May 2019 Rally
Dates: May 17 -19, 2019
Location: Stuarts Draft, VA
Hosts: Timm and Sharon Seaman
Campground: Shenandoah Family Campground
First kudos and thanks to Timm and Sharon Seaman for hosting the rally. We had a great turnout for the May rally. Fourteen 14 coaches plus some family and friends who also joined us. Attending this month were: Karen and Janelle Lohr, Sherry and Baynard Barton, Patty and John Nichols, Robbie and John Davis, Sharon and Timm Seaman, Tim Handy, Barbara and Dennis Sarmento, Carol and Paul Melton, Karilyn and Mark Pittman, Mary and Larry Shifflett, Betty and Rex Monroe, Judy and Gene Matthews, Sherry and Bob Sonnessa with daughters Erin and Kelsea and grandson Jonah, and Joyce and David Martin with friends Margaret and Bill Parker. Additionally, Kamal Rojiani joined us Saturday evening for happy hour and dinner.
Friday a large group went to the Route 11 Potato Chip factory for a short presentation on how they make their delicious potato chips and we got to sample a number of the flavors. From there we made a short stop at the Edinburg Mill, one of the few mills in the area that survived the Civil War. Then we did what our club does best…we went to lunch at Swover Creek Brewery which had brick oven pizza! Pizza was followed by a tasting trip to the Muse Winery.
After happy hour at the campground we had a pot luck dinner with our hosts provided barbecued ribs and sloppy joes. To accommodate the “messy rib” meal we had a “wacky” bib contest. The winners of the contest were the Sonnessa’s with matching pink hooded sweatshirts with pigs and the Handy’s with a “will travel for food” logo on a license plate cover bib. We concluded with a short business meeting at which David Martin present the new by-laws. The by-laws were unanimously approved by the group. With business completed the remainder of the evening was spent around a delightful campfire.
Saturday morning after our hosts provided us a continental breakfast, the day’s activities began. We scattered in small groups to a variety of activities that included the Shenandoah Caverns, the New Market Civil War reenactment, a visit to the Strasburg May fest, tasting at Old Hill Hard Cider, touring of the Edinburg Mill, more wine tasting (is there a pattern here?), playing golf and some “just relaxing” at the campground. But as always without fail, we gathered back at the campground for happy hour! Dinner Saturday was at Sal’s Italian Bistro in Edinburg with a group of 30 in attendance. We may have overwhelmed the restaurant with our large clan!
Sunday we enjoyed a breakfast of Timm’s famous banana pancakes, bacon, fruit and muffins. Following breakfast John Davis led us in a thought provoking devotional about “big problems and little problems” and how God can handle them all. Many of us said our goodbyes until we meet again while a few decided to continue the festivities and stay another day. I believe I can conclude with “a great time was had by all”.
Rally writeup by Betty Franklin