I'm back, safe and sound, after putting on 3000 trouble free km on our 
'87 Westy.  We got into Shawinigan Falls Friday September 07 and found 
ourselves in paradise.  The tree covered campgrounds "Parc des Chutes 
Shawinigan" on Melville Island in the Sainte-Maurice River was within walking 
distance of downtown Shawinigan so we had nature at our camper doors and 
access to supplies without moving the vehicle.  PERFECT !  VW vans of all 
persuasions were already there and kept rolling in through Saturday evening.  
When the final count was tallied late Saturday evening there were just over 
400.  A mere 75 less that at last years event in Omerville.  No idea why as 
the weather was perfect, just like the middle of July, hot and humid, maybe 
it was due to the location being a bit off the beaten trail.  I saw many 
folks jumping in the river for early morning swims with the steam rising from 
the surface as the sun came up and warmed the surroundings.
       Saturday night under the Big Top we all gathered for dining, door 
prizes and music until way after midnight.  The IWCCC's Camping Car Club Band 
played a wide selection of music but when they got into renditions of CCR's 
Proud Mary, etc., I went nuts and Rita and I were up dancing just like years 
ago.  The 50-50 draw of some $700 went to some lucky camper other that Rita 
or I.  Better luck next time !  I had given ten <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> T-shirts as door 
prizes and Sunday they were in evidence all through the campgrounds.  There 
was much interest in BusFusion and we expect an even larger gathering for 
BusFusion 2002, so make your plans now.  
       Sunday, at 9 am a mass was held under the Big Top followed by the 
general annual meeting of the <A HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/CIW_English.asp">IWCCC</A> were one of the items discussed is of 
importance to all of you reading this.  In the summer of 2003 the IWCCC is 
attempting to organise a week long VW Camper camping event on Madeline Island 
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence off the coast of Prince Edward Island (get your 
maps out and you will see why this is interesting) for the clubs 10th 
anniversary.  They would like to break their own Guinness Record, <A HREF="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/record_catagories/recordhome.asp?RecordID=55892">Guinness 
World Records. - Record Home Page</A>, of 500 VW camper vans and an event.  So 
make your plans now and let the IWCCC know of your intentions to participate 
!
       We stayed in Shawinigan through Sunday evening taking the one hour 
boat tour on the Sainte-Maurice River around the islands and town of 
Shawinigan.  It was great and I highly recommend it if you go there.  Monday 
morning we started packing and headed slowly for Brunswick, Maine and LiMBO's 
Buses By The Buoy.  We got to and crossed the border into Maine Tuesday just 
before the horrible attack on New York and were unaware of the events until 
we turned on our radio some 10 miles into Maine.  We were absolutey stunned 
with disbelief.  Driving from then on in a dream like trance we keep going 
until we got to Thomas Point Beach sometime late Tuesday afternoon.  There 
was no one at the campgrounds except for the custodian.  After finding out 
that our $25 a night camping fee did not include showers, they must be paid 
for at the rate of $.25/ two minutes as your showering, Rita got very upset 
and we cancelled our reservations and went elsewhere looking for a more 
hospitable campground.  We found one at Meadowbrook Campgrounds, a few miles 
up the road for $20, showers included, and they were offering fresh cooked 
lobsters for dinner.  We bought two, and steamed corn, had diner and went to 
bed listening to the sad unbelievable reports coming over the radio waves.  
In the morning after much deliberation and sadness we decided it best to head 
for home where we had left our daughter April and be with her if things got 
any worse which we were sure they would.  Driving all day Wednesday feeling 
really badly and not able to enjoy ourselves nor the surrounding country we 
got home around 9 pm.  It was then that we had the first chance to see 
pictures on the TV of what had occurred.  We were in shock again but glad to 
be home.  I believe the BBTB event was held and I hope they all had a grand 
time and maybe we will be able to get together at that event some time in the 
future. Sorry about not leaving the BusFusion T-shirt door prizes behind but 
they were not on our minds at the time.  

       Meanwhile we spent the rest of our vacation at home.  Back to work 
with heavy hearts tomorrow.

Peace�

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW Camper camping event in Almonte, ON, June 2002
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: <A HREF="http://www.vanagon.com/">Vanagon List</A>, <A HREF="http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/">LiMBO</A>, <A HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/CIW_English.asp">IWCCC</A> & Capital City VW Club 
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers</A> �
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com

 

Peace�

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW Camper camping event in Almonte, ON, June 2002
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: <A HREF="http://www.vanagon.com/">Vanagon List</A>, <A HREF="http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/">LiMBO</A>, <A HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/CIW_English.asp">IWCCC</A> & Capital City VW Club 
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers</A> �
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com

 

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