The Dalton Highway is the road to take if you simply want to drive as far north as possible in Alaska. Unfortunately for RVers, it's a bumpy, washboard, gravel highway that many may find too rough to travel comfortably. Still. . . for some RVers, it may be worth it -- but only in summer.

From its starting point at the Elliott Highway, it continues for more than 400 miles until nearly reaching the shores of the Arctic Ocean in Deadhorse after crossing the Arctic Circle. Deadhorse is the village that serves the North Slope oilfield, with several hotels, a store and gas station. The community is a superlative of sorts: it is as far north as you can go on Alaska's primary road system, and it is worth exploring, especially if your goal is to dip your toe in the Arctic Ocean.

THE DALTON HIGHWAY BEGINS 85 miles north of Fairbanks and is perhaps one of the roughest roads in Alaska. It was constructed in the mid-1970s to haul freight to and from construction camps and workers building the 800-mile long trans-Alaska oil pipeline that stretches from Prudhoe Bay in the north all the way to the ice-free port of Valdez in Prince William Sound. The road offers relatively little in the way of modern conveniences. The washboards are many, the grades can be steep (as much as 10 and 12 percent in some places) and the big rigs delivering to Prudhoe Bay along the "haul road," as it's called by the locals, can make for uncomfortable traveling companions.

Not all car and RV rental companies allow their vehicles on the Dalton, so check ahead of time and be prepared for this road trip. Carry two spare tires, a jack, tool kit, emergency flares, extra gasoline, oil, wiper fluid and a first aid kit. Bring drinking water and plenty of food. A CB radio is also not a bad idea (monitor channel 19). Travel services are almost nonexistent. The 244-mile stretch north of Coldfoot is the longest service-free stretch of highway in North America.

So, why go to all this bother? Consider the scenery, which includes views of the mighty Yukon River, Atigun Pass (at the crest of the Continental Divide), the caribou of the north slope tundra, 375-million year-old limestone-filled Sukakpak Mountain (elevation 4,459 feet at Mile 203.5) and any number of sweeping mountain vistas opening into the Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic National Park or Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Another trip highlight is crossing the Arctic Circle just past mile 115.

Deadhorse is a company town and not much else. It's several miles from the Arctic Ocean. An oil company road leads north from town, but permits are required to travel on the road. A better way to go is to sign up for a guided tour of the oil fields and the Arctic Coast. They are available in Deadhorse from Tour Arctic at (907-659-2368).

In Deadhorse, a good place to stay is at the Arctic Caribou Inn and RV camp.

PLANNING A TRIP TO ALASKA? Find the best selection of books and DVDs at RVbookstore.com.

A fulltiming couple we know just completed their annual foray into the frustrations of tax filings. Yep, they had to file for an extension this spring, and spun it all out until nearly the last minute. “What’s almost as bad as having to do the paperwork,” said one, “is trying to figure out what to do with all the dratted paperwork!”

Sure enough, for those of us who live in small–and definitely finite–spaces, keeping tax records can be a real test. One of the major US legal firms, Duane Morris, says that it’s not just a matter of hanging onto your paperwork for a year or two. In an internet article published by the firm, their view of how long to keep tax records could prove to be scarey for many of us, “An arguably good rule of thumb for keeping tax records is to add a year to the IRS statute of limitations period. Using this approach, you would retain your income tax records for a minimum of four years (three-year general statute of limitations period plus one year), but it may be more prudent to retain them for seven years, which is what the IRS generally, yet informally, recommends.”

For RVers who are self-employed, visions of ledgers, receipts, and other underlying documents floating around in the “basement storage” for the next seven years takes on a nightmarish quality. Happily, that same legal firm provides a possible way out: “The IRS permits taxpayers to store certain tax documents electronically. Although the electronic storage rules are aimed primarily at businesses and sole proprietors, they presumably apply to individuals as well. These rules permit taxpayers to convert paper documents to electronic images, destroy the paper documents and maintain only the electronic files. Certain requirements must be met to take advantage of an electronic storage system (e.g., the electronic storage system must ensure that an accurate and complete transfer of the hard copy information is achieved and that an efficient retrieval of the information is possible, among other requirements).

