RV-Dreams Rally Information

2010 RV-Dreams Rally Information

Announcing the Third Annual RV-Dreams Rally!!

After two successful rallies, we are going for number three. It's a pretty quick turnaround from our Rally in the fall of 2009 since we are going to do the 2010 Rally in the spring.

For 2010, we are going to be in one of the best RV parks in the country - Willow Tree RV Resort just outside of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The itinerary for 2010 includes several seminars from Linda & I based on our four years of experience as full-timers, our own research, interviews with other full-timers, and the wealth of information from our Forum. We will also have Jim & Chris Guld, "Geeks On Tour", presenting some technology seminars as well as Walter Cannon, RV Education & Safety Foundation, presenting an "RV Weight Safety" seminar. And Bill Napier, with years of experience in the television industry, will be presenting a seminar on "TV Options For RVers".

In addition, we will have other activities such as rig weighing, rig walk-throughs, a welcome dinner, a potluck, a themed meal, a catered dinner, entertainment, and lots more! Oh, and don't forget about the Post-Rally Computer Boot Camp put on by Geeks On Tour (details at the bottom of the page).

2010 RV-Dreams "Low Country" Rally

Willow Tree RV Resort

Longs, South Carolina

April 7 - 11, 2010

Click Here To Register For The 2010 RV-Dreams Rally!

NOTE: We can accept 2010 Rally Registrations up until March 15. But Rally rate for sites at Willow Tree was only good through January 31. IF you are able to get a site at Willow Tree after January 31, you'll have to pay full price. Of course you can stay at other area RV parks or hotels.

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Rally Details

The Place

Come join us at Willow Tree RV Resort in the South Carolina. The resort is actually in Longs, South Carolina just minutes from Myrtle Beach and only 12 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.

We are partnering with Willow Tree to provide our website visitors, Journal readers, and Forum members - our RV-Dreams Family - with a great location to come together for fellowship and a little education as well. We have not stayed at Willow Tree, but their reviews on RVParkReviews.com are excellent and our conversations have been filled with the southern hospitality you would expect. We look forward to working with them in welcoming all our guests!

In addition to the wonderful rally facilities, Willow Tree Resort offers:

Full hook-ups with 30/50 amp service

Big Rig Friendly

Wi-Fi

Laundry Facilities

Fitness Center

Pool

Whirlpool

Nature Trail

Fishing - Two Private Lakes

Golf Cart Rentals

Bike Rentals

Boat Rentals

Note: No cable TV

The Area

Longs is located on the South Carolina/North Carolina border a few miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. The coastal area of South Carolina is often referred to as the "Low Country" for its "close-to-sea-level" elevation compared to the rest of the state. Thus, the RV-Dreams "Low Country" Rally. :)

For those that come prior to the Rally or stay a few days afterward, nearby Myrtle Beach offers numerous options for your pleasure. Check out the Discover Myrtle Beach Website for more information.

The weather should be perfect with an April average high of 75 degrees!

Itinerary

Though much of the content is geared toward the education of full-timers, everyone is welcome and we guarantee even the most part-time RVer will learn something. :)

Tuesday - Pre-Rally
Golf at one of the three golf courses that offer discounts to Willow Tree guests. This is separate from the actual Rally and will be for those arriving early.

Wednesday
12:00 - 5:00 Welcome, Check-in, and Social Time

6:00 - 7:00 Catered "Low Country" Welcome Dinner -

7:00 - 9:00 Icebreaker

Thursday
9:00 - 10:00 Full-timing Preparations

This seminar touches on all the things to think about to get yourself in the best possible position to start full-time RVing

10:15 - 11:00 Emotional Aspects of the Full-timing Decision

This seminar is a discussion of what to expect from your heart as you announce your plans to full-time, prepare to full-time, transition to full-timimg, and even after you hit the road. Very few seminars deal with this issue, but everyone goes through some surprising, but normal, feelings in the process.

11:15 - 12:30 What Does It Cost To Full-time?

The cost of full-timing is so important, but it is not easy to find real information on the subject. We'll show you some real numbers and how you can adjust those numbers for your planned lifestyle.

Lunch on your own

1:30 - 2:30 TV Options For RVers - Bill Napier

Bill Napier, an experienced "TV guy" and member of the RV-Dreams Family, will discuss the various technologies, costs, and set-ups for having TV on the road. The subject is ever-changing, but we hope to provide the most up-to-date information.

2:30 - 4:30 High Speed Internet for RVers - Geeks On Tour

Learn about high-speed Internet access at your favorite RV parks/campgrounds and on the road across the country. This seminar includes discussion of Wi-Fi, cellular, and satellite internet options.

