| Florida Unit 027 Wally Byam Caravan Club International |
| the Airstream RV Association |
| Click on each Picture to enlarge |
| April 3-9 |
| Day One |
| The St. Augustine Easter Rally is a WBCCI National Rally sponsored by the Florida Unit 027. It is held each year starting on the Tuesday before Easter Sunday and ending on the Monday after Easter. The rally is limited to around 50 trailers/motorhomes. The limiting factor is the number of people we can accommodate in the School House on the St. Johns County Fairgrounds. The rally fee of $168 included six nights of parking at the St. John's County fairgrounds with new restroom facilities, water and electric hookups, and a dump station. The fee also included two breakfasts, two dinners, four days use of the Red Train, a boat cruise on the Matanzas River, the Oldest House Tour, evening entertainment and refreshments, an Easter egg hunt, and free parking for the Easter Parade. |
| Monday April 2 is an early arrival day. About 45 of the 57 trailers and motorhomes arrived on Monday. In the afternoon we had a happy hour. |
| Day Two |
| Tuesday, April 3rd is the start of the rally with folks arriving, registration in the afternoon, a 4pm happy hour and entertainment in the evening. This year was Michele Renya telling ghost strories of St. Augustine. |
| Day Three |
| Wednesday April 4th began with a pancake breakfast with all the trimmings. Then a trip to St. Augustine for the Red Train tour of the city. The afternoon was free time to tour and sightsee. |
| Day Four |
| Thursday we did the boat cruise on the Matanzas River. This cruise is included in the rally fee. The afternoon was free time to ride the Red Train to any attraction we wanted to see. Dinner was beef barbecue followed by Margret Kaler as Marjorie K. Rawlings, author of 'The Yearling' |
| Day Five |
| It's Friday, so this must be the 'Oldest House Tour'. This was followed by free time to tour some more. In the evening after announcements, the Royal Family visited. They Royals must be able to trace their ancestry back to Spain or Minorca, where the original settlers of St. Augustine came from. The Royals serve for a year and are the representitives of St. Augustine in local and national events. |
| Because we had about 110 people at the rally, we had to break into three groups. This is the sensible group that went last so we could sleep in. |
| The Red Train is the best way to see the city. It is a hop on hop off tour. |
| Our driver Ding Ding Danny. The train has a bell the driver rings when he stops and starts. |
| Also we passed the original city gates made of Cochina stone. |
| and The Castillo De San Marco |
| On the way to the Oldest House we passed the home of Ripley's Believe it or Not castle. You may have see it on TV. |
| and The towers of the Basillica and the churchs |
| and The Marina where we left for the Boat Tour |
| and The headquarters of the Florida National Guard |
| Finally the Oldest House in St. Augustine |
| This plaque tells about the house |
| The entrance |
| Inside is a restful garden to await the start of the tour |
| The original two rooms build by the Spanish |
| The upstairs was added by the British during their occupancy |
| The Gardens and Grounds |
| The Royal Family visited in the evening followed by strawberry shortcake |
| The Bridge of Lions is being rebuilt |
| The Castillo De San Marcos from the river |
| St. Augustine Light |
| Folks enjoying the trip |
| Sightseeing ala Red Train. The only way to see it all |
| The Red Train Dropped us off at St. George St. |
| Then lunch at the Columbia Restaurant. Always a favorite. |
| A Stroll down the unique St. George Street |
| The evening's entertainment Margret Kaler as Marjorie K. Rawlings |
| These two really are mother and son |
