In March, Treasure Coast Travelers met at River Ranch RV Park in River Ranch, Florida for a “yee haw” good time.  This beautiful RV Park offers quiet a lot to its visitors.  You can put on your cowboy hat (look like the locals) and take advantage of the rodeo, hayrides or hit the trails riding with the cowgirls and cowboys.  Finding something to do is not a problem unless you don’t enjoy ice cream socials, riding bikes or golf carts through the hammocks, shopping, skeet shooting or attending rodeos.  There are also many planned activities for visitors so that your time is never idle.

We found the River Ranch staff to be very accommodating by placing all of us in close proximity of each other.  Our sites were located under magnificent oak trees that hovered over each site.  We were able to have a huge roaring fire (and we really needed it.)  The weather was a little unpredictable to say the least. 

Friday’s arrival gave us strong winds with sand blowing everywhere and the temperatures dropping.   Saturday during the day it warmed enough to play games and visit the park but when night time approached, we all hunkered down around the fire ring with sweat shirts and jackets.   It was really cold!

Eight rigs attended this campout.  We had one visiting rig from the Southern Tier Winnies out of New York.  We hope that Ray & Marilyn Lear will find their way back to south Florida again next year.  Thanks to our visitor Ray for taking pictures and sharing them with TCT.   

Also joining us on Saturday was a couple of little cowpokes, Ashley & Audrey Barnes (Billy & Gail’s grandchildren.)  The girls enjoyed the ice cream social; they played games and even braved the cold by attending the rodeo.  

Saturday night after a long and hard day of playing washer toss, bocce and Mexican train, Billy & Gail Barnes and Ralph Wilson cooked hamburgers (TCT’s treat) for the group.   Everyone else supplied many tasty sides to go along with the burgers.    Everyone put there all into making our campout a great success. 

Sunday Larry & Judy Dhans served up a southern white sausage grave and biscuits while Joanne Stocking fried eggs to order.  A great big special thanks to these members for their wonderful breakfast.  Sunday dinner was our traditional “pot luck” dinner.  Norman Griswold made a pretty terrific Sausage, Mac & Cheese creation; Judy Dhans came through with stuffed cabbage; Joanne Stocking made a delicious broccoli dish; Lynn & Darlene Hyndman for their wonderful pulled pork sandwiches flavored with a Jezebel sauce (recipe below) and there were many other great dishes on the table.  Thanks to our good cooks no one can stay on a diet.  Who can turn down food like this? 

Monday came way too soon!  However, our fun was not over.  Some headed home to prepare for the Winnie Gators State Rally in Orlando, while others decided to move to another location for the two remaining days before the rally.  We decided to visit Lake Rosalie in Lake Wales and we were glad we did.  This small county park is located on Lake Rosalie in Lake Wales; provides only electric and water in the sites, but has a dumping station close by.  The price was right and the park was practically empty.  Oh and by the way it had grass!  Ha!  Learn to appreciate the small things.  For dinner Billy & Gail fried fish for everyone.  Later we sat around telling stories, sharing plans for summer trips and playing a new game that Ray & Marilyn introduced.  We were not very good but with practice maybe we will get better.  We all played washer toss and challenged each other until we finally found a champ for this location.  Sorry guys but “NICE GAME.” (inside joke)

Tuesday the guys rode bikes around the area while the girls went “shopping.”  Yeh!  We found some really cute things and enjoyed lunch in Lake Wales.  That night Billy & Gail surprised everyone with lobsters for our dinner; the guys made a big fire and we had yet another great evening together. 

We look forward to our next campout with the Winnie Gators and the other 13 chapters in Orlando.  This will be a new experience for many of our five rigs attending. 

Until next time…Happy trails!

  
ThThe empty chair is for Treasure Cost Travelers next new member. 

 GGail Barnes   

P. S.  Treasure Coast Travelers will be five years old May 10.           

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TCT!  

  THANKS!   AL’S MOTOR HOME & TRAILER SALES   

      FOR CONTINUING YOUR SUPPORT.

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“Jezebel Sauce”   (Darlene Hyndman)

1 – 18oz jar pineapple preserves
        1 – 18oz jar apple jelly
        1 small can dry mustard powder
        1 small jar horseradish
        1 T. cracked pepper

Note:  This makes a large amount – cut recipe accordingly
           Keeps indefinitely in refrigerator.  Good on pork,
               beef, Philadelphia cream cheese & crackers.