Horizon Herald - Mar/Apr '00
New Horizons Owners Newsletter
Volume 2 Number 2 - March/April
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
The Bronx -
My Favorite Borough
From House to
5th Wheel Trailer
Notes from the Editors
Winter is almost over and it’s time for us to begin moving again, as I’m sure it is for many of you. It’s been a good winter here in the Texas hill country. But we’re looking forward to some new scenes and places as we take our time heading back to cool, colorful Colorado.
It was great to have a visit from Bill and Jan Arnold (Mass.), who spent a
night here. The neighbors were interested to see two NH trailers, as most of
them had never see any except ours. Bill and Jan have been RV’ing for many
years, owning several trailers. They are very happy with their NH 5W, and have
added a lot of unique features. We hope they will share some of their
experiences in future issues.
We appreciate reader response to our request for newsletter items. There’s
enough material to do four pages this time. Keep contributing.
We know many of you are long time RV’ers. Write your stories, share tips and technical info, places you like, unusual trips, etc.
We also want to hear from new owners: choosing your RV, planning, hitching up, fears, joys, surprises from the first trip, learning curve, etc.
Check out the excellent articles in this issue: Charles Yaker’s 2nd story about New York City, and Bob Voelcker’s sharing of his computer expertise.
Remember to submit items for the next issue by May 1.
Computing Corner
COMPUTING TIPS—YOUR FIRST COMPUTER
If you are thinking about buying your first computer, but don’t know where to start, try these ideas:
Head for the library—look for
books that deal with the basics; your librarian can help
Take courses at the local
community college or education center
Join a computer club
Join a computer users group
through an RV organization such as Escapees
Attend a local computer fair
Check with local computer dealers
to see if they offer classes on the basics of computers. Sometimes they’re
free, sometimes there is a small charge (If they tell you that you have to buy
a computer from them first——RUN for the nearest door)
Find a computer friend and ask questions. (I have yet to find a computer
user who didn’t like to talk about computers—-specially to a newcomer)
Find a computer savvy person who has access to the Internet. Ask them to
download and print some good basic articles on selecting your first computer.
If possible, join them in the search while they are doing it. You’ll find the
process very interesting and you’ll learn even more along the way. ( Robert F.
Voelcker)
Gathering together information that will help you in your travels can be an enjoyable experience in itself. With a computer and an Internet service provider, it can become all the more interesting. The trick is in finding the right web sites to help you on your way.
Once you have determined the general area of the country you wish to travel, you can fine tune your trip by entering a state county or city into your search engine. Essentially, a search engine takes your request and goes out into the world wide web to search out the sites, or pages, that will give you the information you seek.
If temperatures and precipitation are a concern, then check out www.worldclimate.com. This will give you the historical maximum and minimum monthly average temperatures for just about any city you can think of. Quite often you can also get the precipitation statistics.
With your geographical area selected, you can look for campground
information. The following sites allow you to search by location:
www.gocampingamerica.com
www.tldirectory.com
www.woodalls.com
www.recreation.gov
www.reserveusa.gov
You can even map, and print out your journey at these sites:
www.goodsamclub.com
www.delorme.com
www.aaa.com
www.mapquest.com
Remember that web site addresses or URL’s (universal resource locators) can
change overnight in this instant electronic age. Usually, when this occurs, the
old web site will link you to the new site. The web sites listed above barely
scratch the surface of possibilities. But I have found them to be among the
better ones available.
(Robert F. Voelcker)
Your Turn
Comments, ideas, questions, about most anything.
Plans for my unit have been
finalized and the contract signed. I’m excited to get rid of my house and moved
into the 5W (Shari Haywood, coordinator, Rally 99)
Pat and I are in the final stages
of getting ready to fulltime. Then we’ll wander gloriously until we end up at
Rally 2000.
No real problems with our NH.
It’s so stable, unlike a lot of trailers.
We’ve really enjoyed our first
full year of fulltiming and plan on continuing this lifestyle for many more
years to come.
We hope to go fulltiming in a NH
5W in two years. Want positives, negatives about slideouts. email the Wests: odiech@erols.com
Please sign us up for the
newsletter. We picked up our trailer 2-2-00.
We have a NH, serial #220,
delivered July, 1995; 34 ft. RK with 2 slideouts. The greatest piece of rolling
mechanics in the RV business.
Cheers from Ocotillo Wells, CA.
