We hit the road on February 16th loaded down with all our Rally Supplies. We had all the awnings and frames, picket fences, flower pots, folding tables, chairs, tablecloths, period lamps and shades, silver, china, crystal, beads, period clothing, music, and Lucy (my Chihuahua) packed tightly for the journey.
The week before we went to the car wash.....
The above picture shows how low our trailer was in it's original configuration..... and it was empty.
We pulled into the car wash and got hung up on the speed bumps. Man! What to do ? I called Buddy. Now I had heard things like "flipping the axle" and so forth. Our trailer did not have a drop axle. The solution was to attach the axle underneath the leaf springs instead of on top which made much better sense than what we had because if we had a flat then the pavement would have sheared off the shackle bolts. See how cool I am with the lingo now ? I speak in tongues.....
Boy did the fix ever do the trick, now we were high and dry !
We were also installing all the awning fittings just before we left!
We prayed there would not be a blizzard.
Once before, we had planned a trip to see my cousins in southern Arizona, where the year prior had been fine, but that year there was four feet of snow for hundreds of miles on I-40. Such are the perils of a road trip.....
Speaking of perils.....
We headed out of town happy as we were on a bright clear sunny winter's day when the trailer began to sway above 40 mph and went absolutely crazy when a Semi Truck passed. We were really loaded down and the situation came as a complete surprise as it had towed great before all the rally stuff was in it. We emptied the water tank which helped. A little. We called the nearest RV Shop along the way and they said we needed an anti-sway bar.
Well, duh.
We had heard about them but did not need one for our little Shasta Compact and the recommendation back then was they were for trailers 20' or longer. Oops....we were 20.5 feet.
BUT
They couldn't help us.
The local RV Show had just concluded and they were inundated with business and could not get to us until next week. The nerve not taking someone on the spot.... just kidding!
So, I began calling ahead as we crept down the freeway at 40 mph. I'm sure everyone on I-30 that day LOVED us. Finally, I found an RV Service Center in Texarkana, TX. I spoke to Shady Pines RV and if we got there an hour before closing, they would take care of us and they did. We barely made it with enough time. I fell in love with this place! It was family owned and in their store section on the high wall above all the shelves and displays were thousands of Polaroid pictures covering every square inch of people in front of their RV's purchased from Shady Pines from the day they opened. Every last customer to the present day. Maamaw and Paapaw were still there managing the place and I suspected the young man behind the counter was their grandson due to the strong family resemblance. I knew we were in good hands.
We were done and got back on the road and in 10 minutes flat I called to thank them. We were traveling at 70 mph straight as an arrow down the Texas Freeway with no problems. What a relief! Without it, we would not have made the trip and all the planning and pushing would have been for naught.
All of this had made us really late arriving at our first campground...... but we arrived!
The first stop was in Abilene, TX and the second stop in El Paso, TX. Two whole days of driving and still in Texas..... Everything was working well and the Boles was towing beautifully but loaded down, as we were, the gas was being consumed at a geometric rate. At one point, we had checked with Gas Buddy and saw there was a station up ahead..... and when we arrived to fill up, it was still under construction! We were very low so, we turned around, headed back to the last town arriving on fumes and a tremendous west Texas wind. I am certain what was a head wind that turned into a tail wind is what allowed us to make it.
When we entered New Mexico, I realized on the map that we had been traveling under it for some time while in Texas. We were further down the road than I thought.
As we entered Arizona, we had fun playing around on the rocks as it began to rain. It continued to rain, and pour on us so much so I thought our little land yacht would turn into an ocean going vessel! We stopped at a kitschy place for dinner and we must have gotten something out of the covered truck bed and did not latch it properly. Because, on the outskirts of Phoenix, in the pouring rain, it popped open going down the freeway.
Our truck was black. And night had fallen. The fiberglass shell bed cover is black, too. Dave looked in the rear view mirror and exclaimed, "I CAN'T SEE THE TRAILER!" I spun in my seat *I COULDN'T SEE IT EITHER*
IT LOOKED LIKE THE TRAILER WAS GONE!!!
Looooooong pause....... in the blackness and flying precipitation, reality did not dawn instantly.
"Oh! Thank goodness! It's just the truck bed, it's up.........IT'S UP!!!! EVERYTHING IS GETTING WET, PULL OVER!!!!!"
The next exit presented us with an office park, which was flooded so, we looped around to find bare pavement and Dear Dave got out and shut the lid. He wasn't outside 7 seconds and got back in. He would have been drier if he'd jumped in the lake. Poor thing looked like a wet puppy.
We spent the night in Phoenix and were fortunate to have a break in the deluge long enough to hook up and get in bed. Then, the bottom fell out of the sky and it poured non stop all through the night.
My goodness you sleep like a baby with rain falling on that aluminum roof!
We had a lunch date the next day with Linda Sowell or "Sowelie" as we used to call her. The Performance Director for Ice Follies and Holiday On Ice that I had skated in back in 1980-81. She was a pistol and I loved her. It was great to see her after all these years and we enjoy reminiscing the way old friends do. My friend Lala was there, too, whom I had met at Dorothy Hamill's Skating Camp and even though the weather was glum, non of us were.
