Next stop, RE Temple, Cumberland, MD where we were met by
the Campers Club of Ali Ghan Shriners. This shrine center boasts a nice RV Park
for its members and guests. The front of the shrine building looks like the
front porch of a southern planation house, with pillars and multiple rocking
chairs in which to rest and take in the view of the Pennsylvania/Maryland mountains,
beautiful! This Nile temple, Re Temple, went all out with their Official Visit,
beginning with a “paving brick” in honor of the Supreme Queen, which will be
placed in their memorial walkway which surrounds the gazebo. Following a
newspaper interview, she was greeted by two Shrine patients, the Ali Ghan
Highlanders and presented with a yellow rose. At the banquet she was presented
with a Key and Proclamation from the City of Cumberland, an Official Citation
from the Alleghany County Commissioners and an Official Citation from the
Maryland State Governor.
To be in Endicott, NY the next day at 11 am, we left
Cumberland at a very early hour, daylight was hours away….
Endicott, NY – we had reservations at the Pine Valley
Campground, a nice campground outside of town. I learned the difference between
a campground and an RV Park. Gravel and grass sites versus paved; gravel and
muddy roads versus paved; unheated restrooms versus heated, tiled and individual
units. No cable or WIFI to…. well you get my drift. So okay, I may be a little
spoiled! Multiple Proclamations were given to SQ Margaret Ann by Zuleika Temple No. 9.
The next morning we had another early start to get to Albany/Latham,
NY by 10am. We were met there by a photographer who with the assistance of
Rosemary Caruso, put together a wonderful news article for the Altamonte
Enterprise, a local paper. Check it out at - www.altamontenterprise.com. Click on Community then Correspondents. The ladies of both
Zuleika and Cyrene Daughters of the Nile Temples put on beautiful ceremonials
and banquets. Thank you!
Sunday, September 15th, off to Utica, NY.
Well actually, the Villages at Turning Stone RV Resort in Verona, NY. Now
that was an RV Resort, holy moly! Large shady grassy lots with paved slabs.
Clean, beautiful and heated restrooms. Yes indeed, very nice! Unfortunately we
didn’t have enough time to take advantage of the shuttle bus which delivers
guests to and from Turning Stone Casino 24/7. Maybe another time. However, what
we did have time for was telling several of the other campers (those curiosity
seekers which I’ve mentioned before) of our mission and reason for the tour. So
now, three more couples have knowledge of our philanthropy and hopefully will
share the information with three more and three more and so on!! We had a
delightful day with the ladies of Uarda Temple and can’t thank them enough for
their hospitality.
Monday, the 16th we were off to North Syracuse. I
think that this was the shortest journey which we have had so far on the tour;
less than 40 miles. I’ve had the opportunity to visit Ilderim Temple Daughters
of the Nile in the past and love these ladies! A record number of ladies were
in attendance, > 90. They meet at a fairly new Masonic Center in North
Syracuse and had their banquet at the American Legion Hall in Cicero. Grilled
steak that was cooked to perfection!!! Now, let me tell you about the
campground, not an RV Park, where we parked that night after the banquet. First
let me preface this by saying that I was the one who found this place as it was
the closest to Cicero and on the way to Webster, NY. Talk about a mud hole….no
sewer hookup and no satellite reception. Definitely a “campground”. I’m really
not complaining, although it sounds that way, I’m just really noticing a huge
difference in the parks.
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| A Donation Presentation from the Gentlemen of the Creek |
Tuesday morning, bright and early, off to Webster for
the official visit at Zama Temple which was wonderful. Dumpster diving and all!!
This was our last visit
of this leg of the tour. Nila is on hiatus now until October 10th
when we are scheduled to tour the Shriner’s Hospital in Chicago. ‘Til then……..
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