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Cougar Attacks
Tours For Free - Colorado
BC's Best Camping Adventures
Provincial and National Campgrounds in BC
Spirit of the Open Road
America’s National Historic Trails
Traveller's Guide to Mexican Camping
The Alberta-Montana Discovery Guide
New Books: At Your Own Pace: Traveling Your Way in Your Motorhome,
Alaska at Your Own Pace, Colorado at Your Own Pace


The RVe’rs Friend

We have found the book called The RVe’rs Friend, published by TR Information Publishers, to be very useful in locating dump stations in commercial truck stops as well as rest areas and state and national parks.

The book is organized by state or province, and alphabetically by town. It gives the services each truck stop has, such as a restaurant, RV parking, service centres, dump stations, propane, and whether they are RV-friendly, which means you can stay overnight in their lots. (And we have stayed in these many times.)

This publication can be picked up at most large RV dealerships or at the truck stops. You should also be able to get it through Trailer Life magazine. Having this book makes planning your trip much easier, rather than taking the chance that you will come across a dump station! Happy travelling!

Wayne & Eleanor Kiefer
ekiefer@uniserve.com

Take Back Your Life! Travel Full-Time In An RV

- by Stephanie Bernhagen
US $19.95 ISBN 0-9700263-0-7
First Printing - October 2000

review by John Plaxton www.ogopogo.com/rving

There are many books available that discuss the full-time RV lifestyle. Some are written from the viewpoint of people who have done it for several years (working on the road, vacationing, retired). Others are designed for newbies and those considering their life-options. One I am fond of (like a first love you never forget) is Spirit of the Open Road by Canadians Peggi & John McDonald.

Another I enjoyed was Stephanie Bernhagen’s recent book Take Back Your Life! Travel Full-Time In An RV. Stephanie’s book is written from six years of her experiences, plus fifty-six other viewpoints.

This easy-to-read, soft-cover text book could be entitled "All the questions you had about full-timing, but were afraid to ask... and more." You should not read this book in a day, maybe not even in a week. After all, a true lifestyle change should take considerable thought and preparations. Make notes.

Liz and I wish we had known about these books before we bought a motorhome, sold our house, then drove through Mexico and Central America. As novices, we didn’t do too badly in our new lifestyle, but these books would have been very useful.

In 1994, being thirty-something, Stephanie Bernhagen and her husband Paul left a conventional boomer lifestyle behind and drove into their future in a used 5th wheel. These young whippersnappers thought only older retirees full-timed, but eventually they discovered hundreds of RVers their own age.

Take Back Your Life! starts by debating a few of the pros and cons of full-timing vs. weekend vacationing, budgeting, how to buy "wheel estate" (buses, motorhomes, 5th wheels, trailers, all homes on rolling rubber), what and what not to put in and RV, GVWR and GCWR (!) and US residency requirements and US vehicle and medical insurance. Then lifestyles are discussed: membership camping; travelling from RV park to RV park (private, federal, state); boondocking or dry camping; and just as important I think, the transitions between them. Stephanie also covers mobile communications; working on the road; travelling as singles, couples, and with children; considerations of physically handicapped persons; and pets.

Forty pages of annexes and sources for more material follow 326 pages of good information and excellent questions.

Before selling your house or buying a half-million-dollar land yacht because of your dream of being footloose and fancy-free – enjoying freedom on the highways and byways – read this book. Use the resources available. Rent or borrow an RV. Listen to those who have lived in recreational vehicles.

Full-time RVing is not for everyone. Some dreams turn into nightmares, which Stephanie’s book will definitely help to avoid.

Her book will also convince some people that full-time RVing is an exciting and enjoyable lifestyle option. Dreams can come true.

Take Back your Life! Travel Full-Time in an RV is a recommended- Four-star buy.

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BC’s Best Camping Adventures Southwest BC and Vancouver Island

by Jayne Seagrave
ISBN 1-895811-55-4 Softcover $14.95 160 pages

From the best family sites through to the best campsites in which to kiss, Jayne provides everything you need to know to make the camping experience a success. The book is divided into eight groupings, each featuring four or five of Jayne’s favourite sites with four pages of detail on each camping venue. Information includes detail on the campgrounds as well as surrounding amenities.


Provincial and National Campgrounds in British Columbia A complete guide

by Jayne Seagrave
ISBN 1-895811-53-8 Softcover $17.95 224 pages

Over 25,000,000 visitors enjoy park visits every year. With the support of BC Parks, Jayne brings us an up-to-date documentation of all provincial and national campground facilities in BC and provides an insightful commentary based on her personal visits to individual parks. Complete with photos and regional breakdowns, all facilities and amenities are reviewed.
BC’s five most popular leisure activities are beachtime, day hiking, swimming, camping and fishing. Jayne makes these the focus of her commentary on all parks. Also included are Jayne’s recommended stops for 7, 14 and 21 day touring excursions in different parts of the province.

Heritage House Publishing Company Ltd
Unit 8, 17921-55th Ave, Surrey BC V3S 6C4
(604) 574-7067 herhouse@island.net


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“Spirit of the Open Road”

by Peggi McDonald

Overview: “Spirit of the Open Road” acts as your best friend. This book provides advice for most situations RVers encounter while enjoying the fascinating RVing lifestyle. It is written as a guide and the reader friendly spiral binding makes it an easy to read reference book. Peggi addresses everything from the basic choice of RV’s to living in it, to packing it, to driving it, plus much more.

