Rally Day 5

River Plantation RV Park site #435
Sevierville, Tn

Saturday was a full day of activity for us.  We went to a few seminars in the morning (boondocking, packing for fulltime, and Alaska).  While there, Gin mentioned an interesting item she recently saw at Walgreens for maintaining your medical information on you at all times.  It’s the Care Bracelet.  It’s not only a good way to alert emergency medical personnel of allergies, but you can put your doctor’s info on it too.

In the afternoon, there was an open house rig walk through.  Many rally attendees opened their homes for others to see how they are set up.  Now we are really confused as to what DP to get next Spring.  So many choices.  We went back to our rig at 4:00 and turned on the Weather Channel to find out that Raleigh, NC had just had a tornado touch down in downtown.  We realized that some folks here have family in that area so we let them know to contact their relatives to see if everything was ok.  All was well in that respect.

After enjoying a catered dinner of ribs, chicken, and fixin's, we had a ‘70’s themed dance.  Bill and Linda surprised Howard and Linda with a “hug jug” from many of the attendees first.  They were truly surprised and touched.

The dance was a blast from the past with so much tie-die and peace signs all around.  It’s funny how you can go several years without hearing a song but yet sing along to every word.  Why can’t we remember what we did just a couple of days ago?  Anyway, here’s a few smiles to share with everyone. 
Nancy and Bill and Sherry and David ready to enjoy the night.

 

Mike and Terri and David and Maxine

 

Catherine and JoBeth and Deborah

 

Jim and Linda and Denny and Char

 

Wayne and Sherry, and I love the sign that Penny brought with her.

 

Here’s a couple of shots of some of the fun that was going on.  Everyone agrees that there were a few pictures taken so that someone could be blackmailed later.  Dana sang with George as Sonny and Cher and Gin played the air drums.

 

And here’s the couple who is responsible for putting this rally together, Howard and Linda.  If you ever get a chance to go to one of their rallies, it’s well worth it.  They are great people, and everyone here shares the love for life that they do.  Remember that they are in character for the ‘70’s party!

Sunday morning was the rally wrap up breakfast with hugs all around since many of the people left shortly thereafter.  We hope to see everyone “down the road”.  I think there may be a campfire at H&L’s tonight but that’ll wrap it up for now.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

Rally Day 4-Flowbee and a Show

River Plantation RV Park site #435
Sevierville, Tn

Friday was a nice “free day”.  A few people went golfing with Howard while quite a few did the local “zip line” with Linda.  Since they went as a large group, they got a nice discount.  Not us.  I don’t care for heights.  We slept in and at 11:00, Gin used Sherry’s Flowbee to do a hair cutting demonstration.  About 8-10 folks watched as Sherry got her head vacuumed.  I’m not sure if any one will purchase one, but at least they got a chance to see how it works.

 

It was a beautiful but windy day.  There are many friendly robins here and there are three Mallards that seem to like it here also.  I think some folks may have even fed them cat food or bread.  I’ve seen an Egret and Heron but didn’t get a shot of them.

 

Thursday night, Linda had announced that the Grand Majestic Theater was offering a very reduced rate to us as a group for Friday’s show if there was enough interest.  We rode with Denny and Char to Five Guys to indulge ourselves before the show.  There were about 85 RV-Dreamers there.  I think that was the best five bucks I’ve ever spent on entertainment since it was definitely worth full price.  We called it a night soon after getting back to the rig.  We brought in our slide-outs since it was a heavy rain and high wind warning for the night.  This storm cell later spawned a tornado in Raleigh on Saturday afternoon.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

Rally Day 3

River Plantation RV Park site #435
Sevierville, Tn

I don’t know how we managed to make it to all the seminars last year along with the evening socializing.  It’s just so much to do and fun to be had when you’re at a rally.  On Thursday, we slept late and just hung around the cg.  The evening was devoted to the potluck dinner and Family Feud.  We had fixed NC Barbeque and coleslaw.  Gin really was the cook but I warmed it up and put it in the crockpot.  We shared a table with some fellow North Carolinians and they enjoyed it although the couple from NJ didn’t quite “get it”.

While we all cleared away the leftovers and waited for the Family Feud to be set up, Gin went around and took some pictures.  Here’s Selene and Hank enjoying the evening and Anita and Sterling Payne (Howard’s parents) who have been to every rally.

 

Sherry, Nancy and Bill up to their usual antics and Linda Kendall and Jim.

 

Dan and Tricia who enjoyed the BBQ and Martha and Lee going head-to-head in Family Feud.  The game can be a bit long if your team isn’t still playing, but it’s fun to hear the answers.  Gin was on the winning team, the Fine Nines.

