RV Home Yet?

Seniors - should they pay more for national parks?

Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat, thinks that seniors should pay more to use our national parks. Currently seniors age 62 and older can buy a lifetime access pass for $10 -- allowing them to bypass entrance fees at national parks. Adults under 62 who purchase an America the Beautiful pass pay $80 and must purchase a new pass each year. This pass only provides free admission; seniors still pay for camping or RV sites if they stay in a park.

According to the article at CNN Money, "In 2012, the National Park Service sold 500,000 senior passes raising $5 million, the agency said. Doubling the seniors' pass to $20 could generate $10 million." NPS faces a $153 million budget gap so an extra $5 million would be a small drop in the bucket.

While most seniors could afford $20 for the pass or even $10 a year, one point I have to raise: Would NPS be able to keep that money? And for how long? In the past, parks and our other public lands have been allowed to generate revenue and that money either gets included in their budget and can't be used for the extras (like repairs to infrastructure that are so desperately needed) or it later becomes absorbed into the general fund.

I just read an article the other day about Congressional appropriations to airports in several states that have little or even no air traffic. If some of these pork barrel gifts were cleaned up and out of the budget, think what money we would have available to protect our parks and public lands - and other worthwhile projects. Don't get me started!

What do you think? Vote at our poll. Feel free to leave a comment below. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Poll: How many meals a day do you eat in your RV(on average)?

Do you actually cook in your RV?! I've met RVers who love that they can cook their own meals and others who see RVing as a vacation and why cook? What about you? Vote at our poll. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Ah- sweetness at Hammond's!

Hammond's Candies Factory is close to the National Western Complex in Denver so another morning I took the free factory tour. They give tours six days a week, Monday through Saturday. Tours run every half hour (typically on the half hour), Monday-Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm and Saturdays 10:00am - 3:00pm and last about 30 minutes. My tour was on Saturday so the production areas weren't as busy as they would have been on a weekday, but it was still quite fascinating.

After a short video introduction, we moved to the first area. Basically candy is made from sugar, corn syrup and water - then throw in flavorings and coloring. When it comes out of the vat, it is a huge hunk. They may stretch it or work it and then they put this big hunk on a table and cut it with giant shears into workable pieces. Jerry, our guide, gave us an explanation of the process and answered questions.

The photo below left shows a smaller hunk with the worker pounding holes in it to let air escape. It was difficult to get shots since machines blocked our view. Cameras set at various locations did focus in on certain stations (above right). The chocolate area and packing areas weren't as busy. However, just before we went in the retail store, we were given the opportunity to get a sample of one of their "oops." Various flavors of candy canes were in boxes to choose from. I passed on that since candy canes are not appealing to me, though they now come in all sorts of flavors.

A lot of candies in the store were tempting- particularly the chocolate ones. This time of year they are making their signature chocolate bunny - with one lop ear. I did get George some seconds of Mitchell Sweets, a candy that takes three days to make. I did help him eat them too when I got home. Very rich and yummy! While I was perusing the counter with individual chocolate pieces, the owner and his son came in. Kathy, behind the counter, told me it was the owner. Andy Schuman said his son Joey was the president - probably in charge of tasting! Andy recommended a chocolate-covered sea foam that was scrumptious. I bought a few of those also and a dark chocolate peanut butter cup. I got their photo with Kathy, who also gives tours.

This is another tour I recommend to add to your RV travels if you are in the Denver area. While it's free to take the tour, you probably won't leave the premises without spending some money. There are so many varieties - there is bound to be something to appeal to your taste buds. Their candies are handmade- very rare anymore and the only factory of its size to do so. This keeps quality high so they can sell to stores like Whole Foods, which allows no artificial ingredients. For their candy they use foods like beets and red cabbage to give the candy its color. Other fine stores also feature their candies.

There is room to park an RV in the lot. The factory and store are just a couple of miles north of I-70 on Washington Street and just east of I-25, so convenient to reach. Weekends are low-key but you'd get a better flavor of the process on a weekday. I think Jerry said they have their own Lucy and Ethyl working one of the chocolate candy lines but I was disappointed they weren't on duty. Next time I come during the week! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

 

A little R & R - Coors Brewery Tour

When I'm at an RV show I may have time in the morning or middle of the day to do some exploring. I started looking for things to do and found I was not all that far from Golden, CO and the Miller Coors Brewery. They offer free tours. That should be fun!

The brewery stretches for 5 miles and sits on 55 acres. It's an imposing sight. Visitor parking is at Ford and 13th where a shuttle bus takes you to the start of the tour. The bus makes a quick tour through Golden, mentioning some of the history of the town and the brewery. Adolph Coors apprenticed in Prussia and opened his brewery here in 1873.

After a photo with an optional Coors hat and signing in, displays show older photos and paraphernalia. Now all tours are audio tours. You push a number on your phone-like device to hear information about each station.

Displays and videos explain the process. On the right is a photo of mature hops plants. I had never stopped to think what a hop was but I would never have pictured it like this!

