NORTH ALABAMA RV ers

Transcription

1 NORTH ALABAMA RV ers A chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association Chartered March 2003 Editor: Bob Erickson mhsurfr@gmail.com Greetings from our President Bob Erickson Greetings, friends! After about 2 months struggling to recover from heart surgery, Garry Claypool left to be with his creator. Claypools attended the June NARV rally at Wheeler State Park less than a month before his operation. Club members Chuck & Sue Borcher, Randal & Pam Caruthers, Bob & Sylvia Connell, Bob & Kathie Erickson, and Gene & Linda Hammond attended a Celebration of Life memorial service for Garry in Hanceville, AL. We all had the pleasure of meeting Claypools daughters Giselle and Gretchen, and met many of their friends. Lynn is hoping to continue rallying with us in their Class C, and is reserved for the October rally at Honeycomb Campground. There was an amazing display of mementos from Garry s life on tables in the reception area. This included family life and marine service. Chuck & Sue Borcher are hosting the October rally at Honeycomb Campground, near Guntersville on Hwy 431. Borchers, Caruthers, Halls, Donnett Murphy, Ericksons, and guests Rick & Teresa Steinberg have signed up, plus Borcher s guests Dave & Pat Balance. For the September rally in Hoover, see the report in this issue. I ve also gone back to my maintenance roots to tell how to clear debris from Carefree SOK (abbreviation for Slide Out Kover ) III slide toppers. Page 1 of 12

2 Please consider volunteering to host rallies. This is a volunteer organization! If you ve never hosted, folks will be glad to assist. Also at rallies, EVERYONE will volunteer to help. Please pray for those members and friends that are experiencing health problems and/or other issues. Those I m aware of are Tim & Barbara Day, Gene Hammond, and Dwight Hayes. Please let me know who to add to this list (I know there s more). Bob Erickson, President Hoover RV Park (Hoover, AL) Rally Report Bob Erickson A rally was held July 7-10 at Hoover RV Park in Hoover AL. Attendees were: Chuck & Sue Borcher Randal & Pam Caruthers Bob & Kathie Erickson (hosts) The campground was expanded & reopened July 1, but is STILL a parking lot with hookups and no restrooms! The grassy areas have sprinklers, so are very nice. While we were there, Jim Duncan sent me a note saying that Hoover had offered free parking for Irma evacuees. His notification beat the park rangers! Due to late arrival, we didn t have a Meet n Greet reception. We DID play dominos Thursday evening. On Friday morning, the men went to Barber Motorsports Museum and Racetrack and had a wonderful time. We took the proctored tour, which cost $30 each and lasted from 10:30 to 1:30. The guide, Coffee Colvin, was a childhood friend of the museum founder George Barber. He met us at the door when the museum opened at 10am, and talked until the tour started. He also said he would normally extend the tour later, but he had an appointment that afternoon. Coffee didn t tell us that much about individual exhibits, but was full of stories about George Barber, racing, and drivers! There are over 1600 motorcycles and over 200 cars; plus a lawnmower and personal watercraft. Page 2 of 12

3 From left, by other guests motorcycles: Randal Caruthers. Chuck Borcher and The racetrack rents to a Porsche driving school, for which about 5 cars were driving during our visit (including Porsche SUVs!). From left: Unnamed tour guest, Randal Caruthers, Coffee Colvin (guide) and Chuck Borcher. This is while we were touring the park-like racetrack Floor to ceiling motorcycles and cars! There were five floors, including the workshop basement. The collection included the world s largest of Lotus racing cars. Beautiful landscaping! The basement workshop was included only in the Proctored tour. There was no work underway, and it was pretty neat (pretty awesome, too!). Page 3 of 12

4 These motorcycles are waiting for repair, restoration, or display space (we re still in the basement). Bob Erickson s first motorcycle was a Harley Davidson Leggero like this one. Motorcycles ranged from the earliest to 2017 models. The red one second from foreground is a Sears. This is more like it! A 1954 Indian Warrior. There were quite a few military motorcycles. I read at the museum that the motorcycle craze was started by surplus military motorcycles. While the men were drooling over motorcycles, the women shopped at the Galleria and Outlet Mall, & lunched at Ruby Tuesday. On Saturday morning we had an INFORMAL pet trick contest (no one to judge, since we all had contestants!). Grits won the best trick, by retrieving a specific rope with her mistress s smell on it. Chuck hung the rope from a tree by her leash, and she still found it by smell! Page 4 of 12

