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Laughlin, Nevada (March 13-18, 2009)
Cozy is the key word that describes our RVW rallies. It’s like everyone living in the same big old house with familiar surroundings and toys and games. Surprises for everyone. No one walks away empty handed! It’s like having housemothers that want to make sure not a minute goes by that the kids aren’t having fun.
Speaking of housemothers, Jolene Greeley and Lori Hagge are two of the best. We are also lucky enough to have, in addition to our house moms, their assistant house moms Nita and Mo. Believe me, this is quite the foursome! Just put yourself in their hands and take the ride. All you need to do is come and go, and this is what happens in between.
Did I happen to mention we were at a casino RV park? You could walk, take a shuttle, ride up and down the river via water taxi, get on and off at all the different casino stops, or just take a great boat ride. Or you might decide to go fishing off the dock or perhaps take the puppy for a swim or just take a nice stroll along the river with friends.
One of our favorite things that the house moms take care of is the Friday night seafood buffet. Can you picture this—22 RVing Women sitting at one table, you glance up the table at all your friends and all you can see is mounds and mounds of crab legs! What a sight this was!
There was only one thing to do after that chow down, and that was to think of our four-legged friends that were wondering if they would ever get outside again any time soon. Well of course they did. The house moms had planned a nice long walk to the river for them, and that was quite a sight. One year I was asked if there was a dog show in town, that’s how beautiful our pups looked. Prizes were given for the oldest and smallest dogs. One dog won both prizes.
Later on in the day the grown ups got to play, and once again the house moms came through. Prizes were given to every rig. That was followed with a very special wine tasting (some enjoyed soda of their choice), and then we moved on to our television moment, the Ellen/Oprah interview. We want to thank Nita and Donna for their participation and all the laughs they gave us.
We had a champagne brunch Sunday morning. Afterwards, we splashed the river and had a great time. We got back to camp for an afternoon meet and greet and shared all the many different stories of the day.
What a potluck we had in honor of St. Patrick’s Day!
There were all kinds of corned beef and cabbage choices, side dishes and desserts. There was even lamb stew, a special treat from Meg. It can’t get any better than this!
Green was the key color of this rally, and with that we would like to thank Donna for all the green bling. And for a great weekend, thank you, Jolene, Lori, Mo and Nita.— Marilyn Teresi
Springdale, Utah (May 15-19, 2009)
All you can say about this rally is that it was one of the greatest experiences you could have—this huge, magnificent woman known as Mother Nature wrapping her arms about you and creating, all sorts of different feelings and senses that each one of us individually owned.
Of course this Arizona Chapter took every advantage of this magnificent Zion Canyon area. When the last shuttle dropped us at our location, we returned to our camp and the chatter began. “Wow!” is all we can say here.
Many of our members then split off to do their own thing: hiking, biking and challenging the river that was so nicely placed in our campground. Some of us considered tubing; however, when the young man said we would have to wear helmets and body suits because the river was running a bit fast, needless to say you know how fussy we are about our attire and opted to go back to our shorts and t-shirts. Maybe next year.
You say culture? Does this chapter have culture or what! We then spent the evening listening to the Southwest Symphony playing Broadway favorites under the stars with a backdrop of red cliffs and mountains. It just doesn’t get any better.
I mentioned hiking. Well, we would like to give two of our members a big round of applause. Meg van Zyl and Jackie Allard took on one of the most difficult hikes in the park. It was eight miles total round trip. A walk in the park, you say? Oh, no! These ladies hiked up a 2,100-foot gain, approximately four miles high to reach Observation Point, which is so far up there they were able to look down on angels landing, which is a feat in itself!
Now, we didn’t stop at all this serious stuff. It was time to get goofy and, not wanting to let our chapter down, we moved on to a water balloon toss, which was a blast. But you really don’t think we stopped there! Oh, no! Next came a full-blown water balloon fight in which most everyone at the toss participated. One of our gutsy new members decided to toss water on one of our more prominent members and that member just got up and left. We were concerned that she perhaps had had more attention than she wanted, and we wondered if she would come back. But she did come back—walking across the park in complete diver equipment, from facemask to fins!
Needless to say, we had our wonderful potlucks and breakfast together, and we welcomed two new members.
Last, but of course not least, we want to thank our wonderful host Penny Kubla and her helper Sherri Wilson. We invite everyone to experience this rally next year. Zion is for all of us!—Marilyn Teresi
Lake Roosevelt, Arizona (April 22-28, 2009)
This was the second time Betty Tunstall hosted our rally at Lake Roosevelt. Betty is known for hosting very energetic rallies. As expected, no one was disappointed.
Registration day kicked off. Volunteers aplenty helped with that function and gave leis to all the ladies. That afternoon, we moved right into competitive games. Winners were announced at meet and greet that night and, with a nice selection of prizes, they had no problem picking something that just thrilled them.
Our members were allowed to sleep for a few hours, and then it was up and ready to go, starting with a wonderful bagel breakfast donated by Lynn Andrew. Of course there was an ulterior motive behind this donated breakfast. Yep, Lynn was there to push these ladies into the grueling activities to be performed next—fishing, kayaking, boating, quading or hiking. This is cruel and unjust punishment, what this woman expects of us; however, we keep performing for her.
That evening, at our meet and greet, we shared war stories and had a little libation. What a day! Betty, of course, had much more in store for us.
By the time Friday came along, we had had enough, and we ran away. Yep, we did whatever we wanted. Well, sort of. Sharon and Dee were available to take us out and show us around, Donna took us away on her quad, Lynn allowed some of us to go fishing with her, Dar volunteered to share her knowledge of kayaking and, yes, the woman in charge of energy (Betty and her pal Ruth) took some of us out on the pontoon. All in all, it was a fantastic day.
Later in the day—no rest for us very energetic women—park ranger Janet Lenon had a history lesson on the area and the lake waiting for us. We loved it.
Saturday found two new guests, Betty Woodward and Paula Jones, volunteering to teach the group about kayaking safety. Imagine that! Thanks, gals.
Carol Waymire was the very thrilled winner of the 50/50 Rubber Ducky Race. We hear she won $210. Later in the afternoon, Marge Rust presented the group with her adventures in Africa.
The winners of the week’s competitive games were announced by Sharon Dewey. They were Ann Matlock, Barbara Strong and Paula Noel.
Saturday night’s activities included an auction of items donated by M&M Miller, Darla Felsberg, Lynn Andrew, Jan Owen, Klondyke, Camping World and Betty Tunstall. The auctioneers were Sharon Dewey, Lynn Andrew and Pat Graves. The Pińata Hula Dance was the night’s perfect ending. Much thanks to Diane Apple for making and donating the pińata.
Sunday found everyone busy still—busy being the key word here—from breakfast time to evening with hiking to the upper cliff dwelling in the Tonto National Monument or other activities such as fishing, quading and pontooning. Everyone was exhausted that night and went to bed too early to see the constellations.
Betty Tunstall did a wonderful job keeping everyone involved, and we all look forward to her next rally whenever and wherever it may be.—Marilyn Teresi
Quartzsite, Arizona (January 15-20, 2009)
We woke up to cool, crisp mornings and watched the sun rise from behind the mountains and cast shadows across the desert floor as we gathered at the morning campfire with our coffee.
Days were spent with friends and new acquaintances enjoying the warm desert breeze under sunny, bright blue skies.
After spending the day exploring, treasure hunting, geocaching, playing ladder toss and horseshoes, shopping or just relaxing, we gathered for happy hour at the campfire and watched the spectacular desert sunset and the emergence of the stars, unspoiled by city light pollution.
Women who arrived at the campout early were rewarded with the incredible site of the full moon rising from behind the mountains. Those who got up early snapped pictures of the moon’s shadow as the sun began to rise, flooding the sky with brilliant color. Each night as the moon waned, the stars became brighter and appeared more numerous. This was the desert at it’s best!
It was another wonderful rally of RVing Women. Shopping the big tent and miles of flea market stalls, solving the puzzle that led to the treasure hunt clues, competing in the geocache poker run, exploring the surrounding desert, relaxing and visiting with other RVing Women—it was truly a Quartzsite happening!—Gin Richardson and Meg van Zyl
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Arizona DayTrippers is a chapter primarily for those RVW members who no longer own a rig or travel but want to stay active and in touch with their many RVW friends.
Winter 2008
The Arizona DayTrippers have been enjoying the beautiful winter season with monthly activities. In February, JoAnn Goldsmith led us as we carpooled to the Florence museum for a guided tour about the colorful history of early Arizona. Afterward we enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant.
In March, 13 of us went to see the Arizona State University women’s softball team finally pull off a 1-0 win over Creighton, Nebraska after 11 innings of play.
In April, we gathered for a BBQ dinner followed by an evening at the Centennial Observatory.
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Toppenish, Washington (September 18-20, 2009)
As I sit here looking out over the cornfields at Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier and watching various members of our Cascadia group walking by with their dogs, I am thinking about all the fun we have had this weekend.
Sixteen rigs carrying 26 people (including three visitors) gathered at the Indian Nation RV Park for our September event. Friday evening was our usual potluck light with finger foods and desserts, followed by various card and board games.
Saturday morning dawned a bit cloudy, but the sun was breaking through as seven brave souls gathered to take on the white water of the Tieton River, a class-three river. Wet suits and helmets were required. After a 45-minute drive, these brave souls donned their gear, tucked themselves snugly into a raft and were launched down the river with little or no time to have second thoughts about what they had signed up for. For several miles they paddled madly, hung on, and rode the wild waves. Everyone stayed safely in the raft and all returned tired, but with big smiles on their faces.
There were other activities for those who opted for a calmer day. We got our exercise by walking the one-mile trail around the campground, walking around visiting with friends, riding bikes and swimming in the pool. A group headed for the casino to try their luck on the games there, with mixed success. Another group went into town to see some of the 70-plus murals painted on the sides of the buildings there. Still others visited the Indian Nation Museum, which was just a short walk from the camping area.
Evening brought everyone together to talk about her day and to share plentiful food at our potluck dinner. Some people again stuck around to play games, but many retired early after a busy, fun day.
A couple lessons were learned this weekend:
Do not go off and leave your rig with the awning down. Saturday afternoon brought stiff winds. Many people were in danger of having their awnings blown into the cornfields. Thanks to some quick action by two of our members, all were saved from disaster.
Check the fluid levels in your rig. On this particular weekend, the hydraulic fluid in one rig was very low. As a result, the slides and jacks wouldn’t work. The unlucky owner of this rig was not able to leave when planned and had to pay a very expensive repair, which included the purchase of a new pump.
Sunday morning was sunny, crisp and crystal clear. We christened Marne and Elaine’s new rig and then gathered for a group picture at one of the teepees in the campground. Some folk packed up to head home; others were getting ready to make the drive to San Antonio, Texas for the national convention. Bon voyage to all.—Elaine Ploegstra
Cle Elum, Washington (August 21-23, 2009)
Fifty women in 29 rigs rolled into Cle Elum the weekend of August 21-23 for a rally at the Whispering Pines RV Park. The local Hope Source Food Bank benefited from the club’s generosity.
The clubhouse at Whispering Pines was decorated with hay bales, horseshoes, bandanas and other assorted western items in keeping with the weekend’s cowgirl theme. Two of the rally masters, Shelly Donaldson and Lisa Austin, built a portable jail made of lumber and PVC piping. During the Friday night happy hour event, designated sheriffs and deputies threw people in jail for a multitude of no good reasons, mostly on trumped up charges according to sources close to the event.
