The Caravaner - Lazy Daze Caravan Club

The Caravaner
LIVE OAK WRAP-UP
June 2014
From the stirring strains of the “Lone Ranger” theme to the concluding notes of “Happy Trails,” the Live
Oak Caravan was a trip to the Wild Wild West, courtesy of a hard-working and talented band of Past Tents.
71 rigs were in camp, including 2 newcomers and 6 guests. Although the heat was at times enervating, a
good time was had by all as new activities supplemented the old standbys. Thursday, Lurlie’s nature walk and
Lydia’s paper crafts started things off, and just about everyone turned out to try to beat the heat at the allcamp ice cream social. Friday, the Mickey-Minnie washer toss tournament pulled 30+ teams, sported some
very long matches, and eventually had a Mickey Mouse conclusion with the men triumphing. The “women
only” event was a resounding success, with Peggy leading a veritable sweatshop assembly line of cutters,
sewers, pressers and the like turning out 30 beautiful pillow cases to be donated to a women’s shelter in Yuma.
A big thank-you to Di Filler for purchasing many materials and arranging the charity. After the ladies cleared
out, the pavilion was turned into a sharpshooting gallery and then a main street gunfighters’ showdown. Nerf
bullets flew everywhere, and some even hit the targets. Prize ribbons were handed out to the eagle-eyes.
Terry’s Tech Talk drew the usual crowd of back-seat mechanics and pertinent information flowed. Friday
night, honky-tonk piano music provided the backdrop for the Lazy D Saloon poker night. Though no money
changed hands, chips flew and hollering abounded. Saturday morning was busy, first with Dan Duran’s fire
extinguisher recharging service and later demonstration of proper technique. The craft fair was a roaring
success with bountiful offerings that were snapped up for personal use as well as future gifts. The general
meeting wrapped things up, with the highlight being the awarding of a 300th Caravan badge to Ed Widmer.
Happy Trails, indeed!
Lazy Daze Caravaner
June2014
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WE SALUTE YOU
Goodwill Ambassador Report
Host Tent Volunteers
For May, 2014
Thanks to all the Host Tent volunteers that made
the check in process go so smoothly.
Your dedication is appreciated
Lurlie Edgecomb
Bob & Di Filler
Carol Harter
Back Scratcher, ART
VORBECK #2589 is having
heart valve replacement on
5/22.
Firesider,
PHYLLIS
THOMPSON #2791 was
recently in the hospital for congestive heart failure.
She is now recovering at home.
Past Tents, GENE ‘HALF BUBBLE OFF’ CAULFIELD #2033 is at home suffering from the flu and
worse yet the shingles.
Don & Carol Kratzer
MEMBERS IN MEMORIAL
Bob & LuAnne Lowe
Back Scratcher, ANDY MOINE #2232 passed
5/7. He was 93 years old.
Carl & Jean Orr
Ken & Linda Palmer
George & Alice Parrish
Rubin & Jennie Pasillas
Past Tents
Claude & Carol Potts
Jim & Marilyn Ramey
George & Rosie Reeder
Roadrunners
Past Tents, JOE HAMM died of a heart attack
5/9.
Firesider, BOBBIE NELSON #211, passed 5/2.
She suffered a stroke and a fall. She was the wife of
DON NELSON, a former Wagonmaster of the club.
At-Large, GORDON GREEN #2320, died sometime late April. He will be remembered for his very
helpful computer classes and his picture albums of
his and DOTTIE’s trips.
Former Bun Buster, DOLORES NOEL #2510,
widow of CONRAD NOEL passed in February.
I recently received a very special thank you note
from Steve Newton for the card I sent him from the
club on the death of his father.
Bob Schmahl
Laura Techentin
Mona Shaner
MonaL@sbcglobal.net
Larry & Sharon Turner
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June2014
Lazy Daze Caravaner
Live Oak May Wild West
Lazy Daze Caravaner
June2014
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Thank all you artists for participating in the Craft
Sale. And to all you shoppers for making it so grand.
And especially to all you ladies who took such good
care of your hunks who help us move tables.
Rose Marie Reeder
Craft Sale
Oscar Wittrock has his own website at:
www.woodturningbyoc.wordpress.com
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June2014
Lazy Daze Caravaner
Tech Talk Article 85
Terry’s Tech Talk
Dim Towed Vehicle Lights
06/2014
On 1997 to 2003 Ford Chassis Lazy Daze motor homes, dim tail lights are a common experience on towed
vehicles or trailers. A brake light draws about 2 Amps. Ford apparently expected a van cut-away chassis
application to have only one tail light on each side and provided barely adequate sized wires for the tail lights.
