TrailBlazer Magazine - October 2016 by TrailBlazer Magazine

OCTOBER 2016

Leaf Peeping on the

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OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

C A L L 8 6 6 . 53 1 . 6 8 1 8

VOL. 38

■

WHAT’S INSIDE

ISSUE 9 /// OCTOBER 2016

lifestyle

Message from Marguerite

Tech Topics

20 TrailMix: Arizona National Scenic Trail 24 Four Days in October 34 I Knew I was a TrailBlazer 45 4 Paws on the Road 46 Who’s in the Kitchen with TrailBlazer?

features

38 Leaf Peeping on the Blue Ridge Parkway

48 Ask RV Bill

calendars

Perhaps unlike any other road in the world, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina offers one of the ultimate fall foliage road trips for RVers of all experience levels.

10 On-Site Events

spotlight

regulars

28 SC Coastline

50 Member Deals

14 Local Events 64 Club Calendar

From the bustling Myrtle Beach area in the north and down through historic Charleston to Hilton Head Island in the south, the meandering coastline of South Carolina beckons with a wide variety of alluring options for visitors.

Pics From The Parks

60 Crossword Puzzle 61 Sudoku Puzzle 62 Preferred RV Dealer List

16 Eric Jackson Quite simply, Eric Jackson is the best whitewater kayaker in history. He’s won more than 100 events – the most of any kayaker ever – reaching many of them in an RV.

16 OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

R U F O R Y IENDS E T I V IN

YOU receive a $50 VisaÂ® PrePaid Card when your friend purchases a Thousand Trails Camping Pass!

ENTER

TODAY!

GRAND PRIZE 7-Night Cruise or Trip to Hawaii ($4,000 value)

Your referral also enters YOU into our 2016 drawing for a chance to win these great prizes:

SECOND PRIZE

THIRD PRIZE

4 Nights in Las Vegas, San Francisco or Orlando ($2,000 value)

Free Dues for 2017 10 Winners Selected ($4,000 value)

or visit THOUSANDTRAILS.COM *Details and qualifications for participation in this promotion may apply and are set forth on page 65 of this magazine.

MESSAGE from MARGUERITE The month of October brings a new look to many of our campgrounds. By new look, I am referring to the change of seasons. The vibrant colors of fall have returned to many of our properties, so don’t miss your opportunity to get out and enjoy this spectacular display.

And, let’s not forget all of our Columbus Day events. For many, this holiday weekend provides one more chance to enjoy a long weekend with the family at your favorite campground, with the colorful backdrop, spooky activities, and fall flavors we look forward to each year.

For those of you looking for more frightening adventures, you won’t want to miss the haunted hayrides, fright fests, and haunted trail rides planned at many campgrounds. They’re sure to get you into the season and may inspire your costume for this year’s Halloween!

So, don’t pack up that camping gear just yet! Get out and enjoy the season of fall and the abundance of events, celebrations and overall beauty this season brings.

For our foodies, bring on our fall harvest celebrations and be prepared to tantalize your taste buds with all the tastes of fall. From pumpkin pie to apple pie, to chili cook offs and pig roasts, it’s the time of year to enjoy many of your favorite fall dishes. Who doesn’t love fall flavors?

Get out and camp, and be sure to keep an eye out for our Fall in Love with Camping promotions.

Marguerite Nader President & CEO

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Share your adventures in 3 easy steps!

www.trailblazermagazine.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mark Slattery EDITOR tbeditor@equitylifestyle.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mellissa Brosius ADVERTISING SALES TBads@equitylifestyle.com MISSION STATEMENT TrailBlazer provides exclusive news and information for the members and guests of Thousand Trails Family of Resorts. Each issue enhances the recreational lifestyle of its readers through a lively mix of camping and travel features, resort profiles and product features. TRAILBLAZER (ISSN 0747-2293) is published monthly except bimonthly Nov./Dec. and Jan./Feb. by MHCTT Memberships, LP, c/o Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc., Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. An annual subscription is $20. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to TRAILBLAZER, 2325 Highway 90, Gautier, MS 39553. Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement 41461526.

TRAILBLAZER MAGAZINE Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606 www.trailblazermagazine.net NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS Visit www.trailblazermagazine.net and click on the ‘Subscribe’ tab to easily subscribe online today! PRINTED IN THE USA

THOUSAND TRAILS RESERVATIONS Call: 800-288-7245

Win $50

EACH Issue!

1. Capture a photo of your trip at one of our parks. 2. Share with us at TrailBlazer_photos@equitylifestyle.com. 3. Check out next month to see if you’re a winner.

Winners will receive a $50 Visa® Gift Card. Each issue we will select ONE “winning” photo from the submissions received (all submissions must be received by midnight on the last day of the month). The winning photo will be posted on the TrailBlazer website as well as in the magazine. Photo submissions should include a brief description, including location of your photo, your name, city and state and sent to:

TrailBlazer_photos@equitylifestyle.com or mail to:

Equity LifeStyle Properties Attn: TrailBlazer Photos Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606

Emailed photos should be high resolution. Photos are not returnable and become the property of Equity LifeStyle Properties and may be used for publication on company websites and promotional purposes. One winner will be selected EACH month from submissions received. The winner will be announced in a future TrailBlazer issue and on www.trailblazermagazine.net.

Canada: 228-497-3594 Mon. - Fri. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST

VISIT WWW.THOUSANDTRAILS.COM STARS AUTOMATED RESERVATIONS 800-859-STAR (7827)

ENCORE RESERVATIONS 877-570-2267

VISIT WWW.RVONTHEGO.COM Remember! Thousand Trails members get preferred rates at Encore RV resorts.

▲ Maine: Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and blooming lupines. – Roger Kresge

PICS FROM THE PARKS

▲ Chesapeake Bay (VA): Sunset on the boat dock, shot through a glass ball. – Jeri Trudeau

▲ Hidden Cove (AL): Rusty enjoying the view! – James and Cindy Carter

▲ Sunshine Key (FL): Beautiful sunset every night. – Jack Smith OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

LUCKY WINNER?

WANT TO BE A

Lucky winner,

Denise DeCrescenzo from Hopatcong, NJ

was camping at Timothy Lake South, PA when she was presented with a $1,000 gift card! left to right: Denise DeCrescenzo, Timothy Lake Manager Desiree Siena

Thousand Trails is offering members the opportunity to win a

$1,000 Visa® Prepaid Gift Card

To earn entries into our monthly drawing, simply pay your 2016 dues on time and camp at your favorite TT Preserve. When you pay your annual dues for 2016 in full, you will be entered into our monthly drawing for a $1,000 Visa® Prepaid gift card. There will be one drawing/one winner each month from January through December 2016. In addition, once you pay your dues in full, each time you camp at a Thousand Trails Preserve in 2016, you will receive an additional entry into the drawing. The drawings are limited to persons who are of legal age. The drawings will be held at our corporate office on the 10th day after the end of each month. Winners will be notified by mail, phone or in person if camping at a Thousand Trails preserve. The odds of winning will depend on the number of entries, but are not expected to exceed 1:100,000. Winners are responsible for federal and state taxes on the award. You may also enter the drawings by printing your name, address, day and evening phone numbers, and email address on a 3” x 5” piece of paper and mailing it to the Sponsor in addressed, stamped envelope. You are limited to one mail-in entry which must be postmarked by December 15, 2016. This promotion is sponsored by MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606.

TECH

TOP CS

RVing is a great adventure and there’s always something new to learn! by Paul and Kerri Elders This month, let’s take a quick look at some simple tips to help keep your RV bug-free, no matter where you roam. We’ll also give a bit of thought to one of those “silent heroes” that keep your engine running at its peak, the humble fuel filter. Ready? Let’s go! Fuel Filters: RVers travel the length and breadth of the country, and we purchase fuel from many different sources, at all times of the day and night. An open secret of the welltraveled is that fuel quality can vary tremendously, depending on the time the fuel’s been in storage and its turnover rate. And the turnover rate is often just a function of location: busy highways in urban areas will tend to have faster turnover than a lonely fuel station out in the middle of nowhere, USA. Unfortunately, you can’t always tell what your fuel quality will be like, just based on the looks of the service station alone. As a general rule of thumb, fuel contamination tends to be less of a problem if you can time your stops so that you can refuel at a busy truck stop on a bustling interstate highway, since they tend to move large quantities of fuel on a daily basis. If you must refuel at a small service station on some seldomtraveled, backcountry road, your chances of loading contaminants into your fuel system increase. Why? Simply because these lonely fuel outposts generally don’t service enough traffic to regularly rotate their fuel supply. That’s why the humble fuel filter is a priceless part of any vehicle’s fuel system. Fuel can be contaminated with moisture, dirt, or even debris from rusty storage tanks. In the case of diesel fuel, fungus, micro-organisms, and bacteria can actually “live” in

the fuel itself. As a consumer, most of these fuel quality factors are completely beyond your control. But one thing you can usually control is when and where you choose to refuel. It just takes a little planning. All fuel that flows from your fuel tank to your RV’s engine travels through a fuel filter first. Whether you drive a gasoline or a diesel engine, contaminants have the potential to cause problems for your fuel injectors over time, so you want to prevent potential problems the easiest way possible. How? Just by capturing these contaminants before they make their way to the fuel injectors in the first place. That’s the fuel filter’s job and it does it very well. How will you know if you’ve picked up a bad fuel supply that’s clogged your fuel filter? Usually, it’s pretty obvious. If your engine seems to be acting sluggish, shows a loss of power, or isn’t performing as usual at higher speeds, this could be an indicator of a restricted fuel filter. Other clues are engine hesitation, rough idling, or engine stalling. Have a mechanic check and change the fuel filter at your next stop. Don’t forget that your RV’s power generator also has a fuel filter. If your generator has become hard to start or is surging or chattering while it’s running, a simple clogged fuel filter may be at the root of your problem. Some RV generators require that the fuel filter be primed when it’s installed; the steps involved are beyond the scope of this article. Consult your Owner’s Manual for complete instructions or visit your local RV service center for assistance. Bug Beatdown: Depending on the area of the country you travel through, bugs and pests can be a

problem. Insects like ants, beetles, and spiders can be very unwelcome fellow travelers. Sometimes, the only way to avoid having your RV invaded by these unwelcome hitchhikers is to practice prevention. Start by thinking about where you park your RV. When you can, avoid parking in tall grass or too close to trees or shrubs, where branches will directly touch the sides, roof, or slideouts of your RV. Those branches give great shade, but they’re also a direct highway for insects to make it from nature’s path into your RV. Here’s an elegantly simple solution to the bug problem: buy some inexpensive disposable plastic food containers (like Gladware or Ziploc plastic storage bowls). Punch a few small holes in both the containers and their lids. Fill the containers with moth balls, snap the lids in place, and strategically locate these “insect sachets” in your storage bays, paying particular attention to areas prone to insects. Another option is to spray ant killer or sprinkle borax (like 20 Mule Team Borax found in supermarket “cleaning supply” aisles, near the laundry detergent) or non-toxic diatomaceous earth (available at some health food stores) around everything that touches the ground: jacks, wheels, water hose, sewage connections, electrical lines, etc. Just be SURE to avoid contaminating your drinking water hose! Some oldtimers recommend spraying wheel hubs with insect spray, in addition to spraying around tires; the treatment will last longer and will keep working even after you’ve moved your RV to another parking spot. Happy trails, road warriors!

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

ACTIVITIES

AND

Activities and Events – On-Site

OCTOBER events Fall has arrived at our Thousand Trails campgrounds! Take advantage of all our end of season autumn events. For a complete listing of events at the preserves, please visit thousandtrails.com.

True Horror at Thousand Trails! For those souls who get a rush when scared, these extra spooky events border on horrifying… beware to those easily scared. Be afraid…be very afraid! It’s Fright Fest Weekend, October 7-9 at Moody Beach (ME). Pumpkin carving, costume contest, site decorating contests, trick-or-treating, hayrides, and a fall cookout are only a few of the frightening activities that we have in store for you! Are you afraid of the dark? You better keep an eye out the weekend of October 21-23 at Timothy Lake North and South (PA)! Trick-or- treat, kids’ freeze dancing, hot goblin games, and kids’ costume parade. The following weekend, October 28-30, also at Timothy Lake North and South (PA) is Fright Fest – the 2nd Trick-or-Treat Weekend! Masquerade Ball with prizes for best costume. Bring your scary dance moves and enjoy music by DJ Mike. The Zombie Apocalypse is coming to Circle M (PA) October 28-30! The zombies will be attempting to take over all weekend long! Come out and play in a Humans vs. Zombies campground-wide competition as we fight against the zombie infestation. Wear your costumes and get ready for trick-or-treating. The folks at Lake & Shore (NJ) dare you to ride their Haunted Hayride the weekends of October 14-16 and October 21-23.

Double Halloween Weekends If you can’t get enough Halloween fun in one weekend, why not stay for two? Check out who’s having multiple Halloween weekends! It’s a spooktacular time on the haunted trail the weekends of October 14-16, 21-23, and 28-30 at Hershey (PA). Enjoy the homemade witches brew and burgers. Baked goods will be on sale at the lake pavilion! The campers of Bear Cave (MI) will have creepy cave tours, a haunted hayride, and trick-or-treating the weekends of October 21-23, 28 -30, for Halloween Weekend Part I and II. The Halloween Spooktacular continues on for two weekends in October (14-16 and 21-23). Enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the park, wagon rides, and a site decorating contest. Be wary of TT ghosts and goblins lurking in the park at Chesapeake Bay (VA) the weekends of October 21-23 and 28-30. Enter the site decorating contest, hop on the haunted hay wagon, participate in the Scary Golf Cart Parade, and dance the night away at the Monster Mash Dance. 10

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

All events, times and dates are subject to change.

Activities and Events – On-Site

Fall Harvest We know…you’ve been secretly craving anything pumpkin to come back all summer. Join us at Lake Texoma (TX) on October 17 for pumpkin picking, hayrides, food, and drinks. Come out and tantalize your senses with the sights, sounds, and tastes of fall! Fall into autumn with crafts, games, movies and hayrides at Natchez Trace (TN) the weekend of October 14-16. Come out and enjoy the beautiful sights of the fall season at Lake Whitney (TX) on October 15. There will be kids’ crafts, nature walks, and many more fun things to do. It’s our Annual Line Dance Fall Festival at Lake of the Springs (CA) the weekend of 17-21! Come to our Line Dance Festival with Marion and learn some new moves. All week long we’ll host dancing and serve food. Come show us the moves you learned at the Family Dance. It’s peak foliage time at Scotrun (PA)! Bring the cameras and canvas for a color blast weekend October 14-16. Join us for Pumpkin Festival Weekend at Rondout Valley (NY) the weekend of October 21-23. There will be a Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest; let’s see who the real champ is. Events and crafts that highlight pumpkins will be the mood of the weekend. Bring your favorite pumpkin recipe to share.

