Women RVers

Author and RVer Jaimie Hall Bruzenak on CBS' This Morning, Tues., 2/7/12

2012-02-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

Author and veteran RVer Jaimie Hall Bruzenak will be on CBS’ This Morning, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, between 8 - 9 a.m.

Lee Cowan, CBS National News correspondent interviewed Jaimie recently in Quartzsite as the RV lifestyle expert for a segment the program is doing on women RVers.The piece also features The Texas Ramblin’ Roses' chapter of RVing Women.

Jaimie was interviewed on the far edge of the Scadden Wash on the Bureau of Land Management's 14-day area where she and her husband, George Bruzenak, had parked their 32-foot New Horizon fifth wheel, along with the Boomer group of the Escapee RV Club.

Read more of Jaimie and her co-author Alice Zyetz by clicking on: RV authors Jaimie Hall Bruzenak and Alice Zyetz pen another book”

Photo: Lee Cowan, CBS National News correspondent interviewing Jaimie Hall Bruzenak. Courtesy of RVLifestyleExperts.com

To read more by Julianne Crane, click on RVWheelLife.com

Gina Williams shares a few safety tips on trailering motorcycles behind your RV

2012-01-27T17:25:00.000-08:00

Gina Williams is a young writer whose dear friend died as the result of a motorcycle accident "after driving too fast over a highway overpass."

That accident gave her life focus. She began writing about motorcycle safety and established Motorcycle Accident.org. She herself is a hobbyist biker "on the weekends. I don't have my dream bike yet, but one day I'd like to get a Yamaha VMax Cruiser."

The 20-something lives in Houston, Texas, and although she's not an RV owner, she does love the outdoors and has been drawn back into camping after being away from it since her childhood.

"I love camping on the beach," said Williams, "even though it is a mess." Two of her other favorite camping locations in Texas are on Lake Travis, in Austin; and Lost Maples State Park near Vanderpool in the Hill Country.

As for the percentage of women motorcyclists, Williams, said that "the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety released statistics in 2008, which states that 12-percent of motorcyclists were women, but only 4-percent of fatal motorcycle crashes were female."

Women RVers.com asked Williams to write about safety tips for trailering motorcycles behind RVs.

'Motorcycle Towing: Safety Tips' by Gina Williams

Traveling in your RV is too much fun; you get to see things you wouldn’t ordinarily and at the end of the day, you don’t have to sleep in a hotel room where only God knows how many other people have slept.

Even more fun is bringing your beloved motorcycle along with you. However, towing it by trailer can be dangerous if you don’t take the proper safety precautions.

Choose the Right Trailer

To ensure the safety of yourself and the motorists behind your tow, who are the ones most at risk, you must ensure that you have the proper trailer for what you’re towing.

The trailer you choose must safely and properly fit your vehicle and sustain the weight of your motorcycle.

These are the basic types of trailers for towing a motorcycle:Open flatbed, Enclosed, Two-wheel, Lifts, Towing cradles.

Properly Connect Everything

Here are four imperative steps you must be sure you complete in order to properly connect your trailer to your RV:

After connecting your trailer to your RV, ensure that the trailer hitch pin is in, and in the whole way. This reinforces the towing apparatus to your RV.
Ensure that the hitch coupler and spring bar hinges are secured.
Utilize your safety chains; secure them from the trailer to your RV. If your trailer detaches for any reason, the safety chains will ensure that your trailer does not fully detach from you vehicle and harm other motorists.
Secure the light wires to your trailer. Test them to make sure that drivers behind you will see when you initiate your turn signal and brakes.

Triple Check… Everything

Once you’ve connected everything, make sure you double and triple check all of your connections.Secure Your Motorcycle on the TrailerMotorcycles are one of the most difficult things to transport by trailer as they are on two wheels, and two wheels simply do not provide much balance for your bike when you are towing.

What you’ll need:

1. Towing straps.
Utilize towing straps by placing them through your motorcycle’s frame, wheels, etc., and securing the straps to the sides of the trailer. Ensure that the straps are locked and tight to prevent your bike from shifting during transport.

2. A wheel rail, cradle, or chock.
All three of these devices prevent your bike from rolling around by securing its wheels.Additionally, you should ensure that your motorcycle will not put more weight on one side of the trailer more so than the other; make sure your bike is centered on the trailer.

Practice Safe Driving Techniques

Always practice safe driving techniques, including:
- If you’re inexperienced or will be towing a new trailer, practice in a safe, empty area before driving on a busy road.
- Always remember that you’re towing a trailer, which requires different driving techniques and considerations than when driving your RV.
Take wider, slower turns than you ordinarily would.
Drive slower than you ordinarily would.
Begin braking sooner than you normally would; the additional weight that you are towing means it will take you longer to stop.

Reach Gina Williams at:
Url: www.motorcycleaccident.org/

To read more of Julianne Crane's writing, go to RVWheelLife.com

RVer Malia Lane shares her favorite RV holiday memory

2011-12-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Full time solo RVer Malia Lane who is spending this holiday season in her homebase of Austin, Texas, sent in this story about a favorite holiday memory in her recreational vehicle:

"The first Christmas I celebrated in my new rolling home was in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2001.

"I was traveling with my best friend who had introduced me to RVing - the best Christmas present ever. I cooked a full-on Christmas feast in my tiny kitchen and it turned out to be one of the best meals and times ever, complete with a wreath, fragrant candles and wine from plastic glasses.

"We decorated a rather sad looking little tree outside the RVs and laughed about it looking like a real Charlie Brown Christmas tree. We took a trip to the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC, and were excited as little kids with how they had each room elaborately decorated with huge trees and different themes celebrating the holiday.

"Several times I've been asked if I was sad about being away from 'home' during the holidays. From the very beginning, my little 350 sq. ft. space has felt like home and no matter where it's parked, I celebrate being home for the holidays.

"Sometimes I've celebrated with family and other times I've embraced new friends who feel like family by the time the new year has arrived. Either way, I am thankful for the freedom and gifts this lifestyle brings. Merry Christmas to all and to all happy trails!"

Read Malia's "Inspiration's Journey"

Photo: Malia Lane sitting at her first Christmas dinner on the road. Courtesy of Malia Lane.

