THE CAPITOL TIMES

The official newsletter of

The Washington DC Unit

(Unit #170)

January 19, 2002

Volume 3, Issue 2

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This Editions Highlights

Introduction and Vintage Tales

Rally Promotions

Rally Sign up Forms

Caravan to International

Community Service Project

Restoration Project

Region 2 VP Endorsement

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Introduction and Vintage Tales

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Greetings WDCUers,

Lin and I trust you all had a safe and happy holiday season. Ours was

quite ordinary except for two Airstream Trailer "Rescues" we made during the

period. One the weekend before Christmas and one New Years Day.

The first "rescue" was a long haul to Indiana to help retrieve a wasting

'64 Trade Wind for an business associate of Lin's who had suddenly got the

aluminum "bug". We left on Friday morning traveling through the sometimes

whiteout conditions of lake effect snow in western PA and picked up the

trailer on Saturday morning. We got there with temperatures in the

mid-twenties and began to package the unit for transport. The trailer's

wiring system was questionable so we used auxiliary lighting and as a result

had no brakes.

After nearly two hours we got on the road and headed back at speeds of

less than 50 MPH. The trip home was uneventful till we reached Connecticut.

We were almost 4 hours late when disaster struck at 2:15 am. We had blown

out a streetside wheel bearing on the trailer! No one was injured but it was

not fun waiting 4 hours in 20 degree temps for a flatbed big enough to haul

the trailer off the highway. After getting it loaded we then made the

decision to have the trailer hauled direct to it's new home in New

Hampshire.

Lesson number one, if you ever have to haul your trailer over 100 miles

on a flatbed in a pinch, don't! We could have replaced the entire dura

torque axle assembly complete with brakes and drums for less than it cost

for the tow.

The second "rescue" involved driving to Maryland just outside Baltimore,

to help out freinds on New Years day. Their tow vehicle had broken down and

they didn't want to leave the trailer. We didn't have anything planned so we

decided to go, it was a great traveling day, light traffic with few trucks

the whole way. Too bad it couldn't be like that all the time.

We have 3 great locations for our rallies this year, Maryland, North

Carolina, and Virginia. So sign up early and Lin and I will see you there!

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Rally Promotions

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New WDCU members Doug and Terry Rowbottom tell a story of their recent

adventures traveling south after the Rehoboth Rally in October.

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After another great rally at Rehoboth Beach, Terry and I headed south to

check out Camp Hatteras on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We stopped for

lunch on the beach at Ocean City, Maryland. They have a great tourist

center and a wonderful sand beach. After a walk along the pier to gets the

legs working we headed off toward Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay

Bridge. It's about 20 miles long and has 2 tunnel sections with a fishing

pier and tourist stop at the second tunnel. Terry Tyler had said that he

stays overnight at the pier so we decided to try it out. They have a long

term parking area for the fishermen, so we pulled in for the night. It's got

a great view of Norfolk in the distance as the sun goes down. In the morning

we headed for the Outer Banks following the ocean shore through Kitty Hawk

past the Wright Bros. Memorial, down through Nags Head and on to the Outer

Banks. It's an amazing area not much wider then the road in some strips

where they are rebuilding it as the wind moves the sand toward the mainland.

About half way down the Outer Banks, there are three

towns, Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo. At Waves there is a KOA Camp Hatteras then

a private park called Camp Hatteras and another park I don't remember their

name. Prices were from $22 - $40 per night. We stayed at Camp Hatteras to

check out their facilities for having the Washington DC unit rally. This

park fronts on the Ocean and on Pamlico Sound.

The road splits the park in this area. They have a great location here, you

can hear the Ocean or walk over the dunes to it. They also have indoor and

outdoor pools, a meeting hall with kitchen, a games room for the kids,

Miniature golf, Tennis court and close to a fishing pier.

At the entrance there is a couple, Doug and Sue Green, in a 55 Safari

waiting to greet you. They work at the park and live in their trailer and

are the official welcoming party for Airstream trailers.

The Outer Banks is known for being the home of Blackbeard the Pirate and the

first lighthouse in North America. The current Cape Hatteras lighthouse was

moved up the beach in 1999 to keep it from washing into the Ocean. It was

quite a job costing 23 million dollars. Bring your treasure hunting

equipment as there are thousands of ship wrecks along the Outer Banks and

stuff washes up after every storm.

If you want to get in on a great rally, it will be held the Camp Hatteras

park next Aug. 15 - 18, 2002. Sponsored by our own Washington DC unit and

attracting a large number vintage trailers. Sign up early as these rallys

are getting known for their great times and fill up fast.

After a couple of interesting days we were off again to join the Vintage

Club rally being held in the Top Of Georgia Airstream Park in Helen Georgia.

We met some of the people from the Vintage discussion list and had a great

time telling stories of repairs and checking out the trailers from all over

the country. Finally had to head home but managed to get in a tour of the

factory at Jackson Center and found Wallys old Golden trailer parked in the

storage yard, waiting for another chance to get out and find some unknown

trails just waiting to be discovered.

Doug & Terry #3327

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Cherry Blossom Rally Sign up Forms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Our Treasurer, Dr. Ruth Baldwin has graciously taken on the responsibility

of Rally Contact for this years CBR so please make all inquires to her.

