DESERT ROADRUNNERS NEWSLETTER VOLUME: 35 ISSUE: 9 MARCH 2018 From our President Page 1 March- Roper Lake Schedule Page 4 From our 1 st Vice President Page 1 March- Roper Lake Registration Page 5 2018-2019 Rally Calendar Page 2 April Anniversary Celebration Page 6 Maintenance Tip Page 3 April- Silver City Registration Page 7 From our National Director Page 3 May- Distant Drums Schedule Page 8 From our Treasurer Page 3 May- Distant Drums Registration Page 12 March B-Day & Anniversaries Page 3 From our President Sharon Wilson The February Rally in Tombstone is one that you would not want to miss; but, Rich and I did due to our coach being occupied by the Tombstone ghosts. Electrical wiring and a circuit board malfunction took us back home soon after checking in. The Whaleys, Hanson/Synder, and Besslers planned a fun-filled weekend with campfires, touring Tombstone, and various classes that were enjoyed by 16 coaches. We enjoyed having Pat and Shirley Ackerman as our guests at this rally. Of course, the February birthdays and anniversaries were celebrated with a cake! In March at Roper Lake State Park, we will be voting on the slate of officers for the 2018-2020 two year term for the Desert Roadrunners. Dave Swarner, as chairman of the Nominating Committee, announced the slate: Terry Whaley, President; Roger Fisher, 1st V. President; Kay Hanson, 2 nd V. President; Kay McCleary, Secretary; Ed White, Treasurer; Rita Moore, National Director and Connie Mayberry, Alt. National Director. An on-going discussion continued on how we want to define our Chapter in the future. Some very important deadline dates were brought to everyone s attention. Information about the individual rallies is found later in this newsletter. Limited sites have been reserved at the RV Parks. Please check out the following important dates: March Rally Roper Lake registration due March 15 th Desert Roadrunner 35 th Anniversary Celebration registration due March 15 th. April Rally -Silver City, Rose Valley RV Park registration due March 20 th. May Rally Camp Verde Distant Drums RV Resort registration due April 15 th Finally, looking ahead to Fall. Catalina State Park is beginning to fill up now for November/December. We have a rally scheduled for Catalina State Park November 28 to December 2. Don t be the person who says, I was never told to sign up early. You must make your reservation NOW if you anticipate that you may want to attend that rally. Try to get into Campground A. Remember, you can easily cancel your reservation with only a $5.00 charge. 1
From our 1 st Vice President (Rally Master) Terry Whaley The 2018-2019 Rally schedule was presented to the members at the January Rally and voted to accept the schedule. The schedule follows: 2018-2019 Rally Calendar July 14-19 2018 Gillette WY, FMCA (early security) September 19-23 2018 Social (restaurant or someone s house) October 21-28 2018 Road Rally to Las Vegas, NV November 28-Dec 2 2018 Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ December 27 2018- Jan 1 2019 Cochise Terrace Benson, AZ January 21-25 2019 Quartzsite, AZ (Brenda or Dry Camp) February 20-24 2019 Lost Dutchman State Park, AZ March 25-31 2019 Bullhead City, AZ April 24-28 2019 Pima Fair Grounds, Tucson, AZ May 20-26 2019 Road Rally to Santa Fe, NM 2
MAINTENANCE TIP-RICH WILSON (A reprint from www.doityourself.com) Letting your generator sit unused for too long could cause you to replace it years before you should. Gasoline has a shelf life of about 30 days. After that time, it can start to break down and damage your generator s internal components. You have to keep it flowing for lack of a better phrase. To do so, it s recommended that you run your generator two hours a month around 50% load. This will keep it primed and ready. Failure to do so can cause your carburetor to varnish, preventing fuel from effectively powering the generator. There is no reasonable way to clean it, so you may end up having to replace it, which needless to say, will be costly.. FROM OUR NATIONAL DIRECTOR RITA MOORE The National Rally in Gillette, WY will be July 18-21 and the Desert Roadrunners have agreed to provide early security, which means we will be arriving probably July 14 or 15. Please let Terry Whaley and I know if you will be attending. You can register now and mark on your registration Early Security for one or both of you. The Registration form can be obtained at: https://site.fmca.com/pdfs/98thconventionreg_fmc0218.pdf FROM OUR TREASURER ED WHITE If we have a rally in a state park, you must make the reservation. If you are the wagon master for a state park, have a place on the form for the site #. If your rally requires no $$$ to be paid up front, attendees still need to complete the reservation form and send to the Treasurer. The Treasurer compiles this info onto a spreadsheet and gives it to the wagon master and keeps a copy for the club's archives. BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES-March Birthdays 3 Anniversaries 4 George Mercado 9 Richard 5 Mary Jane Hopkinson 16 Larson 9 Bob Dahms 10 Tink Mercado 10 Glenda Milner 12 Linda Kohler 23 Calvin Perry 24 Roger Fisher 24 John Stenerson 24 Liz Headley 27 Gene Williams 30 Ervin Klawitter