The only way folks could get out of jail was to have someone bail them out with a donation of canned goods for the food bank. In total, four boxes of food were donated to the Hope Source Food Bank on behalf of the Cascadia Chapter.
The Cascadia Chapter has been incorporating a community service component into several of its rallies this year. The Grays Harbor Animal Shelter received hundreds of pounds of contributions from a dog and cat food drive put on by the chapter during their rally at Westport earlier this year.—Diane Milnor
Eatonville, Washington (July 24-26, 2009)
What a beautiful drive it was going into the foothills of Mount Rainier and seeing occasional glimpses of her majestic presence on our way to the July Cascadia Chapter rally at Alder Lake State Park. We were greeted by the very cheerful Hi There Girls, Lynn and Geri, who gave us our packets full of wonderful local information about train trips, the Mount Rainier Visitor center, local towns etc. Many took advantage of these things, and many more just wanted to stay by the lake and do water and picnic and game things. After getting hooked up, we wandered through camp greeting friends and meeting others.
The theme for the weekend was survival. The Friday evening snack/supper showed many dishes that Mother Nature can provide, with the help of the individual chefs and their wonderful imaginations.
Suzanne came up with a game for the weekend that she called Last Woman Standing. She had researched the Cascadia Chapter website for our chapter's history, from our founding through the various presidents and current and past boards. She also researched the national RVW website. There were three Last Woman Standing sessions: one on Friday evening, one on Saturday morning, and another that evening. At the beginning of each session, all of us were standing. A question was asked, and when the proper answer was given, all who didn’t know the answer were on their honor to sit down. Suzanne kept track of how many points each of the standees earned at each session. The winner was Diane M. Prizes were lottery tickets, and some had winners.
Friday and Saturday evening found a group sitting around a campfire enjoying s’mores. Pat and Jill brought a snow cone machine and made us all root beers on crushed ice.
During the day Saturday, all those who didn’t tour went to the lake. Our hosts supplied all kinds of objects to float on. There were kayaks, rubber boats, rafts and some objects that were hard to describe. Dogs were allowed to join in the fun of swimming, retrieving sticks, etc. It was a wonderful day that also included puzzles, card games, visiting, napping and sunning. At one point, eight of us were standing near the water watching Cheryl working to board her new floater. She studied and studied and finally made it aboard by forcing the floater underwater and wearing it. There was a great round of applause from the onlookers, whom Cheryl hadn’t seen.
Because of the heat, water games continued into Saturday evening. A water balloon fight and water gun contest had a bunch of over-50s acting like teen-somethings. The laughter was wonderfully infectious. No one was dry at the end of that event.
The evening ended with Texas Hold ‘em, board games and campfires.
Thanks to the events folks and all those who brought and set up water toys, those who drove and ferried us back and forth, and to Suzanne and her group for a wonderfully fun event.—Norma dalla Santa
Kelso, Washington (June 26-28, 2009)
We had another sunny, warm weekend for a Cascadia RVW rally. This is getting boring (NOT). A small, select group of us gathered at the Brookhollow RV Park in Kelso. A few of us got east and west confused and took a sightseeing tour of Kelso while trying to find Brookhollow. In the end, 12 rigs with 20 people, including three guests, found the site. We were delighted to welcome Masanee Brown, president of the Oregon Chapter, as well as newcomers Charlene and Rita.
Our rally captains were Barbara Nelson and Jan Kegal. They provided us a mellow, interesting weekend of activities that started with a deluxe packet of information about the Kelso area. There is a lot to do in the area, although most of us relaxed at the site all weekend. Friday evening we proved again that it is possible to get full on finger food. After a dog-walking break, we gathered for a surprise activity. Divided into groups of four, we were handed a list of questions ranging from “What would you do if you had 24 hours to spend $1 million?” to “What is your most memorable childhood experience?” We spent the next hour or so discussing our answers. It proved to be an excellent way to get to know folks on a deeper level. Afterwards, the poker players stayed in the lodge well into the night while the rest of us walked and enjoyed the long, clear evening.
Saturday morning we brought handy and useful gear from our rigs to share. This is a clever and resourceful group. Suggestions included collapsible bowls, gutters as sewer hose supports, water bottles with attached trays for dogs to drink from, surge protectors for the whole rig, big pipe pliers for greater leverage, a tiny electric skillet, and a tool belt with all the things needed for hook up. Each item brought on a discussion of where to get it and how to use it and why we liked it. It was a very educational morning. As a group we know a lot.
The rest of Saturday we relaxed, talked and explored. Saturday evening we had an international potluck with food from Turkey, Sweden, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, Italy, America, and elsewhere. This was followed by an evening of music from Sue Lewis and Kali Rose. Sue, a music graduate of Portland State University, plays several string instruments as well as piano. She brought her fiddle to serenade us with Celtic tunes, as well as classical, Italian, Gypsy, swing and western numbers. Kali Rose played a keyboard (synthesizer). They collaborated on several swing pieces. Sue and Charlene even gave us a demonstration of western swing dancing. A big thank you to Dorene, last year’s chapter president, for inviting Sue and Kali. It was an evening that we wished we could have shared with a larger audience.
Sunday morning Marne and Leanne cooked up a delicious pancake breakfast that included fruit, sausage and coffee. As usual, the weekend sped by. With no rigs to christen, we began packing up to head on down the road, looking forward to our next outing.—Jan Secor
Mossyrock, Washington (May 22-25, 2009)
Forty-six Cascadia Chapter rigs gathered on 45 sites at Harmony Lakeside RV Resort. This diverse set of vehicles contained an even more diverse set of individuals, including 60 to 70 people, countless dogs, several cats, and at least one bird. The resort is located on Mayfield Lake, which is actually part of the Cowlitz River made into a lake by a dam. Underneath the water are the remains of a town and of historic Indian villages. No one went diving to check out this piece of information.
The weather was perfect, warm and sunny from Thursday through Monday, for the first time in 30 years according to one of the residents.
Cascadia RVing Women took full advantage of our time in the woods. A few brought boats to try their hand at fishing, but no one bragged about any big catches.
Friday we kicked off the event with a delicious salad potluck, greeting old friends and welcoming a few new ones. With full stomachs we caught up on RVW business and reviewed the activities planned for the weekend. After the necessary break for dog walking, the poker players returned to the lodge for an evening of play.
We had a silent auction and live auction on Sunday afternoon and evening. This annual event provides funds for special Cascadia activities throughout the year. Donations came pouring in Sunday morning, and volunteers sorted and tagged them.
The crowd returned in the afternoon for silent bidding. Well, it wasn’t very silent because Cascadia women have too much fun to be quiet. When the silent auction closed, we moved to the playfield for an old fashioned, bring-your-own picnic. Folks feasted on everything from sandwiches and Coke to steak and wine. Some brought grills and tables, others brought a plate and a chair. Several large circles formed and stomachs were filled again.
After another round of dog walking, everyone returned to the lodge for the live auction. We had a well dressed group of supervisors—pointers, bookies, Ms Money Bags (treasurer Nancy), the Auctioneer (organizer Diane), and, of course, Vanna, the beautiful and fashionable assistant (Elaine). We had a wild evening of bidding that yielded over $3,000 to keep us rolling along until next year.
Another tradition of Memorial Day Weekend is the Cascadia Triathlon. Teams of two compete in three throwing events—Bocce Ball, Ladder Golf, and Hershoes. Hershoes is a new event this year and proved to be more difficult than either of the other two sports. It involves throwing a pair of high heeled shoes, one at a time, into a bucket on the stake of the horseshoe pit. Many hit the bucket, but very few actually got a shoe inside. Even fewer were able to hook the heel on the rim of the bucket for extra points. In fact, most of us scored zeroes in Hershoes.
Triathlon prizes were awarded at the Mexican fiesta potluck Saturday evening. The overall winners were The Twins, Kay and Shay. Second place went to the Twisted Sisters, Cheryl and Barbara. Coming in third were the Lazy Twosomes, Laurie and Christine. The prize for lowest score went to the Sheriff and Deputy, Barbara and Jan. The prize for best costume went to the Lazy Daisies, Diane and Nancy, the only team wearing costumes. The prize for best team name went to Barb and Jeanette, the Throws Like a Girl team.
After expending lots of energy on the triathlon, it was time for what we do best—eating. We had a Mexican fiesta with several pots of chili, lots of chips and a variety of salsas, crunchy salads and rich desserts.
Since it was Memorial Day, we took time to honor the veterans among us as well as mothers and grandmothers with children currently serving. Barbara led a moving yet informal ceremony where each veteran came forward and told us a bit about her service. All branches of service were represented. The group included career officers and enlisted women as well as those who served in the National Guard or Reserve. Occupations ranged from meteorologist to pediatric nurse to airplane mechanic to spook. We appreciate your service and honor your courage, especially those who blazed a trail for other women to follow.
Saturday evening was topped off with a dance, everything from line dancing to waltzes. Malka provided recorded music.
We christened three new rigs Monrday morning, said goodbye to friends, and headed on down the road.—Marne Parry
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Dunedin, Florida (July 16-19, 2009)
July can be pretty hot in Florida. Dunedin RV Resort has a great pool and recreation hall for us to enjoy on hot summer days.
We had 26 ladies in attendance, including two guests that learned of the rally from the website and decided to drop by. One of our guests, Sue Ann Wolfe, enjoyed herself so much she went home, joined RVW, purchased an RV, and made a reservation for our next rally. She is now one of us.
In addition to our drop-in guests, we had a first timer, Sally Francisco, in attendance and some other women who had been with us only a few months, so we felt this was a good time to team up and get to know each other better.
At our first happy hour, we had everyone in attendance pull a buff (as in Survivor) out of a bag and hold it behind her back until everyone had their buffs. Then, all together, we showed our buffs and that determined which team each member belonged to. We had four teams.
Everyone immediately jumped in and got together with their teammates and started planning and scheming. The weekend was going to be all about your team and your buff. The teams chose their own names to go with the design of their buffs. We had the RVing Princesses, the Black Ties, the Blue Buff Dreamers and the Feral Femmes.
Silly Summer Camp was our theme this year at Dunedin. We had several silly games planned for the weekend, and everyone was kept in suspense as to what the next game would be. We had a large chart to keep score as the weekend progressed. Each team member would obtain a point for attending an event and had to participate in at least one challenge during the weekend. Everyone came to every event! That included coffee hour, happy hour and lunch out on the town. Oh yes, the buffs had to go everywhere as well for that special extra point. Additional points were given if you had a team name, mascot, song, dance—whatever the team could do to come together and be creative. These women were trying everything to get extra points. They made costumes and created songs and skits to just ham things up and get that point.
Throughout the weekend we had six games, with names such as Chinese cuisine and thin air. Our last game was circle of friends. For that game, we called in a guest referee to add all the points and watch for any hankie-panky. All went well and our weekend ended with the team that had been trailing by several points coming from behind and winning it all. Congratulations, Black Ties!
We have some great women among us. Sometimes when you plan a rally you wonder, “I’m not so sure this is going to go over very well”. Well, you’d be surprised what RVing women will do. They love to laugh and have a good time. All we can say is thank you to everyone in attendance that made this a great rally.—Debbie Redden and Cathy Skora
Lakeland, Florida (June 25-28, 2009)
Our June rally at Sanlan Ranch was a laid-back weekend led by first-time rally host, Louise Urquhart. There were 18 people attending. Some went geo-caching, some walked the trails at SanLan Ranch, some went shopping, and others just hung around and relaxed. Debbie and Kathy found their 1,000th cache.
We went to a restaurant on Friday night called Catfish Country. Everyone enjoyed their meals except for one true southerner who said “it ain’t right.”
