HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA

Ohhhh Man... What a day! Just look at the turn-out, 21 cars! This thing is growing every year, and  why not. This is Canada Day and we at the BCCCB love to have a reason to celebrate. Peter and Sandy started this up a couple of years ago with a car show to help Baddeck celebrate Canada Day and we end up at Peter and Sandy's for a knock your socks off BBQ. This is our 2011 Canada Day, Rock Baddeck Story

Ricky, Sharon, Marie (Sharon's Mom), Paula and I left early to have breakfast in Baddeck before the show, the rest of the crew will show up later. The weather person said sun but there was none to be seen when we left Bras D'or, as a matter of fact, if you look closely at the first pic, you can see the moisture in the center and side of the road. Gulp.... Rain, NO! Climbing Kelly's Mountain, the outlook was even bleaker as the fog did it's best to block out the sun. Now, once we crested the mountain, the beautiful St. Anns bay was radiant as the sun burned it's way through the menacing fog. Could this be the start of a perfect day? By George it was.

Once again the breakfast at the (mellow) Yellow Cello was to die for, what a scoff and what great company as we talked and laughed throughout breakfast. We no sooner finished when the rumblings of MGBs and Triumphs and the growls of a Jag filled the air. The cars, girls and guys of the BCCCB have arrived. Look out Baddeck, your in for a treat.

Arriving back at the tourist bureau where the car show was being held, these are the first sights I had seen. All the cars were lined up and what a display it was. The roof was still up on Paula's car but that was quickly folded down, as things were beginning to heat up. As I was running around putting up the flag and the club banner and seen Bobby sitting on the fender of his MG Midget and snapped this pic.

We had a few invited guests this year, Stewart MacDonald brought his ever pleasing Mini, always a show stealer and I think it was his brother in-law who had the ,,,,, Bentley. That's right a Rolls Royce Bentley. Just look at the length of it, I bet it weights 4 tons. This is not something you se everyday and what a treat to have this amongst our cars today. This car got a lot of attention, trust me and I don't think it gets out of the garage very often for people to see. In the center pic, a gentleman on a BMW Motor bike. In the side car of this unusual bike was a Black Lab sporting Goggles and a Helmet. No, I wasn't hallucinating, and it was perhaps the coolest sight today as this duo captured a lot of attention. 

The car talk was endless and while Peter, Norm and Lee were chatting I think Peter noticed a blemish on his beautiful Jaguar XJS V12. It wasn't long after, that Peter had out the armour-all and cleaned perhaps the only imperfection on this beautiful car. Speaking of beautiful cars. The Third photo is a first for our club, the introduction of Brian and Gloria MacDonald's beautiful 1978 Triumph Spitfire. The triumphs are catching up to the "Bs" in numbers.

  Don't let the first photo above fool you. You can see a few BCCCB members chatting it up but as the day progressed you were lucky to find one another as there was so many people milling about. Some of the visitors came up to us and asked about the cars and one or two from the US and the UK told us they have cars such as these at home... personally I love hearing this stuff. In the next photo you have the brothers Renzi talking about old times while Jean, Joe's lovely wife, sits back protected from the sun. That's right, the sun. There were a few clouds threatening the day but the later the day got, the hotter it got. It was .....perrrrfect. Perfect indeed for Lee and Sheila as their daughter, son in-law and grandchild  arrived to sink in the sights.

All of the cars of the BCCCB are great cars but above you have photos of five heavy hitters of our club. Peter and Sandy's E Type, Nina and Haylett`s One owner Austin Healey, Ray and Georgina's Triumph TR6, Barc`s T car and Peter and Sandy's Morgan. These cars alone were enough to attract the many lookers who took the time to check out all the cars of the BCCCB

Parade Time! Who doesn't love a good parade and I think this year Baddeck kicked it up a notch with a few more floats. I walked across the street to take a photo of Norm, Joan and Marie as they readied themselves for the parade, no one was going to get a better seat then these two, I joked saying they took up a parking spot. Now just look at the people lining the street and look up at the blue sky. I think people were getting shack wacky with all the bad weather we've been having and now that the sun came out, so did everyone as Baddeck was a buzz with thousands of people.

Above is a few photos of the many I took of the Parade, again I am sure they kicked it up a notch as there were more participants then normal. I am sure everyone enjoyed it. Great job Baddeck.

