Hello everyone,

I am new to the group but my wife and I plan to get acquainted with the group this summer. I have a aviation past (Fly Navy) & (Commercial) plus I did meet Chris my wife of 39 years(NWA) during one of the NWA strikes at the time I was in training with Alaska airlines.

I did have an idea to share with you for a rally,

I am sure I could get a group into Boeing to see the 787 and 747-8 plus we could visit the 787 gallery. the gallery is for airline customers so they can visit the site and order the systems and interior set ups that work for each airline the facility is filled with mock ups of all the new systems. We could also visit the Future of Flight Museum also in Everett, WA  http://www.futureofflight.org/ Both visits could be done in one day.

The other spot that would be a must is the Museum of flight in Seattle http://www.museumofflight.org/, this is really one of the best static aviation displays in the Nation.  


Regards, Jerry

Jerry,

Great idea for a rally.  We would attend if at all possible.

Garland

Thanks Garland,

Lets see if we get any other interest, I have some good contacts at Boeing and both Museums

That sounds like a good rally to us too.  Look into RV site locations in the area.

Larry & Carolyn

Hi Jerry; count us in as well! sounds very informative and fun.  Rick and Laura

Well it looks like we may have some interest in this after all!!

let me see what kind of parking we can find, I know in Seattle we have very little available but perhaps in the everett area we could find some places.

One addtional thought I had was up in the O Connor area (the 2nd largest tulip festival) perhaps we could include this in the rally t the spring time is great (maybe wet)

Jerry  

Depending on dates, etc., count us in.  O'Connor simply adds to the allure of this rally!

My experience is there are few good RV parks in the area.  The one in "downtown" Everett may be the best of questionable options, and likely not rally material.  There has to be someplace, but finding it will need to take effort;  and unless Boeing can host parking at one of its facilities, the campsite may have to be at some distance away.  

I know there's RV parking (not parks or resorts) near the cruise ships at the ports. They have huge parking lots. They might be open to a large crowd of coaches.

I wanted to pass along some of my research on parks here in Seattle, I was looking at parks that would provide us convenient commutes to both Everett and Seattle.

So far I have not had much luck of the 5 parks I have called so far only 1 has expressed any interest and this would be for dates in October 2011 or May  of 2011.

I think the October date would present problems as some folks will already be heading south for the winter. I am not sure how May works but for now I will use this rough time frame as a goal.
The weather would not be an issue for us as all of the tours for the most part are indoors. I was also hoping to include a golf game during the rally but May will of course have some potential for rain.

I have had some good feed back from many members and some great advise form both dick McQuillan and Mike Humble this has been very helpful, for now it looks like next spring and I am working with a 15 coach limit.


Regards, Jerry

The Fidalgo Bay RV Resort is a nice waterfront park in Anacortes.  It would be a 50 minute drive to Everett, but it is the only decent RV park I've found north of Seattle.  

Another choice might be to time it with the Arilington Air Show held every year in July.  Arlington is very close to Everett.  There is lots of dry camping there every year mixed with some fly in tent camping.  I haven't been for a few years, but they used to have a good selection of performances in the afternoon.  Also at the Arlington airport is a company where you build an airplane on a two week vacation.  They would probably allow a tour as well.  I think Paul Allen has a warbird museum at Paine Field too.

Hello Everyone,

I did stop in and visit with the KOA in Kent, they had a group of 15 spots next to a club house, the spots are all 50 long but have only 30 amp plugs.  This is not a big deal, as this is Seattle and I would give odds that no one will be running the AC.

This location would work very well, its a 20 min. drive to the Museum at Boeing field and a 40min ride to Everett.

We would have a 2 good golf courses close by and plenty of other attraction for anyone not into aviation.

Glass museum in Tacoma or Pike St. Market in Seattle.

If anyone would like to stay a few extra days you can also hop a sea plane that flies out of Lake Union and be in Victoria in 60 min.

Hey Bill the Alrington idea is great!  We could also do some skydiving at this airport or at Snohomish.

Jerry

There  is a nice campground with big spots  called pioneer trails campground just south of fidalgo bay, (Anacortes, WA) that you might want to take a look at.  True it would be 50 minutes or so to some of the things you are talking about seeing, but the area is beautiful. There is also a KOA in Burlington that would be a little closer to some of the sites and it is a nice campground.
http://pioneertrails.com/
http://www.koa.com/where/wa/47150/

Arden Smith

Hello Arden,

I know the Fidalgo bay resort this is a great spot but I think a little far out, I have so far found 2 spots that are interested in a group of 15 rigs, the KOA in Kent WA( an older site) that will offer us an of season rate and they have an indoor club house we can use, the other convenient spot is located just east of fall city called the Snoqualmie river RV park, they have an out door cabana for us the rate is a lot better.

I tend to favor the KOA just for location some of the thing that I would like to include in the rally for those that don't like airplanes include a visit to the Pike Market,Seattle's Underground Tour,or perhaps the Glass museum located in Tacoma.

I think the main idea would be touring Boeing Everett, including a very private visit to the 787 Gallery(normally only open to Airline customers) also in Everett the History of flight Museum, and of course the Museum of flight at Boeing Fld in Seattle.

I have never attended nor have I ever put together a rally before, so far I have been collecting data only. I am not confident that I really have the ability to put this rally together.

Jerry


  

So, where are we with the rallye? I like the Boeing Everett idea since I am former Boeing. I've made two visits to the KOA in Kent and am not real keen on it. Fidalgo would be a good choice. There is also a park in Oak Harbor, via Decption Pass misses the ferries.
We will be leaving Bellingham in late September and will return in May. If I can be of help, please let me know.
I will be managing the Bellingham RV Park again next summer. If there is an interest in being that far north, we would be glad to be the host park.
Ron