Since I left Texas back on the first of March, I have been in what feels like an episode of “The Amazing Race,” trying to gallivant across six states to reach Oregon in time for the National “Skinnie Winnie” rally in Canyonville. There were times when I didn’t think I would make it. There were times when I no longer wanted to try. But if I failed to reach the “Finish Line,” that would mean that all those wonderful places I cut short, like Gilbert Ray in Tucson, the lower half of Scenic Highway 395, and all those National Parks in southern California would have all been shorted for naught.
So it left me feeling a bit melancholy to see the “Welcome to Oregon” sign. I had been running the race for so long, I didn’t want to see it end.
As an introvert, rallys don’t come easily. But I also know there is no greater place for me to learn more about my rig than parked in the midst of seventy of them. There were seminars scheduled that I wanted to attend and like-minded people willing to share ideas. Yet the closer I got, the more apprehensive I became. I think I even did a bit of “self sabotage,” choosing to take the longer route up the Oregon Coast rather than cutting up Interstate 5, knowing it would add an hour to my drive time and make me late for the rally. In fact, for one fleeing moment, I was having the crazy thought, “Maybe I will just keep driving this coastal road. I like it.”
But once I got to the crossroads at Bandon, I made the turn inland toward Canyonville. I had come too far to wimp out now. If it was too much mayhem, I would stay for the AM Solar presentation and then leave.
When I attended the Asheville rally last June, I phoned ahead and asked for a site away from the group with more privacy, using my need to work as an excuse. But I ended up feeling a bit left out. This year, I decided to let the process unfold as it may, and ended up with rigs on all sides of me, like living in a fishbowl. But serendipity had intervened, as my next door neighbors were Bill and Sandy from Michigan, who I met in Asheville. Across the way were Lynn and Claudia, also former rally friends. And Scott, Lynne’s friend was just in front of me. What were the odds, out of 70 Skinnie Winnie rigs, I would end up surrounded on three sides by friends? (Pretty good, actually…it’s a nice group.)
The Seven Feathers Casino RV Park was beautiful…almost too beautiful. Every site was perfectly manicured with its own azalea bush. All that seemed to be lacking was a Stepford Wife to go with each rig. The package I was expecting from my brother was delivered to my door by a uniformed, polite young man in a golf cart. And I am still trying to figure out what happened to the oil stains that the Tracker peed out on the concrete parking pad, as the day after I moved the Tracker, they magically disappeared.
Besides an excuse to explore Oregon, I wanted to attend the rally for the AM Solar presentation. The owner and his wife were there, with a complete “show and tell” of all component parts that come in their kit. They started with the panels and went all the way down to the wires, explaining in detail the parts they had customized and why. They had done the installs on every rig I spoke to at the rally, with the exception of one DIYer. Just wish they weren’t so pricey! (BTW, please don’t remind me “you get what you pay for,” as I heard it enough from my fellow View/Navion owners.) 😉
Upscale Automotive, the Sprinter Specialists were also there doing a marathon presentation on everything from fuel additives to suspension upgrades. I got a lot of great tips on the care and feeding of the Sprinter’s diesel engine.
And then of course my favorite part, the “Coach Crawl” where owners post a list of modifications on the front windshield, and offer open house to come in and see what they have done to upgrade their rigs. I always get a list of ideas. This year’s hot item was the shower thermostat, which prevents wasting water while trying to get the right mix between too hot and too cold. AND! A very nice man, Tom, helped me fix my awning that would not snap into place on one side!
Thermostat mixes to desired preset temperature before any water comes out.
The “extra curricular activity” this year was a wine tour of the local Oregon wineries. A small group of us carpooled to three different wineries, all within 20 miles of the rally site.
Of the three wineries we visited, Spangler, Pyrenees, and Abacela, each had a very different atmosphere, from a more formal old world style, to casual wine tasting on the deck overlooking the river. Abacela winery was voted “2013 Oregon Winery of the Year.” We all partook of the tasting menu, and walked away with souvenirs aplenty.
My favorite pairing? Definitely “Winnies and Wine!”
Photo courtesy of Don Cohen
Oregon! Yummy! I’m going to get there soon.
That picture scares me a little. It reminds me of that Georgia Stepford, Serenbe.
