Weather Fine, Jon Signs, Hyacinth Pines, Gary Wines
This year those faithful to T-series MGs gathered at the 32nd annual Gathering of the Faithful West at Harrison Hot Springs Resort, about 60 miles east of Vancouver, BC. Five vehicles headed north from Salt Lake -- two TDs, a TF, a YB on a royal barge, and a mother ship to deter bad luck.

The route up was spectacular, and featured great driving roads and little traffic. after interstating to Blackfoot ID, the entourage drove up the Salmon River valley, over the continental divide to the Bitterroute Valley, and northwest from Missoula along the Clark Fork River. At Sandpoint ID a gathering of classic wooden powerboats was underway, to the delight of all.

The group crossed into BC at the south end of the Okanogan valley (noted for wines). That stage ended in Osoyoos BC, where an Elvis Festival was underway, but (at our hotel, at least) the King was not on the premises.

While enjoying the pool (and some Canadian wine and brew) around the pool, who should appear but a Brit wearing an MG sweatshirt. Turns out that Nigel and Lillian were RV'ing around western Canada (mostly on the right side of the road), and screeched to a halt upon sighting our T-series in the motel parking lot. Much fun was had comparing notes on MG idiosyncrasies on both sides of the Atlantic.

Harrison Hot Springs Resort is located on a pristine lake surrounded by mountains of varying heights, including a snow draped one in the distance. Hotel service was excellent, including some of the best banquet food ever tasted at a GoF West. Gary indulged his love of wine at a terrific wine store featuring BC wines.

The most unexpected and celebrated event of the stay was the Hermances' purchase, sight unseen, of a 'cream and crackers' 1949 MG TC. Even the provenance (as they say on Antiques Roadshow) is remarkable: the car was previously owned by radio host Arthur Godfrey in Hawaii, where it has rested for several years.

At the car show (with people's choice voting), the Inman's YB saloon Hyacinth was a shoo-in for top prize in the Premier category, but it turned out that her prior Premier win in Durango in 2002 dictated ineligibility for one more year. Floyd consoled himself with a crafts prize for his ensemble of memorabilia from GoF West 1997 in Park City, and his re-election to the GoF West Steering Committee. Floyd immediately voiced the possibility of BMCU hosting GoF West 2007 in Park City, in accordance with the ten year venue cycle currently in vogue (see article on page 6).

On the return trip folks split up according to family and logistical dictates -- the Inmans drove to Olympia WA for the wedding of a son, and the Van Moorhems drove to Klamath Falls OR to cache their TD as the first stage of their move there later this fall. The Hermance and Lindstrom T's were piloted home by a nostalgic route through the North Cascades and southern Idaho -- driven five years earlier on the way up to the 27th GoF West in Whistler, BC.

Enjoying the whole event were Jon and Susan Hermance, Bill and Julie Van Moorhem, Floyd and Kathy Inman, and Gary and Sandy Lindstrom. David and Muriel Machovec attended in spirit.