Free boondocking in off-road State Park—-fees for off-road vehicles.
We picked up our 31 ft. 5W in January
and headed south to establish residency in TX
Found in the Classified Ads under
Cemetery Plots:
One Burial Space
Good View—-$800.00
Tips, Notes & Helpful Hints
Holding Tank Maintenance
Every time the holding tanks, black or gray water, are dumped, pour about 1/4 cup of DOCTOR DRAIN powder directly into the tanks, via the toilet or sink. DOCTOR DRAIN is an enzyme/bacteria combination that can be bought at RV stores, but is cheaper at WalMart, about $3.40/lb. Use the following step-by-step procedure:
After you initially dump the tanks, use some normal household bowl cleaner/disinfectant to clean the bowl, followed by copious amounts of water to clear out the disinfectant. If you don’t use lots of water, the next step will not be effective. Close the drain valve.
Fill the bowl with a little bit of water, then dump 1/4 cup of the powder directly into the bowl and flush. The job is done.
Other tips: always use only single (1) ply toilet tissue. Never use 2 ply,
pleated. Over time it will do a number on your tank. Never put Kleenex down the
hole. It will eventually plug the system.
(T.K. and Diana Jones)
The Bronx - My Favorite Borough
New York City in made up of five boroughs. Each one has something different to offer the visitor.
The City is home to Wall Street, the United Nations, and still the entry point for many different ethnic groups. Many of these people remain in the area and offer the greatest variety of ethnic cuisine on the planet.
Whatever your interest—-legitimate theater, art or history museums, beaches
and miles of board walks, professional sports, zoos, shopping for all
pocketbooks—-it’s here in one or all of the five boroughs.
The Bronx is my favorite. Not just because of the New York Yankees and the
House that Ruth built, but that's where Debby and I grew up, married and had
three children.
I’m not a sports fan anymore. I lost interest with free agency. When I was a kid you could follow a team and develop loyalty to both the team and its players. Most of the thirty players of the century recently honored at the ‘99 World Series played for only one team during their careers. Now it's like when we were kids and you chose teams for every game.
I did watch the World Series, however, and I was surprised about the sentimentality and reverence that many players exhibited. Joe Morgan, a Hall of Fame player and one of the broadcasters for the game, spoke about the garden behind center field. He mentioned how players, not just Yankees, went out and touched the monuments of their heroes, like Ruth and Gehrig, for luck before a game.
After the game at Yankee Stadium you can ride out to City Island, a small New England type seaport. It’s not a re-creation but a village on a small island which is part of the Bronx.
The island has many different seafood restaurants. There is something to fit all tastes, casual cafes to formal restaurants with valet parking.
At the end of the island are two "Fish and Chip stands" with outdoor seating for several hundred people. Many of the restaurants, especially the "fish and chip" stands, have excellent views of Long Island Sound. While eating your meal, relax and view the recreational boat traffic, from row boat to million dollar yachts. (Charles Yaker)
Potpourri
Travel Tips
1. A great boondocking area is on BLM land called Painted Rock, west of Gila Bend, AZ. Beautiful scenery, petroglyphs, hikes, history and peaceful star-filled nights await you. Our solar panels, generator, and 70 gallon fresh water tank were just what we needed for two weeks in the desert. (Nancy & Geoff. Justiss)
2. Parking is free at the Sinclair, WY (pop. 500) city park. Exit 222 off of I-80 west bound or 219 east bound. We can fill your water tanks if we’re home as we are only 2 blocks from the park.
Go North from Sinclair about 5 miles toward Seminoe State Park to the North Platte River. The BLM has several camp sites there for most any size rig. No water or hook- ups but it’s free, quiet, on the river. Seminoe Park is 30 miles to the North and has sites for any size rigs. Cost is about $12 for non-residents; dump station and water. Fishing at both locations. (Ted and Char Foley)
3. There’s plenty to see and do in San Antonio, TX. Every kind of shopping, and many restaurants offer good food. The famous River Walk is fascinating and the Alamo with all its history is a must see. Go to the SAS factory store to buy those great SAS shoes.
Visit interesting towns in the area, such as: Fredricksberg, Luckenbach, New Braunfels, Boerne, which were settled by German people. Eat the German food and shop for distinctive items. There’s always something to do in San Antonio and the Hill Country. (Helen McAnally)
RV Touring Possibility
We live in the Northwest and would be happy to set up an RV tour for NH owners. Our unit is a 1995 NH, 34 RK with two slideouts. We’ve been leading trips for the past 40 years. Idaho and other NW States offer many possiblities. If we do the organizing and leading we can all save a bundle of money plus have lots of flexibility. A rally in the area and a tour could be combined. Best time is late summer, early fall. If interested, contact: T.K. and Diana Jones, 2203 E. Oak St., Caldwell, ID 83605
Rally 2000 Information
Rally 2000 will be be held at Tuttle (not Turtle, as in the last issue) Creek State Park, Manhattan KS, Sept. 28—-Oct. 1.
Those interested in attending should send name and address info to:
Don and Margaret Leonard
PMB 7220
172 Rainbow Drive
Livingston, TX 77399-1072
email: donmargl@aol.com
The Leonards welcome suggestions for discussion topics and activities. Volunteers to lead groups are also needed. RV’ers who can share their experiences or expertise are assured of an attentive audience.
There were 41 rigs at Rally 99. Let’s double the count for Rally 2000. There’s plenty of room at Tuttle Creek. Sign up! (Don & Helen)
Favorite Park
STAGECOACH RV PARK is located 3 miles southeast of Bandera, Texas on St Hwy 16, and about 35 miles northwest of San Antonio.
There are 50 spaces, graveled, 30-40 ft. wide, angled, full hookups, 12 pull-throughs. Large, clean rest rooms, well maintained. We rate them a “10”. Good laundry room. Attractive setting with large live oaks throughout the park. Shade at some sites. Long term phone connections available. Two Internet service providers in Bandera.
The Rec Hall is attractive and spacious, with plenty of room for the pot lucks, games, and other activities that go on all winter. A non-denominational church service is held during the winter months. This is a park that serves its residents well. We have found the winter Texans to be a warm, friendly group. Golfers enjoy an 18 hole course only a quarter mile away.
Park location: 3845 St Hwy 16 S.
On-site hosts and owners: Ken & Margaret Willis.
Reservations only: 877-892-5583; other calls (830) 796-4339; mail, P.O. Bx
1118, Bandera TX 78003.
Reasonable rates; weekly, monthly available. Lots of seasonals, so call ahead
during winter months.
(Don & Helen McAnally)
From House to 5th Wheel Trailer
Note: following is an excerpt from an article I have written, Metamorphosis—-Shrinking the Square Footage. Perhaps a lot of NH owners can relate. This portion starts after describing how we sold the house and its contents. (Don McAnally)
Then it was time to pack up a rental trailer with two recliners, some chairs, clothes and other items. The day arrived and we hitched up and drove to the broker’s office for the closing on the house. We signed the papers, collected the money, left Denver and headed for Junction City, Kansas, to pick-up our trailer. What a nerve-wracking day! But blessed relief that we were finally on the road to a new and different life.
As we approached the plant, excitement and anticipation increased. What would it look like? Would it be what we wanted? Would the options we ordered enhance appearance and livability? We noticed several trailers parked on the apron. Workers scurried around adding final touches. We looked closely.
There it was, a real beauty, sparkling in the afternoon sun. All fiberglass, polar white, well designed, strongly built, with solid oak doors, cabinets, and cupboards. Helen approved of the kitchen, and the computer desk and bookcase were just what Don wanted. The McAnally’s dream home was ready. So we loaded the things from the rental trailer into our new home, and spent our first night parked at the factory. We slept soundly.
The next day, workers finished up a few minor details. We received about five pounds of booklets and manuals. They described how to take care of everything outside and inside the trailer: batteries, awning, refrigerator, microwave, oven, furnace, air conditioner, and on and on.
Then came the verbal instructions on how things worked: do this, do that, take care of this, watch out here, never do that. This went on for well over an hour, as our instructor tried to impart wisdom and guidance, most of which we didn’t grasp. Overwhelmed? Yes, indeed! We needed a full week, not one short session. We desperately tried to remember the admonition to “never do that.”
The time came for me to hitch the trailer to the truck. With close scrutiny from the instructor, and after several failed attempts, the tow vehicle and trailer finally became one unit.
After saying good-bye to our hosts, we moved out, slowly and deliberately, toward the highway. We headed for a nearby state park and an overnight stay in their campground.
Many thanks to Joanne Christensen.