In late June, I travelled from Appin as far east as Kingston. On the way to Kingston I stopped in London for a couple of hours of driver training at the Ontario Truck Driving School. I was hoping specifically to improve my skills at backing up the trailer into a simulated campsite. I had a very patient instructor and during the two hour session, I had many opportunities to drive up and back into a designated spot. Based on his instruction, I had previously been over-steering the rig. He introduced me to an easier way and also showed me how to properly set the rig up to begin backing up. It was time quite well spent. After that I ventured onto Toronto where I stayed at Glen Rouge Campground, a place I have stayed a few times before. It is very convenient for being in the east end of Toronto. I collected some items from my storage locker to sell at the upcoming Canada Day at Silver Dove Estates. I also had great visits with friends from the area. I also visited my family doctor, podiatrist and massage therapist.
From Toronto I headed to Kingston to play the Field Day at Cataraqui, a tournament I have played quite regularly over the last number of years. Several usual participants were skipping this event because the Provincial Senior started right afterwards. I wanted to do both, especially because Cataraqui was celebrating their 100th Anniversary. I stayed at the same campground near the golf course I had last year, Rideau Acres.
I had booked a back in site, but my new skills eluded me and weren't really necessary as that part of the campground was quite empty, which allowed me to pull through instead of backing in. I hadn't felt that I played well in the Field Day, but I guess the course was playing tough for everyone given the rather soggy conditions, the result of a very rainy spring throughout Ontario. I placed 7th, which got me seeded in the Eastern Provinces Match Play Tournament. I won my first match easily 5 & 4. The second match was closer 3 and 1. Winning twice on Sunday meant I had to play Monday, which was practice round day at the Senior. I lost Monday morning in a close match 1 down. The gal I lost to lost in the final, so I basically came 4th, the furthest I had advanced in all my previous efforts in this event. I was pleased with this accomplishment, even though it wasn't the strongest ever field.
Before the morning match, I had packed up the trailer and driven it to the golf course, so as soon as the round was over, I spent my winnings in the pro shop, grabbed my voucher paid lunch from the half way house and headed towards Wild Fire. On the way there I spoke to the owners of the campground I was intending to stay at for the tournament and they were O.K. with me shortening my stay by a night. I contacted the golf course and they were O.K. with me staying in the trailer on their property for one night, so seeing as I was arriving latish in the day and had an early tee time for the first round I changed my plans and stayed at the course. When I arrived they were off the course due to lightning in the area so many players were disadvantaged by a reduced or no practice round. I was able to preview Wild Fire last summer as it was on the GTA Amateur league schedule. We played from shorter tees at the Senior than I did playing the A flight on the GTA Amateur tour. I had also played the course as a stop on the GAO Member Days tour, so I knew it pretty well.
The first day I didn't play my best (90), I was likely a bit tired from the 4 rounds in 3 days in Kingston. Day 2 I played a bit better (84) and made the cut. I improved a further one stroke on Day 3 (83). Once again the course was playing extra long due to the wet conditions, that got worse as the event went along. Most of my third round was played in the rain. At one point play was suspended for about 30 minutes as the greens were flooded and needed some time to dry out. I finished 18th, which was a ways from my goal of top 10 in order to make the Ada McKenzie team, but such is life. I'm not that disappointed, because there is a chance that I will be a long way from Ontario in the spring of 2018 when that event will be played.
It as nice of Wild Fire to host us, but the prices for carts, food and drink are quite high, and the head chef seems to have free reign with the menu and prepares things that are quite out of the ordinary. Many of the players didn't appreciate his creativity with the banquet offering.
Being in the Lakefield area will give me a chance to visit my high school friend Keith McIntyre and his family, as I did last year. I had dinner there my last night in the area. The menu was pretty much the same as last year, BBQ steaks, baked potatoes, grilled veggies, mushrooms, etc. very yummy.
On the way back to Appin I stopped in Toronto for another massage, managing to find a place on a side street near my RMT's office to park the truck and trailer combo. My right knee had been bothering me quite a bit since early March in New Orleans. I had an MRI done on it in Sarnia in late May. My family doctor had given me the report on it (arthritics), which I shared with the RMT. Armed with that information she worked some magic and it has been much better for about 5 weeks so far. Well enough for me to commit to playing the North South in Pinehurst in mid August, which will be my next trip.
When I arrived back at Silver Dove Estates, one of my neighbours offered a little guidance while I back the trailer into my site, quite expertly, with my new skills.
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