I intentionally did a short introduction as this way i can amend my mistakes in this post, and also do a summary of counts,etc in this header post.

Pilgrim's Progress is coming from Australia and there has been a desire for a picnic.  Given that, I have phoned & confirmed Five Oaks is available.

RSVP via this thread if you are planning to attend (or not).

Itinerary

Optional) Fri night, arrive after dinner & visit for evening at  the chalet.  

Optional ) Fri overnight -- stay over in the chalet -- rate to follow, once know #'s.

Sat -- lunchtime picnic  -- arrive before or after depending on your schedule, but plan to break bread at noon together.  True potluck .  specifics to be posted though & summarized because I know some folks like that.

Optional)  Canoe trip? If someone wants to organize would likely be enjoyable, especially for those who want to make a day of it. I can give name of canoe rental place that works regularly with Five Oaks event organizers.

Optional)  Pool open after lunch for a swim.  Depending on numbers will need to hire lifeguard.

Specifics on chalet:   It has sections being redone, and will be done before then.  BusyMom & I have seen the lovely kitchen added on the lower level.  For those staying over, I would presume they would want to do own meals.  For those who stayed in the motel, the chalet is much nicer.   There is a nice gathering area on the upper level.  Rates are available on the site; however, I will book and hopefully get us group rates.

Specifics on summer centre:  Great place to hang out & play games if rainy.  Can accomodate a large #.  We don't necessarily need it.  So...dependent on #'s, will depend on if we book.

Carpooling: the Google map of wondercafe may help with logistics of carpooling -- go green folks -- http://www.wondercafe.ca/discussion/social/google-map-wondercafe

 Cost:  

$10 - $15/person for Saturday only, need to figure out some stuff still:  We have rented the summer centre and have full use of lower grounds.  Summer centre has lots of tables plus large kitchen.  (If we didn't wish the summer centre cost could decrease, but this allows us comfort if it pours rain, plus safe cooking, and bbq's, etc).   For those who wonder about price, GRCA charges $150 for picnic shelter plus $5/person admittance - 1/2 price for kids).  

Overnight plus use of space Sat -- $40 / person.   

Request:

** post to this thread if you are interested.

Attending so far. -- italics have confirmed

Admin2 (3)

Ariel  - Friday through Saturday

Audrey - Sat picnic

BethanyK -- Sat picnic

Birthstone & family (4)

BusyMom & family (5) - Sat picnic

Carolla & husband-- Sat picnic

GaiaGrrl  & family (3) -- Fri maybe, Sat - yes

Gecko

Jae & wife -- 2 - Friday night - Sat

LBmuskoka   -- Sat

PilgrimsProgress -- Sat

Pinga -- Fri (2maybe), Sat (2)  -- Friday through Sunday

RedBaron -- Fri  through Sunday

RevJohn -- Fri

Sigh  -- Fri?? / Sat -- arriving from Ottawa!!!

SpecialMom  Sat 1 -- maybe 5

TigerLily - Sat picnic

Food so far

Admin - munchies / chips

Ariel -- squares / fruit

BethanyK - spinich, cranberry, walnut and feta salad

Birthstone & family -- pulled pork for sandwiches 

Busymom -- salad & dessert

Carolla -- gluten-freebuns

Gecko -- salad

Jae -- kimchi

PilgrimsProgress -- buns

Pinga -- beverages -- iced tea

Possible stage

Alex -- needs transport from Ottawa -- (see sigh's post, Alex)

Chansen

Kinst (2?)

Redhead

Serena -- if can find co-driver or passenger from West.

Regrets

Beloved

Crazyheart

Mendella

Myst

NinjaFaery

Northwind

Seeler

SG  & RitaMae

Youthworker

(note: wonderbus virtual tickets still available..the bus is never full -- and can mysteriously pick up anyone from anywhere http://www.wondercafe.ca/discussion/social/wonderbus-leaving-picnic

Wunderbar.  Thanks for checking into it, Pinga.  Wher do we go, who do we see, who do we send wondermail to, to express interest/availability/confirmation?

good question, I will amend the top part to say...

Post if you are interested and for when.

