Sep 10, 2016 – Sep 18, 2016

We left home at 7:00 Saturday morning and we were on the road by 8:00 am (after loading up the RV, and hitching the toad). Our first stop would be Speedco in Aurora, OR for an oil change and lube. We ran into heavy traffic near SeaTac – with 7 lanes of traffic narrowing into one (5 lanes on I5, plus 2 lanes on the entrance ramp). We sat in this traffic for nearly one hour before finally getting past the construction zone. We ended up getting to Speedco at about 1:30 pm. They immediately got us in the bay, and we had 3 techs converge on the RV to perform the service while we ate lunch inside the RV. I went with Shell Rotella oil as recommended by the lead service technician, and we were back on the road by about 2:45.

We stopped briefly at a WalMart in Woodburn, OR at about 3:15 (stayed there once before on our way back from Indio). We considered staying there overnight, but there wasn’t an available spot to park where we could put out one of the bedroom slides. Also, with the heat approaching 85 degrees we decided to aim for an RV park where we could plug in, and run the AC. So, we departed for Rice Hill RV Park in Oakland OR (about an hour away from Seven Feathers) at about 3:45. We arrived at Rice Hill about 6:15, had dinner, and went to bed. While it was a full hook-up site, it was right next to the expressway and the only view were the neighboring RV’s (some in rather poor shape).

We left about 1:00 the next afternoon for Seven Feathers. There was a short line at Seven Feathers for check-in, and we got to our site (site 93) just after 2:15.

The remainder of the week, was well packed with activities:

Site 93

• Mon: We explored the casino, and had dinner at the buffet (“Italian night”?). After dinner, we returned to the RV to watch the last episode of the first season of Fargo.
• Tue: The Rally begins! The opening ceremony was held at the convention center which included new member introductions. Dinner was hot dogs and hamburgers with entertainment by Louis Foxx after dinner (comedy/magic).
• Wed: Breakfast buffet was at the pavilion (Bread pudding!), followed by Tech Talk (technical questions & answers for the Beaver coaches). We then went to a seminar on Driving Your RV Safely, and then a wine tasting in the afternoon (Henry Estate). Dinner was a choice of  vegetarian lasagna or chicken breasts, followed by cake truffles and carrot cake for desert. Entertainment today was via provided by Lino (jazz/instrumental music).
• Thu: Breakfast was french toast casserole at the pavilion. Beaver Coach Sales then had several new Entegra coaches set up for viewing – they were very sharp looking and ranged from $300k – $650k. In the afternoon, we relaxed outside reading our Kindles w/drinks in the hot sun, and then we wandered back to the pavilion at about 4:00 for the Wounded Warrior auction. Dinner was on our own today (home-made deep-dish pizza that we brought from home), followed by a movie (Bridge of Spies).
• Fri: Breakfast was held at the convention center (bread pudding), followed immediately by the Beaver business meeting. Pat participated in the slot tournament and came in 2nd place (out of her group of five).
  

  Pat Came in 2nd Place in the Slots Tournament!

  Larry sat in on Dave’s Diesel Diagnostics seminar while Pat sat in on “Women Can and Should Drive your RV”. Dinner was catfish with fruit cobbler w/ice cream for desert. Entertainment tonight was provided by Hwy 97 band (rock & roll).

• Sat: Breakfast at the convention center included cheese omelet w/ham and sausage. Later that morning there was a demonstration of a “quick carved beaver” which would be raffled off at dinner time. Early afternoon was a lumberjack show (chain-saws, axes, and log rolling contests).
  

  Lumberjack Show

  Dinner included chicken parmesan, prime rib, wine, and chocolate mousse cake and cheesecake for desert! Pat won the Beaver centerpiece from our table. Today’s entertainment was Mark Cordes (aka The Spouse Whisperer) – a very funny show!

• Sun: We left Seven Feathers about 9:30, filled our gas tank at Pilot in Brooks, OR at 12:30, stopped for lunch at Toutle River Rest Area at 3:00 and arrived home just about 6:00 pm.

Overall, we had beautiful weather every day – typically 80 degrees during the day, and dipping to 50 overnight (good sleeping weather). Everyone at the rally there was very friendly and outgoing, and made us feel very welcome. We had a great time at our first rally!

We now need to plan the next outing (Winterize at Fidalgo Bay?), and maybe January at the Beaver/FMCA Rally in Indio, followed by Beaver Rally and get together at Quartzite…?