The Canada Day Car Show and Parade is now behind us and as much as we enjoyed it, this is now the best time of the day, Peter and Sandy's Canada Day BBQ at their lovely estate on the hill overlooking the beautiful Baddeck Bay. Above you can see what it looked like outside their beautiful home as the street was lined with great looking British Cars. Just look at the display. For what appears to be a quiet street, there sure was a lot of activity, humm I wonder if people were calling friends to tell of the display outside the Smith homestead. I am thinking yes.

Patio deck or party deck? I made a quick count of 31 people (give or take) and there was room to sit and there was room to stand and there was also room to mingle as most of us did. With the sun as hot as it was the Pergola with the fabric shade sure helped ease the harsh sun rays. Not complaining about the hot sun, it's just that we are not use to it. Most took advantage of this area but many stood out in the hot sun and there sure is nothing wrong with that. I am not sure how to thank Peter and Sandy as well as their son and daughter in-law and Merriam, these folks never stopped. We are so lucky to have such great people in our club. The cars are the tools but it's the people who make this club as popular as it is. A BIG THANKS going out to the Smith family on the hill in Baddeck. 

All right, A little Christmas in July. As you know, at the Christmas Party, we have awards for Members who go the extra mile, From the simple things to the big things, anyone who does stuff to help the club excel gets an award. Well why wait for Christmas. This is by far is worthy of an extra mile award. Peter runs down to the Tourist Bureau very early in the morning and ropes off or in this case placed about 50 pylons  in the area where we are displaying our cars. Then there is the added running back and forth to his house to bring a car down. On top of that, Peter and Sandy open up their house to us to have the Canada Day BBQ. With Peter at the Q, the Smith Family is running around making sure everyone is looked after. The Christmas in July award is simple for such a well planned event. With Peter being the BBQ guy, and wearing his Club dress shirt, A BBQ Apron with the club Logo I thought was fitting. There should have been 5 aprons for the work these Guys and Gals did but the coffers only had enough for 1. It is however a unisex apron for all in the Smith Family to use. Thanks Peter and Sandy as well as Merriam and Peter's Son and Daughter in-law. You folks made this day a very memorable.

The BBQ was a Pot Luck as well and so many brought something and I, as well as many, tried a little of everything that was laid out. The pictures don't do the food spread justice. You can only imagine what was laid out. I can say the the plates were heaping and there was plenty left, Man this is great. Sitting, eating and laughing on a huge patio overlooking one of the largest yards in Baddech with the beautiful Baddeck Bay in the background, It really doesn't get better then this.  The good members of the BCCCB should never have a complaint about this club as we are made up of some of the greatest and kindest people I have ever run into in  my life. I for one am counting my blessings.

No, Merriam isn't drinking the wine, although she was smiling as if she was. On top of everything else there was even wine. A bottle of red and the ever popular box of white wine was available, do we have class or what? Peter the "King Of The Q" cooked up countless burgers and dogs  and didn't burn a thing, heck I don't think he even got a splatter on his new BCCCB BBQ Apron.

Well, the day is winding down and it's soon time to hit the road for home. Just look at the Smith's Patio, Just look at the crowd who came to the Canada Day BBQ. I dubbed the Christmas Party as the party of the year but I think this could very well be the one, the "Party Of The Year". Hitting the road for home, I was following Barc and Brian and Arlene, coming down Jones street to Chebucto, you can see the Boats at their mooring buoys, the boats on the wharf and Kidston Island in the background. Throw in a few British cars and, well picturesque for sure.

Pulling away from Jones Street, over the put-put of Paul's B, I could hear the roar of Carol's Healey behind me, you can hear the power and I just love the sound. I tried my best to get a great shot of the Healey as we left Baddeck, with the wharf and boats in the background but the bloody poles along the shoreline made a great photo not so great... oh well. That's the only complaint I have on this great day. Not Bad huh. Hitting Kelly's Mountain at the breakneck speed of 90k It was time to press the accelerator a little further and Pass Brian and Arlene, Don't they look good in their great looking Spitfire. I took a picture of Barc in his great looking T car but I was going to fast and the pic was blurry. To bad, it was a great shot.

Well that was the British Car Club of Cape Breton's Canada day. What was yours like? Again, you know how it goes. "If you weren't there you missed it", and you missed it big time. There is always next year I suppose.