On Saturday, we had a covered-dish supper which was decorated in a July Fourth theme. After supper, we played a card game called Screw Your Neighbor which got a lot of laughs and a lot of “it ain’t right” protests.
It was a fun weekend. Many said this would be a good place to come back to in cooler weather. Thanks to Carol Edeker and others for your help and to Louise Urquhart for hosting this rally.—MJ Cancro
Old Town, Florida (May 28-31, 2009)
Yellow Jacket Campground is tucked away in the old Florida woods near Old Town. There is a sense of history in these woods. You can imagine the Seminoles and Florida Crackers surviving here.
Thirty women took a step back in time when we all stopped near Old Town at a small campground on the Suwanee River for a weekend of rest and recreation. The weekend included swimming, bird watching, pontoon boat rides, geocaching and winery tours.
We couldn’t resist the RVW touch of organizing a scavenger-type decorated hat contest held before our potluck on Saturday. Participants paraded around to display their lovely creations. Prizes were awarded for the unique and original. Ruth Alberding amazed us, as usual, with her blend of simplistic and ironic with a ball cap covered in many washcloths and soap dishes labeled Shower Cap.
Games were played in the evening. Our attention was interrupted often by the sound of sturgeons jumping in the river. These huge, prehistoric fish are covered with large armor-like scales. They cause injuries and even death as they travel upriver to meet their mates at this time of year.
Young alligators lost their way and wound up by campers’ doorsteps. The dog owners kept an alert eye. The gators were gently nudged by the campground staff back to their ponds.
There were also some industrious small birds nesting in unique places, as Pat and Claudette can confirm.
This campground is a jewel to visit at any time.—MJ Cancro
Port Orange, Florida (April 23-26, 2009)
Thirty-two members and one guest gathered in Daytona Beach for our April rally, hosted by Shirley Beleff and Arlene Dawson.
When convenient, our recent rallies have commenced with a Thursday evening carpool to a nearby restaurant to reconnect. The Monterey Grill, a few miles from the campground, served our needs very well. The good food and good service was conducive to a good first visit for the weekend.
Friday turned out to be a picture-perfect early summer day in Central Florida, and we made good use of it. A local enterprise known as Cracker Creek was the setting, and many spent most of the day there. Later that morning, 13 women advanced on Spruce Creek for two hours of kayaking, enhanced by no boat traffic, minimal current, and many overhanging oak trees protecting us from the Florida sun. At noon, the rest of the group arrived for a pre-ordered lunch and a tour of an adjacent winter home of the original Gamble family (of Procter & Gamble). The day ended with a narrated pontoon boat ride on Spruce Creek, highlighted by the sighting of a very large alligator and chicks in an osprey nest.
Saturday was left open for individual choice of the many local attractions, including a long-established flea market, the local lighthouse, beach visits and lunches on the river. We enjoyed our usual Saturday evening potluck supper and followed that with a rare treat—we sat back and were totally entertained with a visit from
Shirley’s co-members of the Line Dancers of Crane Lakes. It was an hour that had us mostly out of our seats, either singing along as they danced or loudly expressing our compliments when they paused. A number of our attendees mixed in with the group and, with very little advance instruction, did us proud! The ladies of the dance club enjoyed our enthusiastic participation in their program, so a good time was had by all.
On Sunday, Shirley provided coffee, as she had each morning, and then suddenly we were all saying our good-byes again.— Arlene Dawson
Marathon, Florida (March 26-29, 2009)
There were 33 rigs in attendance for this rally, held in the Florida Keys. The weather was absolutely cooperative and picturesque—blue skies and sparkling blue water. What a combo! The temperature was perfect, in the low 80s.
Thursday was a day for leisurely exploring the islands. Remember, we were on island time! In the evening, we carpooled to the Island Fish Company for dinner. The food was scrumptious, and the conversation was animated. Everyone talked about the adventures to come.
Friday morning started out with bagels and cream cheese in the pavilion by the water's edge. Afterwards, some of the ladies went geocaching. Others went off to explore their way 59 miles down to Key West to window shop, people watch or stop in at the famous Sloppy Joe’s Bar to sip a margarita or some other beverage of choice. Many of us posed as tourists next to the dive bell at the end of Duval Street.
I highly recommend the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. It has been voted the #1 tourist attraction in Key West for the past six years.
On Friday night, some of us boarded the Jolly Roger tall-mast sailing schooner for a Key West sunset cruise.
Saturday’s plans to go to the Dry Tortugas were cancelled due to eight- to ten-foot seas and 30-plus mile-per-hour winds. Three of our ladies did make the trip; the challenging weather conditions made it especially memorable.
Due to the weather, Saturday was opened up as another day to explore and relax. A few of the gals snorkeled in the water at camp, viewing lobsters, crab and fish in their own habitat.
Cooked jumbo shrimp, lobster and stone crab claws were delivered to the pavilion Sunday afternoon for our potluck supper. The different aromas of all the homemade dishes that accompanied the seafood made our mouths water for sure! A great weekend was had by all.—Lynette Birch
Vero Beach, Florida (February 12 - 15, 2009)
Continuing to relish our winter reprieve from air-conditioning and humidity and appreciating the effort involved in securing 30 sites in this busy time for Florida campgrounds, more than 40 RVW members attended the February rally in Vero Beach. Several ladies from other RVW chapters joined us while they escaped from the winter weather at their homes.
On Thursday evening, we visited Marsh Landing, a favorite local restaurant that is owned by one of our members, and enjoyed the weekly Blue Grass gathering there. Friday was left open for exploration of the area and nearby beaches. Instead of our usual evening potluck, our hosts Donna Gaber, Beth Waterfield, Ginny McCauley and Judy Costa scheduled the traditional meal sharing for a brunch on Saturday. They provided southern-style biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs, while the group contributed many appropriate and tasty additions.
The happy hour on Saturday went into the evening with heavy hors d’oeuvres and games and cards, proving that two potlucks in one day are not too much for our group! As a parting memento, Donna Gaber gave each of us a stained glass red rose to remember that we spent Valentine’s Day 2009 with our RVW friends.
Too soon, it was Sunday morning again and time to say our good-byes until next time.—Arlene Dawson
Kissimmee, Florida (January 22-25, 2009)
If we had a competition in the Florida Chapter for the ideal rally of the year, we might already have our winner. Mary Ann Laviano and Marilyn Bell arranged a rally wonderfully balanced with scheduled events and time to enjoy one another’s company. Our attendance totaled 45 women, including newcomers and our winter visitors from other chapters. We gathered at Tropical Palms RV Resort in the Orlando area, and some took advantage of the park’s shuttle to Disney attractions.
Several of us caravanned to dinner at a nearby restaurant, and that provided a good opportunity to greet old friends and new.
Happy hour on Friday expanded into heavy hors d’oeuvres (we’re loathe to admit to two potlucks in one weekend). Our entertainment involved a luck-only card game that resulted in so many laughs and such fun that we have decided to do it again next month.
On Saturday morning, almost everyone was drawn from their warm beds (it was a cool morning for ¬Florida—under 60 degrees) to participate in the miniature golf tournament. The ladies produced a total of 16 holes-in-one. Prizes and accolades were awarded at the evening gathering.
Saturday evening brought the culmination of our weekend with our traditional potluck dinner. After dinner, we had a white elephant drawing; we always manage to turn such events into much cheering and many accusations of some being just too lucky!
Our rally hosts MaryAnn and Marilyn are relatively newcomers to RVW. They contribute generously to the group and keep us coming back for more!—Arlene Dawson
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Lotus, California (August 7-9, 2009)
Sixty-women in 40 rigs, accompanied by an untold number of dogs and cats and a parrot, soaked up the sun and enjoyed the American River at the Thousand Trails Ponderosa Reserve. Grazing started with lemonade and cookies Friday afternoon. This was a substitute for the traditional root beer floats that are usually served by Bev Hitchcock. Then came finger foods for the meet and greet portion of the afternoon. Members brought fixins’ to go with a wiener roast dinner. After dinner, a van picked up lucky people who wanted to go to Red Hawk Casino.
The next morning started with a potluck breakfast. While some took off to dip their toes and dogs in the river, others caught a bus to go white water rafting. The ages of these adventurers fell somewhere between 40 and 85. Lemonade cooled those who hung around waiting for them to get back for a hamburger barbecue put on by Thousand Trails.
After dinner, members viewed and voted on fourteen embellished bras. The winning categories were the prettiest, weirdest, most creative, least wearable and most unique. Most had stories behind them, i.e. red hat boobs, golf tees, cancer survivor, and over-the-shoulder boulder holder. The designers shared their stories behind their creativity. Winners received a booby prize ribbon, a package of toilet paper and a gift certificate donated by merchants.
Members were asked to bring a white elephant gift related to rigs. During the vote counting, a story was read that instructed members to pass the gifts left or right. It is a good thing we have automatic signals in our rigs because the gifts ended up in a lot of pileups—think of spinning plates. We closed the evening with a campfire, telling fish stories.
Sunday morning, we had a clean-out-the-fridge breakfast. After breakfast, Lee Kaplow, a veterinarian, discussed traveling with pets. He gave several suggestions on general pet care and safety tips.
Unplanned activities included geocaching, taking care of minor rig repairs, bird watching and meeting a lot of good people, especially the ¬SoCALjourners and nine guests and first timers who joined us.—Connie DeCoud and Jini Squire
Clio, California (July 10-12, 2009)
Our weekend at Clio River Resort started out perfectly with a hosted fishing clinic and derby at Sardine Lake led by Robbie and Laura. They provided the poles, bait, equipment, boats and fun. I think they provided the fish too, as we caught about 50 altogether.
On Saturday, Martha and Christy gave a talk on geocaching followed by a treasure hunt for caches that were hidden around the park. We had drum circles Friday and Saturday and a salad potluck on Saturday night.
Irene and Mary Sue brought a new game from their Lazy Daze group and we spent many evening hours with that activity. They have promised to bring it along to future events.
In between all the scheduled activities, there were lots of hikes, birding, shopping, sightseeing and talking. We also welcomed two members from the SoCaljourners. Many of us who stayed beyond the weekend went to dinner Sunday evening at the Sardine Lodge.
The new hosts at Clio River Resort have told us we can have more sites next year, so we have already reserved the park for the weekend of July 9 for 40 rigs.
Thank you to everyone for making this weekend so much fun.— Margaret Evans and Merrily Robinson
Corning, California (May 28-June 1, 2009)
With many rigs arriving at Woodson Bridge RV Park on Thursday, this outing started casually with lots of “good to see you again” greetings. On Friday, most everyone was set up and looking forward to the weekend events, starting with TGIF at Marilyn and Phyllis’ site where munchies were shared. Chapter leader Arleen introduced new attendees and guests and also announced the launching of the second-timers club with special recognition of women attending their second FreeWheelers event.
A book swap table was set up and there were over 45 books available for browsing. By the end of the weekend, most of them had found new homes. Natalie Bradford was kind enough to take the few leftover books to recycle.
As is tradition at Woodson Bridge, there was a professional rig washer available for the weekend. Many members signed up to enjoy this spring clean-up.
Our Saturday morning started with our very popular potluck breakfast with two more traditions—Susan Du Shane and Beth Gilliam’s famous biscuits and gravy and Margaret Evans’ wonderful blueberry pancakes. Yummy, yummy! Afterwards, with everyone full and content, we were lucky to have Rachel Harp, our rig guru, available to give a very informative talk about what was happening in the RV industry in today’s economic situation. She also talked about the importance of maintaining our rigs, including some very interesting items now available.
