Thursday, November 2, 2023

Peddling my butt around town!

           Yesterday I bought my 5th bicycle, a fancy e-bike that will transport me to new adventures. Its less expensive predecessors evoke strong emotions and good memories.

At the age of three-and-three-quarters (age accuracy is vitally important to pre-schoolers) my first taste of personal freedom came in the form of a red tricycle, a Christmas gift from my parents. My three older sisters, myself, and our parents, lived in Bralorne, a remote mining town located in the coastal mountains of British Columbia.

Dad and Mom 1954

Mom and Dad both worked; my mother was a waitress at the company-owned café, and my father was an underground shift boss in the gold mine. With four growing daughters, they didn’t have the money or the energy to participate in expensive events, yet remarkedly that year my mother scrimped and saved enough money to purchase a beautiful, midnight-blue, strapless gown for the annual Christmas party. The tight bodice and full skirt were scattered with gauzy golden stars. 

In the photograph, my handsome dad has his arm around my beautiful 35-year-old mom as they beamed happy smiles at the camera.

While Mom and Dad were at the Christmas party, my 9-year-old sister Judith was tasked with babysitting me. Presumably, my two older sisters Valdine and JoAnn were occupied with their own social activities or their after-school jobs. In any case, they weren’t home that night and Judith was in charge! Which led to one of her more interesting escapades.

Judith was notoriously nosey about Christmas gifts for anyone in the family. She proceeded to carefully open the wrapping on everyone’s presents, including a large box which to my delight contained the bits and pieces for a tricycle. Judith assembled the tricycle, let me ride it around the living room, then disassembled it and repackaged it. All of the gifts that she’d opened were carefully repackaged before anyone returned home.

JoAnn, Judith, Valdine, Lynda

“Don’t you dare tell anyone!” She said, shaking a threatening finger in my face, “and act surprised on Christmas morning!”

I didn’t breathe a word about her antics, and, for a soon-to-be-four-year-old, I put on a credible performance of surprise.

Many years later, I told Mom the story. She thought it was hilarious, that Judith had taken the trouble to assemble and then disassemble the tricycle forcing dear old Dad to spend an hour on Christmas morning putting my tricycle together—for the second time.

~

In 1961, the announcement of the gold mine closing within the year, meant both of my parents would soon be jobless. Part of our family moved from Bralorne to Chilliwack, a farm-based city in the Fraser Valley. Dad thought the experience of living in a city, even a small city like Chilliwack, would civilize Judith and me, give us a different perspective, and perhaps tame our tom-boy manners.

My two older sisters, Valdine aged twenty-one, and JoAnn aged twenty, struck out on their own, moving to Vancouver where they shared an apartment, dated, and worked. By 1961, Judith was a rebellious sixteen-year-old, who hated school and wanted to work or hang out with boys. I was ten years old, completely self-sufficient, and happy to spend hours quietly reading. 

Chilliwack was where I first learned to ride a proper bicycle. It was an expensive, green, Raleigh, a gift from my mother. I was delighted and puzzled. We weren’t rich. Mom was still a waitress, now working at The Peaks Dinner in Chilliwack and Dad was the underground shift boss at Craigmont Copper Mine in Merritt. Dad commuted every two weeks (before the word was invented) from his job in Merritt to our family home in Chilliwack. He’d spend a few days then drive back to Merritt.

Lynda 1961

My elementary school in Chilliwack was located only about a mile from our home. In the previous thirteen years, all of my sisters and I had walked a longer distance in the cold mountain temperatures from our house in Bradian to the main townsite of Bralorne to attend school. My mother’s insistence that I now needed a bicycle to get to school in Chilliwack was mystifying, but I wasn’t about to refuse her generous gift.

I loved that shiny green bike. I spent hours exploring roads, ponds, fields, and pathways in Chilliwack, Rosedale, and East Chilliwack. I brought home interesting but very dead birds, wrapping them in plastic and freezing them—for later. I had grand ideas of taxidermy. Or displays. (Mom found, and tossed my frozen treasures.)

A couple of years later Mom, Judith, and I relocated to Merritt to be with Dad. The Chilliwack experiment of refining my sister and me wasn’t going well. Judith had become an uncontrollable handful, too much for Mom. And my grade seven city friends were far more advanced than me. The girls had weekly hair appointments. The boys wore shirts and ties. And they all like to play spin-the-bottle. I was completely out of my depth.

