Philip & Kerriann Horan (22541)
Presidents
As we write these articles, we reflect on the purpose behind our contributions. Let’s delve into the concept of “Legacy.” As a noun, it signifies an organization, and as an adjective, it reflects something intimately associated with that organization. Now, I’d like to shine a spotlight on our Penns Friends Chapter members who hold unique stories and experiences that would captivate fellow Newmar enthusiasts. Today, we are highlighting Randy & Vikki Hower and their inspiring story.
Hello from Lebanon, Pennsylvania! I’m Vikki Hower. My husband Randy & I are proud owners of our second Newmar motorhome, having camped together for about 14 years. We bought our first travel trailer around 2010 and kept it at a permanent site in Benton, Pennsylvania, where we enjoyed several years of camping in two different campers. As retirement approached, we began searching for a motorhome. We found a nearly new Class C being sold by an elderly gentleman in our hometown. This motorhome made us fall in love with traveling this way and made us appreciate the benefits of having more space and an onboard washer and dryer. Randy always wanted a diesel pusher, so after some research, we decided on a Newmar.
Shortly after purchasing our 2013 Ventana 3634, we discovered the Newmar Kountry Klub. We attended our first rally with Penn’s Friends at Twin Grove Campground, where we met a fantastic group of people. That same year, we also attended our first International rally in Lewisburg, West Virginia.
In 2022, we only managed to attend one rally with Penn’s Friends in Hershey. Despite living just 15 miles from Hershey, it’s surprising how seldom we explore local attractions. We spent the winter of 2022/23 in Florida for four months. One day, while I was at the pool, Randy spoke with our neighbor, who expressed interest in purchasing our unit. Our neighbor wanted a smaller coach to access more state parks, and Randy wanted a larger coach. I agreed to sell if we could find a suitable replacement, and we both knew it had to be a Newmar.
We were fortunate to find a 2016 Ventana 4369 about 100 miles south of us in Florida, prompting us to make the switch. Last year, we missed attending local chapter rallies due to a granddaughter’s wedding and a trip to Indiana for theater seating and a fireplace installation. However, we thoroughly enjoyed joining the Pennsylvania caravan to Sedalia for International. Following the event, we expanded our travel map by visiting several states as we journeyed west to California and explored various southern states on our return to Florida. This adventure covered approximately 6,000 miles, marking our longest journey so far.
This year, we had a fantastic time at the rally with West Penn Travelers in Milroy, Pennsylvania. Looking ahead, we are excited about attending the Penn’s Friends rally in Lancaster, the PA state rally in the Poconos, and our Region 7 Swan Bay Rally. In December, we’re planning to join the Holly Jolly Fulltimers Chapter rally in Florida, although we’ll miss International this year.
Our faithful traveling companion, Ginger, our 7-year-old dog, loves hanging out at the campfires with us. We look forward to meeting many of you at one of these great rallies this season. Safe travels to everyone!
We can be reached at: pksoccer@ptd.net or 272-336-9856.