Following Rachel’s talk, attendees went separate ways to enjoy geo-caching, talking, walking, napping or reading books from the book swap. In the afternoon, Karen Kane and Peggy Chinn held a drumming circle with several members under a shaded tree. Others simply enjoyed the drums at their own sites as they watched the ¬Sacramento River go by. The weather was about as perfect as it could be.
Our Saturday evenings wouldn’t be the same without our potluck dinner. We then were entertained by the All Girls Band, which brings together the talents of of Nancy Hoffman, Julie Lawyer, Marie Moore, Judy Leonard, Robin Rose and Laura Farrel. The rest of us could not resist tapping our toes, clapping our hands and dancing to the music. Fun was had by all!
Sunday morning, we had our last get together potluck at the clubhouse to say goodbyes to those who couldn’t stay and enjoy one more day. As for the rest of us, we had another great day and evening enjoying the friendship of our FW members.— Marilyn Alessio and Phyllis Amon
Angels Camp, California (April 30-May 4, 2009)
We relaxed in beautiful Calaveras County enjoying the scenery, great fishing and wonderful wineries. Our educational activity was to learn to enjoy each other’s company and to decompress from our over-busy lives. We enjoyed the traditional meet and greet on Friday night with margaritas (virgin and loaded) in honor of Cinco de Mayo. On Saturday morning, we OD’d on carbohydrates at breakfast. We enjoyed a wonderful potluck dinner that evening. On Saturday, most of the women explored the antique shops and the wonderful restaurants in the neighboring towns of Murphys, Columbia, and Angels Camp. Other women enjoyed bird watching and hiking around the county and in Big Trees State Park. A more relaxed group took a limo tour of five, six or nine wineries—but, hey, who’s counting? We tasted great wines like Twisted Oak Vineyard’s #@*&!! wine, otherwise known as Potty Mouth Red. At Irish Vineyards, we heard about an exciting new wine that is about to be released called Pog Mo Thoin. A good time was had by all.— Sarah Gonzales and Barbara Storms
Lake Pardee, California (April 17-19, 2009)
The first annual Gloria Jarvis Memorial Wienie Roast, hosted by Irene Paulin, Jeri McLees, Mary Sue Ferrell and Sue Copeland and held at Lake Pardee RV Park, was a poignant and bittersweet event for all who attended. As FreeWheelers know, Lake Pardee was a favorite of Glo Jarvis and Sue Copeland, hosts of several past boondocking events at this park. With the passing of Glo last October, when she lost her battle with colon cancer, we decided a great way to honor her memory would be to hold an outing at her favorite place.
The park was packed with FreeWheelers. Glo had promised to keep an eye on the weather for us, and she did. It was a glorious weekend.
In keeping with the other traditions of the April Lake Pardee gathering, everyone was pretty much on her own. There were no potlucks or other planned events (except one), but members gathered at mealtimes, sharing camaraderie and friendship while bringing their own choices of what to eat. Several members indicated that they liked this option to the organized potlucks, especially given specific dietary needs of many of our group. Maybe other outing leaders will consider the idea for future events.
Following Saturday’s breakfast get-together, Mary Sue and Irene led a boondocking tips and tricks discussion. A lot of information was shared and will be available on the listserve sometime in the near future. One thing in particular came through loud and clear: read your manual. This will save you a lot of time, aggravation and grief.
The one planned event for this weekend was a Saturday evening weenie roast. The group bent over a roaring fire, a sight to see, to roast traditional hot dogs, bratwurst and sausages. Even a hamburger or two was heated, burned, dropped and eventually eaten. As always, the group outdid itself with the accompaniments. There was enough food to feed the whole campground, but FreeWheelers, living up to their reputations, cleaned their plates.
Following the roast, we paid tribute to Glo. There was a bit of angel dust available to throw into the fire by anyone who wanted to say something funny, not so funny, or nothing at all. We were pleased that Glo’s niece from Missouri joined us, as well as Sue’s daughter. Several long-term friends of Glo and Sue’s also came for the weekend and shared with us their memories of Glo and Sue from many, many years ago. There were tears and laughter as we shared with each other what she had meant to each of us.
In many ways, the weekend was a typical FreeWheeler event, with some arriving early on Thursday and some leaving late on Monday. In between, there were friends visiting friends, side trips to the surrounding area, dogs meeting old and new doggie buddies, afternoon root beer floats—50-plus women joining together for a time to renew and rejuvenate. In one way it was quite different, as we honored one of our friends who is no longer with us but whose smile and wonderful spirit touched and changed each of us in her own special way. Thanks Glo, for making sure your first annual was a success!—Jeri McLees
Isleton, California (March 5-9, 2009)
March outing started with a damp campground but, true to FreeWheeler style, there were no major problems that couldn’t be fixed by one of our various members. We had a full weekend planned, so there was a little something for everyone—the 45 women in 32 rigs who attended.
Friday and Saturday nights we had bingo in the clubhouse. On Saturday and Sunday, the park put on an awesome breakfast buffet for $5.
Saturday’s breakfast was followed with an outing leader workshop and a scavenger hunt. Beverly unveiled her birthday present and what a beauty it was—a stained glass window in her entry door that depicts a moose holding a root beer float.
Saturday afternoon, Barbara and Donna came to teach line dancing in the clubhouse. We ended the day’s activities with a chili cook off. We had 17 entries for the cook off. The winning prize of a four-quart slow cooker went to Sue Copeland.
Sunday was checkout for many of our attendees. Those who stayed had a great dinner at the Lighthouse Restaurant. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful first weekend in March.—Joan Beason
Jackson, California (April 2-6, 2009)
Hosts Sharon Adams and Sue Stanton welcomed 47 rigs and 76 members and guests to the Jackson Rancheria RV Park for this rally in California’s beautiful Gold Country.
Thursday, we were on our own to visit the historic sites or the casino.
We had a potluck appetizer meet and greet in the clubhouse Friday afternoon. Sharon held a raffle for a Texas Train game, which was won by Merrily Robinson.
Saturday morning, we had a great potluck breakfast. After breakfast, our very own Rachel Harp gave us an update on new RV products and answered questions on maintenance. Her husband, Joel, performed maintenance on RVs during the day, which was much appreciated.
We then christened two new RVs belonging to members Judy Leonard and Casper Nordahl with lots of champagne and cheers. Everyone was then on her own to explore the Gold Country for the day. Some went geocaching, others went to the casino or to Daffodil Hill or Sutter Creek.
At 3 p.m., we had our daily root beer floats social at Beverly’s coach.
Saturday night we had a potluck and barbecue. Suzanne Sheumaker, a local writer and historian, gave us a talk on the book she and her husband wrote called “America’s ¬Living History—The Early Years.” Their guidebook focuses on 300 premier historic destinations in the US. It is wonderful, and she sold 20 books to members. Afterwards, the clubhouse was filled with card players and domino players.
Sunday morning, we shared a clean-out-the-refrigerator breakfast potluck. Joan Beason led a morning prayer session. We said goodbye to those that had to leave Sunday afternoon, but we had 24 rigs staying the night into Monday.
We had fabulous spring weather and lots of great camaraderie. We also collected 72 pounds of canned goods for our local food bank. Thank you all.—Sharon Adams
Hollister, California (February 6-8, 2009)
The theme for this outing was song and dance, and despite huge downpours of rain, we managed to make this theme come alive. The park was perfect for this kind of outing. It is asphalt covered, so we had no mud to deal with, just a few puddles where the asphalt dipped. We had the use of a very large, comfortable, heated clubhouse with a performance stage.
Rigs began pulling in on Thursday. By Friday, the park was filled with rigs loaded with instruments, women, four-legged companions and tons of yummy food.
The activities began Friday afternoon with a circle of about 20 women drumming and chanting and a few others taking it all in. The spirit of shared rhythms continued during our meet and greet snack time. Arleen, our chapter leader, handed out beads to our newbies and guests and organized a couple of ice breakers that had everyone talking to women they barely knew, kicking off the weekend with a wonderful spirit of sharing, inclusiveness and camaraderie.
On Saturday morning we had a fabulous potluck breakfast, which included Margaret’s blueberry pancakes. We announced all the activities people were planning for the day and made sure that each member was settled into exactly what she wanted to do. Some women went on walks, others took off to go outlet shopping, some went geocaching, and others stayed in the clubhouse to play games.
At 3 p.m., Beverly broke out the root beer and ice cream, much to the delight of many.
Line dancing started at 4 p.m. We had about 45 women, most of whom had never line danced before, join in for the fun, and we actually learned three new dances in one hour—probably a record!
Saturday night, we enjoyed a favorite, one and only FreeWheelers feature—the All-Girl Band playing love songs to honor the month of valentines and sweethearts. Half way through, we had a surprise visit from our dear friend Gracie and her faithful Nursie. The laughter grew from loud to outrageous roars!
Sunday morning wrapped up with a goodbye breakfast along with exchanges of emails and promises to send tidbits of information to one another. Several women, inspired by the music and laughter, began forming All-Girl offshoots. We have an All-Girl Accordion Band and an All-Girl Chorus starting up. We even heard some rumblings about an All-Girl comedy team.
Beth and Susan started a fabulous tradition in FreeWheelers with their biscuits and gravy Saturday morning breakfasts, the spirit of which lives on, and the All-Girl Band has now inspired an outpouring of talent to delight us all. So stay tuned for many more hours of wonderful music and talent along the way—not to mention the food!—Peggy Chinn
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See the current issue of RVing Women magazine for information about upcoming events.
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Port Huron, Michigan (August 14-16, 2009)
On one of the hottest weekends of the summer, 19 members and several guests of the Great Lakers Chapter met in Port Huron for a weekend of fun.
Friday night, we trekked into town to the Quay Street Brewery for some super fish and, oh yeah, some brews. After dinner, we walked along the St. Clair River and learned about some of the local history. Canada was clearly visible across the river.
We were very lucky to have a local member, Julie Ross, who guided us for the entire evening.
Saturday brought another thermometer popping day, but we carried on valiantly with the group being about equally divided, some choosing to play golf and others deciding to do some kayaking. Unfortunately, in her haste to get going down the river, one of our members slipped and fell while getting in her kayak and had to visit the local emergency room. Several hours later the diagnosis was a broken wrist.
We all returned in the evening to a wonderful corn roast, expertly cooked on the fire by Rene Gray and Pat Reader. At the campfire that night, everyone agreed that it was the best corn they could remember eating.
We began Sunday morning with a continental breakfast and then held our chapter meeting, where we took nominations for new officers. We all want to give a big thanks to our present officers, Nancy Wurm and Pat Bubel, for all the work they have done for us over the years.
After the meeting, we all went on our way, with a few new memories. We are looking forward to our next get-together.—ShirleyMcMahan
Ypsilanti, Michigan (June 19-21, 2009)
A small group of nine members had a great time in June at the Detroit/Greenfield KOA in spite of rain and flooded sites. Fortunately, the rain fell during the evening and nighttime hours. The days were nice enough to be outside. We visited, went for walks, read, or did a little work around the rig. We went out for dinner twice, for lunch once and for breakfast once. No one had to cook.
Friday and Saturday evenings, we went to Guy Holleran’s bar. We listened to some great blues on Friday and to Buddy Holly era rock on Saturday. We also learned that when carpooling, we need to take bedtime into account. Some of our wild and crazy members wanted to stay late to enjoy the music. Only the threat of being locked out of the park got them back a little before 11 p.m.
Sunday morning, we had a continental breakfast before saying good bye to some of our campers. Most of the group remained until Monday. At breakfast, we planned to get together for a clean up dinner Sunday evening and a clean up breakfast Monday morning.
