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Boondocking Events
Ah, how sweet it is, just being out there not connected to anything. Yes, that is what our last three outings were. We started with our Thanksgiving rally in November, where the only thing connected were the RVing Women that attended. We had a wonderful time discovering our imaginations and playing Pictionary. What a Thanksgiving chow down we had! Great potluck!
This was also our elections meeting. We elected a new activities chair to head up our activity committee.We also voted in our past treasurer and secretary for another term and, to complete our five-member board of directors, our membership chair and president chair each have one more year to their terms.
In December, we gathered for our Christmas rally. We shared stories and had our first Ellen/Oprah interview, which was quite interesting. One of our new members was interviewed by one of our been-around-for-a-long-time members (the names were picked out of a hat). The interview lasted for 15 minutes, and I must admit we all enjoyed it very much.
We also had our grab bag, which always brings the more unselfish, sharing, love-thy-other-member feelings out in us—oh yeah! And, of course, we will not forget our fantastic Christmas dinner.
Now, if you want to talk about the biggest connection with no connections event hosted by the Arizona Chapter, that would be our Quartzsite rally in January. We can only say thank you, thank you to our hostess with the mostest and to all her helpers!
There were RVing Women from all over the country and from England and Canada in attendance, and now we are all ready to go mining and looking for gold—thanks to Sandy. We also know what wine to bring—thanks to Marty. And, of course, all our rigs will be prepared to go anywhere and do anything for all the gadgets and clothing and supplies we purchased while we shopped till we dropped.
Last, but we all know this is most important, our auction raised more than $1,600 dollars for breast cancer. All of the items were donated by RVing Women! Thank you one and all, and always remember: free to be you and me!—Marilyn Teresi
Lake Powell, Arizona (September 13-17)
This Arizona Chapter never ceases to amaze me. I have just learned, while camping at the eighth wonder of the world (Lake Powell), that my chapter is full of chameleons—those little critters that change colors—with one of our very own turning into a rock diva right before our very eyes in her fancy pink dress with black leather and a hot pink wig. Of course, we were all transformed in spirit back to the 50s, which was our theme for this rock ’n roll rally. Yep, they jitterbugged, they played bingo, and we all went back in time and had what Mama used to make us for supper. For sure, the Grand Bowl in town learned a few things about creative bowling and form from our R&R gals.
That took up our evenings.
For the days, we saw our little creatures turn into the water, where they performed a water ballet for those around them. We have pictures! They were great! You think you know the expertise these RVing Women have on wheels. That’s nothing! You should see them on water skies and on the big tube—having fun, fun and more fun! And let’s not count out our fisherwomen, who brought dinner back to the camp. And how about the kayakers? Yep, we had our own captains, who donated their time and boats to our rally captain Audrey, our host for this rally. Great job—and thank you and our other captain Betty, who is a host at other rallies. These gals, using their vast knowledge of the area, took us to places on the water you could only imagine.
Again, who are these women? Ring Women, that’s who!
Though it sounds like we had a lot of fun, our host did put us through some very vigorous hiking. We hiked to Horseshoe Bend Overlook—another breathtaking sight we were forced to endure. Then there was the guided tour to Glen Canyon Damn, in which we did not do a very good job in getting there. Those that did, enjoyed.
To end our 50s bash, we had breakfast—little boxes of cereal with strawberries and bananas, Hostess cupcakes, Twinkies and juice!
While all this was going on, we were hosting four new members that not only joined in, but gave back. Thank you, Pat, Stephanie, Mary Ellen and Barb. They have entertained, invited and volunteered. I guess we will keep them!
Thanks to our host Audrey and all her helpers. This was another great rally!—Marilyn Teresi
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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.
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.
Mesa, Arizona (November 27)
Arizona Day Trippers and their guests came together for the day to play miniature golf at Golfland in Mesa. A wide range of skills over 18 holes resulted in a gap of 30 strokes between high and low scores, but all had an equally good time. After working up big appetites on the golf course, the golfers drove to Chompies Deli in Tempe for monster sandwiches and gigantic salads. Thanks to our top notch organizer Judy Bozman for this most fun outing.—Linda Louden
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Oak Harbor, Washington (Marcy 21-23)
North Whidbey RV Park on Whidbey Island was the site of Cascadia’s first rally of the 2008 season. It was a spectacular setting near the 182-foot-high Deception Pass bridge. The location also proved close enough to the Canadian border so that many of our British Columbian members were able to join us for the weekend.
The rally, held on Easter weekend, drew 70 people in 42 rigs. By Sunday, four visitors became dues-paying members, and we christened seven rigs. We welcome new members Christine Taylor, Sandie Robillard, Malka Golden-Wolfe, and Shannon Walker.
On Friday, we were treated to a sight-seeing cruise through Deception Pass aboard the Island Whaler. Our tour guide provided a summary of the local history, which included smuggling and rum running. He pointed out a mine entrance high above the water where state prisoners worked a gravel quarry in the early part of the 20th century.
The treacherous swirling waters below Deception Pass bridge are the result of changing tides through the narrow passage. Currents can run to eight knots and pose a challenge to navigation. It is a popular area among adventuresome sea kayakers.
Our cruise occurred during slack tide, and we were in no danger as we passed beneath the bridge into Rosario Strait where we were joined by innumerable porpoises, harbor seals, waterfowl, and a bald eagle or two. The sun shone upon the glassy waters while the boat rocked gently and porpoises swam by.
Friday happy hour found veteran members reconnecting after the long winter hiatus. Visitors and new members were introduced and welcomed. The evening concluded with Easter egg coloring in the clubhouse.
Decorated Easter eggs were displayed, and voting for the favorite took place Saturday morning. Winners were announced at dinner. Tied for first place were Lynn’s Eggstream trailer and Judy’s Easter bunny egg.
The Cascadia board met at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by a general business meeting at 10. Chapter rules were proposed, discussed, amended, and adopted.
An Easter egg hunt was held Saturday afternoon, and a dozen of the most competitive Cascadians showed up for the chance to win the grand prize. When the hunt was over, players spread their eggs out on the ground for the tally. Shelly found the golden egg, and Jo grabbed the silver egg. Vicki laid the most eggs on the ground. All three received prizes.
Following a delicious and plentiful dinner on Saturday night, members gathered at the clubhouse for a rousing evening of bingo hosted by Barb and Jan.
But what would Easter be without a parade? Members dressed their pets in their finest Easter rain outfits and paraded them around the gazebo. Most pets tolerated it fairly well. Gail’s two Bichon Frises won the prize for best dressed.
Throughout the weekend, raffle tickets were sold for a chance to win a free campsite for our Canadian weekend in August. Two sites were raffled. Winners were Elaine and Lynn. Thanks to everyone who bought raffle tickets. Your purchases helped raise $226 for the chapter.
Thanks go also to Event Captains Mary Nebel, Mary Schoenfeldt, Carol Allmond and Linda Hoffman; “Hi There Girls” Sue Ellen Johnson, Norma Dalla Santa, and Lori Young; and “Bandana Divas” Jean Hart, Judy Polenske, Jo Schilling, and Alice Burk.
