Our Chalet Truck Camper

Our Chalet Truck Camper

Friday, March 14, 2008

North-East TC Rally May 15-18, 2008

With all this snow/sleet/rain/freezing mess lately in the North-East,it's energizing to look forward to the Spring North-East Truck Camper Jamboree coming up May 15,16,17 & 18, 2008 (Thursday to Sunday) in Andover, VT.






Come join us and see lots of rigs, meet folks who are really into TCing and who are willing to share both their technical knowledge and information on trips they've enjoyed. This is a social gathering without vendors of equipment. If you haven't attended a rally, this is a great way to meet fellow TCers.

Here's our PLANNED schedule of events but PLEASE let us know if there is something you'd like to discuss or do. Some of our events are dictated by weather but we have a very large, dry wooden building right on the safari field for our use. This building also has bathrooms with showers.

EVENTS SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 15th
Arrival, set up your rig and enjoy an evening by the fire meeting new folk and seeing what your fellow TC buddies have been up to. It's pretty traditional to bring your own drinks and appetizers and share them at this meet and greet.

We'll set up a table for giving away TC related items that are good but you don't want or use anymore. If it's such a great item you want some $$ back, you can price it to see if anyone wants to purchase.

Friday, May 16th
Mikeee and Cathie have agreed to keep their big coffee maker full each morning so early risers will have a place to gather. Those of us already there will get to watch the arriving TCs ford the entry stream. Socialize during the day, perhaps visit either of the nearby Vermont Country Stores or hike in the Green Mountains surrounding the campground. Chester, VT is nearby and is a picture perfect New England town with book stores, a quilt shop, antique stores, and small local restaurants and cafes. It's a nice place to walk and visit.

Mikeee will help you inspect your TC to see if you need to re-caulk and we'll discuss the best products and methods of doing so. Joe and I will be available during the day to show anyone interested how DeLorme Street Atlas software can be used with a small GPS unit to both plan trips and to track yourself while on the road.

6PM-ish we will have a hot dog roast on Mikeee's special swords, ah skewers. Those good old red snapper hot dogs (and the regular ones) will be provided along with all the fixings. We'll gather by the fire afterwards. Farctic Ox and Mikeee have agreed to talk to us about olar power for TCs.

Saturday, May 17th
Today we will do tours of the different TCs in attendance (only if you wish to put yours on tour). Many of us have not seen different types of TCs and enjoy seeing the variety of floor plans and equipment.

Trapper Dick will demonstrate ham radio and how he uses it while TCing. Farctic Ox will lead a scavenger hunt. Mikeee will provide new 9 volt batteries for your detectors.

Two of our attendees will be planning games for the kids who are coming. Perhaps we can persuade Farctic Ox to once again show his DUH system of easily loading your TC onto the truck. We'll have a contest with prizes for the most customized TC, the one coming the furthest away, and the oldest.

Cathie has again volunteered to be the Saturday afternoon Activities Director. We'll gather in the meeting hall around 3PM prior to drinks/appetizers and evening activities and potluck. This meeting could include a Sudoku challenge and Bingo unless all us TCers eat the Necco Wafer used as markers again.

Our potluck dinner will be 6PMish in the community building. After inner, we'll have a 50/50 drawing and then raffle off some really superior door prizes.

Sunday, May 18th
Meeting time to be decided on the traditional community breakfast in the meeting building but probably around 8AM. We'll all provide the items to cook and share. Farewell - and see you at the fall jamboree September 18-21, 2008 at Jellystone Park Camp Resort/Paradise Pines in North Hudson NY.

As we get closer to time, we'll list things that we'd appreciate people bringing. You can reach us at TwoMaineiacs2@yahoo.com if you have a question you don't want in public. If you have a friend who isn't a TCer but has another type of RV, they will be warmly welcomed.

Anne and Joe

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Host in the snow - waiting for spring

March 4, 2008 and somewhere there is spring - but not in Maine. Another snow and ice storm coming in tonight. All we can do is just periodically check the camper and longingly look at it out our front door. That grey lump in the distance past those mountains of snow is the Host - waiting to be liberated and back on the road.