Many computer-savvy RVers already have the necessary equipment for that job. Some printers have built-in scanners, and nearly all laptops will “burn” CDs. Attaching little receipts to full size sheets may make the scanning process easier. Not “techie” enough for the task? Check around, you’ll likely find a business that will do the scans for you. Just bear in mind that any documents you “turn loose” for processing are sensitive, and in this era of identity theft, be careful whom you choose.

We find it helpful to keep a hard copy of each year’s tax return available for reference. We also keep a copy of the return as an electronic “pdf” file so we can print one should a need arise.

Finally, the big disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult with an attorney or tax professional before undertaking “alternative” storage of tax records, and to determine exactly what records you should preserve and for how long.

RV enthusiasts looking for a memorable Christmas experience might want to hop aboard a sled and head up to North Pole, Alaska. While New York City may have its tree-lighting ceremony, only in North Pole, Alaska does the holiday season kick off with the lighting of a giant frozen turkey sculpture. The ice-sculpture bird, standing over eight feet tall, will be illuminated on Thanksgiving Day to officially start the second annual "North Pole Christmas in Ice" festival and sculpting competition.

Residents are still ebullient about the success of last year's event, which sold more than 3,700 tickets and welcomed 24 ice artists from Alaska and China dueling to carve the winning Christmas-themed sculpture from a single block of ice.

This holiday season, ice artists will again transform the venue at Santa Land RV Park in North Pole into a winter wonderland of ice sculptures and children's play park. The competitors will face off Thursday, December 4, and the venue will be open to the public every day until the end of the month.

North Pole, Alaska, population 2,000, is ten miles southeast of Fairbanks. You really don't need a sled to get there: a car or RV will do just fine.

We reported last week at RVtravel.com that Reno, Nevada is now enforcing a decades old law that prohibits RVers from staying overnight in their RVs in casino parking lots. So far, we have heard of nobody being arrested or even fined for staying overnight. The Atlantis Casino Resort has been putting notifications on the windshields of RVs in its parking lots, warning that it's illegal to stay overnight there instead of in a designated RV park.

The Grand Sierra Resort in Reno still allows RVs to stay overnight on its property because it has a special permit to allow it. The city of Reno says any casino or business could apply for one.

Reno's next door neighbor Sparks, just east on I-80, has no law prohibiting overnight stays in RVs. The Nugget Casino is reported to once again be allowing RVs to stay there after banning the practice years ago.

“The one who dies with most toys, wins!” So goes the ‘materialist’s maxim.’

For those who would take up the road to fulltime RVing, unloading clutter from their lives is a necessity, unless they can somehow bring everything along. For some, it almost becomes a chicken and egg thing: Do they take up RVing to rid their life of clutter, or do they rid their life of clutter to go RVing? For most it is the latter, but surprisingly, some are taking up the RV lifestyle to simplify their lives, and getting rid of possessions is part and parcel.

Recently, the Arizona Republic visited with a family who are leaving the “traditional” house, garage, and storehouses of possessions behind to live for a couple of years in a travel trailer as an experiment in family closeness. Elizabeth Dahlberg put it this way, “We would walk in our home after being up at the lake and just be overwhelmed with everything we had. You almost feel like you’re drowning. You’re so overwhelmed that everywhere you look there’s something to clear off the counter.”

Some interesting tips surfaced in the story that fulltimers and those who’re working toward the goal can apply in their own attempts to lighten up on the possessions. “A wedding memento, vacation souvenir, piece of clothing or art and so on loses its emotional power, as do most things,” said Judi Culbertson.

Culbertson is the author of The Clutter Cure, a book on getting your life simplified. She adds, “And as soon as you don’t feel that emotional tug when you see them, it’s time to say goodbye. Emotionally, that keeps you ready for new adventures.”

Another ‘clutter expert,’ and author of The One-Minute Organizer is Donna Smallin. Her comments also appeared in the Republic story and bear some thought by those seeking to minimize possessions.

“We fill our lives with stuff because we’re trying to fill a void, perhaps emotional or spiritual, she said. And although she applauds people who crawl out from under all their stuff to explore deeper connections to spirit and family, she cautions them to check the bad habits that led to their cluttered lives.

