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The RV Podcast's big new this week is the announced $300 million purchase of Tiffin Motorhomes by the giant Thor Industries, which already is the largest RV manufacturer in the world. The purchase absorbs one of the few remaining independent family-owned RV makers, run by the Tiffin family of Alabama whose luxury motorhomes are known for attention to detail and quality construction. Thor, which has aggressively been gobbling up numerous RV brands across the country as well as the Hymer RV company in Europe over the past few years, vows that other than accounting procedures, little will be changed as they take over Tiffin. You can listen to the complete episode of the RV Podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes for links and resources about all the things we talk about. Regarding the Thor buys Tiffin story Here’s an excerpt released by both companies of an interview between Tiffin’s owner, Bob Tiffin, age 78, and Thor’s CEO Bon Martin discussing the acquisition and what it means. I’ve met and interviewed both Bob Tiffin and Bon Martin several times over the years I've been covering the RV Lifestyle. Bob Tiffin is a legend in the industry for his personal attention to his customers. At RV shows, he shakes every hand he can find as folks tour his luxurious coaches, even handing out his direct phone number to those who ask. Bon Martin is a well-respected industry veteran. I have always found him to be congenial and a straight shooter. Tiffin Management will stay the same under Thor Ownership Tiffin Motorhomes is known for its luxurious Class A motorhomes and, more recently, it's Class C Wayfarer And I take them both at their word that the acquisition will not change the quality or service Tiffin owners have come to expect. Bob Tiffin’s sons and even a grandson are very active in running various elements of the Tiffin company, which is one of the largest employers in the state of Alabama. Tiffin will continue to be headquartered in Red Bay, AL, where it has been since 1972. They also have some operations in neighboring Mississippi. “We needed a partner who we could trust would sustain all of those elements and help us grow the business in a manner that is consistent with how we’ve done business at Tiffin for nearly 50 years,” said Bob Tiffin. “The dealers and customers who love the Tiffin brand will continue to receive the high-quality products they have grown to expect. And I am not going anywhere as I will continue to operate the Tiffin companies as I have with no timeline for change. “My sons, Van and Tim, as well as my grandson, Leigh, will also continue to have major roles in the Tiffin business. Instead of feeling like I sold a business, I feel like we have aligned with a great company that will enable us to take Tiffin to a new level while maintaining the Tiffin culture and brand integrity that has set us apart from our competitors for years.” Thor expects Tiffin to add Class B vans and towables The top of the Line Tiffin Zephyr model sells for almost $700,000 Martin, of Thor, stresses that Tiffin will “operate as stand-alone operating company within the Thor family of companies.” But Martin sees Tiffin expanding into different RV markets besides its premier models on the Class A motorhome chassis, and more recently, it’s Wayfarer line of Class C coaches. Martin and Thor want to move into different segments. “Tiffin currently has no offerings in either the travel trailer or Class B segments,” he said. “Growing the great Tiffin brand name into these segments will be well-received by dealers and consumers alike.” Now that Thor Buys Tiffin, they become even harder to compete against These are just some of the RV brands Thor Industries owns So there you go. The bottom line is Thor promises to keep Tiffin pretty much the same, even expanding. And it will continue to be managed by the Tiffin family and existing senior management team. But make no mistake.

