Snowbirds arriving early in Arizona

Snowbirds are arriving in Arizona two to four weeks ahead of schedule in what is shaping up to be a stronger 2014-2015 winter season.

“I’m getting them coming in two weeks to a month earlier and they are extending out longer at the other end (of the winter season),” said Sabrina Welborn, office manager for the 265-site Silverview RV Resort in Bullhead City. “The phone is ringing and I have a stack of emails to respond to to see who we can accommodate. We’re already at about 90 percent occupancy for January, February and March and we expect to be at 100 percent in those months.”

RV parks in the Phoenix area are seeing the same trend. “We are seeing people come in earlier and they are staying longer, which is good news for the local economy,” said Jim Mathew, operations supervisor for Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort in El Mirage. “The reservations came in a lot faster this year.”

“We’re already getting busy,” said Jan Venard, assistant manager of Phoenix Metro RV Park. “The season is starting earlier.”

 “We’ve even been having people arrive (for the winter) with no reservations,” said Eric Vargas of the 203-site Desert’s Edge RV Park in Phoenix.

While many Arizona RV parks are reporting an earlier than usual arrival of snowbirds, the numbers of snowbirds arriving at each park varies. Apache Palms RV Park in Tempe, for example, is reporting small numbers of early snowbird arrivals, as is Rincon Country RV Resort in Tucson.

RV park operators attribute the early influx of snowbirds to cooler weather up North and to the Farmer’s Almanac, which is forecasting a cold, hard winter in many areas up north. “Some of our guests tell me they have already had the snow hit,” said Welborn of Silverview RV Resort. “Some have also said they want to do the drive now and get out of it.”

 Jo Ann Mickelson, who co-owns and operates JH RV Park in Flagstaff, said her park, which closed for the winter on Saturday, has been unusually busy this month with Canadians heading south. “We’ve had a lot of Canadians already coming through,” said Mickelson. “We usually don’t have them at this time of year. We’re usually closed by the time they come through.”

Arizona fuel tax rumor goes viral -- here's the real story

A memo circulating among the full-time RVers group, Escapees, has gone viral, creating no end of confusion regarding Arizona diesel fuel taxes. The memo, picked up by at least one RV forum early October 14, would make it appear that motorhome owners who have a rig with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds, or having three or more axles, must fuel at commercial truck islands, and pay a higher tax rate than other RVers. We contacted the Arizona Department of Transportation for clarification, and want to set the record straight.

What confuses the issue is the two-tier tax system the Grand Canyon State uses on diesel road fuel sales. If you stop at a diesel fuel pump at any station in Arizona, you'll find a warning sticker that suggests you can be subject to a $1,000 minimum fine if you improperly use the lower taxed (18 cents per gallon) diesel fuel intended for 'small trucks.' The sticker even mentions the 26,000 pound/3 or more axle "rule."

But there's a lot more in the details. We spoke with Arizona Department of Transportation Fuel Tax Manager, Chris Kent on Wednesday the 14th. Kent was able to dig through the finer points of the fuel tax law. Basically the whole issue hinges on two different state statutes. One (28-54320) speaks to "weight fees." The other, (28-5606) specifies what vehicles must pay the higher motor fuel tax. In a nutshell, the motor fuel tax statute says any, "use class motor vehicle" used on Arizona roadways must pay the higher tax. What makes a "use class motor vehicle"? The devil is in the details.

Of interest to RVers, particularly motorhome owners, is this simple exemption from what makes a "use class motor vehicle." First, for all RVers, provided your rig has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,000 pounds or less and has but two axles, you're exempt from "use class," and hence, exempt from paying the higher tax rate on fuel.

For motorhomes, Arizona DOT's Kent pointed us to a 2004 agency policy memo, number 13.2.3. Boiled down, the policy says as long as a motorhome has at least four of the following items, it is exempt from "use class" (and higher fuel taxes). Those items include:

"A cooking facility with an on-board fuel source,
"A gas or electric refrigerator
"A toilet with exterior evacuation
"A heating or air-conditioning system with an on-board power or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine
"A portable water supply system that includes at least a sink, a faucet and a water tank with an exterior service supply connection
"A 110-125 volt electric power supply"

If you've got at least four of those things, even if your motorhome has a weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds and/or more than three axles, your rig is NOT a "use class" motor vehicle, and thus does NOT have to pay the higher fuel tax rate. One last detail: For your motorhome to meet the 'lower fuel tax use OK' test, it must be used for recreational purposes. If used for commercial purposes, once you hit over 26,000 pounds and/or more than two axles, you are stuck paying the higher tax rate.

Updated 10/15/14 to clarify commercial versus recreational use. 

