Attending...
Debbie (Mountain) Jardine
Lynn (Aubrey) Horrocks
David Poirier
Dereck White
A Ride through part of Chateauguay
Jane and I just got back from a ride around Chateauguay (bicycles).
We usually start out at the top of our Street (Ashmore) in the Terrace between Maple and St. Francis -and glide down the gentle slope to the river.
Along the river, the Mayor (Sergio Pavone) has created a bicycle path, also used for walking and roller blading.
At the bottom of our street, Salaberry traverses parallel to the river -(the heart of Chateauguay).
We decide tonight to take a left heading beside the river toward the bottom of St.Francis Blvd.
We could have just as easily gone left to the end of Salaberry (Chateauguay North) to look out over at Pointe Claire from Ile Ste.Bernard where we have a ferry for bicycles to Lachine.
The sun is beginning to set, its brilliant colors painting the glassy surface.
Jane stops at the approach to the Bridge to Rue Principale and ‘ The West End’.
She points to the white Geese and ducks swimming in tandem, towards an island midway across. Standing guard near-by are two tall blue Herons blending in the river grasses.
Crossing over the Boulevard, the white wood crucifx punctuates the D'Anjou divide. We follow Rue Salaberry south towards the dam.
I whisper greetings to the spirits, beckoning from the old Protestant graveyard, on our left. Many don't even know it is there. - “Holger! Kaj! Hello old friends, I have not forgotten you.” (Kaj Larson and Holger Fulrot are buried there, along with a host of other familiar family names.) I shall raise a glass to them and others at the Reunion.
Before reaching the Parkview area, we take a sharp left - up the asphalt ribbon, grass mowed on either side, through what used to be referred to as “the orchard”. A massive 'castle' retirement complex sits on our right.
The path crosses over D’Anjou now (below where the YMCA's Raja Mood used to be).
Following the power lines, ignoring the small shopping centre, drug store and gas station all in a row, we proceed- behind Maple, across from the High School (behind the Cultural Centre, the massive new two story Library complex, the funeral home, the arena and Polydium (In-door swimming and exercise) we glide on, through fields, left as yet, undevelopped.
We leave the path at the Maple Shopping centre (Maple and St.Francis) succumbing to temptation at the ice cream shop - Pistachio ice cream on a sugar cone. ( I figure we've earned it!) We lean against our bikes to watch the sun take it’s final bow for this day behind what was once called "The Gardens".
Perhaps tomorrow I’ll resume the path from this point, - continue on down behind Massay Drive, then across Saint Francis, past Billy Ellis, Johnny Clayton and Scott Johnson’s back yards -behind Seigniory Drive -haunted now by the echos of little boys past, who went not so bravely into into battle- uselessly trying to invade sturdy log constructed forts. Billy, Gordy, Johnny, Larry did such a fine job fending off the rude and raucus pirates from the south - Stevie, Norman, Dave, Steve, Les, Marty and Robbin.
I could continue to the Pines on Oliver - now "Rue Olivier", where Barry Jones,Mark Hacon, Pierre and Kit Lacroix, Sandy and Willy Traynor used to live. From there one can glide all the way down to Craik Street and through to Colonia to the domaine of Robidoux,Laroue, Chloherty, Holden, Laporte, Starkey, Dempster,Birch and Kaye. I could even complete the circuit and wheel round to the land of Seary, Bate, Seale,Allen, Young, Hollis and Mclean.
Another day
- perhaps.
Les
