Rio Bend is a very nice older California RV park, one hour west of El Centro and two hours east of San Diego. It has a golf course, lunch café for the golfers, a dinner dining room for the campers and a great pool and lounge area. At night, the pool area is used for a live band. In the day they have activities and classes at their center. It is also a community gathering place for the agricultural town of Seely I think. They have a great exercise room and very nice bathrooms. They have a large group camping area with a tent camping kitchen in the center.
Canadians snowbirds escaping their harsh winters make up about half of the visitors at Rio Bend. It looked like it would be a great place to go to get away from the snow. There are also small motorhome sized houses to rent.
Our club has come here at least three out of the six years that we have been members. January 21st was the Rio Bend campout for the San Diego Allegros. The Barbers had planned it carefully and unfortunately had to back out at the last minute. Jerry and Claudia were in Quartzsite and got food poisoning, which made it impossible to drive or do anything else. Stay well Barber’s. Don’t get sick again. There were no refunds. So on Thursday, we the three couples who arrived in motorhomes early started to figure out what we would do with a cancelled host and three other cancelled rigs.
After emailing the other members it was decided we would do all the cooking and have a successful camp out by feeding everyone and not having to go out to dinner. I must say we all did a great job, working together to produce a relaxing, fun weekend. We made over $50 for the club in the nag and brag and 50/50 tickets and laughed a lot.
The Rindones invited their son Dave and his children Riley and Haley, who were really a delight. Dave got to play golf with Jack and Neil and the children entertained themselves on their scooters all weekend. We kept busy on our weekend. The Mexican train domino game came out and the rip roaring participants had a great time. There was also book reading, flute practicing and of course the always present Dear Butch, (This Is how I fixed my motorhome’s blankety-blank), the men’s club meeting. Then someone snuck out to lunch on Saturday.
John and Linda drove to Yuma for the day and had lunch at the Yuma Cracker Barrel and went shopping. I saw some flashing green in peoples eyes… Cracker Barrel! Besides enjoying the sound of the Blue Angels through the skies, we were also serenaded by… some birds. Should I should I tell you about the Rio Bend gander?
According to one of the residents the original flock of ducks had just been the ordinary white ducks, some cormorants and doves. Well now a noisy Chinese gander and his lady geese have taken up residency. The gander honked all Thursday, Friday and into Saturday. Did we have to stop the business meeting because of the honking? Was he as loud as the blue Angels overhead? I did notice that Saturday afternoon it was very quiet in the park and the ducks were no place to be seen. I wondered if someone had loaded them on a truck and driven away? Ha ha, nope! They were being fed up on the water tower hill. Was this all they wanted all weekend long? Food, glorious duck food!! Sautéed Ralston Purina!!! They were up on that hill for hours and hours eating. Then I realized the ducks were a lot like us. We were both noisy and talking all weekend long until it came time to eat. Then we were both quiet. Ha ha.
Next weekend get away is at Sweet Water Regional County Park in Bonita with the Herman and Cristina Clark. Hope to see you there.
Tiffin Side Roads 