A week in the big tent at Quartzsite
What’s it like to run the seminar tent at the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation and RV Show? This is now our third year doing so and we thought you might want to join us on this adventure. A few years ago we got to work with Kimmy King on bringing seminars to the big tent and they’ve been a hit.
(L-R) John DiPietro, New England RV Dealers Association; Bryan Holtan, Kimmy King; Tony Barthel; Peggy Barthel
In fact this year, Todd and Stephanie Hensen from Big Beard Battery, stepped up to sponsor the tent.
We always look forward to this event and, since we’re there the whole time making the seminars come together, we get to park our Rockwood Mini Lite 2506FK right behind the seminar tent on the RV show grounds. It’s pretty sweet. This year we got there almost a week ahead of the show and camped out while vendors and team members busily brought in their wares, their wires and their booths.
Funny thing - there must have been a bell that rang somewhere because we started getting calls and texts right after we set up and we had to get to Beer Belly’s Adult Day Care shortly after arriving. That’s a good thing and it’s incredible how many of our wonderful friends converge on Quartzsite every year so it’s really like a homecoming.
Once the show starts it’s on and we had seminars almost every hour of every day that the show was open. Last week’s podcast with Kevin Jeskey from America’s RV Warranty was one of those seminars and there were tons more.
Our Rockwood behind the Seminar Tent at the Quartzsite RV Show
The seminars are interesting with everything from diesel fuel filters to trips to Alaska and Todd’s seminars were really informative about propane, electricity, solar and more. His seminars are also very well attended owing to his having established himself as a knowledgeable and fun presenter on his popular YouTube channel. I enjoy sitting through most of the seminars and often learn quite a bit. Not a bad way to spend some days.
Of course I also found some I was less interested in so I got to sneak away and into the big tent to see just what new things I didn’t own. Yet.
As the show closes and we pack up also know that a number of our friends have scouted-out a spot in the desert and, this year, almost 20 rigs are gathered together as I write this. There are fires every night, pot lucks and stories and that’s how this week’s RV podcast with Quartzsite and boondocking tips and tricks came about - it’s sort of a story around the campfire.
It’s funny how quickly the nine days of the big tent event go by. I look forward to the show all year and then it’s over in the blink of an eye.
But next we get to embark on a trip along Route 66 so I hope you stay tuned for that. For all those of you who we got to spend time with during the RV show it’s such a great feeling to be able to share the adventure and catch up once again. Seeing so many of you is what’s the most exciting part of this magical week in the desert.