The next day was off to find my cousins in their seasonal lodgings in Winterhaven, CA just, and I mean just, across the Colorado river from Yuma, AZ. This park was soooooooo much better than Mission, Texas, by a loooooong shot. Temps were pleasant and we had a spot very near to them and even nearer to the Old Hippie who was next door. He smoked weed every waking hour that was so acrid I could have sworn someone was roasting a skunk, fur and all, on a spit! We were thankful for every change in the breeze that took the stench away from our open windows!
We had some touch up to do on the trailer, polishing around the inside door frames, spotting the interior finish, making sure everything was just right.
My cousins, Don and Judy, used to live in Oregon on Olive Barber Road in Eastside, where I attended Elementary School. Their house was always a delight to me, fresh cookies, beautiful gardens, and warm love. Quite the contrast to the house I lived in on 2nd Avenue with my self medicating, drug addicted, dying Grandmother. I used to ride my little banana seat Schwinn bicycle all the way to Judy's house to bake cakes with Tonja, her eldest daughter, in her Easy Bake Oven. Judy and I have cooked together since and those times are among my favorites with her. She's all the decent family I have left and I adore her.
Off to see the sights of Yuma with Don and Judy we went. The Valley of the Names was the highlight. The jig is, you ride out into the desert and find this place where people have gathered up rocks and spell out their names..... what else is there to do in the desert? We did have fun and of course, Dave died.
Then, we were off to the Date Farm and a Date Shake was apparently the thing. I wasn't so sure but after a sample I ordered the biggest one you could get. I enjoyed that sucker to the last drop...... and 12 hours later the memory of it returned quickly, in the bathroom!
After a couple of days we were headed to Palm Springs to exhibit at Modernism Week. Southern California is odd in it's location of gas stations. They are in the little towns, not on the outskirts, which makes for interesting trailering on city streets.
We arrived at sunset and after all the dust of the desert, the trailer needed a bath. Finding a truck wash right off the freeway was a coup and we pulled in. What a fabulous job they did! Then it was off to traverse the mean streets of Palm Springs to find the location of the rally. It was the overflow parking lot of the Hilton Hotel but we had arrived the night before to a fenced and locked location. Our first night was spent at The Hilton.
The next morning was set up and we were the first ones there. The awnings went up, tables and chairs, the chandeliers, and then there was all the interior to do!
This was a concrete parking lot with no way to use stakes for the big awning. I had known this in advance and the solution was to fill flower pots with concrete inserting a plastic tube to receive the awning poles which locked into place with wing nuts and bolts. The two guide ropes were anchored by two pineapple concrete finials from the garden center. That made four pots filled with cement and two cement finials. Plus all the other rally stuff. Can you imagine how loaded down we were ? Gas mileage was deplorable, especially with a head wind and climbing!
As we worked, other exhibitors began rolling in. What began with confident excitement gradually gave way to the recognition there would definitely be competition. By noon, we realized it could be anyone's game. There were so many lovely trailers, many with period perfect tow vehicles, vintage bicycles, and camping paraphernalia. We looked at each other and said, "Oh well, let's just have fun. And that's precisely what we did.
We had a wonderful lunch at the hotel with our friend Dorothy Hamill and we went shopping together for a little while that afternoon. We had fun and it was a welcome respite.
The rally lodging that night was supposed to be at The Monroe, once owned by Marilyn herself but they began renovations after the group booking. The city was full and the booking was transferred to the MOTEL 6! There are two Motel 6's in Palm Springs and this was not the nicer of the two.... Good Lord in Heaven, I reluctantly checked in.... felt like a prison. Went to the room via the dingy exterior hallways. Once inside, it was hotter than Hades and the SMELL! Somewhat akin to a perfumed toilet cake mixed with an ashtray full of cigarette butts and DOG.
No way. In Hell. (precisely the location, Hell is the Motel 6 in Palm Springs) we were not staying there. We had to go outside just to breathe!
We had built a trailer to avoid places just like this! And no, we were not allowed to stay in our trailers while at the show.
Calling around and around found us a room at The Marriott Courtyard as we could not get back in The Hilton on a Friday night.
The next morning was Show Day!
I had a period suit, hat, and gloves from the 1950's all in navy blue I was wearing and Dear Dave in his navy linen blazer. Although we were ready and everything was in it's place, prepared for the onslaught, we were not. It was a beautiful day and the people just kept coming. I did not move for 5 hours from a two square foot area next to our trailer's front door, standing the entire time, in heels and all my finery. We never went the whole day without a line of people waiting to get in. I felt the need to keep the crowds entertained so, I told the back story of our trailer, talked about The Orient Express, and answered all the questions that people asked. Thank heavens Dot brought lunch as I hadn't given a single thought to food. There were docents available to take our places but I did not want a single person to miss a detail. I had to close the tour for a moment so I could use our own bathroom because after one look at the Port A Potties provided on site it was a no go! Wooosh! OMG!!!
