Flashback Grand Opening
There’s no greater motivator to “clean up the house” than the last hours before hosting a dinner party… So, with high enthusiasm, we took on the challenge of vacuuming Far Out and Flashback ahead of our volunteer appreciation/grand opening party.
“No one will notice the dust on the baseboards!” Regardless, we did everything we could: Put up sign placards, de-branched the eye pokers, brush cut it all and even managed to finally break off that pointy rock. I’m pretty sure we found most of the tools and stashed leftover decking. I also filled my pockets with pink and blue flagging tape that will soon get laid down in another part of town…
That night, we gathered at House Rock for a symbolic ribbon cutting. Spirits were high with pride, satisfaction and disbelief that this project could possibly be “over”. Volunteers, family and friends joined the WORCA board and trail crew for a ride and BBQ. I rode the shorter loop and reveled at the stories lived through each meter of trail. My inner monologue was a literal audio-tour filled with old and new friends sharing their love of sweating, feeding mosquitoes and shaping our communities’ landscape. I giggled remembering Ed’s epic battle with a stump (one of many), Craig’s adaptive width measuring device and the 5 weeks we spent rocking a path through the swamp. I Zoomed through César’s elaborate drain, railed the Aitkens’s left hand berm, popped off Zac and Terry’s side hit, the Women’s night giant S turn, Dwayne’s armouring, Tim’s decking, Ken’s rockwall, oh, and what was her name again? Elenore? Margaret? Brigitte? BRIDJET!... it was non-stop memories and gratitude.
The Hryciw family once again fed the crew and we shared more stories of the last 8 years.
I’ll paraphrase some memorable words:
“Todd and I started this digging with headlamps and quickly realized that we were going to need a lot of help” - Seb Kemp
“We dreamt up this family friendly project years before having kids of our own and it’s absolutely special to ride it with Wyatt for his first time today” - Todd Hellinga
I’ll cap the celebration off with a special shout out to Zander Strathern and Scott Veach who shared the lead through this immense accomplishment, plus Trevor Ferrao, Nicole Koshure and the WORCA board for letting us do what we do.
…Now, let’s see how long I can retain my “local Legend” badge for Flashback 5 now that the trail is Officially OPEN!
In other news:
Big Kahuna, Trial and Error and Neighbour Knoll are re-opened for the summer after the Emerald estates fire thinning project. Also in the No Flow zone, we’re asking for your help to complete the redesigned Creamsicle/Shit Creek trail: Sign up here for the Trailforks sponsored dig MORNING (July 23). Finally: Go to Trailforks to find out about the imminent opening of Lord of the Squirrels for the season (note: the upper section is now rated Black Diamond(. )
See you on the trails!
Dan Raymond
WORCA Lead Trail Builder
