Mammoth Mountain

This will be different. This post is compiled almost completely from Facebook posts.😀

                        

                

 

 

Jim, Sharan Harrison   Ron, Elaine Guidotti, Ron, Karen Montgomery, Diane Nelson (Jim taking the picture)

       

                     

Happy Anniversary Elaine and Ron and thanks for organizing this time together !

We are so over this !

It's not easy to hold down RVers whose pastime is to be out and about. We are so over this lockdown !
Once we heard the "curve has been flattened" and places were slowly starting to open back up with limited services, we hopped in the car with our face masks and hand sanitizer to escape the confines of our homes and backyards. First we ventured out to the El Cajon Elks for carry-out burgers and a socially distanced picnic on the front lawn. At last we were able to see fellow Shanty Shakers face to face rather than on a video call.


Speaking of video calls, the Friday afternoon "Happy Hour" Zoom calls helped to carry us during this time of cancelled rallies.

As we heard that some RV Resorts, such as Pechanga, were opening up 50% of their spaces several pop up gatherings happened. Again, so nice to be out of the house but definitely missed the hugs, and shared meals.

We are happy to say that our members are doing well, but getting very restless. We hope to have more small group get togethers locally for fresh air, sunshine and of course, camaraderie with with fellow Shanty Shakers. Stay tuned !

Stay connected

FROM JIMMY AND LOCKIE SAILER
ESCAPEES CHAPTER DIRCTORS:

We wanted to reach out to each of you to let you know that you remain in our thoughts as most lives are touched in some manner by this current event sweeping the globe.  Regardless of theories that abound regarding COVID-19, it is definitely affecting everyone in one way or another.

There is plenty of less-than-pleasant news filling airwaves, tv screens and social media, and we would like to ask a favor of each of you and your membership.  Now is the time to be the calm amid crisis, and to share that with others.  Increasingly, we are witnessing comments that indicate that the mental health and outlook of many is understandably declining.  

As you hear or see anything that you believe that may be helpful to other RVers, whether it be an RV park that is accepting new arrivals, locations that are offering meals or supplies that are easily obtainable and not over-priced, healthcare, or just a "warm and fuzzy" story that will lift spirits, please share, and ask your members to share, those things on https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapeesrvclub/ .  A single, positive thought that may seem trivial to you, may be a tremendous lift to another that is struggling right now.

Again, please reach out and lift up each other with kind words and good news as you can.  

We appreciate each and every one of you and we're here for you through this.  And we WILL get through this.

Love and hugs to each of you,

Jimmy & Lockie Sailer

Chapter/BOF Directors

Escapees RV Club

chapterdirectors@escapees.com

Lets hear from a couple of members who checked in:

From Bret Pemberton: 

i am getting tired of this.  So what I do is go on u-tube and google different places I want to go and see in the RV when all of this is over and done with.  You all take care and remember  wash your hands.  Just so you know.  My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant that every time I pee it sterilizes the toilet.

From Mike Parker:

Greetings all

Marcy and I decided after the El Centro rally to return to Campland until this mess is over. We discovered Zoom on Get Togethers on Rvillage. They have a couple virtual meetups a week. We also have Duo and Facetime and have been using them with family and friends. We have set up a family Easter get together on Zoom. We are following RV Fit and Hasfit to keep up with our exercising. Marcy is thinking we should have bought the Tiffin bus we saw in Quartzsite. The 25 ft Airstream is great for traveling, not so much for "Stay home be safe" Hope to see you on next Fridays SS Happy Hour. 

Wash your hands and wear a mask.

From Mike Formico:

Mary and I decided since we need to be isolated, we would do it together. It has worked out well. Our 2 dogs ( Blue and Paddy) are getting along well. Who knew that Patty ( all of 7 pounds) would be the boss of Blue ( all of 45 pounds). We have been getting my RV ready to sell and Mary's trailer ready to travel . Someone hooked up the battery wrong so it has taken some time to correct everything. We go to Costco about once a week and then to the Dairy Queen for a cone. Its hard to believe that it has been a month already. I hope this blog finds everyone well and staying safe. As far as May and June, we are waiting to see what happens with this pandemic. I talked to Pechanga yesterday and the RV park is closed  until further notice. I think at some point, we should all have a toast to Lynn for all she is doing to keep our line of communication open. Everyone stay safe.

From Wayne Selden

Staying home is getting old. I already finished most of the small jobs that I put off for months. Watching TV is not an option as I don't watch TV much. Having said that, Lynn got me hooked on Hope Valley, which is produced by Hallmark. I ran out of books to read and walk around the house looking for something to fix. Working on the RV (in storage) is my time away from the house. Lynn convinced me to change the wallpaper border in the RV bathroom. What a job taking the old border wallpaper off !  If I knew what I was getting into I wouldn't have started. No more weekly car shows or motorcycle runs. They are grounded for now. Hard for an extrovert to stay home and walk around the house.

From Lynn Selden

In case you didn't hear about our Friday afternoon Happy Hour Zoom calls, here is the information you need.  Zoom is an online video meeting application. The application can be downloaded from the Apple App store or Android Play store to your smart phone. On a desktop computer enter zoom.us (or click this link). You do not need to "sign up/sign in" to enter into the group call. You click on "Join Meeting" and enter the Meeting ID number  887 148 883 or even easier CLICK ON THIS LINK. Using  a computer gives you a better expereince. In the upper right corner click on Gallery view to see everyone at the same time. HOPE TO SEE YOU....REALLY SEE YOU 👀....ON FRIDAY AT 4:00PM. BYOB 🍺🍷

ALSO HERE IS A LINK TO THE 2020 CHAPTER ROSTER. PLEASE DO NOT SHARE IT TO OUTSIDERS.

