Annual R-Pod Ontario Rally

The annual Ontario R-Pod Rally was the brainchild of Christine M. and her husband. In order to participate you must owe an R-Pod RV. However, in saying that Christine did not turn away anyone that wanted to be an R-Pod owner. 

It all started 3 years ago and has culminated into a wonderful annual 3 day event. This year it was at MacGregor Point Provincial Park, near Port Elgin  from 20-22 September. The rally included an organized hike, games, crafts, evening bonfires, a potluck, and more. In total there were 20 R-Pods from across Ontario with the furthest away being Ottawa.

The weather co-operated for us the entire weekend. Here are some pictures of the fun times. 

Great group of R-Podders

Several games/crafts were played throughout the afternoon including corn hole, axe throw, ladderball toss, and rock painting.

After a fun afternoon of games/crafts and of course friendly chit chat we all sat down to a wonderful potluck dinner. The food was absolutely amazing.

After the wonderful potluck, prizes were handed out courtesy of Forest River R-Pod and Brian from Goshen, Indiana.

All in all a fantastic weekend. We all met and made many new R-Pod friends and shared stories both good and bad. The one thing everyone indicated is they can't wait for the next R-Pod rally. Thank-you again Christine.

MacGregor Point Provincial Park

Visited: 19 - 23 September 2024

Nights Stayed: 4

MacGregor Point Provincial Park is part of the Ontario parks system located on beautiful Lake Huron near Port Elgin. Covering over 1204 hectors, it was established in 1975. The park is open year round for a multitude of activities from camping to cross country skiing. There are over 360 camping opportunities including rustic to sites with power to roofed accommodations.

An Ontario R-Pod Rally was happening this weekend that is why we chose this park, more on that later. 

Entrance to MacGregor Point

Our Site # 240 Foxway Campground

The park offers over 20 km of very well marked hiking and biking trails. The park is huge so bringing a bike makes getting around so much easier. The Old Shore Trail follows the lakeshore for approximately 6 km. It was a roadway at one time and provides a hard packed surface for walking and biking.

Susan walking Old Shore Road Trail

Black Capped Chickadee

Pair of Mute Swans

Knapweed

This marl wetland has very poor soil due to the low level of essential nutrients like nitrogen. The plants that grow here in the marl have adapted to these poor infertile conditions. This marl is one of the most fragile spots in MacGregor with its frost heaved boulders and clumps of vegetation. Several of the plants are carnivorous with specialized leaves enabling the plant to capture and digest its prey like the pitcher plant.

Pitcher-plant Marl

The Tower Trail is a 3.5 km circular trail providing views of the Ducks Unlimited wetland. Some members of the rally decided on a morning hike, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity. This trail is considered to be an easy one and is also very popular with birders.

Invasive species - Autumn Olive

Another beautiful sunset on Lake Huron

Enjoying early morning campfire

The 4km Lake Ridge Trail winds through an area of woods, wetlands, and abandoned farm fields. Evidence of Lake Nipissing, a glacier lake that occupied much of the Great Lakes basin 5,000 years ago can be seen along this trail. Evidence of historic homesteads can be seen with stone fences, stone wells, and apple orchards.

Old homestead fence

Old homestead stone well

Lake Nipissing Bluffs

The trail was steeped with so many beautiful plants, fungi, and trees. Here are just a few.

Glacial erratics is a term given to a boulder which has been transported from its source by a glacier. Many can not be traced back to their source. However, this one is a large piece of quartzite, a rock that outcrops in Killarney Provincial Park area about 160 km to the north. Originating in the Precambrian Period, this quartzite is believed to be 2000 million years old.

As a glacier advanced across the area it carried stones and pebbles in a mixture of clay and sand. These materials got laid down in the form of till and remain on top of the limestone bedrock in various thicknesses. Over time the waves of glacial Lake Nipissing washed away the smaller particles leaving behind boulders of various sizes.

As another wonderful hike comes to an end, Macgregor Point Provincial Park did not disappoint. Around every corner there was beauty and a wanting for more. After 4 days I still did not get to explore all of the park. It just makes me want to come back.

Jerusalem Artichoke

International FROG Rally 11-17 August 2024 - Goshen Indiana

When the International FROG Rally for 2024 was announced earlier this year, we made the decision we wanted to attend. Open to only RVs made by Forest River or affiliated brand , it is held at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana about 5 hours from home.

