Pacific Region Travel Discussion to Gillette WY-National Rally

[ziggy]

Loafer,
That sounds good. We are actually thinking about doing that after the rally.

PJ,
Thanks for coming up with a place to start looking. Also need to look into places between SLC and Gillette. We still have time but you know how I like to have things planned and have back up plans! lol

Jay,
Maybe your regional director can get a thread started in this section for you guys to start planning? You are welcome to hang out here, but a thread for the southwest might make it easier for you guys to start planning. Then we might actually find we are using some of the same routes and end up joining forces later. We could have a whole whole rolling rally before the rally! lol

Kristy

 

[Gaffer]

We will likely be coming from Bend. Boise is near the halfway point to Salt Lake from Central Oregon. The Ambassador RV Resort in Caldwell is big rig friendly with 85’ long spots http://www.grapevine7.com/ambassador/index.aspx and the KOA http://koa.com/campgrounds/boise/ in Meridian is across the street from Starbucks and some fast food joints for those who want a quick bite to eat with out needing to unhitch. Both have good reviews.

 

[slmayor]

I've stayed at the KOA in Meridian and wouldn't stay there again. Although it's nice and has several amenities, you are literally packed like cord wood into the spots. VERY difficult to get in to, and you back up less than 2' to your neighbor's rear window and may not have room to put out your slides without walking into the neighbor's site. There are a few pull-thru's, not sure how you get them, as we had reservations 9 months in advance and couldn't.

 

[Gaffer]

So much for the KOA! Any other suggestions?

 

[ziggy]

The Pony Express looks like a nice place. It's big enough if they have sites when we need them. It's even big enough for a regional rally location if someone wants to use it that way in the future.
Kristy

 

[Trailer Trash]

Hi,
Kristi, good idea to get this thread started early. Teresa and I plan to go, also John and Lori Dawson, Bob and Bo Seargent and Floyd and Carol Philbrook said they would connect with us in Salt Lake City, (they live in Las Vegas). Bob and Bo went to Goshen this year and said it was teriffic. We plan on 300 miles per day, will try to get there in 4 days, also plan to see the sights after the rally. I would like to see many chioces of places to see. We plan on going to Yellstone and Tetons. Chapter leaders might get a heads up on when Jim B. is going to post sign ups. More later.
Art and Teresa
P.S. We should have gone to Yreka, won't make that mistake again, hope your back is well.

 

[ziggy]

Glad to hear it Art. You did miss good time at Yreka. Maybe we'll do that again sometime when Deb and I can get together to plan it. Next year won't work for obvious reasons. My back is improving and will be fine with work and exercise.

I think leaders will probably get a heads up for registration next year like we did for this year. It will be nice when we can go back to the big show in Goshen.

Kristy

 

[codycarver]

Amy and I started a poll thread for people interested in attending a Wyoming chapter rally either before or after Gillette. Please use the link below if your interested. Also, I understand from one of the posts in that thread that arriving early will not be an option at the Cam-plex so we are putting together a list of some parks within a couple hundred miles of Gillette for people to stage at. We are going over to the Black Hills next week and plan on visiting with some parks to see if we can get a group rate for early arrivals. I'll post the info with distances when I have it done. If any body has questions about travel in Wyoming please feel free to PM and we will do our best to help out.

//heartlandowners.org/showthread.php/26295-Cody-WY-Rally-before-after-quot-The-Rally-quot

 

[ziggy]

Thanks Cody! Not being able to arrive early and get settled in and having to leave Sunday AM limits the rally schedule and makes travel plans more of a challenge. It might even cause some route changes. We can leave on the 8th or 9th as long as my contract ratification goes well.

We still don't know if we are going to take a northern route through Spokane area, or the southern route through Salt Lake City. Now it looks like we can take more time getting to the rally so we have time to spend more than one night in a place or two.

Kristy

 

[TandT]

I think a lot of us are planning to sightsee after the rally on the way home.

