In the beginning: South Okanagan's 1st craft brewery

 

Logan Lockhart

Apr 2, 2022 3:25 PM

The start of the South Okanagan’s brewery scene can be traced back to 1994

Early results indicated that Tin Whistle was a success shortly after its official opening in 1995.  When Lynda Lock and her husband, Lawrie, moved to the Okanagan from Vancouver in 1992, they wanted to put their passion for being adventurous to the test.

Their idea of starting the region’s first brewery may have been simple, but to many, it was too ambitious. The two individuals, along with Lawrie’s sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Richard Grierson, embraced the challenge.

Front: Steve, Richard Grierson, Lynda Lock, Dave Prechel.
Back: Lawrie Lock and Linda Grierson.

And from there, Tin Whistle, the South Okanagan’s first brewery, was born in 1994.

“For us to do the brewery, it was just a fun, crazy thing to try,” Lynda said.

At the time, there were eight wineries in the Okanagan. Before their arrival from the Lower Mainland, the Locks always believed they were destined for the wine business.

After realizing the opportunity to lead a new scene in the region, they quickly excelled in the brewery business.

“With wine, we didn’t have a clue,” she said.

“You had to grow the grapes, and then you harvest them, crush them, go through a bunch of other stuff. So we just decided to stick with something much easier.”

Early results indicated that Tin Whistle was a success shortly after its official opening in the summer of 1995.

But little did the Locks know that their venture would be partly responsible for sparking the vibrant brewery scene in the South Okanagan.

“It was amazing how well it was received at that time,” Lynda said. “And today, you see about 10 breweries within 20 kilometres of each other.”

Opening Tin Whistle didn’t come without feedback from skeptics in the community, who believed owning a sustainable brewery wasn’t possible in what was known as “wine country.”

“People said, ‘Are you crazy?’ and I said, ' Yes, I guess we are,” she added.

Lynda Lock is proud of the legacy Tin Whistle, the South Okanagan’s first brewery, has left on the community almost 30 years later. (Photo courtesy of Lynda Lock)

The family sold Tin Whistle in 1998 after three years of existence among the South Okanagan’s first-ever breweries. Lock’s husband passed away in 2018 due to Rapid Onset ALS.

That didn’t come before he sparked the idea to start the community’s very own beer festival, better known today as the Okanagan Fest of Ale.

“Lawrie told the sales manager at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre about this festival in Victoria,” Lynda explained. “They checked it out for themselves and then in the spring of 1996, a board of directors at the centre decided to do the same thing right here.”

Since then, the festival has been a community success each year. The 2022 edition of the Okanagan Fest of Ale is set to begin on May 14.

Reminiscing about the start of the festival and what Tin Whistle’s legacy has meant to Penticton after all these years still makes Lock as proud as ever.

“It’s nice to get a little bit of acknowledgment that we as a group of four people did something kind of cool and different and has helped spawn this other part of the tourism scene,” she said.

Alexis Esseltine and Tim Scoon purchased Tin Whistle Brewing on Oct. 30, 2020, and continue to call the business “the original craft brewery of the South Okanagan.”

CANNED! My new mystery novel celebrates 30 years of craft brewing in S. Okanagan

 

Tin Whistle Brewing Company was created in 1995 by Lawrie and Lynda Lock, and Richard and Linda Grierson.

(Front) Steve Emshay, Richard Grierson, Lynda Lock, Dave Prechel  

(Back) Lawrie Lock, and his sister Linda Grierson

Photo credit Angela Prechel: 1^st South Okanagan craft brewery, Tin Whistle Brewing Company

It began in 1995 with a phone call between Lawrie Lock and his sister Linda Grierson. In 1994, Linda and her husband Richard suggested that the four of us open the first craft brewery in the South Okanagan. 

It took a year to buy a property, remodel it, order custom-made tanks and equipment, and, more importantly learn how to make English-style ales.

We opened the Tin Whistle Brewing Company in August 1995 with three ales: Penticton Pale Ale, Whistle Stop Dark, and Rattlesnake ESB. 

Three months later we changed the names to Coyote Pale, Black Widow Dark, and kept Rattlesnake ESB. By 1996, we had added Peaches and Cream and Killer Bee Dark Honey.

In 1998, local businesswoman Lorraine Nagy approached us, asking if we were interested in selling our company. Yes, we were! We had enjoyed the challenge of the startup and were ready for a new adventure.