Our saltwater theme will continue in April when we gather at the Norwegian heritage town of Poulsbo on Puget Sound’s Kitsap Peninsula. Hopefully it will stop snowing by then.—Jo Schilling
Anacortes, Washington (October26-28)
Let’s be honest. The Pacific Northwest often has lousy weather. But members of the Cascadia Chapter of RVing Women bring their own sunshine with them wherever they go! It is to be expected that the end-of-the-season gathering in October might be on the chilly side, and that was the case at Fidalgo Bay. However, we were blessed with mostly blue skies and dry conditions for the entire action-packed weekend.
There were 55 women in 34 rigs who showed up for the weekend. Six came as guests, and five became new members.
Friday night’s thank you dinner honored all the volunteers who have made this year such a success. Over 90 percent of the members have volunteered to serve as event captains or assistants this year. Friday’s dinner was prepared and served by members of the 2007 Cascadia Chapter advisory board to thank all the members for their contributions throughout the season.
Dinner was followed by table games that included Rummy Cube, Sequence, Mexican Train and, of course, Texas Hold’em.
At the semi-annual business meeting held Saturday morning, members discussed and voted on the membership dues structure for 2008. An overwhelming majority voted to keep the chapter dues at only $5 per person for the coming year.
Fundraising ideas were also discussed. Our annual auction of goods and services last year generated a little more than $1,800. Additional proposals for fundraising activities included holding a 50/50 raffle at each event and selling DVD copies of Diane’s multi-media show recapping Cascadia members’ trips to the national convention in Lodi.
The business meeting culminated with election of officers for 2008. The chapter will be ably led by Doreen Thomas as President; Marne Parry as President-elect; Judy Polenske as Secretary; Kay Piehl as Treasurer; Pat Lebbert as Registrar; and Alice Burk as Event Coordinator. Cheryl Edman will serve as advisor to the board as Past President.
Following the meeting, members retreated to their rigs to transform themselves for the Halloween costume parade. Everyone voted, and prizes were awarded in the following categories: Scariest, Silliest, Sexiest, Corniest, Great But Doesn’t Fit a Category, and Best Overall.
Another quick change of outfits, and we reconvened for a soup, salad and bread dinner followed by games and frivolity. Diane replayed her multi-media show about Lodi and also shared the presentation she prepared for a seminar on RVing at Renton Technical College.
Halloween party games included pumpkin bocce ball, pumpkin golf, penny toss into the pumpkin, pass the pretzel, mummy wrap, and balloon stomp.
Sunday morning coffee was followed by new rig christening and farewell wishes until we meet again on Easter weekend at the North Whidbey RV Park. I foresee an Easter egg coloring party and hunt in our future!
Happy trails and safe travels to all until we meet again!—Jo Schilling
Leavenworth, Washington (September 28-30)
What could be better than an Autumn Leaf Festival and 64 RVing Women in the fun-loving Bavarian-style village of Leavenworth in the North Cascades? Well, it’s not easy to top those facts, except to say that we had a number of women visiting our chapter over the weekend!
We were happy to see new faces and hope our guests enjoyed the weekend with us. The Icicle River RV Resort played host to members and guests in 34 rigs. The Leavenworth event attracted the third largest turnout of the year, nearly tying the attendance record with Mossyrock and Port Townsend. We are very fortunate to have so many excellent destinations to visit right here in our own backyard!
On Friday. night after German-themed finger foods, a survey of those present was conducted to determine the average age of attendees and extrapolate a trend. The results showed that the average age of our membership is falling, indicating that our newest members (or perhaps guests) are younger. However, the results might have been skewed by the fact that three of our eldest members—with a combined age of about 240—were not present.
Event captains Barbara and Mary did an excellent job of planning weekend activities. They were assisted by divas Ursula, Barb, Alice, Kathy, Joan, Sue, Linda C. Lynda, and Cheryl, and hi there girls Lori and Kay.
A short meeting was held for members who will be attending the national convention in Lodi. Travel plans and cell phone numbers were exchanged, and plans were discussed for Cascadia’s participation in the opening ceremonies.
There was a big turnout for card and board games in the clubhouse Friday night.
The divas prepared a chapter-sponsored breakfast Saturday morning with ham and eggs, muffins, bagels, fruit, juice, and coffee. After the hearty breakfast, members were on their own for the day.
Once again, we experienced a variety of weather conditions over the course of the weekend. Fortunately, for most of the activities on Saturday, we had only overcast skies. This was good news for the thousands of people who attended the Leavenworth Autumn Leaf Festival Parade. Participants included military color guards and veterans, marching bands, floats, equestrians, horse-drawn wagons, beauty queens and, of course, men dressed in lederhosen. Ya gotta love this place!
For those who wanted to have their own parade, Diane and Nancy led 13 women on a four-mile hike up Tumwater Canyon. Everyone returned safely.
Folks wandered back to the clubhouse Saturday night for more games and chatting.
Five new rigs were christened on Sunday morning: Barb and Ursula have a new Chalet folding trailer they have named Minnie; Sue and Joan have a brand new Winnebago View, as yet unnamed; visiting Brits Pam and Sue has a Class C from Houston, named Angelica; Arlene has a new Class C rig she calls Cramalot Inn; Ann arrived in her Born Free motorhome she has named the Lioness.
Sunday morning brought rain, just in time to christen rigs and disconnect the hookups outside. Only one person was seen melting, but she was with a different group.
We hope to see everyone at Fidalgo in October for the season wrap-up event and chapter elections.—Jo Schilling
Tokeland, Washington (August 24-26)
Our August trip to the Bayshore RV Park was jam-packed with fun for everyone! Thirty-three rigs and 50 members enjoyed mostly pleasant weather for this late summer outing.
Event coordinators were Elaine, Marne, Diane and Nancy. Hi There Girls were Norma and Sue Ellen. Bandana Divas were Pam Bolton and Laurie Claussen.
Friday night started with the usual finger food happy hour hors d’oeuvres and chitchat gabfest. There is always much to catch up on between get-togethers.
The coffee was ready by 8 Saturday morning, and the first planned activity began at 9. Elaine, an avid bicycle commuter, presented an in-depth, hands-on class on bicycle maintenance. This included equipment and supplies for cleaning and lubing the chains, pumping up the tires, and assistance with seat and handlebar adjustments. At the conclusion of the class (and lab session), about a dozen women pedaled off for a morning bike tour of the local loop road.
Others enjoyed breakfast or lunch at the haunted hotel just across the road from the RV Park or traveled a few miles North to peruse the harbor shops at Westport.
Some of the hardy golfers headed to the links across the road. The mosquitoes had a different game in mind. The players only managed three or four holes before declaring that the mosquitoes had won and retreating to the park for medical attention.
Saturday afternoon, the crafters met in the clubhouse to build birdhouses, an activity planned and coordinated by Diane, Nancy, Pat, and Jill. The rest of the members were very impressed with the artistic results on display at dinner that evening.
Members came through in grand style, adhering to the seafood theme for our Saturday evening potluck. There were lovely dishes of crab, salmon, shrimp, scallops, and more. Themed dinners were among the top suggestions brought forth in the chapter events brainstorming session held during our first gathering in the spring. Well done, everyone!
Dinner concluded with door prize drawings—framed photo enlargements of pictures that Doreen shot of the Tokeland area during our previous visit in 2003! Thank you, Doreen, for the thoughtful gifts.
