I'm not connected with any RTR going on Now

[akrvbob]

I am not associated with any RTR this summer!

It's been brought to my attention that someone is holding a vandweller gathering in Washington and calling it an RTR, Rubber Tramp Rendezvous. I want everyone to know that neither my website, blog or forum nor myself are in any way affiliated with it and have nothing to do with it.

While I coined the name and have held 6 RTRs I didn't register or trademark the name so I don't own it. Anyone can use it, although to be honest I think they shouldn't and wish they wouldn't.

Anyone can take that name and put on a bad gathering or rip people off and because I coined and use the name I and my website will get the bad press and reputation.

Bob Wells

Again, the only RTR I am associated with in 2014
was last January in Quartzsite AZ.​

 

[cyndi]

Mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

[DC Fuse]

Hi Bob, Been lurking awhile 'til tonite when i read of this and joined. I sent you a email thru "ContactUs"page. Did you get it? I have some info. that you should know concerning this. I will attempt to PM you.
My name is Jim.

 

[cyndi]

For the record, the gathering in Washington was 6 or 8 people, all good friends and most of whom have attended at least one RTR, in the past.

Just an FYI to put to rest any conspiracy theories or drama llama actions. I Know most of these people quite well and can't imagine that they did anything to give an RTR a bad name.

 

[Zil]

Why not register or trademark?

 

[Patrick46]

$$$$!!!!

 

[akrvbob]

Yeah, it turns out that it's people I know so it's no big deal.

Jim, yes I did get your email and I very much appreciate the information. Thank you!!

I probably will do nothing about any of it. It's like some copyrighted names get into the common lexicon and become generic. The classic example is Xerox which came to be generic for make copies. Or google is now a verb even though we all know who the company is.

I would actually be very happy if vandweller gatherings became common and if RTR became generic for a vandweller gathering. Ultimately, that's my primary goal: CREATE A COMMUNITY. If the name getting out there helps, I'm fine with that.

I look forward to when there are hundreds of RTRs every year. But until it becomes generic, it's still associated with me. So for awhile I will announce that I'm not associated with it just to protect my "brand."
Bob

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Bob,

It sounds like it's time for you to start calling your shindigs "The Original Rubber Tramp Rendevous".

Regards
John

 

[LeeRevell]

Okay, I know now WHAT an "RTR" is, but what is "RTR"? The actual long form of the designation? :huh:

 

[decodancer]

Road Tramp Rendezvous, cool huh?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Road Tramp Rendezvous, cool huh?

Is it road tramp? I had always assumed it was a play on saddle tramps, which is what cowboys - the real ones, not the Hollywood ones - were often called. They moved around on saddles, we move around on rubber tires, hence rubber tramps.

I suppose it means whatever Bob intended it to mean.

Regards
John

 

[cyndi]

It's Rubber Tramp Rendezvous

 

[Nelda]

Ummm. Just got home and getting back on the computer. I did not realize seeing a couple of friends would EVER be referred to as a RTR.
It was just a couple of friends saying hello.
Nelda.
just my 2 cents.

 

[LeeRevell]

Road Tramp Rendezvous, cool huh?

Many thanks!

---

On the Dual Sport motorcycle forums, we call it a 'Meet' or 'Rally'.
We also coined a term stolen from the bicycling world - "Tour de XXX".
Down here we had the annual "Tour de Apalachicola", as we held it in the Apalachicola National Forest. The very first meet we had was "Tour de Duck" in Ducktown, Tennessee. We still have Tour de Pisgah in NC, and Tour de Tellico in Tenn.

Hope to see mention some time of an RTR here on the Right Coast.

 

[akrvbob]

It's Rubber Tramp Rendezvous.

I've worked on getting a RTR on the East Coast but I can't find a large enough place that is free. I found one in a SC NF but there are constant hunting seasons in the spring and the NF didn't want us to do it during hunting season. I'm figuring 75 people and that takes a large space.

It may be the Right coast, but there is much less freedom on Public land there! In fact there is much less Public land period!
Bob

 

[LeeRevell]

"It may be the Right coast, but there is much less freedom on Public land there! In fact there is much less Public land period!"

True words unfortunately. But then that is why the settlers went west - too danged crowded back east! :-(
The hunting season thing is what finally killed our TdA. It began in January on MLK holiday weekend, as it gave the northern members a good mid-winter ride, and a lot of us were State or military employees. Nice three day weekend. But many were freaked by the occasional running up on hunters on the forest roads. They NEVER gave us any trouble. But some folks lobbied to move the time into February. Then March. Problem was another local had a big trail ride in March, and it was too close to TdT in May. TdA finally withered and died. I haven't done a group meet since, except a small group of Prepper Campers a couple years back. I camped in my minivan, as I had the last couple TdAs. That's what got me into the whole 'van camping and living' thing.
I started on Yahoo Groups' van dwelling' sites, then the RV forums, then I gravitated to here. This site is finally what I had been searching for - like minded folks doing their van thing. Lots of comradery and trading of knowledge.
An "RTR" sounds like great fun!

 

[offroad]

Think van dwellers in the east are into stealth. Large gatherings don't work well for that. More population more stealth, more interference from others. It's not easy getting freedom out here.

 

[Starlight]

Seems there could be "get-togethers" by any group of
members and campers who have formed friendships --
Then --
there could be "open invitation" get-togethers -- everyone invited --

and then there could be the Winter RENDEVOUS --
which even sounds like a bigger event, where the point is to keep up-to-date
on information and other activities.
In the summer everyone's off to many places during the good weather.
In the winter-- there are limited temperate climates.


I'd like to mention that I'm finding a lot of empty dispersed camping in the
area around Cortez, Dolores, and Mancos CO. Durango was crazy and had
construction going on. This area is high desert but when you get into
the Nat Forests there are lots of tall pines and shade.

About the RTR-- or just Quartzsite --
Someone has told me that camping long-term on BLM land requires a permit
that costs $180. per vehicle and that it is good for several months. What am I
missing here?

 

[akrvbob]

What they were referring to is the LTVA, that stands for Long Term Visitor Area. So many people want to spend their winters on BLM desert land that they set aside some areas to live on for up to 7 months and you don't have to move. There is a fee for them, $180. Some offer no amenities and some have trash removal, dump sites and water that are included in the price. Here is a list of the LTVAs in California and what services they offer:
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ltvas.html

Here is the one right beside Quartzsite which offers all facilities. You can be in the LTVA within 2 miles of QZT.
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/camping/LTVA/laposa.html

Of course there is a huge amount of free BLM land you can camp on but it all has a 14 day limit, meaning that legally you have to move every 14 days.That's mainly why people stay at LTVAs, so they never have to move. However, if you know where to go there is so much BLM land it's easy to find it where there is no enforcement and you never have to move.

There is some very little known about Summer LTVAs in the Sierras above Bishop, CA. But it costs $300 per season which is March through Nov. The highest campground is at about 7500 feet, so it shouldn't be too terribly hot. More info here:
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bishop/camping/ltva.html
Bob

 

[decodancer]

OOPs My mistake. I don't know where I got road from. Regardless, I can't wait to go.