After spending the weekend in Miami, we finally got on the road late Monday afternoon. After a stop for fuel (lots of it as a matter of fact) we headed north! When we stopped for fuel I found a credit card on the ground. Not wanting to leave it with the attendant at the station, I called the credit card company and they cancelled the card. I had no way to "find" the card holder at that time, but at least it wasn't in the hands of someone that might use/abuse it!
We drove later than normal...in fact it was very dark and very late when we finally stopped for the evening. I had called the campground in Lake City, FL (the same campground we had stayed in at the beginning of our Florida) and made arrangements to come in later than their office was opened. Once we pulled into the campground and got hooked-up, I did laundry...until the wee hours of the morning! We had been "dry" camping (no hook-ups) and would be "dry" camping once we reached the Monaco rally! At this point I had internet service and tried to find the card holder from the found credit card. I figured that if *I* had lost my card, I would at least want to know that someone had found it! I found about 8 phone numbers, tried calling two and then decided it was getting too late to be calling. Found an internet address, but my e-mail was returned. It was up early the next morning and on the road again. I tried calling the rest of the numbers I had found but had no luck. Oh well...I tried!
We finally pulled into Macon, GA about 1:30 pm where one of the first people we saw was our friend, Lew Anderson. Lew was on the parking committee for the rally and was able to save us a spot that was in a pretty good location. We got parked, leveled and went right in to get our registration packet and "begin" the rally! We basically had missed the wine and heavy hors devours the previous evening when they preview the new coaches and breakfast this morning. We made it just in time for the ice cream social! At a Monaco rally they fix two items on your coach for the price of the parts (no labor). We turned in our list and talked to them about our break down in Florida. Don brought the piece of hose that had the "hole" in it...in fact, we had lots and lots of people ask us why he was carrying the hose! Monaco asked us to bring them the copy of the bill so it looks like they will pick up the cost (almost $500)! Yeah...this is why we are so loyal to Monaco and are on our second coach! It was great to see most of our "West Coast" gang and others that we knew! It wasn't too long before it was time for dinner and then entertainment followed! I ended up going straight to bed once we returned home! I must have been tired!
Up early for breakfast, seminars, crafts, and looking at all the coaches! I wouldn't get to the vendors until the next day! I took a class with Jean Bahnson and Marlene Rae where we made a crystal bracelet. It was a fun class and I was able to help the person sitting to the left of me and really needed my help! :-) It wasn't long after our class before it was time for the evening fun to begin. Each evening Monaco sponsors something like wine, margaritas, beer, etc. At 5:00 the bar opens and at 6:00 it's time for dinner, announcements and entertainment follows. Lots of alcohol flowing at these events and they serve pretty much top stuff but darn, they don't serve Kahlua. If they allow it, I usually bring my own! (Some venues won't let you bring in your own alcohol). We had great food all four nights of the rally...and lots of it! Our entertainment was several bands and a comedian. The last night the band was really fun and we danced quite a few times. I even managed to get Don to stay until the band stopped playing! Now that's unusual!
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One of the other things that normally happens at a Monaco rally is a "Red Hat Luncheon" for the ladies. Most of the times it is held where the rally is but this time it was in a historic building in downtown Macon. The building was exquisite and breathtaking. They arranged to have us picked up by local trolleys to take us to the event (I don't know the "name" of the bulding). We had a wonderful lunch and yummy dessert followed by a true fashion show. It was lots of fun and I'm glad that I went.
I almost forgot to mention that there were 440 coaches at this rally! Almost all of them were Monacos! The rallies are lots of fun and we meet new people and old friends along the way! As with everything else, everything comes to an end at some time. It was sad to see the ending of this one since it really marked the "end" of our "West Coast" gang since almost everyone was going in separate directions! A few of our friends went on to the FMCA rally in Perry, a few miles from Macon! We chose not to...Monaco rally about 400 coaches, FMCA about 4,000 or more. We will go in on a "day pass" to see the vendors and possibly check out some of the coaches!
