1090 Meets 5040 2009

Yesterday we arrived in 100 Mile House and we received a warm welcome from Konrad, Gerhard and April. We were all really excited to discover that we were going straight round the corner to watch the 100 Mile House Rodeo. A first for the whole team!!
Our arrival had been perfectly timed to allow us to experience the whole second half of this event, once we had made our way through the crowds and been lucky enough to find seats in the stands the afternoon started with the stick race. Some excited and some slightly reluctant children raced toy 'stick horses' around the course before receiving their prize of a bag of sweets. During the next couple of hours we were treated to barrel racing (horse racing around a course of three barrels, team roping (teams of two competing to rope a calf), bareback riding (riders attemping to ride an unbroken horse bareback) and bull riding (cowboys riding bucking bulls).
We were all impressed to see that the Rodeo was run in a very professional and safe (as possible) way but I must admit to feeling slightly nervous that the riders might be injured during the bull riding.
All in all it was a very different, interesting and thrilling afternoon. My personal favourite event was the barrel racing as the horsemanship and riding ability was quite something to see!
I have also discovered how to work the film setting on my camera and have a great video clip but unfortunately my technical ability does not stretch to being able to upload the film to the blog so I have uploaded some photos instead!

Tonight we managed to load Sally and Eleanor's photos on to my lap top. I hope that Eleanor's video of the eagle taking a fish from the water will appear below. More of Eleanor's photos are at 'Authors - wilkinson - photos. If you play the 'slideshow' it shows the latest additions first.
Sally will upload some of hers soon (she has taken 700 so I'm leaving her to select a few).
Greg

After another superb pot luck supper last night with our new friends in Williams Lake we were all up bright and early this morning to travel out to a small town called Likely. This weekend is the Victoria Day bank holiday weekend (in honour of Queen Victoria) and we arrived in Likely just in time for the their Victoria Day parade. The parade participants had gone to a lot of trouble with their costumes and props so we all enjoyed a colourful spectacle. Emily was called upon to judge the candidates for Miss Stampede Queen - a serious responsibility that she discharged very professionally. After the parade it was on to the Museum in nearby Cedar Point park. Jim kindly spent time showing us around the many fascinating exhibits before we strolled up to the lake side to see some of the gold mining machinery.
Before lunch we had time for the 20 minute drive to Quesnel Forks - an old gold mining town dating back to 1860s. It was mostly inhabited by a Chinese community and during its hey day 1893 - 1907 the mine produced almost 59, 000 ounces of gold. After the mine closed a few residents remained until the last man died in 1953. The town was left for many years but since 1995 the original log cabins have been lovingly restored. We were all interested to hear the stories of the towns and peek inside the small log cabins. Our visit finished back in Likely with lunch at the Hilton - a pub with an amazing collection of memorabilia which lined every wall - they now have one of our marks of appreciation to add to their collection!

Thursday 14th May was scheduled as a free morning (recovery after the Diamond Calcutta) but Alison had arranged a vocational meeting which went very well. I blogged and packed and Helmut served up bacon and eggs which went down very well. At 11.30 Hedy took me to the meeting of Quesnel Rotary Club at a very pleasant Chinese Restaurant ( they served up loads of courses) and we gave a 20 minute presentation which was well received. President Liz (a lovely lady of Scottish heritage) kept all under control and we witnessed the ‘happy dollar’ tradition which is done throughout B.C. whereby members tell the club of some happy event and give at least a dollar (sometimes $100) to Rotary Foundation or similar cause. I must ensure that I convince my club of the value of this as a fund raiser, it really does work well and provides a regular ‘feel good’ factor.
Liz (with husband Peder) and Kit (President of Sunrise 2000) then took us on the 90 minute drive down to Williams Lake where we met our 10th host clubs. There are two clubs here, one lunch club and one daybreak. Assistant Governor Bob Fish and wife, Lorri, together with Daybreak President John, met us at the picnic shelter in the park which had been erected by Rotary. The weather was inconsistent and changeable but John was made of stern stuff and lit the barbeque after we had taken a walk to see the Stampede Ground. John cooked some superb salmon and we were joined by Karen, Connie and other Rotarian friends together with Britnie McKnight, the Stampede Queen of Williams Lake. We were given presents of local items and made most welcome. Early to bed.
Friday 15th May
Morning vocational visits for the team with Emily doing a ride along and Alison getting in to social development issues. Eleanor and Sally visited the museum whilst Bob took me to see the Fraser River gorge between the Cariboo and the Chicotin Plateau which was spectacular. The scenery round here is magnificent, millions of trees in the Cariboo and grass land on the plateau with a superb gorge through the middle.
After lunch at the ‘Alley Katz’ we met Mayor Kerry Cook who was lovely and talked with us for an hour or so and gave us pins and bags and other goodies. We had a good frank discussion about the role of the mayor and what she hopes to achieve. We then went to the Discovery Centre, the local tourist info centre, and then did a bit of a look round the shops before coming back to the Fish residence where we enjoyed a sumptuous pot luck dinner with a good number of Rotarians from both Williams Lake Clubs. Tomorrow the gold rush trail!
I've added some photos - see Authors - Wilkinson - photos.