The Panhandle Winnies had their October campout on the 18, 19, and 20th in
conjunction with the Louisiana State Rally held in Rayne.  We had 12 member
units and one guest rig taking part in the rally and in fact our chapter and
guest made up 10% of the total gathered in southern Louisiana for this
fabulous Cajun funfest.  Several of our members got there early to take part
in the special tours and per-rally activities.  Although the city of Rayne
is a small community, they have made a very determined effort to attract RV
rallies to their part of the state.  They currently have 625 spaces with
water and electricity and are expanding that number by another 125 this
year.  In addition to the new spaces, they are planning to install sewer
hookups to all 750 sites.  The city has provided an excellent facility for
holding a large gathering of people with multiple rooms and kitchens as well
as strategically located bathrooms.  This complex is easy to get to being
located just south of Exit 87 on I-10.

The weather was very cooperative for our stay except for a brief shower on
Saturday afternoon and that didn't dampen our good time.  With cool
evenings, warm days along with excellent food and the festive Cajun
atmosphere, we couldn't have asked for any more.  Although the mosquitoes
were on the rampage during mid-week of the rally, the city of Rayne made
extra trips around the camping area spraying.  The mosquitoes were really
thick in the aftermath of Hurricane Lili that arrived in the area just a
couple of weeks earlier.  The daily breeze was a great assist in keeping
those buzzing pests away from the RV park, but there were still a few red
itchy bumps when we all departed.

The rally had several tours set-up for the participants to visit local
attractions.  Several of our chapter members took advantage of those
activities as well as venturing out on their own to the Tabasco factory at
Avery Island and other locations.  The Thursday evening festivities began
with a hardy meal of red beans and rice accompanied by a side salad and
topped off with a pecan tart.  The rally sponsors followed the meal by
giving out numerous gifts that were distributed among the attendees along
with a 50-50 drawing that helped one couple offset their rally cost.  Friday
morning we were greeted with breakfast that consisted of biscuits and
sausage that were accompanied by gallons of hot coffee and cold juice.  The
rally opening ceremonies followed our morning breakfast that was in turn
followed by the start of the seminars, games, and events.  Mayor James
Petitjean of Rayne and the city Cultural Director Cheryl McCarty provided a
very warm welcome at the opening ceremonies and opened the city to us as
their guests and friends.  Friday night we were treated to a delicious meal
of Jambalaya with a follow-up of more gifts and another 50-50 drawing that
brightened another rally participant.  After the drawings we enjoyed the
Glynn Jagneaux & Cajun Friends who provided outstanding Cajun music for more
hours than we had energy to dance.  Saturday started with a pancake and
sausage breakfast after which our chapter held its monthly meeting.  With
the completion of our short meeting 10 of our members attended the Cajun
Microwave Cooking Class that was presented by Jeanie Bienvenu who
demonstrated how to efficiently use the coach microwave to cook delicious
meals.  Now, all we have to do is put that learning into practice.  The
evening meal had a main course of fried turkey accompanied by Cajun rice
dressing that was followed by more and more gifts.  By the end of the
evening, every coach had received at least one gift over the period of the
rally making everyone a winner.  The highlight of the evening was an hour
plus of Cajun jokes, stories, and lighthearted tales presented by Danny
Guidry that delighted everyone.  After his hour-long act finished, stomachs
hurt from laughter and there were very few dry eyes in the audience.

Our Sunday breakfast consisted of eye-opening hot coffee, cold orange juice,
and piles of fresh donuts that provided us all with a good send-off for our
trips back home or points in between.  We said our good-bys and good wishes
until our November campout.  Our chapter will meet for our Thanksgiving
gathering of November 15-17 at Lake Kristina just on the east side of
Milton, Florida.  That campout will be followed by our December 13-15 get
together at the Navarre Beach Campground, Navarre, FL.