2005 Cherry Blossom Rally

[fireflyinva]

Hi all,

I thought I'd start this thread for folks interested in--or attending the Washington DC Unit's Cherry Blossom Rally (aka, the CBR) April 7-10. It's a buddy rally and also a joint Vintage Airstream Club event--so, all eras and brands of rvs are welcome! Even if you can't bring an rv, if you are in the area, do drop by to say hi, too.

Here's a link to the WDCU's webpage for more info:

http://www.servintfree.net/wbcci-dc/

CU there!

Mary

[Over59]

I've heard this one is great. I have been planning on it for this year but will be out of the country, so next year.
Have a good time and say hi to Wayne.

[robandzoe]

We'll see you there. Will be arriving early on Thursday morning.

Rob, Zoe' and the boys

[wahoonc]

I am planning on attending the open house, I seriously doubt that my work schedule will allow me to have my unit ready for the road by then But I am looking forward to meeting a bunch of people there.

Aaron

[rideair]

Rob,

Glad to see you and the family will make it. MaryKim, Virgina and I will be there as well. Rob, if you and Mary(FireflyinVA) and get some info on the rallies you would like to host between now and CBR that would be great. Don't need much, just where you think it will take place, what they do and don't have, that kind of stuff. There's a good chance with Mary and you being nice enough to take on the task of hosting rallies in 2006, it looks to be a full year! As always, anything we can do to help, let us know. Also, need to talk to you about the IH I went and looked at a few weeks ago. I think it has found a new home. I just need to find a place to put it. It looks like I will be pulling to CBR with the 1968 Travelall. Was pulling the trailer around over the weekend doing a few test runs. The Travelall is now in training for the pull to International. Only 1100 miles each way. Marykim thinks we will make it out, but not back. If we don't, I'll have a bud bring us the Excursion.

Paul Waddell
WBCCI/VAC/WDCU 1270

[rluhr]

We'll be there with Vintage Thunder. Looking forward to it! I heard Craftsman will be dropping by, too.

[fireflyinva]

Update on the local flora...

At present, daffodils are out and star magnolias are starting to emerge. I have not seen any blooming cherry trees, but the local news last night reported that one tree (an early varietal) has started to bloom down by Veterans Affairs. That's the only tree that's out in bloom in the area. Predictions remain constant for April 4-9 as peak bloom period.

Something to look forward to...now I just hope the weather is good!

Mary

[robandzoe]

Well, I just arrived tonight, made it in around 6pm....there were four others here, and even the Airstream RV Hearse is here. What a neat vehicle - it's Claytons. Got my electric going, and using my cell with 57k conection to get internet. What a great day. Hope the weather holds out for the weekend.

Expecting around 30 trailers I think.

Rob

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by robandzoe

Well, I just arrived tonight, made it in around 6pm....there were four others here, and even the Airstream RV Hearse is here. What a neat vehicle - it's Claytons. Got my electric going, and using my cell with 57k conection to get internet. What a great day. Hope the weather holds out for the weekend.

Expecting around 30 trailers I think.

Rob

Is there going to be a parade of trailers going through the city, like has been done in the past? If so, let me know when and where...I'm going to be in town friday and saturday. I won't have a chance to stop by the rally site to say hi, but maybe I can catch the parade, if there is one.

have fun!!

-Chuck
(who's trailer is STILL surrounded by snowbanks..... )

[fireflyinva]

Looking at the schedule, it doesn't look that way.

http://www.servintfree.net/wbcci-dc/

Are you sure you couldn't come out--it's not so far out.

Mary

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by fireflyinva

Looking at the schedule, it doesn't look that way.

http://www.servintfree.net/wbcci-dc/

Are you sure you couldn't come out--it's not so far out.

Mary

well, it says "check time for big parade".....what does that mean? would you check for me? LOL!!

I'm going to be "working" (yeah, right!) at an office downtown on Friday...staying w/ my sis on Friday night, (who lives in MD, nw of the city), then have to head back to the airport shortly after lunchtime on Sat. and I want to see the cherry blossoms, too....so...not really any time.

[fireflyinva]

Sorry, I think there's a bit of confusion here. There's a big Cherry Blossom Parade in DC, which is part of the National Cherry Blossom festival. It occurs every year, but I'm pretty sure our airstreams are not part of the parade. It starts at 10 am, it is noted so folks who are participating can take it in (it's a popular take in, especially for out-of-towners). More info about the National Cherry Blossom Festival is here:

http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

Presumably, you are staying somewhere in the Bethesa-Silver Spring area. Visiting Friday evening might be a possibility. If you head out after 6:30, it will only take about a half hour's drive. Bring your sis...we'll work to convert her, too!

