Issue 36, FALL IS IN THE AIR!

Diary published weekly since 2001

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Hi All: We have been running every day this week, I really have been slacking off of working for a bit. However some days it meant we just took a drive through the beautiful countryside at this time of year. Everything is so peaceful – most tourists are gone and the extreme dry weather and high heat is a distant memory. Flowers going through towns are lush and the trees and fields in southwestern Ontario are so green. We also joined our niece Jane for lunch on Friday when we went to pick up our mail. She works in Stratford and since our mailing address is Mail Boxes Etc (now the UPS Store) in Stratford, making plans for a lunch date is a good match. Cool

I even took a complete holiday away from my computer last Sunday and Monday (other than addressing basic email) to work on fabricating crafts. It was Labour Day and this is the first time in years I took a real holiday other than our cruise last Feb. Since we will be in the Rio Grande Valley this winter, I decided to sell my creations at the park craft sales. However I have an ulterior motive for this. Remember when I relayed I had ran out of books at the RV School last June. Well we found 35 copies under the bed and I still have quite a few from my last order. Problem is I want to update RV Living in the 21st Century this winter. Not because it is out dated, but because it has a publication date of 2004 - on a Guide Book that is not good. I have little choice but to update it over the winter. Soooo that means I have to make a concentrated effort to sell the books I have on hand. I hope that by combining my books with my crafts I will eliminate most of them over the winter. Cool
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NOTABLES THIS WEEK

One High Point this month was our Emission Control Test (Go Clean Ontario) that is required every two years (new vehicles get a 5-year reprieve). We also wanted our original 5-year old gas filter replaced. Steve’s Automotive in Woodstock, Ont 519-421-2313 www.stevesauto.ca came highly recommended. It is easy to understand why. The shop was so clean and they specialize in extra special personable customer service. Their service writers were well turned out in monogrammed shirts, the place was spotless - they even provided coffee in the waiting room - however John and I decided to walk to next door for an hour Wal*Mart ‘fix’. When we returned the mechanic was done, but part of their service is a complimentary car wash and the Grand Am was next in line. All this and a very reasonable cost to boot – what more can anyone ask for? Cool

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A week ago an ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE GLOBE AND MAIL. “You can take it with you”. Much of the info was from the Maritimes but I was happy thatmy quotes were also included www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070829.wmotorhome29/EmailBNStory/specialTravel/home Although my input was only a small part of the column and my website was not mentioned, I have received several email requesting articles and writing contributions as a result. There was one error – we were in Lethbridge when I first talked to Geoff and I guess I neglected to relay we were from Ontario and on a return trip back from BC. However overall this one was a positive article so I am happy with it. Cool

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Funny thing happened last week. Several of the RV’s that were here are part of the ‘TRAVELLERS GROUP’. These RVers keep to themselves and work at paving driveways or doing construction work. In some cases the work is rumoured to be substandard, so if you are contracting people for jobs around your home, be sure to ask for references and check them out with the Better Business Bureau. These families include small children and they generally live in huge, new, but little known brands of elaborate looking trailers. As a group, they are always dressed to the nines. When they left our park the fifths were so large that a regular tow-truck was called to move one of these long units to their next campground and future job site. Cool

What was funny is when they departed they left behind a hide-a-bed that was like new even though it had been outside for several months under the awning plus a classy round picnic table with umbrella and 4 chairs plus another set of four non-folding patio chairs with the lush cushions. I guess when they settle into a place, they buy these items at a discount store and they simply leave them behind when they depart. It did not take long for a family of park residents to remove these items from the vacated site so they could enjoy them on their patios. Sooooo, I am relaying this because if you are in a park where it looks like the Travellers are stopping for a bit. Be aware that when they change parks they may leave a few treasures behind. Cool
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Frequently Diary recipients drop into the parks we are staying at. We love these visitors. This week PAT FROM NEARBY OWEN SOUND (where our storage is) stopped by for a visit during her trip to picturesque Pelee Island for a short getaway to explore the wonders of early fall. Pat is a courageous single RVer who has travelled Canada extensively and soon hopes to venture south for a month or two for her first southern winter getaway. I was able to put her in touch with another single good friend, Barb. She is an avid RVer who spends a lot of time on the move. Thanks so much for the visit Pat and your offer to share info Barb. Happy travels and good luck on the new Class A requisition Pat. Cool

