It’s A Wrap

The title says it all, Escapade 2010 is now in the history books.  Today we pack up, dump tanks, and head out for parts unknown; i.e. Mecosta, Michigan.  But, before that happens, let us tell you about our final day at the Escapade.

I began the day with a seminar on Tire Safety followed by a Geeks On Tour seminar on Story Book software, both were very informative.  Miss Judy attended a Healthy Eating seminar and a Kayaking seminar, both were a bust.  The healthy eating wasn’t healthy eating at all rather a presentation of an Atkins type diet which is far from healthy eating while the kayaking instructor was late getting there and was the “know it all” arrogant type.

After our morning seminars, we went out to the South Side Diner for lunch with Jim and Lisa Koca, a couple that we had met when we attended the Branson HOP way back in November of 2007.  We’ve kept in touch over the years and it was nice to see them again.  The South Side Dinner was featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives highlighting their Philly Cheese Steak sandwich.  Although it was a good sandwich, it certainly was not the best Philly Cheese Steak that we’ve had, but the company was great.

On our way to lunch we stopped by the Old Bag Company (old manufacturing buildings converted into cute little shops) for a look see.  Elkhart County has several quilt gardens planted around the area with one them being at the Old Bag Company. 

At 4:30 the closing ceremonies began with recognition of all the people who worked so hard to bring us Escapade 2010 followed by the drawing for the grand prize (foiled again), a picnic dinner, Entertainment by One More Time, and ending with DJ music and a dance.  All in all, we had a good time, however, from all reports, this was not one of the better Escapades.

Now, all that is left to do is say “See Ya Down The Road” to our many friends before heading out later this morning.  Here’s to an uneventful travel day which will be less than fours hours away to Mecosta, Michigan where we’ll be planted for the next two and a half weeks.  Until tomorrow, we hope you all have fair seas and following winds.

Taking It Easy

We held to our convictions of taking it easy and not eating out.  It was tough, especially the not going out to dinner part, but we held steadfast. 

We went out for a stroll about the fairgrounds yesterday morning mainly to socialize and socialize we did.  However, we did succumb to a jelly doughnut for breakfast at the Hospitality Center, but spent rest of the morning chit chatting with friends as we walked about.

 

After lunch I finished airing up all the tires on the rig and the truck while Judy went to the craft sale – she didn’t buy anything, whew!!  When Judy returned, we headed over to the Community Center for the Featured Speakers; Joe and Kay Peterson, Founders of the Escapees RV Club, who entertained us with a funny skit.

Then we did some more socializing until the 4:30 Happy Hour and Door Prizes (walked away empty handed again – shucks!).  The skits were a real stitch.  First Inspector Gadget demonstrated a couple of new RV Gadgets; obviously they didn’t work.  Next Q. T. Dumpster cleaned up the mess left by Inspector Gadget.

Then Dr. Phil Goode, who has his doctorate in sex, gave us a philosophical talk expounding on his great knowledge of the subject.  “Ladies and Gentlemen.  It gives me great pleasure!”  Then he left the stage.  Finally, a funny song to the tune of “Roll Out the Barrel” entitled “I Love Beer”.

After dinner we went over to Ray and Pat’s where we met a new couple, Lloyd and Delores, and played Mexican Train.  Lloyd and I hit it off because of our love for aviation, he has a Cessna 182 that he is selling (why wasn’t I born a little richer and not quite so handsome?)  It was a relaxing and fun evening and I won at dominoes.

Today is the last day of the 50th Escapees RV Club Escapade here at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana.  So check in again tomorrow for the wrap up.  Until then, keep a song in your heart!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Ye ol’ bod is beginning to wear a little ragged.  We were sooooo tired that we “stood” in bed this morning until zero seven thirty hours (hence the late journal entry this morning).  Today is definitely going to be a laid back, catch your breath kind of day with NO EATING OUT!!!  If we keep eating like this, we’re not only gonna haveta buy bigger clothes, but a bigger house as well!!!

Okay, so what wore ya out, you may query?  Well, Judy spent most of the morning in crafts making a beaded Christmas ornament and then went back after lunch to work on Spirelli note cards.  Then she attended a seminar on Legal Documents. 

I attended two Basic RV Systems seminars in the morning, spent some time airing up our tires, and attended a seminar on Why Use Water Filters.  Then it was 1630 hours and time for the Escapade Happy Hour and Door Prizes (still didn’t win anything - darn).  It was Fun and Games day with a competition to see which team could stuff the most balloons inside panty hose being worn by three different contestants.

Here’s Dortha’s team hard at work.

Right after the happy hour, a group of us met outside for a surprise presentation to Don and Jenny Manuel.  They are newly weds (last spring) and choose to spend their honeymoon at the Escapade so Don could meet all of Jenny’s RVing friends.  So the group took up a collection to send them on a HOP (Head Out Program) tour that will take place today.  It’s an all day trip around the Goshen area doing sightseeing and shopping culminating with a dinner at an Amish home.

Then a group of us (the Frericks, the Meachems, and the Walters) went to the Dutchmaid Diner which has a nice reasonably priced buffet with very good food.  I don’t dare list what we had to eat because it was waaaaay tooooo much and I don’t need the extra calories that I’d get by just talking about it.

