South
Florida Winnie-Gators
DECEMBER
2005 Outing Report
By
Lee Macdonald
Our December outing was held at the Marina R.V. Resort on the shores of Lake Okeechobee in Moore Haven. 22 rigs attended. All but a few rigs arrived by Thursday and the day was spent putting up holiday decorations. Happy hour was held in the afternoon out on the club house deck overlooking the rim canal. Hurricane Wilma was the topic of conversation as we all were affected in some way by it. Several of our rigs were damaged as well as our homes and property. Damage at this park could be seen where the demolished trailers and RVs were piled in big scrap heaps at the rear of the park. It will be months before all the damaged vegetation and debris piles along the roadsides are finally removed. We enjoyed hearty bowls of Hobo Soup for supper and for dessert availed ourselves of the RV Park
's Ice Cream Social.The park is busy at this time of year because it is duck hunting season. We were awakened in the dark of early morning, just before dawn, by the sound of airboat & boat engines that became our alarm clocks for the weekend. The hunters head for their favorite spots in the marshes all along the lake edge.
Marlene & Joe Sholtes taught our craft session where we had fun making pretty glass beaded star and wreath Christmas Tree Ornaments. Happy hour Friday afternoon was held al fresco between two of the rigs. Dinner was a hors d
'oeuvres smorgasbord with everyone contributing their favorite nosh. The rest of the evening was spent socializing.Saturday morning we delivered our greeting cards to each rig and then went over to the clubhouse for their great breakfast buffet. We filled up on scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, hash browns and blueberry pancakes. The park does this every Saturday and Sunday during the season. Our cooks and clean up crew like it because they get a break from cooking and cleaning up.
Our monthly meeting was held following breakfast. We welcomed Mo Shaughnessy, George & Marge
's daughter as our newest Honorary Member. Sadly in November we lost member Bob Shaughnessy, after a lengthy illness. Bob was a chapter member in 1974 and rejoined in June of 2003 with his daughter Sandra Riley.Our annual Egg Nog & Punch Party was held in the afternoon. We held our gift exchange and we all had a good time opening our presents.
Our club dinner was delicious honey baked ham, scalloped potatoes and delicious side dishes made by the members. Our Christmas party and raffle was continued after dinner and we all had a great time. Santa
's Helpers, Becky & Damaris did a great job of selling tickets and lots of great gifts were won by the lucky ticket holders. Winners of the best decorated rigs were first, Al & Ethel Rowe with their decorated electrified palm trees; second, Rick & Becky Bunn with their Nautical-tropical displays (and huge blow-up Reindeer & Santa); and third to Lee Macdonald & Syl Smith for their snowflake blizzard. There were many other well decorated rigs and the judges must have had a difficult time picking winners.Music and dancing continued on until the wee hours.
Sunday morning we gathered around Charlie and Damaris
' patio for Danish pastry and wished each other happy holidays until we meet next year.
1st place Rowe 2nd place Bunn
