GMC sighting from a former owner

[rick williams]

Greetings All

Some of you old timers may remember me. I had my coach for 15 years before selling it in 2016. I met many of you at rallies over the years and of
course spent time here on the net. Changes in life necessitated the selling of the coach but I still look back fondly at those years of ownership and
travel. I see them from time to time on the road and in campgrounds. If I get a chance to speak with the owner I always do so and I always wonder if
it will be someone that I know.
Last week while camping at a Federal Forrest campground on Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula my wife mentioned that there was a GMC in the
campground. I headed to the site and found a nice Royale. The owner was sitting outside so I struck up a conversation. The usual topics of "how is it
running?", how I had owned one, improvements made and of course how we had more money into them than they are worth. After about two minutes of
conversation, I asked him if he was Ray. He and Lisa were quite surprised by my question until I identified myself. Yes it was Ray Erspamer. Ray and I
had conversed several times on the GMCnet and had learned of a connection we had to my home town of Escanaba, Michigan. It was a real pleasure to meet
Ray and Lisa after all these years. It brought back great memories. I asked him about many of you and he knew most of those I asked about. It turns
out that Ray and Lisa host a different campground in the Upper Peninsula in August near where I have a cabin. So next year I will be seeing them
again.
I now live in Michigan's Lower Peninsula very near Mackinaw City. I just checked the Black List and I am still there. If any of you are in the area
and need assistance or just a place to park please call. The GMCs are a wonderful experience and I am glad to have been a part of it. I am especially
glad to have met many of you. I think of you often and look forward to crossing paths again. Meeting Ray and Lisa shows that it is possible. Safe
travels to all of you and I'll see you down the road.

Rick

--
Rick Williams
Bliss, Michigan
1978 Eleganza II

 

[GMCJohnR]

Hello ole buddy. It really made my day to read your post and know you are
doing well.we sure had some good times together.both here in Florida and
there in Michigan. We still have our coach and travel as much as we can.
Linda and John Richardson

> Greetings All
>
> Some of you old timers may remember me. I had my coach for 15 years before
> selling it in 2016. I met many of you at rallies over the years and of
> course spent time here on the net. Changes in life necessitated the
> selling of the coach but I still look back fondly at those years of
> ownership and
> travel. I see them from time to time on the road and in campgrounds. If I
> get a chance to speak with the owner I always do so and I always wonder if
> it will be someone that I know.
> Last week while camping at a Federal Forrest campground on Lake Superior
> in Michigan's Upper Peninsula my wife mentioned that there was a GMC in the
> campground. I headed to the site and found a nice Royale. The owner was
> sitting outside so I struck up a conversation. The usual topics of "how is
> it
> running?", how I had owned one, improvements made and of course how we had
> more money into them than they are worth. After about two minutes of
> conversation, I asked him if he was Ray. He and Lisa were quite surprised
> by my question until I identified myself. Yes it was Ray Erspamer. Ray and I
> had conversed several times on the GMCnet and had learned of a connection
> we had to my home town of Escanaba, Michigan. It was a real pleasure to meet
> Ray and Lisa after all these years. It brought back great memories. I
> asked him about many of you and he knew most of those I asked about. It
> turns
> out that Ray and Lisa host a different campground in the Upper Peninsula
> in August near where I have a cabin. So next year I will be seeing them
> again.
> I now live in Michigan's Lower Peninsula very near Mackinaw City. I just
> checked the Black List and I am still there. If any of you are in the area
> and need assistance or just a place to park please call. The GMCs are a
> wonderful experience and I am glad to have been a part of it. I am
> especially
> glad to have met many of you. I think of you often and look forward to
> crossing paths again. Meeting Ray and Lisa shows that it is possible. Safe
> travels to all of you and I'll see you down the road.
>
> Rick
>
> --
> Rick Williams
> Bliss, Michigan
> 1978 Eleganza II
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

 

[bdub]

Hi Rick
Glad to hear from you. I will make it up there to see you one of these
days.


bdub

> Hello ole buddy. It really made my day to read your post and know you are
> doing well.we sure had some good times together.both here in Florida and
> there in Michigan. We still have our coach and travel as much as we can.
> Linda and John Richardson
>
>