Food Contests Ain’t no time like the present to bust out that secret recipe to win one of this fall’s many contests at Thousand Trails campgrounds! Bring your favorite batch of chili to Arrowhead (WI) the weekend of October 7-9. Judging will be done by everyone! Vote for the best. Prizes will be awarded. Lake Whitney (TX) will host their 31st Annual Chili Cook-Off on October 8 so come enjoy the chili and sign up to be a judge. Who has the BEST chili at St. Clair (MI) the weekend of October 7-10. Submit yours to our panel of judges for a chance to win a fabulous prize. On Sunday, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with our Canadian friends. We will supply the ham and turkey, but you must bring a side dish to pass. Do you make the best pumpkin pie or bread at Lake Texoma (TX)? Join us for the weekend of October 24 filled with pumpkins and see if your recipe is the best.

Columbus Day You know how the rhyme goes…in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Celebrate Columbus Day at campgrounds this fall. Enjoy a weekend of Italian culture and Columbus Day at PA Dutch Country (PA) this, starting with the children’s festivities and crafts, bocce ball tournament, a spaghetti dinner followed by a bonfire and karaoke. Fall crafts, tie-dye, hayrides and more are on tap the weekend of October 7-10 at Gettysburg Farm (PA). Saturday evening will be our last Pig Roast Potluck Dinner of the season. Don’t miss out! It’s our last, long holiday weekend at Sturbridge (MA) so let’s enjoy entertainment on Saturday evening with all your friends! It is also the last weekend at Gateway to Cape Cod (MA). Enjoy entertainment on Saturday evening with all your friends. Special Bingo on Sunday! Some events may require a participation fee.

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Activities and Events – On-Site

Costume Contests Halloween isn’t complete without a costume contest or two. Grab your best costume and see if yours is a winner!

Oktoberfest Prost! Imbibe in the tradition of beers, brats, and German heritage with these Oktoberfest celebrations at Thousand Trails campgrounds this fall. The weekend of September 30October 2 at PA Dutch Country (PA) features German music and kids’ activities. We will bring the brats and pretzels, you bring the beer, show us your best German Schuhplattler, (shoe slapping) dance contest. Take a walk under our Oktoberfest arch into a wonderful world of German events at Circle M (PA) the weekend of October 7-9. Enjoy the festive German spirit at one of the many celebrations at Scotrun (PA) the weekend of September 30-October 2. Feast on brats, brews and dance to the Oompah bands. Come enjoy tasting free German beer and root beer for the kids at Wilderness Lakes (CA) on October 8. Bratwurst dinner and pretzels available for purchase. Dine under the stars at the Pio Pico (CA) 3rd Annual Bavarian-themed Oktoberfest complete with brats, beer, polkas and games the weekend of October 14-16. 12

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Trick-or-treat! Join us at Lake Whitney (TX) in front of the Family Center for our annual trick-or- treat plus costume contest, games and Halloween Party on October 29. The Halloween Costume Party at Bay Landing (TX) the weekend of October 28-30. There will be a kid’s party in the afternoon and adult’s costume party at night. This is our last big hoopla for the season and we always do it up right with lots of treats and goodies for all! Dress to impress at Lake Gaston (NC) the weekend of October 21-23 for the adult costume contest then enjoy and party into the night at the Monster Mash. The spooktacular fun starts here! Come in costume to Morgan Hill (CA) the weekend of October 30-November 1 and make some wicked crafts and then have a ghoulish good time at the potluck party!

Decorating Contests Show off your best Halloween decorations at these site decorating, pumpkin carving, and pumpkin seed spitting contests at Thousand Trails campgrounds this October. Come enjoy the perfect weather in Las Vegas! Decorate your RV at Las Vegas (NV) on October 31 for Halloween and win some terrific prizes! Decorate your RV or tent at Russian River (CA) on October 29. Prizes will be awarded for “Best Decorations.” Show off your spooky skills with the Pumpkin Carving and Site Decorating Contest at Lake of the Springs (CA) on October 29. Don’t miss trick-or-treating and a Haunted House! Come join us for a good pumpkin time at Lake Conroe (TX) on October 17! We will be doing pumpkin carving and painting, along with a pumpkin seed spitting contest. All events, times and dates are subject to change.

Activities and Events – On-Site

Get Crafty at Thousand Trails Get ready for a DIY weekend at Thousand Trails! Whether you’re making something for Halloween or getting gifts ready for the upcoming holiday season! Join us at Yosemite Lakes (CA) on October 15 to celebrate the sweetest day of the year! We will be gathering in the Lodge for an Ice Cream Social and some kids crafts! We’ll be making fall-themed crafts and Halloween decorations this week at Lake Minden (CA), so come ready to have some crafty fun the weekend of October 21-23. Make some wicked crafts at Morgan Hill (CA) the weekend of October 30-November 1 and then have a ghoulish good time at the potluck party! Come in costume to win prizes. Calling all monsters! Join us in the Lodge for a pre-Halloween craft day with popcorn and refreshments at Yosemite Lakes (CA) on October 29.

Enjoying the Fall Foliage Watch the big beautiful Float and Fly radio-controlled planes take off and land on the lake at Lake Minden (CA) the weekend of October 7-9. Grab your camera and be prepared to get some great photos. We’ll also have a nature walk/ talk for the little ones. Take a jewelry or card/scrapbooking class. Enjoy a fall walking scavenger hunt on the wonderful trail contest at PA Dutch Country (PA) the weekend of October 14-16. Make the best scarecrow for the following Ghoulish/Halloween weekend. Donations of items are really appreciated! Manager’s meeting with cookies and coffee! Come and enjoy as the leaves change at our beautiful park at Timothy Lake North and South (PA) the weekend of October 7-9. Bear Cave (MI) will be holding its first one mile walk/run the weekend of October 7-9. A great time of year to be active and see all the natural beauty of the campground! The colors are at their peak this week at Rondout Valley (NY) the weekend of October 14-16. Take walks on our groomed trails and get back to nature. Apple picking is still in full swing, so run to our local orchards and pick the best apples anywhere.

Some events may require a participation fee.

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Activities and Events – Local

LOCAL

CALENDAR events

LAKE GASTON (NC)

NATCHEZ TRACE (TN)

LA CONNER (WA)

Every Saturday Night in Oct Ridgeway Opry House Our finest local musicians play and sing at the Ridgeway Opry House every Saturday night! ridgewayopryhouse.com

Oct 16-17 Mid South Barbecue Festival Event includes the KCBSSanctioned Competition, BBQ food vendors. Be sure to check the website for a full schedule of events. visitmountpleasanttn.com/barbecuefestival.html

Oct 30 Taste of Skagit Valley Come and experience the bounty of Washington’s Skagit Valley! Enjoy tastes of regional wines, spirits, and other delectable treats. Listen to live jazz while bidding on unique items at the silent auction! Enter the Drawing for a 5-night stay at a Kauai condo. Enjoy a sampling of songs sung by Cantabile Chamber Choir. For ages 21+. brownpapertickets.com/event/2567779

Oct 22 Roanoke River Ramble Gather with other paddlers at the River Falls Park in Weldon where we will launch for nine miles of exploring the Roanoke River. We will see a variety of wildlife and end at the Halifax Fishing club where the Fishing Club will have hot, homemade Brunswick stew and cornbread to eat at the renovated “ole barn” on the banks of the mighty Roanoke. Proceeds from the event will help support paddling on the Roanoke River! visithalifax.com

IDYLLWILD (CA) Oct 8 8th Annual Art & Wine Walk This very popular, annual fundraiser will host 18 of SoCal’s favorite wineries at art locations around town. artinidyllwild.org 14

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

CULTUS LAKE (BC) Oct 7-10 Fraser Valley Dog Fanciers Show Dog show at Chilliwack Heritage Park! eventshappenhere.com

Oct 21-23 The Mane Event Equine Education Trade Fair! Buy tickets in advance before October 17th on the Mane Event website or at the door during the event! eventshappenhere.com

BAY LANDING (TX) Oct 21 Tracy Lawrence Live at Billy Bob’s Tracy Lawrence performs. billybobstexas.com/tickets

CHESTNUT LAKE (NJ) Oct 8-9 Irish Festival The Historic Smithville Irish Festival features over 50 vendors displaying their Irish crafts and retail items in either of our two marketplaces located throughout the grounds. colonialinnsmithville.com/blog/ irish-festival Oct 16 Corvette Show Rain date following Sunday. Click for the Corvette Show Registration flyer…totally cool. Benefits local charities and Toys for Tots. historicsmithvillenj.com

All events, times and dates are subject to change.

Oct 31 Trick-or-Treat on Main Street Historic Main Street merchants will provide goodies to trick-or-treaters (while supplies last) in a safe and convenient environment. Other activities will include a costume contest and carnival. placerville-downtown.org/events

PEACE RIVER (FL) Oct - Nov 6 The Heartland Maze This Agritourism Festival is owned and operated by AG Outdoor World Inc. It will be located in Bowling Green and will have some awesome attractions including a 5 acre maze, a corn cannon, a cow train, pony rides, haunted house, pumpkins and more! Opening on weekends October 12th and running through November 17th, you can not miss getting lost with us! theheartlandmaze.com

MOODY BEACH (ME) Oct 5 - Nov 6 Million Dollar Quartet at Ogunquit Playhouse Elvis, Jerry Lee, Perkins, and Cash came together to make music. Million Dollar Quartet is the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical inspired by the electrifying true story of the famed recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. ogunquitplayhouse.org Oct 1-31 Oktoberfest in Maine Enjoy this fall festival in York Maine. Live music from Don Campbell Band & Friends, local food vendors, and a kidsfest featuring games, a roaming railroad, face painting and horsedrawn wagon rides. yorkharvestfest.com

Oct 15 32nd Annual Harvestfest York Beach Maine festival includes a variety of activities, live bands, food vendors and more. yorkharvestfest.com

RANCHO OSO (CA) Oct 7-10 The Santa Barbara Vintners Celebration of Harvest Four days of wine, food and fun throughout Santa Barbara Wine Country. Enjoy wine from participating members wineries; food sampling from more than twenty food purveyors; live music; wine and cooking demonstrations; local artisans; silent auction and free parking all included in the ticket price. Celebrationofharvest.com

GREEN MOUNTAIN (NC) Oct 14-15 Smoking in the Foothills Come to beautiful foothills of North Carolina and find out what real barbecue is all about. This is a family friendly world class barbecue competition and festival. Sanctioned by The Kansas City Barbecue Society. So come to historic downtown Lenoir, NC and get your smoker going. If you are not a Pitmaster that’s OK too, we have plenty to do for the whole family. Smokinginthefoothills.com

CIRCLE M (PA) Weekends in October Corn Cob Acres The Corn Cob Acres farm is fast becoming a Fall tradition for families from across Pennsylvania as well as the surrounding states. With more than 40 exciting activities, adventures, and games, Corn Cob Acres offers an entire day full of family fun. Corn Cob Acres is a unique way to create special memories and celebrate the fall season. So come on down and get in on the farmtastic fun. corncobacres.com

Some events may require a participation fee.

Activities and Events – Local

PONDEROSA (CA)

HARBOR VIEW (VA) Oct 6-10 3rd Annual Colonial Beach Bike Fest Colonial Beach hosts the bike fest for motor enthusiasts. Don’t miss the free concert too. theheartlandmaze.com

TIMOTHY LAKE (PA) Oct 8-9 Autumn Timber Festival Catch a glimpse of nature’s splendor at beautiful Shawnee Mountain Ski Area ensuring prime fall foliage time in the Poconos. Join us for the action packed autumn event including lumberjack competitions, blacksmith demos by Jim Doherty, saw mill demos, chainsaw sculptures, live music, children’s activities and food and craft vendors galore. shawneemt.com Oct 15-16 Pocono Food Truck & Art Festival The Pocono Food Truck Festival and Art on the Mountain have teamed up to bring you the best food trucks, art, crafts and live music in the region. Featuring 25+ food trucks from the Pocono Mountains, New Jersey, New York City and Philadelphia. shawneemt.com

COLORADO RIVER (TX) Oct 6-9 The Original Greek Festival Attend one of the most anticipated Greek festivals in downtown Houston and celebrate Greek religion and culture. Enjoy a wide selection of traditional foods, drinks, and dessert. It also acts as a fundraiser benefiting many non-profit organizations like the Children’s Assessment Center, Covenant House, the Star of Hope Mission and many more. Greekfestival.org

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

On The Road

whitewater kayaker

ERIC JACKSON

Whether you spend life on the road for pleasure or work, it’s nice to have the comforts of home as you travel the highways and byways. TRAILBLAZER checks in with folks who spend a fair amount of time on the road to see just what makes their home away from home. This month, we chatted with legendary whitewater kayaker and kayak designer Eric Jackson. Quite simply, Eric Jackson is the best whitewater kayaker in history. He’s won more than 100 events – the most of any kayaker ever – reaching many of them in an RV. His wife, Kristine, and children, Emily and Dane (also renowned kayakers), are devoted RVers as well. by Lynn & Cele Seldon

OCTOBER 2016 2016 TRAILBLAZER TRAILBLAZER

All photos courtesy of Eric Jackson

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

In fact, back in 1997, it was Kristine’s idea at a family meeting to give up their house and move full-time into an RV. The concept was for Kristine to spend as much time as possible with the kids and for Eric to compete on the nascent “freestyle” kayaking tour. It worked, with a happy family foursome on the road and Jackson winning competitions right out of their RV. Still competing and winning against much younger paddlers, Jackson has also produced well-received instructional books and videos. He has appeared on “Hooked on Wild Waters with Drew Gregory” and “The Kayak Fishing Show with Jim Sammons.” Eric founded Jackson Kayak in 2003 after designing kayaks for other manufacturers for many years. His varied kayaks have a very loyal following, including lots of fishing kayaks (yet another passion of 18

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Jackson’s). Along with Jackson Kayak and Orion Coolers (Jackson is also president), other sponsors include Kokatat paddling gear, Werner Paddles, and GoPro photo and video cameras. We caught up with Jackson between paddling on one of his favorite rivers, Maryland’s Potomac River near Washington, DC.

Please tell us about your RV. I am a “Class A” kind of guy…not always a classy guy, but I sure do like Class A motorhomes. The key word for me in Motorhome is “HOME.” I call my RV home. “Hey, Honey, ready to go home?” This means, let’s drive our dingy – a Mini-Cooper – back to the RV. It is a 35-foot Newmar Dutchstar diesel pusher. It is a ‘99 model year with 110,000 miles on it and running like a champ.

