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PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS

Dear Discovery Friends,

Balloons, balloons, balloons,

Bulls, bulls, bulls

Counting, recounting, recounting

      We are now enjoying our new home in the great sunshine state - FLORI-DUH.  This is where the people on the east coast have trouble with the butterfly ballot, but can handle six bingo cards on Thursday evening!!!!

      What a fun time we had in Albuquerque watching the many balloons.  In our group we had 13 D's lined up on the front row of the campground (thanks to Ken & Jackie Adams) which was the best seat in the house.  During the first weekend we had some rain which caused cancellation of some balloon events, but it didn't cancel any of our D group eating events.  Four units stuck it out for the full 10 days of events and we were treated to seeing a new world record of balloon launching - 330 hot air balloons in one hour.

      After leaving Albuquerque, we spent a couple of days at the south rim of the Grand Canyon enjoying the beautiful scenery and having dinner at our favorite place, the El Tovar Hotel.  After a brief stop in Sedona, we headed up the mountain through Jerome and into Prescott and enjoyed the nice Arizona country.  The really beautiful country on SR 89A was great, but not the route I would suggest driving your D with a toad.  So much for letting Wrestle Bob Nelson plan my routes in the future.

      After a quick stop in Lake Havasu City, we headed off to Las Vegas for four days of World Championship bull riding.  It was really a fun time to see the young riders in person.  Following this we traveled south through Tucson to have a quick breakfast planning meeting for the Alaska Discovery Adventure.  Working with the Nelsons and the Frechs, we have a departure date of June 1, 2001, from Dawson Creek and will return in time for the Sisters, Oregon pre-rally to the Redmond, Oregon International Rally in mid-August. At the current time we have a couple of spots open for this tour and if you are interested in knowing more about the trip, please give me a call.

      I want to give Russell & Roxie a big "thank you" for securing us a lovely site for our Discovery Pre-rally to be held at the Sisters Oregon, rodeo grounds on August 7-10, 2001.  Please mark these dates on your calendar and stay tuned for more details.

      Thanks to Mary & John Boka for their fine efforts in planning for the pre-rally in Branson, Missouri, prior to the Oklahoma City Convention.  See this information elsewhere in this newsletter.  We are looking forward to seeing many of our Discovery friends there and would encourage all of those people who have not attended a pre-rally to join us for a great social time before going to the International Convention.

      We want to wish everyone a very Blessed Christmas Season and the very best to you in the New Year.

      Now that I have caught everyone up on all the happenings, it is back to my regular job (well, not really) in the Sunshine State - counting and recounting and recounting and recounting...will it ever end?

Happy Discovery'ing,

Jim Campbell

IT TURNED OUT ALL RIGHT

      After having a great time at the Fryeburg, Maine, Discovery International Rally and the Brunswick FMCA Convention, Harold and Pat Hart traveled into Canada.  They very much enjoyed meeting and socializing with other Discovery owners in Fryeburg as well as attending the seminars.  Harold has been busy modifying their Discovery using ideas shared by other Discovery owners.

      On the way home, however, they had a horrifying experience when the left front tire blew out as they were running 60-65 mph.  They were in the center lane on Interstate 95 about 15 miles north of Richmond.  Harold was able to keep his coach under control in part, he believes, because he had recently installed a Safe-T-Plus on the Discovery.

      Finding a replacement tire proved to be an impossible task with the Harts finally having to settle on a worn out tire that would fit the rim.  They were able to limp home by stopping very often to re-inflate the tire.  Harold does an above-average job of tire maintenance having attended seminars on the subject, having his coach weighed and never failing to monitor tire pressure on a regular basis.  So he was more than a little disappointed in the less than sympathetic response he received from Michelin.

      Harold and Pay are sharing their experience with other Discovery owners so that in the event of a tire failure, Discovery owners will be prepared with meticulous records of tire inspection.  Keeping a log that notes the date, tire pressure, wear and other pertinent information relating to your tires would be very helpful when dealing with the manufacturer.

ACCORDING TO THE MICHELIN OPERATOR'S MANUAL

      The following information was gleaned from the operator's manual that came with the Discovery.  It is not intended to be the complete guideline for your tire inspection.  If you have not read your Michelin operator's manual/warranty, it is recommended that you do so.  Reviewing the information is a good idea from time to time.