We returned back to the Fairgrounds just in time to go to another seminar entitled Destinations Of The Southwest.  We sat in the back just in case we started to get the “sleepies” (which we did).  So, we snuck out early, however, on our way home, we stumbled onto a Jam session taking place and ended up watching and listening to that for a while.

By that time our pajamas were putting up a real stink because we hadn’t taken them out of the drawer yet and we could hear them clearly at the other end of the Fairgrounds.  So, we made a beeline for home, slipped into them, and sat in our recliners for a while in an attempt to settle down a little before hitting the hay.  Then it was beddy bye where we stayed put until the previously mentioned “zero seven thirty hours” this morning.

Like I said, today it going to be a “take it easy” day.  We’ll take a stroll around the Fairgrounds for some exercise, but mostly to see who’s out and about.  General RV brought in an Allegro Bay RED (rear engine diesel) motorhome that we want to go see.  Then we’ll pull out our lawn chairs so we can “sit a spell” and that will be pretty much it.

In the words of the late Paul Harvey, “Good Day!”

Our First Full Day

So, what did we do yesterday?  That’s a good question.  We’re going to have to stop and think about that for a minute.  Here’s the short version. 

I began the day with a seminar on Picasa (a photo managing software) while Judy J. visited the Hospitality Center to get a handle on the rally agenda changes (they publish a daily bulletin to keep us apprised of the latest news, etc., that lists any schedule changes at the rally). 

Then we did our “walk about” to socialize a little.  We came home for lunch and then made our appearance at a RV-Dreams gathering taking place at noon time.  From there we did a walk through the Indoor Market and picked up some information on workamping at Dollywood and on a Community Credit Union that is located in Texas.  Being that Dollywood will accept six week work assignments, it’s something that we may consider.

At one o’clock, I attended another seminar while Judy went to a basket weaving class; this time it was making a beaded bracelet.  After that, we both attended a RV Driving Demonstration for a few minutes, but our attention was diverted by people walking about with soft served ice cream cones.  So we went in search of the cone’s point of origin which we found in the Hospitality Center – just yummy on a warm summer’s afternoon.

The Social Hour is held each day at 4:30 to 5:30 where there are drawings for door prizes (you must be present to win – we were, but we didn’t).  Also, One More Time, with the help of 14 volunteers, sang a Diana Ross and the Supremes song (Stop In The Name Of Love).  It was hilarious.

From the Social Hour, the Camerons, the Emonds, the Martins, the Pattersons, and the Paynes went out for dinner at Applebee’s.  Good food with good friends; that’s what this week is all about.  We didn’t get home until around eight o’clock and our PJ’s were screaming for us by then thereby bringing a close to another day at the Escapade.

So there you have it.  We took some pictures, however, they weren’t worthy of posting so better luck today.  This could be our busiest day at the Escapade; note the word “could”.  We may not attend everything that we have highlighted; after all, we are retired, ya know!!

Let The Escapade Begin

Yesterday was the kick off for the Escapade.  There are over eight hundred RVs with over 2000 people in attendance.

It was a busy day to say the least.  Judy got an early start by going over to the Ag Building just before eight to register for several craft sessions throughout the week.

 

Once Judy finished her sign ups, we did a walk about to “kick the tires” on some new RVs.  We looked at several Heartland fifthwheels, a Coachman class C, and a Phaeton diesel pusher.  Only the Phaeton said, “Take me home”, but I had forgotten my wallet.

Next we strolled through “The Row” where Escapee Chapters and BOFs (Birds Of A Feather) have their displays.  Yes, it is like old home week; we keep bumping into people we know all over the place.  We met a woman named Daryl and as we were talking with her Larry (as in Larry the Cook) approached – we just had to do it, so here’s Larry, his sister Daryl, and his other brother Darrell.

We came home for lunch and a little resting before heading back to the “Comm Building” for the Orientation and Opening Ceremony followed by an Ice Social and Entertainment.

 

At 5:00 the class of 2007 was having a Happy Hour get together with hors d’oeuvres.  In the Escapees organization fulltimers are divided up into classes by the year that they began fulltiming. 

A lot of the members of the class of 2007 follow Howard and Linda Payne (not to be confused with Norm and Linda Payne) of RV-Dreams and were pleasantly surprised by their unannounced visit to the Happy Hour.  They are currently workamping in Michigan and weren’t expected at the Escapade.  Howard and Linda will be participating in the Fulltimer’s Open Forum this evening. 

We began fulltiming in 2006, but have been adopted by the class of 2007 since the class of 2006 is pretty much inactive.  Howard and Linda, who began fulltiming in 2005, were also adopted by this fun class.

Having mentioned Norm and Linda, Howard and Linda wanted to see them again so Judy and I escorted them over for a surprised visit (see Wandering America, November 2009 Travelogue for our last get together with the Jones, Pattersons, Paynes, Paynes, and Russells).

At 7:30 there was a live entertainment variety show starring Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, George Jones, George Strait, George Burns, Roger Miller, Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Willy Nelson, Archie and Edith Bunker with appearances by presidents Nixon, Clinton, Reagan, and G. W. Bush.  Also, Jack Benny, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne and Rodney Dangerfield were on hand to brighten up our evening.  These were all impressions done by Johnny Counterfeit who entertained us for an hour and a half making it a very enjoyable evening.

As you can see, we are having fun and enjoying ourselves.  A lot gets packed into a day before our heads hit the pillows.  Today the seminars begin with more fun packed in between.  See ya tomorrow.