Saturday evening entertainment was led by Candy, Sara, and Barb who, with guitars and ukulele, led us on a stroll through folk music history, followed by a group sing-along of old and new favorites. Highlights included original guitar compositions performed by Sara, a ukulele solo by Barb, and a surprise performance of Patsy Cline hits by our very own multi-talented chapter president, Cheryl. Thanks for the memorable evening!
A handful of folks packed that last bit of recreation into the weekend by going geocaching on Sunday morning. The haunted hotel across the road from the RV park proved to be a challenging location for the first cache. Friendly, but mischievous, ghosts played tricks with the GPS receivers and had the cachers going in circles before finally locating a nicely hidden micro cache.
A caravan was formed to travel to the site of the second cache. It included Barb, Ursula, Norma, and Sue Ellen in Ursula’s Jeep, followed by the charter members of the Cascadia Scooter Gang: Shay, Lori, Judy, and Jo.
Evening beachside campfires rounded out the activities of a very successful summer rendezvous. Thanks to everyone who helped!—Jo Schilling
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Seffner, Florida (February 21-24)
For our February gathering, the Florida Chapter made a return visit to the Lazy Days Rally Park. Claudette Nowicki and Ruth Alberding hosted 24 rigs and 37 people, including five women joining us for their first visit. As always, we started on Thursday with a catch-up, get reacquainted and meet the newcomers event, also know as a happy hour. That evening, many took advantage of the numerous restaurants in the area. Since Lazy Days also offers on-site complimentary breakfast and lunch, much socializing was centered around mealtimes.
Another unique attraction of the facility is the driving school. A number of the attendees took advantage of the opportunity to enhance their skills behind the wheel. A Pickle Ball court was marked off on the tennis courts, a group of geo-cachers came prepared for the area and a rainy Saturday afternoon provided a great excuse for just reading or napping. Saturday evening featured a western-theme potluck, enhanced by participants sporting their western-wear hats, which seem to be standard in many wardrobes around RVW!
This gathering was the setting for the culmination of a raffle the chapter has conducted since December. Ellen Stammer and Audrey Paylo donated a folding bike and a battery-operated scooter for a fundraising for the benefit of the Southeast Guide Dog Association and Patty Petruff and Joella McGaw volunteered to organize the effort. A total of $420 was raised. The first ticket drawn awarded the bike to a newcomer to our group, Patsy Reycraft, and Louise Urquhart, on the second ticket drawn, won the scooter. Our hosts ended the evening by drawing names (from a Western hat, of course) to hand out small remembrances of the event.
On Sunday, goodbyes were passed all around and yet another successful weekend for RVing women concluded.—Arlene Dawson
Marathon, Florida (March 13-16)
Even we, who live all or most of the year in one of America’s favorite vacation destinations, need that special on vacation feeling occasionally. In Florida, that means going to the Keys—and for our March rally, that’s where over 60 members and guests headed. Thanks to Lynette Birch, the only Passport park in the Keys made our stay affordable and comfortable. Most of us stayed five days in the land of bright blue skies and crystal clear blue/green water. Key West was thoroughly covered, on foot, by trolley and by bike, from Hemingway’s house to the sunset schooner cruise to the geo-caches hidden in the town cemetery and possibly a record number of gift and t-shirt shops. Restaurants convenient to our location were quickly visited and approved (or not). The local fishing charter boat was a great success—fish were plentiful and seas were calm. The Marine Research Center and white sand beaches drew visits from many of our group.
We were definitely in the vacation mode. If we lacked anything for a successful event, it was the leisure of enough time to just sit and chat with one another.
Each busy day ended with the requisite gathering to watch the sun set in this most southern part of our nation. And then, tired vacationers, we were quickly lured away to our waiting pillows.
We made tentative plans to return to the Jolly Roger Campground in Marathon in March 2009—that’s always a sure sign of a good time had by all.—Arlene Dawson
Sebring, Florida (December 6-9)
Our return to Florida’s oldest state park, Highlands Hammock, proved to be as successful as our first visit last year. We enjoyed the company of 58 members and guests.
Happy hour was at 4 p.m. every day. We all appreciated the opportunity to socialize outside, enjoying the Florida balmy winter days. Friday and Saturday, many of the ladies went on the park’s tram ride to visit the real Florida—hiking and biking in the park and venturing into the surrounding area for geo-caching, shopping and sightseeing in Sebring.
Our rally leader, Doreen Phillips, arranged for a group fish fry dinner from the park restaurant on Friday.
Campfires are a novelty to us in Florida, and we were most grateful to Lynette Birch for supplying all the wood we could burn.
Our usual Saturday night potluck was replaced by an incredible traditional holiday meal, prepared and served by Kathy Donoghue and her kitchen team. Many members contributed veggie and dessert dishes.
The theme for the rally was decorate your rig, so the campground was seasonally adorned with lights and glitter for the weekend. Members voted on bests.
Several awards were made after dinner on Saturday.
A return to Highlands Hammock next year was heartily endorsed, so we will once again be calling in our reservations soon after they become available, eleven months prior to the date. We encourage all to join us.—Arlene Dawson
Clermont, Florida (January 3-6)
We welcomed the New Year with 32 members and guests at Clerbrook RV Resort. At the start of the rally, it appeared that the weather might be the dominant factor for the weekend—an uncharacteristic chill of daytime highs in the 50’s and nighttime lows in the 30’s. But soon we were experiencing the mid 70’s again, and that’s very conducive to outdoor mingling and enjoying old friends and new.
On Friday afternoon, many people toured a nearby winery. We shared a potluck dinner that evening and outdid ourselves in finishing off a bounty of wonderful food, probably due to the cold weather! Kathy Donoghue, our outgoing president, was presented with a memento in appreciation of her dedication and leadership. Cards and games finished off the day.
Rally leaders Nancy Carbonari and Lynette Birch kept us busy all day Saturday. We started off with a stop at the Yalaha Country Bakery. Bakery does not begin to describe this local favorite. Every imaginable pastry, scone, muffin, and donut is available and they segue right into lunch with German sausages, chicken salads and soups at an adjoining counter. After selecting our treats, we were guided to the outside patio where Lynette had arranged a sheltering tarp for us. We enjoyed live music and the rare treat of hearing Edelweiss sung in German.
As we left the bakery, many went on to spend the day in Mt. Dora, a quaint lakeside town replete with everything from lace curtain shops to antique jewelry stores and the sure-to be-a-hit doggy treat store.
Ready once again to eat, the group enjoyed a light supper at The Chew-Chew Café and headed back to the campground for a last evening of cards and games. We said our good-byes on Sunday and ended yet another successful weekend with our RVW friends.—Arlene Dawson
St. Augustine, Florida (October 18 – 21)
The Florida Chapter October rally was held at the Stagecoach RV Park with Pat Howard as the rally leader. There were 29 members with 18 rigs in attendance.
Breakfasts of doughnuts and other goodies were provided on Friday and Saturday mornings. Happy hours on Thursday and Friday also provided opportunities for socializing with old and new members and friends.
Many members spent time on Friday and Saturday sightseeing and shopping in the beautiful and historic city of St. Augustine. There were several pairs of shoes bought in the huge outlet mall, which was very near the campground. On Friday evening, a large group went into town and enjoyed a walking ghost tour of downtown St. Augustine. No actual ghosts were seen, but everyone had a very good time.
