​It is hard to believe our rally is coming to a close.  We have done so much, been to so many places, eaten so much food, and met so many wonderful people.   As we gathered together this morning for our last breakfast, Kay gave an invocation wishing everyone safe travels. 

​Breakfast was served by the “Liberty Ladies.”  We did not have a continental breakfast today, no, no, no, no, no.  WE DID NOT HAVE DOUGHNUTS, OR PASTRIES, OR MUFFINS.   We wanted to make sure our guests had a healthy start for their travels and didn’t go away hungry, so we served eggs, bacon, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, and of course grits. 

​You never know what you are going to see at our rallies.  As we were having our last breakfast, a “special” trailer was pulling out.  Many of our guests were able to tour the trailer, as the owners were very hospitable, but that’s how we RVers are, right?  It was not just any ole trailer, it was used in the Lucille Ball movie, "The Longest Trailer."

​But wait, THERE’S MORE.  All of us at Rivoli Rallies wished our guests Happy Trails

​until we see you again.
 
Rivoli Rallies has already begun sign ups for our 2019 rallies, Savannah, Colorado Springs, Southern Louisiana, and Smoky Mountains.  For more information, check out our website: 

​RiVoli Rallies outdid themselves today with a MOUNTAIN of "ooey gooey" doughnuts.  They were almost too pretty to eat.
 
We started our day with Sunday Bless Your Heart gospel service and tears in our eyes as Kay relayed one of her grandma stories.

​Winding down our rally, we held a shoot the bull session.  You see, here at RiVoli Rallies, we want to hear from YOU.  The good and the bad so that we can improve (yes there is always room for improvement) our future rallies.  We received a lot of great ideas and suggestions. 
 
Guess what time it is?  Yep, LUNCH and a game of Bunco, followed by and ice cream sandwich social.  Not just “any” ice cream.  We got to choose what type of cookie we wanted and what flavor ice cream!  It was DELICIOUS! 

​We had two surprises for everyone on our next to the last day of the rally. 

​Corona is now our choice of beer!  AND we unveiled everyone’s beautiful Krazy Keepsake they created at the beginning of the rally. 
 
Social Hour went right into hors d’oeuvres,  brie with caramel sauce, cranberry with sweet and spicy raspberry sauce, bacon wrapped shrimp.

OMG, we did not need dinner after this over-the-top starter.  But as Rivoli Rallies say, ONLY THE BEST FOR OUR GUESTS. 
 
While we awaited dinner, you KNOW we were starving…..  everyone googled over their masterpieces.

​Surf and Turf was on the menu for tonight!  Steak and Salmon, green beans, potatoes AND cake for dessert.  We sure have been spoiled these last two weeks. 
 
As we were eating, Paula Deen dropped by!

​She made everyone feel right at home.  Then Johnny Mercer showed up, what could be better?

​I’ll tell you what could be better.  Dolly Parton!

​BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!  There’s no visit to Savannah without being visited by a world-renowned chef. 

​If there is talent to be found, Rivoli Rallies will find it.
 
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE.  Kay and Ron couldn’t allow everyone to go home without another show by Rivoli Revue.

​Queen of the Nile was back by popular demand.  More door prizes before ending our last full day of our Krazy fun-filled, inaugural rally.

A view from the outside looking in, while our wonderful guests gave Kay and Ron a well deserved standing ovation.  Rivoli Rallies is humbled by all of those who believed in our vision and helped it to come true.

​Coffee and doughnuts were interesting today as we prepared for Savannah’s Scottish Games and Celtic Festival. 

​BUT FIRST, we stopped at Ft. Jackson, a restored 19th century fort, were we were sworn in.  If we were sworn to secrecy, I just failed…..

​We toured the inside of the fort

​Leave it to Kay to find what those soldiers did for fun.
 
We learned about the medical practices and medicines that were used.

​AND we saw a canon demonstration.

​Once we were relieved of our duties, we marched on to the Scottish Festival.

​Savannah has always had a bit of Scottish flavor, with one of the earliest social organizations, St. Andrew’s Society formed in 1737, filling an important need in the community.  What an experience to see all the clans celebrating their “roots.” 

​The modern great pipes were developed in the Scottish Highlands.  Some historians believe the pipes were used in Scotland as early as 100 AD!  The piper was held in higher esteem in Scotland than anywhere else.  By 1500, every clan chieftain worthy of the name had a piper in his retinue. 

​Herding demonstrations were throughout the day.  The border collie is a breed of herding dog that originated along the borders of England, Wales and Scotland.  They are regarded as the most intelligent dog breed and considered the world’s best sheep herding dogs. 

​Watching the collie herd the geese was cute.  Although their herding ability is instinctive, they must be trained to “work” the livestock.  We were beyond impressed. 

​The children’s race was also quite cute.  On your mark, get set, GO!

