HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1987-06-17, Page 4Student: stows in Seaforth on bike trek
BY NELLIE BLAKE
An Alberta man who has braved wind and
rain since May 15 on a bicycle trip from Nor-
thern Alberta to the Maritimes, arrived in
Seaforth Sunday, June 7 after meeting a
Seaforth woman, through a mutat friend in
Durham.
Brad Schurman,• of Sherwood Park,
Alberta was visiting Fred Noble, a
restaurant owner in Durham, when he was
introduced ,to Helen Holland. Hearing Mr.
Schurman needed a place to sleep before go-
ing. to London, Mrs. Holland offered her
backyard as a campground,
Initially Mr. Schurman, who will be enter -
mg the first-year of -photography -attire -Nor
thern Alberta Institute of Technology in the
all, planned use the summer vacation to
visit his brother in Quebec, who he hasn't
seen for two years. He thought•making the
trip by bicycle would allow him to get in
shape and do more sightseeing than if he
were in a car or train. Now Mr. Schurman
intends to extend his trip to the Maritimes,
taking time to trace his ancestor's roots in
Prince Edward Island.'
He began his trip from Sherwood Park, 15
miles east of Edmonton, on a new 10=speed
bicycle loaded with two bags full of only the
necessities - clothes that would keep.,him dry
when it rained, and food.
Travelling anywhere from 58-170
kilometres a day, Mr. Schurman said the'
first 15 days were very discouraging
because of the constant rain. He thought
several times of quitting, and by the time he
arrived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mr, Schur -
man was very depressed.
"The mosquitos hit my helmet like pellets
and looked like pepper on my arms," he
said.
It rained so much on his trip, that Mr.
Schurman considered calling himself the
"rain maker', because everywhere he went
it seemed to rain.
One adventure prominent in his mind took
place in Wainwright, Alberta, where the
rain had turned to snow and Mr. Schurman
-found a hotel to take cover. Instead of being •
able ,to relax, Mr. Schurman encountered
some rowdy military men blowing off
steam.
Another night Mr, Schurman camped in a
northern built and awoke to find huge,
bloodsucking ticks attached to•his legs.
"It was like'a nightmare," he said, but ad-
ded,sleeping in' a tent or, hotel were his only
alternatives, since each province sent him
so mach information on parks • he couldn't
read it all before starting his trip.
He also needed road maps but every pro-
vince didn't comply to his request.
In Northern Ontario the terrain was tough
enough Mr. Schurman rode the train to
avoid private roads and trees that would
.slow him down.
DAILY AGENDA
muscles.. He also concentrated on .upper
body toning with three .hours of weight lif-
ting, situps, leg -ups and arm, shoulder and
back excereises each night. •
Referring to leg muscle preparation he
said,. "I don't .think you can -prepare
enough."
Mr. Schurman admitted he was almost
totally unaware of the type of diet required
for obtaining the high level of energy needed
every day Through science articles and
talking with other • cyclists, he learned it was
very important to keep • his body's water
.level high. enough to prevent dehydration.
On average Mr. Schurman would begin Although he required a, lot of liquids Mr,
each day. at 5:30 a.m.; tling lime to ae—Sehurman use�ic milli oT milli prtidttl to only
breakfast, balance the. bicycle bags and at night to eliminate mucus build-up in his
mouth. He also took multi-vitamins at night
so his heart., rate wouldn't ,change
dramatically,
' Mr, Schurman's meals consisted of eggs,
ham and two slices of toast for breakfast
and no lunch. He added too much food would
cause cramps. For supper, he would have
granola, soup and milk, •
One good thing about the trip was Mr.
Schurman's body fat was lowered: But even;
that had its down side, since it made him
more susceptible•to the cold and meant he
had to layer his clothes when bad weather
came.
Among the 'equipment he .purchased for'
the trek, was a Gortex jacket. Used by doc-
tors as .a second skin for burn victims, it •
allows the body to sweat and breathe, but
can not be penetrated by rain. Mr.. Schur -
'man found the jacket broke the wind. well
and said it has been his lifesaver many
times since Edmonton.
He also bought polypropylene stockings
that allow the feet to breathe and do not ab-
sorb water.
On his journey, Mr. Schurman wants to
visit as many major cities as he can, the
Science. Centre in Toronto and the CN
.Tower,
Hp will be taking the train from: the
Maritimesback to Edmonton so he can
make it to school on time. • '
• • So far, the trip has cost only $400 for food,
hotels and train tickets. This doesn't include
- the money he spent on equipment.
,plan the route for the day: At 7;30 a.m., he
would begin his trip, hoping he would miss
the wind and rain.