Lorraine Nagy remained the owner of Tin Whistle until 2021, when she sold it to the current owners, Alexis Esseltine, Tim Scoon, and their family.

Congratulations to Alexis and Tim for steering Tin Whistle Brewing Company on a fresh new course. Follow the link below to see their interesting array of new products. https://www.tinwhistlebrewery.com/

~

My newest murder mystery is set in Penticton BC, 

The Craft Brewery Capital of Canada!

Canned Book #4

The beginning of a new adventure - Widowhood 101

We're going on an adventure.

It's time to say "Adios." Sparky, Boo, and I are leaving Isla Mujeres on Monday, December 23rd, for a different Mexican experience. We are moving to San Miguel de Allende.

Living for twelve years on a tropical island, just steps away from the beautiful Caribbean Sea, has been a life-changing opportunity. 

As of this week, our little ocean-front casa has been purchased by Tracy and Karl from Wisconsin.

The golf-cart-trap, north end of Medina Ave. 

Despite their recent and hilarious discovery that golf carts can't swim through rain-flooded streets, Tracy and Karl are looking forward to their new adventure. I hope you will give them a warm island welcome.

Our first experience with this little Caribbean paradise started seventeen years ago when Lawrie and I stayed at Villa Makax on the western side of Isla Mujeres. We later stayed on the Caribbean side in 2003 and again in 2005 before deciding to buy a lot and build our home. 

2007, builder and dear friend Patricio Yam

In the winter of 2008, we threw ourselves into retirement, island living, and just having fun. 

Lawrie was always the 'social butterfly' willing to chat up anyone, to tell them how much we loved living on a tropical island in Mexico. 

He happily told everyone he met how much we enjoyed the culture, the people, the food, and the beautiful turquoise Caribbean Sea. We made many friends, from both the born-on-the-island local community and the recent arrivals from Canada, the USA, Britain, Scandinavia, Europe, and Japan.

Evan and Ethan, with their granddad, Elmo

Our two grandsons experienced Mexico, Elmo-style, with their fun-loving grandfather meeting them at the Ultramar in his authentic Elmo costume. That costume was repeatedly used to greet siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews, until it became the centerpiece for the Elmo's Christmas Caravan - La Caravana Navideña de Elmo.

We created great memories, showing our grandsons Xcaret, Xhel-Ha, Xplor, Garafon Park, Tulum, Zama Beach Club, and the sugar-white sands of Playa Norte. We also organized an island-wide pirate treasure hunt for the entire family. 

Custom-made bootie bags for the kids!

Son, John, really enjoyed floating in his Mexican office, our swimming pool. 

We also amused John and Maia by getting hopelessly lost in the backroads between Valladolid and Izamal, while the gas-gauge alarm pinged in increasingly shorter intervals....low on gas, really low on gas, Hey, wake up! You're running on fumes. 

John's GPS skills on his phone saved the four of us from certain death from a lack of cervesa. 

"Do they have any idea where we are?" "Nope!"

Our year-round entertainment consisted of the annual cultural events: New Year's Eve, Carnaval, Día de la Independencia, Día de Los Muertos, plus many other parades, processions, and fiestas. 

We danced on the sand, in the street, at beach bars, and under the moonlight on our ocean-side patio. 

There were many laughter-filled neighbourhood parties, family birthdays, and New Year's Eve celebrations at our house. Siblings, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, cousins, and many old friends visited the island. 

One Canadian friend remarked, "All you seem to do is party." Posting the celebration photos was far more interesting than uploading pictures of our day-to-day routine of cooking meals, making the bed, or sweeping the floors.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

And living in paradise didn't stop us from taking a vacation from our vacation. We traveled back to Canada every second year to visit with our families and as many friends as we could squeeze into the time available. 

We traveled with Lawrie's siblings to Desolation Sound, Canada in 2011,  Europe for his 70th birthday in 2012, and the Florida Keys in 2013. 

Recently, Lawrie and I celebrated his 75th and my 66th birthdays in Argentina. 

July 1st, 2017, at Javi's Cantina

As many of you know, Lawrie, my adventure partner, passed away on September 3rd, 2018. I was convinced that remaining on Isla Mujeres with my network of supportive friends was the best place for me. 

However, I finally realized I am being crushed by the powerful memories of a romantic and joyful life. He is on every street corner and in every restaurant. He shares my morning coffee, my afternoon meal, and my evening glass of wine. 

