E E R F #156, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 By RVers, For RVers, About RVing 9 Articles about HOW to PLAY in an RV An Easy Recreational Vehicle Magazine for Fun-Loving/Camping Folk! LOOKING FOR THAT SPECIAL ONCE-IN-A LIFETIME GIFT TO YOURSELF? RV2709 2011 Regency GT 24MB $84,888 RV2855 2012 Pleasure-Way PLATEAU RB RV2759 2013 Aviator Electra RV2875 2013 Tioga Ranger DSL 24L RV2895 2013 Terra 3175 $99,642 RV2887 2013 Bounder 33C $99,819 $107,838 $52,379 WE CAN’T GET IT DOWN THE CHIMNEY, BUT... $119,441 WE CAN GET IT IN YOUR DRIVEWAY! Edition 156 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 COVER 29 Guide to Buying an RV Who? What? Where? Why? How? JACKSON 30 Pickleball, BY RVers, FOR RVers, ABOUT RVing A CANADIAN MAGAZINE The Perfect Sport? Copyright 2013 Publisher, etc.: SHEILA Tourond Webmaster: JOHN Overall A Special THANK YOU to the following CONTRIBUTORS: Janos Balogh, Paul Beddows, Dennis Begin, Wilbur Collin, Bob Davies, Catherine Dook, Lynn Henderson, Selaine Henriksen, Ryan Jackson, Richard Perera, Diane Salmon, Susan Schutz, and Brenda-Lee Thompson. 16 Gathering at Laguna del Tule RV Park in Melaque, Jalisco, Mexico. Submission Guidelines: 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. 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 [email protected] • www.rvtimes.ca RVT Webmaster: John Overall: [email protected] • 250-885-2888 Canadian Subscription Rates: see page 41 6 issues: 1 yr $30, 2 yrs $52, 3 yrs $75 CLASSIFIED ADS due before DEC. 10 DISPLAY AD Space Reservation Schedule: (please call to double check) #157 January/February ........... by December 6 #158 March/April...................... by February 6 #159 May/June ................................ by April 6 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. CONTENTS 16 RVing in Mexico Language, Money, Shopping, Fuel, Roads & Highways, Mordida, Insurance, Permits, Caravans & Travel Buddies, RV Parts, RV Parks, GPS, Hazards to your RV, and MORE! BEDDOWS Are you competitive or do you like to have fun? Have you ever played tennis, badminton, or pingpong? Do you like individual sports or are you better on a team? SCHUTZ 31 Unique RVs: The Odyssey They bought a Neoplan Spaceliner double-decker bus and converted it into a Class A with the floorplan the way THEY wanted. BALOGH 34 Spring Break in a Class C Rental Leaving Ottawa for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, . looking for some heat. HENRIKSEN 14 The Historic Oregon Trail Stop and have a visit with the original RVers! THOMPSON 21 Life in an RV Park What makes time for a Snowbird travel so quickly? BEGIN 22 The Hero My mosquito-slaughtering and console-fixing, hunter-gatherer husband was my hero! DOOK 26 RVing the DEH CHO Route, with a side trip to Yellowknife We found it was well worth the costs. COLLIN COLUMNS, etc. RVT Publisher’s Life and Times.......... 6 Classified Ads ..............................40 Distribution Locations ...................47 Humour .....................................43 RVOABC .................................43-46 RV Clubs Open to New Members .......39 RV Club - BC Bus Nuts ....................32 RV Club - Chilliwack Valley Sams.......33 Word Angle Search - Christmas .........42 RVT Subscription Form ...................41 CARTOONS: ~ Along the Way ............................ 5 ~ Embers ....................................38 FAIRS & FESTIVALS: ~ BC ..........................................36 ~ AB ..........................................37 ~ WA .........................................38 RV PARTS and RV SERVICE ...............35 ADVERTISERS’ WEBSITES/EMAILS and AD PAGE #s: (c) BY John McDonald [email protected] ALONG THE WAY ADA VIS Global Mexican Insurance ........................... mexicoinsurance.com..........39 BCLCA....................................................................................camping.bc.ca..........39 Bernardo Shores RV Park ................................... bernardoshoresrvpark.com..........14 Digital Electrical Systems ................................................. [email protected] Driftwood by the Sea RV Park & Cottages ............... driftwoodbythesea.com..........39 Emerald Desert RV Resort ..............................................EmeraldDesert.com..........24 Fort Camping ................................................................... FortCamping.com..........21 Fort Victoria RV Park ............................................................. FortVictoria.ca..........21 Golden Village Palms RV Resort .............................GoldenVillagePalms.com..........25 Hillstreet Propane ................................................... hillstreetpropanerv.com..........23 Holiday Trails Resort ............................................................................htr.ca............3 “Martha, we began our RV journey with a ride on an ABC ferry; we’ll join the group on the other side.” Jubilee RV Centre .................................................................... jubileerv.com..........35 Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV Park ...............LivingForest.com..........12 Lordco Auto Parts ....................................................................... lordco.com..........47 Medipac International Communications Inc ........................... medipac.com............7 O’Connor RV .......................................................................oconnorrv.com............2 Oceanside RV Resort ................................................ oceansideresortrv.com..........23 “You know Martha, I could fulfil my life’s ambition of being a sea captain.” “The briny, salt breezes blowing into my main sails. Life on the bounding main.” Othello Tunnels Campground & RV Park ........................ othellotunnels.com..........39 Pacific Border RV Park Ltd. ................................... pacificborderrvpark.com..........23 Qualicum Bay RV Park & Campground ....................................resortbc.com..........39 RV Care Network Ltd. ....................................................................rvcare.ca..........15 RV Golf Club .........................................................................rvgolfclub.com..........11 San Xavier Mexico Insurance ........................... mexican-autoinsurance.com..........39 Save-On-Foods/Overwaitea Food Group........................... saveonfoods.com..........48 Trademasters Automotive Ltd ..........................................vehiclesolutions.ca..........19 Travel Guardian Insurance Ltd. ......................................... travelguardian.ca..........20 “George, salt is not good for you; it’s not in your diet.” Valley Auto Repair Inc. ................................................. valleyautorepair.net..........10 Winfield Consumer Products, Inc. ..................... huskyliners.com/protect79............9 RVT Publisher’s Life & Times: Firstly, I apologize to everyone for the missing last line on page 30 in the last RV Times edition. So with egg on my face, I now present to you what Dan said: “I recently paid $4.03 a gallon in Blaine for gas and the pumps locally are advertising $1.52 a liter to fill up our truck.” Secondly, a special Congratulations goes out to Darlene Poitras of Langley BC for being the winner of the husband and wife dolls I had at my booth at the Snowbird RV Show in September. There were 319 of you in the draw, so your odds were pretty good, but unfortunately there was only one winner. Had to keep that husband and wife together - right? I might have gone through three marriages myself, but these dolls don’t follow my pattern for sure! In 2014, the Earlybird RV Show is scheduled for February 20-23 so do come by my booth there and then and try again. I did up a bagpiper doll for the Sooke Fall Fair, and he won a first place blue ribbon so I decided he will be the draw doll for that Show. The rain that happened during the Snowbird RV Show brought many new folks to see us. Many had never been to an RV Show before, so that was GREAT. Actually there was an increased attendance every single day! One gent expressed appreciation for this magazine and when I said Thank You he stated that I did not realize what his appreciation really meant. He said he is a very critical person and he could not find ONE thing to criticize in The RV Times! I said I felt like I had just graduated! Something happened as a first at that Show and it was an INVITATION for a stay at Golden Village, in Hemet, in one of their condo units, for a week in January. Working out the details still 6 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 Handsome knitted Bagpiper Doll for my draw at my booth at the EarlyBird RV Show next February 20-23. but looks like it just might be the week starting with Jan. 19! I might drive down - if the weather in WA and OR is not too snowy! Will see. I didn’t realize Golden Village has units for folks without RVs! This is very exciting for me. On page 11 in this edition, we have a new advertiser, RV Golf Club. For all of you who use their services, will you give me feedback on how happy you are please? They sure seem like a nice couple. On October 5th I joined many, many others at Audrey O’Dell’s home in Ladysmith, helping her celebrate her 80th birthday. Audrey and her late hubby Digger (Len), and late son Rick, were an active part of my life in the early 1970’s when I was a student at the Royal Jubilee School of Nursing in Victoria. Another student invited me to join her one weekend in attending the Western Speedway Races. She knew some of the racers and after the races were over we joined them in the pits. There I met the O’Dells and the rest is part of my interesting past history! Audrey and Digger remained good friends with me over the years, even when they lived in Ucluelet, BC. My contact with Rick was much more sparse as we went in different directions. October was extra busy this year. Had a Thanksgiving with my daughter and her family, and then another one with good friends in Victoria. Also enjoyed a couple of Birthday celebrations for my son, and for three grandchildren who turned 18, 16 and 8. My how time has flown by. Weekend after that, and after I went to press with this edition, I was off to Allen Texas for a three day event called A View from the Edge. More next edition. So even though I am still without an RV, I am still travelling around. Might be via airplane and cars right now, but that’s still better than me sitting at home twiddling my thumbs - right? I joined two other Sooke Harbourside Lions gals in the Run for the Cure that happened at the University of Victoria on October 6th. We walked the five km course but still felt very proud of ourselves! I want to L-R: Josie Masi,a tired me, Linda Mooney wish you all a VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON this year. Make sure all your family gatherings are fun times! Stay happy! Luv ya, Sheila oney RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 7 LettersFROM READERS: London Bridge: We enjoyed the story in RVT 154 July/August, on page 16, about Lake Havasu, but I think you will find that the London Bridge reconstructed there is 182 years old, not 2000 years old, as claimed in the story. Although there were previous bridges on the same site in London, the bridge, which was transported and rebuilt in Lake Havasu, was constructed in 1831. It’s still a great attraction and the story of Lake Havasu’s creation was quite remarkable. Steve Howell Victoria, BC Integrity Counts Bigtime! Here is an example of how one company treats its customers. We are the second owners of a 2007 Arctic Fox travel trailer and discovered we had some dry rot on the interior paneling of the back wall. This trailer was made by Northwood Manufacturing, in La Grande, Oregon. It so happened we passed through La Grande recently so we made an appointment with Matt at Northwood. Justin and Matt came and looked at the area in question and pronounced “worst case scenario - $1,500 to repair it”. We said, “Very well, go ahead.” Upon arrival to pick it up, imagine our surprise when they said they found the cause of the problem and were taking 100% responsibility for the repair with no cost to us! This trailer is five years out of warranty and we are not the original owners. Northwood could have lied about the cause and handed us a bill, but they didn’t. We have found such acts of the highest integrity and honesty are rare in today’s business world. Needless to say, when it comes time to trade up to a newer model it shall be a Northwood product we choose. It is not a wonder they have made over 50,000 units. Thank YOU Northwood! Terry Ezart Surrey, BC The Worst Resort: We recently had the worst experience of our lives. I would not recommend this Resort to anyone. We have stayed there numerous times in the past, but this time was different. We reserved two sites for a weekend for ourselves, and our adult children. When we got there, the sites were covered in broken bottles and nails from pallet fires. The campsite number posts were rotted away or nowhere to be found, so we had to guess which sites were ours. There were no fire-pits, and all the picnic tables were rotted out or destroyed, and the sani-dump was roped off. When we complained about these issues to staff and management of the resort they said, “So what do you want us to do about it?” The manager said he was too busy renovating rooms to worry about building picnic tables for the campsite. We asked if they could at least rake the site of glass and nails as we had our 22-monthold grandson with us and were afraid of him getting cut. Their response was they would, if they could find someone to do it. Their whole attitude was very demeaning to paying customers. The only reason we didn’t cause a stir was because of our family being with us. They finally raked, but didn’t pick up the glass, then delivered a beat-up table from three or four sites away from us. We wrote them a letter of complaint asking for a refund. The manager ignored our first email, then said it was against his policy to refund for a bad experience. No wonder this Resort is for sale. We will not camp there ever again unless the new owners start taking pride in offering good service. I know Sheila likes to only print the good experiences, but if you want to know the name and location of this Resort, just email me. Rick Neveaux Courtenay, BC [email protected] 8 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 Recommendations: In December of 1996 I purchased a 1990 32-ft Fleetwood Bounder on a 1989 GMC 454 chassis. The original owner had it from 1990 to 1995, using it as a summer cottage and accumulating 3,000 km. The second owner (1995-96) had installed six new Michelin tires and a new Onan generator, bringing the motorhome up to 20,000 km, which is when I purchased it. The first thing I did was flush all of the fluids (engine, transmission, differential, power steering, brake and cooling systems) as well as adding a tachometer and a transmission temperature gauge. In the summer of 1997 I travelled from Aldergrove BC going through all of the Canadian provinces. I spent three weeks in Newfoundland, returning home through the northern USA, now showing 45,000 km. Aside from doing oil, lube and filter at 5,000 km intervals, the motorhome never missed a beat the entire trip. At 73,000 km I had a Banks Exhaust System and Aurora HT Leads installed. After that was done, my fuel economy went from between nine and 10 mpg to between 10 and 11 mpg with a noticeable performance and running improvement. At 128,000 km I noticed a slight leak at the radiator. On closer examination I found corrosion between the radiator tanks and core. I went to Cool-It, the heat transfer specialists in Abbotsford BC and spoke with Steve (owner), Adam and Bill, all very competent staff. I agreed for them to build a new radiator with larger cores, as well as a heater core, water pump, new hoses and belts. I wish I had that done years ago. The oil pressure increased at least the thickness of the needle (1/8 in.) while I was driving in the hottest conditions of the Osoyoos BC area. When I shut down after any hot run, the engine compartment was noticeably cooler. As well, the engine cools down much quicker. All of this will most certainly add to the life of the drive train. The mileage is now 144,000 km and the motorhome is still going strong. Heat is a killer to any engine and drivetrain component. Performing lube, oil and filter at 5,000 km intervals, as well as paying careful attention to all your gauges, in most cases will prevent you from having breakdowns on the road. If anyone is interested in a more detailed confirmation of service records that have worked well for me, please contact me. Doug Olson [email protected] RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 9 More Letters: Washington State Ferries: BC Ferries should take a lesson(s) from its WA counterpart. During an August road trip, my wife and I were startled by the pleasant service and low pricing offered by this division of WA DOT. We, too, encountered smiling, helpful personnel. We could hardly believe the $15 fares we paid for ourselves and our pick-up to travel first from Coupeville to Port Townsend and later from Bremerton to Seattle. (We understand there is no charge for reservations, rather, a refundable deposit is collected in advance and later applied to the fare.) On our June trip from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay and subsequently from Comox to Powell River and down the Sunshine Coast, we twice paid more than four times that amount. Sure, the Washington State ferries are 60 years old, don’t enjoy big terminals or have video game lounges, fancy carpets or dining rooms but is all that really required? Aren’t we, both residents and tourists, just trying to get from point A to B? Wouldn’t it be wise to trim the extras in order to avoid further fare escalations? We believe the BC Government should give serious consideration to re-gaining control of BC Ferries to eliminate highly paid executives who can’t seem to control pricing, or consistently deliver friendly, effective service either. Perhaps the smiles of customers happy with a “new” basic reasonably priced service will rub off on them and everyone will be happier? John Parrot [email protected] Pacific Marine Route, Vancouver Island: We had a wonderful RV vacation on Vancouver Island. Our focus was the Pacific Marine Route. Thanks to Derrick, Lee, Shirley and Rosie who responded to my request for information in The RV Times. In reality the drive can be done in one day. We did it in three days - stopping at all view sites and camping spots. This allowed us to get a good feel for the vast forest and this beautiful part of Vancouver Island. We found the BC Parks signage very poor. This led us to many interesting adventures, rough road drives, and through parks looking for the camping sites. We ended up dry camping at two BC Parks sites - Stoltz and Mystery China camps. Both sites were well taken care of with “out-houses” and drinking water by tap or pump. We stayed three nights at Sooke River Campground, a private site with new management. We recommend this campground. The location worked well for us to poke around Sooke, loving the “boardwalk” and “Whiffin Spit”. The next day we had a lovely day meeting up with family in Victoria, which was just a short drive from Sooke. I was very impressed with how much help RV Times readers were in responding to my letter in The RV Times. (RVT 155 page 10.) Sue Tucker [email protected] 604-576-2824 24 HR. ANSWERING SERVICE Fax: 604-576-2815 AUTHORIZED WORKHORSE DEALER [email protected] www.valleyautorepair.net 17902 ROAN PLACE, SURREY BC V3S 5K1 10 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 Shaw Direct Satellite Dish: I just wanted to let everyone know I am very disappointed with Shaw Direct also. Last year I did not go south for the winter but I purchased a new Shaw dish and receiver to take with me this winter and I now find out it will not work down in Arizona! I have also phoned Shaw about this with the same results as other people. I would just like to thank Dan Wiens from Digital Electrical Systems for his letter on page 12 in the last edition. When I finish this letter I will be writing Shaw one also, but not as pleasent. Thanks again Sheila and keep up the the good work.  