ROPER LAKE STATE PARK SCHEDULE 101 E. Roper Lake Rd., Safford, AZ 928-428-6760 Co-Wagon Masters Jerry Baranick & Darlene Duis gdb1@ cableone.net Neil & Nancy Robson neilnanrob@gmail.com Thursday, March 22 2:00 PM -- Check-in time for the campsites. 4:30 PM -- Happy Hour with heavy snacks to share. BYOB Friday, March 23 8:30 9:30 AM -- Coffee and donuts. Lunch on your own Afternoon games at the campground, or explore the area 4:30 AM -- Happy hour with light snacks to share. BYOB 5:30 PM -- Chili dinner provided by the wagon wasters Saturday, March 24 8:30 9:30 AM -- Coffee and donuts 9:30 AM -- Chapter Meeting 4:30 AM -- Happy Hour with light snacks. BYOB 5:30 PM -- Dinner at the Manor House Restaurant, 415 E Highway 70 in Safford. They offer a Prime Rib dinner for $12.99. We can order off the menu as well. Sunday, March 25 8:30-9:30 AM Coffee Say goodbye and safe travels! Things to do in the Safford area: Mt. Graham Golf Club is located at 4250 W. Golf Course Rd. (928) 348-3140 Tee times can be booked online. Their Double R Grill is open for lunch and drinks. The Mills Collection is a self-guided tour featuring a world-class collection of Native American pottery vessels excavated by Jack and Vera Mils during the 1940 s through the 1970 s. The display is located at the Eastern Arizona College s Student Services Building, 615 N. Stadium Ave., Thatcher, AZ (just south of the Memorial Bell Tower). Admission is free. Rockhounds can search for fire agates at the Black Hills Rockhound Area. Take highway 70 east from Safford. Turn left (north) on highway 191. Drive another 10.5 miles and turn left onto the dirt road near milepost 141. Follow the dirt road for 2 miles to the fire agate site. Discovery Park Campus is a visitor center for the Mt. Graham International Observatory that emphasizes the science and culture of the Gila Valley, from mining and agriculture to space exploration. It is located at 1651 W. Discovery Park Boulevard, (928) 428-6260. It is open from 8 AM to 5 PM. Roper Lake State Park is an excellent place for bird watching. It also has an artesian hot mineral springs hot tub. Stretch your muscles and view wildlife on the Mariah Mesa Trail, a.75 mile loop trail traversing the top of the mesa. 4
Roper Lake State Park Registration 101 E Roper Lake Road Safford AZ 8554 Co-Wagon Masters: Jerry Baranick & Darlene Duis gdb1@ cableone.net Neil & Nancy Robson neilnanrob@gmail.com Names FMCA # Email telephone# Site Number at Roper Lake Everyone should have their reservations for this rally through the Arizona State Park Reservation system already. Please indicate which nights you have reserved at Roper Lake State Park.. Wednesday, March 21 (if you are coming in early) Thursday, March 22 Friday, March 23 Saturday, March 24 Number attending dinner at the Manor House Restaurant on Saturday, March 24. This information is needed for reservations. No fees are due for this rally. However, the number of attendees is needed for planning. Please send this completed form to Ed White, 4223 S. Crape Myrtle Ct. Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 by March 15, 2018 5
Desert Roadrunners Chapter 35 th Anniversary Celebration When: April 7, 2018 Time: 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm Where: Pima County Fair Grounds in the Cantina Restaurant We will have a night full of social, entertainment, dinner, and dancing. The evening will begin with a social hour of conversation at 5:00 pm (cash bar) followed by dinner at 6:00 pm. Please indicate your choice for dinner on the form below. During dinner we are planning on having entertainment. We will celebrate our 35 th Anniversary with cake for dessert. Following dinner at 7:00 we will have presentations and speeches. At 8:00, music and dancing will end out the evening. Cost for the evening is $20.00 per person. Camping will be available for those who would like to bring their coach. The cost for camping is $25.00 for the evening of April 7, 2018. Departure time must be before 10:00 am on April 8, 2018. You will pay for camping when you check in at the campground. Names FMCA # Address Tele # Email Indicate a number in the space provided for Dinner selection: Vegetarian: Crusted Halibut served with rice pilaf, garden salad, dinner roll Chicken: Parmesan Crusted Chicken served with oven roasted red potatoes, garden salad and dinner roll Pork: Pork Tender Loin served with rice pilaf, garden salad and dinner roll Total number of dinners/attendees for the evening X $20.00 per person $ Send this form and a check made out to the Desert Roadrunners RV Club to Ed White, 4223 S. Crape Myrtle Ct. Sierra Vista AZ 85650. Yes, I will be bringing my coach. (Pay when checking in for camping) If you need a motel, the Red Roof Inn is nearby. Questions? Contact Terry Whaley, terrywhaley5@gmail.com or 520.456.9798 All registrations must be received by March 15, 2018 6
