The trip started off in Fresno -- 500 miles from our final destination of Yuma, Arizona. Lou Hall left Thursday night from Fresno in his passenger van for Dave Brown's home in Exeter. They both left bright and early Friday morning to pick up Bob Merzoian in Porterville, then on to Highland to pick up David LeForge and Dwayne Anthony. Glen McAdam also met up with us in Highland, driving a rental truck laden with a variety of glass and porcelain insulators. By noon Friday we were all on the road to Yuma. Upon our departure, someone (I have no recollection of whom) suggested a stop for date milkshakes at a date shop just north of the Salton Sea. After a stop for lunch in Indio, the large fields of date palms became more visibly abundant along the highway, signaling that we were approaching our much-anticipated shake stop. 

Unfortunately, an unforeseen detour was encountered (the navigator was distracted), which caused us to unknowingly bypass the date shop. We were already on the east shores of the Salton Sea when we realized it, much too far along to turn back. For the remainder of the trip there were sporadic lighthearted comments made regarding the illusive "date shakes" that eluded us. Was this all just a cruel gag perpetrated by one of our more illustrious passengers?

We arrived in Yuma Friday evening, checked in at the Super 8, then met up with Kevin & Cheryl Jacobson and Tom & Lynda Katonak for an enjoyable evening of fellowship and insulator talk at a local pizza parlor. Later that night some of the group gathered in one of the hotel rooms to share more insulator stories. Early Saturday morning everyone was up and ready for the short jaunt to Riverside Park. 

Combined exhibit" "South of the Border"
(R to L) Roger Nagel, Dwayne Anthony, David LeForge, & David Hall

Steve Marks closely examines this pretty piece in the bright Arizona sun light.

Arriving two hours early at the park, we found Roger Nagel and Terri Taylor already unloading supplies and setting up the lunch area. Last year we had an annoying gusty wind that blasted us with fine sand during the entire duration of the day. Not so this year. The forecast was for perfect weather, with highs near 80 degrees -- not bad for February! As more collectors arrived at the park, an impressive progression of folding tables full of glistening glass and porcelain materialized. At the peak period of the day there were at least 16 sellers set up with tables full of insulators for sale. We had approximately 75 collectors attend the event, from a record-breaking total of eight states. Some came as far as Minnesota, Montana, Texas and Canada. 

Bill Ostrander traveled down from Oregon to assemble the first-ever exhibit for this event. He had contacted a few collectors in advance, welcoming them to share in a joint display of insulators entitled "South of the Border". The exhibit primarily consisted of glass insulators from Mexico, which only seemed appropriate since we were within 10 miles of the Mexico border. A few specimens from South America were also included. There were over 70 insulators total in this impressive colorful display, which included a few one-of-a-kind examples! Contributors to the combined exhibit were: Bill Ostrander, Richard Dawson, Dave Hall & Dwayne Anthony. 

The Arizona desert "blooms" with insulators every February!

The selection of insulators offered for sale was outstanding. The variety included insulators from the US, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Ukraine, Australia, France, & Spain. There were plenty of CD 257 "Mickey Mouse" cables available, including greens with amber swirls and a stunning milky electric blue. Hundreds of insulators changed hands, including the following: CD 735 Mulford & Biddle/UPRR; yellow green with amber CD 126 "blobtop"; aqua EC&Ms; aqua unembossed CD 127.4; two-tone purple/silver CD 162 Brookfield; purple CD 154 Zicme; white milkglass capacitor bushing; several colored signals; Muncies, Coolie Hats and Montana stackers; and even a "big old porcelain multipart"! 

An excellent lunch was once again prepared by the Grand Canyon Insulator Club, offered to the dozens of hungry partakers at a nominal donation. Even two-year-old Sam Marks was seen wearing his cool shades and enjoying a grilled hotdog, followed by an oatmeal cookie chaser. 

By mid afternoon it appeared all major purchases and trades had been completed and tables began to fold. A few last minute deals were made and by 3 p.m. the park was returning to a calm normalcy. The day had zipped by way too fast. It was time to hit the road-time for the five of us to regroup and share our day's interactions and purchases during the long ride home. All passengers present agreed that it was a highly successful event and well worth attending. Since this was David LeForge's first insulator show, he admitted he was entirely overwhelmed. What was the highlight for this writer? It would have to be the camaraderie shared with good friends, from the beginning of the trip, right on through to the end. It is essential that we continue our human interactions beyond the computer screen by attending and supporting shows. It is so much more fulfilling.

Oh, and what about the date shakes, you ask? Yes, much to everyone's satisfaction, we successfully conquered our quest for the elusive date shakes on our trip homeward bound. They actually do exist, and boy are they good! 

Joe McGee (L) examines a handful of newly acquired insulators, with the encouragement 
of Michael Jones. They traveled fall the way from Bigfork, Montana to come to the Yuma show!

Looking Cool, Sam Marks is checking out the insulators too!

The extraordinary lunch crew! Cheryl Jacobson, Terri Taylor, & Melanie Marks (L to R)