walking

Hi, Bill. 

It's always good to hear from you--when I don't, I worry! Congratulations on your latest epic. And I certainly empathize when it comes to printing costs, having my own latest at press as we speak. But it's not the printer who's killing self publishing as a business, it's the retailers' 40%. Yes, they most certainly do have overhead of their own. But it has reached the point that after the costs of printing and wholesaling there's nothing left over. Sadly, e-books just aren't the same thing even though a superior business model. 

Maybe, if I would invest the time and thought that I give each new book into studying how to more effectively market the finished product I'd make a buck!But, of course, I'm driven by the need to research, write and share my stories--it's who and what I am--and if that makes me a poor businessman, well.... This Sunday is the bi-annual South Wellington Day at the SW Community Hall and Belinda and I will be there to soft-launch my newest (37th) book, Unknown Nanaimo. 

Then, hopefully, walk up the E&N to look around the PCCM for the 1000th time. I haven't bushwhacked since I lost Jennifer but I need to revisit all the mine sites for my next book, Along the Black Track. (You'll recognize the term.) Speaking of which, that's what I want to work on today so I'd best get started. 

BTW, I count 21 people in your photo besides you. That's quite a clan! I'm down to my brother. Belinda tells me I have a second cousin or two that I don't know, and there are some of mom's relatives in England that I have met, but other than that, I'm all alone, sob, in this cruel world. Not even a cat or a dog any more. 

 Seriously--stay well and please continue to stay in touch. Oh, and keep biking and hiking, as well, eh? Cheers, TW

Labels: paterson

Kinsol Trestle Reopens Thursday, July 28, 2011
Kinsol Trestle: A Treasure Saved -- Times Colonist

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It has come together piece by piece, nail by nail, dollar by dollar. It has been a tough fight, but worth it — for today, the Kinsol Trestle is back in business. The trestle is a vital link in the Trans-Canada Trail system, the national network that encourages us to use people power to enjoy the great outdoors.

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But it is more than that. It is also a vital link with our history, to the days when steam-powered locomotives carried goods and people up and down Vancouver Island, making transportation possible before modern highways started grabbing the traffic away.

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80-seconds Kinsol Video

Labels: cvrd, kinsol, paterson, tct

Today I cycled 18km roundtrip to Selkirk Station and back.

Currently, Selkirk Station is the sole outlet for T.W. Paterson's latest book: Rails to Trails. Selkirk Station is located right beside the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) at the one-kilometre location from the Blue Bridge.

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'Rails to Trails' Historic Map & Guide to the Cowichan Valley/Trans Canada Trail and the Kinsol Trestle. A where-to-look guide to the historic mileposts and landmarks along the former CNR and E&N Railway grades. Richly illustrated with archival and current photos. Ideal for out-of-province visitors. 30pp. $9.95.

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The overcast skies made it a good morning for cycling and an even better morning for photography. The even lighting made photographing some or the artwork along the Galloping Goose Trail quite rewarding. Checkout some of the photos.

Labels: cycled, ggt, paterson

Today we walked with Tom Paterson's Friends of the Morden Mine tour with 14 others in his group. It was more standing (while listening to Tom) than actually walking. Having said that, T.W. Paterson is one of the wolrd's great story tellers and has the ability to engage and entertain his listeners. This marvelous gift he has developed over four decades is reminiscent of another wonder story teller I encountered as a boy -- Freeman King.

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The tour started at the Morden Colliery Historical Provincial Park parking lot beside the tipple at the end of Morden Road. Morden Road intersects with Vancouver Island's Hwy-1 at a traffic light south of Nanaimo, BC, located just north of Eagle Quest Golf Course. We drove our vehicles between the PCCM (Pacific Coast Coal Mines) Company's Morden Tipple and the other sites including: Fiddick's Junction; Canadian Collieries and Granby Colliery.

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Black Track Tour VIDEO

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We enjoyed beautiful sunny warm weather throughout the day. As we drove northbound through Duncan, BC, we took time to walk 600m along the Cowichan Valley Trail (CVT) from Holiday Lane eastbound to the new Bings Creek bridge crossing. This bridge was recently completed late last year and was sorely needed by users of this trail section. Thanks to the Cowichan Valley Regional District for accomplishing this task.

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GPS Coordinates Bings Creek Xing: N48°47.106', W123°44.554'
GPS Coordinates South Wellington Coal slack heap: 49° 5'19.41"N 123°53'42.76"W
Friends of the Morden Mine
GPS Coordinates Morden Tipple: 49° 5'40.82"N 123°52'21.94"W

Labels: cvrd, morden, paterson, railtrails, walked