AVI CASINO ULTRA VAN RALLY
at the AVI's KOA RV PARK
12, 13, 14 MARCH 2015
The AVI Ultra Van Rally was a great success.....weather was perfect, not too hot,
not too windy. We parked in our usual spaces, along the golf course and its moat....the sounds of its rippling waves
after dark were soothing, yet made ya wonder if Nessie's cousin lives in there! - hopefully he/she won't think our little
Ultras are a snack! And speaking of food, dining at the AVI Casino was deeeelicious and reasonable with lots of choices
(love their Thursday 2-4-1 buffets all day long), so there's no need for any cooking. And it was so gracious of Jacob,
the KOA Park Manager, to give us free tickets to Saturday's breakfast buffet. They truly appreciate us holding our Rally
at the AVI KOA each Spring - they toured and took pictures of our Ultras and posted us on their KOA Facebook page....check
it out: https://www.facebook.com/laughlinkoa/posts/448117332012000.
We must have quite the reputation there at the KOA - when 3 of us gals flagged
down the shuttle at the casino to drive us back to the RV Park, the cute driver asked our space numbers....being of advanced
age, we couldn't remember....but it didn't matter, 'cause he said: that's ok, you're the Ultra Vanners! Hmmmmmm
The highlight of the Rally was group pictures of us Ultra Van Leprechauns, dressed
in green St Pat's Day attire, poised in front of each of the Ultras and Tiara. Lew & Shelley may never
bring grapefruits from their tree again to any Rally - 'cause these grapefruits make for very interesting pictures! HaHa.
Bob Galli, one of the original Ultra Vanners, said the grapefruit pictures reminded him of "Carol Burnett - Snow White
15 years Later" (Google it) !!
Next Year's special event will be a Talent Show/Contest. So far, Cyndie has
volunteered to exhibit her skills at twirling batons, like she did back,
WAY back, in high school....Chuck is gonna be
a Stand-Up Comic AND an orchestra.....Amanda is a famous Hoola Hooper.....Jim plays the bugle....me and Gale are gonna dance
as Can-Can Gals.....Leo played the Coronet WAY back in 4th grade....maybe some of you are good at Karoke?....maybe you're
a Magician who can escape from chains after being tossed into the mote with Nessie's Cousin?....or your dog does tricks....
Whatever, it'll be fun fun fun! We can even parade up and down the streets of the KOA Park inviting others to watch
and judge! The KOA staff is already anxious to take our pictures! You have a whole year to fester up your hidden
talents.
The Dessert Potluck gave us all sugar-high-energy for the Yankee Swap Meet, which
as usual, was fun and presents were great! Of course, the sexy high heels are always a hit!
The Tech Session was helpful and interesting...well, to the guys at least.
Chuck displayed and demonstrated his latest modern technical addition to 460....the blinker problem in Bill & Amanda's
383 was traced down and fixed, after many hours spent trying to find the bolt that Chuck permanently lost down in 383's
wall - which made for an interesting picture too.
Gretchen and Gale took a quick jaunt up to Oatman - one which they will never ever
forget! Oatman is a cute historic mining town where the wild burros roam the streets & sidewalks & occasdionally
even into the stores. It was Burro Mating Season, so Gale & Gretchen have some really extraordinary visions forever
etched into their minds.!!
Altogether, 22 people enjoyed the Rally. 3 Ultra Vans - Leo & Betsy (Kingman
Az) in their Flamin' 293, Chuck & Cyndie (Mesquite Nv) in their Whale 460, Bill & Amanda (Long Beach, Ca) in their
new 383, Linda & Terry (Douglas Az & their friend Allen (Flagstaff Az) in Tiara T-2011, Lew & Shelley & Donna
(From Manteca Ca) in their new huge long and tall behemoth motorhome which provided shade all day long, Jim & Marlene
(Joshua Tree Ca) in their Coachman, Betsy's best gal-pal Gale & Joe (Golden Valley/Kingman Az) and Joe's brother Rich
& Bea (Pahrump Nv) in their 2 new travel trailers, and Doug & Meg (Boring Or) and Gale & Grtchen (Bellingham,
Wa) stayed in the Casino Motel.
We all really truly had alot of fun! Already looking forward to next year's
AVI Ultra Van Rally. Hope to see ya ll there - and in the Talent Show!!
