 Battle Ground, Harvest Days .............................360-687-1510 Darrington Bluegrass Festival .............................360-436-1804 Comcast Bite of Seattle ......................................425-295-3262 Sequim Lavender Farm Faire in the Park .............360-452-6300 Vashon Island 104th Strawberry Festival ..............206-463-6217 Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival .....................509-997-7171 Auburn, Car Show 4 Kids ...................................253-735-8974 Ephrata, Basin Summer Sounds Car & Bike Show..................................................................509-750-5359 Long Beach, Music in the Gardens .....................360-642-2400 Lynden, Raspberry Festival Poker Run ................360-354-2877 Lynden, 7th Razz & Shine Cruise-In ....................360-303-7610 Birch Bay 34th Discovery Days ...........................360-371-5004 Covington Days Festival .....................................425-432-9140 Duvall, Sandblast Festival of the Arts ..................425-788-0847 Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival.........................253-857-4222 Ilwaco, Clamshell Railroad Days .......................360-642-2400 20-21 20-21 20-21 20-21 21 21 25-28 25-28 25-28 26-27 26-27 26-27 26-27 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 26-28 27 27 27 27 27 27 27-28 27-28 27-28 27-28 27-28 28 28 28 31-04 1 2-3 2-3 2-3 2-3 2-3 2-4 2-4 2-4 2-4 2-4 2-11 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3-4 3-4 3-4 4 Long Beach, SummerFest ...................................360-642-2400 Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival......................509-525-1031 Westport, Eastside Street Rods Show & Shine ....800-345-6223 White Center Jubilee Days Street Fair ................206-707-9458 Snohomish, Kla Ha Ya Days Classic Rod Custom Car Show ...........................................................425-327-5948 Stanwood, Viking Car and Grille ........................425-493-4837 Longview, Cowlitz County Fair & Rodeo ............360-577-3122 Ocean Shores, Sun and Surf Run – motorcycles ...206-953-7918 Stevenson, Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival ...509-427-3980 Camas Days, downtown ....................................360-834-2472 OTC Ilwaco Tuna Classic ...................................360-642-2400 Liberty Lake Days ..............................................509-755-6726 Richland, Art in the Park.....................................509-492-7028 Bellevue Arts Museum ARTSfair .........................425-519-0742 Downtown Bellevue 6th Street Fair .....................425-453-1223 Enumclaw Street Fair ..........................................253-740-4153 Gold Bar, Gold Dust Days ............................. golddustdays.org Kennewick, Tri-City Water Follies .......................509-783-4675 Kingston, Kitsap Arts & Crafts Festival.................206-291-7188 Lake Stevens Aquafest ........................................425-397-2344 Long Beach, NPRA Sanctioned Rodeo ...............360-642-2400 Puyallup, Goodguys 26th Pacific NW Nationals ..925-838-9876 Renton River Days .............................................425-430-6518 Silverdale Whaling Days ............................... whalingdays.com Spokane, IE Tennessee Walking Horse Show ......509-230-6524 Aberdeen, Midnight Cruisers Rod Fest ...............360-532-8690 Bainbridge Island Bluegrass Festival ...................206-842-4948 Friday Harbor Airport Fly-In & Open House ......360-378-2688 Ilwaco, Free Waikiki Beach Concert Series.........360-642-2400 Shoreline, NW SolarFest ....................................206-306-9233 Silvana Community Fair .....................................360-652-0587 Emumclaw, 67th Scottish Highland Games .................sshga.org Lacey, 6th PNW Mushroom Festival ....................360-259-6672 Long Beach, SummerFest ...................................360-642-2400 Lynden, Falcon Gun & Knife Show .....................360-202-7336 Tokeland Wood Fest ...........................................360-267-3842 Bremerton, Mopar Magic Show-n-Shine ............360-698-0773 Seattle, Hispanic Seafair Organization Festival...206-749-5600 Westport, Elk River Challenge – boat race .........360-268-9712 Lacey, Thurston County Fair ...............................360-786-5453 AUGUST Auburn, The Bracketstars Bash Car Show ...........206-354-3152 Conconully Miners Day .....................................509-826-1221 Long Beach, Jake the Alligator Man’s Birthday ....360-642-2400 Mossyrock Blueberry Festival .............................360-983-3681 Moxee Hop Festival ...........................................509-452-5632 Seattle, Magnolia Summerfest & Art Show .........206-284-5836 Anacortes Arts Festival .......................................360-293-6211 Quincy, Watershed Music Festival............... watershedfest.com Seattle, Boeing Air Show at Seafair Weekend .....206-728-0123 Spokane, Hillyard Festival ..................................509-483-7284 Stanwood-Camano Community Fair...................360-629-4121 Ridgefield, Clark County Fair, Fairgrounds..........360-397-6180 Conconully, Cowboy Caviar Fete .......................509-826-9050 Elma, Heat on the Street Car and Motorcycle Show..................................................................360-482-3055 Granite Falls Show & Shine................................360-691-4150 Long Beach, Race Against Violence ....................360-642-2400 Mukilteo Waterfront Arts Festival........................425-423-0450 Olympia, HD Classic Car/Hot Rod Show ...........360-412-8804 Spokane Highland Games ..................................509-276-8167 Tacoma, Proctor Arts Fest ...................................253-752-5200 University Place Festival ....................................253-507-9357 Westport, 5th Tuna Classic ..................................206-218-6785 Blaine, Drayton Harbor Days Festival .................360-332-6484 Bonney Lake, Midsummer Renaissance Faire .....800-587-0172 Long Beach, SummerFest ...................................360-642-2400 Auburn, GCC Classic Car Show .........................253-833-5660 RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:26 PM If you had an interesting time and maybe took some pictures too, please write us a story about what you experienced! 