In June of this year, I listed our home with my friends at Mundaca Real Estate. Within three days, I had a good offer that I accepted. And then I waited, and waited, and waited.

It's a lengthy and frustrating process to sell real estate in Mexico, especially when the deal spans three countries: American buyers, a Canadian seller, and Mexican property. The folks at Mundaca patiently pushed the deal forward one document at a time. In the end, it all came together. 

I am ready to start writing the next chapter of my life.

2008 Our 1st time, San Miguel de Allende

The first chapter spanned from childhood to high-school graduation. The second chapter was my first marriage at age nineteen, when I mistook the discovery of sex for true love. The third and most exciting chapter was my almost forty-year love affair with Lawrie. 

So, now I am heading into a new adventure, to experience new places, and perhaps write a second mystery series. I am still working on Book #6 of the Isla Mujeres Mystery series, Twisted Isla, but due to the recent changes, my writing schedule has been erratic. Be patient. It will happen. 

Thank you all for being a part of our lives. I'm certain I will run into many of you again, either here on Isla Mujeres or in San Miguel de Allende.

Adios y grandes abrazos
Goodbye and big hugs, Lynda, Sparky, and Boo the Cat

The quote below was always one of our favourites. Thanks to Julie and Rob Goth for reminding me ...

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!”  ― Hunter S. Thompson,

Isla Mujeres Mystery novels - available on Amazon.com

and 

Musings from our swimming pool

It’s been one hundred and ninety-four days since I last used our swimming pool on Isla Mujeres. The last time I was in our pool was August 28^th — about a week before my love, my life, my universe died on September 3^rd.

Today I poured myself a glass of wine, dangled my feet over the edge, and thought about my life — my life as Lawrie’s widow.

It’s a tough job.

He was so well-known, so loved, so happy, and so easy to love that just seeing me brings tears to the eyes of our friends. They don’t know whether to cry, to hug me, to talk about him, or to just pretend that life is really fricking lovely. 

It’s okay. Just hug me. I cry every damn day, at least ten or twelve times. I am happy that you remember him with such love.

Many of my male friends are reluctant to speak his name because they are afraid of crying in public.

Well, there is one thing you may not know about my funny, capable, smart, and very tough guy. He cried, and I loved him more for the ability to publicly express his feelings.

The first time I saw him cry was in 1982 when we were watching the original movie ET at the old Stanley Theatre on Granville Street in Vancouver, BC. He had tears streaming down his face. 

He never felt the need to apologize for his feelings, and to me, that showed me his strength. He knew he could cope with a lot of shit, and crying in public wasn’t going to diminish his abilities in the slightest.

As one dear friend said, “When I look at you, I realize a piece of the puzzle is missing.”

Yes! A huge piece is missing.

July 1st, 2017,  Isla Mujeres, before we knew he was ill

Freddy Medina: “Quiero renombrar la caravana de Navidad en honor de Lawrie.” (English blog posted on Oct 30th)

Lynda and Lawrie 2011

Esta semana nuestros buenos amigos Freddy Medina y su hermosa esposa Yadira Velazquez (Eva) fueron a nuestra pequeña casa en Isla Mujeres.

Freddy dijo, “Quiero renombrar la caravana en honor de mi buen amigo Lawrie.”

Me quedé sin palabras.

Freddy siguió, “Sin su ayuda, esta caravana nunca hubiera pasado y quiero que todos lo recuerden.”

Sugerí porque sus nietos de Lawrie siempre lo llamaban “Elmo”, por qué no nombramos la caravana “La Caravana Navideña de Elmo”.

Este año Freddy puso la fecha viernes, el 21 de Diciembre, empezando a las 5:30 pm. Aquí les explico como empezó todo.

El Inicio- Septiembre 2011

“Qué chido. Nos invitaron a una fiesta de Halloween el 31 de Octubre 2011, en la casa de Curtis y Ashley de Villa la Bella”, dijo Lawrie mientras leía la invitación en voz alta.

Un mes después, el cartero local llegó en su moto a nuestra puerta con un saco enorme de algodón etiquetado con el nombre de Lawrie y nuestra dirección.

“¿Qué es eso?” pregunté, sin saber de las compras por internet que hacía Lawrie.

