BY BARB MONTGOMERY

On Monday, Sept. 7, the Happy Islanders were off on their “Gypsy” campout at Qualicum Bay Resort. Hosts were Pierce & Doris Kennedy and Des & Barb Montgomery.

On Tuesday some of us enjoyed a walk up the hill and over the railway tracks and through the sandy trails, which weave their way through the pines. Only days before ATV’s had whined and twisted the same paths. For us, the silence was a gift, a last whisper of summer. Others cycled or walked the roadside, enjoying the view across the Strait of Georgia to the Mainland’s mountains.

Wednesday dawned bright and sunny. There was a sense of excitement as this was the main day for the Gypsy theme. After lunch, we slipped away to don our costumes. What an array of colours! To the tunes of songs, which included the word “gypsy”, the games began. Our two fortunetellers, complete with crystal balls, had a great time recalling incidents from the past and foretelling things to come. One especially lucky Gypsy got a “First to Dinner” fortune card and others received “Home Run, Out and Free Base” tickets for the Thursday’s baseball game.

There was a roulette table, a very popular black jack table, a dice toss and a jar containing fortune cookies, the winner of which won 1-1/2 dozen homemade peanut butter cookies.

Lots of poker chips changed hands instead of coins but it was just as much fun as winning the real thing (well almost). Thankfully, we had lots of help from volunteers.

Dinner that night, all previously planned, began at Happy Hour (4 p.m.) with special appetizers followed at 5:30 p.m. by salad. The main course of goulash, noodles and vegetables all prepared by Guenther & Katharina Glaesing was a huge success. All this was topped off by a selection of desserts. What a feast!

Thursday brought more sunshine, walks and games of horseraces and baseball. All in all, it was a campout to remember. October will bring our Thanksgiving wind-up. We are thankful that we are able to enjoy each other’s companionship and that we live on such a beautiful island, Vancouver Island BC.