What’s your favorite thing about traveling in your RV versus staying in a hotel? Hotels are a high-maintenance way to have a place to hang your hat, and are a means to an end – a place to sleep because you don’t have your bed with you. An RV is your home, with your bed, bathroom, food, couch, etc., and it goes where you go. No packing, unpacking, lack of food, privacy, etc., every time you want to move.

What are a few favorite things onboard? Backgammon, DVD case, fishing rods, kayaks, bikes, my family, wine, and Nespresso coffee maker.

Cascade, Idaho – Awesome western town with an amazing whitewater park, historic theater, the Payette River, and [it] is just down the road from Crouch, Idaho, one of the most memorable places in the world to watch fireworks (think crazy cowboys), and McCall, an awesome lake town that is great for eating, shopping, or water fun. Ocean City, Maryland – Next to Assateague Island where wild horses roam, the beaches are not crowded, and the biking, hiking, camping, fishing, SUP, etc., are awesome.

What about favorite rivers reached by RV? Wow – so many: Potomac River (Great Falls), MD American River (Coloma), CA Ottawa River (Ontario) Canada Ocoee River, TN

What are a few favorite destinations and why? We love all of the places we go, which is why we go there, but we do have a list of places that are on our must go: Hood River, Oregon – This is a true kayaker bum, wind surfer bum, kite boarder bum, skier bum town that has grown up into one of the most awesome places to socialize, eat, drink, and play. Ottawa Valley near Beachburg, Ontario (on the Ottawa River in Canada) – Farmland, rafting, kayaking, swimming, epic fishing, cheap, and a short distance to the capital (Ottawa) [and] Montreal (like a little France). Buena Vista, Colorado – Presidential Range Mountains as a backdrop, awesome breweries, food, hiking, day drives, skiing, sledding, kayaking, rafting, biking, and more.

Tell us about traveling with your paddling gear?

What are some favorite meals onboard (or restaurants) on the road? Taco Tuesday (yes we started it long before Mr. Business in the Lego Movie). Kristine’s Mexican omelet with Mrs. Renfrew’s Salsa, [and] seven-layer dip for after paddling. Okay, those are the Mexican favorites. Other favorites are stir fry, sandwiches, lots of cheese, crackers, and wine.

Do you have any funny stories from the road you can share? Yes, we have lots of funny stories… and a few we can share [smiling]. Most have to do with being stuck somewhere…like up to the chassis in a field of mud, but not stressing about getting out. But instead, putting on a movie, having a beer, and enjoying the moment. This type of thing has happened with snow, mud, closed roads, forest fires, etc.. Funny? Not if we didn’t have an RV!

It is easy – we put wood footers on the roof [of] the RV and then mounted two sets of Thule Racks, which carry 14 kayaks. In the basement we have our kayak paddles and gear.

Your children travel and paddle with you as well, right? My kids have been RVers since they were four and seven. We started off full-time, for eight years, so RV life is quite natural for them. Last year, my daughter, Emily, son-in-law Nick, and grandson Tucker traveled with us for the season as – well as my son, KC who was five. [Now], it is just Kristine, KC, and I – and the occasional kayaker who needs a ride to the next river. Having the entire family together is the single biggest reason we love the RV.

What didn’t we ask you about life on the road (and rivers) that you’d like to share? The RVs most under-valued asset is that it can go from Point A to Point B and then to Point C without ever having to go back to Point A. Being free to roam with the tools to do it (the RV) is so liberating that I can’t imagine living without it. OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

TrailMix

ARIZONA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL by Annie Berman

The National Park Service turns 100-years-old this year and to celebrate, TrailBlazer magazine takes a look at the history and stories behind the great American National Trails. The Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) is a continuous 800+ mile trail that stretches straight through the state of Arizona from the US-Mexico border up to Utah. What began as a moment of contemplation while overlooking the landscape of the desert, forest and canyons of the Grand Canyon State, became a reality in 2009 when the AZT was designated a National Scenic Trail.

â&#x2013;˛ Inner ridges of the Grand Canyon 20

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▲ Cycling through the Arizona red rocks

Dale Shewalter, a fifth grade teacher from Flagstaff, Arizona, envisioned a continuous borderto-border trail for the southwest similar to other magnificent thru-hiking trails like the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. While looking out towards the Arizona forests from his hike on the Mogollon Rim, the escarpment that forms the southern limit of the Colorado Plateau, Shewalter thought there could be a pathway to link them and create a border-to-border trail. In 1985, Shewalter hiked from the US – Mexican border to his home in Flagstaff, Arizona, in a couple of weeks and proved that the trail could be forged. Later, Shewalter became known as “Father of the Arizona Trail.” In 1994, the Arizona Trail Association was founded and brought together individuals from all over to help “close the gaps” of the trail, identify water sources, create maps, provide GPS coordinates, and raise funds and awareness for the trail.

▲ The Wave sandstone rock swirls in Arizona

▲ Brittlebush and cacti in Tucson, AZ

Since the 1990s, various trail crews have volunteered their time to maintain the trail. Be sure to check out The Arizona Trail Association website (www.aztrail.org), which offers a plethora of information on the history of the trail and association, travel information, frequently asked questions about trail safety, trails to take depending upon your hiking skill level, and improvements and changes to the trail. It is divided into 43 passages that average 22

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▲ View from Bright Angel Trail

about 15 miles long, with varying degrees of difficulty. Much of the Arizona Trail is avoided for the hottest months of the year due to the extreme heat and lack of water sources. And, because water does not naturally occur throughout most of the state, make sure you bring plenty for yourself on your day hike and mark your map where there are water sources. Do not allow yourself to become susceptible to dehydration or heat stroke! Drink plenty of filtered water and

know your limits – when it’s time to turn back, do so. If you are planning to do one of the longer, more strenuous hikes, we recommend that you plan in advance especially if you are doing a multi-day hike. And, as always…leave no trace! Here are some day hike suggestions along the AZT.

PASSAGE #7:

LAS CIENEGAS Las Cienegas (Passage #7) is suitable as an out and back trail. This easy trail is popular for trail running, birdwatching, mountain biking, horseback riding, hunting, photography, primitive camping, and scenic drives. The best months to visit this trail are October through May. The trailhead is located 45 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona. From Encore’s Voyager RV Resort & Hotel, get on I-10 E to Vail and take exit 281 from I-10 E. Then, head south on State Highway 83. Near milepost 40, turn east into the ranch entrance. To take the easiest part of this

PASSAGE #37:

SOUTH RIM TRAIL/ BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL Finally, you cannot talk about the Arizona National Scenic Trail without mentioning the Grand Canyon. As you look a mile down at one of the “seven natural wonders of the world,” you’ll see layers and layers of rock that reveal thousands of years of geological history. The Grand Canyon stretches 18 miles wide and over 270 miles long. The South Rim Trail, also known as the Bright Angel Trail, is one of the most popular and most accessible hikes in the Grand Canyon. Along this well maintained trail there is plenty of drinking water as well as covered rest-houses. You will often see

passage, consider taking the 13.2 mile out and back distance that ends once you reach the gate at Sahuarita Road at mile 6.8 (that is, instead of continuing all the way onto Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead). Passage #7 starts at Lakes Road and is a gentle climb north past the Twin Tanks. The landscape is covered in creosote bush, an oil commonly used as a preservative for wood; this area was once a cattle ranch in the 1800s, but is now covered in the creosote bush. Cattle no longer roam here because the creosote bush contains oils the cattle cannot ingest. On this passage of the AZT, you’ll encounter varieties of cacti and wildflowers, a number of bird species, and maybe a few backpackers traversing the entirety of the trail. large group tours, some with mules some without. Along this trail you will inevitably encounter massive cliffs and rock formations. Whatever you do, do not forget your water and your camera! There are incredible photo opportunities at the viewpoints including Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station, and the Mary Colter Lookout Studio and her Desert View Watchtower. Head up to Lipan Point for the most spectacular sunrise or sunset you’ve ever seen over the canyon. The mighty Colorado River that formed this incredible crevice in the Earth is also visible. To reach the trailhead, take I-17 N to I-40 W, then take exit 165 for AZ-64/I-40 toward Williams/Grand Canyon from the Thousand Trails Verde Valley RV Resort. Alternatively, you can take I-40 E from the Thousand Trails Las Vegas RV Resort.

▲ Hiking through the Sonoran Desert

PASSAGE #18:

REAVIS CANYON You may want walking sticks or hiking sticks for the moderate Reavis Canyon (Passage #18) hike as there are a couple of areas where you will have to cross over water. The Reavis Canyon hike as an out-and-back trail is a short but stunning trail that takes you through the famous Sonoran Desert. At the top, you’ll experience incredible panoramic views of the Superstition Mountains, Picketpost Mountain, and the Apache Leap Formation. Passage 18 is also known as a flash-flood path. Do not hike through this canyon if rain is probable and always double check the weather report before proceeding. This trail also crosses railroad tracks, so be aware of your surroundings and look out for trains. Whitford Canyon is a great spot to turn back around as it will have been about 5.2 miles of hiking by that point. Otherwise, the trail continues on until it reaches Rogers Trough Trailhead, at which point, you will have hiked 18.6 miles one way. You can reach the Picket Post Mountain Trailhead by following I-10 W from Encore’s Voyager RV Resort & Hotel.

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Four Days in

October

If you didn’t get a chance to get away this summer, or your summer vacation was a bust, here are some last chance opportunities to take a break. You don’t need a full week to enjoy the sights and sounds of these locations and they may work best bookended between a weekend. However you choose to enjoy them, these quick trips will find you feeling refreshed and ready for…the holidays! by Joan Rykal

Portland, OR What are the chances that each U.S. coast has a major city named Portland? Well, according to history, Portland, Oregon is actually named for Portland, Maine and was done so because one of the city’s founders, Asa Pettygrove, won the flip of the coin to name the city after his hometown in Maine (if he’d lost, it would be called Boston after the hometown of the city’s other founder, Asa Lovejoy, who hailed from Massachusetts.) Portland is also known for being one of the hippest cities in the US and in fact, the New York Times called it “one of our national capitals of cool.” This cool city combines the best of everything – culture, sports, outdoor recreation and a lot of history. Let’s start with the outdoors. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is less than 35 minutes 24

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from Portland and boasts an amazing number of waterfalls – 90 to be exact. Multnomah Falls are by far the most recognized and possibly most photographed of those in the area, but luckily the rest of them can be glimpsed along easy hikes or a scenic drive along Interstate 84. The area also offers year-round recreation including rafting, kayaking, hiking, biking, and for the real adventure-lover, kiteboarding. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Columbia River Highway. Opened in 1916, it was known for its innovative construction and design details. The highway stretches roughly 75 miles from Portland to the Hood River and the scenery along this great road is simply breathtaking. Did you know that Portland has more breweries than any other city in the world? That’s great if you’re a beer lover but what if you prefer the “hard” stuff? By hard, we mean hard cider and you’re in luck

because thanks to its proximity to the apple growing regions of Oregon and Washington, Portland has its fair share of cider breweries. Bushwacker Cider holds claim to be America’s first cider pub and offers more than 180 ciders to drink, as well as six ciders on draft. Cider Riot, Portland Cider House and Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider are just a few other choices to sample this brew that is quickly becoming the latest craze. To give equal time to food as well as drink, take the Epicurean Excursion, a 3.5 hour walking tour of 7-9 different local culinary artisans that even a novice “foodie” will appreciate. For tour times, visit www.portlandwalkingtour.com. It is fall after all, so why not get in the mood with some fall fun. And fun is the key word at the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. Think giant pumpkins being paddled through lake water by costumed captains in charge of these grand gourds. In addition to

the race, there is also live music, a pie eating contest and a pumpkin carving contest. This year’s event is scheduled for October 15. For more information, visit www.tualatinoregon.gov. For the spookier side of October, take a trip to St. Helens, just 30 minutes northwest of Portland. This little town claims a Hollywood connection as the location site of the Disney Channel’s Halloweentown movies as well as another movie that featured vampires and werewolves, Twilight. The town celebrates Halloween all month long each October with events including haunted town tours, contests, and ghost talks that all kick off with the lighting of the Great Pumpkin on October 1. Where to Stay: Encore’s Mt. Hood Village RV Resort in Welches, Oregon provides RV sites, rental cabins and even tiny houses to stay in for your trip to Portland.

Monterey, CA If you’ve read John Steinbeck’s famous novel, Cannery Row, you may have a view of Monterey, California that may not be exactly right. Set in 1945, the book discusses life along “Cannery Row” a stretch of town that processed ¼ million tons of sardines in that year alone. Today, Monterey is known for its world-class aquarium and the canneries have given way to shopping and dining options. Plus, there are the charming towns that surround the area, including OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Carmel, a romantic seaside village, and Castroville – billed as the “Artichoke Capital of the World.” Many of the sardine factories along Cannery Row made famous by Steinbeck’s work have been transformed into restaurants, shops and art galleries. At the end of Cannery Row, the Monterey Bay Aquarium displays more than 550 species in over 100 exhibits. See the Giant Pacific Octopus, playful sea otters and the Kelp Forest, which is home to leopard sharks, wolf eels and of course, sardines. For more aquarium information visit www.montereyaquarium.org. If you want to see more sea life, take a glass bottom boat tour with the Little Mermaid Glass Bottom Boat from historic Fisherman’s Wharf. A short boat ride that’s well worth the price, you’ll most likely see sea otters and sea lions, but you may espy a humpback whale or two. If you’re in the mood for a drive, take the 17-mile Drive that winds through Carmel and Pacific Grove. A leisurely drive could take up to three hours but there are more than 20 highlighted stops along the way to shop, eat and just enjoy the views. Get ready for a great photo op at the spot of the Lone Cypress, one of the most photographed trees in North America. And of course, you can’t come to the Monterey area without visiting John Steinbeck’s hometown of Salinas. Just a short drive from Monterey, Salinas is home to the National Steinbeck Center. Not only does the center contain artifacts of Steinbeck’s life, it also contains history of the Salinas Valley. Steinbeck’s birthplace and childhood home is now a restaurant and is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday and serves dinner on the first Friday of each month. Where to Stay: Thousand Trail’s San Benito Campground in Paicines, California features RV sites and rental accommodations. 26

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The Berkshires,MA The splendid colors of fall foliage are just one reason to visit the Berkshires during autumn. This picture perfect postcard area of western Massachusetts offers a lot more than leaf peeping opportunities. Speaking of picture perfect, visit the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. Rockwell lived in Stockbridge the last 25 years of his life. His studio is now part of the museum and is open through October. The museum itself is home to the largest collection of Rockwell’s works in the world and is open year-round. In addition to the Rockwell collection, visitors can see works of other famous artists through the museum’s varied exhibitions. Rockwell and Realism in an Abstract World runs through October and features the works of abstract artists including Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons. The museum also offers workshops and daily gallery talks. On October 27, the museum will offer a walking history tour of Stockbridge Cemetery. For hours and admission, visit www.nrm.org. To make the best of an autumn adventure in the Berkshires, hike, bike or walk the 11-mile Ashuwillticook Rail Trail.

