Day 9 - Goshen Rotary

Well Phil was a great driver of our 12 passenger bus conversion and Ellen and Judith were our tour guides for the day. Driving around was fascinating with all 3 giving tips of the area that we were travelling through. Our first stop today was the Jayco - RV Plant Tour. Wow what a production line and slick outfit. We got driven around in the neat bus and shown how Jayco manufacture many parts of their RVs on site. One of the most fascinating bits was how they cover cushions by getting a machine to scrunch them up using plastic, they put the cover on and then release it from the machine and it bounces back and fills the cover. Would hate to try and do that any other way!!

Next stop was the Bonnyville Mill which is an old still functioning Mill. They were very good and although they were not officially open for the session yet they gave us a guided tour of the place. It was fascinating seeing how wheat would be ground and they are also trialling hydro power there again. Andrew was lucky and got to chat with an Amish school teacher who was taking his elementary class on a tour.

Essenhaus for lunch was magic. Half the team decided to go for the smorgasbord despite knowing we would have a big meal this evening. The food was delicious and the banana custard cream was to die for.

Some time to tour around the shops before we went to the MennoHof to learn more about the anabaptist (meaning to rebaptize) in this case as an adult. It went through their history and the struggles and persecution they experienced throughout the evolution of their new religion. It was a very informative and well set out place. Afterwards we had some free time to look at some shops and to my delight we got to go on a buggy ride before we headed off to dinner.

Esther Hostetler provided us a stunning example of an Amish home and home cooked food. The food was absolutely delicious which we enjoyed not only with our host families but a few other Rotarians who could make it. It was great to sit and dine together, have a great laugh and enjoy each other's companionship. We all rolled out the door as "full as Googs" and said our goodbyes until tomorrow, and on that note I shall say goodnight and Blogg again soon!

Cheers

Cathy