Saturday morning was a real treat. Many of the dogs, and many of those in attendance, got dressed up in fantastic Halloween costumes and paraded through the campground for everyone to enjoy the fun. The potluck on Saturday evening was special with nice Halloween decorations on the table and Halloween door prizes for a lucky few.
We hated to leave this area, but many had plans taking them in all directions so we had a fond farewell with expectations of another good time next month.—Kathy Donoghue
Mims, Florida (November 15 – 18)
Our rally at Seasons in the Sun was attended by 43 members and two guests. There were 26 rigs. Rally leaders Judith Robinson and Nancy Carbonari planned the first get together at 3 p.m. Thursday with a social hour where there were welcomes and introductions shared, along with information about the activities that were planned. Most wanted to know who was going, and when, to Dixie Crossroads Restaurant (famous for Rock Shrimp). Many went more than once during this rally.
Friday was free for activities on your own. Groups went bird watching at Merritt Island Refuge, touring at Space Coast, and geocaching. Some visited the quaint town of Titusville. Most were back for a late-afternoon social hour.
Saturday we had a root beer float party at 2 p.m. followed by our annual meeting and elections. That evening, we enjoyed another terrific potluck dinner and game night in the recreation hall. Sunday we said our farewells until our next rally.— Kathy Donoghue
Crystal River, Florida (September 20-23)
After such a riotous time the prior month, the September rally held at Crystal Isles Resort was a wonderfully laid back event where we could sightsee at our heart’s content. Rally leaders Stephanie Brooks and Toni Wheat had us gather on Thursday afternoon for a social where some of the area highlights were discussed with the 29 members and guests. There were 20 rigs in attendance. Friday’s boat ride had to be cancelled due to inclement weather, but the time was used as a terrific interlude for napping or book reading. Friday afternoon, we reconvened for a social. In the evening, we played games in the clubhouse. Saturday, our leaders prepared an Italian theme potluck and made homemade fettuccine alfredo, which all raved about. Saturday evening we again played games in the clubhouse. We had a great time catching up with our friends and their travels.—Kathy Donoghue
Dunedin, Florida (August 23-26)
Rally leaders Cathy Skora and Deb Redden never cease to amaze us when they lead a rally. For our August rally held at Dunedin RV Resort, Cathy and Deb wrote a mystery play called Murder is a Funny Thing. This play, which continued through the weekend, had numerous actresses from the membership who participated and, of course, audience participation.
There were 45 members and guests and 26 rigs in attendance. We started Thursday with a happy hour in the clubhouse, which introduced us to the (RVW) River Valley Women’s High School 40th Reunion where we were informed that classmate Helen died mysteriously and that by Saturday we should dress either as a detective or in school colors of royal blue, white, and gold.
Friday morning we had pastries, fruit and a breakfast casserole get together. Friday, at 6 p.m., we returned for happy hour where we celebrated August birthdays with a cake then were introduced to the seven suspects in the mysterious passing of Helen.
Saturday, we caravanned to Tarpon Springs to a great Greek restaurant called Mama’s for lunch.
Saturday evening, at 6 p.m., we reconvened for hor d’ oeuvres and a hilarious continuation of the mystery play. The suspects were: Jodi, the tennis pro, played by Bambi; Mary Sue, the farm girl, played by Norma; Wendy, the psychic weather person played by Arlene; Bobbi, the biker and personal banker, played by Fran; Connie, the swimming pro, played by Linda; Mandollay, the singer/songwriter, played by Pat; and the consummate cheerleader, played by Carol. We have not divulged last names to protect these women’s acting careers.
The audience was given a list of questions to ask the suspects and so they could solve the murder. There were constant laughs, and the suspects’ performances were outstanding. What a perfect activity for a hot summer weekend in Florida. When we left Sunday, we were still talking about the mystery play, the terrific actresses, and the hard work and cleverness of our rally leaders who made it so great.—Kathy Donoghue
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Tracy, California (January 4 - 6)
For a boondock outing this was a wild one. Ten brave souls weathered the winds and rain that introduced the 2008 New Year. Fortunately, we were able to park our rigs right around the clubhouse. A roaring wood-burning stove kept us cozy and warm.
The birders had a field day, spotting lots of birds, but the fisher gals seemed to be content to stay dry. Nothing that was planned happened, but that didn’t stop us from having a good time together. Good food, challenging games and interesting conversation helped us relax while the wind howled outside.
We did have some unfortunate excitement. When Linda went out to the country store, there were seven sheriff’s cars surrounding the building. The store had been robbed and the attendant had been shot. Made us appreciate that we were behind locked gates on our private island.—Winona Abrams
Isleton, California (February 1 – 3)
What a great weekend! We had 32 rigs with 46 women. The rain and wind couldn’t dampen the spirits of those attending. We had everything from pull Sue and Glo out of the mud entertainment to a chili cook-off, line dance lessons and even a new rig (Jeri’s) dedication. A gift of soft slippers to soothe their sore feet was given to the line dance teachers as a thank you. We had a tie in the Saturday night chili cook-off with a vegetarian chili by Noni and a Weight Watchers recipe from Jeri. The prize of three boxes of Crockpot liners and Crockpot mixes went to Jeri since Noni couldn’t use them.
Saturday night, after dinner, several games were going on. The one I was involved in was a partner Skip-bo, which was a total crack-up. On Super Bowl Sunday we had a party sponsored by Delta Shores with door prizes, pizza, sandwiches, decorated cake and all. The FreeWheelers football pool was won by Beth and Joan, each taking two quarters. Thank you everyone for participating in this fun week-end.—Joan Beason
Bethel Island, California (November 2 – 4)
Rigs started rolling into Sugar Barge RV Resort on Thursday evening. By Friday afternoon, we had filled all the 43 spaces the campground manager had scrounged up for us. We had an enthusiastic 67 women in attendance!
The campground reserved the activity room for us all weekend, which is a great thing for our ever-growing membership. Friday evening we enjoyed a reception hosted by the 2007 advisory board. Our chapter leader, Jeri McLees, started a new tradition of presenting red beads to first-timers. The rule is that the next time they come to an outing, they are to bring the beads and pass them along to the next first-timer.
Saturday morning we enjoyed our traditional biscuits ’n gravy breakfast, thanks to Susan and Beth. After breakfast, we had our annual meeting, which proved to include very lively and also very productive discussion of several important issues. A highlight was a very informative presentation by Teri Shugart about RVW’s legal status and what this means for our chapter.
The weather on Bethel Island was perfect—clear, sunny skies and balmy temperatures. After the meeting, women scattered for the day to enjoy various activities—touring in Lodi to see the cranes sly in, fishing, playing games, walking along the levee, geocaching, or sitting under an awning talking with old and new friends. The evening potluck dinner was fabulous, but even more fabulous was our own All-Girl Band repeating their convention performance just for us.
Sunday morning we all cleared our refrigerators and shared a hitch-up breakfast before either pulling out and heading home or settling in for one last night at Sugar Barge. Based on feedback as people packed up and left, this outing was a huge success! The red bead tradition definitely caught on. Our newer members told us that they truly felt a warm and welcoming spirit throughout the weekend.
