SECC COLUMBUS RALLY

Lake Pines Campground ,  Midland GA

 lakepines.net, 706-561-9675

 Until recently, Columbus Georgia was stuck in time, with an empty main street filled with derelict, but

 still beautiful Victorian buildings. There was so much potential. The town had turned its back on the

 wide Chattahoochee River only two streets down.

Now Columbus has come full circle to a thriving, beautiful city. The main street is now a bustling.

boulevard with college students and young soldiers enjoying outdoor dining and live music under

southern balconies. The old five and dime is a deli and the Greyhound bus station a popular barbeque

that is a step back to the forties and fifties, more preservation than restoration.

Condos fill the old mills, and lofts 

keep filling in above the old storefronts. At one end is a college and at the

southern end of this small downtown is a beautiful civil war and Victorian

neighborhood with palm trees and huge spreading oaks.

The rapids at the base of downtown had once been tamed with

several dams to run the mills. The dams were blown up 2013 to form

the world's longest urban kayaking course. Visitors can fish, kayak,

tube, zip-tie across the river or relax to the sound of the rushing water.

The Chattahoochee Riverwalk is a twenty-mile paved and lighted

trail that runs from Fort Benning south of town, all the way through town to the upper dam. 

Along its way there is alligator habitat, shaded groves, old cemeteries, parks, 

even a food court in an old warehouse. The trail runs right through the remains of old mills, 

with beautiful views of the river. Alabama lies across the river, accessible by a pedestrian bridge. 

A short trail on the Alabama side provides a pretty view and several parks for climbing and a zip-line.

Artists, photographers, history buffs and people watchers will find plenty to enjoy during our rally.

2023 Columbus SECC Rally Itinerary:

Sunday 19 March

5:00 PM – Welcome, dinner provided at the clubhouse

Monday 20 March

9:00 AM – Tech Talk, continental breakfast provided at the clubhouse (BYOB)

11:00 AM – SECC business meeting, everyone welcome

Lunch and afternoon on your own

Tuesday 21 March

9:00 AM - Leave for tour of Civil War Naval Museum (Carpool)

12:00 PM – Lunch on your own

5:00 PM– Social Hour and potluck dinner in the clubhouse

Wednesday 22 March

9:00 AM – Leave for tour of National Infantry Museum  (Carpool)

Lunch, afternoon, and dinner on your own.

Thursday 23 March

Morning and lunch on your own

Afternoon sightseeing historic downtown Columbus, GA

5:00 PM - Dinner downtown

7:00 PM – Musical “Guys and Dolls” at historic Springer Opera House 

Friday 24 March

Goodbyes and safe travels…

Please register and pay for the rally using the button below.

Rally Attendees

One Member $125.00 USD Two Members $250.00 USD One Non-Member $150.00 USD Two Non-members $300.00 USD

As we come to the end of the year and hopefully all the Covid restrictions, I wanted to bring everyone up to date on SECC and the spring rally at Lake Pines RV Park and Campground just east of Columbus, Georgia. This rally is from 19 to 24 March and is scheduled between the FMCA Convention in Perry, Georgia that runs from 15 to 18 March, and the Springtime in Charleston CCI Rally which is scheduled from 26 March to 2 April. For those of you that are attending the FMCA Convention, there is no issue since it is a short drive from Perry to Columbus. For those that are attending the following CCI rally, I thought it would be better to have a couple of days between the rallys in order to make for easier travel. The distance from Lake Pines to Charleston is almost 400 miles, so I wanted to make sure everyone had the opportunity to travel at a leisurely pace Our last event of the SECC Rally is on the 23 of March so those that want to can take more than one day to drive to Charleston. Dianne and I plan to drive to Creekfire RV Resort in Savannah for two nights there and a day in Savannah. Another RV resort near there is Savannah Oaks, only about a mile from Creekfire. Those that want to stay longer at Lake Pines or travel a different route to Charleston may certainly do so.

Details of events and activities at the rally to follow. Please join us.

       Land of Waterfalls/Apple Country SECC Rally  

ARRIVE Sept 12   DEPART Sept 17

YOU MUST MAKE RESERVATIONS BEFORE February 1st.

