Two Successfully Completed and More to Come!
We have just completed our first two annual special events for the year held in mid-January. In the southwest was the Quartzsite Rally. The Quartzsite Gathering was a great success again this year thanks to the tireless help Ruth Ann and I received from our two co-host couples the Hawley’s (co-hosts four years!) and Todd’s (their first year as co-hosts.) and the over one-hundred volunteers that pitched in to help with many varied activities along with meal preparation and cleanups! All you helpers give yourselves a big pat on the back! All our prayers for good weather were answered even including a nice long rain the day before start to settle the dust. We had nearly an inch of liquid sunshine, but it ran off and soaked into the ground by late afternoon on the day before the official start. It did delay the arrival of some planning on coming in early. You know what we say, “If you don’t come early you are late”. The weather from Tuesday evening until Sunday evening after our evening meal was very nice and warm with low to moderate winds and plenty of sunshine making for nice sunrises and sunsets and very pleasant gathering.
Our numbers for the rally were as follows: We had a registration count of 143. We had a total of 120 coaches plus a few day visitors. The group included 58 first timers or first timers to Q. That first-timer count is the most exciting number.
We filled the time before the Big Tent RV Show opened Saturday with the usual socializing, eight seminars provided by outside vendors and NKK members and of course plenty of eating. Ted started the seminars out Thursday morning with a roundtable on dry camping that was attended by many and especially our first timers. On Thursday after dinner we celebrated Phyllis Rose’s birthday with a sheet cake Jerry provided! Friday was a big seminar day also well attended and appreciated by our first timers.
This year we had a guest, Elvis! He and his wife Patty (Bob & Patty Brown) joined us from Oregon. He played music three nights after dinner for about 2 hours each night in his site and he was awesome!
This year we decided to be less formal with the parking and let attendees park themselves with help provided if requested and with some guidelines to assure we fit the very large number of attendees as close as possible to the gathering area. The BLM partial shutdown did not really affect the Gathering.
From the feedback we received I think I can say that a great time was had by all and we, Ted & Ruth Ann Hindes, were encouraged to continue our hosting of this event. This was our seventh-year hosting this Gathering. On that vein, we talked to the group about some ideas of how we can simplify the event to allow for continued growth. Information for the 2020 Quartzsite Gathering will be available in fall 2019.
In the south eastern area we held the Tampa Supershow Rally. We had a full event with 200 units in attendance. We had a few cool mornings and then it warmed up so we were all able to check out the Newmar display by North Trails and the two huge vendor buildings to see everything we never knew we needed. We took in some great entertainment offered by the FRVTA and several social get-togethers in the tent in our area. Newmar executives shared news from Nappanee and held a Q & A session.
We have a few thank you’s to mention. First to our fantastic group of volunteers. They came in early to set up the parking layout, stuff welcome bags and have everything ready for arrival day. Thanks also goes to North Trails for providing our meeting tent. As well as Farm & City Insurance for the ice cream social; and SkyMed for the Sub Sandwiches and informative seminar on their services. And a HUGE thank you to the Newmar Service techs for “suffering” in the Florida weather and servicing our units.
This is an annual event; reservations will start in August for the 2020 Tampa Supershow Rally. If you’d like to join in the fun don’t hesitate to register we sold out in two months for this year’s event.
Upcoming Events for 2019
Alaska Caravan
The NKK 2019 Alaska/Yukon Caravan is scheduled for June 1-July 13 and promises you a lifetime adventure that you will never forget and at a pace you will love.
Traveling to and from campgrounds has been well thought out and is never farther than one can comfortably drive in a day. The caravan forms in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Our trip will take us about 3,200 miles through some of the most beautiful country in all of America. Along the way, we will enjoy many group bus and boat tours, meals, live entertainment shows and local speakers. Join us as we travel through the Matanuska Valley–Playland of Alaska. Embrace the beauty of Kenai Fjords National Park and Prince William Sound–teaming with whales, otters and sea birds—where pristine landscapes will take your breath away as magnificent glaciers calve icebergs into the ocean. We will ride a swift catamaran to Juneau, Alaska’s landlocked capital city. We will learn about early explorers and settlers, early modes of transportation, post our signs at the famous Watson Lake Signpost Forest, and enjoy a breathtaking train ride. We will learn about the great auroras that are mostly visible during Alaska’s long winter nights. And finally–near the end of our trip—we will visit Denali National Park where we will admire Mt. McKinley on the horizon as we get off the beaten track in this beautiful part of the world. We will share many laughs at impromptu evening socials, visit first class museums, a sea life center and lots more. On our last day together in Fairbanks, we will ride a riverboat on the Chena and Tanana Rivers where we will watch a bush plane takeoff, learn about the Iditarod Dog Sled Race, visit a fish camp and learn even more about the Athabascan culture.
