Jul 19, 2011 - RV Rally at Redmond, OR

We arrived at the RV Rally and signed in. We chose not to camp on the grounds this year as the $40.00 a night only gave us electricity and close proximity to the Rally for the seminars and nightly entertainment. Instead, I used one of my RV Club discounts and parked in a RV park about 10 miles away. We had a full hookup that included electric, water, sewer, cable TV and wi-fi and it was only $14.00 a day. Well worth the 20 mile round-trip drive. As usual, we had a very interesting and educational time at the Rally. Each night was a...

Jul 17, 2011 - will it ever end?

Saturday: We spent another day doing seminars, and making the rounds of exhibitors to buy sale items and other stuff we need. Prices at the rally are usually better than you can get anywhere else, and since Oregon has no sales tax the savings are just that much more. $200 later we had our coach outfitted with LED lighting all around, and we bought a fire extinguisher for home and a bunch of chemicals for our holding tanks. The best seminar today was on solar systems for RV’s. As we walked home it was clouding up to rain out the show again,...

Jul 17, 2011 - Good Sam and Last Day

July 17 Good Sam Day, Last Day. It is bitter sweet, it has been a long tiring week and that part will be good to be over. But, we have met so many great people and had a chance to make new friends and get reacquainted with old one it will be hard to leave them. We have gotten 2 estimates on new flooring in the rig, just need to decide when to do it and how to pay for it. I sit it my last 2 seminars, 1st had guests but no speaker, the 2nd had no guests and no speaker so I sat in on another seminar so I could get all my hours. Tonight show...

Jul 16, 2011 - Herman's Hermits

July 16 First chore is wash clothes, our clothes from last night are so wet I don’t want to leave them laying or they will mildew. So it is off to the Laundromat at 6:50 a.m., no one there but me so I get 2 loads started and run around the corner to Albertson’s for cat food. Also pick up donuts for the security guys on the gate. Washers and dryers are very efficient and I am back at the rig before 8:30. Guys are very happy with the donuts. It’s off to Good Sam for a multi car insurance quote, looks like we can save some money. We head...

Jul 15, 2011 - Camping World Day

July 15 Camping World Day. When the Rally starts each person is given a “Match ‘N’ Win” number. You spend the first days looking for your number on another person. They can be up to four people with the same number. When you find your number arrangements are made to meet on Friday morning to check in. So I had found my match 2 days ago, we met this morning, checked in, and got our T-shirts. Then it is off to the vendor exhibits and see where we can spend our money. Made arrangement to get the tow bar checked. Another appointment to have...

Jul 15, 2011 - Rally notes

Thursday: We got to the fairgrounds early. They have a fantastic buffet breakfast and eating out saves water and electricity when we don't have hookups. We're dry camped and our supplies have to last a week. Generator hours are 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM so charging is no problem but water refills are $30.00 and having them dump your holding tanks is another $25.00 so we want to avoid that if we can. We sat with a couple from Antioch - grim and serious looking people at first glance, but lively and fun to talk to when you got them started. RVers...

Jul 14, 2011 - RV Rally

Arrived yesterday in Bend OR about 4 hrs as we hit a couple of Hwy stops for about 1/2 each. Today and thru Sunday we are going to the RV Rally in Redmond, OR. Will post more on that as the days go by. Not sure what to expect but looking forward to it. It is cool this morning about 36! We were in Bend about 41 years ago, sure has grown a lot. Will check out the Elks lodge here too. Added photo of Vince Gill performance it was a great show!

Jul 14, 2011 - Redmond, OR Temp 79

We got up at 8 AM this morning - God who invented mornings???? We were on the road by 9:30 and arrived in Redmond at the Rally site about 10:30. Redmond is in a valley surrounded on all sides by mountains covered by snow. Breathtaking views. Barb went into Will Call to pick up our documents while Bob unhooked our car. We drove to a gravel parking lot where volunteers were directing the parking of the RV's. One volunteer pointed Bob one way and told me to take the car to a specific location and wait til Bob parked. A few minutes later a...

Jul 14, 2011 - Publications Day

July 14 Publications Day One of the “activities” here is trying to match a number you are given on Day 1 with the number of at least one other person. So as you are walking around you are constantly checking numbers. Today was Publications Day, sponsored by Woodalls, free hats for the first 2000 people, free books, a chance to spin a wheel for more prizes and a raffle. You got 1 raffle ticket for attending and one more for each can of food donated to the local food bank. While standing in line I was “found” by my counterpart number. We go...

Jul 13, 2011 - The Ralley - Redmond, OR

We attended our first National Good Sam Ralley as Good Sam Life Members in Redmond (Deschutes County Fairgrounds). What a great time! 500 vendors for all-things RV. Entertainment included Bobby Vinton, Herman’s Hermits and Vince Gill. By far the best was Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits. Soooo funny, and his music was spot-on the same as in the 1960’s (you have to be OLD to appreciate that). We had a lot of fun, bought some stuff (naturally) and won some stuff.

Jul 13, 2011 - A Club named 'Sam'

The gentle climb into Oregon's high desert Wednesday: We got on the road early and headed north on Highway 97. There is a lot of roadwork going on and there were some long delays, but most of them were in California. Once we crossed the state line into Oregon we encountered very few. This is central Oregon’s high desert, and the drive up to Redmond was an easy one. We arrived at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds by 2:30, and Good Sam Club volunteers directed us straight to our campsite. They have done this a few times and they are very well...

Jul 13, 2011 - Early Bird Day

July 13 Early Bird Day. The seminars start today and well as the evening entertainment. Unfortunately there are no exhibits until 3:00 when the outdoor displays (RV’s) open. We both start work at 12:00 noon today so at 11:40 we head out. RG is left to guard the RV and he seems to take this job seriously. He checks me as I leave and also as I come back. That may be just to make sure I have filled the food dish. Mike is off to park more rigs and I am off to help at seminars. My first seminar is on Hydronic Heating for RV’s. We have to count...