This paved trail takes you through a bucolic setting of rivers, ponds, and lakes with glimpses of the mountains and wildlife. There are places to stop along the way – whether you choose a picnic lunch or one of the eateries that are accessible from the trail. Don’t miss Bartholomew’s Cobble – and no, it’s not a fruit-filled dessert. Bartholomew’s Cobble is a 100-foot high bedrock outcropping that offers fantastic views of the Berkshire landscape. There are trails to walk, hills to climb and even two small caves to explore. Plus, October is the best time to view the Hawk migration here. The Berkshires has plenty to see and do – visit www.berkshires.org. Where to Stay: Thousand Trail’s Sturbridge Campground in Sturbridge, Massachusetts features RV sites and rental accommodations.

Williamsburg, VA Spread over 301 acres, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the United States. Williamsburg recreates life as it was in colonial times as costumed actors portray the shopkeepers, businessmen and residents of the era and bring their stories to life. Start at the Visitor Center and don’t miss the short film, Williamsburg – The Story of a Patriot, which will get you off on the right foot for your visit here. Since it’s October, you might want to get in the spirit (no pun intended) and take “The Official Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Walk” that is offered twice a night. Guides will delight, or scare, you with stories and many tour-goers have reported actually seeing a spooky figure in the windows of one of the century’s old buildings.

Another interesting event to see in Colonial Williamsburg is the evening presentation “Cry Witch,” where the public attends the trial of the accused “Virginia Witch” and through interaction with the actors gets to determine her fate. Outcomes change with each event.

Modern day must-sees in the area include the Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown that has many shopping and dining opportunities and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum where you can see the crafts of both colonial and contemporary artists.

Colonial Williamsburg is part of what is called the Historic Triangle, because in addition to the Williamsburg, there are also the historic sites of Jamestown and Yorktown. Jamestown, the site of the first successful English Settlement and as a living history museum portrays life as it was in 1607. Yorktown is the site of the historic battle in the War of Independence. If you don’t recall your history lessons on this famous battle, you’ll want to visit the Yorktown Victory Center which details the history through films and exhibits as well as a re-creation of a Continental Army encampment.

And for something completely current, visit Busch Gardens, which during the month of October will be decked out for “Howl-O-Scream” an event that includes haunted houses, spooky productions and the extra creepy Mr. Karver’s Workshop, which features, as you’d expect, super scary wooden puppets. For complete details of what to see and do in Williamsburg, as well as a calendar of events, visit www. colonialwilliamsburg.com. Where to Stay: Thousand Trail’s Williamsburg Campground in Williamsburg, Virginia. Visit RVontheGo.com to plan your October getaway. OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

SOUTH CAROLINA’s

BEACH LOVERs From the bustling Myrtle Beach area in the north and down through historic Charleston to Hilton Head Island in the south, the meandering coastline of South Carolina beckons with a wide variety of alluring options for visitors. Historic US 17 connects the coastal dots, making it easy to explore many of the Palmetto State’s waterlogged treasures. 28

OCTOBER 2016 2016 TRAILBLAZER TRAILBLAZER

COASTLINE by Lynn & Cele Seldon

Myrtle Beach Days & Waves From the North Carolina state line down to historic riverfront Georgetown, the popular Myrtle Beach area features an array of pursuits for those looking to go with the flow – or get a bit off the beaten track. The coastal fun gets off to a big start in Little River. Situated off busy US 17 and just south of the state line, Little River is a unique combination – shrimp and fishing boats are docked right next to popular casino excursion boats. Visitors can head to the docks early to see the varied boats depart in the morning mist in search of the day’s lucky catch. Later, it’s easy to head out to sea in search of Lady Luck. Cherry Grove Beach is next and historic Cherry Grove Pier is the place locals love to head. Originally built in the 1950s, the pier has been owned by the Prince family since 1965. It’s welcomed lots of lucky fisherman (including several records) and those who don’t bring their own fishing gear can rent it here. Continuing right down the beach on famed Ocean Boulevard, North Myrtle Beach is the “Birthplace of the Shag.” Dancers and those who just like to listen to beach music and watch the action head to Fat Harold’s Beach Club (where there always seems to be music, dancing, lessons, or a special event), a restaurant and another shag Mecca across the street called Duck’s (“The Place Where the Dancers Meet”), OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

PEACE ANd QUIET and Ocean Drive Beach & Golf Resort, including the OD Beach Club and the Shagger’s Hall of Fame – with lots of great pictures and information about inductees dating back to 1983. Myrtle Beach proper is just south of shag central. No visit to this historic part of Myrtle Beach is complete without some serious souvenir shopping at the sprawling Gay Dolphin Gift Cove. There’s also always something new in the Myrtle Beach area, including the 196-foot SkyWheel at Myrtle Beach Landing, the newly renovated Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, Wonderworks Science Center, and shows at Myrtle Beach’s famed theaters. Next, Myrtle Beach State Park is a great place to head for a peaceful beach setting, varied activities and ranger programs, and unique accommodations options. It’s one of many great state parks along the coast and throughout all of South Carolina (47 in all). 30

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The short drive from US 17 to Murrells Inlet is well worth the diversion. Known as the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina,” Murrells Inlet has long been the spot to head for fresh seafood and great views. Locals know to stroll along pretty Marsh Walk to look at various menus. Two more super stops come a bit further south: Huntington Beach State Park and Brookgreen Gardens. Along with nature trails and camping, Huntington Beach State Park features Atalaya, the fascinating Moorish-style winter home of artist Anna Hyatt and railroad magnate Archer Huntington. Across US 17, Brookgreen Gardens is a don’tmiss National Historic Landmark with sprawling display gardens and the world’s most extensive collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting by American artists – and even many locals don’t know there’s also a worldclass zoo on the grounds.

Litchfield and Pawleys Island come next, with the classic Hammock Shops Village being the first stop for most. The “Home of the Original Pawleys Island Rope Hammock” actually features more than 20 diverse shops, including the Original Hammock Shop, the demonstration Hammock Weavers Pavilion, dining, and much more. Over on quiet Pawleys Island proper, informational signs mark the various “Historic Homes of Pawleys Island.” Once back on the mainland and US 17, it’s a quiet ten-mile drive through the woods to the charming waterfront town of Georgetown. Locals here like to send visitors to the Visitors Center (and Georgetown Maritime Museum), which is located right on Front Street in the mid-1800s Harper Building. The staff there will recommend historic options within walking distance, like the Kaminski House Museum, the Rice Museum, and the Georgetown County Museum, as well as varied places to eat.

THE ROAD TO CHARLESTON

SCENIC HISTORY

Crossing over the Sampit River, US 17 continues the pretty drive down to Charleston. The state’s central coastline on and near U.S. 17 is as steeped in history as a glass of sweet iced tea. The entrance to Hampton Plantation State Historic Site is just after the Sampit. This truly fascinating state-run property is well worth a stop of several hours and provides a perfect introduction to the various plantations located along South Carolina’s coast. Hampton Plantation was one of the grandest homes and most prosperous pre-Civil War agricultural operations in the nation. The state carries on the legacy with interpretive programs both inside the mansion and on the grounds. It’s free to enter the plantation, but a tour of the mansion – which has been left unfinished and includes cutaways of walls and ceilings – requires a small admission fee. When heading further south, this part of US 17 is where visitors will start seeing sweetgrass basket makers at work in rustic little stands along the road. The highway’s official name along this stretch is actually “Sweetgrass Basket Makers Highway.” Depending on the time of year (and day), it’s relatively easy to pull over to one of these stands, learn about the history and craft of sweet grass baskets, and purchase a unique souvenir that’s likely taken many hours – and lots of skill – to produce. The left-hand turn for Isle of Palms is next. Taking this detour provides a great way to check out the coastal islands and beaches just outside Charleston – as well as historic Mount Pleasant and Shem Creek – before re-joining US 17 and the bridge over to the Charleston peninsula.

GREAT FOR THE FAMILY

Isle of Palms is about seven miles long and a mile wide. It’s a great place for a walk on the beach and lots of outdoor activities on or near the water. Sullivan’s Island is next on the down drive to Mount Pleasant. Highlights here include more public beach access, Revolutionary War and Civil War-era Fort Moultrie, and a great dining and shopping scene along the island’s main drag, Route 703 then leads to historic Mount Pleasant. Though now a suburb of Charleston in many ways, Mount Pleasant still has many charms (including several historic buildings and many restaurants). The Historic Old Village features colonial and antebellum homes and churches, as well as the Old Village Post House restaurant.

Route 703 crosses right over Shem Creek, which is lined with restaurants specializing in local seafood straight off the shrimp and fishing boats docked at their back doors. Also located on the creek, Coastal Expeditions offers a variety of kayak trips and more (they also run ferry trips out to quiet Bull Island). US 17 runs right through the Charleston peninsula, where there’s likely more world-class history, culture, shopping, and dining per square mile than any other city in the nation. Highlights here have to include: historic homes (several open to the public); carriage tours; the Gibbes Museum of Art; shopping along King Street; world-class dining; and several nearby plantations that truly provide a sense of the Lowcountry. OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

ON TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND Upon leaving Charleston, US 17 crosses the Ashley River and heads into an area known as West Ashley. This portion of the drive features a wide array of out-andback detours that will appeal to almost any interest. The first potential turn happens quickly, with Route 30 and then Folly Road heading down to Folly Beach. Folly Road passes by a turn-off for James Island County Park. Part of the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission system, this peaceful 643-acre park has vacation cottages that provide a unique place to stay in the heart of the Lowcountry – including great hiking and biking right in the park. Once on Folly Beach proper (signs call it “The Edge of America”), local highlights have to include: a stop just across Oak Island Creek at Crosby’s Fish & Shrimp Company (where one can buy fresh seafood and also rent kayaks next door); the long and wide Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier; and the short walk to view the historic Morris Island Lighthouse.

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Back out on US 17, many cars turn left toward Kiawah Island, a classic South Carolina beach getaway. Day visitors will want to head to Kiawah Beachwalker Park, located before the main gate to Kiawah Island. It’s a wonderfully wide state beach that’s ideal for its namesake activity – walking the beach. Kiawah Island proper features dining, watersports, world-class golf and tennis, and much more. Next, Maybank Highway provides a pretty drive that leads to Charleston Tea Plantation. As America’s only working tea garden, Charleston Tea Plantation is truly a special place out on Wadmalaw Island. A visit can include an informative factory tour, a trolley ride through the vast plantation, and shopping in the expansive gift shop for a variety of teas, tea-related items, and other possibilities. Beaufort is next. Highlights of this charming waterfront town have to include: the Federal-style John Mark Verdier House Museum; the Beaufort Arsenal Museum; and

lots of private historic homes simply found by wandering the pretty streets. A wide variety of restaurants and accommodations options make Beaufort beautiful for one or more nights. Historic Bluffton is also well worth a stop on the way to Hilton Head Island. The Heyward House Historic Center is the place to go for insider info on the town, including their helpful “Walking Tour” brochure, historic houses like the Fripp House, the waterfront Church of the Cross, fresh seafood right off the docks from the Bluffton Oyster, and varied dining. Famed Hilton Head Island is the final coastal destination. Utilizing forward-thinking development techniques and offering environmentally-oriented attractions and activities long before “green” development and travel were trendy, Hilton Head Island is popular with visitors for good reason. There’s lots to see and do on or near the island. Some unique possibilities include: horseback riding with Lawton Stables in the

PLAY AND RELAX

Sea Pines Nature Preserve (be sure to also look for the sprawling Heritage Farms community garden in Sea Pines); climbing the red-and-white Harbor Town Lighthouse; one of many varied “dolphin” tours and more; worldclass golf; and exploring peaceful Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge (located just before the bridge onto the island).

For a unique excursion that takes one close to the dividing line (the Savannah River) between South Carolina and Georgia, Daufuskie Island is well worth the ferry ride. The quiet and pretty historyladen island was made famous in the late and great Pat Conroy’s The Water is Wide. Today, creative dining, a soothing spa, worldclass golf and tennis, and much more await. It’s easy to see why coastal South Carolina has lured visitors for generations. From Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head Island, the state’s coastline is well worth the drive.

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

I KNEW I WAS A

TrailBlazer

▲ A beautiful day on the California Coast

This month, TrailBlazer would like you introduce you to Hyla Withrow, a true TrailBlazer in every sense of the word. From starting out camping with her family, to now writing a children’s book series titled “The Secret Realm of the Flannel Bears,” the outdoors is always involved in her life. TB: How long have you been camping and RVing? Who introduced you to it? Tell us how it all began! HW: My parents, brother, and I moved to Oregon from California in 1959. I was seven and my brother was ten. Soon after we moved, the camping, fishing, and hunting began. My dad was one of those guys who could work all week and head out on Friday after work to a campground at a lake, forest, or ocean. Many a time we came into our campsite in the dark, but it was no never mind to my dad; he was looking forward 34

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to early morning on the lake or river or ocean jetty to get to fishing. If it was hunting season, same thing, late getting in and early up and out in the forest to find that beautiful buck. Nothing was ever trophy minded; it was always for food. Venison was the main course in our family, when it wasn’t fish. If we were meeting friends and they arrived to the campground first, they would tack a paper plate to a tree with their name and an arrow directing us to our spot. My dad built our first camper, he liked mom to have running water and stove with an

oven. (I know he liked biscuits and gravy for breakfast so it was dual reasons.) My brother and I would come home from school on Friday afternoon and the house would be filled with the smell of Peanut Butter cookies and Donuts. Mom would pack them in wax paper lined boxes. The donuts would still be warm and the powdered sugar frosting would be sticky and dripping over each one. My brother and I would sneak one for ourselves, but we knew that mom saw us even when she acted like she didn’t. The next 12 years we were spent enjoying

the outdoors. Dad bought a motorboat that we could use for fishing and water skiing and pull behind the camper. I really didn’t think anything about just taking off for another adventure almost every weekend, but now as I am older I wonder how my dad did it with a full time job. He never complained or worried how tired he would be the following week at work, he just did it like it was breathing; he loved it that much. We always had a cabover camper until just before I got married. Then, they bought a 33’ Streamline, and after that they bought many more RVs and continued enjoying the camping experience.

movie camera to document the journey, but when we were able to have it developed and watched it was mostly of the glove box in the cab of the truck. When we did finally arrive on top we all got out and looked around and rested from the very tense ride and soon heard the whistling and yipping of cowboys in the distance driving cattle. When they got to where we were all parked they looked a little dumbfounded at the sight of us and asked, “How did you get up here with that camper?” They let us know that we were the first truck with camper they had ever seen up there. What an adventurer my dad was.