 

The most imposing sight is where huge brew kettles are used to process the grains and hops. A sign above the kettles on the left say they are brew kettles while the ones on the right are "mash tuns," which mix the grain and water and heat it to break down the enzymes in the grain. Coors beer is known for its pristine Rocky Mountain water, giving it a special taste. This is the third ingredient in brewing beer.

The next area was the packaging and shipping area. Coors and Keystone beers whizzed by on conveyer belts.

The last stop - no, the next to last - was the tasting room. Each guest 21 and over could taste three beers. The full line of Miller and Coors was available so it was a popular place. In fact most of the people who rode over on the bus with me were in their 20s. I wonder how often they come? And, you could also purchase your photo with a choice of backgrounds in photo format or on a keyring. I decided that $15 for one or $20 for two of me with a Coors cowboy hat in front of the brewing kettles was not worth the price!

And the very last stop, of course, was the gift shop. Lots of choices here too. I did pick up a gift and some postcards. If you come to Golden I do recommend the tour, even if you are not a beer drinker- and especially if you are. It was quite informative.

Golden looks like a nice town. You receive a "Golden" buck when you take the tour. You present this to a participating store or restaurant and get a 15 or 20 percent discount. You rub off a circle to find out the discount when you pay. I had a tasty bison burger at the Buffalo Rose Saloon, but had to head back without exploring more.

 

There is room to park RVs on the Miller Coors visitor lot. You are a block from Washington Street, the main street, so could probably leave it there while you explore if the lot wasn't full. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

CO RV show entertainment

In Kansas City, the other "entertainment" was Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel. The Colorado RV, Sports, Boat & Travel Show, including boats and other gear for sportsmen, has more of a variety. Besides two other speakers on aspects of RVing and camping, there are three other entertainment/seminars. Down in the boat area, besides beautiful boats including fishing pontoons, are demonstrations on bass fishing and trophy pike fishing techniques. The demonstrator stands on an elevated platform above fishing tanks so he can show the crowd the techniques to use.

There is also a great American duck race. It takes place the same time as my talks so I've been unable to attend, but I'm told they use real mallard ducks and kids race them. I saw an excited little girl whose duck had won the race.

A real crowd pleaser is the Lumberjills Log Rolling Adventure. Four women who compete or have competed on college woodsman (woodswoman?) teams demonstrated several skills, dividing into two teams to add some excitement. As is typical, they come from all walks of life. First up was the two women crosscut. Then they demonstrated the axe throw with razor-blade sharp axes. At my angle I couldn't get a picture of both the target and woman throwing it. Whew- I would not want that axe coming at me!

 

The next demo was the underhand chop. In just a few short minutes, they had chopped a big triangular chunk out of one side, then turned and chopped a second out of the other. At that point, the block broke in two. And, the most interesting was the log roll. Because they were in a plastic-lined tank, they could not wear the typical spiked shoes. The log had carpet on it and they wore tennis shoes. The object, of course, is to move the log, splash your opponent, lunge toward her so she falls off before you do. Opponents cannot touch each other or cross a line, but they can change the direction that the log rolls. Hesitate and in the water you go!

Today is the last day of the Colorado RV, Sports, Boat & Travel Show at the National Western Complex right off I-170 near I-25 and your last day to see all the new RVs plus other products. I'll be speaking again at 11 and 1. Plus there is always a fishing demo or cheering on the Lumberjills! See the website for a discount ticket.

Teal Tail Feather Campers- very cool!

Make a light weight camper for the back of your truck, a trailer or a shelter in 60 minutes! Teal Tail Feather Campers are purchased as kits with component parts. Panels weigh only 20 pounds each, have 2 inches of insulation and can be made in several sizes and shapes.

I had read a press release about these recently and was intrigued. They are making their public debut here at the Colorado RV, Sports, Boat & Travel Show here in Denver. You can not only purchase the shell, but you can outfit it inside too.

Displayed was a model on a utility trailer. Ryan Speir, sales manager, showed me how the roof can slide partially open, making it ideal for the amateur astronomer. It can be plugged into electricity. And, they are talking to Habitat for Humanity about using these as shelters for the homeless; tents, the usual shelters, have to be replaced periodically because they wear out. These last for years. And, they can be disassembled easily and stored, taking up a fraction of the space.

Check out their website. These versatile campers will especially appeal to the sportsman - for ice fishing, hunting, or a weekend camping trip. They would work well for family camping too, for a shelter from the weather. You might get an idea for a use from looking at pictures there. Better yet, come to the RV show and look for yourself! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

56 Annual Colorado RV, Sports, Boat & Travel Show

I'm speaking at the 56th Annual Colorado RV, Sports, Boat & Travel Show, the last of five I'm doing this season. Unlike the others, it is not located downtown. Instead it is north of downtown at the National Western Complex. It's quite the place- maze-like in that there are levels and rooms off the main area - lots of nooks and crannies. The RV seminar stage is way off in a back corner on the main level. It is marked on the show map.