Larry & Patsy Wood will be your wagonmasters; they have led and co-hosted numerous caravans and rallies including Alaska. This event is limited to 20 units. At the time this article was posted, we have two (2) openings left. You can either register on line by clicking Event Calendar and the Alaska Caravan or call the Klub office 877-639-5582 and we can get you registered.
Newfoundland/Maritimes Caravan
Back by Popular Demand! Join the Atlantic Provinces Caravan date are July 3-August 24, 2019. This fully escorted caravan will cover the region of Atlantic Canada consisting of the four most easterly provinces: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. You will experience spectacular scenery, historical sights, and great Canadian hospitality. You will be officially welcomed into Newfoundland at an official Screech-In Ceremony.
You will experience the world-renowned Halifax International Tattoo Military Show, Ann of Green Gables show, Rising Tide dinner show, Cabot Trail, Glaze Bay Mine Tour, Snow Crab Processing Plant Tour, Northland Discovery boat tour, Bonne Bay boat tour, Gatheralls Whale and Puffin Tour, Viking Village, Twillingate, Bonavista, and cod fishing, just to mention a few of the exciting events waiting for you.
Lobster, crab and a Jiggs Dinner are on the menu for sure, and it would not be a Newmar Kountry Klub Caravan without some pizza, an ice cream social and you may just find yourself at an old fashion wiener roast.
Dave & Joanne Killey will be the caravan leaders. They are our Region 9 Canadian Directors and recently led the Calgary Stampede and Canadian Rockies Caravan. This event is limited to 20 units. Reservations opened last month and at this time we have several openings left. Do not hesitate to get registered for the great adventure! To view details or to register directly on the website under KLUB CALENDAR then click on NEWFOUNDLAND CARAVAN or call the Klub office 877-639-5582 and we will be happy to help you.
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Rally
Do you have a ‘bucket list’? If you do the Balloon Fiesta Special Event should be high on the list. This is an annual event and is scheduled from October 9-14, 2019. This year we will experience the second half of the program including the ‘Special Shapes Rodeo’ where hundreds of special shaped balloons will launch in one mass ascension. We have reserved twenty-five sites. We all get parked together and start socializing that afternoon.
The sites have NO hookups. They are on a flat paved surface. One pump out is included. Extra pump outs and fresh water is available at an extra charge. You need to be sure your house batteries will support your coach throughout the night as generators may only be run from 6 am to 11 pm each day. Generator stacks are recommended.
The action starts at daylight each day with the ‘dawn patrol’ making several test flights to test wind conditions, speed and direction at various altitudes. Following these launches and as the dawn occurs each morning a balloon is honored to launch with the American Flag being flown below it while the National Anthem is played. Everyone receives a commemorative NKK Balloon Fiesta nice warm jacket to wear and be able to spot each other on the field. It can be a little brisk in Albuquerque in October.
With these formalities completed the mass ascensions begin. As many as 500 balloons will launch from the field in a matter of just a couple hours while you wander over the field among the balloons and get a very up-close view of all the activities and even help with launches or landings if you like! This is an amazing photo opportunity. OR you can just set in your favorite chair in front or your coach and watch balloons fly over you so close you feel like you could touch them. Additionally, the balloon pilots participate in competitions involving dropping sand bags or throwing rings over poles to win prizes.
Mid-day activities include a welcome brisket sandwich dinner and balloon pilot seminar to familiarize you with the field activities and balloon flying, three lunches at local restaurants including entry to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Museum with a thirty-minute presentation by a story teller.
Evening activities include balloon glows where the balloons are fired up after dark and while tethered, fireworks and laser shows. The last evening, we all go the Prairie Star Restaurant for a private dinner.
Ted & Ruth Ann Hindes hosted this event in 2018 and will be the 2019 Hosts. This event is sold out and we have begun a standby list. If you would like to be added to the list please email the Klub office kountryklub@newmarcorp.com.
We do anticipate repeating the Branson Christmas Rally in early November and the Rally in the Keys in early December. Reservations should begin in June for both of these events. As details come together we will update you in early 2019.
