THE 2010 BRITISH INVASION & THE LAKE PLACID TOUR

by Bob Forest

Our trip to the British Invasion was a great success this year, with one little thing that cut Helen's and my trip short. We arrived at Terry and Lynn's who live in Mansonville on Thursday afternoon.Terry had the BBQ going and we had a wonderful supper. Hit the sack early and Friday morning left their home around 9 am.

As we were very early for Stowe, we stopped at Jay Peak. Terry wanted us to see the new installations especially the new arena. They are also building a multi million dollar hotel with a two and a half million dollar pool. The roof will open on nice days, just like the Olympic stadium. Well we went to the arena and the charge for seniors was one dollar. and 3 dollars for the skate rentals. After discussing it for 30 minutes, how could we not try it out. So all four of us put on our skates and on to the ice we went. I had not skated for 18 years, but I thought it was like riding a bicycle. I had a hockey scholarship to St. Michel's in Winooski Vt back in 57, so I figured nothing there. Well if anyone would of seen me from that school they would of taken the scholarship away. I could hardly stand up. it took me about 10 minutes to find my feet. We had a great time. Of course Lynn and Terry skated like pros.

From there we headed on our way to Stowe and arrived at Bob's and Odette Kavanagh around 3 pm. If I remember right we all hit the sack early. Patrick and Sylvie Demars also were staying with us. Saturday we headed to the car show, the girls did some walking and bicycling. The show was great, many beautiful cars. The fun of the British Invasion is seeing people you have not seen for a long time, and try to remember who they are, it seems to get more difficult every year.

That evening we had the Montreal MG Car Club BBQ at Bob's and Odette home. Again another great success. Between Terry and all the girls, Odette, Helen, Lynn, and Sylvie, it was a fantastic meal.

So Sunday arrives, and we head out for Lake Placid. Odette did the tour guide, and what a tour. In all the years I have been driving on car tours, this one beat them all. The roads she found for us to drive on were spectacular. Winding, up and down hills, spectacular views, and of course, the most important, Sun, Sun and more Sun. Bob had his big Auburn and had no trouble following us. All the cars were running like clock work. Mike had a little problem with his Sunbeam, but fixed it very quickly. Phil Baily and his wife Ginette, George and Susan, Terry and Lynn, Bob and Odette, Dick and Gaetane, I think I got them all that were on the trip.

Before going to Lake Placid, Odette took us to the top of White face. What a spectacular view, and what a ride up, the road never ended, this is one high mountain. Most of us took the elevator to the top, but Lynn took the stairs, more practice for Everest. Then Odette and Lynn took the stairs down. These girls are in shape. Helen would of joined them, but she had her heels on and also I.

Now on to Lake Placid, we arrived safe and sound at the Mountain View Inn, the rooms very nice and clean and right in the middle of town. That night we ate at the View Restaurant and it was excellent.

The next day we went to Spencer Boat Works, who build these beautiful classic boats.. These are the old style boats,, but the tour given to us by Mike who I think is one of the owners, was unbelievable. about 2 hours. we saw everything. see by the pictures the quality of the boats. They also store close to 750 boats for the winter. This was a mans thing, so the girls went on a trolley tour of lake Placid, which I heard was great.

In the afternoon some went on a boat tour of Mirror lake. I stayed at the motel, as my classmate from MAI in Plattsburg N.Y. where I graduated in 1957, Tom Duchano, was meeting me with his girl friend Pat. It was a great reunion, as Tom and I were best friends in High School. 53 years we had not seen each other. We recognized each other right away as we did not change one bit. It was great seeing him, which made my day a great one.

Now for Helen, she came down with a tooth ache, a really bad one, so Monday night late, I made the decision that this could not go on, the pain, so we left the motel around 6 am maybe a little before that, and headed right to the dentist in Pierrefonds. He saw her right away and took the tooth out and now she is in bed and eating antibiotics. So I am sure all will be back to normal in a few days. Helen and I want to take this opportunity to thank Bob and Odette for the time and effort they took to make this a great 4 days. Odette another thank you for the tour to Lake Placid, that was unbelievable.

Thanks You Both!

© VEA

Here are some Bob's articles:

Lac Brome in a Citroën 2cv
Should additives be used in breaking
Picking the right restorer
The British Invasion VIII
How important is to prepare your antique car to a governement inspection
1999 VEA annual supper
The Byward Market Auto Classic
Brunch-Croisière, what a day! !
10th Annual Boot'n Bonnet British Car Day 1999 Kingston, Ontario
Brunch at Outremont Park
2000 VEA annual supper
The Grand Gala International de L’Automobile
Wednesday Night at COTE-St LUC BBQ
The Longs Bonnets Night
VIKING INVASION 2000
Rally lessons at the BBQ
VEA Annual Supper 2001
The Longs Bonnets Night 2001
A little italian spaghettata, a little french poutine
What did the MGA do this year? Destination: Bathurst, N.B.
Maybe something you did not know, about heating problems
Finally, the secret revealed
Iles de la Madeleine and Prince Edward Island, all in a MGA
British Invasion XIIth
The 29th Annual Supper, the best one yet
La Grande Ballade du VEA 2003 (in english)
The Gaspe and Charlevoix 2003 Trip
The VEA méchoui in a 1939 Citroën cabriolet
Our trip to Prince Edward Island
Where is Bob Forest?