>
> > Greetings All
> >
> > Some of you old timers may remember me. I had my coach for 15 years
> before
> > selling it in 2016. I met many of you at rallies over the years and of
> > course spent time here on the net. Changes in life necessitated the
> > selling of the coach but I still look back fondly at those years of
> > ownership and
> > travel. I see them from time to time on the road and in campgrounds. If I
> > get a chance to speak with the owner I always do so and I always wonder
> if
> > it will be someone that I know.
> > Last week while camping at a Federal Forrest campground on Lake Superior
> > in Michigan's Upper Peninsula my wife mentioned that there was a GMC in
> the
> > campground. I headed to the site and found a nice Royale. The owner was
> > sitting outside so I struck up a conversation. The usual topics of "how
> is
> > it
> > running?", how I had owned one, improvements made and of course how we
> had
> > more money into them than they are worth. After about two minutes of
> > conversation, I asked him if he was Ray. He and Lisa were quite surprised
> > by my question until I identified myself. Yes it was Ray Erspamer. Ray
> and I
> > had conversed several times on the GMCnet and had learned of a connection
> > we had to my home town of Escanaba, Michigan. It was a real pleasure to
> meet
> > Ray and Lisa after all these years. It brought back great memories. I
> > asked him about many of you and he knew most of those I asked about. It
> > turns
> > out that Ray and Lisa host a different campground in the Upper Peninsula
> > in August near where I have a cabin. So next year I will be seeing them
> > again.
> > I now live in Michigan's Lower Peninsula very near Mackinaw City. I just
> > checked the Black List and I am still there. If any of you are in the
> area
> > and need assistance or just a place to park please call. The GMCs are a
> > wonderful experience and I am glad to have been a part of it. I am
> > especially
> > glad to have met many of you. I think of you often and look forward to
> > crossing paths again. Meeting Ray and Lisa shows that it is possible.
> Safe
> > travels to all of you and I'll see you down the road.
> >
> > Rick
> >
> > --
> > Rick Williams
> > Bliss, Michigan
> > 1978 Eleganza II
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

 

[Rick D]

Hey Billy!
We’re at the GMCMI rally in Chippewa Falls right now, wish you were here!!

Rick

Rick Drummond
1974 re-Painted Desert named B.O.B.
1976 33’ stretch under construction

>
> Hi Rick
> Glad to hear from you. I will make it up there to see you one of these
> days.
>
>
> bdub
>
>

>>
>> Hello ole buddy. It really made my day to read your post and know you are
>> doing well.we sure had some good times together.both here in Florida and
>> there in Michigan. We still have our coach and travel as much as we can.
>> Linda and John Richardson
>>
>>

>>>
>>> Greetings All
>>>
>>> Some of you old timers may remember me. I had my coach for 15 years
>> before
>>> selling it in 2016. I met many of you at rallies over the years and of
>>> course spent time here on the net. Changes in life necessitated the
>>> selling of the coach but I still look back fondly at those years of
>>> ownership and
>>> travel. I see them from time to time on the road and in campgrounds. If I
>>> get a chance to speak with the owner I always do so and I always wonder
>> if
>>> it will be someone that I know.
>>> Last week while camping at a Federal Forrest campground on Lake Superior
>>> in Michigan's Upper Peninsula my wife mentioned that there was a GMC in
>> the
>>> campground. I headed to the site and found a nice Royale. The owner was
>>> sitting outside so I struck up a conversation. The usual topics of "how
>> is
>>> it
>>> running?", how I had owned one, improvements made and of course how we
>> had
>>> more money into them than they are worth. After about two minutes of
>>> conversation, I asked him if he was Ray. He and Lisa were quite surprised
>>> by my question until I identified myself. Yes it was Ray Erspamer. Ray
>> and I
>>> had conversed several times on the GMCnet and had learned of a connection
>>> we had to my home town of Escanaba, Michigan. It was a real pleasure to
>> meet
>>> Ray and Lisa after all these years. It brought back great memories. I
>>> asked him about many of you and he knew most of those I asked about. It
>>> turns
>>> out that Ray and Lisa host a different campground in the Upper Peninsula
>>> in August near where I have a cabin. So next year I will be seeing them
>>> again.
>>> I now live in Michigan's Lower Peninsula very near Mackinaw City. I just
>>> checked the Black List and I am still there. If any of you are in the
>> area
>>> and need assistance or just a place to park please call. The GMCs are a
>>> wonderful experience and I am glad to have been a part of it. I am
>>> especially
>>> glad to have met many of you. I think of you often and look forward to
>>> crossing paths again. Meeting Ray and Lisa shows that it is possible.
>> Safe
>>> travels to all of you and I'll see you down the road.
>>>
>>> Rick
>>>
>>> --
>>> Rick Williams
>>> Bliss, Michigan
>>> 1978 Eleganza II
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:

