The Best Laid Plans…

Judi and I schedule our festival visits a month or two in advance. We have been trying to visit as many Ontario festivals and events as possible! This year it has been particularly difficult to keep up our schedule. Rain and thunderstorms have been the main cause of cancellations. Three times we planned to visit the Peterborough Festival of Lights and three times we had to cancel. The first due to illness and the other two due to rain and thunderstorms! The fourth planned visit was successful and we had a great “rockin’” time! Perseverance pays off! Then there was our planned visit to Fort Henry. We made arrangements to visit their famous Tattoo performance. In Cobourg it was the worst storm of the last 10 years. Record amounts of water fell that day. It was hard to justify a 3 hour trip (there and back) when the chances of the event being cancelled were very high, so we cancelled. It took two attempts to finally visit the Fort. On the second attempt the weather was fantastic as was the Sunset Ceremony that we were privileged to enjoy! We were fortunate with these two destinations. Both had multiple performances, so if we missed one, we could reschedule. We weren’t so lucky with Canadian Open Fiddle Championships in Shelburne! Even tough the weatherman suggested that there was a possibility of showers, we decided to make the trip to Shelburne. It was an event we really didn’t want to miss! So we packed our car, picked up our 4 year old granddaughter and started off on our 3 hour plus trip. The weather was sunny and bright when we started off. However, as we progressed towards our destination the skies grew cloudy and then dark! We were three quarters of the way there, so we were committed. Besides, I am the perpetual optimist. The weather was sure to clear up? When we arrived the rain was coming down in buckets! Undaunted the three of up climb out of our car, bundled up and walked to the main street. Other brave souls we lined up on the street, so we joined them! After a short while, the parade started and it, of course, was a long one! The rain was still pouring down! By the end of the parade we all looked like drowned rats! The rain was letting up a little, but it hadn’t stopped. We headed back to our car. We looked for the other planned activities but could find them. Our guess, since they were outdoor activities, that they were cancelled. Even with all the rain, the parade was great and our granddaughter loved it. There were many puddles to jump in and lots of thrown candy to pick up! It was disappointing to travel that far and not to see the whole event! Oh well, “the best laid plans”!