Thank you for your continued reading, suggestions, and encouragement for this project. The short chapter below is intended to follow the Preface…
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Cast of Characters
Paul -
As introduced in the Preface, Paul is my 50/50 partner in this biking operation. We almost always bike on Sundays, as it’s the only guaranteed day off he gives himself.
During the school year, Paul works as a business professor at a nearby University. In addition, he co-manages a legendary family farm in the Fort Qu’Appelle area. Plus he always has some fun-sounding and potentially harebrained scheme on the go that involves farming operations: Camelina oil production for a veggie-powered converted diesel car; a seed color-sorting ordeal with machines from Asia; and numerous things I know absolutely nothing about. But it all sounds counter-culture, so I’m a fan.
Paul grew up in Fort Qu’Appelle, but spent a significant portion of his adult life in Asia, mostly Japan, where he married and started his family. Coincidentally, both of our families immigrated to Fort Qu’Appelle within a month of each other. Paul’s children are the same ages as my children. So we met via our son’s kindergarten kinship.
Alan -
Alan doesn’t bike, to my knowledge. He’s more like a behind the scenes, silent partner in this operation. Through conversations, he unintentionally gives me numerous suggestions of destinations based on historical architectural sites.
Alan is Fort Qu'Appelle’s over-qualified newspaper reporter with a nearly 50 year background in journalism and media, most of which was in Montreal with the CBC. He’s known, met, befriended, and interviewed countless politicians, dignitaries, royalty, and celebrities. Alan has also authored several books.
But Alan and I bonded over our mutual love for history and architectural finds. He is truly the master in that realm. I am the protege. Alan knows most every significant and unheard of location in Southeastern Saskatchewan and beyond. So naturally, my favorite game is what I call “stump Alan”. That is, finding something that he has never heard of. It’s happened 4 or 5 times to date. And he’ll use his investigative journalistic magic to reveal the historical information and backstory on all of these unknown finds.
Brian -
Me, the author of this book. I work and live as a full time artist. Which is a pretentious way of saying, I’m a guy without a real job. Or as I prefer, “having a successful career of avoiding real careers”.
Currently, I am a Chapman Stick (a two-handed touch board guitar) musician with several recordings released. I am also a wood working artisan, creating hardwood boxes and wood mosaic art that I sell at various galleries and markets throughout the Province. My career began with obtaining a music education degree in Abilene, Texas with a background in French Horn and bass guitar. I have worked in broadcasting, print music sales, managing a non-profit food pantry and temporary homeless shelter, home renovations and construction, and some house flipping.
My Saskatoon-born wife and I, along with our children, immigrated to her home Province in 2010, making Fort Qu’Appelle our home.
With cameos by…
Bob -
Our occasional third rider. Bob is a full time farmer. So whatever the seasonal chores of farming allows, Bob will join us usually once or twice during the riding season.
Christian -
Bob’s one-time farm hand from Switzerland. Christian is an agricultural student in Europe and was part of some sort of farmhand exchange program between Europe and Canada. He worked with Bob for a little over a year.
Nolan & Heather -
Paul’s friends from Yorkton, who visit the Fort Qu’Appelle area with their bikes for a few days every summer. This is usually the only occasion I get to ride mid-week with Paul. It’s fun biking with Nolan and Heather because I get to play tour guide, crafting a route based on previous routes that Paul and I have ventured. Trying to compose a group ride with as many interesting sites within a short timeframe is a challenge I truly enjoy.
Offsprings
Sometimes either Paul’s or my kids will join us. But not very often. They don’t like the long journeys very much.
Thanks for introducing everyone to us. I known about Paul and Alan , enjoyed reading about the others.🤗