O.k., it's only taken a week for me to get the pictures downloaded, then uploaded and finally ready for viewing.
First, I have to thank Mark for a fantastic event. This was our first year and quite honestly, I didn't know what to expect but this event exceeded any expectations I might have had. It was a fantastic experience.
This was not only the first RendezVW for us, but it was also our very first camping trip in our bus! No, the three-hour-long trial in the yard with the boys last year doesn't count. I have to say with all humility, I'm pretty dang proud of myself and my family. For it being the first time stepping up to the plate, I think we knocked it out of the park! Between all of us, I was the only one unprepared. My wife had the common sense to bring warm clothes as it does get a little cool in the evening. I, being of Eastern Washington decent and should have known better, only brought shorts and t-shirts to wear. Juli made me pack a sweatshirt, otherwise, I would have frozen my lug nuts off even more than I did!
My only regret is that I didn't meet more people while we were there. I was pretty good about introducing myself to folks I recognized from pics posted here on the IAC. What I failed to realize was that there were a lot more folks there that I didn't recognize! In fact, it was only after I got home and read some posts that it dawned on me that this very nice gentleman that we camped next to named Hans is actually our own Covelo! What a dolt I am. My dolt-ness continued as I never got a chance to meet JLT, even though I kept looking at his bus thinking to myself, "I swear I know of someone who owns a bus that looks just like that one!". Oh well, I'll know better for next year!
While on the topic of meeting face-to-face, I have to say what a true pleasure it was meeting all of you that I did. It was nice seeing Wayne again after thirteen years. Way too long, my friend but now perhaps we can shave it down to no longer than one year and hopefully even less! Another high point was meeting Phillip (PJ) and his lovely wife whom I'm sorry to say, I can't recall her name. Phillip is the shining example of how the image developed in the mind's eye of someone you interact with via the internet can be shattered in the most positive of ways. Those two are good people and have a beautiful bus too! Maybe someday, I'll get to see his Thing! (John, Stephan, fire away!) It was truly wonderful meeting all of you that hang here, but I have to give one more shout-out to my camp neighbors. Troy (Oregon72), his lovely wife Sara(h?), their beautiful kids and the most well-behaved, coolest dog on the planet, Willow! You guys, along with Mike (Bookwus) and Jasan (Westy78) were the best neighbors a noob-camper could have asked for. O.k. enough of my chin-waggin', lets see the faux-toes!
I was very happy to see this sign. We made it!
The view from our corner.
Paige's hoops! I think everyone was sore after that!
Those of you who have camped with kids already knew that the littlest ones are the best campers. Annie LOVED camping. Outdoors with relative free-run, she was in heaven!
Camp Trumbo with the boys, Charlie and Henry.
On the front porch of the Morningwood coffee shop. I can't remember the conversation, but I can only assume it included Asstro/Safari v. VW at some point!
Juli and the boys tie-dying. The shirts turned out great, and now we know how to make them even better next year! (Yes, the blue dot came off of Henry's forehead in only a day or so).
Charlie at Paige's hoop-shack!
A short video of my oldest enjoying the music Friday night.
http://s289.photobucket.com/albums/ll23 ... -19-09.flv
Henry and his favorite things, trains and boats.
A motley crew indeed.
A wonderful weekend, now we're headed back north with an intermediate stop at Great Wolf Lodge (giant indoor water park). Even more good times ahead!
I have to say thank you to one other who made the trip truly enjoyable. My bus. That beautiful Neptune Blue marvel of German engineering was absolutely flawless. Slogging through the monsoons of Western Washington on the way down. What I thought was a windy ride through the gorge on the way to Maupin only to realize that was a
tailwind and the
real winds were yet to come heading west. This bus totally rocked! I'm so proud of him and the way he (yeah, I guess it's a he) took me and my family exactly where we wanted to go without one hint of reluctance. MPG's around 15, but given how loaded it was, the wind and the fact that I drove it like I'd stolen it (75+ with the tailwinds in the gorge), I'll consider that acceptable. My bus has never run better and I'm thinking he likes to get out on the flat open road and stretch his legs. We've gone on trips to Wenatchee before, but that's a lot of mountain passes. I-5 from Seattle to Portland is relatively flat and he likes to run on the flats (just ask Troy what that blue blur was going west through the gorge!). If he ran great on the flats, the hills were no big problem either, never going below third gear. All in exchange for some gas, two pints of oil and the love of a bus owner who's deeply thankful for him taking us where we wanted to go and got us home safely again.
We can't wait for next year, so much so, the registration form for 2010 sits in front of me as I type this. This was the best Father's Day I could ever ask for. I can't wait for next year!