Thanks for making it happen Joel -- it was our first trip to this great
event -- see nyou next year :-)

Doug

On Mon, Sep 28, 2009 at 12:55 PM, Joel Cort <joel_cort@yahoo.com> wrote:

> To all VW enthusiast of camping in our VW vans last weekend at Watkins Glen
> NY
> - A big THANK YOU for participating and being one of the 87 VW at this
> event.
> Volks from all neighboring states and provinces participated.  I'll provide
> stats on the webpage.
>
> There were about 10 vans in on Thursday night to get a
> jump start at the event. As we were relaxing at the campsite we could here
> those distinctive VW engines power up the hill to our campground. We saw a
> constant stream of all sorts of VWs rolling in on Friday each establishing
> their encampments. The campground loop filled up quickly. By Saturday we
> had
> the final count of  87 VW vehicles participating in this premier campout.
> Numerous Vanagons, EuroVans, Bays and Splitties, a few Bugs and tenters and
> even a Rialta and a Routan.
>
> We kicked off Saturday morning with the Empire
> VW Camping club's version of the "Breakfast Burritos" to treat every camper
> breakfast. It was a hit, everyone was well fed and ready to work it off on
> a
> hike down the Watkins Glen gorge.
>
> The New York Southern Tier region, Finger
> Lakes and Leather Stocking regions are connected with a long hiking trail
> referred to as the Finger Lakes trail. Fortunately the Finger Lakes Trail
> runs
> through this park and we hiked about one mile to get down to the gorge
> trail.
> Our hiking group enjoyed the beautiful scenery of waterfalls and clear
> pools
> and easy steps while hiking back to our campsite.
>
> The afternoon allowed some
> folks to visit to local towns and vineyards while others relaxed at camp.
> The
> weather was in the 60s with an occasional gust of wind cooling the air. The
> Iroquois Lodge pavilion was reserved for our group, just in case of
> inclement
> weather and to gather us all in one area.
>
> We filled the pavilion with some
> new entertainment and hopefully tradition to the Westies at Watkins events
> with our own Rick the Juggler who entertained the children and most of us
> watching with his juggling acts, unicycle tricks and playing with fire.
> Thanks
> again Rick for a fine display of your talents. Rick was camping at Watkins
> last year when he saw a parade of VW vans heading off to the racetrack. He
> thought that these vans were so cool and practical that he wanted one too.
> After some investigation Rick finally acquired his own Vanagon Westy to
> join
> our group.
>
> After the juggling act, everyone gathered and brought food to
> share at our pot-luck meal in the pavilion. We added more picnic tables to
> accommodate the crowd and filled to pavilion to near capacity. Everyone had
> plenty to eat with some pretty decent camping food to bat. By this time, as
> predicted, it was pouring rain outside so it was nice to be in a warm dry
> place to enjoy each others company. We concluded the evening with some door
> prizes to give away as raffle gifts. A genuine big thanks to all who have
> contributed door prizes for this event:
>
> GoWesty
> Van-Cafi
> MidAmerica-Motorworks
> SewfineCondelli and Associate
> Wolfsb|rg-West
> VAWCCNY
> LiMBO &
> Empire VW Camping Club
> Sunday, under pouring rain we packed up camp
> and those of us brave enough to venture up to the Watkins Glen
> International
> Race track were allowed to take our vans on the race track. The racing goes
> on
> rain or shine. There was a small delay while the BMW racing club ended
> their
> practice and we were then allowed on. 25 vans and one bug took to the
> track.
> It was wet and still raining which kept the speeds down but some of us were
> able to go top speed in a VW bus around the track. Everyone took lots of
> pictures and some videos of the amusing event of seeing these utilitarian
> vehicles dare to challenge the asphalt of the race track. Pictures will be
> posted or linked from the
>  Oh yeah, some scoundrel absconded with my Westies
> at Watkins banner!! what good is it to anyone else?
> It was really nice to see
> old friends again and to make new friends at this event. Some were missed
> and
> remembered. Thanks to Empire team for pulling together in making this
> happen.
> Thank you all again for participating in the 8th annual event of
> Westies@Watkins campout.
>
> If you missed this year's event, start planning to
> attend next years on October 8-9-10 2010 (Columbus Day US)
>
>
>
> Joel Cort -
> Camp councelor
>
>
> Rochester NY.
> 89 Syncro Westy (CinnabarVan)
> 87 Syncro
> Transporter (Stella)
> 73 Westy Campmobile (agent orange)
>
>
> Founding Member of
> the Empire VW Camping Club
> &
> Westies at Watkins -
> www.westies-at-watkins.org  October 8-9-10 2010
> www.westies-at-watkins.orgweb
> site. Please send me any media you wish to post.
>
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