HitchHiker International Rally - 2007  

Updated: 11/09/08

 

 

 

We traveled to Missouri for two HitchHikers of America events - the 2007 International Rally and 2007 Branson Revisited Tour. The first thing at all events is getting parked. We arrive a couple days early with HH friends from Michigan. We met near St. Louis so we would arrive together permitting us to park together. 

This is a view near the gate.

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x hh tu 07 061.JPG (20778 bytes)There were 199 HitchHiker fifth wheels at the rally. We were scattered over this entire section of the Missouri State Fairgrounds campground.

 

 

 

 

z hh mon 021 registration.JPG (28921 bytes)The volunteers were busy getting everyone registered. They passed out the rally agenda and other handouts. This is when you sign up for the craft classes and games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before the Opening Ceremony, Roger and Barbara invited everyone that was on the 2007 HH Nova Scotia Excursion to their site for dinner. They served sausage gumbo. It was nice to see the people we spent two weeks with earlier in the year. Sort of a reunion.

 

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This photograph was made Monday night during the Opening Ceremony. You were sitting where?

 

 

 

 

This year's theme was scarecrows. We were asked to bring a scarecrow to be used as decorations for the stage area. Everyone voted for their three favorite scarecrow. The winners were announced Wednesday night.

 

 

 

 

z hh mon 129 c m d d.JPG (33750 bytes)z hh mon 140 dolores.JPG (27257 bytes)Dolores and Don welcomed us to the rally and made the necessary announcements. Curt and Marilyn assisted some as well.

 

 

 

 

 

z hh mon 095 vendors.JPG (37964 bytes)The vendors and suppliers participating at the rally were introduced. We look forward to their - products and seminars. We had been communicating with one of the vendors all year and had our credit card ready when we saw him.

          

 

 

 

z hh mon 144 staff.JPG (43162 bytes)NuWa sent a staff of sales people, engineers and service people to the rally. I think the rally is one of the best places for information and helpful assistance to HitchHiker owners. These guys know the product inside and out.

The service people are great representatives of NuWa. They spend the entire rally tweaking our units. Not all units need attention but, we appreciate that they are there if needed.   z hh mon 148 staff rv.JPG (33548 bytes)

RV (yes, that's his name) has been helping HH and HHII owners for many years. We have taken advantage of his knowledge several times since our first rally in 2002.

z hh mon 150 staff james 2.JPG (28204 bytes)This year, because of the large number of units at the rally and the high percentage of HHIIs, James came to help HHII owners.

 

 

We don't mean to slight the engineers and sales people by not including individual photographs. Perry (HHII engineer) answered Fred's question by e-mail the day he returned to the office. They are all good people. Mike (owner of NuWa) has not been at the rally the last couple years but is represented well by his staff. 

 

 

 

z hh mon 201 e stage.JPG (49899 bytes)It's not all about the units. We have fun also. The stage area was the center of evening activities and entertainment. 

We had to listen real close to Monday's entertainment. Sound system issues made hearing the whistlers a challenge.  

     z hh mon 156 e whistlers.JPG (35676 bytes)

 

The dancing man and horse were very unique.   

  z hh mon 170 e man.JPG (32792 bytes)            z hh mon 200 e horse.jpg (32117 bytes)

 

 

This is the cookie line.
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We needed a sugar fix for strength to
get back to our units for the night.

 

 

 

x hh tu 07 nuwa sign 002.JPG (24022 bytes)The first thing we attended on Tuesday was the NuWa Focus Group presentation. Jerry gave the sales information about the new models.

Russ took over for the question and answer portion. It is always an interesting and informative session.

 

 

 

 

 

x hh tu 07 models 008.JPG (32183 bytes)Generally, NuWa and a local dealer bring new models for us to look at. They are open throughout the rally days. The dealer display was inside this year.

 

 

 

 

 

The day was filled with craft classes and seminars.

 

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w hh wed07 seminars 009.JPG (46203 bytes)The seminars are worth attending even if you are not in the market for their product. We consider them a learning opportunity and attend as many as we can. 

 

   

 

 

 

 

At three o'clock, the games began. Today it was beanbag baseball and dominos. Some of our HH friends have great form at 'bat'.

 

x hh tu 07 bbbb 032.JPG (62857 bytes)         x hh tu 07 bbbb 037.JPG (53964 bytes)

 

 

And, dominos . . .

 

s hh tu 07 dominos 045.JPG (36514 bytes)      s hh tu 07 dominos 049.JPG (41401 bytes)

 

 

 

The evening entertainment was a group of talented kids. They were enjoyed by all.

 

 

x hh tu 07 am kids 247.JPG (35765 bytes)   x hh tu 07 am kids 108.JPG (48873 bytes)   x hh tu 07 am kids 133.JPG (46820 bytes)   x hh tu 07 am kids 229.JPG (37378 bytes)

 

 

x hh tu 07 am kids larry 153.JPG (38624 bytes)
Larry can't go back to the office anymore
and honestly tell his staff it is all work
and no play at a HitchHiker rally.

 

 

What audience doesn't like to join in for  . . . 

Y                        M                     C                        A  

x hh tu 07 am kids g y 193.JPG (43443 bytes)   x hh tu 07 am kids g m 190.JPG (47215 bytes)   x hh tu 07 am kids g c 194.JPG (45489 bytes)  x hh tu 07 am kids g y 195.JPG (43640 bytes)

 

 

 

After the evening entertainment, it was 'free' time.

x hh tu 07 free 295.JPG (29910 bytes)x hh tu 07 free 294.JPG (41866 bytes)This is the time NuWa puts out various things that HH owners need now and then. It could be anything from A - Z. (light bulbs, cabinet door latches, entry door catches, baggage door clips, sliding closet door clips, window sealer and  roof sealer)

The item all RVers find handy to have on hand is a fresh tube of roof sealer. We always carry a tube or two.

