mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 As most of you know, I own kind of a unique camper. This camper also has "unique" needs as it has mostly European "stuff" on it and the original Dutchmen owners manual is pretty useless. So a yahoo group was born of fellow T@B owners mainly to discuss maintenance issues, problems, repairs, and modifications. Just like us Fiends and many other RV owners groups, many of us get together in rallys!!This is my tale of an annual event that I attend every year in late April, known as the T@B Blue Ridge Rally that is a 4 night gathering of T@B and T@DA owners usually somewhere very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.In addition, after the large rally, a few of the folks get together to caravan for a week afterwards to enjoy a few campgrounds and fellowship to another great destination. This year the caravan traveled from North Carolina to the Mammoth Cave area. I was able to also attend the caravan this year cause it went in a direction that allowed me to easily get home on Sunday afternoon, and due to a heavy work schedule over the last few months, I have LOTS of annual leave on the books.This year the rally was held at Rutledge Lake RV Park near Asheville, NC. http://www.rutledgelake.com/However, my story begins before that. I usually LOVE to leave on vacations right after work and get a few miles of road behind me to my destination, and plus it gives me an extra night of camping!!!!So on Tuesday at 5pm, I hop in the truck from work with my little trailer in tow and head for Chatanooga, TNI pulled into Holiday Travl Park near Chattanooga, TN on Tuesday evening, plug in the electric and wander the campground just a bit before the rains came through.I was assigned to site 96, a pull through site near the front of the park and pretty close to the bath house. The site had water, electric, sewer, and cable, although I only used the electric.http://www.chattacamp.com/ Although the campground is billed as being in Chattanooga, TN, it is physically located just over the Georgia line.As you can see things were pretty soggy!! I did get my Fiends sign out though!!!Shortly after arriving, the rains came through and I snuggled up nice and dry inside the camper with a good book and had a good night sleep.I was watching the rain the next morning and decided to wait it out and didn't leave till after 10 am. I was able to drive all the way to the Rutledge Lake Campground without any rain :dance: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Total Joker ... TJ 203 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 :popcorn: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 This sounds like it's gonna be fun! I loved the pics you had of one of the campgrounds with all the little campers lined up in a row! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 739 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Outside of the rain sounds like your trip got off to a good start. Keep the pics coming.Really like that Holiday Travel Park for an overnight on the way to the FORT. It is also a nice base if your going to Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls. Close to Camping World as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Travelling with a group is so much fun :banana: Can't wait to hear your adventures :dance: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Hi Carol!You are off to a great start on this report.I always enjoy looking at photos of other campgrounds. Whenever I want to complain about something at the Fort, it helps to remember what other campgrounds look like, and what they charge.I can't wait to read more!TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
daddyphat808 - Eric 16 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Looks great I am in! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Continuing on.....Wednesday, April 27thI left Chattanooga after the rain rolled through, and puttered my way over to Asheville, NC. I arrived somewhere in the neighborhood of 3pm. Got my site set up and spent the rest of the evening running my mouth with friends. I also made a Wal-Mart run for provisions.I was in Site 68, water, electric, sewer, cable. They had WiFi, but my 4G Hotspot Signal on my phone was better than their wifi, so I used that. There was also a problem with the 30 Amp power, but the 50 Amp worked just fine, so I plugged into a 50/30 converter and was just fine.Once again put out my Fiends sign and also gave out MANY Fiends cards this trip!!!As I said earlier, my drive from Chattanooga to near Asheville was completely rain free. It's almost like the weather front was hitting the mountains and dispersing or diverting.More to come soon.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 After running to Wal-Mart that evening, I put things away and go to bed. I also learn that my family is completely without power throughout the entire city and probably won't have power for several days. I live in North Alabama which got some pretty bad tornado damage. Fortunately, we ourselves had no damage, but the main lines from TVA (Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant) and our area were destroyed. I look online and manage to find a hotel in the next town over from home and help Rick find a place so that he has electricity.Thursday, April 28th, 2011The next morning, everyone is saying "where were you??" I'm like huh?? I then hear this tale of sirens going off and everyone heading for the bath house about 2am.I didn't hear a thing, didn't feel a thing, and nobody knocked on my door either!! I look at it this way. I got a good nights sleep :-)The morning is spent on the phone and internet helping my family all get to places with electricity. My oldest headed to Tennessee, my youngest headed to Gulf Shores with some friends, and Rick managed to secure 3 more nights in the hotel in Athens.I kept telling him to pack up and come spend the rest of the time with me, but he said he needed to stick close to home. It probably worked out cause then other family that didn't have the resources came to Rick's hotel room to take showers, charge phones and computers, and other stuff like that.The afternoon is spent wandering around all the other campers. It was TRAILER DAY!! Checking out modifications they have done and helping new folks answer any questions or problems they may have about the their campers. I also spent some time showing some of the changes I had made to my camper. Somebody had an electrical problem that got fixed by the collective group and somebody else had a water problem that got fixed by the group.Here are some pictures of most of the campers in attendance :-)As you can see, they are all unique in their own way.This one has a full factory screen roomThis one is an older "base" T2 model that was their attempt at a very basic T@B. This guy feels an umbrella is all the shelter he needs.This is T@B #100. These folks have completely gutted and remodeled the inside to suit their needs and have set up this outdoor living space using a Coleman Event 15 shelter.T@Bs came in many colorsThis is another shelter that was once available made by Paha QueThis is another trailer made by Dutchmen for a couple of years based on the T@B model, but bigger, known as a T@DA.These folks managed to find a standard trailer awning and bolted it to their T@DA and have made some extensive interior modifications.They came in the same array of colors that T@Bs do.ThermaRest also made an awning for the T@DA, but never developed a screen roomMore to come...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ajcjmom 8 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 We have look at these but I can never get my DH to actually say let's start camping! I am enjoying the trip report! :popcorn: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Total Joker ... TJ 203 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Like the screen room, and the Coleman Event 15 shelter looks like its made for the T@bs. Loving it so far.. :popcorn: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 We also had some more folks that didn't have T@Bs join in. We had a couple of folks that had R-Pods and one that had a Volkswagon Camper Van.The R-Pod owners used to own T@Bs and decided they wanted something bigger. The Volkswagon folks are looking for a T@B and came to the rally to see which model would work the best for them.These folks LOVE Flamingos!!Oh and a special Nod to Sharon and Becky. These are the ladies that organized this entire event.Later that evening, we had a catered Barbecue dinner in the club house, then a wacky gift exchange.More to come..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anolefan 8 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Great report Carol!My boys love Tabs and R-Pods. They try and spot them on the highway on our trips to the Fort. :popcorn: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 The evening ended with all of us around the campfire for stories and cocktails, then off to bed.Friday, April 29th, The Royal Wedding!!!!!I woke up about 8am and found the royal wedding on TLC. I came in on it about the 2nd half. Then I went and fixed me some breakfast, then tuned in for awhile and caught the first half. Then I did something really different, (for me that is), I went to the Casino!! There is a Harrah's in nearby Cherokee, NC, so I spent the day there. I got there about noon, left about 7pm. I left about $50 ahead of the game and also had a free buffet, so I was happy.That evening, once again a lot of us ended up around the campfire, and this evening we toasted the Royal Couple with some bubbly, then off to bed.Saturday, April 30th, the Big Potluck and FarewellsToday was the last full day with the big group, so I spent the day trying to make sure I chatted with everyone, and got pictures of everybody's campers and any modifications I was interested in making. We all then gathered for the big potluck dinner.As usual, there was LOTS of REALLY good food and deserts and waay too much.We then all gathered by the lake for our group picture. (I'll post the group picture in the next installment). I just received it by email and it's on another computer, not uploaded to Photobucket yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Thanks Carol! It looks like y'all had lots of fun! I can't wait to see more! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Looks like you had a lot of fun :banana: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 As promised, our big group photo!!Coming next, Part II of this incredible trip and my Birthday!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Carol aree you the only Fiend in that group? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Carol aree you the only Fiend in that group?A few may have joined since I did give out some cards, but as far as I know, right now I'm the only one. There is someone that was a member over "there", but left waaaaaay before the flush, and he did tell me he lurks over here occasionally, but is not ready to join yet. KEWL, 1000 Posts!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doodlebug....Cherie 461 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 A few may have joined since I did give out some cards, but as far as I know, right now I'm the only one. There is someone that was a member over "there", but left waaaaaay before the flush, and he did tell me he lurks over here occasionally, but is not ready to join yet.That would be great :banana: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 A few may have joined since I did give out some cards, but as far as I know, right now I'm the only one. There is someone that was a member over "there", but left waaaaaay before the flush, and he did tell me he lurks over here occasionally, but is not ready to join yet. KEWL, 1000 Posts!!!!They will come!! :banana: for the 1000 posts! :banana: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mgsmom 9 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Love the report - what a fun trip! I really like all the pictures of the different setups! The colors are awesome! You guys are like the Mini-Coopers of the RV world! So cute!Is that a kitchen area on the backside when you open up the end? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mouseketab.....Carol 1,261 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Love the report - what a fun trip! I really like all the pictures of the different setups! The colors are awesome! You guys are like the Mini-Coopers of the RV world! So cute!Is that a kitchen area on the backside when you open up the end?Yes, mine has an outside kitchen, the model is known as the Clamshell.Some of the other models have the kitchen on the inside towards the front.The folks that totally gutted theirs took the kitchen out except for the fridge and added more closet and storage space and a larger bed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kampfirekim 260 Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 I absolutely love these photos! They make me smile. :) Looks like you had a blast! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GOBA Mom Lynn 18 Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Loving the trip report!It reminds me of Scotty trips we took when I was growing up (in the late '60s early '70s). We belonged to a club that did lots of weekend trips. We also did 2 caravan trips, so I'm looking forward to see what yours was like. I guess those summers with my family left an impression, cause now I really want to buy an old Scotty and relive my youth!It's a real shame they quit making the T@bs. Do you know why they did? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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