I knew that folks that live in Wisconsin (cheeseheads) don't really like folks from Illinois (flat-landers), I just never really knew why. What I learned during this trip into Wisconsin is that the rivalry goes back to the 1920s, when I was a young sprout.
It turns out that football players started the ruckus between the states. Since the players were mean to each other, and there weren't many rules, some nasty things happened while playing football. Poking each other in the eye, punching and biting, saying the other guys mom had a moustache, and bunches of unmentionable things. Because the players were always mad at each other it just rubbed off on the folks living in each state. Green Bay Packer and Chicago Bears fans have been at it ever since.
Most fans are ok and just bug each other a little. Some are off the deep end and should be housed in padded rooms. Just sayin'.
The rally has grown every year and has gotten to the point that sharing a campsite is becoming more common so more folks can attend.
The secret to sharing a campsite is to make sure that everyone roots for the same football team. Otherwise it could get ugly.
The first night is the progressive cocktail party. A social event for the ages. Going from camper to camper, visiting, consuming tasty beverages and snacks and of course checking out each others campers. A great evening! Plus you get to meet the rookies of the rally.
Talk about considerate... Some folks had vertically challenged tasty beverages just for those of us that aren't quite statuesque.
Big Bill really got a kick out of them!
Sometimes getting in to see the camper was a challenge. Mostly because Norm talks too much and the campers aren't very big inside.
But it is still fun!
Check this out! How awesome is having a leopard print and pink fuzzy lamp?
Seriously! How cool is this? The romantic glow alone makes it priceless!
Big Bill wanted to try and buy it for his girlfriend.
Some new friends. We got to visit Ken and Cindy at their camper near the end of the evening. Of course Norm couldn't remember anyone's name at that point. Its a good thing that I have a super-duper memory. (That and Big Bill was taking notes, but we won't tell Norm that.)
I wish I would have taken more pictures inside this camper. It was beautiful. These beautiful girls have a lot in common. A car and a camper named Vivian. My great-grandma's name was Vivian too! Big Bill doesn't have any vehicles or relatives named Vivian, but we let him in on the picture anyhow.
It wasn't leopard print and fuzzy, but the lamp inside Walter was pretty cool too.
Norm said it was a Lava Light. I didn't want to tell the chucklehead that lava comes out of a mountain, not floating around in blueberry juice. Sheesh.
On Friday evening there was a dinner and a Jello making contest. I fancy myself as a bit of a Jello magician. Big Bill didn't have a lot of confidence in my skills and tried to talk me out of entering.
Here I am with my WINNING entry! That's right, I WON the contest!!! Boo Ya!
Not only do I get to claim all bragging rights for a whole year, I also got to pick out a prize!
This is what I picked. Spooky Flamingos.
This was the competition. Some serious challengers.
Saturday was the "show and shine". That is the time of the rally when anyone that comes to visit the campground can walk through ALL of the campers. You don't even have to camp! They let fishermen in too as long as they didn't stink like fish too much.
I was really digging a couple of the mailboxes.
This is me and Danelle. Guess where that little yellow mailbox belongs?
Danelle's trailer is a 1964 Shasta Airflyte.
A common sight at rallies and gatherings of vintage trailers are flamingos. Big ones, little ones, pink ones, black ones, all sorts of flamingos. I'm not sure why. Maybe it has something to do with trailer trash and maybe flamingos like eating trailer trash. These guys wouldn't stop following me. I know that you don't feed the animals. The only wildlife we feed is during the progressive cocktail party.
This is Gary, Mary and Christi. They were the folks that were camping next to us. They like to dress in vintage clothing during the rallies. Its really cool.
Their camper is a 1971 Nomad.
I am suppose to be getting all caught up and getting my entries current. Considering that this rally was September of 2013 and I am posting it in June 2014 tells you that I haven't really gotten caught up yet.
I will try to do a better job in the future. Especially since camping season is back already.
Talk to you soon,
Travis
The first night is the progressive cocktail party. A social event for the ages. Going from camper to camper, visiting, consuming tasty beverages and snacks and of course checking out each others campers. A great evening! Plus you get to meet the rookies of the rally.
Talk about considerate... Some folks had vertically challenged tasty beverages just for those of us that aren't quite statuesque.
Big Bill really got a kick out of them!
But it is still fun!
Check this out! How awesome is having a leopard print and pink fuzzy lamp?
Seriously! How cool is this? The romantic glow alone makes it priceless!
Big Bill wanted to try and buy it for his girlfriend.
It wasn't leopard print and fuzzy, but the lamp inside Walter was pretty cool too.
Norm said it was a Lava Light. I didn't want to tell the chucklehead that lava comes out of a mountain, not floating around in blueberry juice. Sheesh.
On Friday evening there was a dinner and a Jello making contest. I fancy myself as a bit of a Jello magician. Big Bill didn't have a lot of confidence in my skills and tried to talk me out of entering.
Here I am with my WINNING entry! That's right, I WON the contest!!! Boo Ya!
Not only do I get to claim all bragging rights for a whole year, I also got to pick out a prize!
This is what I picked. Spooky Flamingos.
This was the competition. Some serious challengers.
Saturday was the "show and shine". That is the time of the rally when anyone that comes to visit the campground can walk through ALL of the campers. You don't even have to camp! They let fishermen in too as long as they didn't stink like fish too much.
I was really digging a couple of the mailboxes.
This is me and Danelle. Guess where that little yellow mailbox belongs?
Danelle's trailer is a 1964 Shasta Airflyte.
A common sight at rallies and gatherings of vintage trailers are flamingos. Big ones, little ones, pink ones, black ones, all sorts of flamingos. I'm not sure why. Maybe it has something to do with trailer trash and maybe flamingos like eating trailer trash. These guys wouldn't stop following me. I know that you don't feed the animals. The only wildlife we feed is during the progressive cocktail party.
This is Gary, Mary and Christi. They were the folks that were camping next to us. They like to dress in vintage clothing during the rallies. Its really cool.
Their camper is a 1971 Nomad.
I am suppose to be getting all caught up and getting my entries current. Considering that this rally was September of 2013 and I am posting it in June 2014 tells you that I haven't really gotten caught up yet.
I will try to do a better job in the future. Especially since camping season is back already.
Talk to you soon,
Travis
