Reunion Rally. Most readers will know that we previously owned a Safari TREK, a relatively high-quality gas-powered motorhome with the unique MajicBed feature. We no longer own the TREK, but this rally, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Safari International, the official Safari owners club, specifically invited all former Safari owners. We met many old friends and made many new friends. Perhaps half of the 200 some coaches in attendance were TREKs. Most of the remainder were other models of Safari coaches, primarily diesel pushers such as the Panther, Cheetah, Continental, Ivory, Sahara and Zanzibar. There were also a number of SOB's (some other brand) in attendance, which included us.The rally featured a continental breakfast each morning, a happy hour and catered dinner each evening, technical seminars, crafts classes and evening
entertainment. There were "potty races" featuring a vintage 1998 RV potty vs a 2008 RV potty, representing the 20 years of Safari International's existence. While the motorhome industry is experiencing severe financial hardships, I don't think the event planners were suggesting that the industry was going down the crapper. On July 4th there was a very moving and inspirational presentation by Major Harold E. Johnson, USAF (retired). Harry Johnson, a Safari owner and Iowa native, was shot down over North Vietnam on April 30, 1967, while flying missions for the secret Wild Weasel surface-to-air missile killer group. He was subsequently captured and remained a POW in North Vietnam for the next six years. He told the amazing story of his ordeal, from the time he was deployed to Vietnam until his release and reunion with his family. His tale of torture, heroism, endurance and faith was the most moving 4th of July experience I have ever had.The weather was very pleasant during the event, although we experienced high winds and occasional storms. One day a tornado warning was issued and a twister did touch down 7 miles from the
park. We were all looking outside to see if we could see a funnel cloud. It's a good thing one didn't come to us, because there was really no place to go. All the buildings in the park are sheet metal construction. Think shrapnel. Most agreed we would be best off in our coaches if a twister did hit. We might get thrown around, but at least we would be in a sturdy box. During that event two awning pull hooks, steel hooks screwed to the side wall of our coach, broke off. One day we toured Cedar Rapids about 12 miles away. Cedar Rapids, bisected by the Cedar River, was devastated by flooding several weeks ago. The flood waters have receded, but 
there was still evidence of the recent flooding. The first floors of all buildings in the central building district, as well as many adjacent commercial areas and neighborhoods, were being gutted. Much of the downtown area was still without power; portable generators and recovery company trucks lined the streets. During the rally Safari International and its members raised $8000 to aid flood victims.We will be attending a Country Coach rally 2 days after the Safari rally. During the Safari rally, display Country Coaches were arriving, including the revolutionary new Veranda model. The Veranda is said to be the biggest innovation in the RV industry since the slide room. It is a vertical side wall that drops down and pivots out to form a patio accessible from inside the coach. I had heard of the Veranda before leaving home and was very skeptical. After actually seeing it, standing on it and operating its controls, I am much more impressed. It's certainly not for everyone. It adds over $40,000 to the cost of the coach and decreases inside storage space, but I think it will be a success. Country Coach owns the patents to the technology and expects it will help them weather the current industry downturn. Their investors are excited and have infused cash to help keep the company viable. I wish them luck. It is ironic that the Safari folks got to play with the Veranda before the Country Coach rally attendees arrived. Someone suggested we find out how many Safari owners we could pack onto the Veranda before it tipped over. After unsuccessfully tipping the Veranda, we went to the pasture next to the RV park and tipped some cows.
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