“Smallin suggests starting with two questions before bringing anything new into the home: ‘Do I need this, or do I just want this?’

“Most things are a ‘want.’ Even then, people should consider whether there is something in their home that can be repurposed to perform the same function or whether the desired item can be borrowed.”

One RVing couple we know sold their relatively small (900 square foot) home a couple of years ago. Since then they’ve been laying out $65 a month for a storage unit to save some of the things left over from their sticks-and-bricks life. Slowly though, they’ve pared down those things, and plan on having a big garage sale in a few months. After that, it’s ‘bye bye’ to the storage unit rent–and the extra clutter. They will tell you, that even living in the confined space of an RV, keeping down the clutter of “stuff” brought home is a constant challenge. But they add, it’s a fight well worth it.

Photo: frozenchipmunk on flickr.com

If you already have the vehicle that you plan to tow with, you need to find a trailer that is within the weight range of your vehicle. This was a common problem I ran into during my days as an RV sales manager. Customers would come in to purchase a travel trailer only to find out that their tow vehicle did not have a very good tow rating. It can be extremely frustrating to find the perfect travel trailer or fifth wheel and then be told that you can't tow it. On the other hand it can be worse if you go to a less reputable RV dealer and the sales person tells you that you can tow it! This happens every day, and this is why you need to be armed with the right information before you buy.

It is not my intention to upset any RV dealers, but if you go to a dealership and they don't ask you for information about the tow vehicle, it would be wise to go elsewhere. The first question my salespeople were required to ask was if you already had a tow vehicle. If so, they would look in our towing book and identify the tow capacity for your particular vehicle. Then we would inform you of your options. We lost many sales because the customer could not safely pull the camper they wanted, but we did not allow them to jeopardize themselves or their family.

If you don't already have the tow vehicle, it's a good idea to find the camper you want first and then buy a vehicle that is capable of safely towing it. I will caution you again, be careful if you listen to the salesperson at the auto dealership. They are only interested in selling you a vehicle, and a large percentage of salespeople do not understand vehicle tow ratings. Call a reputable RV dealer and ask them to check the vehicles tow rating before you buy it.

I once had a customer that found the camper they wanted and went to purchase a new truck. The salesperson told him the truck could tow 10,000 pounds. He went on to show my customer where 10,000 pounds was stamped into the hitch receiver on the back of the truck. The 10,000 pounds stamped in the receiver is what the receiver itself is rated for. It has absolutely nothing to do with the tow rating for the truck. My customer bought the truck and brought it to us to have the brake control and wiring done. I looked the truck up in my book and it was rated to tow 5,400 pounds. The camper weighed 6,000 pounds. I could write a book about stories like this, but our goal is to prevent this from happening to you.

There are many things to consider before you buy a tow vehicle. How often do you plan to tow? Where do you plan to tow? Is this vehicle going to be used strictly for towing, or will you be using it for everyday driving too? Are you interested in a pop-up, travel trailer or fifth wheel? How much does the camper you want weigh? Once you have answered these questions you can start looking for that perfect tow vehicle.

The manufacturer determines a vehicles tow rating. It is the maximum amount of weight that the vehicle can safely tow. The manufacturer takes many factors into consideration when determining a tow rating. They look at the vehicles engine size, transmission, axle ratio, chassis, suspension, brakes, tires, cooling capacity and many other things. Now this may all sound complicated, but the bottom line is determining how much can the vehicle safely tow. Do not assume that just because you're buying a truck it can tow a lot of weight. Most manufacturers offer vehicles with tow packages. A tow package upgrades the vehicles suspension, brakes, tires, and cooling system. They also add items like engine and transmission oil coolers to protect the vehicles major components when you are towing.

Learn more about using your RV and its operation with Mark Polk's best-selling DVDs, books and eBooks.

Headed to Alaska? If you'll be doing so with an RV, then you'll need to know where to stay. Maybe this will help.

Federal and State campgrounds are available throughout Alaska. A few even have electrical hookups and dumping stations. For fee information contact the Alaska Public Lands Information Center at (907) 271-2737 or click here.

Private campgrounds are also available throughout the state. Visiting the Food & Lodging section of the website for private campgrounds. You can also contact the Alaska Campground Owner's Association, PO Box 111005, Anchorage, AK 99511-1005 or by visiting this website.

Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina — Fulltime RVers understand the need for the availability of inexpensive–preferably free–camping. After spending some long hours on the road, we know how important it is to be able to pull off the highway for a few hours and get some rest. It’s not just a “lifestyle” concern, it’s also a matter of safety. While hard numbers are hard to get a handle on, any road trip will tell you that plenty of RVers find big box stores–particularly Walmart–to be the respite they need from highway hypnosis.

Usually within easy distance of the highway, with easy pull though access, and shopping close at hand, Walmart and similar operations are just what those making a quick overnight stop are looking for.

But there’s always the fly in the ointment.

Roanoke Crossing’s gadfly of the day is one Fred Israel, apparently a self-appointed savior of the RVing community. Concerned that RVers could be endangering themselves, Fred sent a letter to the local planning board. According to a story in the local paper, Daily Herald,  Israel writes the board that, “Parking lot camping can be hazardous to the health and safety of RV enthusiasts and the public.” Asking the government agency to act on the issue, Israel fleshes out the ‘hazards’ by adding, “They can be a threat to public health and safety and impose a burden on local taxpayers. Also, they encourage crime and can generate refuse and garbage.”

Hitting the planning board members where they live, Israel also wrote, “Out of town RV enthusiasts place an undue burden on local government not offset by taxes or fees paid by these visitors when they use free overnight parking . . . Actually you are condoning people to sleep on our streets by overlooking the whole picture of why this should not be permitted. The state of North Carolina (Welcome Centers) do not allow overnight camping.”

Shades of Professor Harold Hill ala The Music Man, there’s indeed trouble in River City. Before you know it, those RVers will be ‘peeking in the pool hall windows after school.’ But as in the case of Prof. Hill, Fred Israel may have his own agenda: Israel owns the RV Resort at Carolina Crossroads, an area RV park.

Israel obviously has deep feelings on the matter, when he writes regarding ‘out of town RVers’: They compete unfairly with local RV parks and campgrounds that are a part of the community which pay taxes and fees that support local government services benefiting all citizens. The result is to deprive these local RV parks and campgrounds of essential business and to reduce their positive contributions to the community.”

At least one member of the planning board is interested in Israel’s concerns. City Planning and Development Director George W. Gurley Jr. told the Herald that he feels the planning board should look into the matter more deeply. “We’re probably talking about something that’s going to be a sensitive issue. We want to look at it and evaluate it,” Gurley said. It’s possible that George Gurley would like to hear the other half of the argument. His e-mail at city hall is ggurley@roanokerapidsnc.com.

Unless and until the planning board decides to clamp down on ‘parking lot camping,’ RVers will probably continue to haunt the local Walmart. Their alternative is to stay overnight at Fred’s place for anywhere between $37 and $42. Of course, at Fred’s you get electricity.

How small an RVs get? This is sort of the Teardrop version of the motorhome -- about as small as you can get, and only three tires to deal with! Don't try packing too much weight in this tiny RV, which was spotted in Germany.

Alaska State Parks depends on volunteers to help manage and maintain its parks. For many RVers, the most sought-after positions are as camp hosts. Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 summer season.

What Do Campground Hosts Do?
Hosts are on‑site representatives of Alaska State Parks. They welcome campers, acquaint them with park facilities and regulations, answer questions on local and statewide attractions, and help visitors plan their trips. Hosts help the park rangers with the day‑to‑day operation and maintenance of campgrounds; this includes litter pickup, light janitorial maintenance, and repairs. Special park projects can be designed based on a host's skills and interests. All hosts must have enthusiasm for working with the public, a willingness to learn about Alaska, and the desire to accept new challenges.

What is a Campground Host's Season?
The camping season in Alaska is generally from mid May through mid September. Some campgrounds are open year round or have extended seasons. Hosts are requested to volunteer 30 to 40 hours per week for at least four to six weeks. Hosts may stay the entire season and some areas may rotate hosts among campgrounds for a broader experience.