To read more by Julianne Crane, click on RVWheelLife.com

Fran Reisner -- photographer, author, RVer

2011-12-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Professional photographer and author Fran Reisner began traveling the highways fulltime in mid-September 2011, just a few weeks after selling her home in Frisco, Texas (about 30 miles north of Dallas).

She bought her motorhome "only days before having to hand over the keys to my home," says the solo RVer who travels with her two rescue dogs, Jazzy and Sadie.

Recreation Vehicle: "I got a SWEET deal on a very slightly used 2010 Winnebago Adventurer, affectionately referred to as The Beast" -- 35.5’ long, 12.5’ high, and 8.5’ wide. "In high winds this baby can rock and roll," says Fran.

"With the three slides out it is very spacious, which was important to me since I'm traveling with two dogs. I've never owned an RV and went cold turkey into full time RVing."

"The visibility is great, especially with the back-up camera and side cameras. Without the back-up camera I would not be able to see the car unless in a tight turn."

Toad: “Zippy,” Honda CRV EXL, weighs in at about 3,200 pounds. "I went with the Blue Ox system and I’m very happy with my choice." The toad added 17-feet behind her motorhome, equalling "a whopping 52-feet. "The benefit of adding the tow car is that I am now able to travel down many 'roads less traveled' without the worry about getting stuck," says Fran.

"You cannot be in a hurry in a big RV, which is just as well because I don’t want to be in a hurry any more. You also can’t be worrying too much about the guy behind you when there’s nowhere to turn off and ya just can’t go any faster. I’ll use the turn outs when they’re available, but otherwise … I’m just going to be another one of those old farts toodling down the road like I’ve got all the time in the world."

Customizing RV for traveling companions:

"I built a portable platform (doubles as a table) that fits over the passenger seat with space enough for both Sadie and Jazzy to ride eye to eye with the 'big boys' out there. They love it," says Fran.

"After leaving a two-acre fenced property where they could run freely, I though it might be a big adjustment for them. Not so. They're happy to be with me and jump in willingly when I ask them if they're ready to go for a ride."

URLs: Follow Fran's travel adventures by clicking on: Journey in Focus
Check out her professional photography at: Fran Reisner Photography

Books:
'The Dogs of Central Park' (Hardcover, $19.95) 2011. (Order direct from Fran Reisner at Fran@FranReisner.com and a percentage of the purchase price goes to support animal rescue organizations.)
'The Mountain Dogs of Colorado' (In process).

Photographs: Courtesy of Fran Reisner.

Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Fulltime solo RVer Meg Brubacher travels from Canada to Sunbelt for winters

2011-12-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

Solo RVer Meg Brubacher began her RVing adventures about a year ago when she purchased her 2002 24-foot Four Winds Chateau Sport class C motor home.

"I wanted something roomy enough for us but not too big for me to handle as a single new RVer," says Meg, who travels with three (Sister, LouLou and Annie -- pictured above) of her four rescued dogs. "The old guy, Scout, who is 16, stays behind with my niece."

Last year Meg's 'test ride' covered more than 4,000 miles--from Ontario, Canada, to the Coastal Bend of Texas and onto New Orleans. After touring the South for three months, Meg pointed her RV home to Canada.

In November 2011, she returned to the warmer temperatures of the USA Sunbelt. On this circle trip, there will be stops in North Carolina, Florida and Arkansas.

"We've been busy and enjoying every minute," writes Meg in a recent e-mail. "Annie and I do agility training and trials, which has been great." (Dog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy.)

Meg now considers herself a fulltime RVer and advises other single women who might want to try RVing to "Just do it."

"After some study on the subject," she says, "buy a rig and get out there and experience the lifestyle. You learn as you go--about yourself, your rig, what works and what doesn't.

"I believe a lot of people change their minds after their first rig and get something different that suits their needs better. You cannot know it all until you are actually doing it. Also the people one meets in the campgrounds and highways are some of the best, most fun-loving, helpful people you'll ever meet."

Read more of Julianne Crane's writings on RVWheelLife.com.

Photo: Fulltime RVer Meg Brubacher travels with three of her four pet companions: Sister, Annie and LouLou. (Julianne Crane)

RVing 'Girls Gone Moto' ... with attitude

2011-11-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

For the past few months, I've been following the RV road adventures of "Girls Gone Moto" -- three amazing young women, Kathryn Lejeune, Natalie Vartanian and Sally Hope (along wih their guard puppy Coach) -- who are traveling the USA in an almost-vintage motorhome (Bess) doing random acts of kindness, having the time of their lives and encouraging others to live the life of their dreams.

Background: The avowed mission of Girls Gone Moto is to spread the simple message that it is everyone’s right to pursue their own happiness and that everyone deserves kindness. They hope "to inspire people to dream and encourage them to take action … with attitude."

On their first RV journey, Natalie and Sally headed out the day following Independence Day 2011. They left California on a round trip to Austin, Texas, in their rented 1984 34-foot Fleetwood Southwind. They returned to the west coast in late-September to restock, pick up Kathryn, their 'filmographer,' and take off again in mid-October on their latest sojourn, a two-month, coast-to-coast ride.

The "farthest point we plan to go is to the east coast, literally," said Natalie in an update from Asheville, NC. "When we hit South Carolina we will swoop down into Savannah and return to California via the southern states."

Where are your favorite places to camp? "Actually we mostly 'camp' on city streets and at rest stops," said Natalie. "We have only been at a campground once, and parked at a Wal-Mart lot once. However we plan to do more Wal-Mart lots since it was convenient and felt safe. Gotta love on the Wal-Mart since they are super RV friendly."

How do three women and a Great Dane negotiate space in a 34-foot RV? "We are pretty good about communicating to each other when we need some time and space. Whether we use various areas of the RV (like one of us will be in the bedroom while another is in the living room) or we go for a walk/run to have alone time outside of the RV, we find ways to balance the togetherness and separateness. You just get creative about it."

"Coach actually is the most flexible big dog you will ever see," said Natalie. "He contorts into a ball and sits with us up front at the foot of the passenger seat. And, he is excellent protection."

What has been the biggest challenge with your rig? "Since it is an older RV there are things that are naturally needing to be maintained. At various times there was always something to look into such as: the water pump not working, radiator fluid leaking, hydraulic jack not lowering, refrigerator not working, tires needing to be changed (or replaced)."