April 2018 Rally Registration. Rose Valley RV Park, 2040 Memory Lane, Silver City, New Mexico Tel: (575) 534 4277 Wednesday April 25,2018 - Monday April 30, 2018 Wagon Masters Dave & Tonia Swarner (520) 803-7695 Roger & Pat Fisher (408) 786-7943 The Rally Agenda will be published in the April Newsletter. Name(s) FMCA# The cost of the rally per night will be dependent upon the number of rigs that attend. The base rate for a pull thru is $38.00, back ins are $34.00. If we have 11 to 20 rigs you get 20% off, 21 and up 25% off. When you make your reservation, they will ask for $25.00 deposit and you pay the remainder upon arrival. Please check the nights you Will be staying. Call the RV Park to make the reservations before MARCH 20, 2018. Wednesday April 25 Thursday April 26 Friday April 27 Saturday April 28 Sunday April 29 7
May 2018 Roadrunner Rally Schedule Wagon Masters George & Claire Williams (520-247-3769); Dan & Kathie McClellan (520-762-9742) 5/23 Wed Early arrivals to Distant Drums Wagon Masters and anyone else. 5/24 Thu Rally officially begins 4:30 PM Happy Hour with BYO Snacks - no meal planned 5/25 Fri 8:30 AM coffee and pastries Off road safari to Sedona Red Rocks Country Departure TBD Lunch on own 1:00 PM Verde Canyon Railroad 4 hour trip (Make own reservation) 4:30 PM Happy Hour and dinner on own 5/26 Sat 8:30 AM coffee and pastries Off road safari to Sedona Red Rocks Country Departure TBD Lunch on own 4:45 PM Depart Distant Drums for Blazing M Ranch dinner theater ranch opens at 5:00 PM, dinner bell at 6:30 PM, show at 7:30 PM 27 Sun 8:30 AM coffee and pastries Lunch on own 4:30 PM Happy Hour w/snacks people bring Dinner - shredded chicken sliders & potato salad dinner 5/28 Mon 8:30 AM coffee and pastries Luncheon sandwich bar leftovers offered for to-go on Tues Happy Hour w/snacks people bring Dinner on own 5/29 Tue 8:30 Goodbye coffee w/any leftover pastries in Rally Notes: Additional rally registration info is at the request of Distant Drums in order to facilitate check-in. At check-in Distant Drums will provide a local area attraction info package and Casino Bucks. Early check-in before 1 PM $10, late check-out after 11 AM $10. For the Verde Canyon Railroad excursion we have 35 reserved seats on the First Class car and 35 seats on the Coach car. We will return at approximately 4:45 PM. 8
Things to do during the Rally! Verde Canyon Railroad Daily departure 1 PM From the moment you step foot on one of our meticulously refurbished train cars you and your family will feel like you ve been transported to a simpler, more leisurely time before all the distractions and annoyances of our modern world. Breathe deep, order a drink and relax as you glide along on a 4-hour, 20 mile journey through 100 years of history while still enjoying modern creature comforts like climate control, comfortable seating and thoughtful decor. For the Verde Canyon Railroad excursion we have reserved the First Class car for just us (35 Seats) with access to an open car as well. We return at approximately 4:45 PM with Blazin M Ranch opening at 5:00 PM, dinner is at 6:30 PM. A full day! Visit this Web this site for other attractions: https://verdecanyonrr.com/sedona-area/ Tuzigoot National Monument Eight hundred years ago, this Sinagua pueblo was home to the Indian population which once inhabited this area. The site is comprised of 42 acres, including hiking trails (one wheelchair accessible). Visitors are escorted through the various rooms of the pueblo to view this ancient civilization. Images, etched in stone, help tell the tale of their daily life. Self guided Off-road Adventure in Sedona for those with a 4-wheel drive SUV We ll coordinate a group departure time, note that an early tour beats the tourists and makes for great dawn photography of the Red Rocks, sunrise Memorial Day is 5:16 AM. We ll provide more details at the rally. Schnebly Hill Road Location: East of Sedona between Hwy 89A and I-17. Difficulty: Easy Description: Towering red rock buttes set against a backdrop of deep-green forest and clear blue sky make this road one of Arizona s most photogenic. The road climbs over 2,200 feet from Sedona to the top of massive Mogollon Rim. Memorable hiking trails depart from several places along the road, and dispersed camping is allowed above Vista Point. The drive is impressive in either direction. Elk may be seen before sunset. 9
