Issue 26 of the best email newsletter for full-time RV enthusiasts and others who want to be.

This newsletter is posted every-other week.

Editors at the Wheel
by Russ and Tina De Maris

Columbia Gorge, Copyright R & T De Maris

Our Fulltime Feedback survey in the last issue was a bit of a surprise for us. The question was, "What type of camera do you use, digital v film?" As of deadline time, over 75% said they use a digital camera, while less than 5% use a film camera. About 14% mostly used digital, but did shoot some film, while less than 5% shoot mostly film, and edged in a little digital work. About one and a half percentile of our respondents said they didn’t use a camera.

We’re old "film" buffs from way back when. But the "professional" side of our life saw more and more demands for digital work, so a couple of years ago, we bought a professional quality digital camera. We’ve been fighting over who gets to use it ever since. We have an RV freezer with rolls of Fuji Velvia taking up space. Last week, Russ started the process of sorting and scanning thousands of transparencies. Since he’s learned the basics of Photoshop, the idea of returning to the darkroom is about as distant as Pluto. Our collection of Canon 35mm machines will probably soon hit Ebay. Well, maybe all but one.

Meantime, how are you all doing with keeping track of your images? Organization and living in an RV goes hand in hand. Check out our story, Organize and Keep Your Digital Pictures Safe.

Here’s a heads-up: In our next issue, we’re going to surrender to the current news blockbuster and provide a (temporary) column on that fractious commodity, motor fuel. We’ll put suggestions, news, and buzz here for your consideration, all rolled up in one area. If you’ve heard about enough of the subject, we’ll make it easier for you to pass on it. Meanwhile, go light on the pedal, and we’ll see you on the road.

During the early days of the California Gold Rush, as miners streamed through the undeveloped hills of the Mother Lode, tent and shanty towns sprung up overnight. Saloons, boarding houses, restaurants,

Copyright California State Parks

laundries, express offices, and tent stores offered the homesick miner many goods, services and diversions. Enterprising argonauts soon realized that mining the pockets of the miners was an easier way to get their gold.

In just a few days, you can see Columbia State Historic Park docents and staff recreate an early tent town to demonstrate the daily life of the young state. In a special presentation on Saturday Night, June 3rd, from 7 to 10 pm, visitors can enjoy "Saturday Night in the Mines." Visitors can take part in authentic gambling of the period. Games such as Monte, Chuck-a-luck and Faro are played, with entertainment provided by the Great Mother Lode Brass and Reed Band's Coronet Band.

Following the games, an auction featuring prizes donated by area merchants are available to purchase with the winnings. The "town" is in this special mode the first four days of the month from 10-5 daily, at Columbia State Historic Park, 4 miles north of Sonora in Tuolumne County, just off Highway 49.

Copyright California State Parks

Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children over 5. Tickets for Saturday Night in the Mines are $15 each. Parking is free. Call 209-588-9128 for more information.

If you’re a full-time RVer, what is your annual RV family income range? Answer Here.

What do you use for a logbook? Those commercially produced logbooks might work, but often prove pitifully small for real-world use. Some find spiral bound college-ruled notebooks are great, others turn a steno-pad on its side and write in "landscape" format. Having a bound book will save hours of frustration, and saves weight and space over loose leaf binders.

Reader Cuts Up on Power Tools (Issue 25)
"I also miss my ShopSmith, but the Black and Decker Firestorm Cordless tools are great. The DeWalt’s are heavier duty, but the Firestorm works just fine. I’ve been using mine for about 3 years now. I finally had to buy a new charger and it is faster (probably takes more power), but the batteries are holding up just fine.

"I originally purchased my 14.4V equipment in a set, refurbished, for a great price. It turns out that there are other models of tools that are more appropriate.

"I would forget about the router, but the circular saw is absolutely great. Be sure to get the model that can cut deep enough to cut a 2x4. I ended up with a smaller version, and while it worked amazingly well, I needed the deeper cut. As part of the set, the drill/screw driver works great with lots of power, but I would like a little better model with a better chuck that locks better.

"I think if I had it to do over again, I would not get the set with interchangeable parts, but would get the drill, circular saw, and "cut" saw as separate items (or as a set if they were the right models), but all at the same voltage and using the same battery. Two or more batteries are better than one. The upgrade charger is much faster and can handle all voltages of batteries and it is smarter if you forget and leave the batteries in. It doesn’t fry them." --WA

"Now this is a good idea...why didn't I think of it. Oh yeah, it's what I'm doing. However, a neighbor complained and now the code compliance officer "investigated" and the letter came saying out of code, comply or else. I guess it is okay to park it in the back yard, but the problem is living in it. I've done my homework and find contradictions in the code.

