Marion, NC: Fifth Night

Thursday's breakfast concisted of bagels with butter/preserves, leftover biscuits. small cinnamon rolls, juice and coffee.  About 11 A.M., a fulltiming couple passing through the area stopped by and we all had lunch under another friend's awning - turkey breast, sandwich rolls, lettuce, tomatos, cantaloupe, watermelon and whole-grain chips.  At 2 P.M. Dad went to another forum on Computer Organization, but returned early .  4 P.M. was Happy Hour, followed by a pot luck at 5:30 P.M.  Eating seemed to be a prime activity today.  The entertainment was the Terry McKinney Band, another country group and they were entertaining as were those who danced to the music.

Marion, NC; Fourth Night

Wednesday dawned as Tuesday had departed - wet.  We walked over to the Pavilion for breakfast which was biscuits and sausage gravy.  The line dancing group was getting their exercise, so that was our floor show while dining. I headed back to the trailer, and Dad stayed for a seminar on Solar Panel technology - yes, lots of RVers  use solar energy, especially boondockers (no hookups).  After lunch, I kept busy in the trailer and Dad attended seminars on RV electrical use and general RV topics.  Happy hour was held at 4 PM with some prize drawings and we won a Sewie Pig, bright pink in color. Dinner was spent back at Fatz Cafe with another couple.

Today dawned bright and partly cloudy.  Breakfast today was donuts and coffee. Not much on the rally schedule today as many folks went to tour the Biltmore House and grounds, about 35 miles away.  We made a Walmart visit, then back home for lunch.  Dad took a nap while I roamed the cyber world.  After another Happy Hour, there was a silent auction, and also a regular one, for donated items, both used and new with the proceeds going to CARE. Over $2000 was raised.  Everyone enjoyed an ice cream treat followed by the evening's entertainment - a group of 6 who played mostly country music.  They were pretty good and it was a nice end to the day.  There's lots more to enjoy tomorrow so we look forward to a new day in our Little House on the Road.

Marion, NC; Second NightI

It is a dark and stormy night in the foothills of the Blue Ridge. However, the day started off sunny and quickly became almost hot!

This morning we officially registered for the SKPACRE rally, and received our pins, badges, t-shirts, goodie bag with tourist literature and some small freebies, and our entry slip for all of the prizes to be given away. Early this afternoon we attended the First-Timers meeting since this is the first time we've been to an Escapees Rally.  There are about 160 rigs here, and probably at least one-third are first-timers.  All of our group activities are in the large Pavillion.  At 4 P.M., there was Happy Hour with door prize giveaways (no wins for us), followed by a catered supper consisting of 1/2 smoked chicken, garden salad, roll and seasoned mash potatoes topped off by mixed-berry cobbler......very tasty and filling.  The rain moved in before dinner was served, and shortly after we returned to the RV, thunderstorms arrived in earnest.  The rain is really a blessing as the entire southeast is suffering from drought, and rain is forecast for most of the next 36 hours with much cooler temperatures.  Tonight we are snug and dry in our Little House on the Road..

Marion, NC: First Night

Yesterday was the official end of the Sams-o-Wake campout and most of our group departed for home or other travels, leaving one other couple besides ourselves.  The campground lost a lot of campers who had been there for spring break, so last night was very quiet.  Our adventures for yesterday included a Mexican lunch and another outing to Walmart as well as a visit to Staples.

This morning, we left about 10:30 A.M. for the Tom Johnson Camping Center Rally Park in Marion, NC, in a mountain valley. We are in site R34  and will be here for two weeks.  The first week is for the SKPACRE Rally, an Escapees event.  Escapees is another RV Group we belong to and many of its members are fulltimers.  We've visited the headquarters in Livingston, TX last May.  By the time we were set up in our spot, it was time for Happy Hour where we met some of our fellow  Carolina chapter members for the first time.  We were invited to go along for dinner at Fatz Cafe, one of our favorite restaurants.  Now we're relaxing and getting re-acquainted with our computers.

The SKPACRE rally officially starts tomorrow afternoon and will end on Sunday morning. Next week is the Good Sam NC Fall Samboree, so we will stay here for that week also.  More on that next week.

The weather was very warm today with highs in the mid-80's so our AC was appreciated.  The rest of the week should be cooler with rain possibilities and cooler weather.

Asheboro, NC: Third Night

Today dawned sunny and cool, and after a  leisurely start, we greeted our friends and visited outside.  Instead of going to the NC Zoo, where many of our club members were going, we went with another couple to the post office, Walmart, and then ate lunch at the local Cookout Restaurant.  After returning to the campground and a little computer time, a nap seemed in order.  Dinner tonight was with our group at the Mayflower Seafood Restaurant near Asheboro.  This chain restaurant serves large portions of seafood specialties at very reasonable prices.  Tonight's after-dinner activity was to gather in the meeting room for conversation and about 7 couple showed up, with another member bringing some leftover Klondike bars from last night's pot luck.  So we did the polite thing and polished off some of the ice cream treats.  Another enjoyable day has passed and we look forward to tomorrow in our Little House on the Road..
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Asheboro, NC; Second Night

Friday was one of those relaxing days, with sunny skies, a light breeze and time to do as we wish.  The day consisted of walking to the office, visiting with fellow campers, some outside sitting and lots of computer time.   Supper was a pot luck with entrees such as chili, bean soup, sweet & sour meatballs, chicken wings, pork roast, etc., plenty of side dishes and salads and, of course, several dessert items.  Supper was followed by our chapter meeting and more conversation, before heading back to the trailer for...you guessed it....more computer time. Saturday will bring more enjoyment and some time to get some errands done, but more on that later.

Asheboro, NC: First Night

Yesterday, we left home for the 2 hour drive to the  Zooland Family Campground near Asheboro, NC.  This weekend is the monthly campout with our local Good Sam Chapter.  Dad has official duties as Vice-President since the current President is undergoing cancer treatments, so there was some 'stuff' to transport including a large sign with the chapter name and info on it.  There are about 15 other chapter couples here enjoying thiis outing.  The campout is undergoing some renovations and has lots of activities for all ages.  We went for a very early supper at the Dixie III Restaurant, a home-cooking type place with great service, good portions and very reasonable prices. Back at the campground, we had some visiting time with neighbors, and at 8 P.M. we gathered in "the Lodge" for ice cream with toppings, and lots of conversation.  I went to bed about 9:15 as my day yesterday started out about 4:30 A.M. We'll be at this campground until Monday morning, and this trip will last almost 3 weeks....but more on that later.