Getting out and about - BoTC 2013

This year has been quite a different year, for lots of obvious reasons. The result has been a lot of different activities for me though, and that came as a surprise. Perhaps it shouldn't have.

Obviously all of the time spent in the halo meant I couldn't be active the way I normally would be. One of the byproducts of that is less physical fitness but more time spent writing (rather than taking photos). The latest issue of Pedal magazine arrived in the mail today and I realize that I wrote 3 pieces for that issue including a 4 page piece on the 100th Tour de France and the Canadians who've participated in it over the years. And of course I learned a lot along the way, including the following:
1. the first North American to win anything @ le Tour (jersey, stage, etc) was a woman
2. the first Canadian to participate was a lot earlier than the people I knew about (a Quebecois rider by the name of Pierre Gachon was part of a British team in the late 30s)

If you pick up a copy of the "Fashion issue" let me know what you think of the piece (no, none of the fashion photos are mine). There are three separate pieces that I wrote in that issue, that was the most in depth though.

That time included a bunch of interview of which some were meant for web use and others will be used in the future for articles. And it was great talking with some awesome riders, always fun.

Now that I'm back to being a little more mobile, I'm finding it a challenge to write because I'm eager to do things away from home just because I can. And that included my first VW bus event of the year... Buses of The Corn. Our first, since Andrea wouldn't head to a VW campout on her own. Having said that, she did take Babe out on a solo adventure to the 24 Hours Summer Solstice bike race back in June though.

The Potts family has been organizing this event since 2001, with Greg and his wife Colleen having a key role in making it happen. BoTC isn't one of the bigger events on the campout calendar but it is close to home and a gathering of a bunch of local friends so it's one we've tried to make a point of getting to. It's also the first campout we went to after buying Babe. The other one that's always on my calendar is BusFusion but it wasn't to be this year so being able to get to "the Corn" was a big deal.

A new location for this year also made it a bit more of an adventure (and a bit more of a drive). It made it a LOT more of a great event though and I can see it getting a lot more popular just because of the venue change.

The new location, Selwyn Beach Conservation Area on the shore of Lake Chemong north of Peterborough, is a little bit more of a drive for folks in Toronto and West. It's well worth the extra travel time! Here's a clue...

Blue skies, sunsets and meteor showers were the weekend lineup

BTW, the only camera I brought was a little GoPro Hero3 (and my iPhone of course). Taking photos without an LCD or viewfinder is an interesting challenge...

Top of the hill, above the beach. Nice morning view

Andrea and I got off to a late start which is what we expected since we both had a full day of work to get through first. Packed up, a little shopping and on the road around 6:30pm. We expected traffic on a Friday evening in the summer to be bad but it actually wasn't so we made good time. We didn't get lost (much), realized we had brought bathing suits but forgot towels (didn't find an open store to buy any once we realized it and really didn't care) and got to the campout just after sunset (and at the peak of mosquitoes for the evening!). We were still able to pick a nice spot to camp though, one of the benefits of a smaller event. And in the morning we got to see how lucky we were!

The campfire was fun and there were a lot of hugs from people who'd been looking forward to seeing us after all they'd heard. Honestly, I was really touched. So... thank you my friends.

Somehow it even worked out that Andrea tried some tequila (a campfire tradition for those who attend the events but not one that Andrea generally participates it). Patron Gold is a nice one to start in with though and that's what Gord offered (in his custom made pottery shot glasses).

The campfire is always a central part of these events; a mix of the fire and the music and the conversations. This year the conservation area provided wood for us to burn and Greg made a decision to leave all the furniture burning behind. A win-win I think.

Greg (L) and Frank (middle), a bursst of sparks, plus a knee & chair :)

Saturday's plan was pretty full, starting with the burrito breakfast and then moving on to paddling and swimming. There was a tie-dye session in the afternoon and then the pot-luck + corn roast dinner. I got to learn about how many people there were also vegetarian... we ate really (REALLY) well. And had lots of great dinner conversation over food and wine. Getting to know people you're only met before can be such a delight and I can honestly say that the time we spent chatting with J & J was a genuine pleasure. Not the only one of course, this is an eclectic and very interesting group of people.

food

more food

conversation

more food and more conversation!