At this rally, the advisory board also tried sign-up sheets for various activities to see if that might help women find companions for things they might be interested in doing. We are not sure if this will catch on as a regular outing feature, but we will keep this going for the next few outings to see if it helps get members connected and involved in activities they want to share. Of course, as FreeWheelers, just simply freewheeling for the entire outing remains the norm.—Peggy Chinn
Marysville, California (September 7-9)
The weather was ideal for this weekend outing hosted by Ferrell & Ferrell with the able assistance of Irene Paulin. Between the Lakeview Group site and individual sites, there were a total of 36 women in 24 rigs. Our focus was on relaxing, socializing and having a good time.
We kicked things off on Friday evening with everyone bringing a drink and appetizer to the group site where people signed up for a time on Saturday to go out on the patio boat. There was a potluck continental breakfast Saturday morning, which gave Susan and Beth a chance to come to breakfast instead of cooking it.
The rented patio boat went out twice, under the able driving skills of first Beth and then Hilary, who navigated around Collins Lake. Time was allowed during each cruise for people to go swimming. Everyone needed to navigate the mud at the waters’ edge, which was made easier thanks to the help from several intrepid FreeWheelers who waded in to select the best docking area.
Saturday afternoon, those sitting around the Lakeview group site were put to work peeling apples. This activity turned out to be a great way for new and seasoned campers to get to know each other. Under the direction of Beth, the pie baker, the apples ended up in three delicious pies served up at our potluck dinner. Campfires were enjoyed each night.
Sunday we enjoyed a leisurely morning, sitting around talking, and then we said our goodbyes and headed home—except for those lucky few who were able to stay over until Monday.
A high compliment was paid by a newer FreeWheeler. As she left, she said “Thank you for making me feel so included!” Our thanks to those who attended this outing for making it such a great weekend.—Laura Ferrell, Mary Sue Ferrell and Irene Paulin
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Candy Wood and Beckey Beckey in Oregon
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See the current issue of RVing Women magazine for information about upcoming events.
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Silver Creek, Michigan (August 24-28)
Women from five different states—34 campers in 24 rigs—attended this rally. The weather was hot during the day and cool in the evenings, making it cozy for large campfires each evening.
Friday evening, 18 women enjoyed a wonderful dinner at The Open Hearth, a nearby restaurant. Everyone participated in the Saturday evening potluck dinner, which included our fresh corn roast.
Ten women helped the two men from the RV park put up a 20-foot by 40-foot dining tent. High winds off Lake Michigan caused it to blow down on some of the women and a dog just after it got up.
Saturday, 18 women went on dune buggy rides and then toured the lighthouse. On Sunday, 18 women went for a boat ride on Silver Lake, stopping at the sand dunes. Some of the women climbed up a small sand dune.
We enjoyed swimming in the large pool, wading in Lake Michigan, easing into the large hot tub at the park, playing games, and visiting with each other. A couple of women even got in a golf game on Sunday while others went on the boat ride. There was plenty of time to go sightseeing around the area, which several did.—Nancy Wurm and Sue Witig
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See the current issue of RVing Women magazine for information about upcoming events.
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Lanagan, Missouri (October 17 - 21)
Our members have fun, and what is more fun than a campfire wienie roast, kayaking and canoeing, touring an arts and crafts festival during perfect October days in the Missouri Ozarks, and sharing a good pancake breakfast served on a beautiful morning by Sandy Kurtz, Susan Trepoy, Martha Joy Hammond and Cindy Windburn.—Marsha Thompson
Year-end Review
It hardly seems possible that another year is about to come to an end and with it, another memorable year of RVing. It has been a very enjoyable and productive year for Mid-America. We have had three outstanding official rallies, as well as several when and where events.
Our annual maintenance rally at Rutladers Outpost was its' usual huge success. The addition of the highly competitive washers and spades tournaments made the weekend even more enjoyable.
The Branson rally was great. It was so much fun meeting members from the other chapters. I know we had attendees from Michigan, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, not to mention those attending from our own chapter states. We had many compliments as to the friendliness of our chapter. One lady from Florida told me that we really lived up to our reputation. Ellie, Arlene, Dot and Nancy did a great hosting job. The food was fabulous, the activities were fun and well planned, and they even managed to turn off the rain at just the right times. I was also elated that we had twelve ladies at the newbie reception.
The Lanagan, Missouri rally and the War Eagles Crafts Festival were awesome. Marsha Thompson outdid herself with this rally. The hotdog luncheon, pizza and bingo party, plus all the other good food, were outstanding. There were so many beautiful arts and crafts to look at and to buy. My rig was loaded with things I just had to have. The campground was so much fun, with many activities offered. I hope we can do this rally again real soon.
We also had several when and where events: Salina, Melvern, Pomme-de-Terre, Bennett Springs. Who can ever forget Pat Mitchell and her modeling of cocktail dresses in the thrift shop, Marsha’s fish fry and, of course, Peg Ellis' fantastic green-colored salad. These were such good times, and I hear that there may be a couple more this year if the weather permits.
2008 will mark a milestone for Mid-America. It will be the tenth anniversary of the chapter. As they say, time flies when fun is being had! Norma Cartwright will be leading the chapter, and she is already working and planning on ways to make this a special year. I, for one, think the other nine years have been pretty special, too!—Kathy Wintle
Branson, Missouri (September 7-9)
In addition to representing the Mid-America Chapter states, the 67 eager RVWers in attendance at this rally represented Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Colorado, Ohio, Kentucky, Louisiana and Florida.
Arlene Thiel, Ellie Key, Nancy Ames, and Dot Meeks hosted the event, which was held at America’s Best Campground (ABC). The rally officially began Friday evening with a good old fashioned hot dog roast and all the trimmings. The meal concluded with the special treat of homemade ice cream provided by Susy Stevens and Connie Carpenter.
Mid-America outings always provide for opportunities for card games and lots of chatter. Friday evening gave us time for both of these popular activities.
Saturday afternoon found us humming, feet tapping and simply enjoying one of Branson’s popular shows, 50’s at the Hop. Needless to say, the music brought back a lot of memories for many of us. Barb Blackler was invited to come to the stage to share her obvious enthusiasm for this rollicking afternoon.
ABC catered a great dinner for us Saturday evening, followed by music, dancing and more card games.
Sunday morning’s continental breakfast was followed by Mid-America’s business meeting. An informative and welcome session concerned with identity theft was then presented by RVW member Diana Sievers, a retired Illinois State Police official. As a result, many of us vowed to make changes to secure our computers, bank accounts and credit cards.
Although the rally was officially over Sunday morning, many of the campers elected to stay another day and participated in a Duck Ride tour of land and lakes in this area of the Ozarks. Everyone was given a noisy duck whistle upon boarding, an action that the drivers may have regretted due to the ardor of the RVW riders.
Leftovers were sufficiently plentiful to provide for a Sunday night supper and then—what else—more card games. In spite of the surplus of uninvited rain that was with us throughout the rally, spirits were not dampened a bit as a good time was had by all of our RVW family members in attendance.—Peggy Ellis
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Mastoris Restaurant (March 29)
The Lunch Bunch met for the third year at Mastoris Restaurant for their wonderful bill of fare. Ooh, that cheese bread! There were twenty-one women who came out to shake off the winter and enjoy the better part of the afternoon together. We talked about what we did with our non-camping time, but we also focused on our new season ahead. Needless to say, we are all anxious to get going on the road. Five new women joined the bunch for lunch and they too are ready to go. Our national rally is near capacity and we are looking forward to that extended weekend in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lunch was a success, we made new friends and enjoyed the company of old ones. Now we can’t wait to go camping.—Bonnie Simkins
Lancaster, Pennsylvania (November 9 – 11)
The trees were in their splendor and the air was crisp and cold. A record number of women made it to this final MidAtlantic Chapter rally of 2007.
