2017 KZ National Rally.....A message from the Wagon Master

I agree with Walter(jetzen)

We came met and we had tons of enjoyment an learned allot from a number of great venders an Kz

We all compared note's, learned and looked at each others trailers an found out more about are own
units from each other

We had allot an I mean allot of food, good times an many great discussions about products we had seen ...

I for one what to thank Walter an his wife, in the past year we have become great friends putting together
the rally in the back round, he an his wife are wonderful people an put together a great rally which took
a ton of their time

I as well in Walters comments want to thank all the many who played a integral part in making this a success
so I need to give thanks to ALL from KZ from the service manager and techs, specifically Chuck from Kz who seem
to be everywhere an pulled in 20 different direction but who went over and above to repair our trailers to our
satisfaction at the campground    To the product managers and their staff an also especially to Mike Mack to whom
most of this would not have been possible an keep everything humming along even thought he had tons of work to
do at his office.

Other thanks need to go out to all the service managers and techs from Lippert Industries, MORryde, Dexter axle
and Titan, they not only fixed our trailers and sold us accessories at great prices most where installed for free.

They also held seminars and taught us the proper way to maintain our trailers and kept us abreast of current RV
trends. I also need to thank everyone who attended, your enthusiasm and graciousness to our endeavor was more than
we could have hoped for.

Thank you also to the great people I met, as Walter put it, we came as strangers and are leaving as long lasting
friend for life ....

Safe travels to all an again thank you to Walter an Wife along Kz you are number one in my book

Chuck & Hildi

What else is there to say that Walter, Chuck, and Darrell haven't already said about a most fantastic time at the KZ Rally in Shipshewana?....ok, maybe a couple of other slants to the area.  As you (the reader) may or may not know, Shipshewana, Indiana is the third highest community of Amish people in the country.  It was great to start the week with a visit to the informational museum down the street from the rally campground to learn about the history of the Amish and related cultures.  Then it was way too cool to 'mingle' with the local Amish at the shops, on the streets, seeing their perfectly neat homes and farmlands, and watching the numerous horse-drawn carriages trotting down all the roads in the area.  From the running and cycling perspective, the 17 mile paved Pumpkin Vine bike path resulted in peaceful cycling through overhanging trees and passing various RV factories.  My morning run with Rosie took us down back roads to the local grass field airstrip where we got to learn about the area from the 'airport' owner and his associates.  The people of the area, both Amish and 'English', were extremely nice and open to chatting about the community AND offering water to Rosie each day that we ran to the airport.  It was funny to see one of the medium sized bull calves on a pasture on our run take an interest in Rosie as we ran by each morning!..he thought she was pretty cute!

As for the campground itself, it was extremely quiet and the management/ownership staff was fantastic to work with during the week.  They seem to totally understand the rally interest as many of their campers come to be near the various RV factories.  The staff was very informative about the area and most helpful if we needed anything during the week.  

So, to echo the others, thanks to Walter, Laurie, and Chuck for organizing the rally and and amazing thanks to everyone at KZ and Lippert for their unbelievable help and interest in our campers' repairs.  

We are back home in Rhode Island after 2,050 miles of travel....which was nothing compared to our new friends from Washington state, California, Texas, and Louisiana.

Finally, thanks to all of the campers who had great tips to share about making camping life easier!

Ken and Kathy....and Rosie

Well friends we are back in Shipshewana camp grounds once again on our way back home, Hildi had to do some
more shopping to stock up on stuff for the kids an friends ... I finally found the hardware store everyone
had been talking about, bought a Farmall/IH hat, RV water filter, coat rack

Hildi stated that if we had come directly to the Rally we would have traveled 2600 miles, but with side trips
to Independence MO. Hanable Mo. an a Quilt trip to Quilt City USA Mo. we more than likely racked up about
3200 miles getting to the Rally

Now that we are are on way back home I'm sure it will be more of a direct route since Hildi misses her sewing
machines an quilting buddies LOL, so it more than likely be closer to 2600 miles if not a little more more
from here at Shipshewana ....

Again it was really allot of fun an Walter an Laurie sure out together once heck of a great Kz National Rally
an Hildi an I look forward to next years Rally

As always I will be in the background to help were I can but Walter an Laurie are the driving force behind
such a great time an all the activities we all some much enjoyed

Chuck & Hildi on the road

Hi All:

I never heard from Mitch, the cross country biker guy. He knew the rest of our itinerary and the timing was close that we might have met up with him near Erie, PA or Herkimer, NY but no word. I'm sure he's fine and just moved along in his trek.
Ken

Well, I see she has ALL the bases covered and you aren't going to end up anywhere she don't want to be.

Walter

I have to tell you that everyone must have done a great sales pitch, she is already talking about next year
an what route we are going to take coming to the rally, but she said we will leave a little later next year
to start with Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ! ! !

Great job everyone ! ! !

So Let see, only 300 an some days till the next rally but who's counting LOL

Chuck & Hildi in Iowa headed for the barn