"Driving the RV is a lot easier than we thought it would be. Your first reaction is 'That thing is huge. There is no way I am going to be able to navigate that thing, park that thing, yada yada yada.' However once you get behind the wheel and go around the block a couple of times you realize how it is, in fact, really manageable and even fun. We take turns driving and are eager to get behind the wheel when the other wants to switch off."

Would you encourage other young women to take this type of adventure? "Most definitely. It seriously changed our lives. It is the best thing we have ever done up to this point. You learn and grow so much on a trip like this. You also realize you are a lot more capable than you give yourself credit for. You have all of your essentials with you, are sleeping in the same bed every night, and get to see somewhere beautiful every day if you so choose. What's not to love about it?"

URL: www.girlsgonemoto.com

YouTube Channel: The group is documenting their journey and posting weekly webisodes. Follow them on the http://www.youtube.com/user/girlsgonemoto

To view their first week on the road when Bess, their trusty RV, was starting to show her age a little -- click on the following YouTube video:

Photos: Top: Kathryn Lejeune, Natalie Vartanian and Sally Hope along with guard puppy Coach. Sally driving the motorhome and Natalie checking the oil. Courtesy of Girls Gone Moto.

Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Harlequin author Cynthia Thomason contemplates a mystery series set in a campground

2011-10-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

Harlequin author and RVer Cynthia Thomason writes about small towns in America and the quaint, eccentric people who live there. After more than 20 published books, she is happy with her slogan: "Cynthia Thomason, writing about big hearts in small towns."

The successful fiction writer says she has taken ideas for her stories from her travels. "Now that I have the trailer, I plan to explore even more."

Cindy and her husband, Walter, live in central Flordia and purchased a used 24-foot Fleetwood Pegasus this past spring. "I love it," she says. "We've been to the Keys, North Carolina for two weeks, Naples, and Sebastian Inlet in Florida."

She adds that they have had no problems with the RV, "but plenty of problems with the mosquitoes. I would travel every weekend, but that mpg thing holds us back." Also Sparky, their rescued terrier, "is not too crazy about the trailer. He poked out the screen door the first trip."

They purchased the Pegasus trailer because it had work space for her writing. "We sacrificed a permanent dinette area to have the counter top. I would much rather have a computer than a place to eat." She adds, "I write from my head--whatever has become crammed in there during the day goes down on the screen in the evening. So I don't need room for hand written notes."

The author is currently working on a series of novels for Harlequin set in south Georgia. The first, 'His Most Important Win,' comes out Jan. 24, 2012. The second book is nearly finished.

"The third will be about a native American heroine who inherits land in Georgia from her grandmother," says Cindy. "She wants to keep the land as it was for her ancestors. The hero wants to develop it into a camping resort facility. Should create some sparks between them."

The RVer is also contemplating a mystery series set in a campground. "That's a great way to add a mix of interesting characters in with the regulars who run the campground," says Cindy. "It would be a cozy series--no blood and guts and a lot of humor."

Learn more about Cynthia Thomason
Website: http://cynthiathomason.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CynthiaThomason
See a list of her books by clicking on CynthiaThomason/Amazon.com
RVWheelLife: "RVing romance author Cynthia Thomason" by clicking on: http://www.rvwheellife.com/?p=1676

Photos: Author Cynthia Thomason drafts her next novel while holding, Sparky, a recently rescued silky terrier mix that goes everywhere with them. (Bottom) The Thomasons' 24-foot Fleetwood travel trailer. (Walter Thomason)
Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

'YogaRVing' in small spaces

2011-09-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

Two Canadian women RVers, Sally Hauca, a longtime yoga instructor, and MaryAnne Galey, a yoga student, recently decided to produce YogaRVing, a "take-along" fitness program for people on the road in a small space.

The idea started one morning, while MaryAnne of Surrey, BC, was on an RV trip to Nevada. "I was doing yoga and attempting to remember the routine," she recalled. "I thought I really missed Sally and her classes. What I really needed was a DVD of Sally's routine that makes me workout and feel like a marshmallow after an hour's workout."

"MaryAnne got me interested," said Sally, of White Rock, BC, in producing "a take-with-them fitness plan" for the RV population.

Both Sally and MaryAnne have been enjoying the RV lifestyle for a number of years. Sally and her husband have been RVing five years in their 1991 28-foot Ford Four Winds, class C motorhome. MaryAnne, a business consultant, has been RVing for 30 years and currently travels in a 1994 30-foot Commander 1083, Triple E, class A motorhome.

"I think there is a great need for an easy-to-access fitness program" for RVers, said MaryAnne. "Many RVers haven't done a lot of exercise and consequently don't have a lot of strength or flexibility."

According to the women, anyone can do parts of, or the entire, YogaRVing 60-minute program. "It is extremely easy to follow with many repetitive instructions." Modifications are shown for most of the postures. "No excuses," said MaryAnne. RVers need to "stay fit and healthy in the prime of your life when you have the freest time and most time to enjoy your body."

YogaRVing has three sections that can be played through for the complete 60-minute session; or the viewer can play individual segments. This allows one to do routines depending on time and energy: 25-minute standing, 20-minute mat, or 15-minute stretching and relaxation.

An article on the Mayo Clinic website, "Yoga: Tap into the many health benefits," states that the many health benefits of practicing yoga include stress management. "Chronic stress can lead to a variety of health and emotional problems. Yoga can be an effective method to reduce stress and anxiety."

Sally said: "Yoga is one of the best ways to cultivate a connection between your mind and body. It tones muscles, increases flexibility, calms the mind and can improve overall health. Baby boomers .... can create a significant shift to better health and less health care costs by practicing yoga."

Information:
Price: $20
E-mail: info@yogarving.com
URL: www.YogaRVing.com/

Photos: Yoga instructor Sally Hauca. Courtesy of Yoga RVing.
Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

RV authors Jaimie Hall Bruzenak and Alice Zyetz pen another book

2011-08-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

If you are dreaming of retiring and taking up the RV lifestyle, consider reading this latest book by RV authors Jaimie Hall Bruzenak and Alice Zyetz.

