End of Summer Blue Bird Rally

After getting service in Nappanee, on Wednesday, we headed up to Ludington, Michigan to join the End of Summer Blue Bird Rally at Poncho's Pond RV Park. We had thought that we would not arrive until Thursday, but because the service at Solar Energy Systems was so fast, we were able to arrive in time for the beginning get-together on Wednesday evening. 

We were a little late arriving (the get-together started at 5pm and we got there at about 5:20pm)...

... but we got to introduce ourselves and hear others introduce themselves and visit with some folks on the first evening of the rally.

And... we got to add another state to our "visited states" map (on the upper right of the blog page) -- as this is the first time we've stayed in Michigan (we actually were in part of the Upper Peninsula back in July as we traveled from along Lake Superior to cousin Galen's house in Wisconsin, but we didn't spend the night, so we didn't "count" it then!).

Each morning, there are donuts and coffee outside the hosts' bus (the temperature in the morning is high 50s, but in the sun and with no breeze it feels warm).

When we got back to Gracie on Thursday, one of our neighbors was washing their Jeep... we're used to RV parks having restrictions on vehicle washing...

...but found the note above in the park brochure.

So we decided to get several layers of grime removed from the Jee-rage...

It probably will get better fuel mileage with several pounds of dirt off of it!

We also washed the bottom third of Gracie (mainly the compartment doors). Since it had rained when we were at the service center in Indiana, and since we were parked on sandy gravel, it had splattered up on the sides and Gracie was looking unkempt -- but we were able to get her cleaned up too!

Meanwhile, Miss Kitty was getting news from the Breeze News Network...

... and enjoying the sun coming in. She is laying on the "fuzzy throw" that has a pattern that is very similar to her coloring, so sometimes we "lose" her (can't see her when she is on it).

"Do you *have* to keep on taking pictures?"

"If you must, here, I'll show you this profile view..."

"... and I guess you'll want to get this profile view too."

Thursday evening we had an informal get-together with Subway sandwiches...

There are about 2 dozen rigs here for the Blue Bird rally.

One of the rally participants has some Blue Bird themed items for sale.

Getting sandwiches -- there were picnic tables on the gazebo that some folks used for eating, while the rest of us sat out in the grass next to the pond.

Pretty sunset over the pond

Vintage Birds and Wanderlodge Owners Group are the two main groups of Blue Bird owners.

We are enjoying our time here at Poncho's Pond RV park (beautiful park - so well-kept) and visiting with Blue Bird owners.