Alamo State Parks sets aside campsites for long stays

Alamo Lake State Park has designated some campsites for Long Term Camping from now through March 31, 2015. Guests who wish to take advantage of stays of longer than two weeks are required to pay in full for the first two weeks of their stay along with the $5 reservation fee. The minimum length of stay for a long-term site is 28 nights (4 weeks). The maximum length of stay is 84 nights (12 weeks).

Nestled in the Bill Williams River Valley away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the park is one of the best places to fish for bass in Arizona. The lake is surrounded by mountainous terrain speckled with brush, wildflowers and cacti making for a visually pleasing experience. The park has excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, and you may spot a bald or golden eagle.

For nature lovers, spring rains bring an abundance of wild flowers and the lake environment attracts a variety of wildlife year round, including waterfowl, foxes, coyotes, mule deer and wild burros. Stargazers enjoy the amazing views of the night sky with the nearest city lights some 40 miles away!

To reserve a long-term campsite, please call the Reservation Center at (520) 586-2283.

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Water is getting scarce: Build yourself a rainwater collector

Planning on doing a little desert boondocking this winter? Or are you RVing in one of the major drought areas and are having trouble finding a free source of water? It could get worse if the drought continues.

Read how Dave Ulmer built a rainwater collector for his motorhome, a system that he says can produce 100 gallons an hour during a good rainstorm. And all it takes is some simple fittings that you can find in the average hardware store.

Watch the short 68-second video to see how he did it.

Arizona snowbird takes home corpse

Vendors love Arizona snowbirds. They buy all sorts of treasures to take back home with them at the end of the season. But a Michigan man who snowbirds the Grand Canyon State may have the record for the strangest thing taken home: A corpse.

Ray Tomlinson, a 62-year-old man from Clinton Township, made an acquaintance with a 31-year-old homeless woman from New Jersey. Tomlinson helped the woman out, and saw a lot of her. When winter rolled around, Tomlinson and his mother headed to Arizona, the girl friend to Florida. This spring, as the weather changed, the two contacted each other. She came out to Arizona, and checked herself into a hospital in Tempe.

The first of June, Tomlinson and his mother were ready to head back to Michigan, and the so-far unidentified woman checked herself out of the hospital and joined Tomlinson and his mother in his mini-van for the trip back to Michigan. It was somewhere in Texas that Ray Tomlinson said he noticed a problem: His friend was slumped over in the seat, and cool to the touch. Authorities think she may have overdosed on prescription pain medications she'd taken at a stop in Flagstaff.

What do you do when you find your girlfriend has passed away and you're in a strange state? Go for help where everyone goes these days: To the Internet! Tomlinson used his smart phone to search the web and found information that lead him to believe he had 48 hours to get his friend to a medical examiner or to a morgue. In a combination of what Tomlinson calls, 'Because I care so much,' and concern that his rig might be impounded, he made the decision to drive on to Michigan.

Before Tomlinson, his mother, and their deceased passenger could make it to Michigan, authorities were already on to the situation. The hospital where the girl friend had been checked in, called on her cell phone to check up on her. Tomlinson answered the call, explained what had happened, and told the probably weirded-out staffer that he had no intention of taking their advice to stop, and kept on driving. By the time the group had hit Illinois, police were calling Tomlinson, asking him to stop. The group continued on clear to Tomlinson's home, whereupon authorities found the body of Ray Tomlinson's girl friend had already started to decompose.

Authorities say they don't have any intention to charge Ray Tomlinson in the case. They don't feel there's enough evidence to charge him with a crime.

Take safety with you when exploring the Southwest desert

Cold winters make the Desert Southwest a major drawing card for snowbirds. Who can resist putting down the snow shovel and the parka in exchange for some of the most intriguing back country imaginable – all of which can be explored in your shirt-sleeves in February?

Still, every year some of those desert wanderers don't come home. The desert is indeed intriguing, but it's also unforgiving. Get lost or have a breakdown in the desert and exposure can and does kill the unprepared. Here are some tips to help you stay safe if you go off-road and hit the desert trail.

File a "flight plan." Let someone know where you plan to go, and when you plan to be back. Put it in writing, including what you'll be driving, and give 'em a map. If you change your plans when on your route, let your contact person know. If you don't come back when you should, they can contact authorities to help.

Be prepared for trouble. Take plenty of water – at least a gallon per day, per person on your expedition. Take extra water, in case you get stuck, along with medications and a bit of food. If you do get stuck, don't think you can "ration" you water. Your body doesn't live on rationed water, drink what you need – that's why extra water is essential.

Sure you've got a cell-phone, but plenty of places are cell "dead zones." A CB radio might work, but the only sure-fire communications device is a satellite phone. Other electronic gear that can be helpful is a GPS unit – if you do break down, the GPS can pinpoint your exact location, allowing you to tell rescuers where to find you. Others care a personal locator beacon (PLB). The PLB, when activated, sends out an electronic cry for help – less expensive than a satellite phone, but certainly limited. Carry a flashlight and extra batteries.

