SAFARI INTERNATIONAL 35th ANNIVERSARY (Western) RALLY
Silver Spur RV Park, Silverton, Oregon
Sept. 5-8, departed Sat., 9/9/23
Wagonmaster: Lee Buckley, Safari International President
NWTFC was represented by 13 of the 34 coaches present at this memorable Safari rally. . . Ashbridge (2), Block (2), Buckley (1), Carpenter (2), Cooper 2), Edwards (1), Harris (2), Herold/Edens (2), Pratt (1), Ruby (1), Turner (2), Walczak (2), and V. Weaver/ G. Schweitzer (2). Other Safari clubs had members present as well so it was a nice mix of friends and ‘First Timers’. Several of our Trek club members had also been Safari International and Safari-So-Good members over these many years so it was easy for the various couples to blend into a friendly, cohesive group.
On Tuesday, our members arrived throughout the day to assigned full hookup campsites at this fine RV park. Valeta & Glen had arrived days earlier as they planned to be discretely married with close Safari friends present. S.I. distributed Safari bags to all attendees containing the rally roster, sites, rally schedule, campground map, S.I. lion lapel pin, zebra scarf, Safari patch – as well as a fine S.I. lion logo 35th Safari Int’l Anniversary coffee cup for each of us. We gathered for a hearty hors d’oeuvres happy hour that evening, catered by ‘Menu by Mary Lou’. This caterer was available right on the premises and served us wonderful breakfasts each morning and tasty dinners in the evening following happy hour. The tables each had a fitting, animal print runner and jungle animal/pith helmet centerpiece. Lee Buckley spoke to us re: the rally agenda and about the many door prizes he’d be making available to lucky winners. Over the rally, there would be many little gifts like hats, place mats, a lap blanket, leather key fob, etc. – but also a pelleted travel-size smoker BBQ, $$ Visa or Mastercard for fuel costs, etc., $ certificates toward RV work at Henderson’s LineUp, & 3 nights stay at Silver Spur RV Park thru 2024. Wow. The Carpenters got a nice Safari boxed set of games for travel and an electronic bug zapper was also given away.
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On Wed. many attended the seminar presented by Robert Henderson of Henderson’s Line up of Grants Pass, OR. “Suspension Upgrades/Optimization.” 15 coaches had been signed up to receive complimentary inspections throughout the rally. On Thurs. after the delicious catered breakfast, Lee Buckley led a technical roundtable discussion re: LiFePo4/Solar/Inverter/ Upgrades, etc.
In our spare time, many took their toads to explore nearby Silverton, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon Gardens, the village of Mt. Angel, fruit stands, etc. A few couples chose to play all 13 card games of “Five Crowns.” Wojo made a hinged, wooden entry step cover for Herold’s Trek and a group of project-minded Trekkers spent hours BS’ing while it was nicely installed with a latch. Their wives all brought lawn chairs and chatted in the shade of the coach on that warm sunny day.
Wojo’s Handiwork!
One day we all gathered at the lodge for ‘Card Bingo’ – for 3 rounds of generous quarter winnings and one where we had each thrown a dollar into the kitty for a super win by one lucky soul! Two of our Trekkies won quarter jackpots.
Because a ‘quorum’ was present to validate an S.I. business meeting, we all brought our lawn chairs and participated in some good discussions. One Safari couple on an RV trip from their home in Appleton, Wisconsin had provided the large TV screen in the side of their Phaeton coach for a ZOOM mtg. with the SI Executive Board. Nominations to fill necessary offices and other key decisions for SI to remain viable had to be tabled.
Our final event aboard the Willamette Queen stern-wheeler riverboat at the Salem River Front Park couldn’t go as scheduled due to a previous event exposing the staff to Covid! Symptoms had appeared days later and our wagonmaster was notified ASAP! Our bus was cancelled and the caterer delivered our dinner to the S.I. rally instead. The immersive Murder Mystery dinner buffet with special guest artists took place right at the campground. It was an interactive & entertaining evening filled with suspense and surprises! A few of our Trek members, Dick Harris, John Herold, Jeanette Block & Lee Buckley wound up being 4 of the costumed suspects who each seemed to have a motive to commit m-u-r-d-e-r! Evidence eventually led the detective and table teams to decide on the most guilty suspect. It was a double murder of revenge – poison and a shooting. Turned out to be a woman — one of our own Trekkies! – as was one of the victims as well!
The winning table: Congratulations to Kathleen, Barb, Robert and Jo for solving the murder mystery!
After the lodge was cleaned & tidy, most members had headed out by 10 am on Saturday, 9/9. Lee Buckley, as SI President, will also be attending the (Eastern) 35th Safari Int’l celebration rally in Branson, Missouri this fall.
Written by Jeanette Block
Photo credits: Kathleen W., Jeanette B., Mike A., John H. Barb H.