Lynda, Stanley Park Vancouver BC
Fortunately, the central part of Merritt is flat and easy for riding so I frequently rode my Raleigh, with our family dog trotting beside me. Then I entered grade eight and I was (in my mind) too cool to ride a bicycle.

My cherished bike gathered dust in the basement until Mom informed me, “If you aren’t going to ride your bike. I will.”

“Noooo,” I wailed loudly, in protest. “You can’t do that! Mothers do not ride bicycles. It just isn’t cool.”

Whenever she saw me walking with my high school friends, she’d yell my name, and wave vigorously as she pedaled past—on my bicycle.  

I was mortified.

~

My third bicycle was a birthday gift from my husband Lawrie. It was my first ten-speed and another level of freedom. We were living on Bowen Island, a hilly, mountain-top that poked out of the chilly waters of Howe Sound. Seven Hills is a stretch of steep, winding road between Snug Cove and our home at Eaglecliff. It took me several weeks of trying before I could master the long torturous uphill grind, even with a ten-speed bike. The ride down Seven Hills was gloriously fast and cool!

Lawrie, Stanley Park
When we moved to downtown Vancouver in the mid-1980s, I purchased a ten-speed bike for Lawrie. We frequently cycled with a group of friends from our condo complex, enjoying the Stanley Park seawall while stopping at several pubs on our route. By the end of our ride, a few of the inebriated participants staggered home while pushing their bicycles.

~

The fourth bicycle, I purchased second-hand for $75.00 USD while living in Mexico, on the island of Isla Mujeres, in the Caribbean Sea.

It was a frustrating experience keeping a bicycle operational with the daily onslaught of humid, salty, tropical winds. One or two of the spokes broke on a daily basis. I replaced them with aluminum spokes. That didn’t solve the problem, it only slightly slowed the destruction. Brakes, handlebars, tire rims, and pedals. Everything rusted, corroded, or shattered.

Lynda, Isla Mujeres Mexico

I worked on my bike. Lawrie worked on my bike. A local repair shop worked on my bike. Eighteen months later, I gave it to my friend, Javier.

In the meantime, I had circumnavigated the island. Explored and photographed several neighborhoods. Dodged taxis, trucks, cars, motos, and golf carts. Avoided dogs, cats, crabs, baby turtles, iguanas, and a large boa constrictor that likes to roam the island. It’s still there. Alive and well, and looking for small prey.

The other gringas who ride bikes on Isla are fit and tanned. They casually cycle the island, looking cool and charming, while I am a red-faced, odorous, hot mess of sweat.

It was time to take a break from the fun of cycling in the tropics.

~

My new steed! 
My fifth bicycle is an e-bike, purchased yesterday from the helpful folks at the Bike Barn in Penticton BC.

It costs a lot more than all of my previous bikes added together, but I am hoping the electrical motor will help propel my tired old ass along the many interesting trails in and around the Okanagan Valley. 

And then I’ll need a pet trailer so that Sparky can also enjoy the adventure.

I wonder if we’ll be able to outrun a bear on the e-bike?

Cheers Lynda

Sparky sends his woofs!


Sparky and my newest murder mystery series


Sunday, August 27, 2023

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Rossland, Grand Forks, Greenwood, and back home to Penticton BC)

August 23rd: Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America. A total of 24,632 kilometers since May 1st. We're back (temporarily).

We're headed to visit friends in Surrey for a few days before finally returning to our condo on September 1st.

Cheers Lynda and The Sparkinator.


Christina Lake BC

Christina Lake BC

Grand Forks BC

Grand Forks BC


Grand Forks BC

Grand Forks BC

Grand Forks BC


Grand Forks BC


Grand Forks BC OK Tires mural


Town of  Greenwood BC

Greenwood BC


Greenwood BC

Greenwood BC

Greenwood BC

Greenwood BC

South Okanagan

Entering Osoyoos BC



Kyla - joined us as co-pilot for 6482 KMS

Lynda and Sparky 24,642 kms since May 1st 

THE END!


Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Fernie, Cranbrook, Yahk, and Rossland BC)

August 22nd: Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America, Fernie to the interesting town of Cranbrook and on to Rossland BC.

Just one more night and we'll be home in Penticton BC.