Lazy Daze added a second tail light and the trailer plug to this circuit. The now 6 Amp (3 lights at 2 Amps
each) demand is being squeezed through undersized wires and this results in voltage loss. On my 2001 Lazy
Daze Rear Bath, I measured my trailer plug brake light voltage at about 9.5 volts without the trailer plug being
connected. When I connected my Jeep Wrangler, the brake lights were so dim that I could not tell that they
were on at all in the day light. An easy way to see if you have this problem is to simply turn on your Emergency
Flashers with the engine NOT running (this simulates a stall on the highway) and walk back and look at your
“toad” tail lights.
The dim lights on the towed vehicle can be brightened somewhat by installing LED tail lights on the Lazy
Daze by reducing the Amp draw for the Brake/Tail lights. Installing a three relay unit guarantees bright tail
lights. The first relay operates the running lights, the second relay operates the Left Turn/Brake light, and
the third relay operates the Right Turn/Brake light. I used a section of a 50 foot long 12 gauge three wire
outdoor extension cord from Costco ($40) to get power from the truck battery to the rear end of the coach.
The Positive Wire is fused, the Negative wire is not fused, and the third wire is not used.
The installation inside the spare tire cover, shown on the left, is
detailed in “RelayBosch.pdf ” in the “Files” Section on the Techsnoz
Yahoo Group Website
Each water proof Bosch type relay cost about $3 and the relay
socket cost about $2. (The costs are years old!)
I installed one relay unit for the trailer plug and a second relay
to power all the lights on the rear of my rig. I had moved my trailer
plug connector to the rear bumper so I installed the relays inside a
water-proof box and mounted the two relay boxes under my rig.
Techsnoz, the “Tech Talk” website.
Check it out at: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Techsnoz/
Terry Tanner Rig #2779
Lazy Daze Caravaner
June2014
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Ken & Susie’s Party RV Barn
Ken & Susie Van Foeken (Betty Boschma’s Daughter) have a Party RV Barn in Hilmar, CA. Located in
Central Ca., Lazy Daze are welcome to stop and spend one night on a dairy farm free. Hilmar is located
between Fresno and Sacramento on Highway 99.
Contact Information:
email: queen-susie@hotmail.com
cell phone: (209) 658-1701
Additional nights are $20, Electric and Water available
? EMERGENCY ?
Call on CB Channel 30
CODE RED: FIRE/GAS LEAK
CODE BLUE: MEDICAL
PLEASE Do Not Use the CB Until
The ALL CLEAR Is Sounded
Yikes! That’s our leaders!
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Shootout at the Old Pavillion
June2014
Lazy Daze Caravaner
Peggy Zabel (The Pegster)
Pat Shields and Judy Shaw are thrilled to accept
beautiful handcrafted pillowcases for the “Safe
House” of Yuma, Arizona. The “Women’s Only”
group completed 30+ pillowcases for the victims of
domestic violence and abuse.
Peggy Zabel’s “Women’s Only” group labors in
the Live Oak Pavilion in 100+ degree heat.
Lazy Daze Caravaner
June2014
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Mother Nature
Despite the dryness and heat, our fine feathered friends showed up for the Nature Walk at Live Oak in
May. Western bluebirds wore their blue feathers on their wings and backs. The males are very bright blue at
this time, the breeding season.
Violet-green tree swallows joined them in the hunt for flying insects.
Bluebirds will also go to the ground to pick up bugs. Bluebirds are here year
round, while the swallows have recently returned from somewhere further
south. Tree swallows have short, notched tails and appear to be wearing white
saddlebags. Both birds were welcome to all the bugs they could find. As long
as the breezes were with us, the bugs weren’t a problem for humans though
one lady had quite a sting site.
The oak titmouse is a little gray guy or gal (you can’t tell which) who
seemed to drop from a tree, snatch up a bug or seed and then ascend steeply
with little apparent effort. Wearing a perky topknot of feathers, they seemed
to be busy constantly. House finch males were the brightest red I’ve ever seen
on their heads, throats and rumps. The rest of the bird is dark brown streaks
on a creamy body. The female has a pink “wash” where the male is red. They
are frequent singers and cheerily trilled their songs.
High overhead, we spotted turkey vultures soaring without a wingbeat
on 6 foot wide black and gray wings. Every day 3 to 7 of the big birds would
silently circle between the corral and the hill above camp. We never did
figure that one out. Other black birds were the crows, but silent they were
not. Neither was the male grackle in his shiny black feathers and long,
upright tail feathers used like a rudder. He must have strayed as usually he
would stay near the lake and have a harem of up to 5 females to watch over.
Acorn woodpeckers are spectacular--flashing their shiny black and
white feathers while flying and then you realize you have seen a red streak
on the back of their heads. Only quiet at times, their “ank, ank” calls let you
know which tree they are checking out. We found nesting holes probably
made by woodpeckers and now being sought by bluebirds, other woodpeckers and titmice, just depends who
gets there first. We saw quail tracks in the sandy soil around the corral amid horseshoe prints.