4 4 4 7-10 7-10 7-11 8-11 8-11 8-11 9-11 9-11 9-11 9-11 9-11 9-11 10 10 10 10 10 10-11 10-11 10-11 10-11 10-11 12-17 13-17 14-18 14-20 15 15-18 15-18 16-18 16-17 16-17 16-18 16-18 16-18 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17-18 17-18 17-18 17-18 17-18 18 18 18 19-25 20-24 21-24 22-25 22-25 22-25 22-25 22-02 23-24 Issaquah, Triple X-Roger Jackson Classic Car Show ...........................................................206-214-8318 Vancouver, Columbia River Concours d’Elegance .........................................................503-970-4533 Yelm, Prairie Street Rod Assn Show in the Park ...360-584-6089 Grandview, Yakima Valley Fair & Rodeo.............509-882-1197 Mount Vernon, Skagit County Fair......................360-336-9414 Elma, Grays Harbor County Fair .........................360-482-2651 Graham, Pierce County Fair ...............................253-847-4754 Olga, Doe Bay Fest ............................................360-376-2291 Omak Stampede ................................................509-826-1983 A Taste of Edmonds ............................................425-670-1496 Long Beach, Surf n’ Saddle’s Jr. Rodeo................360-642-2400 Medical Lake, Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival .....509-299-3630 North Bend, Festival at Mount Si........................425-888-8535 Port Townsend, Jefferson County Fair .................360-385-1013 Toledo, Mt. St. Helens Bluegrass Festival ............360-785-3478 Belfair, Taste of Hood Canal...............................360-620-9677 Ilwaco, Free Waikiki Beach Concert Series.........360-642-2400 LaConner Classic Boat and Car Show ................888-642-9284 Oak Harbor, North Whidbey Car Show .............360-240-0843 Rochester, OSRA Lucky Eagle Casino Car Show 360-493-1957 Arlington, Stillaguamish Festival of the River and Pow Wow ..........................................................360-547-2687 Bonney Lake, Midsummer Renaissance Faire .....800-587-0172 Coupeville Arts and Crafts Festival......................360-678-5116 Long Beach, SummerFest ...................................360-642-2400 Spokane, Inland Empire Bucking Horse Show ....208-660-0955 Lynden, Northwest Washington Fair ...................360-354-4111 Moses Lake, Grant County Fair...........................509-765-3581 Stevenson, Skamania County Fair & Timber Carnival .............................................................509-427-3980 Seattle, Summer Market Week: Gift & Home Accessories Show, Pacific Market Center ............425-440-6715 Ilwaco, Art Night ...............................................360-642-2400 Langley, Whidbey Island Fair .............................360-221-4677 Port Angeles, Clallam County Fair ......................360-417-2551 Chelan Fine Arts Festival, Riverwalk Park ............509-682-9781 Ilwaco, Blues and Seafood .................................360-783-1143 Pullman, National Lentil Festival ........................509-334-3565 Poulsbo Arts Festival ...........................................360-697-6342 Seattle Hempfest ................................................206-364-4367 Spokane, Goodguys Rod & Custom Car Show....925-838-9876 Bremerton, Kitsap Wine Festival ........................360-473-5555 Conconully, Grubstake Open Golf Tournament..509-826-6780 Hunters 104th Community & 4-H Club Fair ........509-675-6480 Kent, Classic Ford Mustang Roundup .................253-852-1480 Olalla Bluegrass & Beyond Festival ........... olallabluegrass.com Parkland, Garfield Street Fair & Car Show ..........253-307-6161 Port Townsend Kiwanis Classic Car Show ..........360-301-5048 Port Townsend Uptown Crafts Fair .....................360-379-3813 South Tacoma Classic Car Show ........................253-475-5676 Vancouver, Slo Poks Uptown Village Show/Shn .503-407-2955 Bonney Lake, Midsummer Renaissance Faire .....800-587-0172 Everett, Fresh Paint: Festival of Artists at Work ....425-259-5050 Long Beach, SummerFest ...................................360-642-2400 Ocean Shores, Fun Fly – kite flyers perform .......360-289-4103 Westport Art Festival ..........................................360-268-1825 Columbia City Car Show....................................206-214-8318 Ocean Park, Jazz and Oysters ............................360-642-2400 Seattle, BrasilFest ...............................................425-254-1616 Long Beach, WA State International Kite Fest’l ...360-244-3856 Kennewick, Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo ......509-586-9211 Raymond, Pacific County Fair.............................360-208-4672 Goldendale, Klickitat County Fair and Rodeo .....509-896-2303 La Center Our Days Celebration ........................360-263-3648 Leavenworth, Village Art in the Park ...................509-548-5809 Waterville, North Central WA District Fair .........509-745-8480 Monroe, Evergreen State Fair..............................360-805-6700 Conconully, Town-Wide Yard Sales ....................509-826-9050 23-24 23-24 23-25 23-25 23-25 24 24 24 24-25 24-25 24-25 25 28-01 30-31 30-01 30-01 31 31 31 31 31-01 31-01 31-01 31-02 31-02 31-02 Ferndale Street Festival .......................................360-384-3042 Lynden PRCA Rodeo ..........................................360-354-4111 Chehalis, 16th Garlic Fest & Craft Show ..............360-740-5400 Clayton Community Fair .................claytoncommunityfair.com Mountlake Terrace, Bluegrass on the Green .......425-835-3284 Bonney Lake Hot Rods and Harleys Show..........253-230-0982 Ilwaco, Free Waikiki Beach Concert Series.........360-642-2400 Tacoma Maritime Fest ........................................253-223-3363 Chehalis, Wes Knodel Gun and Knife Show .......503-363-9564 Hoquiam, On Track Art Festival ..........................360-637-6040 Stevenson, Big River Fiber Fling .........................509-427-8454 Auburn, The Bracketstars Bonanza Car Show .....206-354-3152 Walla Walla Frontier Days..................................509-527-3247 Leavenworth, Wild & Scenic Music Fest ............206-459-7334 Elma, 21st Unfinished Nationals .........................360-249-4747 Olympia Harbor Days ........................................800-788-8847 Bickleton, ACPA Carousel Museum Car Show and Flea Market .................................................509-896-2062 Chesaw Hot August Nights .................................509-485-2174 Maple Falls, 4th Labor Day Car Show/Rod Run ...800-709-7669 Westport, Seafood Festival and Craft Show ........800-345-6223 Belfair, Hood Canal Highland Celtic Festival .....360-275-9882 Pacific Beach, Kelpers Festival and Shake Rat Rendevous – logging challenge ..........................360-276-4441 Richland, Three Rivers Folklife Tumbleweed Music Festival ....................................................509-528-2215 Chinook Arts Festival ..........................................360-777-8715 Long Beach, SummerFest ...................................360-642-2400 Seattle, Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival.....206-673-5060 By BEV MOORE Easy Cooking with MOORE My mother used to make these all the time when I was a child. She usually made them in tart tins but sometimes would use large muffin tins to be served as an individual dessert topped with whipped or marshmallow cream. By pressing the dough into a pan (9 x 13), it can be served cut into squares. DELIGHTS Cream together: ½ cup butter and ¾ cup white sugar ADD: 2 unbeaten eggs 2 cups flour 2 tsp. baking powder Jam* of your choice Chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans) Mix together to form a soft dough. Press into tins to make a shell. Into each tart put in a couple of teaspoons of any kind of jam and a sprinkle of nuts. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. *With this recipe, I have used up jam I had that hadn’t gelled, and on one occasion some delicious marmalade that did not set properly because I had used sweet oranges. I had missed out on Seville oranges, available for such a short time. Be creative. Speaking of being creative, I have often made an interesting version of those famous Rice Krispie/Marshmallow Squares. I’m sure I’m not the only one that ends up with the dregs of several kinds of cereal in the cupboard, taking up a lot of room. Mix them all together as a substitute for the Rice Krispies. RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 37 37 6/20/13 12:26 PM — MicroAds— Clearbrook Hitch & Welding Ltd. OME HITCH & TOW BAR EXPERTS e on se for over 30 years! Truck Accessories Bike Racks Roof Racks & Wiring tem, a isher 6-2345 Windsor St ABBOTSFORD, BC 604-854-1541 s Ltd. 1-0089 .com pot.com Park NEW Fisherboy 1546 Sayward Rd Only 20 RV lOTS in a Quiet, Rural Area, 20 kms S. of Golden BC on Hwy 95 Six 30’ x 105’ Lots on Sale $45,000. . . Now $35,000 Financing available Comes with River Access, 70 amp/Year-rnd water/sewer 10’ x 30’ (on site) covered storage unit. columbiariverwetlandsrvpark.ca 250-348-2094 (Just off Hwy. 19) SAYWARD BC Open Year Round Camping, Cabins, Motel, Cable, Store, Liquor, WiFi Convenient stop-over for Port Hardy Ferry. Full Hookups, Flush Toilets, Clubhouse, Laundry, Showers, Sani-Station, Firepits Fisherboypark.com 250-282-3204 STAY 5 MONTHS & get the 6th for FREE! “No Rig Too Big” • Affordable • Quiet & Friendly • Rentals • Wi-Fi • Golfing • Gambling • Clean Facilities • Nearby Fishing • Close to Laughlin 1325 Boundary Cone Rd, Mohave Valley AZ www.MoonRiverResort.com / 1-928-788-6666 CAMP ON HARRISON RIVER! 110 Full Service RV Sites in Harrison Mills, BC Daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal & winter storage rates Boat Launch, Fishing, Golf, Trail Rides, Dining! NOW SELLING RV LOTS! 1201 Kennedy Rd Harrison Mills, BC 604-799-0319 www.oldorchardrv.com Qualicum Bay Resort Motel, RV Park and Campground on Vancouver Island 10% OFF IF YOU MENTION THIS AD Park your RV on our oceanfront private 2 acres near downtown Sooke, BC www.sookeoceanresort.com 1-800-663-6899 info@resortbc.com resortbc.com Sometimes Sushi is available on the boat from Sushi ON The Sea 250-757-2003 FREE DAYS! Stay 5 days & we will give you 2 add’l days for FREE! Rare Opportunity Sites Available SUNKATCHERS CO-OP RV PARK Keremeos, BC Call us: 1-866-678-6722 or 520-723-9533, or email: reservations@sunscapervresort.com Check us out at: www.Sunscapervresort.com 16451 B Timberline Rd. Earl’s Cove BC (Sunshine Coast) • Open Year Round • 10 Sites on 7 Acres • Full hook-ups, with free WiFi • Reservations highly advised • Long-term Rate Special 604-883-1133 or cell: 604-512-9170 www.timberlinecamping.ca WeSnowbirds, Long Term & Staycation RV’s BC Good Sams: www.bcsams.ca BlueJay SINGLES: 250-453-9077 Burnabees: 604-888-8030 Diamond Wheels: 604-858-6499 or 604-530-6029 Drifters: 250-768-3050 Happy Islanders: 250-390-3156 Interior Romers: 250-378-5839 Newmar Kountry: 604-916-7767 RVer’s-R-US: 778-241-2307 Wally Byrum for Airstreamers: saltayre@gmail.com Any errors, omissions, or additions? Sheila@rvtimes.com ✒ www.sunkatchers.com info@sunkatchers.com We want you to come see us. We have big lots with concrete pads, great amenities, including new Pickle Ball Courts & No Trains or Highway Noise. 