2016 Mississippi River Rendezvous Sept 30-Oct 2

[thoer]

Mike as far as I know we are still planning on the tours. The forecast is predicting rain in the morning, so start time could potentially be variable. But I am sure that there will be plenty of opportunities to view trailers. It is a very good natured crew in attendance. Someone said they were asked by a non-Escape camper if all Escape folks are this friendly.

[fudge_brownie]

Yep, tours are planned for 1-3:00, preceded at 10 with the lug nuts contest and followed by adult beverages at 4 and potluck at 5:00.

[Iowa Dave]

At 6:30 AM today a large man or a
Small yeti was seen walking towards the shower house singing Gordon Lightfoot's
Early Morning Rain. Several minutes later he was again spotted walking down the main road into the campground. At that time he was singing a modified version of an old
Kenny Rogers classic that he did not know the words to, as it sounded like he was singing "You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel" and muttering something about
"I'll tighten your lugs nuts all right."
Dave

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

.... singing "You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel"........."I'll tighten your lugs nuts all right."
Dave

Further confirmation of our decision to limit the extent of our exploring to between the Pacific Ocean and the base of the front range!
Is it something in what is brewed with water from watersheds that flow east?

[thoer]

A wheel is probably not the only thing loose on that Yeti.

[fudge_brownie]

Thor and Leon using the latest refill system. Since it was an Escape the Gerry cans had to come from Canadian Tire.

[fudge_brownie]

Prairie Schooner arrived after 2,200 miles in three days. The first day CPAHarley was incoherent, kept mumbling something about "one more exit". RedDog and Noelia are getting an earful about the modification he is working during the rally.

[gabeck]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

Prairie Schooner arrived after 2,200 miles in three days. The first day CPAHarley was incoherent, kept mumbling something about "one more exit". RedDog and Noelia are getting an earful about the modification he is working during the rally.

Glad you made it !

[Artlady]

Just returned home from our maiden camping and rally weekend in Scott County Park, Iowa.

First of all, a huge thank you and pat on the back to Paul, his wife, and his team for putting on a wonderful action-packed rally weekend! He gracefully and expertly managed several challenges, including an entire change of venue due to flooding on the Mississippi.

The cold, damp, and a little rain were other small annoyances to contend with, but given the company and Camaraderie of the Escapees,, this was really of no consequence .

I'm fortunate to have met some very lovely people, including some of the more infamous frequent forum posters.

Thanks again for a lovely weekend! Let's do more of these!

[Red Dog]

Originally Posted by Artlady

Just returned home from our maiden camping and rally weekend in Scott County Park, Iowa.

It was a pleasure to meet you. You are a lovely lady!

[Lv4toys]

It was great meeting everyone at the Mississippi Rendezvous Escape Rally this past weekend. It gave my wife and I a lot to think about, but unfortunately we are not thinking along the same lines. I still want a 15 and my wife wants a 17 or larger. Personally, I think it's a ploy on her part to keep our UHaul, because she knows I won't get rid of my truck.

Anyway, I hope we see everyone again next year at the various rallies.

A special thanks goes out to Paul for organizing the event.


Pat, Nancy, Snow and Boo

[Artlady]

Originally Posted by Red Dog

It was a pleasure to meet you. You are a lovely lady!

Thank you, Red Dog! I appreciate all you did for me, as well as for the rally. You and your wife were so kind. Keep us informed of your travels down south. Cheers!

[Iowa Dave]

Mississippi River Rally
Old Man River decided to get tough
He said " I'll show these campers I can be rough".
So he filled in the low spots, clear out of his banks.
To the Escape Rally at Thompson he said:
" No Thanks".

But the intrepid escapers toook their party to much higher ground.
A new campground in Scott County they found.
Red Dog became our man on the ground.
He posted to Paul a good campground we've found..

Thursday many more Escapers came rolling in
They got all set up, the sites made them grin
Paul arranged for a truckload of seasoned firewood
Stacked near the fireplace, it would surely be good

Saturday they held the contest: North American Torque Your Nuts.
Testosterone was drowned by a woman, no ifs ands or buts.

The pot luck pavilion made us all think
That we'd been provided unlimited food and drink
Most left on Sunday with smiles and good byes
Another great fire, my how time flies

The last campers left Monday at quarter to one
I know, it was us, man we had fun.

Thanks to Paul Braun, Eric Thompson, Bill and Earline and their icemaker, everyone who made this a rally to remember and congratulations to Linda, the North American Torque Your Nuts Champion.
Iowa Dave

[cpaharley2008]

Thanks Dave,
For both your soliloquy as well as your bountiful harvest

[cpaharley2008]

Here is a picture of Prairie Schooner on the way to the rally, at a Nebraska rest stop

[thoer]

Many thanks to Paul and Janet for all their work enabling our wonderful weekend. Congratulation to Linda, who stepped up and precisely and accurately topped all in the Torque Your Nuts Contest.

To our resident poet Iowa Dave, for a weekend of entertainment

I wonder if Tom remembers the Latin name for Osage Orange .

I'm glad that many of you got to meet Maryann and Steve who are picking up Blue and taking her off to a new home and new adventures next weekend.

[Nindy]

I'm home from my very first trailer rally and had a blast! Thank you so much to Paul and Janet and Red Dog and Iowa Dave and everyone involved with planning, re-planning, the potluck and all activities. Scott County Park was a lovely alternative and my dogs loved all the area available for walks.

It was a pleasure meeting the midwestern Escapees and seeing everyone's trailers. Iowa Dave - what a fun Torque Your Nuts contest but you really need to make it harder for us women, haha! Congrats to Maureen who was right behind me with torque finesse. (I'm really not one bit competitive. )

Thanks for the prizes for the contest. What was really impressive is that they came complete with batteries installed!

Hope to meet up with you all again sometime. I will certainly have to attend this event next year to defend my title! Safe and happy travels to all.

--Torque Queen Linda

Oh, and loved the poem, Iowa Dave!!

[Jimrules]

PHWEW! Our build sheet is officially signed off!

Thanks to everyone who showed us their campers and shared their knowledge, experience, ideas and opinions with us at this years rally (last years too). We did make some last minute changes that I think we're going to really enjoy. Even a no option Escape would be a huge step up for us, but the ability to make it our own really sold us.

Can't wait to join your ranks and pay forward the favor by showing ours next year!

[Jimrules]

Here are a couple of action photos from the big contest.

Iowa Dave explains the Tourque Your Nuts Contest "rules" to all the people who would later be crushed by Linda.



As the excitement grows, the crowd strains their ears, waiting for a CLICK from the judges wrench!

[gbaglo]

Need to hear more about Torque Your Nuts.
How about a play-by-play?
Rules?