WALK CAPE BRETON

CLUB ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Please don't forget!!
Saturday 17 January 2004 at 2pm
The Radar Base, Schooner Curling Club.

Please come out and support your club.


Something to Think About

by Heather McLeod
(Edited from the Central Nova News, published Jan. 2004 Vol. 10 No. 1)

In October, Rilla McLean, our CBIH wheelchair participant, made a presentation to the task force on the use of off-highway vehicles.
Although Rilla was not representing any group, the incident that sparked her presentation was the condition of the TCT on her volksmarch at Creignish (a rails-to-trails section) last June.
Members of the CBIH and the Central Nova (CNVC) attended this hike and can testify to the difficulties she encountered.
Rilla was a water carrier in May 2000 when the trail officially opened and was delighted to find a scenic wheelchair accessible and user-friendly trail close to home.
Even in the summer of 2002 she did not encounter problems. However, June 2003 was a quite different story as there were deep ruts, some filled with with loose gravel, and shoulders too narrow to navigate around the ruts.
it was not the standard of TCT walkers would expect for a rails-to-trails segment and families with bicycles or strollers would encounter the same problems as Rilla.
The majority of ATV drivers are friendly and courteous and wish to have a safe trail to ride on. Unfortunately, a minority do not exercise responsibility and are ruining the trail for other users.
It is something to think about.

Rilla is also involved with the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Canso Causeway and is promoting the idea of our club and others to walk across the causeway and continue with a 10km route possibley using the transCanada Trail towards Creignish, of course this is only in the planning stages and will be discussed by your walk committee.

TIPs & Quotes from other sources:

A Regular Walking Program: lowers the risk of heart disease; fights osteoporosis; changes cholestrol profile; promotes weight and waist loss; promotes feeling better.