The authors have been on the road for more than 15 years traveling with their spouses and then alone, are RV Lifestyles experts who write and speak about a variety of RV topics. They specialize in working on the road, women travelers, and Boomers ready to retire and have written a number of books on those subjects.

"Retire to an RV: The roadmap to affordable retirement" takes on the huge questions around pondering if you can afford to retire and travel 365 days a year.

It is packed with "information to help you make that decision," said the authors. The book combines the authors' knowledge, along with 41 other RVers who "have contributed their experiences in all aspects of RVing through out the book." This ebook addresses key questions and areas that those considering the RV lifestyle want to know.

'Retire to an RV' is a 202-page e-book, available for instant download, in pdf format to read on your computer or in a format compatible with Kindle, Nook or Smart Phone. Click on RVBookstore for information on downloading this informative book for $17.45.

Photos: top right: Jaimie Hall Bruzenak (by Julianne Crane); bottom: Alice Zyetz (by Jimmy Smith).
Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Alison Vail helped husband live dream using a 21-foot type B Rialta motorhome

2011-07-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

Editor's Note: My path first crossed Alison Vail of Alaska in March at the Valley of Fire State Park north of Las Vegas. She and her partner, Dave Perea, were touring the southwest in a rented Apollo class C motorhome. (For more on that trip, click here.) During a brief conversation, she told me about an RV trip she undertook in 2007 with her former husband, Pat Vail, who passed in March 2010 from complications due to Parkinson disease. Her story is one of personal and emotional strength. I asked the retired school teacher to write about it for Women RVers. -- Julianne Crane

By Alison Vail, Girdwood, Alaska

The trip to Iceland had been a unique experience, but glad to get home to Alaska, I opened the small window shade and stared down below as we approached Canada's western edge.

The plane ride was nearly finished and the skies had cleared, so I was able to get a full view of the Alaska-Canada Highway from an altitude of more than 3,000 feet. I stare unbelievably at a tiny trail of road carved through a wild country of mountains, rivers and dense forests. I know this road and I have driven it twice in my life.

The first time was in 1975 as a young adventurer with very little experience driving in snow, cold and on icy roads. My traveling partner was Pat Vail who became my husband a year later. He was an outdoorsman to the core, strong, capable, at home in the woods as a fisherman, hunter and more. His ability to survive in the woods and in Viet Nam gave me the confidence to set out with him in October on this journey of thousands of miles in the wilderness.

We drove, slept and ate in the new Chevy Blazer we purchased before the trip. It proved to be a very cold journey where we shared the cooking, decision-making and driving. Our turns behind the wheel were equal in time, but the distance I made was about a quarter that he made. It was a long drive and I did have doubts along the way. Eventually we made it to Alaska and stayed there building a life and raising a family.

The second time I drove this road was in 2007, also with my husband. But this time, I was the sole driver and also in charge of keeping the windshield clean, the oil checked, the gas tank filled and the tires inflated. We drove in more luxury this time in a Rialta motorhome that had cooking facilities, beds and running water.

The strong man I traveled with 32 years previously had developed Parkinson's diasese and had lost the ability to walk and could not bare his own weight, even with support, for long. So I also cooked our meals, gave him showers and hoisted him from passenger seat to bed and to a wheel chair.

We left Alaska in mid-June so we were hoping for warmer weather. I guess the Al-Can is generally a cold place because often when I got him out to fish he sat with jackets, gloves, a blanket and hat while his nose ran incessantly.

A big difference for me on this second trip was that the road conditions did not faze me. After 30-plus years in Alaska my driving ability was impressive and I loved driving the Rialta, a 21-foot camper with its low profile, VW engine and great gas mileage.

Having learned to enjoy being in control, I reveled in being able to choose our stopping points, find fishing holes, manipulate the wheel chair into nearly impossible places and prepare healthy meals.

My once 6-foot, 175-pound, lean, athletic husband had put on weight because of his inability to move much. He was nearly 250 pounds, which was difficult for me to haul around, but I managed. I did call on others when I over estimated my own strength and found I could not push him and the wheel chair by myself, or get him in and out of a trucker’s shower without assistance.

One time I enjoyed my own long, hot shower when a weathered, old tough guy, who was the restaurant owner, post office clerk and town sheriff, took pity on my difficulty and fed my man and kept him company for awhile. Of course they talked fishing and we left with some old bacon to use for bait.

Often I would stop where I could get him out onto a pier or dock where other men fished and I was able to sneak off for a quick run while they traded hooks, bait and stories.

During the drives he mostly slept probably because of the monotony and pills he had to take, but I found the scenery exciting and beautiful and got used to enjoying it for myself. Unfortunately he missed a lot of gorgeous country and I missed a lot of wanderings off of the road that I hope someday to get back to.

We traveled in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California and of course Alaska and Canada. I drove over 10,000 miles and enjoyed every moment.

It became clear that we were reversing our trip of 1975 and we tried to hit every memorable spot and more. We knew it would be our last journey together and although it was melancholy, it also brought us peace and a closure of our lives together, the daughters we raised and the friends we made in that unforgiving yet welcoming land of the north. There are many types of journeys and I have had some incredible experiences so far in my life.

Photos: top: Alaska-Canada Highway. 2) Alison Vail along the Al-Can where there was a marker for the continental divide, taken by Pat Vail. 3) A sunny spot where they stopped for a picnic and a little fishing. 4) Enjoying swapping stories with another fisherman. 5) Bottom: Pat trying to enjoy his catch for breakfast while warding off mosquitoes with his 'hoodie.' "He never lost his smile," says Alison. (All photographs, except the one of her, taken by Alison Vail.)

Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Women RVers learning, teaching about life on the road at RV Owners Seminar

2011-06-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

This past weekend more than 100 RVers gathered at the 14th annual RV Owners Lifestyle Seminar in Kelowna, BC.

The three-day event featured scores of technical and lifestyle workshops on how to live happier and wiser on the road. Three of the women presenters were Arlene Janssens, Joei Carlton Hossack and Julianne Crane.

Arlene Janssens of Salem, Ore., retired after 30 years as a manager with Oregon's social services, and started her own consulting business. She is a workshop leader, church consultant, inspirational speaker and developer of anti-poverty programs. Twelve weeks after purchase of a new motor home, her husband was diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor. After his sudden death, Arlene learned to drive, maintain, and enjoy the home on wheels. She's been traveling solo since 1997; driving to the tip of Baja, throughout Alaska, and many of the lower 48 states. She is a member of various RVing clubs and wrote a monthly column for Bounders United for several years.