250-642-6669 RV CLUBS OPEN TO NEW MEMBERS: Sunscape RV Resort ~ Best Value Prices ~ $350/mo. + electric No limits! HAPPY TRAILS from SOOKE OCEAN RESORT and/or Individuals can use the MICROAds (above) for $165 + HST. Colour is an extra $50. RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 38 Businesses RVT 154 48 pages.indd 38 6/20/13 12:26 PM — MARKETPAGE— ADA VIS GLOBAL MEXICO INSURANCE FOR AS LOW AS $83 A YEAR 1-800-909-4457 Fax: 1-800-909-1007 www.mexicoinsurance.com E-MAIL: info@mexicoinsurance.com RV DRIVER TRAINING by the Patient Professionals at EURO DRIVING SCHOOL Our Program is for those who DRIVE and PARK Motorhomes, AND for those who TOW and PARK 5th Wheel Trailers and Travel Trailers. ALSO: Government Certified Air Brake Course Call TODAY for Safe RVing Tomorrow 604-585-3876 • www.eurodriving.ca RVOABC members will receive a 10% discount. LOOKING FOR A WARMER WINTER DESTINATION? Drive Baja Mexico and enjoy sun and fun with Baja Amigos RV Caravan Tours! Mexico Camping since 1985 Call us at 1-866-999-BAJA (2252) info@bajaamigos.net • bajaamigos.net REC TECH RV SERVICE NORTH SHORE R.V. • RV Service & Repair • Parts & Accessories • Insurance & Warranty Claims • Certified RV Techs - Propane Service • VW, Euro, Westfalia Van Service 1128 West 15th St., North Vancouver, BC V7P 1M9 (Just off Pemberton) 604-987-2827 rvcenter@telus.net RV OOPS Awards N E W : : 10960 North Ford Rd (Box 1344) GRAND FORKS, BC V0H 1H0 Full Service, Parts & Repairs Accessories, Solar Installations Interstate Batteries, Hitches Light Welding & Fabrication Towing Equipment Warranty Claims Factory Recalls Mobile Service Unit Certified Technician Call PETER at 250-442-0775 or 250-443-9020 By LARRY MacDONALD, Powell River, BC What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done while RVing? #2: SIZE MATTERS Art and his wife were driving south for the winter when they decided to overnight in the parking lot of a big-box store. They circled the lot and were driving parallel to a retaining wall on the passenger side when Art noticed a suitable parking space to his left. As he turned sharply, a loud RIPPING sound came from behind. Looking over his shoulder, Art could see directly out the back of his coach. The right rear corner had gotten caught on a protruding angle iron, opening up the back end like a can of sardines. After a sleepless night, he drove slowly to a nearby RV dealer who pushed the back wall into position and secured it with brackets and screws. Continuing on to their destination, Art had it fixed properly by another dealer to the tune of $20,000. Tail-swing can be problematic for RVers. The longer your overhang from the rear wheels, the further your rear end swings out when turning. It’s been estimated that every three feet of overhang results in potentially one foot of tail swing. Since motorhomes can have up to 15 feet of overhang, tail swing can be as much as five feet. I hear numerous reports of rear sections hitting objects, often in campgrounds and gas stations where space is tight. Most result in minor dents, but Art’s experience nearly earned him the top spot in this year’s Awards. ✒ Helpful Hint: Determine your tail swing by parking in an open lot so that the right side of your rig is lined up with a straight line such as a paint stripe. Then turn the wheels sharply left and move forward very slowly, until the right rear corner reaches the maximum distance from the straight line. You may need a helper to tell you when to stop. Most drivers will be amazed at how far out their tail swings from its initial position. Businesses and/or Individuals can use the MARKETPAGE Ads (above) for $275 + RVT HST.154• Colour is an extra $100. JULY/AUGUST 2013 39 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 39 6/20/13 12:26 PM CLASSIFIED AD - from the RVing public 40 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 40 (1) FOR SALE – RVs CLASS A MOTORHOMES 33-foot 1989 Bounder, 454 Chev engine. Well-maintained. Renovated. New brakes. Generator. Solar panel. Roof Pod. Island queen. Rear door. 2 A/C. $9,500 403-332-2365 / cindy.basarab@gmail.com (2) FOR SALE – MISC Microwave/Convection Oven, Black, Exterior: 20.5 wide x 12 high x 19 deep with trim kit. Ideal for RV. Used 6 months. Paid $365, asking $220 604-897-1955 / lucilleketemer@gmail.com Custom built car dolly with a deck suitable for carrying a motorcycle, ATV or scooter. Checkerplate deck is 40”W x 60”L and the loading ramp is 12”W x 50”L. Professionally built to fit a Southwind motorhome. Surge brakes with many near new parts, And comes with two mounted spares. $3,500 OBO. Email bikerscain2@shaw.ca for details, or call 250-923-1753 (3) FOR SALE – LAND/LOT &/or HOMES Lot #110 at Sunkatchers RV Park Co-Op on the Similkameen River. Park Model with large addition. Low monthly maintenance fees. View description at sunkatchers.com Contact lisiki@gmail.com (4) FOR SALE – RV PARKS 36 space RV Park sitting on 49+ acres at Libby Dam in Libby MT. Includes Manager’s residence, nice garage, a park model rental, and a nice rental cabin. Has a Rec area, showers and laundry. http://www.hookuuprv.com/ Contact Lynn Ward at 800-929-9885 http://www.nwmtproperty.com/ or http://www.northwestmontanarealestate.net/ (5) FOR SALE – MEMBERSHIPS KM/Beachwood Resort Membership, Includes 7 more KM/beautiful Washington State Resorts. Dues paid up until October 2013. Selling for only $1,100! 