By John C. Mckenna, F401980
December 2014
A journey through the scenic hills and farmlands of northern Ohio led us to Clare-Mar Lakes Campground in Wellington, Ohio, site of a July 11-12, 2014, rally held jointly by the Erie Shores and Western Reserve Buckeyes chapters. We were greeted by our hosts, Bill and Carolyn Gadow, Dave Wargelin, and later by Tom and Linda Flanagan, who steered us to our spot among the other motorhomes. Dean Arbogast, president of the Western Reserve Buckeyes chapter, also welcomed us. It was great to see 15 coaches turn out.
We tip our collective hats to the special people who planned and worked hard to make this joint rally very special. Also, an “attaboy” to our male Rachael Ray gourmet cook, Bernie Kieffer, who slaved over a hot grill for all of our meals. And, we certainly cannot go without saying “thank you” to all who prepared and brought the many fine dishes and desserts that put the finishing touches on our two-day banquet.
Clare-Mar Campground was very nice, with a scenic lake and other amenities. The park provided many tables that were used throughout the weekend. Bike trails were enjoyed by Bob Monchein, Bill Gadow, and others, and a nearby airport afforded views of tow planes pulling gliders up to altitude and releasing them to soar over the treetops. Pretty cool!
The real plus, though, was members of both chapters enjoying each other’s company and sharing all manner of facts, remembrances, RV ideas, maintenance tips, and general conversation. A couple of years back we held a joint rally as well, so many of us recalled the fun we had at that gathering.
Who brought the beanbag baseball game? That was a really bad idea for the macho men. The women cleaned the men’s collective clocks, and rubbed it in as well! Here are some excuses the men gave as to why they lost the tournament:
- Certain beverages made them dizzy.
- The sun was too intense.
- Their beanbags were way too heavy.
- Their stomachs growled and distracted them.
- They tried too hard to impress the ladies.
- They threw the game on purpose.
- Some of their players were really bad.
- John McKenna’s arms were too long and dragged on the ground.
- Seeing Bob Monchein skipping around the firewood bases made them laugh.
- The scorekeeper was wearing old glasses and might have screwed up the count.
Finally it was time for dinner, desserts, and relaxing. Then came the campfire, prevaricating, tall stories, singing, and, oh yeah . . . relaxing.
After some prodding, poking, and begging, we finally got some folks to sing many of the traditional country songs. It was noted that none of us are bound for Nashville, but who cares? We had a good time. It’s always more fun when everyone participates. It also was pointed out that in music there are A, B, C, D, E, F, and G keys. Somebody, and we don’t know who, was singing in a new key unknown to the musical world. Oh wait, it could have been me.
It truly was a fun outing, even with the Sunday rain. The food, the campsite, the people, the memories, and especially the campfires are all part of RVing! Safe journeys to all. We look forward to seeing each of you at our upcoming rallies.