2009 A.H.S.M.F.F.T.

The Annual Harry Stevens Memorial Fall Foliage Tour

This year's AHSMFFT came to a soggy conclusion but I don't think it dampened the spirits of the participants. On Friday 12 cars made their way to Annapolis Royal with 4 couples staying at the Annapolis Royal Inn and 8 at Hillsdale House. I can only speak for Hillsdale House because that's where we stayed. We had beautifully period-furnished rooms and felt pampered by the owners, Paul and Val. Paul told us to ignore the liquor restriction signs in the rooms and drink where we wanted. Late in the day we convened on the back porch and enjoyed a drink (or two) before dinner. About 16 of us went to Ye Olde Towne Pub for dinner where we enjoyed some really good pub fare with very little deep frying in sight. We were joined by BATANS member Rex Rexroat from
Parker's Cove and Virginia (unfortunately that's where his 1954 Morgan resides. I offered to go down next spring and drive it up for him. I don't think he's going to take me up on the offer.)The fish cakes were a favourite. Saturday's breakfast at Hillsdale House was a real treat - cloth napkins, heavy silver and fine food. Unfortunately I discovered that my car had been broken into (well not exactly since nothing was locked) and all my tools and Wendy's camera had been stolen. Fraser Cox's tools suffered the same fate. We chatted with a nice young policeman but we're not hopeful that anything will be recovered.

We began to gather in front of Hillsdale House shortly after 9 am for a 9:30 departure when a 1924 Humber and 1930s Morris arrived for a visit. At 9:30 I tried to get everyone assembled - The AR Inn people had arrived as well as Larry and Donna and the Pronychs. Larry and Donna promptly went to the market and said they'd be back before we left. Others had walked to the market and weren't back. Then it was decided that the cars should be lined up on the driveway for a group photo. By 10:00 Larry was back and we did get away.

We headed to Weymouth and then along the French Shore via Route 1. Our first stop was at Church Point for a visit to the magnificent wooden church there. More photos. Next we stopped at the lighthouse at Cape Saint Marys. Surprisingly some photos were taken. We continued on Route I to Dayton, just outside Yarmouth. We had lunch at the Austrian Inn - good food, large servings, low prices. There were some mutterings that I was setting a blistering pace but I had reserved the restaurant for 12:45 and we were almost 5 minutes late arriving. I also heard that perhaps I ought to go a bit faster.

After lunch Larry took over as leader and took us to a really neat nearby fishing village - Sanford and then on to Cape Fourchu and Yarmouth light. By the time we made a gas stop in Yarmouth and managed to lose a couple of people it was 4 pm and rather than continue on the scenic route we opted to get to Pubnico and the Red Cap Motel by the most direct route. Later there were complaints about Steve Wright's reckless driving in his Mercedes - passing everything in sight and not keeping his place in line. Some cars just can't go slow. Larry had suggested the Red Cap and I think when we first arrived those of us who had stayed ay Hillsdale House felt a bit let down. The feeling didn't last. Dinner was great, the staff were very friendly and did their best to meet our needs and breakfast was good too. Dinner, bed and breakfast - one stop shopping - and the liquor store was only a short walk away.

It might have been the weather reports, but I think more likely the footage from the typhoons in the Philippines. Sunday morning people seemed anxious to get moving. I don't think some people even waited for breakfast and quickly our group began to scatter. Some returned the way we had come, some honked as they drove off without even saying goodbye. It was chaos. I moved our departure time first from late morning to 10 am and then from 10 to 9:30 but that obviously wasn't soon enough for some. It was like rats from a sinking ship. I called the Quarterdeck and cancelled our lunch reservation. The route was
changed from the scenic old Route 3 to 103. I tried to gather everyone who was left for an orderly departure. It wasn't to be. Did I mention that it was raining? The group roared away and I realised that Karen and Janet weren't with us. So I waited, and waited. Finally I went down the road to where they were staying. The car wasn't even packed but they were in good hands. Robert and Helen Bell would shepherd them back to the city. So I left. In 5 minutes I caught up to departed group. So much for their quick departure.

It appears that only Bill Johnson and Mimi were adamant about adhering to our original leisurely departure plans. God bless them. And perhaps He will. They stayed in Pubnico for Mass. I'm not sure how much good their attendance at Mass did because about the time they got finished I was at Timmy's in Shelburne with the group and the Heavens really opened.

I said enough and headed for home, followed by the Red Rocket. As I pulled out onto the highway an MGB came up behind - Fraser and Rosalie, late in leaving the Red Cap but making up time. They were behind me almost to Liverpool but must have stopped for gas. As I pulled off Highway 103 I saw a car with no headlights moving up quickly. I waved as the Red Rocket roared past. After I left some of the group visited the movie set in Shelburne.

I got home, dried off the car - there was so much water there was no mud on the car and closed the garage door. My new top got a good test and didn't leak a bit. The only water inside the car came from one of the windshield wiper bezels which had loosened. Wouldn't you know it? It was on Wendy's side.

Rick Swain, Event organizer