Where Do Hosts Live?
Volunteer hosts live in their own motorhome, trailer or other RV at a special campsite. Because campground hosts are the "ambassadors" for Alaska State Parks, their "residence" must be neat and well‑maintained. Alaska State Park campgrounds are rustic, but clean and beautiful. Each campsite has a parking pad, a picnic table, and a fire pit. Each campground has water, latrines, and trash containers. Some host locations have access to telephone and electricity. Nearby communities and lodges have sanitary dump stations and most other services. Generally, the campgrounds are near recreation attractions -- lakes, streams, mountains, fishing, and wonderful views. A few campgrounds have a small frame cottage or log cabin for the hosts to stay in. This is noted under the category of Amenities listed with each position description.


What Will Hosts Receive?
Campground hosts stay free in an Alaska State Park campground and have free use of all facilities. Each host or host couple will be trained by the ranger staff and will receive a volunteer uniform. In addition, a subsistence payment may be available for longer commitments, ranging from $100 to $500 a month.

Learn more about being a camp host or other volunteer at Alaska State Parks.

The Silver Slipper Casino, Mississippi's first land-built casino and a casualty of Hurricane Ike, reopened on September 6, just two months shy of its second anniversary. "We suffered minimal damage to the exterior and our lower level entrance but our gaming floor is in perfect shape," stated John N. Ferrucci, COO and General Manager of Silver Slipper Casino. "Like so many, we learned a lot from Katrina, so we had a plan in place and prepared for the worst. As soon as it was safe to return, our team immediately assessed the damage and worked tirelessly in an effort to re-open."

All three of the Slipper's restaurants are now open. The Jubilee features a $7.95 lunch buffet, as well as a $9.95 dinner and Sunday brunch buffet special throughout the month of September. Additionally, the Slipper is moving forward with its September promotions including an A. J. Foyt Racing Custom Ford Mustang giveaway, November 9th, a $20,000 Weekend Cash Blast giveaway each weekend in September, free entertainment, big screen football action and much more.

The Slipper's beachfront RV park is temporarily closed. However, management hopes to have it open soon.

Silver Slipper Casino is located on the beach at 5000 South Beach Blvd. in Hancock County, Mississippi.

Reno, Nevada does not want RVers staying overnight for free in its casinos' parking lots. For 12 years, a law has been on the books that prohibited such "camping," but it has not been enforced.

Now, after countless RV stays in casino lots and other public parking areas, the city claims that such RVs are health hazards. "I've observed people stepping out of their RV and (urinating) outside the door," city code enforcer Alex Woodley told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "We've had individuals use a Wal-Mart lot and instead of being a good citizen, at 2 a.m. they'll dump their gray water and take off, leaving a hazardous situation."

Already, the city has received about two dozen e-mails from RV owners who wrote of the convenience of overnighting in casino parking lots and patronizing the casino and restaurants as well as other retail establishments. Many said they would boycott the city in the future.

Mayor Bob Cashell acknowledged that only a fraction of the RVers cause problems but added, "There's always that one-half percent that screws it up for everybody."

If you would like to comment, you can write the mayor at bob@bobcashell.com .

Reno's next door neighbor, Sparks, has no such "no parking" laws on its books.

(Sept. 15, 2008) -- With the rise of the Canadian dollar over the past year, some Canadians have been quick to assume that buying all goods in the United States will save them money. However, when buying an RV, it can in fact be more expensive and troublesome to buy from a dealer located across the border.

According to Canadian RV dealers, the strength of the Canadian dollar over many months has enabled them to have more buying power when purchasing from manufacturers. This means that Canadian RV dealers are often able to offer the same prices as U.S. dealers can.

"It's a myth that everything is cheaper in the U.S.," said Go RVing Canada Spokesperson Catherine Fortin LeFaivre. "And in fact, when considering all of the hassle and the costs associated with bringing a vehicle across the border, most Canadians are better off purchasing their RV at their local Canadian RV dealership."

Factors to consider that might make an RV cross border shopping experience more expensive and troublesome than previously assumed include:

--Numerous brokerage and duty fees associated with importing a vehicle into Canada.
--Travel costs (hotel, gas, food) associated with traveling a longer distance to shop and buy the unit.
--The cost of the difference of the exchange rate (if the Canadian dollar is not exactly at par).
--Lengthy vehicle importation paperwork required by Canada Border Agency and Transport Canada.
--Temporary licensing requirement to bring the vehicle home.
--Costs and work of converting an RV to comply with numerous Canadian standards (which differ from U.S. standards) within a limited time period.
--Extra service costs for warranty repairs.
--The unavailability of financing at some U.S. dealership due to Canadian residency/ citizenship.
--Insurance and registration complications.

