Chapter members enjoyed fellowship, food, and more in Merced, California.
By Billy Low, F395745
January 2019
Temperate fall weather greeted Gold Dust Travelers members who arrived in 21 RVs for the chapter’s 15th anniversary rally, held October 11 to 13, 2018, at the Merced Elks RV Park in Merced, California.
On Thursday, 32 early arrivals ate dinner at Black Bear Diner in Merced. Afterward, back at the RV park, some members gathered at Dave Placeres’ motorhome, where pictures from the past 15 years, stored on Billy Low’s laptop, were shown on the outside TV. The late Bill Parks, a charter member, shot many of the early photos.
Eating is one thing the Gold Dusters are good at, and there is always plenty of food. Friday started with a great potluck breakfast. Some members then spent time sight-seeing or going to yard sales. After enjoying afternoon snacks and beverages, all 42 rally-goers traveled in carpools to the Elks lodge in downtown Merced for dinner.
On Saturday morning, our trail boss, Joyce Clapp, treated us to “fix your own” omelets, fruit, and English muffins with homemade jams. That afternoon’s beanbag baseball game pitted women against men, and much to the gentlemen’s dismay, the ladies won for the second time in a row.
For our anniversary dinner, Joyce prepared a wonderful beef pot roast with potatoes and carrots, salad, rolls, apple pie, and ice cream. After dinner, chapter president David Shinn introduced Steve Shade, Western Area vice president, Northern region, who attended the rally with his wife, Jeanette. Steve presented the certificate commemorating our 15 years as an FMCA chapter.
Two active charter members were present, Jan Stockton and Mervyn Crow. Billy presented each with an engraved gavel. They are the foundation that allowed our chapter to stay active for the past 15 years.