Truckin' to Lone Star XXXIV

Lone Star Vans held there 34th Van-In on April 20th-22nd 2012. There were 21 paid Vans through the gate. It was held at Burns run West Campgrounds, in Cartwright , OK on beautiful Lake Texoma. 

Vantasia took two Vans down, and 8 Vanners: Patti Zweigel, Keith Gray, Jack & Carol Lynch, Bill & Karen Wickersty and Don & Becky Noone. We left on Thursday after Becky got home. Drove to Bill and Patti's that night and spent the night with them. Bill is recovering but wasn't ready to take the trip. Patti went with us and the neighbors keep a eye on Bill. 

Friday we were off to see our fellow Texas Vanners. This trip was a little depressing, due to the death of Ray Whittle 6/17/47--4/19/12. I had just talked to Ray and Star a week ago and he was so looking forward to seeing everyone. Charlotte called me over the weekend and told me that they had rushed him to the hospital. His leg had swelled up. They had to do surgery on him for blood clots. He survived the surgery but complications set in. Ray will be missed by many for sure. Our Prayers go out to Star and her family. This weekend at the truck-in we all talked about memories we had with and about Raymond. One that was shared with me over the Internet was with Cinnamon at a Van Nationals where some members of the Nat's Board were arrested. Ray was the one that went down to get them out. 

On Saturday night at the annual pot luck dinner that Lone Star puts on, Donnie from Lone Star said Grace along with some words about Ray and then a moment of silence. There were many tearful eyes among the crowd. 

Back to the truck-in Friday it was little cool compared with what everyone had been seeing this spring. It was in the 60's and 40's at night. I played music until a little after 10 PM. The park has a quiet time. It didn't stop everyone from visiting each others campsites. 

On Saturday everyone woke up to warmer temps. It turned out to be a beautiful day in the upper 70's. They had some great kids and adult games. Donnie form L.S.V. put on the games and had a lot of participation. There was a show-in-shine where yours truly was asked to do the judging. Hope everyone was happy with the results. At 6PM everyone was to bring their dishes for the pot luck dinner. The meat was cooked by Marty on his Texas style smoker he made. It not only looked good and won best trailer, it smoked the ham, chicken, sausage and  brisket meat to everyone's delight. Thanks Marty. Everyone else brought their dishes & desserts up for a great dinner. After dinner it was Show Time. Time to hand out the awards. After dinner everyone scattered to their  campsites to take back their dishes. I told them to come back and party cause there was the 10PM curfew on the tunes. Well it didn't take long for everyone to come back up. Especially when Art & Jenna and Bud Man Vans hauled their cooler of Jim Beam back to the pavilion. We were also celebrating Bob Dunbar's birthday with cake and lots of shots. The Park ranger showed up at 10 and said if I could turn it down some he would let us go for awhile. Thanks Ranger Rick!! 

Sunday it was time to pack up and head home. 450 miles one way back home. Gas prices ranged from $3.65 to $3.49. True we may have spent more money to go this year than last, but how do you put a price on friendship & fun? Isn't that what Vanning is all about? If you just sit around home talking about gas price's you will go crazy. Thanks to all the Texas Vanners for your Southern Hospitality. Nooner. 
 

Ray was put to rest at 2 PM on Sunday in Mesquite, Texas. If anyone would like to donate you can do so to the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital 2222 Welborn St. Dallas, Texas 75215-3993.

Please do so on behalf of Ray Whittle.

Van Fair South hosted by Lone Star Van Club

 April 1st, 2nd, 3rd. 2011 Lone Star Vans hosted XXXIII at Lake Texoma right on the Oklahoma / Texas border. One week after Freeze-Out and 30 degree weather to the upper 80's. This year’s theme was April Fools Truck-in.  

Several Vantasia members made the trip down south. The retirees left on Thursday morning, Jack & Carol and Wick. They made a pit stop at Bill and Patty's in Grove, Oklahoma. I think they also made a donation to the Indian Nation (casinos). Becky and I, Keith rode down on Thursday night after work and met them at Bill & Patty's.