We have made it a tradition to hold a pre-Thanksgiving event to say ado to the snowbirds, talk about winter plans and share a grand meal of turkey and ham. What better place to have friends but in the heart of Lancaster County where fresh food is still plentiful and the people who live here are gentle and good. There is much to keep you intrigued with this area of Pennsylvania, which is why we keep coming back.
On Saturday night we had our feast set out with the many side dishes our talented women prepared. We always have enough food to feed the masses. After dinner, we had door prizes and games of every variety. This was a very relaxing time to be with old friends and get to know our new members.
Sunday we enjoyed more social time and a full breakfast prepared by our cook staff.
Special thanks for all the hands that helped make this a successful rally—a big hand for Lee and Meg, our kitchen mavens, and Lynda, for our early morning coffee. Many thanks to all our chapter members for a wonderful year. Wishing all RVW members a healthy and happy New Year—Bonnie Simkins and Karen Welter
Winfield, Pennsylvania (August 17-19)
In August, a group of us met at a new campground Thursa discovered that is nestled in the large rolling hills of mid-Pennsylvania and tucked at the end of a long road. Little Mexico seemed to fit the bill for that quiet weekend away with a real settled feeling. We camped in the round at our own covered pavilion with a fireplace—no fear of getting our fire wet if it rained. Lined with several picnic tables, the warmth of our fire pit and some food, we entertained each other with stories, our travels and a few games of Bocce Ball. It was nice to relax, take a nap and enjoy each other’s company. Thanks to Thursa and Dotti for the low-key weekend, which we needed so much, and for the great spot they found for our future rallies. We hope others will join us next year for another peaceful time. See you in 2008.—Bonnie Simkins
Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania (September 13-16)
After nine months of planning, our Hee Haw Country Ho Down at Otter Lake Camp Resort was a real hit. We had a mix of old and new friends coming from 12 states. The Pocono Record, a local newspaper, came out to interview us about our rally and events. As a result, we had two women come to the campground to ask for an application to join.
Among the many activities we shared, there was kayaking at the Delaware Water Gap, horseback riding, playing a round or two of golf, hiking in the Delaware State Forest, touring the historic areas of Pennsylvania and kicking back at campsite to enjoy perfect pre-fall weather.
We had a trivia horse race on Friday night; the purple team was the winner. The winners of Watch, Watch, Who has the watch? were Char Ank and Eilene Breau. There were lot of prizes and happy campers all weekend.
Saturday morning after breakfast, we had a dedication in memory of Arleen Lane, a wonderful friend and woman whose heart was made of gold. Donations were given so we could buy a new flag to fly over Otter Lake, as she spent her last rally there with us. We also had a couple photos of Arlene framed to remain in the pavilion. Leslie, one of the owners of Otter Lake Camp Resort has generously made the resort feel like home to us.
Our theme carried us to the old west in a country kind of way. We had a catered dinner Saturday and then made sundaes. We finished the evening with square dancing at the lakeside pavilion. Mickey McFarland, our caller for the night, took out her 45s and surprised us all with her fantastic skits and calling skills. She held the crowd in the palm of her hand and showed off her talents by miming with some props to a couple old time records. She had us laughing so hard we thought our sides would split.
At our Sunday breakfast, the buzz was still on about our Saturday night entertainment, and I am sure this is one weekend that will stay a hit for a long time. Many thanks to the 90 women who showed up for this rally and to all the women who offered their time and talents to help during the rally. We’ll plan on seeing you at Otter Lake Camp Resort next year in October.—Bonnie Simkins
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Abbot, Maine (Moosefest 4)
Moosefest 4, hosted once again by Pat Saxton, Claudia Combies, Marion Wilson, Teddie Grayson and Gloria Hollis at Balsam Woods Campground, began with a Friday evening meet and greet with shared munchies and a pot of Pat Saxton's Hot Stuff Chili. Carole Ogg read passages from here newly released book, Fields of Fire and was kind enough to sign copies of her book. We finished the evening with a roaring campfire.
Saturday morning, Teddie the Spatula and her able assistant, Gloria, cooked a stupendous breakfast of eggs to order with bacon, kielbasa, toast, bagels and assorted breads. After allowing some time to digest, many participated in games of ladder golf, washer
toss and the secibd annual Moose Poo Hunt.
Saturday evening's potluck was an old fashioned church supper with ham provided. An array of side dishes and desserts were brought by the participants. After dinner, we were treated to a concert by Lucie Blue Tremblay. The concert was a fundraiser to benefit the creation of an educational CD promoting breast health awareness. We were entertained with a beautiful voice and then educated about the importance of correct self breast examination. Lucie brought her breast cancer awareness chopper for all to view. More information on this project can be found at www.thebreastexamproject.org. Northeast Network RVW members were very generous in their support of this project.
Sunday morning we again had a excellent breakfast prepared by Teddie and Gloria. Prizes were awarded to winners of the proceeding day's events. That was followed with a prize drawing for all attendees that provided their RVW numbers. It was great fun checking for the lowest number. Everyone went home with a prize. Keep those membership cards in your wallets—you never know when a prize is lurking.
We said goodbye to some. Those who were making the Northwoods of Maine a vacation by staying later decided that a clambake would do us just fine!! Steamers and corn for all—what a way to end a get together and start a vacation, and oh, how we are looking forward to August 2008 for MooseFest 5!—Jean Alexander
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Covered Bridge Rally (September 17 – 20)
Our covered bridge rally once again was a huge success with 20 rigs and 33 attendees, not to mention quite an array of animal children.
The weather could not have been more perfect. It was a beautiful, early autumn weekend with the days being warm enough for shorts and T-shirts and the nights chilly enough for jeans and a sweatshirt or jacket.
The days were filled with traveling miles of the covered bridge country back roads by car and stopping at quaint villages and towns. We were thrilled to be in Amish country, seeing horse-drawn plows and delighting in eating home-cooked pastries.
Back at the campground, we had a yard game tournament featuring Kentucky Golf, Corn Hole and Bocce Ball. We declared winners in many categories. Saturday evening we had a bingo party with prizes for winners of each round.
We had the usual good food that always accompanies our rallies. Friday evening, 33 of us went to a local restaurant. On Saturday, we had an old-fashioned wiener roast pitch-in. Yes, we also had our happy hours every evening where everyone shared stores about their day’s adventures.
All the fun came too quickly to an end Sunday afternoon following a farewell pitch-in breakfast. Many things go to Kathy Isenhauer, Shelly Haley and Tammy Hanson for all their work and help that went into this great weekend.—Tammy Haley
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Lincoln City, Oregon (March 14-16)
Devils Lake RV Park was ready for camp host Barb Pace and the rest of our members. The meeting room there was nice and big, and the kitchen had everything we could possibly need, and more. The manager, Chris, even started the coffee pot for us in the morning when she unlocked the door. This is a park with new owners and manager and lots of improvements that we appreciated.