604-846-8933 HTR includes seven Alberta-BC Resorts 14-day stays, no out time, dues paid to May 2014. $950 plus HTR fees and taxes 403-332-2365 / cindy.basarab@gmail.com CLASSIFIED ADS: Mainly for the use of the RVing public only. For ISSUE 155 Sept/October, 2013 1) 2) 3) 4) send ALL four things: Ad wording Your name Your postal mailing address Payment (If using VISA or MC, include Number, Expiry Date, Security #.) If sending cheque, make out to The RV Times, and mail to: RVT Publishing Inc. 7160 GRANT RD W. SOOKE BC V9Z 0N6 to arrive BEFORE August 19 PRINT CLEARLY, and mention the Category. (No charge for category title.) If you choose to use Credit Card & E-mail, 1st: e-mail Sheila@rvtimes.com the ad Wording, PLUS your Name and Postal Mailing Address, 2nd: phone 250-642-1916 with VISA or MasterCard Number, Expiry Date, Security Number. NOTE: Each CATEGORY is a SEPARATE AD, so please pay accordingly. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) FOR SALE - RVs (via types) FOR SALE - Misc FOR SALE - Land &/or Homes FOR SALE - RV Lots FOR SALE - Memberships FOR SALE - Timeshares FOR SALE - Books FOR RENT - Misc FOR RENT - RV Lots/Sites/Condos/Homes FOR LEASE WANTED NEED EXCHANGE JOB WANTED ESTATE SALE HELP WANTED NEW CANADIAN TOTAL RATES: $42 for 25 words or LESS. Extra words: 75¢ each. (Prices include GST tax) US RATES: $45 for 25 words or LESS. Extra words: 80¢ each. To all choosing to OVER-PAY, for whatever reason, Thank You Very Much for the “tip”. RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:26 PM S UBSCRIPTION F ORM for To get future Editions delivered to you by M AIL send PAYMENT and this FORM (or a copy of it) to: YOU RVT PUBLISHING INC. 7160 GRANT RD W., SOOKE BC V9Z 0N6 (Tel: 250-642-1916, Fax: 250-642-1917, Sheila@rvtimes.com, www.rvtimes.ca) 6 EDITIONS yearly: If sending a cheque, make payable to The RV Times or to RVT Publishing Inc. Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/June, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, & Nov/Dec Magazines to be MAILED to: Name _____________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________ Town ______________________________________________________________ Prov/State __________Postal/Zip Code __________________________________ Country ____________________________________________________________ Phone __________ –___________ – _____________________________________ E-mail address _______________________________________________________ CANADIAN: (price in red) __ 6 for $30 ($28.57 + 1.43) __ 12 for $52 ($49.52 + 2.48) __ 18 for $75 ($71.43 + 3.57) AMERICAN, in US money: __ 6 for $35 __ 12 for $62 __ 18 for $88 OVERSEAS, in CDN $: __ 6 for $42 __ 12 for $70 __ 18 for $102 Sheila, this is a GIFT SUBSCRIPTION to the above person/people, FROM: Name___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Town____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Prov/State _______ Postal Code/Zip Code _____________________________________________________________________________ Country (if not Canada)_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone ____________ - _____________ - _______________________________________________________________________________ E-mail address_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sheila, when due, please send Subscription Renewal Notice to Me ____ or to the People Receiving Subscription____. CREDIT CARD NUMBER ___________________ /___________________ /___________________ /___________________ EXPIRY DATE __________/__________, SECURITY NUMBER (3 numbers) ON BACK OF CARD ____________________ NAME AS APPEARS ON CARD____________________________________________________________________________________ SIGNATURE____________________________________________________________________________________________________ RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 41 41 6/20/13 12:26 PM OWNERS ASSOC. OF RVOABC PRESIDENT’S CORNER BY BILL WRIGHT L-R: Rick Hughes, Trenor Tilley, Jan Clark, Joyce McCluskie, Bill Wright Greetings RV’ers, First and foremost – The Kick-Off Rally at the Cariboo RV Park in Burnaby was another huge success. Well done Rick, and of course Cathy, your right and left arm. I think we should make Harriet the RVOABC Club Mom, as once again she went beyond the call of duty to make our event one of the finest starts to the RV’ing season. Twentythree years and never missing a beat! Thanks “Mom”. She supplied us with great prizes from The Bill Reid Gallery, Museum of Anthropology, Science World, Vancouver Art Gallery, Minter Gardens, Hells Gate Air Tram, Vancouver Lookout, BC Sports Hall of Fame, Stanley Park Horse Ride and two two-night stays at Burnaby Cariboo RV Park. Outstanding! Those attending the CampFire Rally at Fort Camping in Brea Island Regional Park, Fort Langley, double-dipped by having not one, but two campfires. Rick Hughes supplied the propane for the Friday night with Dave McColm and Jim Rogers supplying the wood for the Saturday night. Thanks guys for a job well done. Camp spots at Fort Camping. Check on our www.rvoabc.org website for any up-dates on happenings going on throughout the summer. Remember to mark your calendar for these dates: July 16-18: Sasquatch Pot-Luck Rally (see below) September 13-15: Wrap-up Rally (see page 44) A warm RVOABC welcome to the following New Members: Brian and Beverley Clarke Kevin and Sandy Erickson Stephen and Laurie Kingsfield Rick Manuel and Victoria Urqahart Richard and Marlene Ulmer SASQUATCH POT-LUCK RALLY JULY 16–18, 2013 Location: EAGLE VISTA RV PARK 1940 Centennial Way, SQUAMISH, BC Cost per rig: tax included, for 3 nights = $113, payable upon arrival at the Park. Campfire at Fort Camping. 