Questions: Call 412-361-2654 or e-mail: ruth@airstream.net

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Cherry Blossom Rally 2002 Sponsored by the Washington DC Unit of the WBCCI

The 3rd Annual Cherry Blossom Rally (Thursday, April 4th - Sunday, April

7th, 2002) will be held once again at Roger's Farm. WDCU charter members

Clayton & Christi Rogers have again agreed to be our hosts on their 140 acre

farm in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, which is a central location between

Washington DC, Annapolis and Baltimore, Maryland. Last year Garnett Horner

made plans to do a Wagon Wheels style parking layout that we will use again

this year with nightly campfires in the center of the circle. Other

amenities are to include gray water dumping, water available, and

Porta-potties. There are plans for providing limited electric service. All

WBCCI and vintage Airstreamers are encouraged to attend, but there will be,

as last year, a limit of 50 trailers with initial preference to WDCU members

and affiliates. The rally fee is $100/Airstream with 2 adults,

$75/Airstream with 1 adult, $25 for each additional guest; children are

free.

This is our Unit signature rally and a great opportunity to kick off the

RVing year while DC is typically at its peak and full of activity. Please

plan on joining us.

Registration must be received no later than March 28, 2002

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Name _________________________________________________________

Name(s) of other adults___________________________________________

Number of children attending ______________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________

City/State/ZIP __________________________________________________

Phone _________________________________________________________

e-mail _________________________________________________________

WBBCI Number _________________________________________________

Please make the following reservation:

_____ Rally fee ($75/1 adult, $100/2 adults, $25/additional adult, children

free)

Rally fee includes 3 breakfasts and one dinner for rally participants.

Guests or visitors will be charged for meals.

Make check (U.S. dollars) payable to: WDCU

And mail to:

Ruth Baldwin

6126 Callery St.

Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Confirmation of your reservation will be sent by e-mail.

And again, any Questions: Call 412-361-2654 or e-mail: ruth@airstream.net

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Outer Banks Rally Sign up Forms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Our First Vice President Dr. Garnett Horner and Tim and Angela Budnick have

taken on the responsibility of Rally Contacts for this years Outer Banks

Rally so please make all inquires to them

Garnett Horner Tim & Angie Budnik

garnett@airstream.net budmannc61@mindspring.com

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OBX Rally Sponsored by the Washington DC Unit of the WBCCI

Note: we have reserved 40 sites so please sign up early as this plans to be

another well attended WDCU sponsored rally.

Rally: OBX Rally

Date: August 15-18, 2002

Location: Camp Hatteras, Waves, NC http://camphatteras.com/

All sites have full hook-ups with easy walking access to the ocean.

Fees: Couples, $145

Singles, $125

Children, free

Note: Fees only include full hookup campsite and food. Entrance fees to any

of the scheduled events are not included.

Contacts: Garnett Horner Tim & Angie Budnik

garnett@airstream.net budmannc61@mindspring.com

Description:

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a very popular vacation area with many

opportunities to enjoy a variety of activities. Being surrounded by water

there are many water related things to do. Along the Atlantic Ocean, you

can enjoy a walk on the beach, laze around in the sun, or enjoy a swim in

the surf.

We will be camped at Camp Hatteras which is south of Nags Head and in a

somewhat less crowded area than north of Nags Head. I have scheduled just a

few of the many activities available on the OB. On Friday we will carpool

to Ocracoke Island which is accessed via a free ferry from the town of

Hatteras. You will be able to tour and visit the small shops in the area

and have lunch there as well. We will be returning to Hatteras after lunch

and in plenty of time to travel to the Weeping Radish Restaurant and Brewery

in Manteo. We'll have our happy hour there and enjoy their micro-brews.

Those who want to stay can enjoy a German meal there.

Saturday we will visit Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in the morning and Wright

Brother Memorial in the afternoon. Saturday evening we will have a seafood

buffet. So, it's a busy rally and you can take in as more or as little as

you desire. You could come and just enjoy the beaches.

Schedule

Thursday

? Arrival Noon or later

? Happy Hour: 4pm @ Camp Hatteras Conference Center

? Dinner: On-your-own

Friday

? 7:30-8:30am Continental breakfast, Camp Hatteras Conference Center

? 9:30am-2pm Day trip to Ocracoke Island(south end of the OB), return after

lunch. Check it out @ http://www.ocracokeisland.com/

? Noon Lunch, on-your-own

? 4pm Happy hour @ Weeping Radish, Manteo, NC. Check it out @

http://www.weepingradish.com/

? Dinner On-your-own

Saturday

? 7:30-8:30am Continental breakfast, Camp Hatteras Conference Center

? 9:30-11:00am Visit to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

? Lunch On-your-own

? 1:30-3:00pm Visit to Wright Brothers Memorial in Kitty Hawk

? 4pm Happy hour, Camp Hatteras Conference Center

? 7pm Seafood buffet, Camp Hatteras Conference Center

Sunday

? 7:30-8:30am Continental breakfast, Camp Hatteras Conference Center

? Departure By 12 noon

Check http://www.outerbanks.org/ and http://www.outer-banks.com/ and

http://www.outerbanks-nc.com/ for information about the Outer Banks area.

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Registration must be received by August 1st for full amount to reserve your

site (include

trailer length).