Member Spotlight

Ben and Mary Bryer
Pilot Mountain, N.C.

FMCA membership number:
F298847 (we joined FMCA in 2001)

FMCA chapters we belong to:  Carolina Ramblers

Our current motorhome: a 1998 Country Coach Intrigue

Other motorhomes we’ve owned:
The Intrigue is our first and only.

We decided to buy a motorhome because:
We are vagabonds at heart.

Three words that best describe our motorhome:
Condo on wheels

The best thing about our motorhome:
We get to sleep in our own bed when camping and traveling.

Occupations:
Ben was a national support manager of a computer company. Now he’s president of the Fireplace Division of Kaco International, Inc., which imports and manufacturers bathroom vanities and kitchen islands. Mary: retired executive secretary and bookstore manager.

The best thing about motorhoming:
The sites we see in comfort, and the people we meet

We travel in the motorhome:  approximately 10 weeks per year

When we’re not motorhoming we’re:  working

Children:
We have a son, Greg Bryer, married to Stephanie for three years.

Our favorite motorhome trip:
During the summer of 2006 we traveled back to Maine, where we grew up. We were actually tourists.

One of our fondest motorhoming memories:
Taking our friends’ children to school in our motorhome. The motorhome was a big hit.

Another one of our favorite destinations:  Branson, Mo.

Our “dream” motorhome trip:
To travel across Canada from east to west and up to Alaska.

Our perfect day of motorhome travel:
Having no problems with the motorhome, and setting up in daylight

Our worst motorhoming experience:
Being stuck at a diesel pump for 24 hours. We could not start our motorhome and had to have it towed. It turned out to be a loose battery cable.

Our motorhoming pet peeve:
Being cut off by other vehicles

Something motorhoming has taught us about life:
To slow down and enjoy the journey. Half the fun is getting there.

The best addition we’ve made to our motorhome:
We added a spare tire. We carry it in one of our storage bays.

If we could change one thing about our motorhome:
Add one more slideout.

Something about motorhoming that we know now but didn’t know when we started:
We know how to drive more defensively. And we know we can have all the comforts of home while traveling.

When driving the motorhome the most important thing to remember is:
Stay back. Leave plenty of room. Do not hurry.

Our favorite thing about FMCA:
It brings together many folks from all walks of life, for fun and laughter.

Advice for other motorhomers:  Join an FMCA chapter.

Our hobbies:
Golf, walking, reading, sightseeing, playing cards/games, sitting around a campfire with new friends

Favorite way to exercise:  hiking, walking

Favorite movie:  Mary: “My Alibi.” Ben: “The Last of the Mohicans.”

Favorite book:
Mary: Personal History, an autobiography of Katharine Graham. Ben: The Da Vinci Code.

Favorite singer:  Neil Diamond

Favorite restaurants: Mexican

If we were awarded a shopping spree at any store, we’d shop at:
Talbots: Mary can find nice clothes. Lowe’s Home Improvement: Every man likes Lowe’s or Home Depot.

Favorite campground: Fort De Soto State Park near Tampa, Fla.

When motorhomers visit our home state they should be sure to see:
The wineries, the mountains/Blue Ridge Parkway, the state's beaches, the Biltmore Estate in Asheville

Items that are always in our motrohome’s refrigerator:
Grey Goose vodka, grapes, cheese, sugar-free chocolate cookies

Our advice to new motorhome owners:
Join a chapter of FMCA and go to rallies. The shopping is great at rallies.

Behind our motorhome, we tow:
A 2002 Ford Sport Trac, using a Blue Ox tow bar

Pets who travel with us:
Smokey and Killer (sometimes called Ginger)

A technical or lifestyle tip we’d like to share with other motorhomers:
Bring plenty of clothes. Keep tires and batteries in good condition. Having a GPS (global positioning system) is great. Take time to see the sites.

Other FMCA members may contact us via e-mail:
bmbryer@msn.com