42 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 42 To Register, email mcduff5@shaw.ca or call Joyce at 604-574-3631. Only a few sites available! RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:26 PM JOIN CANADA’S OWN RV OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION RECREATION VEHICLE OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA PO Box 73046 Evergreen RPO Surrey BC V3R 0J2 604-594-1450 www.rvoabc.org OWNERS ASSOC. OF Serving BC’s RVers for over a Quarter Century! The RV OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION OF BC is a Non-Profit organization of people who own, rent or hope-to-own a recreational vehicle, either trailer, camper-van, 5th wheel, or motorhome of any class. The Association has been serving the needs of RV’ers in BC for over 50 years! JOIN FOR FUN & FRIENDSHIP JOIN FOR INFORMATION & SAVINGS Being a member of our Association opens unlimited doors to Fun and Camaraderie when you participate in our Rallies. Remember the 3F’s: Food, Fun, Fellowship. If you share our love of RVing, fill out an application today and send in by mail or via our website: www.rvoabc.org. Maybe you have decided to make the trek to Alaska or the Yukon but are hesitant to go alone? Well, you never know! Maybe one of your fellow RVers is thinking of doing the same trek and you make the connection at one of the Rallies! As an RVOABC member, you will receive ALL issues of RVOABC OFFICERS: PRESIDENT: Bill Wright: 604-594-1450 Cell: 604-626-5292 President@rvoabc.org 1st VICE PRESIDENT: Rick Huges 604-202-2965 Vice-President@rvoabc.org 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: Joyce McCluskie 604-574-3631 The RV Times MAILED to your door! TREASURER: Trenor Tilley 604-538-3457 Treasurer@rvoabc.org The magazine is published six times a year and is full of very interesting topics devoted to RVers. It also lists our Commercial Members (Sponsors) many of which give our members money-saving percentage discounts on Parts and Products, including RV Parks and Tourist Attractions. SECRETARY: Jan Clark 604-466-5432 Membership@rvoabc.org NON-AFFILIATED RV CLUBS LISTED ON PAGE 38. JOIN RVOABC BY FILLING OUT THIS COUPON AND MAILING IT TODAY Please allow time for processing. We promote the 3-YEAR Membership as a cost savings to you and to the RVOABC. SURNAME____________________________________________ FIRST NAME ______________________________________________ SPOUSE/PARTNER ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY _______________________________________PROV ______________ POSTAL CODE __________________________________ PHONE ________________________________________ E-MAIL _________________________________________________________ TYPE of RV: __ Motorhome __ Trailer __ 5th Wheel __ Truck/Camper __ Tent Trailer. . . . LENGTH of RV: _____ft. MEMBERSHIP FEES: NEW MEMBERSHIP: __ 1 Year $40 __ 2 Years $60 __ 3 Years $70 RENEWALS: __ 1 Year $35 __ 2 Years $55 __ 3 Years $65 RVOABC NO. ___________ TOTAL ENCLOSED $_____________ Mail to: RVOABC OWNERS ASSOC. OF Membership automatically removed from Membership Roster upon NON-PAYMENT of dues by the end of 60 days after payment is due. After 60 days, Membership will be considered as a NEW MEMBER. NUMBER of SLIDES: _____ PO Box 73046 Evergreen RPO Surrey BC V3R 0J2 Make cheque payable to If applicable, introduced by ________________________________________________Number ____________ RVOABC RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 43 43 6/20/13 12:26 PM 2013 RVOABC SEPTEMBER 13-15 RALLY Join us by filling out this APPLICATION and MAILING IT TODAY, or go to www.rvoabc.org to Register and Pay online. Enjoy a Relaxing Weekend in the Hot Tub or Swimming Pool along with a Catered Meal. Friday evening we will have Wine & Cheese Greet & Meet along with soft drinks and maybe some music for dancing. Saturday we will have a Bean Bag Baseball Play-Off, and who knows what else! Keep an eye on our website for changes and/or updates: www.rvoabc.org Location: BC’s Sunshine Valley’s Holiday Trails RV Park RVOABC MEMBERSHIP NUMBER___________________ FIRST RALLY? Yes ______ No _______. SURNAME _________________________________________ FIRST NAME _____________________________________ SPOUSE/PARTNER ___________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY ___________________________________________POSTAL CODE ________________________________________ PHONE ________________________________________E-MAIL _______________________________________________ TYPE OF RV: Motorhome ___ Trailer ___ 5th Wheel ___ Truck & Camper ___Tent Trailer ___ LENGTH OF RV ______ ft. Number of SLIDE-OUTS _____ Vehicle Plate # _____ 1 Unit (2 people) : SEPTEMBER RALLY $160 .........$______________ 1 Unit (1 person): SEPTEMBER RALLY $130 ..........$______________ Additional person: $35 each ....................................$______________ Non-Members must add $35 for a one-year RVOABC Membership..............................