The group decided to come back to this campground next year, our third stay. It is nice and quiet and has the amenities of a city nearby. Great restaurants, museums, activities and entertainment can be found within a very short distance. In attendance were nine campers, seven visitors, four dogs and two cats. We had an opportunity to meet Pam’s new puppy, Mo Magic. Mo is seven months old, weighs around 60 pounds and has a lot more growing to do. Some of you will not recognize that cute little puppy you met last winter.—Grace Haddad
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Kirkwood, Illinois (May 15-17, 2009)
Aloha! The theme for this event was Hawaiin. We had palm trees, leis, festive attire and a Hawaiian-themed pot-luck dinner on Saturday. Twenty-one women in 14 rigs called upon our well-known spirit of adventure and rise-to-the-challenge attitudes to turn the 55-degree weather into a tropical paradise. Most of us arrived on Thursday, anxious for our first outing of 2009. Fortunately, the weather was cool, but dry, and we set up camp and got re-acquainted, or introduced, around a roaring campfire.
Friday, however, we endured a downpour of rain all day that began Thursday night. The grass was soaked with standing water, which came over the tops of our shoes. Not to be stopped by a little rain, several of us ventured out into each other’s campers and were enthusiastically greeted by hosts who ignored the dripping clothes, umbrellas and wet shoes in their campers. The potluck dinner planned for that night was postponed until Sunday.
Saturday was sunny with a very chilly wind. We welcomed the wind, hoping it would dry out the grass. Those with winter jackets were envied and the wind-blown look was in. The Ziploc omelet breakfast planned for early morning became brunch at the campground shelter. The shelter, located on the other side of the campground, was enclosed on three sides. The pots, propane and food were loaded into vehicles, along with the less mobile campers, for the drive over. The shelter protected us from the wind, and we had a wonderful buffet.
The wind showed no signs of subsiding, so we agreed that the Hawaiian-themed potluck dinner scheduled for that evening should also be held at the shelter.
In the afternoon, seeing that the small places protected from the wind wouldn’t be enough for all of us to gather, we constructed a wind buffer, a tarp strung between two RVs with rope and staked to the ground. As usual, it took only moments for the group to gather in the warm sun, protected from the cold wind, once again showing that where there’s a will, there’s a way to make a tropical paradise.
With the temperature dropping again, we moved up the hour of charm—the cocktail hour—to 4 o’clock at the shelter. We began with our Lyte Hearts annual meeting, followed by the Hawaiian Luau dinner. The decorations included banners, palm trees, posters and a cut out of a hula dancer with a hole for a face. Leis were distributed. Background dinner music was provided by Kathy Pearson and her harmonica and a selection of hula and tropical CDs. Only the sweatshirts and heavy jackets over or under the tropical clothing indicated the evening wasn’t in a warm paradise. Dinner was followed by a much-appreciated roaring campfire back at our campsites.
Sunday was warmer and much less windy, so out came the fishing rods and games. The fish caught were released since the fish fry was replaced by the cancelled Friday potluck. Some campers walked, others visited around the campfire. The afternoon brought dipping temperatures, so once again the hour of charm was moved up to 4 o’clock, followed by a potluck dinner. After dinner, we eagerly gathered around the expanded oblong campfire, crafted by Sandy Ferris, for adventure stories. Lee Suarez’s hilarious experience in Mexico kept everyone laughing. We hated to leave the campfire, knowing we would be going home the next day.
Our 13th annual get-together at Young’s Lake was an extended weekend enjoyed by all. We agreed that next year we will have a Hawaiian theme since, between us, we own a banner, posters, palm trees, leis, CDs and clothing. Maybe next year, the clothing won’t include sweatshirts.—Jeanne Carter
Lyte Hearts Chapter Honors Anita Thomas
The Lyte Hearts Chapter gathered once again at Young’s Lake near Monmouth, Illinois. Sunny and breezy weather created a perfect environment for the 26 women who met there to share laughter, games, fishing campfires and more.
Things were looking grim for our annual fish-fry until campers outside our group noticed our dismay and began to secretly fill our fish baskets when we were otherwise engaged. We had so many fish that all experienced fish cleaners, as well as trainees, were called into service. One of the more experienced cleaners was Anita Thomas.
Anita joined the Heartland Group, now known as the Lyte Hearts Chapter, at our first get-together and has only missed one gathering at Young's Lake during the 12 years we have been meeting there. That was the year she broke her hip trying to close the barn door.
Anita proudly announces her intention to keep attending RVW rallies until she has achieved her 100th birthday. She currently is striding boldly into her 90th year.
Anita’s spirit and attitude inspire the group no matter what the activity is. She comes each year with her beloved cat Angel by her side. She drives her trusty motorhome confidently and has no trouble parking it in the most difficult spots—a skill many of us envy.
Anita’s lovely smile and positive attitude brighten any activity in which she participates. She loves to play all sorts of table games, especially Mexican Train (which we play by Anita’s rules because there are so many ways to play). Lively conversation is never lacking at these activities when Anita is present.
The Lyte Hearts Chapter says, “Thank You, Anita for sharing your beautiful self with us throughout the years.”—Jeanne Carter and Kathleen Pearson
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Hannibal, Missouri (August 21-23, 2009)
Twenty-three members of the Mid-America and Lyte Heart chapters met at the Mark Twain Cave and Campground in Hannibal, Missouri to relive the times and stories of Samuel Clemens, author of the Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
During the rally, many of us took the opportunity to tour Hannibal by way of a city trolley that stops at several local attractions, including Mark Twain’s cave.
On Friday night, we traveled across the Mississippi to Quincy, ¬Illinois for world-famous fried chicken. Saturday night, we had a taco potluck with every combination of taco ingredients you can imagine. The weather was perfect for a leisurely weekend and a friendly get-together.—Barbara Schneider
Grove, Oklahoma (June 7-14, 2009)
Grove, Oklahoma was celebrating its American Heritage Music Festival the week of our rally. The campground, Cedar Oaks RV Park, hosted several musicians each day at the campground. Cedar Oaks is located on the beautiful Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees, which is enough atmosphere in and of itself, but finding live music, friends and great food is an exceptional way to spend a week.
Friday proved to be a little more challenging when strong winds and rain precipitated a tornado threat in the area. Thirty-two women crowded into a laundry room, making it a little too friendly. The bad weather passed, and the fun continued. Friday night, we had dinner at the Lighthouse Grill, a popular restaurant in Grove offering shrimp, ribs, and more, including two-for-one margaritas and Coronas during happy hour.
On Saturday, we celebrated Karen Jones’ milestone birthday with a sunset dinner cruise on the Cherokee Queen. The weather was perfect, and the steak and salmon were delicious.
Thanks to Shirley Eischeid, Margie Propst, Sandy Kurtz and Sheila Hunter for organizing the events for this rally.—Barbara Schneider
Melvern, Kansas (May 29-31, 2009)
This was our annual maintenance rally. The service technicians from A-Z Mobile RV Service were there early in the week to start their on-site repairs and maintenance. The rally was held at Melvern Lake Park, a Corps of Engineers facility, and hosted by Shirley Eischeid, Kathy Huff, Margie Propst and Sandy Kurtz.
Friday was get-acquainted time. Marsha Thompson supplied and cooked the fish and chicken for our Friday night potluck. Delicious!
Ed Smoot, owner of A-Z Mobile RV Service, conducted a seminar on television conversion to digital and demonstrated various types of equipment for TV reception in the motorhome.
Repairs and maintenance continued on Saturday, along with championship game playoffs and a potluck dinner.
On Sunday, the service technicians finished their work and sent us on our way with new air conditioners, installed converters, clean water heaters, and confidence that our rigs could make it through another great season.—Barbara Schneider
Guthrie, Oklahoma (April 24-26, 2009)
The Mid-America Chapter kicked off its 2009 season in historic Guthrie, Oklahoma, the first capital of Oklahoma and the largest historic district in the United States. The rally coincided with the city’s annual statehood celebration and nearby Oklahoma City’s Arts Festival. Many registrants came in early to visit the festival, tour the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial and the Cowboy Hall of Fame, as well as the historic town of Guthrie.
And, of course, we all enjoyed some Braum’s Ice Cream.
By Friday, 37 members had arrived at the Cedar Valley RV Park in time to enjoy a catered barbecue dinner and entertainment provided by singer Sonja Martinez.
On Saturday, we traveled to POP’s on Old Route 66 for a patio lunch and browsed through their gift shop, which features a selection of over 500 soda pops. That night we had dinner at the old Santa Fe Depot, now turned restaurant, and walked over to the Pollard Theatre for a great production of “Beauty and the Beast.”
Sunday featured a catered breakfast buffet followed by the Mid-America Chapter business meeting, farewells to some and cards, games, and socializing for others. Margaret King and Evelyn Keffer hosted this fabulous weekend.—Barbara Schneider
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Egg Harbor, New Jersye (July 16-19, 2009)
As always, our Red, White and Blue weekend had fabulous attendance with women ready to compete in several events. Known throughout the East Coast, this weekend is a hot time for bocce ball. The competition runs for three days, and we have women cheering and keeping score, measured down to a hair on some calls (all in good fun). This year's bocce ball champs worked very hard trying to overcome the tree roots on the court.
The MidAtlantic Chapter has been getting involved in community awareness. At this Red, White and Blue event, Caryn and Lisa coordinated an auction where winners draw for prizes. All the proceeds went to the local food bank.
The time we spent in Egg Harbor was super, as always. Our hosts, Katie and Ruth and many helping hands made this weekend a great success.—Bonnie Simkins
Lancaster, Pennsylvania (May 27-June 1, 2009)
The theme for our May rally was Pirates of the Mid-Atlantic. I never saw so many eye patches in my life! There were pirates and winches and one person dressed as a ship. The winners in the best-dressed category were Bev Simons and her daughter Robin, appearing as winches of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter. Great job, gals!
This year Meg Taylor, who has been a long-time friend of Animal Rescue Inc. in New Freedom, Pennsylvania, placed a table for donations to help our four-legged friends. The booty for the rescue was large. The many things collected on the table and $350 in cash went to our friends. Gwen and Norma recently rescued a golden retriever named Kelly.—Bonnie Simkins
Lancaster, Pennsylvania (April 23-26, 2009)
Our Cabin Fever Weekend at Old Mill Stream Campground was a fun-filled event. There were lots of laughs, lots of opportunities to get together with old and new friends, and the bidding was brisk at our auction.—Bonnie Simkins
Bordentown, New Jersey
The Lunch Bunch met at Mastoris in Bordentown in March. There were a record number attending and a couple new members. We all caught up on our winter activities and discussed plans for our camping season.—Bonnie Simkins
Sponsor Board
The MidAtlantic Chapter has introduced a Sponsor Board that displays all the partners in business that graciously supply the chapter with products and services. These donations go to the members as prizes during our rallies. We proudly display the board for all to see.
The Sponsor Board also boasts the title of “Shop Here First,” which our members refer to as a point-of-purchase to their needs. We also put product brochures and business cards on our information table. When making a purchase, we mention where we saw the information.
Thank you is too little to say for our sponsors. We will continue to support them, and with great appreciation.—¬ Bonnie Simkins
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Abbot, Maine (Moosefest 7)
On the third weekend of August in the quiet village of Abbot, Maine, a well-known group of RVing Women once again participated in a MooseFest. All the usual suspects arrived, eagerly anticipating the gathering where Pat Saxton, president of the Northeast Network, sets up her rig and oversees the festivities, with Claudia Combies managing the details in the background.