6:00 - 7:30 Themed Dinner - "Low Country Boil"
We're going to have a good, old-fashioned South Carolina dinner with ingredients supplied by attendees and volunteers doing the cooking. The concoction includes shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes, onions, and spices and should provide a hearty meal meal for everyone.

7:30 - 9:00 Favorite RV Gadgets/Toys Show & Tell
Attendees will bring their favorite RV gadgets and items they can't live without to share with the group. We're looking for the helpful and the hilarious. :)

Friday
9:00 - 10:00 Buying An RV - Pros, Cons & Must Haves

In this seminar we discuss the pros and cons of the types of RVs in a full-timing lifestyle. In addition, we suggest features to look for that we consider "must haves" in any full-timing rig.

10:15 - 11:15 Boondocking/Solar

In this seminar, we lay out the basics of boondocking. We talk about what you might need for extended boondocking and touch on solar/battery set-ups. We also discuss holding tank management and other aspects of parking without hook-ups.

11:30 - 12:30 Working On The Road

We pack a lot of information into this seminar. Why work on the road? What are your options for working on the road? What types of jobs might you find? How do you find jobs? How do paid jobs compare to volunteer jobs? What are the tax implications of workamping?

Lunch on your own

2:00 - 4:00 Manage Your Digital Photos With Google's Picasa 2 - Geeks On Tour

From the Camera to the Web - Picasa handles it all. It’s *fast*, it’s *easy*, and it’s *free* from Google. Find pictures you had forgotten about with Picasa's 'Library View' and Seach capabilities. Send email and automatically resize photos accordingly with a single click. It is also single-click easy to print, to backup photos, to make a web album, or make slide-show CDs. But, the best part is the fast and easy way to make all your photos look better.

6:00 - 7:30 Potluck Dinner

7:30 - 9:00 RV-Dreams Family Feud!

We're putting an RVing twist on the popular TV gameshow. We'll divide everyone into teams and all attendees will get to participate. It will be both fun and educational! :)

Now, prior to the Rally, we need to get our survey questions answered. So, we ask that everyone that reads this page, whether you are attending the Rally or not, please go to our RV-Dreams Family Feud Survey page and plug in answers to our questions. We appreciate your participation!

Saturday
9:00 - 10:00 RV Tire Safety - Walter Cannon

Walter Cannon, head of the RV Safety & Education Foundation (RVSEF) will conduct this seminar. A major emphasis of this seminar is maintenance and care of tires for optimum safety and durability. Participants receive information to assure that they are well informed consumers when purchasing tires. Tire pressure and proper inflation are covered in depth. This presentation is designed to help the RV owner determine proper tire size and inflation pressure. The benefits of having the RV weighed by wheel position, a service offered by RVSEF, is also discussed.

10:15 - 11:15 RV Weight Safety - Walter Cannon

This seminar focuses on “speaking the language of weight”. It will provide the RV owner with the knowledge required to assure that their RV is operated within all safety limitations. Information designed to assist owners in managing their existing RV weights as well as purchasing the correct RV to match their personal needs will be provided. The benefits of having the RV weighed by wheel position, a service offered by RVSEF, will be discussed.

11:30 - 12:30 Packing Your RV For Full-timing

This seminar includes a discussion of what to pack, how to use storage space, and how your RV weight ratings figure into what you bring for life on the road.

Lunch on your own

1:30 - 3:00 Every RVer Needs A Blog - Geeks On Tour

Every RVer Needs a Blog!, a quick and easy website to post your photos and tales of your travels. All your family and friends can follow along.

3:00 - 5:00 Open Rig Walk-throughs (Voluntary)

6:00 - 7:00 Catered Steak & Shrimp Dinner

7:00 - 10:00 "Golden Oldies Sock Hop"
That's right! We're going to have a blast as Music On The Strand (Myrtle Beach's premier DJ Party Party Hosts) gets everyone involved in this music theme party on our last night together. Put on your '50s duds and come prepared to have fun!

Sunday
8:00 - 9:00 Full Farewell Breakfast
Time for hugs & handshakes and a few final words from your hosts

Rally Pricing* (Does not include accomodation costs):
$190 for 2 people
$ 95 for 1 person
$235 for a family of 3
$280 for a family of 4

New for 2010: All attendees of the 2010 RV-Dreams Rally that have attended either of the two previous rallies in Branson, MO or Kerrville, TX will receive discounted pricing as follows:
$140 for 2 people
$ 70 for 1 person
$185 for a family of 3
$230 for a family of 4

* - There are no partial deposits. The entire Rally amount is due at time of registration. Registration must be completed by March 15, 2010. If you cancel, $50 per person is NON-REFUNDABLE. The remainder of the registration is refundable for cancellations prior to March 15, 2010.

