Escapee Rally, Hillsdale, MI

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 through Sunday.

On Tuesday we drove to the Escapee Rally at the Hillsdale Fairgrounds. Did laundry & last minute shopping on the way.
You talk about a small world, our neighbors at the Rally are Lou & Dot Costopolis from Fort Pierce. They live in town near Dan McCarty School. Another Lazy Daze pulled in. Ron & ? from Nevada. They have been traveling for the last two years. About 50 rigs are expected at this rally. We met some other people from Michigan; Lon & Carolyn. They invited us to an Escapee Rally in Cheboygan, MI starting on July 8. Carol made some friends. The “girls” have been playing Mexican Train & Farkel. It’s a nice change for Carol to have some company other than just me all the time. That’s one of the main reasons we go to these rallies. While Carol is with her friends, I get a little free time.
By Thursday, there were 67 rigs at the rally. In the evening we walked to a nearby restaurant to have dinner with some friends.
O Friday we mostly hung around with our friends. In the evening there was a hot dog dinner.  Not bad. After dinner there was entertainment. A couple we had met yesterday were the “entertainment”. She whistled while instrumental music played on a CD. He told corny jokes. Really. No kidding. They were very sincere and the audience, us & other Escapees, enjoyed the show. I admire their courage for providing the entertainment. They said they do these performances for old age homes, hospitals, churches, etc. An enjoyable evening. The weather was marginal today. Mostly rain with some sun now & then. Tonight is supposed to be worse.
Saturday: Last nights weather wasn’t as bad as forecast. No really big storms. I helped with the morning breakfast; mixed the pancake batter.  Later in the morning we walked to the County Fair Farmers Market & Auction. It was a real mix of local people selling their junk, puppies & kittens, flowers, some veggies, pigs, hay, chickens. etc. We were hoping there would be a local bakery. No luck.
In the evening there was a fried chicken dinner. After dinner was the CARE auction. CARE is a nursing facility in Livingston, TX devoted to the care of members of the Escapee RV Club. Any member can go there at no cost. Johnny had sent Carol some autographed Maxine books & posters. We made four packs for the auction. They sold at auction for $100 each. That was by far, the most bid on any item. $2,000 was raised for CARE; $400 from Maxine.
On Sunday morning there coffee & donuts were served. Said our goodbye’s then headed on. Stopped at Wal-Mart then continued to Grand Haven State Park in Grand Haven, MI.
We both had a wonderful time at the rally. Made more camping friends.