Before you head out, get information on where you plan to go. Some desert roads will accommodate an automobile, but most terrain requires a vehicle with higher ground clearance. Even then, a two-wheel pickup can easily get hung up, and four-wheel drive rigs are probably your best bet. Even then, breakdowns occur, so make sure your rig is well maintained, and carry spares: Spare tire, extra oil, drive belts, gas, and coolant.

If push comes to shove and you do have a breakdown, stay with your vehicle. It will provide something easily seen from a distance (like from a search plane), it also gives shade – an essential from the heat. You can break off a mirror to signal with, burn the floor mats for a smoke signal. Be sure to put the hood up as a signal of distress. If you MUST leave the vehicle, leave a note in clear view of what direction you're heading.

When it gets hot, keep your mouth shut. Breathing through your nose, and not talking, helps to keep your bodily hydration in place. Stay off the ground – it's hot there, use the car seats for elevation. That'll also keep you up from where bugs and snakes hang out.

Wear sunglasses, lip gloss, and sun block creme. Keep your clothes on – if you keep covered up, you're less likely to dehydrate. If you have extra socks, change them, put the old ones out in the sun to "freshen," and then change them again. Does wonders for your mental condition.

Those most likely to come back from an unexpected adventure are those who prepared in advance for the unexpected.  Happy trails!

CaveFest celebrated at Kartchner Caverns February 8th, 9th

Mark February 8th and 9th of 2014 on your calendar. That is the weekend for celebrating CaveFest at Kartchner Caverns.

From 10 am to 4 pm you can learn about desert creatures with live animal displays (reptiles with Tom Miscione and birds with Liberty Wildlife), excite the kiddos with children’s activities & crafts, relive the old west mining days at the mining history & caving equipment display, plus learn about a Speleothem cave formation.

From 9 am - 5 pm you can explore CaveSim, an electronic cave simulator with 60 feet of crawling passage and realistic cave formations that are electronically sensed to give users feedback with videogame-type scoring. This caving experience is for beginner and experienced cavers ages 6 & up.

The gift shop will also be hosting a signing by children’s book author Conrad Storad. The $6.00 per vehicle entry fee includes activities and presentations (up to 4 adults, does not include Cave Tour Tickets). Visit Benson Area Chamber of Commerce at bensonchamberaz.com or camp at the park.

Winter Hours are in effect from November 1 through May 31. Gate hours 7 am – 10 pm, park hours 7 am – 6 pm, Discovery Center hours 8 am – 6 pm. The campgrounds are open year-round. The park is 9 miles south of Benson on Highway 90.

You can learn more about Cave Fest 2014 as well as other Kartchner Cavern activities on the Kartchner Caverns State Park website.

Take a hike at Lost Dutchman State Park

Lost Dutchman SP near Phoenix is now offering two moonlight hikes per month. There is a limit of 100 hikers per night, so those interested in joining are urged to call ahead to reserve space at (480) 982-4485.

This is a guided 2.5 mile hike on Jacob’s Crosscut Trail at the base of the mysterious Superstition Mountains. Hikers should dress appropriately and wear trail shoes or boots. They are urged to bring a flashlight in case of cloudy conditions (no headlamps).

Some parts of the trail are rocky and uneven with occasional steep grades (elevation gain: 120-feet). Participants should be in good health with no walking or night vision difficulties. The trail is not suitable for strollers or walkers. After the hike gather around the campfire for a marshmallow roast (marshmallows and sticks provided). All are welcome, but no pets for this outting. Parking is available in the Cholla Day Use Area.

Arizona nettles Chicago for tourists

Is it mean-spirited or just a great coincidence in timing? Illinois officials are probably smarting, while Arizona's tourism promoters are counting a coup.

photo: voices.suntimes.com

The bitterly cold weather that rambled through the Midwest has left a hefty price tag. When 15 degree polar air rolled into Illinois, the state wound up spending nearly $14 million picking up the pieces, when taking into account overtime pay for highway workers, the cost of salt for roads, and money to pay National Guard members to help care for stranded tourists and broken down snow plows.

And then there's that two-story tall billboard that Arizona put up in Chicago. On the billboard – a well-sculpted blonde female, aptly suited out in a red two-piece, inviting weary Chicagoans to "kick off their shoes," in Arizona. To add insult to sensuality, a pair of 400 pound flip-flop sandals rests on "prop" cars in the parking lot below the billboard.

There is something to it, although we can't say the locals are sitting around in bikinis. However, the Canadian snowbirds across the street are often seen sitting around outside their motorhome, wearing cutoffs and short-sleeve shirts.