Two expectant lady horses were in the corral that morning grazing on hay though we had seen them
the day before freely nibbling
alongside the Nomads’ rigs.
They were now content under
the tall valley oaks. They
were beautiful, well-cared for
animals who were no trouble
to us. What was disturbing was
the number of very dead and
dry live oak trees as discovered
on our walk, perhaps 8 or so,
just in the area we covered.
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June2014
Lazy Daze Caravaner
Early mornings near the golf course, deer, turkeys
and quail could be seen. A pair of red-tailed hawks
cruised high above washer toss. Ground squirrels
ran around darting into holes on your approach. One
of these enlarged holes probably held the skunk that
ruined my sleep early Saturday morning. The western
pocket gopher made no noise or smell, but one was
caught on camera boldly challenging a dog with his
incisors.
Birds
came to dripping
water faucets for
refreshment. A
white-bre a ste d
nuthatch worked
the bark of an oak
tree in its usual
upside
down
pattern. Food is
where you find it-on the ground, in
grooves of bark,
under leaves, growing on a plant or just whatever is
smaller than you and edible.
Painted Turtle Lady
Jane Farwell Rig #2445
The Live Oak craft show
was an opportunity to display
some of the handy work by our
Lazy Daze members. Special
thanks go to Laura Techentin for
some 30 turtle pillow cases. Also thank
you to Sharon Turner (newest member to Team
Turtle) for her unique pillow case. Afghans are labors
of hours of love. Thank you Carol Hurley, Eileen
Peternouschek, Gretchen Heritage for another 15
to send on to the 2014 summer camp. Also thank
you to Sandi Bartel and Eloth Burnes for their cash
contributions from buying a couple of watercolor
paintings.
Total for the year for 2014 Camp Season:
79 Afghan, 68 turtle pillows and $50 in cash
contributions. Pat yourselves on the back for a job
well done..
With all the dead plant life, I am worried that
our favorite camping area will be the scene of a great
fire. Though most of us brought wood, no one even
mentioned having a campfire. Lazy Dazers appreciate
the outdoors and have more sense than to tempt fate.
Lurlie Edgecomb #2285
aka Mother Nature
From the Editor
The deadline for articles
is the Sunday following each
Caravan. Thank you for your
continuing support in the
production of the Caravaner.
www.lazydazecaravanclub.org
Lazy Daze Caravaner
David Hurley Rig #229
2910 S. Archibald Ave.,
Suite A #546
Ontario, CA 91761
d.churley@verizon.net
June2014
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Mickey and Minnie
Washer Toss Tournament
Hosted by: Frances Smith
First Place: Claud Potts
Ken Palmer
Second Place: Nancy Parrish
Linda Calvert
Where Are We?
As you travel this summer, remember to
take some photos with your rig in the picture
and send it to the Caravan Editor.
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June2014
Lazy Daze Caravaner
Caravan Anniversaries
George & Joann Watson — 75 Caravans
Vern & Charlene Tutterrow — 275 Caravans
George & Rosie Reeder — 200 Caravans
Ed Widmer — 300 Caravans
Lazy Daze Caravaner
June2014
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Activity Schedule for June, 2013
LAZY DAZE CARAVAN
CLUB
Silent Valley
June 11-15, 2014
Hosted by the Drifters
Meeting Locations for all meetings will be given during Morning Announcements
Keep your CB on Channel 30
Lazy Daze Alternate CB Channel is 7
WEDNESDAY June 11
After setting up your campsite, come by and sign up to be a Host Tent Greeter.
THURSDAY June 12
6:30
8:00
9:00
10:00
2:00
1:30
3:00
Coffee is brewing – bring your own cup!
Morning Announcements and door prizes, thanks to the Drifters
Safety Committee Meeting ???
Women’s Only – Peggy Zabel
Pot of Gold tickets are on sale
Group Representatives Meeting
Executive Council Meeting
FRIDAY June 13
6:30
8:00
10:00
11:15
2:00
Morning coffee – bring your own cup!
Morning Announcements and Door Prizes, thanks to the Drifters
Pot of Gold tickets on sale
Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts - Lydia Granger
Pot of Gold tickets on sale
SATURDAY June 14
6:30
8:00
9:00
10:00
1:30
5:00
Morning Coffee – bring your own cup!
Morning Announcements and Door Prizes, thanks to the Drifters
Washer Toss Tournament - John Mailliard
Pot of Gold tickets are on Sale – Last chance to buy your tickets.
General Meeting
CHURCH OF THE LAZY DAZE with Jack Walker 15 minutes after the General Meeting
Hot Dog Cookout
Have a Safe Ride Home and a restful, healthy summer – See you September 10-14 at Ventura Fairgrounds
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June2014
Lazy Daze Caravaner