This writer especially looked forward to the MooseFest Friday meet and greet that provides homemade chili, which our illustrious leader prepares each year no matter the weather. We have dealt with all the weather conditions in the past—cold, rain, blustery, etc.
This year, the goddess smiled on us and provided sunshine the entire weekend. This created heat and humidity, which brought out the mosquitoes in droves, but we managed to persevere and enjoy.
Dottie Bemis and Pat Hayes hosted the campfires where we sat and talked, sharing stories and travel advice and experiences which mostly had us laughing at ourselves and the travesties of driving an RV over the back roads of America. We all gasped at the tale of Pat Saxton noticing her truck swinging wide from behind her rig as she barreled down I-95 in Maine, after one of the bolts securing it to her RV had snapped. We laughed as Cordy Mack explained her ill-chosen decision to leave a two-gallon jug of water on the counter as she roared down the highway, only to have one of her cats come meowing to her and Jane Larsen multiple times. As neither speaks cat, Jane attempted to console the animal, pulling her up in her lap where it immediately relieved itself and continued to do so as Jane struggled to walk to the back of the rig where the water jug had rolled off the counter, broken on impact and flooded the poor cat’s usual means of privacy!
After a Saturday night potluck, music was provided by Jane Larsen on her keyboard. Her talent never ceases to amaze and entertain. All within hearing played name that tune, with a number of ladies singing along to the old but popular tunes. Dottie Bemis and Rachel Brett Harley gave us their own renditions of various songs where humming replaces words long forgotten.
One thing about MooseFest, whether the meal is formal or a simple potluck, nothing can replace the camaraderie and friendships formed over the past years. RVing Women come together to laugh, talk, even cry, but mostly they gather to be with others who share their love of the road, the outdoors, the sights and mutual experiences. They come together as family.—Doris Garden
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Waveland, Indiana (September 17-20 2009)
Ten hardy souls took the boondocking challenge and gathered at Shades State Park in Indiana. The late September weather cooperated to its maximum degree, providing us with cool days and really cool nights. Our rally included old friends, one visitor, three dogs, and two day-timers who drove by on their motorcycles to see us for a while.
Thursday evening we ate dinner at the Cozy Corner Café in the small town of Waveland. While service was slow (only one waitress), the food was excellent and we all had a great time.
Friday morning we met for coffee and bagels. After that, a group went for a rugged hike in Shades State Park, passing waterfalls and rock bridges and walking in streambeds. Our friends on motorcycles dropped by for lunch, then headed home for other endeavors. That afternoon, several of us went for another hike through the Pine Nature Preserve. Imagine our surprise when this hike turned out to be pretty rugged itself, including traversing a rock bridge that was about two feet wide. Yikes!
Friday night happy hour preceded an old-fashioned wienie roast with all the fixings and conversation around the fire.
Saturday morning, we again met for coffee and bagels. A group of us went into Crawfordsville, the Montgomery county seat. We toured the General Lew Wallace Museum and learned that not only did General Wallace write the 19th century’s bestseller, Ben Hur, he was also a famous Civil War general, an artist, a sculptor, an architect and an ambassador. His wife Susan was an author, poet, suffragette and friend of Susan B. Anthony.
We also toured the old rotary jail in Crawfordsville, Indiana, built in 1882. It is one of only nine rotary jails ever built. The jail was in operation until 1973 and is the only one that still rotates.
We returned to camp after a nice lunch in the old bank vault at the Blue Moon Café. Linda, our resident outdoor expert, used the camp kitchen and fire pit to help us prepare a community camper’s vegetable soup and cornbread.
Because Shades State Park has no electrical lighting anywhere, the night sky was especially brilliant. Several of us joined a star gazing blanket ¬brigade by lying on a mat in the middle of our camp to watch the beautiful constellations and shooting stars.
Sunday morning, we had a hitch-up breakfast hosted by Tammy. Our breakfast included wonderful baggy omelets—omelets cooked in Baggies in boiling water on the camp stove!
We said “so long” to our friend Carol Miller, who is going full time in her RV this month. The rain started to fall softly as we were packing up to go.
This was a great rally with lots and lots of outdoor time, activities, cooking and conversation between friends old and new.—Tammy Haley and Tammy Hanson
Loogootee, Indiana (August 20-23, 2009)
Twenty-eight women parked their 16 rigs on a peninsula of West Boggs Park for a weekend of fun and camaraderie. The weather was perfect: warm during the day and cool at night, with rain only at night.
On Friday, twenty-four women went to the Blue Springs Caverns, one of only two cave river tours in the country. Other activities including biking and visiting the Gastoff Amish Village and the French Lick Casino.
Thursday and Friday evenings offered dinner out at a Mexican restaurant and Stoll’s Amish Buffet. Salads and spuds with a topping pitch-in provided dinner on Saturday. Women gathered around campfires every night.
On Saturday, the park presented a Women in the Outdoors program. Two of our group attended and received many new outdoor Dutch-oven recipes, including a wonderful recipe for peach pie.
Mornings began at the coffee pot for those who chose. The conversations veered in many directions. Perhaps the most notable was a new-to-fulltiming woman noting how one makes personal hygiene decisions differently (how often to shave legs). That subject somehow moved into what it was like to take the baths in Europe and the Orient. Descriptions were visual and laughter was raucous. The feelings were not unlike the description Sue Monk Kidd makes during an interview about The Secret Life of Bees. “When women bond together in a community in such a way that sisterhood is created, it gives them an accepting and intimate forum to tell their stories and have them heard and validated by others. The community not only helps heal their circumstance, but encourages them to grow into their larger destiny.”
Sunday morning dawned with a breakfast of scrambled eggs and Saturday night’s topping leftovers. This was our first rally at this beautiful lakeside park. We expect to return in the near future.—Linda Elliott and Susan Trippet
Utica, Illinois (July 23-26, 2009)
We had 13 rigs, 20 members, and six guests throughout the weekend attending our July rally at Starved Rock State Park. Hickory Hollow Campground was our home base for the weekend’s activities.
Thursday’s activities consisted of the early arrivals going for an easy 10-mile bicycle ride on the old I & M canal tow path trail. We saw a replica canal boat being pulled by a mule, and we were treated to some history lessons of the area and the canal on our ride. After lunch, we went to the park and did some great hiking to many of the different canyons.
On Friday, most of our folks took different length hikes and tours of the visitor center. After lunch we traveled to the Illinois Waterway Lock and Dam visitor center. We saw a 20-minute video about the river and the need for the locks and their construction. Shortly after the video, we were treated to watching two recreational craft and a huge barge go through the locks.
Later in the afternoon, we had a short get-to-know-each-other with a creative introductions game and prizes. Once again, we climbed in the many cars and went to happy hour at a great winery in town that treated us to tastings and had a wonderful back porch for sitting and talking. From the winery, we went to the park lodge for an all-you-can-eat, family-style dinner.
By evening, it was evident that a good storm was coming our way. We had to put up awnings and the tent we used for congregating. The storm spared us damage, but we got a good soaking and the winds gave some of our rigs a good rock ‘n roll for a couple of hours.
Saturday was a slow start for many of us in that sleeping had been difficult due to the night’s storms, but in good Ohio River Valley fashion we got the day going with groups heading out to the park for more hiking and others heading into town to do some shopping and lunching at a cute Irish pub.
Upon arriving back at the campground, Linda Elliott discovered that her Surge Guard (by Technology Research Corporation) had apparently performed as designed. The surge protector was toast, but her travel trailer was saved when a nearby transformer was hit by lightening! She was very thankful for this purchase made at the last national RVW convention.
Saturday evening started with a happy hour narrated paddle boat tour on the Illinois Waterway. We saw different kinds of wildlife on our hour-long trip. The highlight was seeing an eagle in a tree on Plum Island. After our boat trip, we returned to the campground for pizza and a pitch-in salad bar, a Vial-of-Life program and a short business meeting. Root beer floats and a campfire finished up our busy day.
Christmas in July was being celebrated in the Utica area on the weekend of our rally. Our newest member, Anita Kessinger, won the Hickory Hollow Campground prize. She had her entire rig decorated, complete with three inflatables and Christmas music. Everyone enjoyed seeing her rig.
Sunday morning, we had a short spiritual reading and discussion followed by a continental hitch-up breakfast, after which most everyone started departing for their journeys home and on to other events.—Tammy Haley
Bristol, Indiana (April 23-26, 2009)
Beautiful weather, great camaraderie, enlightening programs, relaxing happy hours, campfires, fantastic food—that in a nutshell characterizes our April rally hosted by Judy Wise, Harriet Miller and Monica Wehrle.
Twenty-two women enjoyed tours of the RV Museum and the Gene Stratton Porter Historical Site. We are certain that Gene would have joined the Ohio River Valley RVW group if she were alive today. We also visited the MennoHof Museum in Shipshewana and learned about the religious basis of the Amish and Mennonite faiths and cultures. At the Jayco factory, we watched trailers roll off the production line. And, of course, we did our retail therapy to the hilt!
Back at the campground, we learned some excellent maintenance tips from Pat Setser; we were brought up to date about the current events and thinking of the national board from Nancy Shoop, the Ohio River Valley Chapter’s representative on the RVW Board of Directors; we received an update on the programs that AARP is promoting from Terri Worman, a Chicago regional AARP representative; and we enjoyed the signature campfires and wonderful pitch-ins that occur when RVing Women gather.
One of the high points of the rally was a sumptuous repast at the home of LeAnna and Melvin Yoder. LeAnna, with an assist by her mother, prepared a fantastic thrashers meal for us and served us in the basement of their Amish home. As those from Indiana realize, homemade noodles are to be eaten on top of the mashed potatoes; gravy is optional. Just when we thought the noodles and meat and veggies had filled every possible spot in our bellies, out came three phenomenal homemade pies. Of course, we ate the whole thing! Needless to say, a fine time was had by all.— Judy Wise, Harriet Miller and Monica Wehrle
Nashville, Indiana (March 20-22, 2009)
The weather was perfect for all our activities at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park. There were 14 members in attendance. Some hiked, some biked, and we all shopped. The indoor water park was enjoyed by a few adventuresome souls.
The evenings were spent playing games of Mexican Train and learning Bunco. Tammy Haley made up a camping trivia game and tested our knowledge of RVing and tent camping. We also had a nice dinner at the Artist Colony Inn.
As we have all developed hitch-itch through this cold, snowy winter, we are really looking forward to our first camp-out in April and seeing all our returning snowbirds around the campfire. —Tammy Hanson
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Lakeside, Oregon (September 11-13, 2009)Oregon Chapter
Our first event at North Shore RV Park in Lakeside began with beautiful weather—cool mornings and sunny afternoons. What could be better! There were 34 people in attendance in 18 rigs and two tents.
The weekend began Friday evening with hors d’oeuvres to share. We had a moment of silence to remember September 11. Shirley Mahan and Karen Castner, our rally hosts, previewed the weekend festivities, as well as activities in the local area.
On Saturday morning, we had a simple continental breakfast of cinnamon toast, fruit and coffee. A short business meeting followed, with our president, secretary and treasurer giving us an update on finances and plans for the 2010 events calendar. A major decision was made to support only parks that did not have animal restrictions. At least 95 percent of our members have dogs or cats of every size and breed.
The games began after a short break to walk those four-legged members.
The cookie league tournament consisted of ladder golf and beanbag toss. We had 24 participants competing for prizes, which consisted of a medium-size cookie for semi-final winners and a big cookie for winners of the finals. The ladies can be competitive!
