Horizon Herald - Jan/Feb '00
New Horizons Owners Newsletter
Volume 2 Number 1 -
January/February 2000
Bringing together New Horizons™
owners for sharing and fellowship
Published bi-monthly
Editors: Don and Helen
McAnally
PMB 11431
214 Rainbow Drive Livingston, Texas 77399-2014
email: horizonltr@aol.com
Contents
Some
Resources & Suggestions for RVers
Favorite
Receipe - Aunt Dee's Brownies
Notes from the Editors
Your editors have been happy with the response to our request for subscription fees. Some of you had suggested this from the beginning. But not only were we pleased at the fees that have come in, but the letters, notes and phone calls were gratifying. Thanks. We appreciate and enjoy hearing from you. And items for the newsletter make our job so much easier. God bless our readers. You have become friends.
We trust that everyone had fine holidays. The Y2K bug was puny. Most everything worked OK when 2000 arrived. Of course, we have self-contained trailers and were well-equipped to survive almost anything. We hope that 2000 and beyond will be good to all of you.
Note to non-subscribers:
This issue of the newsletter is being sent as a courtesy. This will be your
last issue unless we receive the subscription fee by February 20.
We’re trying a four page format and would like your comments. As usual, we cry out for more material from readers, particularly fillers, anecdotes, short articles, about 300 to 700 words. Remember to submit items 15 days prior to publication. Next issue deadline: March 1
Inside is an “Owner Profile.” This could be a regular feature if some of you want to contribute.
A Boost For Nebraska
Being from Nebraska the first thing we hear when we talk to someone is what a boring drive it is across the state on I-80.
Our favorite highways are State Highway 2 or U.S. 20, both of which go through the sand hills of Nebraska. This area is something we think no other state can match.
There is a beautiful campground in the Nebraska National Forest near the town of Halsey on Highway 2 near the center of the state. It has some pads, electrical hookups and water. Also a dump station. The swimming pool is open till Labor Day and the water is left on until freezing weather. The campground itself is open year round.
September and October are beautiful months in the sand hills when the leaves are turning color. If anyone would like more information on our State, we would be glad to oblige.
Dick and Marilyn Waugh
13676 N 252nd St.
Valley, NE 68064
email: rww@uswest.net
The Foleys write:
On the way back from the rally, we stayed at Windmill State Park in Nebraska.
It’s on I-80 at the 285 mile marker, on the northeast corner of the
interchange, and a quarter mile to the North. It has both back-in and pull
through sites with electricity. Water is available at several locations; also,
a dump station. Lots of trees, several small lakes, and nice places to walk.
Even though near the Interstate, it was quiet. $13.50 including entrance fee.
Charlotte and Ted Foley
PO Box 151
Sinclair, WY 82334
email: tfoley@coffey.com
Your Turn
Comments, ideas, questions, about most anything.
Would readers be interested in
hearing about RV parks with interesting hiking, mountain trails? Yes!
We still enjoy our NH 5W. 20
states last year, over 12K miles
Looking forward to next summer when we take off full timing. It’s like being a
kid and starting out all over again.
The Stents, from England, picking
up 5W in June. Want advice on most everything: brian.stent@dial.pipex.com.
We took delivery of our 29’ TT
last May and have been loving it ever since.
Taking delivery of our 32’ 5W in
April; looking forward to Rally 2000.
Wants more info on using
computers in RV’s, full-time, etc. (How about some helpful hints, good links
from you computer experts? Ed.).
Sign on a radiator repair shop in
South Dakota: “ The best place to take a leak”
Wish list:
A wall mounted thermostat to
control the AC
12V outlet in desk area for pc
lap top.
Solar status monitors located in
living room rather than bed-room (most inverter needs originate in the living
room/kitchen)
Would like boondockers to share
tips and tricks on avoiding camping fees, where to park, do’s and don’ts, which
places are safe, etc.
Tips, Notes & Helpful Hints
An Orange Traffic Cone
We use an exterior cartridge-type water filter. You can mount the unit on an
orange traffic cone. Take the cone (purchased, naturally!) and cut off as much
of the top as you need to slip the water filter into but not allow the inlet
and outlet stems to go through. These stems will prevent the filter from
dropping to the ground. I like the idea as the cone provides a stable platform
and the bright color reminds you that it’s there.
(Mike Erb)
Anchoring the Dinette Cushion
I’m not sure if anyone else found the dinette cushion slipped when you go to get in and out, but here’s a solution that does not mar the bottom side of the cushion, and you can still flip it up to make the extra bed with no problem. The product is Miracle Hold by Leggett & Platte. It’s a tacky double-sided spongy material. Just put it down on the wood base and place the cushion on it. Leggett & Platte do not sell directly to consumers. Look for it in specialty catalogs, stores or search on the Internet. (Pat Sadd)
For New or Current Owners
Have your spare tire hoist switch mounted somewhere other than the street side. A wall-mounted thermostat for the Duo-Therm AC is available; we have one. We paid the extra for Hehr thermopane sliding windows; they’re nice, much less condensation. (Carol Wehe)
Mirror Glass Replacement
If you’re having trouble scraping stationary items on the right side of your trailer, try this. Stop at a glass shop and have the wide angle mirror glass replaced in the right mirror. Cost is about $10. This makes it much easier to back into a site on the right side of the road as you do not have the distorted view. And you can put a small spot mirror on it for a wider view to spot cars cutting inside of you on a right turn. (Charlotte & Ted Foley)
Some Resources & Suggestions for RVers
From the Editors: We receive a lot of questions from prospective and beginning RV’ers about——well, you name it!
