I've add a link to my blog which has my Escapade pictures on it. Be forewarned that my experience was not a good one at the event and my writing reflects it. Also, be sure to read through July 7th,,,you'll see why,
http://quinnsawesomejourney.blogspot.com/2008/07/62508-our-first-escapade.html

Snookie,

Thanks so much for your pictures and notes. I have bookmarked your blog and will read it daily from now on.

It was somewhat of a downer that so many had not so good experiences at the Escapade. We are now full timers and want to attend the next one, but with so many not having a good time, I may have to rethink it.

We will be in Yellowstone for two weeks Sept. 2-15. So looking forward to it.

See you down the road.
Joezilla

Snookie,
Thanks for the pictures and the blog. They were both excellent. I am sorry that you did not have a good experience at the Escapade. We have always enjoyed our times with Rallies and Escapades.

I would suggest that you attend a local chapter rally and get to meet some people there. You need not be a chapter member to attend. All Escapees are welcome at all Rallies. Check your Escapees Magazine for times and places. We have always been made to feel welcome. You can also meet SKP's at Rainbow Parks. We have only been wintering in our RV for two winters and have met some wonderful people and developed many friendships.

Happy trails and good luck.

Snookie,

I ditto what Cindy and Phil have posted but I need to ask......did you go to any of the BOF gatherings or Chapter gatherings? BOF's are an acronym for Birds of a Feather, which are groups of common interest. Chapters are groups of interest that meet in your general area.

If you went to the First-Timers meeting, I know that you heard Kay tell you to get involved. Well......get involved! Volunteer,inquire about a Chapter rally, go to a BOF meeting, or go to a social and be social....Do not expect members to walk up to you and say, "Hi, I am..... welcome to the Escapade!" The staff members and volunteers are way to busy to welcome each and every person.

My husband and I are not going to go to Escapade and sit in our rig. There is time for that later in life when we can't move!

I know this is my first post but I could not sit idle and lurk any longer. Newbies should not sit on pedestals and think that people need to come to them. They need to get out there introduce themselves, and meet as many other SKPs as possible.

Hugs to you Snookie!!

Joezilla,

If I were you I would go to an Escapade myself to experience it. They are wonderful!

Snookie,

Sorry to hear about your and Bob's bad experience at your first Escapade. We are vendors (didn't get to Gilette) but when we see newbies with their special ribbons, I try to come around the table to give them a hug (if they say ok) or at least acknowledge them with a word of welcome.

I find there are a couple type of folks who go to the Escapades. First, your newbies who are so excited to be there and are running around trying to get as much info as possible, and could be just too tired to do anything else.

There are also the ones who have been to soooo many Escapades that they know alot of folks and hang out with them. (They may of forgotten what it was like to be new)

Then there are the ones who come in together, park together and socialize together. These folks can miss out sometimes.

Give it another chance. This time you can be the one to make contact with the first timers and you might make alot of fast friendships.

If you are going to be in Ohio in September, come to the Gypsy Journel Rally. It's not as big. Be sure to stop by the Dri Wash n Guard booth and say hi. I'll be with the "Conehead", just down the aisle from the short, obnoxious, pear shape guy...right Nick????

Pam

Snookie,
I have to totally agree with Joezilla's post. My wife & I were also first timers, and knew very few people there. We did not wait to be greeted by someone, but would speak first. We found the Escapade to be an excellent experience, and made several new friends. The BOF groups and chapter gatherings we attended were all very friendly. There are always some cliques at any type of gathering, but usually they are unintentional, and are just friends getting together to catch up on some visiting. We've been to brand specific rallies and really like the feeling at this one. Most folks could care less whether you're in a Prevost or a tent, as long as you're there and having fun.
Better luck in the future.

Mike

Mike,

Thank you for your post! You are so correct when you say the cliques are unintentional.

Snookie,

Escapees are not made up of people that ignore others on purpose. RVers are out there traveling across the country seeing the glorious sights, and this might be the only opportunity to catch up with old friends. Give it another chance and as RVbabe says, "Socialize!"

Hugs,
Kellie

Snookie, RVBabe, Cindy & Phil, and Mike....

First, WELCOME TO ESCAPEES AND THE SKP FORUM!!

It was about 12-13 years ago that we went to our first Escapade, as 'walk-ins', because we didn't have our RV with us on the trip. We went to the welcome gathering, but I had just fallen down and skinned my knees up, so I don't remember much about it other than that Kay and Joe were there to welcome everyone. We spent two days wandering around (it was in Fresno, if I recall right) but didn't really get to know anyone we met there. We did learn a lot about the club we had belonged to for a couple of years by then, and we had fun shopping, but we came away from that Escapade wondering if it was the friendly group of people who had introduced us to Escapees in the summer of '94 when we all worked together at Yellowstone. Must've been about that same time, too, that this forum was starting to roll, with (help me with the date the forum started, old timers!!) maybe a few dozen of us sharing news and information, so I knew that there were some really friendly and helpful Escapees out there. Ken and I talked it over and decided that it must've been because we weren't staying with the club members that we felt like outsiders at that Escapade. Unfortunately, circumstances and our route planning never allowed us another chance to attend an Escapade, but we had agreed that, if we ever did get to attend another, we'd be the first to volunteer our help and extend our hands to others.

I no longer have an RV, but one of my dear Escapee friends, Cool Judy, has put a bee in my bonnet. And, know what, folks? That danged bee is gonna keep buzzing in my ears til I figure out a way to show up at next year's Escapade in Sedalia, MO. And, if I can swing it, I hope to meet y'all there, too, and to collect a bunch of SKP hugs!

Happy travels, everyone! Lee

Evidently the posters to this thread haven't even looked at your "Blog". I would say you went out of your way to be quite active at the Escapade. Personally after attending 5 Escapades ourselves, we won't go out of our way to attend any more. We have learned more at FMCA, Freightliner and Good Sam events without the yearly repeat of stale seminars. Don't take me wrong, some seminars warrant a yearly refresher course, examples would be anything by John Palmer, Mac MCoy or Joe and Vicki Kieva and Mike and Terri Church. We don't plan to again attend a seminar that touts the virtue of wetnap bathing, while boondocking.

Ohhh Lee,

Your post is wonderful! Thank you!!

I definitely hope to see you in Sedalia.

Hugs,
Kellie

One of the great things about Escapees and about Escapades is that the more involved you get, the more fun you have. (And I did read her blog.) At least that has been my experience. We have found that Escapades are a great way to do what we are each interested in. I am someone who likes to go to almost everything, while my DH would rather wander around a see if he can find the oldest rig and visit with its owner. Find what you like.

I am sorry that your first experience was unhappy, but I do hope you will try again. We have always found SKPs to be the most friendly people and I always visit with the first-timers, even though Escapades are like a family reunion (with people I like better ) with folks I look forward to seeing each year.

Teacher's pet, I completely agree about the yearly refresher courses. I also thought that this year there was such a great variety of topics that one does not need to go to those that you have attended before, but that it is nice to have some of the old stand-bys because there are new people at each Escapade that have never seen the information before. Isn't it great that we can have so many different interests, but that we all like the RV lifestyle!