We drove later than normal...in fact it was very dark and very late when we finally stopped for the evening. I had called the campground in Lake City, FL (the same campground we had stayed in at the beginning of our Florida) and made arrangements to come in later than their office was opened. Once we pulled into the campground and got hooked-up, I did laundry...until the wee hours of the morning! We had been "dry" camping (no hook-ups) and would be "dry" camping once we reached the Monaco rally! At this point I had internet service and tried to find the card holder from the found credit card. I figured that if *I* had lost my card, I would at least want to know that someone had found it! I found about 8 phone numbers, tried calling two and then decided it was getting too late to be calling. Found an internet address, but my e-mail was returned. It was up early the next morning and on the road again. I tried calling the rest of the numbers I had found but had no luck. Oh well...I tried!
We finally pulled into Macon, GA about 1:30 pm where one of the first people we saw was our friend, Lew Anderson. Lew was on the parking committee for the rally and was able to save us a spot that was in a pretty good location. We got parked, leveled and went right in to get our registration packet and "begin" the rally! We basically had missed the wine and heavy hors devours the previous evening when they preview the new coaches and breakfast this morning. We made it just in time for the ice cream social! At a Monaco rally they fix two items on your coach for the price of the parts (no labor). We turned in our list and talked to them about our break down in Florida. Don brought the piece of hose that had the "hole" in it...in fact, we had lots and lots of people ask us why he was carrying the hose! Monaco asked us to bring them the copy of the bill so it looks like they will pick up the cost (almost $500)! Yeah...this is why we are so loyal to Monaco and are on our second coach! It was great to see most of our "West Coast" gang and others that we knew! It wasn't too long before it was time for dinner and then entertainment followed! I ended up going straight to bed once we returned home! I must have been tired!Up early for breakfast, seminars, crafts, and looking at all the coaches! I wouldn't get to the vendors until the next day! I took a class with Jean Bahnson and Marlene Rae where we made a crystal bracelet. It was a fun class and I was able to help the person sitting to the left of me and really needed my help! :-) It wasn't long after our class before it was time for the evening fun to begin. Each evening Monaco sponsors something like wine, margaritas, beer, etc. At 5:00 the bar opens and at 6:00 it's time for dinner, announcements and entertainment follows. Lots of alcohol flowing at these events and they serve pretty much top stuff but darn, they don't serve Kahlua. If they allow it, I usually bring my own! (Some venues won't let you bring in your own alcohol). We had great food all four nights of the rally...and lots of it! Our entertainment was several bands and a comedian. The last night the band was really fun and we danced quite a few times. I even managed to get Don to stay until the band stopped playing! Now that's unusual!
.jpg)
One of the other things that normally happens at a Monaco rally is a "Red Hat Luncheon" for the ladies. Most of the times it is held where the rally is but this time it was in a historic building in downtown Macon. The building was exquisite and breathtaking. They arranged to have us picked up by local trolleys to take us to the event (I don't know the "name" of the bulding). We had a wonderful lunch and yummy dessert followed by a true fashion show. It was lots of fun and I'm glad that I went.I almost forgot to mention that there were 440 coaches at this rally! Almost all of them were Monacos! The rallies are lots of fun and we meet new people and old friends along the way! As with everything else, everything comes to an end at some time. It was sad to see the ending of this one since it really marked the "end" of our "West Coast" gang since almost everyone was going in separate directions! A few of our friends went on to the FMCA rally in Perry, a few miles from Macon! We chose not to...Monaco rally about 400 coaches, FMCA about 4,000 or more. We will go in on a "day pass" to see the vendors and possibly check out some of the coaches!
2 comments:
It's been a great 2 months being part of the "West Coast Gang". Getting to know this gang has been a bang. You and Don are great people. See you on the west coast.
PS: I deleted the previous, had some personal info that I didn't want published.
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