I challenge you to make at least one if not two calls to a fellow Chapter Member this week. Shoot a quick email to shantyshakers25@gmail.com and share how you are coping during this "stay home, stay safe" time! 

NO BREAKFAST MEETING IN APRIL !!!

Special note about Escapades cancellation and refund

The email you received about securing a refund is a legitimate one.  It comes from the secretary of the Escapees C.E.O. and the document to be completed is also valid.  Apparently that email was sent out to all those that had made reservations for Escapade more than 120 days prior, and Escapees does not retain any credit card information longer than that for security purposes.

Rio Bend in El Centro, CA

Submitted by Richard Melendez

Small but, fun group. Unfortunately, air show was cancelled. They practiced anyway right over the park.

Totally awesome. Had Coffee and Rolls for every one.

Thursday we had dinner at the restaurant and a few of us relaxed and sang Karaoke.

Friday was fish fry with our group. We were also able to use their kitchen for our pot luck. ( Saturday ) nothing can ever succeed without everyone's help.

Thanks, to you all, it was fun. Jim and Sharan--Rey and Loretta---Ron and Elaine--- Jim and Diane---Victor--Mike and Marcy and Myself ( Richard) and Shirley . You guys were all SUPER . This is What SHANTY SHAKERS IS all about

A  visit to Salvation Mountain

Got some golf in, too!

Jim checked everyone for fever with his heat sensor.😄

Thanks to Richard and Shirley Melendez for hosting the rally. All who attended really enjoyed it!

Last minute rally at Lake Skinner in Temecula

Submitted by Bret Pemberton:

In some ways it was too bad that we could not be in Pioneertown this February due to the weather.  I know that everyone that had signed up for it was very anxious to attend.  But instead of being greeted with dry camping, cold nights (in the low 20s) wind and the strong chance of snow, we lucked out with the very last spot at Lake Skinner with full hooks minus sewage.  The weather was fantastic and we actually were given a beautiful group site with a partial view of the lake. 

We had a fire every night and a few of the guys even went out on a search and recovery for more fire wood.  Evidently they found a pile of cut wood out on a trail and brought it back for us.  We figured that the Rangers might see them, but they made it back to the camp site without hand cuffs . HAHA.  

We ended up with 12 rigs in a camping area made for 16 rigs and it proved to be just the right size for us to be able to stretch out and have plenty of room.  Several of the members brought their bikes and E-bikes to try out the trails.

On the evening of the 14th (Valentines day) we were treated with beautiful evening weather and a very nice dinner consisting to Tri Tip, Salmon and chicken along with rice, potatoes and desert. (prepared by Bret and Zeny and reports are that it was delicious !)

The next day we went to Somerset Wineries for a private tour of the winery and vineyards followed by listening to a Spanish band with Flamenco dancer and all.  Several of our members even went out and danced with her .

Thanks for all of the help of the attending members, I think that the rally was a success. We are still planning on a future trip to Pioneertown, but this time it will be with hookups and all.

NOTHING BUT POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THE VENUE, MEAL AND ACTIVITIES. GREAT JOB BRET AND ZENY FOR HOSTING A WONDERFUL RALLY!!

Quartzsite, AZ in January

Submitted by Mike Parker:

Quartzsite Boondocking at Greasewood, what more could you ask for?  Another year of honing our skills and picking up some tips. We had 20 rigs camped together and 6 rigs at other sites in Quartzsite or visited for the day. 

Thank You to the weather gods for the gorgeous sunrise and sunset every day. Mornings were perfect and the days made for walking. Evenings at the fire were calm and pleasant and full of laughter.   A big shout out to Gary and Linda Hall, Kevin and Pat Larko and Garth and Judy Carle for the wood they brought and the folks who chipped in for our farewell fire the last night. 

Speaking of fires we toasted bagels in the morning, Smores provided by Sandy and Larry Rice and Pole Pies** provided by Diantha and Larry Morlan in the evening. 

**Pole pies: use tube crescent rolls, wrap the dough around the end of a wood pole, demonstrated here by Diantha Morlan,. Hold over the campfire until golden brown and the dough can easily be removed from the pole...forming a cup. Fill the cup with can pie filling (cherry, blueberry, apple, whatever. (lets try chocolate pudding next time). Next, enjoy your Pole Pie !

Silly Al's Pizza made for an enjoyable dinner shared by all on Thursday evening. A bonus of course were the free pancakes and coffee offered by LA Mesa RV just across the street every morning. Dinners went better this year as we split up in small groups and went early to taste the culinary delights that abound. Some standouts had to be Sweet Darlene's fish fry, Mountain Quail steak and shrimp and best of all the pot roast. Garbage omelets with 25 cent coffee at Bad Boys certainly hit the spot a couple of mornings. Shanty Shakers eating out is a fine honed skill that must be admired.

Not to be overlooked of course was the shopping provided by the Big Tent and Tyson Wells. Everything imaginable for Rving, cooking, accessorizing and everything in between was available. 

We of course had show and tell at happy hour everyday to show off the bargains and must haves we all found. Thrifty ice cream outside the tent called many of us to fondly remember our care free youth. 

Some of us arrived early and spent some time with the Boomers and enjoyed the Escapees happy hour on Plomosa Rd. Good times !!

Addendum:

Mike and Marcy did a wonderful job of parking the group together, keeping the fire going and organizing meals out.  Next year they will be in Florida so we need someone to help out organizing the fun next January.

A few random pictures Thanks to all who shared their pics for this Blog ! It can't be done without a team effort!