Joei Carlton Hossack of Surrey, B.C., is a solo, full-time RVer. She has been on the road in an RV since 1989 and RVing solo since the death of her husband in June of 1992. She travels and shares her knowledge with others through seminars and public speaking events and the six books she has written.

Julianne Crane of Spokane, Wash., writes about the RV lifestyle, people and destinations. For more than four years she wrote “Wheel Life,” a weekly column for The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash. Currently her work can be seen on RVWheelLife.com, RVShortStops.com, and WomenRVers.com.

Photo: From left: Arlene Janssens, Norma Arlin of Mossyrock, Wash., Joei Carlton Hossack and Julianne Crane (Photo by Jimmy Smith).

RVing Women's rally offers fun, art June 3-5

2011-05-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

On June 3, a number of RVing Women will be rolling into Toppenish, Wash., "where the West still lives in the city of murals and museums." According to American Cowboy Magazine, this eastern Washington town is one of the 20 best places to live in the West.

Each year on the first Saturday in June, the Toppenish Mural Society recruits a group of western artists to design and complete a new mural, which is then added to the town's already impressive collection of 73 murals. An estimated 13,000 visitors drift into town each June to view the live event.

RVing Women, a national organization, provides education and support to single, divorced and widowed women RVers.

A group of RVing Women will circle their wagons at the Yakima Nation RV Resort June 3-5, 2011, to observe the artists as they paint the city's newest mural. Other activities include taking a narrated tour by horse-drawn wagon of several of the murals already painted, touring the Yakima Nation Cultural Center and a potluck dinner.

Other area attractions in the area are the Northern Pacific Rail and Steam Museum, the Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge and the American Hop Museum. The remains of Fort Simcoe are about 30 miles south of town.

For information contact: Rally leader Patricia "Beckey" Beckey, (541) 680-1935 or email rvwbeckey@gmail.com.

Camping fees: $35/night for full hook- ups. The Yakima Nation RV Resort is located at 280 Buster Road, Toppenish WA 98948. Information is available at www.ynrv.com.

Registration fee: $40/RVW members, $60/non-members.

For other activities, contact:
RVing Women
P.O. Box 1940
Apache Junction, AZ 85117-1940
Toll free: 888.557-8464
Email: rvwoffice@rvingwomen.org
URL: www.RVingWomen.org

Photos: Top: "The Ruth Parton Story" Women like Ruth Parton helped put Toppenish on the map in the early days with feats depicted in this mural of several panels painted by Lesa Delisi of Cashmere, Washington. Parton rode broncos, performed as a trick rider, and rode relay races at rodeos around the country. She was also inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Bottom: Fred Oldfield, in his second mural for the Toppenish Mural Society, painted a scene from his own past, a scene he once lived as a former cowboy from Toppenish. Called "Christmas at Logy Creek," in this mural, two Indians share their fire and food with a cowboy friend. Courtesy of Toppenish Chamber of Commerce.

'Sisters on the Fly' and their vintage trailers

2011-05-25T16:25:00.000-07:00

Maurrie Sussman of Phoenix, Ariz., and her real-life sister, Becky Clarke of McCall, Idaho, are the driving force behind Sisters on the Fly, a unique group of women who love to fly fish, ride horses and caravan with vintage trailers.

It all began in the summer of 1999, when Becky and Maurrie were sitting on a drift boat in Montana.

“We were happily drinking a glass of wine in celebration of catching an 8-pound Brown trout,” recalled Maurrie, “and we thought it would be fun to share this with friends.”

Since then their “sisterhood” has grown to almost 1,900 women ranging in ages from 21 to 88.

“We are average women having extraordinary adventures,” she said.

And many are doing those adventures in lavishly decorated travel trailers, painted with outlandish murals. Some of the RVs are embellished inside and out in a Western theme. A number of the rigs are from the 1950s and '60s and range from 12 to 16 feet. Models include Shasta, Scotsman, Aloha, Airstream, Scotty, Holiday, Aljo, Leigh, Crown and Empire.

“We found it was more comfortable and easier to drag our own bedroom with us,” said Maurrie. “After a hard day driving and having fun, it is pure bliss to fall into your own feather bed.”

There are several Cowgirl Caravan Events on the books for 2011-2012 including campouts in Brokenn Bowl, Okla., York, Pa., and Pendleton, Ore. There is a one-week Cowgirl College set for June 2-9, 2011, in Kaycee, Wy. "This is pure heaven for all cowgirls and I mean pure heaven. You don’t need to know how to be a cowgirl, but it helps if you know the front from the back of a horse," said Maurrie.

For a complete list click here.

You can reach them through their Web site, www.sistersonthefly.com or call (602) 908-0680 or email: sistersonthefly@cox.net. You can join this incredible group of women for an annual fee of $60.

Photo: Sister # 1 Maurrie and Sister # 2 Becky. Courtesy of Sisters on the Fly.
Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Solo RVer and writer Malia Lane is back on the road again

2011-04-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

I first met fulltime RVer and writer Malia Lane about five years ago when she was traveling (and working) in the Pacific Northwest.

At that time she had been on the road solo for more than six years, supporting her lifestyle by taking temporary paralegal jobs in various locations around the country. These days she "makes gas money" through her business: Above the Bar Virtual Assistance.

"Virtual assistance enables me to work for clients online," explains Malia. "Most of my clients are attorneys and they send me work either from digital recordings that I transcribe or email attachments of documents they want revised."

"It is great that I can work from my rolling home," she says. The "only problem is that sometimes they all want things at the same time."

However, she still prefers being a virtual assistant to when she would "have to stop at a location for extended periods and go find temp jobs. I’ve found there are pros and cons to both ways, but I’m just thankful I can support my travel habit in whatever way I can."

Malia recently returned to the road after a long 'visit' in Austin
Before taking off on her current journey earlier this month, her last big trip "was seeing every mile of the Blue Ridge Parkway during the summer of 2007." (Read more about that trip in an article I wrote for the Spokesman-Review by clicking here.)

