Tuesday: Oktoberfest in The Villages

As it would be Ron and Carol’s last full day we tried to reamin laid back and not plan too much.

So at 8.30 I took Ron onto the water in a canoe, where we paddled round the reeds and banks looking for alligator, we found one large one resting on the bank. Ron of course wanted to go up to it and pat it on the head, but thankfully the alligator knew of the dangers of this and as we approached it slowly sank back into the water. Still it was nice to be down at the water level looking at the wildlife. Ron professed to not have canoed since childhood, but he was pretty handy with the paddle.

After breakfast we were forced to get in the truck and go down to Grumpy’s for an ice cream. This is the local ice cream parlour and we each had a small cone, which we just about managed to finish. A quick smooch round some shops for last minute presents meant that it was now time for a late lunch. We had decided on the Oakwood Smokehouse and Grill, a well known eatery in these parts. The girls had the Oakwood Special Chicken and we lads had to suffer the 12oz New York Strip Steak. Our steak duly arrived, but not with the chicken, still they said it would be along in a bit, some little mix up at the chef’s end. After about a minute the manager came and apologized, and offered us another drink (declined) and the chicken then appeared, the manager continued her apology, though it didn’t seem particularly bad service, as we were all able to eat together. Both the chicken and steaks were excellent. At which point the manager returned, aplogised again and said that we would not be charged for the chicken meals, because of the poor service. We didn’t complain.

After lunch we took a leisurely drive to The Villages, because today was Oktoberfest 07. This meant a parade down the main street and round the square, a band in the square, lots of concession stands and a general German Feel to the day.

We took our place on the roadside and watched as the parade came past, led by a black and white (sheriff’s car) from the 50’s wailing out its siren, a pair of shire horses and cart with the frau’s in blouses and chaps in lederhosen, followed by an ‘Oompah Band’. This was closely followed by The Villages Cheerleaders (none of them under 60 I am sure, but all wearing miniskirts and tight top), a variety of decorated golf carts, mostly with German flags, driven by more blouses and lederhosen carrying big steins. Then came the Twirlers (batten twirlers, yes all appeared over 60, short skirts, high heels and high kicking all the way down mainstreet), more golf buggies, then The Villages Cloggers (we would probably call them tap dancers) (yes all appeared over 60, short skirts, tapping and high kicking all the way down mainstreet), more golf buggies. Another group followed who were the ‘Bavarian Mothers of Marrion County’. At the rear a Lone Piper, skirling away (?). All good fun.

We followed the parade to the packed town square, where the ‘Oompah Band’ had installed itself on the bandstand and were underway with all manner of German Beer Drinking songs. Which as the evening drew on featured such Keller swinging greats as Kansas City and You Ain’t Nothin’ But A Houn’dog. But they were great to dance to. We managed to get seats in the square and joined in the fun, found out that the people next to us were called Ellouise, Connie and Jerry, Ellouise had an Irish Mother, Connie had a Scottish father, etc. As the light faded we wandered around the square, bought an ice cream and some funnel cake, found another couple of bands playing in side streets, did a bit of shopping. Back in the square we were treated to cabaret by The Villages Cloggers and the Twirlers, as well as some traditional hand clapping, thigh slapping German folk dances. By about 8.30 the party was starting to wind down so we returned to the trailer having had a great time. Nothing like a nice quiet day.