Finding An Old Friend and The Lumberjack Show

One day, a few weeks ago, I was standing at Dock 3 talking to another Tour Rep. I wasn't due to be there at that time. In fact, I never just "hang out." Usually I will head back to my car to wait, staying dry and warm. But it was a very nice day - no rain, some sunshine and a little bit of a breeze. So, there I was, where I normally shouldn't be, when an older gentleman tapped my shoulder to ask a question. Out of my peripheral vision I saw the woman whom I thought to be his wife. I didn't give her much consideration, keeping my attention on answering the gentleman's. As I turned back to my conversation with my friend, the woman spoke to the man. Her voice stopped me in my tracks. I recognized that voice. I turned to really look at her.......Elsie Taylor! Elsie was one of mother's best friends whom I'd lost track of after my mom passed away 3 years ago. I couldn't believe my eyes. Let's just say there was a lot of hugging going on.

About a year after my mom passed away, Elsie sold her house in Waukesha, WI and moved closer to her family in San Diego, where she met Tom Stantial. Elsie (91) told me that she's a "Cougar" because Tom is younger than she is! I thought that was funny (cute). They also told me that the tour they booked through a travel agent was not the tour they had originally wanted. They got the Totem Bite State Park tour, but not the combination with the Lumberjack Show. However, they were going to make the best of it because they heard that Totem Bite State Park was very nice. It was time for them to go on their tour and for me to get ready to receive my passengers for my tour. We hugged "good-bye."

After my tour, I was chatting with Jill Gates (LumberJill - manager of the Lumberjack Show). I was on such a "high" seeing mom's best friend, I just had to tell someone - and there was Jill. She said I should meet their bus and she would "comp" the three of us for the show! (Okay, more hugging - of Jill this time)

So I did just that. I met their bus and told them we were all going to the show. Before the show got started, Elsie and I did some catching up of the past three years.

I'll tell you, that was the best afternoon. It was terriffic seeing her. I miss my mom very much, and seeing Elsie again just brought my mom closer to my heart.

But now the show was beginning. We had a lot of fun. I hadn't seen the show in a few years, and it was just great. Here are some pictures for you all to enjoy.

Here's our lumberjack on the left, and his competitor on the right

There's a lot of muscle there

Cutting log demonstration

Ax throwing contest (see the ax in the air half way to the target?)

Sawing a log demonstration

The Brawny guy doesn't look this good!

This is how they cut down trees. They drive a plank into the tree to stand upon. Wow.

Race to the top

Who will make it to the top and back down first?

The winner!

Racing across the water on the logs

Just barely makes it across

Log rolling contest

Our lumberjack lost this contest; into the water he went!