These are personal preferences:
From Trailer Life Books:
Full Time Rving, Bill and Jan Moeller. This is our choice for the best all-around book. Excellent whether or not you are a full timer. Bill & Jan full-time in a 5W.
The RV Handbook, Bill Estes. A book to help you understand a wide variety of RV topics, rather than a step-by-step repair manual. Covers basics, such as: performance, fuel economy, safety, weights, tires, towing, handling, stability, etc. If you want step-by-step instructions, get RV Repair and Maintenance Manual, Bob Livingston.
Web Sites:
www.rvclub.com (this one costs $10 to join)
There are a lot of other resources out there, but the ones listed will get you started. We would like to hear from the readers about their favorites so we can include them. ( Don McAnally)
Potpourri
Volunteering
We were Volunteers for the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as campground hosts on the Denali Highway, Paxson, AK. We were camped beside the Delta National Wild and Scenic River as host for a free campground called Tangle Lakes.
We were in Skagway, AK and it was early September. We decided it was time to get on the road. So we hooked up and noted the odometer reading. Several weeks later, we arrived in Raymore, MO and unhooked. We had pulled it 3600 miles between hookup and unhook. We pull our NH with a 2 ton GMC. The truck is so solid it’s more stable hooked than to put it on front & back jacks. (Jim and Nedra Starkey.) (Ed. note: The Starkeys travel all around the country, serving as volunteers on many kinds of projects)
Serious Boondocking
Serious boondockers avoid paying camping fees like the plague! I’m getting set up for soft water, shunting my Reverse Osmosis “waste” water back to the fresh water tank, and sediment pre-filter before the soft water unit. I even have a separate pump and 40 gallon plastic envelope on the truck to replenish water while boondocking without moving the rig. (Bonnie Doone)
Corps of Engineer Parks
When we have time, we prefer staying at some of the Corps of Engineer Parks. They are usually quiet, and are invariably in natural settings. The rates run around $14-$16 per night for water and electric hookup, but those with a Golden Age Passport are entitled to a 50% discount. Few have sewer hookups, but there is usually a dump station. A directory, Camping with the Corps of Engineers, lists the locations, routes of access, facilities in and near each park. It’s available through Cottage Publications, 24396 Pleasant View Drive, Elkhart, IN 46517 or phone 1-800-272-5518 ($13.95 plus $2.00 SH). Information and reservations: 1-877-444-6777 or www.reserveusa.com (Joan and Milt Nugent)
Rally 2000 Information
Rally 2000 will be held at:
Turtle Creek State Park
Manhattan, KS
September 28—October 1
Specific information comes later. For now, those interested in attending can
send name and address info to:
Don and Margaret Leonard
172 Rainbow Dr., PMB 7220
Livingsston, TX 77399-1072
email: donmargl@aol.com
Note from Rally ‘99: “We are the wanna-bes and we want to thank all the kind folks who allowed us in their NH homes. We really appreciated the chance to meet so many owners and see all the different floor plans; it’s so different than seeing them on paper. Richard got a lot of answers about tow vehicles; he has decided on an F450. We are busy designing our NH and hope to order soon. Words can only express a portion of how grateful we are.” (Richard & Joanne Christensen)
Milford Lake Rally '99 Song
New Horizons Owners lives are varied all the time
We pull our big 5th wheels as down the road we wind
And now we’ve gathered here to hear what others do
To see where their roads lead them and which things they find are new
Chorus:
Hickory Hollow is the place to be
With hookups for trailers as you can see
We rally ‘round Milford Lake as we all partake
Of sociability, lots of food and laughter
There’s a campfire tonight at Hickory Hollow
We’ve dined on potluck, now there’s music to follow
We’ll get our guitars out and play a song or two
And we hope that our talents are a pleasure to you
Soon we’ll be on our way to new parts of the country
Some south, some east, some west, new horizons to see
As we leave you now, please keep this thought in mind
The things that God has made are the best things that you’ll find
Composer and Singer: Beegee Sofie
Owner Profile
NAME: Mike and Kris Erb
TYPE OF RV: 5th Wheel, 31RKSS
PURCHASED: May, 1998
STATUS: Fulltimers
RESIDENCE: Texas
REMARKS:
After I retired from the Marine Corps in 1996, I began doing research on RVs. I first heard about Horizons in an Internet RV news group.
We visited three RV factories in Kansas and decided Horizons was the best. We’ve been extremely pleased with our decision!
We travel throughout the Midwest and the South, avoiding the Interstate highways as much as possible. We like to visit friends and family, explore out-of-the-way places, bicycle and search for coins with our metal detectors.
Favorite Receipe - Aunt Dee's Brownies
Aunt Dee’s Brownies for a Bunch
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. soda
Dash salt
2 sticks margarine
3 tbs. cocoa
1 cup water
1 tsp. vanilla (pure Mexican vanilla is supposed to be best)
2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup buttermilk
Mix first four ingredients. Heat margarine, cocoa and water to boiling and
add to first mixture. Add vanilla, beaten eggs and buttermilk.
Bake in 15.5 X 10.5 X 1 inch jelly roll pan for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
(Spray pan to prevent sticking or line with foil for easy removal)
Ice while hot with mixture of 4 cups powdered sugar, 1 stick melted margarine, 1/3 cup buttermilk, 3 tbs. cocoa, 1 tsp. vanilla.
Butterscotch frosting may be substituted. To make it, bring to boil 1 cup sugar, 1/2 stick margarine, and 1/4 cup milk. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp. vanilla and a good 1/2 cup butterscotch chips (for other flavors, substitute appropriate chips).
Many thanks to Joanne Christensen.