Timeless April-June 2022 | Page 14

FEATURE

ANN & RON MERCER Clarkdale couple enjoys camping close to home

Camping at Clarkco State Park is just a short drive from their own backyard for Ann Mercer and her husband , Ron Mercer .

The Clarkdale residents , who are members of the Queen City Camping Club , have camped at Clarkco for more than two decades , raising their children , grandchildren and great grandchildren to enjoy the outdoors .
“ When we bought our first travel trailer , we just started going to Clarkco and we love it there ,” Ann Mercer said , noting that was more than 20 years ago .
She loves the outdoors and is drawn to the park ’ s walking trails , especially the back loop . Her husband enjoys sitting and talking with other campers .
“ Most of the time , you will find good people when camping . They are very friendly , and you can just walk around and strike up a conversation with anyone ,” Mercer said .
Twice a year , her family gathers for large campouts at Clarkco . They can have as many as 30 people in attendance .
“ All three of my sons have campers and three of my grandchildren have campers , so we have a family campout there twice a year ,” she said .
While the grown-ups enjoy the outdoors and social gatherings , the children love the swimming areas , disc golf and the Splash Pad .
She credits Park Manager Tony Fleming with a lot of Clarkco ’ s success in recent years .
“ He is a hard worker . He is a go-getter ,” she said . “ He has made tremendous improvements at the park .”
The Mercers are members of an incredible group of volunteers who support the park , called Friends of Clarkco . Ann Mercer serves on the board of directors .
Friends of Clarkco volunteers assist Fleming with getting things done at the park from helping to clear trails , repairing and improving cabins and campsites and assisting with fund-raising events . Among some of the events the Mercers have worked are the annual Youth Fishing Rodeo , the Lake Run 5K , Bluegrass Day in the Park and the Ivy Trek Ultra , which features 50K , 25K and 12.5K runs .
Photo by Bill Graham From left , James and Lynn Dearman with Ann and Ron Mercer and grandson Liam , 2 .
“ The Friends of Clarkco have raised the money to make a lot of the improvements at the park ,” Mercer said . “ We have put new roofs on some of the cabins . We have helped with some of the trails . Some other ladies and I have made new drapes for all of the cabins .”
She said members also adopt a cabin to decorate for holidays .
The Mercers are among a group of 15 campers who make up the Queen City Camping Club , previously affiliated with the Good Sam RV camping club . The others include club president Jackie Fulton and his wife , Becky ; wagon master James Dearman and his wife Lynn , who serves as treasurer ; Presley and Lydia Minor ; Julia Bertrand ; Jim and Kay Riley ; Ken and Patsy Valentine ; and Benton and Marilyn Espey .
The club holds monthly meetings from December to February . Between March and November , they camp for four days once a month at a different state park mainly in Mississippi and Alabama . Local campgrounds they plan to visit this year include Clarkco , Twiltley Branch Campground in Collinsville , Turkey Creek Water Park in Decatur , and Archusa Creek Water Park in Quitman .
“ We eat and play games , mostly dominoes and card games , and we sit around and talk and play more games ,” Mercer said of their time together . “ The men cook breakfast . That is tradition . On Thursday nights , we go out and eat .”
She said most of the couples have camped together for years so it is always a pleasant time with friends .
Mercer is pleased her children are avid campers and that their love for the outdoors is extending to the next generation .
“ They all have a love of camping ,” she said of her children , “ and my grandchildren have been raised to camp and they have campers , too .”
She said even her great-grandson , who will soon turn age 3 , is fond of the pastime .
“ The other day this lady he didn ’ t even know … he looked at her and said , ‘ Do you have a camper ?’ And the lady said , ‘ No ,’ and he said , ‘ Why ?’ He loves to go camping .”
Over the year , the Mercers have traveled to other states camping at numerous campgrounds , but Clarkco remains one of their favorites .
“ It is just a special atmosphere to me ,” she said . “ When we travel in other states and stay in other campgrounds , we realize how blessed we are to have Clarkco right here near us .” T
14 • TIMELESS MERIDIAN