Vavenby has never before seen as many people in one day as it did on Sunday, July 10.
There was an accident in Clearwater and travelers were not allowed through on the Yellowhead Highway. People were being warned of the accident from as far away as Jasper.
Vavenby General Store served over 300 people, ran out of diesel, and was very low on gas. Some travelers camped on the grounds of the Community Hall.
Others were led over the back road to Adams Lake, on to Agate Bay, and from there into Barriere. Many of these people had to be home for work the next day.
Cyclists stop over
A group of 18 cyclists and two truck drivers arrived at the Vavenby Community Hall on the evening of July 4. They were on a two week bicycle trip from Fort Langley to Calgary. The group, made up of people from New Brunswick to B.C., set off from Fort Langley on June 28, biked for five days to Kamloops, had a “rest” day, and then biked to Vavenby. The next three days will get them to Jasper where they will have another “rest” day, and then four days to Calgary. They cycle an average of 115 km per day.
The two truckers are the support staff. They pack up each morning, carry all the major supplies, and cook all the meals. The bikers agree that the food is fantastic.
One biker said that this was a great group of people. Many were meeting each other for the first time and for some people this was the first time on a trip such as this.
Bud Jorgenson is the organizer of the trip. He said that this was the most popular trip offered by Cycle Canada. People love it for the scenery, geology, geography, and history that is covered in the notes. Spots where the group stays overnight have been booked ahead of time. Anyone interested in going on such a trip can go to www.CycleCanada.com. There are different kinds of tours offered with various lengths. The longer trips have bikers from around the world. A cyclist should be mentally fit as well as physically and have cycled up to 1,000 km previous to the trip.
Marking 84 years
Twelve women showed up at Mary Johnson’s house on July 5 to celebrate her 84th birthday. It was a beautiful day so the party was held outside on the porch. Johnson, who has been ill for some time, looked up to the celebration and was very happy with the party and to see everyone there. She has not been up to leaving her home so everyone came to her.
Vandalism at hall
Around June 28 it was noted that the outdoor toilet at the Vavenby Hall had been damaged. The toilet had been broken off the cement floor and a log put down the hole. The toilet was found lying in the bushes.