 Friday it was up and on the road again, like a band of vanners we go down the highway. 69 HWY. lickety split as Carol would say. We arrived at the grounds around 1 PM. Charlotte was busy getting things ready for the event. It was held at a State Park so there was a curfew on the music to turn it down low at 10 and off at 10:30. I was playing both nights.

We got set up and started visiting with our friends from the south. It was good to see Harry and Linda there from their southern residence. They are making their way back up north for the summer. 

 Later that afternoon the partying began. We were drinking Jim Beam out of the bubble not thinking about tomorrow. There were those who fall down on a regular basis, and then there's Becky who fell face down and skinned and bloodied her nose and bruised her legs. She blamed it on the oversized ant hills. I think the double bubbles had something to do with it. After the park ranger made his 3rd trip by, I figured I better shut down the music. It didn't stop the campsite to campsite parties, especially at Art & Ginna's camp where Jim Beam was still going strong. I guided Carol back to our camp to find Becky hugging a tree. 

Saturday brought a new day and some old friends showed up to make it even more special. Ray & Star showed up around 12. Ray has been fighting cancer and going through chemotherapy. He looked good considering all that he has been going through. They both have lost a lot of weight. Later that afternoon Bandit showed up, He hadn't been there in several years.

Donnie was in charge of their games, the first being horse shoes where everyone had to throw 4 shoes and who ever had the highest score won. The girls complained it was too far so they shortened the throw for them. I was tied for first till then. Out of nowhere Becky threw two ringers and a close one 7 points which took first and Carol with 5 points for 2nd place. Wick was busy cleaning up the Nemo Van for the show-in-shine , which paid off for the Best Overall award. Congrats to Wick. Long Distance is something I have never won at a Texas Truck-in and as usual it went to someone from Texas. This year it went to Harry & Linda Hughs at 670 miles to our 475. Everything is bigger in Texas including the State itself, and ant hills according to Becky. Jack took 2nd in the tennis ball golf game. After the games it was time to get everyone's dish for the pot luck dinner. Lone Star provided the meat: a Turkey, Brisket, Ham and Ribs. Marty & Joyce smoked all the meat on their custom made Texas style smoker. Everyone else brought desserts, salads, potatoes, corn and all the other southern style fixin's. I have to say the food was great. Then came the awards and some group photos of the present Lone Star Van Club. I reminded everyone to come up and party early before Yogi Bear the Ranger shut us down. 

Ray & Star left as he was getting tired, and He said he would see us all at Spring Fever. I told him not to worry about coming, to stay home and get well. He said they would be there if the doctor said it was ok. I told all the Texas Vanners how much it meant to our club last year when they as the Texas Van Federation brought 10 vans up to Spring Fever. For those who have never made it down to one of Texas Van events, you don't know what you’re missing. They are so glad to see out of state vans & vanners. And I know I have said it before, there's a lot of truth in the words Southern Hospitality. I have never had a bad time at a truck-in, regardless of what part of the country it is in and van-in is different in its own way. Sure they all have Van's but the truth is, it's about the people, the friendships that you make across the country, the traveling down the highway with vans in front of you and behind you, it’s a lifestyle we all love. 

As the party went on during the night there was a new twist to the double bubble with Bloody Marys inside them. The result is still the same, lots of drunks out wandering around. Wick, Carol & Keith outlasted the rest of us by staying up way past curfew. Sunday it was time to say goodbye and head home.

We had to make a pit stop in Pittsburgh , Kansas to meet a old vanner who called me while at the truck-in. Gary McCabe  from Vanomite Van Club. He is getting a few old members back into vanning and wanted some flyers, so we met him and I gave him some from my collection of events throughout the summer and fall. Hope to see them at some van-in's. Gas prices varied the cheapest in Pryer, Oklahoma at $ 3.29 to 3.59 in several places throughout the trip. Lone Star thank you all for a great time, and the warm weather and the southern wind blowing us back home on Sunday. See you all down the road.

Don Noone / Vantasia Vans.