Pink Elephant, June 21-23, 2024

[CindyL]

The 2024 Pink Elephant Rally will finally be returning to the Pike's Peak State Park near McGregor, Iowa. We just spent 2 nights at Pike’s Peak campground, and while McGregor was kind of closed up, we had a great time in Prairie Du Chien. We even ate at the Black Angus which was our go-to supper club when we lived in Elkader 30 years ago. Nothing has changed there except the prices. The food was still great.

Anyway, the dates for the rally will be June 21 - 23, 2024. Please be aware that McGregor’s main street will be torn up next summer past the downtown, but we were told at the Marquette winery that if you come into McGregor off the Highway 18 bypass, the intersection in front of the Catholic Church will still be open. That will get you to the campground. We do not know what kind of a detour there will be if you come off the Prairie bridge past the casino in Marquette (and past the Pink Elephant!) and follow the river to McGregor.


We will reserve the stone building for Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday night, there will be a snack night and wine tasting. Saturday night will be a potluck. We may suggest a supper together Thursday night for those who arrive early in McGregor.

People need to make reservations for their site expeditiously!
Reservations for the campground are taken 3 months ahead of planned dates. So, if you want to arrive on June 20, the reservation window will open on March 20. Since the campground has been closed to reservations for most of 3 years, it will probably be pretty heavily used next summer. Therefore, be sure to plan ahead to reserve your site and maybe even plan to arrive earlier in the week to get the site you want. We intend to get there plenty early! We can't urge you strongly enough to get online when your camping date window (3 months ahead) opens so that you can find a site! Sites are generally back-in standard electric with potable water available at common sites, though there are several pull-thru and full hookup sites scattered around. We are hoping to be in site 39 as the rally host site, but no sites are too far away.

See you in June 2024!

Kevin and Cindy Anderson, Rally Organizers

[KevinA]

Reservations for the Pink Elephant Rally at Pikes Peak State Park in N.E. Iowa are now opening up for the week of June 17. Remember that you can book reservations 3 months prior to the date you wish to arrive. We booked our host site (#39) today for Sunday, June 16 - Monday, June 24. The rally will officially take place June 21-23, but lots of folks like to reserve and arrive for earlier dates. Our suggestion is that our group should try to be in the loop of sites 39 - 60, but anywhere in the campground will work. The sites are electric with water spigots available around the campground. There are also 3-4 full hookup sites available. To reserve, use this link for Pikes Peak State Park (NOT Pikes Point!): https://iowastateparks.reserveameric...&parkId=610141

When you reserve a site, please comment on this thread with your name(s), site #, dates, and trailer type so that we can compile a list of attendees.

We will send out driving instructions due to street work in McGregor as the rally gets closer. See you in June!

Kevin and Cindy Anderson, Site 39, 6/16-6/24, Bigfoot Silver Cloud

[KevinA]

As some of you may have noticed, the thread for the Pink Elephant Rally was inadvertently closed, but it is now functioning properly again. Yay! A big Thank You to Janet!

[Jeremy Kessenich]

Karla and I will be there, you have our info from the FB group

[Steven M]

Hiya, Anita and I will at site 6 from Wednesday the 19th until Monday the 24th. Looking forward to seeing everyone after taking last year off.

[GILLMOS]

Mary & I will be in site 2 from Weds the 19 to the 23rd. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the newly renovated Pikes Peak!

[Iowa Dave]

Iowa Dave, Rita and Jake site 52 Thursday the 20th and leaving on Sunday in Escape 21 number 766 built in August of 2013. Stories, Convivial conversation, questionable advice and free Iowa Road maps with verifiable watering holes, meat markets and attractions on the road less traveled. Looking forward to greeting all you good people.
Iowa Dave

[CindyL]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Iowa Dave, Rita and Jake site 52 Thursday the 20th and leaving on Sunday in Escape 21 number 766 built in August of 2013. Stories, Convivial conversation, questionable advice and free Iowa Road maps with verifiable watering holes, meat markets and attractions on the road less traveled. Looking forward to greeting all you good people.
Iowa Dave

Do you want to have a dog parade on Sat. AM (We do not have dogs, only cats who camp with us. We are not offering them as parade marshalls, LOL.)


Cindy

[jfp550]

Kim and I will be at site #56 from Thursday afternoon until Sunday morning.

--
Jason

[CindyL]

Thanks, Jason. I have you from Facebook.



Looking forward to seeing you.



Cindy

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by CindyL

Do you want to have a dog parade on Sat. AM (We do not have dogs, only cats who camp with us. We are not offering them as parade marshalls, LOL.)


Cindy

We are hesitant to announce a dog parade as there is some canine flu about. We’re gonna get a shot for Jake yet this week. It can be pretty hard on young dogs and old dogs. So we will have to try to come up with another activity.
Iowa Dave

[KevinA]

Thanks, Dave, for alerting us about the dog flu. We certainly don’t want to spread anything nasty around. There are certainly lots of things to do in the area!

[iamunique127]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

We are hesitant to announce a dog parade as there is some canine flu about. We’re gonna get a shot for Jake yet this week. It can be pretty hard on young dogs and old dogs. So we will have to try to come up with another activity.
Iowa Dave

Hi Dave

Is that dog flu a concern nationwide or just your area? I may have to look into a shot for our dog before we travel to Utah next month. We haven't heard about it up here yet and we've just been in for annual shots..

[Iowa Dave]

My wife Rita called the Vet today and I’m not sure off
The breath of the conversation. I will ask her. I know we’re going for a flu shot tomorrow and another routine (scheduled) vaccination. I’ll post again in a little bit.
Dave

[HABBERDABBER]

There's a bug going around, much like "kennel cough" that is not understood by the veterinary doctors, highly contagious, not yet fully known to be viral or bacterial transmission and not deadly to healthy canines, but it is persistent in length and a problem for older and compromised dogs.

Do a search on canine coughing. Here's a couple of media items.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...e/72576739007/

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...now-rcna125992

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by iamunique127

Hi Dave

Is that dog flu a concern nationwide or just your area? I may have to look into a shot for our dog before we travel to Utah next month. We haven't heard about it up here yet and we've just been in for annual shots..

I talked to Rita and she said the vet said it’s been going around for some time it’s spotty Iour area but since rallies bring people from long distances at times we thought it best to get Jake a shot and 4 weeks later a booster. She said much harder on younger and older dogs. It can lead to pneumonia.
It’s Called Canine influenza if you want to Google it.
It apparently spread though the dog world via Greyhounds.
I’m no expert I just drive to the vet when we need to go. It’s a division of labor thing with us that has worked for nearly 54 years.
There are a lot of ticks and mosquitos here too so we treat for them too.
Iowa Dave

[WillyB]

I was unaware of Canine Influenza. Thanks for putting it out there.

Lil' Shoji is quite spoiled and he makes sure that we keep him living in the lap of luxury. Knowing this now we can take the right precautions.

I found this that might be helpful.
https://www.dogflu.com/outbreak-map/

[iamunique127]

Thanks for the heads up guys.
I'll look into it and may end up driving to the vet too.

[iamunique127]

Originally Posted by iamunique127

Thanks for the heads up guys.
I'll look into it and may end up driving to the vet too.

FYI My wife called the vet here and they hadn't heard of this Canine Flu and don't have a vaccine for it.
We will investigate further and perhaps stop at a vet in the US once we cross the border next month.

[Mike G]

Anyone who doesn't wear dentures has a couple of canines. Shots all around?