a trip to the international in salem oregon....

[2airishuman]

the folks from indiana,
who tolerated me being camped near by,
were a past president and his first lady.....
and a current president and his first lady

they were absolutely friendly
and insisted on showing support for the rbcci,
by wearing their berets......
and gold chains.....

first ladies show that there is still some controversy
as the alternative hat still has it's following......

the indiana unit is first rate!
and proof that some wb members still know how to have fun......
have fun on the maple leaf caravan and happy anniversary.....

2air'

[2airishuman]

with the rbcci movement in full swing
among the company leaders, wb officers and vintage folks......
i decided to launch the grass roots effort......
in the rank and file.

for this i'd need a sign......

one of the busiest committees was the sign makers.....

here is the sign for their door.....

apparently they haven't coordinated with the tape/stick'em committee yet.....

that blue stuff is not protocol......

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

some of their work........

the rally had showers,
open from 8-4pm....
4 stalls in each.....
for 1800 people or so.....

the women's had a sign.....
the men's did not.....

we are better at finding things.....
or skipping showers altogether....

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

the sign committee was very busy.......
giving directions......

[2airishuman]

and recruiting folks to attend next year......

[2airishuman]

also the new orleans unit
must have been very large
needing lots of parking space.....

or not

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

finally i was admitted to the sign shop......

"i need a sign for the new rbcci hats" i said.......

"come back on saturday, and we'll fix ya up", she replied.....

"ok, i will and thanks"

2air'

[2airishuman]

never defeated,
i returned on monday and my sign was ready.....

had there been a problem with my request?
oh, well.....
it was a hat sign,
and we are children.....

with sign in hand,
i was off 2 find more support for the rbcci...

2air'

[2airishuman]

so armed with a sign......
i was off to find other new hat hopefulls.....

this fellow was travelin' with
the 35 torpedo team...
and he wanted to be part of
the rbcci efforts.....

dapper don't ya think?

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

also over in the vintage section........
was the 'save wally' gang.....
since he'd been saved earlier that day.....
or at least postponed till another year.....

the sierra nevada folks AND
a conspiracy theo-rist from new york
were happy to wear their new berets......

any guesses on who these folks might be?
(leipper, buttercup, kimber? and gt65)
shall remain annoymous....

cheers
2air'

[coastal me]

The best story on the WBCCI International. Thanks so much 2air! More, please...well, a lot more? How much will the book cost! Anxious to hear about the experience at Silver Falls.
This is what WBCCI should value and protect. An important part of history. ...I think of all the oral histories that we missed with the first WBCCI members...And I think their pictures must be somewhere about...
Thanks for documenting this experience for all Airstreamers to enjoy. I like the 2air perspective.
Anita

[AZstreamin]

This is a great thread 2air nice coverage you’re on a roll... So who is the health chic?.. Did they really kick her to the curb? Would have liked to have seen her flags....with flowers like that on the AS...I think the BC Buds flag would have been looked upon unfavorably by the 'management'. Likely Airstream for a Jolly Roger flag too..

[2airishuman]

hello beret watchers and wearers......

finally got a decent web connection,
so i can start to bring this thread to a conclusion....

really the sub-stories are THE stories
from my view at the international
and there are many many more that could be covered.....
but won't be.....
perhaps another year and
another rabbit hole.....

i did love the signs and variety of committees
that it apparently takes to make an international happen....

here is a sign/room with multiple committee functions.....
and apparently folks were racin' in so fast.....
they needed a speed limit?

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

the teen queens live on!

perhaps the most sane event,
at the international
IS the teen queen contest....

think about it,
years ago some anxious mothers....
needed something 2 keep the young girls occupied
and a way to keep an 'eye' on these same young girls.....
without being too obvious.....

so perhaps the teen queen contest was born?
2-4 hours each day of practice
rehersals
and adult supervision.....
shared my the moms.

i'm reminded of my youth camping....
when boy scouts
and girl scouts.....
were camped on opposite banks of the river.....
they thought it kept us appart...
when in reality the river became 'the' meeting place.....
remember?

so i did have several contestants for teen queen
ready and willing to pose wearing THE beret.....
but just as we were about to shoot pix....
the adult supervision appeared....
and wisked them away.....

i did manage however to catch the girls,
hanging with the boys......
on stage
and playing a game of coed ball.....
using a shoe for a bat
and a wad of socks.....
as the ball....

ya just can't keep the teens underwraps forever.....
thank goodness

2air'

Let me tell ya 'bout the birds and the bees
And the flowers and the trees
And the moon up above
And a thing called "Love"

Let me tell ya 'bout the stars in the sky
And a girl and a guy
And the way they could kiss
On a night like this

When I look into your big brown eyes
It's so very plain to see
That it's time you learned about the facts of life
Starting from A to Z

Let me tell ya 'bout the birds and the bees
And the flowers and the trees
And the moon up above
And a thing called "Love" (Yeah!)

