3) RAINY DAY AT FERNIE

The annual bike parade was to happen at 10:30 this morning. Rain postponed it to 2:00 this afternoon. As rain continued, sometimes very hard, and Tracey spied animals leaving two by two, she reluctantly canceled the parade ride.

Mark from “Meats and Treats” became our rainy day activity. He and his two person crew gave demonstrations of different foods cooked on grills and in smokers and provided us with many samples of it all. They will be providing our dinner tonight which should be a delight.

They brought all the equipment and set up late yesterday for the demo, instructions and meal for today.

We all gathered in Tent Central, where it was dry and warmer, with our handouts that included some recipes.

Mark gave a lot of information about barbecueing and about meats.

Assistant Stevie did some cooking during the instructional talk.

While this was happening, Tracey tried to be very quiet, discrete and unnoticed in setting up a portable heater. It was going well for her until she realized she was boxed in and could not get out into the main area. Needless to say, she was caught in action and ended up being anything but discrete and unnoticed

It ended up well, and Mark forgave her for the ‘interruption’.

Back to the meat of the meeting, Mark was discussing brisket and how to choose, season and cook it correctly and well.

Along with other treats they passed around to us, Mark, Stevie and Connor prepared some bruschetta to share as well, and it was mighty yummy.

I had eaten part of mine before Susan decided to take the photo ;’). Brisket bruschetta.

We spent a few hours here during some good rain moments. The rain finally stopped and we even had a few sun breaks after we were back at our sites. But by now it was too late or people had lost motivation for a bike parade! Then it rained again. Then it stopped. Then it rained. Then it stopped. Then…

We were to dress ourselves or our bikes, or carry something SILVER for the Bike Parade as this is the Silver Anniversary year (25) for SOTF.. Since the parade got rained out, Tracey asked us to come to dinner wearing what we had intended to wear for the bike ride. ;’-).

The Group Photo. You will notice that Susan (on the right) has totally upstaged me. 🤨

We were of the Order of the Silver Sisters. Susan being her more pious self.

There were lots of good costumes and we used what we had in the van — space blankets ;’-)

Our friend Fran was in her Silver outfit.

Susan & I, and Fran, won a prize. A cool Canada pillow case. A few others won the prize as well but I don’t have photos of them.

After our photo session it was dinner time. And true to their word, we were served a scrumptious meal of Brisket, beans (with just a tiny hint of bourbon), Cole slaw and corn bread.