Gary Sargeant [email protected] Help Needed: I am looking for assistance in selecting a vehicle to be towed behind my motorhome. Can anyone help me out here? Don Fish [email protected] Don, If you go to the dinghy towing guide at www.motorhome.com you will find the answers you need as it has tow guide archives, in case you don’t want a new vehicle. Marcel Desjardins, Sales Manager O’Connor RV Chilliwack 1-877-912-3909 Dually Valve Kits: I was reading the letter of Mr. Greig Tyrell in the May/June issue, regarding dually valve extender problems. (Tire Warning, RVT 153 page 10.) I too had problems with leaking screwon valve extensions on my Class C rear duallys. After doing some research I found a place in California selling what is called Dually Valve kits. These are installed by tire dealers to replace the existing valve stems, which are hard to reach to check tire pressures. I’ve had them on now for four years with no problems. I had a local tire dealer in Newton Surrey install them and they had no problems. There are detailed instructions in the kit. I also have the Hawkshead tire pressure monitoring system on just my rear duallys, because if the inner tire goes flat it’s sometimes hard to tell. Larry Whiting [email protected] At It Again: Sheila, I had to laugh when you said you are RV-less still, but still happy too! Not us! We sold a Class C old goody after a month or so, and a wonderful trip on the David Thompson Highway. Too old, we thought, but guess what? I saw this old Dodge Campervan and once again we succumbed to the wonderful possibilities of travel and adventure! Bob is 82, and I am 85 now, and we are both thankful for our good health Dorothy Wilson with her 10th RV! and the ability to “follow our bliss “ from our daughter’s acreage here in Alberta. This is our tenth RV, and we are very pleased with it, so far. Sheila, it’s your turn now! Dorothy M. Wilson [email protected] Dorothy, I do agree with your statement: Sheila, it’s your turn! Over the years I have been RVing in tent(s), tent trailer, travel trailer(s), camper, homemade camper van(s), Class C, Class A, and a bus conversion. Have yet to experience a 5th wheel or a professionally-constructed campervan, but who knows what the future will bring eh? I haven’t given up yet. All the above RV experiences did come with the gent of choice (at the time) and I must admit, some of the best times in each relationship did happen during our RVing journeys. Sometimes the only entertainment available was our own conversations, which often did not happen at home when TV and busy times abounded. So I too do have some great memories. Dorothy, I’m a Gemini, and seem to have the ability to be happy most anywhere! Sheila T., RV Times publisher, etc [email protected] Incorrect Advise: In edition 154 July/Aug, on page 20 Hilda Born states that when visiting the Tulip Festival near LA Conner WA one can merely park right beside the road. We have lived here for decades and the onslot of traffic has caused law enforcement to ticket casual parkers, I believe due to all the congestion and associated accidents. To doublecheck, call Skagit County Sheriff ’s office at 360-336-9450 to ask. I believe parking on the side of the road during Tulip Fest brings a hefty fine, so beware. Ed Bishop [email protected] Safety Advice and Free Matchmaking for Mexico Road Trips: Many thousands of snowbirds make their way annually from Canada and the US to Mexico. Many RV and many more drive to warmer destinations and sunnier climates. Often travelers are nervous with reports about drug cartels and have opted to stay home while others just “couldn’t” winter in any other destination. Called Mexico road travel experts, Bill and I have been driving extensively in Mexico for 25 years and offer plenty of advice to make your road trip safer and easier. We also offer a matchmaking service, Travel Buddies, for people who want to drive together for security and companionship. For safety’s sake we suggest drivers read up on the basics for Mexican driving. Don’t drive at night. Get out of border areas as soon as possible. Start your drive days early. Informed travelers are safer drivers. Bill and I started the Travel Buddy service for Mexico road travelers five years ago and it is free. It lists newbies, caravans as well as experienced drivers that enjoy showing new travelers the roads. We are pleased that there are drivers that just want to share Mexico with others. It is an amazingly beautiful and diverse country. Travel Buddies helps build skills and gives confidence to others. To sign up for the Free Travel Buddy service, simply send an email to dot@ ontheroadin.com and answer the following “Five Magic Questions”: Continued on page 12 Enjoy RV parking in hundreds of beautiful private locations all over North America for one low price. (800) 520-0757 www.rvgolfclub.com RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 11 Last Letters: 1. Name, 2. Which border will you cross? 3. When will you likely cross that border? 4. What is your destination? 5. How do people contact you? (Facebook or Email?) We have helped hundreds of travelers over the years become informed and have a wonderful vacation. You can see Travel Buddies on our website at www.ontheroadin. com. Bill and I were given the “Real Heroes of Mexico” honour. We have been writing and traveling the country for over 25 years and have visited all 31 Mexican States over a dozen times each. We are currently on a 3-month road trip in Mexico (Oaxaca right now) and can be reached on our Mexican cell at 322-294-4979 or email. Dorothy Bell [email protected] See Grins RV, Hwy 80, San Martin, CA: We are presently touring central/ Southern California with our 5th wheel. Saturday evening we pulled in to our remote campsite at Cache Creek Regional Campground, Yolo County near Sacramento. To our dismay, we discovered our slide-out wouldn’t function, blocking access to the refrigerator and pantry. No problem, we have a manual crank. Unfortunately, the crank apparatus appeared to be disconnected. The campground host suggested we might get help the next day, Sunday, from Camping World on Hwy 80 in Vacaville. We weren’t really surprised to learn Camping World’s service department doesn’t operate on Sundays. While pleasant and helpful, the Camping World clerk couldn’t tell us whether or not their service department could even assist us on Monday, saying there was maybe only a 10% chance they would have time and he wasn’t sure they would service or repair a slide-out. Next door to Camping World in Vacaville was a sales department of See Grins RV. A salesman advised us See Grins had a service department in their San Martin store 12 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 a few minutes south on Hwy 80. While that service department was also closed on Sundays, we were told a service tech, Dan, would be on site to address any pressing matters. We proceeded south on Hwy 80 to the Leavesley exit and to See Grins RV on Arroyo Circle. Frankly, given it was Sunday and we weren’t very hopeful. We found Dan, the service tech, explained our predicament, and the next thing we knew he had us backed up to his huge shop - a former Wal-Mart. First Dan and his assistant repaired the manual crank - a cotter pin had fallen out. After some testing Dan determined the power to the slide-out switch had failed. In short order he replaced that power and we were ready for the road and our next campsite. Like those at Camping World, Dan and See Grins RV could have easily said “Sorry, our service department is closed on Sundays”. Instead, Dan and his assistant chose to jump in and help two otherwise stranded and concerned Canadian travellers. Based on our brief, and very positive experience, we would happily recommend See Grins RV and their service department. John & Sharon Parrott Richmond, BC My Gravity Lesson while Winterizing my RV: Since 2001, we had an old 1986 Empress 26 ft motorhome. It was a very simple water system in it. To winterize, I had ready access to the water pump and ran a tube to a jug of RV antifreeze; simple. Earlier this year the old Empress was starting to have issues that happen with 200,000 km’s so we got a new motorhome, a 27 ft. 2008 Jayco Greyhawk Sport. Love it. But it has a water system that has a control panel of various shut off valves to run the various functions. Today was the day to winterize so I got my jugs of RV antifreeze, read the manual, hooked up my “custom hose piece” of cut hose with the female left on, screwed it to the city water connector, put the other end in the RV antifreeze jug and turned on the water pump, and nothing happened. My pump was running and running but nothing was getting sucked up to go through the lines. I couldn’t figure out why it was not picking it up. The manual said something about priming and it discussed shutting the valves for the low point water tank drain open and closed while running the pump. That didn’t work either. So I phoned the brother-in-law who has had experience with different trailers in the past five years. He came over and I showed him all the things we had done and water heater bypass was correct etc. Everything looked good. So we go outside to the connector and the panel and the first thing he did was take the RV antifreeze bottle up on his shoulder, we stuck a funnel in the end of the RV antifreeze pick up “custom hose”, he poured it in and I went inside and turned on the water pump. Well the system started to pick up the antifreeze right away and pink was pouring out of the faucets immediately. Needless to say I was very happy, so we ran the antifreeze through all the lines and drains. I should’ve thought of needing gravity and the whole suction situation from siphoning gas in the old days where, whatever you were siphoning from had to be up higher than the tank you were draining in to. This sounds so simple, but I forgot it today. So remember, if you go to pull the RV antifreeze into your system, and you turn on the water pump and nothing happens, get the RV antifreeze jug off the garage floor and up it in the air above the hose connector point on the side of the trailer, and pour the antifreeze down the hose piece toward the water connection. Turn on the pump and it will take the pink fluid and send it through the lines. Just a reminder. Lain Strathern [email protected] Wheelchair Lift: For a great number of years, my wife Delores and I RV’d all over Canada, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska and the western United States. Over the years we had several types of RVs including hardtop campers, truck campers, motorhome, 5th wheels and more recently a 24 foot Cougar trailer. Approximately three years ago, Delores suffered a severe stroke loosing her total right side and her speech. With much physiotherapy and speech therapy she has regained some mobility and some speech. She still really struggles however and she is virtually in a wheelchair all during her waking hours. She resides in a care home as she requires 24 hour care. This however has not totally stopped our enjoyment of camping in our recreational vehicle. The trailer has two doors, one to enter the coach and the other to enter the front bedroom. Through research, I was fortunate in learning of a lift that could be installed on the trailer; that with some modification, lifts Delores from the ground level up to the floor level of the trailer (using the bedroom door) while sitting in her wheelchair. With help, she then stands and steps into the trailer. When I purchased the trailer, I had Country RV of Kelowna BC install thick plywood behind the wall paneling so I could install several grab-bars for Delores to hold onto as she enters the trailer, and also in the bathroom. When in the lowered position, the chairlift platform folds under the trailer and out of the way. There was a need to obtain an over-width permit for BC and Alberta as the total width of the unit now exceeds the 8 ft. 6 inches by an insignificant amount of about two inches. However that’s the law. Can Am Mobility was able to order the lift from the manufacturer in the US and install it. I thank both Country RV and Can Am Mobility in Kelowna for their help. Without it we would not be able to continue to enjoy our RVing experiences. Al Harrison [email protected] RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 13 The Historic Oregon Trail A Glimpse of Early RV Life By BRENDA-LEE THOMPSON www.writeslice.com My feet are killing me. The low sage branches have ripped the hem of my calico dress, and my face is gritty with dust and sweat. Worst of all, after yesterday’s funeral, I can’t stop thinking about who we will bury next along the trail. I thought the life I left a month ago in Missouri was hard - but this feels too much to bear. The hours of walking every day are grueling and I’m starting to feel sorry that I ever left home. When we started this journey, I set out with a picture in my mind of the promised free farmland. This picture was of a lush green valley, but as the weeks pass, the colours are fading. Today I’ve been carrying one of the small children who couldn’t keep up with our walking pace. Our horseback guide just fell back to tell us that we have a high pass to cross before we can stop to set up camp tonight. . . It’s here in my dream that I snore myself awake from my nap. I am relieved to find that it is not the year 1850 and I am not walking the Oregon Trail. Rather, it is October 2010 and I am driving the Oregon Trail. My husband, Adrian, and I left Canada a few days ago and are heading south with our RV for the winter. We’ve just passed through Pendleton, Oregon headed for Jackpot, Nevada on Route 84. With Arizona as our destination this year, our travels take us through Oregon, Idaho and Nevada. Out of curiosity, we find ourselves stopping at several of the roadside rest areas to read the Oregon Trail information posted at the monument sites. The monuments are open-air structures with displays including stories, pictures and journal excerpts from people who trekked this way in search of a better life. I found their accounts very touching. After visiting a monument, and as Adrian and I returned to our vehicle to continue our travels, we took these people and their accounts with us as our companions. We often drove in silence as we thought about Bernardo Shores RV Park 20% Off ALL Rates this WINTER! 35’ x 45’ spacious sites with brick patios & privacy hedges Full hook-ups, 30/50 amp, 2 vehicle side-by-side parking Free Wi-Fi Propane Delivery available Walking/Biking Distance to Beaches Overlooks Bird/Wildlife Sanctuary Minutes away from MAJOR Tourist Attractions. [email protected] • 619-429-9000 500 Hwy 75, IMPERIAL BEACH, California 91932 www.BernardoShoresRVPark.com 14 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 what we had just read, about how this leg of our RV journey is very different than these travelers of long ago...the original RVers. In a small way our motivation to travel is similar to the pioneers in that we are both escaping harsh winters; however we are escaping for recreation and they, out of necessity, were escaping for the sake of life and prosperity. Along the road beside us roll endless foothills with gnarly sage scrub as far as the eye can see. I tried to imagine what my travels would have been like if I had been part of this historical caravan. Instead of air-conditioned comfort, I would ride in a wagon with nothing between me and the elements but a canvas cover. That is, of course, if I were lucky enough to ride in the wagon. The end of my travel day would have entailed gathering wood for a fire, opening trunks and barrels to procure ingredients for dinner, and finding a source of water so that we could boil coffee and do the dishes. The ultimate finish to the evening would be to sleep on the ground with my well-worn and dusty blanket. This is a far cry from now, when I will end the travel day with the convenience of a restaurant meal and all the comforts needed for a good night’s sleep. Because of the need for water and firewood, the route for the pioneers followed the main rivers and streams along the way. Those brave souls striking out would have left home in Missouri (maz-urrah, as the locals would say) in the spring, around April or May, as soon as the trail would be dry from the spring runoff and the grass was starting to grow to fuel the animals. Those making the trek in one season would spend four to six months covering the 2,000 miles from home to the promise of free farmland in the Willamette Valley. The perils of their journey speak to us in the names of certain areas of the trail, such as Poverty Flat Road and Dead Man Pass. The trek was fraught with dangers, including risk of exhaustion, hunger, native Indian attacks and accidents, such as drowning in the attempt to cross rivers. However the worst threat, which claimed the most lives, was death by disease. Many, many families arrived at their destination short a husband, mother or child. These settlers could not have known how different the travel would be a mere 160 years after their incredible sacrifice. As we drive along now in our comfortable truck cab and knowing that we tow our home with all the comforts and conveniences we desire, I look to the landscape alongside us as we drive and see the ghosts of our fore-travelers. Their shadows look back at me, faces brooding with a mix of hope and weariness. Apart from the many historic monuments along the way, the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is a wonderful place to experience the history of the trail (www.blm. gov/or/oregontrail). It is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon, on Highway 86; Exit 302 on Interstate 84; 125 miles northwest of Boise, Idaho; 95 miles southeast of Pendleton, Oregon. This Center is a 23,000-square-foot complex, which houses the stories of the Oregon Trail participants. There are exhibits, special events and dramatic performances, which bring the era to life. The original interpretive wilderness trails and Oregon Trail “ruts” are maintained