SEA TURTLES: 2012
by SHIRLEY MARGUERITE W. BENNETT
JANUARY, WE ATTENDED THE TAMPA SUPER SHOW IN OUR NEWLY PURCHASED NEWMAR DUTCH STAR, 2004, MODEL 4025. INDEPENDENCE RV GAVE US A FANTASTIC PRICE FOR TRADING IN GRACIE II, OUR 2000 KOUNTRY STAR...GETTING A LITTLE TOO WORN FOR SAFETY AND COMFORT. FEBRUARY 16-19, 2012 WAS THE RALLY A BOWLING GREEN, FL, AT TORREY OAKS RV RESORT. HOSTS WERE THE MILLER'S AND BETTY AND STEVE LOFTUS, WHO SERVED US FANTASTIC MEALS AND BREAKFASTS. WE ENJOYED A VISIT TO SOLOMON'S CASTLE (SEE PHOTOS ON SEA TURTLE CATEGORY), A PARK GOLF CART PARADE, MARDI GRAS DINNER AND DANCE. WARREN AND I PLAYED GOLF ON SATURDAY AT THE ADJOINING COURSE...I MADE HISTORY FOR ME WITH 7 PARS IN A ROW. GOOD-BYES WERE SAID ON SUNDAY, ESPECIALLY TO THE LOFTUS' AS THEY WILL NOT BE JOINING US FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THIS IS PART OF JOY AND SADNESS OF BELONGING TO SUCH A TRAVELING GROUP...YOU MEET PEOPLE YOU LIKE SO MUCH AND A LONG TIME MAY GO BY BEFORE YOU GET TO BE WITH THEM AGAIN. SUCH IS THE LIFE OF A SEA TURTLE! WE STILL LOVE IT! MARCH 20-24, 2012 WAS OUR CHAPTER RALLY AT WICKHAM PARK IN MELBOURNE, FL. DAYS WERE FILLED WITH EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIVE PRESENTATIONS. FOOD WAS DELICIOUS AND THE FRIENDSHIPS STRENGTENED. PRESENTATION BY CYNTHIA DOLAWAY OF THE SEA TURTLE PRESERVATION SOCIETY WAS MADE WITH A VIDEO AND NARRATION BY CYNTHIA. GARY DOOLITTLE, CHAPTER PRESIDENT, GAVE CYNTHIA A SEA TURTLE CHAPTER SHIRT AND A DONATION TO THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY. ANOTHER EXCELLENT PRESENTATION WAS BY FELLOW MEMBERS, BILL AND JACKIE STORKE, WHO EXPLAINED THE PROCESS OF WOOD TURNING AND SHARED WITH US THE MANY WORKS THEY HAVE "TURNED." WONDERFULLY INFORMATIVE. HOSTS KEN AND JOYCE GREENWOOD MADE PLANS FOR US TO VISIT THE PLANETARIUM, WHICH WE ALL ENJOYED. THE LAST NIGHT, THE GREENWOODS LONG-TIME FRIENDS INVITED US ALL TO THEIR HOME FOR DESSERT. NO DULL MOMENTS AT OUR RALLIES..THAT'S FOR SURE! BOB AND GERRIE CONNOLLY CO-HOSTED.
MARDI GRAS NIGHT
SUPER SHOW WAS FUN, BUT THE WALKING TO THE EXHIBIT HALL WAS NOT. A ONCE-IN-IN-A-EVERY-FEW-YEARS TRIP WAS ENOUGH FOR US.
SEA TURTLE RALLY MELBOURNE MARCH 2012