On Friday, rigs trickled in as the rain reminded us about spring weather in Oregon. Eventually we were 24 members and guests, with 15 rigs. Old friends and new made quick work of our favorite appetizer potluck dinner, then the games began. We broke out Cribbage, Rummicube, and Phase Ten. Some of us just sat and talked, and watched the gamers.
After a continental breakfast provided by the chapter on Saturday, people went off in several directions. Some went to see and support the Tanger Outlet Stores. Some went to deposit, and a few to withdraw, funds at the Chinook Winds Casino. Many got the dogs out for a walk whenever the rain let up, too. Short walks in the rain were the best plan for the day.
We gathered together again for our regular potluck dinner that evening, and we really outdid ourselves on that one! Following officer and member introductions, we welcomed four new members to our group. Charlotte Norby won the drawing for the door prize, a Hose Buddy to help control those unruly dump hoses at the ground. Games rounded out our evening with the addition of poker.
The rain on Sunday was intermittent. Some had to head for home after sharing a leftover continental breakfast. For others, more shopping and gambling seems to have been the order of the day with continuing dog walking, too. That evening, many of us went out for seafood at the Surfrider, which has a nice ocean view.
Despite the rain, we enjoyed our first campout of the year at the coas. We are already planning our next happy trails.—Barb Pace
Medford, Oregon (August 10-13)
Masanee Brown and Danna Walker were our camp hosts for the weekend. We had 19 rigs and 24 members attending. After swimming in the very nice pool Friday afternoon, we held our finger food get-together in the clubhouse, followed by bingo. Along with monetary prizes, winners got to choose from the candy bowl.
Saturday morning following coffee, rolls, fruit and yogurt, 16 of our group car pooled to Shady Cove for the Rogue River float. Our hosts rented two very large rubber rafts and each person got a paddle and a life vest. It was a lazy paddle down the river, dodging rocks and starting water fights. I understand that Masanee and Arlene got tossed in the river—but not by a person; the raft popped them out. It was very hot, so the cold river felt good. Their raft also got hung up on the rocks a couple times. Since Masanee and Arlene were already wet, they would get out and pull the raft off the rocks. The group stopped along the way and had lunch that each person had packed for herself.
Saturday night Masanee and Danna barbecued chicken. The rest of us brought side dishes and dessert. The games following dinner didn’t last very late, as everyone was pooped from the river float.
Following breakfast Sunday morning, Bert and Gerri presented information on MASA (Medical Air Services Association.) Masanee and Danna have been members for a few years. It is a service that will pay your bill for an ambulance, helicopter or plane if you are sick or injured and have to be transported to a hospital. Several RVW members signed up for the service.
After lunch, a large group car-pooled to see Masanee and Danna’s new house. We got the grand tour of their beautiful home and then had dinner at the Hyler Lake Pizza Parlor. Good pizza!
We met again Monday morning in the clubhouse for coffee and rolls before unhooking and heading for the RV dump station and home.—Ruby Rhodes
Canby, Oregon (September 7-10)
Marilyn Nichols was our event host for our last event of the year, held at Riverside RV Park located just south of Portland on the Mollala River. The river proved to be a nice relief from the heat for a few dogs and their owners. We had 23 members with 14 rigs present.
Friday night we had our usual finger food get together with games following. On Saturday morning, we met for breakfast, supplied by the chapter, and discussed where and who was going touring to make sure everyone had rides. A couple of gals went to Portland to the Body Works 3 exhibit and several car loads made it to the Aurora Hazelnut Candy Factory. I think everyone made it to the Swan Island Dahlias Farm.
We had a book sale at 4 p.m. Saturday. Members had donated paperback books, hardback books, CD’s, DVD’s, VHS movies and books on tape. Two big buyers (must read a lot) helped bring total sales to $140.
Saturday night, we had our traditional potluck with games following. Sunday morning, we met for breakfast again and then did more touring. We frequented a local restaurant for dinner on Sunday night. It was very good and they accommodated us easily.—Ruby Rhodes
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See the current issue of RVing Women magazine for information about upcoming events.
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Sage, California (February 15-18)
Snow! Well, this was a first for many—arriving at a southern California rally in a snow storm! It didn't last very long, but it certainly gave us something to talk about, including our frozen water hoses! Our annual Tucalota Springs rally filled up and overflowed with 29 rigs and 52 attendees. We were lucky enough to have the clubhouse the whole weekend, so our rally leaders went overboard with decor and food for our Friday night meet and eat gathering. Alice and Therese had soup, pork and beans, pulled pork sandwiches, homemade veggie wraps and salad. Cookies provided by Bev took care of the sweet tooth syndrome.
Our annual chapter business meeting was held Saturday morning. We sustained ourselves through this informative yet long confabulation by nibbling on muffins and pastries. The rest of the day members spent their time playing board games, chatting with new and old friends, visiting the local casino, checking out the nearby wineries and relaxing in general. That evening we had our wonderfully delicious potluck, after which Alice led us in a game of "Here's the Question. What's the Answer?" Way to go High C!
After a lazy Sunday morning, we all met in the clubhouse for a lunch sandwich buffet. Each rig brought the fixings for their favorite sandwich, and after everything was laid out members could peruse the selections and make their own sandwich! What a fun time we all had—including a chance to see what others like in the sandwich world. Some great concoctions were even made. Guess we should've had a contest!
The rest of the day was spent doing what comes naturally, and for most of us that meant lots of chit-chat time with friends. That evening found us back in the clubhouse for desserts and a rousing game of card bingo. Well, that was fun!
Monday was check out day and fond farewells. Everyone had a great long weekend and most left rejuvenated and full of good energy! Big thanks to our rally leaders, Alice Dyer and Therese Hunt, for such a great weekend.—Bev Laing
Temecula, California (September 21 – 23)
Hosted by Barbara and Linda Brown, our rally at the Pechanga RV Resort and Casino was full of fun, food and rain. But our parade just kept right on marching as 47 participants in 26 rigs kept things busy the entire weekend.
Just about everyone went to the Saturday lunch buffet at the casino. Many stayed to work off their calories by pulling those handles! Between the rain, the morning and evening gatherings, the info session, the casino, dog walking, shopping and snoozing, everyone had a great weekend. There seemed to never be a dull moment with one happenstance after another, and there was always a group of women to figure things out—like what to do about the slide that wouldn’t go in or the generator that wouldn’t start. And then there was the black tank…ha, ha, ha! So, a fun time was had by all, and we thank the three women who joined RVW and the 13 who joined the SoCALjourners Chapter. We look forward to another rousing rally!—Bev Laing
Cathedral City, California (November 9 – 12)
Hosted by Janie Sturman and Fran Macomber, this rally was held at the Cathedral Palms RV Park, a hop, skip and jump from Palm Springs. Everyone was welcomed by Fran and Janie to a fabulous hot dog barbeque complete with beans and salad and dessert. Our grill gurus, Diane McHenry and Janie Sturman, did a fine job. Everything was delicious! Full and contented, we listened to a chapter update before heading outside to see the stars, enjoy the silence, and rest our weary bodies.
Saturday morning our rally leaders spoiled us royally with breakfast breads and juice. Everyone enjoyed catching up on each other’s travels. We discovered there was a method in their madness as we then carpooled to the Coachella Valley Preserve for a hike to a natural desert oasis. What a wonderful opportunity that was to see and learn about a small example of our southern California desert.