and preserved by the Bureau of Land Management and a volunteer group called Trail Tenders Inc. Baker City itself also boasts an historic downtown area, which has preserved the old west as it was. “If y’all can stay for a stretch”, there are two RV parks located in good proximity to enjoy all that the area has to offer: Mt. View Holiday Trav-LPark (www.mtviewrv.com) and Oregon Trails West RV Park (www.traveloregon.com). If your schedule doesn’t permit a long visit, make a point of stopping briefly at one or more of the Oregon Trail Landmark rest areas along the highway. These rest areas are marked with a brown sign displaying a covered wagon. It takes only a few minutes to read the journal excerpts, which are posted, but their impact may stay with you for much longer. Stop and have a visit with the original RVers! e RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 15 Gathering of RV’ers at Laguna del Tule RV Park in Melaque, Jalisco. RVing in MEXICO BY PAUL BEDDOWS Paul is past president of the North American Truck Camper Owners Association (NATCOA) and a frequent contributor to Truck Camper Magazine. There have been several articles in this magazine over the years regarding taking an RV into Mexico. Canadians, by far, make up the bulk of seasonal RV’ers south of the border, especially on the mainland. First some notes on safety and the fear factor. This question always comes up first and has to be dealt with. The three main rules that should be followed are: Do not drive at night, Do not boondock alone, and Do not resist if you are robbed or hijacked. You will inevitably face a barrage of comments from friends and family and other RV’ers you encounter in the US on their way down. They will range from “You will be robbed”, to “You are traveling into a war zone and will be murdered.” Your biggest risk is being robbed, and that is not really a huge risk either if you take care. Mexico is not a war zone, anymore than the United States was a war zone during prohibition. Then, as now, the violence was mainly concentrated in certain areas and directed to participants in criminal activity. Most murders in Mexico are 16 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 targeted, and your chance of being done in by some random nut is probably less than it is in the US and Canada. Nearly all tourists harmed in Mexico turn out to have been involved in the drug trade in one way or another. Anyone who tells you that taking an RV into Mexico is hassle-free and 100% safe is exaggerating or deluding themselves. Regardless, the rewards, in my opinion, far outweigh the negatives and potential risks. Thousands do it annually without any problems, but there have been incidents and the odd hijacking. You should always check and find out where the potential trouble spots are and try to avoid them. At the current time, the state of Tamaulipus, Camped on the beach at Hotel Mirador, Playa Huatabampito, Sonora. the Acapulco area, and of course, Cuidad Juarez, should all be avoided. You should also plan your crossing in such a way that you can get a couple of hundred kilometres south the first day. For those on the west coast, I personally like the Nogales crossing, since it is largely a toll highway directly south, and there is a convenient Walmart on the US side to overnight at. If you cross at 8 a.m. you will be in San Carlos before 6 p.m. including paperwork stops. You can easily return via Lukeville further west, which is far less crowded. So what is involved in spending a winter season in Mexico? I will deal with the things you should know one at a time. LANGUAGE: Speaking some Spanish or at least attempting to speak some will go a long way with regards to how people view you in Mexico. You will, however, find you may manage quite well without it, provided you speak English. French Canadians who only speak French have a much more difficult time, and this is one reason most of them stick to caravans. In my opinion one should take at least basic Spanish at night school before attempting to RV there. MONEY: It is a good idea to enter Mexico with about $50 - $100 in pesos. This will get you through day one until you can locate an ATM. You may need pesos for any toll-booths you encounter and for fuel. Most large supermarkets have ATM’s, I usually stock up on more pesos at the first grocery stop. Both Scotiabank and HSBC have a lot of ATM’s in Mexico and using these two will avoid service charges if you have an account. Keep an eye on how much is deducted from your bank account. Two years ago I had 3,000 pesos show up as $3,000 dollars. SHOPPING: Mexico is well equipped with large supermarkets: Mega, Walmart, Sorianas, Leys, and Bodega Aurrera to name a few. You will have little difficulty in finding food. Some items that are hard to find include Diet Pop (except coke) and multigrain breads. Ant traps are impossible to find, and you may well need them. You will find pretty much everything else plus a lot more additional items you are not familiar with. Keep in mind that there are agricultural inspection stations between some Mexican States and you may have fruits and vegetables confiscated. You need to drink bottled water, and large tanks of it are available everywhere. Try to find one with a screw top cap. They are easily refillable for about a dollar. Use a filter on your fresh water supply when hooked up. The blue in-line ones available at Camping World or Canadian Tire will remove a lot of bacteria and prevent sediment from getting into your tanks. FUEL: All fuel in Mexico is handled by the state-owned Pemex Corporation. Fuel prices in the 2010/2011 season averaged around 70 cents a litre Canadian for gas and about 75 cents for diesel, and were consistent across the country. Gas stations are everywhere. ULSD diesel is still not available except close to the border and this is a concern for those with newer diesels that require it. I think it will be at least two or three years before it is widely available. Many people with late model diesels take their chances anyway. I have seen some fitted with add-on tanks, some mixing US diesel and Mexican 50/50. Chances are if you are not venturing too far south, four or five tanks of Mexican diesel will cause you no problems. If the truck is under warranty, you might not want to mention to a buyer at home that you have taken it into Mexico. You should be aware that diesel pumps in Mexico are black and most stations will only take cash. Mexican gas stations do not sell propane. For that you have to locate a separate vendor. These are often located on the outskirts of most large town and they are able to refill your tanks. Quite often they will also come around the RV parks. ROADS and HIGHWAYS: There are two basic types of highway in Mexico: the Libres and the Cuotas: Free and Toll. I always advise first timers, especially, to stick to toll roads whenever possible. Many are up to US Interstate standards. They are not cheap. Charges are calculated based on the number of axles. A vehicle with duals counts as two axles. The most economical RV from a toll road point of view is a truck camper on a single rear axle truck. They pay the same as a car. A dually towing a single axle trailer will pay twice as much. One has to keep in mind, however, that you are also buying insurance. Towing is free and so are some repairs. Always keep your receipts. Although they can seem expensive, you may find it can cost you almost as much to take the free RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 17 road due to long slow windy sections, greater distances, speed bumps, small towns, etc. All those increase your fuel consumption and raise your risk of having an accident. MORDIDA: Everyone has heard stories of having to bribe police officers and this practice is still widespread. It is quite possible that most of you will likely encounter it at least once on your trip. It is illegal to pay a bribe. You seldom see it with Federales anymore. A recent purge of dishonest cops and better pay has all but eliminated it. It is another story with municipal and transit police. The first piece of advice is to smile, even shake their hand, and do not appear irritated. I have found the best initial strategy is to pretend you speak no Spanish. They will sometimes give up in frustration. If you obviously did nothing wrong, tell them you will follow them to the station and pay the fine. This will often result in a warning. If they speak English, another tactic that worked this year for me, was to tell them how much I loved their country and how I tell all my friends to RV here, and so on, heaping copious praise on Mexico. In that particular instance, I was actually in the wrong. He let me off. Mexicans are very proud of Mexico and this strategy will often make them feel guilty about shaking you down. If all else fails, ask the officer for his identification and write down his information. If the ticket is bogus, he will likely back off. You should make every effort not to hand over any cash unless he provides you with a receipt containing his name and badge number. Some people say take his photo. I would really not advise doing that. If you are in the wrong, pay the fine and get a receipt. Don’t try to buy them off for a lesser amount, as it only encourages the practice. I have not always followed my own advice in the past. On one occasion, when I had serious doubts I could manoeuvre my rig into the narrow, tight streets of the town, I asked the officer to pay the fine for me. I assume it went into his pocket. 18 INSURANCE: Your US or Canadian insurance is not valid in Mexico. You will need to purchase Mexican Insurance, both collision and liability. Brokers are located all over border towns on the US side or you can do it online before you leave home. You can expect to pay about $100 for every $10,000 of value insured. A good insurance company will provide an English-speaking lawyer if you get into trouble, and may give you the option of having your vehicle repaired in the US if it is drivable. Some reputable companies are San Xavier, Lewis and Lewis, Don Smith and Sanborns. Unless you plan to travel for less than a couple of weeks, the most economical policy is for six months. You also need to ensure the policy is valid for all areas of Mexico in which you plan to travel. If you live in BC, ICBC will rebate your BC insurance for the time the vehicle is in Mexico. For this reason I always insure vehicles I take to Mexico for both Liability and Collision with ICBC rather than private collision coverage. If you insure a trailer, camper or 5th wheel privately, you may want to inquire beforehand whether they will rebate you. You will need to save campground receipts, toll receipts and your vehicle entrance and exit permits to prove you were in Mexico continuously during the period in question. I find I break even at about four months, especially if I put storage insurance on vehicles left at home. If you do find yourself in an accident, your first phone call should be to the insurance company. If the police are present they will interpret for you. Being involved in an accident in Mexico is far more of a hassle than having one in the US or Canada. This is why I always advise carrying a cellphone, which I will discuss later in this article. If you are involved in an accident, you can expect your vehicle to be impounded until things are settled. You may even find yourself in jail at some point, especially if injuries are involved. This is why you will need the lawyer provided by your insurance company. VEHICLE PERMITS: Mexicans just love paperwork. This means that you really have to have everything prepared before crossing the border. You will need originals of all vehicle registrations. If your truck is leased, or is a company-owned truck, you need notarized permission to take it into Mexico, even if you are the company owner. Having copies of all your documentation is also advisable. If possible, also carry a copy of any original sales agreement. You should also have a copy of Mike and Terri Church’s Mexico Camping book (see www.rollinghomes.com). This is the bible of Mexican RVing and contains valuable information on individual crossing points, along with locations and descriptions of many Mexican RV parks. No Mexican RVer should be without a copy. A vehicle permit is required unless you are traveling to Baja or remaining in northern Sonora State, known as the hassle-free zone. Permits are issued by Banjercito and you have to locate the appropriate office which is often 10 or 20 kilometres south of the border on the main highway. You will be required to have vehicle registrations, a driver’s license, and a credit card. Unless you have obtained one beforehand, the first order of business is to locate the immigration desk and get your six month tourist card. As soon as you do this, look for the usual copy booth and make copies of it. They will ask when you move on to the Banjercito window to get your permit. If there is no copy booth they will usually do the copy themselves. A vehicle permit will be issued for your truck and any other vehicles, like a tow car. This costs around $40 per vehicle for six months. If you have a trailer, scooter, etc, they will generally add those to the same sticker. It is possible to get a 10-year permit for the RV itself, but I advise against it. If you sell your RV and then try to re-enter with a new rig, you will have no end of hassles. My advice is to copy all documents they issue you and, if possible, scan and email them to yourself. I also do this with all my vehicle registrations so I can access RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 copies on the road in a worse case scenario. I now carry a small portable scanner and printer with me. Banjercito will also take note of your credit card number and, if you do not return with the vehicle, you will be charged duties. If you replace a windshield, make sure you salvage the piece with the permit affixed. Another reason I email a copy to myself, is just in case I am unconscious from an accident and unable to do that. Upon leaving Mexico, you have to return the permit at the same Banjercito or a Banjercito at another crossing. They will remove the permit, scan it, and take a photo of your VIN tag. If you declared a trailer, scooter, or any other vehicle, make sure they are aware of them. They will issue a receipt. Do not throw it out. If you return the following year make sure you have it with you, just in case. Be careful, not all crossings have a permit station. CARAVANS and TRAVEL BUDDIES: There is nothing wrong with using a caravan for your first trip into Mexico. Most of those on the Mainland are French Canadian, however. There are a few RV parks that are organizing a caravan to their particular park. The two that come to mind are Celestino Resort north of Matzatlan and La Penita RV Park north of Puerto Vallarta. You may have to commit yourself to one month or more at their RV Park. I think you will see much more of this as time goes on. Another option is to form your own. Many people are doing this for at least the first two or three days after crossing the border. Some websites offer matching services. For example, www. mexicotravelbuddies.com has a calendar where you can place your dates and routes for others to see. Mike and Terri Church’s website at www.rollinghomes.com also has a matching service, as does Dot Bell’s website at http://www.mexicoroadtrips. com. RV PARTS: RV parts are pretty tough to find in Mexico. While you cannot cover every eventuality, I would recommend an extra sewer hose and the fittings, a spare water pump and spare 15 amp to 30 amp adapter. All of those items are quite inexpensive and essential. If you want to spend the money, a spare fridge circuit board is nice. Electricity in Mexico varies widely and I have seen more than one RV with a blown fridge board. You can live without a water heater or a furnace, but not a fridge. Camping World sells a good power protector for about $275 that will protect your electrical system. Other than that, I would recommend running the fridge on propane only. Looking for a place to hitch-up? In a pinch you can always put a post on www.rv.net or www.mexicorvforums. com and see if anyone still in the US is headed your way, if you require a part. If you are traveling in Baja, try www. bajanomad.com. I had a new sewer hose delivered to me this way two years ago. If you can manage the room, an extra tire, off rim, is a good idea. Certain sizes can be hard to locate in Mexico. An extra fuel and oil filter is also a good idea. RV PARKS: There are close to 500 RV parks or campsites in Mexico, most will have a vacancy, and there is no need to reserve except at the more popular ones. That was not the case a few years ago, but travel is down considerably. Not all are suitable for larger rigs, but many are. A high proportion have high speed wireless Internet, some have pools and many have full or partial hook-ups. Most are listed in Mike and Terri’s book along with their co-ordinates. There is an overview map at www. mexicorvforums/map.html of their locations. Rates run from $10 a night up to about $25. A typical monthly rate for a full hook-up Park on the west coast would be $400 to $600 per month. Most people head for a favourite west coast or Yucatan park and spend the entire season there. This is a mistake. There are some wonderful parks in the interior. They can offer welcome relief from the heat and humidity of the coast, 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 [email protected] • OPEN Monday-Friday: 8-5, Saturday: 9-5 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 19 especially later in the season. A couple of personal recommendations are Haceinda Contreras near Mazamitla, Jalisco; Roca Azul at the west end of lake Chapala; Villas Tepetapan in Catemaco, Veracruz. There are also some wonderful colonial cites to explore like San Miguel Allende, Patzcuarro and Guanajuato. GPS: BICI Maps produce GPS maps of Mexico for the Garmin and Magellan. Garmin now includes Mexico Maps with its North American Updates and these now appear to be superior to BICI maps. Tom Tom also has Mexico maps. None of these is up to the same standard as Canada/US offerings, but can be very useful, especially in conjunction with RV Park co-ordinates from the Church’s book. Microsoft Streets and Trips also have quite detailed Mexican Maps. Even if you have these, I highly recommend purchasing a Guia Roji Mapbook, available at most large Mexican stores (eg Mega or Walmart). HAZARDS to your RV: The biggest hazard is the Tope. This is a speed bump and Mexicans love them. You will find them both in towns and on main non-toll highways. Most are marked, but there is always the unmarked stealth one hiding in the shadow of a tree. You do not want to hit one at high speed. Expect at least three of them, every time you approach any town, no matter what the size. Small towns can also often present streets that are impossible for large RV’s. Low hanging trees and arches are a constant hazard. If you think it’s doubtful and have a tow vehicle or a scooter or even bikes, it sometimes pays to scout out a route first. I carry a set of collapsible tent