 

 

 

Wednesday started with a delicious catered breakfast before the seminars began.

 

w hh wed07 bkst 006.JPG (41436 bytes)      w hh wed07 bkft 002.JPG (41949 bytes)

 

 

The table was set up for the display of members arts and crafts.
We were encouraged to vote for our favorite.
Winners were announced the last evening of the rally.

w hh wed07 craft judge 054.JPG (39126 bytes)

 

 

 

By mid-afternoon it was time for another sugar fix. An insurance company provided ice cream for the rally attendees. And, like most groups, offer something to eat and you are guaranteed a good turnout.

 

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The t-shirt decorating craft class was so popular there were three session.

 

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This afternoon we played Ladder Golf . . .

 

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. . . and Jokers.

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w hh wed07 bingo 110.JPG (32767 bytes)The evening entertainment Wednesday night was BINGO.

 

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w hh wed07 bear 104 crop.JPG (28885 bytes)Dolores reminded us that the people responsible for Hilda HitchHiker, our traveling bear, was going to be selected tomorrow night. She said to give her your name if you wanted a traveling companion next year.  

 

 

 

 

Following the seminar "2008 Trips" on Thursday, the vendors and suppliers were open until lunch.

 

 

Lunch was the Red Hats Society luncheon for the women and the 'first annual' Greasy Hat luncheon for the men.

 

The women had a sandwich and salad plate,
listened to a couple readings and played games.

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v hh th07 rh 041.JPG (45689 bytes)      v hh th07 rh 040.JPG (44409 bytes)      v hh th07 rh 046.JPG (60644 bytes)

v hh th07 M&ML 008.JPG (48087 bytes)
Marilyn & Mary Lou

 

 

The men ate brats, bean and potato chips.
Trucks from five different manufacturers were displayed.

 

v hh th07 gh food 020.JPG (58668 bytes)      v hh th07 gh line 017.JPG (39601 bytes)      v hh th07 gh 014.JPG (51335 bytes)

v hh th07 gh tables 022.JPG (47821 bytes)                                        v hh th07 gh tables 026.JPG (47901 bytes)

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Fred & Rex

Rex loaned Fred a greasy hat.
Not many of the men
wore a 'real' greasy hat.

 

 

The Arts and Crafts Sale and RV Patio Sale were scheduled for after lunch.

 

 

A catered Farewell Dinner was set for 5:30pm. The food prepared by a local restaurant was served by HH volunteers.

 

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They moved plates from one table
to the other one to keep the line moving
. . . but . . .
I won't tell you which line was slower.

 

 

v hh th07 fwd condi 184.JPG (56976 bytes)      v hh th07 fwd condi 193.JPG (55255 bytes)

 

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v hh th07 fwd tables clo 202.JPG (50648 bytes)      v hh th07 fwd tables long 200.JPG (46915 bytes)

 

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Some of the Michigan HHs . . .

 

 

 

The Closing Ceremony and Awards started a little early because everyone was already there. The entertainment had already arrived so it worked well for everyone.

 

v hh th07 don bd 250 crop.JPG (47486 bytes)Almost first on the 'unofficial' agenda was a birthday cake for Don.

v hh th07 don bd 236.JPG (135247 bytes)     He seemed pleased.

 

 

Awards were presented to the victors . . .

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         GOLF                                          DOMINOS                                   LADDER GOLF  

 

 

v hh th07 awards bean bag baseball 274.JPG (41483 bytes)      v hh th07 awards crafts 319.JPG (36475 bytes)

BEAN BAG BASEBALL                         CRAFTS               

 

 

For the first time that we remember, door prizes provided by the vendors and suppliers
were passed over the railing and distributed to the lucky winners when their name was drawn.

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Finally, the long awaited scarecrow winners were announced.

 

 

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FIRST                                       SECOND                                            THIRD

 

 

We have two 'member' bears - Memory Bear and Hilda HitchHiker.

 v hh th07 two bears 091.JPG (40160 bytes)

                    A ribbon with the name of each member
                     who died during the current year
                     is attached to our Memory Bear.

                                                                                                                                        Hilda HitchHiker travels
                                                                                                                                                            with a different member each year. 

 

Dolores read the names of the people in our HitchHiker family who died since our last International Rally. Because two members invited Hilda HitchHiker to travel with them, Marilyn drew the name from two slips of paper. 

 

 

The evenings entertainment was great music. You could tell that the musicians really enjoyed playing. 

 

 

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Some of what they played was dance music.

v hh th07 e d w sc 402.JPG (52052 bytes)When Dolores asked a male scarecrow for a dance that was okay. She could dance with him.

v hh th07 e don w sc 416.JPG (52668 bytes)But, as soon as Don started dancing with a female scarecrow, Dolores jumped up from her chair and escorted her back to her seat. That was not okay.

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Don could dance with Dolores.
He could not dance with another female
even if it was a scarecrow.
However, it all ended happily as they
danced together arm in arm.

 

 

Friday was the last day of the 2007 International Rally. The only thing on the schedule was a continental breakfast.

 

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Soon it was time to wish everyone safe travels as we headed in several directions.

  

Some were heading to warmer locations for the winter.
Some were returning home to family and friends.
Some were headed to Branson for a HH Tour.

Branson Revisited - 2007

 

 


Dolores and Don, with the help of their volunteers,
provided us with another excellent rally experience.

Thank you.

 

           

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