Rally in the Rockies...Under way!
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 3:34 pm
First, let me apologize for being tardy on the update. The internet as the campground is slow, and hard to use. So, I came back to the "Ranch" to update you.
I am pleased to report that all 32 of our coaches, made it safe and sound, and are now resting at Absaroka Campground in Cody!
Along with our registered guests, Bobby Chitwood, local entertainer showed up in his 45 ft. Eagle entertainer coach...fully wrapped from the promo reality show pilot Hard Road to Nashville. Along with Bobby, Jeff Jefferson found us a beautiful Eagle at the State park, and convinced Jake to show up. They spent a few nights with us, and had to pull out this afternoon. What a beautiful rig, slides and all! We also have visitors in a Prevost, who came from Florida, saw the busses, and figured it would be a cool place to hang out!
All counted, 35 ( yes 35!) of the neatest busses, are resting at The Absaroka Campground, as I write to you.
Wednesday started out with me and my trusty ATV, parking everyone. Other than almost getting taken out once or twice by the big boys, everything went smoothly.
The ladies jumped right out of their coaches, and made a b-line to set up for their craft show. Pam and Dave St.John ( I can not begin tell you what a help and blessing he has been to us...Thank you Dave!) set up the room for the opening night dinner.
Around 11.A.M. our Chef, Gary arrived to get Arnold, our dinner ready. It took 2 hours to prepare the coals, and 5 hours to cook the 100 lb.cutie!
The cocktail party started at 4 p.m., right outside our coach. We put 2 tents up, and lots of chairs appeared. I once counted 45 chairs surrounding our tent area. At 5 p.m. we moved indoors for the official welcoming of the group. From there we moved to "The Ladies of the Coach Shuffle" Let me explain,,, we made every registered guest a wooden I.D. marker for their coach. Every Eagle owner has the E/I logo, and the non Eagles had a special logo.
While we were wrapping them up, gift style, Pam said...wouldn't it be funny if we put the wrong names on the outside and they got mixed up! Well...hence the creation of the Ladies of the Coach Shuffle! We called all of the ladies to the front of the room, and explained Pam's idea. After a much deserved round of applause for all of the ladies that are responsible for keeping these unit stocked, clean and moving, we randomly handed out the signs to the ladies,,, i.d. marker face down. We sent the ladies back to there husbands, and had them turn the signs over, and what ever name was on the tag,,,,they had to find those people and deliver the signs to them.... it worked great. We had so many new faces in the crowd, we though it would be a way to get them to meet new people. It Worked!
The cocktail hour(s) continued until 6 p.m.
We then had our first meal together as a group. After Wayne offered the blessing, we hit the food table.
What a super meal we had, from the Pork, down to the desserts, Bread Putting..rice pudding, with fresh whipped cream and Whiskey Sauce.....sure was tasty!
From there we moved back to our coach for the campfire routine!
Believe it our not, that lasted till about 10:30! Yes our group, who go to sleep with the chickens, hung out until 10:30 p.m.
Thursday morning brought us coffee and Donuts, courtesy of Shirley and Jeff Jefferson.
at 8:45. the Trolley Tour arrived to pick everyone up. Now I was sweating out getting enough people to cover the discount rate. We need 20 people, we had 44, and the trolley only held 39!
We needed to sent a few kind troopers on the 11:00 tour. Thanks Renners, and Evans for helping me out of a jam!
The Ladies meeting got started at 11:00 a.m. It was reported that everyone had fun, and it seemed the ladies each got a little closer. This is something Betty Pigg started in Branson, and it is a great way for the ladies to bond.
While I am typing this 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, I just got a phone call from Pam who is at the campground. We just has a Wyoming Rain/Wind storm go by, causing some problems, so I will have to cut this short, and go to the campground to check the damage!
Tonight is an open cook out at our coach, and then 50 of us are off to the rodeo!!
Get back to you when I can.
Tony
I am pleased to report that all 32 of our coaches, made it safe and sound, and are now resting at Absaroka Campground in Cody!
Along with our registered guests, Bobby Chitwood, local entertainer showed up in his 45 ft. Eagle entertainer coach...fully wrapped from the promo reality show pilot Hard Road to Nashville. Along with Bobby, Jeff Jefferson found us a beautiful Eagle at the State park, and convinced Jake to show up. They spent a few nights with us, and had to pull out this afternoon. What a beautiful rig, slides and all! We also have visitors in a Prevost, who came from Florida, saw the busses, and figured it would be a cool place to hang out!
All counted, 35 ( yes 35!) of the neatest busses, are resting at The Absaroka Campground, as I write to you.
Wednesday started out with me and my trusty ATV, parking everyone. Other than almost getting taken out once or twice by the big boys, everything went smoothly.
The ladies jumped right out of their coaches, and made a b-line to set up for their craft show. Pam and Dave St.John ( I can not begin tell you what a help and blessing he has been to us...Thank you Dave!) set up the room for the opening night dinner.
Around 11.A.M. our Chef, Gary arrived to get Arnold, our dinner ready. It took 2 hours to prepare the coals, and 5 hours to cook the 100 lb.cutie!
The cocktail party started at 4 p.m., right outside our coach. We put 2 tents up, and lots of chairs appeared. I once counted 45 chairs surrounding our tent area. At 5 p.m. we moved indoors for the official welcoming of the group. From there we moved to "The Ladies of the Coach Shuffle" Let me explain,,, we made every registered guest a wooden I.D. marker for their coach. Every Eagle owner has the E/I logo, and the non Eagles had a special logo.
While we were wrapping them up, gift style, Pam said...wouldn't it be funny if we put the wrong names on the outside and they got mixed up! Well...hence the creation of the Ladies of the Coach Shuffle! We called all of the ladies to the front of the room, and explained Pam's idea. After a much deserved round of applause for all of the ladies that are responsible for keeping these unit stocked, clean and moving, we randomly handed out the signs to the ladies,,, i.d. marker face down. We sent the ladies back to there husbands, and had them turn the signs over, and what ever name was on the tag,,,,they had to find those people and deliver the signs to them.... it worked great. We had so many new faces in the crowd, we though it would be a way to get them to meet new people. It Worked!
The cocktail hour(s) continued until 6 p.m.
We then had our first meal together as a group. After Wayne offered the blessing, we hit the food table.
What a super meal we had, from the Pork, down to the desserts, Bread Putting..rice pudding, with fresh whipped cream and Whiskey Sauce.....sure was tasty!
From there we moved back to our coach for the campfire routine!
Believe it our not, that lasted till about 10:30! Yes our group, who go to sleep with the chickens, hung out until 10:30 p.m.
Thursday morning brought us coffee and Donuts, courtesy of Shirley and Jeff Jefferson.
at 8:45. the Trolley Tour arrived to pick everyone up. Now I was sweating out getting enough people to cover the discount rate. We need 20 people, we had 44, and the trolley only held 39!
We needed to sent a few kind troopers on the 11:00 tour. Thanks Renners, and Evans for helping me out of a jam!
The Ladies meeting got started at 11:00 a.m. It was reported that everyone had fun, and it seemed the ladies each got a little closer. This is something Betty Pigg started in Branson, and it is a great way for the ladies to bond.
While I am typing this 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, I just got a phone call from Pam who is at the campground. We just has a Wyoming Rain/Wind storm go by, causing some problems, so I will have to cut this short, and go to the campground to check the damage!
Tonight is an open cook out at our coach, and then 50 of us are off to the rodeo!!
Get back to you when I can.
Tony