morleymooseisontheloose: Days 245 and 246, Castlegar to Trail to Rossland, B.C.

Day 245 in Castlegar, a high of 22 today, (with no minus in front of it!) we'll take it!

For the first time since Christmas, I am back driving the pace vehicle in the 25th anniversary Rick Hansen relay. (except the transmission went on it in Nelson, and there it sits) So we took one of the shuttle busses and made it the temporary pace vehicle. (A lot tighter quarters to be sure, but we made it work!) (8 people, myself, 4 bikes, a hand cycle and a portable sound system)

We started the relay day at the Kinnaird Elementary school in Castlegar. The students watched a presentation about Rick Hansen and the 25th anniversary relay, then participated in the "warm-up dance"

Kenn gets into the school spirit and chalks his own inspirational words. (anything is possible? where have I heard that before?)

Kyle leave my camera alone and quit messing around, I'm trying to concentrate on the road!

On the motorhome we have a rear-view camera to see the medal bearers, today it was rear-view and side mirrors.

Our lunch stop was in Genelle, a small village between Castlegar and Trail. They had a display of pictures from the original man in motion tour when it came through 25 years ago.

The smaller communities always step up to the plate. Lunch was prepared for all of the relay staff, our police escorts, and the medal bearers and their families. Many thanks for the hospitality!

Behind the community hall was an awesome view of the Columbia River looking down towards Trail.

I zoomed in on this fisherman, now that looks relaxing. (just leave those sturgeon alone!)

We headed into Trail (population around 7,700). First stop was a sponsor stop at the local McDonald's.

The Trail medal bearers get together for that coveted photo op with Ronald!?

The end of day celebration for Day 245 was at Gyro Park in Trail

At the park looking down the Columbia back towards Genelle. Trail is surrounded by the Monashee and the Selkirk Mountains.

On the other side of the river is a place I am very familiar with from my old trucking days, the Teck Cominco Lead/Zinc smelter. The irony is the town of Trail would not exist without it, for it was built because of the smelter. Here is some more interesting information about the history of the smelter.

The hills above the park

One of the local schools performed their own inspirational song for the end of day celebration. The dance they did was serious competition to the relay dance!

The Trail difference makers pose with the local royalty.

didn't take Jake long to get himself in the picture with the royalty!

Day 246 , back on shuttle one (actually the pace vehicle again), time for the morning briefing.

We had a film documenntary crew with us for 3 days, following our endurance athlete, Tyler. He has overcome a spinal cord injury and can actually walk.

Not my best work. This hillside behind J.L.Crowe, our start of day school, is covered in graffiti from different grad classes.

J.L. Crowe Senior Secondary.

Overlooking downtown (and the smelter)

A great student turn-out for the 25th anniversary Rick Hansen presentation.

Technology has come a long way since I went to high school. There were these T.V. monitors that advertised things going on at the school, plus the date, weather, messages and more.

Another worthwhile cause, the relay for life. .

After that, it was on to St. Michael's school, for an outside presentation.

and the dance! (look at Kyle in the front, must have springs on his shoes!)

Next stop was up the hill to Warfield, another small community, between Trail and Rossland. (the road between Trail and Rossland is all hill (about 10km worth) with grades of up to 10 per cent.)

Billy addresses a small but enthusiastic crowd at the Warfield community hall. The were very kind enough to serve us snacks of fruits, veggies, cheeses and some desserts! (here we go, back to the gym again!)

After that it was uphill to our end of day celebration in Rossland. (there are only two ways to go in Rossland, either up or down!) (but it is a beautiful town, and seems to have a very laid back lifestyle)

our end of celebration was at the Miner's Union Hall, built in 1898. This town was built during the gold rush of the 1890's

A very well maintained heritage building, it was very cool.

98 KM to our next home, and only 128 miles to Spokane, Washington.

We had a special treat today, the local choir not only sang O Canada, but did a rousing rendition of St. Elmo's Fire, the original man in motion song used in the movie and was written by David Foster for Rick Hansen, and performed by John Parr.

I went up to get fuel at the local Esso station, and came across a mining museum across the road.

The museum was not open, but there was lots to look at.

A peek into history, the picture does not show the scale of this machinery. It is at least 40 feet long, and a couple of stories high.

You can tell we are at a higher elevation, there is still a lot of snow around. Rossland has an elevation of 1,023 metres, or 3,410 feet.

Just above our hotel, this neighbourhood that does not get a lot of sun in the winter, still is dealing with a lot of the white stuff.

that night the local roller derby team (yes Rossland has a team!) had an exhibition game against our relay staff, I had other commitments. ( I'm glad I missed it, apparently more than a couple of our team sustained minor injuries!)

I hope Ross uses this picture for his benefit, he could get a lot of mileage out of this pic.

This was on a monument downtown, that's some heavy english right there!

It was a small town, but they have managed to preserve a lot of their heritage.

It was Mike's (our security specialist) birthday, so a bunch of us all headed back down the hill to Trail, to the Colander. This restaurant is well know and had quite a reputation.