poles. I have tape around the bottom such that when I hold it at eye level, the poles show my clearance. They have saved me from trees and archways I felt sure I would clear, on several occasions. A good trick when approaching a town you have doubt about is to follow a bus through. If they can make it, you can. If you have a TPO vinyl roof, it is a good idea to have a roll of eternabond tape with you in case you snag it on a tree. COMMUNICATIONS: Do not take your Canadian cellphone to Mexico. Even if it works, roaming charges are extremely high. Mexican cellphones are ❖ Single Trip / Annual Plans ❖ No Age Restrictions ❖ Broker for 15 Different Insurance Companies Travel Guardian Insurance Ltd. 1-888-310-7505 www.travelguardian.ca 20 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 relatively cheap. However, in my opinion the best option is ATandT’s GoPhone. This may be purchased for about $15 at Walmarts in the US. It offers 10 cents a minute in the US or 25 cents a minute in Mexico. That includes incoming and outgoing calls to the US and Canada. If you have free Canada-US calling on your home phone, you can simply forward your number and people can just dial your normal number to reach you, rather than a long distance call to Mexico. Call display allows you to screen whether or not you should answer. It comes with Voicemail. You can load it up with a $50 prepaid card good for six months or $100 good for a year. It utilizes the Telcel network which is pretty much everywhere. To call North America, simply add +1 in front of the area code. Other options include Skype or MagicJack. I have had a lot of success with MagicJack in RV parks with DSL service, even over wireless. Magicjack comes with Voicemail and it will email you a wave file of the message. You can now have a BC number assigned to it. A cell gives you service in your vehicle and access to local Mexican emergency services. A TelCel internet stick runs about $40 a month. I have never needed one. I have found Wi-Fi in Mexican RV parks is even more common than in the US. Both satellite radio services work in Mexico but Sirius will work further south than XM. Shaw Satellite (formerly Star Choice) works throughout Mexico; Bell ExpressVu does not. The American Disk and Direct services also have issues as you go south. In conclusion, RVing in Mexico is certainly not for everyone, but it provides a whole new world of experience for those who have exhausted, or are tired of, what is available in the US and Canada. For Snowbirds, it offers a cheaper and warmer alternative to the Southwest or Florida. For those who are nervous newbies, consider a caravan for your first trip, or buddy up with some experienced old timers. Nice to have someone else to review things with at day's end. e Life in an RV Park By Dennis Begin In Canada, one of every nine Canadians owns some type of recreational vehicle. The majority of these owners generally use their RV’s from May through October. There are, however, thousands of snowbirds who travel to Southern California or Arizona to spend winter is the sun. Some of the more popular snowbird destinations are Hemet, Palm Desert, Lake Havasu City, Yuma, Tucson, Apache Junction, Mesa and Casa Grande. Year after year many snowbirds return to the same RV Park, expressing a feeling of having a home away from home. RV Parks fall into three categories: 1. Overnight parks for RV’s only. 2. Combination RV Park and park models with short term RV sites. 3. An RV Park with short and long term stay, combined with permanent park models/trailer residences. Fort Victoria RV Park ✔ 300 Hookups ✔ Water/Sewer/Electric/TV ✔ Free Showers ✔ WiFi & Modem Access ✔ Laundromat ✔ Sani-dump In the early years of our RV travels, it was exciting to visit as many places as possible over three months as the years passed, and we visited many of the major tourist sites. We are now content to spend most of our winter in two places. With the cost of RV’ing continuing to increase, staying longer in one park is also a practical way to reduce costs. The longer you stay in one place, the cheaper the costs. After visiting numerous parks in the Tuscon area, we selected Cactus Country on Houghton Road, just off I-10 and located in the southeast part of the city. Cactus Country is part of Adventure Bound Resorts, based in Florida. The park is managed by Kim and Dan Workman, with a very capable staff of seven. The park has a combination of both park models and 260 RV sites, along with a tenting area. Some of the facilities include: heated pool/spa, fitness center, library, horseshoe court, shuffleboard, laundromat, desert garden, recreation hall, picnic/camping area, dump station, private mail boxes, cable, internet and a doggie park. Cactus Country is typical of most full service parks, providing amenities for comfortable living throughout the winter months. Fry’s grocery store and Costco are only a few miles away, with a major mall on Speedway. Life in a RV Park has its own routine, with a social director responsible for planning daily activities. A myriad of activities include a camera club, bible studies, cigar aficionados, billiard tournaments, quilting and sewing, yoga, line dancing, bingo, card/scrapbook making, aerobics, jewelry making, a golf club, hiking club, cactus garden and karaoke. Food always plays a major role with pizza night, potluck, dessert auction, coffee and donuts, omelet breakfast and fish night. Special events include: Movie Night, Texas Hold’em, Casino Night, Mystery Murder Night and Saturday Night Dances. Bus or car trips are arranged to local casinos and the Triple T Ranch. There is no pressure to join any club or get involved in any activity, as participation is left to the individual. If you want to sponsor a club or activity, you will be encouraged to provide the leadership. Many guests participate in setting up/running the numerous activities. If none of these activities are of interest, there is the opportunity to help at the local Food Bank. As a result, the winter weeks pass quickly with friendships developing among the RV’ers who travel from across Canada and the United States. Adventure Bound claims that 84% of their guests are repeat customers and that includes our friends. Friends/family back home often ask, “What do you do for three months?” Believe me, there never seems to be enough time to be a tourist, complete the routine chores and take part in various activities. RVing provides a unique opportunity to experience new places, make new friends and appreciate that RVing is more than just owning a home on wheels. e ✔ 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 [email protected] www.FortVictoria.ca RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 21 By CATHERINE DOOK The Hero We woke up in Valemount in the Rocky RV Park and Campground to a splattering of rain on the roof of our van. “Did you hear the thundering and lightening and train whistles last night?” John asked. I opened one eye. “I’ll tell you what I didn’t hear,” I said. “I didn’t hear the whine of mosquitoes.” I kissed my husband good morning. “Darling, I’m very proud of you.” We’ve been married nearly 16 years, and the night before had brought out a ruthlesshunter side to my husband I’d never seen before. Naked from the waist up, his blue eyes darting wildly in all directions, and with a look of determined fury on his face, John can snatch a mosquito out of the air with one hand and squash it into a grease spot before it knows what hit it. We’d slept the night surrounded by a litter of mosquito corpses, and not one whine had I heard though I’d strained my ears to listen. Naturally, I thought all this machismo was terribly sexy and I was reluctant to get out of bed, but John said he wanted breakfast, so after I got dressed I pulled out the frypan and campstove and prepared a feast of bacon and eggs and beans. If John Darling could slay mosquitoes, I could humbly and submissively cook food. Now, I’d been complaining about the evils of meat glue for over 500 km, and I noticed to my consternation that the strips of bacon I’d bought for our trip WOULD not brown, but lay in the frypan like so many large pale worms. Not meat glue, but surely something as dreadful. But John gobbled his breakfast without a murmur of complaint. The wholesale slaughter from the night before must have worked up his appetite. I washed up the dishes, then came back from a garbage run to find the van motor on and John sitting in the driver’s seat. “This a hint?” I asked with a grin. “It might be,” he said. “Jasper next, then Grande Cache.” Upon driving past the entrance of the RV Park, we came across Anne Lee, who with her husband Philip runs the campsite. We’d met them on our last trip north and liked them very much, so I asked if I could have my picture taken with them. “Kim chee,” Anne said as the photograph was snapped, and I laughed. All my Korean friends love kim chee. As we drove away, John snatched a mosquito out of the air and crushed it, then switched hands on the steering wheel faster than I could follow and squashed another bug against the driver’s side window, leaving a mortal smear as a warning to other presumptuous insects. I sat breathless with admiration. After a few more kilometres, there was a vacuum of insects on John’s side of the van and only a few of them whining on mine. The spider, who had taken up residence by the windshield, crawled out of an air vent to look at me reproachfully, before disappearing along one strand of his web. Just then John noticed that the centre panel of the console had joggled loose again. He �tsked’ and began fiddling with it with his right hand, then he dropped the steering wheel and slapped a mosquito to death against the window with the other. I cleared my throat. “My darling,” I said, “Perhaps you could leave the console until we park.” “But it’s loose,” John said. He sounded aggravated, like Rambo might have had he found a problem with one of his machine guns, such as a loose decorative plate or a scratch along the barrel. “It’s not going to actually fall off,” I argued. “True,” John said, and he concentrated on his driving for awhile. We turned east onto Highway 16, and before we knew it we were abreast Mount Robson and the start of the Rockies. Along the highway lay giant boulders, cast by the hand of God. The rivers we crossed were all swollen and greenish-grey. They we drove through clouds and we could see the first snow-capped peaks. As we drove across the Rockies, the highway closed in and folded upon itself. Moose Lake stretched for miles. John killed so many mosquitoes, the body count was up to 12 by Jasper. At the park entrance the young woman attendant said, “Hello, Bonjour,” as if she meant it, and we were charmed, but as John unrolled the window to talk to her at least four more mosquitoes flew into the cab. John rolled the window up as fast as he could and the van lurched forward. Grey striated mountains sat heaved up from the earth, then peaks, jagged and wonderful. We slowed down in the wildlife zone to gawk at the view and watch four molting goats unconcernedly nibble grass on a steep bank by the Catherine with Anne & Philip Lee at Rocky RV Park and Campground in Valemount, BC 22 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 RV R E S O RT A Win WARD ning Park A Parkbridge Lifestyle Community and Resort CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: 10% OFF daily visits for the month of January when you present this ad. Spacious sites • Contemporary facilities • Beautiful landscaping Stroll the beaches, walk the Lochside Trail, explore nearby vineyards, restaurants, museums, bookstores. Close to Butchart Gardens, plus BC & Washington Ferries. 10 minutes to Sidney, 20 to Victoria 3000 Stautw Rd, Saanichton BC V8M 2K5 Tel: 250-544-0508 • Fax: 250-544-0565 [email protected] • www.oceansideresortrv.com Problems with your RV Fridge or Cooling Unit? Our Execuvan parked at Rocky RV Park in Valemount, BC. highway. John recommenced killing mosquitoes and fiddling with the console. “Province of Alberta,” the sign read, then a little further, “Distracted Driving Law in Effect.” “I know they mean cellphones,” John said, “but do they include looking at mountains?” He swatted at a mosquito. “Missed,” he said, then he reached for the console and poked at it once or twice. “I’m pretty sure they include killing mosquitoes and adjusting the console,” I said. “Just sayin’.” My husband gave me an embarrassed glance. “So quit it, my love, because I’ll testify for the prosecution.” We turned north onto Highway 40. two km short of Hinton, then gunned it towards Grande Cache. “Three quarters of a tank of gas,” John told me, swatting at another mosquito. “Green sign. A hundred and forty-one km to Grande Cache,” I said, reading. I looked at my map. “Grande Cache is on the same latitude as Prince George, Darling. Do you know what this means?” “No,” John said. “Our neighbour Richard bet $20 we wouldn’t make Prince George, but if we can get as far as Grande Cache, he’s lost the bet. Go for it, Honey.” I leaned forward. My mosquitoslaughtering and console-fixing hunter-gatherer husband in our rattletrap van was my hero. “Go for it.” k Providing Dependable Repairs for RV Propane Fridges. Performance GUARANTEED! HILLSTREET PROPANE 608 Railway Ave, Enderby BC 250-838-9540 www.hillstreetpropanerv.com COME SPEND TIME WITH US AT A FUN & FRIENDLY PARK! Indoor Pool, Sauna, Hot Tub, Guests‛ Lounge, WI-FI RATED BY TRAILER LIFE/GOOD SAM IN 2009 AS ONE OF THE TOP RATED RV PARKS IN NORTH AMERICA! SUN! To read more from Catherine Dook, take a look at her boating book called Offshore ($18.95) available from oberonpress.ca. Her other two novels, Darling, Call the Coast Guard, We’re onFire Again ($15.95) and Damn the Torpedoes ($16.95) are published by Touchwood Editions and can be ordered by calling 1-800-665-3302. 7 yeraarnty war 40% more Sunshine/ 30% less Rain than Vancouver FUN! 67–175A Street, Surrey BC V3S 9T7 Phone: 604-538-1727 Toll-Free: 1-866-333-1727 [email protected] www.pacificborderrvpark.com Check our online VIRTUAL TOUR RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 23 24 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 25 RVing the DEH CHO Route, with a side trip to Yellowknife By Wilbur Collin, Edmonton AB Between August 3rd and 15th, my wife Edith and I traveled the DEH CHO Route with our RV rig. The DEH CHO (which means Big River) is properly named in that it transverses several of the largest rivers in Western Canada, including the Peace River, the Mackenzie River and the Laird River, all considerably 26 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 bigger than the North Saskatchewan River which runs through Edmonton. The DEH CHO is a circular route through North Western Alberta, the NWT, and North Eastern BC. Some of the main towns along the route are: Grande Prairie, Fairview, Valleyview, Peace River, Grimshaw and High Level in Alberta, plus Enterprise, Hay River, Fort Providence, Fort Simpson and Fort Laird in the North West Territories, and Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Hudson’s Hope and Chetwynd in British Columbia. Edith and I began our tour in Edmonton on Sunday, August 3rd. Our rig consisted of a 30 RKS Holiday Rambler Savoy fifth wheel and a 2500 Dodge Ram truck and our first stop was in the Lions RV Park in Peace River. This park is run by a very friendly retired RCMP who taught me two new card games! The following day (Monday) we traveled north from Grimshaw to High Level, AB, where we stayed in the excellent Aspen Ridge Campground, and later drove to Fort Vermilion which has the distinction of being “where Alberta began in 1788” with the establishment of a trading post. Fort Vermilion is surrounded by good farmland and excellent crops, which are a joy to see by an old farmer like me. From High Level we traveled north stopping at the well-stocked 60th Parallel Visitor’s Centre, and then north toward Enterprise, stopping at the Twin Falls Gorge Park. The Twin Falls Gorge contains two spectacular falls, slightly over one km apart. Our first sop was a viewpoint overlooking the three-tiered Louise Falls. From the viewpoint we took a metal spiral staircase 100 steps down and a wooden staircase 135 steps down to the crest of the falls where the Slave River drops 50 feet into the gorge. From there we proceeded along a path to Alexandra Falls, which is even more spectacular than Louise Falls – which drops another 50+ feet into the gorge. Next we drove on into Hay River where we stayed in the Hay River Territorial Park, which is one of four Territorial Parks in which we stayed during our trip. We stayed in them more or less because there is almost nowhere else to camp, except in very primitive campgrounds. We had made a reservation via the Internet, a month earlier. From Hay River we backtracked to Enterprise. Just north of Enterprise we stopped to view the spectacular Lady Evelyn Falls near Kakisa River. The falls can be viewed by walking down a staircase to a platform just above the falls. Leaving the DEH CHO route, we traveled north crossing the new DEH CHO 1.1 kms long bridge over the Mackenzie River and onto Fort Providence where we stayed in the Fort Providence Territorial Park on the north bank of the Mackenzie River. While Fort Providence is an old community, there are few historical edifices in the community, so not much to see or do there. But we did have dinner at the Snowshoe Inn and Restaurant and it was there we first learned about the DEG CHO Edith beside the monument to bush pilots, Yellowknife, Aug 9/13 Passport program. From Fort Providence we travelled north on a fairly good paved road to Behchoko – a settlement combining Edzo and Rae where we drove over a large steel bridge over the Frank Channel of Great Slave Lake. Not long after starting north we encountered our first large bison bull crossing the highway – on HIS terms. From Behchoko to Yellowknife the road is very rough with a great number of dips and ridges. Even though we travelled quite slow, we broke a considerable number of dishes and appliances in our fifth wheel, something we have never ever done before in our 18+ years and 100,000 kms of RVing all over North America! While in Yellowknife, we enjoyed touring the unique Legislative Buildings and learning of the NWT’s unique legislative system, touring the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Fireweed Gallery, Old Town, and much more. Even though the NWT is the third largest diamond producer in the world, shipping out more than $125 million worth of diamond every Wednesday, we were somewhat amazed and disappointed from the fact there are NO facilities providing information about diamond mining, diamond cutting, polishing and setting, etc. anywhere in Yellowknife. The only information available at the Diavik Diamond Mine Visitors Centre was videos about how outstanding an employer the Mining Company is. All the literature we had indicated we would be able to visit “the new diamond display showcasing the diamond industry of the NWT.” Not So! That ended several years ago and has not been restarted. We did enjoy dinner at the famous “Wildcat Café” in Old Town though. After spending three days in Yellowknife, we