 

Hello SECC Members!

 

We are having a rally in Western North Carolina Sept 12-17^th, 2022.   We are VERY limited in places 

we can stay, but Brian at Land of Waterfalls RV Park has graciously agreed to hold 7 spaces for us 

during his prime time. (The Rally is limited to the first 10 coaches that sign up for a campsite, with 3  already taken)

 If you are interested in coming to the rally PLEASE call and make your reservation 

with the park before February 1^st.    

Ask for Margaret or Brian and tell them you are with Southeast Country Coach..  

 

The RV park is 6 miles from our home and we are excited to show you many 

of the interesting things to do here. We are also close to Asheville so if you have 

been wanting to see Biltmore it can be arranged

 

Land of Waterfalls RV

15 La Salle Drive

Pisgah Forest, NC 28768

828-270-3539

https://landofwaterfallsrv.com/

 

 

Hope to see you here in September!

Your hosts, Marta and Scott Loftfield

904-571-8105

loftfield@comporium.net

 Eulogy for Jack Cassingham

 

George Harper

September 2, 2021

Jack was a warrior, but as good a friend as you could ever imagine. He was a keen competitor, but would lend you a hand when he saw you needed it. He was in a hurry, but hospitable and kind.

 

We visited the Cassinghams once at their Sherrill’s Ford lake home. When we arrived, many people were already there, but Jack was watching for any new arrivals. He came out to our coach and gave us such a warm greeting. He was hospitable and a good host.

 

He must have been a keen competitor in the sky in his Marine fighter jet because he certainly was in his MG Midget on the race track. On one of our RV trips together we drove into town together for something…Irene and I in our two seat Ford pickup in the lead, and Jack and Mary Lou in their tiny Smart Car that they towed behind their Country Coach. As a pilot, Jack was always aware of weight, so I knew that was why he bought the smallest thing he could find to tow. On our trip into town, I glanced in the mirror as I turned out of the campground and saw Jack right on my bumper as if he were trying to catch a draft. I felt like I had a little hornet on my tail…Jack was a competitor.

 

I also noticed that Jack was pretty obsessive with any data anomaly coming out of the data center in his coach. He wanted it explained and the cause remedied. I could see the pilot in him wanting his craft to be in safe working order.

 

The Harpers and Cassinghams shared a love of bicycling and we always biked as we traveled around the country. Jack knew I had back problems, and when I would go to load my bike on the rack, Jack was always aware and would insist that he do it. He worked out regularly and was strong. You couldn’t have a better friend than Jack Cassingham.

 

Many times on our bike and other outings with the Cassinghams, I saw Jack and Mary Lou teasing and playing with each other like teenagers. That told the story of their strong and enduring love for each other. Jacks’s life was full. He was a good captain to his many air passengers, a good husband, a good father, and a good friend.

 

Goodby, Jack, my friend. Fair skies and tailwinds always.

 

SAN ANTONIO

TRAVELERS WORLD RV RESORT

Arrive Sunday, Oct 10 - Depart Saturday Oct 16

 $90 PER PERSON INCLUDES :

MONDAY 9:00 TECH TALK/ CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST. 1:00 RIVER CRUISE

                  TUESDAY CITY BUS TOUR 9:30

    WEDNESDAY SKYMED PRESENTATION 9:30 WITH CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

 FREE DAY WITH HOP-ON-HOP-OFF BUS PASS

  THURSDAY BREAKFAST & CLUB MEETING AT HISTORIC GUENTHER HOUSE

 GROUP TOUR OF THE SPANISH MISSIONS & PARK VIDEO 

FRIDAY FREE DAY

MORE ACTIVITIES ON YOUR OWN:                                                                                         

Traveler’s World is situated just 4 miles south from the heart of the Riverwalk         

amongst the historic Spanish Missions, now part of a national park and free to 

explore. Walking or biking the quieter end of the Riverwalk, just steps outside RV 

park steps on miles of trails. Bike rentals available. Bikes Can be ridden to about a 

mile from the edge of downtown and the busy entertainment part of the Riverwalk.

