March 21, 2005

March 21, 2005

Imperial, California

DAY 276

 

Today was sunny and very warm, although as I sit and type this outside the women's showers late in the evening, waiting for Joanne, it's quite cool.

I started this morning by attending a seminar on trailer brake and suspension systems while Joanne went to a line dancing instruction course. Afterwards, we spent the rest of the morning wandering around the indoor market area, the outdoor market area, and "The Row". The Row is an area where the different Escapee chapters, and the different BOF ( Birds Of A Feather ) special interest groups have tables and displays set up, each outside the rig of someone representing their chapter or BOF. While we were in Livingston in January, we were asked to represent the Maple Leaf Chapter 18 on The Row at this Escapade. We declined. This is only our second Escapade and we're still too new at this, and want to see so much, that we didn't want to be tied down representing our chapter on The Row. Maybe some other time. We seem to be one of only two couples from our chapter here. Most of the Chapter 18 members are from southwest Ontario, and the spring Escapade in California is further than most Chapter 18 members want to go. Many of them attend the fall Escapade, always in the northeast somewhere, like Goshen, Indiana.

We lost track of time a bit, so by the time we went back to the trailer and had lunch, it was too late to attend any of the early afternoon sessions or seminars. We rested a bit after lunch, then returned to the main area around 3:00 P.M.. I went to the Ham-O-Rama auditions, and Joanne went to one of the jobs she has volunteered for this week. She spent the ret of the afternoon being a "gate guard". After my audition, I went over to the Alberta Roamers Chapter 44 area on The Row. I had been invited to their late afternoon "Happy Hour". Around 6:00 P.M., when it was time to feed the boys, I returned to the trailer. I thought Joanne would be getting back to the trailer about the same time, or maybe even earlier, but she didn't come in until quite a bit later. She got a bit disoriented and lost finding her way back to the trailer from her gate guard assignment. Poor Joanne. After awhile, 1250 or so fifth wheels and motorhomes all parked in rows somewhat helter skelter all around a large, complicated layout fairgrounds all look pretty much the same.

We had a light, late supper, then rushed off to the evening's door prize drawings and entertainment. Tonight's entertainment was Mariachi Mixteco, a small Mexican orchestra comprised of about a dozen young people ranging in age from 12 to 19, and Tlaxcalteca, a Mexican dance troupe also comprised of teenagers. They were very good. The Mariachi band, in particular, had amazing stage presence for such a young group. We walked back to the trailer, then I took Joanne over to the showers. I walked her part way back to the trailer, until she was certain of where it was, then I went over to the media building where Wi-Fi had been set up for use during the Escapade. The building was closed already, but I sat outside with a whole bunch of other people with laptops, sent and retrieved e-mail, and updated my blog. I love Wi-Fi. But not enough to spend about U.S.$3000 to buy an RV rooftop Wi-Fi satellite dish. Well ... here at the Escapade, the vendors are selling them at a discount. They're only about U.S.$2500. I guess that's peanuts to the Escapees here who have the half million dollar Wanderlodge motorhomes.

DSK