I know a lot of us, including me, have been vaccinated and are raring to rally. My staging area at the Americamps Resort is full every weekend and I see folks rallying together, families just getting away, and kids running and playing. This is a great way to spend the weekend. I have been pretty busy over the last two months. I have been surfing the NKK Calendar to find as many rallies that I can attend and de-conflicting calendar impacts. To date I have registered for some 13 rallies so far which includes several FMCA rallies. I am so looking forward to getting on the road and rallying to see old friends and make new ones.

We are all aware of the necessary maintenance to keep our Newmar’s in tip top shape and I do try to do RV maintenance when I should but there are a few chores that are just that – chores. Watering the batteries is one. There is a lot of coordination required to accomplish this task since once I get down to watering, I really do not want to get back up – that can be a challenge. First, I get all the necessary stuff to top off the batteries – flashlight, inspection mirror, turkey baster, distilled water, and a rag to soak up water spills, lay down a foam mat to sit on, open the bay and get down to battery level so I can check and fill the batteries as needed and every time I forget something. So, I have to work my way out from under the bay and start the “toddler walk” where I walk backwards using my hands until I can stand up. You will have that picture stuck in your head all day now. This is necessary since my knees are bad to the point, I need total replacements but I keep putting it off. So, what to do? I finally bought one of those battery fills kits – a bit pricey but it works. Now all I have to do is get a foam mat to sit on, hook up the hose with the bulb to pump the distilled water in the batteries, insert the intake hose into the distilled water and pump away. After a couple minutes batteries are topped off, no spills, maintenance done, and the final task that “toddler walk” to stand back up. This is a much better way to go.

The old saying “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” seems to apply to me. As some of you know I tow a 16ft flatbed trailer that I bought new in 2008. I back my Prius up on it and I am good to go. Over time I have had a number of things happen to the trailer structure like stripped bolts holding the fenders and the like. I found a mobile welder who as it turns out is the Picasso of welders. He cut off fender holders and made new ones out of thicker metal, replaced my ramp metal holder under the trailer, mounted a spare tire holder, and replaced the trailer “thingy” that goes over the trailer hitch ball. The trailer is now good for 13 more years of use. While I was at my kid’s house where the trailer is stored my son brings out this new “toy”. He sets it up and boy was I impressed. This new toy is a drone that has all the bells and whistles. But I just could not find an excuse to get one as much as I wanted one. Then he says “you can use it to take pictures and movies of your roof to check for issues”. Well, that was all it took. Now I have a drone that I am itching to use at rallies. I will be taking pics and videos at the Virginia Wheels rally and will post on Facebook.

Someone at the resort said I was going through my second childhood. I thought about this and you know they may be right. During our first childhood we saw all kinds of things we wanted but could not afford. In this second childhood I see things I want and I am fortunate enough that I can afford some of them. When I got the drone, I could hear Marcy saying “You do not need that!!” and I replied “You are not the boss of me anymore”. I miss her every day, talk to her every day, and she is that angel on my shoulder trying to add common sense to my devil on the other shoulder. Sometimes she wins, sometimes the devil wins. The devil won the drone fight.

I have worked out a few more details for the Virginia State Rally which will be held at the Americamps RV Resort in Ashland, Virginia, September 29–October 2. The Virginia State Fair will be held during this rally just a few miles down the road. So I am really looking forward to this rally. Restaurants are just now starting to open up so I can start zeroing in on catering choices. I have already purchased a number of door prizes. My goal is to have every attendee get a door prize. I am working on the arrival “goodies bags” to fill them with “booty”. So please register as soon as you can, sites are filling fast and I hope to see everyone there. 

The Virginia Wheels Rally at the Luray KOA is only a day or two away. I am really looking forward to seeing my fellow Wheelers and spending time swapping lies and enjoying the food. Danny & Jeanette are really good at taking pictures so please read the Virginia Wheels post to see those awesome pictures. 

Also do not forget the Region Five Rally in Dillard, Georgia. It will be held October 12-17. I will be there and hope to see you there.

I had mentioned in an earlier NKK Konnection article that since Covid hit I decided to finish a book I was writing on RVs. Well the book has been finished and published. Marcy & I worked on this off and on for a few years and I decided to publish so there would be something reflecting what she really enjoyed. If you want more info please feel free to contact me.

By the next Konnection publication I will have details about the Wheels rally at Luray KOA and more info on the upcoming Virginia State Rally.

Oh well guess that is it for now. To all my fellow Newmarians, travel safe, and I hope to see you soon. Rally On!

Safe travels to all and Happy RVing.

We can be reached at beagleRV@gmail.com or 540-809-9830.

Michael Vreeland (20733)
Virginia State Directors