Eso era un disfraz de Elmo mandado del fabricante Claudio Mascots Oficial Lima Peru, un disfraz grande, peludo, rojo fuerte con una cabeza grande y ojos de plástico. Era increíble. Hecho hermosamente, y una replica exacta de Elmo.

Hace años cuando el nieto mayor de Lawrie estaba aprendiendo a hablar, pensaba que el nombre de Lawrie era Elmo y el apodo se quedó. Los niños iban a visitar en Diciembre 2011. Lawrie decidió aprovechar el uso del disfraz; para la fiesta de Halloween y dar la bienvenida a nuestros nietos en el muelle de Ultramar.

 El disfraz de Elmo fue un éxito total. Durante los próximos dos años, Lawrie lo usó muchas veces cuando fue a buscar a sus parientes – sobrinos, sobrinos nietos, hermana, cuñado y amigos – en el muelle de Ultramar. Elmo-Lawrie fue invitado al primer aniversario de Barlitos cuando estaban en la Avenida Hidalgo todavía.

Todos querían tomar fotos con Elmo; los niños, los padres y los abuelos. Hasta algunos de los personajes dubitativos que pasaban tiempo en la esquina por las noches querían una foto con Elmo.

Luego en 2013 nuestro amigo Freddy Medina nos preguntó si podía prestar el disfraz  para una fiesta de cumpleaños para un niño especial en la isla. Freddy estaba tan feliz con la alegría que le dio al niño que él sugirió la idea de una caravana navideña presentando Elmo y nuestros disfraces nuevos de Micky y Minnie Mouse, comprado por otra fiesta en Villa la Bella.

 

Freddy Medina - Elmo

La primera caravana fue divertidísima. Solo había ocho o nueve vehículos y una docena de motos mas o menos.

Nuestro jefe, Freddy llegó tarde y los carritos de golf se habían formado en una cola muy organizada hacia el norte. Debimos organizarnos hacia el sur para ir a las colonias primero. ¿Qué íbamos a saber? Todos éramos nuevos con lo de la caravana. Eventualmente cambiamos la dirección hacia el sur para ir a los vecindarios muy poblados. La caravana iba por las colonias en una ruta muy interesante que el conductor del primer vehículo había planeado solamente en su mente.

No teníamos ninguna idea de lo que estábamos haciendo.

 

Lawrie Lock & Chuck Watt

La emoción en las caras de los jóvenes. Los abuelos y padres corriendo a buscar a los niños para ver a Elmo, Mickey, Minnie, Bob Esponja, el payaso y el Grinch. El ruido, la confusión. La risa.

 Lawrie y yo habíamos comprado cinco libras de dulces, pero en la mitad de la ruta, les pedimos a nuestros conductores Chuck y Marcy Watt, que pararan de emergencia en Dunosusa para comprar cinco libras mas de dulces.

Lawrie & Lynda Lock, con Sparky

2013 también fue el año que aprendimos a quedarnos en los carritos de golf y no bajarnos con los disfraces puestos. Lawrie había entrado en un grupo de personas para saludar a los niños, cuando un grupo de adolescentes borrachos pensaron que sería cómico para agarrarlo, tirarlo y atraparlo-varias veces. Imagínense un hombre usando un disfraz de todo el cuerpo con una cabeza muy grande tirándose para arriba y abajo en un grupo de personas. Solo en México!

Dos horas mas tarde nuestro grupo cansado se dispersaron en el centro por Rueda Medina. Por casualidad, el vehículo de Elmo se estacionó cerca del punto de inicio de la caravana navideña del Presidente Municipal de Isla Mujeres.

El Presidente le sugirió a Freddy que Elmo debe acompañarles en la caravana. Freddy, que acaba de pasar dos horas bailando en la parte de atrás de una camioneta usando el disfraz completo estaba completamente sudado hasta su calzón con sudor.

Sin embargo, no se le niega al Presiente. Y siguió, bailando y gritando “Feliz Navidad” por dos horas mas. ¡Un Elmo nuevo nació!

En 2014, había mas gente que participaba en el grupo sumando veinte vehículos mas o menos. Freddy arregló con el bus cómico para que la gente acompañara y fuera parte del grupo sin tener que manejar.

El bus cómico es un vehículo muy viejo con dos niveles, decorado con luces de colores y tocando múscia a todo volumen. Iba por las calles de la isla por algunos años, el operador cobraba un poco de dinero para llevar a la gente en un tour alrededor de la isla por la noche.

Ese año seguimos una ruta planeada por la altura del autobús de dos pisos. Los cables eléctricos que se cuelgan muy abajo en las calles siempre son un desafío en México. La solución típica es que una persona se pare en la parte mas arriba del camión o vehículo con una escoba de madera para levantar los cables para poder pasar.

¡Siiiii, levantar cables con corriente con una escoba! Se pasa todo el tiempo. Pero cuando hay una caravana, no hay tiempo para levantar cada cable que está bajo y pasar, así que los pasajeros se agachaban para pasar.

Fue mas fácil para encontrar una ruta diferente. Otra vez, la experiencia fue increíble- el ruido, la gente, los perros, los niños y la música fuerte. Ese año regalamos quince libras de dulces a las multitudes.

Para 2015, pensarían que tendríamos la ruta organizada. Mas o menos. El bus cómico estaba disponible otra vez que significaba que nuestro tour era similar al año previo, hacia el sur, quedándonos en la calles principales y terminando en el centro cerca del Restaurante nuevo Muelle 7 que queda en Rueda Medina.

Teníamos todos los personajes usuales en la caravana, además de Batman-Jimmy. Santa John Pasnau y Sra. Claus Valerie Pasnau silenciosamente se juntaron en medio de la caravana dándoles a los niños una alegría adicional mientras Santa saludaba y decía, “ho ho ho.”

2015 fue el primer año que teníamos una escolta policial en forma de 4 motos que intentaron con muchas ganas para mantener el grupo junto. Fue un poco como arrear los gatos, que si has tenido un gato como dueño, sabrás que es una tarea imposible. Algunos de los vehículos se descompusieron. Algunos de los conductores doblaron mal. Y también teníamos vehículos que no estaban en la caravana entre nosotros, causando mas confusión. La risa de los niños y sus padres sonrientes valieron la pena.

Y luego hubo la caravana del 2016, el sábado 17 de Diciembre, nuestra cuarta caravana anual. Tuvimos camionetas, carros, docenas de carritos de golf, dos moto taxis y algunas motos, pero no había el bus cómico. Parecía que por fin, murió el bus. Teníamos a Elmo, Santa, Sra. Claus, Mickey, Minnie y una Tortuga Ninja. Había por lo menos cuatro o cinco perros incluyendo a nuestro Sparky, vestido por la ocasión paseando en sus carritos decorados. Había docenas de gorros de Santa, decoraciones compradas y decoraciones hechas. Música. Luces. Dulces.

Sin el bus, nuestra ruta era mas flexible. Íbamos al sur de nuestra casa por la colonia Salina Chica, por Salina Grande, La Gloria, por las calles estrechas cerca de la calle principal, doblando otra vez hacia las colonias enfrente de Oscar’s Pizza, seguimos por la calle principal por Chedraui y hacia el centro. Pero no habíamos terminado todavía. Nuestro líder nos llevó por las calles de Madero, Rueda Medina, Abasolo, Guerrero, Juarez, Matamoros y Rueda Medina otra vez. Al final, nos juntamos en la explanada en el centro.

¡Wow! Nuestras caras dolían de sonreír tanto. Nuestras gargantas estaban secas por reírnos tanto. Fue la mejor caravana hasta entonces. Había cincuenta vehículos mas o menos en total. Muchas gracias a todos que participaron en una celebración divertida y familiar. Ustedes son lo que hace este evento tan especial.

Elmo-Freddy & Elmo-Lawrie Lock

En 2017 Lawrie y yo regresamos a Canadá para celebrar la Navidad con toda su familia. Él tenía problemas de salud  y sentimos que podría ser su ultima oportunidad para celebrar una Navidad con la familia Lock. Rob y Julie felizmente se disfrazaron  como Mickey y Minnie en el 2017 y en las caravanas del futuro.

Si quieres ser parte de la loca diversión, contacten a Freddy o a mí en Facebook. No olviden en la lista de compras las luces navideñas con pilas y si es posible sistemas de música. Es muy complicado comprarlos aquí a veces.

Freddy Medina 

El disfraz de Elmo de la fiesta del 2011 reside en la casa de Freddy Medina. Es una casa muy buena para Elmo. 

Gracias por ser la loca persona con buen corazón que inventó este evento.

Y gracias a Freddy Medina por honrar a mi cariño “Lawrie” por cambiar el nombre de la caravana a “Caravana Navideña de Elmo.”

El Elmo-Lawrie Lock original estará con nosotros en espíritu.

Freddy Medina, "I want to rename the Christmas parade in memory of Lawrie"

2011 Elmo makes his Isla debut

This week, our good friends Freddy Medina and his beautiful wife Yadira Velazquez (Eva) stopped by our little house on Isla Mujeres.

Freddy said, "I want to rename the Christmas parade in honor of my good friend Lawrie."

I was speechless.

Freddy continued, "Without his help, this parade would never have happened, and I want everyone to remember him."

I suggested that, since Lawrie's grandsons always called him "Elmo," why didn't he call it Elmo's Christmas Caravan?

This year, Freddy has set the date to be Friday, December 21st, starting at 5:30 p.m.

The Beginning - September 2011

“Hey, cool. We’re invited to a Halloween party on October 31st, 2011, at Curtis and Ashley’s house, Villa la Bella,” Lawrie said as he read aloud an email invite.

A month later, the local postman arrived on his delivery moto at our front door with an enormous cotton sack tagged with Lawrie’s name and our address.

“What the heck is that?” I asked, oblivious to Lawrie's recent online shopping.

That was an Elmo costume shipped from the manufacturer Claudio Mascots Oficial Lima Peru; a large, furry, crimson-red costume complete with a big head and googly eyes. It was amazing. Beautifully made, and an exact replica of Elmo.

Years ago, when Lawrie’s eldest grandson was learning to talk, he thought Lawrie’s name was Elmo, and the nickname stuck. The boys were coming for a visit in December 2011. Lawrie decided he could get double-duty from the costume for the Halloween party and greeting our grandsons at the Ultramar boat.

The Elmo costume was a huge hit. In the next two years, it was used several times by Lawrie when he greeted arriving nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, sister and brother-in-law, and friends at the Ultramar ferry docks. Elmo-Lawrie was invited to Barlito’s 1st Anniversary celebration when they were still on Hidalgo Avenue.

Everyone wanted their photos taken with Elmo: kids, parents, and grandparents. Even a few of the slightly dubious characters that hang around on the street corner late in the evenings wanted a photo with Elmo.

Then, in 2013, our friend Freddy Medina asked if he could borrow the costume for a birthday fiesta for a special young boy on the island.

Freddy was so overwhelmed by the happiness of the young lad that he suggested the idea of a Christmas parade featuring Elmo and our newest character costumes, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, purchased for yet another Halloween party at Villa la Bella.

2013 Elmo-Freddy makes his parade debut

The first parade in 2013 was hilarious. There were only about eight or nine vehicles, and a dozen or so motos.

Our jefe, Freddy, was late, and the golf carts had lined up neatly, facing north. We were supposed to be facing south to head into the colonias first.

What did we know? We were all new at this parade stuff. We eventually got turned around heading south towards the densely populated neighbourhoods.

The parade bounced through the colonias on a higgledy-piggledy route that the driver of the lead vehicle had mapped out in his head.

2013 Parade route. Alexis' photo

We had absolutely no idea what we were getting into.

The excitement on the faces of the youngsters.

The grandparents and parents ran to find the kids to come see Elmo, Mickey, Minnie, SpongeBob, clowns, and the Grinch.

The noise. The confusion. The laughter.

Mickey and his driver, Chuck Watt

Lawrie and I had bought five pounds of candy, but partway through the route, we asked our drivers, Chuck and Marcy Watt, for an emergency stop at Donasusa to purchase another five pounds.

2013 was also the year that we learned not to get out of the golf carts in our costumes.

Lawrie had waded into the crowd to say hi to the kids when a group of inebriated young men thought it would be uproariously funny to lob Mickey Mouse into the air and catch him – a few times. Picture this: a full-sized man, in a full-body mouse costume, including a large head, being tossed up and down in a crowd. Only in Mexico!

Lawrie, Lynda, and Sparky

Two hours later, our tired, ragged group disbanded in Centro on Rueda Medina. Elmo’s vehicle happened to park near the assembly point for the Municipal Presidente of Isla’s Christmas cavalcade.

The Presidente suggested to Freddy that Elmo should join that parade. Freddy, who had just spent two hours dancing in the back of a pickup truck wearing a full-body fur-suit, was soaked through to his underwear with perspiration.

However, one does not say no to the Presidente. And away Freddy went, dancing and shouting Feliz Navidad for another two hours.

A new Elmo was born!