We had several items from the train on display among them was a set of china and stemware used aboard the famed rail liner.
We honestly did not know how we fit into the competition. Our trailer was not 50's Modern so "Most Modernist" wasn't us. "Most Rare" that wasn't us.... "Most Authentic" not that either, "Best Small Trailer" was not our trailer as we weren't small. The only category that held promise was "Fan Favorite" but even that seemed like a long shot given all the fine trailers on display. This was a two day event and the judging was done on the first day. All who purchased a ticket had a vote for their favorite. That evening, there was a catered outdoor buffet and the awards were presented afterwards. All were given out prior to the final category, "Fan Favorite"
The Event Organizer, Mona put it like this, "And now we come to Fan Favorite which is our Best In Show. Normally, this is a very tightly contested category, often the winner being separated only by one or two votes. Now, I had to make a call to the previous organizer of this event to check and see if anyone had ever won with a majority. In the history of this event going back almost 100 years, no one has ever won by a LANDSLIDE...... that is until Dave and Billie O'Neel showed up! Come get your trophy!"
BOOM!
People leapt to their feet in thunderous ovation.
We were shocked.
Over 2,450 people had gone through our trailer and the vast majority had voted us the best.
This was an honor beyond compare. For all the trials, tribulations, and torment we had been through with our trailer, this was wonderful, truly wonderful.
Afterwards, when we arrived at the hotel, the grass had just been watered. I slipped off my shoes and shuffled barefoot through the cool grass removing the burn from being on my feet all day in high heels.
The next day was a repeat of the first but with slightly fewer people. And I sat down most of the time! Dorothy Hamill and her friend J. Scott Driscoll came and spent time with us and brought lunch again! We had a fun time together giving them a private tour.
The show ended and it was time to pack up, the unfun part of the show. No crowds, no accolades, and no help!
Just like we were the first to setup, we were the last to leave. Everyone waved as they left....
We drove Sunday evening after dark through the entire width of Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean staying at The Malibu RV Resort.
Now that the show was over, it was time to relax and have some fun.....
That is after we slipped into L.A. under cover of darkness! We have towed through Los Angeles before with out little Shasta Compact and the rule of thumb still applies, after rush hour or before rush hour.
We towed with no issues all the way to The Malibu RV Resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The slumber we fell into was complete and all consuming.
What happened next was inevitable.
Packed to the gills we were, I had to step over things in my morning stupor to find a place to sit to do my makeup when a Tap-Tap sounded at the door. There was a grinning lady from next door in a new Airstream with the expression of "I would really like to come in and look around"
Either she could not read or chose to ignore my Do Not Disturb Sign, both major infractions. I parted the lace and slowly shook my head to indicate No. Frowny faced she slinked back to her trailer. Do not disturb means just that. I put out a sign for the idiots at dawn who disturb your slumber when all the shades are pulled and there is no sign of life. And still.......
Tea at The Peninsula Hotel
Dinner at The Ivy
A visit to The Mother Ship
We left the Pacific Coast on a clear blue day and when we came off the hill to the PCH the brake controller died. Could not get it to work no matter how much we fiddled with it. A quick internet search revealed an O'Reilly's auto parts store in Santa Monica and we made a bee line. There in the parking lot of said establishment, I hooked up the new brake controller unit, much to the amusement of the construction workers renewing the facade of the building. Dave stood watch and fended off those who would have offered assistance to a Damsel not in distress but needing to be left alone to do her work. A panhandler had come around his blind side and scared the absolute crap out of me, crouched as I was, under the front dash of the truck. Dave sent him on his way. And soon we were, too. Brakes now working perfectly.
Retracing our path back to Little Rock took the same route, as southern as possible, and arrived home without ice or snow which is really amazing for February!
One of the highlights was gassing up somewhere near the exit for Tombstone, AZ and finding a little Girl Scout in full regalia manning a cardboard table in the pouring rain under the gas station overhang with her mom selling the famous cookies. She was so cute and perky despite the weather, we bought several boxes, admiring her pluck!
One of the stops on the way back was Abilene, TX. We hooked up as usual, bleeding the air out of the water lines, but this time I forgot to open the valves and soon water was pouring out from underneath the trailer.
What now? I deduced a drain pipe with water running unabated did not leak and when the valve was shut it would.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Must not be glued all the way around one of the junctures. This would be a problem for later on. I was too tired to be upset. I just sighed and told dear Dave about it.
"We'll fix it", he said.
Another trip, and another trip to the shop. This was becoming a pattern! Plus, that belly pan was a problem. It was not installed the way I had wanted due to time constraints. We would look into redoing it the right way.
We arrived home in a swirling foggy mist and the last few hours of the trip were the worst for conditions. We were so tired and bleary eyed when we got home, we just unhooked and went to bed thinking this would be a good time to check how long the new battery system would run our 1950's vintage refrigerator without being charged.
The results were surprising.......
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