2023 Rally Reports
March 19-26 Tucson. AZ rally
Tucson, AZ Rally Report
Rallymasters-Matt Benston & Katrina Cooper
Rally venue – Voyager RV Resort - https://voyagerrv.com/
Matt Bentson & Katrina Cooper RV Site
Bob & Becky Coulter Stayed at their new ‘Winter Palace’
Gene & Rosie Dorsey Onsite Hotel
Art & Nancy Utech RV Site
Bob & Sharee Scott Onsite Hotel
Bill & Beverly Eckel RV Site
Barry & Jann Engleman RV Site
Doreen Caffrey RV Site
Tom & Connie Doreen’s Guests from Alaska
Cliff & Jeanne Meier RV Site
Allen F & Lynn Buckingham Onsite Hotel
Pat & Gloria Romansik RV Site
Mike Sternenberger RV Site
Sunday 19 March
All Attendees were treated by their Rally masters, Matt & Katrina to a Pork BBQ Dinner in the expansive Ballroom at the Voyager RV Resort. After Matt covered the weeks’ Itinerary and options, Becky Coulter suggested we conduct the Annual Cuatro Estados Chapter meeting. Those minutes were posted late March. We learned that Lynn Buckingham has been the Treasurer for over 15 years for the Cuatro Estados Chapter. Thank you so much Lynn for a job well done.
Monday 20 March
Off to the AZ Sonoran Desert Museum about 0930. We were able to make it down the hill to watch the Raptor demonstration which Wowed us all. After the Raptor demonstration, we wandered around the museum grounds to discover this museum is not as impressive as past years’ visits. The 45-minute Raptor show made it worth the visit. For lunch, we meandered through Gates Pass to the Campus of the University of Arizona for a large Lunch gathering at Gentle Bens. The restaurant was not very active since the students were focused on mid-terms since their team got knocked out of March Madness early. The evening’s meeting (a.k.a. Happy Hour) was postponed to Tuesday evening due to high winds and no last-minute Resort Rooms available.
Tuesday 21 March
Tuesday was a free day where folks ventured out to different corners of SW AZ. We met for Happy Hour in the Arizona Room of the resort. Snacks were shared, and some GREAT stories were told.
Wednesday 22 March
Our initial planning was to drive up Catalina Highway up to Mt Lemon to have lunch at the Sawmill Run Restaurant was superseded by rain. Most everyone had visited a nearby CostCo to graze around the sample tables, so that was voted out. Mat & Kat, Art & Nancy, Barry & Jann, & Mike S. went to the Biosphere 2, and still got wet between buildings. Bob & Sharee went to the Titan Missile Museum down in Green Valley. Gene and Rosie, Bob & Becky went to Round1 (a wise choice as it was all indoors). Most of us met up at Bottega Michelangelo in Oro Valley for a nice Italian Lunch. That night, we all met at the K9 Casa (Mat & Kat’s pets’ rig), for snacks & Happy Hour. The weather had cleared but was still 10 degrees below Tucson’s normal.
Thursday 23 March
16 of us were able to catch the first Tram (10 am) at the Pima Air and Space museum. We were amazed with the progress of air travel, cargo, and military uses. Then lunch was enjoyed at the Yard House. many of us sampled the large assortment of local and exotic brews. Thursday evening’s Happy Hour was bypassed. We were all ready for an early evening.
Friday 24 March
During the Friday evening Pot Luck held in the resort’s Catalina Room we learned of each other’s excursions. Gene & Rosie (key turner) annihilated the human race from the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley. Art & Nancy were shopping for a new collection at Tucson’s Auto Museum. Cliff & Jeanne went down to Ft Huachuca and found a nice Military Intelligence Museum. The group had a great time sharing RV horror stories. (Pretty sure we could write a book.) We told those that were leaving the next day farewell. Bob & Sharee left early to arrive with mountains covered in Utah snow (or was it snot? Text error!).
Saturday 25 March
Many had seen the Thunder Birds practice on Thursday & Friday. I (Matt) may have spooked everyone with anticipation of chaotic traffic, mayhem parking, & massive crowds. However we had a few brave soles show up for the event. I saw Mike S. & Barry E. while walking the large area of displays. Later that evening we had an Ice Cream Social at the K9 Casa picnic tables. Jeanne was smart and brought hot fudge as a topping, and Mike S. had brownie bites. We all had a great time reminiscing about our week, saying our goodbyes, and telling the group where we were headed on our next adventure.
Sunday 26 March
Many were texting their farewells as they ventured out to home or on to more adventures.
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Rally reports are submitted by the Rally Masters. I tis a quick synopsis of what happened during their rally. More pictures can be found in the Photo Gallery Tab above.
2023 Rally Reports Continued
APRIL 23-30 Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque, NM Rally Report
Rallymasters-Carl & Linda Threatt
The Albuquerque rally was April 23 through April 27, with 9 rigs, 16 attendees. For the most part, the weather co-operated, after all, it is spring & spring in ABQ is windy. Our first happy hour was an outdoor event, the clubhouse was still being used as the RV office, due to filming in the park for “a major film.” It was decided to party between Utech’s coach & neighbor, Dan, whom we invited to join us. Happy hour was nightly.
Monday was a free day, several people went to the Unser Racing Museum & then on to explore Old Town. At happy hour, the clubhouse was opened back up for use, discussion was opened as what to add to our itinerary on Friday & Saturday, as most were not attending the Gathering of Nations (2 couples did attend the Gathering).
