It's All about the Chili

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 I think part of the reason people enjoy chili so much is that it contains all kinds of ingredients. That was certainly true of our first chili cook off at the campground October 24th.
Each team not only had a different recipe and special decorations but also the kind of energy that comes from working together and sharing a meal with others for a good cause.

The fall day of the event could not have been more  perfect. It was not too hot or too cold, too windy or too wet. We know that some years Mother Nature will not be as kind but we were so pleased to see sunshine. I had met some of the seniors at the new Bird Watching group we are hosting monthly at the senior center so it was fun to connect again in another setting. Many were long time Eufaula residents but had not been to the campground. The fishing ponds were a topic of conversation as you might expect in a lakeside community that hosts over 70 fishing tournaments a year.   
  

 Football is often part of SEC fall Saturdays but who could have predicted 4 overtimes for the Auburn Arkansas game. Others enjoyed the music and singing from one of our campers who shared his talents with the group. Earlier in the week  two school groups had joined us for "Gravity Games", the preparation we have for the pumpkin smash and dash. We ask the students to develop their own hypothesis as to what type of pumpkins will win the race or travel the furthest. This year we talked about the science of winning an egg toss.  Younger children raced the day of the event and we hope eventually that kids will bring their own racers to try on the course.

Jackie is the director of the Senor Center and we both had our moments of doubt as we worked together to plan the first event of this kind at the campground.  Thank you to Jackie and her staff  as well as  thanks to our sponsors- Ameris  Bank- Gold Sponsor , The Medicine Shoppe- Silver Sponsor, and our Bronze Sponsors -Willie T's, River City Grill , The First Exchange Bank, Peoples South Bank and Young, Johnson and Associates Insurance, Home Instead and Southeast Alabama Convalescent Center.   Isolation can be a real problem for seniors who live alone.  Although the basic needs of the center have funding, these funds help provide everything from decorations at dance to support for holiday parties.   Thank you also to the First Presbyterian Church's Pumpkin Patch for the "past prime" pumpkins used for the pumpkin events. We have two ducks and one duck laid the eggs for the egg toss but I am not sure which one does the work and which one takes the glory.

For many the highlight of the event came at the award's ceremony. Not only were the teams recognized for their contribution of chili  but several generously donated their prize money back to the center. Congratulations to the Cajuricans who won first prize.  There are lots of activities that take place this time of year and many support a good cause . When all was said and done the fund raising goal was reached and we all had a really good time.

If you would like to be part of a team for next years Chili Cook Off please mark your calendar now for Saturday October 23. Team Entry is $25 for your team of up to 5 people. The public is welcome and Chili Tickets are $5.00 for 4 sample cups.

Autumn Reflections

The temperature is in the mid 70's  and I don't think the campground has looked any better than it does today. We have had several calls from hunters looking for a place to stay but their season starts a bit later in the year. We have work to do to attract more winter guests but the cabins are already booked for the winter months. Several great campsites are still available. The pool is closed thanks to the early cold front that came through  and the large number of leaves falling from the trees. Autumn is perhaps the best time of year to go camping but with school activities, football and community events, so far fall as been less busy than this summer.

The Chili Cook Off  and our second annual Pumpkin Dash and Smash on October 24th is our chance to let everyone know more about this special time of year at Lake Eufaula Campground. We are really enjoying working with the Jaxon Life Senior Center to make their fund raiser a big success. We have started a monthly Senior Center  birding class to work more closely with seniors at the center. Middle school classes will be joining us again this year for gravity games - a pre pumpkin Dash and Smash event that looks at the science behind the games. New this year will be an egg toss and two holes on the miniature golf course. We hope people visiting the cook off will see us as a place to bring friends together for tailgating. We are hosting  a pavilion party next weekend- another great option for family and friends to get together. Fall is also a great time to kayak.

Not everyone camping this time of year is looking for a party. Fall unfolds it's  beauty every day and a walk on the hiking trail or the spiritual trail is full of new discoveries. Soon it will be time to think about the holidays and look ahead to the upcoming year.   Thanksgiving lasts a bit longer here as we celebrate the season and not just the day. If you are traveling through this area on your way to points further south we invite you to spend some time with us enjoying the quiet season change. Eufaula has a lot to offer winter guests and those just passing through.

If you can come join us for the Cook Off and  support the great programs offered through the senior center. Tickets are available at the campground and the center. We still could use a few more chili cook off teams. If you do come please take time to drive into the retreat area  to see autumn in full bloom. Enjoy the season and celebrate outdoors.