      Driving on any tire that does not have the correct inflation pressure is dangerous.  Any under inflated tire builds up excessive heat that may result in sudden tire destruction.  Check the cold inflation pressures in all your tires, including the spare, at least once each week.  Inspect your tires daily.  If you see any damage to your tires or wheels, visit a Michelin Truck Tire Dealer at once.  Michelin truck tires contain "Wear-Bars" in the grooves of the tire tread which show up when only 2/32nds of inch of tread is remaining.  At this stage, tires must be replaced.  Tires worn beyond this stage are dangerous.  High speed driving is dangerous, the maximum speed at which Michelin truck tires can be operated is indicated in the Michelin Commercial Light Truck and Truck Tire Data Book.  Wheel alignment, tracking and balancing are important for safety and maximum mileage from your tires.  Check how your tires are wearing at least once each month.  Do not overload - driving on any overloaded tire is dangerous.  Before mixing different types of tires in any configuration on any vehicle, be sure to check the vehicle manufacturer's owner's manual for its recommendations.  Do not make or allow to be made any alteration to your tires.  Tires which become unserviceable due to alterations such as, but not limited to, truing, whitewall inlays, addition of balancing or sealant liquids or the use of tire dressings containing petroleum distillates, are excluded from warranty coverage.  If any Michelin tire sustains a puncture, have the tire demounted and thoroughly inspected by a participating Michelin tire retailer for possible damage that may have occurred.  Plug-only repairs done on-the-wheel are considered improper and are therefore, not recommended.  When tires sit outdoors, unused for long periods of time (a month or more) their surfaces become dry and more susceptible to ozone and weather checking and the casing becomes susceptible to flat spotting.  Tires should always be stored in a cool, dry, clean indoor environment.  If storage is for one month or more, eliminate the weight from the tires by raising the vehicle or by removing the tires from the vehicle. Follow manufacturer recommendations for mounting to prevent tire destruction, property damage and personal injury.

WHERE DO I CARRY A SPARE TIRE?

      Discovery owners are quite ingenious when it comes to modifying their coaches.  One spot available on some Discoveries that can be modified to include a spare tire is the compartment where the propane tank is housed.  Many of our members have used this space quite nicely.  Another space is under the coach using a custom-made bracket that attaches to the frame.

REMAINING ANONYMOUS

      Discovery International members voted at our annual meeting in Brunswick, Maine, to compile, print and distribute to our members a membership directory to be issued annually. This list is not to be used for business or personal gain.  Any member not wishing to have his/her name included on the list should notify our membership chairperson, Bill Scheerer of his/her wish not to be included. The directory will be coming out after the first of the year 2001.  Should you need to contact Bill, he may be reached by e-mail:  bscheer@strator.net; by snail (U.S.) mail:  338 Skylark Drive, Sebring, Florida  33872-6230 or by phone:  863-655-5359.

THEY BOUGHT S.O.B.

      Discovery International members and newlyweds, Billy and Sue Jones of Tennessee, were recently seen enjoying lunch at a RV dealership in Tampa.  After greeting them, we were disappointed to learn that they had bought a new motor home and it is Some Other Brand with three slide-outs.  They had traded their Discovery and were picking up the new coach.  Of course, our disappointment was not that they had bought a new coach, but that they no longer have their Discovery.  Our very best wishes to the Jones's as they travel in their new coach.

JUST CHECKING!

      We want to be sure that your name and address as shown on your newsletter mailing label is correct.  Please let us know if there is a misspelling or other incorrect information.

      The deadline for information and article submissions for the next newsletter is January 15, 2001.

PUZZLED:  Answer to last issue's puzzle:  Brown is the manager, Jones the teller and Smith the cashier.

PATTERN FOR STEPPED RIDGE DISHCLOTH

      For our members who knit and enjoy a quick and easy project, this pattern and many, many others can be obtained on the WEB at www.askjeeves.com .  Ask for free knitting patterns, then select Dishcloth Boutique.

 

Materials:  1 ball 4-ply worsted weight cotton yarn; Size 8 US needles.  

Size:  Approximately 9-in. x 9 in..  

Gauge:  Over pattern stitch, 23 stitches = 4 in..

Instructions:  Cast on 43 stitches

Row 1:  K3, *P1, K3*, repeat from * across.

Row 2:  K1, *P1, K3*, repeat from * across to last 2 stitches, end P1, K1.

Rows 3 and 5:  Repeat Row 1.

Rows 4 and 6:  Repeat Row 2.

Rows 7, 9 and 11:  Repeat Row 2

Rows 8, 10 and 12:  Repeat Row 1.

Repeat Rows 1-12 until length measures approximately 9 in.  Bind off loosely.

Pattern designed by:  Susan Swearingen.

MORE THINGS YOUR MOTHER TOLD YOU WHEN

YOU WERE NOT LISTENING

•  If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it is still cooking, drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up."

•  Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator - it will keep for weeks.

• Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful, glossy finish.

• Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.

• When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.

• To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water.  If it sinks, it is fresh.  If it rises to the surface, throw it away.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Since one of the purposes of this newsletter is to share information, we would really like to hear from you about subjects that interest you.  So, if you have information about a Discovery modification, service or maintenance technique, funny story, clean joke, or story about a recent trip, please send us "your scoop."  We can be contacted by E Mail:  WEADJA@aol.com or snail mail:  Bill and Diana Allen, P.O. Box 2430 PMB 1037, Pensacola, FL  32513.  We would love to hear from you!