After a year of RV show cancellations because of COVID, the RV Show season is set to roar back next month with the 2021 Florida RV Supershow in Tampa Jan. 13-17. Here's what to expect: Because the Florida RV Supershow is mostly outside, organizers say they are confident that social distancing, wearing masks inside the RV, limits of how many people can be in an RV at one time, along with frequent sanitization can make for a safe show. On the RV Podcast Interview f the week, we learn what to expect. Plus we have lots of RV News this week, your questions and feedback about the RV Lifestyle and a great off the beaten path report from the Burketts. All that is waiting for you in Episode 324 of the RV Podcast! You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We share our current RV Lifestyle activities, including: Getting ready for Christmas - Even in the year of COVID, there's no stopping Christmas! To see the video we did about decorating an RV for Christmas, CLICK HERE. Travel 2021 – Tampa RV Supershow - We'll be there! Schedule - We will have an RV Podcast on Dec 22, but take off the week between Christmas and New Year's This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer RV PODCAST INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK - The 2021 Florida RV Supershow The RV show season is about to begin again after a tumultuous 2020 that cancelled almost every show from February through this month. But in just a few weeks, the show season starts again with the 2021 Florida RV Supershow, to run January 13-17 at the Tampa Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL. Dave Kelly, of the 2021 Florida RV Supershow Our guest this week is Dave Kelly, the Executive Director of the Florida RV Trade Association, which puts on the annual show, always one of the largest, and as you;ll hear from Dave, probably the largest RV show in the nation. Here's a transcript of our interview about the 2021 Florida RV Supershow: Mike Wendland: Joining us right now to talk about the big show, I feel like Ed Sullivan, the Big Show, is Dave Kelly from the Tampa RV Super Show. How you doing, Dave? Dave Kelly: Thanks. Yeah, thanks for having me. Great. We're doing wonderful down here. Mike Wendland: Well, we are...it certainly has been a year. In fact, it was almost a year ago, that was really the last of the big shows and wow. What a show last year was. So I am delighted that you guys are on, and hopefully this sets the stage for us out of the funk that 2020 was. Tell us about the show, the dates, what people need to know in terms of being careful about social distance stuff, all that. What do we need to know about this year's, this 2021 big super show in Tampa again? Here's a video of what the 2020 Florida RV Supershow was like, just before COVOD forced the cancellations of the rest of the RV Show Season Dave Kelly: Well, we open on Wednesday the 13th of January, and we run through the 17th. $12 for adults. We've extended our senior days to Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this year. $2 off for seniors any of those days and kids under 16 free. So it's a great family way to spend the day with the family out at the show. We will be doing temperature checking and a mask by Hillsborough County ordinance would be required in the buildings and when you're inside the RV. We're going to try to make it as unobtrusive as possible for everyone to have a good time. As you know, the majority of the show is outdoors and from what we're reading, the outdoors is a fairly safe place to be. So, we're feeling uncomfortable we can provide a safe atmosphere for the show. Mike Wendland: Give us a sense of the size of this year's show. I know not all the folks that exhibited last year will be there this year, but it looks from what I could look in the early literature,

Listing the most important RV features you're looking for is one of the best things any RVer can do when shopping for an RV. Here's the list of our "must-haves!" But understand, this list is ours. Meaning, the RV features you choose for your needs will be different than ours. The most important RV features you identify will depend on what kind of RV you get, how you like to camp, what you do when you are out there, and how you use your RVs. This article comes in response to a specific request from a listener to our RV Podcast and we answered it on Episode 323. Click the Player below to hear the caller's question and an audio recording of our response. It's about 19:25 in on the player. For details, photos, and videos of the features, keep scrolling down. Question: What are Mike and Jen's Most Important RV Features? Here's a transcript of the question, left on our RV Podcast Voicemail number of 586-372-6990: "Hi Mike and Jennifer: Thank you for the valuable information you provide to the RV Community. My husband (six foot two)and I are nearing retirement and planned to purchase our RV in the near future. We've narrowed the search to a 20 to 25ft class B or B+ RV, which we believe allows us to fit in  the most national park smaller camp sites do boondocking. I plan to continue to work part-time remotely. We purchased your RV buying secrets and it has been very informative and answered a lot of questions. TIP: CLICK HERE for more information on our RV Buying Secrets eBook. It will save you money! We are a bit overwhelmed with the features. We should be looking for in our RV. I would like to ask the experience two RV experts -  you and Jennfer - to select the top ten features you can't live without in your class B B+ RV, If you could, please focus on features that you must make in the initial purchase that can't be added later. For example, dedicated bed, ducted air conditioning, safety features on the coach like blind spot and lane-keeping assist, on-demand water heater, six-cubic-foot 3-way fridge freezer, convection oven, deep sink, counter space, tank sizes,  propane versus induction, diesel vs gas ,storage capacity. Thank you again for all that. You do to provide quality and educational content to the RV Community wage. I look forward to hearing the top ten features you guys can't live without. Thank you!" Answer: Some RV Features are Preferences rather than Essentials The caller asked about a lot of things that deal more with preferences rather than must-haves.  