FEBRUARY 7 - FEBRUARY 12: Hamcation & Rally Combo

Wednesday, February 7, we left Travelers Rest about 8:30 A.M. for the 90 minute drive to Orlando and the Central Florida Fairgrounds for the Orlando hamfest (Hamcation) and the RV Radio Network Spring Rally.  Campsites are on a 'first come' basis at this facility, and the RV's started lining up very early for the 12 noon gate opening. We were #25 and used the waiting time to eat lunch and visit with friends who were also playing the waiting game. The gate opened a little early and we  selected our spot.  Unlike normal campgrounds, the individual electric (30 amp) and water hookups are grouped together in several areas, so you'll have 2-8 RV's hooked up to the same pedastal. 

Our Friend, Dennis, provided this drone video to show the Hamcation layout.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/744xqnk82yhl0q9/DJI_0077.MP4?dl=0

It begins with a view to the north and the lake, then to the east showing the fairground buildings and parking lots, then to the south showing a separate weekly large flea market area on the edge of the camping area, then the west edge of the area.   https://www.dropbox.com/s/744xqnk82yhl0q9/DJI_0077.MP4?dl=0

Because we were directly under the drone, our parking spot didn't show up, but here's a picture of our 'neighborhood'.  We're the second RV from the bottom with the dark blue car by it.




In addition to attending Hamcation, we were hosting the RV Radio Network Spring Rally. Thursday, we joined the RV Radio Service Network (another ham radio/RV group) near the lake for a huge pot luck lunch, and then held several rally meetings by our coach before hosting a pizza supper . Friday morning, we provided doughnuts for our rally attendees.

The official opening of Hamcation was on Friday morning. This event is the 3rd largest hamfest in the world and the second largest in the USA with between 15,000 and 20,000 attendees over 3 days. Hank had an inside flea market table to promote the RV Radio Network and to sell a few items. There were joint Happy Hours late each afternoon.  Friday, Hank won a hand-held radio from the RV Service Net prize drawing.  Saturday evening, the RV Radio Network Rally attendees went to dinner at Golden Corral and we had our rally closing ceremony with 2 prize giveaways.  The hamfest closed at 1 P.M on Sunday.

Sunday afternoon,  we had dinner at Logan's Steakhouse in nearby Kissimmee  with Dee, Jim and Gary....ham radio friends from our time living near Raleigh.  Jim & Dee are former RVer's who now live in Auburndale, FL and Gary still lives in Raleigh.




The weather during our stay in Orlando was warm and windy most of the time, with the only rain coming overnight Saturday. On,Monday, February 12,  after a very full 5 days, it was time to pull up the jacks, hook up the car and return to the peaceful surroundings at Travelers Rest.