 

Today is the off day with no seminars planned.  I guess we are supposed to rest some but we plan to have some more fun.  Stay tuned…

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

Rally Day 2

River Plantation RV Park site #435
Sevierville, Tn

We did indeed have some laughs at the ice-breaker after the hotdog/hamburger catered meal.  Have you ever tried to flip two teabags on to the bill of your cap?  It’s good to make a fool of yourself once in a while.  It keeps you humble.

Since we went to all of the seminars at last year’s rally, we chose to sleep late on Wednesday.  We did go to the afternoon session on “Internet on the Road”.  I had heard of the terms used before, but Gin was truly in her element.  I like to refer to her as my “Easy Button” because she is so knowledgeable and capable in so many things. 

Wednesday night was the “Chili Cook-off”.  There were lots of crockpots full of the good stuff and a table full of sweet desserts.  The judges had a hard job.  Here’s Dave, Dick and Mike tasting 10 random samples.

 

Our table with JoBeth, Catherine, Sherry (she stepped away, she’s not invisible), David, Nancy, Bill, me, and Gin behind the camera.  Paul stopped by for a brief quiet moment.  He and Marti are leaving the rally early unfortunately to attend to some family matters.

 

The evening entertainment consisted of sharing our favorite RV gadgets in a show and tell.  Here’s Bev displaying a neat little hat.  It’s paper/straw and is shaped like a vase until you put it on your head.  It’s cute.  It can be turned the other way for a funny hat.

 

Paul shared many useful gadgets with us all before his humor got the best of him.  He shared his relationship saver over/under toilet paper holder and new this year, he showed Howard what he uses to mask the RV black tank aroma.  Bill enjoys Gin’s tech knowledge too and here he gets ready to hit the “Easy Button”.

 

A good time was had by all.  We will skip the seminars today and get ready for the potluck dinner tonight.  The evening entertainment scheduled is the RV-Dreams Family Feud.  Once again, my cheeks will be sore from all the laughter.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

And the Rally Begins

River Plantation RV Park site #435
Sevierville, Tn

Monday morning at 8:30, Gin got an interesting phone call.  A gentleman said that a man’s wallet had been found that had one of our contact cards in it.  He left a phone number to contact him.  She had given a few of them out the night before and when the gentleman said Dan’s full name, she had to think about who he was.  I checked at Dan and Tricia’s rig and they were gone.  So was their motorcycle.  I walked down to Howard and Linda’s to see if they had a cell phone number for one of them.  They left a message on Tricia’s phone that Dan’s wallet had been located.  She later said that she didn’t answer her phone because she thought that it was work.  Linda looked over the list of other Rally attendees to see who else might be out for a nice MC ride.  She left a couple of messages and a little later, someone checked their phone and told Dan that his wallet had been found.  It had dropped out of his pocket at a traffic light when he stood up.  He thought he had left it back at the rig so he wasn’t even worried about it.  When he got it back at the Big Meadow CG office, he left a thank you note and a reward for the finder since they were honest enough to turn in all the cash and cards.  Fellow campers and rv’ers are a pretty honest bunch.  Anyway, our contact card has certainly come in handy at least for Dan.  Things happen for a reason.

We took a Suki ride down the main strip through Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and into Gatlinburg.  This area is so commercialized but we enjoyed a scenic ride on very curvy Highway 441 through some of The Great Smoky Mountains to Newfound Gap.  It’s at the NC/Tn state border and is above 5000ft elevation.

   

It was 16* cooler up there, and there wasn’t any pollen since the trees haven’t leafed out yet.  Smudge enjoyed the clean air with us also.

 

We didn’t stay long because we were going to help Linda get a few things ready for the Rally.  We enjoyed socializing and meeting JoBeth and Catherine who arrived Monday afternoon.  After a little time at H&L’s site with 50-60 other folks, we went into Pigeon Forge to get something from Five Guys Burger and Fries.  Dee had mentioned how good they were in her blog so we had to try it.  Yup, she was right, and we were full.

Today we are helping with the registration process and enjoying a catered supper and entertainment at the RV Park’s Convention Center.  I’m sure there will be lots of laughs to be had.

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

We’re Here!

