Friday, April 28, 2006

DIRECTOR'S MEETING & WALK EVENTS

The CBIH and many visitors from the Atlantic Area were on the the move from Friday 21 to Sunday 23rd April 2006.

On Friday night at 6pm 12 volkssporters led by Robin Grant did the 10k walk around North Sydney, starting and ending at the Clansman Motel. There was a light cool breeze but most importantly no rain. A nice stroll around the community with the Newfoundland ferries in the harbour.

After the walk 8 members of the group stopped in at the Clansman Restaurant for supper and though we had not made reservations the staff were very accomodating setting up a table for our little band of walkers. Good Food! Pleasant dinning partners from the Valley, what more can I say!










Above is the group from Saturday morning 22 April who started out at the Cambridge Suites. What's a walk in downtown Sydney without stopping at the "BIG FIDDLE" for a photo opportunity, Terry Crawley stepped out of the crowd to take one of these photos using Lionel Conrods camera. Phil Irons has taken some pictures as well and we hope to publish them very soon.

After the picture we continued along the boardwalk and met some of the folks celebrating "EARTH DAY" and we then continued in to the partially finished Wentworth Park (its starting to look good and when completed will be a show piece for Sydney and CBRM). After the heavy rains I expected the Baille Ard Trail to be somewhat impassable but due to the volunteer workers for The Baille Ard Association, who happen to be working that day, the paths and bridges were in excellent shape, this is another hidden jewel within the so called "industrial cape breton area."

Dinner at the Cambridge Suites was attended by members of CBIH, The Valley Trekkers (Annapolis Valley area), Dartmouth Club, The Chebucto Club (Hlfx), Central Nova (Truro), River Valley Trailblazers (Fredricton & Oromocto NB), Hub City (Moncton NB)in all there was a total of 36 diners including Darrell Taylor from Pathways Cape Breton who gave us a very informative briefing about the functions of Pathways and what the future holds for trails and transportation on the island.

Those who attended the buffet dinner were very impressed by the the calibre of the food and how it was presented, the staff at the Cambridge were very pleasant and helpful, our visitors seemed to enjoy themselves and the accompaning music in the back ground gave us a great atmosphere to enjoy the company of other walkers.

Barb & Cal Thisle of our Ways and Means Committee were responsible for the planning and implementing of the evening activities, Thank you both for all your hard work and now I have a new exercise regime that Barb introduced to us a walk around the block. Everyone whom I have spoken with also enjoyed Cal's Canadian photos! Thank you Cal!

"If I can be a little male chauvinist it was nice to see our lady walkers dressed for the occassion, Tilley hats and rain suits do not do them justice" hey! the guys also looked ok !


During the dinner I asked Bill and Shirley Boutilier to Represent all of those from the Island Hoppers who had walked across the Causeway during the 50th Anniversary celebrations to come forward and except their certificates on behalf of the walkers on that day, Rick Kanne was asked to represent all the other club members who were there on that most rainy but wonderful day.

The following photos were taken by Lionel Conrod, thank you Lionel, it was most appreciated.



On The left is Bill Boutilier, centre Rollie Coombes and on the Right Shirley Boutilier accepting certificates for walking across the causeway during the 50th Anniversary celebrations.







Rick Kanne accepts on behalf of all the club members from across the Atlantic Area.


On Sunday the sun finally arose and we had an excellent day for a 10K walk along the cliffs behind The Glace Bay Miners Museum to South Street Beach, we then turned around and walked through the wharves watching fishermen preparing for the upcoming Lobster season, into Commercial Street Glace Bay for an unscheduled stop!, through Renwick Brook, Queen Elizabeth and Cameron Bowl Parks and back to the museum area.
Many of our members and visitiors stayed to have a light luncheon buffet at the Miners Village Restaurant.

After this weekend of Walking for fun, fitness and friendship we are placing a fourth "f" into the motto for "food"


My sincere thank you to all who participated in this great weekend of walking and meeting new and old friends. Rollie

How do we continue to pass on the message of Walking for the Health of It?

How do we pass on the message of Walking for fun, fitness and friendship?

Your comments would be appreciated on this subject!

My answer: one step at a time, one new walker from each of us at future events; walking or volksmarching is a uniquie sport but we are not media savvy, there's no one getting hurt, crippled, bloodied noses or penallty boxes.We do not participate in local or federal politics. We have something even more special "our Island, Our Trails, the occassional deer or moose, a tranquil spot to have a group picnic, a place along the shoreline to see a whale or a porpoise in one of our many coves and harbours. We have fun and friends.


The next walk(s) check your schedule for 7 & 8 May 2006.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Dinner News Flash, April Walks,Causeway and Awards

HERE's Lily

Lily Conrod, a twenty year veteran of The Canadian Volkssport Federation was recently featured in a Dartmouth newsletter, she is the president of The Dartmouth Volkssport Club, walks every day and attends as many volkssport events as possible as evident by the many awards attached to her vest.Lily is proud to tell her age but this scribe will take a more cautious trail and allow her that bit of news. Not to be out done Lily and Lionel will be in Sydney for our meeting and they will be attending our dinner on Saturday 22nd April.







The Ways and Means Committee continue their great work in organizing our Meet & Greet Dinner on 22nd Of April, 5:00pm, at the Cambridge Suites and now a NEWS FLASH they have informed me that Barb Thistle has arranged entertainment for the evening. Come out for the evening and enjoy a fine dinner and the music of David Murray.

Hopefully as many of our club members as possible can come out to this dinner and if you have any questions or want to sign up please contact:
Cal Thistle

Don't forget if you cannot make it to the dinner but would like to attend a walk there are two 10K walk events to select from that start at 10am each morning the first one starts at the Cambridge Suites on Saturday 22 April(this our Sydney YRE) and the other on 23 April at the Glace Bay Miners Museum is a different IVV stamp then the Glace Bay YRE. ---suggestion only--- Walk with the group in the am for the new IVV stamp, have lunch at the museum restaurant then walk our Glace Bay YRE after lunch!


The Causeway Walk Event:

We now have certificates for all participants of our Causeway Walk Event.

I will be giving out the 50th Anniversary Causeway Certificates at the dinner,Club reps. will be asked to pass these on to their members who had walked with us; these certificates are the results of the hard work and dedication of club members Rilla and Jim MacLean of Port Hawkesbury. On behalf of the Island Hoppers I want to thank both Jim and Rilla for their support and work throughout the years and especially the work done for the celebrations of the Canso Causeway festivities during 2006 and the work preceding our walk event.



From the latest edition of 'VOLKSSPORT CANADA'


Event Achievement Awards have been given to:

CAROL HISCOCK Mira Gut for the first 10 Events; congratulations Carol and we hope you continue to enjoy walking with our (your) club members.

CARMEL COFFIN a long time member has been awarded her pin and certificate for attending and completing 225 Events with the Island Hoppers and other volkssport Clubs in the Atlantic area. Well done and very much deserved.

Happy Trails to all!

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Moncton NB, First Walk of The Season

The following information has arrived about Atlantic Canada's Newest Volkssport Club

If you are in the area or passing through you may want to join them for a walk or you maybe interested in their 11K YRE starting at The Howard Johnson Hotel 1005 Main Street Moncton, NB,506-854-6340.


From: Al Morrissey
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 4:45 PM

Subject: Hub City Wanderers First Guided Walk of the Year


Come out and join the Hub City Wanderer's on Saturday April 8 , for the first of the season's guided walks.

Start point is Lounsbury Centre Parking Lot at 1655 Mountain Road Moncton.

Registration starts at 09:45 With walk Start at 10:00am

Everyone welcome

Regular CVF Fee's Apply

For more info call
Al at home 860-6125