720 Airstreams All in a Row

720 Airstreams all in a row…

The International Rally was at a convention and rodeo center in Gillette WY, which has enough full hook up spaces for everyone. In the old days you had to pay extra or have only 3 amps which just about does the lights and nothing else. I did cost me close to $400 dollars for a week.  If there weren’t so many of my friends here, I wouldn’t dream of coming, the value of the programs and entertainments don’t come close to that.

The Vintage area, full of trailers mostly older than mine, is a lively place, we have happy hour everyday, and pizza parties.  We had a judged open house , always fun to look at other folks trailers and even more fun, talk to new or wannabe owners who are full of enthusiasm and questions about the workings and decorating.  As a full timer, I am a near goddess, folks would love to drop out and hit the road, and especially women who are getting a glimmer of the idea that they can do this all by them selves.

There was a very well attended seminar for women on hitching up and unhitching, and some pointers on towing. ( one husband did turn up, to make sure we weren’t telling stories?) Well done by the Boulder friend, Patti with occasional asides from me.

For the 4^th, we had a stupendous fireworks show, the city of Gillette is rich from coal, so they spent a bundle.  The town itself is a little lacking in stuff to do, but folks went to Devil’s Tower and other sights nearby.

Me, I just socialized, or went and talked trailers and restoration with anyone, and then was in bed by 9:00, mostly because those that are still up at that point are, shall we say, a little over refreshed and less interesting to talk to.

I carried our unit flag, and went and voted for a canned slate of officers, and wondered what will become of this club as the old guard who like their tedious ceremonies and traditions gradually fade away.  Will we get older and less rowdy and suddenly develop great affection for these traditions?  I hope not, we should be camping and having fun.

My dear friend Hunter is here, with her three wonderful dogs who draped themselves all over me on her couch as we caught up on our lives.  The Thrift shopping was pretty poor, a serious pursuit for both of us, but we had our usual hilarious time together and decided to go up to Sheridan after the Rally.

I sometimes wonder why I still come to these huge events, besides seeing friends. When I first got my trailer, I needed to find out how it worked, how to fix it and get some idea of what the design flavor was.  Now, after 10 years, there isn’t much I haven’t been through, and although I tweak the interior a little, and often have to fix things.  But I still learn stuff and enjoy my friends.

I did have one minor glitch, I think the propane system had an excess of the garlic smelly oil that is added so we can smell it.  The water heater was being very balky and then the fridge wasn’t heating at all.  I live in fear that the 37 year old fridge will quit, it will cost well over $1000 to replace and require cabinet modifications and so on.  My neighbors have been through this so we gathered and discussed and whapped on things, and finally it all started working better.

The last day came and the trailers and motorhomes all left, like some migratory birds that decide all at once that winter has come, and fly away.  As Hunter and I drove north, they were still everywhere on the roads, heading for some touring or heading home in all directions, and soon they will be rare on the highways again.

Heading for Sheridan, just over a ridge, we could see the Big Horn Mountains blue in the distance, and then dropping behind more rolling grassy hills.  It has been rainy up here too, and green as though it was spring, my memory of this country is of dried grass, bleached and whitened by the sun, not this relatively lush mist of green.