For example, she asked about: Gas vs Diesel - We are happy with both. Right now we have a gasoline-powered RV. Our previous RVs are diesel. We can and have been happy with both. Gasoline is a bit easier to find. And, right now, it's cheaper. CLICK HERE for an article we wrote on Gas vs Diesel Induction vs Gas cooktop - We've had and have been happy with both.  Countertop - Most countertops in Class Bs are about the same. The bigger the better, but counter space is not a deal-breaker for us. Sink faucet - A lot of RVs have very cheap plastic faucets. Stay away from them is you can. But, again, this is not a deal-breaker for us. We can easily replace and upgrade if we want. Ducted air conditioning - We had this on our last RV and it was awesome. Our current RV does not have it and we do miss it. This is important, almost a deal-breaker. But not quite. Lane-keeping assist - These come standard on all new coaches Blindspot detection - This is standard on Class B RVs but is not available as a factory option on B+ r Class C RVs So let us share our most important RV features list - and some accompanying photos and videos -  in the hopes that it will give you an idea of what kinds of things should be on your list. Our 10 Most Important RV Features List Dedicated beds – And always-made real bed. In our case. We like the twin beds on our Leisure Travel Vans Wonder RTB. They have a nightstand between them that can be converted into a foundation t...

What a year 2020 has been. We can’t wait till 2021 begins. But that said, there are no guarantees on what RV Travel in 2021 will be like. It promises to still be challenging. Very challenging in certain places. In fact, as we review all the growing travel restrictions, lockdowns and restrictions as we experience what is described as the Third Wave of COVID, uncertain seems to be the one word that best describes what will most characterize RV travel in 2021. To listen to this episode of the RV Podcast, click the player below: Take RV Travel in Pennsylvania for example For now and in the indefinite future, its state parks are off-limits to out-of-staters, unless they meet some tough requirements. If you live in another state and visit a state park in Pennsylvania, you must show proof of a COVID-19 test, with negative results, that was taken within 72 hours of arriving in the commonwealth. If you can't prove you test negative,  you must quarantine 14 days on arrival in Pennsylvania. And camping in a state park or forest as part of the quarantine regimen is not allowed. Fines for violations can be as high as $300. Read more here from our friends at RVTravel. New Mexico has similar restrictions It is pretty much the same in New Mexico. No out of state residents can camp in any of the state parks until Dec. 31. Only people with a New Mexico driver’s license are allowed in the state’s parks According to the order, out of state visitors must do a two-week quarantine if they plan to travel within the state. Our immediate plans for RV Travel in early 2021 So, let me tell you what we are doing:  We're staying relatively close to home and not planning any long trips for most of December. What RV travel we will be doing for the next few weeks will be in the Great Lakes region, or, after Christmas,  down near our Florida condo, where we'll closely monitor local conditions and maintain social distancing. Yes, we are going camping… just not far from home for a few weeks. We'll be avoiding any gatherings or groups and stick pretty much to ourselves. Our Annual Winter Campout in January is on hold Every winter, we gather with about 50 other RVers for Winter Campout at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The dates for the 2021 gathering are January 8-12. But Michigan is a state with lots of COVID restrictions, including a liit of groups of over 10. Also, restaurants are closed. Usually, our group takes over local restaurants on Friday and Saturday nights. We haven't ruled it completely out but, unless things drastically change, it looks like this gathering may not be the smartest thing for 2021 The Florida RV Supershow is still on This is one of the biggest RV shows in the nation. We attend every year. As of now, it's still on, scheduled for Jan 13-17 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. But many manufacturers say they are skipping the show this year. Camping World is not going. Neither is Leisure Travel Vans. Frankly, we're not sure if we will go. While the show is mostly outdoors, traipsing in and out of small RVs all day long seems unduly risky. Yes, most will be wearing masks. But even if they regulate how many can go inside an RV at any given time, you will still be exposed to a lot of air in a confined space that was breathed out by a lot of people. We're holding the dates open. Maybe things will improve over the next two months. If so, we'll go. If not, we won't. Being flexible is the key in the midst of the uncertainty involving RV travel in 2021. Is the RV Industry "Essential?" One worry many in the RV industry have has to do with government shutdowns of RV dealerships and campgrounds deemed as nonessential businesses by government regulators. That’s what happened in the spring. With this latest surge, the industry is fighting hard to make sure that doesn’t happen again. The RV Industry Association (RVIA) is pulling out the stops in attempting to convince both federal and state governments t...

