Rally Day 3 - A FAN tastic time

The day started much the same as the others have, minus one walk around the back 40 - we were all feeling a bit lazy after having been up so late last night. Once we got back we took our coffees outside and sipped them in the morning sun. It wasn't long before we were talking with Steve who was on his way to Bob & Ann's for coffee. Ann stuck her head around the camper and shouted for us to come and join them as well. I don't know how long we were there, but the conversation flowed and there was much laughter. Again it was an interesting group of people. Bob and Ann are retired dairy farmers from south western Ontario, while Steve is a trucker, and his wife Henny just retired from the Food Inspection Agency. They live just around the corner from Bob and Ann.

I love how everyone is from such diverse walks of life.

Carm and I finally deeked out for a trip to Costco (our second time there already this trip). I wanted some muffins or squares to take with me when I go over for coffee tomorrow - I don't like to come empty handed. We also need some 9v batteries to replace the one we had scrounged off somebody a few days ago.

To continue my theme from the other day about stuff needing fixing... our bedroom fan stopped working. We thought it might be the battery in the remote (yes, even the fan is remote control!), and sure enough that was the problem, or at least one of the problems...

The other problem we were having was that we could  get the dome to open, but then it would immediately close. Well, shoot. We NEED the dome/fan to work as it is in the bedroom, and that is where we put the dogs when we go out. Without the fan going, well, lets just say there are 3 dogs in a very small space... We mentioned the problem to Bob this morning, and he said that he had a similar problem, but that it went away once he got on the roof and cleaned the rain sensors (the dome will close automatically if it rains). Dooh! Why did we not think of that! Of course the problem was resolved.

Many of the rally folk were off on a tour of Boldt Castle today, so the afternoon was spent quietly reading and napping, and visiting with passers-by. Late in the afternoon, after a visit with Erik and Jackie, we roused ourselves enough to take the dogs for their walk. On the way back we stopped at John and Judy's place to say hello, and before we knew it, icy margaritas were in our hands (note: holding 3 dog leashes and a drink is a feat of coordination, especially since we were basically standing in some mud). Their place is action central so we ended up  staying till well past 6, enjoying the company of all the people dropping by.

I wanted to be sure to reciprocate with Judy so set up a time for her to come to my place for a visit - but then the dilemma rose its ugly head - who else do I invite? I don't have room/wine/chairs/glasses for more than 4 or 5 so can't invite everyone. A conundrum.

It was another beautiful day with sunny skies and warm, but not hot temperatures.

Supper was quick, with just enough time to write some of the blog before it was time to slather ourselves with bug spray and head to the campfire. Time passed quickly there, and now, here I am, just after 10pm, exhausted and ready for bed... and without my editor again... I think he's talking politics with an American - I might not see him tonight at all!

I should note that my blog writing is all being done on my tablet, hence the lack of photos. Also, I'm writing it throughout the day and I don't always get it to flow right as I add the bits. But since the main purpose is so that I can refresh my memory next year I'm not stressing about it too much ;-)

“He who is different from me does not impoverish me - he enriches me. Our unity is constituted in something higher than ourselves - in Man... For no man seeks to hear his own echo, or to find his reflection in the glass.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Rally Day 2 - it's a Mystery

Today started off much like yesterday with an early  walk. I was quite smug as the dogs were behaving very well on leash... until... a squirrel ran out right under their noses. They stood without pulling for maybe 5 seconds, and then charge! They can pull REALLY hard in a harness, so I switched the leashes over the the ring at the front of the harness so they couldn't pull quite so hard. Luckily the rest of the walk went well so my arms are back to normal length.

After Carm was up and we had a coffee then we all went out again. I really wished I had my camera with me as there were a few gaggles of geese with dozens of little goslings. The light across the still lake was perfect for some really nice shots. I'll be sure to sling the camera over my shoulder the next time out, but of course all the variables are unlikely to add up :-/

Later in the morning we had Bob over for a coffee. We could hear his wife Ann running the  vacuum so I'll bet he was happy to get away. Later we each wandered around the campground talking to people

Except for a mid-afternoon thunderstorm, the weather today was pretty darn nice: mostly sunny, warm but not hot, with a slight breeze.