 

[bdub]

> Hey Billy!
> We’re at the GMCMI rally in Chippewa Falls right now, wish you were here!!
>
> Rick
>
> Rick Drummond
> 1974 re-Painted Desert named B.O.B.
> 1976 33’ stretch under construction
>

> >
> > Hi Rick
> > Glad to hear from you. I will make it up there to see you one of these
> > days.
> >
> >
> > bdub
> >
> >
> >> On Sun, Sep 26, 2021, 9:40 AM John Richardson

> >>
> >> Hello ole buddy. It really made my day to read your post and know you
> are
> >> doing well.we sure had some good times together.both here in Florida and
> >> there in Michigan. We still have our coach and travel as much as we can.
> >> Linda and John Richardson
> >>
> >>

> >>>
> >>> Greetings All
> >>>
> >>> Some of you old timers may remember me. I had my coach for 15 years
> >> before
> >>> selling it in 2016. I met many of you at rallies over the years and of
> >>> course spent time here on the net. Changes in life necessitated the
> >>> selling of the coach but I still look back fondly at those years of
> >>> ownership and
> >>> travel. I see them from time to time on the road and in campgrounds.
> If I
> >>> get a chance to speak with the owner I always do so and I always wonder
> >> if
> >>> it will be someone that I know.
> >>> Last week while camping at a Federal Forrest campground on Lake
> Superior
> >>> in Michigan's Upper Peninsula my wife mentioned that there was a GMC in
> >> the
> >>> campground. I headed to the site and found a nice Royale. The owner was
> >>> sitting outside so I struck up a conversation. The usual topics of "how
> >> is
> >>> it
> >>> running?", how I had owned one, improvements made and of course how we
> >> had
> >>> more money into them than they are worth. After about two minutes of
> >>> conversation, I asked him if he was Ray. He and Lisa were quite
> surprised
> >>> by my question until I identified myself. Yes it was Ray Erspamer. Ray
> >> and I
> >>> had conversed several times on the GMCnet and had learned of a
> connection
> >>> we had to my home town of Escanaba, Michigan. It was a real pleasure to
> >> meet
> >>> Ray and Lisa after all these years. It brought back great memories. I
> >>> asked him about many of you and he knew most of those I asked about. It
> >>> turns
> >>> out that Ray and Lisa host a different campground in the Upper
> Peninsula
> >>> in August near where I have a cabin. So next year I will be seeing them
> >>> again.
> >>> I now live in Michigan's Lower Peninsula very near Mackinaw City. I
> just
> >>> checked the Black List and I am still there. If any of you are in the
> >> area
> >>> and need assistance or just a place to park please call. The GMCs are a
> >>> wonderful experience and I am glad to have been a part of it. I am
> >>> especially
> >>> glad to have met many of you. I think of you often and look forward to
> >>> crossing paths again. Meeting Ray and Lisa shows that it is possible.
> >> Safe
> >>> travels to all of you and I'll see you down the road.
> >>>
> >>> Rick
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Rick Williams
> >>> Bliss, Michigan
> >>> 1978 Eleganza II
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> GMCnet mailing list
> >>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >>>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> GMCnet mailing list
> >> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

 

[Tom Katzenberger]

Rick,

I am a new owner and I loved your story but I found one error, at least in my mind and train of thought. You stated how you discussed how one can put
more money into the GMC than it is worth. After leaving our Airstream which I got more out of it than I paid for it new 15 years prior, I have put
even more into our GMC.

It is my opinion that the people we have met in this short time and the memories have already exceeded our expectations and have been priceless. I
don't know if I will ever put enough money into our GMC to cover the value of the GMC friends we have made alone the way.

I plan on this being the last motorhome I will own and have started stock piling parts for the future.

Safe travels and thanks to all for their generosity and sharing their time and lives. It is what drives me to complete my restoration.

Sincerely,
Tom K.
--
Tom & Oki Katzenberger,
Kingsville, Maryland,
1977 23' Birchaven, 455 C.I.D.

 

[78gmcroyale]

It was really nice to finally meet you Rick. Lisa & I are so happy that your doing well and we look forward to meeting up with you next August.
--
Ray Erspamer
78 GMC Royale Center Kitchen
403, 3.70 Final Drive
Holley Sniper Quadrajet EFI System,
Holley Hyperspark Ignition System
414-484-9431