If you’re like most RVers, you take a lot of pictures. But what to do with them? In this week’s episode of the RV Podcast, we learn about using Google Photos and what it can do for you.  Our Interview of the Week guests are Chris and Jim Guld, known as the “Geeks on Tour” to thousands because of the seminars they do across the country at RV rallies and shows and their online instruction. Chris just released her updated “Learn Google Photos” book and joins us to talk about how to store, organize, edit and share all those photos you take on your RV adventures. Plus, we have the latest RV News of the Week for you, RV tips, and another great off-the-beaten-path report from the Burketts. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK This week, we put up our Christmas Tree. It's a bit early, we know, but we all need some cheer. Besides, we've heard from lots of other RVers who have told us that they, too, were doing some early holiday decorating. Thus has been a challenging year, to be sure. But thinking about Christmas is a great way to shake off the negativity that seems to be hanging over the world in 2020. RV Podcast Programming Note: We're taking Thanksgiving week off the podcast. It's a busy time for everyone, us included, so we're off next Wednesday (Nov. 25). We'll be back the following week on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer You can get 10% off all purchases over $99 with the discount code RVLIFESTYLE10. RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK AAA expects Thanksgiving travel to drop significantly this year AAA is projecting about 50 million Americans will travel this Thanksgiving, but the organization says this is the biggest drop in travel seen since the recession of 2008. The decline is blamed on rising COVID-19 cases and an increase in unemployment and financial strain. The majority of those who do travel - 95 percent - will do so in a vehicle. And AAA is urging all travelers to plan ahead, know the route, and be sure to know the COVID-19 rules for any stops. Five die, including 1-year-old baby and a teenager, after floodwaters ravage North Carolina campground Five people died, including a 1-year-old child and a teenager, after floodwaters rushed through the Hiddenite Family Campground about 50 miles north of Charlotte last week. The heavy rain and accompanying flooding were the result of tropical storm Eta moving through the country. About 7-10 inches of rain fell in the downpour. Emergency personnel were able to rescue more than 30 people at the campground. Python hunters break records in snake capture in the Florida Everglades Florida snake hunters have caught a record number of Burmese pythons this year in the Florida Everglades - great news for everyone who loves that part of the country. (See our recent story on Flamingo Campground in the Everglades National Park here.) Burmese pythons are an invasive species that pet owners illegally released in the Everglades years ago, and have now increased in numbers so rapidly, they are causing massive damage to this unique ecosystem of the Everglades. The Florida governor has challenged two state agencies to take out more of the snakes, and the result has been competition and an increased effort by various snake hunters. As of mid--October, about 4,000 pythons have been caught and removed this year - shattering previous records.  Louisiana state parks add safari-style glamping options to eight campgrounds Eight Louisiana state parks are offering camping experiences for those who don't own a camper or a tent. The state park created 60 "glamping" sites in its park system, each featuring safari-style tents on a raised floor with canvas sides. Each tent will have a bed, heating source, fire pit, chairs. The glampling sites are part of a state partnership with a company called Tentrr, with prices starting at $85 per night. Rocky Mountain National Park releases video so visitors can see damage caused by ...

