18 - Friday, August 9, 1991 ~ North Shore News

Dr2ma in Real Lite

A FRIEND and [ experienced the dark side of en-
vironmental activism during a moment of high drama very

early last Saturday morning.

Leard Robertson, ar old camp
buddy of mine ‘‘tried to impress
me,” as he put it, by leaving his
car near Park Royal and taking a
bus over the bridge to a
downtown event we were both at.

Over an = apres-Theatresports
coffee at the White Spot at
Seymour and Georgia, I managed
to convince him that we could go
one better by scorning public
transit and walking back to his

car. :

Ivll be fun, I told him. Think
of the reminiscing we can do en
route. Think of the bus fare we'll
save. Think of the view from the
Lions Gate.

So off we started, humming a
merry tune and enjoying that big
city-after-midnight atmosphere.
Little did we know then (sound of
heavy organ music) that our walk
would end in disaster.

There we were, walking across
the bridge, when out of the blue
Leard was hit by a bus. I’m not
kidding here. This is Drama in
Real Life.

We were, unwisely as it turned
out, walking with our backs to the
traffic, so we didn’t even see the
bus coming until it was past us.
We heard an oncoming
‘‘whoush,” a sharp ‘“thwack,”’
and a few unprintables before
Leard hit the deck clatching his
left arm.

Almost immediately a tow truck
pulled up, the driver of which of-
fered a coat and radioed an am-
bulance. The bus driver, who had
stopped his vehicle, disembarkc=,
along with Shawn, a passenger
who just happened to be a
wilderness first aid attendant with
an excellent bridge-side manner.

Before too long an ambulance
screeched up, followed closely by
-— and this is che wild card I
wasn’t expecting — a flashing fire
engine that disgorged about eight
men in yellow pants. .

Of course, I’m enjoving
everything immensely by this
point; Leard, after all, was rela-

tively okay and it does send a.

thrill up one’s spine to be the
cause of a lane closure on the
Lions Gate.

Now, riveted to your chair as
you may be, you are also proba-
bly wondering: what does this
have to do with environmentalism,
otherwise known as the subject
she is rightfully employed to write
about?

Well, since | advocate walking
so often in this column I thought
it only fair that I provide the neg-
ative as well as positive results of
such an exercise. That, plus it was
such an interesting experience I
just have to find justification,

a Drinking while

« boating is not
a serious offense.

» Operating a

FAC s boat while im-

paired can be just as danger-
ous as drinking and driving a
car.

Police boats carry portable
breathalyzer units and crim-
inal charges can be laid.

Tne Canadian Rect Cross Soceey aaa

Peggy

es.

ECOINFO

however tenuous, for including it
here.

All kidding aside, however, | do
think it’s important to realize the
importance of keeping one’s wits
about you when walking in heavy
traffic or, especially, over the
Lions Gate Bridge.

The bus driver explained that
the lanes are nine feet wide, and
his bus about 8’6"’. This, of
course, does net allow for a lot of
breathing space, leading to inno-
cent pedestrians on the sidewalk
losing appendages, or pieces
thereof (for the curious among
you, Leard’s elbow was slightly
dislocated, but he’s fine now).

But having heeded my somber
advice to face traffic and keep
your eyes open, don’t forget all
the benefits walking brings.

Cars, after all, are Vancouver’s
major contributor to the emissions
that cause global warming. Walk-
ing saves on fumes, the use of
non-renewable resources and
parking hassies.

Mile for mile, it burns as many

Trendell-Whittaker

calories as jogging and puts you in
touch with the world around you
in a manner that can’t be matched
when you're encapsulated in a
metal shell.

The following walking events
will do wonders to restore your
interest in the activity:

¢ Saturday, Aug. 17: Take the
Shinglebolt History Stroll at the
Capilano River Regional Park
from 9:30-11 a.m. Designed for
adults and seniors; cost is $3, call
420-3031 to preregister.

Also on that day at Lynn
Headwaters Park is the Cedar
Ltd. Mill Site Stroll from 9 a.m.
to noon, $3 per person, call the
same number for preregistration.

e Sunday, Aug. 18: Join he
staff of the Lynn Canyon Ecology
Centre on a hike at 9:30 a.m.
987-5922 for detaiis. ’

e Saturday, Aug. 24: All ages
invited to the Big Tree Trek ($3)
from 1-4 p.m. at Lynn Head-
waters. Call 420-3031.

© Sunday, Sept. 8: Once again,
it’s the two-hour Coho Walk
down the banks of the Capilano
River after being shuttle-bussed
from Ambleside.

A plethora of pleasant strolls
and mild hikes are listed in Mary
and David Macaree’s book, 109
Walks in British Columbia’s
Lower Mainland. The latest edi-
tion was published in 1990 by
Douglas and Mcintyre.

HAZARDOUS NOTES

To press time, over 70 people
have called 98-GREEN (984-7336)
to be sent a listing of non-toxic
alternatives to household hazard-
ous wastes. Way to go, North
Shore-ites!

I would like to thank eight-
year-old volunteers Danica Fair-
thore and Gabriella Sirovicza
who wendered into the recycling
office off the street and stayed to
help me stuff the envelopes, and 1
also want to ask Lisa Partridge
and Mrs. W. Lawson to call in
their address again as the an-
swering machine rudely cut off
their message.

Lions Gate Chiropractic Clinic

Dr. Paul Holdsworth
Dr. Paul Verlaan
#402-1124 Lonsdale Ave. (at 11th)
North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H1
987-BACK (2225)
Open Mon-Sat. 8am-8pm

New patients welcome, no referral necessary
ICBC, WCB, BC Medical cases accepted

EVANCIC PERRAULT ROBERTSON

Certified General Accountants
and

PETER GUTZMANN, €.G.A.

wish to announce the merging
of their accounting practices
to provide professional services
under the name

EVANCIC PERRZULT ROBERTSON

Certified General Accountants
E 102 - 1975 Lonsdale Avenue
North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2K3

Phone: 987-8101 Fax: 987-1794

YOU WANT TOP DOLLAR.
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Sussex | Sussex Group—Gary Born Realty Corperotion
Realty | 2996 Lonsdole Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C.

Now there’s a
good reason to get out

of bed on Sundays.

Sizzling bacon, hot coffee, steaming
omelets and freshly baked muffins are
only four of the many good reasons why
you should get out of bed this Sunday
morning and come down to The Keg
North Shore for brunch. All for only,

$Q99

We open at 10 am and serve
brunch until 2 pm. So you can still
have a leisurely morning, then meet
your friends or family at The Keg
and catch up on everything you would
have missed if you stayed in bed.

For reservations call 984-3534