Cyclists explore Trans Canada Trail

One thing that I have always enjoyed in life is meeting new people by chance. Often this has given me the opportunity to make interesting acquaintances and expand my horizons in the process.

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with two vibrant couples who were on a bike trip through Meota and were spending the night at Rosemarie Nyholt's bed and breakfast in Metinota. These two couples, at a quick glance, were in excellent physical shape and one would have no problem seeing them easily touring for many days.

Cathy and Trent are residents of our wonderful province, but Sharon and Jim are from North Vancouver and were on their first trip here to Saskatchewan. Their goal on this trip was to follow the Trans Canada Trail stretch from Saskatoon to Edmonton.

Now, I have heard some about this trail whose inception was many years ago with the formation of a non-profit group of organizations whose dream was to set up a trail that could be used to traverse this country and in the process to touch on each of the oceans whose waves lap at our shores. When totally finished it would include some 22,000 kilometrs of trail that can be used by cycists, walkers, horseback riders and any other form of recreational transportation that one could use to enjoy the great outdoors.

There are about 16,000 kilometres of trail developed across the country and areas where the plans are there, but development is at a varying level of completion. As with many of these lesser developed areas in the Meota area, a person can follow where the trail is intended but to date you must use roadways that closely follow the intended route and that is exactly what this intrepid group of travellers was doing this week when I had the chance to visit with them.

Having spent a number of hours having morning coffee breaks with Bob Collier, who is involved with the process of planning the actual trail, I learned enough that I was able to give these visitors somewhat of an idea on the progress of planning and implementation of an actual trail here. For some who do not know, the deserted rail bed that travels through town here is supposed to be eventually acquired by a number of municipalities that it travels through and will be designated as the actual trail. I have to say thanks to Bob for the time he has spent telling me about this over numerous sessions.

All four of the folks with whom I was visiting were interested in the plans as they are avid users of such trails and our discussions moved into the era of the Iron Horse Trail in Alberta, which has sort of set a benchmark for others to strive for in the formation of their trails. Every year, existing trails are visited by millions of Canadians and folks from abroad who use these trails as a more relaxing and less stressful way of learning what Canada has to offer.

These pathways are a great draw to bring tourists into some of the less known, but every bit as breathtaking, parts of our diverse country.

One comment by Jim from Vancouver mirrored how I feel about Saskatchewan. He called the view from the shore of Jackfish Lake as a little bit of paradise. I have the feeling that he could be convinced to explore a little more of Saskatchewan now that he knows what we have to offer.

I parted from them with the promise to keep in touch and to give a little more coverage to their trip in a future article and the hope their trip was everything that they could have hoped for.

I just want to remind everyone that, as I mentioned last week, the Meota Library is having its grand opening this coming Saturday, June 18 starting at 2 p.m. So mark your calendar and drop down there and see the new facilities.

In Kaiser play June 2 it was Ken Tucker taking first place, Adele Feschuk coming in second, Linda Ard tying up third and Fred Gansauge finishing in fourth.

In contract bridge play first place went to Eric Callbeck and Trudy Iverson placed second.

Quote: Be such a man, and live such a life, that if every man were such as you and every life a life like yours, this earth would be God's Paradise." Phillip Brooks.