The Overland Expo Nation Proclamation
Four squares* and seven beers* ago, the Whazoos' came forth upon the Overland Expo. We were then engaged in a great civil camping experience, testing social limits with bad puns and meeting so many rvnetters we could long endure the fun. This Expo gave birth to a new camp experience, camping of the people, by the people and for the people. Hopefully it will return next year, and shall not vanish from the earth.
(Four squares: you Marines and Army guys know what a square is. Well we had dinner Friday night, breakfast Saturday, dinner Sat. night and breakfast Sunday morn before leaving. Ergo four squares.)
(Seven beers: well I actually lost count since DJ was pouring JD in my beer. And THAT my friends, is why Jefe got DJ's initials mixed up with JD. DJ-JD, easy peasy)
This year was indeed Expo-nentially more fun than last year. Hey look, it was a major blast, meeting and greeting so many rvnetters and having a face to see instead of just a screen name. I can't put into words the feelings of instant friends and family. There were newbies, oldbies and I'm sure some freebies here and there. Hot dog, let's do it again next year!
Here's a picture looking across the "Mormon Lake" at the Expo.
It was Sunday morning and we were going to Durango after leaving the Expo. Lynn had an interview at a Durango area hospital for a part time, on call job with no benefits. Why you might ask? Well it seems these days it's the only way to get your foot in the door and nurses are not being hired by the boatload.
She walked out with a full time position, making for a very happy Whazoo. To get out of the desert heat after so many years has been a dream, now reality.
In two days she secured a job, we found a short term rental, got a mailbox, storage unit and bought a house. Doing the deal on the house by cell phone while driving back to Phoenix to start packing, did you know you can sign documents using a smart phone? I was dumbfounded. Our fore fathers would be amazed, as am I.
We stopped on the way back for a night at Butler Wash, Utah. A place we've been camping for twenty years. It was the only disappointing moment of the week. The circle shows where a sign has been posted for the last year or so. We camped on the rocks beyond these new signs just six weeks ago and I expect the whole road to be blocked in short order. There is no destruction or vandalism anywhere, no sign of camping at all in fact, leaving me to wonder at the reason other than "because they can."
Well it was a beautiful evening for pictures, and it was the first time to pick up a camera since Bear died. Maybe, maybe life is coming back after all.
We endured one evening at this previously gorgeous spot, the signs now reminding me we can no longer decide for ourselves where to drive or camp and that others are now bent on keeping us out. It seems fitting that we were eaten alive by some of the whazillions of killer gnats that feast on human flesh all over the southwest during springtime. The bug bites, like the signs, will bother us for a long time to come.
This has not been a trip report, just a momentary lapse of reason having had so much fun socializing at the Expo of 2013. A big congrats to everyone that made it...
(Four squares: you Marines and Army guys know what a square is. Well we had dinner Friday night, breakfast Saturday, dinner Sat. night and breakfast Sunday morn before leaving. Ergo four squares.)
(Seven beers: well I actually lost count since DJ was pouring JD in my beer. And THAT my friends, is why Jefe got DJ's initials mixed up with JD. DJ-JD, easy peasy)
This year was indeed Expo-nentially more fun than last year. Hey look, it was a major blast, meeting and greeting so many rvnetters and having a face to see instead of just a screen name. I can't put into words the feelings of instant friends and family. There were newbies, oldbies and I'm sure some freebies here and there. Hot dog, let's do it again next year!
Here's a picture looking across the "Mormon Lake" at the Expo.
It was Sunday morning and we were going to Durango after leaving the Expo. Lynn had an interview at a Durango area hospital for a part time, on call job with no benefits. Why you might ask? Well it seems these days it's the only way to get your foot in the door and nurses are not being hired by the boatload.
She walked out with a full time position, making for a very happy Whazoo. To get out of the desert heat after so many years has been a dream, now reality.
In two days she secured a job, we found a short term rental, got a mailbox, storage unit and bought a house. Doing the deal on the house by cell phone while driving back to Phoenix to start packing, did you know you can sign documents using a smart phone? I was dumbfounded. Our fore fathers would be amazed, as am I.
We stopped on the way back for a night at Butler Wash, Utah. A place we've been camping for twenty years. It was the only disappointing moment of the week. The circle shows where a sign has been posted for the last year or so. We camped on the rocks beyond these new signs just six weeks ago and I expect the whole road to be blocked in short order. There is no destruction or vandalism anywhere, no sign of camping at all in fact, leaving me to wonder at the reason other than "because they can."
Well it was a beautiful evening for pictures, and it was the first time to pick up a camera since Bear died. Maybe, maybe life is coming back after all.
We endured one evening at this previously gorgeous spot, the signs now reminding me we can no longer decide for ourselves where to drive or camp and that others are now bent on keeping us out. It seems fitting that we were eaten alive by some of the whazillions of killer gnats that feast on human flesh all over the southwest during springtime. The bug bites, like the signs, will bother us for a long time to come.
This has not been a trip report, just a momentary lapse of reason having had so much fun socializing at the Expo of 2013. A big congrats to everyone that made it...
