Date: Mon, 22 Sep 1997 21:46:31 -0700
Reply-To: Pearce Johnson <vanbondo@PRIMENET.COM>
Sender: Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From: Pearce Johnson <vanbondo@PRIMENET.COM>
Subject: Jerome Report ~it aint Kelly Park!
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VanBondo here!
We planned on leaving Phoenix by noon Friday to get up the hill prior to
dark thirty. Per the usual the land of incessant 100F temperature was behind
us by 5PM. Caravanning with VWFOOL@AOL.com and his brother Dave in their
single cabs we did our best to clog traffic on I-17 northbound. All was well
as we finally made our way through the Prescott Valley and filled up at the
gas station prior to the final ascent into Gommorah~ I mean Jerome. ;-)
Several of the Southern California troops honked as they screamed by in
their VTO, Box on Wheels, and Strictly Vintage buses. The road into Jerome
is peppered with 15 & 20 MPH hairpin turns. Mountains on one side- drop offs
on the other. With this in mind, I lost my headlights on one of the turns
due to a build up resistance on the #30 post in the light switch. DOH! I'm
glad that I was the leader as it would have been too helpful to have had
anybody's tail light to guide by. Whoa! Got it fixed and soon afterwards
rolled into a *PACKED* Jamboree.
I had advised that some folks get there "early" to nab a space. The
official, no BS, count was 127 buses by midnight Friday!!!! Many of our NM,
So Cal& Nor Calif friends were already there. Cherry VanBondo and I parked
next to BUCKWILDE@aol.com and his flying circus. Our bus was slightly
downhill to compansate for the weirdness of the SO-42 Zbed. Finally! a good
nights sleep in the RFH! Before crahing for the night I had a chance to ride
one of VWFOOL's tank bikes around and share some laughs and a beer with a
few mechanical/agriculturalist list lurkers, and other fellow potential
future felons. <I'm kidding guys!> Everyone was already having a good time...
The vision of the wide flat camp site littered with buses and campfires in
the dirt already looked like a scene out of a Mad Max movie.
Saturday morning started at seven AM. It felt good to sleep in compared to
the regular wake up for the new job. The place was soon hopping with
activity. The main caravan from Phoenix rolled in at the "regular" time and
had fun finding camp sites. A fun group had erected a doughboy pool and
spent all day Friday filling it by making several trips to a near by water
source using a 250gallon tank in the rear of an old single cab. The folks
who were rumored to be bringing a generator and pin ball machines didn't
bring the hardware after all.
The swap meet was far better than in past years partially due to the
attendance of the vendors, mainly from Nor Cal. I will lobby my vote on
thier behalf in the planning of next year's event. My personal thank yous to
Jim Thompson, Rex Eastman, The Bus Farmers, Blue Nelson, Danny Zepeda,
Charlie and Cheri-Lynn, and all of the previously mentioned players from NM,
Cali, and other surrounding States. The party scene was mostly under control
and fun. A few "interesting" side shows occured that were way beyond my
interests. A mild BBQ with Rex, Jim, Duelist Bradley *Prunehead*, the ladies
and Bobby-D was fun. Rex's boy is already a hell of a trooper and hasnt yet
seem the backside of three years. All I can say is that Rex is very patient
and mellow.
Daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-dadd
y-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-daddy-Bobby-D likes! were the words of
the night. Right on. =) I would have a flock of them if that were the ops.
Sunday morning revealed more treasures and fun. Final count on bus entries
was slightly over 300 by 10 AM. Cherry and I took the Resto Camper out of
the running for the "Show" competition and did the SWUN thing. Instead we
flew our tie-dyed Arizona State flag and the "family crest." My pocketbook
was pretty well intact until I made the final pass. I think Jim Thompson did
the most damage but was very kind. Thanks for the kiss... ;-) I donated one
of my extra "Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers" (No.9) comics to the auction. It
brought more money than it was worth but ~hey it's a VW event, right? The
grand prize raffle drawing went down just as Marc, Duelist
<duelist@azaccess.com>, explained. I was out of it before I heard the first
number. Someone went home in a shiny blue 1965 Kombi. The word was that
several folks spent $100-$200.00 on raffle tickets and went home only with
the knowledge that the funds went to a good cause.
Conclusion:
On behalf of the Arizona Bus Club and the Arizona Children's Burn Camp, I
unofficially would like thank everyone who attended this years event. With
all of the fun and friendship over the weekend it is easy to forget how
lucky we all are. The children who attend Camp Courage each Summer thank you
all from the bottom of their hearts. Maybe next year you and a *magazine or
three* will get a chance to attend.
Peace,
VanBondo\
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