Sep 2009 Campout - Williamsburg, VA

Aug 2009 Campout - Luray, VA

Scrambled Dogs, Southern Style

If you were not among the Old Dominion Cardinals attending the August camp out at the Luray RV Resort Country Waye, you were missed by those who were there, and you missed out on a great time.

The weekend began Thursday with advanced partiers arriving in the early afternoon. Happy Hour was brief because ten of the early arrivers went into town for dinner at the Artisans Grill on the corner of Main & Broad Streets. Friday morning found many of the same people at Uncle Bucks Family Restaurant just up the way on Main Street for a country style breakfast. Umm! Good eatin’!

Our camp sites were level, gravel spaces parallel to a rectangular field with full hook ups.

This arrangement put a coach behind and one in front, but none on the sides. Other sites were back-in at a higher elevation with great views. The park provided free WIFi, and TV reception was adequate.

We had the use of an open air, two-level pavilion for meals, meetings, and visiting. The grounds are well maintained and the staff was hospitable. Although the campground busy, it was not noisy or congested. It was quite pleasant. Many in our group are anxious to return.

Hard as it is to believe, we had no rain Thursday through Sunday. The days were sunny, hot and hotter. Evenings were very comfortable after the sun set. Many folks took advantage of the location to visit Skyline Drive and Luray Caverns. Some folks walked one of several walking paths in town along the river and others browsed retail stores along Main Street.

The pool offered some comfort from the heat, but the hum of air conditioning units in the rigs was a sign that many did not venture out during the heat of each day. Happy Hour was delayed each day until 5:00 PM because of the heat. Delayed, not cancelled.

Friday’s Happy Hour featured “heavy” appetizers provided by everyone. This was not intended to be a meal, but it was. We have many creative cooks in ODC who continue to delight us with their culinary creations. Thanks to all. We were fed extremely well.

Saturday morning’s breakfast, provided by our Trip Captain hosts, consisted of eggs, bacon, sausages, biscuits, butter, jam, juice, and a smile. Trip Captains for the week end were, Mem and Larry, Donna and Chuck, Marianne and Greg, and Janice and Ralph. On behalf of all ODCers, thanks to everyone who made this a great weekend.

Happy Hour Saturday was followed by a “Scrambled Dog” dinner. The dish is from an old Southern recipe that Janice brought from Georgia. There were several skeptical diners who wondered what they had gotten themselves into when the menu was announced. Most agreed afterward that one Scrambled Dog was good; more than one can have a lasting effect barking all night. Dinner was capped off with ice cream sundaes, and no one went away hungry.

Our next camp out is September 25 - 27 in Williamsburg, VA. If you have not registered, do it now at American Heritage RV Park 888-530-2267 or 757-566-2133. Tell the folks there you are with ODC and ask to be located as close to the group as possible. When you are registered, call Marvin and Ruth Ann Coyner at 540-659-0472, so they will know you plan to be there.

July 2009 Campout- Grey's Point

Sunset at Grey's Point by Larry Welford

“Small” can be beautiful. Our nine ODC rigs, a small group, gathered at Grey’s Point Camp July 17 for a weekend camp out. A rain storm Friday night flooded many of the camp sites, but our group was on high ground and stayed relative dry. Saturday’s weather was nearly perfect. The pool was packed, golf carts buzzed the roadways, dogs were walked, and some folks ventured into neighboring communities for adventure and shopping. Most enjoyed participating in small group conversations under a shade awning while activities whizzed around us.

Our Trip Captains were Leo and Norah Zerhusen, Kay Karstaedt, Ed and Kyoto Alexander, and Andrea Hornung. Jim and Peggy Settles helped plan the weekend before finding they could not attend. Our assigned sites were relatively close together and the campground provided a tent shelter we used for shade, meals, happy hour, and visiting. We thank our Trip Captains, and we appreciate their work to provide this wonderful weekend for us. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves very much, especially those who sat around the campfire Saturday night.

Special mention: Our esteemed president called the Chapter meeting to order Sunday morning and adjourned it six minutes later. This must be a record for the current administration, never to be experienced again. Way to go Larry!

Luray RV Resort is the site of our August camp out. Advanced reservations indicate this will be another small gathering where folks get to visit one another and enjoy a camping experience. We hope to see you there. Many members will be on-the-road and/or vacationing elsewhere that weekend. We will miss you and wish you safe travels.

The Coyners sent an email June 22 giving details of the September 25 – 27 camp out in Williamsburg. This will be our last chapter camp out of this season. We hope you can be there. To insure you are parked with the ODC group, the deadline for reservations is August 1. Call American Heritage Campground today at 888-530-2267 or 757-566-2133. Then, let the Coyners know you are attending: 540-659-0472 or

http://mail.google.com/mail/contacts/ui/ContactManager?js=RAW&maximize=true&hide=true&position=absolute&hl=en&emailsLink=true&sk=true&titleBar=false&border=NONE&eventCallback=ParentStub1248094131761&zx=ati32e-buynig

The Virginia Samboree is in Harrisonburg, VA October 16 - 18. An application for the Samboree is at the Virginia Good Sam web site: http://www.vagoodsam.org/va_events.html

Ralph Parsons
Wagon Master

Keeping cool at Grey's Point by Ed Alexander

The Lineup Welford, Freed, Ferebee, Parsons

Happy Hour at Grey's Point

ODC NEWS

Thunder, lightning and torrential rain could not spoil the June camp out at Rockahock Campground in Lanexa, VA. Standing water in the parking area attracted a few mosquitoes, which cut down on outside activities after dark, but we managed. Fourteen rigs made up our group and many of the folks arrived Thursday to get a head start on the weekend. Even though we had to share our space with a birthday party pig roast and karaoke, we had a great time. Our Trip Captains did a great job. Thanks to the Welfords, Freeds, and Meserles for their hard work on our behalf.

