I promise, this is the last update from the 2007 FMCA International Rally. Really, I promise.
We weren’t pleased with the plan for parking the rigs—both occupied and those for sale. When we were here in Redmond, several years ago for the Good Sam Great American Rally, most of the units for sale were located in the center circle of this circular-shape facility. When entering the gate it gave the feeling of entering a fair of some kind with all of the colorful banners and flags blowing in the desert breeze. FMCA chose to have its International Officers occupy this space, putting the display coaches about one block away from the fairgrounds itself.
Mr. Tony Orlando and his band put on a terrific show at the final show of the Rally. Not a dry eye in the house could be found following his moving tribute to the troops and his signature "Tie a Yellow Ribbon."
Because of this you only went into the fairgrounds itself to use the wifi, to pick up your snail mail, to attend a seminar’ visit the vendor buildings, or attend the evening’s entertainment. There are so many new coaches brought to one of these affairs that it literally can take hours to walk through every one that interests you and get a salesman to answer your questions. Most Rally goers spend more time doing this than anything else.
The over priced food vendors who at the Good Sam Rally were almost scattered amidst the display coaches, had to feel somewhat out of the stream of things with this arrangement.
We ran into some folks we’ve met before. One had a horror story. We met him last winter in Yuma, AZ, and again in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Last April, as they were headed somewhere, they were stopped at a traffic signal waiting for the green light to make a left turn. A large semi truck, turning left from the road on their right, dragged is trailer across their motorhome ripping the whole front cap off. What a horrible experience as glass exploded all over the place and their motorhome’s front was torn off. Well, the coach is still in the shop awaiting some of the parts to put it back together. It was new enough that it wasn’t a total loss but, in the meantime, they are without their only home. We finally bumped into Kevin’s mother-in-law, Norma, and were able to pass along a page of photos Kevin had sent of Alex’s first day at kindergarten. She said she’s really missing the boys. We never did see father-in-law Dave, however.
The seminars we attended were really great. After all, I learned how easy it is to become a blogger and Judy learned a lot of new stuff about our medical evacuation insurance and the liability insurance we carry on the coach. The entertainment was better than we’ve seen in the past. Our only gripe was the arrangement of the camping and display stuff—oh yeah, it was too damned hot.
Though we are perfectly happy with our RV we too toured many of the shiny new ones. They have become so complex in the ten years since our coach was built. Many of the systems in the living area are now controlled by computer touch screens located throughout the coach. Close the drapes, rotate the TV, kick up the air conditioner, turn on the heat, extend the patio awnings (if it gets too windy and you’re not home to deal with it they’ll automatically retract the awnings), electric reels to extend the electrical power cord or sewer hose out of the side of the coach, blend up some margaritas—no not quite—but almost. All of that stuff is wonderful if it works but it’s been our experience on the road that it often doesn’t. When some of those new computer- controlled systems fail it can literally leave you stranded along the roadside waiting for a tow to a repair facility. If no qualified technician can be found you might have to wait for the factory to fly one in to you. What ever happened to “keep it simple, stupid.”? We can and have fixed a number of things and systems on our coach. With the new ones that would be impossible in many cases. Add to that a financial depreciation of 40-50% in the first year and it’s amazing they sell any of them. Sell they do, however, as a considerable number of the display coaches disappeared into the campground during the week.
As I write this we’re sitting in a beautiful RV park on the slopes of famed Mt. Hood. The Mt. Hood Village RV Resort is located in a beautiful mature forest of evergreen and deciduous trees. So many that there is no hope of pointing our satellite dish at any satellite. That is the only drawback, however, as the lush green of the forest far overshadows any need for satellite TV.
For some reason, though we only traveled about 100 miles today, I was very tired when we arrived so, after lunch, I took a 2-hour nap. Feelin’ much better now for it.
We weren’t pleased with the plan for parking the rigs—both occupied and those for sale. When we were here in Redmond, several years ago for the Good Sam Great American Rally, most of the units for sale were located in the center circle of this circular-shape facility. When entering the gate it gave the feeling of entering a fair of some kind with all of the colorful banners and flags blowing in the desert breeze. FMCA chose to have its International Officers occupy this space, putting the display coaches about one block away from the fairgrounds itself.
Mr. Tony Orlando and his band put on a terrific show at the final show of the Rally. Not a dry eye in the house could be found following his moving tribute to the troops and his signature "Tie a Yellow Ribbon."Because of this you only went into the fairgrounds itself to use the wifi, to pick up your snail mail, to attend a seminar’ visit the vendor buildings, or attend the evening’s entertainment. There are so many new coaches brought to one of these affairs that it literally can take hours to walk through every one that interests you and get a salesman to answer your questions. Most Rally goers spend more time doing this than anything else.
The over priced food vendors who at the Good Sam Rally were almost scattered amidst the display coaches, had to feel somewhat out of the stream of things with this arrangement.
We ran into some folks we’ve met before. One had a horror story. We met him last winter in Yuma, AZ, and again in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Last April, as they were headed somewhere, they were stopped at a traffic signal waiting for the green light to make a left turn. A large semi truck, turning left from the road on their right, dragged is trailer across their motorhome ripping the whole front cap off. What a horrible experience as glass exploded all over the place and their motorhome’s front was torn off. Well, the coach is still in the shop awaiting some of the parts to put it back together. It was new enough that it wasn’t a total loss but, in the meantime, they are without their only home. We finally bumped into Kevin’s mother-in-law, Norma, and were able to pass along a page of photos Kevin had sent of Alex’s first day at kindergarten. She said she’s really missing the boys. We never did see father-in-law Dave, however.
The seminars we attended were really great. After all, I learned how easy it is to become a blogger and Judy learned a lot of new stuff about our medical evacuation insurance and the liability insurance we carry on the coach. The entertainment was better than we’ve seen in the past. Our only gripe was the arrangement of the camping and display stuff—oh yeah, it was too damned hot.
Though we are perfectly happy with our RV we too toured many of the shiny new ones. They have become so complex in the ten years since our coach was built. Many of the systems in the living area are now controlled by computer touch screens located throughout the coach. Close the drapes, rotate the TV, kick up the air conditioner, turn on the heat, extend the patio awnings (if it gets too windy and you’re not home to deal with it they’ll automatically retract the awnings), electric reels to extend the electrical power cord or sewer hose out of the side of the coach, blend up some margaritas—no not quite—but almost. All of that stuff is wonderful if it works but it’s been our experience on the road that it often doesn’t. When some of those new computer- controlled systems fail it can literally leave you stranded along the roadside waiting for a tow to a repair facility. If no qualified technician can be found you might have to wait for the factory to fly one in to you. What ever happened to “keep it simple, stupid.”? We can and have fixed a number of things and systems on our coach. With the new ones that would be impossible in many cases. Add to that a financial depreciation of 40-50% in the first year and it’s amazing they sell any of them. Sell they do, however, as a considerable number of the display coaches disappeared into the campground during the week.
As I write this we’re sitting in a beautiful RV park on the slopes of famed Mt. Hood. The Mt. Hood Village RV Resort is located in a beautiful mature forest of evergreen and deciduous trees. So many that there is no hope of pointing our satellite dish at any satellite. That is the only drawback, however, as the lush green of the forest far overshadows any need for satellite TV.
For some reason, though we only traveled about 100 miles today, I was very tired when we arrived so, after lunch, I took a 2-hour nap. Feelin’ much better now for it.
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