News: Massachusetts

Bradford Brigade
Pilgrim Winnies
Quinebagos
By Dave Fournier

September turned out to be a busy month for MA WIT Campouts. Steve Tonken "corralled" five families from CT, RI, and MA to trek out to the Beaver River Campground in the Cooperstown area of NY over Labor Day Weekend. They took in the Baseball Hall of Fame and shopping in Cooperstown, took a brief cruise on Lake Ostego, and shared many "tall tales" around the campfires.

NY seemed to be the "State of Choice" in September. Jerry Little, Linda and Brian Martel, and Austin Maxwell represented the MA WIT Clubs at the NY State Rally. Jerry tells us there were over sixty rigs, many seminars, and tours of Herkimer and its historical past. They enjoyed some excellent food and entertainment.

Barbara Ercolani tells us that their Quinebagos September Campout at the Bourne Scenic Park CG turned out to be an exercise in "staying afloat and dry"! Wagonmasters Jim and Lillian Lynch, Audry O'Riley, and John Morris took on the "Lion's share" of keeping spirits high! Lillian Lynch had a "lake" named after her. "Lake Lynch" suddenly rose to double the size of their coach! This hardy group of MA WIT members would never let a little rain "dampen" their spirits. They donned rain gear and snuggled under the Tonkenses awning. As if to "stare down" Mother Nature, in unison, they all joined into rousing choruses of "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" and "Singing and Eating in the Rain"! In spite of the weather, this hardy group managed to take walks and sightsee down to the Buzzards Bay Landmark Rail Road Bridge. They were even afforded the opportunity to see the bridge lower to allow the once or twice daily train lumber over the canal from Cape Cod. At times, their voices drowned out the rain as if to say, "take that!" In spite of the local news warning of floods and the nearly six inches of rain that fell over the weekend, our "seasoned" campers weren't about to let a few raindrops dull their fun!

Finally, Jerry and Marcia Little and Ed and Sandy Bates co-wagonmastered the Bradford Brigade campout at the Boston Minuteman campground. There was a tour to the Lowell National Historical Park, its cotton mills, and to the New England Quilt Museum.

So you see September certainly was a busy month for the three MA WIT Clubs. They know how to have fun, enjoy each other's company, defy the weather, and punctuate a campout with great food… join us sometime!

Jerry Little, Bradford Brigade 774-279-4491
Brian Martel, Pilgrim Winnies 978-314-0085
Sue Speckman, Quinebago 508-366-7546

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