RMIHR

[John Hofstetter <hofs@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Digesters,

We're camping here in Salida after RMIHR. Two big motivating factors for
staying here. One is that the weather here is better than practically
anywhere else, and there is a huge hot spring fed public pool in which Wanda
can exercise without further impacting her existing aches and pains.

We had a wonderful time at Rocky Mountain and thank the folks who made it so
enjoyable. 

As I've said before, once you start naming the people you are thanking, you
risk hurting the folks you aren't naming. And goodness knows, there were a
lot of people working their tails off whose names I don't even know.

However, a few things that I wanted to acknowledge:

Allan Ericson and his family worked their butts off, seemingly night and
day. Coming up from Arizona and putting all this work into RMIHR is quite
something. Allan gave me a token job of sitting by the drink coolers during
the Pig Roast. I wasn't needed, but Allan wanted me to think I might be.
Wonderful boy there passing out the drinks and ice. Zach was his name and it
was fatherly love for him in short order. He had lost his mother in a
violent crime recently, and something came to mind that I used to tell my
teachers. "Teachers often say that they don't know what's wrong with that
kid. They are absolutely right!"

I, (we) had a great time making jokes about Pansy Comer's first name. The
Comers work incredibly hard in making the Rendezvous work. Pansy looks
stressed out but never lets down in using her very strong personality to
keep things moving smoothly. So, the jokes went like this. Do you suppose
that Pansy got her name before she was born?  Or, You know how fat guys are
sometimes called "Slim" ?  Maybe that's why Pansy is Pansy. These "jokes"
were in recognition of her willingness and competency in keeping things on
track. 

Thanks John and Pansy for all your hard work.

I finally met in person, Ken and Jen Farmer, and it was a pleasure. Ken is,
as you know, the primary voice for environmental concerns on the digest. He
told me he sometimes gets tired of getting flamed for expressing his views,
but I told him that "our" digest has room for, and needs views that may
differ to some extent from those of the majority of us.

Interesting side note, Wanda and I ended up with the outstandingly wonderful
salmon, that someone had prepared for Ken and Jen. I don't know what
happened that the Farmers and the salmon never got together, but I didn't
worry much about that as I scarfed it down. Spectacular.

And then Eldon and Rose McFarling. (Sorry about the spelling guys)

Rose kept feeding us as though we needed feeding, but her brisket was huge
motivation toward letting her push more food our way. Eldon is always
looking for ways to help with mechanical problems and when he should have
been on his way to pick up a load, he was turning off my "check engine"
light and replacing a bolt that had fallen out of my power steering pump.
Really, really good people. Their daughter Avie (sp?) asked us to come home
with her 'cause she really likes us. Pretty neat, huh?

I've not downloaded any mail as I write this, and this story is probably on
the digest, but Tom M. blew his new engine in his Travelette on the way to
the Rendezvous, but in spite of this, he managed to smile his way through
the weekend. Michelle, the ultimate good sport, didn't smile quite so much.
I'm really anxious to know what happened to his engine. With a couple of
hundred miles on the engine he completely lost compression on cylinder #7.

Bill Thebert taught a photography workshop on one of the trail trips, and
the folks that were along with us for that trip were so nice about our
efforts to help them, that I came back feeling really good about the time
spent with them. The fact that we were in such a beautiful location helped
too. The Cunninghams, Willy, Tina, and their daughter whose name now escapes
me, all participated in the trip, and my feelings that they were already old
friends was enhanced by that trip.

In all honesty, Binder Bill and I are much alike in that we both want to be
in charge of whatever we have responsibility for, and I tried really hard to
limit my photographic contributions to things that I felt might really be
relevant. 

Our Howard Pletcher with whom we camped for the long weekend, and with whom
we trail tripped on two occasions told my wife that he had a difficult time
not interjecting his views, but he did a remarkably good job of restraining
himself. To no one's surprise, Bill did a great job on the workshop.

The Cavenders appear to have the ultimate responsibility for the care of the
facility and as one who was the keeper of the keys for so many years, I
really appreciate their efforts on our behalf.

Allan E. had a a brand-new-to-him Scout there that he let me race, and even
though it had won the overall victory for its class, I wasn't able to beat
Tom M. in the two races that I ran against him. However, I did so much
better in the second running, that I'm sure Tom must have been trembling in
his boots about any third race. <g>  Many thanks to Allan for his
generosity. That Scout runs like a champ, which seems to be unusual for an
Allan E. vehicle. <vbg>  Thanks Allan.

I met Jason Roedal (sp?), digester, and greatly admired his fine Scout.
Spent a wonderful day in the high country with Jason and his friends.

Funny thing almost happened to me. Somebody suggested that maybe my Dodge
couldn't go on the trail trips because it wasn't an IH vehicle. I'm
certainly grateful to whomever put a stop to that nonsense, because I had
paid the full entrance fee and would have been pretty offended if I couldn't
have gone on the trail trips. This part of the story has a pretty funny
conclusion. 

Joel B. and I sat together for the regular raffle. Joel rubbed my raffle
ticket with his lucky fingers so that he would share his unbelievable luck
at winning raffles with me. Neither of us won a thing, a happening that Joel
might well point toward me as being the cause.

So, Joel goes home and I go on the first day's trail trip. That evening they
had another raffle for some wonderful trail gear. The drawing was just for
participants in the trail rides. First ticket, I won a Hi-lift jack. Funny
huh?

Joel had brought a wonderful female Scouter named Laura with him. What a
lovely competent young woman. My advice to my foster step-son for whom I
have great affection, is to treat Laura exceptionally well. Besides that, I
think that there are guys like "between the cheek and the gum" Dave N. that
would not be unhappy to treat Laura right. Always nice to see South Dakota
Dave. Nice young fellow for whom I have considerable affection.

Liked meeting Ray from Pennsylvania who says that next year he is bringing a
big contingent from the East. Wanda and I both enjoyed meeting and listening
to Robert from Georgia. Robert probably thinks that the rest of us talk
funny. And, who knows, maybe he is right.

So many fine people, so much good fun. My thanks to all who helped make it
possible.

John Hofstetter