Day One – Registration Day
On Tuesday, July 14, the Western Sunsetters Travelers Club commenced a summer rally in Eastend, Saskatchewan, also known as “The Valley of Hidden Secrets”. After arriving and setting up their campsites at the Eastend Campground, the occupants of 25 Leisure Travel Vans made their way to the Western Sunsetters flutter flag to complete the rally registration process and meet the rally coordinator, Norm Lavoy, and Club Leaders, Rob and Linda Clark.
Following registration, members were free to explore the town, have dinner on their own, and visit with fellow rally participants.
In the evening, the group gathered together in the campground’s outdoor common area for an informal “meet and greet”. Introductory remarks were shared by Norm and Rob. Club member Gordon Toombs, who has a keen interest in photography, gave a presentation on how to take and improve panoramic photos using a cellphone. Members interested in trying out the techniques themselves were given the opportunity to do so with access to Gordon’s support. Unfortunately, after a short time, heavy rainfall sent everyone back to the shelter of their Leisure Travel Vans.
Day Two – Wednesday
The day began with an opportunity to socialize while enjoying a club-provided morning coffee and home-baked treat service. A big thank you goes out to Club members Julie Smith-Fehr and Colette Cote, who kindly donated their time and talents to bake an assortment of healthy and delicious breakfast items for their fellow club members to enjoy each morning of the rally.
After the morning coffee get-together in the campground, members either walked or drove the short distance into the town of Eastend to gather at the Eastend Historical Museum and Cultural Center.
Once attendees were seated together in a meeting space at the Historical Museum, Norm introduced the group to Alan Howard, the mayor of Eastend, and Ken Wills, the museum curator. The mayor provided us with background information on the historical, cultural, and scientific significance of the East End. Both men spoke to us about the area’s history, which over time led to the ongoing building and renovations of the present museum in Eastend.
We were pleased to learn that volunteer acting museum curator, Ken Wills, discovered the remains of the Brontothere on display at the Historical Museum while he was grading a grid road north of the town of Eastend in 1973. The actual fossilized remains are housed in Regina. A full-scale replica is on display in the East End Museum.
Our group gained insights into the history of the Eastend region and what life entailed on the Southwest prairies. The museum was originally established by one of Eastend’s first settlers, who used his personal collection of dinosaur bones and fossils found in the local area. Since then, the facility has been updated to showcase a variety of artifacts from the early 1900s. Once the oral presentations concluded, members of the Western Sunsetters Club were given time to tour the museum and its outbuildings independently.
Following an independent lunch, members of the Club traveled to the neighboring town of Shaunavon. There, a number of participants partook in a guided walking tour organized by the Grand Coteau Museum to view the numerous large murals adorning local structures. The group was even fortunate enough to observe artists live at work, creating new mural pieces.
For supper, our group gathered for prearranged seating at the Harvest Eatery in Shaunavon. This restaurant is owned and operated by one of Saskatchewan’s top chefs. We were served a gourmet meal that included appetizers, a choice of preselected mains, and desserts.
Upon returning to the campground, members assembled in the group area for a social gathering to chat, share experiences, and connect with fellow rally participants. Once night fell, a number of participants headed to the Wilkinson Memorial Observatory for a guided stargazing session, enjoying a hands-on interpretive experience and marveling at the stars in some of North America’s darkest skies.
Day Three – Thursday
The day started with a second coffee and a baked treat, and social time.
The Club made prior arrangements for members to visit this exceptional museum in Eastend, ensuring that throughout Thursday’s opening hours, attendees had the flexibility to explore either individually or in small groups via guided tours.
Saskatchewan’s local T. Rex Discovery Centre, which proudly displays “Scotty” the T.Rex, which was unearthed near Eastend in 1991, holds the distinction of being the oldest and largest complete Tyrannosaurus fossil discovered anywhere in the world.
In the afternoon, interested club members could choose to golf together at the Streambank Golf Course in Eastend or tour the community on their own or with other rally attendees.
On Thursday late afternoon, the community of Eastend held a Summer Market featuring entertainment and vendor booths selling crafts, fruits, vegetables, beauty products, baked goods, hot food, and drinks. A number of rally participants met up at the market to share in the festive atmosphere.
Later that evening, groups assembled for social gatherings with their own beverages.
Day Four – Friday
The day started with a third coffee and a baked treat, social time.
Norm led interested Club members on a six-kilometer bike ride out to Eastend Dam. This initial route allowed participants to take in the local scenery before embarking on a 16-kilometer cycling excursion to Chimney Coulee, offering an active and engaging way to explore the area’s natural landmarks during the rally.
Club members who wanted to join could participate in an optional, entertaining “team challenge games” activity at the campground. Originally suggested by a pair of club members, this engaging rally event came to life when they took the initiative to gather all necessary equipment and worked closely with the Club leaders to carefully plan and set up the various fun challenge stations for everyone to enjoy.
On the afternoon of day four, a group of rally participants set off on an exciting excursion: a three-hour inaugural trip on the Eastend Scenic Rail Tour. Traveling along a picturesque route from Eastend to Ravenscrag, the train carried passengers straight through the stunning geography of the “Valley of Hidden Secrets.” The tour featured two exceptional photo stops, giving riders ample time to capture the unique landscape and immerse themselves in the valley’s natural splendor.
Club members who opted out of the bike and historic train rides instead decided to spend their time discovering more of Eastend. A number of attendees strolled through the townsite, visiting various retail shops and local points of interest. Due to the warm weather, several members dropped in on local businesses for a refreshing cold drink, treated themselves to ice cream cones, or enjoyed lunch inside one of the town’s air-conditioned restaurants.
On Friday evening, the Eastend Rally planning team for the Western Sunsetters Travelers Club organized a catered roast beef buffet dinner for the entire group at the Teahouse in Eastend. We would like to extend a special thank-you to Village RV in Regina for their contribution to this activity.
Following the delicious dinner, the Travelers Club stayed at the Teahouse to play a game. This activity prompted attendees to recall details from their previous trips to both the T.Rex Discovery Center and the Historical Museum. Various prizes were awarded to the participants, and everyone left the event with fond memories of a fun experience, friendly conversation, a satisfied appetite, and a prize gift for each van.
Once back at the campground, many participants gathered in small groups around individual campsites to chat, socialize, and unwind with a beverage.
Day Five – The Eastend Rally Ends
Goodbyes followed by campground checkout.
To experience the historic and fun annual “Boom Town Days,” a group of rally attendees gathered at a dry camp in Shaunavon. Additional arrangements were made to access a clubhouse room, providing a space for participating Western Sunsetters club members to socialize before and after enjoying the exciting weekend events in Shaunavon.
A special thank you to Norm Lavoy, who, during regular phone consultations with the Club leaders, personally conducted all on-site exploration of everything that Eastend and Shaunavon have to offer visitors. Norm personally visited each rally event or experience location in advance of the rally. Norm did all the “boots on the ground” work necessary for pre-rally planning and investigations, including block-booking campsites, tours, and meals, researching activities, and booking museum tours. We are very appreciative of all that Norm did in advance to ensure the success of the East End Rally.
Written by: Linda Clark
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://leisurevans.com/blog/valley-of-the-hidden-secrets/