Of course that was followed up by another campfire but I'll be honest and say I was pretty tired so I didn't stay up all that late. I get the impression I'm not the only one too, I guess the combination of fresh air, lots of sun, and a beach to play at had people a little tuckered out.

Here are a few more photos from the weekend, including a few shots of the bocci game (the french call it pétanque)... next year I'm going to team up with Andrea as she's an experienced player and see if we can't take top honours! lol

Camping, a little more camping, and a few bike races in between

I'm recently back from the Tour of Elk Grove, or I should say I was home and am already on the road again. This time it's a VW campout (Buses of the Corn) and the Buckwallow MTB O-Cup race.

ToEG was great, and I'm glad I extended the trip for a couple of nights of camping before the race as they were quite relaxing. Everything went well except for the problem I had with the interior electrical setup. I have that fixed now, cost me all of $5 in parts but a lot of time fussing and testing and then rewiring.

One of the highlights of ToEG was the GC win by Francois Parisien of the Spidertech team. In 2011 it was the Canadian women who lit up the race but this year it was the mens race. Here are a few photos, I put a bunch up on my Facebook page and a full gallery on my website.

The CyclingNews galleries are all here, while the one on PedalMag.com are here.

Parisien

The drive home was split up with a short visit to another Westy owner who lives in South Bend. Pete and I know each other through facebook activities but have never met. My third driveway campout. Here's a shot of the door to Pete's man-cave...

I love that coexist sticker

So that brings me up to Monday... Tuesday was sleeping in, a shower and laundry. Wednesday was a visit with my mom up in Midland (Babe got a rest as I took the Jetta) and then Thursday was fix-the-wiring day. David B from the Vanagon list was incredibly helpful and patient. I still have a little more testing I want to do but it's working great. I have been monitoring the voltage on both batteries carefully and after two days it's behaving as it should.

I removed the silver relay to the right (it's the original 30 year old one that controlled the fridge, etc)

I had intended to head to Buses of The Corn on Thursday but I ran out of time and energy. So I spent the evening getting organized for the weekend and getting a good sleep (I've been feeling tired all week, ToEG is a demanding event). So BOTC on Friday afternoon with a bunch of friends. Jerry brought some of his smoked cheese (this one has a balsamic wash... tasty!) and much drinking ensued. And of course there was a bonfire, it's not a Potts camp-out without a proper fire.

This is the same spot that I parked in 2010... the first time campout for us in Babe

The 2012 sticker is reflective

A bunch of us are talking about going to Burning Man 2013

I only got to stay the one night though, I packed up the camper early and headed up to pick up Andrea behore heading up to Gravenhurst to get ready for the Buckwallow MTB O-Cup race. We're now camped in Port Carling relaxing and listening to the sound of rain.

Buckwallow race course... it's been raining a little

Buckwallow is known to be a dusty and rocky course...

The 2011 Buses of the Corn is now in the history books

First, a big "thanks!" to Greg in particular, and the rest of the Potts family and friends who made this event happen. I was really happy to hear Greg say it will be back next year! I hope y'all can make it...

As usual, a lot of corn was eaten, a lot of firewood (and other things) were burned, a lot of beer & tequila & scotch & who-knows-what-else was consumed, and a few fuzzy heads were seen in the mornings :)

And of course a lot of sweet buses were there... I was delighted to see lots of first-timers, as that was our experience last year and it was a great introduction to the community. This time we were able to put a few faces and buses and dogs together and even remember names! (I'm a visual person, what can I say... I'm terrible at remembering names).

The weather was good, the possible rain never materialized, and the corn... oh so very delicious! If for no other reason, come next year to sample this! And then pour another shot of tequila into Frank's glass :)

Thanks everyone, it was a blast!

Here are a few sample photos, I have a small gallery up on Picasa... I actually took the weekend "off" so I didn't take many photos. And it was a nice change to see I was on the other side of the lens for a few of them... that doesn't happen too often. I hope to see photos that other volks took.

Sofie and Jerry

Dennis

Frank and his light show

Peace, Love and Corn

Hunter found a spot to relax for the evening...

Things got down-right hot!