Alumapalooza rolled around this year with one full year+ of camping under our belts and with us feeling like we were experienced streamers. We had down all the procedures, had expanded our gear, had read all the books and magazines, and had logged over 11,000 miles since our first Alumapalooza. This year when we showed up to help Lou and Larry Woodruff with parking detail we were . . . . veterans. I headed out alone for the one hour drive to Jackson Center with Tom to follow in the MG after school on Tuesday, May 28. Arriving at 8:00, the gate was set to open at 9:00, and I was 6th in line for parking. Welcomed by good friend Lou, my objective was to quickly set up in the generator lot and head over to the gate to help Lou and Larry Woodruff with welcome, gate and parking duties. On the first day, there was a steady stream of Airstreams flowing through the gate. Lou and I greeted each unit getting information about their parking preferences. Our offerings were for 3 amp electric, part-time generator, or full-time generator. Riding the Gator cart, Larry and Tom would provide escort to a marked parking spot, filling in row after row of silver trailers. Working the gate was fun, because most arrivals were tickled to have arrived! Busy volunteers provided each trailer with water and electric hookup and offered assistance as needed. The big white entertainment tent, and smaller vendor tent, were the focus of 5 days of events and in short time they were surrounded by Airstreams. Working the gate didn't allow our crew much time to attend events during the first few days. But, nothing made me feel more a part of this big 'palooza as being able to meet and greet everyone that attended! It was a steady stream of happy campers, each with a story to tell of where they were from and how they got there. I lost count of the number of drivers that were beaming from ear to ear on their very first outing in their new-to-them Airstream!
After several 14-hour (or more) volunteer duty days, some of the staff got a little slap happy. Here are some of the boys showing the never-ending good-will of Airstream volunteers! I did not get many pictures of the parked trailers showing the famous silver line-up and my individual favorites. It was all there -- I just didn't have time to do the walk-around with camera in hand. Here are a few that I quickly snapped. Not to make excuses, but I really did not do a very thorough job of documenting Alumapalooza 4; I was a bit busy at that gate! So, I am going to suggest that you visit Rich Luhr's blog. Rich is the Editor & Publisher of Airstream Life magazine and the organizer of Alumapalooza. His blog, Man in the Maze, documents the events that took place on a daily basis. Click here and search the archives for the end of May and beginning of June: Man in the Maze Tom and I leave tomorrow morning, in about 8 hours, for the annual firefly synchronization in Elkmont Campground in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Then we again link up with sister Tink and head over the mountains into North Carolina for an "R-Pod & Friends" rally at Raccoon Holler! Stop back by in a week to catch up on the details!
1 Comment
10/1/2013 05:54:47 pm
. Riding the Gator cart, Larry and Tom would provide escort to a marked parking spot, filling in row after row of silver trailers.
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October 2021
We don’t go camping any more . . . we go ‘streamin’ ! The “SIlvermine and His” is our 2018 25' Airstream Serenity with Salsa interior and front twin beds., and ‘streamin’ is the name we use to describe our adventures. Stream along as we document everything from weekend trips to longer summer excursions and full-blown vacations. You know what they say: if you’re not in an Airstream – you’re just camping!
Tom & Ella Brown |