Member Spotlight

John and Ilene Larson
Dayton, Iowa

FMCA membership number:  F130002. We joined FMCA in 1990.

We decided to buy a motorhome because:
We wanted to take our four children on vacations. We would buy a coach, use it for a trip and then sell it. We went to Disney World for 12 years. We've gone there only once since our children have grown — it's not as fun alone. Now we travel in the motorhome two to three months per year.

Our former occupations:
For 18 years I (John) was area manager for Butler Manufacturing, a construction company based in Kansas City, Mo. I traveled to portions of Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri and all of Iowa. I also worked for Northrup King Seed Co. for nine years as area manager and branch manager for Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Ilene was a homemaker and, always, a supporter of me.

Children, grandchildren:
We have two sons, two daughters, eight grandchildren (ages 13 to 28) and one great-granddaughter.

The best thing about motorhoming is:
You have your own bed and food with you. You have independence to go where you wish and to stop and eat when you want. After traveling for almost 30 years for my jobs, staying in motels and eating out, motorhoming is a real treat.

When we’re not motorhoming, we’re:
Working on our home and garden. Volunteering for Meals on Wheels.  Helping our our church and community. We also helped to build a Habitat for Humanity home.

Favorite motorhoming destinations:
We enjoyed going to the Florida coasts, to Disney World and the trip from Iowa to Florida with the four children, their mates and two grandchildren.

Our all-time favorite motorhome trip was:
In 1973, before our oldest daughter's high school graduation, we toured the Four Corners, Grand Canyon, Royal Gorge, Death Valley, downtown Los Angeles, Huntington Beach, Balboa Beach, San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Washington State, Yosemite National park, Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, Pikes Peak, Utah and Salt Lake City.

Some of our fondest motorhoming memories include:
Stopping by Quartzsite, Ariz., and really seeing all of the 250,000 to 300,000 motorhomes along both sides of Interstate 10.

Also, meeting two RVers from Germany while camping at a KOA in Marco Island, Florida. Ilene was talking with a lady in the swimming pool who was crying and upset. Her husband was mad at her. Ilene asked what was wrong and the woman told this story...

They had flown into Miami from Germany, rented a classic Class C motorhome, and turned loose for a new experience in traveling. They did not remember or were not told how to empty the holding tanks. When trying to flush the toilet, it backed up into the shower floor drain.

Ilene told them I would show her husband how to fix the problem. The woman agreed. The husband did not speak English and I did not speak German, but we finally came to an understanding.

I pulled out the sewer hose from the rear bumper of their rental RV and showed him how to empty the bad tank first and then the good tank last. I also showed him how to fill his water tank. They thanked us and said they wished we could travel with them.

Our worst motorhoming experience was:
I was behind a bus in Monterrey, Mexico, when our exhaust pipe came loose and broke the hydraulic brake line. When the bus stopped, I couldn't, and ran into the back of the bus. This happened two blocks from the police station. I finally found a new brake line thanks to a missionary from Saltillo, Mexico. We finally got it fixed and traveled back to Loredo, Texas, that night.

Our dream trip would be:  to Alaska

The best thing about our motorhome is:
It is old but paid for. We purchased it new, and have really enjoyed it. We enjoy the floor plan. I've done a lot of modifications to customize it for personal use and enjoyment.

The best alteration or addition that we’ve made to our motorhome is:
We replaced the dinette/bed with a drop-leaf oak table. With our oak chairs, we have more room for four of us to play games and cards along with more space for eating.

Something about motorhoming that we know now but didn’t know when we started is:
Always expect that something will go wrong or break. For new or first-time travelers, don't give up or feel like no one can help you.

If we could change one thing about our motorhome, it would be:
Add a slideout on the kitchen/street side.

Our favorite thing about FMCA is:
It's very informative. Plus, FMCA helps when one really needs it.

If we could appear as contestants on any TV game show, we'd choose:
The Price is Right and Hollywood Squares. Ilene says they're probably the only ones on which she would have a chance.

A motorhome tip we'd like to share with other motorhomers is:
Do not be afraid to do something different. Do not go to the same park every year. Branch out. Meet new people. Pick up new ideas.

Our hobbies are:
Gardening and working in the yard. Volunteering for church and city projects. Helping out with family.

If we could meet anyone from history, we would choose:
I have met a lot of great people in my life. All of them have been interesting. I really do not have one role model that I could name right now.

Our favorite way to exercise is:
Walking our sheltie dog, about two to three miles a day.

Our favorite movie is:  Seabiscuit

Favorite book:  I have never read a book completely. Ilene says Under the Tuscan Sun was her favorite.

Favorite restaurant:  I don't know the name of it, but it's northeast of Apache Junction, Ariz., and offers family style beef, ribs, chicken.

Favorite singer/song:
Elvis Presley. "Through the Eyes of Love" by Melissa Manchester

Favorite store:
Wal-Mart, Target, Dollar Tree, H-E-B grocery (Texas).

Favorite campground:
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground in Orlando, Fla.

When motorhomers visit our state or hometown, they should be sure to see:
Effigy Mound in northeast Iowa along the Mississippi River. The Iowa State Fair in August in Des Moines. Ragbraia — Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, an annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state. The Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, with its towering dome.

Items that are always in our motorhome refrigerator while we’re traveling are:
Diet pop, water, milk, ice cream, cold meat and sweet pickles.

Our advice to new motorhomers is:
Do not be afraid to go beyond your wildest dreams. Do not go to the same RV park every year. Go to different states, areas, types of parks. Meet new friends. Broaden your RV info. Pick up new ideas and help. Ask questions, seek answers.

Behind our motorhome, we tow:
We have owned four tow dollies but now tow a 1999 Saturn (automatic transmission) four wheels down using a Blue Ox tow bar. We really like this system.

Our favorite activity to do inside the motorhome is:  Sleeping in the rain with the pattering on the roof. Also, relaxing.

Pets we've traveled with are:
One sheltie and one Siamese cat. We also have had (only one each at a time) a border collie-German shepherd mix, two Pomeranians and three other cats.

Other FMCA members may contact us via e-mail at:
I just bought a Dell Inspiron 1100 laptop computer and will hook up with e-mail in April (2004).

Other comments:
At this time (February 2004), we are staying at First Colony Mobile Home and RV Park in San Benito, Texas, for two months. Then we'll head to Sea Wind RV Park in Riviera, Texas; then to Grand Casino Coushatta Luxury RV Resort in Kinder, La., for three days. Then it's on to Vicksburg, Miss.; Memphis, Tenn.; St. Louis, Mo.; and finally back home.