GGGoesRVingFullTime: Mid to Late September and October

On the weekend my friend Catherine Chan from Toronto came for a visit and some golf. I missed out on the Senior League final round and banquet due to Catherine's visit, but I didn't mind, it is always great to get together with her, and with her busy schedule it isn't easy to meet up.

Tuesday night was the beginning of Yom Kipper so I was back at Beth Jacob.

In the early summer I had made a commitment to play the Ladies Fall Classic scramble at the Greens at Renton (another course I had driven past many time and not played yet, near Port Dover.)

Unfortunately it conflicted with Yom Kipper day, and perhaps I should have cancelled out of the team when I realized the date conflict, but as it turned out I guess g-d wasn't too upset with me because we played well enough to get called up to the prize table. We came 3rd or 4th and were happy with that because the prizes were pre-selected, and we were all thrilled with our gifts, more so than any other of the other places. We got a basket sized metal beer tub, which contained a throw blanket and a couple of bottles of locally produced wine. We traded the packages around until we were all happy with the color of blanket we had, I got a neutral one.

John wants the tub. One of the features of the tournament is an all you care to eat dinner at the Erie Beach Hotel restaurant, one I have frequented over the years, which specializes in Lake Erie fishes, celery bread, assorted home made salads and other goodies. Dinner was terrific. Perhaps in order to compensate for the food deal we felt the drink prices were rather inflated. One glass of wine was enough. I would be happy to play in the tournament again, provided it doesn't conflict with the High Holidays, lesson learned.

Sunday September 23rd I made the trip into Toronto to play an unofficial practice round for the Provincial Four-Ball, which was being played at Ladies' Golf Club of Toronto my former home club. Catherine and I were to play the practice round together. I arrived a bit early and was able to visit the clubhouse to take a picture of the Club Champions plaque that is in the front lobby. I had been there to see my name inscribed there for the final time:

Overview of the plaque.

Close up of my three entries.

Not too much has changed at the club, except for their tag line, which is now "your home for feel good golf." I believe they are catering to new and weak golfers who don't want to be very competitive.

I stayed the two nights with my friend Mary Howard. She joined Catherine and I for a Curried Crab dinner after we were done golf.

My partner for the Four Ball was Susan Postian from London, Ontario. She had asked if I wanted to play with her as her usual partner was taking the season off. I wasn't all that keen on playing the event initially. I believed we had agreed to meet a the range at 11:00. I was there and she wasn't. I didn't see her until about 15 minutes before we were to tee off. In the mean time I had been worrying she had been in a car accident or something and that I would have to play by myself! When we did meet up she said she had been the first to register and we probably passed each other on the road between the club house and driving range. Then she wanted me to basically caddy for her with yardages and reading greens, drive and keep score. She did bring us some nice snacks. I didn't play all that well due to my level of worry and her demeanor. I should have declined.

The following day I did some errands and visited some friends in downtown Toronto.

The last Sunday in September was the closing tournament at Freedom Oaks. I won a couple of gift cards for Tim Horton's and Swiss Chalet.

Friday October 5th I traveled to Twenty Valley in Vineland to meet up with a golf friend named Karen Vamplew who I became reacquainted with at the Niagara District Championship.

She was widowed recently, so we have that in common. Her game isn't quite as good as I had remembered her to be, but we had a nice day. She is on the Niagara District Committee so will be a great resource to provide me with information about the various tournaments in my new home district.

Thanksgiving Monday, October 7th I went to the last day of the Simcoe Fall Fair. They had a full program of animal showing, which I watched:

Kids showing calves.

And the usual produce and handicraft competitions:

Colorful assorted produce display competition.

I enjoyed my day checking everything out there. I walked around the midway, but didn't go on any of the rides. I spent quite a bit of time in the arena where they had a karaoke competition going on.

The following day I ventured over to Niagara-on-the-lake to play the 9 hole course there, another one I had never played before. I was joining another couple of old golf acquaintances that I was reacquainted with at the Niagara District Tournament of Champions, Louise Rabitaille and Yolanda Henry.

It is quite an old club.

Right on the shore of Lake Ontario.

We had a nice game at plan on playing at Freedom Oaks the next time we can get together. After golf I went to the Welland Canal Museum to learn more about the lock system between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie:

Cross section of the lock system to overcome the elevation changes between the bodies of water.

After visiting the museum, I treated myself to dinner at The Keg. Many years ago (30-35ish) I was a regular at the various locations of The Keg in Toronto, but hadn't been to one in years. Not much has changed with their menu, which for me was a good thing. I enjoyed my dinner thoroughly.

The following day I went to play Port Colborne for the first time in preparation for the Niagara District Championship next year, just in case. I played with Alec, a fellow I met at the Lowbanks Euchre game earlier in the summer. He has a 10 round membership there and plays in their Senior Men's league. He was difficult to play with because he is a bit hard of hearing and can't see as far as he hits his ball, yet wanted to drive the cart. I had to raise my voice all day to direct him to all the balls, mine and his. If we ever play together again, I will drive and insist he wears his hearing aides. The course isn't anything special.

Thursday October 25th I had the opportunity to ride in a combine harvesting soy beans. It was something I lined up with one of fellows who plays Euchre at the Legion game, whose last name is Armstrong. We met at a farm about 30 minutes from my place. It was quite fun to sit in the cab of the large combine, which is highly computerized.

Side view of combine.

Front view of Combine.

We made several passes the length of the field and when the hopper was full, made our way to the trucks to unload. He explained quite a bit of what was happening to me. It was all very interesting. I can strike this experience off my bucket list.

In the fall the national coffee franchise Tim Horton's has a fundraising raising event selling smile cookies with the proceeds going to charity. Low and behold the Dunnville location sold the most cookies of any location in the entire country!

Celebratory jumbo "smile cookie" cake.

Add caption

I think their success is partially because there is only one store for miles around and a good sized population and the money was going to the local hospital. In appreciation for the community they held a free skating event at the local arena complete with refreshments. I had no interest in skating, but I had never been to the arena so I used the event as an opportunity to see the building. It was great to see so many people from the community getting together for the event.

I have to say that the Dunnville area is great for supporting local events and causes. Most of the churches and clubs hold various fundraising meals and sales and everyone makes a point of attending and supporting them. The town is small enough to be friendly and safe and yet offers enough that I don't feel the need to travel regularly to other nearby cities or towns for shopping or entertainment.

Maitland Shores closes October 31st, so I packed things up and headed out. I had an appointment for the trailer to get some service done on it on the way to Silver Dove Estates, which is open longer. While waiting for the trailer to be serviced, my brother Peter and his girlfriend Debby and I went for lunch at August 8, a Japanese place and visited the well known Hamilton Mum show. I hadn't been to the Mum show in many years. It was still impressive. This years theme was Toys: