Update: How COVID-19 is affecting the RV Lifestyle

In an effort to give you the latest about how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting RVers, we have up to date interviews with some key folks representing several different segments of the RV Industry. Show Notes for Episode #287 March 25, 2020 of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK JENNIFER Like almost all of you, we're hunkered down, avoiding in-person social contact with others and staying off the road as we follow the recommendations of our national leaders during this unprecedented coronavirus emergency   MIKE Jennifer and I are still at our condo along the Emerald Coast of the Florida panhandle. We're unsure of our future travel plans right now and taking it day by day.  JENNIFER We prefer to say we have postponed, not canceled out travel plans. This will end. I wish I knew when. But I am convinced we will all get through this. MIKE We've been doing a lot of live YouTube videos. Besides our regular Sunday night Ask Us Anything show at 7PM Eastern time, we've added a Friday Night 7PM "Virtual Campfire" YouTube live stream in which we can connect, interact, answer questions and talk about the places we want to go once this crisis ends. You can find links to these live broadcasts on our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel.  CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE. Then click the little bell icon to be notified when we have new broadcasts or are going on with an update. JENNIFER RV-related shows around the country have all be cancelled. In addition, the Escapees RV Club has cancelled or postponed all events currently scheduled through June 17. This includes Convergences, Hangouts, and Head-out Program (HOP) events as well as our RVers Boot Camps. MIKE The FMCA, which just cancelled its March Tucson Convention, has now cancelled its big summer rally and exhibition scheduled for Aug. 26-29 at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, Neb. The FMCA’s next national rally will now be March 10-13, 2021, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry JENNIFER And also this week, Pleasure-Way, Thor, Winnebago, Grand Design RV, Newmar Corp. and numerous other RV Manufacturers have temporarily suspended production and closed their manufacturing plants because of the COVID-19 virus. This part of the podcast is brought to you by the Nimble Pet Monitor 4G, the surest way we know of to have peace of mind that the temperature for your pets back in the RV is not too high. More information and a discount for listeners ot the RV Podcast is available at https://rvlifestyle.com/nimble RV LIFESTYLE NEWS OF THE WEEK Entrance to national parks may be temporarily free, but many locals are urging visitors not to come amid Covid-19 Most national parks throughout the country are generally open, as of this writing, and entrance is free, but visitor centers, lodges, shuttles and restaurants are closed, and many surrounding communities are urging people not to come. Some national parks, such as Yosemite or Rocky Mountain, are closed. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt last week temporarily waived entrance fees at national parks to make it easier for people to get outdoors and practice social distancing. But hospital staffs near the national parks are urging people to stay away, saying they can not handle more patients. And even some park officials say if someone is injured, they may not be able to get rescued because resources are focused on fighting coronavirus. While some state parks are closed, others are open urging people to get outdoors while practicing social distancing As far as state parks go, we are also hearing reports of more people than ever heading outdoors to state parks as daily life as we have known it comes to a temporary stop around the country. Some states are encouraging people to get outdoors - as long as they practice social distancing and stay away from things like playgrounds - while other states are completely closing their state parks. Missouri (click here), Wisconsin,