Mountain bikers looking for an easy day will enjoy the ride down. If you park, hike, or stop along the route, you ll need a Red Rocks Pass. Signs recommend only trucks or off-highway vehicles, but cars (not low-slung) can make it in good weather. Although the road is wide and well-maintained, expect a bumpy ride. Much of the lower portion is a shelf road. This road is closed during the winter.time & Distance: About 12 miles one way. The road can be driven in an hour but allow much more time, you ll want to stop many times. Note: There are several off road trails in the area; however, there is only one other off road trail rated easy and it is North of Flagstaff, Elden Mountain (6.6 miles), Shultz Pass (13.7 miles). Details will be available at the rally for additional off road trails. Several 2 hour Jeep tour options are available in Sedona. Good deals can be found with a internet web search of Sedona AZ Jeep Tours. Blazin M Ranch Dinner Theater RANCH GATES OPEN: 5:00 PM (Courtyard / Shops / Activities / Attractions/ Saloon) Recommended Check-in: 5:00-5:30PM 10
One guest from each reservation MUST check in at the ticket booth upon arrival to pick-up dinner tickets and receive table assignments. Before dining, guests are encouraged to meander through an Old West courtyard laden with events that also entertained early settlers. Visitors may indulge themselves in a lively game of horseshoes, try their skill in the shootin' gallery with a real Colt.45 with wax bullets ($5 for 6 shots or 18 shots for $12) and compete for the coveted Sharp-Shooter prize awarded each evening, learn to rope with a mechanical horse and steer with one of our resident wranglers, or grin at family or friends from behind the bars of the local jailhouse. Belly up to the bar in the Copper Spur Saloon and quench your thirst as cowboys once did after their long ride on Arizona's dusty trails. A clatter of footsteps can be heard on the wooden boardwalk that connects our four rustic Western shops that line the courtyard. Suited in a fancy saloon ensemble, deadeye gunslinger garb or lacy Victorian regalia, one may immortalize his or her frontier experience at the Red Garter Olde Tyme photo studio. Your ticket includes free admission into the only-one-of-its-kind-in-the-world "Woodn-West" Gallery and is a must-see during the Blazin' M Ranch visit. The miniature, movable Old West scenes, created by a master woodcarver, are sure to add another smile. Hop aboard our vintage Tractor Pull to view the charmin' farm critters and learn a bit about the ranch history along the way. VITTLES SERVED: 6:30PM When the dinner bell rings, guests enter the climate-controlled dinner barn and will feast in rustic splendor. Dinner is served on a tin plate and cup; our cowpokes will fill your plates with the best chicken and ribs in Arizona and all the fixin's (beware of flying biscuits). COWBOY SHOW: 7:30PM After dinner, sit back, relax and enjoy the smooth harmonies and rip-roarin' comedy of the Blazin' M Cowboys. Authentic, award-winning cowboy music, tall tales, tomfoolery and other side-splitting surprises will keep you wanting more! EXIT STAGE LEFT: 8:45PM The Western Courtyard re-opens for photo opportunities, shopping and creating one last memory of your visit to the Blazin' M Ranch. 11
May 2018 Distant Drums RV Resort Rally Registration 583 W. Middle Verde Rd., Camp Verde, AZ 86322, 1-877-577-5507 Wednesday, May 23 (Early Arrival) Tuesday, May 30 (Late Departure) Wagon Masters George & Claire Williams (520-247-3769) Dan & Kathie McClellan (520-762-9742) Name (s) FMCA# Address: City: State: Zip: RV Make, Model, License#, State Length: # Slides Wednesday, 23 May,( Early Arrival) 1 night 35.30 Thursday, 24 May, 2 nights 70.60 Friday, 25 May, 3 nights 105.90 Saturday, 26 May, 4 nights 141.20 Sunday, 27 May, 5 nights 176.50 Monday, 28 May, (Memorial Day) 6 nights 211.80 Tuesday, 29 May, (Late Departure) Group Rate of $35.30 X # nights = Verde Canyon RR - Select Coach or First Class Coach Coach Single $ 57.69 Friday, May 25 Couple $115.38 Coach First Class Single $ 86.56 First Class Couple $173.12 Blazin M Ranch Dinner Theater Saturday, May 26 Single $39 (tax & gratuity inc.) Couple $78(tax & gratuity inc.) Total Menu includes BBQ Chicken & Ribs, Cowboy Beans, Baked Potato, Prickly Pear Cole Slaw, Biscuits w/butter & honey, Caramel-Apple Crisp a la mode for dessert and Lemonade, Iced Tea & Coffee as beverage choices (vegetarian meal available with a 24-hr. prior request). Gates open at 5:00PM for activities, attractions, shopping, saloon, etc. Dinner bell rings at 6:30PM and the hour-long show begins at 7:30PM. Please send this completed reservation form with your check no later than 15 April to: Ed White, 4223 S. Crape Myrtle Court, Sierra Vista, AZ, 85635 12
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