We were accompanied by Diane on our afternoon walk to the back 40. We had both thought to get photos of the goslings, but tenters had moved into the area. Hopefully they'll move out at the end of the weekend so we'll get another chance at getting some good photos.

Jim and Diane (another Diane!) were our chauffeurs again tonight, but tonight's destination was the Holiday Inn for a Mystery Theatre dinner. It was a fun romp that spanned the cocktail hour till past dessert. After much laughter,  it turned out I was one of the people that guessed correctly that the young man sitting next to me was the murderer.

One of the wonderful things about the rally is the variety of people that we meet. Tonight was no exception. We've sat with Jim and Dianne many times - he was a systems analyst for Esso, and together they ran an Apple orchard. This wasn't our first time meeting Marilyn and Mark, but it was our first time spending more time than just standing around outside. He was a professor of entomology and as such knew much about monarch butterflies, and bees (and I'm sure many other insects). Marilyn was a math major that became a teacher.

I'll have to ask another Ti member more about the bee problem. Apparently Terry and Sharon have 50 hives. Mark said that the problem is not a simple one of just pesticides, there are also problems with climate, and parasites. The bees that we see so much of are not native to North America, but were imported from Italy. Who knew!

Another great day done... and I'm ready for bed... again with my editor out by the campfire (isn't he socialized out? I know I am.)

“These black times go as they come and we do not know how they come or why they go. But we know that God controls them, as he controls the whole vast cobweb of the mystery of things.” ― Elizabeth Goudge

Rally Day 1 - Hugs and Hearty Greetings

We got to the rally campground after an uneventful 2 hour drive. After figuring out where the registration was, getting that all squared away, then settling into our site we were ready for a quick lunch to fortify ourselves for visiting.

The weather was overcast, cold and windy, not ideal for standing around outside yacking - we definitely needed jackets. We chatted with the other early arrivals, walked the dogs along the "back 40" road, then settled back inside for supper. Just as we finished up, Mary (the rally organizer), knocked on the door so of course we talked her into coming in for a glass of wine. The rally is off to a good start!

Thursday morning I was up bright and early so leashed up the dogs and went out for a 1/2 hour walk, again in the back 40. It is a pretty walk, through some wild areas, as well as some more groomed grassy fields. We saw lots of critters, which as you can guess, with 160lbs of excited dogs is a challenge. I don't know which is worse: going in different directions; or, using their combined weight to just about drag me off my feet. Luckily I had lots of treats to reinforce good behavior, but next time I will take the time put the harnesses on them! (I suppose it would be better to just train them to behave, but since we don't have that excitement at home, and when we are camping I generally have all 3 at once... well, maybe I'm just lazy!)

By Early afternoon the rigs started rolling in. It was clear right away that being here early was a "good thing". We got to be the ones welcoming people. It was fun re-acquainting with everyone - hugs and happy greetings were the order of the day.  I was glad that my 2 month mood funk had passed (being down makes it almost impossible to socialize).

I even got to be the "dog expert" and remove a tick from a cute little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (did I mention cute?). Sharon had a new tool called a "tick twister" that was easy to use and did a good job of not squeezing the tick too much. We'll be picking some up for ourselves.

As supper time neared, we made plans with the group to go to Raxx, a rib place with an amazing Thursday night deal. Despite the very slow service, we made it back to the campground in time for the 7:30 campfire. Tonight, the sought after spots were in the smoke, as that was your only chance to get away from the mosquito's... ah, May in Ontario, home of the blackfly and mosquito...

I'm beat, and should sleep well tonight.  (you'll have to exuse any errors - my editor is still out by the campfire!

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." -Anonymous