"It's important to be able to maintain a relationship with your local RV dealer so that he or she can offer you advice and assistance about your RV for many years to come," said Fortin LeFaivre. "When buying from a U.S. dealer, it makes it very difficult and costly for the customer to just pop in and ask for help."

Before assuming that cross border will save a Canadian consumer money, Go RVing Canada recommends checking with local Canadian RV dealers to see if a similar price to that of the U.S. dealer can be offered and to examine the advantages of local service. "Buying from a Canadian RV dealer can often times save you time, hassle, and money," said Fortin LeFaivre.

Here are some ideas for good places to visit in Alaska with an RV. The website Campgrounds-Alaska.com polled its readers about their favorite destinations in the state. Here, with favorites listed from top down, are the places and attractions they liked best.

• Eagle Alaska and the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve
• Glacier Bay Tours from Skagway, Alaska
• Haines Alaska
• Hyder Alaska - Accessed from the Cassiar Highway in British Columbia.
• Iliamna Alaska - Location of the future Pebble Copper and Gold Strip Mine
• Independence Mine State Historical Park
• Katmai National Park
• Denali Park and Mount McKinley
• Kodiak Island
• McCarthy Alaska
• Misty Fjords National Monument
• Prince of Wales Island
• Prince William Sound and Whittier Alaska.
• Wrangell Saint Elias National Park

(SEPT 1, 2008) -- After 16 years in business, Suzanne Spanjer has closed her Chena Marina RV Park in Fairbanks for good -- visitors just aren’t showing up. Vehicle crossings from Canada are down nearly 20 percent this year when compared with the same year-to-date period in 2007. According the Fairbanks News-Miner, as of Friday, Aug. 29, 7,050 vehicles with 16,000 people had crossed into Alaska in 2008, compared to 8,747 vehicles with 19,668 passengers for the same time period last year.

And there are far fewer motorhomes. And those that do come are often European vacationers who fly into Whitehorse, Yukon, rent RVs, and tour the roads of Yukon and Alaska before boarding a flight home from Anchorage or Fairbanks.

At milepost 1083 of the Alaska Highway, about halfway between Tok and Whitehorse, Loren Maluorno owns and operates Destruction Bay RV Lodge on the shores of Kluane Lake. Despite the scenery, vacationers are passing the place by, Maluorno said. His business is down at least 30 percent this year, and he hears plenty of talk from other operators who are closing down early.

High fuel prices are the reason. “People are still coming, but they’re not driving up the road,” Spanjer said. “Nobody is out on the roads. They’re gone.”

SOURCE: FAIRBANKS NEWS-MINER

U.S. citizens and other with a conviction for drunk driving or another offense -- even one in the distant past and considered minor in the USA -- may be turned away at the Canadian border when trying to enter the country. Members of inadmissible classes include those who have been convicted of offenses including shoplifting, theft, assault, dangerous driving, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of illegal substances, etc., or of indictable criminal offenses (including assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, etc.). As well, those who have been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) are considered members of an inadmissible class.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol is regarded as an extremely serious offense in Canada, which makes anyone with a conviction ineligible to enter the country.

Those who have received traffic violations including parking/speeding tickets, etc., and other minor violations (i.e. littering, etc.) most likely will not be prohibited from entering Canada. Similarly, those with juvenile convictions (those committed while under age 18) most likely will not be prohibited from entering Canada unless they could have been tried as an adult for their offenses.

In recent years, with more sophisticated sharing of computer records, would-be visitors with criminal have been turned away with greater frequency. Americans who wish to visit Canada can apply for what is termed a "Minister's Approval of Rehabilitation," which may give them permission to enter.

