Where did the year 2007 go? I don’t know about you all, but
every year seems to go by faster. However, if they are all filled with the joy
of seeing our RVing friends often and with the continued ability to explore this beautiful country of ours, I really don’t
mind.
With the new year of 2008, you have asked a new group of us to represent you as the Board of Alpine SoCal. I feel so honored to have the opportunity to serve you these next two years as your
president, and I really look forward to working with the other members of the new board:
Vice President: Jack Giddens
Secretary: Rick Coleman
Treasurer: Stephanie Archer
Rally Director: Anne McDougal
Additionally, when we met in Chula Vista in November, we asked our newsletter
editor, Donna Hall, to become a member of
our Board. With her parliamentary experience, she will keep us all in line in
our meetings and we definitely need that.
I’d like to thank, on behalf of myself and all of you, our outgoing
Board members, Dave Fernandez and Jim Weinheimer, for the time and expertise they gave to our club. I will really miss
working with them, as well as with Pam Johnson, who was forced to resign as our Secretary a while back due to their relocation to Oregon. Of course, I know they will all offer me their advice anytime I ask.
Dave has graciously agreed to continue as our webmaster, and he will
be assisted by Jim Archer. Please forward any contributions or comments about our website to Dave and Jim. Don’t hesitate to send them any kind of helpful hints you find in dealing with your Alpine, whether
it is related to repairs, maintenance, modifications, cleaning or whatever might be of interest to others.
We have a great rally schedule planned this year, taking us to Pahrump NV, Santa Barbara Ca, Lake Powell UT and Oak Glen CA. We’re
still looking for a wagonmaster for the late October/early November slot, so don’t be shy!
John and I will see you all at the rallies,
and we wish you all a happy, healthy and safe New Year!
Gail
John and Sammi Stacy
This has been a lot of fun; I was able to serve as your President of
Alpine SoCal for the last three years. The club has grown from less than 20 Alpine
coaches to almost 70! A lot of things have happened over the first five years
of this club. We have had great support from Guaranty RV who has been supporting
us and making our rallies better and better. We had Factory support for our fifth
anniversary rally in Hemet and for our
Chula Vista rally. Alpine SoCal is the first region to have support from the factory. This has all happened because of you the members.
Thanks again, Guaranty and WRV.
This is one Great Club; thanks to you I have a lot of new friends and family. The rallies are great
as we can all sit around and have a lot of fun. We have members from all over
the country, many of them full timers who joined to have fun. The week long rallies
have been a great success as we travel a little further.
Your support has made this the best Alpine Club. The membership, at the Chula Vista rally, voted to donate $500.00 to the Salvation Army for the victims of the Southern California wildfires
in October. The club also donated $500.00 to the Katrina victims several years ago. Everyone is willing to assist others in need. As we move into the New Year we have many new rallies planned, a new Board will take
over and we have some new members.
Donna and I are proud to say we are members of the Alpine SoCal family. We want to say thank you to all of our friends
and family.
We wish everyone a Happy New Year and Safe
Travels.
Dave, Donna & Paloma Fernandez
When we were at the Bethel Island Rally, some of us took
in the Budweiser Plant tour. Following the tour several guests were invited to
do a “blind” test of the beer. Here is our own Jack Giddens with
his certificate showing him winning the taste test, thereby having the honor of being “Brewmaster” for the day. Way
to go Jack! dj
Lake
Havasu, September 07
by Gail Stacy
We had 12 Alpine Coaches at our rally at beautiful Havasu Falls RV Resort in Lake Havasu, Az, at the end of
September, 2007. We arrived on Thursday and gathered for our traditional welcome
happy hour and heavy hors d’ oeuvres. On Friday morning, we took a tour
via jet boat of the Topock Gorge on the Colorado River, and had a yummy ice cream social in the afternoon.
Then, all of our menfolk got together in the evening to grill dinner, while the womenfolk brought side dishes to share. The best part of our BBQs is squeezing all of the different meats onto a grill and
then trying to remember which is yours! It never fails to bring a lot of laughs
to the process.