We arrived Sunday just after lunch escorted to our site(RPod section)by rally volunteers, got everything hooked up, and now ready for a weeks worth of fun. Next we had to register and get our packet which included tons of information about the rally and surrounding area. We walked around the fairgrounds getting the lay of the land, watched horses train on the nearby track, watched kids showing their 4H animals, all while being amazed at how many people and RVs are in attendance.

Meals were served in the largest building on the fairground, supper started at 5pm and breakfast at 7am. Each meal we sat with different people from across the US and Canada. The catering company did an amazing job serving between 600 and 700 people. Because the fairgrounds are so large, volunteers in golf carts (Pad Hopper Express) will pick you up and take you anywhere on the fairgrounds.

There were over 60 seminars and demonstrations held throughout the week located in the Community Center. A schedule was included in the registration packet. One of the greatest advantages of attending the rally is the factory service provided to any RV 2022 and newer. We had issues with our door and also slide kick plate. They replaced both plus they replaced the stairs which did not sit properly.

Ten additional tours were offered at a reasonable price, so we signed up for Boat, Bison, and BBQ (BB&B)on Tuesday. We got the bus at 3:15 and proceeded to the Cook's Bison Farm in Wolcottville IN. We were treated to a talk about the history of the farm, music by a local band, a bison dinner with all the fixin's and finally a tour of the bison.

After an amazing meal and tour of the bison farm we boarded the bus and headed to Lake Wawasee, the largest natural lake in Indiana for an evening cruise. We cruised the lake for over an hour, it was so peaceful I almost fell asleep. What an end to an amazing day topped off by a great sunset.

Wednesday we spent time with the dogs then ventured over to see the vendors. We met up with Brian, the RPod rep and he arranged a tour of the RPod factory which is located just down the road. It was an excellent tour, we got to see how RPods are made.

Thursday we signed up for the Amish Brown Bag tour, had absolutely no idea what to expect but it is a favorite. The bus loaded for an early start at 8:15 in the morning. Our first stop was E & S store in Shipshewana. This store is the go to place for many of the Amish families in the area. We were each given a large brown paper bag at the start hence the name of the tour. Our first stop we got a loaf of bread and cookies. 

The next stop was the Amish auction and market. Amish farmers bring their produce to the auction where an auctioneer would auction the produce off to the highest bidder.

Back on the bus we get to our next stop, an Amish rug weaving place. The husband and wife team(the Yoders) gave us a great demonstration on weaving with their giant looms. We each received a hand made place mat.

Beautiful Amish Farm

Time for lunch/supper. We were treated to an Amish wedding fest at the Carriage House in Topeka. It started with us making Amish peanut butter, a staple they eat after church. The ingredients are marshmallow fluff, peanut butter, butter, and corn syrup.

After the peanut butter experience everyone sat down to a feast I have never experienced before. It included meatloaf, chicken, potatoes, gravy, corn, bread, coleslaw, beans, and I'm sure I have forgotten something. If you went away hungry it was your own fault. The food just kept on coming. Dessert consisted of 3 different types of pies. Sorry no pics as I just kept eating.

With bellies full and ready for a snooze we had a few more stops to make. The first was a carriage maker. He still made all his horse carriages by hand. Some modern equipment is used like drills and so forth.

A stark contrast...

The last stop was Carolyns Kitchen, were jams and preserves are made with no granular sugar. For our brown bag we were treated to a jar of jam. After a long exciting day we got home in time to feed the dogs and take them for a walk to the ice cream social. Yes, who can pass up ice cream, even on a full stomach.

Friday was pretty much a day to relax. It started with a morning swap meet, selling stuff no longer needed, buying something you haven't got, or show off your hobbies and crafts. We didn't sell or buy anything. After lunch we grabbed a sundae at the ice cream social. Later in the evening a concert on the lawn featured "the Bulldogs" a band that plays 50-60's music. 

Saturday morning we had the last provided meal then started packing up getting ready to go home. We were not in any hurry and there was no set time we had to leave. After a nice long walk with the dogs we pulled out around noon. All in all it was a fantastic week. Would we do it again next year...absolutely we are already making plans.