RV School

When I read in the spring that The Rally, the Good Sam Club’s annual event, was going to be held in Redmond, Oregon, this summer, I seriously considered attending.  As a complete novice, I hoped that attending seminars and talking to vendors would help me understand a little more about the RV.  The fact that Redmond is not far from Portland, where my friend Kevin lives, was an added bonus.

I flew to Portland on Wednesday, and Kevin and I drove to Redmond the next day.  The drive along the Mount Hood Scenic Byway was beautiful.  We had decided to stay in Bend, Oregon, which is a city I had wanted to visit for some time.  Kevin would work during the day while I attended The Rally, and we explored Bend in the evening.



The Rally

Most of the seminars I attended were very worthwhile.  I learned how to sanitize the fresh water tank at “Frustration-Free RVing” and was instructed on the ins and outs of Microsoft Streets and Trips at “The Perfect Trip Is at Your Fingertips.”  My favorite seminar was a hands-on demonstration of microwave-convection oven cooking.  We’ll be cooking most of our meals in this type of microwave, and I want to be able to take advantage of its unique features.

Visiting the vendors was also a highlight, since I could go shopping for things we simply cannot do without.  I’m glad I brought an extra bag to pack all of my loot!



Deschutes River in the Old Mill District in Bend

Bend is a beautiful city on the high desert side of the Cascade Range, and Kevin and I wandered through downtown and the Old Mill District, sampling local wines and vodkas.  We explored Smith Rock State Park and followed scenic byways around Mount Bachelor and across the Cascades on our way back to Portland.



Smith Rock State Park

Sunning on the Rocks at Smith Rock State Park

 

Mount Bachelor