September 11, 2004

September 11, 2004

DAY 86

 

 

Well ... we're here ... at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds, for the 2004 Escapees Fall "Escapade" Rally. We needed help getting here, but we're here !

Last night, I made 2 phone calls. One was to the Escapade Rally office. They have a phone number here, for use as an emergency contact number for rally attendees. I left a message asking if it was possible to find a volunteer with a truck that could haul our trailer from Total Value RV in Elkhart to the fairgrounds here in Goshen, a distance of about 20 miles. The second call I made was to Sandy & Peachy McGeachy, a couple we know from the Escapees Ontario Chapter whom we knew would be coming here to Goshen. They have a fifth wheel trailer, and obviously a truck that could haul us here. I left a message on their home phone number in Ontario hoping that once they arrived here they might check their home phone messages.

Also late yesterday, Dave and Jean from Milwaukee who were in the motor home parked next to us offered to drive us this morning for some groceries and bottled water we needed. Early this morning we were ready to take them up on their offer as they headed out for a day of exploring Shipshewana and the nearby Amish communities. Instead of driving us directly to a grocery store, they invited us to join them for a day of exploring first, and they would take us to a grocery store later in the afternoon. We accepted.

We spent the morning exploring Amish stores in Shipshewana, then went for lunch to a local popular Amish family style restaurant, Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury. While having lunch, my cell phone rang. It was the volunteer that the Escapees Rally Director Beth Roberts had recruited, Bob Roetzer from Buffalo, New York. Bob said he would be at our trailer in an hour and a half to tow us here. We quickly finished lunch and headed back to Total Value RV. Once there, I began to prepare the trailer to go, and Jean drove Joanne to a grocery store. Before they returned, Bob and his friend, Sam Pack from Arkansas showed up in Bob's new 2004 Ford one ton turbo-diesel dually to haul us. I want a truck like his ! We hooked up the trailer to his truck, and as soon as Joanne returned with groceries, off we went. What a pair of colourful old guys Bob and Sam are. We arrived here, and Beth the boss had them park us in the fully serviced camping area ( electricity, water, and sewer ) reserved for staff rigs. We got the sympathy vote for the tough 9 days we've had getting here.

Bob and Sam were extremely helpful and friendly. A pleasant change from what we've been experiencing. The "sharing and caring" motto of the Escapees RV Club is truly put into practice by its members. Shortly after arriving, I found Harvey and Louise Schweyer parked down the road from us. Harv and Louise are Ontario Chapter 18 members that we know. They are working the club products sales booth during the rally, so they are parked here in the staff area. We had a very pleasant evening visiting with familiar faces, whining and venting all our troubles.

We feel a lot better. We're here ! ! ! And we're ready and eager. Being here for this has been a goal for a year.

DSK