Each show has had a different character. I thought I'd seen all the new things but was wrong. Several of the shows were geared towards families and weekend campers and sportsmen. There were few high end RVs. Here is the priciest RV I've seen at the shows - the Ikon Renegade. I didn't catch the total price but the show special says payments are $3200+/month! It's built on a Freightliner chassis - very snazzy. It does have a guest bathroom - living the RV lifestyle in luxury! Two other rigs by this same dealer are definitely high end items.

 

 

Since this show also appeals to the sportsman, many booths offer tourist information and items useful to them. I found these Clam tents intriguing- quite roomy. And you can use this one for ice fishing. The other side comes down to protect from the weather. The small ones come in a container you can put on - or drag from - an ATV or snow mobile. I talked to one salesman who said they are going up by Grand Lake after the show for ice fishing. I wasn't aware ice fishing was possible in Colorado. Learn something new every day!

Tomorrow I'll share information about a new modular camper. And, as always, if you are in the area, stop by and say hello. Discount tickets are available online at the show site. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Poll: How much do you spend?

Thought we'd get updated figures for how much it costs to live the RV lifestyle. Besides the everyday expenses, be sure to factor in things like taxes and repairs and once-a-year expenses like insurance or vehicle registration. Vote below. Leave a comment if you'd like. Thanks! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Minneapolis city sights

Minneapolis is a neat city. It's a very clean downtown with lots of food, entertainment and shopping - plus something I've grown to love - skyways! These are elevated, enclosed walkways that connect many buildings downtown. You can make your way to many key places by following the skyways. Yesterday they came in real handy because it was snowing. While you walk further, going between buildings and crossing streets rather than the direct route, it is a quick way to get around plus protected. Nicolette Mall, a pedestrian mall with free buses plus taxis runs several blocks with the Hyatt, where I was staying, at one end. The skyway pictured on the left crosses Nicolette here. And this sculpture is situated along the pedestrian mall.

 

The Foshay Building, which was the first skyscraper in Minneapolis - in fact the Midwest - and for years the tallest one, has an observation deck on the 30th floor. The weather was brisk but it has outstanding views.The building was completed right before the crash and was modeled on the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Now it is surrounded by taller buildings. To the right is a photo when it was first built.

Here are a couple of views from the tower.The building on the left is the AT&T building.

 

 

The IDS building, pictured below, is now the tallest skyscraper in Minneapolis. To its right is a photo taken inside looking up. It is tall!

Foshay Tower was originally built by Wilbur B. Foshay as an office building. It has now been converted to the W Hotel. Very art deco inside but so dark, I couldn't get a good photo. The 27th floor was to be Foshay's residence but the stock market crashed and he lost his fortune. A few years later he was arrested, tried and convicted for fraud for running a pyramid scheme. The Foshay Museum tells about that history and displays newspaper articles and some artifacts like these keys from the original office building.

There are a number of neat old buildings in town. The State Theater in the LaSalle Plaza has a beautiful lobby. Photos of the stage are gorgeous too. I ate next door at The American Burger Bar - delicious bison burger. And I had high tea at the Brit Pub on Nicolette Mall. Not exactly the mood of a tea house but very active on a Saturday afternoon. The scones and clotted cream were delicious, however. And Brit Pub even has lawn bowling on the roof in the summer!

A light rail runs between downtown Minneapolis to the Mall of America. I managed to find my way through the warren of skyways to the station at the end of Nicolette Mall. It had snowed and was snowing. A direct walk would have been faster but the skyways were much more pleasant. The light rail also stops at the airport so that can be a good way to get into town from there. I've enjoyed all the RV shows but, in spite of cold and even snow, I've liked downtown Minneapolis the best of the cities. It feels safe, it's very attractive and people are friendly. If you stay in an RV park somewhere south of town, perhaps Bloomington, the light rail would be an excellent way to get into the city to see downtown Minneapolis. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Another day at the Minneapolis/St Paul RV Show

I went back and looked more closely at the fish/ice houses. They do have round openings with a lid so you can open them for fishing through the ice. Maybe some other northern RV shows have similar units, but this is the first time I've seen one. George, who grew up in northern Minnesota, did ice fishing but in tents or makeshift shelters. They froze their you-know-whats off! Here is an up-close look at the holes plus a look in the back of a camouflage unit that has chairs to sit in while you fish.

Someone at one of my presentations had mentioned a TV that flipped around so you could watch it in the living area or in the bedroom. Pretty nifty. And this trailer has an unusual front. I thought it was a park model at first, but it is a trailer.

It has been interesting to see what vendors choose to exhibit at these shows. In Minneapolis there were very few Class A motorhomes and a lot of trailers. Someone suggested that's because a lot of Minnesotans take a trailer out to a lake during the summer. A trailer surely makes sense for that. Other shows had more toy hauler trailers too. Different RV lifestyles for different folks. That's why there are so many choices!

The next show is back in Denver and is the 56th Annual Colorado RV, Sports, Boat and Travel Show. See the website for discount tickets and information. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak