A Canadian writer's life: August 2023

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.

We traveled 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

Grand Forks, BC

Grand Forks, BC OK Tires mural

Town of 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, for now!

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. (Scroll down for more photos.)

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

Cheers, Lynda and The Sparkinator

Brick House Restaurant, Fernie, BC

Fernie, 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.

Railway Museum, Cranbrook

Cranbrook entrance

Entrance to Historic Centre

Details of the inside of the railway car

The Hamlet of Yahk BC

Yahk BC

Saturday, August 26, 2023

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

Spaceship at Vulcan, Alberta

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 Juno, Mars, and Jupiter. Now known as 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 its 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, Doctor Mular, 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. Sparky sends his woofs!

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.