River Plantation RV Park site #435
Sevierville, Tn

Well of course we’re here.  Where else would we be?  The RV-Dreams Rally doesn’t officially start until Tuesday but we really needed a vacation so we got here early and we’re staying late.  After getting a little nap Saturday morning, we hit the road in the middle of the afternoon so that we could travel about 200 miles.  We decided to stay at the Walmart near Hickory, NC.  Just as I got out to go in the store, a very nasty storm rolled over us.  Gin stayed in the MH while I got supper and asked the folks at the Customer Service if it was ok to stay overnight.  He said he would mention it to the security officer.  We had no idea that this was the teenage hang out.  There’s a couple of shopping centers beside each other and they would cruise in their cars and trucks for hours.  Oh well.  I guess urban camping isn’t really our thing.

We got up at a decent time Sunday morning and hit the road after a big cup of coffee.  The Pilot fuel station at exit # 24 has a nice easy access and was reasonably priced so we pulled in there.  After I got the nozzle started, Gin came out so that I could go in to get rid of some of that coffee.  An rv sure is convenient.  As I walked back to the gas pump, I hear my name being called from the SUV beside us.  We are 250 miles from Clayton.  Who knows me here?  It’s the guy who put the tires on Wanda this winter and services our cars.  Sorry I don’t know his name but he got a hug.  Tire guy was visiting family in the area and just happened to be there at that exact time.  Fate and a small world moment.  It made us smile for the next several miles.

Driving in the mountains can be interesting.  Even on an Interstate Highway it can be curvy and steep.  Last year there was a rock slide on I40 that blocked the road for many months.  Talk about a headache.

   

We made it to River Plantation RV Park around 1:00 and got set up.  The first couple of friends to hug us were Nancy and Bill.  Then we met Laura and Bruce who were walking their sweet dog.  I sure am terrible with names.  Glad we all get name tags Tuesday.  Gave Jim a hug,  Mike and Teri, and Paul and Marti too.  After getting a bite for supper, we all met at Howard and Linda’s rig for a little socializing.  It was great to see Sherry and David again and meet Deborah.  Selene and Hank only live about 15 miles from us but we drove about 350 miles to finally meet each other.  This is going to be a great week.  The weather may not be that good but we’ll have fun none the less.

It’s late and the bed beckons.  It sleeps so good.  We love rv’ing.  Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

Rally?

Stix n Brix, NC

Welcome to the latest followers, Pinon and BW & Carol.  It's one of those small world moments when a follower has an NC connection.  It's a nice state with the Appalachian Mountains on the west end and the Atlantic Ocean on the east and a lot of history in between.

I'm working night shift this holiday weekend and it's been pretty quiet in Raleigh.  Maybe the early autumn-like weather has something to do with it.  Autumn is by far my favorite time of year.  It's been excessively hot this summer.

A few days ago, Howard announced the date and location of the rv-dreams rally for 2011.  We went to our first one this past April and had a blast.  We met some of the nicest people and went to some informative seminars.  I have my work schedule written down for the next 11 months so I took a look at April 2011.  The rally is scheduled for the weekend of my four night shifts.  Problem.  I hate taking off nights because it puts a strain on the rest of the guys.  I'm already planning to take off a couple of nights in May for my nephew's wedding so I'm in a pickle.  We really want to go to the rally. Problem.  I will have to use some vacation days along with almost all of my over-time.  If I use too much vacation time, I will have to work another month.  :(  We've been bouncing it back and forth and I've done some math.  If I don't get sick (that'll eat my vacation time), I will just barely have enough time to retire on my target date...so...we're going.  We stayed at River Plantation in TN a few years ago and it's a nice place.  I've got to get ready for work so we'll make reservations tomorrow.

More Rally

Longs, SC
Willow Tree Resort site #8

It’s just been so busy in a good way.  Friday was a full day at the rvdreams rally.  We went to the morning seminars by Howard on buying an rv, boondocking, and working on the road.  At some point in time when we finally full-time, we plan on doing some type of volunteering for a campsite.  We may not need the money, but it would be nice to give back.  Gin stayed at the rig in the afternoon to fix the ham for the potluck while I went to the Picasa seminar put on by the Geeks on Tour.  It sounds so easy but it would take me a while to get used to it.  We enjoyed a delicious meal and a hilariously funny game of rv family feud afterwards.

Gin was a little sluggish Saturday morning so she skipped the first class on rv weight safety put on by Walter Cannon of RVSEF.  He also did a class on tire safety and Howard finished the morning with a class on choosing campgrounds.  We also got a handout about packing your rv for full-timing.  We had a quick lunch and came back to another class by the Geeks on Tour about setting up a blog.  Yes the hardest thing about it is coming up with something to say.  :)  Then it was open rig walk-through.  It was kinda like speed-dating or scavenger hunting because you wanted to see as many rigs as you could and talk with the people.  We ended the day with a nice catered meal of steak and shrimp and a sock hop.  Yep almost everyone shook their booty…even us.  Gin even danced right out of her leg brace.  It must have been at least 15 years since we danced like that.  And of course, we never remember to take the camera.