Your coast photos made me miss it already, but it is very scenic in this part of the state, too. You are catching up to yourself on the blog!
Gayle
We’ll be back in that area in September as my daughter lives just up the road from Pyrenees. Haven’t stayed at Seven Feathers, but I’d heard it was fancy. I’m glad the rally turned out to be a good experience for you. I understand your trepidation, as I too am an introvert (living with an extrovert).
Looks like you’re having a great time! Re: solar–we asked the installer the folks at “In the Direction of Our Dreams” blog are using since we are currently in DC–it came in at more than $7,000+ and that was with us supplying the $2,000 inverter–so more than 9K for solar on our current rig. It seemed pricey to us as we have had very robust solar systems on 3 previous 40′ rigs, and thought this install would be more in the 7K range total. But we LOVE solar–and really miss having it on the current rig–so we’ll be solarizing soon (just not for 9K!).
Does this sound in range with what you’ve been hearing for cost (taking into consideration your smaller rigs vs our 45′ rig of course).
What fun amongst the grapes! Who wouldn’t be reluctant to leave that coastal road?
I hear ya about the group stuff but there is so much know-how there. To me, attending a rally was like living in the dorm or attending Mardi Gras – I wanted to do it once.
Me too….loving that coastal road and having rally trepidation. I have Skinny Minnie envy though. Would love to have seen AM Solar’s presentation although we have talked to them so much on the phone these past 2 weeks that David could probably give it by this point. LOL
That wine tour looked too fun to pass. Beautiful country. We almost had solar installed in Phx this past winter but the $$$ scared us off for the present time.
Fun, fun , fun! Love the area, now you need to come up that coastal road all the way to Vancouver, Canada and turn right and in five hours you will be parked on my driveway.
When we stay at Seven Feathers we stay in the dry camping area across the highway from your camp, it’s closer to the casino and it is free!
I so want one of those wine taster crossing signs 🙂
I’m considering the Grand Marias rally in September and have been hesitating because group events are really my thing, especially as a solo single. After reading your report, I’m thinking that the rally might be worth stepping out of my comfort zone. Thanks for the encouragement.
Roxanne — Why wait? Spud will fit right in!
Gayle — I am trying, but I am a “dog chasing his tail.” About the time I get one post made, I have 3 more memories to be documented. I need to stop taking so darned many photos, but it is hard to resist, with such a photogenic coastline!
Lisa — That can be a good combination. I like hanging around with extroverts, because they do all the “chatting up,” and I get to just listen. haha!
Tina — Oh, my gosh, I would surely be in sticker shock!! I am looking for something much more “scalable.” And since I am only 24 feet, I don’t have a lot of “scale” to work with. haha! I think two panels may be about my limit for space. The same goes for batteries. We with the Sprinter chassis are limited due to weight, but if I can just get something to power my laptop and router, I will be happy!
Kim — I think the dorm is a great analogy…hate it while I am there, miss it once I leave. haha!
Sherry — I’ll bet with what David knows now, he could qualify as an installer. haha! That is what they call “Baptism by fire,” right?
Ingrid — Nice to see you again! Yes, I agree, I have been scared off too. But then I get around people like Jim and Gayle, who talk about going places I cannot, and it makes me want, want, want!
Contessa — With my trek north through OR and WA, I suspect there will me more wine tastings to come. I will keep my eye peeled for a wine sign!
Phyllis — Thanks for stopping by! I would definitely recommend you do the Grand Marias rally! There were five of us solo single women at this rally, and even more if you count the two men, Scott and Poul who came without their misses. It is a very friendly group. And if you haven’t met Lynn and Claudia, the hosts for that rally, they are two of the nicest people you will ever met! I predict your comfort zone will expand, and if you need a break just close the blinds. 😉
Makes the $765 I paid to have the Lance factory put solar on my trailer seem like a bargain. 180 watts that keeps my batteries topped off.
Do you have a link to that shower thermostat? That is definitely something I am interested in. Thanks!
Hi, Marshall — Thanks for stopping by the blog. Yes, I would say you definitely got a bargain! I am finding out that harnessing such a renewable resource does not come cheap!
The shower thermostat that the View owners installed can be found by searching “thermostatic shower valve model 5592,” from China. Several View owners had installed this, and all had great things to say about it.