Tuesday all 16 attendees rode the Rail Runner to Santa Fe, and lunch at Tomasita’s Restaurant.
Wednesday was lunch in Old Town, at D H Lescombes Brewery. Most people had places they wanted to see & do, so everyone did their own thing. Several went on to the Lavender Farm, Los Poblanos.
Thursday our caravan left the campground at 8:15 a.m., & drove up to the Sandia Crest. It was a windy, cold morning at the top, with actual temperature of 47 degrees, (less with wind chill.) After looking over ABQ & ALMOST to Texas, we then drove to Madrid for lunch. If you haven’t noticed yet, this was definitely an eating rally!
Friday 10 of us decided to have brunch at the Frontier Restaurant & go to the Bio Park. 4 people went to the Gathering of Nations. Joe & Rosalie Vacaro left for home, as they had a baby shower to attend, for family, as well as pick up their dogs from the “pet resort”. The Bio Park will have to be another time, as it was again windy & started raining. Pat & Gloria Romansik were able to join the rally, after Pat taking a pretty big fall & injuring himself, earlier in the week.
Saturday many of us left for the Farmers Market, downtown, at 10 a.m., afterwards, we enjoyed a lunch at the Guava Tree Cafe.
Sunday we said our goodbyes, “until the next time!
2023 Rally Reports Continued
May 17-21 Gallup, NM
Gallup, NM Rally Report
Rallymasters- Phillip & Stephanie Bishop
2023 Rally Reports Continued
june 7-12 Alamosa, co
Alamosa Colorado Rally Report
Rallymasters- Becky & Bob Coulter
We initially had 11 rigs signed up for the rally. 10 RVS made it. Dewey and Lou Berry were driving 1,500 miles from their home in OKC to get to our Colorado rally due to a broken wheel lug bolt in Dalhart, TX. They ended up staying 3 nights in Dalhart waiting for parts to get back on the road. They were coming to tell everyone that they sure would like more people to attend their OKC Rally Wept 8-12. They want to show you, their city. Another couple was coming to attend the rally and see if they wanted to become members of CE but they could only get 3 days at the RV park, so they canceled with the office last minute. Bobb and Kathy Barnes got stuck outside the park when he turned off their truck engine and were not able to restart it. They had the 5th wheel towed into their spot and had their truck towed to the dealership. They had to be towed into another space at the end of the rally and their truck was done soon after.
Attendees were the Barnes, Broughtons, Coulters, Bill Eckel, Houstons, Joyce Jamele and her friend Kay, Lyles, Brenner/Rozdilsky and Thornton/Jeffery.
On arrival day we had a great happy hour and heavy snacks at the clubhouse and a lovely birthday celebration for MJ Brenner. After the party many of us went outside to play a new game called Gaga Ball from Israel. It was very fun, and we got winded running around in the pit. We also played, horseshoes, and cornhole.
Thursday June 8th we went to Colorado Gators and Reptile Farm. And finished off the day with dinner and beer at the Colorado Farm Brewery.
Friday June 9th we met at the Great Sand Dunes Visitor Center, it took forever to get into the park due to the number of people entering. Several of us went to play in the Medano Creek that flows through the park. The creek was really flowing with all the snow melt. It undulates like the waves of the ocean. We stripped off our shoes and threw them on the bank and walked across the very wide creek. The water was warm. We met more CEers at the Sand Dunes Recreation Adults only Greenhouse for drinking, eating and soaking. We met the Englemans there and enjoyed a nice visit and got to hear how their new house was coming along. Later we all donned our lighted cat ears, glasses, and light sabers. We did a little “Grey Pride” Conga line around the pools and had all the young folks wondering what we were doing. To see what fools we made of ourselves go to the movie created by Bill Eckel on YouTube, https://youtu.be/iswx2RPf-GM. The Stargazing occurred in the parking lot as no one wanted to drive 30miles back out to the National Park.
Saturday June 10th- Was a day on your own. Some went to the Donkey Dash in Creede, CO, some took the Cumbres & Toltec RR. Two couples went hiking up some difficult terrain. Two couples went to the oldest Church in CO, then to Jack Dempsey’s home/museum in Manassa, CO and later to Cano’s Folk Art Castle in Antonito, CO. It is made of Beer Cans. The drive-in movie in Monte Vista was a bust it was playing kids movies. We still had a great happy hour, a quiz about the Gator Farm and tech gifts made by Bill Eckel. First prize went to Frank & Betsy and 2nd Prize went to Richard Huston. Bill Eckel made popcorn and showed a movie in the club house.
Sunday June 11th we went to se the Stations of the Cross and the Shrine in San Luis. The bronze statues were created by a local artist known as the Michelangelo of San Luis. After we had an impromptu Sunday all faiths service, we hiked down the mountain to have coffee and lunch. A Big thank you to Connie Broughton for playing the hymns on her accordion and to the scripture readers up and down the trail.
That evening we closed out the rally by having a nice dinner at Ninos in Alamosa.
2023 Rally Reports Continued
jULY 25-21 Heber Valley, UT
Heber Valley Rally Report
Rallymaster-Joyce Jamele
2023 Rally Reports Continued
AUGUST 2-8 Hayden/steamboat springs, co
Hayden/Steamboat Springs, CO
Rallymasters-Gene & Rosie Dorsey
2023 Rally Reports Continued
september 25-30 Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, OK Rally Report
Rallymasters-Dewey & Lou Berry
2023 Rally Reports Continued
october 4-10 Wilcox, AZ
Wilcox, AZ Rally Report
Nancy & Art Utech