RV book uncovers hidden treasures
New in the travel section of your favorite bookstore is an updated version of an old classic.
“Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways” by Jamie Jensen is just out in its fourth edition.
This book is not for the RVers who are in a rush or spend their nights parked at the Super Wal-Mart.
It is a gem of a book for independent-minded travelers who can’t resist “scenic route” or “two-headed snake” signs.
“The simple act of avoiding the soulless interstates, with their soggy franchises and identical chains,” said Jensen, “opens up a vast, and much friendlier, two-lane world.”
Jensen has traveled more than 400,000 miles over the past 20 years in search of fascinating stretches of two-lane blacktop.
“I love the offbeat things,” he said during a recent telephone conversation from his home in Davis, Calif.
“My first cross-country trip was in the mid-‘80s in my 1960s VW bus,” said Jensen. “Now I have a 1996 Winnebago Volkswagen van conversion. It’s one that can actually go uphill compared to the old air-cooled bus.”
Jensen has traversed the country numerous times updating information on obscure towns, wacky roadside attractions and the best apple pie stands.
“Road Trip USA” contains 11 cross-country, noninterstate routes that navigate the nation north to south or east to west, including U.S. Route 2 from Washington to Maine.
“I was drawn to Spokane by the giant Radio Flyer slide,” said Jensen. “If someone is just bombing by on the highway they would never see that.”
Jensen’s ambling tours of America provides historical lore and amusing trivia about thousands of places.
“Traveling around the country, especially in the rural parts, you get a real sense of community,” he said.
“Almost everywhere you go, if you have a nose for these things, you will find something remarkable, amazing and interesting.”
More information
“ “Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways” (Avalon Travel Publishing, $29.95, paperback); www.roadtripusa.com; www.travelmatters.com.
RV dump station update
Two weeks ago it was reported that the free dump station at Johnson RV in the Spokane Valley was closed.
It is now open.
Denzel Johnson reports that one dump station is operating after being closed temporarily to upgrade the site to meet county codes.
It seems that in the past, when the station was open 24 hours a day, there were abuses by a few folks who dumped “all kinds of things” into the tanks.
“There is a big change though,” he says.
“Now the tanks are open only during business hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and there is also a $5 charge to help defray costs.”
Johnson RV is located at 5928 E. Boone Ave. in Spokane Valley.
“ In an e-mail, Bette Price of Elk said: “Forget what the AAA book says, the private resorts won’t let you dump. We were blessed last year to find the Argonne and Montgomery Car Wash (8915 E. Montgomery Ave. in Spokane Valley) just west of Longhorn Barbecue. It’s a free dump. It’s a good thing, so let’s not abuse it.”
“ According to the Washington State Department of Transportation Web site there are RV dump stations available at 19 of the 43 rest areas, most of which are open from mid-April through mid-November. The nearest rest area with a dump station to Spokane is Sprague Lake (eastbound only) at milepost 241 on Interstate 90. For a map and complete list of WSDOT rest areas go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/restareas/restareamap.htm.
“ There is an online site, www.rvdumps.com, which lists locations of dump stations across the United States.
RV maintenance class
The Recreational Vehicle Care and Maintenance class (course number 7320) is being offered through the Spokane Community Colleges’ Institute for Extended Learning.
The class meets only once on Wednesday, May 17, for three hours from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. It costs $23 and takes place at Sullivan Square, 15412 E. Sprague Ave. in Spokane Valley. The class includes handouts.
To register, call 279-6000 or stop by the IEL office at 3305 W. Fort George Wright Drive between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.