2014 parade, little Minnie Mouse

In 2014, more people joined the group, bringing the total to about twenty vehicles. Freddy arranged for the funny bus for participants who didn’t want to drive but wanted to be part of the event.

The funny bus is a two-level dilapidated vehicle, decorated with coloured lights and blasting loud music. It haunted the island streets for a few years, the operator charging a small fee to take people on an after-dark tour of the island.

2014 Funny people in the funny bus

That year, we followed a route dictated by the height of the double-decker. The low-hanging electrical wires are always a challenge in Mexico.

The typical solution is to have a person stand on the top of a truck or vehicle with a wooden broom to lift the wires out of the way.

Yep, lift live wires with a broom! Happens all the time. But when it’s a parade, there just isn’t the time to lift every low-hanging line and sneak past, while the passengers duck below the seatbacks.

It was easier to find a different route. Once again, the experience was amazing - noise, people, dogs, kids, and loud music. That year, we tossed fifteen pounds of candy to the crowds.

2015, Mrs. Claus and Santa

By 2015, and you would think we would have the routine figured out. More or less, mas o menos. The funny bus was once again available, which meant our route was similar to the previous year, heading south, staying on the main roads, and finishing in Centro near the new Muelle 7 Restaurante on Rueda Medina.

We had all of the usual character costumes in the parade, along with the addition of Batman Jimmy. Santa John Pasnau and Mrs. Claus Valerie Pasnau quietly inserted themselves in the middle of the lineup, giving the kids an additional thrill as Santa waved and said, “Ho, ho, ho.”

2015 our escorts

2015 was the first year that we had a police escort in the form of four motorcycle cops who tried their very best to keep us all together. It was like trying to herd cats, which, if you have ever been owned by a cat, you will know is an impossible task. Some of the vehicles broke down. A few drivers turned the wrong way. And still others had non-parade vehicles cut in between, causing more confusion. The laughing youngsters and their smiling parents made it all worthwhile.

2016 Participants lining up by our casa

And, then there was the 2016 parade, Saturday, December 17th, our 4th Annual Christmas Caravan.

We had trucks, cars, dozens of golf carts, two tuk-tuks, and a handful of motorcycles, but not the funny bus. It had finally died, expired.

We had Elmo, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Mickey, Minnie, and a Ninja Turtle.

There were at least four or five dogs, including our Sparky, dressed for the occasion, riding in their decorated golf carts. There were dozens of Santa hats, store-bought decorations, and handmade decorations. Music. Lights. Candy.

2016 Mrs. Claus and Santa

Without the bus, our route was more flexible. We wound south from our casa along the Salinas Chica neighbourhood, into Salinas Grande, Las Glorias, through narrow side streets along the main road, turning again into the colonias across from Oscar’s Pizza, popped out onto the main road by Chedraui grocery store, and back into Centro.

 But we weren’t finished yet. Our leader took us on a cross-hatch route along Madero, Medina, Abasolo, Guerrero, Juarez, Matamoros, and Medina again. At the end, we gathered in the square in Centro.

Wow! Just wow. Our faces hurt from smiling. Our throats were dry from laughing. The best parade yet. There were around fifty vehicles in total. Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the celebration of fun and family. You are what makes this event so special.

Elmo-Freddy and Elmo-Lawrie

In 2017, Lawrie and I returned to Canada to celebrate Christmas with his large extended family. He was having serious health issues, and we sensed that this might be his last chance to celebrate a Lock family Christmas.

Rob and Julie Goth happily stepped in to become the new Mickey and Minnie for 2017 and for any future parades.

Elmo's Christmas Caravan is usually the last Saturday before Christmas Eve, but our intrepid leader Freddy Medina sets the date. If you want to join in next year just contact Freddy or me. Don’t forget to add battery-powered Christmas lights and a music system to your shopping list. Buying them here is very hit-and-miss.

Elmo is getting his annual post-parade bath

As for the Elmo costume of the 2011 Halloween party, it now resides at Freddy’s house. It’s a good home for Elmo. Thank you, Freddy, for being the good-hearted, crazy person who thought up this event. And thank you for honoring my sweetie by renaming the parade to Elmo's Christmas Caravan.

This year, Freddy has set the date to be Friday, December 21st, 2018, starting at 5:30 p.m.

The original Elmo-Lawrie Lock will be with us in spirit.

Elmo-Lawrie and Lynda - 2011