July 2013 Oregon Gathering---Reserve the Date! (7/18-21)

[DeadEyeDan]

A few shots from the Ladder Ball Tourney today:

[cpaharley2008]

Come on you guys, what did you think of the Escape 21', I heard it was going to be there this weekend? You guys are my eyes and ears.........

[Robin G]

Jim, their having to much fun to comment yet!

[cpaharley2008]

I thought Donna had a computer with her 24/7!!!!

[peterh]

Well, Lynne and I had an adventurous drive home.

First, something innocent. Not long after we left Bullards and headed north toward Coos Bay, we looked at the gas gauge and started worrying that we didn't have enough to make it into town for fuel. Rather than potentially run out of gas with the trailer on a narrow section of road in the rolling hills, we opted to drop the trailer off and drive the truck solo into town. It took 18.5 gallons to fill our 19 gallon tank, so we *might* have made it in if we'd pulled the trailer, or we might have run the tank dry on a hill.

Thanks to all of you who stopped and offered help while we un-hitched, and, for those of you who wondered why there was an abandoned Scamp 5th wheel a few miles north of Bullard's Beach for a short while: well, now you know.

The real fireworks went off as we hit the outskirts of Salem, where we had a blow out, the passenger side rear wheel of our pickup shredded. We came to a nice, controlled stop in the wide emergency lane just before Commercial Street in Salem. It took some time, but we got the spare on, then slowly drove up Commercial Street to find the first gas station where we could get some more air in our spare.

A big thanks to Dave and Kathie Newlyn for stopping, offering help, and giving us a phone number if we needed additional assistance.

From there it was smooth sailing to Vancouver, WA. Despite these two delays, we did get home in time for a slightly delayed (45 minutes) dinner with visiting family from out-of-town.

So, now we're home and fed. The ending for the weekend was unusually eventful, but otherwise we had a great time, and everything worked out in the end.

Happy Trails!

--Peter (& Lynne)

[Teresa J]

Yikes! Your trip home was WAY WORSE than my getting flipped off by a nasty man in a sports car just because I was changing lanes while trying to get out of his way on I-5 (several times, as it happens, as he whipped around from lane to lane on the freeway)...I was just frustrated that the truck, towing Iggy, couldn't catch him...Anyway, I am glad you made it home safely, and that several of our wonderful Oregon Gathering folks stopped to offer help. It was a very fun OG and we sure hope we make it back next year!

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Come on you guys, what did you think of the Escape 21', I heard it was going to be there this weekend? You guys are my eyes and ears.........

Thought I would ask again........anyone home yet?

[Ericpa3]

Photos from the 2013 Oregon Gathering:
Click on Slide Show (upper right)
Speed control (upper left)
Oregon Gathering 2013 - ericpa3's Photos

[Donna D.]

Hi Jim I just got home about an hour ago. WHAT FUN, FUN, FUN!!!! Oh my stars. Thanks to Teresa and Chris (Lyn & Dan too!) and the volunteers and the folks who ran the workshops and Gene (webmaster at CasitaForum) and.... well EVERYONE! I made a ton of memories and bunch of new friends, reconnected with old friends and have the gathering circled on my calendar for 2014.

Hugs to all!!!!!!!!

[cpaharley2008]

Glad you made it home safely, what did you think of the new Escape, donna?

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Glad you made it home safely, what did you think of the new Escape, donna?

Drool, drool, slobber, slobber I think that should tell you Jim. It's absolutely fabulous. I not only looked at it once, I had to take a second tour. And if there hadn't been a line waiting, I would have given it a third look. I'm not sure what I liked best, there's so many bests about it. But, anyone that likes to cook inside is going to absolutely love the counter space!

If I didn't want an Escape 5.0 , the 21' would be the trailer I'd certainly be strongly considering

[cpaharley2008]

It's going to be a long 4.5 months, thanks for your observations.

[Donna D.]

Jim, it's tough to wait, I understand. Some of the comments I overheard:

I thought I wouldn't like walking into the trailer and seeing the bed. But, it doesn't bother me at all... you really don't see it because of the bathroom walls.

The bathroom is really spacious!

Look at that long open counter.

Oh a huge refrigerator. (I think the freezer is as big as some owners entire 3-way)

Sitting at the dinette, it feels spacious and looking out these big windows is lovely.

Jim, the bedroom area window is one of the largest (longest) I've seen in a molded trailer, it kinda reminds me of the big side window in the Perris Pacer.

I thought I'd miss not seeing a window in the front, but that big window on the side is more than adequate. YMMV

[cpaharley2008]

All good info, thanks again.

[Teresa J]

It looks like Jack and Nancy liked what they saw in the new 21' Escape at Bandon, because they've ordered one, and now have their 19' for sale---so tempting...I'm sure they've kept the 19' in spectacular shape...I'd feel disloyal to our 1972 Trail Mite...she might never forgive us for trading her in...have to think about it...anyway, we're glad Reese and Tammy are getting more business---they have a wonderful company and it's great to see truly good people getting the credit (and business) that they deserve.

[Roger C H]

The line-up in C Loop.

Handing out the goodies.

[Deb & Chuck]

Yes, Jack and Nancy fell in love with the new Escape 21 ft. and the great thing is when placed their order last week-end they were able to get a cancellation date and are getting their new 21 ft. Escape in October! How great for them that they won't have a very long wait.
I've had the chance to tour their 19 ft. Escape and it is lovely with many custom modifications particularly with the dinette. It should sell very fast.
Deb

[Carol H]

Thanks to the organizers for putting on a great meet and especially for the great weather or at least by Bandon standards!

Peter & Lynne we were happy to pull over and hear it was just a gas issue. I realized after you took off that I did have a spare piece of hose so we could have put on hoodies and tried our inner city youth skills to siphon some gas off for you.

Jim, the Escape 21 is a nice trailer - the bed and the big fridge that might actually keep ice cream frozen were big selling features. You will be very happy with one as would just about everyone who did the tour of it.

Got home late last night after a short stop over on the way home in wine country. Had a giggle at the Border crossing.

Border Guard: How long have you been gone and where did you go?
Me: 8 Days and I went to Bandon Oregon
Border Guard: How was the meet and what year is your trailer?
Me: Its 21 years old and the meet was great. How did you know about it?
Border Guard: I am trying to find me one of those & plan to go to the meet next year. Have a safe trip home.
Me (holding a bunch of receipts): Dont you want to know what I have to declare?
Border Guard: I am assuming you bought a good bottle of wine and some stuff for the trailer at Camping World. Am I right?
Me: Yup
Border Guard: Have a safe trip home.

[Teresa J]

Carol H., glad you made it home, and had a good time down here. We hope to see you, all our other friends from Canada, and that very wise border guard (!) here next year.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Teresa J

, and that very wise border guard (!)

Teresa, the funny thing was on the trip down the US border guard was a man of even fewer words. Only 2 questions - were you going and for how long. But then he asked me to shut the car off, I though let the games would begin. But he just walked to the back and checked the plate number on the trailer and then walked back up & handed me my passport and told me to have a safe trip. I have come to the conclusion by looking at the passport history they have the profiling down to a fine art .