TB: How did you first hear about Thousand Trails?

TB: How about one of your fondest TT memories?

HW: In 1982, mom called and told us that they had joined Thousand Trails. With young children and jobs we didn’t really get the full concept of what they became a member of. She had said that their contract made it so we could also get a membership from them because we were family which meant some fees would be discounted. We didn’t join at that time, but met them at their different parks and spent weekend time when we could. The parks were very nice and we enjoyed the mini vacation in the outdoors. They went on to enjoy their membership for 27 years. We joined the year they retired theirs in 2009 and have never regretted it a day.

HW: One of the fondest memories my husband and I share is our trip to the Crescent Bar Thousand Trails Resort out of Quincy, WA. The view from your RV site of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge is nothing less than breathtaking. You stand in awe of how far you can see the Columbia “roll on”.

TB: What is one of your fondest camping memories? HW: One of my fondest camping memories was a hunting trip over to the Steens Mountains in SE Oregon. It was the first time I had seen antelope. The road to the top of the Steens was, shall we say, primitive? We had to get out and make a road over a part that was a stream. Switchbacks most all the way. My mom had her faithful Bell and Howell 8mm

▲ A walk on the beach

TB: Any funny camping/RVing stories? HW: When my husband and I were first married, we took our first vacation and, of course, it was camping. We lived in southern California and had decided to go to Bishop and tent camp as we did not have an RV. Looking forward to being in the outdoors and all there was to see and do, we arrived and set up our camp with the sun shining and the birds tweeting – all was well. That night it got very cold and unexpectedly snowed four inches. We didn’t come prepared for snow or cold weather so in the morning we decided to pack everything back in the trunk of our car and go to plan B. We ended up in Tonopah, NV, in a motel and glad to get warm with the heater in the room but then it wouldn’t turn off so we turned on

▲ Idyllwild, CA Site

▲ Whaler’s Rest, OR Site

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“

The outdoors is out of the box of normal living…Our favorite part is the people that you meet who love to do the same thing you are doing.

the air conditioner to cool down all the while the snow had followed us. So it is snowing outside, inside the heater is stuck and cooking us, and we have the air conditioner to cool down. The next morning we left and went to Las Vegas and finished our very first vacation. So all to say our first attempt to our life of camping was a bust, but it did not deter our love of the outdoors and instead made us prepare for the unknown so we could enjoy rain or shine or snow! TB: What type of camper are you/ what equipment do you use? What do you prefer and why? (ex: fifth wheel, RV, tent, cabins, etc.) HW: Our go to rig of choice is our vintage 1972 31’ Airstream. It belonged to my parents. My husband and I bought it from

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”

them several years ago. We love the aspect of having one of the RVs that started it all; the Airstream is the iconic symbol of vacation, family, and luxury travel. It is recognized all over the world as what American camping is all about. All of the other large motorhomes and fifth wheels are no doubt fabulous and more spacious, because a lot of camping these days includes full timing and you really need the space to call it home year-round. The dynamic of “camping” has changed through the years, but the Airstream, I believe, keeps it grounded and reminds us of a time that families went across America on vacation to the National Parks and to the numerous campgrounds.

▲ Leavenworth, WA Site

TB: Where have you gone that you wouldn’t have otherwise, if it hadn’t been for your Thousand Trails membership? HW: We have gone from one Thousand Trails Resort to the next up and down the west side of the United States since 2006. It has been such a joy to be able to park our trailer in one of the TT Resorts and then explore the area. Without our Thousand Trails membership we wouldn’t be able to enjoy this lifestyle. To name a few: At the Las Vegas Resort we not only were able to enjoy the casinos, shows, and buffets we were able to go to Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Red Rock Canyon. At Verde Valley TT in Cottonwood, AZ, we were able to see Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon,

▲ Visiting the Vasquez Rocks in California

▲ View from Crescent Bar, WA

and the old mining town of Jerome. At Soledad Canyon TT in Acton, CA, we were able to go to Vasquez Rocks where they shot a famous scene from the old Star Trek series. Any of you Star Trek fans would recognize it immediately! Magic Mountain theme park is very close, as well. While staying at the San Benito TT out of Hollister, CA, we went to San Juan Bautista, which is a very old and historic town, and 50 miles west you have the beautiful Monterey and Carmel with Monastery Beach where you find out what pebble beach is all about. The beach is exactly that:

pebbles perfectly round like BBs, and when the waves come and go the sound those pebbles make is amazing. Rancho Oso TT is a working ranch and just between Santa Barbara and Solvang. At the Resort you find that Oso was a getaway for the Hollywood crowd in days gone by. 1910 to 1920 Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton came to Oso (then called the E.W. Ranch) and lounged by the pool and did some skits from time to time. Solvang is a Scandinavian town with many unique shops and restaurants (similar to the Bavarian town in Leavenworth, WA. with the Leavenworth TT close, as well), and you may not know this but right outside of Solvang in Buellton you will find “Flag Is Up Farms” which belongs to Monty Roberts, the “Horse Whisperer.” I could go on and on about how all of these wonderful places were available to us only because we are members of Thousand Trails. With the membership we have we can stay three weeks at any of these parks for nothing. Hotels are expensive and you are closed up in a building. With our own RV we have our own bed and the beautiful outdoors just a step away. We hope to do the same to the east of the Rockies someday. It is so exciting to know that we are one reservation away from our next adventure. TB: What is your favorite part about the outdoor lifestyle? HW: The outdoors is out of the box of normal living. It sets a tone to take a drive and look at the scenery, walk on the beach, or sit outside and listen to the birds. Our favorite part is the people that you meet who love to do the same thing you are doing. Most all are folks who are free of their jobs or commitments for good, or are taking a time out to just slow down and smell the roses so to speak. You see them laughing, sitting around the campfire or

heading for the pool or ice cream social. They walk their dogs and stop and talk awhile “where are you from, how long are you staying and where to next?” Sometimes there is an exchange of phone numbers and email addresses and plans to meet up. It all becomes a family from all parts of the USA and sometimes beyond. We met a man at Wilderness Lakes a few years back who was from England. He comes over here and rents an RV and travels the country staying at the TT Resorts.

▲ San Benito, CA Site

TB: Can you finish this sentence? I knew I was a TrailBlazer when... HW: I knew I was a TrailBlazer when…my folks pulled up roots and moved us to Oregon. We lived on a river and near a beautiful lake, with the forests out our doorstep. I loved the smell of the outdoors and the sounds of the outdoors, and the animals of the outdoors. I wasn’t much of a fisherman or hunter, but I felt always led to tell the story of the outdoors and at 64 I am finally doing that with my children’s book series “The Secret Realm of the Flannel Bears,” available on Amazon and our website www. theflannelbearcompany.com. Being in the Thousand Trails Resorts I am able to be in the middle of my stories and bring them to text in story form to ignite the imagination of the many young campers beginning to embrace this lifestyle.

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Leaf Peeping on the by Lynn & Cele Seldon

Perhaps unlike any other road in the world, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina offers one of the ultimate fall foliage road trips for RVers of all experience levels. It meets all of the prerequisites in resounding fashion: only two lanes of traffic; historical interest; friendly and interesting people; great scenery and fall colors; and many places to stop for the night. Since its inception, the Blue Ridge Parkway has been called “America’s Favorite Drive.” It was authorized in the 1930s as a Depression-era public works project, but was a half-century in the making. When completed, it was the nation’s first – and ultimately the longest – rural parkway. It connects the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia (the Skyline Drive) with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. The total distance is 469 miles, making it an ideal four- or five-day trip in an RV (though it’s appealing to take longer and many RVers do just that come fall).

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The Blue Ridge Parkway drive officially starts at Virginia’s Rockfish Gap, where you find the 0 Milepost marker. These markers become the welcome signs of your location on the drive and run progressively each mile southward along the Parkway.

per-hour or less and most visitors tend to go slowly. Wooden guard rails subtly protect vehicles and people from the steep drop-offs. Some possible stops along this stretch include: Ravens Roost, featuring vistas of the Shenandoah River and Torry Mountain); Sherando Lake, a recreational lake in the George Washington National Forest; Whetstone Ridge, which provided the mountain folks with a fine-grained sharpening stone; and Yankee Horse Parking Area, where a hard-riding Union soldier’s horse supposedly fell and had to be shot (there’s now a reconstructed spur of an old logging railroad). Between Mileposts 58 and 64, Otter Creek runs down the Blue Ridge, following the road to the James River. Otters don’t play along the creek anymore, but lots of people do. This section of the drive features a seasonal campground, a visitor center, a self-guided nature trail, a restored lock and canal system, and the lowest elevation on the entire Parkway (649 feet).

Humpback Rocks in the Appalachian Mountains

The first major stop is indicative of what the drive has to offer. The Humpback Rocks Visitor Center is often the first taste of the Blue Ridge Parkway for southbound drivers and it’s a great place for an RVer to stop. The visitor centers, camping facilities, and concession system on the Parkway are excellent, with services varying with the season. They offer great places to get maps, ask questions, and learn about campfire talks, nature walks, slide programs, and much more.

Otter Creek has the first of eight developed campgrounds along the Parkway (if the one you select is closed or full, there are many more just off the road). All of the campgrounds have tent and RV sites (no water or electrical hookups. The campgrounds are generally open from early May to late October, depending on the weather. Reservations for some sites are available at www.recreation.gov. Peaks of Otter, and Rocky Knob are the rest of the Virginia camping options, with the number of RV sites ranging from 24 to 62. In North Carolina, the first option is Doughton Park, followed by Julian

The Humpback Rocks area features an interesting self-guided tour through a reconstructed mountain farmstead. The short, but steep, hike up to Humpback Rocks (at Milepost 6.1) is well worth the heavy breathing for a breath-taking view of the area. It’s only 3/4 of a mile to the top. Back on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the views begin. One of the beauties of RVing is that the driver and passengers generally sit higher than they do in a car, thus providing much better views of the surrounding landscape. If you stopped at every awe-inspiring view, you’d never make it to the end. There are pull-offs at most of the best overlooks, but you’re also allowed to just pull over on the shoulder as long as your vehicle is completely off the road. The speed limit is 45 miles-

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Linn Cove Viaduct that snakes around the Grandfather Mountain

Shenandoah River that stretches throughout Virginia and West Virginia

An RV offers an ideal way to see fall foliage along the Blue Ridge Parkway and elsewhere. The generally higher vantage point and ease of maneuvering on the Parkway and at pulloffs make it popular with RVers. However, because of this popularity with RVers and car drivers, the Parkway can get crowded during peak leaf peeping periods. RVers would do well to time their trips for weekdays, rather than weekends, when the Parkway and campgrounds are much less crowded. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also generally less crowded during the end of peak viewing periods, when the crowds have decreased but the colors are just as dramatic.

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Historic Marby Mill in Virgina built back in 1903

Price Memorial Park, Linville Falls, Crabtree Meadows, and Mt. Pisgah (the southernmost and highest elevation campground). One favorite camping spot known by veterans Blue Ridge Parkway RVers is at Doughton Park, where the “Honeymoon Suite” (isolated campsite T9) features colorful sunsets. The next stop along the Parkway is popular Peaks of Otter. Along with great camping, the Peaks of Otter area accommodates with some serious hiking to lose a few of the pounds gained cooking gourmet meals in your RV. Head to the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center for a detailed map and information from the very friendly staff (it must be the mountain air). Some good bets are Sharp Top Trail (1.6 steep miles for a 360-degree view); easy Elk Run Loop Trail; strenuous Harkening Hill Loop Trail; Johnson Farm Trail; and Flat Top Trail back to Fallingwater Cascades.

Nearby, the Mabry Mill Coffee & Craft Shop offers refreshments and stoneground cornmeal. Just down and off the Parkway, Meadows of Dan offers gas, food, lodging, and shopping, country-style. The rest of the Virginia portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway is steeped in views, gaps, and history. For more spectacular fall foliage views, pull off at the Groundhog Mountain Parking Overlook, with an observation tower simulating an old tobacco barn. For gaps, head to the quaint town of Fancy Gap. For history check out Puckett Cabin, the home of Orelena Hawks Puckett, a storied local midwife.

The Parkway continues south and the spectacular views roll by continuously. Look for the Appalachian Trail Overlook around Milepost 100. The famed Appalachian Trail is a 2,100-mile hiking “path” along the ridge of the Appalachian Mountains, stretching from Maine to Georgia. It runs through 14 states and the Virginia section (534 miles) is the longest stretch. Roanoke is situated very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and can serve as an ideal stopover if you need a civilization fix. Other quaint stopover towns near the Parkway include Waynesboro, Lexington, Lynchburg, and Galax. Mabry Mill is just down the road. This oftenphotographed water-powered mill was operated by E.B. Mabry from 1910 to 1935. The self-guided walking tour includes his gristmill, sawmill, blacksmith shop, and other outdoor exhibits. In the summer and fall, visitors will often find old-time skills being utilized.

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Hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains

The views, gaps, and history don’t stop at the Virginia state line. North Carolina features some spectacular scenery and sightseeing of its own. Some of the most colorful views in the state include Fox Hunters Paradise, Doughton Park, The Lump, Linn Cove Viaduct, Linville Falls, the Mt. Pisgah area, and Richland Balsam Overlook (which, at 6,053 feet,

Wooden arch bridge on the Tanawha Trail

Rough Ridge Tunnel towards Asheville

features views from the highest point on the Parkway). Along with these pulloffs, North Carolina hiking options include the Tanawha Trail, the Craggy Gardens area, Graveyard Fields, Devil’s Courthouse, and Waterrock Knob.

of North Carolina Minerals, the Folk Art Center, and the modern Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center and Park Headquarters near Asheville. As with most pulloffs along the Parkway, there’s typically easy parking for RVs.

History also abounds in this rugged area. The Cone Manor House and Moses H. Cone Memorial Park provide one of the most interesting stops on the Parkway. This huge and historic estate features old carriage trails that are now ideal for hiking, as well as a well-run Parkway Craft Center, where you can buy crafts and watch occasional demonstrations. Other easy stops for RVers include the fascinating Museum

South of Asheville, which is well worth a diversion of one or more days, there are a ton of tunnels (heights are clearly marked) and some of the highest points and pulloffs on the Parkway. After Richland Balsam, the drive haltingly descends to 2,020 feet and the end of the Parkway. Just after the end, RVers can head to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on US 441 and more stunning fall foliage driving.

