MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
David Murray
Hello SoCal Alpiners,
Well Spring is upon us and Summer is right around the corner. I honestly cannot believe the year is almost half over.
A number of us attended the “ACA” Texas Eclipse Rally while others attended the SoCAl/NorCal Napa Rally. As Catheren and I attended the Texas Rally, I can attest a good time was had by all, and the feedback about Napa has been the same, great dinners, events, and visitation. Next up in September is the ACA Pre-Rally in Salem, OR, then 109th FMCA convention in Redmond, OR. If interested in attending, act fast, spots are filling up.
As we head into Summer, if anyone has planned an outing, and are looking for company, shoot me an email at dmurray62@me.com, and I will send an email blast for anyone interested in joining you. Also, check the website to watch for updates and registration for SoCal events coming in September and October.
If you are a member of the ACA Facebook page, you probably know, Catheren and I are grounded for the summer to make coach repairs and upgrades. As soon as I get things back together, we’ll be back out there.
(As a quick public service announcement – be sure and check the end caps on the trim around your coach. I have found “two” that have been leaking for years. First one under the entry handle, leaks into the stair area. The second, is under the driver’s window. There is a vertical piece and horizontal piece that come together. Been leaking into the subfloor for “YEARS”…..)
To briefly touch on my recent email regarding discussions of a possible merge with NorCal, NoWaca, and/or ACA. To be clear, there are no efforts underway to take action for this. It’s my understanding this topic has been broached a numerous times over the past few years, for one reason or another. Although, I do have an opinion, as President of SoCal, I see my responsibility is to “facilitate” the discussions necessary to understand the pros and cons, until we decide if this is worthy of a membership vote to move forward or not.
Until we meet again, travel safe… and for those on the road….
“It’s a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes.
Everything looks the same, feels the same.
Even smells the same.
You realize what’s changed is you.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Dave Murray
SoCal ACA President
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
Janet Prodanovich
From Your FMCA National Director
Tom Polk
Alpine Coach Association
SALEM-SILVERTON, OREGON PRE RALLY
August 6 to 11, 2024
FMCA’S 109TH Convention Redmond, Oregon
August 11 to 17, 2024
Last call we still have a few sites left. The registration deadline is May 31, 2024. Come join us for fun and frolicking in Salem, OR. Have lunch on the Willamette Queen Sternwheeler, grab the ring as you go around on the carousel. Games, prizes, food, drinks (BYOB), all the while spending time with friends.
We have arranged a day at the Powerland Heritage Park, within the Park are 14 separate Museums for your enjoyment, another day we booked a tram tour of the Oregon Gardens.
Besides lunch on a Sternwheeler, Mt. Angel Sausage Co. is catering a German dinner for us, we are doing Tony’s Tacos for breakfast again & Elegant Catering is providing a breakfast & dinner for us.
Why stay at home during those dry, sticky days in August when you could venture out to Salem with temps averaging in the low 80’s. Perfect weather to get out see the historic town of Silverton, built in the mid 1800’s along Silver Creek. Maybe while you are there take a drive to Silver Falls State Park for a short leisurely walk to the falls. Or the Willamette Pie Company in Salem where I heard the strawberry shortcake is delightful. So many things to do like the B-17 Alliance and restoration Museum, Oregon State Mental Hospital, where One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was filmed. Oh, Oh and if you have never been to the Evergreen Museum in McMinnville it’s a must see. The Museum was actually built around Howard Hughes Flying Boat The Spruce Goose. More than 50 air and military exhibits, a space tech building, and an IMAX Theater. Even if you have been there, I know there is something you missed. Tour the Elsinore Theatre or the Willamette Heritage Center Museum. That’s just a tidbit of things to see and do.
AND, after the rally we are caravanning to Redmond for the FMCA’s 109th Intl Convention Aug. 11th- 17th. More info to follow for those that are going and want to drive carts.
