GILLETTE CAM-PLEX, AN ANOMALY

Another WY good morning!

The facilities here just amaze me. For example, in addition to accommodating approx. 3,500 attendees with their 1,751 motor homes (official count) at this event, yesterday about 100 horse trailers arrived on the scene. Many had multiple horses aboard. The horse people were at the stables and grandstand to practice for events in the up-coming National College Rodeo series to be held here soon. Their presence did not interfere with our activities at all. I guess that's why they call this Cam-Plex or multi-plex.

The day was filled with seminars in the morning, an Ice Cream Social after lunch, and vendors in the afternoon. There is a Military Veterans Chapter in FMCA, the purpose of which is to promote friendship and camaraderie among FMCA veterans. Afterward the meeting the group moved to the local Elks Club just across the road for a delicious roast pork dinner. Being a smaller group it provided an atmosphere for sharing military and RV experiences in a relaxed way. I enjoyed it very much and met some interesting people there.

The evening's entertainment at Cam-Plex was the Nelson Twins, sons of Ricky Nelson of Rock & Roll days. Fifty-one yr. old Matthew & Gunnar Nelson sang their Dad's hit songs and told stories of growing up in a famous family. Ozzie & Harriet Nelson, of course, were their grandparents and the audience all remembered their 1950's & 60's TV show of the same name. Their stories were very interesting and the mix of music with the Nelson family history made it very entertaining. Harriet & Ozzie stressed leading a 'normal' life in raising their boys, David & Ricky. David died of colon cancer in 2011 at the age of 75.
Ricky Nelson's hits sold 400 million records, second only in sales to Elvis Presley of the Rock & Roll era. The twins' singing voices were very close to their father's. Ricky Nelson, as you recall, died with 6 others in 1985 in a TX plane crash. He was 45 at the time of his death.

Tomorrow the activities here wind down. Already, some coaches are leaving for 'who knows where'.