THE Scenic

CherokeeFoothills Anytime is a great time to drive South Carolina’s famed Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, but the fall season provides a particularly perfect period to choose one or more state parks for finding colorful fall foliage. South Carolina’s fabled Upstate region and its rolling foothills and mountains make for classic fall foliage exploration. Those in search of fall colors will want to head straight to the appropriatelynamed Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (SC 11).

▲ Table Rock Mountain

Generally following the route of an old Cherokee Native American footpath, Highway 11 runs east and then south about 110 miles along a two-lane road that leads to many colorful sightseeing opportunities. It starts (or ends) in Gaffney in the east and ends (or starts) near quaint Fair Play and sprawling Lake Hartwell. Just outside of Gaffney west of where SC 11 crosses over I-85, the route’s colorful and scenic sightseeing begins at the unique “Peachoid.” Towering 135 feet,

▲ Jones Gap Falls OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

provides another access point to the aforementioned Foothills Trail and lots of leaf peeping possibilities. Next, KeoweeToxaway State Park is the gateway to the pretty Jocassee Gorges and features lots of colorful hiking trails and fall colors reflecting off Lake Keowee.

▲ View from peak of the Pinnacle Mountain Trail

the Peachoid is actually a water tower for the town of Gaffney that’s been realistically painted to look like a giant peach perched high in the sky. The color of the peach is remarkably like the palette changes of oaks, hickories, maples, and more during their varied stages of fall colors. Continuing on SC 11, possible well-signed stops include: Cowpens National Battlefield, a fascinating Revolutionary War site; Campbell’s Covered Bridge (the only remaining covered bridge in the state); Perdeaux Fruit Farm; Poinsett Bridge, a historic stone Gothic arch bridge built in 1820 and believed to be the state’s oldest surviving bridge; stunning Hotel Domestique (a tasty lunch stop); historic Blythe-GoodwinHagood House; and Raven Creek Falls, which is one of many dramatic waterfalls accessible along SC 11 that provide postcardperfect backdrops for fall colors photography. Jones Gap State Park proper also features its own waterfalls, along with dense forests seemingly bursting with fall foliage vistas. Lots of trails and woodlands combine and connect Jones Gap with Caesars Head State 44

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Park to the west to comprise the sprawling Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. There are also several waterfalls, like Jones Gap Falls and Falls Creek Falls, a troutstocked pond built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) back in the 1930s, and a meandering section of the tree-lined Middle Saluda River, South Carolina’s first designated scenic river. Just a pretty half-hour drive west, Caesars Head State Park takes its name from the 2,266foot granite gneiss outcropping in the park. The park’s Hawk Watch program each fall is very popular and features dramatic views of the park and neighboring North Carolina and Georgia. The moderate 3.7-mile Raven Cliff Falls Trail has equally dramatic views, including 420-foot Raven Cliff Falls in its fall glory. Table Rock State Park, about 15 miles southwest of Caesars Head, is next, but stops at Aunt Sue’s Country Corner and Victoria Valley Vineyards are highlyrecommended. Table Rock’s rocky namesake mountain provides the backdrop for beautiful fall colors from below, but there are also miles of hiking trails – including the Pinnacle Mountain Trail that

Devils Fork State Park is less than four miles from SC 11 and it’s well worth the short diversion for a diverse range of possibilities. It sits right on crystal-clear Lake Jocassee. Waterfalls like Laurel Fork Falls and Wrights Creek Falls, which are best reached and viewed by boat and boat tours, are among the park’s many highlights. So are varied hiking trails and a total of 20 different rental villas, most of which are on the lake’s shoreline.

▲ Oconee National Forest

The final state park on the SC 11 drive is Oconee State Park and it’s just another 30 miles from Devils Fork – and only 30 or so miles from the end (or start) of the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway. The park features several CCC-built structures, as well as six wooded nature trails and the western trailhead of the Foothills Trail. Nearby Oconee Station State Historic Site is also well worth a visit, in that the one-time blockhouse outpost of the South Carolina State Militia provides insight into an earlier period in state history – while a 1.5-mile nature trail leads to Station Cove Falls and the four-mile Oconee Connector Trail links the historic site to the state park.

paws ROAD ON THE

Traveling and Camping with Companion Animals by Jenn Gehr local or local chapters that will provide you the competition information and other resources necessary to take the next step forward with your pet. I wish you much success in your endeavors with Hobo.

Jenn, I have a purebred dog that was registered with another breed organization other than the AKC. I am looking to begin competing in AKC companion events. I’m interested in agility and some obedience. My dog is spayed. I have not been able to contact the breeders. I don’t think my dog is eligible for AKC registration and I’m not sure how to go about signing up for an AKC event without her being registered. Any ideas on what I can do? My travel on the road and I am not a part of a club or group who can give me a definitive answer. Thanks, Sara and “Hobo” JENN Sara, How wonderful that you are interested in taking on an event challenge with your canine companion! There is a ton of information on the details of exactly what you are asking for at www.app.akc.org or, the phone number that you will want to reach out to is 919-816-4232. You will be looking for a PAL/ILP registration that will allow you to be a distinguishable member owning an AKC registered breed that will give you the clearance to enter the events you are interested in. The PAL/ ILP (Purebred Alternative Listing/ Indefinite Listing Privilege) is part of the AKC and a way for this governing body to track points & other statistics for organized events across the country. Depending on what areas you plan on being in on a regular basis, a phone call to the AKC will help direct you to a

We live full-time in a small, 30’ RV with a cat and a dog. Both pets wear collars complete with i.d. tags. Can you recommend a BPA free dish/bowl that would be suitable for RV camping where the dogs and cats collar tags are not clanking against the stainless steel at all hours of the day? Hard plastic isn’t safe and the sun makes them brittle and the tags still make a terrible noise when they hit the sidewall. We will be in Oregon this summer and fall and hope to see you in your travels. On a side note, what do you suggest for a healthy treat for finicky critters? Is there anything that both the dog and the cat can enjoy other than cheese or plain yogurt? Cheers, Bing and Rachel JENN Oh, yes! It’s amazing how those little noises can drive you up the wall when you live in a tiny space. I have just the product to recommend to you and all others who camp or live full time on the road! SiliPint is a fantastic, BPA free, microwave, freezer, dishwasher safe sturdy, unbreakable oven and grill approved, durable 100% food-grade silicone product that comes packed with a lifetime guarantee. The company is in beautiful Bend, Oregon and their 1 liter Aqua-Fur bowls are incredible, fun to use, packable, unbreakable and completely noise free when your pets tags knock against the side. These clever bowls come in six different colors. There are a number of Silipint retailers in Bend, Oregon – check out Bend Pet Express on the east or west side as they stock glow-in-the-dark

SiliPint bowls that are sure to be a hit! If you’re looking for a larger, corporate order with a custom logo, Silipint offers an incredible group/corporate pricing rates. Sure to be a hit, silicone pints, half pints and more are just plain fun to use and come in an array of cool colors. We have seen custom graphics made to order for specialty groups, RV tours and family reunions. Check out this company, folks! Use Promo Code SiliRV2 at www.silipint.com. Kudos for thinking of acquiring a new healthy snack that both pets might enjoy receiving nutritional benefits from- my go-to treat and supplement for dogs and cats is Primal Pet Foods, Raw Goat Milk. Found in the freezer section at non-chain or big brand retailers (Buy local and support small business is a theme I respect and live by!) such as Bend Pet Express, Primal Goat Milk is packed with vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, trace elements, fatty acids, and protein. Known as the universal milk, goat milk is easily absorbed by most mammals. Primal Goat Milk can be served over food, alone in a bowl or as a frozen snack from an ice cube tray. Primal is committed to sourcing their goat milk from free-range goats that are raised without antibiotics or added hormones. Each batch of Primal Goat Milk is tested to be free of pathogens prior to sale and is appropriate for all life stages for both cats and dogs and it ideal for pets that suffer with irritable bowel disease or have been on a antibiotic treatment. The fermentation process of lactobacillus and acidophilus in addition to added organics, natural anti-inflammatories, anti-fungal and detoxifier herbs such as Turmeric, Ginger and Cinnamon all found in Primal Goats Milk make it the only choice for my pets. Just plain yogurt and cheese are not fermented and not a healthy choice for your pets. I love mixing the Primal Goat Milk over Primal Freeze Dried or Frozen Nuggets for a complete meal. Email Jenn your questions and share your pics at TBPets@equitylifestyle.com OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Who’s in the kitchen with

TrailBlazer? Cooking with

Chicken and Rice Casserole n e s s e Lesley Tenn

12” dutch oven, 32 coals to make 350 degrees, 1 ring and 3 coals for lid, 1 loose ring under oven

Let cooking start up again with wonderful spices, aromas and fall! Apples, veggies, colors! Fall is my favorite time of year with the leaves changing, crisp mornings and nights and campfires. A time to walk in the woods. A time to get cozy and enjoy the season before the snow flies! A time for apple harvests, farmers markets for those fall veggies like carrots, turnips, brussel sprouts! And maybe the last of the summer harvests.

Serves 6

Ingredients • 1¼ cups uncooked, dry rice • 1 head of broccoli cut up small • 1 package dry onion soup • 1 15oz can of chicken broth • 3 cups cooked chicken, cubed • 1 cup shredded cheese

Directions 1. Light up the coals. Pour the dry rice into the bottom of the 12” oven. Top with cut up broccoli, then onion soup. Then layer on the chicken/meat. Pour the broth over the ingredients. Sprinkle with black pepper. Bake for 30 minutes and the rice should be cooked. Remove from heat. Sprinkle the cheese onto the top. Replace the lid for about 5-7 minutes so that the cheese can melt.

Lesley Tennessen, Dutch Oven Diva www.dutchovendiva.com or visit my blog at dutchovendiva.wordpress.com

Maple-Glazed Brussel Sprouts with Bacon 12” dutch oven | Serves 4

Ingredients • 6 strips thick-cut bacon, cut into ½ inch pieces • 1 tbsp. butter • 1 cup onion, chopped • 1½ lb. halved fresh brussels sprouts • ¼ cup maple syrup • ½ cup chicken broth • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard • Salt & fresh ground black pepper

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Directions 1. Cook the bacon until crisp. Transfer to paper to drain. Drain the pan and leave 2 tbsp. fat. 2. Add the butter and onion to skillet. Saute onion over medium heat until translucent, about 7-8 minutes. Stir in Brussels sprouts and cook for 2 minutes, stir occasionally. 3. Add in chicken broth. 4. Cover and braise the Brussels sprouts until not quite done/tender, maybe 3-5 minutes. Uncover the pan, stir in mustard, add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Continue to cook, uncovered until Brussels sprouts are tender and the liquid is reduced to a glaze, 2-3 minutes more. Stir in maple syrup and bacon just before taking the pan off the heat. Serve warm. Recipes Notes. To use frozen Brussels sprouts in this recipe, defrost them overnight in the refrigerator for best results. Cooking time in the boiling water should be reduced to about 4 minutes, or you can microwave them according to package directions.

French Apple Cake Directions 1. Light up coals enough to make 325 degrees. Make a parchment disk to fit the 10” oven. Spray the oven and parchment with non-stick cooking spray.

10” deep oven, 1 ring and 3 extra of coals on top, 1 loose ring on bottom to make 325º oven

Ingredients

• 1½ lb. Granny Smith apples (approx. 4) peeled, cut into ⅛” slices • 1 tbsp. Calvados or apple brandy • 1 tsp. lemon juice • 1 cup + 2 tbsp. flour (divided) • 1 cup + 1 tbsp. sugar (divided) • 2 tsp. baking powder • ½ tsp. salt • 1 egg • 2 egg yolks • 1 cup vegetable oil • 1 cup whole milk • 1 tsp. vanilla extract • powdered sugar for dusting

2. Cook the chopped apples for about 3 minutes in microwave in a covered dish, or use the dutch oven/skillet and cook the apples are pliable and slightly translucent, about 3 minutes. Toss the apple slices with Calvados and lemon juice and let cool for 15 minutes. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the flour, 1 cup of the granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. 4. In a large bowl, whisk together the whole egg, oil, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. Transfer 1 cup of the batter to a separate small bowl and set aside.

rubber spatula, gently fold in the cooled apples. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan; using an offset spatula, spread the batter evenly to the pan edges, gently pressing on the apples to create even, compact layer, and smooth surface. 6. Whisk the remaining 2 tbsp. of flour into the reserved batter. Pour over the batter in the pan and spread evenly to the pan edges and smooth the surface. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tbsp granulated sugar evenly over the cake. 6. Bake until the center of the cake is set, a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown, about 75 minutes. You will need to replace the top coals at about 40 minute mark of cook time. So, make sure you are ready with a new set. This makes it so the cooking temperature inside the pot doesn’t go down or fluctuate.

5. Add the egg yolks to the remaining batter in the large bowl and whisk to combine. Using a

Maple Glazed Bacon Wrapped Roasted Carrots 12” dutch oven | Serves 6

Ingredients • 2 lb. young thin carrots, scrubbed and peeled • 1 lb. bacon • ¼ cup maple syrup • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard • 1 tbsp. grainy mustard

Directions 1. Wrap the carrots in the bacon. 2. Arrange on a wire rack on a baking sheet and roast in a preheated 400F/200C oven until the bacon is crispy and the carrots are tender, about 20-30 minutes, glazing with the maple syrup half way through. Or, roast/fry the bacon wrapped

carrots in a skillet over medium heat until the bacon is crispy and the carrots are tender, about 20-30 minutes, glazing with the maple syrup half way through. Option: Mix some Dijon mustard into the maple syrup. Option: Use pre-cooked bacon or precook the bacon the bacon to the point where it is still easily wrapped but a lot of the fat has cooked out. 2 pounds of carrots, well scrubbed or peeled, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 tablespoon grainy mustard, and 1 tablespoon dijon mustard

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

ASK

RVBILL

YOUR TECH QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

Winnebago Awning

Hi Bill, I have a 2011 Winnebago motorhome and my awning has gotten a tear about 2 inches long in the fabric. I checked into replacing the fabric, only to find out it was not cheap. The awning is in great shape and I hate to spend $500 plus on a new fabric replacement for a small tear in the fabric. Do you have any suggestions? I look forward to reading your column every month, as it is very informative. Thanks, Kelly

Hey John, Fortunately, you are in luck. I have repaired many awning fabrics during my career. I believe Winnebago used Dometic awnings in 2011. Dometic makes repair kits for mending holes or tears for both vinyl and acrylic fabrics. The repair kits are very easy to install but as usual, proper set up and preparation is the key to a quality outcome. Tip: Make sure that when you install the patch kits that you clean both sides of the awning fabric before application. Follow the instructions carefully and you will have great success. Here are Dometic’s part numbers needed; Acrylic fabric repair kit part number 910310419 and Vinyl fabric repair kit, 9103104018. Best of luck and thanks for your inquiry – I’m sure it will help many other RVer’s.

