FMCA 50th Anniversary ...Part two.....

As we start day two of our rally, the storm clouds are forming already.  With Coffee and Donuts done, we head for the vendors and a few seminars.

Fortunately, our first seminar this day is in an adjoining building to the Coffee and Donuts.  This poor woman was trying to beat the storm, but didn't quite make it.  The heavens opened up and dumped water on our rally site!

Wow ... some sunshine!  This evening the "entertainment" is a dance, so we decided to relax at the coach.  The sunshine in the afternoon gives us hope that the bad weather is over.

If you remember from a day ago, we didn't have a mud puddle by our rig - it was just a road.  The last storm changed all that.  The best part of this day is that we finally got the Jimmy back from the doctor.  After a major surgery to replace the transfer case  (and the push button shifter which we will not speak of), we are good to go again.  Thinking all is well, we settle in to relax.

FMCA 50th Anniversary at Gillette Wyoming 2013

Time for our FMCA Rally to get underway.  We are very lucky this year to be able to NOT have to caravan between our Monaco International Pre-rally and the FMCA Convention.  To make it all that much sweeter, we have had full-hookups for the Monaco Rally and we get to sit in the same spot with full-hookups for the FMCA Convention.  Maybe a once in a lifetime good thing!

After a few rain storms, this beautiful sunset is surely a promise of wonderful weather for the duration?  Stay tuned....

The lot across the street from us is filling up!  Also notice the storm clouds... Yes they never go away for long.

Oh oh - here comes the next storm.  Notice the road in front of us is still just a road.

Our FMCA begins... When our club was started in 1963, this was likely the most popular motorcoach.  This one is an early 1950's Flixable - the state of the art Motor Coach.  It is likely the forerunner of all that we call "motorhomes" now days.  It was very interesting to see how the first motorhomer's traveled.

Each morning we are welcomed to Coffee & Donuts.  It is a way to get started and meet up with old friends and make some new ones.  The Frustrated Maestro's provide music to get our day started.  The last morning we had a pancake breakfast in place of the donuts - very nice!

This is our 50th Anniversary Celebration.  Founded in 1963 with just a few motorhomes, this organization has grown to monumental size.  I think I remember them saying there was close to 80,000 members now!  We hope they keep going strong so we can continue to enjoy gatherings like this.

Our first nights entertainment is the Buckinghams!  We are excited and the show did not disappoint.  Brought back lots of memories for both of us - but mostly me.

This is what we look like on 6/20 at 6:15 pm.  Just keep that in mind.

As you can see we are just a little ways back from the stage - but the sound was great and so the experience.

This was the best shot I could get.  The guy on the right and the guy in the center are origional Buckingham's - that makes them old , like us!

Our MONACO Rally continues......

Another view of our group.  We ended up with not quite 270 coaches - and only 27 coaches will be leaving before the FMCA Convention.  That is a pretty good turn out!

This is pretty much the essence of Wyoming!  We even have people riding horseback coming past our parking spot just about everyday we have been here.

Looks like we are in for another round of weather!  One evening we were a hairs breath away from having a Tornado Warning!  Of course, we didn't know that until the next day...glad it blew over!

This is a little blurry, but you get the idea.  This was our Ice Cream Social.  Every afternoon they entice us to come to the building for some goodie - in hopes that we will fall in love with a new coach!  To my amazement, they actually sold 10 or 11 coaches at this rally!

Finally some clearing skies - and NO WIND! 

Every evening before dinner, we have an open bar.  As you see it is quite popular!  Lots of choices including the hard stuff, wine, beer and soda.

Getting ready for dinner.  Each morning we are fed a hearty breakfast, and each evening we enjoy a delicious dinner.  This night I think it was Roast Baron of Beef and Baked Salmon!  Tomorrow is Prime Rib - our last dinner is sponsored by Monaco RV and we will have real plates, silverware and glass wine glasses!  It did not disappoint!!!!

Gillette calls itself the "Energy Capital of the World".  They have several Coal Mines here in Campbell County and over the years have excavated millions of tons, so maybe they are right.   This truck is called a "Unit Rig".  Built in 1976, it is 18 feet high, 23 feet wide and 66 feet long.  It's load capacity is 170 Tons of Coal.  It weighs 235,000 lbs and has a 1600 horsepower engine.  During it's working life, it hauled over 10 million tons of Coal.  I think the trucks they use today are even bigger than this.

How is that for some big tires!

The tires are Bridgestone, each weighing 8,500 lbs.  In 1991, each tire cost $13,000!  They are 12 feet high and 4 feet wide, 60 bias ply off-road tubeless.  In 1991 this was the largest tire in the world!  Doubtful that is still true today.  The scoop is a monster, but not nearly as big as what they use today.

Engine 5802 - Built by General Electric in 1972.  The 3000 horsepower engine has gone over 2,400,000 miles and hauled over 11,580,000 tons of coal.  It took a bunch to fill the fuel tank - 4000 gallons capacity!