backtracked on Highway 3 to the junction with Highway 1 and headed west toward Fort Simpson. While the road is mostly gravel, it was considerably smoother, that is as far as Below: Louise Falls, NWT, August 2013 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 27 Alexandra Falls, NWT, August 2013. lined with chainsaw carvings from the previous years – 120 or more in all. Another worthwhile side trip. From Chetwynd we left the DEHCHO route traveling on Highway 97 over the Pine Pass to Prince George. The weather throughout the trip was excellent – warm and sunny. For the 4,000+ kilometres we experienced no problems with our fifth wheel, other than the breaking of the dishes and appliances. Fuel prices were somewhat higher in the NWT and BC, but that was expected. Overall we averaged slightly more than 15 miles per gallon (5.3 kms per litre). Thus the cost of fuel was about 25 cents per kilometre. While this was an enjoyable trip for us, I wouldn’t recommend the Fort Simpson part to anyone who is not experienced with gravel roads. If you are prepared for rough roads and take your time, it is well worth the cost. k an RV is concerned, than many of the paved roads. The only major problem on the gravel road was the tremendous amount of dust that just hangs in the air whenever you meet another vehicle. The good thing is that we met only about six to seven vehicles in the whole 200+ kms to “Checkpoint” where Highway 1 to Fort Simpson meets with Highway 7 to Fort Laird. Travelling from Checkpoint to Fort Simpson, we crossed the Laird River on a free Government of Canada Ferry. It was a short six-minute ride. We checked into the Fort Simpson Territorial Park on the southern edge of town (population of about 500), unhooked the RV and went into town stopping first at the Visitor’s Centre. The young man there suggested we drive around town until we find their historical buildings and we finally found the barn built in 1906. On the way back to the Territorial Park we stopped at the “golf course” where we noticed a black bear foraging outside the “pro shop”. Folks there chased it off with a quad! From Fort Simpson we again backtracked to Checkpoint and then onto Fort Laird 200+ km on a very dusty gravel road south. Again on this road we met less than 10 vehicles so the dust presented little problem. We did not stay over in Fort Laird, but proceeded south, crossing the 60th Parallel almost unnoticed except for the very welcome beginning of a very good paved BC highway. After overnighting in Fort Nelson we traveled south toward Fort St John, turning off just north of the city to drive to Hudson’s Hope, where we toured the famous W.A.C. Bennett Hydroelectric Dam – one of the largest “earth filled” dams in the world. It is a tour worth taking. From there we traveled on to Chetwynd, the chainsaw carving capital time. of Break Canada. Their streets are Our Savoy Holiday Rambler fifth wheel at the Aspen Ridge Campground, High Level, Alberta. 28 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 GUIDE TO BUYING AN RV By RYAN JACKSON [email protected] My name is Ryan Jackson, and I have been in the RV industry for 27 years. Most of my experience has been in service managing. The experience has allowed me to gain the skills needed for customer service and product knowledge. (A bit of a lost art these days.) Too often, I see nice people purchase the wrong RV for them, and trade it in a year later for the more suitable RV. Unfortunately, that is a costly mistake, and one that can be avoided. I have taken the time to write what I feel is an easy guide to follow when purchasing an RV. It is designed to help you pick the RV that suits your needs. Thank you for taking the time to read it, and good luck out there! WHO? At every dealership you go to, you will be approached by a sales representative. There are many different kinds of reps. Some are pushy, some are passive, some are not helpful, some are too helpful. Make sure you build a rapport with your sales rep, and make sure he/she listens to you, and is helpful. If you are uncomfortable with your rep, you are completely within your rights to ask for someone else. WHAT? Before you even go to a dealership to have a look, you should choose a type of RV you want to look at. It may be a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel, or van, Class C, etc. You should be able to determine this prior to your visit. There are many occasions where customers come in with a type of RV already selected, and end up buying something completely different. Sometimes this works out, but more often than not, there is buyer’s remorse. If you do select an RV for the moment, and decide you don’t like it, when you go to trade it back in, you are more than likely going to lose money on the deal. It is very important to know what type of RV you are looking for, and stick to looking at those types. If you wander around looking at other types of RV’s, you may end up with something you didn’t want. You also have to determine some sort of budget when buying your RV. RV’s are generally priced based directly on quality. For example, a four seasons fully insulated trailer with all the electric options will be priced considerably higher than a nonfour seasons unit with limited options. You need to decide whether price point, or quality is more important to you, as a consumer. You also should have a pretty good idea of what options you would prefer. For example, maybe a lot of counter space is important, or a large fridge, or lots of storage, etc. It is a good idea to know what to look for when selecting an RV. You should be able to relay your needs to your sales rep, and he should be able to take you to the units that meet your requirements. WHERE? Let’s face it. There are a number of places to purchase an RV. There are dealers, importing from the States, private sales, etc. When importing from the States, you may find getting CSA status at the border is difficult. Canadian Standards Association’s rules are much more strict than US standards. Most manufacturers have Canadian, and American units. If the unit you select in the States does not measure up to CSA standards, it will need to be adapted to meet those standards, at your cost. I know of many nightmare RV import stories, and very few people end up saving money this way. Another way to buy is through private sales. There is a lot of risk involved. There really are no actual rules governing private sales. It is basically a buyer-beware type approach. There is a governing body for RV dealers called VSA, (Vehicle Sales Authority) which determines laws an RV dealer must follow. Basically, new or used, everything must work on the RV you purchase, all information must be disclosed to you, and the dealer is responsible for the condition when you purchase it, unless otherwise noted on the original contract. In other words, we do mechanical inspections, repair as necessary, we do RV inspections, repair as necessary, and detail units before you pick up your new unit. A dealer also guarantees an RV to be free and clear of debt. Also, check the history of the dealership. Chances are you know other RVers, and try and find as much information about the dealership you are purchasing from as possible. Also, check for stories on the Internet about other people’s experiences with that dealer, so you know what you can expect, or not expect. WHY? Why do you want to buy an RV? How will you use it? Do you want to use it only in the summer, or maybe in the fall? Do you want to travel locally on weekends, or long trips south, or across Canada? These are all questions you should consider before even setting out to look at RV’s. If you have a lot of your own answers, but are still a little unsure, please use your sales rep to fill in the rest. Most reps you talk to have a lot of experience, and you can take advantage of their insights to help fill in the blanks. HOW? Actually purchasing an RV is a pretty simple procedure. Basically, you come to an agreement on a price and put down a refundable deposit. On the agreement you can put in subjects. For example, subject to financing, test-drive, wife (or husband’s) approval, etc. As long as there is a subject on the agreement, it is not a legally binding contract. It is only binding when the subjects have been removed. All deposits given are refundable, unless otherwise specified on the contract. An example of this is a factory order unit. Financing is another issue. All dealers offer financing, and other services that will protect your unit, such as extended warranty, paint protection, etc. You should have a pretty good idea of what you want your payments to be, if you are willing to put money down, whether you want to finance at all, etc. before making your purchase. All in all, your chances of success are greatly increased if: 1. You have a good idea of what you want. 2. You have a good idea of what your budget is. 3. You trust your sales rep, and the dealer. 4. Know how you want to pay for it. 5. You make a list of features you want in your RV, and refer to it while looking. If you come into the dealership, and follow these simple guidelines, your purchase should be a very great experience, and you should end up walking away with the right RV for you. Happy shopping! k RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 29 PICKLEBALL: THE PERFECT SPORT? Sunland RV Resorts serve up pickleball in California and Florida. By Susan Schutz Less strenuous than a tennis match, more vigorous than a slide on the shuffleboard, and faster than a round of golf, pickleball has found the sweet spot of sport and a devoted following. In an ongoing effort to enhance guest experiences, Sunland RV Resorts is picking up the paddle and giving RVers a place to play during their stay. What began as a curious sports mashup in a Western Washington backyard, pickleball is now one of the fastest growing sports in the US. Combining aspects of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, the sport is attractive to both competitive athletes and casual players. Baby boomers, in particular, have taken to this relatively new game. A smaller court and use of a whiffle-type ball means less wear and tear from excessive running, cutting, and stopping. The close proximity of players, however, makes it a fast paced and fun workout. According to the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), there are over 5,000 official members and an estimated 131,000 players in the US today. Thanks to similar demographics and easy-to-store equipment, pickleball’s popularity has spilled into the RV community. RVers can easily take their pickleball game on the road and play wherever they stay. “Pickleball continues to gain traction because it is age and gender neutral. It is a very social, easy-to-learn game that doesn’t require a lot of equipment,” remarked USA Pickleball Association Media Chair, Ruth Rosenquist. “If you’ve tried it, you already know how addicting it is!” In response to this surge in popularity, Sunland RV Resorts has served up pickleball at three of its top resorts. Golden Village Palms RV Resort in Hemet, California, Silver Palms RV Resort in Okeechobee, Florida, and, most recently, Emerald Desert RV Resort in Palm Desert, California offer multiple outdoor courts. As the peak winter season nears, each resort is slated to offer lessons, daily matches, and resort tournaments. “We are so excited to see how our guests will respond to the new Emerald Desert pickleball courts,” stated Greg Sidoroff, Vice President of Operations at Sunland RV Resorts. “Having these brand new courts, a high volume of pickleball players, and on-site lessons, it’s looking like a great addition to our already extensive list of amenities and activities.” Known as a go-to luxury RV resort for events and entertainment, Golden Village Palms RV Resort added dedicated pickleball courts in 2012 after years of using temporary courts. The response from guests has been overwhelmingly positive. 30 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 Guests like Judy Dougherty can’t say enough good things about pickleball and the outdoor courts at Golden Village Palms. (Photo above.) “I actually started playing at Golden Village Palms,” said Dougherty. “I had never found a sport I enjoyed, but once I started playing pickleball I was hooked! You’re having so much fun, you don’t even realize you’re exercising.” The 1,019-site resort features a million dollar sports complex and sport courts including shuffleboard, sand volleyball, and horseshoes. While many RVers may think pickleball is the perfect sport, the question remains: Is pickleball the sport for you? Here are a few questions to help you find out: Q. Are you competitive or do you just like to have fun? Great, both are welcome! With more sanctioned tournaments happening every year, there is an outlet for the competitive of any age. Senior and 50+ tournaments are held regularly around the country. Emerald Desert, Golden Village Palms, and Silver Palms will offer a balance of fun and competitive pickleball events. Q. Have you ever played badminton, tennis or ping pong? Doesn’t matter! Whether you’re a seasoned player or are completely green, pickleball is easy to learn. The rules are available online at www.usapa.org, along with video tutorials and news. Each resort will feature their on-site lessons, and resort staff can offer assistance finding additional teaching resources. Q. Do you like individual sports or are you better on a team? You can do both! Rallying with friends or going solo is totally up to you. With the smaller court, it is easy for anyone to play a singles match, and doubles is a fun way to get more people involved. Sunland’s event coordinators are ready to help guests get matches going and to plan an array of exciting pickleball events. In addition to pickleball courts, the properties all feature full hookup sites, temperature-controlled pools, outdoor spas, and fitness centers. Silver Palms, Emerald Desert, and Golden Village Palms boast spacious clubhouses, on-site event coordinators, and resort events and activities. Visit www.sunlandrvresorts.com to learn more about the pickleball program, to check out Sunland’s upcoming events, or to book your stay. ❄ Unique RVs: Odyssey By Janos Balogh Sean and Louise, a couple from San Jose California, met in 1997 at a motorcycle campout. They were married in 2003 and lived in a downtown apartment enjoying the busy city life. It was Sean’s childhood dream to travel in a converted bus, The finished Odyssey parked in an RV park. and they had been planning to buy or build a bus conversion, live and travel in it full-time. They’d been looking for a Neoplan At the back of the bus is the bedroom with plenty of Spaceliner bus because it’s like a double decker but the lower level is a 45” tall huge luggage compartment. The other big cabinetry for hanging clothes, even room for books. These two engineers designed every part of the bus for as advantage is that the driver sits on the lower level, the space much comfort as possible and it shows. Their above him can also be used. favourite kind of camping is boondocking and In 2001 they purchased Odyssey in Irvine they like to live as long as possible without CA. It was already a 45’ motorhome but after turning on the generator. The eight-piece a while and too many problems, Sean decided house battery system makes it easy to live to redesign and rebuild the whole rig. He in full comfort for days with only the basic started working on it full-time in the same system running. If the bus is left parked year after his Silicon Valley job as they say, somewhere, the power of the battery bank last evaporated. for over a week. The original electrical system Both of them being engineers, they The Odyssey gutted. was almost useless and it has been rebuilt completely redesigned the bus from the air by Sean. He kept the original generator but ride, from the tanks to the interior. Stripping everything else has been replaced. and rebuilding the inside plus the RV part At the time the bus was stripped, they took until August 2004 when they moved already thought about solar panels in the aboard, even though the exterior of the bus future, so Odyssey is prewired for it and will wasn’t yet painted. They rented out their San extend the boondocking possibilities for much Jose condo and they lived on the bus and have longer. Even the plumbing has been planned traveled the country ever since. for boondocking. One of the luggage compartments on the Odyssey’s new finished interior. There is a separate fresh water tank and lower level of the bus has two motorcycles in an extra tank for drinking water. This one is it, no need to tow a car since both of them always filled with potable water and filtered have been avid bikers for a long time. before you drink it; the non-potable tank can If you travel with pets you have to care for be filled from any water source like a creek, them more than you care for yourself. The river or well. bus was designed with that in mind and the End of the story: a very well built cats have their own litterbox in a separate bay motorhome, specialized to the owners’ needs under the floor accessible from upstairs. and it could even be up for sale in the near Over the driver’s seat on the top floor is the Penthouse with the large front window, two Louise relaxing in the penthouse. future. Last year they just bought a 52’ boat in Florida and planning to spend a lot of time leather swivel chairs, the owners’ favourite on it. It has been out of the water for weeks for place for reading and relaxing. A settee across maintenance and repairs. Sean went through from the chairs makes it a perfect living room. the boat with a familiar overhaul as on the Behind the settee is a sofa bed that sleeps bus, modifying it to their liking. Once it is two guests if needed. Further down is the seaworthy, they will move aboard and explore kitchen. Here is the only propane appliance: the seas, after the roads and Odyssey goes up the cook-top. Between the kitchen and the for sale or they keep it as a Home Base. e bedroom is the bath with a nice large shower and a separate toilet. Two motorcycles in a cargo bay. RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 31 This group shot is from our 30th Anniversary Rally in Kelowna September 6 – 9, 2013. It had a theme of “Christmas in September”. Would you like to be a Nut too? We’re the BC Bus Nuts Chapter of the Family Motorcoach Association, an organization, which has chapters all over Canada and the United States. The only stipulation for club membership is that you have to own a motorhome. It doesn’t matter the size, shape or age of the unit. So how perfect is that for a group of individuals with everything from converted 1950s buses to the 24ft weekenders. We don’t all have buses, we aren’t all nuts and we certainly aren’t all nuts about buses. What we do have in common is a love of travel and getting together yearly at rallies to share our experiences. Our Chapter just celebrated our 30th Anniversary this year with rallies in Hope and Kelowna. 