​Great lunch with great entertainment.

​The afternoon was comprised of COMPETITION, one of the oldest forms of human interaction.  Strength and endurance is the name of the game!  Who is the biggest, the strongest, the fastest?  The Highland games started around 2000 BC  in Ireland, spreading to Scotland by the 5th century BC, beating out the Greeks by over 1,000 years. 
 
In the heat of the day, we watched the Sheaf Toss, using a pitchfork to launch a 20 lb. sack of hay over a bar, not sure how high that bar is. 

​Throwing metal weights with chain handles where the competitor attempts to throw the weight as far as they can by spinning with the weight.  It is down in two segments.  The first, using a lighter weight, 14 lbs for women and 28 for men.  The second, using heavier weights of 28 for women, 42 for masters and 56 for men. 

​The Caber Toss takes center stage.  The caber is about 20 ft. tall and weighs about 100-150 lbs!  The caber is set upright in front of the competitor who then hoists it into his hands while at the same time stands erect.  You must balance the caber while running forward until tossing it end over end.  The object is to flip the caber so that it lands straight in front at 12 o’clock.  WOW!

​There was so much going on you just could not see everything.  So we are looking forward to next year.
 
Back at the ranch, we celebrated Cinco De Mayo. 

​The campground put on a HUGE pool party celebration for us, complete with tacos and margaritas.  Meanwhile, RiVoli Rallies gave out lots and lots of door prizes.

​Not only that, Linda and Ted celebrated their wedding anniversary.

​We were so excited they decided to spend this special day with us.  Happy 45th!!!!!!!

​BRAVE THE RED FRIDAY.  We all know what that means!  Everyone donned themselves with our very red, BRAVE THE RED T-shirts produced by Nine Line, a veteran owned and operated company. 

​The Sons of the American Revolution gave us a lesson on the history and development of the Flag. 

​They had the attention of everyone in their seats.  Who knew?!
 
First stop out and about today was Byrd’s Cookie Factory.

​After suiting up for the tour, we were approved to enter the facilities, but NOT take photos.  Sorry.

​Once we toured the factory, we visited their cookie bar for samples.

​Byrd’s cookies are famous for their very small round cookies, sold by the pound – in all kinds of exotic flavors, like key lime or pink lemonade  - which you will find in stores, gift shops and even on airplanes. 

​What an interesting gift shop!  After bagging up all our purchases, we were on our way to lunch at Corleone’s. 

​Their chandeliers were most interesting. 

​Now it’s time to walk off those Byrd’s cookies and lunch.  So downtown we went to shop and take a carriage ride.

​Our ride around town took us past many of the sites we have already seen.  I think our driver was a bit frustrated hoping to tell us about places to go and things to see and we had already done them!  RiVoli Rallies is the BEST!  One of the most notable places we saw was Debi’s Restaurant, the diner where Jenny worked in “Forest Gump.” 

​We finished our day at River Street for shopping and a dinner cruise.

Dinner consisted of prime rib, fish pork, shrimp and grits, squash, vegetable medley, salad and I’m sure I missed some things.  After dinner there was dancing

and ​DESSERT

And out on the deck, there is Kay and Linda shenanigans going on.

​While dancing was going on INSIDE the ship on the dance floor, Krazy Kay was giving dance lessons OUTSIDE on the deck.

​Once Krazy Kay found out she was entertaining everyone INSIDE the ship, she took a bow.

​She certainly was born to entertain!
 
To top the evening off were fireworks. 

​There is nothing better than a night topped off with fireworks!

​Yes, more coffee and doughnuts. 
 
Now for some ridiculous fun in downtown Savannah.

​The Prohibition Museum was first on the list for the day.  The museum displays the history of prohibition in America from 1907-1933.  The big breweries survived by making brand new products with little modification to their factory machinery.  Budweiser produced frozen egg products, Pabst made cheese, Coors manufactured malted milk, Yuengling made ice cream…..  WHO KNEW!?
 

​The Prohibition also made Walgreen’s what it is today.  The company began with a single drugstore in 1901 and grew to 20 stores in Chicago in 1919.  By the end of Prohibition, there were over 500 stores nationwide.  Why?  Because they filled more prescriptions for medicinal liquor than any other outlet. 

​Prohibition also brought in the bootlegging industry, which brought in the mafia.

​The wax figures were so lifelike but one of the displays had a REAL LIVE PERSON who came alive when you got up close and personal with him!

​What fun to watch the reactions of everyone as they discover he WAS NOT a wax figure.  Kay about jumped out of her shoes.  HAHA we got her again.

​One gentlemen gave us the history of prohibition and how the people felt about it.

​But wait, the photos on the wall told us how the people felt about it!  Note the lady in the oval frame and the portrait of the man to the right.  THEY WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND MOVING THEIR HEAD AND HANDS!  SPOOKY!

