Today was one of those days that my feet were itching and I needed to ramble. My fellow Ghost Riders were off doing something silly like "work" today so I was on my own. Earlier this week I had been to the Strathcona Antique Mall and on the way out I found a directory for antique stores all over Alberta of which I took a copy. Sitting in my living and looking through this directory I saw all the fancy adds for Calgary and Edmonton shops but it was the small town adds that intrigued me. I found one for Big Valley. Where the heck is Big Valley....with help of a google search I had my answer and saw some pictures. Hmmm I like the look of this place. I also saw that the Alberta Prairie Railway goes between Stettler and Big Valley. I love trains especially steam trains. Maybe this Big Valley should be a place to check out and Big Valley became the destination for today's ride.
It seems like anytime you really want to get going circumstances always make it difficult to get going. Today was no different. I won't get into the events but needless to say my 9:00 am departure did not happen until 11:00 am. Not to bad I guess but Big Valley is a couple of hours of straight riding and well....I never straight ride. The afternoon before I had done a bunch of work on my Versys. It got fresh oil, hand guards, a super thorough cleaning and a new windshield. I have been experimenting with different designs as I am not a windscreen guy so I want something that gives me clean air around the helmet and keeps wind off my chest. The Versys is a very upright bike and wind on the chest makes you want to go over the back end. Off I went with saddlebags stuffed with rain gear and a desire to test my changes to the bike. I am very pleased with how things worked out on the bike. It was like a new bike.
It seems like anytime you really want to get going circumstances always make it difficult to get going. Today was no different. I won't get into the events but needless to say my 9:00 am departure did not happen until 11:00 am. Not to bad I guess but Big Valley is a couple of hours of straight riding and well....I never straight ride. The afternoon before I had done a bunch of work on my Versys. It got fresh oil, hand guards, a super thorough cleaning and a new windshield. I have been experimenting with different designs as I am not a windscreen guy so I want something that gives me clean air around the helmet and keeps wind off my chest. The Versys is a very upright bike and wind on the chest makes you want to go over the back end. Off I went with saddlebags stuffed with rain gear and a desire to test my changes to the bike. I am very pleased with how things worked out on the bike. It was like a new bike.
Heading down Hwy 21 I blasted past the lovely little towns of New Serepta, Hay Lakes and headed to Camrose. I have explored most of the towns between here and Camrose and I was eager to hit new ground. My first tour was Armena. This is a tiny village with a central outdoor hockey rink and park adorned with gravel roads. No pavement here, this is the first town I have been in to still have gravel roads. Most towns at least are paved. Not much to see there but a pretty little community none the less. From there I went into Camrose to eat and fuel up. I went into a Tim Horton Wendy's joint venture to have some Wendy's and by 12:15 I felt like the place was being invaded. it went from quiet to packed in 5 minutes and that was my queue to pack up get out. Back on the road with the sun coming out and the clouds becoming sparse.
I rode down into a wonderful valley with a river at the bottom of it and a sign that says Edberg 5kms to the right. I looked at the winding road and decided that I needed to visit Edberg. Up the valley around two long sweepers and into Edberg I went. Very nice little community. Homes were neat and tidy but overall not much going on in Edberg. The stores had closed sometime ago and aging faded "For Sale" signs hung in the windows. It's really to bad to see so many people leaving this communities to seek cash in the oil fields or the major centers. It really is the Klondike all over in Alberta. With a little sadness I left Edberg and heading back to the highway to continue my journey south.
A kilometer marking sign was coming my way, its familiar green and white face becoming clearer as I get closer telling me how far to the next batch of civilization. On this sign It said "Meeting Creek 14kms". Meeting Creek....what is this? It sounds like a lovely place. Who wouldn't want to visit a place called Meeting Creek. So with a new drive I sped up and headed for Meeting Creek. Within 10 minutes I was making the right hand turn and the bottom of a Valley and heading up a tiny creek to the town sight. Right away I was intrigued as i could see two beautiful old grain elevators in the town. These old ones are rare now so seeing them once may be the only or last time you see them.
I rode down into a wonderful valley with a river at the bottom of it and a sign that says Edberg 5kms to the right. I looked at the winding road and decided that I needed to visit Edberg. Up the valley around two long sweepers and into Edberg I went. Very nice little community. Homes were neat and tidy but overall not much going on in Edberg. The stores had closed sometime ago and aging faded "For Sale" signs hung in the windows. It's really to bad to see so many people leaving this communities to seek cash in the oil fields or the major centers. It really is the Klondike all over in Alberta. With a little sadness I left Edberg and heading back to the highway to continue my journey south.
A kilometer marking sign was coming my way, its familiar green and white face becoming clearer as I get closer telling me how far to the next batch of civilization. On this sign It said "Meeting Creek 14kms". Meeting Creek....what is this? It sounds like a lovely place. Who wouldn't want to visit a place called Meeting Creek. So with a new drive I sped up and headed for Meeting Creek. Within 10 minutes I was making the right hand turn and the bottom of a Valley and heading up a tiny creek to the town sight. Right away I was intrigued as i could see two beautiful old grain elevators in the town. These old ones are rare now so seeing them once may be the only or last time you see them.
Not only did you get these fantastic grain elevators but you got a completely restored CN rail station with telegraph and postal service. I don't think a train comes through here but there was a common theme today with these green and white Canadian Northern Signs on certain buildings. I believe there is a historical society at work here....