32 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 By Diane Salmon In 1983 the BC Bus Nuts Chapter was formed with 20 members from all over BC as well as Washington, Oregon, Nevada and even California. At that time it was indeed a “bus-only” Chapter with most of the rigs being converted into comfortable living quarters by the owners who were good at carpentry, mechanics and everything in between. Our rallies are held at least twice a year, spring and fall, and it gives our members a chance to go to destinations that they otherwise might have never visited. Within the last five years we’ve had rallies at Barkerville, New Westminster, Klink’s Williams Lake Resort in Washington, Chase, Agassiz and Hat Creek Ranch to name a few. Every rally is different and special with lots of food, games or anything else the hosts decide to do. So if you would like to be a Bus Nut too, we would welcome you to join us. For membership information contact Gail Werschler, Secretary-Treasurer at [email protected]. e Chilliwack Valley Sams By Lynn Henderson, Secretary/Treasurer/Historian [email protected] The sun was shining and 49 rigs attended the BC Good Sam Provincial Fall meeting held at Sunshine Valley on September 9-11 with the host Chapter Chilliwack Valley Sams arriving a day early to coordinate the event. Host members were recognized by the yellow “host” badge they wore. A lot of work and special attention was given to make this event one to remember. When each rig arrived, a registration envelope was given, and a special keychain memento of this event made by Chilliwack Valley Sams was also included. Tuesday morning coffee and cookies were the start of the day. The first day’s special event planned was a seminar on RVing the Baja and was well attended. In the afternoon a rousing game of Bean Bag Baseball brought out all the athletes. Loud cheering for their teams brought other campers in the park out of their rigs to watch the game. In the afternoon many gathered around several rigs for happy hour. In the evening an ice cream social brought out all with a sweet tooth. A presentation from PADS followed and was held with full attendance. Two working dogs were brought to demonstrate the good work that PADS does. Donations were accepted at this time. Wednesday morning coffee and cookies were again served. A cribbage tournament was held with many people participating. The Provincial President’s meeting was held at 10:30am and was well attended. In the afternoon an RV seminar was given by Chilliwack Valley Sams Chapter member Henry Kozminski with his assistant and wife Barb. This was very well attended and lots of questions asked and answered. Henry gave us some very good tips on safety that a lot of us weren’t aware of. I was the MC for the evening and told the audience a story of a fellow Good Samer Larry and I met at a Samboree in Manitoba several years ago who collected hats. Finding out that Larry and Lynn were the Provincial Storeskeepers he asked if they had the famous Good Sam Highway hat as it had been discontinued and was now a collector hat. At each BC Samboree a new hat was purchased with the exception of this year in Armstrong. No new hats were available. Larry and I felt bad and had a hat specially made and presented it to Tony Cumming. Wear it in good health Tony. A catered surprise dinner was enjoyed by all who attended. The hall was decorated in fall motif. Fall coloured cloths and leaves adorned the tables with candle centerpieces and specially made placemats at each setting. Each table had a placecard with the name of the town that each Chilliwack Valley Sam member hailed from. When arriving for dinner each couple drew a name and sat at that table. Each couple got to socialize with someone they may not have known before. Dinner consisted of a pig roast, and whole roasted chickens. The pig was supplied by Tasty Honkin and was brought in whole, in an oven on a trailer and then prepared as pulled pork in front of you as you were served outside. The rest of the dinner was served inside and was prepared by the hands of the Chilliwack Valley Sam’s members: baked potatoes, mixed vegetables, coleslaw, Caesar salad, homemade buns, and apple crisp for dessert. Those that needed Gluten-free buns and dessert were also taken into consideration. For an extra special treat, homemade wine was donated by Chilliwack Valley Sams members Erla and Louis and was served by the CVS men wearing a white service towel on their arm, looking very professional, I might add. Each Chilliwack Valley Sam member was dressed in black trousers, white shirt or blouse and of course our unmistakable maroon-coloured vest that’s been copied by others; don’t we feel proud. After dinner, we were entertained by Joei Carlton Hossack, author, lecturer, adventurer, and entertaining speaker. At times you could hear a pin drop as all listened to Joei tell us about her adventures to Morocco. After the entertainment, the charity wine raffle basket donated by Chilliwack Valley Sams members was drawn. Also collected by Chilliwack Valley Sams members were wonderful door prizes, such as outdoor fireplaces, folding table and chairs, surge protectors, BC Good Sam Stores certificates, and many many more. The night ended with many compliments for the hard work that was put into this event. I wished everyone safe travels wherever the road should lead them. Chilliwack Valley Sams, you went above and beyond. An event not to be forgotten! e RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 33 Spring Break in a Class C Rental By Selaine Henriksen The winter of 2013 in Ottawa was harsh: cold plus lots of snow. So when March Break arrived it seemed like an excellent opportunity to try out RVing with the family and head somewhere, anywhere, warm. Something we’d been discussing and researching as a vacation option for a while. Admittedly, this winter may not have been the best for travelling by road in March. “Let’s head south until it’s 30 degrees,” said Hubby. He should have specified Fahrenheit or Celsius. Since we were planning to drive from Ottawa to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, whosoever heeds these prayers answered in Fahrenheit. We hit Myrtle Beach and if it wasn’t 30º F, it wasn’t above by much. We huddled by the heater in the RV, surfing the Internet on our laptops. We were beside the ocean though, so that was good. This was our first time renting an RV. Hubby had done his research and drove two and a half hours from Ottawa to pick up a 30-foot �C’ Class motorhome for $100/day plus 17¢/mile. A Class C is the type of motorhome with a bed/storage area over top the cab. The kids fought about who would sleep in the “coziest’ spot and ultimately alternated nights. The cab contains a driver’s seat and passenger seat that do not swivel around to become part of the living area. I had been worried about driving such a big vehicle. My first attempt was just driving around the parking lot and I was surprised by how easy it was. It didn’t feel heavy or awkward. I drove my share on the highway and once I was used to using the mirrors I had no trouble, even in traffic. By the time we transferred our luggage from the van into the RV it was fairly late in the day. Tired from our early morning I took advantage of the bed in the back while Hubby drove. If those body shaker, vibration machines actually help one to lose weight I must have shed five pounds. In my dreams. However, I did become intimately aware of every jubbly fat cell I own. On the return trip I found sleeping on the bench seats, rather than on the back bed, much more comfortable while moving, and certainly nicer than trying to sleep in a car. The kids loved the jubblyness (to coin a new word) of it and fought over who would ride on the back bed. By bedtime that first day we had only made it to Harrisburg, PA. We needed to buy groceries and stopped at a Walmart. Then Hubby’s research kicked in; one of the “little known” secrets of RV life is that most Walmarts don’t mind if RVs park overnight in their lots. So we spent our first night in a Walmart parking lot. Not too bad actually, and there was free Wifi. One might think that, on a vacation, one would leave the laptops and Internet behind. One laughs. When travelling with a 12 yearold boy and a 15 year-old girl, Internet access is a necessity. We bought a Verizon Jetpack as Verizon has greater coverage therefore Internet access is steady when drivin. That thing likely saved our 34 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 holiday, because, as the cold, icy wind howled off the ocean, we were still happy gathered around a laptop, watching our favourite shows, eating popcorn, and just chilling, literally. The ads for the 30-foot Class C we rented stated it would sleep seven. There was plenty of room for the five of us. Yes, our family of four is actually five. One of the reasons we wanted to RV was so we could bring our dog. He’s a 100-pound German Shepherd and is effectively a member of the family, although not exactly like another person. While we were moving, he was only comfortable when perched on the passenger seat. He was nauseous. He drooled, he shed half his coat, then some more. We gave up the idea of not being charged a cleaning fee because there was no way we’d be able to remove all the fur. Everyone had a dog at the first campsite we booked into once we arrived at Myrtle Beach. Being able to bring all the members of your family is probably one of the main bonuses of RV travel. It was a lovely site, full of tall pines and only a few blocks from the beach and main strip. We ended up moving to another site directly on the beach. Although the cold beach wasn’t the draw, the heated indoor swimming pool was. All the other amenities at this site, except the laundry room, were closed “until spring”, which is what the note on the door of the little store read. I have to say it felt like spring to us Canadians, but we were looking for summer. On top of the cleaning fee, we incurred an additional damage charge. We had until 2pm to return the RV but we didn’t make it on time due to a, ahem, snowstorm in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Which posed its own particular driving challenge. At one point there was an accident and I had to hit the brakes hard. The RV swerved a bit and it took some gentle braking to get stopped but, again, not too difficult. The damage occurred because even though we had drained all the water from the tank, it sat over the weekend outside and freezing damaged the sink. The company was nice enough to not charge us an extra day. If we do this again I’d bring one of those little hand-held vacuums. Good for sand, too. And I’d only have paper plates and cups, because riding in an RV is loud. Those ceramic dishes rattle, as did the windows, fit to break. And I’d bring kids who understand the concept of putting things away after they use them and that a thing is not actually in the garbage when it is close to, or upon, the garbage bag. However that may be asking too much. It’s possible that that gene isn’t developed until one becomes a parent. Certainly all of our organizational skills were challenged. Most of all we learned it takes more than a week to travel far enough south to find summer in March. We all agreed we would like to make this trip again in the summer, mid-July, perhaps. k RV SERVICE RV PARTS BY RICHARD PERERA, Service Manager Jubilee RV Centre, Kamloops, BC BY BOB DAVIES, Parts Manager Jubilee RV Centre, Kamloops, BC [email protected] [email protected] It’s that time once again for most of us where we’re forced to store our coach for the season. It seems there are varying opinions as to the correct steps required to adequately winterize an RV. The vast majority of RV owners store their units exposed to the elements year round. Winterizing goes beyond the obvious draining and flushing of tanks and displacing any water currently in your lines with quality RV antifreeze. Too often, roof, molding, and window sealant are overlooked. I suggest a twice annual check for cracking, gaps, or any potential points of water entry. While on the roof, check skylights and vents for cracks and carefully (as not to damage the shroud) check the AC for movement. There is a replaceable neoprene gasket between the AC and roof that may not be tight. A good quality wax, or better yet, a complete paint protection treatment will go a long way to protecting your paint and graphics. UV rays are the enemy of most plastics and rubber components on an RV, therefore, I suggest the use of an A/C cover and wheel covers when stored. In addition a rubber conditioner should be applied to all slide seals to keep them supple. Lubricate all slide mechanisms rails, tracks, gears, with an aerosol slide lube. I can’t stress enough the importance of thoroughly flushing your black tank before storage. Beyond the obvious odoriferous reasons, solids can suspend on the tank sensors causing your monitor panel to read incorrectly. Batteries should be removed and topped up to just above the lead plates with distilled water, then stored inside. Ideally an intelligent battery charger should be used to keep them at a full state of charge at all times. This applies to folks with solar also, as when panels are covered with snow their output will be nil. A silicone or graphite spray in all door and compartment locks will prevent them from seizing over the winter. Moistureremoving products go a long way in reducing or eliminating mildew smells and moisture damage. Place them around the coach, being sure to place them in a container to avoid spillage of collected water. Be sure to remove any and all food products, wipe down the inside of your fridge and leave the door ajar. Be sure to also remove any liquid products such as shampoo, conditioner and toilet chemicals as they may freeze and burst. Lastly, rodent prevention could warrant an article of its own, however prevention is the keyword. The best approach is to first seal all points of entry (silicone, expanding foam, steel wool, etc.) then remove any and all sources of food or nesting material (paper products). The last step involves deterrent placed inside around the perimeter of the coach and in compartments etc. There are commercial deterrents available as well as methods many folks have been using with varying success. I’ve heard everything from dryer sheets to bags of soap, mothballs and even urinal pucks? I’d avoid using poison or traps, as the smell you may find in the spring could be hard to remove. It may seem like a lot of work, however that two hours a year will protect your investment and keep your RV looking, working and smelling great in the spring! Now that the fall season is coming to an end and with winter just around the corner make sure you spend a little time preparing your RV. Here are a few things to help keep your RV in the best condition possible during the cold of winter. If you have a slide, spray on some slide seal conditioner. That way when you open your slide in spring the seal won’t “stick” to the side of your RV. Don’t forget to apply slide drive lubricant. This will help to protect against any corrosion on the drive gears and drive rails. ProtectAll & Camco have great protection products. Air conditioner covers are a must to keep any snow and rain from getting inside the A/C possibly causing damage. If the drain holes in the roof top pan of the A/C become blocked and the water cannot escape, that water could end up getting inside the interior ceiling assembly then draining out into the interior of your RV. Be sure to know the manufacturer brand of your A/C. There are different sizes for the different brand makes. When your RV is closed up for winter storage moisture can accumulate and cause a musty smell and if left long enough could promote mold growth. Installing “Dry Air” moisture-reducing products can help eliminate this potential problem. A new/newer product for your fridge is “NaturzAire” all natural deodorizer. This product can be used all year long to help protect your fresh foods by reducing the dampness of the air inside your fridge. This drying of the air will reduce the chance of mold, mildew and cross-contamination of flavors and smells. The package contains 1 “pouch” that can be “re-energized” for longer product life. Please ask you RV parts or service department for more information. For general information when you are in need of a service part, your RV part/service department will need the information from the appliance that requires service. As an example, this time of year I receive lots of calls regarding furnaces. The make, model and serial number of the furnace is very important. Unfortunately, the year, make and model of the RV doesn’t help as unlike the auto industry there is no manufacturer service manuals to reference. The same for your fridge: the make, model and serial/production number are necessary to properly determine what part is needed. The more information the better! I want to thank you for all for your e-mails and comments this past camping season. I look forward to hearing from you over the winter. 