I’m still on a high from the Sept. 7 Quesnel Rotary Club Seniors’ Trek to Barkerville.
It all began first thing Thursday when seniors gathered at the Legion for the two buses chartered from Prince George.
Several members of the Old Time Fiddlers provided lively music as we mingled and drank coffee. Many thanks to the OTF and the Legion for their hospitality.
There were 94 seniors registered riding in the two buses from Prince George – one carried seniors with walkers and wheel chairs.
Two Dunrovin buses brought an additional 20 residents for a catered lunch followed by the Theatre Royal Show.
For some it was their first trip to Barkerville and one man on our bus had been coming for the Trek since the Quesnel Rotary Club began this endeavour.
Upon signing in each senior was given a schedule, lunch ticket for one of the three restaurants, in plastic with our names, and held by a string to be worn around our neck.
What a help these name tags were and went a long way in breaking the ice. It also avoided embarrassment when you know you should know a person’s name but there are times when you can’t think of it right away.
We had time to shop at the bakery and other shops that were open. I was particularly interested in the improvements made in the Sentinal newspaper with procurement of an old printer from Ma Murray’s newspaper in Lillooett and other acquirements. I was advised by a staff member they hoped to have something up and running for next summer’s tourist season.
I can’t say enough about Richard Wright’s Theatre Royal show Mrs McGinty’s Gold Rush. So versatile and accomplished were Amy Newman, Lucy Sim, Nick Preston, Simon Paterson and pianist Patrick Courtin providing some very lively and enjoyable music.
Seniors on this year’s Trek posed for a photo in front of St. Saviour’s Anglican Church with a new scooter that was recently purchased for Barkerville through a $3,000 donation by the Rotary club.
On behalf of all of us who went on the Trek a very big thank you to Quesnel’s caring Rotarians.
Financial assistance for this 54th annual Trek to Barkerville was made in part from the Province of British Columbia through its Gaming Fund.
–submitted by Ruth Scoullar