"A• wind is a biker's worst enemy," said
Mr. Schurman, noting he peddled through a
strong head wind for the last 140 kilometres
before arriving in Seaforth. In Alberta there
was no wind at all, he said.
But dealing with the wind and rain was not •
as big a problem, he explained, as dealing
with depression and loneliness.
"The physical(part of it) is no problem,
the psycological is the problem," he said,
adding a variety in terrain and a companion
would have helped him cope with loneliness.
Since he had neither Mr. Schurman used
poems, mathematics, games and songs to
keep his mind active. Sometimes though, he
said, his mind would go blank, almost "like
next to being asleep." '
Mr. Schurman had put himself on a tight
schedule so he could be back in Alberta in
time for school. He pushed himself every
day trying to get as many miles behind him
as he could.
He became so sensitive to people's at-
titudes during his trip he could tell if they
were hostile: or friendly.- He also; became
sensitive to the workings of his body and
could eventually tell what kind of day, good
or bad, he would have according to what he
ate.
EARLY PREPARATION
To prepare for the trip, Mr. Schurman
rode a tension cycle for an half hour each
day since December 1986, to build up his leg
&itsittth 8istsct
i jalRilLANCE-Sero.
BUILDING IN USE - The. Seafortif and.District'Ambulance service will no longer be
operated out of the back of Box Furniture. The ambulances moved recently into a new-
ly constructed building on the corner of Goderich Street east and East William Street,
across from Archie Sunoco. Mcllwraith ohoto.' •
Employment on rise in Huron
Mr. McKinnon explained that the county
has two categories of welfare recipients,
employable and non -employable. In the
case of the 15 he had mentioned earlier, he
said that although they fell under the
category of being employable, "they are in
the grey area between the categories - sort
of borderline employable."
The social services administrator
acknowledged that it isnot a perfect'
system since not everyone wants to work.
However, it is difficult to deny assistance
to others in the family because the head of
the household does not want to work.
Employment in Huron County appears
to •be on the rise, Social Services Ad-
ministrator J.A. MacKinnon told Huron
County Council at its regular June
meeting. Because of this, there are less
than 15 employable people on the county's
welfare rolls at present.
McKinnon made these remarks while
commenting on the report of the social ser-
vices committee to council by Morris
Township Reeve D.C. Fraser.
Hay Township Reeve Lionel Wilder
questioned the granting of welfare
assistance to employable people at all if
the employment situation is as good as
McKinnon claimed. Wilder said he did not
understand why employable men received
welfare while he knew of farmers who
need men to help work in their fields.
Seaforth LACAC
'The Ontario Historical Society
presented the B. Napier Simpson Jr.
Award of Merit to the Seaforth Local Ar-
chitectural Conservation Advisory Com-
mittee (LACAC) in recognition of its
outstanding' contributions to historical
and architectural preservation in its
municipality this year:
Statistics included in the committee's
report indicate a 1987 general assistance
caseload of 122 of April 30, compared to 153
for the same period last year. •.
wins award
The B. Napier Simpson Jr, Award of
Merit is the only award in Ontario given
to Local Architectural Conservation Ad-
visory.Cornmittes (LACACs).
The award was presented at the On-
tario Historical Society's 99th Annual
Banquet on Saturday evening, June 13 at
the Quality Inn in Woodstock.
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, JUNE 17, 1987 — A3
a M�ritimes-.
JUST PASSING THROUGH -:.,.Brad Schurman had the opportunity to stop in Seaforth
on his way through to the Maritimes. Mr. Schurman started his trek in Alberta and is
travelling by bicycle: Mcllwraith photo.
District Games set for Mond
Participaction not only applies to the
younger generation but it applies to seniors
too. This years' Seniors Games has enjoyed
the most success in its three years of opera-
tion, with more seniors than ever competing
• and watching the events. Fourteen com-
petitive events and two non-competitive
events were held from April 10 to May 30
and the winners will represent Seaforth in
the Tri -County Games here, June 22 and 23.
The first event held April 10 at the
Starlight lanes was five -pin bowling and the
top -five players formed a team ofthree men
and two women.- Making up the team is
84 -year-old Bert Walters, Art Finlayson,
former president of alley bowling, his wife,
Mary, president of ladies laimbowling, Bet-
ty Hulley and Bill Harris.
The next event was snooker and was
played at the home of Ken Doig Sr. on April
23 with the final game played the last week
of May. Mr. Doig, who won two games out of
three against Cord Murray, turned out to be
the winner. •
The bridge event was held April 29 at the
Seaforth Legion, and the winners relied on
"horse -sense bridge" to capture the event.
Ken and Marjoree Lingelbach will go to the
district games for this event.
An old-time dance held April 30 at the
Seaforth and District Community Centres
didn't have any winners, but everyone still
had lots of fun.
Bringing in the month of May,
was the
euchre event held May 4 at the Seaforth
Legion, where. Isabella. Rau and Viola
Taylor joined forces to euchre their
opponents. scene o
The Seaforth Legion was also thef
a game of darts May 5 and Charlie Perkins winners o
and Barbara Scott emerged as f
this event. The couple also won
the same
event last year.
-Shuffleboard was•the main attraction May
6, and the winners, who will represent
Seaforth in the Tri -County Games, were
Gladys and R. J. Doig.
Seniors•participated in competitive crib-:
bage May 11, as well as the non-competitive
walk. The winners of cribbage were veteran
cribbage players, Dorothy and Elmer Town-
send. The walking event also produced the
fastest times from Art Finlayson and John
Patterson, chairman of the Seniors Games
committee. Everyone was a winner in this
event.
On May 13, table tennis was played at the
Seaforth and District Community Centres
and Peggy Perkins won the single's ladies
table tennis-biedefault.
She will go on to the district games to com-
pete against seniors from Middlesex, Perth
ay Tuesday
and Huron counties. That same, day, the
crokinole event was played with Lady
Luck" at the sides of Harvey Dolmage and
Everett Felker.
Charlie and Peggy Perkins won the
doubles' tennis event May. 9 at the high
school tennis courts -by default. Mr. Perkins
also won the single mens tennis event the
same way. The couple will be busy with
several events to compete in, at the district
games.
The following week golf was on and just
about everyone who competed was a win-
ner. The first men's flight for handicaps
13-18•was won by Bill Harris and the second
flight for handicaps 19=25• was won by Al
Nicholson. Gord Beuttenmiller won the
third flight for handicaps 26 and over and
the winner of the women's flight was Bar-
bara Scott, the only woman participant.
• The Games were complete when the
lawnbowling event was played under a hot
sun May 30. The team of•Bert Walters, and
Neil and Edna Bell captured the event.
The Seniors Games have been a great suc-
cess and its committee said it •hopes the
district games prove to be an even greater
success. Anyone who wishes to watch the
Games is welcome. Representatives from
three countries(Middlesek, Perth and
Huron) compete together in two fun -filled
days June 22 and 23.
Committee to look at Seniors needs
A senior care facility committee is to be
established in Huron County as the result
of action taken by County Council at its
regular June meeting.
Approval was given by council to a
Huronview management committee
recommendation to establish the new com-
mittee which will review the future needs
for care facilities for seniors in this county. .
Ex -officio members will be Huron Coun-
ty Warden Brian McBurney and Wayne
Lester, Huronview administrator. Other
committee members are expected to be:
Huronview committee. of management
members, two representatives of the On-
tario Ministry of Community and Social
Services, the county administrator, a resi-
CLASS OF 1967 -The Seaforth and District PreSchool Learning
Centre conducted its graduation ceremony' Friday at the Seaforth
District High School. There were 45 graduates who will .be going
to Kindergarten in the fall and 35 undergraduates receiving their
diplomas. The graduates above are -Sarah Agar, Derek Akey,
Adam Anderson, Jason Anstett, Catherine Bourne, Jennifer Bin-
nendyk, William Chapin, Kelly Ann Dalton, Krystal Dale, Alison
Devereaux, Gregory Rebecca DeVries,
Devereaux, Kirit ory DeVries,
Jimmy OUch'arr e, StevenEckert, y nathon Elston, Jessica
Finlayson, Matthew Flanagan, Wiley le Holmes, Katie Holland,
Gregory Kroonen, Kyle Kruse, Jeanette Crowley, Dana Marshall,
Stacey McClure, Scott McNaughton, Bradley Murtay, Curtis Mut-
ray, Ni6ote Munro,Daniel Nash, Greg Nikon, Barry Noakes, Dan -
ny O'Reilly, Reegan Price, Cheryl Ribey, Dennis Rijkhoff, Tommy
Simonsen, Michael Sinam'on, Angel Southgate, Michael Staples,
Brad Thomas, Melissa Van Bakel, Randy Van Bakel, Ryan Willis
and, Luke' Wright. The undergraduates are-dosh Holland, Kyle
Devereaux, Julie Phillips, Angel Eckert, Lisa DeVries, 'Jenny
Ducharme, Mandy Murray, Stephanie Bach, Paul Poisson,
Kimberly Jewitt, Jenny Scott, Kerry Laycox, Kent Moffett, Adam
Koeler, Robyn Arts, Jenny Delvecchio, Jennifer Dick, Bill Nixon,
Adrienne Peckitt, Mandy McClory, Robyn Nash, Michelle
Flanagan, Dean Wood, Kyle Henderson, Darryl Henderson, Tyler
Dumas, Andrew Southgate, Tracy Laframboise, Jackie Cronin,
Ashley Nigh, Jason , Brugger, Kristen Halfpenny, Kelly
NcNaughton, Sarah Murray and Leanne Denttaan. Blake photo
dent of Huronview, a board member of
Blue Water Rest Home, a representative
of the Hospital Administrators Working
Committee, a registered nurse with geron-
tological knowledge, a staff member of
Huronview and four members of the
public.
