Rally #1 Cody WY

We are scheduled to attend three separate motor home rallies during the next 2 weeks, from Cody, WY back to Rapid City SD. Due to the scheduling of the rallies we will be looping back in the wrong direction from where we want to spend the bulk of our summer (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Glacier National Parks) but hey, that's why our home has wheels.

People often ask “So, just what is a rally anyway?” and “What do you do there?” Well, simply put, a motor home rally is a gathering of motor home owners, usually members of the same club. They usually have a common bond, such as they might own the same brand of motor home, or they might come from the same geographical region. Often a rally is mainly an excuse to visit a certain place or a certain area of the country. There will often be organized tours or suggestions for local excursions to take on your own. There are often seminars, technical discussions, and the opportunity to tell tales about our travels, our problems and our solutions. At several past rallies Dorcas has led beading classes, and we have led biking or canoeing trips. Often vendors will be present and sometimes certain service work can be performed on site. There is also a big social component; we do eat, drink and party a bit.

So that's what a rally is. On Monday we moved across town from the Walmart to Absaroka Bay RV where we were attending a rally hosted by Country Coach International (CCI). We own a Country Coach brand motor home, and CCI is the mother club for Country Coach owners and the regional Country Coach clubs. There were about 40 coaches registered for the rally, and we knew maybe a third of the folks here. We actually arrived a little early; the parking committee (Bill S.) was not yet expecting coaches, but Bill found us a site and we were parked by 9:00 am. Many folks had arrived earlier in the week, and we began making the rounds to see who was there. We were parked across the row from friends Rick and Tammy from Florida and their sheltie Dixie. Matilda and Dixie are big buds.

Matilda and Dixie

Some of the best seminars were those presented by “Mac the Fire Guy”. Mac is a long-time fire-safety instructor who travels in his motor home attending rallies and doing fire safety seminars. He shows videos on engine fires and refrigerator fires that will scare the bejesus out you. Then he will sell you fire extinguishers, automatic suppression systems and smoke and CO detectors. Actually he presents very good information on the prevention and suppression of motorhome fires, and safely exiting the coach. He has live burn demonstrations and folks get to put the fire out. We also practice exiting the emergency exits in a coach.

A CCI rally tradition is the pet parade. Folks dress up their pets and parade them for prizes. Most were dogs, but there was one horse (well actually a great dane dressed as a horse). Some animals were not real, such as the stuffed gorilla and various stuffed reptiles. Pretty much everyone got a prize. Matilda won in the most adventurous category, based on her wilderness travels and various animal encounters. The judges made up categories as they went to fit each pet's strengths.

Bella the horse

Several days we went to town. On at least two occasions we visited the Sierra Trading Post Outlet. Sierra Trading Post is an on-line discount house for outdoor clothing and gear, featuring great prices. In a travel brochure in a rack outside the store there were coupons for an addition 35% off. We did manage to find a few items we could use.

Check out the butt on that floozy!

One evening the group had the buffet dinner in the Governor's Room at the Irma Hotel. The Irma was built by Buffalo Bill Cody himself in 1902 and named for his daughter Irma. We had planned to watch the nightly gunfight in the street next to the Irma, but dinner ran over, and somehow we missed it. I can't figure out how we didn't hear all the shooting. We then all went across the street to hear Dan Miller and his Empty Saddle Band for an evening of western music and comedy. It was a great show. Don't miss it the next time you are in Cody.

Dinner in the Governor's room at the Irma

Dan Miller and his Empty Saddle Band

Friday the 14^th was Flag Day. At the city park supporters had planted ~1000 flags to honor veterans and others. It was a moving sight.

Flag Day in Cody

The last day of the rally was a free day, so we decided to ride up the hill into Yellowstone National Park. It was a very pretty ride up the Shoshone River canyon. We entered  atthe East Entrance and continued another 10 miles or so to Sylvan Pass and then to Sylvan Lake. Sylvan Pass was where there were avalanches in May two years ago, thwarting our attempts then to enter Yellowstone via the East Entrance. Even in mid June there was still snow on the pass.

Shoshone River

Sylvan Pass

The weather was great, cool and dry, although we did have a few storms and some hail. Now eastward to Gillette WY for Rally #2.