What a wonderful weekend! We all panicked when the clouds rolled in on Friday but it lasted for 14 minutes and the rest of the weather was about perfect! No more rain until nearly everyone had cleared out on Sunday!
   Some coaches arrived a day early, but most rolled in on Friday. After the desserts we had the bonfire blazing and thanks to Kennith Adams and Sam Bovee, there were lots of marshmallow sticks cut from the apple trees and some of us enjoyed too many roasted marshmallows!
   Saturday morning we woke to clear skies and the smell of Bette’s and Carol’s pancakes and sausage. Not only did we have Market Square Day festivities, but the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was having open house. So folks went off for the day in many directions, while others just stayed at the farm. That night we had the Lobster Feed and another spectacular fire. In fact, it was nearly 11:00 when Bill and I called it quits leaving many people still sitting around the fire. (I think the fire tender, Bob Burnham, needs recognition...)
   The kids were very busy with the tree house, a scavenger hunt, and an afternoon hike into the woods. They now know how to identify the different pines and spruces and can track a deer! They also found a lucky clump of clover and every one of them found at least one 4-leaf clover! I think they all put at least 28 miles on their bikes this weekend!
   We had 32 coaches parked in and around the rows of apple trees, along with 9 kids and 5 teenagers! A few tents were set up here and there. Thank you Stet Hunt for helping with the parking.
    (Chuck and Elaine Peahl brought along 4 grandchildren, 3 boys and a girl. All the kids had plans to sleep in the tent. But come nighttime, the boys all wanted to stay in the coach. No one would stay out with Christie, except Elaine. So the men stayed inside and the two women slept in the tent. Elaine did comment that it had been 40 years since she last slept in a tent, and it would another 40 before she would do it again!)
   Each attendee received a white spruce seedling along with a few door prizes. (Thanks to Kennith and Sam for helping me dig and bag the trees).
   So, now are we forgiven for the wet weekend 2 years ago? Everyone here had a great time. This weekend was as busy or as relaxing as they chose.
   We missed Bob and Louise Parsons, who are in the process of moving. The McSheas brought in 269,000 can tabs that had been collected at the school. (I thought I had a lot of tabs in my bag of 6000). I hope the Parson’s new home has a big basement! At this rate we will have 2 million tabs by the end of the season!
   There were several first timers at the rally, as well as 2 coaches that are potential new members.
   The Bridles and the Bovees had most of the work done before Bill and I even got back from Florida. Rob brought in a generator and the Bovees’ borrowed tables from their church so the facilities were very complete. The Lobster Feed was delicious! We all appreciate the work and planning the Bridles and Bovees put in to this rally! The 2000 season is well on its way! Don’t miss any more rallies.

Jane Williams