What to do at a Mtce Rally?

May 4 -10/17  Weather  has recovered but the temperatures are about 10 to 15 degrees F below normal.  Days are just into the 50's and we had 2 nights of frost but it is only 40ish at night for the next few days.  Is it because the winter was so mild in the north the spring is begrudgingly here? 

entering the Elkart Fairgrounds, beautiful spring flowering tree by their emblem

Vendor building and new coach display

there we are - 1st one on the right in the long row

The Elkhart 4H Fairgrounds are a great place for a Rally.  Facilities can accommodate huge numbers, I think they said there were about 350 coaches here this year.  Below will be a few pics of the camping.  It is very organized and everyone has full hookups, just no cable TV.   The week cost $245 and they feed you breakfast daily, lunch at least 5 times, 2 dinners and an ice cream social.  Everything you want serviced on your coach happens right at your campsite.  It is so convenient.  The REV Group that owns Monaco, Holiday Rambler, American Coach, Fleetwood and Beaver will service 2 items on your motorhome for free labour, you pay the parts.  We had a new swing arm on the door and a new step motor installed.   Billy had the parts waiting.  2 technicians were on it for 1 hour so at $100 an hour there is $200 we recovered.  Then we had another fix on our topper awnings, springs put in last year were readjusted for free by the service shop.  Another 1 hour with 2 guys at $200.  We will also have our generator serviced by Cummins Crosspoint and a new heating element put in our hot water heater.  In the days there are seminars from 9 am to 4 pm on all kinds of topics.  Billy went to a TV tips and tricks and info while I went off to a Convection/Microwave cooking class.  Most functioning equipment on the coach is covered in a seminar.  Fire Safety, Aqua hot, furnaces, hot water heaters, TV, roofs, toppers and awnings, electricity.  and much more.  This year we tried to take in the ones we didn't get to last year.   It might take a few more years to really cover all the topics. 

more camping inside the horsetrack (we were there last year)

driver training for co-pilots, the teacher and driver wear microphones to talk to each other

sign in one of the motorhomes - priceless!!!

Indiana Rally

May 5/17. Weather cool 50, but the rain stopped thank goodness.  In the afternoon the sun even came out!  We were in an out most of the day checking out the vendor booths, and the rally fed us breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We heard there are over 350 coaches this year., and 80 first timers.  Wow that's big.   It does seem like the numbers are up, you can see the difference when the food comes out. Haha. 

Lined up inside the main hall for dinner, new coaches in the background

Sunshine, what a difference a day can make 

Oh boy ,,,,, Mother Nature Is not cooperating

May 3 & 4/17 Weather Forecast is nasty, cold, rainy, windy!!!  We have boots and raincoats and gloves and scarves and long underwear ready.  You think we are kidding?  Haha. Well it's true.  Last year we came to the Holiday Rambler 419 Mtce Rally in Goshen, Indiana and it was the worst weather we have ever participated in.  Participated is the word since we were walking around everyday in the stuff...... this year we had hoped it would be better but it's not starting out so good.  
We decided at the last minute to leave Wednesday afternoon while it was sunny and calm to get the big drive in from Blenheim, Ontario to Shipshewana, Indiana.  We stayed at Shipshewana South RV park.  It's a great campground.  We are patting ourselves on the back this morning.   Smart idea.  Today is rain, wind, cold (high of 44).  So glad we only had 1/2 hour drive to the Elkhart Fairgrounds in Goshen.  
Isn't life fun???  Ok, out we go in our raincoats, good thing I got one to go to Scotland (never needed it there)!!!!

Our view from our motorhome - clouds packed in 

The radar show a massive storm front