The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Weekend Lake Erie trip turns into wind-whipped ordeal for reporter Editor's note: Senior reporter Terri Howell was late for work on Monday, but she had a very good excuse. She and her husband and four others had to brave wind- whipped waters in Lake Erie to return from Long Point. Her story follows. by Terri Howell There was no doubt about it, the winds had shifted, the waves were crashing to shore and at least for the night, we were stranded on the top of Long Point. At first we resigned ourselves to the fact, even though it meant missing work the next morning which was Monday. However, when radio reports confirmed our fear that the strong winds and five foot waves on the lake might hang on for a few days, quiet resignation turned to fear. A simple weather report from an unfamiliar voice far away turned everyone's jovial mood, sombre. Nerves were on edge and people began reacting in ways I had never seen before. Long Point is a 20- mile long spit of sand, shallow pools and scrub growth, stretching out almost to the middle of Lake Erie. There is no road, since in places the waves have cut large slits through the point making it impassable on foot or looked by car. Nine of us travelled in two aluminum boats with outboards. Four stopped halfway at the break- water cabin where they spent the weekend. The rest of us travelled the remaining eleven miles to the tip of the point. The purpose of our visit, my husband's and mine, was to visit our friends Sandy and David whowere stationed on the tip of the point. David, our boat driver, is the warden of the Long Point Bird Observatory. He is spending the summer keeping tabs on the birds that land on the point, trapping and banding them for the observatory. He and Sandy livé in a small cottage with no electricity or running water. This was to be our home for the weekend as well. We arrived on Saturday afternoon. The boat ride to get to the tip of Long Point took an hour and a half, and it was cold. For the next few hours David and Sandy showed us how to trap and band birds as well as record their wing length, age and sex. It was fascinating and the afternoon soon disap- peared into evening. When we awoke on Sunday morning at 6 a.m. the sun was shining and from the cottage the day warm and friendly. On my way 'to the backhouse I checked the lake on the south side of the tip. It was calm. I put any fears of being stranded out of my head. We spent the morning walking, wading through pools and climbing to the .top of sand dunes. The mood was carefree. The boys did front flips off the top of the dunes landing in an avalanche of sand halfway down. By noon we had stripped off most of our outerwear to enjoy the warmth of the sun. We walked for close to four hours before returning to the cottage. After lunch we all went a variety of ways anxious to enjoy the beauty of the point in solitude. It was about five when we congregated again. My husband and I and the~ other bird watcher that had come to the tip packed up our gear to get ready to leave. David came into the cottage then with a grim look on his face and we knew that the winds which had been steadily increasing meant we might be stranded. The weather report on the radio confirmed this. "There is a small craft warning on Lake Erie. The winds are gusting at about 30 miles per hour and the waves are three to five feet high. The winds are coming from the north-north west." David called the four fellows at the breakwater cabin 11 miles away. Yarmo, the assistant warden there, said no one was leaving, it was too dangerous. "We'll get up early in the morning David and try to tackle the lake then. If we can't maybe they'll have to walk out taking their clothes off to wade through the cuts," he said. Kim and I exchanged glances. David apologized as though the quick change in the weather was his fault. However, like children that learn they can't go to school the next day, Kim and I soon resigned ourselves to the fact that at least for the night, we were stranded on Long Point. Our carefree attitude spread to the rest and for the remaining hours of daylight we all went fishing in the pools. My dog, who had come with us, swam for two solid hours totally enjoying the fact that we had to stay. At dinner time David announced that he would wake us at 5:30 a.m. daylight saving time, when the chances of the lake being calm would be good. We agreed and since that meant 4:30 a.m. eastern standard time, the time we were used to, we were in bed around 10 p.m. The howling of the wind and the crashing of the waves kept Kim and I awake for a long time, I admit we were both concerned that we might be stranded longer than just the night. Kim was doubly concerned since Need A Helping Hand Monday was the first day of his new job and he was going to miss it. At 5:30 we woke to the crackle of the radio. David informed the main land that we were leaving. Next he radioed Yarmo , who has a small 14 foot boat. "How does it look at the tip?"' Yarmo asked. "Not bad on the south