A

VETERAN RV’er Paul McGrath enjoys the convenience of travelling in his recreational vehicle, which accommodates up to four adults and has 2 refrigerator.

UT

OM OT!

35 - Friday, April 27, 1990 - North Shore News

NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

RV lifestyle offers versatility

HOW MANY people can boast having their own cabin at
Whistler, in Oregon and on a Gulf Island? Paul McGrath
can — he’s the proud owner of an RV that will take him
anywhere he wants to go and even put him up for the night.

Like many RV owners, McGrath says ‘‘I can stop just
about anywhere I want and camp,”’ whether it’s at a fully
equipped campsite or simply at a convenient road side.

That comes in handy when he travels to places tike
Pemberton, Whistler and Oregon. His 10-day Oregon trip,
which included stays at Cannon Beach and Long Beach,
Wash., was, he reflects, his best RV journey: “I saw a lot of
spots I hadn't seen down there before.’’

McGrath bought his '75 VW Westfalia shortly after selling
his motorcycle, on which he had travelled to states such as
California and Nevada. Having traded in his two-wheeled
vacation-maker for his current home-on-wheels, what does

SSORIES
600. KN

Notthshore

|NORTH SHORE'S ONLY NISSAN DEALER

NISSAN

he miss most about his bike?

“Speed,"* McGrath replies without hesitation. ‘That's
more fun..., It’s kind of a more leisurely pace now.”’

He also rues the higher cost of operating his RV: ‘It’s not
the best on gas. I probably spend about $120 on gas a
month, versus the $80 I'd spend in a car.””

There are definitely benefits to the RV lifestyle, however.
He finds the vehicle easy to manoeuvre in city traffic, and
travelling is much easier on the pocketbook because he’s able
to cut out hotel costs.

The van also doubles as a change-room at the beach, and
is great to transport bikes or cross-country skis. ‘It’s kind of
nice to have my own clubhouse,’? muses McGrath.

Living inside a relatively small space might feel confining
to some people, especially if the weather is poor, McGrath,
however, says his van sleeps four adults comfortably and the

tender loving care

MAX'S SPECIAL

S labour
362

distributor cap, rotor, belts, hoses and PCV sabe.
All filters and spark plugs will be thoroughly examined
We will adjust your ait/fuel misture, tinung and tule specd, ay sequited,

++ Six eptinder, diesel, turbo and Pulsar with teen cam engine evica
Rares extra Of required) Pias BSE wtiere appticatte.

1160 MARINE DRIVE, NORTH VANCOUVER
FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE ANYWHERE ON THE NORTH SHORE
HOURS: MON-FRI. Sam-5pm, Sat.

8:30am-5pm

then why leave your NISSAN with one? |

Take it to your specialized Nissan technician for professional

TUNE-UP
SPECIAL++

‘We check your starting system and ignition system - sncludeng ignition weres,

pop-up roof means he has plenty of head room when he’s
walking around inside.

Other amenites include a swing-out eating table, a table
between the driver and passenger seats, a fridge that runs on
an outside power source, or, lacking that, the vehicle’s two
batterics, and a sink with a five-gallon water tank and elec-
tric pump.

When McGrath isn’t at a campsite with a power hook-up,
he is only able to run the fridge when the RV’s engine is on,
When he’s away from a power source, he uses an ice pack in
the fridge to keep food supplies cold.

If McGrath could choose one thing to change about his
RV, it would be to add an internal heater to make wintertime
camping more possible — right now, he finds cold weather
overnights too cool to be comfortable.

PAUL PINEAU
(Service Manager)

JOHN LAAKSO
(Parts Manager)

985-9311
985-1513

SERVICE:
PARTS: