Information about Gas prices

We've been wandering around the northern US the past few weeks and noticed the price of gas is not is variable as we've been led to believe in the northeast - aka "we have highest price is the US".
As we arrived in the higher altitudes, 89 octane became less than 87 because it has 10% Ethanol.  DA - all our gas in the east has Ethanol.
Then - "Regular" became 85 octane and "Super" became 87 or 88 octane.  Our owners manual says "Don't use 85 octane".
So, now we find 87 octane in the mountains is equal to or higher price than 87 in the northeast.

Once again - watch out for "lying with statistics"!

Slide and Jack maintenance News

On our way west, we stopped at HWH in Moscow, IA to have some work done on our aging Jacks.  Not to our surprise, the right front had to be replaced.  I had been using a pribar to get up most of the time since we were in Florida.  The other 3 needed springs.

After they changed the springs, the left front was slow returning.  So, the lead technician said, "get the WD40".  He then squirts the jack and it returns.

Of course, I said: "Can I say I saw that?".  Yep !


So, this is the closest I have ever seen to maintenance recommendations for jacks and slides - as spoken by an HWH lead technician:

• NEVER spray the jacks with teflon or silicone based products.  They dry out the seals.
• Once a month exercise your jacks and slides.
• If the jacks become slow returning, clean them with "carburator/brake pad cleaner" and spray them with WD40
• Even though working fine, periodically spray the jacks with WD40.

Hope this is helpful.

We are in the "Badlands".  We got to camp in the daddy of BASS OUTFITTERS - CABELAS in Sidney, Nebraska.  Jim Miller will be green with envy.

We hope to make it to Madison about August 9th.
Happy travels.

July 2012 Rally info from Jim & Sherry Miller

Below is an update from Jim & Sherry regarding our return visit to Harborfest.

We have made plans to return to Oswego, NY for Harborfest in July 2012. The Port Authority is renting us the same lot on the lake.

There is plenty of room so if you have a friend with a motor home invite them. A rally is a great way to introduce someone to FMCA. If you send us an email we will add them to our list and keep them up to date.

If you have any questions contact us or any of the other rally hosts.

Jim & Sherry Miller

Alternative to FMCA International

In our investigation of possible places to visit while in the Northwest, we concluded Rapid City, SD was centrally located for an extended visit.
The area is host to the 71st Sturgis motor cycle rally.  Dates are from August 8th-14th (conflicts with FMCA).  But, if you looking for a real exciting alternative to FMCA, check out

http://www.sturgis.com/calendar/schedule.php

They celebrate in class with daily "buffalo chip" beauty contests, 240 min beer and hots daily starting a 9 am.  Judging for beauty contests are solely on bikinis and lingerie. Daily entertainment is from 9 am - 1:30 am

They even publish the fines for various infractions, should we choose to participate.

Sure looks different.

If you go, bring your nitroglycerin.

FMCA Madison Update

Pangburns, Antens and Lindens will be stopping at the Blackhawk RV Park in Rockport, Illinois Aug 6th prior to going to Madison. We will enter the rally site on Aug 7th.

There is free public parking at exit 262 on Rt 12/18 a few blocks from the main gate where we will enter. We could meet there.

If you want to go in with the group, contact Walt at 585-747-6146

Pen-NY Mixers have been asked to help Fingerlakers with handicap parking at the FMCA International.

If you are attending and interested, contact Millie Worden at 585-243-2951

The rally dates are from August 10-13, 2011.

July Rally Information

The July rally has been set and we are returning to Beaver Dams for the first time in several years.  Our Wagon Masters are:  Cole’s, Couture’s, Moore’s, McGlynn’s, and Plaisted’s.
You can view the agenda under NEXT EVENT tab or click on the link below.

http://pennymixers.blogspot.com/p/pen-ny-mixers-next-rally.html

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June Rally Highlights

If you missed the June 2011 Pen-ny Mixer Rally you really missed a lot. Our hosts worked very hard before and during the rally to make it enjoyable for everyone and they succeeded. We had rain off and on, but that did not hinder our fun.

Several coaches arrived on Thursday and enjoyed each others company. Several went to local shops and attractions. The remainder of the coaches arrived on Friday. There were 21 coaches all together. We welcomed new FMCA members Jim and Nancy Smith.

Our hosts prepared sloppy joe,s for everyone for dinner on Friday. Half of the coaches brought salads. It was a great way to kick off the weekend with everyone together.  After dinner our hosts played card bingo.
Saturday we had a continental breakfast followed by our meeting and show n tell. For the rest of the day we were free to visit local attractions. Charlie enjoyed the Curtis Air Museum, several went to the Windmill and other attractions.

The theme of the weekend was Kentucky Derby so of course the women (and Carl) decorated hats in honor of the Derby. Everyone had fun decorating their hats with flowers ribbons etc. Most wore their hats during the dinner and the following derby race.

The Hammondsport Fire Dept prepared a lovely dinner of chicken and biscuits. After dinner the race was on. Our hosts had everything very organized. There were 6 horses racing.(They were kept in a corral so they would not bother us during dinner). Neena made and decorated the horses.

The betting was fast and furious. I noticed that Nancy Smith placed all her money on her husband (Horse # 5). Members were knocking each other over to get to the betting table. Our jockeys were Shirley Moore, Rose McGlynn, Lee Robbins, Jim Smith, John Couture, and Reed Johnson .

Viv Robbins was in charge of the pooper scooper. The crowd cheered the horses on. Something must have
been wrong with Lee Robbins horse, he seemed to lag behind a lot. The winners of the betting made big money on the horses. The bets were $.25.

After the race we enjoyed dessert.

Our hosts did it again on Sunday Morning. They prepared egg & ham on English muffins for all of us. It was a great time for all.

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