In November 2007 Malia returned to her hometown of Austin "to visit, supposedly for only a few months but wound up pretty much staying put for over three years" due to family responsibilities.

What got you back RVing?

"Once we determined my elderly mom was no longer able to care for herself, either at home or in assisted living, she moved in with my brother and sister-in-law in South Carolina," says Malia. "This was the main issue that had kept me off the road, so once that was settled, I spent the time and money it took to get my motorhome road-worthy again."

Currently Malia is in South Carolina visiting family, and is really excited about her upcoming summer in Michigan.

"I’ll spend the entire summer there exploring the state parks and will be writing an article for MotorHome magazine about it," she says. "This will be my longest trip since Alaska in 2003, so I’m pretty stoked about this adventure."

"I decided on Michigan for my re-entry voyage because the Great Lakes really do look great," she says, and because "several of my virtual assistance clients live there and, although I’ve worked for some of them for almost four years, I’ve never met them in person."

Insights since being back on the road:

"No matter how nervous I was about hitting the road again," says Malia, "there is no doubt at all this is still what I want to do. I had thought for a while maybe it was time to give up the keys and settle down in Austin again; but after about 20 miles, all those doubts were gone and I was again singing my theme song, With Arms Wide Open, as loudly as I could."

RVing is not always the easiest lifestyle, she says, however, "I wouldn’t trade it for anything else at this point. I’m happy to be able to do this while I’m still young and spry enough to do the kind of hiking and activities I love."

Malia says she gets a lot of emails from people, especially women, who say they would love to do what she does, but they’re too afraid.

"I tell them it’s not like I don’t have my own fears and insecurities. I just believe firmly it’s possible to move past them and live your life so you don’t have regrets when you’re too old to do anything else but sit in a rocking chair reliving your memories. Create lots of memories now so you won’t be so bored then."

Read more of Malia's writings at:
Malia’s Miles: http://www.maliasmiles.com.
Blog: http://www.maliasmiles.com/blog/
Inspiration’s Journey: http://www.maliasrv.com

Photo: Malia Lane outside her motorhome at Pecan Grove RV Park in Austin, TX, before taking off on her six-month road trip. (Julianne Crane)

Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Reminder: RVing expert Cathy Atkins speaks at RVTravel series in Edmonds on 4/23/11

2011-04-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

RV lifestyle expert, Cathy Atkins will give a one-hour presentation at the RVtravel.com seminar series taking place in Edmonds, Wash., on April 23, 2011.

Atkins is an RV enthusiast and is also a member of the Board of Directors of RVing Women, a national organization that provides education and support to single, divorced and widowed women RVers. She will be give tips and insights for solo women who travel in RVs.

Doors open at 8:30 a.m., with events running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click "here" for more information about the seminar series and how to reserve your seat. Cost is only $15.
Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Artist paints, tours in 21-ft travel trailer

2011-04-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

New England artist Skye Sutherland and her 85-pound rescue dog, Zackary, are planning an extended cross-country road trip this year.

"I paint camping pets' portraits, and teach art workshops to adults and children," says Skye. During January 2012, she will be teaching classes at the Oasis Palms RV Park in Palm Springs, Calif.

Before that, however, she will be spending the spring and summer in her RV in Connecticut. Come August she will head to northern Maine and Canada for an art exhibit featuring her paintings and a huge family reunion. "Then," she says, "my dog and I leave Maine in September to head west."

Type of RV: 2008 21-ft. Flagstaff Micro Lite travel trailer. Pulled with a 2001 Dodge Durango RT.

Travel pet companion: Zackary, an eight-year-old Doberman/Shepherd mix. "I got him from Protectors of Animals in Connecticut almost seven years ago. He was a scared, abused one-year old. I worked with him and gave him a lot of love. Now he's a big gentle buddy, but a good protector also, which is nice to have when traveling."

Personal background: Skye lived in the New York City area for years, studying and sketching. She decided to move back to New England after "watching the World Trade Center towers being destroyed in front of my eyes."

In Connecticut she was living in an apartment/office building that she had purchased in 2002, "not enjoying being a landlord one bit," she says. "But that was the time when owning real estate was all the rage."

Skye recalls that her mother kept saying: "Why don't you sell the building, go live in a motorhome and travel the country painting dogs at campgrounds?"

"She put the bug in my ear and it stayed there for years," says the artist. In 2010 Skye "bit the bullet," sold her real estate and purchased a small, light travel trailer.

"Growing up, we camped in tents, trailers and motorhomes," recalls Skye. "As an adult, I camped mainly in tents and cabins. So owning my own RV, and learning how to tow it and all that comes with it, is interesting. I'm still learning."

A couple of those things Skye has been learning are how to live and work in a tiny space with a big dog.

"Poor Zack, he can't turn around in the hallway of the camper and must back up if he is facing the wrong direction," says Skye.

"I went from a 500-sq-ft art studio--with space for a library, office and large sink--to a trailer with a few feet of working space," she says.

"I am limited to the size I can paint--16 x 20 inches is maximum, and that's pushing it. I try to paint outside, but that has its challenges due to rain, wind, and bugs. But, I love setting up all my stuff on my little kitchen table, and just painting. Sure, it's tight, but it's fun."

Best thing so far about RVing: Knowing that "I can up and move whenever I want.”

Type of art: Realistic painting of animals and nature, mostly done in pastel or acrylic.

Contact: Skye Sutherland
P O Box 885
Portland, CT 06480
(860) 538-8831
artist@SkyeSutherland.com
skye@CampgroundDogs.com

To see more of her work: www.SkyeSutherland.com and www.CampgroundDogs.com.

Photos: (Click on photos for larger views.) Top: Skye Sutherland and a shed moose antler; middle: Zack outside Skye's RV; and Skye's work area inside her travel trailer. Photographs courtesy of Skye Sutherland.

Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Books geared to Women RVers

2011-03-22T03:39:00.000-07:00

Veteran RVers Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak and Alice Zyetz, of RVLifestyleExperts.com have been RVing for dozens of years. Each has traveled solo and with their husbands.

Together they have written several RV how-to books--including two geared exclusively toward women: The Woman's Guide to Solo RVing and RV Traveling Tales: Women’s Journeys on the Open Road.

In Solo RVing (Pine Country Publishing) the authors incorporate the experiences of seasoned RVers. Ten solo women give real-life advice on a range of topics critical to women traveling on their own.

