IRG3.0, The Third Biennial International Redwood Gathering!

Gina and I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in IRG3.0, the Third International Redwood Gathering. The Gathering occurs every two years, or biennially. I have no idea why biweekly means every two weeks, but biannually means twice a year. But it does, so biennially is the correct word.

Anyway, our trip was not easy from the start! Gina’s office does not allow two people to be off at the same time, and a coworker already had the time we needed scheduled off. She asked her co-worker, who had no special plans, so she was able to switch, although she could not get the following Monday off, which meant we had to leave a day early to come home.

I had just installed car tires on the Roadhouse, because the new axle I replaced the bent one with raised the trailer tires and effectively left me with inadequate clearance. Trailer tires come in limited sizes, while there are myriads of car tire sizes. I was concerned, because car tires do not carry as much weight, and the sidewalls are softer, allowing sway. However, the trailer handled fine!

We decided to leave on Thursday afternoon, and drive to the Las Vegas area and camp at Lake Mead. We needed electricity, because the area around Las Vegas is desert, and we needed to use the air conditioner (for the first time!). We arrived at 10:00, and the A/C worked two well! By the time I had it adjusted to cycle on and off at a rate that was comfortable, it was 5:00 am and I could not sleep any longer. So, we packed up (that took 3 minutes) and headed out.

We decided to drive through Nevada for two reasons; we had never seen that part of Nevada, and Nevada does not impose a 55 mph speed limit on trailers, as California does. Honestly, the scenery in that part of Nevada was nothing to write home about, but it was new, and that helps keep me from boredom. We crossed over into California on Hwy 266 and drove north in the Sierras, finally crossing over Tioga Pass. That is one beautiful, but very steep pass.

We arrived in Danville to visit kids and grandkids Saturday and Sunday. Then, off to Scotia to meet my brother at Stafford’s RV Park. On the way, we detoured through the redwoods on the Avenue of the Giants.



What magnificent trees!

We rolled into Pamplin Grove about 11:30 on Tuesday morning. There were already several teardrops and two Tiny Travel Trailers set up. We had been warned that camping under the redwoods themselves can be a little chilly, and we couldn’t really get my brother’s 1969 Roadrunner trailer into the meadow, so we pitched camp in a grass covered parking area outside the meadow.

It turned out to be a great site!

Dean and Joanie, our hosts, were both there, independently, within the first 30 minutes to make sure we were set and settling in! What great folks.

IRG is all about trailers, travels, and food! Most attendees are either members of the Teardrops and Tiny Travel Trailers forum (www.mikenchell.com/forums), the Camp-Cook Dutch Oven forum (www.camp-cook.com/forum), or Tearjerkers (www.tearjerkers.net/forums). Common interests; little trailers and big black pots.

There isn’t enough time to describe this event and give it justice. There were races (The IRG Summer Nationals) where participants made 3 wheeled racers that could not exceed 4 inches in width and 8 inches in length (4x8, in honor of the original teardrops, which were almost all 4 ft x 8 ft and based on standard plywood dimensions). This was kind of like the pinewood derby of the Boy Scouts.

There was a horse shoe tournament. I don’t play horse shoes, and there were enough trailers parked at either end of the horse shoe pits to dissuade me from learning how at their expense.

There was coffee and a bit of pastry and fresh fruit every morning.

Ranger Pat gave a great talk about the redwood forest. Did you know that some of thos trees are over 2,500 years old?

There was food. Dutch oven demos, Aebleskiver demos, pit barbeque potluck, and a regular potluck, if anything is regular about one of these events! My friend Joanne and her friend Kellly were supposed to provide some expert Dutch Oven demos, but Joanne finds herself buying a new house, so Kathleen and Dave and I (you you heard it correctly, I) pitched in and gave demos. I did a double blackberry dumpcake ahead of time for samples, then did one as a demo.





Came out great, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. At the same time, Aebleskivers were being prepared by someone (I’m sorry, I didn’t catch their names, I was busy on my side of the table) and an old cast iron wafflemaker was being demonstrated by Joanie!

But the nicest thing was the people! 250 registered, and I know a few had to drop out, but I’m guessing at least 235 or so folks were scattered around the meadow and under the redwoods. We even had our little party crashed by two Model A’s from Kentucky with trailers behind them, who were on their way back from Alaska!

We were sorry we had to leave Saturday morning, but glad to get back home Sunday.

We are already planning our next camping trip, to Hurkey Creek near Idyllwild, CA.