High gas prices can't stall Airstream Rally out-of-towners from making the trek to Wooster
WOOSTER – Sid Kelly and his wife hit the road several times every year, and have done so for 22 years since he retired.
Their love of camping, long-distance biking and seeing the sites led them to the world of Airstream caravanning, Kelly said.
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Their hobby took the 80-year-old Findlay couple all over the contiguous U.S.
"We've been to nearly every state except for Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii and Alaska," he said.
Even as gas prices skyrocket and inflation eats away at budgets, many Airstream caravanners like the Kellys are pushing through it to travel to rallies like the one in Wooster.
The 2022 Region 4 Airstream Rally is a five-day event that will see Airstream RVs line downtown Wooster from Thursday, May 19, through Sunday, May 22.
The rally features live music, food and open houses for many of the RVs.
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When Kelly joined the caravan from Northwest Ohio, he had less than a quarter tank of gas and would soon be in desperate need of a fill-up.
To top off his truck tank, Kelly dropped $111.
"That stung," Kelly said. With the added weight of water, luggage and the RV, gas stops become more regular and more expensive with any unexpected cargo.
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The average gas price in Wooster is around $4.45 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.com.
Ohio is nearly the same, according to AAA gas prices while the national price per gallon is $4.46.
Despite the painful cost of gas, Kelly said it won't stop him from traveling to see the sights and making friends.
"We're getting older and will soon be 81; I also need to get surgery for my ear," Kelly said. "So, I think we'll be limiting our travels to Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia."
Like Kelly, Jamie Kingseed of Maplewood, said inflation won't keep him and his wife off the road.
"We like to travel," said Kingseed, who started caravanning in 2014.
He drives their 2019 Airstream RV around the country with their two small dogs, in the hopes of visiting all 50 states and finding a good place to retire.
"We would like to retire cold, which really limits where we could stay if we want to be by water," he said.
Those long journeys rack up expenses, he said.
"Before I would tell my wife to ask for $100 worth of gas at the truck stop," Kingseed said. "Now, I need to ask for $150 or $200."
While these prices hurt the wallet, he said, they won't stop even if the cost of gas continues to rise.
Caravan living is the life for many
Airstream is a brand of RV that has a large following, so much so that there is an international club named for it with around 16,000 members.
Most Airstream models range from 16 to over 30 feet in length and include two twins or one queen-sized bed, a couch with a fold-out bed, a full kitchen minus a dishwasher an oven, shower, toilet and small closet.
Depending on the model, some include projector televisions or a small table for an equally small screen. Others come with internet hotspots and other gadgets.
Kelly owns a 2000 model Airstream that he bought in 2012.
It is fairly simple with no built-in internet or television, he said, but it is everything he and his wife need.
Before going on a trip, he fills three water tanks. A 50-gallon tank plus two tanks equaling 70 gallons for showers, sinks and one toilet.
"You can get about two to three days off of the shower and sink tank, and a week or so on the toilet one," Kelly said.
They also have air conditioning and a gas furnace all controlled via a thermostat, he said.
"I wouldn't stay in here at zero degrees, but it keeps things warm enough when it's cold," Kelly said.
At each stop, he must find a place to plug in his RV to get electricity, otherwise, they are left in the dark.
"There's a good hour or so making sure everything is working just right," he said.
Wooster hosts the 2022 Region 4 Airstream rally
Every few minutes another metallic gray Airstream RV drove down Vanover Street Wednesday and onto the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
Each had red numbers on the RVs denoting their rank in the Airstream Club International, which organized the event.
The lower the number, the higher the rank, explained Jane Briggs, a Region 4 chairperson for the club.
"We're expecting between 75 and 80 people total here, but of course, we always get a few extras who will register here onsite," Briggs said.
These out-of-towners are mostly from the Region 4 area that encompasses Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia, she said, but a few streamed in from places like California, South Carolina and the Dakotas.
Upon entry, guests like the Kellys received a goody bag of coupons, promotions and items from local businesses plus two information booklets.
On Thursday, Wooster will close Liberty Street between Grant and Bever streets, Market Street between North and South streets and portions of Buckeye and North Walnut streets, according to Main Street Wooster.
A slew of activities will be available for caravanners and local residents alike downtown, including tours and live music, she said.
A basket raffle and 50/50 raffle will take place during the five-day event.
Tickets can be purchased at the downtown pavilion through Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. and Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.
The 50/50 drawing will be 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the pavilion.
Proceeds go to the Wayne Center for the Arts, she said.
"We're very thankful for Main Street Wooster and Marty Starky at the Wayne County Fairgrounds for letting us do this," Briggs said.
For a full list of events and entertainment, visit mainstreetwooster.org/airstream-rally-2022.
Reach Bryce by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com
On Twitter: @Bryce_Buyakie
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: High gas prices or not, Airstream caravanners roll into Wooster
