September 2008

Gerry & Julie say Thanks!

Thanks to everyone for the bus trip!  That means those who helped organize it and those who attended it.  The organizers did a great job with the buses, accommodations, scheduling, coordination with the other clubs and even entertainment en route!  Those who attended it made it fun for all of us.  It was a really wonderful way to spend Labour Day weekend and expand our horizons beyond southwestern Ontario.    Our bus driver Doug, was the most patient we have ever experienced, and also the best backer-upper we’ve seen!  Although we weren’t there much, the Drury Inn was spotless and possibly the quietest motel we’ve been in for a long time.  The Cincinnati clubs were so welcoming, and their garden railroads were each unique and inspiring in many different ways.  Saturday morning breakfast was beyond belief, and like something out of a Walt Disney film, it’s just too bad the whole world can’t live like that.  Entertrainment Junction is awe inspiring even though it is unfinished.  We took the full three hours to explore it and the full extent of the undertaking became apparent as Don took us backstage for a private tour of the underbelly.  We definitely need to return in about a year when everything is more finished and possibly Watts has a store there.  The weather was fantastic, someone must have been saying their prayers because miserable weather would have been a real bummer.  Jackie’s Trains went out of their way to welcome us and having lunch provided was more than we expected.  Their kindness will reap even more business rewards in the future.  Even the fact that we all worked together to beat ‘those other buses’ at Port Huron/Sarnia customs was fun!  Our fellow passengers made the trip totally memorable and fun, it was nice to meet the couples from other clubs in Ontario, we hope to see them again.  This was a group effort and it paid off.  Hopefully we can do it again sometime in the next few years!