Include any questions, as likely others will have some as well

Thanks for this!  It's official!  Can't wait!

either day works for me, even both days for that matter.

k, definitely we will have a social on friday night for those who can't make Saturday, such as NinfaFaery.

making it for both days is great RedBaron!  I will likely be there for both, and may stay over...it's nice to wake up at Five Oaks and walk the labrynthe.  It refills my spirit.

We're in for the Saturday afternoon at least (having dogs at home makes it an issue for a sleepover but who knows?!)

Do you come as yourself or as your favourite sock puppet?

costumes are welcome...

I'm planning to come for the day on Saturday and my husband will likely also be along.  If PP needs a ride, I can help with that too.  Pot luck picnic sounds great! 

Thank you pinga for getting this organized on our behalf!

I would really like to go but I don't know what/where Five Oaks is. Is there  a website?

Thanks, Pinga for organizing this wondercafe get-together.

I'm rapidly forming the view that you're Canada's "chief cook and bottle-washer" (Oz expression for a very capable person.)

Has Canada ever had a female Prime Minister? (Howzabout Pinga for PM.)

I'll look up details of Five Oaks - as I seem to remember qwerty gave it a good rap last year.

I'll give it some more thought - but at this stage Saturday would probably work better for me. (Just a little matter of jet-lag and both physical and mental exhaustion to deal with!)

carolla, thanks for offering me a lift - I may well take you up on it - I'll wondermail you at a later date. (well, your daughter has an Aussie boyfriend, so that makes you kinda family!)

By the way, if I can't work out how to get into my hotel room after my long flight I fully intend to ring up Ninj to open the door for me. (see her thread in Relationships.) 

I'd be falling all over myself to rush to your aid while cursing and swearing under my breath about how put upon I am.....

sheeesh

I'm in - maybe for Friday and Saturday... maybe Sat only.  We were all going to come (partner and daughter too) but now in-laws are coming for 2 1/2 weeks (EEEEEK) right on either side of this so it might be my chance for a getaway escape!

We had a woman in the Prime Minister's Office for a few months, PP. Her name was Kim Campbell. However, the mess her predecessor left behind pretty much doomed whoever his successor was. She lost her first election in the job and became a diplomat and academic. To be honest, I don't think anyone affiliated in any way with her party could have won that election.

I'm afraid I'll be unable to come. T'will be spending our national holiday at a resort in Parry Sound with my family.

Mendalla

mendella, you will be there in spirit.

The site is www.fiveoaks.on.ca

It is near Paris, ON, just off the 403. 

Rides can likely be arranged, as can pickups from train & bus stations.

I wonder if I can find a good seat sale..........

I would like to come for sure!!

I don't have a job right though so I don't know my availability so I will have to get back to you about the details of when (and if I bring someone with me this time)

k, i will edit some of you for possibles...

I'm really hoping that the busygang can get there for at least part of it.  We had a great time last year! 

So sorry, I'll miss you Mendalla.

You're just about my favourite UU!

Never mind - enjoy your holiday.

Northwind,

It would be nice for me if you could get a cheap seat - but as it's a national holiday around then I don't like your chances. (I could thank you personally for showing me how to do smilies!)    

I don't know.

I don't know how welcome I would personally be by you all.

I don't know how welcome a Fellowship Baptist would be at a United Church facility.

I don't know if I can arrange transportation with my Yobo.

I don't know if she would want to attend such an event.

I just don't know.

Please come, Jae.

Then I could personally thank you for those pics of Canadian coins - if it wasn't for you I wouldn't know my loonie from my toonie!

I would like to be there for some of the festivities.  I am not sure if I will be solo or will have some of the specialgang with me.

Let me figure out the details.  I may pop down friday evening and then bring the gang down for lunch.  Or perhaps I will come down fri evening and have some time off and have my husband bring the gang down saturday.  Hmmm.  I like the latter idea!

I would agree with gia.

I would enjoy meeting you Jae.

I will try to come on Saturday... will plan for that but may be subject to change depending on family stuff.

Would be great to meet Pilgrim and so many Wondercafeers. 

 Thanks Pinga! My crazy family (!!) and I will definitely try to make it for Saturday. Sounds fun!

Aaron (Admin2)

Jae - if you're not there, we'll all sigh and say," too bad Jae didn't make it!"  Of course you're welcome, and you know it makes WC friendships stronger and safer too.  Consider it like a real - live Wonderparty - just fun & friendly and time to put away the debates.

