Alumapaloozazing!

After leaving Somerset, PA, I started driving the trailer for the first time in five years…and managed to immediately take the wrong turn! It was a bit tough–I really had no feeling for the turning ratio of the trailer and we were traveling on a high speed road winding through the mountains. I went slow and managed to get to a shopping area bordering the next exit in about 20 minutes. Rick volunteered to drive, so we broke for ice cream, then headed out. After passing two big thunderstorms, I took over driving at the Ohio-West Virginia border and drove the rest of the way. We finally got to Jackson Center late in the day, were led to our parking spot and started setting up camp.We stayed in the generator section, which put us back behind the factory towards the fields with about 25 other trailers. The views were the best there (wake to see Airstreams built!) and it was generally quieter except our neighbors, who had a fairly noisy generator left it going all day and all night (however, given that they needed it for medical reasons, that really didn’t bother me–I’ve slept next to noisier stuff). We really enjoyed our neighbors there, got to know everyone pretty well and even hosted a couple of informal kite flying sessions ourselves.

However, our hasty packing effort included one  miscalculation–we were short one leveling block–so Rick sent me out to the registration tent to see if I could find somebody with a block to spare.

When I got to what I thought was the registration tent, I was met by a friendly guy (Slade) who immediately found me a block. We leveled, started up dinner (pasta!) and had a great night’s sleep. The next morning when I went to registration for yoga class, I realized that we’d gone to the yoga tent, not registration! Anyhow, we quickly figured out registration, got our badges and started in with the schedule. Each day included early yoga classes, a variety of different presentations in the main tent, a group meeting at 4 pm, open grills in the evenings, nightly music acts and roving happy hours (different hosts each night). Highlight events included the backup derby and riveting competition. Meanwhile, we were also welcome to visit the Airstream facilities that surrounded us.

One of the most unexpectedly enjoyable parts of the rally was just exploring the grounds and meeting the people who worked there. There’s a pride and drive that really transcended hospitality–and made it exceptionally fun to meet the folks who make these trailers still current and popular. Fortunately, sales are up–though some workers indicated that they were going to miss the 35 hour workweek that the factory cut back to during the worst days of the Recession.

There were a number of really amazing encounters…One thing that was unexpected was how close the factory tries to keep a sense of its roots, even while innovating. All around the factory, there are a number of historic trailers collected and restored by the factory. One of the most recent acquisitions is a unrestored Bowlus Road Chief–a trailer that many consider to be the progenitor of Airstreams. It was amazing to explore this artifact along with PeeWee Schwamborn–the nephew of Wally Byam, the founder of Airstream (and a fun loving guy who wears shorts and tee shirts in even the coldest possible weather).

Since we were parked very close to one of the factory buildings, a couple of current employees even dropped by to see our trailer after work one day–it was really fun watching their interest in a trailer that to a certain extent represents their history. They loved checking out the layout and asked a number of questions about how we liked the form and fit of different things.

Overall, I think most enjoyed PeeWee’s Airstream history presentation. He gave a very personal presentation with family photos that I found riveting (ha!). Pee Wee walked us through the family history that led to the founding of Airstream, the personal side of Wally Byam’s life and the design and function inspirations that drove the design of Airstream trailers. Together with the photos, it really gave me a much deeper sense of the roots of the trailer, both from human and historic sides.

Rick was also quite inspired by the CanAm presentation on tow vehicles, although I’m wondering how much of this appeal was because the presentation validated his dream of someday getting a classic muscle car! Not surprisingly, on the way home, we just happened to eat lunch at the site of a classic muscle car show.

The cooking presentations–especially the hands-on dutch oven classes were inspiring (though I goofed and brought my dutch oven all the way out to Ohio without realizing I had failed to obtain the ingredients for the dishes). Still, it was great watching both sessions–and when I got home, I immediately ordered a fancy lid lifter from Cabellas after seeing one that was the envy of al the (cast) iron chefs! There were also some more gourmet cooking lessons on a model Airstream kitchen. It all got to me–and I cooked lots of great yummy meals.

Midway, the weather changed–it started raining (again!), but this time the weather also got exceptionally cold–in the low 40′s. Fortunately, with the generator, this wasn’t a problem, even though we still hadn’t settled on a heating solution. We turned on the air  conditioner, set it to “heat pump” setting and soon it was comfy inside. It was so warm that when the official event photographer (Alison Turner) dropped by, she didn’t want to leave. However, she hung in long enough to take a number of photos. We were delighted with the pictures–not bad considering we both felt kind of grungy and bedraggled when she asked us to pose. We were so glad we did!

After our photo session, it was time for the back-up derby competition. This turned out to be funnier than I think anyone expected. The mood was set when a mysterious driver claiming to be the “Stig” backed up through the set course in a relatively rapid manner–using the most awkward kind of U-haul trailer ever invented. However, he was quickly beat by the ultimate victor–who I believe did it in about half of the “Stig’s” time. All the drivers handled the course with bravado, braggadocio and sheer nerve. Not all made it to the finish, but that didn’t stop anyone from claiming bragging rights!

We both enjoyed the yoga classes, but they were particularly engaging for Rick. Slade really inspired Rick to advance with the practice, something he’d been hoping to develop to build up his flexibility for rock climbing. Up to that point, he’d attended classes–but Slade really pushed him to perfecting forms and working on moves to address some of the aches Rick had learned to tolerate. Since, Rick has really noticed a big difference in a shoulder injury which is starting to hurt a whole lot less.

As it turned out, Slade and Sky came with a score to settle. Last year, they had entered the Rivet Master competition–and scored dead last. This year, they put all their karmic resources at focus–and won a pair of brand new ZipDee chairs. We observed their technique up front–there was no rushing, just a focused calm effort of smoothly driving in each rivet. The expression of “bucking” the things seemed not to apply to their technique.

The last day’s side show performance was a stupefying and compelling hit. Suffice to say, there is little that Alexander Kensington and Charon Henning won’t do for their audience. They amazed, fascinated and amused. After seeing Alexander’s wonderful show many times at Mount Vernon (indeed, I first met him there a week after we bought the Toaster), I can vouch that it’s even better with Charon. Next September I’m hoping we can dress out Charon in Colonial Era clothing.

Ultimately, the rally ended up with an amazing concert by Antsy McLean. He must have sung for three and a half hours–and we were totally under his spell as he wove stories and gentle humor in songs about people whose lives intersected with trailers…

The best highlight of the event was catching up with friends. We got to see good friends from our old rallying days (catching up with the old WDCU crowd was a delight), learn that online friends (like the Halstroms) were even better in person and to make new ones.

Additionally, we also enjoyed the time to just be in our trailer and to absorb the overall atmosphere of being in our trailer in one of the most quintessential American places–small town in the prairie, local celebrations, church lasagna dinners, barbecues and watching the stars at night…

Overall, there were a couple of surprises. There wasn’t a huge turnout of vintage trailers, although with nearly 200 trailers showing up, there still were a tidy few. Many of the vintage trailers were classic oldies–some impressive renovations of 1940s and 1950s trailers attended. Another thing–though the schedule featured “happy hour” and “roving happy hours,” it really wasn’t a heavy drinking crowd. Happy mostly meant socializing–though there really wasn’t any issue for anyone who did want to drink. Finally, though there was a kid’s activity program, there really weren’t too many kids there–mostly, I think due to the timing of the event just before close of school in most school districts. Additionally, while there were a few working folks, by far there were more “recently retired” there…as well as a healthy crowd of full-timers (both young and retired).

On Sunday, we headed out early. It was tough to leave after such a great rally, but the day was perfect and the trip went smoothly. Thanks to all who made it such a nice event!