The letter didn't refer to any specific code and where it could be reviewed...just his take on it.

And don't expect to be able to find out who made the complaint. Can't face your accuser, who could very well be out of code compliance themselves. Oh well, I've lived long enough...I'm done. When I started fulltiming a year ago, I was so enthusiastic to live my retirement dream. Once I experienced the attitude of the cities visited and the uglies from those in power, the adventure was spoiled. If you can't park in our country...it is the USA land of the free, no? The code compliance thing was brought about by me and snow-balled into an unnecessary burden to my kin and I'm appalled that this code and compliance game is allowed to be played where code violations are in the face and tolerated and someone can decide they don't like you and get to you through an authority and they rake in the dough with fines...making living ugly." --M

Local codes are about as consistent as a baseball umpire; the sad part is, code compliance officials (or whatever other name they operate under) have about the same authority as the ump. Some communities do allow for temporary stays in an RV, some don’t. As you’ve found, there’s the matter of enforcement -- unless somebody kicks up a ruckus, often technical "violations" are ignored. Maybe our readers will have more to add.

Editor Gives Reader Gas Pains
In your article, Get Past the Gas Pump -- Reduce Fuel Consumption you advise putting duct tape on the vehicle for fuel savings? Where do you put the duct tape at, on the vehicle? You did not say where in the article. Please advise." --DT

DT,
it seems our venerable publisher agrees that this ditty was somewhat confusing. The duct-tape suggestion was a "control" test done on a car by a Seattle TV station. When testing other fuel economy "devices," the station also ran a car with a chunk of duct tape put on the side of the car. The results "showed" a 6% increase in fuel economy on the car equipped with duct tape. It would seem the duct tape probably didn’t have anything to do with the savings, but driving habits surely can. Don’t suppose it would hurt to add the tape, but like they say on stain remover bottles, "try it first on an inconspicuous place to make sure it’s safe!" Actually, we’ve seen plenty of rigs that must be saving a LOT of fuel, based on the amount of duct tape that holds them together. --ED

Going Down? Model Exits Luxury RV the Hard Way
Russian supermodel Tatyana Simanava may not take to RVing after a recent experience in New York. While aboard a luxury conversion bus RV, the leggy blond catwalker mistook the RV’s exterior door for the entrance to the bathroom. Unfortunately, the RV was on a New York City expressway, and Simanava hit the pavement at 40 miles per hour.

Out of hospital, the living mannequin is recuperating from a dislocated shoulder, cuts and bruises to her head, and presumably a supermodel-size case of embarrassment.

Many boondockers find that using a portable waste water holding tank, typically called a "blue boy," is just the answer to leaving the RV in place, while still toting ‘that old black water’ to the dump station. Still there can be a--er--hangup.

We’ve found that when we dump the rig’s holding tank into the blue boy, the black water tank may not want to cooperate in releasing all of its "secrets." Assuming your dump port is like ours--the hose connector is shared by both the black water and gray water tank, try our trick.

To overcome the problem, after the last of the black water is emptied into the blue boy, close the black water dump valve and disconnect the dump hose from the blue boy. Next, carefully lifting the free end of the hose well above the holding tank level, open the black water valve, then open the gray water valve, allowing a few gallons of gray water to flush into the black water tank. Now, shut both valves, and reconnect the sewer hose to the blue boy. Re-open the black water valve, and as they say, "vee-oh-la" those pesky black water Klingons jump right into the blue boy.

Mind you, this takes a bit of finessing to avoid swimming in the contents of your holding tank, but if you’ve got a bit of coordination, it’ll help you keep things in tidy order. Not odor.

Thief Gets the Truck -- Leaves the Fifth Wheel and Owner Behind
A 55-year old woman who declined to identify herself to the press, found herself in an unusual "RV jack" situation. At eight in the morning, securely ensconced in her fifth wheel, she was surprised when the rig began rolling. It seems a male truckjacker took a shine to her Chevy Silverado tow vehicle. Keeping her head, the fifth wheeler called for help on her cell phone.

By the time authorities tracked down the fifth wheel, the truck -- and the thief were gone. Some distance from the original theft, the man stopped the truck and attempted to get inside the fifth wheel. Apparently discouraged by the locked doors and the woman’s threats to use a handgun, the gutsy thief unhitched and fled the scene in the truck. Glen Avon, California authorities are still looking for the truck and bandit.

