Going in Reverse

by Earle Hasney
(Hemphill, TX, USA)

Q. Glad to find your website. We have been going frugal since around 1970, however, we lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and have traveled during the summer to Northern Canada!

We started with an Army Tent, graduated to a Concord Travel Trailer, to a Wayfarer Motor Home, to an AVCO Motor Home, and finally to Allegro Motor Home. I will say right now my preference is to the 24' Concord trailer, or the 22' Wayfarer, simply because so many of the National Park sites are limited to 28'. The AVCO, well it was my baby. We bought it almost as a shell and I was able to redo with the equipment I thought pertinent. The AVCO went under with Katrina. So we come to the hulk, Allegro.

We had a problem, we are 80, and my wife has MS. There is a great problem for those that are wheel-chair-bound with most RVs, and that is embarking, and debarking! Anyway, we found this Allegro with a wheel-chair lift, however, this is a diesel pusher, 39'. Oh my goodness, you need a Walmart parking lot just to turn the thing around, but still I guess that it is better than nothing, arguable!

All of the listed RVs were bought used, and outside of the Allegro and the Concord, all had carburetors, which meant I could perform all maintenance except major breakdowns.

It was a whole different ball game in the seventies and eighties. There were not the number of dumps, but many RV courts ran on the honor system. Sorta like the National Forest Service, just put your money in an envelope and deposit it in a slot.

I am sorry, I have gotten way off course. The reason for writing was to find out if any readers have traveled up to Dease Lake, B.C.? This used to be way, way, out of the way. What kind of problems have you had? Is it worth the trip?? How about boarder crossing? I am retired military, and both my wife and I have military I.D.. Is that sufficient to re-enter the U.S.? Perhaps there are other places that are way, way out of the way, that I can navigate the Allegro to. Don't get me wrong, I'll take it anywhere as long as I can turn it around.

Second, I want to subscribe to your news letter and I think your reply got thrown out in the trash, please subscribe me. Thanks, Earle

A. I've added you to the newsletter subscription, Earle.

We've stayed with older vehicles for the same reason - so that Randy can still do most of the maintenance. Soon, unfortunately, everything on the roads will be computerized and out reach for the average home mechanic.

I hope one of my readers can fill you in on Dease Lake and also that someone reading this is ex-military and can answer your question about re-entry to The States. As far as I know, a passport is now required for everyone but there may be certain exceptions.

~Marianne