RV Traveling Tales (Pine Country Publishing, March, 2003) is an anthology of short essays by 52 women talking about living in, and traveling in an RV. "Each story is brief, yet presents a memorable snapshot of RV life."

Both these books help answer some of the big questions and examine many of the challenges facing today's solo RVing woman.

"For women who are going to travel alone," says Jaimie, "I think getting over that initial fear--just getting out and doing it and building up some confidence can be a challenge."

When Jaimie took her first solo trip after her former husband, Bill, passed away, she was nervous.

"Just about everything that could go wrong on that trip did," she says. "But I thought of the other widowed women I knew who were still RVing and that inspired me. If they could do it, so could I. Getting both knowledge and experience helps resolve this item."

"For many women," says Alice, "fixing the RV and toad are a bit daunting, but they soon learn where to get help or how to do it themselves."

However, she adds, "Loneliness is something they fear at first, but they soon find out how easy it is to make connections with others."

Jaimie agrees that some may be anxious about making new women friends and having more than superficial connections.

"The Internet allows you to stay connected with family and non-RV friends," says Jaimie, "but your life will be much richer if you can meet other RVers--or at least like-minded people in your travels--and establish a community."

"Alice and I found that in the Boomer group of the Escapees RV Club," adds Jaimie. "If you stay in one location, you could find it there in the RV park, where you Workamp or volunteer or the community. You have to be willing to reach out to others and invest in new friendships."

Both Alice and Jaimie suggest that solo women frequently find community in solo groups like Wandering Individual Network, Loners on Wheels or the Escapees Solos Birds of a Feather.

These well-written, informative and inspirational books are for those women who dream of traveling by RV, whether alone or with a friend or partner.

Image of Alice Zyetz and Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak. Courtesy of RVLifestyleExperts.com

Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Living happily in her RV

2011-03-21T05:48:00.000-07:00

You'll get a good idea how comfortable a single woman can be living in a modest-sized Class C motorhome. In this woman's case, she doesn't even need all her cupboard space. She takes you on a tour of her RV in this three-minute video.

Women's Wellness program begins April 8 at Virginia "underground" state park"

2011-03-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

This Spring Virginia State Parks' will offer its fifth Women's Wellness Weekend, this time at Natural Tunnel State Park Park in Duffield, Virginia. The weekend will provide educational and recreational opportunities that empower and enlighten women to sustain a healthy lifestyle.

This type of weekend is an excellent "getaway" for women of all ages where they can treat themselves to a weekend of pampering and fun activities. Natural Tunnel is a picturesque setting where you can unwind and regain balance in your life. For the entire weekend, a wide variety of workshops, programs and outdoor activities will be offered. You may want to experience the underground world of caves and caverns. View first hand the unique formations and historical remains found in the park caves. You'll see evidence of earlier cave explorers and inhabitants. A trained guide provides participants hard hats, knee pads, lights, gloves and instruction. This tour involves more effort and ability due to the crawls and small passages found within the cave.

The weekend begins on Friday, April 8 with registration starting at 3 p.m. and ends the afternoon of Sunday, April 10. For those who decided to arrive Thursday evening, a trip to Wilderness Road State Park and Southwest Virginia Museum State Park is planned for Friday.

The Women's Wellness Weekends are affordable. Registration fees include all sessions as well as meals. Lodging is separate. Natural Tunnel has recently opened 10 new cabins ranging from two-bedroom cabins to a six-bedroom lodge. Lodging is also available at the park's Cove Ridge Conference Center as well in the park's two campgrounds.

More information and prices on the Virginia State Park's Women's Wellness Weekend or for general park is available at the park website. Overnight reservations can also be made by calling 1-800-933-PARK (7275).

Fulltime RVer Joyce Caudell volunteers

2011-03-05T06:39:00.000-08:00

Joyce Caudell, retired registered nurse in health education, teaching and management.

Started fulltime RVing: In February 2007. Sold her house in April that year.

Type of RV: 2007 26-foot Itasca Sunova, with two slides. Her tow car is a 2006 Saturn. "It doubles as a garage," she joked.

How did you decided on the RV lifestyle: "It was always a dream for me and my husband to retire and explore the remote places of the USA," said Joyce

"Then when I was alone I kept looking for a new dream and couldn't find one I liked better. So I took this one on as a possibility with vigor and commitment to learning to do a good job as a single woman with curiosity and a spirit of adventure.

"I researched, joined RV online groups, took classes, talked to anyone and everyone I could, made files, spreadsheets and learned as much as I could for a year before I finally took the plunge, bought the RV and sold the house. I didn't have the money to keep up a nice house and yard and do the extensive RV travel too, so I said, 'Who needs this house anyway.'

"I knew I had to make my life happen."

How do you spend your time? "I remember one of my daughters-in-law sitting in my new RV and asking, 'But what do you DO all day?'

"I'm still not sure how to answer that. I'm definitely not bored. I have lots of interests, hobbies, friends, family and sport activities--like walking, hiking, biking and kayaking. I spend a lot of time planning adventures and travels.

"I try to get to sunny Arizona in winter. I enjoy boondocking with like-minded friends in the beautiful desert, parked randomly on undeveloped BLM lands using solar power.
"Two years ago a friend got me into volunteering and I've done that part-time for state parks, the National Park Service and the Army Corps of Engineering."

This past summer, Joyce volunteered at Oregon's Wallowa Lake State Park for the Nez Perce National Historic Park Service doing demonstrations and campground presentations about Nez Perce Nation cultural items.

Would you choose this lifestyle again? "In a heartbeat," she said. "Just thinking about settling down gives me claustrophobia. I've never been to a locale I didn't want to come back to and do more exploring. The RVing community is awesome. The friends I've made on the road are treasures that will last my lifetime. "

Photo: Volunteer RVer Joyce Caudell shows a young visitor a buffalo horn at Wallowa Lake State Park. "The Nez Perce would clean them up, polish, and sometimes decorate them to make them into useful personal items such as drinking cups," said Joyce. (Courtesy of Joyce Caudell)

Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Young woman, suddenly homeless, talks about her new life and plans

2011-02-28T12:06:00.000-08:00

An intelligent, well-spoken 24-year-old woman who suddenly found herself homeless after losing her job, decided to move into a small travel trailer she had recently inherited. She could not afford to stay in parking lots, so "moved" into a Wal-Mart parking lot where she is usually in the company of other RVers, some in similar circumstances. In this ten-minute interview she explains how she became homeless and what she is doing to get back on track.