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WINTER PLANS - Most of you know that John and I worked the Tampa RV Show last January. While there we obtained several coupons for SUN RV RESORTS. Although they have a special on their website for a month at any of their many parks in Florida and Texas for $189.00 - we have several coupons for $149.00 per month (for every month but Feb) plus a few more at $169.00. If anyone would like these we’ll be happy to mail up to two to an address if you send me an email – no cost. When they are gone they are gone, but we hate to waste them. Most of these resorts are posh so even if you book a park blind it should be a great stop. www.sunrvresorts.com Cool
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FINAL THOUGHTS

Before I go, I want to share a neat link in an email that I received. It has nostalgic music playing in the background. Click link if you want to take an interesting trip down memory lane http://www.bentbay.dk:80/in_oldDays.html Cool

Fall is such a perfect time of year to get out and enjoy life in your home on wheels. The tourists have gone home and the parks are peaceful. Hope you can take advantage of it. Happy travels and take care guys P&J Cool Cool Cool

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TIPS OF THE WEEK

REFERENCE TO THE TIP OF NOT SIGNING THE BACK OF YOUR CREDIT CARDS... I usually check all these tips out on www.snopes.com before I pass them on but since my signature never stays readable on my MC – and I have heard this tip before I passed it on without researching it. Although I do thank RV friends for passing tips on to me and I also appreciate the fact that my Diary readers keep me honest. Pearl spent considerable time researching this info for me.

IT IS MUCH BETTER TO SIGN YOUR CREDIT CARD!!! According to Scambusters.org http://www.scambusters.org/Scambusters80.html signing the card is the ONLY way to go. Pearl relayed that there were a number of websites that came up in her search but she found http://www.scambusters.org/creditcardfraudprevention.html was a great overall site. Check these sites out – they offer mega info on protecting your security. So I repeat, the best advice is to SIGN your cards when you receive them. I am sorry if I steered anyone in the wrong direction.
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RV RECALLS. It seems that the list of recalls keeps increasing every month. Everyone should,(but especially those driving fairly new units) periodically check with your dealer and/or manufacturer to ask if any RECALLS have recently surfaced on your brand of RV (or tow vehicle). I read a report this week on this subject and now I can not find it, but a number of RV’s have recalls pending on everything from brakes to Dometic fridges, to incorrect tire inflation to insecure TV installation, to storage pod drawers below a slide-out not remaining closed during RV motion, and many more. These warnings also apply a wide variety of infractions to many models of cars. Just to be safe check your vehicles performance out with your dealer.
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One last point has to do with RV INAURANCE for Fulltimers. I received a panic email this week about someone in Alberta who wanted to go F/T this winter and they were running into mega problems finding insurance. Fulltimers everywhere can be insured but sometimes it takes some shopping around. In the USA, many RV Clubs offer this type of protection and within Canada there are also several options. The main rule that applies to both countries is even if you are a Fulltimer, you still need to establish a legal residence for taxes, customs at the border, drivers licence, voting, census, medical coverage and much more. Many of us use a family member or a friend, but in reality the only person in this world with no fixed address is a crook. If you’re having problems, send me an email.

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PROMOS THIS WEEK

An updated WINTER CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY is featured in the September/October issue of the RV Gazette, the voice of the Explorer RV Club. www.explorer-rvclub.com. To join the club call 800-999-0819. NOTE: Their regular Directory is on line at http://www.explorer-rvclub.com/camp_guide.php Campgrounds are listed by province and those open during the winter have a special notation in bold at the left of each listing.

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NEW E-BOOK

Les Doll, webhost of RVers Corner.com and an award winning, working RV Tech, has just released his new DO-IT YOURSELF GUIDE TO RV MAINTENANCE E-Book. It is the only E-book of this type available. Les addresses the basics of all components of today’s RV’s to help YOU diagnose problems. This e-book will be an asset to all on-board RV libraries – it is an instant download to your computer so the info will always be available to keep your systems up and running. Valuable Bonuses within this publication include his separate E-book “Seven Steps to Winterizing” and “De-winterizing – when the weather warms up”; plus an E-book on “RV Wiring Made Easy”. Les even offers a lifetime upgrade warrantee (his lifetime not yours) as this book continues to evolve. Cost $17.00.

For more details go here http://www.rverscorner.com/RV_Maintenance_Manual.html and to order PLEASE use this link http://3.pac113.rvliving.pay.clickbank.net/