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Furnace Problems

My 2006 Alpha Fifth Wheel has a problem with the furnace. It will not come on even though I hear a clicking in the thermostat. I did some research on what the problem might be and removed the outside access door. I checked all connections and I noticed the indicator light on the circuit board was not lit up. I can test for voltage or continuity but I have no idea where to start can you give me some guidance on where to start? Thanks, Tom & Debbie

I can give you a little guidance as I’ve worked on hundreds of Atwood furnaces over the years. You said that the indicator light on the circuit board was not lit; the first place to start would be to see if it has power to the circuit board. Check with your voltmeter at the reset switch to the right of the furnace compartment. If you have power there check for voltage across the white and yellow wire on the four-way connector connected to the circuit board. You should have a minimum of 11 1/2 Volts at that point. If you do not have voltage at this point, backtrack with the white wire and see where it goes. Check for power at the large spade terminal on the pc board and trace backwards if

necessary. It’s just a matter of tracing and finding out where the voltage stops. I believe the circuit board model that you have is called a Fan 50 Plus or a *Fan Control Board, note that the Fan Control Board is no longer used. Both of these boards are designed to shut down the furnace if it runs for 2 minuets without flame- this is handy when left on when in storage. Should you need to replace the circuit board be sure to use only a Dinosaur Electronics PC Board. These have a three-year warranty and have been bulletproof with a failure rate of less than 1%.

HANDY TIP When RV manufacturers close their doors, aftermarket parts can be difficult to purchase. Here are two links that should help find obsolete parts. Alpha Fifth Wheels and Alpine Motorhome parts and service Alfateers Service center, phone number 909-428-6775 Travel Supreme Parts and Service- Kormel Tessanti Phone number 713-417-6630 or 281-292-0349

Baggage Door

My largest baggage door lifting struts are pulling away from the door, I cannot tighten the screws any longer as they are stripped out. I did put a couple of oversize screws in place only to have them come loose in a few months. Do you have any suggestions what I can do short of replacing the entire baggage door which is expensive? Thanks, Jerry

I have had the same problem myself on one of our largest baggage doors. The baggage doors receive a tremendous amount of pressure when opening and closing the doors, this forces a lot of stress at the attachment point. Go to www.hatchlift.com and purchase their flat steel mounting plates designed to glue permanently to the door. Then, attach the strut brackets to the metal plates. The plates may not be listed on the website, send Gary an email and request them. I used these on my largest baggage doors with great success. Hatchlift also carries a full line of struts that you can add to any vertical or horizontal baggage doors and a Bed Lift Kit that is strong enough to hold up the bed platform while you operate under it, saving wear and tear on your head and back!

Upgrade Fifth Wheel

Hi Bill. We met you at the LaConner Thousand Trails Preserve in Washington and really enjoyed talking to you. Since learning more from you in person, my wife and I were discussing some upgrades to our fifth wheel and we would like your insight on what your favorite creature comforts that you â&#x20AC;&#x153;could not live withoutâ&#x20AC;? during your travels in your fifth wheel trailer? Cheers, Don & Karen

What a great question! Although personal, there are definitely a few items that we absolutely would not want to be without. Here is the list. CheapHeat by RV Comfort Systems might be first on our list! It allows your forced air heating unit to operate with electricity rather than burning up your propane, thus saving money. If you live full time in a RV, this add on item will more than pay for itself. Larry will gladly help you set up. Give him a call at (425) 408-3140.

Former that is designed to boost low voltage. Both of these devices make living with low-voltage systems in the older parks much more manageable and enjoyable. Being a 5th wheel family, The Reese Sidewinder Pin Box has been a lifesaver for us. Our long wheelbase, four-wheel-drive truck just simply does not have a good turning radius. The Sidewinder allows us to get into tight spots and navigate windy roads that we never were able to before. It is a MUST HAVE. Contact www.ReeseProd.com The TV4RV Satellite System has been a marriage saver when setting up our DirecTV Dish. The tri-pod setup takes the guesswork out of this task. The Sat Finder guides you to the clear sky needed for signal. Call George 541-2440250 and tell him Bill sent you!

GOT A QUESTION FOR BILL? SEND AN EMAIL TO AskRVBill@equitylifestyle.com

My next choice would probably be the JTB Power Solution by JTB Manufacturing Inc. Contact them at (903) 776-2913. This device allows you to add 20AMPS to any motorhome or trailer. This device can really take a load off of your system when only 30 A are available. To go along with this set up, I have a Hughes Auto OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Member Deals

Thousand Trails Members Always Save At

RVontheGo.com Call! Click! Camp!

1-888-443-7301 ▲ Portland Fairview RV Resort (OR)

Thousand Trails Standard Discount:

20% Off Daily Rates Use Promo Code: S! ALWAY At all ENCORE ! Resorts

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10% Off

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*Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page. **Subject to availability. Reservations required. Rates based on a standard site, unless otherwise specified. Stays of 30 days or less are subject to $4 per day resort fee. Electric not included for stays of 30 days or longer. Rates do not include taxes. Amenities vary by resort. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Rates exclusively for members of Thousand Trails, NACO, Mid-Atlantic, Leisure Time and Outdoor World. Offer not valid on holidays and special events; certain restrictions may apply. 50

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Member Deals ▲ Breezy Hill RV Resort (FL)

Florida

$175 Off 3-6 month Seasonal Stay Valid at all Florida RV Resorts

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Promo Code: TT175FL Valid 10/1/16 - 4/30/17. Book by 12/31/16.

$1,299 Three Month Special Valid at Breezy Hill and Pioneer Village ▲ Harbor Lakes RV Resort (FL)

Promo Code: TT1299FL Valid 11/1/16-4/30/17. Book by 11/30/16. *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

**Subject to availability. Reservations required. Rates based on a standard site, unless otherwise specified. Stays of 30 days or less are subject to $4 per day resort fee. Electric not included for stays of 30 days or longer. Rates do not include taxes. Amenities vary by resort. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Rates exclusively for members of Thousand Trails, NACO, Mid-Atlantic, Leisure Time and Outdoor World. Offer not valid on holidays and special events; certain restrictions may apply. OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Member Deals ▲ Forest Lake RV & Camping Resort (NC)

North Carolina

$599

One Month Special Valid at Encore properties in North Carolina

Promo Code: TT599NC16

▲ Twin Lakes

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)

Valid on 1 month stay. Valid thru 12/31/16. Book by 10/31/16.

3 Nights for 2 on Midweek Cabin Stay Valid at Encore properties in North Carolina

Promo Code: NC243CAB16 Valid thru 12/31/16. Book by 10/31/16. *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

▲ Gre

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OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Member Deals â&#x2013;˛ Victoria Palms RV Resort (TX)

Texas

RVontheGo.com 1-888-443-7301

Call! Click! Camp!

$149/Week Use Promo Code: TT149TX 14 day maximum.

$1,099/3 Month Use Promo Code: TT3MTX

Valid at Alamo Palms, Country Sunshine, Paradise Park, Fun N Sun, Lakewood, Paradise South, Southern Comfort, Sunshine RV and Tropic Winds Offer valid 10/1/16 - 4/30/17. Book by 12/31/16. *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

Texas $189/Week Use Promo Code: TT189VP 14 day maximum.

ort (TX)

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$1,599/3 Month Use Promo Code: TT3MVP Valid at Victoria Palms Offer valid 10/1/16 - 4/30/17. Book by 12/31/16. *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

Member Deals ▲ Mesa Spirit RV Resort (AZ)

Arizona

$199

Weekly Stay

at Mesa Spirit

▲ Desert Paradise

RV Resort (AZ)

Use Promo Code: TT199MS Valid 10/1/16 - 4/30/17. 14 day maximum.

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Weekly Stay Valid at Cactus Gardens, Capri, Casita Verde, Countryside, Desert Paradise, Fiesta Grande, Foothill Village, Foothills West, Golden Sun, Mesa Verde, Suni Sands, and Valley Vista

Use Promo Code: TT159AZ

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Valid 10/1/16 - 4/30/17. 14 day maximum. *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page. **Subject to availability. Reservations required. Rates based on a standard site. Stays of 30 days or less are subject to $4 per day resort fee. Electric not included for stays of 30 days or longer. Rates do not include taxes. Amenities vary by resort. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Rates exclusively for members of Thousand Trails, NACO, Mid-Atlantic, Leisure Time and Outdoor World. Offer not valid on holidays and special events; certain restrictions may apply. Two week maximum stay per resort at discounted rate. 54

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Member Deals ▲ Fiesta Grande RV Resort (AZ)

Arizona

$1,199 Three Month Special ▲ Cactus

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Valid at Cactus Gardens, Capri, Casita Verde, Countryside, Desert Paradise, Foothill Village, Foothills West, Fiesta Grande, Golden Sun, Mesa Verde, Suni Sands and Valley Vista

Promo Code: TT3AZ1 Valid 10/1/16 - 4/30/17. Book by 12/31/16.

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Promo Code: TT3AZ2 Valid 10/1/16 - 4/30/17. Book by 12/31/16. *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

**Subject to availability. Reservations required. Rates based on a standard site. Stays of 30 days or less are subject to $4 per day resort fee. Electric not included for stays of 30 days or longer. Rates do not include taxes. Amenities vary by resort. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Rates exclusively for members of Thousand Trails, NACO, Mid-Atlantic, Leisure Time and Outdoor World. Offer not valid on holidays and special events; certain restrictions may apply. Two week maximum stay per resort at discounted rate. OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Member Deals ▲ Venture In RV Resort (AZ)

Arizona

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Weekly Rates Venture In Use Promo Code: TT30WVI Valid for the month of 10/1/16 - 10/31/16.

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RVontheGo.com 1-888-443-7301

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OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Member Deals ▲ Palm Springs Oasis RV Resort (CA)

California

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Promo Code: TT599PSO Valid 10/1/16 - 5/15/17. Book by 5/1/17. *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

Upgrade Your Membership For As Low As $44.60/month *

MAXIMIZE

YOUR OPPORTUNITIES More Freedom to Explore! Enjoying the benefits of your Thousand Trails Camping Pass? Then you’ll love what our premium upgrade options have to offer. Get nationwide access to our premier campsites and resorts, keep the fun going with longer maximum stays, plan further ahead with extended booking windows, and much more!

Call today 888-842-8617 or visit thousandtrails.com/member-upgrade » For more information, see a membership specialist on your next visit!

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Get More Locations Plan Further Ahead Explore New Accommodations Travel Club

*The Thousand Trails National Pass upgrade is available to qualified members only with a valid and eligible credit card. $200 minimum down payment. Up to 60 months to pay. 16.99% APR. 60 monthly payments of $44.60 assuming you purchase an National upgrade for $1,995 and make the minimum down payment. Sales tax and any applicable fees due at time of purchase.

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers can be found on page 65.

ACROSS 1 Family member 4 Signed (abbr.) 7 Atlantic (abbr.) 10 Amorphous mass 11 Haw. garland 12 Thunderfish 14 Apropos 16 Besides 17 Soft drink 18 Keen 20 Thus (Lat.) 21 Query 22 Charity 24 Weapon 27 Native 30 Wings 31 Skate 32 Berne’s river 33 Wall 35 Inside 36 First principles 37 Kind of lettuce 38 Alas (Ger.) 60

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

40 42 45 47 49 50 51 52 53 54

Welsh onion Limb Bath cake Madness Work (Sp.) Rubber tree Love of Radames This one (Lat.) Sup Before common era (abbr.)

DOWN 1 Rosebud, e.g. 2 Captive of Hercules 3 Compass direction 4 Loose 5 Bend 6 Aromatic herb 7 One hundred square meters 8 Magic charm 9 Continue 10 Bikini top 13 Drug Enforcement Admin. (abbr.) 15 Container

19 21 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 34

Ancient times Sharp Resources Science class According to (2 words) 4th incarnation of Vishnu Auricle Fury Wax (pref.) Leavings Interstate Commerce Commission (abbr.) 35 Daughter of Eurydice 37 Santa’s reindeer 38 Jap. volcanic crater 39 Cork County port 41 Firstborn of Benjamin 42 Of the kind of (suf.) 43 Journey 44 Sheep’s cry 46 Lumberman’s boot 48 Capture

Keep It Real This Holiday Season

Answers can be found on page 65.

Wilderness Lakes’ 22nd Annual Tour Monday, January 2,2017

Adopt-A-Manatee® for Loved Ones

Take a fabulous day trip to Pasadena for the 128th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade.

Our package includes: Continental Breakfast • Grandstand Seats Round-Trip Fare on a Deluxe Charter Bus

only

$140 per person

Make your reservations now! First come, first served (53 seats available) For more information, please call: (951) 672-7804

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

PREFERRED RV DEALERS

Check out member specials on parts, service, and sales by visiting our preferred RV Dealer partners listed here.

