While riding my bicycle in Spallumcheen, I came upon six tourists on bicycles that were changing a flat tire opposite a gravel pit south of the round-about.
I asked if I could help, but they didn’t need it.
They told me that three were from Belgium, two were from Germany and one was from France.
They flew to Calgary and were riding to Hope, then back via Highway 97 to Cache Creek and back up the Yellowhead to Jasper.
They asked me where the tourist booth is by the north end of Vernon to which I said, “Surely, you jest. The booth was torn down a few years ago.”
“Well, what about the big billboard that advertises where to go?” they asked
“Oh, you must mean the one that the Where’s Waldo fans like.”
I also told them not to go down the highway to get through Vernon.
I said that I could ride with them and get them to the other side of town, up the highway, to the Kekuli Bay campsite. I told them they have nice hot showers to wash the boat gas and oil off as there really isn’t a beach available.
But, not to worry, as they can walk along the tracks and find a place to call there own.
Off we went up Pleasant Valley Road to 39th Avenue, down to 33rd Street, over to 34th Street and then up Mission Road to the army camp.
I then left them with instructions to get to Kekuli. I thought it odd as we went by the new tourist booth, that they never noticed it. It must blend in.
Bob Johnston
Vernon
