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The Altoona Trail Riders at Marandy Ranch

     The Altoona Trail Riders had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend camping at Marandy Ranch in Inverness.  Our hosts, Marcia and Andy Michel are the most gracious folks you would ever want to meet and we are truly blessed to have them as members in our organization.  After having this rowdy group for four days, Marcia calmly suggested that she would love to have us camp at their place twice a year.  We thought we were pushing our luck by invading them once a year.  The weather was just perfect; cool and breezy.  We were blessed with overcast skies most of the time and the temps were definitely cooler than normal. 

     There were eight rigs and sixteen riders at the campout which ATR President, Sue Rogers labeled as a “no-cook weekend”.  Which meant we ate out every night instead of having to cook at camp.  On this campout we had Sue and Ritchie Rogers, Pam and Bob Courtemanche, and grandson Dalton,  Mike Pranger and daughter Shelby, Stan and Leigh Altman, Karen Norris and Tom Sidell, Irene and Steve Weissman, Marilyn and Tom Keethler, Sandy Walsh and Karen Lappi.  The first night Andy took us to a local restaurant featuring an all you can eat fish fry.  They had a country band playing outdoors so we all set up a lawn chair, got our plate of fish, slaw and beans and ate away listening to some good local music.  Sue was wearing the famous ATR “hat” and one lady asked her if she was the next act going onstage!  She is an act all right! The next morning we set out for our first ride.  We rode 18 miles and saw some very pretty trails in the Withlacoochee Forest.  They sure need some rain in that part of the state.  The trails were very dusty.  We did manage to see a few deer in the woods.  Ask Mike Pranger about how he managed to get lost in the woods.  Some of our group decided not to ride and instead went flea-marketing at some local spots.   The afternoon was spent lazing around, napping or chatting.  Dinner on Saturday was at a very nice local Italian restaurant.  As we were leaving the waitresses quietly asked that we not return!  Only fooling, however with Sue Rogers wearing the oh-so-famous ATR hat everywhere she went and with some of our more vocal members keeping everyone entertained, I am surprised that they didn’t.  Actually, come to think of it, when we visit Marcia and Andy, we never seem to go to the same restaurant twice! 

Sunday had a few riders going out in the morning and others going fishing or flea-marketing again.  Those of us who rode in the morning went out the famous caves in the area and checked them out.  They are interesting to crawl around in!  Dinner that night was baked ziti from Nicky D’s restaurant.  All we had to do was heat it up and eat.  We rode again Monday morning before packing up our camps and heading back home.  It was a great weekend and over with all too soon.  We are appreciative of our hosts, Andy and Marcia and to Sue for all the arranging.  It was one terrific weekend.