Here comes FMCA!  These are likely the people who will be parking all the rest of the attendees.

This is the field in front of where we are parked.  Check back in a few days and it will be full of coaches!  Still enjoying some wonderful weather - guess the first few days were not going to be the normal.  We can handle this for a long time!

A beautiful Wyoming sunset!  A fantastic way to end our Monaco Rally.  Now, a couple days to rest us and get laundry done, then the FMCA Rally will begin.  It has been absolutely wonderful having full-hookups and not having to move between rallies.  Probably a once in a lifetime experience - sure hope it happens again!

 

The first "half day" of our rally.....

The first "real half day"  of our rally - this is just a small representation of the 270 Monaco Coaches in this rally.  The skies are cloudy, but the weather is wonderful.

As we get ready to enter the Pavilion for the Monaco Welcome Party, we notice the skies are darkening and becoming quite ominous.  Once inside, the PA system is warning us of approaching weather.  They are saying that high winds and hail are possible shortly and if we left awnings out we should return to our rigs to secure items that might be in jeopardy.  With tables of wonderful snacks and adult beverages waiting, I don't believe ANYBODY left the venue.  We knew we were ok since we made sure all windows were closed  in the rig and only the small awnings were out.  We enjoyed good company and wonderful food and drinks for over an hour before we thought we should check on our home.  We decided to tour some of the new coaches on display before deciding to return to our rig and check things out.  There was one new Dynasty on display that was quite enticing - maybe even causing some residual thoughts.  Once we left, we got a little wet, but nothing of any consequence.

Looking a little dark after the first round of rain, but the worst is over for this night, we think.  A little lightening and thunder, but all in all nothing happening tonight.

Over all a great start to our Monaco Pre-rally here in Gillette.  Seeing lots of old friends and making some new friends.  More to follow tomorrow.....

Monaco International Pre-rally Gillette Wyoming

Entering the CAM-PLEX in Gillette Wyoming.  I almost forgot to take a photo - we started out on the road about 10-12 coaches from the front of the line.  There were two lines of coaches.  Here we are almost to the front of the line!

As usual, the parking crew did a wonderful job getting us parked.  We actually have an excellent spot.  We are on the end of the row that is closest to all the doings! The road is not too noisy and we are exactly across the street from the private RV park - High Plains RV park.  Directly in front of us will be some of the show coaches and just a short walk to our left is the building where our meals and entertainment will be held.  Don't think we could be in a better place!  We have 30 amp full-hookups - and the 30 amps seem to be good and strong.  This will be our home until the 23rd of June, when our rallies are over and we will be moving to Hart Ranch in Rapid City South Dakota.

Casper Wyoming

This is our campsite in Casper Wyoming at the Casper East RV Park.  A little pricy for what we got and extremely noisy all night long.  The train tracks are very close and I swear the trains blew their horns at least every hour all night long!  We won't be back here for sure.

Fort Bridger State Historic Park

Right next to our campground in Ft. Bridger Wyoming, is the Fort Bridger State Historic Site.  We ventured over this morning to check it out.

We had a very enjoyable time exploring this site.  Pictured is me, Andy, Diane, and Ray.

The park is absolutely beautiful.  In 1843 the area was established by Jim Bridger and Louis Vasquez.  They wanted to set up a trading post to supply the Mountain Men and Indians in the area and hopefully the emigrants and Mormon Pioneers on their trek to the West.  Although their trading post only lasted a little more than a decade, they were very successful.  The area was sold to the Mormons in the 1850's and then the Army took over in 1858.

During the Army occupation, a man named Carter came with them and set up his own store to provide goods for the Army and other emigrants.  The fort sat on the Mormon Trail, the Oregon Trail, Overland Stage Route, the Union Pacific Railroad and Pony Express route, so there was always someone needing supplies.  This was our Docent - He was very knowledgeable and told us many interesting things about the fort.  I keep saying fort, but this fort isn't like you think with big walls surrounding it.  In Jim Bridger's day, there was a fence around the trading post and the Mormons built a stone wall surrounding the area while they had it.  The stone wall crumbled while the Army was in possession and was not rebuilt.

This is a reproduction of Jim Bridger's Trading Post.  Most all of the buildings in the park are reproductions.  When the Mormons left, they burned everything to the ground and after the Army left most of the buildings were sold and moved or dismantled for the construction materials.  In 1933 the property was dedicated as a Wyoming Historical Landmark and Museum.  Various groups and individuals took interest in preserving and restoring what remained of the old Fort Bridger - including reproducing buildings that were no longer there.

One  of the restored buildings was the Commanding Officer's Quarters. 

Wow ... a chair made from Moose and other antlers - how interesting!



Another "critter" chair.

At some point, the wagon trails changed into a road called the Lincoln Highway. This preceded President Eisenhower's Interstate System, which is now I-90.  This was the Black and Orange Lincoln Highway Motel - likely the first "motel" anywhere.  As you see, the prices for a motel room have gone up significantly!

Each unit had it's own garage - for their Horseless Carriage!