5 Sukie won all other categories of cuteness, fastest wagging tail (most powerful was not a winning category), & most endearing gaze. look at tables of pictures and mementos of Garry s life. Oh, yes; there was some amazing food On returning to the campground, we rested and took care of pets. Then, we went out to eat again at Cheesecake Factory. The food was excellent and the portions huge. Everyone took their cheesecake home From left: Kathie Erickson with Rocket & Crystal; Sue Borcher with Sukie; Pam & Randal Caruthers with Grits; and Chuck Borcher with his hand on Caruther s Jackson. We then changed clothes to go to Garry Claypool s Celebration of Life service at First United Methodist Church in Hanceville, AL. We met members Gene & Linda Hammond and Bob & Sylvia Connell in Hanceville. After a wonderful service of singing and stories (and a video), we attended a reception. We were able to speak with family members and friends, and From left, Randal Caruthers, Chuck Borcher, Bob & Kathie Erickson, Sue Borcher, and Pam Caruthers. The romantic lighting forced us to use our phones to read the menu! On Sunday morning we breakfasted on waffles with fruit toppings & whipped cream. Then we sat outside our campers and talked until time to depart. October Rally Schedule Chuck & Sue Borcher Info on our October Rally. Please join us if you have not already signed up. Call the campground and then let the Borcher's know you are coming (and site #). Chuck October 2017 Rally North Alabama Rvers October 12-15, 2017 Rally hosts: Chuck and Sue Borcher H C Honeycomb Campground 188 Campground Rd Grant, AL They have no covered pavilion or game room so our activities will be dependent on the weather. Page 5 of 12

6 Your ideas for activities are always welcomed. Schedule is always subject to change due to more fun things coming up (or weather). After dinner we will take a boat ride over to a cave (on the lake) where bats exit for their evening foraging. Play games Thursday October 12 5:00 Meet &Greet - Bring your favorite finger food, chips, dip, or desert. Please bring your drink. Friday October 13 Breakfast, lunch and activities on your own We will go for dinner around 5 pm. Place to be determined Saturday October 14 9:00 Breakfast - We will provide a breakfast brunch casserole, muffins, and fruit. Bring your own drink 5:00 Dinner Top of the River 7:00 Games Sunday October 15 9:00 Breakfast Leftovers from Saturday morning Newsletter Editor s Ramble Bob Erickson I ll bring Newsletter Archive CDs to any rally that Kathie and I attend. Remember, this CD also includes my Travel Journal from 2016 (Our Western Adventure)! Please consider sending input (and errata) for YOUR newsletter. Sorry about tardiness (AGAIN!). Busy with cleaning up after tree guys, shopping for a new car, and finding a lost camera with rally pictures. I m going to set my release date for future issues to the 15 th of each month, to allow more time for rally reports. I was delaying rally reports until the following month. The activities will be fresher in our minds if we document them quickly! Prayer requests, RV used items for sale, family milestones, family biography, recipes, crafts or any type of motorhome project are requested. Also, if you have RV questions or issues you need help with. And don t forget to tell us where you ve been, with pictures! Bob Erickson Newsletter Editor I like to discuss RV maintenance/improvement issues. If you get tired of reading about mine, send me descriptions of YOUR problems/solutions to discuss! This month I chose a simple slide topper maintenance activity. Page 6 of 12

7 Cleaning Debris from a Carefree SOK III Slide Topper Bob Erickson This activity is not on any maintenance schedule I ve seen, but it needs to be done sometimes. I ve tried spraying visible debris from under the cover with water spray AND pressure washer. Neither works. BUT, the cover is designed to flip open! Tools: Ladder! 3/16 hex wrench There is more room to clean the housing if the slide is out, since there will be less fabric on the roller. Looking at the picture below, loosen the bottom outside bolt 2 turns. This is a hinge for the cover. Loosen the top center bolt until the cover can be moved to the outside. There are threads in the cover, so the bolt will be retained and not lost (good feature!). Below is a picture of the cover lowered. I then spray the cover with a garden sprayer to remove debris. I then sometimes wax the inside of the cover so debris won t stick. There are 2-foot long plastic edge protectors at the top of the cover, that should extend across between ends. Some owners say that theirs had only 3: With that configuration, the protectors will slide to one side. Their purpose is to protect the fabric that is flapping in wind from fraying on the cover s sharp metal edge. If you are missing some, order them from Carefree. After closure of the cover, make sure that all bolts are reasonably tight. On a long slide, there will Page 7 of 12

8 be a stiffener in the middle. Make sure the metal piece looks like the picture, it sometimes doesn t go together correctly (the cover sticks out). Page 8 of 12

