26 — Sunday, May 2, 1999 - North Shore News north shore news 4 SENIORS imer stilt NEWS photo Terry Peters LONGTIME West Van vasider.t Geoffrey Speck recalls riding logs down the chute on Holiyburn hill, taking the ferry from Ambleside to Vancouver and diving and swimming in the annual regatta at Dundarave. “Eight Free Spirits” Art Show Courtyard Gardens is pleased to hold our Spring Art Show on Friday and Saturday, May 14th and 15th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. The “Eight Free Spirits” Art Show invites you to take the opportunity to view the artists’ unique love of art on the first floor. The varied backgrounds of this dynamic group of ladies from the Lower Mainland allows for diversity in all aspects of their paintings. Eight Free Spirits are reflected in the metamorphosis and experimentation of their * feelings and thoughts expressed on canvas for all to see. Gert Young - Collectors from around the world enjoy Gert’s oils, acrylics, watercolours . and sculpting. She’s a member of several art guilds and hrids many honours and awards _ for her work, Her favourite scenes are mountains and landscapes. Jane Saborio - Jane's goal is to impart peace thought the beauty present in nature and her surroundings. She's an impressionist whose favourite place is France, where she's wens many awards. Her trademark is a dinner pia. palette attached to gach place of work, Rosemary Carlisle - For the past six years, Rosemary has been seriously painting in watercolours. She’s a member of the Riverside Art Circle'and Richmond Artists Guild. Mary Ruth Harris - Her many insights have come from her experiences in life. Numerous paintings hang in different parts of the world for collectors to enjoy. Elinor Sanders - Elinor has explored painting in oils, watercolours, and acrylics. She belongs to several art clubs and loves _ travelling to learn more about her new interest. Miriam Friedberg - Her greatest artistic sat- isfaction comes from her new love of mixed and experimental water media. Miriam has a degree in Art, Fashion and Design. Ramona Augustus - She has twice won First Prize in acrylics in the Picture of the Year contest of the Western Art Circle. Ramona is a . member of several ari groups and now pursues watercolours. Donna Wright - Donna incorporates her sense of humour into abstract expressionistic painting, and has donated paintings to the “Arts Alive” auction at Delta Municipal Hall to raise funds for an ait centre. She teaches art ta adults and children, thus opening students to freedom of expression. enjoys APPROACHING 94, perky Geoffrey Speck has a tremendous sense of humour. Smiling, he says: “I enjoy reading and watching anything that is cheeky.” His easy, gentle smile lights up his face as he remembers how it was in the old days — skiing on barrel staves, catch- ing garter snakes, piltering, food from the Hudson Bay Company, and riding logs down a chute. He has experi- enced life at a Trading Post, as a travelling salesman, and as a diving and swimming com- petitor. Tt was tough times in Yorkshire, England in 1905 when Geoff was born. Jobs paid very litle. To support the family of seven, his father applied tor a job in Canada through a Canadian publication. He was successful in obtaining employment with the Hudson Bay Company at their wading post at Green Court, Northern Alberta. in 1908 his wife and chil- dren arrived. The children memories received their schooling by correspondence. ‘They were given a cottage to five in, but it had insufficient sleeping arrangements for all five chil- dren, so Geolf, his sister and a brother slepr in the attic over the company post, where sup- plies were stored. It was warm there as the stovepipe came up through the room. Using a can opener they enjoved cating their choice of the canned goods. “We didn’t realize we were pil- fering from the Hudson Bay Company,” laughs Geoff. The First World War broke out and like others, Geof?’s father was conscripted into the army. He spent the war years, 1914 to 1918, in a war office at Edmonton. Advertisement “Keeping You Kranked” Written by Tara Laycock, with input from feilow PROWORKS mountain bike race team members. Post - SAD: Going Crazy on the Trails | Finally! Short sleeves and bare knees, dry trails and cool shades. Long sunlit hours are spurring ener, and excitement. We've entered the Post-SAD stage and are now going mental riding the endless possibilities of newly exposed trails. Feeding our insatiable craze, we've been riding frantic.In the last week, we've crossed the North Shore from Seymour to Cypress to Grouse. Then we moved over to Burnaby and Eagle Mountains, with a foray into Belcarra. Soon we'll venture to new territory because our fellow team rider, Tamara Spence, insists we join her in Abbotsford. The trails there are also in fantas- tic condition. Whether you cruise or hammer, the urge to strip down and ride hard is strong. Yet, preparation and protection remain key elements to sustaining the fun. Riding to exhaustion has its obvious drawbacks. So do bruises and blood fro Jack of appropriate gear. My girlfriend Selena showed up at Eagle Mountain after a doing Pipeline with Kids on the Shore, bandaged and bruised. Another friend declined to meet us for the ride because of over-exertion. In her last week she tripled the amount of her usual rid- ing and is now suffering the consequences of a stressed, recurring injury. The artists have kindly donated paintings for a door prize draw This is a time when your skin may be vulnerable and your muscles tender. Wear protective armour and use sunscreen on exposed skin. The local bike shops offer a good selection and high quality, stylish protective riding Even though they took lots of blankets, Geoff remembers the harsh weather and the long, hard journey in a wagon hauled by tour horses, from Green Court to Edmonton, as the family travelled the rugged terrain —— through bush and over tree stumps, to join their father. After the war the family moved around a bit, returning to Green Court, back tu Edmonton, and then to Lethbridge for a short time. Now approaching his early teens, Geoff worked delivering groceries to homes and the fire hall — and hats t¢ ladies at the local brothel. His trans- . portation was an ex-race horse and a wagon. There was no place to tie the horse, so many times Geoff would have to run to catch it, as it took off down the street. “I had to run fike hell. Boy, that horse could really go.” Around 1920 his father came to Vancouver, found a house ncar UBC and soon the family joined him. Larer they moved to West Vancouver and bought preperty. Geoff helped his father build their new home at the southwest corner of Mathers and 29th Street. See Riding page 29 Stephen Wong arneacist We all know of the hazards of over exposure to sunlight. Did you know that if you stay out of the mid-day sun (10AM to 3PM), you will avoid 60% of tie UVB rays 9 that hiv the earth. UVB rays are § the ones chat cause sunburn and { are primarily responsible for § causing skin cancers. When you are applying af: - sunscreen, use one that protects f against both UVA and UVB rays. Be sure to apply the sunscreen at ff cast 30 minutes before going out ft : in the sun, Also wear broad- brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts : for increased protection, and use good sunglasses. a ioe in : gear. If you can pump your way through the spring ener- gy burst, all the power to you. If you're a mere mortal like myself and look forward to a whole summer, injury and painfree, youl havé to apply the brakes. Always warn\- up, stretch and cool-down. Next week, we'll offer tips on feeding your body the right stuff to ride those long hard hours. If you have any questions or comments for the PROWORKS team riders, please email us at bikeriders@hotmail.com or visit the Cap’s website at www.capsbike.com Free Parking Call us at Free Delivery for Pharmacy | For Your 273-1225 Today Personal Tour ee 7051 Moffatt Rd., Richmond, B.C. V6Y 3W2 DAVIES PHARMACY 1401 St. Georges New luxury. Rugged as ever. The new 1999.5 QX4 includes a host of new features such as front seat side-impact bags, an engine immobilizer key, and micro air filtration system, to name but a few. Plus you enjoy power everything, heated leather front seats, 150-wate Bose™ audio system with CD, automatic climate control, industry-leading All-Mode 4WD ard the best SUV warranty in the business: 4 years or 100,000 km. CQOQIN FINITE Own one and you'll understand. REGENCY INFINITI 1768 Burrard Street, Vancouver (604) 739-7811