Send in the attached Registration Form to Jerry & call the RV Park to make your own site reservation 877-564-7295 or 503-463-6641. The Park is holding 25 sites till May 31st, or we sell out.
Sign up for the FMCA Redmond, OR Convention Volunteering to drive Activity Carts. We will be arriving on Sunday, August 11, 2024, parking in the 50-amp Volunteer Area.
Wagonmaster: Jerry and Marilee Fichera, Co-Wagonmaster: Tom and Nancy Polk
Questions: Jerry 408-710-1823jfichera@live.com or Tom 530-515-8661tomvending@msn.com
WEBMASTER ARTICLE
Webmaster Update
May 2024
I hope everyone is out and enjoying the springtime in their coaches. Stephanie and I just returned from a great rally in Napa, and a side trip to Jackson Rancheria on the way home. Soon we will make a short side trip to Arizona to get some new coach batteries.
Our Alpinesocal.com website is still plugging away. We have some new SARC members, so we are in a transition. My better half is no longer doing the input of the rally information, as those duties will now fall to someone else. Hopefully we will get through this transition time with little interruption.
Speaking of a little interruption, the website itself is due for a major overhaul. The software I use to maintain it has a new version, and I need to upgrade to the new version. Those upgrades never go as planned, so yours truly has been dragging his feet to do it. So if in the near future you go to the website and get an error message, you know things didn’t go well! (Remember, an optimist will never be pleasantly surprised.)
We hope to see you at a rally soon!
Welcome Spring! It’s time to hit the road…
Thank you to the Matthews and Schroeders for hosting the Napa Rally. I have heard that it was a fun and educational rally. They had fun activities including some bowling and the education was learning about poison oak the hard way.
Several of our So Cal members were off in Texas to observe the Total Eclipse and enjoyed some great activities and wonderful meals over 18 days and 3 locations.
The balance of the rallies for So Cal this year are:
Wishon Village RV Park, Shaver Lake, CA
September 8-13, 2024
Wagonmasters: Tom & Patti Dietrich and Pat & Marcella Mayfield
Verde Ranch RV Ranch, Camp Verde, AZ
October 29 – November 5, 2024
Wagonmasters: Raiford & Sheryl Arnold and Jerry & Marilee Fichera
We are still working on rallies for 2025, however, we need wagonmasters to host. If you are interested in hosting and have a location in mind, please let us know. We are hoping to have a spring rally in Ramona, CA.
We look forward to seeing you on the road.
Our spring Alpine Coach Rally took us to the beautiful Napa Expo RV Park April 18th to April 23rd and was attended with 11 coaches.
We all had a delightful time discovering Napa and the surrounding area along with visiting family and friends with nice weather too. On our first night after our chili feed, we all played a great ice breaker where surprise gifts were switched or stolen. What a fun event to get to know your true neighbor! So much laughter!
Friday morning, we toured the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park which was built in 1846 and one of the only 2 water driven working mills west of the Mississippi. Fabulous adventure, great tour guide and beautiful grounds.
Friday evening, we had a fun blind wine tasting party with fabulous hors d’oeuvres provided by the group. The RV Park even provided some more wine for us to enjoy. Saturday and Sunday our hosts and cohosts provided our breakfasts so everyone could enjoy wineries, art and history museums, trails, restaurants, farmers market and taking in the beauty of the Napa area.
Monday we shared the afternoon/evening with bowling with a pizza dinner.
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Our notable winners were Mike Hambarian, Lynn Call and Barbara Hasman. Tuesday morning came way too soon to have to say goodbye to our spring fling group.
Just one note to follow - Just make sure on the next event that Linda Matthews does not make the centerpieces with poison oak!
Well, it’s another magical rally experience, truly one for the books! Jan and Dean Sandmire showed off Texas with all the warmth and passionate pride of true Texans! We all felt it was one of the very best rallies ever! Bravo to Jan especially, Dean says; it takes a lot of planning for a nearly three week rally. The truth is always about the connection and caring between the people and the hosts also nurtured that energy, which lasts far beyond the rallies themselves! People came from Whidbey Island, Washington and from Florida and everywhere in between!