Some businesses that RVers have had include carpet cleaning (for RVs), windshield chip repair, selling at RV and other shows. Artists, craftsmen and writers produce and sell their work at shows or online. Some RVers have used their computer skills to make money, doing contract computer work, selling on eBay, designing Web sites or selling items from their own site.

Many sales folks work as independent contractors, setting their own hours and working as much or as little as they want. More businesses that need salespeople to travel from place to place are recruiting RVers. In some cases, you’re provided with an RV site or receive a travel allowance.

Fulltimers' Websites
Not out there yet? Want to get a taste of the fulltime road? Plenty of fulltimers have websites where they share experiences and insight. Each edition we'll focus on a website where you'll be able to learn more about the fulltime lifestyle.

They’re home-schooling their two sons. They’ve camped in 15 different states, and racked up 30,603 miles on their motorhome and tow vehicle. Next on the docket? A journey to Alaska in their RV. Such is the life of the Mark Gregorich family as they make their way on an RV odyssey that many only dream of.

The Gregorich family began their American RV adventure back in Orlando, Florida in September of 2005. Mark and Cricket sold their house and almost all their belongings after buying a 36’ motorhome so they could travel across the United States. Their two sons, now in the third and fifth grades, had already been home-schooled for two years. After Mom made a career move, being a "stay home Mom" was possible, and the decision came to buy the RV and go on the road.

"It has been a great experience," said Mark. "Even the kids are getting an education without having to do school work."

Where do they go from here? Their goal is to visit 49 states before the end of 2006. To follow along in their "American RV Home-schooling Adventure", visit their website at www.awaywego.us. There you'll find lots of photos and stories of their activities. They even have a message board where you can say hi as well as sign-up to receive e-mail updates of their RV travels.

RVer's have plenty of "home work" to keep up with. Caring for the rig demands far different skills than those left "back home." "Rolling Tech" will cover technical issues for the RV set.

Summertime’s coming, and shade will soon be at a premium. RVers wisely bring their own while traveling, generally accomplished through the use of a roll-out awning. But beware, that expensive parasol can be easily damaged by the fickle finger of the elements. Follow the link to the story, Guard Your Awning for tips on protecting that cool investment.

Free Attractions USA -- Get Out and See It For Free
Places to go, see, and experience at no cost. Mark these on your traveling maps and prepare to experience something where you can leave your wallet in your pocket. We’ll give tips from every state in the union.

Paramount Theatre Tour -- Seattle, Washington
The Paramount Theatre opened in 1928 as the Seattle Theatre. This classic Beaux Arts-style theatre named the "most beautiful theatre west of Chicago," hosts over 250 events a year and yet never fails to capture the breath of each and every patron. Restored in 1995 at the cost of $20 million, the Paramount Theatre has been brought back to its original splendor, just as Seattle audiences would have experienced it as they passed through the doors for the first time back in 1928. Now nearly 75 years later, the public will have the chance to experience the splendor of the Paramount Theatre on all levels.

Of course, you can be like us and say, "Bee-ox arts, what the heck is that?" Or you can turn to your handy Internet dictionary and get your daily dose of humility: Ah, "bo-zar," I knew that! Kind of makes you feel like a "bo-zo" to learn that’s a good old late 19th century French architectural style. Maybe I’d best go on this tour and brush up on my symmetry and rich ornamentation. Those who are interested in the free tour are asked to meet in front of the main entrance of the Theatre - on the corner of 9th and Pine - by 10:00 am the first Saturday each month.

Hurry on this one -- Roanoke Island Symphony Concert, North Carolina
If you’re in the neighborhood, this one is worth setting your sites on. The North Carolina Symphony does a free concert at the island’s Festival Park Pavillion on June 4th at 8 p.m. The orchestra will render Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony following the show opener, the Outer Banks Concert Chorale, slated to belt forth at seven.

Where else but in Calinky can you catch a 64-piece professional orchestra for free? Wish I were there! Top it off, you’ll be able to park in several places around the area and catch a shuttle to the concert. No word on whether the shuttle drivers sing a capella, but hey, ask about it when you call the Outer Banks Visitor’s Bureau for more information at (877) 629-4386. Glory bee! Even the call is free! Know of any great freebies out there? Let us know, ftrveditor@icanrv.com.

Must be a new wind turbine. Copyright R & T De Maris

That's it for this edition! Wherever you go, may your travels bring you happiness. We'd love to hear from you, kudos to komplaints, let us know. ftrveditor@icanrv.com