ODC July Campout

This is a late post. The camp out was July 17 - 20. We are just catching up.

This is a great day for a blog! We are on the road again! It has been about a month since the June Old Dominion Cardinals camp out at Virginia Beach, our last time out in the RV. This weekend is another ODC outing in Powathan, VA. The campground is Cozy Acres, and the name is appropriate.

We arrived at Cozy Acres, Thursday, after about three hours and two stops on the road. It was a pleasant trip on secondary roads with a short time on I-64. Two other rigs came in today and ten more are expected Friday. This campground is well run, well maintained, and a great place to relax. We were here in April 2007 and will likely return. There are enough trees to provide shade and to completely block access to satellite TV. If fact, we get no TV; a very relaxing. Temps and humidity are high, and the air conditioner is working hard.

We are excited to have 13 rigs attending in this economy. We did not see many RVs on the highway so we expect the running population has been reduced by fuel prices, inflation and all the other bad news. This should be an interesting summer season and folks figure out how much recreation they can afford.

Late in the afternoon we met a lady who was at the campground with the Red Wing Good Sam Chapter. We learned from her that her father was once president of the Old Dominion Cardinals. He and others left ODC to form the Red Wings. She had camped several times with ODC as a child. The Red Wings would be in on Friday. Small world!

Friday morning began with a mini crisis. During the previous evening, Ralph concluded that we had been overcharged for the camp site. The issue was the rate charged was more than the rate in the ODC contract. The rate had been given to all ODC campers in advance, and they were in for a surprise. Ralph’s discussion with Joy, at the office, changed nothing. Joy insisted that the rate may have changed because “expenses had increased and rates were not guaranteed”. Ralph’s frustration was apparent. When asked if he would like to speak with Scott, the manager, he declined. He said he would speak with Jean, the co-owner who negotiated the contract, later in the day. That was not to be.

Joy called her husband Scott with the news, “We have a problem”. Scott called his father Bill, Jean’s husband and co-owner of the campground. Bill mounted his ATV and intercepted Ralph on his way back to the coach area. Bill was already having a bad day and was in no mood to listen. He regaled Ralph and Janice, who was on her way to the pool, with a lecture on the economy, his rising costs of everything, his frustrations with campers that expect prices they had 30 years ago, etc. Ralph explained that the contract price was less than what people were being charged. Bill was too cranked up to hear. He made it clear that “it is what it is” and talking to Jean would not be “necessary”.

Within 15-minutes of the roadside chat, Ralph was in our coach changing into a bathing suit. Bill knocked on the door to say, “You had a contract. When I got to the office Joy had me read it. I had not seen it before. We will honor it. Everyone in your group will get the contract price. If they have already paid, they will get a refund.” Around 2:30 PM Joy came to our coach with a cash refund. She wanted to get everything fixed before going off-duty at 3:00 PM.

Friday was hot and humid. We had happy hour next to our coach, but it was not comfortable. We needed more shade more room for chairs and lower temperatures. We scrapped plans for an outdoor breakfast. We set up in the club house which we had reserved for inclement weather. Most folks that went inside for dinner Friday night did not come out of their air-conditioned coaches again that night. Those that did went to the swimming pool.

Saturday morning was hot and humid. Breakfast was mostly prepared by Janice and Rebeca. All who came ate well. The egg-sausage casseroles were terrific. We had toast, cereal, juice, etc. The club house, really a big barn, had two large fans for circulation. We opened doors, and it was comfortable to be out of direct sunlight.
The day was too hot for a lot of activity except for the pool. Three folks went golfing, for reasons that escaped us. By evening we were back in the barn for happy hour, chapter meeting, and dinner. Sub sandwiches were perfect for such a hot night. Again, we ate well.

Folks began packing up soon after breakfast Sunday morning. By 1:00 PM there were two rigs yet to leave, and we pulled out soon after. The ride home was pleasant. This really was a relaxing weekend with good friends. We need these times. Next month we will be on the Northern Neck.