​As we browsed through the museum, there were plenty of photo ops.

​The two-way mirror was lots of fun to catch everyone trying to do the “Charleston.”

​In order to enter the speakeasy, you had to be “approved.”

​The speakeasy had a HUGE bar, but it was too much for Kay so early in the day.

​But NOT too early for a nice lunch!  So on our way to the Olde Pink House. 

​One of the waiters gave us a history of the building.  He’s from Savannah and has worked at the Olde Pink House since he was old enough to work.  And YES, this mansion is said to be haunted.

​If you are ever in Savannah for an anniversary or a special occasion, make sure you make a dinner reservation for the wine cellar room.

​How cozy would that be!
 
So now the need to walk off our lunch at Forsyth Park. 

​And visit the French Gothic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, built in 1873.  The workmanship on the stations of the cross is amazing. 

​The cathedral was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1898.  Only the outside walls and the two spires survived the fire.  It survived and today the interior of the Cathedral is one of the most impressive interiors of any building in Savannah.

​What a spiritual experience. 
 
Hungry?  Did anyone say they were hungry?  Well, almost.  Time to shop along the river before dinner and for some it was cocktail time.

​The River House Restaurant dinner was mahi mahi, chicken, or a few other choices, which I can't remember.  Why?  BECAUSE WE HAD SO MUCH FOOD!  Overtime we turned around we were eating!  Did I mention all the food is included in the price of our rallies?  We felt like we were on a cruise ship.

​No, we did not finish our day with dinner.  No, no, no, no.  The Hearse Ghost Tour was next on the list. 
 
Everyone scrambled for their hearse of choice

​for some Krazy Ridiculous fun.

​Did we get spooked?  HECK YES!

​No doughnuts today! No, no, no.  Today we had muffins!  All kinds!
 
Today we started at the Richardson Owens Thomas House, designed by a 24 year old English architect. 

​We had a slight delay as the fire alarm went off for no good reason.  SO we had to wait until the firemen gave us clearance to enter.

​It is amazing what RiVoli Rallies does to a person.  Check out Pat in the window….  She said it wasn’t her, that it was a ghost!

​Getting back to our tour.  This home is one of the finest examples of high-style architecture in Savannah, with its sophisticated plumbing and cast iron balcony. 

The owners of this property, Richardson and Owens, both served as guardians to freed persons of color.  Richardson lost his new home in the financial panic of 1819.  The property reverted to the bank and rented by Mary Maxwell, who ran it as a boardinghouse.  In 1830, Owens purchased the house and it remained in their family for 121 years, until the property was left to the Telfair Museum of Art. ​ 
 
Onto the Wormsloe Plantation, the 1.5 mile oak avenue is one of the most photographed lane/driveway. 

​The Noble Jones’ 1.5 story, 5 room tabby and wood house (ruins pictured below) was constructed between 1739 and 1745.  It was surrounded on 3 sides by a courtyard protected by 8 ft. high tabby walls.  Tabby is a local mixture of sand, oyster shells, lime and fresh water.  The walls provided adequate protection against muskets.

​Noble Jones leased this 500 acre piece of property.  He used indentured servant labor when there was a ban on slavery.  When the Trustees revoked the ban on slavery in 1749, Jones used slave labor in order to make Wormsloe profitable. Jones initially planted several types of crops, including corn, rice, various fruits and vegetables, and possibly indigo.  The Georgia Trustees encouraged the production of silk, so Jones planted mulberry trees and tried unsuccessfully to produce silk at Wormsloe.  Wormsloe never proved profitable. 
 
All of this touring made us hungry, AGAIN, so off to the Mansion on Drayton for lunch.  700 Drayton at The Mansion on Forsyth Park is a unique setting of distinct worldly charm with the warmth and comfort of Historic Savannah. The signature restaurant features eight separate dining rooms.

​Afterwards, we wandered around until we were ready to go home.

​Once back to the campground, we opened our auction to find that almost everyone took on Kay’s challenge while we were at Keller’s Flea Market.

What fun!  UNTIL Bill won an auctioned item, a pregnancy test.

​WHAT???!!!
 
After our catered dinner of pork, meatballs, oxtail, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, broccoli casserole, YEP ALL OF THAT AND PROBABLY MORE, Pat entertained us while Ron and Bill ran all the leftover food to the mission.  Nothing goes to waste at RiVoli Rallies.  The Savannah Mission LOVES us. 
 

​Pat had everyone in stitches.  She certainly missed her calling!
 
The entertainment for the evening was David Pendleton, ventriloquist. 

He was amazing!  He has been in the business of making people laugh his whole life.

​He has performed in many countries and on four continents, as well as across most of our 50 United States.  David has worked in every venue known, and he strives to make each event a personal experience.  He certainly did for us.  RiVoli Rallies has done it again.