Sunday evening the wind began to blow here in Celina, Ohio, and it got stronger by the hour all night long. I don’t think many people here at our Gypsy Gathering rally got much sleep, with our rigs rocking in the gusts.
Daylight brought no reprieve; the cold wind blew hard all day long, with gusts reported as high as 60 miles per hour in some areas. A couple headed in for the rally called to say that there were high profile vehicle warnings on Interstate 75 and the highway patrol was telling people to get off the road. They wisely decided to pull into a truck stop and wait it out, hoping to get in today.
Even with the wind, we still had 20 more RVs arrive yesterday for the rally, and our dauntless parking crew braved the gale to get them parked safely. I’m glad these guys are volunteers, because we sure could not afford to pay them what any sane man would want for doing their jobs!
On the first day at all of our rallies, after we welcome everybody and introduce the vendors and seminar presenters, I moderate an RV Quick Tips discussion, where the audience can ask questions of a panel of RV experts. For this rally, the panel included Dennis Hill from the RV Driving School, RV authors and speakers Joe and Vicki Kieva, Mac McCoy from Fire and Life Safety, RV seminar speaker Ron Speidel, fifth wheel hitch expert Pete Peterson, and Kevin Mallory from Cruising America RV Service Company.
One question was whether Life on Wheels would ever be revived, and I explained that the Recreational Vehicle Safety Education Foundation (RVSEF) had hoped to hold a similar program this year, but due to lack of industry support and student registration, they had to cancel the event. I was very flattered when Mac McCoy then said that as far as he and a lot of other people are concerned, our Gypsy Gathering rallies are the new Life on Wheels. When Joe Kieva concurred and the audience applauded, I really felt honored.
I could never hope to be compared with the late, great Gaylord Maxwell and his excellent RV education program, but we have worked very hard to make our rallies something more than the run of the mill RV get togethers. While we have vendors, entertainment, and a lot of fun at our rallies, we also strive to put together a lineup of real meat and potatoes seminars, not just fluff “buy me” presentations to sell products. Judging by the feedback we have been getting, it’s a winning combination.
With so much going on, and even as busy as she has been 
overseeing all of the rally details, Miss Terry still finds time to see the beauty in life that so many of us overlook. Monday she found these beautiful mushrooms growing at the base of one of the old oak trees here at the fairgrounds. Terry always amazes me; we can be cruising down the highway keeping up with traffic, or meandering along some two lane road, and she is always spotting hawks sitting on fence posts, or deer and antelope grazing in meadows. What an eye!
Thought For The Day – Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
I remember the Arizona Rally a couple of years ago when you could have said, “And the rains came, and came, and came, and came!” I’ll take the wind. I KNOW this Rally will be yet another success as very relevant topics are presented by experts in their field. Excellent line up as always Nick and Terry!
I read comments from yesterday and I’ll be darn Nick, you and I are both vertically compressed! What a relief. That explains why I need a booster seat in my truck to see over the dash and extended foot pedal adapters so I can put the seat back to keep my tummy from crushing the steering wheel. I knew there had to be a syndrome of some sort causing it!
Just a comment — Folks who really care for me want me to lose weight as they do for you Nick. But harping works the exact opposite for me. It is kind of them to worry but as all folks who have dieted know — until YOU are ready to diet, it AIN’T going to happen and continually bringing dieting and good health up only ticks folks off! We know it isn’t healthy so enough already!
Thanks, Cindy. I’m duly chastised! My comments were meant to be in good fun, but I can see why they would tick off someone.
Joyce
“we also strive to put together a lineup of real meat and potatoes seminars, not just fluff “buy me” presentations to sell products.”
Nick…this statement is a bit FMCAish. One mans “Fluff” is another mans “Meat and Potatoes.”
As we all know, balance is the key to living…however you choose. Most good “meals” include meat, potatoes, veggies…and dessert of some kind! Nick, you are right on with your formula on how to put on a good rally. I believe you have seen your numbers grow each time so that says something! We are graduates of LOW and know firsthand how important education is for this fulltime lifestyle. Yet we’ve met so many folks who feel they don’t need any more than what they know! I believe there’s a saying to the effect that …he who has all the answers usually has the most to learn! Every LOW we attended brought us in contact with fulltimers of 5-15 years who said they learned about things they never heard before. My take on it…”when you stop learning, you die a little!” (Would it work to hook on RVSEF teaching rallies immediately preceding or after your spring and fall rallies? Just a thought…)
Nick, don’t be surprised that Miss Terry can see beauty in the world around us. After all, she found you, didn’t she?
Hey Rick, Sounds like the rally is getting off to a rip roaring start… LOL LOL I would have loved to attended that and hopefully one day I will be able to… We have full timed for 6 years and I will tell you there is always something to learn out there. Loved the pictures of the muchrooms… I am always taking pictures of nature also… Have a fun filled day with the rally and your friends…
Travel Safe
Donna
More wind? Can’t be! Last year it was Hurricane something-or-other and mud rain! Last year we were the ones who called on our way to the rally and said when the corn in the fields lays horizontal you know it’s time to get off the road!
Wish we were there.
Claire
Nick, I don’t know if the gypsy rally is the new LOW since we didn’t have the opportunity to attend one. But, this being our fourth Gypsy gathering rally you must be doing something right that keeps bringing us and many others back. It must be more than just your pretty face and sexy body.
Keep up the good work………..Phil B
We’re sitting here in a park north of Reno, NV with our slides pulled in and the wind blowing like hell. In fact, it just blew our 20 lb. gas BBQ off the picnic table with a crash.
I’m reading about your wind and I just had a “Eureka moment”. So this is what really causes continental drift!
George and Billie