The longest government shutdown in American history has ended, and as we all know, it took its toll on our National Parks. Many people are looking for ways to help, so on this episode of RV Miles, we brought Robert Mathias, Chief of External Affairs with the National Park Foundation, on to talk about their organization’s efforts, including the new Restoration Fund and volunteer opportunities.
We also talk in this show about our RV travel plans for the year — it’s going to be a big one! Plus, a great tip for finding an exhaust leak in your car, truck, or motorhome. All that, a new brain teaser, and more, on this week’s RV Miles!
Sponsors
L.L.Bean
This year, L.L.Bean is joining up with the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, to help you find your happy place – in an amazing system of more than 400 national parks, including historic and cultural sites, monuments, preserves, lakeshores, and seashores that dot the American landscape, many of which you’ll find just a short trip from home. L.L.Bean is proud to be an official partner of the National Park Foundation. Discover your perfect day in a park at findyourpark.com.
STAND-Bi 3-1 Cup Holder
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Thrive Market
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Show Notes
We continue to follow the embezzlement scandal swirling around the Erwin Hymer North America Group, as news that production in Kitchener, Ontario, has come to a standstill. Is a buy-out underway? In the meantime, reports continue to come in from Roadtrek owners on the difficulty of having their van serviced under warranty at a dealer, plus the deal between Thor and Erwin Hymer Global was finalized this week.
The Atlanta home of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King was purchased by the National Park Foundation from the estate of King and transferred to the National Park Service. The home will become a part of Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. This follows the National Park Foundation’s purchase and transfer of Dr. King’s birth home in 2018. Both projects were supported via private philanthropy.
After a multi-year investigation, three men were convicted and sentenced for violating the Lacey Act and other federal laws. Casey Richardson (age 48), Jeffrey Harris (age 45), and Dale Lackner (age 74) were each sentenced to serve five years of probation, pay restitution, and perform community service for hunting-related violations involving Dall sheep and brown bears in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.
And finally, the latest episode of America’s National Parks Podcast is out, and this week we share the incredible story of the American Chestnut Tree, once an integral part of the American landscape, these massive trees once blanketed the Northeast and in the span of fifty years all but disappeared. Now, an effort is in place to bring the American Chestnut back, and it’s all happening on the site of one of our nation’s greatest tragedies.
After the break, and the answer to last week’s brain teaser, Jason shared this tip he found on YouTube for dealing with exhaust leaks DIY:
Then, we Abby chatted about our 2019 travel plans. Plans that were supposed to include a lot of slow travel, but with almost 10,000 miles planned, this year seems to be anything but slow. There 2019 travel plans are available to view on Roadtrippers.
2019 Travel on RoadtrippersThen, Jason talked with Robert Mathias, Chief of External Affairs with the National Park Foundation regarding the organization’s efforts to support our parks post-shutdown, including the new Restoration Fund, planned giving, and volunteer opportunities.