After the cheering and tossing, everyone availed themselves of other afternoon activities. Some went to the salmon celebration in Coos Bay, presented by Native American Indians. Others explored the area. Thanks to hostess Karen Castner’s boat, some members took rides on the beautiful Ten Mile Lake. Others fished the lake, either off the dock or in Karen’s boat. And there were those who just relaxed and hung out.
Saturday evening we had our traditional potluck with everyone bringing entrees, salads and desserts. We even had cupcakes presented for Tully’s birthday. As always, the food was outstanding. I will never understand how main dishes, salads and desserts all show up in balance.
We had two local women who were interested in RVW join us for dinner. They were welcomed with open arms, and we hope they will join the Oregon Chapter.
After the normal break for dog walking, the board games began in the clubhouse. Others, tired from a busy, delightful day, relaxed in their rigs.
Sunday morning was cool and overcast. A continental breakfast was again enjoyed by all. A couple members had to leave, and hugs were given and goodbyes said.
After breakfast, our cookie league tournament finals began. The competition was intense, with cheering turning to yelling and screaming. The winners enjoyed the big cookies and the smaller trophies that were presented during the winners’ ceremony. The laughter and smiles were even bigger than the prizes.
In the afternoon, Karen again offered boat rides. Some members explored the area or did more catch-and-release fishing.
Going out to dinner is our Sunday evening normal event. We went to the local Lakeside Lodge. I am not sure they were used to seeing 20 RVing women, but they handled that challenge well.
With full stomachs and warm hearts, we returned to the campground. Clubhouse games continued for some and others returned to their rigs for an evening of TV and relaxation. As is typical for Oregon, the late evening was met with rain—not too much, but just enough.
Monday morning was damp, but the rain stopped so we could begin loading and getting ready to depart. Of course, coffee and leftovers were enjoyed beforehand, and everyone assisted the hostess with clubhouse cleanup. All too soon, it was time to leave. The smiles and camaraderie were only matched by the wonderful comments. Everyone had a great weekend marked with warm feelings and lots of laughter. We all left looking forward to our next outing.—Shirley Mahan and Gina Masciantonio
Florence, Oregon (August 14-16, 2009)Oregon Chapter
Due to the very warm weather in Oregon in August, many of our members were more than happy to head to the coastal community of Florence.
We gathered at the Port of ¬Siuslaw RV Park. This park does not have a clubhouse, but it does have a wonderful pavilion, which we surrounded with our rigs. There were 22 rigs and 35 women attending.
On Friday evening, we had our usual assortment of wonderful appetizers and had the opportunity to meet a couple first timers. After appetizers, the hosts directed a game called Deal or No Deal. The business community of Florence had donated 35 gifts. One gift at a time was presented, and the name of a participant was drawn. If she wanted the gift, she said, “deal.” If she did not want the gift, she said, “no deal,” and her name went back into the pot. After all gifts were given out, members played other games on their own.
Saturday morning at breakfast, it was announced that Barb Pace had won the election for chapter secretary. The site committee announced the locations for the 2010 season. Some participants then went into Florence to browse the shops in old town. Others took buggy rides over the Oregon Dunes, tried their luck at the Three Rivers Casino, or visited other sites around the area. Several members purchased raincoats for their dogs at the Dog Boutique.
Saturday evening started with a pitch-in dinner with the hosts providing baked ham. We then played a team game called Pass the Sand. Various other games were played using lanterns and flashlights as the pavilion lights decided not to work.
Sunday morning found the participants feasting on a breakfast of egg casseroles and blueberry muffins provided by the hosts. The day was spent again exploring the area and playing games. Sunday evening, the group split into two groups, each going to a different restaurant for dinner.
Monday, following breakfast, participants packed up and said their goodbyes and happy travels until next month.—Dee Hamer and Dottie Allen
Elkton, Oregon (July 17-19, 2009)Oregon Chapter
Our July event was characterized by silliness and laughter. A group of 37 RVing Women in 21 rigs, along with their 16 dogs and four cats, gathered on the shore of the Umpqua River near Elkton for a canine-inspired event—the Dog Days of Summer.
On Friday evening the group ate hot dogs, and then all the women divided into two groups: the howlers and the barkers. A contest between the two groups, followed by individual bark-offs between pairs of surprisingly talented women, loosened everyone up and provided a lot of laughter.
Saturday morning, campers were delighted as Gina Masciantonio and Marilyn Nichols dressed as dog catchers and rode through the RV park in a golf cart, brandishing a large dog-catcher net. They then transported many of the dogs to the outdoor pavilion, where the dogs took part in a costume parade. Prizes were given for entries in categories such as the best mustache, longest sit-stay, cutest smile and best strut. Shirley Mahan photographed each dog with it’s owner and set up a display so that all participants could choose the best dog/owner look-alike duo.
After lunch, long-time member Charlotte Norby presented a workshop on the use and maintenance of awnings. The session included hands-on practice.
Late afternoon included wine tasting and an educational tour provided by River’s Edge Winery.
In the evening, the 37 women divided into three small groups. Each group prepared a dance to the music, “Who Let the Dogs Out?” Everyone really let their hair down and got into the act. The resulting performances were highly entertaining.
On Sunday, a half-day guided fishing trip was offered. Participants each caught almost 100 small-mouth bass!
Sunday afternoon highlighted a doggie obstacle course competition in which the owners worked at least as hard as their dogs.
This event was a great success, and it only took five members working together to pull it off: Karen Castner, Dixie Evers, Shirley Mahan, Gina Masciantonio, and Joyce Pickens. Teamwork is a great thing. —Dixie Evers
Albany Shores, Oregon (May 16-18, 2009)
Fourteen members, two new members (Shari Edelman and Myrthlyn Thompson) and two guests joined us at Blue Ox RV Park for this rally. Lori Singles, one of our guests, joined our chapter after the rally.
On Friday we had our usual finger foods and beverages. Our Saturday morning breakfast was followed by a chapter meeting. Beckey Beckey, our national board president, updated us on national events and showed us samples of the new shirts available from our new vendor, Sheridan Designs. Sheridan Designs had sent a sample shirt to our chapter, which we auctioned off. We also had a presentation by one of our new national members, Shari Edelman, who manages River Bend Resort. She presented us all with discount cards available to RVW members. She also joined our Oregon chapter.
Our hosts, Danna Walker and Masanee Brown, chartered an old fashioned trolley for the group on Saturday.
We toured two of the historical districts in Albany with a stop at a store that sold antiques and chocolates. This town has many wonderful Victorian style houses, some of the oldest in Oregon. We had a tour of Montieth House, which was both a home and general store. We also stopped at White Spires, one of the oldest churches in Albany. This church has beautiful stained glass windows. Next was a stop at City Park on the Willamette River for a picnic lunch, then back on the trolley for more touring of the city.
Riding in a trolley car on a beautiful spring day was especially fun because so many adults and kids smiled and waved and waved.
Our last stop was at the Carousel Museum and Studio. With the help of many volunteers, sponsors and a national carousel company, the city of Albany is building a huge carousel and museum. We toured the studio and saw wonderful, spectacular carousel animals, horses and fantasy creatures.
The colors and carving were fantastic. Most of the carving and painting and engineering the platform and machinery are done by volunteers.
Games were held each night in the recreation hall. Masanee called bingo and Tully introduced two new games.
After our Sunday morning breakfast, those of us who were left did more exploring of the Albany area. At the suggestion of member Ruby Rhodes, we went to dinner at Novak’s, a Hungarian restaurant. The food was very tasty!
This fun event left us looking forward to the next Oregon rally.—Masanee Brown and Danna Walker
Dexter Shores, Oregon (March 20-22, 2009)
Fifteen members in nine rigs attended this rally, hosted by Alice Lovell and Pat Cole. The weather did not cooperate—we had rain, hail and snow—but it was great to see friends and get reacquainted again. A lot of visiting was done.
This was a carefree, lazy campout. We had a Friday evening appetizer dinner and a Saturday morning continental breakfast. On Saturday, a few members toured around the countryside. Others played cards in the clubhouse.
We shared a potluck dinner Saturday night. Lots of good food was set out, and more visiting ensued. Five members went next door to the Dexter Lake Club to listen to Timothy Patrick sing and do a little comedy. Others played poker in the clubhouse.
Our continental breakfast on Sunday was followed by more visiting and games in the clubhouse. Later, we all got together (even the ones on NutriSystem diets) and went out to dinner at Mack’s Dexter Lake Café. We had the restaurant all to ourselves, and there really wasn’t much room for anyone else. The food was great, and so was the company.
After breakfast Monday morning, members began loading up and getting ready to head for home.—Pat Cole
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See the current issue of RVing Women magazine for information about upcoming events.
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Lone Pine, California (September 11-12, 2009)
Rally hosts Alice and Sandy arrived on Thursday for this event and were joined by several other early birds. The time was well spent setting up and getting reacquainted. The 90-plus degree heat was a favorite topic.
This park was new to journer folk, and we found it to be quite accommodating. The store hours coincide with the pool and recreation room hours, making it easy to get answers to questions and stock up on items forgotten.
Surrounded by shade trees and a dry lake, our campsites were like an oasis (sans water) in the desert. The daily coffee, fresh baked muffins and orange juice, courtesy of the park, were a surprise breakfast treat.
When the rest of the clan arrived on Friday, we totaled 11 rigs. Social time began at 5 p.m. with a finger food potluck in the clubhouse. The fixings were so great, this quickly became everyone’s dinner.
Alice had scoped out the fishing on Thursday and took the fisher folk on a four-mile goose (fish) chase. Others stayed back at camp to relax with cable TV or visit with friends.
Saturday, half the group carpooled to Manzanar, the World War II internment camp where American citizens of Japanese ancestry were held. The museum exhibits and two-hour car tour helped us learn how the internees coped with this horrendous event.
Saturday evening featured the usual potluck. A fun bingo game followed. (It was more fun than usual because yours truly was one of the winners.) There was much talk about fishing. People kept disappearing for hours on end to Lake Diaz, but no fish ever appeared. Maybe it was catch and release?
Half of our group stayed over until Monday, so Sunday was a day of fishing, visiting Lone Pine and reading as people continued to enjoy the quiet and restfulness of the weekend.—Barbara Muirhead
Banning, California (April 30-May 5, 2009)
Rally leaders Linda Brown and Barbara Roeder joined Silent Valley Club members Mickey and Edie on Wednesday. Rachel and Joel Harp also arrived on Wednesday. They provided on-site RV repair during the rally. We had dinner together and reviewed the activities for the upcoming days. Local members asked if this was the weekend the ladies are coming. Our reputation has preceded us!
Members began arriving shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday. We kept busy during the day helping members get parked and registered. By 5:30 p.m., over 43 members in 27 rigs had arrived. Rally leaders treated everyone to freshly grilled hamburgers, turkey burgers, vegan burgers and all the fixins’—a special thanks to Mo and Shelly, the master grillers.
Seventeen members in 11 rigs arrived on Friday.
Friday morning, Sally Johnson, our most recent national RVW treasurer, presented a seminar on being a trustee/executor.
Friday afternoon, Rachel Harp presented Your RV – A Basic Point of View and talked about new products on the market and water and sewer basics. Her seminar handbook was made available for $5 and sold out before the seminar even started.
Our Friday night Uno de Mayo potluck celebration provided us with the best member-created specialties, nachos and margaritas on the mountain. We continued to get acquainted with more new members and visitors. After dinner, members were seen playing poker and other card games in various RV homes.
Saturday, Dos de Mayo, brought clear skies and warmer temperatures. Our last member arrived just before dinner, bringing our total attendance to 61 members in 39 rigs.