$ _____________ TOTAL ENCLOSED ..................................................$______________ Mail to: RVOABC PO Box 73046 Evergreen RPO Surrey BC V3R 0J2 NOTE: NO RALLY REFUNDS will be given within 21 days of the Rally. For more info, check out our website: www.rvoabc.org 44 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 44 RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 6/20/13 12:26 PM RV BUSINESSES - CANADA: 100 MILE HOUSE BC: Meridian RV Mfg. Ltd. ✒10% Discount off parts 5430 Industrial Flats Rd (at Hwy 97 & 24) 250-395-3090 / 877-395-3090 ABBOTSFORD, BC: Fraserway RV Centre Ltd. ✒10% Disc. 30440 South Fraser Way 604-850-1976 Get-Away RV Centre Ltd. ✒10% Disc. 1 - 33743A King Rd 604-853-2229 / 888-807-7878 Grandpa’s RV Repairs 5 - 30856 Peardonville Rd 604-855-9666 / 800-820-7774 BURNABY, BC: Aim Performance Products ✒15% Disc. 2952 Argo Pl 604-338-1985 Travco RV Service Centre ✒10% Disc. off non-sale items 7020 Curragh Ave 604-430-1551 CHILLIWACK, BC: O’Connor RV Centre Ltd. ✒10% Disc. off non-sale items 44430 Yale Rd W. 604-792-2747 / 877-912-3909 Trademasters ✒Disc. to members 44467 Yale Rd 604-792-3132 / 877-878-5869 COQUITLAM, BC: Go-West RV Sales Ltd. ✒10% Disc. 32 Fawcett Rd 604-528-3900 / 800-661-8813 CRANBROOK, BC: RV West Magazine 100 - 100 7th Ave S. 250-426-7253 KELOWNA, BC: Country R.V. Centre Ltd. ✒15% Disc. service, parts, access. 3732 Hwy 97 N. 250-807-2898 / 888-456-1808 Sanidumps.com ✒20% Disc. on books www.sanidumps.com LANGLEY, BC: Atlas Alarms Ltd. ✒10% Disc.: service, parts, access. 604-532-3823 Canadian Custom Home and RV Shades ✒10% Disc. 20750 - 71A Ave 778-882-2565 Candan R.V. Center ✒10% Disc. off parts 20257 Langley Bypass 604-530-3645 / 800-922-6326 NitroLube: Lubricants Canada Ltd. 274 - 19567 Fraser Hwy 866-539-9404 RVOABC COMMERCIAL MEMBERS: These businesses support the RV Ownersʼ Association of BC. Discounts listed are for RVOABC members who show their Membership Card before purchase. Please be discreet if other customers are around at cash-out time. Discounts are at the discretion of the Commercial Members. Check our www.rvoabc.org for E-MAIL and WEBSITE ADDRESSES of these businesses. LANGLEY Continued: RV Camper & Trailer Clinic Ltd. ✒10% Disc. off parts 5670 Production Way 604-530-0911 Pacific Axle Ltd. ✒20% Disc. off parts & accessories 5749 - 203A St 604-532-9599 Traveland RV Supercentre ✒10% Disc. at RVOABC AGM 20529 Langley Bypass 604-530-8141 / 800-513-9434 MERRITT, BC: The Batt Bag ✒10% Disc. 1434 Douglas St 250-315-1363 PORT COQUITLAM, BC: Meridian RV Mfg. Ltd. ✒10% Disc. off parts 1690 Coast Meridian Rd 604-941-8635 / 877-941-8635 PORT MOODY, BC: BCLCA = BC Lodging & Campground Association 209 - 3003 St. John’s St 604-945-7676 ROSEDALE, BC: HawksHead Systems Inc. 10381 Parkwood Dr 604-745-7206 / 888-321-TPMS SURREY, BC: Baja Amigos RV Caravan Tours ✒$100 Disc. to members 866-999-2252 Euro Driving School ✒Disc. to RVOABC members 11164 Wallace Dr 604-585-3876 Surrey Storage 3093 - 194 St 604-560-2828 RV Dealers’ Assoc. of BC 201 - 17700 56 Ave 604-575-3868 Valley Auto Repair Inc. 17902 Roan Pl 604-576-2824 Vancouver Axle & Frame ✒10% Disc. 19548 - 96 Ave 604-882-5112 VERNON, BC: Vernon RV Service Ltd. 4700 - 31 St 250-542-1677 WHITE ROCK, BC: Budget Brake & Muffler ✒10% Disc. 2498 King George Hwy 604-538-8600 WINFIELD, BC: Voyager RV Centre Ltd. ✒10% Disc. 9250 Hwy 97 250-766-4607 / 800-668-1447 RV BUSINESSES - USA: BELLINGHAM, WA: Bellingham/Whatcom County Visitor & Convention Bureau 904 Potter St 360-691-3990 LYNDEN, WA: West Lynden Storage Condos 2305 Leatherwood Rd 360-389-2877 PHARR, TX: Children’s Haven International Inc. 400 East Minnesota Rd 956-787-7378 TAMPA, FL: Encore - Thousand Trails 308 - 5100 West Lemon St 813-282-6754 VENTURA, CA: Woodall Publishing Co. 2575 Vista Del Mar 800-323-9076 CAMPGROUNDS CANADA: BLACK CREEK, BC: Pacific Playground International 9082 Clarkson Ave 250-337-5600 BURNABY, BC: Burnaby Cariboo RV Park 8765 Cariboo Pl 604-420-1722 CHILLIWACK, BC: Cottonwood Meadows RV Country Club ✒10% Disc. 44280 Luckakuck Way 604-824-7275 FORT LANGLEY, BC: Fort Camping Resort ✒10% Disc. 9451 Glover Rd 604-888-3678 GIBSONS, BC: Gibsons RV Resort ✒15% Disc. full hookup (30+50 a) 1051 Gilmour Rd 604-989-7275 HOPE, BC: Hope Valley Campground ✒10% Disc. 62280 Flood Hope Rd 604-869-9857 Othello Tunnels Cmpd/Park ✒10% Disc. 67851 Othello Rd 604-869-9448 / 877-869-0543 KIMBERLEY, BC: Kimberley Riverside Cmpd ✒10% Disc. Mary Lake Rd 250-427-2929 NORTH VANCOUVER, BC: Capilano R.V. Park ✒10% Disc. 295 Tomahawk Ave 604-987-4722 OSOYOOS, BC: Walton’s Lakefront Resort 3207 Lakeshore Dr 800-964-1391 ROSEDALE, BC: Hol. Trails Resort-Camperland 53730 Bridal Falls Rd 604-794-7876 SQUAMISH, BC: Eagle Vista RV Resort & Cmpd 1940 Centennial Way 604-898-3343 VANCOUVER, BC: Burnaby Cariboo RV Park 8765 Cariboo Pl 604-420-1722 VICTORIA, BC: Wiers Beach RV Resort 5191 William Head Rd 250-478-3323 / 866-478-6888 WETASKIWIN, AB: Prairie Breeze Inn RV & Camping 2 km west of town on Hwy 13 780-352-7220 CAMPGROUNDS - USA: HEMET, California: Golden Village RV Resort 3600 West Florida Ave 800-323-9610 LAKE HAVASU CITY, Arizona: The Motorcoach Resort & The Refuse Golf & Country Club 3275 North Latrobe Dr 928-764-1404 CAMPGROUND – MEXICO NAYARIT MX: La Penita RV Park c/o Carol Thacker ✒Disc. off daily rate 250-286-1803 or carole@lapenitarvpark.com RVT 154• JULY/AUGUST 2013 RVT 154 48 pages.indd 45 45 6/20/13 12:26 PM RVT BULK DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS When do the Outlets have the FREE COPIES? . . . by