On July 17 – 19, we will be at Grey’s Point Camp in Topping, VA. This campground has a terrific pool and is a favorite of kids of all ages. Trip Captains are Jim & Peggy Settles, Kay Karstaedt, Ed Alexander, and Leo & Nora Zerhusen. Registration information was emailed several weeks ago. We look forward to seeing you there.

Mem Halstead is still accepting checks for our August camp out at Luray RV Resort, Luray, VA. Call her at 540-967-2297(H)/540-748-0356(M) or refer to her email of April 21 for details. Mem needs your checks by August 6.

With three ODC camp outs remaining this year we hope you will plan on attending as many as possible. Many members will be traveling in the months ahead. We know they will be enjoying the RV lifestyle on the road. The Taylors are on an extended trip westward that includes a cruise to Alaska. The Tolsons and Halsteads are preparing to attend a Discovery pre-rally and the FMCA rally later this month in Ohio. The Raymonds will be heading westward to California. During September and October the Halsteads, Tolsons, Ferebees and Smith/Filice will be journeying to Albuquerque, NM for the Balloon Festival. The Raymonds plan to join up with them in Albuquerque on their return trip from California.

Summer is upon us! We hope you are able to make the most of it and enjoy safe travels.

From the Wagonmaster

1. ODC September Camp Out
Date: September 18 - 20
Trip Captains: Marvin & Ruth Ann Coyner; Joe & Sandra Goulet:Dick and Sharon Bowen
Campground/Location: American Heritage RV Park, Williamsburg, VA http://www.americanheritagervpark.com/
Italian night pot luck for Saturday night

Point of Contact: Marvin & Ruth Ann Coyner – 540-659-0472 (H); 540-220-4132 (M); hitchhiker97@msn.com
Meals/Activities: To be announced by Trip Captains

2. Virginia Good Sam Fall State Samboree
Date: October
Trip Captains: None
Campground/Location: Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg, VA http://www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?attrID=43637
Reservations: Make directly with State Secretary Brenda Mitchell via mail.
Application at State Good Sam website (later): http://www.vagoodsam.org/main.php
Payment: Send to State Secretary by check, with application, payable to “The Virginia Samboree”.
Point of Contact: Ralph Parsons – 540-972-3594 (H); 540-850-4145 (M); rwp8230@gmail.com
Meals/Activities: To be announced by State Samboree Staff & ODC Staff

Sept 2009 Campout - Williamsburg, VA

SEPTEMBER Old Dominion Cardinals Campout: September 25 - 27

Location: American Heritage RV Park, 146 Maxton Lane, Williamsburg, VA 23188.

Phone: 888-530-2267 or 757-566-2133

Price: $38.50 per night.

Reservations: Make your reservations directly with the American Heritage Campground, and tell them you are with the Old Dominion Cardinals group. To be sure you will be parked with the ODC group, your reservation and a non-refundable deposit of $25 is required by the campground by August 1, 2009.

Friday Night: Happy hour at 5 PM. Please bring an hors d/oeuvres to share. Dinner is on your own.

Saturday AM: Breakfast provided by your hosts at 8:30 AM in the Heritage Room. Bring your own coffee and table service.

Saturday dinner: Pot luck at 6 PM in the Heritage Room. Bring your own drinks and table service.

Sunday breakfast: Breakfast-worthy leftovers at 9 AM in the Heritage Room. Bring your own coffee and table service.

Trip Captains: Marv and Ruth Ann Coyner, Joe and Sandra Gouletand Dick and Sharon Bowen.

Please notify Marv and Ruth Ann if you are planning to attend. Email: hitchhiker_97@msn.com. Phone: 540-659-0472.

ODC Group Activities

The Hornung family enjoying breakfast.
Happy Hour!
Serious Discussion!
Chefs Bill and Bill cooking pancakes.

Fun at the Samboree 2009

Jim Settles at the grill. Denny Raymond enjoying the hay wagon ride
Ken Tayler driving the hay wagon.

2009 Spring Samboree - Urbanna, VA

Spirited Spring Samboree

Rain showers could not dampen the spirits and frivolity of the ODC members and our guests that spent this past weekend at Bethpage RV Camp in Urbanna, VA.

Our chapter support for this Samboree was impressive: 17 member rigs and three guest rigs. Two of our guest rigs belonged to Barbara Wilson and Randy & Linda Burdett, former members. The third rig belongs to Rick & Vic Petrecig, long time friends of Jim & Linda Matheny. We hope all these folks will return to camp with us again.

We do not designate trip captains for State Samborees, yet volunteers were ready to take on tasks and responsibilities that made this weekend a huge success. Our chapter sponsored two fundraising activities at the Flea Market on Saturday. Craig Soden and Phyllis Wilson organized and led a group of hearty folks who prepared and sold hamburgers. sodas and bottled water to the hungry throngs. This activity generated over $198.00. Janice Parsons organized a book sale of used paperback books donated by chapter members. About 100 books were sold and produced $47.00 for the chapter treasury.

The Samboree theme was “NTOB Beach Party”. (No thongs or bikinis) The parade was a hoot! ODC was well represented by a group of young and older adults acting like children. Any chance of winning a prize went away when our group doused the judges with water guns as we passed the reviewing stand.

Brief rain showers Friday evening returned in force Saturday during the night. Sunday morning was damp and cloudy, yet as folks prepared to travel home, there was a consensus that this had been a very good Samboree. We hope to see everyone at Rockahock campground in June.

Vice President Jim Settles

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President Larry Welford