WASHINGTON
Ben & Donna Barker (20884)
Washington State Directors
Greetings once again everyone and Happy Holidays. Here it is December, and we are writing about the events that happened in September.
We traveled to the Oregon State rally, with the newly appointed Oregon Directors DJ & Linda Thommen. What a great rally they put on in Newport. First, we had great weather on the Oregon Coast. They had great attendance and lots of new ideas to keep us all entertained. We toured the Oregon Coast and saw lots of wildlife, lighthouses and rugged coastline. The days included an educational hands-on tour of the Hatfield Science Marine Center and a beach walk. Along with tips and tricks sessions, they were able to get enough people interested in getting a new Oregon chapter of NKK started. Congratulations to DJ & Linda for a job well done, we are looking forward to next year’s rally.
The following week we held our joint Region 2/ Washington State Rally in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The rally started with a bang, literally a bang. Right at the time we were to open the rally with our meet and greet a thunderstorm erupted and poured down rain. Well, that was the end of the bad weather for the week, and we enjoyed beautiful autumn weather the rest of the rally. We had 20 coaches from 5 different states and 2 from British Columbia in attendance, a terrific mix of people. We included a Buck Knife Factory tour in our activities for the week. It was so interesting to seek out something so common as a knife that we use every day is made. 
One evening we enjoyed musical entertainment by Walt &Teresa Huntsman. You may remember them from the International Rally. We sang along to old favorites and tapped our toes to the original tunes written by Walt. Such a wonderful evening and something different for a rally experience.
With some free time, some of the group found time for a rousing game of pickleball. Not sure who won, if anyone, but they had a great time at a sport that they are all very passionate about. Even giving a lesson or two to some beginners.
Of course, no sunny Summer Saturday afternoon is complete without a baseball game, well sort of. We played bean bag baseball all afternoon. We divided into 2 teams and ran or sat as it would be round the bases. It was a grueling game and after NOT breaking a sweat the A Team won by a score of 20-10. They each received a winner’s medal and of course the coveted Bean Bag Baseball Trophy. B Team, well, better luck next year.
We capped off the week with an optional evening dinner cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene. About half of the group enjoyed a spectacular evening onboard the Coeur d’Alene with a splendid meal of prime rib and salmon. The other half of the group enjoyed their evening at the famous Cedars Floating Restaurant, and yes it really is floating on Lake Coeur d’Alene. They enjoyed their meal and each other’s company out on the deck of the restaurant for our final night together.
To top the week off our Region 2 Directors, Terry & Terri Roberts, were able to get a group interested in restarting the Idaho Spudnuts NKK Chapter. Many volunteered for officer positions and so Congratulations to Walt & Teresa Huntsman for stepping into the position of Chapter Presidents. We look forward to attending you first rally. Region 2 now has three states functioning in the NKK. Great job Terry & Terri!
In case you haven’t heard by now we are planning our Washington State Rally for September 12- 16, 2025 at Stargazer RV in Goldendale, Washington. Mark, your calendars and plan on joining us just up the hill from the banks of the Columbia River with majestic views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams. Points of interest for the rally will be the Goldendale Observatory and Maryhill Winery and Museum just to name a few. We are sure to have a good time, so please join us. Details and registration information will follow in the coming months.
That wraps up September. In October we traveled down to Mossy Rock, Washington with friends. It turned out to be a very wet and windy weekend at home in Bellingham, but the weather was great down in Mossy Rock. It was great to get back together with friends we hadn’t seen in a few years. When we arrived home it was time again to winterize the RV and put it away for the winter. Something we hate to do but we don’t go south like so many of you do. So, no matter where you spend your winter months, in the warmth of the southern states or up north where you just never know what the day is going to bring as far as weather goes, we hope you enjoy the holidays and have a blessed time with family and friends.
Looking forward to seeing you in the new year.