USA A&L RV Sales TN - Christiana, Johnson City www.alrvsales.com A Great Outdoor RV Center TX - Canton • www.agorv.com Affinity RV AZ - Dewey, Prescott, Prescott Valley www.affinityrv.com Alpin Haus NY - Amsterdam, Port Jervis, Saratoga www.alpinhaus.com Al’s Trailer Sales OR - Salem • www.alstrailers.com American Family RV VA - Chesapeake www.americanfamilyrv.com Appleton Camping Center WI - Appleton • www.appletoncamping.com B&B RV CA - Anderson • www.bbrv.me Bama RV AL - Dothan • www.bamarv.com Baydo’s RV of Chehalis WA - Chehalis • www.baydosrvs.com Big Country RV OR - Bend, Redmond • www.bigcrv.com

Burlington RV Superstore WI - Sturtevant • www.burlingtonrv.com Camperland Trailer Sales TX - Conroe • www.camperland.net Campers Inn CT - Union; FL - Leesburg, Jacksonville NC - Kings Mountain, Mocksville, Raleigh NH - Kingston, Merrimack PA - Pittsburgh, Philadelphia MA - Raynham; SC - Myrtle Beach VA - Fredericksburg; GA - Macon, Atlanta www.campersinn.com Canopy Country RV Center WA - Ellensburg, Union Gap www.canopycountry.com Charlie Obaugh RV VA - Staunton • www.charlieobaughrv.com Chesaco RV MD - Joppa, Frederick, Gambrills PA - Shoemakersville • www.chesacorv.com Clear Creek RV WA - Silverdale www.clearcreekrvcenter.com Colerain RV OH - Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus IN - Indianapolis, KY - Lexington www.colerainrv.com

Blade Chevrolet RV WA - Mt. Vernon • www.bladerv.com

Conejo Wholesale Auto and RV CA - Thousand Oaks www.conejowholesaleauto.com

Boat-N-RV NY - West Coxsackie; SC - Ridgeland PA - Hamburg • www.boatnrv.com

Country Camping Corner NC - Kings Mountain, Matthews www.countrycamping.com

Braun’s Fun Time Campers IN - Indianapolis www.funtimecampers.com

Crossroads Trailers NJ - Newfield www.crossroadstrailers.com

Browns RV SC - McBee www.brownsrvsuperstore.com

Cunningham Campers, Inc. IN - Jeffersonville www.cunninghamcampers.com

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

Curtis Trailer Center MI - Schoolcraft www.curtistrailercenter.com Economy RVs MD - Mechanicsville www.economyrvs.com Ellis Travel Trailers GA - Statesboro www.ellistraveltrailers.com ET Quality RV CA - Two locations in Yuba City www.etqualityrv.com Floyd’s RV OK - Norman • www.floydsrvs.com Freedom RV WA - Liberty Lake www.freedomrvusa.com Funtime RV OR - Tualalin • www.funtimervinc.com General RV Center IL - Huntley MI - Brownstown, Mt. Clemens, Wayland, White Lake, Wixom OH - North Canton www.generalrv.com Gibs RV Superstore OR - Coos Bay www.gibsrvsuperstore.com Hayden’s RVs VA - Richmond • www.haydensrvs.net Haylett RV MI - Coldwater www.haylettautoandrv.com Jeff’s Couch’s RV Nation OH - Hamilton • www.couchsrvnation.com Keystone RV Center PA - Greencastle www.keystonervcenter.com

Lakeside RV Sales SC - Anderson • www.lakesidervsales.com

RV General Store OK - Newcastle • www.rvgeneralstore.com

Vogt RV TX - Ft. Worth • www.vogtrv.com

La Mesa RV AZ - W. Phoenix, CA - Sacramento, San Diego FL - Ft. Myers, Orlando, Port St. Lucie, Daytona Beach • www.lamesarv.com

RV’s For Less TX - Bryan • www.rvsource.com

Welcome Back RV Outlet TX - Athens • www.welcomebackrv.com

RV Source TN - Knoxville • www.rvsforless.net

Lux-Liner LLC CA - Acadia • Lux-liner.com

RVs Northwest WA - Spokane • www.rvsnorthwest.com

Western Travel Sales WA - Lynden www.westerntravelsales.com

McKay’s RV & Marine Center ME - Holden • www.mckaysrv.com

RV Value Mart PA - Lititz, Manheim • www.rvvaluemart.com

Media Camping PA - Media • www.mediacamping.com

Safford RV VA - Thornburg • www.saffordrv.com

Mike Thompson RV Superstores CA - Cathedral City, Colton, Fountain Valley, Santa Fe Springs www.mikethompson.com

Scott Motor Coach NJ - Lakewood www.scottmotorcoach.com

Action VR QC - Saint-Nicolas • www.actionvr.ca

See Grins RV CA - Gilroy, San Martin • www.seegrins.com

Véhicules Récréatifs JD QC - Sherbrooke • www.vrjdrv.ca

Seguin RV TX - Seguin • www.seguinrv.com

VR Depot QC - Vaudreuil-Dorion • www.vrdepot.ca

Simi RV & Off Road CA - Simi Valley • www.simi-rv.com

VR Emond Plus QC - Sainte-Nicolas www.vremondplus.com

Opelika RV Center AL - Opelika • www.opelikarv.com Out of Doors Mart NC - Colfax • www.outofdoorsmart.com Patterson RV TX - Wichita Falls • www.pattersonrv.com Paul Evert’s RV Country AZ - Bullhead City, Flagstaff CA - Fresno; NV - Laughlin OR - Coburg; WA - Fife, Milton, Mt. Vernon www.rvcountry.com

Sky River RV CA - Buellton, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach www.skyriverrv.com Snyder’s RV VA - Virginia Beach • www.snydersrv.com

Wilder RV WA - Port Angeles • www.wilderrvs.com

CANADA

VR Prestige QC - Terrebonne • www.vrprestige.com VR Souliere QC - Lanoraie, Lavaltrie www.vrsouliere.com

Phillips RV Center MI - Mount Morris • www.phillipsrv.com

Strickland Marine & RV SC - Seneca www.stricklandmarineandrv.com

PPL Motorhomes TX - Cleburne, Houston, New Braunfels www.pplmotorhomes.com

Sunbelt RV Center TX - Belton • www.sunbeltrv.com

Horizon Lussier QC - Maryville • www.horizonlussier.com

Sundown RV Center CA - Atwater • www.sundownrv.com

JCS Entreposage QC - Trois Rivières www.entreposagejcs.com

Princesscraft RV TX - Round Rock • www.princesscraft.com R.B.Taylor & Sons VA - Lynchburg www.rbtaylorandsons.com Recreation Plantation RV Sales IL - Lynwood www.recreationplantationrvsales.com Roadhouse Camper & RV PA - Lake Ariel (Scranton) www.roadhousecamper.com Roy Robinson RV WA - Marysville • www.royrobinsonrv.com Russ Dean Family RV WA - Pasco • www.russdeanrv.com RV City AZ - Huachuca City • www.rvcity.net

Super Deals RV Inc. GA - Douglasville, Temple www.superdealsrv.com TAC Trailer and RV NC - Moyock • www.tactrailerandrv.com The Trail Center SC - North Charleston www.trailcenter.com Toscano RV CA - Los Banos • www.toscanorv.com TravelTime RV TX - Sulphur Springs www.traveltimerv.com Vancouver RV & Park Model Center Wa - Vancouver • www.vancouverrv.com

GO VR QC - Ange Gardien • www.go-vr.com

Leasure Days RV ON - Ayr, Kingston, Pembroke, Smith Falls, Sudbry QC - Buckingham, Gatineau, Sherbrooke NB - Salisbury NS - Truro www.leisuredays.ca Le Centre du Vr Victoriaville QC - Saint-Albert • www.vrvictoriaville.com Roulottes AS Levesque QC - Châteauguay, Saguenay, Sainte-Hélène, Trois-Rivières www.roulotte.ca Roulottes Remillard QC - Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu www.roulottesremillard.com

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

y l l a R It’s ! e m i T Calendar

CLUB OCT 2016 Bounders United (BUTTN)

If you are interested in attending please e-mail or call the Schneider’s, BettyAron. Schneider@verizon.net, (619) 575-2311 or (619) 929-7848. You will need to make your own reservations through the Thousand Trails system.

TT SINGLES Central California

Oct. 28-30........Lake of the Springs, CA Dec. 2-4.......................... San Benito, CA Jan. 27-29, 2017............ San Benito, CA Feb. 24-26, 2017..........Morgan Hill, CA Mar. 24-26, 2017........... San Benito, CA Contact Jane Davis at (209) 986-1088 or email janedjd@pacbell.net orJudy Rogers at (775) 772-1872 or email fifthwheeler61@yahoo.com.

TT Travelers Southern California

Oct. 3-5.............. Oakzanita Springs, CA Nov. 7-9......................Palm Springs, CA Dec. 5-7.............. Wilderness Lakes, CA We normally meet the first Mon, Tues, and Weds mornings of each month for coffee and those evenings for potluck and games. For more information, contact Wagon Master Donna Schoolcraft (619) 933-9787 or cecilanddonna@aol.com 64

OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

RVers seeking RVers? Rally clubs from coast to coast love to meet at our destinations. Join in on the fun! Northwest

Oct. 28-30........................... Seaside, OR We also have new contact people and email, phone numbers: WagonMaster Daphne Bailey (Oregon) (503) 590-8566, daphnebailey07@ comcast.net. Secretary Dottie Michel (Washington) (360) 941-3126, ttnw_sec@yahoo.com.

Lewis and Clark TTN

Oct. 13-17........................... Seaside, OR Roger Beausoleil: President Lewis and Clark TTN chapter of FMCA. Contact person, Roger Beausoleil (503) 390-4753 or rogerabeau@msn.com.

TTWest/FMCA

Nov. 18-20 �� San Bentio, CA Members of Thousand Trails and FMCA meet at Northern California Preserves bimonthly. Contact Manny Francis at (415) 606-7596 or email to mannyfrancis@live.com. Reservations are required two weeks in advance.

TTN So Cal Weekenders

Oct. 7-9.............. Oakzanita, Springs CA Nov. 4-6.............. Wilderness Lakes, CA Dec. 2-4......................Palm Springs, CA Feb. 3-5, 2017.... Wilderness Lakes, CA Mar. 3-5, 2017............Palm Springs, CA Apr. 7-9, 2017...... Soledad Canyon, CA May 5-7, 2017... Oakzanita Springs, CA Jun. 2-4, 2017.................... Pio Pico, CA We are a group of TTN members who meet once a month at Southern California preserves. All ages welcome; we have both working and retired members. No dues, just fellowship. Email: ttnweekenders@earthlink.net website: http://home.earthlink. net/~ttnweekenders.

TT of Texas/FMCA

Nov. 11-13...................Medina Lake, TX Jan. 6-8, 2017............. Lake Conroe, TX Feb. 5-18, 2017................Harlingen, TX Mar. 3-5, 2017.........Colorado River, TX May 12-14, 2017........ Lake Texoma, TX New members must be a member of TTN and FMCA. Contact Connie Farrar at (817) 454-4612 or email to ttnfmcachapter@gmail.com. Our website is: ttnoftexasfmca.com. We also have a blog site: ttfmcaralliesandmore.blogspot.com.

Answers – Crossword puzzle can be found on page 60.

Answers – Sudoku puzzle can be found on page 61. PA CI FIC NO RT HW ES T

Washington State · Oregon · Olympic Mt. Rainier · Northern California North Cascade · Crater Lake · Lassen Volcanic

Find The Evergreen Tree

ith a half dozen diverse National Parks, State, Oregon Washington and Northern California make up the Pacific Northwest region. Washing three offerings ton’s driving distanceare all within easy include majestic of Seattle and Mount Rainier (known as the “America n Alps”), Olympic (includin g a temperat rainforest), e and with the glacial North Cascades, Pacific Northwe glories of the st’s Cascade Range.

An evergreen tree is hidden somewhere in this issue. Drop us a postcard telling us where you found it, and if your card is drawn you’ll win a $25 Visa® Prepaid Gift Card!

David Ledford of Casco, MI

▲ Olympic

A LA S K A

National Park

In Oregon, Crater Lake National Park is the deepest lake in the nation (almost 2,000 feet). Northern Californi Next, include Redwood a’s offerings ’s towering trees on the coast, and littlevisited Lassen Park features Volcanic National the Volcanic National 30-mile Lassen Park Highway .

Denali · Glacier Bay · Katmai Kenai Fjords · Wrangell-St. Elias Lake Clark · Gates of the Arctic

▲ Glacier Bay 42

AUGUST 2016 TRAILBLAZ

National Park

he Last Frontier has an incredible eight National Parks. sprawling Denali has to be at the top of the list, to North America’ thanks s highest peak and abundan t wildlife. However many other , options visitors, including await Alaska waterlogged Glacier Bay and Kenai Fjords, glacier-ridged Wrangell-St. Lake Clark Elias, (generally reached by small planes), salmon-laden Katmai and Gates of the (the size of Arctic Switzerland) and the true wilderne ss of Kobuk way up above Valley the Arctic Circle.

TB_August_20

found the tree on Page 42 of the August Issue.

16_V11.indd

Did you find the tree in this issue? Send your entry (postcards only) to: TrailBlazer Evergreen Tree Two North Riverside Plaza Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606.

7/12/16 4:07 PM

Postmark deadline is October 31, 2016

and remember –the tree could be a different color and size.

Terms and Conditions for 2016 Referral Promotion from page 4. For each Eligible Referral (as defined) through November 30, 2016, you will receive a $50 Visa® Prepaid Card. In addition, for each Eligible Referral through November 30, 2016, you will receive one entry in a drawing for the following prizes: (i) Grand Prize is either a trip to Hawaii or a 7 night Caribbean Cruise, valued at $4,000, that includes roundtrip coach airfare for two adults from the continental United States to either Hawaii or Florida, and one hotel/cruise room for 7 nights; (ii) Second Prize is a trip to either Las Vegas, San Francisco or Orlando, valued at $2,000, that includes roundtrip coach airfare for two adults from the continental United States to either Las Vegas, San Francisco or Orlando and one hotel room for 4 nights and (iii) ten (10) Third Prizes waiving payment of the winners’ annual dues for 2017, not to exceed $545 each. The trips do not include taxes, meals, beverages, transfers, gratuities, activities and other personal expenses. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash. The drawing will be held at our corporate offices on or about January 7, 2017. The winners will be notified by telephone. The odds of winning a prize depend on the number of entries and are not expected to exceed 1:10,000. For this promotion, an Eligible Referral is a person who (i) purchases a new Zone Camping Pass from us between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 and (ii) lists you as the referring member. This offer is only for members in good standing of Thousand Trails and its affiliates. Due to legal restrictions, (a) residents of AZ, FL, NV, and PA are not eligible to participate in the drawing and you will not receive an entry in the drawing for purchases made by residents of AZ, FL, NV, or PA, and (b) residents of AZ and PA are not eligible to receive a $50 Visa® Prepaid Card and you will not receive a $50 Visa® Prepaid Card for purchases made by residents of AZ or PA. We reserve the right to extend, modify, suspend, or terminate this promotion at any time for any reason; however, any rewards earned prior to the suspension or termination of this promotion will be honored. Employees of Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. and its affiliates are not eligible to participate in this promotion. All local, state and federal income taxes are the responsibility of the recipient. Accordingly, we recommend that all participants consult a tax advisor about reporting rewards for tax purposes. We will issue the required 1099 to each participant and to the IRS when the total value of awards you are eligible to receive equal or exceed $600 for one year. This advertising is being used for the purpose of soliciting sales of resort campground memberships. This document has been filed with the Department of Licensing, State of Washington, as required by Washington law. Value, quality, or conditions stated and performance on promises are the responsibility of the operator, not the Department. This filing does not mean that the Department has approved the merits or qualifications of any registration, advertising, or any gift, prize, or item of value as part of any promotional plan. This promotion is sponsored by MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. OCTOBER 2016 TRAILBLAZER

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Member Service Manager With SkyMed since 2005 P.S. Many of our members know me. I might only have spoken to them once or twice and maybe as long as five years ago. When I hear ‘Hi Nan’, I’m listening and know we’re going to be able to help a member. That’s the most rewarding part of what I do. SkyMed really is a great company to be part of as a member, sales representative or employee. Everyone is empowered to do their personal best.

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