Cliché, but this too is life

I had to be on the campus of the University of Western Ontario (UWO) yesterday. It brought back such memories, and I didn't even go to the "U". It seems some things really don't change — a few hundred miles of distance plus a few decades — and still I felt at home. Amazing! I showed these pictures to my wife; she said, "They're O.K. pictures, but they're so cliché."

At first, I was disappointed. Then I realized she was right and that that was the strength of these shots. — not posed, the scenes not tampered with in any way.

A young man strums his guitar, quietly singing, accompanied by a friend on an African-style drum. Two girls listen, one distracted by her notebook computer. (O.K. No one was ever distracted by their notebook computer when I went to school.)

I included the top picture to appease my wife. The shot is cliché but it still has a hint of art. The following picture is the one I like. Can't you just feel the warmth of the weakening summer sun?

Simpsons Clouds

Yesterday was a perfect Simpsons clouds day in London, Ontario.

"Be vewy vewy quiet . . . "

"Be vewy vewy quiet . . . ," and you might get the picture of the rabbit on the porch. I wasn't quiet enough, and I didn't.

Oh well, maybe I can get a picture of the groundhog living in the decorative flower island in the middle of my front lawn. I've got grass stained elbows from stalking that critter.

Cheers,
Rockinon

Weeds

If I walk east from my home just a few steps, there is a field overlooking what was a gravel pit when my wife and I bought our home. Today that field is thick with weeds and pictures are everywhere. This isn't the best shot of these weeds at sunset but I must get back soon if I'm going to capture a better and more artistic image.

For now, this one will have to do.

Cheers,
Rockinon

London's annual Terry Fox Run

Terry Fox first appeared in London, Ontario, on July 17, 1980, running down Dundas Street on his Marathon of Hope. The street was lined with thousands of adoring Londoners. Less than a year later, Terry passed away at age 22, taken by an aggressive form of cancer.

But Terry was back Sunday. Terry knew before his death that there would be annual Terry Fox Runs in communities right across Canada. He chose September for the events as this was the month he was forced to end his run; Terry stopped but Canadians started.

Many thousands turn out every year to participate in Terry Fox Runs. London is no exception.

London Terry Fox committee member Paul Cox said in The London Free Press that local donors gave $365,000 in 2008, $1 for every Londoner. That total includes money raised by area schools and the University of Western Ontario.

Organizers hope the main community run this year will raise about $150,000, pushing the total collected since the London event began to $2.5 million.

Runners gathered Sunday at Springbank Gardens, formerly Wonderland Gardens, and ran, walked, biked, or skateboarded around either a two km loop or a five km loop. Some groups ran the five km course twice, and others made three loops to complete a run of 15 km --- almost ten miles.

Families ran the course together, single runners ran the course to meet their own personal goals, mothers and fathers covered the distance pushing strollers. Much of the course was run on London's Terry Fox Parkway. Very fitting.

Terry Fox would be proud of us. And us? We're proud of Terry Fox — a true Canadian hero.

UWO Shinerama (Terry Fox Run Pics Mon.)

Give this fundraiser a thumbs up as the University of Western Ontario (UWO) is number one. Yes, London's UWO, with the largest orientation week in Canada, runs one of Canada's most successful Shinerama campaigns. The UWO and Sir Wilfrid Laurier University typically battle for for first place in the annual campaign with Carleton University in Ottawa taking the third position. Since joining the Shinerama initiative in 1968, Western has raised over $2,000,000, the most of any university.

This weekend London was swarmed by a huge horde of young people on the prowl raising money to fight cystic fibrosis. These three canvased my street and posed for a picture in return for a donation.

Shinerama is Canada`s largest post-secondary school fundraiser with more than 25,000 college and university students at more than 60 campuses across Canada participating. Since 1964, students have raised more than $13.1 million!

The little train that could and still can.

The present Springbank Express is a simple little train with a surprisingly rich history.

The following is based on information from CEC: Closed Canadian Parks: In 1920, a miniature steam railway was put in Springbank Park in London, Ontario. This was a streamlined train built by Louie Haddad, Bob McKewn and Bill Shearme — it supposedly only operated for one year. Apparently eventually ending up at Port Stanley Amusement Park in 1942. Where it was from 1921 to 1941, is not known.

A second train was then put into service at Springbank Park. It is believed the start-up of this second train may have been in 1923 but there is a possibility that it was actually the third miniature train to be used in the park.

It seems that Ernest George Yeates, the consulting engineer involved in developing London's water supply was also the miniature railway builder for Dundurn Park which had opened in 1888. Reportedly, that ride came to Springbank Park at some point. Perhaps it was a second train and operated in the park in 1922. This would make the 1923 train yet a third one.

This third train was a 381mm gauge steam engine built in Scotland. It ran until 1965 when it was bought by the Supertest gasoline company as a gift to the local Lion's Club whose members wanted to run it as a fund raiser. However, it was difficult to find someone to run and maintain a steam locomotive, so the engine was converted to either a diesel or a gasoline engine

The converted train ran as the "Springbank Flyer" until 1998 when a new train known as The "Springbank Express" was placed on a new 350-meter track layout and a new station was built. This was all donated by Sifton Properties as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations.

If anyone notices any errors in this history, please make a comment and I will correct the copy. I do want to get this story right.