side." "Can you take the three volunteers I have here in your boat? It's still to rough here for me to Cont'd p 8 THE HURONIA PLAYERS present "Once Upon a Mattress" Book by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer and Dean Fuller Lyrics by On Sunday morning the fact that we might be stranded on Long Point was the farthest thing from our minds. A more calm. calm moment Here, Kim looks out on the lake with his binoculars. At that point it was still fee, This Spring Try A Rental from SOMMER inks We Have 105 and 130 H.P. Tractors Discs, Ploughs & Cultivators Marshall Barer, Music by Mary Rodgers An adaptation of the Fairy-Tale The Princess and the Pea Directed by Lynn Gorell Who directed last year's "Paint Your Wagon" Once Upon a Mattress will take place at Sacred Heart School, William and Elizabeth Sts. Midland May 18-19 - 20 May 22 - 26-27 at8p.m. adults ' 3-00 Students 51.50 Call Today For Rates Tickets available at: A d Elmvale Flower Shop, Elmvale n Johnstones Music Shop, Midland Bookings Gignac's Children's Wear, Penetang Huronia Office, Midland Mac's Milk, Huronia Mall, Midland 428-3132 Staff photo Centennial Scrapbook Your plays PERSONAL live better and longer. Let us be your... PHARMACIST JORY IDA: PHARMACY Serving the community for over two generations DELIVERY SERVICE 268 King St 526-2781 pharmacist an important part in your life and community. His skills are applied to help you and your family SPECIALTY SHOP DWARDS | Headquarters for the very latest in SPRING eFashion eAccessories eLingerie eCosmetics \\ ; Your fur deserves... the best estorage erepairs ere-styling Put Mr. Voorzanger's expertise to work for you and your fur. oorzanger and Ladies' FINE FURS "Wear | 944 King St. 526-2012 MIDLAND TOWN CENTRE Midland teacher remembersS.S. 13 There were 74 students in John J. Robin's first school at Carlyon, near S.S. 13, North Orillia. "T had to put them three in a seat,"' he recalls. "In the nice weather, I'd send some of them out to sit under the maple trees. But 74 youngsters, was an awful lot, so I told the ones in fourth book (Grade VIII) that if they worked hard, and completed their assignments, I'd give them the Hn of teaching a class. They worked their heads off!" The school inspector was impressed, and told J.J. Robins: "If you can organize'this bunch, you can do anything." John Robins taught for three years, and then entered University College at the University of Toronto. In 1919 he came to Midland High School with his B.A. and the task of teaching science and boys phys ed. In 1923, he was appointed principal of MHS. "T believe I was the youngest principal in the province at the time." He remained as principal until his retirement in 1956, when Midland High School became Parkview Public School and the new Midland Penetanguishene Secondary School opened in Ingram's sugar bush. , ae W ae, F : "WIGH SCHOOL' (P23an%h SD In his years as principal "J.J." (as he's af- fectionately known by hundreds of his ex- students) saw three additions put on the High »School. The teaching staff grew from 7 to 18. Today, John Robins is well into his eighties. Handsome, alert and articulate, he says, "I enjoyed excellent health for the first eighty years." He and his wife will celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary next September. She was his childhood sweetheart. "We both went to Eady Public School together." The family tradition of teaching carries on. His daughter Joan was a phys ed teacher, and his grandson is also a teacher. J.J. Robins is affectionately remembered by hundreds of graduates of Midland High School and it's easy to see why. When you ask J.J. to recount some of the mischievous things young people got up to between 1919 and 1956, he just smiles. "T have a very convenient memory,"' he says. "JT just don't remember any of the unpleasant things. But I can tell you this - I loved teaching."' Music Company ae }¢ | __ ALBUM OF THE WEEK SPECIAL WINGS LONDON TOWN 799 My ft f ONE WEEK ONLY Radie Shaek AUTHORIZED SALES CENTRE HURONIA MALL SYSTEM OF THE MONTH SAVE 250." STA235 AM FM receiver R-8010 Belt-drive turntable 2-T100 Tower Speakers REGULAR SEPARATE PRICE '°989.80 SALE PRICE *739." Sale Ends April 22 = Gi _ From hopsack textures to embroidered challis, we have the most up-to-date col- lection of coordinates in the area. Shoppe & OURS HURONIA MALL Come in and see for yourself, all the bright new Spring fashions _ DYNASTY INN Clip and save this story for your Centennial Scrapbook. This week, treat yourself to the very best in Chinese Food HOME DELIVERY SERVICE IN TOWN OPEN: MON --SAT 12 NOON--1 AM SUNDAY 12 NOON --10 PM AIR CONDITIONED MIDLAND 234 KING LICENSED BY LCBO 526-7281 IFBUSYCALL MIDLAND 626-2076 Centennial Scrapbook. Under 13 years old.- 13 to 18 years old- and for over 18 years old. Each week you will find a feature right here that you will want to use in your Midland Times There will be cash prizes for the best ones by ages. MIDLAND tue Cabs 526-5151 or 526-6033 24 HOUR SERVICE 485 Bay St. E. ge ee a a 6 ee et BOAO DOGG OD LOGAE OOO 4 ok