Saturday was a free day to explore the area, culminating in a happy hour and catered
broasted chicken and ribs dinner. This was followed by our general membership
meeting, with the highlight being the presentation of the slate of officers to be voted on prior to the Chula Vista rally
in November. On Sunday morning, we had a farewell continental breakfast and departed
to various destinations. Some stayed on to enjoy the warm Arizona sunshine and more eating! I’m told
they ate up all the leftovers! Many of us ended up at the ACA Heritage Rally
in Albuquerque; there were at least 20 SoCal members in attendance…a great turnout!
Chuck and Donna Hall, wagonmasters, and Russ and Lois Thomas, assistant wagonmasters,
organized a really fun time for all of us. Our thanks go to them for all of their
work!
Chula Vista, November 07
by Dale Sullivan
The Chula
Vista Rally was held at the beautiful Chula Vista Marina
and RV Park over Veteran’s Day weekend with 31 coaches. The resort is right
on the bay and features a large pool and patio area as well as a large fire ring and large meeting room. Our members enjoyed using these facilities both individually and as a group.
Friday we settled in the meeting room and
enjoyed a wine and cheese party hosted by Burk Morgan for WRV. He did it up right with a lot
of different wines, beer and soft drinks to sample and a host of good appetizers for us to enjoy. The party lasted several hours as we said hello to old friends and meet the newcomers and guests from other
ACA Clubs.
Saturday we had a breakfast buffet at South Bay Fish and Grill. We were able to walk from our rigs to enjoy our eggs, potatoes, lox and bagels, fruit and much more. After our membership meeting we were on to our “Safety College”,
taught by Chuck Czuleger. (see more at end)
After school we were on our own and about 25 of us took a special guided tour of the
USS Midway Museum. Our tour guide was Tony Blatnik, a friend of the Sullivan’s who has served aboard the ship. Needless
to say we got a first hand version of aircraft carrier life at sea! Later that
night the Resort hosted a soup dinner and street dance. The Alpiners were a lively
part of that party and helped close the place!
Sunday morning came early but it was sure worth it.
We all went to San Diego and boarded the Hornblower for a terrific brunch cruise of San Diego Bay. What more could we ask for? The event was graciously hosted
by Guaranty RV with Lindsey, Rich, Randy and their wives present. There was lots of good food, champagne, and
of course the beautiful bay. We all agreed that Guaranty RV is a wonderful host
and the best when it comes to selling and servicing our Alpine Coaches. Many
of us stayed Sunday night and not to be caught just sitting around, the Figge’s hosted a Margarita party, followed by a potluck, held on the heated patio making the perfect ending to a great day, in spite of a
little rain.
Monday morning and it was time to say goodbye to all at a coffee and doughnut klatch,
served by the Figge’s and Sullivan’s at their coaches.
A big thank you to the Sullivan’s and Figge’s for a wonderful rally.
dj
Fire Safety School
by Linda Giddens
Under autumn skies, at the Chula Vista RV Resort, Chuck Czuleger, one
of our Alpine SoCal fire fighters, gave a great demonstration on using fire extinguishers to put out fires that hopefully
will never happen to any of us. There were approximately 30 people in attendance. Dale Sullivan, Donna Fernandez, Gail Stacy and Bill Figge were brave enough to experience the handling and use of the extinguishers. Fortunately
Dave Fernandez noticed that Dale was holding the extinguisher backwards before she sprayed herself with a lot of white powder! It was interesting, but most of all helpful and at times very funny.
The extinguishers used by our volunteers can be purchased at Costco, two for $19.95.
Chuck also handed out an article from the FMCA magazine, June 2007,
titled RV FIRE SAFETY. This is very informative and should be read by all owners of
an RV.
We were reminded once again, to locate our Exit window(s) in our RV, and
to have on hand some kind of a devise to hold this window open during evacuation. This
should be stored in the exit window area, along with a second set of RV keys, car keys, whistle, flashlight, survival knife,
cell phone and escape ladder.
Thank you, Chuck, for taking your time and providing a very informative demonstration assisted by Dave Fernandez.
None of us can be reminded too many times about the importance of fire safety and how to escape our RV in a matter
of seconds.
Where have you been traveling lately?
