iwander_85pt40
02-10-2007, 14:23
January 2007 Quartzsite Rally Recap
What a great turnout. Good people making new friends and renewing
friendships. 'Birds started arriving early in Quartzsite beginning the
weekend before the rally. Saturday there were 25'Birds and 3 SOBs in camp.
This rally was kept informal and relaxed, same as the previous SWBB
rallies. There was minimal structure. No one was expected to
participate in anything. Many of the participants expressed their
appreciation for this format.
Our camp received many visitors, known 'Bird owners who were camping
with their groups, as well as 'Birders who heard there was a flock of
'Birds parked in the LaPosa South LTVA. These fine folks will be
included in the SWBB database and kept informed about SWBB activities.
Our database is approaching 130 units ('Birds and SOBs), plus several
who are looking to purchase a 'Bird.
Special thanks to Marty & Jerry Gregg, and Rick & Rosie Archie for
locating a great camping spot for all of us. Directions to our camp
were simple, at the end of the blacktop road, go 100 yards and camp
was on the left. We all thank Marty for sharing his spot relocation
demonstrations. Marty, we really didn't pay that ranger to stop in.
The Big Tent Event plus all the other vendor areas were a hit and
visited by all, many times. If you have not visited Quartzsite during
the Big Tent Event you have truly missed the world's largest RV and
Flea Market experience. The first weekend was very busy and by mid
week the crowds diminished. Sunday and Monday back to the area brought
reduced prices.
A BIG THANKS for mechanical and electrical assistance goes to Lucas
Willemse and Rick Archie. They provided support to several rally
participants. Also, we got to witness that a Swing Radiator is a MUST
on the FCs as we watched a faulty alternator being removed and a new
one installed.
Our fast becoming a tradition, _* BYOB, "and Bring Your Best Hearty
Hors D'oeuvres to Share," Social*_, was held on both Friday and
Saturday nights and enjoyed by all. The big camp fires burned until in
the early AM. Thank you everyone for bringing firewood.
Greg O'Connor and Tim Vasquez brought some of the California beach
scene to the Arizona desert--palm trees and a pink flamingo?
One attendee, Butch Paula, drove down from the Ukiah area to display
his FC for sale. He enjoyed the camaraderie so much he decided he may
not sell, and even volunteered to do the leg work if we wanted to hold
a rally up in the wine country north of the Bay Area.
The longest travel distance for this rally here at Quartzsite goes to
Hank & Naty Hannigan, all the way from Australia. The shortest
distance traveled was Don Bradner, who was camped with a Datastorm
users group, about a mile away, west of Highway 95. He moved to our
camp for the weekend.
Phil commissioned Bob Lankford of_ BL Digital Photography_ to take
aerial photos of our camp on Saturday at 4:00pm. Bob flew over our
camp on Friday while on another job and photographed us. As a bonus,
he included the pictures he took on Friday with the photos he took on
Saturday. There are 65 photos on the CD. Anyone wanting a CD should
contact Phil. The cost is $17.50/CD.
Around 300 digital photos were taken by both Phil, and Don Bradner.
Their photos can be seen at the group photo site:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bluebirds/
Rally participants who are members of the Flicker Site can upload
their digital pictures of the rally to share with other attendees.
Simply click on the `upload' link and follow the instructions.
Downloading and using the Flickr upload tools makes the process easier
and faster.
Most of the 'Birds got their aluminum wheels polished, $10.00/wheel.
The guy is the best wheel polisher that any of us have found. And he
was camped just a couple hundred yards from our camp. The wheels
should only need a touch up at the 2008 Quartzsite rally.
Twelve 'Birds stayed over Sunday evening, Monday 4 'Birds departed,
Tuesday a couple more left camp. There were still a few 'Birds
hanging around at the end of the week.
Folks were asking when the next rally will be held. Work on that
starts about mid February. Please forward your rally date & location
suggestions to Curt and Phil. Some thoughts for now...Blair McIntire
is thinking about holding a rally before it gets too hot on his
property in Oregon. Also the FMCA rally is in Redmond, Oregon during
August. Maybe something can be done to tie the two. Also, it would be
fun to meet up with the PNW group.
Thank you all for participating and making this a wonderful rally.