Cheers Lynda and The Sparkinator

Brick House Restaurant Fernie BC

Brick House Restaurant Fernie BC

Fernie BC


















Cranbrook BC

Cranbrook BC


The Railcar Collection - Cranbrook Historic Centre

The largest exhibition at the Cranbrook History Centre is a collection of 20 railway cars of which 17 are currently available to the public. Highlights of the collection include the 7 cars of the 1929 “Trans-Canada Limited” (a classic “Jazz Era Art Deco” design), 2 cars of the 1907 “Soo-Spokane Train” (a deluxe example of “Edwardian Art Nouveau Elegance”), and the 1927 executive night car “Strathcona” which has housed many VIP guests during its time in service, including Queen Elizabeth II, John & Jackie Kennedy and Sir Winston Churchill.

These remarkable rail travel cars, comprise one of the largest collections in North America, and are in a continued state of restoration. Because of the fragile nature of this irreplaceable collection, our immediate priority is to provide a permanent covered roof to ensure these ‘deluxe hotels on wheels’ are preserved for future visitors and historians alike.


Part of the Railway Museum in Cranbrook

Cranbrook entrance


Entrance to Historic Centre
Detail of inside of railway car



The Hamlet of Yahk BC

Yahk BC


Yahk BC

Yahk BC

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Medicine Hat and Vulcan, to Fernie BC)

August 21st: Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America from Medicine Hat, via Vulcan Alberta, to Fernie British Columbia.

Wikipedia:

Vulcan was named by a surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railway after the Roman God of Fire – Vulcan. Originally, all the streets of Vulcan were named after gods and goddesses of the classical world such as JunoMars, and JupiterNow known a s the "Official Star Trek Capital of Canada", Vulcan has a tourism building made to look like a landed space station, a statue of the original series Enterprise, and other Star Trek themed attractions.

The town's name has brought some attention that has helped it become a tourist attraction. In the Star Trek television and feature film series it is the name of the homeworld of Mr. Spock and his fellow Vulcans. Capitalizing on this coincidence, the town has built a Star Trek–themed tourist station (the Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station), which provides tourist information, displays an extensive donated collection of Star Trek memorabilia. The Trek Station also offers unique photo opportunities and interactions with iconic Star Trek characters in their ever-evolving Cosplay Costume Collection. 

Nearby, a replica of the starship Enterprise from Star Trek V has been mounted on a pedestal which includes writing from Star Trek alien languages such as Klingon. In 2010 Leonard Nimoy visited the town and was honoured at the town centre with a bust and handprint. A transporter, Doctors Mural and other Star Trek attractions can be enjoyed throughout the town. The Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station has hosted an annual Star Trek Convention (held the last weekend in July) "VulCON" since 1993 where celebrity guests are beamed in to spend the weekend with attendees. It is a unique convention in that celebrity guests & Trekkies get to know each other during the Meet & Greet, Q&As and a banquet and dance. This convention attracts hundreds of Star Trek fans from around the world.

Cheers Lynda

Spaceship at Vulcan Alberta

Trekkie Kyla 

Vulcan Alberta 
Vulcan Tourism and Trek Station Alberta

Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy's hand print

Vulcan Alberta

Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Moose Jaw Saskatchewan to Medicine Hat Alberta)

August 20th: Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America. Moose Jaw Saskatchewan to Medicine Hat Alberta.

Downtown Moose Jaw is very interesting with a tourist attraction of the tunnels.

Cheers Lynda and The Fuzz-butt

Wikipedia: The Moose Jaw tunnels became a hub of activity in the 1920s for rum-running during Prohibition in the United States. They were reported to have warehoused illegal alcohol that was shipped to the U.S. via the Soo Line Railroad. The tunnels were also used for gambling and prostitution, all without interference from the corrupt police. There has long been anecdotal evidence that American mobster Al Capone visited Moose Jaw or had interests in the bootlegging operations. No written or photographic proof exists of Capone's presence, but several firsthand accounts from Moose Jaw residents who claim to have met him have been documented. Capone's grandniece also confirmed he had been in Moose Jaw before his 1931 conviction for tax evasion.


Max the Moose at Moose Jaw SK



Moose Jaw Saskatchewan 

Moose Jaw Saskatchewan


Playing on the presence of Capone in the 1920's

Playing on the presence of Capone in the 1920's


Playing on the presence of Capone in the 1920's

Moose Jaw Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan 

Maple Creek 






Peddling my butt around town!

              Yesterday I bought my 5 th bicycle, a fancy e-bike that will transport me to new adventures. Its less expensive predecessors ...