We met in Hye, Texas on the 4B Ranch on April 5, where owner James shared stories of the family’s 150 years in that spot! Whether heading west to Fredericksburg to savor the local German heritage in buildings, food, decor and general ambience or heading east to Johnson City, made famous by President Lyndon Johnson, the Hill Country exceeded all expectations!
Lined with extravagant structures representing the plentiful wineries of the area, the highway was blanketed with spectacular wildflowers in full bloom wherever you looked! The Willow Loop was a favorite drive to take in the views. Wimberley boasts a flea market with nearly 400 vendors, something for everyone.
Another highlight of the area was the LBJ Historic State Park, fascinating for the local history and the reminder of all he and Lady Bird accomplished.
In true ACA fashion, several members commented that “we are our way through Texas!” From a wood-fired 8-foot pizza cooked outdoors at our campground to an elegant filet mignon and chicken dinner at Alstadts Winery, Jan planned our Hye experience to highlight the area’s best.
Everyone came to rally facing the distinct possibility that the weather would not cooperate for eclipse viewing as the forecast was for rain and complete cloud cover, though we were in the path of totality. As if ordered just for us, however, the heavy cloud cover parted perfectly at each phase of the eclipse. Steve Maurman took professional quality photos and the rest of us did our best. Smile.
After exploring that picturesque part of the Texas Hill Country, we headed to Port Aransus on Mustang Island. Once again, Jan planned a variety of activities and food events, including a fish boil on the beach with fire roasted s’mores and culminating with a delectable Texmex buffet around a resort pool!
We visited the Corpus Christi aquarium and were delighted with displays varying from sharks to walk-in bird enclosures.
The ocean water was warm, plenty of sunshine, a great pool onsite at our RV park and ornate sand castles being constructed for a huge competition. We dressed up like pirates for pirate ship voyage around the bay and shared a meal at a pirate-themed restaurant called Vick’s. The island energy brought out a feeling of playfulness and tropical relaxation.
And who knew that belt sanders
can race?! We were there and it's a thing!
Taking a ferry in a motorhome was a new experience to some as we headed back to Hill Country and the Sandmire’s hometown of New Braunfels, a thriving town with gorgeous rivers, history, a huge lake and fantastic food! Other adventures included the Bracken Bat Caves at sunset where 8-10 MILLION bats live and emerge nightly to hunt. Migrating from Mexico for over 10,000 years to this site, they nest in this cave while gestating and raising their young. The swarm is so huge it shows up on radar!
We enjoyed yummy Texas fare at a Freiheit Country Store, proving fun and satiety since 1889! And to top off the excitement, Greg Vaughn won an outdoor pizza oven during a radio station promotion event that night.
More tantalizingly good food and fanciful decor was provided in the old downtown area at Dos Rios restaurant
Another extraordinary natural wonder was the Natural Bridge Caves, discovered and developed on private property over decades. Fascinating!
Some ventured to The Alamo and San Antonio’s River Walk, reported as a stunning. Others spent time in Gruene, a tiny historic spot right on the river whose dance hall was the site of John Travolta’s hit movie “Michael’s” famous dance scene. Our goodbye dinner was at the Gristmill there, serving more scrumptious Texas food.
During our New Braunfels stay, the Sandmire’s invited us to their “ranchette,” as Dean says, for a truly local experience of Texas BBQ, served in Dean’s Texas-sized barn/garage, appropriately decorated with taxidermied animals and horns and lots of corrugated metal and exposed steel, every man’s dream.
Leaving the group at the end of a memorable rally is always such a “sweet sorrow,” especially after nearly three weeks of shared wonders! Thanks again to our wagon masters, Jan and Dean Sandmire! Until next time!
A special appreciation for everyone who contributes to making this newsletter possible with your summaries, information and photos! It takes a village.
Have a wonderful spring and summer! We hope to see you on the road soon.