The Mississippi Gaming Commission ordered the 12 casinos located along the Gulf Coast to be closed as of Sunday morning (8/31/08). Employees and local residents joined the many visitors in town for the Labor Day weekend in evacuating to higher ground. All the casinos of Mississippi's Gulf coast had been swept out to sea when Katrina hit three years ago. However, the path of the current hurricane, Gustav, is somewhat west of the Mississippi casinos, so -- while they were evacuated -- casino management, employees and guests were hoping for the best. The casinos in Mississippi had all been totally rebuilt after Katrina.

In Louisiana, all casinos along the coast were also closed today. Harrahs in New Orleans and L'Auberge du Lac and Isle of Capri in Lake Charles are sitting directly in Gustav's expected landfall area.

Coushatta in Kinder, LA (somewhat north of the coast) also closed temporarily. Three years ago, in the aftermath of Katrina, Coushatta's cottages and RV park sites were filled with evcacuees for many months while the cleanup and repairs took place in New Orleans.

By some reports, there are over 250 campground hosts working throughout the state of Colorado. And they must have some stories to tell. Aside from giving directions, stocking toilet paper, and selling firewood, it’s hard to imagine part of the duty assignment for the camp hosts up at Wolford Mountain Campground: Hand over $20 bills to those who bring a live pike caught in the adjacent reservoir.

Live pike? Apparently somebody with an unbalanced view introduced the pike to the Colorado river-fed reservoir earlier this year. The pike are pretty predatory, and the local water district wants to get rid of them as quickly as possible, hence the bounty.

Paying for pike is all in a day’s work, as they say.

The Denver Post reports that campground hosts really save the day for Colorado parks of all sorts, from local operations to federally owned.

“It’s a perfect situation for three or four months,” said Kevin Bittmann who, along with his wife, Karen, works as a Cherry Creek State Park campground host.

“We won the baby-boomer jackpot. We spend summers here, and then we travel and go back to our house in Arizona in October until the next camping season.”

According to the Post, a campground host is, “a hybrid of camp counselor and den mother. (Law enforcement is left to park rangers or local sheriffs’ offices.)

“They greet new campers and bid farewell to the departees. They make sure tents are staked in the designated area and shush noisy campers during nighttime quiet hours. Perhaps most important, they answer many, many questions.”

And its an assignment that exceeds the description of a “job.” Says Bittman, “You know how you feel when you go to Hawaii or someplace and you don’t want to ever go home? That’s how we’ve always felt here.”

Photo: Denver Post

To learn more about opportunities as campground hosts in state parks around the US, check out the author’s book, Camp Hosting USA, available at a special price through RV Bookstore.

Tim and Renee McRae didn’t dream about running away to join the circus when they were kids. They just sort of fell into it. Today, and their two teenage sons live in Class A motorhome and travel most of the year, making the circus a family business.

Tim recently told a blogger for the SF Weekly.com that his start with the circus got a most unusual start. In the mid 1990’s he had a far more ordinary job: Forklift driver in a warehouse. But all that changed with a late night telephone call from a cousin with a problem. It seemed the relative had started a circus, but his “big cat” act man wasn’t able to get along with the lions and tigers (oh my!). He offered the job to McRae who recalls, “I said ‘Heck yeah!’” recalls McRae with a laugh. “Actually, I said I’d have to talk to my wife, but she said she’d always liked circuses so let’s go. Later that month I was in the cage with four lions on one side of me and three tigers on the other.”

Ah, but what about the children? It didn’t take long for them to get in on the act. Jordan, now 18, and Dorian–two years younger–have parts with the family’s current employer, Circus Vargas. Juggling and unicycle riding are their forte, when they aren’t home schooling. An older brother, Adrian is off working for Ringling Brothers, working as a lighting technician.

Being on the road in an RV for a circus family does have its differences from other fulltimers. Sticking to the show schedule 44 weeks a year does tend to tie you down. But McRae looks at his life as a bit of an adventure, “Circus life is cool. We have our own little community and we travel around from place to place,” he says, stubbing out his cigarette. “If you’ve gotta do something, this ain’t bad.”

Stock photo: http2007 on flickr.com

UK -- Here's what's been unflatteringly described as a "garden shed on wheels," a British motor vehicle museum says this 1908 caravan (travel trailer to us folks in the US) is the oldest existing recreational vehicle designed to be pulled with a car.

Visit the Motor Museum in Llangollen, Denbighshirem to check it out for yourself.