This morning there was an early farewell breakfast.  We made it and I was surprised that most of the dancers were there too.  We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here and we learned a few things at the seminars and talking with the other dreamers.  The main thing was indeed the people.  Everyone is so very friendly.  I took Smudge for a nice long walk and the park is much emptier but many are here for a day or two longer.  It will be a long 16 months until retirement but having something to look forward to will make it go by real fast.
We did take the camera to the breakfast so here’s a shot of Howard and Linda during the farewell song.



It was a nice banquet hall with just the right amount of people at the rally to have fun.  Maybe we can come back to another one before long.  Full-timing will come around sooner than we think.  A campfire at H&L’s is planned for those of us still here.

Rally Day 2

Longs, SC
Willow Tree Resort site #8

So we hit the ground running this morning.  We're not used to seeing the sunrise when we are rving but we had a beautiful one this morning.  I stepped out the door to take Smudge for a stroll and it was glowing through the clouds over the small lake.  This is a nice CG and I'm glad we got the rally rate of 30 bucks a night.  The place is full but it's not just rv-dreamers.

We went to the morning seminars on the emotional aspects of full-timing, selecting a home base and insurance considerations, and the cost of full-timing.  Since the afternoon seminars were about tv options and high speed internet, we didn't go.  Gin certainly has us covered on those topics.  We took the afternoon to spend a little time relaxing, walking the dog, and fixing the Google Chili for the chili cook-off tonight.  I went ahead and made some brownies for Friday's potluck.

It was once again a fun evening.  There were 16 crock-pots of chili and fixins and it was all gone by the end of the evening.  My cheeks hurt and my belly is sore so I know I did my share of laughing.  The rv gadget that we shared was the flowbee hair cutting system.  Another couple there was already familiar with it.  Dan has been cutting his hair with it for 20 years also.  Tomorrow will be some more informative classes and socializing afterward with a potluck dinner.

Rally

Longs, SC
Willow Tree Resort site #8

We arrived at Willow Tree today around 1:00, got a bite to eat, and went to the RV Dreams social and checked in for the rally.  This is a really nice campground but as Howard noted, it is in the middle of nowhere to be so close to Myrtle Beach.  I had to trust the tom-tom when we got close, so the last 15 minutes took us 30 minutes of driving.  We rode our bikes around the big pond.  It's 1 mile around.  Our site is waterfront.  We may get the kayaks in the water tomorrow afternoon if the weather is nice.

There was a "small world"  moment at check-in when I noticed a couple that had the last name of Rommel.  They were from NC so I asked them if they had a son in Raleigh.  They did.  I work at the same place as their son.  I guess that's not quite as "small world" as a couple of years ago when we were at the NC Outerbanks.  I saw a camper and truck from Maine that had a Raleigh thin blue line sticker.  I asked the couple about it and their son worked with me also.  Maine.  Small world.

We had a catered dinner and social time.  We met Jim and Linda that have a blog that I have followed for quite some time.  Sitting at our table were James and Tonya.  They are from Jacksonville, NC and have lived in their 5er for 4 years while he finishes his time with the military.  He retires this summer and they hit the road.  Also at our table were Sherry and David.  They made their maiden voyage here in a 2004 Winnebago Brave 34 ft.  They had posted it on the rvdreams forum and we posted that we had a rig very much like theirs.  They were hoping to meet us and we will gladly show them some things that Gin did to make the rig a little better.

It is an interesting blend of folks here.  Most are not full-timers yet.  Several don't even have rv's.  But we all seem to know how to enjoy each others company.  We plan to go to some seminars in the morning so I better get some beauty sleep.

Spring cleaning

Stix and Brix

It was a beautiful spring day so we spent a lot of time outside.  I cleaned the carpet in the MH while Gin organized the basement storage areas.  We had bought a few things from Camping World that needed to be put away.  She then taped off an area around the door and cleaned off the rust and painted it.  Another coat will go on tomorrow.  I cut up a bush that had fallen victim to the last snow that was just a little too heavy for it.

We are planning to go on a different kind of trip in a couple of weeks.  It’s our first rally.  Howard and Linda of rv-dreams are putting on a rally in Longs, SC.  Luckily it falls mostly during my week off so we are going and looking forward to meeting some bloggers that we have been following for awhile.  We should learn a lot about full-timing along with the fun.