Aaron!  Yeah!!!

Gecko - I know it sounds crazy to drive to a picnic where you've never really met anyone, but honest!! We had a great time last year. 

Pinga & Busymom - the Birthstone gang is counting on Candyman & the busygang to be there! 

Aaron are you taking CrazyHeart's Crazy Family and  CrazyHeart has to stay home. LOL

I'd really like to!  

It's Toronto Pride weekend though. I might super busy. It depends a little on whether my boyfriend wants to come with. For now it's a maybe...

I'll be with you in spirit (and wish that I could be there in body as well).   Have fun!

I checked the calendar. Looks like I'll be able to go!

Yeah Audrey!

Folks -- if I miss adding your name above, or I have it in the wrong category, number or whatever...please just tell me, I will be happy to fix.   I am far from perfect

Thanks all for the encouragement. Please list me now in the "possible stage." I still haven't asked my Yobo about it yet, though, so I can't say if she'll be coming. If not, is there anyone coming from Toronto I could get a ride with?

Also, what is the rate for the chalet and hotel (motel?) and how would we go about arranging for that. Thanks.

Please include me with the regrets, Pinga.  It sounds wonderful, it would be a blast to meet all of you I'm sure . . . but just too far for me.

Adjusted header, Jae to answer questions.

Beloved:  added the link to the bus!

I would LOVE to go -- but I will not be able to afford it.  :-(

Luckily, I get to hang out with Kinst next weekend.

YW, I assume the afford is the flight, versus the charge for Five Oaks..(because I know we could cover the Five Oaks) -- cost should never be a barrier -- however, not much I can do about plane tickets.

Yup, the flight!

Blew most of my money on my tax bill.  (Boo!!!)  And then I just bought my vacation plane tickets, so I don't have a lot to spread around.

How wonderful to see the plans come together for this. I really wish I could attend - but please put me in the 'I'll be there in spirit' category.

You can put me down as a maybe - to come on the Saturday.  Would depend on whether I could get there.  Not far away but beyond my distance for driving so will look into some other options.

I would like to come Friday night and Saturday. I would just need to find out how much it will cost. :)

TigerLily...where are you coming from?  I can add that to the top part -- ride needed from.....

As an aside, did you notice or is it only me, you can't go to last post  it shoots it up to Pinga's first post?

Pinga, I'd be coming from (deleted for privacy).  That would be great if it happened to work out to catch a ride from someone.  Thanks for suggesting posting that.  Will see what happens.  Would be really fun to meet everyone if things work out. 

That may be because I keep editting it, ch

 i could go.  I have difficulty traveling. I get stressed out and sometimes lost. Last year i was going to go because my best friend had suggested that he wanted to go to London to see his family and so he would have driven me.   However he cancelled, which I should have forseen because he always makes plans to travel and cancels. He is as stressed out about travelling as I am. In fact because I do manage to go to PEI once a year to visit family, I actually travel more often than he does.

I can manage a bus to Toronto, and I have a friend who has a standing offer of a place to stay in Toronto, since he has stayed at my place once or twice a year for most of my adult life. i could go down to Toronto on Friday and if there is a way I can get from Toronto to five Oaks on Saturday for the day. I imagine there are regular buses to Hamilton. But after that I would likely get lost or miss a bus. It's just more practical for me if I can go to Toronto on friday night, and than I could meet someone there. 

I will also have to confirm with my friend in Toronto, Since it is Pride he might have visitors.   It would be fun to see if I could rent a bear outfit. I could wear it when I arrive at Five Oaks to show off, and than march with a  wondercafe sash or something large that I could pin to the suite  in the Pride Parade.   That would be fun. 

The friend I would be staying with marches with the Anglicans, so he could take me to the parade.

Oddly enough when I wore my bear outfit to Ottawa Pride last year I had the most fun ever in a large crowd. normally i find it hard to enjoy being in large crowds.  Something about playing a role relaxes me and the fact that when I wear it, I sweat a lot from the heat.  For some reason being really hot and sweaty calms me down, otherwise I end up being hyperactive in crowds.

Tiger Lily and Alex,

As I've read that you both have health issues, I 'm hoping you can both make it for the Saturday as I'd love to meet you.