Chairman of the new committee will be
the vice-chairman of the present Huron -
view management committee while one of
the appointees from the public at large will
serve as vice-chairman of thenew body.
Funding will,be provided 100 per cent by
the Ministry of Community and Social Ser-
vices, council was told, and the time frame
for the program is to be from the present to
June 30, 1988.
Advertisements For volunteers to serve
on this committee will be placed in all
county newspapers.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
If you're organizing a non-profit event of interest to other Seaforth area residents, phone the
recreation office at 527-0882 or the Expositor at 527.0240, or mail the information to Communi-
ty Catendar, The Huron Expositor, Box 69. Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1WO well in advance of the
scheduled date. Space for the Community Calendar is donated by The Huron Expositor.
Wed.,' June 17 Sun.; June 21
Men's Bair Tourney continues
8:45 p.m. Walton Brewers at Rostock Royals
1:30 p.m. Senior Shuffleboard at Arena
6:00-8:00 p,m, Moms & Tots Rollerskating
7:00 p.m. dueens vs. Mainstreet
8:30 p.m. Bears vs. Topnotch
(Men's Rec Ball at Lions Park)
7;00-9:00 p.m. Summer Program Registration
8:00 p.m. Ladles' Ball Hockey
Thurs., June 18
8:30 a.m. Fitness is Fun at Arena
7:00 p.m. Walton Peewees at Belgrave
7:00 p.m. Walton Bantams at Gowanstown
7:00 p.m. Walton at Sluggers
(Seaforth Optimist Park)
7:00 p.m. The "20 to 40 Group" of St. Thomas
Anglican Church will meet at Van Egm'ond
House for a barbecue. Bring lawnchairs,
cutlery, plates, dessert and pier choice
of meat. For information call Greg 482=9071 -
or Helen 527.0812 '
7:30 p.m. Boiteismith vs. Beachwood
8:30 p.m. Brewers vs. Komakozy
9:00 p.m. Rostock Royals at Walton Brewers
9:30 p.in. Cents vs, Topnotch
–(Men's BafrHackey-ar lienar -
Fri., June.19
10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Barbecue Hotdogs at T.D.
Sat-., June 20
2:00.4:00 p.m. Seaforth Manor Strawberry
Sadie!, Proceeds to the Alzheimers Society.
Everyone Welcome.
Seaforth Legion Branch 156 Men's Golf
Tourney
Men's Recreation Fastball Tourney at Lions
and Optimist Park
Mon.,June 22
6:30 p.m. Walton Mites at Clinton
7:00 p.m. Mainstreet vs. Bears
7:00 p.m. Walton Squirts at Bluevale
8:30 p.m. Topnotch vs. Turf Club
(At Optimist Park)
9:00 p.m: Manley at Watton
Tri -County District Senior Games all day
Tues., June 23 -
Tri -bounty District Senior Games all day
8:30 a.m. Fitness is Fun at Arena
7:00 p.m. Walton Peewees at Belmore
7:00 p.m. Ladies' Rec. Softball
9:00 p.m. Walton Bantams at Fordwich
Wed., June 24
6:00-8:00 p.m. Moms & Tots Rollerskating
7:00 p.m. Walton Mites at Belgrave
7:00 p.m. Creamery vs: Mainstreet
8:00 p.m. Ladies' Ball Hockey
8:30 p.m. Queens vs. Turf Club
8:45 p.m. Walton Brewers at Mitchell Mets
9:00 p.m. Brussels Bantam Girls at Walton
Thurs., June 25
9:00 p.m. Tavistock Orioles at Walton Brewers
Sat., June 27
1:00 p.m. Grey -Bruce -Huron Post -Polio
Chapter, March of Dimes meeting, Hanover
Hospital Board Room