the first or second week of JANUARY, MARCH, MAY, JULY, SEPTEMBER, NOVEMBER Plan B: have it MAILED to you via a SUBSCRIPTION, or via Membership in the RVOABC. BRITISH COLUMBIA LOCATIONS: ALL Overwaitea Foods, Save-On-Foods, PriceSmart foods, Cooper’s Foods, ALL Lordco Auto Parts, plus many RV Dealerships In SOOKE BC: the Info Centre, Stick in the Mud Cafe, The Reading Room Cafe, Curves Exercise Facility, Sooke River Campground & Sheila’s home/office at 7160 Grant Rd West, Sooke BC. ALBERTA LOCATIONS: ALL SAVE-ON-FOODS stores, PLUS: EDSON:...................Happy Camper RV Alberta Ltd. MEDICINE HAT: ......Cactus RV STETTLER: .............Stettler Dodge & RV WAINWRIGHT: ........Wainalta Motors Ltd. WETASKIWIN: ........Parkview RV Centre BC BUSINESSES: RVT bundles come from Atlas Trailer Coach in Surrey BC: 1-877-772-8527. If JUST ordering the magazines - 100 copies per box - there is a Shipping Cost. Other Canadian BUSINESSES wishing to carry the magazines: Shipping Cost: $40+5% per box of 50 to be paid BEFORE Press Day. Email Sheila at Sheila@rvtimes.com Find FREE copies of this magazine in ALL of our British Columbia & Alberta Stores: Save-On-Foods in BC: Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Burnaby (HighGate Village, Madison Centre, Metrotown), Campbell River, Chilliwack (Sardis), Coquitlam (Pinetree), Cranbrook, Delta (Ladner, Scottsdale Centre), Kamloops (Sahali), Find FREE copies of this magazine in all of our British and Alberta stores: (Lakeshore Centre, Orchard Plaza) , Langley (Walnut Grove,Columbia Willoughby), New Westminster, Kelowna (East MapleB.C.: Ridge, West Maple Ridge) , Mission, Nanaimo (Counry Club, Terminal Park,Clearbrook, Woodgrove), Nelson, Maple Ridge Save-On-Foods Aldergrove, South Point, Abbotsford, Campbell River, HighGate Village, Metrotown, Cranbrook,(Lynn Duncan, Fleetwood, West Maple Ridge, East, Maple Ridge, 100 Mile House, Sahali, Lakeshore Centre, Valley, Park & Tilford, Pemberton Plaza) Parksville (French Creek) , Penticton, Port Coquitlam, North Vancouver Ladner, Nordel Crossing, Mission, Woodgrove, Terminal Park, Country Club, Sardis, Nelson, Westbank, Port Coquitlam, (College Heights, Downtown, Hart Highway, Spruceland) , Quesnel (West Quesnel) Powell River, Prince George French Creek, Penticton, Scottsdale Centre, College Heights, Prince George, Spruceland, Hart Highway, Ironwood, Terra ,Nova, (Ackroyd, Ironwood, Terra Nova), Squamish, Surrey (Fleetwood, Newton, Nordel Crossing, South Point) , Terrace, Richmond West Quesnel, Westside Village, Richmond Ackroyd Plaza, Saanich, Squamish, Orchard Plaza, Terrace, Walnut Grove, Williams Lake, Vernon,UBC Lynn), Valley, & Tilford, Langley, Westside Madison Centre, Pemberton (Cambie, VernonPark (Village Green)Willoughby, , Victoria (Saanich, Village),Pinetree, Westbank, WilliamsPlaza Lake. Vancouver Save-On-Foods Alberta: Fort McMurray, Mayfield, Kingsway, Stadium, 9th & Jasper, Calgary Trail, Grande Prairie, Ellerslie, Save-On-Foods in Alberta: Edmonton (9th & Jasper, Calgary Trail, Ellerslie, Hampton, Kingsway, Londonderry, Magrath, Lethbridge, Londonderry, Strathcona, Wye Road, Namao, Village Landing, St. Albert North, Sherwood Park, Red Deer, East Hill Centre Mayfield, Meadows, Namao, Oxford, Stadium, Stathcona), Grand Prairie, Lethbridge, Red Deer (East Hill Centre), Overwaitea Foods: Burns Lake, Creston, Fort Nelson, Golden, Fort St. James, Grand Forks, Kimberley, Kitimat, (Summerwood, Wye Road) , Spruce Crossing), St. Albert Sherwood Park Port Nakusp, Hardy, Princeton, Prince Rupert, Grove Salmon(Century Arm, Sparwood, Powell River,(Village Fernie Landing). PriceSmart Foods: Queensborough, King George, FortFort St. John, White Rock, Cloverdale,Kitimat, Chilliwack Overwaitea: Burns Lake, Creston, Fort Nelson, Golden, St. James, GrandLangley, Forks, Kimberley, Nakusp, Cooper’s Vernon, Valleyview, Westsyde, Brocklehurst, Westbank, Winfield, Port Foods: Hardy, Princeton, Prince Rupert, Salmon Arm, Sparwood, Fernie. Merritt, Revelstoke, Rutland, Hope, Port Coquitlam, Dewdney PriceSmart Foods in BC: Abbotsford (Clearbrook), Burnaby (Cameron, Marine Way), Chilliwack, Cloverdale, Fort St. John, Langley, North Vancouver (Capilano), Richmond (Queensborough), Surrey (Clayton, King George, White Rock), Vancouver (Grandview, King Edward). Cooper’s Foods in BC: Chilliwack (Garrison), Hope, Kamloops (Brocklehurst, Lansdowne, Valleyview, Westsyde), Kelowna (Rutland), Maple Ridge (Dewdney), Merritt, Port Coquitlam, Revelstoke, Vernon (Polson), Winfield. Find FREE copies of this magazine in all our British Columbia stores in: 100 Mile House, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Aldergrove, Armstrong, Burnaby/Edmonds, Burnaby/Metrotown, Burnaby, Cache Creek, Campbell River, Castlegar, Chase, Chilliwack/Sardis, Clearbrook, Cloverdale, Coquitlam, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Creston, Delta, Duncan, Enderby, Fernie, Fruitvale, Golden, Grand Forks, Hope, Invermere, Kamloops, Kelowna, Kimberley, Ladner, Langford, Langley, Lillooet, Lumby, Maple Ridge, Merritt, Mission, Nanaimo, Nelson, North Vancouver, Oliver, Osoyoos, Parksville, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Kells, Powell River, Prince George, Princeton, Quesnel, Revelstoke, Richmond, Richmond/Steveston, Salmon Arm, Sidney, Squamish, Summerland, Surrey/Newton, Surrey/Guildford Mall, Trail, Tsawwassen, Vancouver, Vancouver/SW Marine Drive, Vernon, Victoria, Westbank, Whistler, White Rock, Winfield. RVT 154 48 pages.indd 46 6/20/13 12:26 PM RVT 154 48 pages.indd 47 6/20/13 12:26 PM RVT 154 48 pages.indd 48 6/20/13 12:26 PM