Phil Corpus & Curt Sprenger
Your rally coordinators
What a great turnout. Good people making new friends and renewing
friendships. 'Birds started arriving early in Quartzsite beginning the
weekend before the rally. Saturday there were 25'Birds and 3 SOBs in camp.
This rally was kept informal and relaxed, same as the previous SWBB
rallies. There was minimal structure. No one was expected to
participate in anything. Many of the participants expressed their
appreciation for this format.
Our camp received many visitors, known 'Bird owners who were camping
with their groups, as well as 'Birders who heard there was a flock of
'Birds parked in the LaPosa South LTVA. These fine folks will be
included in the SWBB database and kept informed about SWBB activities.
Our database is approaching 130 units ('Birds and SOBs), plus several
who are looking to purchase a 'Bird.
Special thanks to Marty & Jerry Gregg, and Rick & Rosie Archie for
locating a great camping spot for all of us. Directions to our camp
were simple, at the end of the blacktop road, go 100 yards and camp
was on the left. We all thank Marty for sharing his spot relocation
demonstrations. Marty, we really didn't pay that ranger to stop in.
The Big Tent Event plus all the other vendor areas were a hit and
visited by all, many times. If you have not visited Quartzsite during
the Big Tent Event you have truly missed the world's largest RV and
Flea Market experience. The first weekend was very busy and by mid
week the crowds diminished. Sunday and Monday back to the area brought
reduced prices.
A BIG THANKS for mechanical and electrical assistance goes to Lucas
Willemse and Rick Archie. They provided support to several rally
participants. Also, we got to witness that a Swing Radiator is a MUST
on the FCs as we watched a faulty alternator being removed and a new
one installed.
Our fast becoming a tradition, _* BYOB, "and Bring Your Best Hearty
Hors D'oeuvres to Share," Social*_, was held on both Friday and
Saturday nights and enjoyed by all. The big camp fires burned until in
the early AM. Thank you everyone for bringing firewood.
Greg O'Connor and Tim Vasquez brought some of the California beach
scene to the Arizona desert--palm trees and a pink flamingo?
One attendee, Butch Paula, drove down from the Ukiah area to display
his FC for sale. He enjoyed the camaraderie so much he decided he may
not sell, and even volunteered to do the leg work if we wanted to hold
a rally up in the wine country north of the Bay Area.
The longest travel distance for this rally here at Quartzsite goes to
Hank & Naty Hannigan, all the way from Australia. The shortest
distance traveled was Don Bradner, who was camped with a Datastorm
users group, about a mile away, west of Highway 95. He moved to our
camp for the weekend.
Phil commissioned Bob Lankford of_ BL Digital Photography_ to take
aerial photos of our camp on Saturday at 4:00pm. Bob flew over our
camp on Friday while on another job and photographed us. As a bonus,
he included the pictures he took on Friday with the photos he took on
Saturday. There are 65 photos on the CD. Anyone wanting a CD should
contact Phil. The cost is $17.50/CD.
Around 300 digital photos were taken by both Phil, and Don Bradner.
Their photos can be seen at the group photo site:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bluebirds/
Rally participants who are members of the Flicker Site can upload
their digital pictures of the rally to share with other attendees.
Simply click on the `upload' link and follow the instructions.
Downloading and using the Flickr upload tools makes the process easier
and faster.
Most of the 'Birds got their aluminum wheels polished, $10.00/wheel.
The guy is the best wheel polisher that any of us have found. And he
was camped just a couple hundred yards from our camp. The wheels
should only need a touch up at the 2008 Quartzsite rally.
Twelve 'Birds stayed over Sunday evening, Monday 4 'Birds departed,
Tuesday a couple more left camp. There were still a few 'Birds
hanging around at the end of the week.
Folks were asking when the next rally will be held. Work on that
starts about mid February. Please forward your rally date & location
suggestions to Curt and Phil. Some thoughts for now...Blair McIntire
is thinking about holding a rally before it gets too hot on his
property in Oregon. Also the FMCA rally is in Redmond, Oregon during
August. Maybe something can be done to tie the two. Also, it would be
fun to meet up with the PNW group.
Thank you all for participating and making this a wonderful rally.
Phil Corpus & Curt Sprenger
Your rally coordinators