I agree. Sightseeing after is a little more relaxed. You don't have to be on as much of a schedule.

 

[back2nature]

Coming from the NE Los Angeles area, we were thinking of first stop being in Mesquite, NV (324 mile drive) or St. George, Utah (365 mile drive). There would still be plenty of daylight left and it gets just a bit farther than Las Vegas. Salt Lake City is a 667 mile drive for us (a bit too long). We've done 500 mile days, but that's the limit with pets.

 

[Gaffer]

The following is current frm Jim:
Q. What about coming in early for the rally. We always enjoy getting to town days/weeks ahead of time?
A. UPDATE (4-Oct): You may arrive up to ONE WEEK EARLY! (Thursday, June 7). We just worked this out with the Cam-Plex. Rates will be determined at a later date.

We can now make plans for travel to the rally and convoy in as a group. I vote for us left coast people meeting up somewhere near Salt Lake and going form there. If Cody has a rally the weekend before we would have the option to do that on the way. Some may want to and others not.

 

[TandT]

Coming from the NE Los Angeles area, we were thinking of first stop being in Mesquite, NV (324 mile drive) or St. George, Utah (365 mile drive). There would still be plenty of daylight left and it gets just a bit farther than Las Vegas. Salt Lake City is a 667 mile drive for us (a bit too long). We've done 500 mile days, but that's the limit with pets.

There is another Oasis RV Park in Mesquite that is only like $20 per night for 50 amp. It's a bit of a parking lot, but it's fine for an overnighter. I think they could handle a large group. There was hardly anyone there last August when we were there. I agree it's about halfway to SLC. 300 miles is a good distance for us, w/o getting too tired.
Trace

 

[TandT]

The following is current frm Jim:
Q. What about coming in early for the rally. We always enjoy getting to town days/weeks ahead of time?
A. UPDATE (4-Oct): You may arrive up to ONE WEEK EARLY! (Thursday, June 7). We just worked this out with the Cam-Plex. Rates will be determined at a later date.

We can now make plans for travel to the rally and convoy in as a group. I vote for us left coast people meeting up somewhere near Salt Lake and going form there. If Cody has a rally the weekend before we would have the option to do that on the way. Some may want to and others not.

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[Bob&Patty]

I nominate Trace to be the ringleader, ramrod, or whatever for this MESS. He has a Dodge so we won't be going too fast or far anyway. LOL Sorry Trace could not resist. Your OL" Dodge did pretty good coming up Baker grade. Never passed my OL' Chebby but could see you in the rear view mirror the whole 17 miles.

 

[TandT]

I nominate Trace to be the ringleader, ramrod, or whatever for this MESS. He has a Dodge so we won't be going too fast or far anyway. LOL Sorry Trace could not resist. Your OL" Dodge did pretty good coming up Baker grade. Never passed my OL' Chebby but could see you in the rear view mirror the whole 17 miles.

Bob, the reason you saw me in the rear is 3 fold; (and this violates my moretoreum on TV comments)

1st- You were going 70, which I find hazardous to my good relationship with CHP's.

2nd- Is my darn 48RE gear ratio. If I can't pull a hill w/o my pyrometer going above 1200 in 4th, I have to go to 3rd, which is a 800 rpm drop with that trans. from (overdrive) 4th.
Translation, I have to drop to about 60mph with the Cummins winding at about 2500 rpm. I need to get a Gear Vendors gear splitter, if I keep this truck.

3rd- I stayed back to make sure you weren't going to need a pull up that hill. LOL

Trace

 

[back2nature]

There is another Oasis RV Park in Mesquite that is only like $20 per night for 50 amp. It's a bit of a parking lot, but it's fine for an overnighter. I think they could handle a large group. There was hardly anyone there last August when we were there. I agree it's about halfway to SLC. 300 miles is a good distance for us, w/o getting too tired.
Trace

Didn't know that, so I checked RV Park Reviews. Reviewer in May, 2011 said it is now at the "defunct" Oasis . . .