I hope that helps.

Mary

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by fireflyinva

Sorry, I think there's a bit of confusion here. There's a big Cherry Blossom Parade in DC, which is part of the National Cherry Blossom festival. It occurs every year, but I'm pretty sure our airstreams are not part of the parade. It starts at 10 am, it is noted so folks who are participating can take it in (it's a popular take in, especially for out-of-towners). More info about the National Cherry Blossom Festival is here:

http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

ok, perhaps thats it. I think they've done this in the past...probably a one time thing. There's a pic of some vintage units in front of the capital on the website...

Originally Posted by fireflyinva

Presumably, you are staying somewhere in the Bethesa-Silver Spring area. Visiting Friday evening might be a possibility. If you head out after 6:30, it will only take about a half hour's drive. Bring your sis...we'll work to convert her, too!

I hope that helps.

Mary

Yes, Kensington, actually. I suspect that she has an "evening" planned, But we'll see. I've been trying to convert her, myself. A classic MH, or Argosy would be perfect for her. She's self-employed, and likes to take impromptu trips, etc, etc.

[robandzoe]

There are going to be a few Argosy's -Vintage Thunder will be there from www.airstreamlife.com and there are some really cool Airstream Motorhomes, a command center and hearse variant.

Come on out...

Rob

[fireflyinva]

Well, we're off to do last minute errands, then we're heading out on the Beltway! Even though it's a short drive, first time out in the season is tough! Looking like a bit of rain later today, but then it's shaping to be ok over the weekend. And...The cherry blossoms came out yesterday!

All are welcome to drop by if you're in the area...If anyone wants to track me down, ask where is Mary in the 61 safari, license plate "Toaster." I'll be the crazy lady cooking veggie burgers!

Mary

[fireflyinva]

Well, as we only had to go halfway around the DC beltway to get home, I think we may just be one of the first folks back from the CBR!

The rally was utterly amazing and terrific, although it came with some difficult news about our trailer. Colin Hyde confirmed that our funny feelings that something was not quite right with news of pretty serious structural problems. It's going to be a big project, involving some stripping down to the guts. Rich Luhr describes about it in his blog as a full monte situation, though further discussion on this point has made it less terrifying than I had first envisioned the consequences.

Afterwards, the gals got me up on the roof of our host's vintage airstream police command center with a beer and a view to beat all. It was sunny and lovely and suddenly things came into perspective. The trouble of knowing our trailer needed work disolved into a realization that we only faced manageable problems. Moreover, the Washington DC unit family took us in, offering help, sympathy, friendship, and beer! That made it the best rally ever! We watched the sun set and everything was wonderful! Vintage trailering at its best!

Mary

Sorry I missed the Rally. We were involved in buying a new (1871) house this weekend. Inspection and testing the well. It will give more room to work on Airstreams and for a new 34'. First order of business is to buid a new shop on the property.For anyone familar with Maryland, it's right on the Little Gunpowder River.

[fireflyinva]

Wow, that is terrific! I don't remember that river--where is it in proximity to Baltimore?

Mary

The Gunpowder River is about 12-15 miles North of Baltimore.

[robandzoe]

Well, the Luhr's Vintage Thunder, Colin Hyde's and Suzanne Brown's 59 28 footer, and us, the Baker's, in our 34 Limited, caravanned out of the rally site at 10am. We made a quick stop at Ikea, and then headed I-95, 695 Beltway around Baltimore, I-83 to Harrisburg, I-81 to Binghamton (Vintage Thunder went I-84 and split off in Scranton), and then route 12 to Norwich, NY. We made it in around 7pm. Colin, Suzanne, and Malcolm are courtesy parking in our drive tonight with electric, where they'll make there way up Route 12 to Utica, through the Adirondacks and up to Plattsburgh tomorrow. Colin's trailer had a left rear tire leak all the way, so we had to keep pulling into rest areas checking it out....but what a day. We'll fix the tire in the am.

We had some NY pizza here tonight, and some left over rally food on the road.

Here are some pictures of the three of us on the road...Zoe and the boys came down on Thursday so she had the van behind us taking the pictures.