Meeting Creek turned out to be a real gem of a village. I was very happy to have visited. Back to the Highway and down to Stettler. From Stettler I continued on to Big Valley. The weather was warming up nicely and the ride was just getting better and better. The bike was running perfect and the onslaught of Rush from my iPod into my helmet headphones was just about the perfect soundtrack to my ride. About 10 minutes out of Big Valley something hit me at probably supersonic speed right in the temple between the helmet padding and my head. It hit me like a bullet and I think I may have cried a little...maybe...just saying,.. Anyway after the blinding pain went away I saw this beautiful blue church perched on top of the prairie way off in the distance, it stood like beacon in the sunlight. Up ahead the road sign said: Big Valley ->. The church was in Big Valley and a sign of colorful things to come. I rode to the top of the valley to see the church. The view back over the town was awesome. I took my helmet off to admire the town and low and behold a bee fell out of my helmet onto my seat. So that is what shot me in the temple. I noticed it had no stinger....my mind flashed back to the pain....then again to when I was 6 and ran into bee hive and have been allergic to them from that day forward...I grabbed the motorcycle mirror and started checking my head for a stinger and the inevitable swelling that would follow. If my head swelled up how would I get my helmet back on, where is the hospital in the middle of no where, will I need to find a vet? Do horse take Benadryl shots? Do cows? I couldn't find any signs of a sting and grabbed my helmet. Looking closely I noticed a small yellow and black butt sticking into my helmet lining...yep the bee survived the impact with my temple just to get super mad and sting the heck out of my helmet. Phew....Michael 1 Bee 0. There will be no vet visit today!
Anyway....I stood on the bank and looked down at the town. What I saw mad me smile. The little village of 326 people was a nest of activity. Each house was nicely kept with people walking on the streets. The little downtown had a theme to it and had activity. The historical society was busy putting placards up to celebrate the communities 100th anniversary. The locals had ribbons and pins on stating it was the 100th anniversary. There were volunteers everywhere running the museums and driving vintage cars around. Today was a train day so there was activity everywhere. The local fiddle band was practicing Hand Snow tunes in the town hall and the music could be heard all down the street. People where in period dress ready to greet the steam train full of tourists. It was obvious this town thrives on its tourists and train days are big days.
Anyway....I stood on the bank and looked down at the town. What I saw mad me smile. The little village of 326 people was a nest of activity. Each house was nicely kept with people walking on the streets. The little downtown had a theme to it and had activity. The historical society was busy putting placards up to celebrate the communities 100th anniversary. The locals had ribbons and pins on stating it was the 100th anniversary. There were volunteers everywhere running the museums and driving vintage cars around. Today was a train day so there was activity everywhere. The local fiddle band was practicing Hand Snow tunes in the town hall and the music could be heard all down the street. People where in period dress ready to greet the steam train full of tourists. It was obvious this town thrives on its tourists and train days are big days.
On Main street is Jimmy Jocks boardwalk. Big Valley is worth going to just to get a chocolate chip mint ice cream from here or some peanut butter and chocolate fudge. Fong Jock Jung (Jimmy Jock) was a Chinese immigrant who in 1952 got off the train in Big Valley and made it his home until his death in 1975. He operated a confectionery store and cafe in the building on the left which is now home to the Granny's Fudge Shop. Jimmy was a local character who loved to gamble and was known to be a bit of a bootlegger. He had no enemy in town and loved the kids. they always left his store with a bag full of candy no matter how much or how little money they had. The boardwalk is in his honor and its a lovely tribute.
At the bottom of Main Street is the train station and all of the rail history you can cram into one little town. The Station is also a museum and worth the visit and whatever donation you drop in the box. Across the street is a fantastic garage that was turned into a car museum. They had two Valiant's in there and that started up the conversation with one of the volunteers who I think just liked to meet people. I love that aspect of my trips, the meeting people. I was happy to sit there for 40 minutes to listen to him tell me stories about all his cars and hijinx in Penticton where as luck would have it was where I was born and raised. Small town folk are just like that. Its refreshing to get a handshake instead of being ignored or a hand on the shoulder then they are telling you something meaningful to them. Its wonderful that this old timer would share something of meaning to someone who was a total stranger to him. Good people.
At the bottom of Main Street is the train station and all of the rail history you can cram into one little town. The Station is also a museum and worth the visit and whatever donation you drop in the box. Across the street is a fantastic garage that was turned into a car museum. They had two Valiant's in there and that started up the conversation with one of the volunteers who I think just liked to meet people. I love that aspect of my trips, the meeting people. I was happy to sit there for 40 minutes to listen to him tell me stories about all his cars and hijinx in Penticton where as luck would have it was where I was born and raised. Small town folk are just like that. Its refreshing to get a handshake instead of being ignored or a hand on the shoulder then they are telling you something meaningful to them. Its wonderful that this old timer would share something of meaning to someone who was a total stranger to him. Good people.
My visit to Big Valley ended when the train steamed in full of people. I was very lucky to get there before the 20 rail cars full of people. I had the whole town pretty much to myself and few other tourists. The locals were friendly and talkative and the fudge was awesome. I decided to watch the train come in, take a few pictures then head back. The ride home was threatened by big storm cells that chased me all the way home but never manifested their threatened rain. I stopped at a few places to take in the incredible views in a sea of green right now. Soon that green will get yellow tinges and the yellow will get rid and our vistas will change again. My trip today to Big Valley was incredible. It was filled with history and glimpse back in time.
Oh yeah...I did get to see that little antique shop. Nice little shop with a nice lady at the front desk. I found a few cigar boxes I liked but because I was on the bike I left them. I will be back again to Big Valley with my other Ghost Riders. They and any other rider looking for a destination for the day should visit Big Valley.
Cheers,
Michael.
Oh yeah...I did get to see that little antique shop. Nice little shop with a nice lady at the front desk. I found a few cigar boxes I liked but because I was on the bike I left them. I will be back again to Big Valley with my other Ghost Riders. They and any other rider looking for a destination for the day should visit Big Valley.
Cheers,
Michael.