"Just a parking lot, fine for overnight stay -- EXCEPT... Oasis RV Park is at defunct Oasis casino/hotel. It is managed by Casablanca casino/hotel that is a couple of blocks away. You must FIRST go to the Casablanca registration desk to pay and be given a site at Oasis. However, it can be difficult to pull into Casablanca to do this, since the entrance and obvious parking areas are for cars; a big RV might have difficulties. We felt it was too risky. One option is to somehow get into the large Casablanca parking area on the east side, go in and register, then drive a block to Oasis RV Park. Instead, we pulled into Oasis, found a space we liked, then called Casablanca registration desk to verify. They argued about this approach, but accepted it. We then walked to Casablanca to pay (and ended up eating in their restaurant). The attraction of Oasis is pull-through spaces for a quick overnight, but we found them shorter than average".

Hm-m-m, we thought there was more in Mesquite. Don't know about this one. Will listen to others here for ideas.

Also it's nice to know that now we can check in to the Cam-Plex earlier.

 

[TandT]

Didn't know that, so I checked RV Park Reviews. Reviewer in May, 2011 said it is now at the "defunct" Oasis . . .

"Just a parking lot, fine for overnight stay -- EXCEPT... Oasis RV Park is at defunct Oasis casino/hotel. It is managed by Casablanca casino/hotel that is a couple of blocks away. You must FIRST go to the Casablanca registration desk to pay and be given a site at Oasis. However, it can be difficult to pull into Casablanca to do this, since the entrance and obvious parking areas are for cars; a big RV might have difficulties. We felt it was too risky. One option is to somehow get into the large Casablanca parking area on the east side, go in and register, then drive a block to Oasis RV Park. Instead, we pulled into Oasis, found a space we liked, then called Casablanca registration desk to verify. They argued about this approach, but accepted it. We then walked to Casablanca to pay (and ended up eating in their restaurant). The attraction of Oasis is pull-through spaces for a quick overnight, but we found them shorter than average".

Hm-m-m, we thought there was more in Mesquite. Don't know about this one. Will listen to others here for ideas.

Also it's nice to know that now we can check in to the Cam-Plex earlier.

The review is only partly correct. The Oasis Casino is shut down and you do have to go to the Casablanca (same owner) a few blocks away. The RV park is still open and run by the same mgmnt that runs the Casablanca casino and RV park. Most, if not all are pull-throughs.I got into a spot w/my long bed and 39' BH and did not unhook. So my spot was at least 55', or so.
We just did it a month ago and it's no biggie. I parked at the curb with no problem, to register. (It's Mesquite for gosh sakes.) Takes 2 minutes to drive it. The reviewer makes it sound like they are driving for miles.
For $20 they have 50amp and very nice restrooms and a nice pool, if anyone is so inclined.
Casablanca has an RV park too, which actually looks a little nicer, but I believe they list the max length as 36'.
Mesquite has hit the big time with their own Walmart also.

Trace

 

[codycarver]

The following is current frm Jim:
Q. What about coming in early for the rally. We always enjoy getting to town days/weeks ahead of time?
A. UPDATE (4-Oct): You may arrive up to ONE WEEK EARLY! (Thursday, June 7). We just worked this out with the Cam-Plex. Rates will be determined at a later date.

We can now make plans for travel to the rally and convoy in as a group. I vote for us left coast people meeting up somewhere near Salt Lake and going form there. If Cody has a rally the weekend before we would have the option to do that on the way. Some may want to and others not.

We will be having a rally to coincide with Gillette and would love to have you left coasters attend. The poll I started seems to lean to a rally before but we haven't set a date yet so if you haven't voted yet please use the link below and do so soon. Please leave any comments at that thread. They would be appreciated. Thanks, Dave & Amy
//heartlandowners.org/showthread.php/26295-Cody-WY-Rally-before-after-quot-The-Rally-quot

 

[back2nature]

Hm-m-m. We'll think about it. Not sure yet what we are doing in June. Will watch your updated info on this (where and when).