Visit The Alamo, the heart of San Antonio 

and Texas just steps up from the Riverwalk. Dinner at Don Pedros with our 

group. Visit The Pearl, the famous Pearl Brewery now a huge hotel and 

restaurant complex on the river north of downtown. Stop in to see the Buckhorn 

Saloon. Explore the festive Mercado, the old Spanish market, & enjoy lunch or 

dinner there at Mi Tierra. Stop by the Blue Star brewery. Explore the famous King William Historic District, a beautiful wooded neighborhood of large Victorian homes along the river. Two Victorian homes available to tour.

RESERVE NOW 

TRAVELERS WORLD RV RESORT, 2617 ROOSEVELT AVE 78214, 844-726-2450

PAY FOR THE RALLY EVENTS NOW ON OUR SECC WEB SITE WITH YOUR

CREDIT CARD OR PAYPAL AT OUR PAYPAL BUTTON BELOW

Number of rally participants

1 Attendee $90.00 USD 2 Attendees $180.00 USD 3 Attendees $270.00 USD 4 Attendees $360.00 USD

 

OCTOBER 2021  SAN ANTONIO RALLY

ARRIVE SUNDAY OCT  10,  DEPART  SATURDAY OCT  16

TRAVELER’S WORLD RV RESORT

Scheduled to follow Country Coach International rally at Buckhorn Lake Resort in Kerrville, TX.

Traveler’s World is located just south of downtown San Antonio, in the heart of the old Spanish Missions area, and connected directly to the famous Riverwalk, on the quieter end. 

 

Make your reservations now 210- 532-8310.  Make sure you tell them you are with the Southeast Country Coach rally.

Traveler’s World RV Resort

2617 Roosevelt Ave, San Antonio, TX 78214 www.sunrvresorts.com/resorts/southwest/texas/travelers-world

 

 

 

Rally events and prices to be posted soon.

    Rally hosts Janet & George Sanders

 

 

 

SOUTHEAST COUNTRY COACHERS SPRING RALLY

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE

The Southeasters were ready for some fun. Even before the rally started the men gathered together, as usual, to work on various coach tasks. 

L to R : Max Hegler, Pete Hays, Buddy Bordes, Scott Loftfield seated, Marty Ott in back, George Sanders working on the Hydro Hot.

Our campground was the newly opened Hawkins Pointe RV Park just across the Tennessee state line in Rossville Georgia, convenient to Interstate 75 and the many things to do in Chattanooga. Owners John and Karen Hawkins are past members of SECC so we were excited to see their new venture. Our rally meeting “room” was their large RV storage barn and attached patio which worked very well for cool mornings and evenings when we enjoyed cocktail hour and catered meals.

 

Chattanooga was once known as one of the dirtiest, most polluted cities in the country. It is now a beautiful, healthy tourist destination with dozens of places to explore. Our first morning included an open-air van tour so everyone could get a good overview of the many sites they would want to return to see on their own. 

Many of our group now have Ebikes and enjoyed having a free day to ride part of the beautiful 16 mile Riverwalk along the Tennessee river.

 

L to R: guest Susan Johnsey, George Sanders, Myron Whitley, Kent McCoin, Marty & LouLou Ott in back, Dale McCoin, Dorcas Whitley. The ultra- modern Tennessee Aquarium is in the background, the highlight of the active waterfront that began its transformation of the city in the early 90’s.                                                                                                          

We enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Southern Belle, an old paddlewheel. It was a warm spring evening to be outside watching the city go by.

 

Right: Our group, posing at  the Southern Belle

Left, Myron Whitley, George Sanders & Buddy Bordes on the bow.

Our campground host John Hawkins is VP of Manufacturing of nearby Miller Industries. Miller Industries is the international manufacturer of those gigantic tow trucks that haul 18 wheelers, and the only ones that can safely and properly tow our Country Coaches. John and an associate took us on a very special private tour of the plant. Many of the vehicles we saw were customized to order. It was an amazing tour for everyone. 

   

http://southeastcountrycoachers.blogspot.com/

We are looking forward to our next rally in October at Traveler’s World RV Park, San Antonio, directly after the CCI Rally at Kerrville.