3rd Annual VAC Northeast Gathering

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

November, 2000

Rally Report

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John Gilliland and Harley Muse of the Washington DC Unit hosted the 3rd Annual VAC Northeast Gathering at the KOA in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia from November 2-5, 2000. There were representatives from Canada (3) Connecticut (1), Maryland (7), New Hampshire (1) New Jersey (3) New York (4), North Carolina (2), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island(1), Virginia (3), and West Virginia (1). Total attendance over the course of the weekend was 80 people, including 15 children with 35 trailers and two families without their trailers who stayed in the cabins on site.

Enthusiasm ran high and everyone agreed that the weather was a major factor in the large turnout. We had a special request in for excellent weather and the trees still had a bit of color in them as both the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers ran cold. The only complaint expressed by many was that it wasn't quite cold enough to eliminate the gnats, but they were tolerated and seemed to go their own way once the campfires were lit.

Some highlights of the weekend's activities were the arrival of several vintage trailers and their also vintage tow vehicles. Participants gathered as Sue & Hunt Jones arrived with their '61 Globetrotter towed with their '55 GMC pickup (both shined like new pennies). The Weimers arrived from Punsutawney, PA towing their '63 Globetrotter with a vintage Chrysler Town & Country - having left Phil behind as it isn't quite Groundhog Day yet. They said he'd gone back into hibernation for the winter. Arriving early Sunday morning just as some were pulling out was an unexpected treat as Stuart Natof drove up in his '48 Cadillac. Stuart wasn't towing his trailer, but just drove up for the day to see what was happening. He and his wife Margaret had just gotten back from a trip to Ireland the day before.

Participants spent their days on Friday and Saturday touring the towns of Harper's Ferry and Bolivar locally, starting with visits to the National Park Headquarters to being their tours of the historic area of Harper's Ferry. Other sites in the local area that were visited by some were the historic towns of Shepherdstown and Charles Town in West Virginia and Sharpsburg, Maryland which is the site of the Civil War battle generally referred to as Antietam

.

Several visited the racetrack in Charles Town where there is a casino as well as regularly scheduled thoroughbred racing. The waters of the Potomac and Shenandoah being too cold, there was no participation in the white water rafting activities that take place even though the waters are colder now.

The Washington DC Unit held its annual business meeting on Saturday morning early so that participants could partake of the many aforementioned activities. Activities for 2001 were discussed and planned. Keep an eye on the 2001 Edition of the WBCCI Directory and future issues of the Blue Beret and Vintage Advantage for the schedule of upcoming WDCU events.

A formal Open House (as has been held at previous VAC events) was abandoned in favor of what turned out to be a very informal one. We found ourselves hosting many visitors throughout the weekend who stopped by to see the Gathering, to ask questions and get ideas and solutions to their own problems. There were several sessions of riveting, wiring, plumbing going on and generally something for everyone. There was talk also of winterizing methods. In this section of the country that is a vitally important topic and several did their winterizing before leaving the site on their journies home.

The weekend was a roaring success everyone agreed and we all look forward to next year's Northeast Fall Gathering which has been set for a location on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. WDCU'ers Margaret Natof and her sister Gail McClelland have agreed to host next year's event and are in the process of selecting a site as this is being written.

Keep an eye on future issues of the Vintage Advantage for announcements regarding the 4th Annual VAC Northeast Gathering in 2001. In the meantime, safe travels and pleasant journeys!

Harley C. Muse WBCCI #7566 Corresponding Secretary Washington DC Unit