Table of Contents: There are no chapters, instead a list of titles and sub titles with page numbers make it easy to find help for any situation RVers find themselves in		Under “Protection Plus” —Emergency Road Service (ERS) —Out of Province Medical —Insurance —Emergency Nest Egg
Under the “The Beginning” —Introduction —To RV or Not to RV —The ABC’s of RV’s —RV Shopping List —How to Buy a Pre-Loved or New RV		Under “Towing” —Weighing Your RV —Car in Tow —Towing an RV
Under “RVing Made Easy” —Extending Your Living Space —My Favourite Household Tips —Outdoor Hints —RV Parking —Driving Safe —Service on the Road —Getting to Know Your Appliances —Understanding Your Sanitation System —Winter Storage-Spring Ready —Travelling with Pets —More Dollars for Your Trade-In		Under “Health and Safety” —Security Tips —Securing Your RV —Fire Protection —Life Saving Detectors —First-Aid —Ability Plus
Under “On the Road” —Weather Watch —Planning Your Route —Anything to Declare? —Keeping in Touch —Accessing Your Money —Choosing A Campground —Membership Campgrounds —RV Clubs —Decorating For The Holidays Under “Directory” - - - it is comprehensive		Under “Fulltiming” —Budgeting For the Good Life —Living Comfortable in an RV —The House Dilemma —Should it Stay or Should it Go —The Homesick Blues —Mail Call —Paying the Piper —Working on the Road —Enjoying the Good Life

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America’s National Historic Trails

by Kathleen Ann Cordes
Associate Professor of Physical Education at Miramar College in San Deigo CA.
Photographs by Jane Lammers, professional photographer.
University of Oklahoma Press book Distribution Center:
(405) 325-2000. Book available as of April 1999

Book review by Ruby Lister

This paperback book gives the reader an excellent insight into twelve US national historic trails in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

For each trail there is a detailed account of the past events that made it an historic site. It takes you back in time with a complete description of the sites to retrace the steps of the people who lived there, fought wars, and worked the land. As you read, the story of each trail unfolds and leaves you wanting to learn more.

The book then goes into what the trail is like today. It informs the reader which States they pass through and if they go through federal land, private land, or State parks. It gives approximate mileage and means of travel along the trail (driving, hiking, horse back riding). It also describes the landscape as it exists today. The weather conditions for each trail as well as any dangers that may affect the traveler are also depicted.

Included in this book are eighty color pictures and a map for each trail. Points of interest are discussed thoroughly with detailed information and a brief history of each site giving the reader a visual sense of what to expect on their journey. If further information is required there is a list of addresses of Tourism offices and other official services.


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Traveller's Guide to Mexican Camping

by Mike and Terri Church
ISBN 0-9652968-1-4 , retail price US $19.95 (CAN $28+ and taxes.)

Book review - by John Plaxton

My suggestion: buy this book. Here are three reasons why.

First. Use it to compare with other guide books. This is the way an RV guide book should be written.

Second. Buy this book if you are going to marvellous Mexico, including beautiful Baja California, or merely dreaming about going there.

Third. Buy this book if you've been to Mexico dozens of times because there are probably some RV parks and campgrounds, old and new, that you don't even know about.

The only thing wrong with this book is that it should have been published at least four years ago. If it had been available when Liz and I spent almost nine months travelling through Mexico, we would definitely have stayed in more RV campgrounds if we had known where they were and how to get to them.

This couple knows their stuff, which isn't surprising because they've been to every campground they write about during the several months of several years spent touring Mexico. And Mike and Terri know what to look for and discuss because they are avid researchers, love to talk to people, and they've travelled in both a large motorhome and a camperized van.

Not only does this book describe so many campgrounds accurately (at least the dozens we visited), it gives good advice on preparing for this trip, and a very realistic introduction to the many wonders and few problems that an RVer is likely to encounter in Mexico. It even briefly suggests four self-guided tours to take, and how they can be easily modified to meet your particular requirements and desires.

Each section or area of Mexico has a brief introduction and tourist highlights, as does each major city. Each description of a campground displays its price range, a really useful description of facilities in addition to icons, its GPS latitude and longitude, altitude, how to get there info, distance in miles and kilometres, possible side trips, and its name (written and phonetic) with address and telephone and fax numbers. If you want other books, they suggest a few that complement their work, although they missed Liz and my travelogue "RVing in Mexico and Central America". But with 404 pages plus Table of Contents and Index, a few pictures, a pleasant but factual writing style, dozens of maps, and hundreds of campgrounds accompanied by a small chart showing you where it is, you shouldn't need another RV guide book.

You can get this book in local bookstores, or via http://www.Amazon.com and other Web retailers. Or better yet, order it directly from the authors (include an additional $4.00 S&H; use cheques or postal orders in US currency, or VISA or MasterCard) c/o Rolling Homes Press, PO Box 2099, Kirkland, WA, USA 98083-2099. In the USA or Canada, telephone 1-888-265-6555 otherwise call long distance (425) 822-7846.

Two other books written by Mike and Terri are Traveller's Guide to European Camping and Traveller's Guide to Alaskan Camping.


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The "Alberta-Montana Discovery Guide"

Heritage Tourism In The Northern Rockies



Press release:

The province of Alberta and the state of Montana have a lot in common. They share a common history, dramatic landscapes, a national boundary and their people are rich in character and love for the heritage of the land they call home. The natural bonds between the two have led to the 350 page, 4-colour ALBERTA-MONTANA DISCOVERY GUIDE.

The Discovery Guide is a co-operative project of seven Alberta cultural and heritage organizations and Montana's Historical Society and Travel Montana programs. It contains descriptive information and photos on over 500 heritage sites in Montana and Alberta, along with maps directing visitors to each location. The featured sites include world-class and local museums, national, state and provincial parks, and historic sites.

The ALBERTA-MONTANA DISCOVERY GUIDE is available by calling 1-800-661-8888 or 1-800-243-9900. The price is subject to change but is currently $12.95 in both countries. For Internet information, visit the Alberta/Montana website: <2nations.state.mt.us>.


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