Some of those who did not “take a hike,” spent their time and money at the terrific hospital thrift store across the street. Many bargains were found.
Our Saturday night potluck was a feast of delicious favorites, conversations and great stories. Later we gathered with our bags of quarters to play card bingo, led by Fran Macomber. This game was entirely too much fun. We could have played all night.
Sunday morning, we were again treated with breakfast and powered up to play Sit-down Baseball, which ended in a tie. We had a great time exercising our lungs, rooting for our teammates. The rest of the day we were on our own. Several ladies went geocaching; others did some strumming and singing, and some took the opportunity to relax and enjoy the quiet ambience of this area.
Thanks to all who participated and thanks to our rally leaders for a great weekend!—Bev Laing
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San Antonio, New Mexico (November 6 - 8)
Solo RVing Women met in New Mexico, Land of Enchantment, for a rally and visit to the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. We had the opportunity there to view some of the thousands of migrating waterfowl up front and close. Host Kathleen Presley and Beckey Beckey greeted nine women as they arrived Monday night at the campground. A few knew each other already. Some had been caravanning from the RVW convention in Lodi. Others were on their way to someplace warm in the southwest. All gathered before noon the next day, with their lunches, at the Eagle Scout deck to watch the snow and Ross’ geese, bald eagles and ducks.
It was a beautiful clear day. However, the geese decided they were not going to snooze there that afternoon. We used binoculars and a spotting scope on the deck to observe the few birds that did show, and then we had lunch and went on to the visitors center to spend some money and look at the displays.
In the afternoon, we all went back to our rigs to take a nap. All that fresh air and sunshine makes you crave a nap. That evening we carpooled to the big town of San Antonio, population 8,700 spread over 10 square miles, where we had dinner at the Buckhorn, a small tavern rated seventh in the United States for it’s hamburgers.
At dinner, we went around the table telling about where we had come from and how we got involved with RVing Women. Some had joined in 1991, the year RVW was formed; others, much later. While we sat and talked and listened to each others’ stories, the bartender/owner kept dropping in to see how we were doing and finally commented that we were very respectful of each other. She said that usually when you get 11 women sitting around a table, there is a lot of talking, laughter and general chaos. But we were all enjoying hearing about our new friends. Yes, we laughed—but there were long periods of silence while we listened to the stories that enfolded.
Finally, we realized that everyone in the restaurant had left, and the bartender and waitresses were waiting for us to leave so they could go home. We paid for our meals and, as we walked out to our cars, we laughed about the fact that it was the first time for some of us to close down a bar. Of course, it was only 8 p.m.
The next morning we met at 6 a.m. to see the fly out, which is always impressive. The noise of the geese gabbling about taking off and the sound of thousands of wings lifting the birds into the air makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
After the fly out, we drove back into San Antonio for a New Mexican breakfast at Acosta’s. From there we drove 20 miles south of the refuge to the El Camino Real Heritage Center. El Camino Real was established in the mid-16th century as the trade route from Mexico City to Santa Fe. The center is new and has displays on the various cities through which the traders traveled.
That evening we observed the fly in of all the snow and Ross’ geese and sandhill cranes flying back to the ponds where they roost during the night. The water is only a foot or two deep, but the coyotes will not go out into the water to attack the birds so they feel safe in the water.
We drove into Socorro that evening to the Socorro Springs Micro Brewery. The next day we went back to Socorro and visited the mission that has been in continuous use since it’s inception in 1598. It’s a beautiful little church with a reclining Christ in a niche in the wall.
From there we drove over to the New Mexico Mining College where were able to observe some wigeons. Socorro is a typical New Mexican town with a plaza in the middle, so we walked around the plaza, visiting the stores, and looked at a segment of the outside shell that contained the first atom bomb, which was tested not far from this area. We also stopped in a working art gallery, talked with one of the artists and purchased some pictures and cards painted by the three women artists who own the gallery. We had dinner at the Stage Door, a new Cajun restaurant in an old adobe building.
That evening we realized that RVW had again brought women together for enjoyment and companionship in a safe atmosphere. New friends were made, old ones cemented and we were all sad that this rally was over.—Beckey Beckey
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Burnet Lake, Texas (February 29-March 2
Our rally at Big Chief RV Resort at Lake Buchanan was attended by 62 women, 13 of whom were guests. Some of these guests opted to join RVW and our chapter before the weekend was over! Our hosts Page Graves, Toni Lucas, Karen Son, and Judy Wisdom did a fantastic job of planning, organizing, and conducting a wonderful event.
On Friday morning, an enthusiastic group left for Delaware Springs Golf Course in Burnet. The weather was most cooperative and they returned happy and tired from their day away. Spirits were picked up at the happy hour and the potluck was sumptuous, as usual. Friday evening was a good opportunity for games at the clubhouse.
On Saturday, many women opted to take a tour on the Vanishing River Cruise boat with the hopes of sighting bald eagles and other of the many birds in the area. The early morning group had a better opportunity and did spot an eagle during their four-hour cruise. After another happy hour we all brought our steaks (and other meats) up to the clubhouse to grill them over the coals. Our hosts provided a huge salad and baked potatoes with all the fixin’s. Later there was a campfire and visiting under the stars. Some opted to remain inside and play games in the clubhouse.
Sunday morning we were treated to breakfast tacos before hitching up and heading out. Our state is so vast that many women traveled quite a long distance to attend, but perhaps the biggest kudos go to Billie Rusk who traveled three days to get to us again—all the way from Tucson! A special thanks to our hosts for the work they did to make this such a wonderful rally. We look forward to the next gathering in Hempstead during the Bluebonnet spectacular.—Marge Le Claire
Canyon Lake, Texas (December 6 – 9
A year after forming the new Texas Ramblin’ Roses Chapter with 35 members, 56 of 110 members gathered together in December from Dallas-Fort Worth, Lake Sam Rayburn, Houston, Smithpoint, Dripping Springs, Livingston and many other areas of Texas to have fun, laugh, sing, play games, open Christmas presents, sit around the campfire,mwalk, swim, explore Canyon Lake, boat ride, kayak, and have touching moments that warm your Texas heart. What more could you ask for?
Thursday night our hosts, Donna, Susan, Scottie and Janis, cooked some tasty homemade chili. There was card playing afterward with lots of visiting and catching up in the rally room where we had happy hours, games, and meetings.
Friday morning our group got together to hike and bird watch along the Guadalupe River below the Canyon Lake Dam. Friday night we cooked on the grill, enjoyed a smorgasbord of cakes, pies, candies and cookies and later shared stories around a campfire.
Saturday morning our hosts cooked fat pancakes. After pancakes, we had a business meeting to discuss organizational plans for the 2009 RVW Annual Convention in Texas. Everyone is excited to plan and arrange this event with the help of the national organization. Our officers, President Marge La Claire, Vice President Emma Lou “Scottie” Scott, Secretary Donna Bullis and Treasurer Page Graves were elected to another one-year term.
In the evening we enjoyed a potluck dinner with singing to guitars played by Irene and Susan. Susan has created a wonderful RVing Women song that we have sung the last few meetings. Later, we all opened Christmas presents, one by one stealing what we liked from someone else as our turn came up.
Sunday morning we had to say goodbye to our old friends and newfound friends.—Carol Burk
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