Mountain Laurel

Keith and Linda stroll through paths lined with the exquisite Mountain Laurel in one of Virginia’s forest parks.

Dot and Vern at the Dayton Farmer Market

Though it was advertised as the Farmers market, I can now tell you square and fair that the advertising is false. Don’t believe it. There was only one farmer present (see background in photo) and the rest of the stalls, although enjoyable and even tasty, were certainly not owned by the farmers. Another lovely day in lovely Harrisonburg.

Trent Wagler and the Steel Wheels

Care for a little bluegrass? Trent and his band jammed out some tunes for free in the Harrisonburg town square one night.

Harrisonburg Gift and Thrift

A more buzzing and groovy store is hard to imagine. Philip drooled over the second hand books (and bought a bundle) and pottered around the endlessly potable fair trade section. Philip also got to interview and check out the behind-the-scenes action. Pretty exciting stuff. Gift & Thrift is part of the network of stores that raise dosh for MCC. Philip popped into a fair few while he was sifting around North America.

Drink Deep

After a delightful and memorable week in Kitchener-Waterloo Phil hitched a ride down to Harrisonburg, Virginia. While there Phil hung out with a fountain at Eastern Mennonite University. He chilled around those parts for almost two weeks interviewing like a lad gone crazy.

Ontario Fields

This would make for a great jigsaw puzzle, yes?!

Baseball

While hanging around the MCC AGM in Kitchener-Waterloo (still Ontario), Phil got to join in an expedition to go and check out the Toronto Blue Jays play the Seattle Marriers. Fierce competition was the name of the day. However, Phil was far too busy talking with interesting people to notice much of the action. The stadium was big though. Very big. Can’t say I really appreciate the game of baseball though. It is a little weird. Sort of like Cricket gone wrong and without the tactics or half the excitement or anywhere near the length.

With Len and Irene in Caledonia, Ontario

After visiting the Leamington Relief Sale, Phil then popped in on Len and Irene's place in Caledonia, ON and wandered around their patch of meadow. Irene and I took a bunch of photos.

Leamington

Quilts for auction: Among the items for sale at the Leamington Community Festival was the eagerly anticipated quilt auction. Here the quilts hang around before the auction got going. There were some lovely pieces of work for display. They also sold off for incredibly cheap prices. This is definitely the place to go if you want to buy a lovely cheap quilt. A little far from Indonesia/Australia unfortunately for a visit next year...

Leamington Community Festival: Research takes one to all sorts of funny places. Leamington was one of the funniest. A little town just over the river from Detroit, Leamington is small-town Ontario. The Leamington Community Festival was an annual event that raised money for a number of organisations including MCC. The occasion was an all-age excuse to eat unhealthy but delicious food for a good cause - ‘borscht’ and ‘Mennonite sausage’ were among my favourites.

Port Dalhousie at Sunset

With Jordan and Kristen at Port Dalhousie and Niagara

From Philly by Amtrak to Port Dalhousie and Niagara. Jordan and Kristen met Phil at the very run down and sketchy looking Buffalo train station. Phil got to see the mighty Niagara falls and the rather serene Lake Ontario. We ate vegetarian for dinner and talked about renewable energy. It was a sweet, but far too short, a time.

With Kim, Brie and Devon in Philly

Also in Philly, Phil caught up with Kim, Brie, and Big D at Eastern University. We had a riot of a time remembering Belize and all the mischief that had been gotten up to during the Creation Care Study Program (CCSP) days.

With Peter at Eastern University

Next to Phil stands the best dressed Sensenig he's ever met. Love that shirt!

Phil began his almost three month sojourn around the US in Philly catching up with old friends and making some new ones.