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 [email protected] / 250-372-0600 Turn West off Hwy 5 North at the Husky Station RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 35 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 NOVEMBER Fairmont Hot Springs, East Kootenay Wine Fest 800-663-4979 Fort Steele Heritage Town Ghost Tours ..............250-417-6000 Victoria Quilters Christmas Quilt & Craft Sale [email protected] 1-3 Chilliwack Heritage Park, Future West Productions Arena Cross ......................................................604-799-1474 1-3 Victoria, Cordova Bay Winter Dreams, 981 Sutcliffe Rd 1-3 Nanaimo, Professional Craft Fair, Beban Park ....250-797-6544 2 Mill Bay, Malahat Kwunew Kwasun Cultural Resource Centre Gala Fundraiser, Brentwood College ......... malahatnation.com 2, 9, 16 Creston Valley Indoor Farmers’ Market .............250-254-1594 2 Parksville Lioness Xmas Craft Fair......................250-248-0082 2 Victoria, Pacific Rim Potters Show & Sale .........250-382-0974 2 Victoria, On the Ridge Juried Craft Fair, 813 Clarement Ave 2 Victoria, Christmas at the Lake Craft Fair, 5358 Sparton Rd 2-3 Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre, First Chance Christmas Craft Fair ...........................................250-656-0275 2-3 Strawberry Vale Christmas Craft Fair, Comm Hall 2-3 Sidney, First Chance Christmas Craft Fair firstandlastchance.ca 6 Parksville, Timberline Dance .............................250-752-8542 7-14 Vancouver Jewish Film Festival .........................604-266-0245 8-9 Victoria, Calico Christmas, 654 Agnes St ..........250-516-3070 8-10 Chilliwack Heritage Park, Future West Productions Arena Cross ......................................................604-799-1474 8-10 Coombs Christmas Craft Fair .............................250-724-5674 8-10 Sooke, 3rd Prestige Christmas Craft Fair..............250-642-4419 9 Parksville, Knox Perfect Gift Christmas Craft Fair: 9:30am-3:30pm, in United Church ...250-248-3927 9-10 Victoria, 38th Christmas Craft Sale, St. Joseph’s School Gym ......................................................250-474-7060 9-11 Victoria, Creative Craft Fair, Pearkes Rec Cen....250-658-0971 10 Qualicum Beach, TOSH Music Concert ............250-752-6133 11 REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADES - everywhere 13 Oliver Senior Centre Fall Tea & Bake Sale 15 Fort St. John, Santa Claus Parade ......................250-787-8150 15 Oliver Soup, Bunwich Lunch, Craft & Bake Sale, St. Paul’s Ch. 15-16 Vernon, A Festival of Crafts, Wesbild Centre on 43rd Ave 15-17 Chilliwack Heritage Park, BC Health & Wellness Expo...................................................604-792-3407 15-17 Chilliwack Heritage Park, Chilliwack Christmas Craft Market ......................................................604-392-8888 15-17 Sooke, Christmas Craft Fair + Photos with Santa 15-17 Vancouver, Eastside Culture Crawl ....................778-960-7575 16 Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre, Christmas Bazaar and Craft Fair ....................................................250-656-0275 16 Victoria, The Magic of Christmas Gift Fair, Burnside Gorge Community Centre, 471 Cecelia Rd 16 Sidney, Christmas Bazaar & Craft Fair, Mary Winspear Centre 16 Victoria, Eclipsing Star Craft Fair, 3861 Cedar Hill Cross Rd 16 Victoria, Holly Bazaar, 1379 Esquimalt Rd...stpeterandpaul.ca 16-17 Harrison Mills, Eagle Fest at Kilby Park..............604-796-9576 16-17 Victoria, Victorian Craft Fair, Commonwealth Pool, Elk Lake 16-18 Nanaimo Christmas Market, Beban Centre ........250-756-5200 20-21 Honeymoon Bay, Christmas Craft Sale 21 Qualicum Beach, Moonlight Madness in the Village, 5-9pm 21-24 Cedar & Yellow Point Country Christmas Tour ...cyartisan.com 22-24 Abbotsford Tradex: West Coast Christmas Show & Marketplace ..................................................604-576-8859 22-24 Langford, Westshore Wonderland Craft Fair, Eagle Ridge Community Centre.........................250-642-4419 22-24 Parksville, Celtic Winterfest Craft Fair ................250-240-1233 22-24 Qualicum Beach, Elegant Threads, Fibre Art Show and Sale ............................................................250-951-0178 22-24 Qualicum Beach, The Original Village Christmas Arts Faire.................villagechristmasartsfaire.artdesignlife.com 1-2 1-2 1-2 36 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 23 23 23, 30 23-24 23-24 23-24 23-24 24 24-25 28 29 29 29-01 30 30 30 30-2 Oliver Craft Show Plus, Legion Victoria, Island Farms Santa’s Light Parade, 6pm downtown Creston Valley Indoor Farmers’ Market .............250-254-1594 Kamloops, Homes for the Holidays ...................250-372-9933 Kelowna Christmas Show, Prospera Place Victoria, Saanich Fair Christmas Craft Fair .......... saanichfair.ca Whistler Bizarre Bazaar ....................................604-935-8410 Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre, Christmas Vintage, Retro & Collectibles Show.................................250-656-0275 Agassiz Circle Farm Christmas Tour ...................604-796-2235 Ladysmith Festival of Lights .......................... ladysmithfol.com Summerland, 24th Festival of Lights ...................877-516-1012 Vernon, Festival of Christmas Traditions ............250-542-5851 Victoria, Out of Hand Artisan Fair, Crystal G.......outofhand.ca Kelowna, Downtown Christmas Light-Up .........250-862-3515 Nakusp Celebration of Light..............................250-265-4234 Vancouver, Dunbar Holiday Craft Fair ..............604-222-6060 Cowichan Lake, December Madness ................250-749-3244 DECEMBER Oliver, Cowboy Christmas, Rustico Winery Osoyoos, Desert Model Railroad Open House ..250-495-6842 Vancouver, Retro Design & Antiques Fair..........604-980-3159 Sidney, Nativity Exhibit .....................................250-665-6783 Abbotsford Tradex: Education & Career Fair......604-630-5962 Whistler Film Festival........................................877-838-3456 Ladysmith, Old Tyme Christmas & Candlelight Walk ..............................................250-245-2112 6 North Cowichan Twoonie Swim - 7-9pm at the Pool 6 Prince Rupert, 17th Winterfest ...........................250-624-9118 6-7 Keremeos Christmas Light Up Parade ................250-499-5225 6-8 Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre, Christmas Time Is Here - Peninsula Singers ............................................250-656-0275 6-8 Silverton, Christmas by the Lake .......................250-358-2719 6-22 Duncan, BC Forest Discovery Centre’s Christmas Express Train ride ..............................250-715-1113 7 Creston, Santa Claus Parade & Festival ..............250-428-4342 7 New Westminster, Christmas Parade of Lights...604-522-6894 7 Qualicum Beach, Christmas in the Village, 6-9pm 7 Rossland, Rekindle the Spirit of Christmas.........877-346-6104 7 Victoria, Annual Dickens Fair, James Bay Community School, 140 Oswego St., noon - 8pm ................. jamesbaymarket.com 7 Victoria, Santa’s Pancake Brkfst, 471 Cecelia Rd, 9-11:30 am 7, 14, 21 Creston Valley Indoor Farmers’ Market .............250-254-1594 7-8 Christmas in Harrison Mills ..............................604-796-9576 7-8 Vernon, Shoparama Holiday Gift Sale ...............250-542-5983 7-9 Barkerville’s Old-Fashioned Victorian Christmas ..........................................................888-994-3332 8 Ladysmith, LaFF Breakfast with Santa, Aggie Hall, 8:45-noon 10-11 Dawson Creek, An Old Fashioned Christmas at Pioneer Village ..............................................250-782-9595 12 Victoria, Christmas Carol Sing Along, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 11:45-1:15 p.m................250-384-5734 13-15 Chilliwack Heritage Park, Auld Lang Sang Dog Show .........................................................604-882-1490 14 Creston Valley PAWS Christmas Gala ...............250-428-0703 14-15 Abbotsford, Sesame Street Live “Elmo Makes Music................................................................866-977-2372 14-15 Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre, Last Chance Christmas Craft Fair ...........................................250-656-0275 14-15 Victoria, Moss Street Holiday Market, 1330 Fairfield Rd 15 Victoria Downtown Holiday Sale, 638 Fisgard St 18 Oliver Seniors Christmas Dinner & Party, Seniors Centre N. Cowichan, Winter Wonderland Skate at FLA - 4:30-7:30pm 20 21 Golden, Farmers Christmas Market .goldenfarmersmarket.com 23 Cowichan Lake, Winter Wonderland Carnival ...250-749-6742 27 Victoria, Recycle Your Christmas Tree ...............250-589-7715 31 Radium Hot Springs, New Years Fireworks ........888-347-9331 31-01 Fairmont Hot Springs, New Year’s Gala ............800-663-4979 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE – Most Communities have Dances! 1 1 1 1-8 2 4-8 6 If you had an interesting time and maybe took some pictures too, please write us a story about what you experienced! AB E V e n T s 1 1-2 1-10 2 2 2 2-3 3 3 3 3-10 5 6-10 8 8-11 9 14-24 15 15-17 15-17 16 16 16-17 16-17 16-17 16-17 17 17 22 22-24 23 23 23 23-24 23-24 23-24 28-30 28-01 28-01 29 29-30 29-01 30 30 30 30-01 2-7 3 3-4 5-8 6-8 6-8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 NOVEMBER Lloydminster, Stockade Round Up Commercial Show/Sale Lethbridge Comic Con....................... lethbridgecomiccon.com Edmonton, River City Round Up ..............rivercityroundup.com Dickson, Julestue, Scandinavian Bazaar, Spruce View Hall ................................................403-728-3355 Lloydminster, Stockade Round Up Ranch Horse Show/ Competition/Sale ................................................. lloydexh.com Spruce Grove, PEAR – country music ............horizonstage.com Calgary Snow Show, Spruce Meadows................800-626-1538 Crossfield, Christmas Market and Photos with Santa Czar, Annual Turkey Supper Fundraiser Edmonton, Rutherford House Remembers ......history.alberta.ca Edmonton, Farmfair International Trade Show ...........farmfair.ca Jenner, Buffalo & District Turkey Supper Edmonton, Canadian Finals Rodeo ...................................cfr.ca Lake Louise Opening Day .................................... skilouise.com Millarville Christmas Market/Show ......millarvilleracetrack.com Olds, Festival of Trees..........................................403-556-8498 Bon Appetit Banff – 22 restaurants participating Olds Midnight Madness ......................................403-556-3773 Calgary, Christmas Market at Spruce Meadows...403-974-4200 Edmonton, The Pure Speculation Festival .............. purespec.org Devon Lions Christmas Gift & Craft Sale .............780-987-3594 Holden Christmas Market ..........................village.holden.ab.ca Edmonton EXPO Centre, Health Show .............. northlands.com St Albert, The Country (Juried) Craft Fair Vermilion Winter Fair..........................................780-853-5358 Victoria, Victorian Christmas Craft Fair, Saanich Commonw. Pl Leduc, O’Christmas Tea, Rec Centre, 1pm-3pm Westlock, 20th Christmas Craft Show & Sale Okotoks, Holiday Light Up .......................................okotoks.ca Calgary, Christmas Market at Spruce Meadows...403-974-4200 La Corey Craft & Home Business Show/Sale Devon, Christmas in the Park, 6-9 pm Lacombe, Christmas Gift Faire, Memorial Centre, 10am-4pm Jasper, Canadian Rockies Snow Battle ....................jasper.travel Spruce Grove, Crafters Christmas Sale ...... 780-987-3054x2243 Whitecourt, Westward Christmas Market ............780-779-4343 Lacombe, Light Up the Night Winter Festival ......403-782-1263 Calgary Festival of Crafts Art & Craft Sale, BMO Centre – Stampede Park ................................................festivalofcrafts.ca Edmonton EXPO Centre, Christmas Show ......... northlands.com Leduc, Santa Claus Parade & Family Fun, Arena, 7pm-9pm Lethbridge, The Big Christmas Gift & Crafts Show & Market.............................................................403-328-4491 Calgary, Christmas Market at Spruce Meadows...403-974-4200 Cochrane Light Up, 5pm-7pm, Main Street Josephburg, Christmas in the Heartland ..............780-998-9450 Olds, Country Woodland Christmas Market ........403-556-3770 Lake Louise, WinterStart World Cup Downhill – Men’s DECEMBER Leduc Holiday Wreath Display, Civic Centre Olds, Comedy Banquet .......................................403-556-4042 Red Deer, Jazz Night ..................................................rdc.ab.ca Edmonton, Butterdome Craft Sale .......................butterdome.ca Lake Louise, WinterStart World Cup Downhill – Women’s Vermilion Winter Fair..........................................780-853-5358 Banff, Christmas in the Rockies & Santa Claus Parade of Lights Light-Up Black Diamond ....................................403-933-4348 Camrose, Christmas Tea, Cookie Walk and White Elephant Sale ............................................ canadiannorthern.ca Caroline Christmas Light Up ...............................403-722-3022 High River, Christmas Light Up, Sheppards .........403-652-1128 Hillspring, Cowboy Christmas Ball .....................866-626-3407 Heinsburg Christmas Craft Sale ...........................780-943-2333 7 7 7 7-8 7-8 8 8 8 12 14 14 14 14-15 14-15 15 15 15-21 16-24 17 21 23-25 25 25 25, 31 27-05 31 4 4-5 8 11 11 11-2/9 18 19 17-18 17-26 17-02 18 18-19 19 19 24 24-26 24-02 25 25-26 25-26 26 26 29 1 1 1 1-7 5 8 14 14-23 17 28-02 1 Leduc, Family Christmas Crafts @ Library ............780-986-2637 Okotoks, Christmas at the Hive ...........................403-995-0830 Plamondon, Festival De Noel Didsbury, Rosebud Run Sled Dog Classic ........... rosebudrun.ca Spruce Grove, Luminaria .......................... 780-987-3054x2224 Grande Prairie, Ol’Fashioned Christmas, Heritage Village High River, Baroque Christmas Around the World, United Ch. Rocky Mtn House, Fur Trade Christmas, Historical Site, 12-5pm Red Deer, “Fire and Ice” Centennial Closing Ceremony and Lantern Parade ............................403-340-2013 Leduc, Razzle Dazzle Christmas Tree Making .....780-986-2637 Okotoks, Christmas at the Hive ...........................403-995-0830 Spruce Grove hosts Jimmy Rankin of the Rankin Family! Gibbons, A Prairie Christmas ........................ prairiegardens.org Sidney, Last Chance Christmas Craft Fair...firstandlastchance.ca Lake Louise, Heavy Metal Rail Jam - for skiers/snowboarders Olds, Christmas 4 Everyone ................................403-556-4042 Okotoks, Spririt of Christmas at the Art Gallery Edmonton, Santa’s Arrival & Photos at Southgate Centre Leduc, Family Chit, Chat & Craft @ the Library ...780-986-2637 Spruce Grove, the McDades – Celtic Christmas ..780-962-8995 Lake Louise, Santa Family Photo Days ................. skilouise.com Banff, Santa Shreds for Free - day pass for all in full costume Pincher Creek, Santa on the Slopes, ski 11am-3pm Lake Louise, Torchlight Dinner & Ski .................... skilouise.com Calgary Winter Carnival - Gasoline Alley Museum Lethbridge, New Year’s Eve Family Fest ........ exhibition park.ca JANUARY, 2014 Pincher Creek, Alpenland Demo Days - of ski equipment Didsbury, Rosebud Run Mush Rush .................... rosebudrun.ca Banff, Toonie Days - at Mt. Norquay Banff, SkiRail Jam at Norquay, for freestyle skiers Pincher Creek, Skimo Mountaineering Competition at Castle Mountain Resort Banff, Snowdays ........................................ banfflakelouise.com Wetaskiwin Snow Drags, Reynolds-AB Museum Red Deer, Shannon Frizzel Guitar Recital Cochrane, 6th Kimmett Cup - 3 on 3 Pond Hockey Tournament Lake Louise, Ice Magic Festival ............................ skilouise.com Jasper in January 2014 ............................................jasper.travel Wetaskiwin Snow Drags ........................................................... Lake Louise, Avalanche Awareness Days .............. skilouise.com Lake Louise, FIS World Snow Day ........................ skilouise.com Red Deer, Shannon Frizzell Guitar Recital ..................rdc.ab.ca Okotoks, Bam! Percussion ..................................403-938-3204 Edmonton EXPO Centre, Renovation Show ....... northlands.com Edmonton, Ice on Whyte Festival ........................iceonwhyte.ca Banff, Cardboard Sled Derby at Norquay Edmonton EXPO Centre, Pet Expo..................... northlands.com Vermilion Winter Fair..........................................780-853-5358 Josephburg Dinner Concert – Pear Lake Louise, Australia Day ................................... skilouise.com Spruce Grove, The Rodeo Riders - matinee .........780-962-8995 FEBRUARY Banff, SkiRail Jam at Norquay, for freestyle skiers Banff, The Mtn Smoker - 3 hr competition..... banffnorquay.com Elk Point, Iron Horse 13 km Ski Tour ................lakelandxcski.ca Calgary, The Flying Dutchman ...................... calgaryopera.com Banff, Toonie Days - at Mt. Norquay Lake Louise, Ken Jones Classic - Ski Mounteering Competition Lake Louise, Torchlight Dinner & Ski .................... skilouise.com Edmonton, Silver Skate Festival & Winter Triathlon Lake Louise, Family Day ...................................... skilouise.com Olds, 2014 AB College’s Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Championships ..................................403-556-4703 MARCH Lake Louise, Canadian Powder 8’s Champ’ship .... skilouise.com RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 37 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 NOVEMBER Everett, We Do Art Holiday Artist Bazaar ...........425-238-2585 Long Beach, Cribbage Tournament - Longest Beach Classic .....................................................360-642-2400 2 Mukilteo Arts Guild Holiday Art Mart ................425-423-0450 2 Shoreline, Canterbury Faire Holiday Bazaar .......206-362-6024 2 Thurston, Homemade for the Holidays Bazaar ...360-491-0176 2-3 Elma, Swap Meet in the Pavilion ........................360-482-2651 2-3 Port Townsend, 10th Holiday Fair ........................360-385-1013 2-3 Poulsbo, North Kitsap Holiday Fest ....................360-598-8420 5-9 Snohomish, Echo Falls Holiday Home and Gift Show – Golf Club ........................................206-920-2957 7-10 Seattle, Affordable Art Fair, S. Center..................212-255-2003 8-9 �Ilwaco, Ocian in View’ Cultural Weekend.........360-642-2400 8-9 Thurston, Girlfriends Holiday Market .................360-459-1178 8-10 Pasco, Custer’s Christmas Arts/Crafts Show .........509-924-0588 8-10 Christmas in Seattle Gift+Gourmet Food Show ..425-889-9494 9 Cle Elum, Veteran’s Day Community Breakfast ...509-674-7530 9 Cle Elum, Swauk-Teanaway Grange Christmas Bazaar ...............................................................509-925-3297 9 Spokane, Winter Knights Snow Show .................509-484-2222 9 Spokane Valley, New Life’s Perfect Gift and Holiday Fair .......................................................509-928-3342 9-10 Bothell, St. Brendan Craft Fair ............................425-483-8300 9-10 Puyallup, NW Carvers Assoc 33rd Show/Sale ......253-566-2251 9-10 Spokane Folklore Society Fall Folk Festival .........509-990-9238 12-13 Port Townsend, 10th Holiday Fair ........................360-385-1013 14-16 Bellevue, Vasa Christmas....................................425-413-1004 14-16 Puyallup, Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival .............801-463-1200 15-16 Puyallup, Junk Salvation .....................................253-359-0102 15-17 Kennewick, Christmas Moments Gift Fair ...........971-600-3281 15-17 Seattle, Fine Art & Holiday Gifts at Fauntleroy ...206-932-5600 15-17 Spokane, Man Show ..........................................509-487-1220 15-12/24 Bellingham, Arts Holiday Festival of Arts ..........360-676-8548 16 Bothell, My Friends ++ Holiday Bazaar, 18701-120th Ave NE 16 Cle Elum, Old Fashioned Barn Dance & a Finger Food Potluck............................................509-875-2580 16 Federal Way, Twin Lakes Elem. Holiday Bazaar..253-431-0741 16 Spokane Woman’s Club Holiday Bazaar ............509-328-4811 16-17 Auburn, Emerald Downs Holiday Gift Festival ...253-288-7704 21-13 Bellingham, Home for the Holidays ...................360-676-1891 22-23 Eau Claire, Holidaze Arts Festival .......................715-832-6942 22-24 Bremerton, Olympic Peninsula Holiday Gift & Food Fair, Kitsap Sun Pavilion .............................360-731-2628 22-24 Seattle, Fall Best of the Northwest ......................206-525-5926 22-24 Shelton, 17th Holiday Craft Bazaar ....................360-432-7107 22-24 Spokane, Christmas Arts & Crafts Show ..............509-924-0588 23 Olympia High School BEARzaar, 1302 North St. 23-24 Elma, Country Christmas Bazaar ........................360-482-2651 23-24 Seattle, Yulefest, Nordic Heritage Museum .........206-789-5707 29-30 Bothell, Chick n’Coop Crafts Holiday Bazaar .....425-482-1131 29-30 Long Beach, Peninsula Arts Assoc Studio Tour ....360-665-6041 29-30 Port Townsend, Holiday Craft Sale .....................360-379-3813 29-30 Thurston County Fair .........................................360-786-5453 29-01 Federal Way, Holiday Gift Show ........................425-263-7226 29-01 Long Beach, Holidays at the Beach ....................360-642-2400 29-01 Ocean Shores, Winter Fanta-Sea Craft Show ......360-289-9586 30-01 Gig Harbor, Winterfest Arts And Crafts Fair ........253-858-8674 1-2 1-3 4-7 4-8 5 6-7 6-8 7 7 7 38 DECEMBER Bellevue Hilltop Holiday