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WHERE: We are just west of Montgomery, Alabama on the Alabama River at a COE park, Gunter Hill.
WHO: Between 70 and 80 fiberglass trailers, mostly 17 foot Casitas.
WHAT: The fourth annual rally of the Green Eggs and Ham, a St Patty’s Day event.
It’s Saturday morning and the campground is still asleep; everyone resting after a very busy week of activities.
This rally has more scheduled activities than any of the others we attend. For example, this week we can pick from a craft class, an Alaskan trip talk, a Dutch oven cooking class and a Casita maintenance class. And that is just during the day! Each night at the pavilion there is food and music.
Yesterday we squeeze a paddle in just before the cooking class and it is way too much for this gal. Right after dinner I head back to the trailer, too tired to have any more fun!
We arrive on a balmy, 73 degree Tuesday afternoon finding the park full of little white trailers. Pleased to see our good friends, Jerry and Wanda, are right across the road in a beautiful waterfront site. Our site, while not on the water, is private and nestled in the woods…no need to pull the blinds on the back window.
It’s exciting to walk around and find old friends scattered around the park. Friends from Georgia, Maureen and Todd, offer us sandwiches, leftovers from feeding others at lunch, and we are grateful not to cook. That night the warm weather ends with rain and we watch TV in the camper. Our first night of camper TV viewing since 1/5/14! The joys of a full hook-up!
The next day there is more visiting and greeting old friends as eggs are arriving regularly all day. The rally starts today, Wednesday, but campers have been arriving since last Thursday.
While Larry performs some minor repairs we visit with Texas friends at our campsite. Later, the chili coalescing affair, (the chili dump), takes place at the pavilion. This involves two large pots and lots of contributions from homemade chili to store bought.
It’s cold, the wind cuts like a knife, and while hubby stays for the music, I opt for the warmth of the trailer.
Thursday, the sun is out and even though it’s too cold to kayak, I find other ways to have fun. This trike belongs to a friendly couple from Pensacola who we had previously met at this same park last year.
Lots of fun and a good workout…one makes it go forward by leaning side to side!
I try to find something pretty to photograph but the drab water and winter landscape is uninspiring. On my bike I spot these trees, a promise that spring is coming!
That night we are back visiting with friends. This is Wanda and Melanie laughing in spite of the smoke.
Donna’s strawberry cobbler did not last long!
Everybody is full of cobbler and brownies!
View from our dinner site!
Alabama sunset….made me miss Arizona!
Picking’ at the Pavilion.
Our boats look forlorn while we wait for the temperature to rise.
A friend joins us and we head down the creek to the Alabama River. We do nothing strenuous, just poke along. First time in our boats since returning from Florida one year ago.
Our buddy, Donna from Florida, asks us to be a part of the Dutch oven cooking class. Could not say “no”, especially after learning it would be fun. David prepares his specialty, “dump cake”.
We have a blast doing this! And everyone gets a small taste of all the different dishes!
Everyone waits patiently for the food to be done.
As the cooking class ends, the gumbo begins! Another lovely couple, Bob and Pat host the gumbo night.
Our neighbor, Lora from Virginia, takes a turn stirring the gumbo!
Even with the erratic weather, really having a good time. Lots of fun, making lots of memories!
We enjoy having Mike and Gerri of Happytrails camp next to us and meeting Bob and Sharon from Illinois. Always special to run into other bloggers, and more special when they know who you are!
This our last day and it’s overcast. Hope the rain holds off until tonight so we can paddle and cook another meal in the Dutch oven. Another day to visit and eat……
I have been looking forward to news of the rally and am so glad to see your report!
ReplyDeleteThat Alabama sunset is pretty puny compared to the glorious Arizona sunsets you posted earlier. :)
Glad you had such a great time. Wish the weather would have been warmer. But that's March.
Yes, we had it all, hot, cold, wind, rain, and tornado watches on the last morning!
DeleteToo much fun, I am exhausted but sad that it will be a long time before we see most of these people again. So many of them are from Texas.
Sounds like a great rally & lots of fun in spite of mixed weather. We're cking out NM state parks as we wait for spring in MO.
ReplyDeleteImagine that it will be spring here before MO and spring is still hiding out. I am thinking you will be in NM at least all of March? Will there be a report of the parks soon?
DeleteLooks like great fun! I'm going to try to come next year (if I'm back from the desert by then). I have a Roadtrek but it's got a fiberglass body - does that count? ;-]
ReplyDeleteWonderful idea! I can't imagine anyone getting excluded. The most often phrase I hear at rallies..."once a Casita owner, always a Casita owner...does not matter if you are camping in a motor home!
DeleteDon't know if we will be back from the desert next year, BUT we will make our reservations 6 months ahead of time. Would not want to go and there not be room! Can always cancel.
It was a wonderful rally & lots of fun...our first. We enjoyed camping next door to you and meeting you and David. So glad the weather broke so you could get out in the kayaks.
ReplyDeleteWe have a rule, if we take a toy, we must use it. Almost wish we had kept them at home. But our little paddle was nice.
DeleteReally enjoyed meeting you two. Not all rallies are this structured, in fact, most are not and are more laid back.
Sounds like it was a great time, filled with good food, Friends(new and old)....and time for awesome activities...Thanks for sharing...Horst sends
ReplyDeleteIf you are like your online personality, you would really be in your element! We are home now, reflecting on one of our more fun ever weeks.
ReplyDeleteThe trike thing was a blast!
For me, this rally was all about my face. I was either feeding it or running off my mouth!
ReplyDeleteMaking more friends each rally, blessed with a wonderful Casita family!
Love the chili dump idea. It can be used in so many camp groups. Going to steal it!
ReplyDeleteThe original idea may have come from one of those many Texas rallies. Steal away!!
ReplyDeleteLynne, thanks to your question on my blog I have learned I have Winter Jasmine instead of Forsythias. I answered there how I learned the difference.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was winter jasmine but I often think I know a plant, and do not!
ReplyDeleteA great week. Great pics, also. So good to see you guys, again..
ReplyDeleteBest rally week ever! We had more fun because we're more involved.
ReplyDeleteIt's the companionship that makes it so special.
Sounds like a really fun rally - I liked that scooter you were riding - I've never seen one like that. Your kayaks make me itchy for spring so I can get mine out of storage! I may bring it with me next winter - there are more reservoirs and places to paddle in the southwest than I had expected.
ReplyDeleteIt's pouring rain here - but I'm planning my spring trips anyway.
Anne, great to hear from you! Yes, it was a good time and our deepening relationships with so many of the rally goers made it even more special. We had seen the scooter once before while in FL. Looked it up and it's called a carving scooter, made by Trikke. I do want one!
DeleteWe have thought about taking our kayaks west but figured it would be easier to rent than carrying them all the distance.
Have fun on your spring trips....hope to read about them!
Beautiful! That looks like a lot of fun!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, georgia. We are blessed to be part of a huge Casita family!
ReplyDelete