European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 1, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine America Snew v 0wi and Ann Mcken Iio visiting Arches National Park in Utah spend about s months a year travelling. Art Totty or Fon Pilot Atlin e. Pnat on the Nad a tuft i dog Rax i no it thug Colorado Filver i just want to a to  by Thomas j. Knudson new Yort times Hen they retired in 1983. Boyd and Ethel Bentz could not abide Iho idea of sitting around the House and Waiching television Allda. So they did what a lol of older americans Are doing these Days they sold their Home and hit the Road. I guess you could say we re on an extended  said Benz a native of is. Paul minn., who has lived Lor Lour years in a trailer Lowed behind his pickup truck. I be got itchy feet. I just love to  rolling Down he Highway in motor Homes and trailers the Ber Vlies and couples like Nom look like families on vacation. Bui they Are a new Breed of wanderers Parl of a growing class of americans who have traded their Homos for the Highway and spend most if not Allol the year on the read. There must to millions of Puoplo out doing  said Ben Mckenzie a retired physician camping in Arches National pail in South Eastern Utah who spends about nine months a year on the Road with his wife Ann. The More Parks we Slop at the More people we see travelling full  the new vagabonds have some common denominators. They Are mostly older. They be relatively affluent. Their children have left  and they Are Lucky Lucky to live in an age of pensions interstate highways and motor Homes and trailers this is definitely an the  said Barbara Leonard editorial director of Mofor Home and traitor life magazines. Those people Are doing exactly what they want to do they can stay in a place two Days or two months ii is Complete pleasure absolute  according la the recreational vehicle Industry association 30 million americans owned or re need recreational vehicles in 19b6. Nine million of them Weie 50 years old or older the association rep fled. In warm weather the travellers roam from Garden spol to Garden spol then when the first chill Brycc dulls Doivan irom Canada they flock like geese to Muring spots in Arizona. To As California and  1 we love  said Bulla l Stanton. Executive director of Iho Clumber of Commerce in Moab Uliari a town of 4,300 trial has been hit hard by a downturn in farming and mining every one Fiat comes through brings Money into town. It used to he we would see them on the Road just f Lew we rfcs a year. Now witty Thorn All the i a i just want to see it All said Allan e. Prust a 4b year old Bachelor who is a retired air Force Pilot and has been on the Road since 1983 he was camped along the Colorado River at Moab with his dog Rex the travelling spirit is As eld As Mankind Bil for Iho first time legions of Ordinary citizens have the financial Means and determination to in boy it. A lot of people arc no longer i cycling. As their parents and grandparents Felt thai they have to Bravo their  of Ihnn  said mrs Leonard they want to spend it now " a subculture has sprung up around these wanderers. Most gather each night in specially designed Parks Many Havel in caravans Loim a thus and hold Conven hons Fiey Are modern Day Worton train riders eight Cylinder nomads of the Highway Twenty year. Ago most senior Chi ens did nol have Iho where withal to do his kind of thing said Nar Irv Patterson owner of Slick Rock country Campground Al Moab. Bui now they arc the most Al Lluent cd map m our society they travel All the time " Many units Are equipped with All the co Loris of Home inc or Jung cellular phones re Geralo s. Rytis ranges sinks double Beds bathtubs doses microwave ovens Ancl Hook ups Tor Caole Lei Evision a new lop of Lac line motor Home can Cost up to $300,000 a new. Smaller tailor goes Lor about 120.000. In the Winter me wanderers re alter like  on the southwestern desert Many return year Aller year to the same spot. They renew old friendships Swap travelling Slones and plan their Nel adventure like most new move meals. This one is nol i Ghoul controversy. Many areas arc debating How to Ian Iho travellers who use such local services As sewage disposal but who Are not around Long enough to get on the tax Rolls. The nomads arc drawn to Inu Highway for reasons As varied As Trie Road some  Chi re. Would rather re a some seek Solitude while oin Pis Ciao Iho company of pc Ilij to Cani Purs at Thuy Ira vol the stars and stripes Page 13