RV Sites

Reservation Information

Like 2009, the 2010 Rally registration DOES NOT include RV sites or other accomodations. We have set aside 60 RV sites at Willow Tree RV Resort, but you must make your own reservations.

Note that reservations will not be confirmed by Willow Tree until you have registered and made your Rally payment. We will provide names of registrants to Willow Tree so they may confirm that those making reservations are properly registered for the 2010 Rally. After you have registered, you can give Willow Tree a call at 1-866-207-2267 to make your reservation. Our contacts are Tammy or Mary. Be sure to tell them that you are with the RV-Dreams Rally. :)

Rally Rate For RV Sites

The special $30 rate expired January 31. For all registrations after January 31, you'll have to pay the normal rate for April which is $43 - $48 per night (assuming sites are available).

When making reservations, you will be asked for a deposit. If you have to cancel, that fee (less a $10 service charge) is refundable as long as you provide at least seven days' notice to the resort. There are no refunds on cancellations made less than seven days before your scheduled arrival date.

Cottages

There are four cottages on-site at Willow Tree. Cottage rates range from $90 - $125 per night. There are no special Rally rates for those and they will not hold those like they'll hold RV sites. However, if you book a cottage early, they MAY work with you on the rate if you tell them you are with the RV-Dreams Rally. Again, call 1-866-207-2267 and speak with either Tammy or Mary.

Reservations require a deposit of one night's rate. That deposit is refundable (less a $10 service fee) for cancellations made 14 days or more prior to the scheduled arrival date. The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel less than 14 days prior to your scheduled arrival.

Other Accomodations

For those not bringing an RV or not booking a cottage, there is a Holiday Inn, a Days Inn, and a Hampton Inn in the North Myrtle Beach/Little River area. They would be a fifteen to twenty minute drive to Willow Tree RV Resort. Of course, there are thousands of other rooms and a wide variety of prices and amenities in the area.

Additional Costs

Rally T-Shirts (Optional) - $15 Each
We have ordered Rally T-shirts based on pre-orders, therefore we can't accept any additional orders. However, we will have a few extras at the Rally. :) Those that pre-ordered shirts will be able to pick them up and pay for them at registration on April 7.

An RV-Dreams Rally includes a great mixture of experienced full-timers, new full-timers, savvy RVers, and wannabe full-timers. The time between planned events is as fun and informative as the scheduled parts as we all tend to gather and chat in a common area.

Click Here To Register For The 2010 RV-Dreams Rally!

NOTE: The 2010 Rally Registration Deadline is March 15, 2010 for those staying at other RV parks, in hotels or condos, or at Willow Tree (if sites are available) at their regular rate.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE EVERYONE!!

Post-Rally Computer Boot Camp

After the Rally, on Monday & Tuesday, Geeks On Tour are holding a 2-day "Computer Essentials Boot Camp".

Here is the course description: Using your own PC laptop, we present 6 sessions over 2 days complete with hands-on exercises. Word Processing and Filing, Maintenance and Safe Computing, Wi-Fi and Web browsing, Know your Laptop, Email, Managing Digital Photos with Picasa.

The cost is $99 per laptop. Couples may share a laptop. The course is limited to 20 laptops.

A Few Words From Prior Rally Attendees

Howard and Linda ~

We just returned from the Rally in Kerrville and wanted to express our gratitude. It was a great experience and far exceeded our expectations. One of the biggest surprises was how quickly we felt like members of the family; it was as if we had always been a part of it. Everyone was so open and willing to share their experiences, their knowledge, and a glimpse of their homes. We left with the feeling of several couples wanting to takes us under their wing; it was very heartwarming. I'm sure you hear it frequently, but the two of you have truly built something special. So thanks again for a wonderful time and we'll definitely make it a priority to attend future rallies!

Connie & Tracy

Howard and Linda,

Its been only two weeks that Sandra and I stopped at your site that night before the rally. It seems like only hours ago and then it seems like a life-time ago.

There has not been a waking hour that has gone by for me that I don't think about things that I learned from the both of you and the other RV Dreamers at the rally. What a life changing event in our lives, THANK YOU!

We are commited to April 30th being our last days at work for both of us, and then being on the road shortly thereafter. Thanks to Linda who could not say enough about Mike and Leslie's Montana and Mike and Leslie themselves. We have decided on a 2010 Montana model 3400.

On another note, I have read every journal entry since the beginning of your adventures, but Howard, October 15, 2009 "A Walk In The Woods" is your best work!! What great writing. I read it every morning before I head off to work. It helps me get through the day, knowing I will have many a "A Walk In the Woods".

Your friends,

Rick and Sandra
Jerome, Idaho

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