9 Member Celebrations September Birthdays 18 Anne-Marie Williams 21 Bob Williams October Birthdays 2 Tim Day 4 Chuck Borcher 6 Jim Headrick September Anniversaries 3 Bob & Sylvia Connell 11 Gene & Linda Hammond 15 Mike & BJ Campe 19 Ken & Linda Winters 7 Jack Rogers 11 Virginia Headrick 13 Jonathon Medlock 14 Ruth Bright 15 Dwight Hayes 29 Les Hayes 30 Pam Caruthers 31 Lynn Claypool October Anniversaries None! Membership Dues Reminder Annual chapter membership fees ($20 couple and $10 single) for calendar year 2017 are due, and they may be paid in the form of cash or a check payable to North Alabama RV ers sent to: Linda Hammond 7555 AL Hwy 168 Boaz, AL Page 9 of 12

10 NORTH ALABAMA RV ers 2017 Rally Schedule Volume 15, Number 9, September 2017 Members please take note of the rallies still needing hosts. You can sign up by send your selection to Randal & Pam Caruthers at I ve also included some nearby RV shows and nearby Good Sam rallies Note: Please make your reservations at least 60 days in advance of each rally, so the Wagon Masters can obtain a count of the attendees for the Hosts. Also let Bob Erickson know your plans, and I will let the whole club know who is attending (include tentative, please). January Knoxville RV Supershow, Sevierville, TN (247 Miles) Good Sam show only, not a rally Go to for info. Good Sam membership required, $8.00 for adults (per day?) January Florida RV Supershow, Tampa, FL (663 Miles) Go to for info. Camping sold out, local RV parks may be available. $10.00 for adults (2d day free). Happy Traveler RV Park also has no vacancies. January Chattanooga RV Supershow, Chattanooga, TN (112 Miles) Good Sam show only, not a rally Go to for info. Good Sam membership required, $8.00 for adults (per day?) February Southeastern Area Rally, Lakeland, FL (651 Miles, 26 miles from Tampa) Location: Lakeland Lindner Regional Airport. Go to the FMCA website for info and to register. See application illustration on last page. March FMCA 95 th Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, Chandler, AZ (1788 Miles) Go to the FMCA website for info and to register March Georgia Good Sam Spring RV Rally, Perry, GA (345 Miles) Go to: ion_spring_2017.pdf for information and registration form. Cost $110 for 3 nights, power available if you apply early. April DeSoto State Park (79 Miles) Location: 7104 DeSoto Parkway NE, Fort Payne, AL 35967Ph Charges $34.65 per night Rally Hosts: TBD Page 10 of 12

11 May Huntsville, ( (11 Miles) Location: Ditto Landing, AL Ph Charges: $XX.00 per night or less depending on the discounts at that date. Rally Hosts: Pam & Randal Caruthers June (new dates!) Joe Wheeler State Park ( (40 Miles) Location: Rogersville, AL Ph: Charges: $ for 3 nights (ask for senior discount at check-in!). Rally Hosts: Jim & Betty Duncan July Mountain Glen RV Campground, ( (125 Miles) Location: 6182 Brockdell Road, Pikeville, TN. Ph Charges: $31.00 per night or less depending on the discounts at that date. Rally Hosts: TBD July FMCA 96 th International Convention Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, IN (400 Miles) Caravan parking July Early parking in the holding area (as identified on date of entry credential beginning July 9. Tram service begins July August Honeycomb Campground (45 Miles) Rescheduled! Location: Mile marker 308 on Hwy 431. Phone: Discount for Golden Age passport Rally Hosts: Chuck & Sue Borcher Hoover RV Park September 7-10 lots/ (112 Miles) Location: 1000 RV Trace, Hoover AL Ph , contact Guy Corney Charges: $49 for phone reservation, $45 for online reservation. Plan to visit Barber Motorsports Museum (26 miles, 28 minutes away, $15; we MAY pay extra for a docent-led tour ($27 each) if we have at least 10 attendees). We also plan to conduct a pet cute trick contest. Judges will be members WITHOUT pets! Start your training now! Online reservations will be accepted starting about July 20, the application is still being tested. Signup is required. All 170 sites are currently available for our dates. Page 11 of 12

12 Rally Hosts: Bob & Kathie Erickson September Georgia Good Sam Fall RV Rally, Perry, GA (345 Miles) Go to: for information and registration form October Honeycomb Campground (45 Miles) Location: Mile marker 308 on Hwy 431. Phone: Discount for Golden Age passport Rally Hosts: Chuck & Sue Borcher December 9 Holiday Celebration, Luncheon, business meeting Location TBD Tentative Campgrounds for Rally Sites Campground Name Phone Number City Miles $/Night Windemere Cove RV Resort Langston, AL 54 $ Rock Island State Park Rock Island, TN 110 $ Talladega Creekside Talladega, AL 106 $ River Country Gadsden, AL 74 Piney Grove Dennis, MS 117 $ Tishomingo State Park Tishomingo, MS 110 $ Page 12 of 12