Know of a nice RV park? Places to go and/or see and do? Let me know. I’d like to start a section on just such things.
E-mail me and I will put your suggestions in upcoming issues.
How about a favorite recipe? Maybe
a tip you’d like to pass on regarding traveling or regarding our rigs etc. If
you take a good picture at a rally – send it to me. I’d like to hear from you with suggestions you have for a
more informative and interesting newsletter.
Thank you Guaranty RV
ALPINE SOCAL RALLY CALENDAR 2008
Rally Director, Anne McDoulgal
RECIPE
FOR THE QUARTER
HODGEPODE by Linda Giddens
3 pounds ground beef
3 10 oz size cans Minestrone soup
3 15 oz size cans Ranch Style Beans
3 10 oz. Size cans Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles
Brown ground beef in large pot, breaking up into small pieces. Drain grease. Add all can ingredients to ground beef, rinsing cans with small amount of water and adding
to pot.
Mix all together and let simmer for an hour
or two.
We think this is better than chili.
Great served with tortilla chips and grated
cheese in the bowl.
TRAVEL SUGGESTION
Crown Villa RV Resort in Bend,
OR.
http://www.crownvillarvresort.com/amenities.htm
Its sites
are very similar to Outdoor Resorts. Not a cheap or out of the way place by any means, but it might be convenient for those
traveling to the factory for service. It's in the Big Rigs Best Bets book.
Jim & Stephanie Archer
Medora, North Dakota. This is one of the entrances to Theodore Roosevelt National Park
and home to the Medora Musical. The musical is fabulous! A must see if you are in the area. The Nat’l Park is beautiful with lots of wild animals and scenery to photograph. Medora is located on I-94 in Southwest North Dakota.
Red Trail Campground is a
nice park. Look them up in the Trailer Life Directory; they are a Good Sam Park.
Open mid May to Labor Day. Chuck & Donna Hall
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION
By Jim Archer
Back in September we took a trip to Santa Barbara. While in the area we decided to take an
Old Santa Barbara Segway tour. After receiving lessons on how to safely ride a Segway
"human transport", we proceeded to take a guided tour of the old areas of Santa Barbara.
A Segway is a great way to tour areas that are too large to comfortably walk.
Our tour consisted of a two hour view of the downtown area, with frequent stops for detailed information. We covered approximately 7 miles, which would have been a rather long brisk walk even without the stops. We found the Segways to be a lot of fun, probably enjoying the riding more than the
tour!
Segways were launched about 5 years ago, with plans to revolutionize the
transportation industry. Needless to say, it didn't turn out that way. Sales have lagged well below expectations. Segway has started
a campaign to get people to try a Segway by having its dealer network set up "glided tours".
Their plan was to get people to try them, and hopefully get more sales from the satisfied customers.
After the tour we started thinking about how nice it might be to use a
Segway while traveling in our coach. They are designed to be a human transport,
carrying a pedestrian farther and faster that he can walk. The Segway can cover
a range of up to 24 miles on a charge, and can be recharged in eight hours. The
top speed is 12.5 mph. We have since decided to purchase two Segways for use
running local errands as well as taking with us on the road. They can go up and
down steep hills with ease.
If anybody is
interested in trying a Segway, please visit www.segwayguidedtours.com. This website
will show the Segway tours available by state.
Please be aware that Segways are not idiot proof, as evidenced by the
cast on my right hand! Segways balance by moving the wheels to keep the rider
balanced, similar to how a unicycle works. If a wheel loses traction, or is blocked,
it cannot move to stay balanced, and therefore can fall over. I misjudged the
size of a branch laying across the sidewalk, and one wheel was temporarily blocked causing me to fall. Compared to previous falls from my bicycle, it was a relatively minor fall, but I had the misfortune to
just catch my thumb the wrong way. Rest assured I will be back on my Segway very
soon. As with my past bicycle falls, I know what I did wrong, and will take steps
to prevent a re-occurrence.
Alpine So Cal would like to
thank Guaranty RV for all of their support with our Rallies
DON’T FORGET TO…
Check your battery water and condition;
Tire pressure and condition and
Running lights…
BEFORE YOU LEAVE!
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