This week on the RV Podcast, we talk about RV Covers: Are they worth it? Should you have one? What to look for? Our guests are two product managers from Camping World, located in different parts of the country, and they will help us understand what to look for in an RV cover, what kind of RVs need them and what kind don’t. Plus we have lots of RV News this week, along with your RV Lifestyle Questions and another great Of the Beaten Path Report from the wandering Burketts. Show Notes for Episode #319  of The RV Podcast You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer Check out the RV products and accessories we like and use for your next road trip or outdoor adventure…For a 10% discount on purchases over $99, use the discount code RVLIFESTYE10. RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Fewer snowbirds coming to Florida, and when they arrive, may find new COVID protocols await at the larger RV parks Florida is seeing fewer snowbirds this fall because of COVID-19. Some places estimate the number of snowbirds will be down as much as 20-25 percent, with many would-be deciding to just stay home. Canadian snowbirds can not drive across the U.S. border, causing additional challenges for our RV friends to the north. Snowbirds who do travel south may find that some RV parks and condo associations are asking them to quarantine, or avoid using the facilities for a period of time. And some of the luxurious RV parks are keeping their community room, gyms, and other such sites closed because of COVID according to the story. To see some of our favorite places to camp in Florida, click here.   Campgrounds hit by Hurricane Zeta cleaning up, staying open for business Campground owners in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are mostly open after Hurricane Zeta, reporting minimal damage. Hurricane Zeta was a category 2 storm that took at least six lives and caused millions to lose power. At the campgrounds in its path, most were removing downed trees, repairing fencing and buildings, and conducting other clean up efforts. But most did not appear to suffer long-term damage and most were still open to campers. This has been a historic hurricane season for the gulf coast (see story here) with eight named storms hitting in 2020, and the season is still not over. Veterans and Gold Star families will be able to enter national parks for free under new rule Veterans and gold star family members will soon have free access to all national parks. Current active-duty troops and their families can enter the national parks for free. The change, which goes into effect Nov. 11 - Veterans Day - will grant veterans and gold star families this same benefit. Gold Star families are immediate family members of soldiers who died in the line of duty. For veterans, if they are driving into a national park with an admission fee, their vehicle will be free. But if the national park has a per person admission fee, the veteran will be free, but the family members will have to pay. Catch a brown trout, get paid $25 in pilot program in Arizona If you love fishing and are anywhere near Arizona, you may want to head over to the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area later this month and get paid to catch brown trout. The National Park Service and Arizona Game and Fish Department are paying anglers $25 per non-native brown trout they catch in the Colorado River below the Glen Canyon Dam. The pilot program is trying to reduce the number of non-native brown trout in the river, and there is no limit on how many fish an angler may turn in for payment. There are, however, some rules tied to Arizona licensing. For more details click here. Yellowstone to test self-driving shuttle service next summer If you are planning to visit Yellowstone National Park next year,

Questions! We get RV questions! And we have Monster stories to tell around the campfire! This week on the RV Podcast, we answer the most recent RV questions you’ve been asking about the RV Lifestyle as our Interview of the Week.  And in honor of Halloween, we have Monster Stories for the campfire from Patti and Tom Burkett Plus, we have lots of RV News, tips, the RV Show Calendar, and much more. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes, photos, videos, links and resources about all the things we talk about. Show Notes for Episode #318 of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike and Jennifer, hosts of the RV Podcast It’s Halloween week and despite COVID and social distancing which are still very much with us, most campgrounds will be full this weekend for end of season camping and Halloween fun. Many places are urging that trick or treating be foregone this year, but costumes and decorated RVs will keep the spooky good times going. And come Sunday, Nov. 1, don’t forget to fall back… to set your clock back an hour as Daylight Savings Time comes to an end. RV News - The Michigan UP is getting snow! photo by Dan Spase via Upspash The cold is coming. Some parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have received over 19 inches of snow this month, the most they’ve had in October in many years. Not surprisingly, Gasoline prices - and demand - has dropped significantly since the beginning of October, down from 8.8 million barrels per day to 8.2 million b/d, according to the AAA auto club. This latest demand measurement is the lowest since mid-June. While the drop isn’t out of the ordinary for this time of year, people tend to drive less in the fall, it is a staggering 14% less than last October.  