An archery class was presented in the morning by our own Olympic champion, Mel Leach. We learned how to arch the arrow over the outhouse to get near the target. We also learned how to get the arrows out of the trees. Over 20 women participated. By a unanimous vote, we will repeat next year.
In the afternoon, Rachel Harp presented Your RV – The Next Step. Topics included battery basics, 110-volt AC basics, and solar sizes and functions. Rachel provided another raffle of RV gifts. We ended with a brief walkabout with Rachel to our RVs.
Our Saturday happy hour got us in the celebration mood. We went off to enjoy prime rib, chicken and vegetarian dinners. Champagne and dessert topped off our meals. Members then gathered outside where there was the same great band (as last year) waiting to entertain us. Many stayed for dancing under the stars.
We gathered in the Big RV Circle for breakfast Sunday morning. That was followed by a chapter meeting. Events later in the day included miniature golf hosted by Mickey and Edie. In the afternoon, Linda Brown presented a seminar on healthcare on the road. She presented this seminar at The Rally in Albuquerque and will also be presenting at the RVW convention in San Antonio. Rachel Harp hosted one more question and answer session and led members in another walkabout.
Sunday ended with a happy hour and leftovers potluck held in the RV circle. There were many food surprises that came out of our rigs. Members continued talking under the stars. Some were later seen playing cards and working on puzzles.
Monday was a day for rest and relaxation. Twenty-eight women in 18 rigs stayed on. Women were seen reading, napping, playing billiards and enjoying the pool and spa. In the evening, we shared a wonderful clean-out-your-refrigerator potluck dinner. A “no campfires” rule did not stop the ladies from talking into the night.
Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo, arrived and it was time for the last of us to leave. We will see you again next year, April 29 to May 4, so mark your calendars for another great rally.—Linda Brown
Sage, California (February 25-March 2, 2009)
Sixty-one women in 38 rigs attended the February women in baseball rally at the Tucalota Springs RV Park in the heart of the Temecula Valley wine country. We had wonderful weather in the mid 70s and a very exciting weekend of activities.
On Friday evening, the rally leaders provided a taste-of-the-ballpark dinner, which included hotdogs, nachos and chili. In preparation for meeting our special guests on Saturday, dinner was followed by the movie screening of “A League of their Own.”
Saturday was a very special day as we welcomed Shirley Burkovich, Maybelle Blair and Katie Horstman, all members of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). These are women who were depicted in the movie “A League of their Own” and who have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Shirley, Maybelle and Katie had everyone sitting on the edge of their seats as they shared their memories and stories of playing professional baseball when it was scandalous for women to be doing such things. AAGPBL memorabilia was on display for viewing and rally participants were given an opportunity to win AAGPBL memorabilia consisting of signed baseballs and signed movie DVDs during a free raffle drawing.
Twenty of our canine friends participated in a Bow Wow Dog Walk and Paw-ty in the afternoon. Everyone had a doggone good time as we took a walk among the great oaks and sycamore trees surrounding our campground. At the end of our walk, the dogs enjoyed plenty of fresh water and treats.
Saturday evening brought out the gambler in all of us as we enjoyed an evening full of card bingo. We had lots of laughs and many winners. On Sunday, we had a competitive game of sit-down baseball. Under the shade of some great oak trees, two teams battled it out, taking the game into extra innings.
We enjoyed a potluck dinner on Sunday evening, followed by a Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire game of story telling that had us laughing until our cheeks hurt.
Our assigned clubhouse was a very busy place with lots of time for dominos, card games and jigsaw puzzles. Several rally participants hosted a nightly bonfire, which included roasting sugar coated Peeps and sharing lots of chitchat and laughter.
This was a very exciting rally with six new members joining RVW and SoCALjourners. Before we knew it, it was time to head home with a few more memories of our wonderful time together. Thanks to everyone for their help in making this a fun event.—Jan Boudreau, Denise Fairbanks, Irene Harris and Donna Abrego
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Roadside Rendezvous
We, in the eastern part of the country, eagerly anticipate the upcoming National RVW Convention in Charleston and encourage those who have not had the opportunity to attend and witness what a professional and impressive organization we are and to become acquainted with some of the hundreds of amazing women who have the same amazing stories that we do.
I recently had an experience, in the company of only eight of those women, that has clarified for me what it is that draws us together and how it may have all begun
The setting was with the Solo Travelers Chapter. We gathered to enjoy the balmy winter weather in the rural area of north central Florida. Due to the widespread geography of the Solos Travelers, a structured and pre-planned rally is rarely attempted. So a roadside rendezvous is called and it all evolves from there—and, it did!
Upon arrival, as is typical, the eight attendees were eager to come together, meet new friends and catch up with those of previous acquaintance. Introductions were made, all pets were duly admired (we were one animal short of being outnumbered this time) and some planning was done. We planned a Super Bowl party and agreed that we would take advantage of the nearby scenic and historic town of Cedar Key.
On Saturday morning, the roosters at a nearby henhouse, along with the minimal effort it takes to organize eight people, ensured an early start to Cedar Key. Arriving there, we found beautiful winter blue skies and very few tourists competing for the narrow sidewalks. Eager to explore, we quickly decided on a lunch site. The ladies dispersed, some to the gift shops, some to the local museums and some to just enjoy strolling through the small town center. Upon rejoining the group, we enjoyed our seaside lunch, shared our impressions and Cedar Key experiences and departed back to our Old Town campground, with stops on the way to stock up on party fare.
All agreed that the owner of the campground, Joe Navatto, was undoubtedly one of the most hospitable we had ever encountered. Despite his posted price of $5 for firewood, he insisted on bringing a fire ring, wood and starter kindling to a location of our choice, all without charge. All weekend, Joe was visible in his golf cart, accompanied by assorted children and/or pets—including one of those hens. He was quick to offer assistance if needed or just to engage in friendly conversation.
Due to the lack of a recreation hall, Joe allowed us to use the two tables in the campground office to gather around our laptops on Saturday afternoon. Lyn and Judith conducted an impromptu review in navigating the RVW national website and ensured that those present were registered and using the Yahoo group site that the Solo Travelers have initiated for easier contact with one another.
We ended Saturday around Joe’s campfire, sinking even further into the relaxation sense of all’s well that the company of a group of RVing Women always seems to evoke.
On Sunday, Shirley was evidently in league with the roosters. Soon after the night’s mist had cleared, she gathered a few willing participants to take advantage of the developed walking/biking trail in town. The trail took us over the Suwannee River and summoned memories of canoeing and kayaking that same stream. A scouting party departed after lunch to look over a campground adjacent to the headspring of the river, with the plan of a canoeing, kayaking, maybe even tubing, rally in the Florida Chapter’s future.
We gathered at sunset to enjoy our Super Bowl feast and ignited yet another of Joe’s campfires. Gail’s contribution to the event was a very little television and a very long extension cord. So there, gathered around an eight-inch television (bereft of HD/LCD technology) perched on the end of a picnic table and not too far from the campfire, on a balmy winter night, eight enthusiastic (and, yes, betting) sports fans enjoyed as memorable a Super Bowl party, we are sure, as any of the other ninety-seven million reported viewers! Shirley and Ruth and the Giants won.
On Monday, a few had to leave, but before departures our techie, Gail, reviewed the workings of her GPS for those still comfortable with maps and clipboards. It didn’t appear that any converts emerged, but admittedly this navigation thing is a definite challenge to those traveling without co-pilots.
The lucky lingerers passed the day with a visit to an antique shop and a winery followed by a lunch that included the local delicacy, soft-shelled crab.
Super Bowl leftovers served very well for supper.
Rounding off the weekend, a single female traveler, also visiting the campground, was approached and given a welcoming introduction to RVW.
So, a few women came together with no more notice or information than that contained in a few emails and with the expectation of welcome, acceptance, relaxation and friendship that we have all come to know as RVing Women.
Could such a gathering be reminiscent of how RVW probably started—a few women, having a love of travel and independence, gathering together, finding commonalities beyond their expectations and, upon leaving, thinking, “When and how are we going to do this again?”--Arlene Dawson
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Conroe, Texas (May 7-10, 2009
For the Texas Ramblin’ Roses, the May rally location was actually Plan B. The park that was our original destination was blown away by last year’s Hurricane Ike and has not been rebuilt. Rally hosts Wanda Rodgers and JoAnn Brenek had to seek a new location.
We relocated to the KOA/Conroe. We had hot temperatures, but we also had a lovely breeze most every day. We had a happy hour at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We looked around and sure enough, everyone seemed happy!
Thursday night we took our own supper meals to the rally room to all eat together. Friday afternoon many of us took naps, worked on a puzzle and visited everyone we could get in a conversation. Friday we repeated the bring-your-own-dish dinner. A few brought food to share with others.
Saturday, many loaded up in cars and trucks—as you know many Texas women drive pick up trucks—and drove to the nearest winery. We participated in a wine tasting and took a tour of the facilities. That activity produced another happy hour.
The Saturday evening meal was a bring-your-grill-choice event. There also was a barbecue cook-off taking place on the grounds of the KOA. Need we tell you how wonderful the aroma was?
After we ate, guests introduced themselves. Two of those important guests were the mothers of two of our members. We presented them with red roses and sang Happy Mothers Day to the tune of Happy Birthday. Then we had our members raise their hands if they themselves were mothers, and they also were presented with roses.
Before the weekend ended, we talked more about the convention and came up with even more fun things to do.
Thirty-six women, including seven guests, attended this rally. Four women joined our chapter and, as usual, a good time was had by all.—Janice Lee Ives
Fort Worth, Texas (March 12-15, 2009
This weekend found us rallying in the rain. The rain poured as we began arriving at the RV Ranch on Wednesday, and it kept raining until midday Saturday. But the rain actually added to our good time, as 58 women in 39 rigs gathered in the clubhouse and laughed and shared and played games the entire weekend.
We started officially with a sack supper on Thursday. Bev Archer led a demonstration and instruction on how to play Texas Hold’em. We kept playing all weekend.
Armed with umbrellas and rain gear, about 35 of us caravanned on Friday into the Fort Worth Stockyards to watch authentic cowboys orchestrate a cattle drive of longhorn steers down the main street of town. We also visited the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, the White Elephant Saloon, the famous Stockyards Hotel, Billy Bob’s Texas and, of course, we did a little shopping. Several decided to buy cowboy hats in anticipation of hosting the national convention in San Antonio in October.
After a finger food and toothpick treats potluck in the evening, our president, Janice Ives, and all the committee chairs for the national convention updated the chapter on the plans and activities in the works for October. More volunteers were recruited, and enthusiasm grew for the big event. Our chapter is really excited to be hosting the national RVW convention.
On Saturday, another caravan headed for Fort Worth, some to the stockyards for the cattle drive, and others to the famous National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. A few also visited the Kimball Art Museum. Fort Worth offers a lot of attractions.
Our Saturday evening catered barbeque dinner was fabulous—much too much good food. Afterwards, we enjoyed a soap-carving, spit and whittle contest with a western theme led by Judy Amstutz. It revealed some real talent and artists among us. The judges had a difficult time selecting the most creative, the most realistic and, lastly, giving a prize to the “woman who really tried.” Her cow patty carving was one-of-a-kind.
On Sunday morning, we shared Danish pastries, donuts and coffee provided by Patricia Dalton and Mary Grace Hornell for a hitch-em-up breakfast and said our goodbyes to those who were leaving. About half the group stayed over until Monday. It was another great rally. Our hats go off to the our hosts, Mary Grace Hornell, Patricia Dalton, Judy Amstutz and Sue Tyrone.—Judy Amstutz
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