When I look into your big brown eyes
It's so very plain to see
That it's time you learned about the facts of life
Starting from A to Z

Let me tell ya 'bout the birds and the bees
And the flowers and the trees
And the moon up above
And a thing called "Love"

Let me tell ya 'bout the birds and the bees
And the flowers and the trees
And the birds and the bees
And the flowers and the trees
'bout the birds and the bees....

[2airishuman]

some of the daily events
and seminars i'd plan to capture on film.....
didn't need any photos.......

these are actual events from the schedule
i kid u not.......


-flag practice (using poles only)
-quilt experience (3 parts)
-iron on appliques and sparkles seminar (3 parts)
-mary kay products seminar
-joker tournament
-cb radio seminar
-scrap book supplies/seminar
-manipulation card games
-juice plus capsule seminar
-no mess, no fuss meals "using cooking bags in a crock pot"
-knitting (9am-5pm)

and my absolute favorite.....
-don't go without VELCRO!

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

many have shared photos of the vintage trailers.....
which were amazing
and i cannot do better........

so how'bout some of the vintage tow vehicles......

of course
bill kerfoot had his lincoln continential......so fine....
(and somehow i cannot find my photos)

then there were these other sweet ford products......
a 50s red wagon......
slightly modified......
and look at the trailer it pulls!

and THE 1935 ford crewcab......
this is REALLY COOL!
and check out the directional/turn signal......

clearly this IS the grad pappy of my superduty crewcab....

the trailer is pretty sweet too.....

cheers
2air'
(clicky on pics for a larger view)

[2airishuman]

ok truth be told.......
i left the international early......
or perhaps i'd been there 2 long.....

anyway, on july 1,
i could not wait to get up to silver falls
and do some real campin'
and some real rally'n
with some real forum folks.....

on my way
i passed through this small hill side village....

so tell me this,
would the citizens be.....
sublimites.....
or
subliminals.....

you know my choice......

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

there is a great thread goin'
on the silver falls rally
it was a fine time
with fine folks, food, dogs, beer and so on......

i'll post a comment or 2 in that thread soon......

but here is the international rally connection.....

we gathered at silver falls on saturday july 1
i had said my goodbyes to my best neighbors
in the 30 amp/dog/dirt road sections.......

by sunday afternoon,
at least 5 groups
had driven up 2 silver falls
and into the group campground.....
2 visit us......
jordandvm and his lady
were expected and natually arrived.....

so too did 2 cars of folks camped on exactly my row.....
in 30amp/dog/dirt......
out of 1100 airstreamers.
with only 20 or so on my row......
what are the odds?

this friendly couple were in an original bambi.....
and clearly members of the rbcci......
note the jewelry....he is an officer now!

he also plays in the wbcci band.....
a trombone player (they are the shifty ones)

he told us that
another band member
was flying the jolly rogers
like me......
and he was asked to take it down......
but not me......
perhaps my guard turkey......
kept the flag protocol committee.....
at bay.......

anyway these folks were absolutely fun.....

while the other car load of 'officals' that visited us......
wouldn't let me take a picture.....
so i've subbed a shot of my attack turkey....
in fact.....
3 of them,
wouldn't even get out of the car
they claimed to have wandered into our camping area....
by accident......yea right

perhaps they were taking down wb numbers for next year?

cheers
2air'

[2airishuman]

well so much for my view from the international in salem....

that's my story and i'm stickin' to it!

please add comments,
give me feedback,
rate the thread
or otherwise add 2 cents.......
to this homily
your additions make it a real community thread....


on the trip east
i passed through the deschutes national forest....
site of the b&b fires in 2003.......
2 really big forest fires......

things learned from these massive fires......
-thinning the forest of excessive undergrowth,
and so many packed trees.....
-makes big fires smaller,
-easier to control,
-with improved forest renewal.....

here is a shot from from my movin' truck
and other from terra firma.....
we can see the burnt trees.....
and the fresh green growth.....


perhaps the wbcci needs to catch fire.......
and renew again.


cheers
2air'
(again click pix for better views)

[2airishuman]

early in this thread,
i saw wally in the rocky bluff....
others were seen in the stone too....
no wine was required
but it never hurts....

go back if you missed it.....
either the wall or the wine

so here is one of the camp fires from silver falls.....
who do you see in the flames....
i know and
so do u

cheers
2air'