Daytripping Fall 2023

Lake Huron
MI
ONTARIO
NY
Always more to discover - in NEW HAMBURG, CAMBRIDGE & BADEN
Makers of Fine Quality
Cheese Since 1879
519-662-1212
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Famous for our great tasng
brick in a variety of flavours,
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29 Bleams Rd East, NEW HAMBURG
(Exit at New Hamburg, Peel St. Take first right on Bleams Rd. E.)
Dad’s Teenage Transport
Most of us have a hard time thinking
of our parents as one-time children and
perhaps even more so thinking of them
as wild teenagers.
When we get older and the kids of
today look at us as if we were born
fifty-years-old it becomes a little easier.
After all, if we know we were young
once, then our parents must have been
young once, too.
I encourage everyone to try to draw
their parents out about their own youth
and you may hear stories like the
following:
It seems that my father traded his
childhood bicycle for a hunting rifle
when he was 14 years old. It was during
the war and the family needed food,
besides the bike wasn’t big enough for
him anymore, let alone big enough to
bring a deer home on.
The loss of the bike did not slow Dad
down for long. The next summer he
and several of his friends made a trip to
the scrap man’s place. They added up
their money and paid thirteen dollars
for an old model T.
Thirteen dollars for a car sounds like
a bargain even in 1946 but, there was a
Story and photos by Vicki Hornick, Tilbury
reason. The car had only one working
gear; reverse.
The boys spent the summer driving
backwards around the countryside,
having a ball. They quickly learned to
keep their hands and arms inside the
vehicle as every time they turned a
corner or took a curve the car rolled
onto its side.
This was not a problem for a gang
of young boys. The car was tough and
light enough they simply rolled it back
onto the wheels. Several vigorous turns
of the hand crank would get the car to
start up and the next boy got his turn
driving.
After many adventures and rollovers
the car finally broke down for the
last time near the end of that fun-filled
summer. Back on its wheels it simply
would not start again no matter how
many times they turned the crank.
The boys had lost their transportation
and the best toy a teenager ever had
but, they did not lose their money.
When they bought the car, the scrap
man told them to be sure to call him
when it breathed its last so he could
come collect it.
Don't wait
for death
to tell
you to
slow
down.
They called, he came with his tow
truck and kindly gave them back the
thirteen dollars before hauling the
Model T back to its final rusting
place.
Losing the Model T did not slow
Dad down for long. The war had
ended and there was army surplus
to be had. That is where my father
got the Indian motorcycle and
sidecar, brand-new in the box and
just needing to be assembled.
With the instruction manual and
natural mechanical skill, Dad soon had
his aviator goggles in place (no helmet)
and was ready to hit the road.
The sidecar was important to keep
from actually hitting the road. It kept
the large, heavy and powerful machine
upright when he had to take his hand
off the handle bar to shift gears with
what was known as a suicide clutch.
Dad had the Indian until he was in
his twenties but, unfortunately, just like
with the Model T all good things have
to come to an end. After many years
of riding the open highway when he
wasn’t working Dad found a reason to
sell the bike. Ahh love.
When he married Mom she
pronounced the motorcycle dangerous.
She would never ride in the sidecar
and insisted he not only get a proper
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Goggles worn by Vicki’s dad
car but, also that he get rid of “that
motorized death trap.”
A man from Windsor answered the
advertisement, fell in love himself and
bought the bike on sight. Dad warned
him to never take the sidecar off and
carefully explained about the suicide
clutch.
The man drove off after assuring
my father the sidecar would stay right
where it was at least until he could get
used to the bike.
About a week later while listening to
the news on the radio a report came
in from Windsor about a man crashing
his motorcycle.
Oddly the man kept repeating, “I
shouldn’t have taken the sidecar off. I
shouldn’t have taken the sidecar off.”
“That’s him, I know it’s him,” was all
Dad could say.
Christmas at
Castle Kilbride Museum
The table is set, the trees are trimmed,
and the warmth and charm will kindle your
holiday spirit. A tour through historic
Castle Kilbride is truly a magical time.
When we celebrate Christmas with family and
friends, we have the Victorians to thank for many
of its joyful festivities and delightful customs.
Step back in time and take in the sights and
sounds of Castle Kilbride National Historic Site.
Christmas Holiday Hours
The Castle sparkles from
November 15th to January 7th
Wednesday through Sunday 11am-4pm
Admission: Adult $9, Senior/Student $8,
Child (4-12) $5, Family $25
Tickets can be purchased online or in person.
See website for details.
Please check our website
for special holiday events!
60 Snyder’s Rd., W. • Baden
519-634-8444 • 1-800-469-5576
Operated By Wilmot Township
www.castlekilbride.ca
FALL/WINTER
2023-2024
“In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.” -Dalai Lama
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