Gas prices for a gallon of regular-grade is now averaging $2.16 RV usage though is just the opposite. Informal surveys of state parks and campgrounds show much higher occupancy rates in October, compared to previous years. And RV sales continue to be on fire. The RV Industry released its September 2020 survey of manufacturers showing that total RV shipments ended the month with 41,509 units, an increase of 31.2% from September last year. This is the fourth month in a row that wholesale shipments showed a year-over-year increase. And then there is the matter of RV Rentals. RV rental company Outdoorsy reports it is already on pace to exceed last year’s November bookings. Initially, the company said RV rental demand was because of quarantine fatigue, where travelers were eager to spend more time outdoors, in a safe and socially distant way, after months cooped up inside. Now, the company says the new catalyst for bookings is coming from travelers in search of a safe way to visit family over the holidays. Still, COVID has cast a dark shadow over us again as it appears the nation is experiencing a second wave. Infection rates and hospitalizations are showing dramatic increases as October comes to an end. There is just so much uncertainty. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer For a 10% discount on purchases over $99, use the discount code RVLIFESTYE10. RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Rocky Mountains National Park and nearby towns evacuated because of roaring wildfire and dense smoke Rocky Mountain National Park closed, and the neighboring city of Estes Park, CO was among many evacuated late last week as a huge fire roared across the area. As many as 6,000 acres an hour burned, sending up massive smoke clouds that caused the day sky to turn dark, as was captured in very eerie photographs by many of those escaping. More than 4 million acres have burned in Colorado this year, one of many places in the west affected by massive, out-of-control wildfires this camping season. Colorado to officially open parts of its newest state park this Friday Colorado's newest state park is scheduled to open this Friday.

This week on the RV Podcast we ask and answer the question: When are you TOO Old for the RV Lifestyle? And rather than beat around the bush, let’s answer that question right now with just five words: You are NEVER Too Old! This week, we will hear the encouraging answers from lots of RVers on that question plus a very special interview with one of our favorite people, soon-to-be-90-years-old Loren Phillis, who travels cross-country in his meticulously maintained quarter-century-old RV. Loren shares his experience with solo traveling as a senior and is sure to inspire and motivate you to get out there and enjoy the RV Lifestyle as long as you can. Plus we have lots of RV News this week, an update on the still closed US/Canadian/Mexican border, and a fascinating off the beaten path RV report from our friends, Patti & Tom Burkett. But first, my lifelong traveling companion and my bride… Jennifer. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes and a transcript of the interview, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike, Jennifer and Bo being videotaped by a Video crew and still photographer last week at Holland State Park in Southwestern Michigan . The crew is doing a documentary about us. We'll share more details when it is done and ready to be seen! We’ve been on the road for the past week, finishing up our fall color tour with a visit to Southwestern Michigan and the beautiful Lake Michigan Shoreline. We stayed at the Holland State Park last week and had an awesome time, hiking and also visiting a nearby apple orchard. We brought the apples back to the campsite and even made some caramel apples. Hanging out at our campsite in Holland, MI. And we did it all being carefully watched and videotaped by a six-person crew who used two cameras and a drone to document our camping experience there for a future story being done about us. We promised not to reveal by who and where it will be shown until it's ready, but we do promise to tell you as soon as it premieres. Meantime, though, we had a lot of fun. The crew was great to work with. I will say they had us smiling for almost every shot. It was a lot of work to always be smiling! And we got a new sensitivity for what it’s like being on the other end of the camera, being the interviewees instead of the interviewers. Bo was with us and he had a ball. The crew loved Bo, especially when he got loose at the apple orchard and went running u and down the orchard, eating as many apples as he could find. And after the trip to Holland, we headed to the Michigan Indiana border for a weekend camping trip with our son Jeff and his wife, Aimee, and our grandkids Jax and Joie and Aimee’s mom, sister, and brother in law and their kids. We had five kids and three generations of family fun… plus three dogs. And although the weather turned pretty chilly, there was lots of fun and big, war campgrounds. In fact, the weather has definitely changed. Peak color has passed and those falling leaves will soon be followed by falling snow. For a lot of people in the north and Upper Peninsula, the 2021 camping season has pretty much come to an end. Maybe one more weekend but once Halloween is past, the majority of campgrounds will be closed. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK Rangers seek public's help finding vandals who destroyed eight iconic saguaros at Arizona's Saguaro National Park Rangers at Saguaro National Park are searching for vandals who slashed eight iconic saguaros earlier this month. The cactuses were between one and 10 feet tall and were either slashed open or cut down along the Scenic Trail. The saguaro cactus grow very slowly, with one ranger saying a 10 foot cactus could easily be 100 years old. If you were there in October and may have seen something,

They may be selling RVs at a record pace, but there are lots of lingering Pandemic Problems for the RV Industry The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc across all aspects of the economy including the RV Industry. And while RV sales have never been better, the damage done by the shutdowns and the resulting incredible demand for RVs continues to stress the industry. In Episode 315 of the RV Podcast, we talk about Pandemic Problems for the RV Industry and much more. We interview Dean Corrigal, of Leisure Travel Vans. Dean is probably America's Best-known RV Salesman because of his amazingly detailed walk-through RV reviews on YouTube. We talked to Dean about a lot of things about how the pandemic is still affecting the RV Industry, including: The Rise of the Digital Nomads, the near 5 million people who now work remotely from their RVs The lingering effects of the pandemic and critical, ongoing shortages in RV parts and components The incredible demand for RVs and how if you want to order a new one, you shouldn't expect to see it for 14 months! And how some are predicting the U.S. Canadian border will remain closed for RV travel through next spring! This is an interview you will not want to miss. Plus, we have lots of RV news. RV Lifestyle questions, tips and another great off the beaten path report from our friends Patti and Tom Burkett. You can listen to the RV Podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for complete shownotes, transcripts, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about.   RV PODCAST opening: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK Mike and Jen have been Digital Nomads for nine years, doing the RV Podcast, RV Lifestyle Blog, YouTube Videos, and their RV Travel books from the road much of the year Here's what's happening with us this week... We’re back from UP…where we encountered the best fall foliage ever. We timed it for peak color. And except for Mike losing a memory card from his drone with the best aerial shots, it was an awesome 10-day trip. Mike has a new drone coming this week and hopes to up his aerial photography videos and still photos We’re planning to be in Southwest Michigan next week along the Lake Michigan shoreline October is a very busy time in RV campgrounds every weekend Halloween… decorating rigs… There will be NO Trick or Treating in many places… but decorations and the festivities are on tap at most campgrounds. Most are booked up every weekend in October. This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer  RV PODCAST NEWS OF THE WEEK You can listen to the RV Podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for complete shownotes, transcripts, plus links and resources about all the things we talk about. The News of the Week comes about 13:20 in. Florida RV SuperShow WILL happen this January, organizers announce It's now official: The Florida RV SuperShow is on! The show, one of the largest in the nation, will happen in person (vs. virtual) on the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa Jan. 13-17. Show organizers say they will do everything possible to provide a clean and safe environment for exhibitors and attendees.  Currently, Hillsborough County, where the state fair is located, is under a mandatory indoor mask order which - if that is still in place in January, will be enforced. The Florida RV Super Show is one of our favorites. To see past reports we have done click here. New regulations spell out e-bike rules for federally managed land, including national parks  U.S. Department of the Interior finalized its e-bike polices last Friday, announcing e-bikes are allowed where traditional bikes are permitted on land managed by the National Park Service or Bureau of Reclamation land. For the Bureau of Land Management, an authorized official must say where the e-bikes can go, and a refuge manager must determine if e-bikes are appropriate for land managed by the U.S.