RVer Shirley Mendonca designs medical alert flag for use when traveling

2011-02-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

Shirley Mendonca and her husband, Dave, travel a great deal in 39-foot their Holiday Rambler motorhome.

"We've been RVers for about 30 years," says Shirley. "My husband and I are members of a tractor club that puts on tractor pulls at various places. He does the announcing and I help with checking in all of the tractors and 4 x 4 pickups."

After Shirley had open-heart surgery, she was concerned about how Emergency Medical crews would be able to find her quickly if "we were camping out in the middle of nowhere."

Shirley says she did a lot research and couldn't find any medical alert flags anywhere. "So I made one."

After talking with a number of RVers, she thought others who had medical concerns might be interested and decided to make the flags available for $20 which includes a storage tube, ID label and shipping.

For information about how to order the flag go to http://www.shirley123-lizard.com/, or contact Shirley by email at: Shirleym6951@sbcglobal.net

Photo: RVer Shirley Mendonca holds medical alert flag she designed for emergencies while on the road. (Dave Mendonca)
Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Jericho Walton's 'did-it-herself' van conversion, trip of the West

2011-02-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

Jericho Walton is a fiercely independent Texas gal, living in Houston.

Profession: Concierge services. Currently creating a line of all natural/organic hand-made skin products.

Type of RV: 1997 Ford Club Wagon conversion, called "Shadow."

Cost: Originally bought at auction for $1,850 to use as a work van. Put in another $900 for new belts, hoses, battery, oil change and radiator flush. Then added four new heavy-duty tires for around $1,000. Total $3,750.

It was "a retired Border Patrol vehicle that had been used to tour the back country along the Rio Grande for illegal aliens," said Jericho. "Shadow was stripped to just a hull except for the two front passenger seats; but with a 10-cylinder engine that lit the tires up when the gas pedal was even breathed upon. It was love at first sight."

Planning: After a series of "rough patches" a couple of years ago, Jericho began to visualize her old work van as "a pretty good apartment on wheels" and started planning a trip of the Western United States.

"I thought about what I would need for a trip of indeterminate duration and started compartmentalizing every phase of my day," she said. "I cannot stress enough the importance of organization. Keep like things together and know where everything is, even in the dark."

Almost everything Jericho used inside her van on her two-month RV trip she got from her home -- including heavy plastic stacking shelves, plastic drawers, small heater, tensor reading lamp, single electric burner, power strip, bedding, kitchen gear, portable oven and electric hot water lidded pot (that Jericho found "invaluable.")

For one campsite meal Jericho "had a jar of cheese sauce simmering in this lidded pot, with asparagus steaming in the surrounding water," she recalled. "When these were done, the water then went into a bag of dry mashed potatoes and, combined with a chicken I bought pre-cooked, I dined royally with a nice Riesling."

Don't leave home without: Inverters that plug into the cigarette lighter socket and make it an outlet. "Keeps your phone, CD player, or computer charged. Buy the best you can."

Safety: In her van within grabbing distance, Jericho carried a .22 handgun, a power baton for striking, and a 13" Bowie knife. When not in her RV, she said, "I always had my 8" knife on my belt in a holster."

"As a woman traveling alone, you never want to look like a victim," stressed Jericho. "Walk with conviction; always look like you know what you are doing. Don't be afraid to warn a man off, especially if he starts to hang around and show interest.

"Know where your weapons and flashlights are at night. Keep them close. If you become alarmed, start the engine, honk the horn, or sit in the dark, gun in hand and sing out that your are prepared to use it," she said. "There's nothing like the cocking of a hammer to let people know you mean business."

The longer she traveled, she said, the braver she got. "I was asked by many of my girlfriends if I had ever been scared," said Jericho. "Surprisingly enough, my answer was 'No.' I rarely gave it a second thought."

If you have questions about Jericho's van, her travel route or her organic make-up, contact her by email at JerichoWalton@comcast.net .

Photos: Jericho Walton camping at Brantley Lake Campground near Carlsbad, New Mexico. (Julianne Crane)
Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com

Julianne Crane new editor for Women RVers

2011-02-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

Beginning today, longtime RVer and writer Julianne Crane will be overseeing the Women RVers blog.

(Previous editor Andrienne Kristine retired from active RVing in 2010 -- See 'From RVing woman to RVing woman advisor')

Julianne began writing about RVing in the 1980s when she lived in the Seattle area and owned a "grossly under-powered" Toyota Dolphin class C motorhome. Between 2003-2007, she wrote a weekly RV lifestyle column and blog for The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash. In 2008 she started publishing RV Wheel Life online. Currently, she also contributes weekly to RV Short Stops.

Julianne and her partner, Jimmy Smith, recently completed a six-month trip circumnavigating the USA in a truck and 8.5-foot camper. Their homebase is in Eastern Washington.

Julianne is always interested in sharing stories about women who love RVing, contact her at WomenRVers@gmail.com.

Photo: Julianne Crane on the Nez Perce National Forest in Idaho. (Jimmy Smith)

Virginia State parks offer special program for women

2010-03-18T09:03:00.001-07:00

Virginia State Parks has a solution for women who seek an affordable vacation where they can leave their hectic lifestyles behind. Women's Wellness Weekends at Virginia State Parks offer a picturesque setting where women can unwind and regain balance in their lives.

The three-day events offer a wide variety of workshops and outdoor activities for women of all ages. Women participating in the next weekend in April will enjoy activities such as fly fishing, yoga, aromatherapy, hiking and kayaking. The event begins at 3 p.m, Friday, April 23 with registration and ends Sunday, April 25 at noon. Share your stay with friends or make new ones. Bring your RV or camp in the campground. No matter where you stay you'll have the opportunity to explore the natural beauty and the scenic views of Fairy Stone State Park. To learn more or to make a reservation, call 800-933-7275, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit virginiastateparks.gov.

The following Women's Wellness Weekend will be held in October at Bear Creek Lake State Park in Cumberland County.