Travels of the Merrie Yacht: September 2011

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Labour Day Rally at Fanshawe Park

We belong to an RV club, the Ontario Overlanders. We meet 4 times a year in different towns around south western Ontario. On Labour Day weekend, we had a rally in London at Fanshawe Park Conservation Area on the Thames River. The rally masters were Don and Kathy Crawford and they provided us with lots of interesting activities and also lots of good food. The best thing is seeing each other again and getting caught up on what each one has been doing and where we have taken our RVs since that last time we were together. If anyone needs advice on problems with their RV, this is the place to get help from others who have "been there and done that".

When we woke up on Saturday morning, we saw from our bedroom window that Mr Groundhog was having his breakfast right under our living room slide out. He headed into his hole under the picnic shelter right next to our RV.

Jack and I took a bike ride around the park in the morning - it is a very warm and HUMID day!!

The Thames River

Excess water exits through the pinstock. Hundreds of fish gathered at the base of the dam making a great place for eager fishermen

On Saturday afternoon, we went on a two hour bus tour of London. Our guide was VERY knowledgable and even those who live in the area learned something new.

Home of physician Fredrick Banting - discoverer of insulin. In the foreground, an eternal flame that will continue until a cure for diabetes is found.

Storybook Gardens

The University of Western Ontario

Sunday morning, we went to the Katana Cafe at the London Airport. We could eat a good breakfast while we watched the activity on the runways.

In the afternoon, many of us toured the Pioneer Village in Fanshawe Park.

Our tour of the village begins with a cabin from 1830 - the first home of Irish immigrants to Canada. They had to clear two acres in the first two years and begin planting crops in order to obtain the land for free.