Craft Show ..................206-920-2957 Puyallup, Victorian Country Christmas Festival ...253-770-0777 Seattle, 1st Thursday - Art in Occidental Park .....206-525-5926 Onalaska, Cherish Christmas Gift/Craft Bazaar ...360-978-4096 Bainbridge Island, Christmas in the Country ......206-291-7188 Christmas in Cle Elum, live music ......................509-304-8222 Cle Elum, Santa Breakfast & Craft Bazaar ...........509-674-7530 Cle Elum, Animal Rescue Santa Paws Pictures ....509-304-4805 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 7 7 7 7 7-8 7-8 7-8 7-8 8 8-9 14 14 14-15 14-15 15 21-23 28-29 31 Ho Ho Hoquiam Fun Run, 2mi, 5k & 10k ..........360-637-6040 Ilwaco, Lighted Boat Parade & Crab Pot Christmas Tree....................................................360-642-2400 Lacey, Hawks Holiday Happening Gift & Craft Fair ............................................................360-493-2047 Westport, Santa by the Sea ................................253-381-5989 Elma, Swap Meet in the Pavilion ........................360-482-2651 Gig Harbor, TideFest Fine Arts/Crafts Celebrat. ...253-530-1478 Seattle, Winter Festival & Crafts Fair, Phinney.....206-783-2244 Seattle, Urban Craft Uprising Winter Show, Seattle Center Exhibition Hall .......................... urbancraftuprising.com Cle Elum, Gran. Community Christmas Dinner ..509-674-2982 Montesano Festival of Lights – parade +++ ........360-249-5522 Conconully, Santa Days, downtown ..................509-826-9050 Fox Island Holiday Gift Bazaar, Comm. Center ..253-381-3311 Burlington, Holiday Gift Show, Cascade Mall ....425-263-7226 Chimacum Arts & Crafts Fair ..............................360-732-4015 Ilwaco, Tuba Christmas ......................................360-642-2400 Federal Way, Holiday Gift Show ........................425-263-7226 Federal Way, Post Holiday Gift Show .................425-263-7226 Long Beach, Fireworks at Midnight over the Ocean ................................................................360-642-2400 3-5 18 18-19 18-20 18-21 19 JANUARY Everett, Healthy Living Show, Everett Mall .........425-263-7226 Long Beach Peninsula, Beach Clean Up Day, 9am Leavenworth, Bavarian Icefest ............................509-548-5807 Long Beach, Windless Kite Festival .....................360-642-4020 Seattle Gift Show, Convention Center ................800-318-2238 Ilwaco, Annual Crab Feed, noon-8pm, Elks Hall 9-10 21-23 27-02 FEBRUARY Long Beach, Asian New Year Kite Celebration ....360-642-4020 Pacific Beach, Chocolate on the Beach Festival ..360-276-0009 Bellevue, Wintergrass .........................................253-428-8056 1-2 7-9 15-17 21-23 23-07 MARCH Ocean Shores, Beachcombers’ Fun Fair .............360-289-9586 Spokane, Custer’s Spring Arts & Crafts Show ......509-924-0588 Ilwaco, Peninsula Quilt Guild Show ..................360-642-3446 Pasco, Custer’s Spring Arts & Crafts Show ...........509-924-0588 Long Beach, Spring Break Family Fun, Kite Museum EMBERS John McDonald Productions Send cartoon ideas to [email protected] “Hi George. The entertainment committee needs a volunteer drink waiter, so you’ve been voluntold.” —MARKETPAGE— ADA VIS GLOBAL MEXICO INSURANCE Receive TV anywhere in Canada, US and into Mexico. MotoSat Problems? I CAN HELP! Call for Options To Keep Your MotoSat System Working Like New FOR AS LOW AS $83 A YEAR • Professional, guaranteed installs • Repairs of most Systems • Winegard Certified • Mobile, I come to you. • LCD TV Conversions & woodworking • TV Mounts & Lifts • Shaw Direct (Star Choice) & Bell Receivers, Dishes & LNB’s • Tripod, Sat Finders & Cable 1-800-909-4457 Fax: 1-800-909-1007 www.mexicoinsurance.com E-MAIL: Digital Electrical Systems Dan Wiens, Langley BC Canada 604-328-7282 / [email protected] [email protected] Mexico Insurance Auto, RV, boat, trailer Daily, six-month & annual long-term rates Free Quote Call toll-free: 1-888-377-1570 San Xavier Mexico Insurance 1777 N. Frank Reed Rd. #C Nogales, AZ 85621 www.mexican-autoinsurance.com E-mail: [email protected] ® We have the rates! We are the experts! 2 Underwritten by Seguros Tepeyac RV CLUBS OPEN TO NEW MEMBERS: BC Bus Nuts: ......... [email protected] BC Good Sams: ...... www.bcsams.ca BlueJay Singles: ... 250-453-9077 Burnabees: ............ 604-888-8030 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 Roamin Wheels: .... 604-241-0290 or [email protected] Any errors, omissions or additions? [email protected] Businesses and/or Individuals can use the MARKETPAGE Ads (above) for $275 + HST. Colour is an extra $100. — MicroAds— Othello Tunnels Campground OPEN & RV Park 170 S. Island Hwy., Campbell River BC 1-888-703-0373 www.driftwoodbythesea.com Year-round full service, 30/50 amp FREE WiFi/Cable • 5 min. to downtown On the Seawalk • Holiday & Extended stays Wishing you a Merry Christmas! From Hwy #5, take Othello Road Exit 183, HOPE, BC • 10 min walk to Quintette Tunnels (closed Nov1/13-May 31/14) • Clean washrooms, Hot showers • Laundry • Sani-dump • 30 full hkup sites/12 w elec.& H2O • Cooking shelter for rainy days 604-869-9448 Toll-free: 1-877-869-0543 2 [email protected] www.othellotunnels.com Vancouver Island WINTER GETAWAY Qualicum Bay Resort Stay in your RV or Stay in a CABIN! Covered enclosed Firepit BBQ area with Softtub, next to Clubhouse with Big Screen Projector, Tournament Card Playing area, and more! [email protected] / www.resortbc.com Businesses and/or Individuals can use the MICROAds (above) for $165 HST. Colour is an extra $50. RVT+156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 39 CLASSIFIED AD - from the RVing public 40 (1) FOR SALE – RVs BUS CONVERSIONS CLASS A MOTORHOMES CLASS B VANS CLASS C MOTORHOMES 5th WHEELS TRAVEL TRAILERS CAMPERS TENT TRAILERS (1a) FOR SALE – RV TOW VEHICLE (2) FOR SALE – MISC (3) FOR SALE –LAND/LOT &/or HOMES (3A) FOR RENT or SALE (4) FOR SALE – RV PARKS (6) FOR SALE – TIMESHARES (7) FOR SALE – BOOKS (8) FOR RENT (9) FOR RENT – RV LOTS/SITES/CONDOS/HOMES (10) FOR LEASE – RV SITES (11) WANTED (12) NEED (13) EXCHANGE (14) JOB WANTED (15) ESTATE SALE (5) FOR SALE – MEMBERSHIPS KM/Beachwood Resorts Membership. Includes 7 KM beautiful Washington State Resorts. Dues paid for 2013. Selling for $1,500. 604-796-8881 [email protected] Western Horizon Membership. Including ROD & AOR fees paid for 2013. Great winter getaways. Dues paid for 2013. $3,000 604-796-8881 [email protected] (16) HELP WANTED Work Kamper winter site attendant wanted for RV Resort. Located overlooking the Georgia Strait mid-way between Campbell River and Courtenay on Vancouver Island. Full-hookup site in exchange for 45 hrs/month. Miscellaneous light duties would include: yard clean-up, washroom maintenance, housekeeping, daily lock-up, customer service etc. Position starting immediately to approximately June 1. Please send resume, including photos, to [email protected] RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 CLASSIFIED ADS: Mainly for the use of the RVing public only. For ISSUE 157 January/February 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 December 9 PRINT CLEARLY, and mention the Category. (No charge for category title.) If you choose to use Credit Card & E-mail, 1st: e-mail [email protected] 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 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”. 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, [email protected], www.rvtimes.ca) If sending a cheque, make payable to The RV Times or to RVT Publishing Inc. Magazines to be MAILED to: Name _____________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________ Town ______________________________________________________________ Prov/State __________Postal/Zip Code __________________________________ Country ____________________________________________________________ Phone __________ –___________ – _____________________________________ E-mail address _______________________________________________________ 6 EDITIONS yearly: Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/June, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, & Nov/Dec 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 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 41 Christmas Angle Search: Words are NEVER in a STAIGHT LINE. A R M A S E E R G E D O S U T S S D R A T R O H S N E X T T S R T S I M N O Y R T F F I B O D C B R E A W H I I S O Y Y L E T O E B U E H L G N P W O S L E D D Y S M V N D N C O M P U R B L Z G I N G U S N G N I D W G P E E E S I K I N A M R I E R D S I D D C K R E T N I N N A C Y S A N O N S E E R L E N E L D N A E Y E P S P I O I Z T I T S P I H H P T O N O M A M I C I C L A A O P P O H N V I T R U D O L S G N I D I M T I F T S R T I U L O S E Y N U N E S R I F O G G S D A N G I E D A T N N S V E V O J S T Y E E H O N G D N E N A W I S E W E S W U J S A E H O L A R P O H T G E O K U E G A P M R P A R S E W G L E H I D P L A O A E C I A E M A N N E E S V I N L A N I R K S I R K C H P E O T L L R E G H T A R I N A R F O R N L I N G S E I N G R A F W O N S I G H O S K N E R C N O E T S O R F K S H O I D E Z E S E L S T I I E A B P L L G E T L I A O E E P T E L U Y T E S N E C N M D R O O Y R E Y E M U O X O B M I N T S Y Y L L S G I N G E P H L E U N A M Q C S D Y R E P P E P B E V L E A T N A G N I V F N E S T M A N L H E K O D B A B E M E N T S S N D G I A M Y I R H C A E T R C G E K A E S A S K R O W A L R A M I I L O R A C H E S A U I T C L R N H Y T E V H E R G I H N I N G C M E B A R R J I N G E R O E U N D T A F Y L C G C N A D L E G N C F R E E D I O P K R T A Each word stands alone & bends at an angle, one or more times. NO words cross each other! All letters are used. ADVENT CRACKERS FRUITCAKE INLAWS ORNAMENTS SANTA VIXEN ANGEL DANCING GARLAND JESUS PAGEANT SHOPPING WHIMSY BABY DECORATIONS GIFTS JINGLEBELLS PARADE SHORTBREAD WINTER BETHLEHEM DIAMONDS GINGERBREADMEN JOY PEACE SLEDDING WISEMEN BOWS DINNER GIVING KINDNESS PEPPERMINTS SLEIGH WORKSHOP BOXES DONKEY GOD KRISKRINGLE POINSETTAS SNOWFLAKE WREATH CANDLE EGGNOGG GREETINGS LIGHTS POPCORN STAR YULELOGS CANDY ELVES HEAVEN LOVE PRESENTS STUFFING YULETIDE CARDS EMMANUEL HOHOHO MANGER PUDDING TAPE ZERODEGREES CAROLING FAMILY HOLIDAY MARY QUAIL TOYS ZESTY CHIMNEY FATHER HOLLY MISTLETOE REINDEER TREE ZION CHRISTMAS FIREPLACE HOPE NATIVITY RIBBON TURKEY COMPANIONSHIP FRANKINCENSE ICICLE NUTS RUDOLPH UNWRAP COOKING FROSTY IMMANUEL NOEL RUM VISITORS 42 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 OWNERS ASSOC. OF RVOABC PRESIDENT’S CORNER BY BILL WRIGHT Greetings RVers, As they say, Time Waits For No One, and we, the RVOABC Executive, wish the best of the coming season to all our Club members, and to all other readers of The RV Times. The 2013 Wind-Up Rally was held on one of the best weather weekends of the season and those who missed, don’t let it happen again for these Rallies add years to your life, or is that the reverse? Here are a few highlights. First, the newbies were out of control behaving as if they were long time members, and from what I could see, having a superb time with the group. Devika’s Dynamite Catering hit the spot with not only a fantastic roast beef dinner, but also an over-the-top breakfast too. Our Sunshine Valley hosts, Joanne and Brian, made us feel right at home and could not have been more helpful. Bean Bag Baseball was a smash with winners AND losers, but we can honestly say there were no losers as a great time was had by all. In September in Abbotsford, the Snowbird RV Show was once again an opportunity for the RVOABC Club to get exposure and a chance to brief people on Club membership benefits and activities. I would like to thank the following for their much needed help: Trenor Tilley helping with setup and again with take-down, along with his wife Barbara. Covering the booth throughout the Show we had Jim & Mary Lavery, Ted & Bev Rissick, Rod & Joan Oben, Mike & Diane Coward, Roy & Lynda Panter, Jim Rogers & Linda Goggin, George & Joyce McCluskie, Barrie & Jan Clark, Jerry Walter, Rob & Maggie Wilson, Trenor & Barb Tilley, and ME, and my wife Diane Wright. If you have a little trouble getting on our website, don’t hesitate to email Gord, our Webmaster, who will walk you through, or even crawl with you, to make it an easy journey. Email address is [email protected]. Welcome to our NEW RVOABC MEMBERS: Freida AUNE, Merritt, BC Art BRIDGE and Judith GREEN, Surrey, BC Richard COX, Prince George, BC Lionel & Jean FISHER, White Rock, BC Leo & Barb GEBERT, Kelowna, BC Brian & April HUDSON, Victoria, BC Steve & Colleen ROBINSON, Pen Kincardine, Ont. John SCHULTZ, Abbotsford, BC Those Darn Seniors! FEBRUARY 19: Setup date for EarlyBird RV Show, Tradex, Abbotsford (Show dates are February 20-23) May 9-11: Spring Rally at Burnaby Cariboo RV Park, Burnaby DATE TBA: Campfire Rally, Fort Langley SEPTEMBER 5-7: Wind-Up Rally, Sunshine Valley A married couple was traveling by car from Victoria to Prince George, BC. Being seniors, after almost 11 hours on the road, they were too tired to continue and decided to take a room. But they only planned to sleep for four hours and then get back on the road. When they checked out four hours later, the desk clerk handed them a bill for $350. The husband exploded and demanded to know why the charge was so high. He told the clerk although it’s a nice hotel, the room certainly wasn’t worth $350 for four hours. Then the clerk told him that $350 was the �standard rate’. He insisted on speaking to the Manager. The Manager appeared, listened to him, and then explained that the hotel had an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference centre that were available for them to use. “But we didn’t use them,” the husband said. “Well, they are here, and you could have,” explained the Manager. The Manager went on to explain that the couple could also have taken in one of the shows for which the hotel is famous. “We have the best entertainers from New York, Hollywood, and Las Vegas perform here,” the Manager says. “But we didn’t go to any of those shows,” the husband said. “Well, we have them, and you could have,” the Manager replied. No matter what amenity the Manager mentioned, the husband replied, “But we didn’t use it!” The Manager was unmoved, and eventually the husband gave up and agreed to pay, so asked his wife to write the cheque. She did and gave it to the Manager. The Manager was surprised when he looked at the cheque. “But ma’am, this is made out for only $50.” “That’s correct. I charged you $300 for sleeping with me,” she replied. “But I didn’t!” exclaimed the Manager. “Well, too bad. I was here, and you could have.” Keep checking our website for changes, add ons, etc. Don’t mess with senior citizens. They didn’t get there by being stupid! MARK YOUR 2014 CALENDARS: RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 43 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 [email protected] 1st VICE PRESIDENT: Rick Huges 604-202-2965 [email protected] 2nd VICE PRESIDENT: Joyce McCluskie 604-574-3631 [email protected] The RV Times MAILED to your door! TREASURER: Trenor Tilley 604-538-3457 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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. PO Box 73046 Evergreen RPO Surrey BC V3R 0J2 If applicable, introduced by ________________________________________________Number ____________ 44 RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 NUMBER of SLIDES: _____ Make cheque payable to RVOABC RV BUSINESSES - CANADA: 100 MILE HOUSE BC: Meridian RV Mfg. Ltd. 210% Discount off parts 5430 Industrial Flats Rd (at Hwy 97 & 24) 250-395-3090 / 877-395-3090 ABBOTSFORD, BC: Fraserway RV Centre Ltd. 210% Disc. 30440 South Fraser Way 604-850-1976 Get-Away RV Centre Ltd. 210% 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 215% Disc. 2952 Argo Pl 604-338-1985 Travco RV Service Centre 210% Disc. off non-sale items 7020 Curragh Ave 604-430-1551 CHILLIWACK, BC: O’Connor RV Centre Ltd. 210% Disc. off non-sale items 44430 Yale Rd W. 604-792-2747 / 877-912-3909 Trademasters 2Disc. to members 44467 Yale Rd 604-792-3132 / 877-878-5869 COQUITLAM, BC: Go-West RV Sales Ltd. 210% 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. 215% Disc. service, parts, access. 3732 Hwy 97 N. 250-807-2898 / 888-456-1808 Sanidumps.com 220% Disc. on books www.sanidumps.com LANGLEY, BC: Atlas Alarms Ltd. 210% Disc.: service, parts, access. 604-532-3823 Canadian Custom Home and RV Shades 210% Disc. 20750 71A Ave 778-882-2565 Candan R.V. Center 210% 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. 210% Disc. off parts 5670 Production Way 604-530-0911 Pacific Axle Ltd. 220% Disc. off parts & accessories 5749 203A St 604-532-9599 Traveland RV Supercentre 210% Disc. at RVOABC AGM 20529 Langley Bypass 604-530-8141 / 800-513-9434 MERRITT, BC: The Batt Bag 210% Disc. 1434 Douglas St 250-315-1363 PORT COQUITLAM, BC: Meridian RV Mfg. Ltd. 210% 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 2$100 Disc. to members 866-999-2252 Euro Driving School 2Disc. 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 210% 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 210% Disc. 2498 King George Hwy 604-538-8600 WINFIELD, BC: Voyager RV Centre Ltd. 210% 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 210% Disc. 44280 Luckakuck Way 604-824-7275 FORT LANGLEY, BC: Fort Camping Resort 210% Disc. 9451 Glover Rd 604-888-3678 GIBSONS, BC: Gibsons RV Resort 215% Disc. full hookup (30+50 a) 1051 Gilmour Rd 604-989-7275 HOPE, BC: Hope Valley Campground 210% Disc. 62280 Flood Hope Rd 604-869-9857 Othello Tunnels Cmpd/Park 210% Disc. 67851 Othello Rd 604-869-9448 / 877-869-0543 KIMBERLEY, BC: Kimberley Riverside Cmpd 210% Disc. Mary Lake Rd / 250-427-2929 NORTH VANCOUVER, BC: Capilano R.V. Park 210% Disc. 295 Tomahawk Ave / 604-987-4722 OSOYOOS, BC: Walton’s Lakefront Resort 3207 Lakeshore Dr / 800-964-1391 ROSEDALE, BC: Holiday Trails Resort - Camperland 53730 Bridal Falls Rd 604-794-7876 SQUAMISH, BC: Eagle Vista RV Resort & Campground 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 WHISTLER, BC: Whistler RV Park/Campgd 215% Disc. 35 Sea to Sky Hwy 99 604-966-2303 CAMPGROUNDS - USA: NILAND, California: Fountain of Youth RV Resort 2 4th Night Free 1500 Spa Rd / 888-800-0772 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 2Disc. off daily rate 250-286-1803 or [email protected] RVT 156 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 45 2014 RVOABC Rally Time MAY 9-11 SPRING 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 FUN FILLED Weekend, including Coffee & Cookies, Catered Breakfast & Dinner, Hot Tub, Swimming Pool, Bingo, Team Sports, etc., etc. Location: Burnaby Cariboo RV Park in Burnaby BC 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) : MAY RALLY $150........................$______________ 1 Unit (1 person): MAY RALLY $120 ........................$______________ Additional person: $40 each ....................................$______________ Non-Members must add $40 for a one-year RVOABC Membership..............................$ _____________ 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 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 [email protected] 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.
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