OCTOBER 2019 SOUTHERN FRANCE RIVER CRUISE

Left to right Anne Taylor, trip coordinator, Bonnie Chapman, Pat McIntyre and Megs Shellard

Pat McIntyre and Megs Shellard detailed the trip at our February 5 2020 general meeting. All the pictures were taken by Pat McIntyre and Megs Shellard.

The trip began in Lyon and headed north on a riverboat as far as Chalon-sur-Saone. The riverboat then headed south as far as Arles, then back north. 

The river cruise part of the tour ended in Lyon where it started

Located in Arles 

Then on to Paris

I am not sure if The tower is leaning or the picture taker.

The tour included a river cruise on the Seine

The end

Fourteen members of the Grape Expectations Wine Club took to the highway on September 25 on route to Bloomfield in Prince Edward County and began their first ever Wine Tasting Tour visiting  six wineries.

Tour planner, wine club member Walter Eadie, secured accommodation at Angelines Inn "The Walter" section" 

(Above, Walter Eadie proudly displays the section named in his honour)

A tour bus picked up the 14 tasters the next morning for a tour of the six wineries with first stop, Del-Gatto Estates and then on to Waupoos winery for a second tasting followed by lunch at Waupoos overlooking the vineyards and Lake Ontario

After lunch. the group followed up with a tasting at the third winery, Huff Estates and then took a breather alongside the wall at Karlo Estates, the fourth winery.

The group then went on to Sugarbush vineyards, the fifth winery visited

The sixth and final tasting was at Sandbanks winery. By this time, the group huddled together to ensure no one collapsed.

By  Alice Carrie, group leader

On our first night in Calgary, we attended the Calgary Stampede. We enjoyed some good food, drinks and then watched the chuck wagon races and the evening show. The chuck wagon races were thunderously exciting and the evening show was jaw dropping fantastic.

The 2019 Bell Grandstand Show:  TrailBrazer, took its inspiration from travelling shows of the 20th Century with Calgary's own Onalea Gilbertson as the show master.

We were dazzled by the singers and dancers of the young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede, acrobatics, aerial stunts, wing walking stunts on a biplane high above us, the Malambo Gauchos from Argentina, laser extravaganza 

within a balloon, inflatable animals dancing, performance by Chili.

And the fireworks were explosive!

The next day we were entertained by the Rodeo Show where we watched steer riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, tie-down roping and wild pony races. We witnessed two Calgary Stampede records broken, within seconds, during the women's barrel racing. We were all caught up in the excitement.

And that was the end of our first two days of our trip.

The rest of the story will continue in Part Two.

BY JOE AND ZINA YAWORSKI trip coordinators

After touring Calgary and enjoying the Calgary Stampede we boarded a bus and travelled through the majestic Rockies. The views were spectacular. 

We walked on the Columbia Glacier,   

toured Banff and enjoyed the gondola ride.

 We learned the differences between the Black Bear and the Grizzly Bear, and the moose and elk. We saw mountain goats, deer, fawn and a mama bear and her cub. Lake Louise, Roger's Pass, the Big Cedar Boardwalk, the Dutchmen's Ice Cream Store, Hell's Gate and Hope were all memorable stops during our scenic trip along Highway One. 

In Victoria, the Butchart Gardens were beautiful, the Empress Hotel was impressive ( so was the jewelrey store, but that is another story), and China Town was vivid. 

In Vancouver we enjoyed the city tour, walking along the seawall, exploring Granville Island and learning about Davie Village. Our gondola ride, Peak to Peak at Whistler was breathtaking! 

On the way home we all agreed that we live in a beautiful country!

 "We had a great time in Newfoundland/Labrador.

" Most days were large days, awful nice days, and we had a couple of mauzy days!" 

"How ya gettin'on?"

 As you can see, we picked up some of the language during our Newfoundland/Labrador adventure. We experienced Newfoundland/Labrador's hospitality and warmth as we travelled 3100 kms starting in Deer Lake (on Island west coast northeast of Corner Brook) and ending in St. Johns (on island south east coast) over 14 days .  

 We walked on the Earth's mantle, (in Gros Morne National Park on the west side of the island), ferried across to the Big Land , (Labrador), learned how seal skin is prepared, learned about Basque Whaling, visited pubs where we listened to yarns, sang and scuffed and we met the Skipper and bought his killicks

 There were lighthouses, moose, whales  and t_ousands and t_ousands of puffins. 

 We drank wine and beer on a beach, we cruised a tickle, sat with the Vikings and decorated a Beothuk Spirit Garden (Boyds Cove on the north of the island). 

  We enjoyed a JIGGS dinner (a Sunday favorite), ate chowder and more chowder and seafood, learned about fishing towns and merchant towns and enjoyed the sights of St. John during the day and at night.    l

YES  we all left Newfoundland/Labrador as honourary members after our Screech-In.....long may your big jib 

draw!                                                        It was indeed the BEST trip in the world......in the world! 

(by  Joe & Zina Yaworski, trip leaders)

( taken at Shira Camp and shows the Ridges of extinct Shira Volcano. We spent two nights at Shiira camp to acclimatize to the altitude) 

Kilimanjaro peak:  19341 feet 5895 meters above sea level

(Sunrise at  Karanga Camp)

Kilimanjaro comprises 3 volcanic cones:  Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi.

Uhuru Peak is the summit of Kibo.  

(View of Kibo volcano just as the first rays of sun hit the peak )

We travelled the Machame route 40 km to the peak over 6 days of trekking. 

(Third volcano, Mawenzi, seen from Kosovo camp at an altitude of 4800 m )

The descent was a 19 km trip over 2 days.

 (Uhuru peak, 5895 m above sea level)    

We were on the summit on March 22, 2018, World Water Day

The trek was a fundraising effort for WaterAid Canada and raised a total of $115,000.

(At the peak 5895 m above sea level, I am displaying the WaterAid banner with our chief guide, Living. )

 My climb raised funds to support the work of WaterAid, a Canadian charity that promotes clean water accessibility and improved sanitation in 28 countries around the world.