This week on the RV Podcast we talk about working remotely from an RV from a remote and beautiful area far away from the crowds. That’s where we are this week, camping in Michigan’s remote Upper Peninsula. Now as RV travel writers and reporters, we’re always working remotely from an RV. But with the pandemic, we’re noticing a lot more people also doing their remote work in remote locations, too. In our interview of the week coming up in a few minutes, we’ll talk to a local tourist official in the UP who is running a national advertising campaign urging remote workers to come do that remote work in one of the most remote and beautiful areas of the UP. You may get some great ideas from this interview about how you can also be working remotely from an RV instead of staying close to home. Also, this week, travel tips, your RV Lifestyle Questions, and a great off the beaten path report from the Patti and Tom Burkett. You can listen to the podcast in the player below. And scroll down this page for shownotes with links and resources about all the things we talk about. Show Notes for Episode #314 of The RV Podcast: WHAT MIKE AND JENNIFER ARE UP TO THIS WEEK We love working remotely from an RV when we can do so in beautiful spots like this In the Upper Peninsula We’re having an awesome time in the Upper Peninsula. And yes, as we prepare this podcast, we are indeed following our own advice and working remotely from an RV. This report is coming to you from Copper Harbor, MI on the Keweenaw Peninsula, which juts out like a thumb into Lake Superior at the northwestern end of the Upper Peninsula. We’ve been on the road a week so far, boondocking some nights in really wild country, other nights staying in state parks.  We’re slowly making our way from one end of the UP to the other. We couldn’t have timed it any better. The weather is cool and crisp. And the fall color is spectacular. Peak color up here is right now. See why we like working remotely from an RV? This is the Rapid River in the Central UP. I don’t think we’ve ever seen the fall foliage so brilliant. Naturally, we’ll have a video about it on our YouTube RV Lifestyle channel. And stay tuned for the News of the Week segment a little further down because we’ll have a resource that we’ll share that will let you know when peak fall color will happen in your area. If folks are coming up here, we should remind them that, except for the lone interstate in the UP – I-75 – the speed limit on all two-lane roads in the Upper Peninsula is 55. And it IS enforced. We should also note that it is much more crowded up here this fall than we’ve seen on previous fall trips. One reason, of course, is because of what we’ll learn in our interview segment coming up about working remotely from an RV. Also, we need to report that many of the U.S. Forest Service campgrounds will be shutting down across the UP starting next week. Most of the state parks will be open a bit later but there’s no doubt, the season is coming to an end. That’s been brought home this week by a cold snap. Last week we had temperatures up here in the mid-seventies. This week, daytime highs are in the 50’s and the nighttime temperatures are expected to drop near freezing. We find it very pleasant. And Bo is thrilled. We’ve been taking two or three hikes every day and enjoying every minute or it. We mention on the RV Podcast about the winter season and snow up here. Below is a sign on the Keweenaw Peninsula showing how much snow falls annually. The record is nearly 32 feet. Last year was about 27 feet. This is the snow pole on the Keweenaw Peninsula showing how much snow falls each winter. The record was 32 feet. Last year it was about 27 feet.   This part of the RV Podcast is brought to you by Camping World – America’s #1 RV Dealer Listeners of the Podcast can get 10% off all purchases over $99. Just go to RVLifestyle.com/campingworld and you will see all the Camping word RV gear and accessories we like the most!