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6 3 » z «1 t >- y u v a n U fi •? Places I've Done Time by Clifford Francis The bicycle ride 3 J : U 4 S 5 * t '• Ï OronoVfeëklÿ Times, Wednesday, September 3,2003 - 3 'Supper Break' bluegrass band played at the Library bandstand last Friday evening as part of the Orono Summer Concert Series. The day of the big blackout blackout fell on the same date that my heart quit three years ago. When the power went out I was just glad to see darkness, it sure looked good to me. A couple of days after the black-out I went to the doctor doctor for a check-up and he suggested that maybe I lose a couple of pounds. "A little paunchy," he said. I walked miles so he suggested maybe a little biking would help so I bought a mountain bike- taking advantage of the twenty or so kilometres of trail in the Orono Crown Lands Trust property. After an outlay of more than several thousand dollars, dollars, I had what was needed to make nie a sports, man. A custom-made bicycle, matching helmet, shoes, shirts, shorts and rain gear. I was ready to roll big time. This bike was something else. I believe you could ride it up a wall. That's how easy it was. Saturday past, I started started out on my new fad-- bicycle riding. I started at the cafe and shot down Main, swerved left on Park, up Church Street, left on Centre and back to Main. It worked like a dream. I adjusted the seat an inch and moved the handle bars just a little bit and I was gone again. This time I went down Main Street across Station to the Crown Lands as fast as I could pedal. I lifted the bike over the gate and pedaled along the old railway as fast as I possibly possibly could and headed north up the gravel road. Soon I came to a stretch in the road where someone had put some stones. When I rode over them, I discovered the shocks on the the bike were set too hard and the two boys whacked against the cross bar causing excruciating excruciating pain. I stopped and adjusted the shocks, gathered my wits and continued on. I rolled along making great speed but suddenly had to veer off the path to avoid striking a couple of hikers. Somehow the knobby tires picked up some doggy doo and flung it up my back. I peddled quickly to the Wilmot Creek to wash me and the new shirt off. Even falling into the Wilmot head first didn't curtail my enthusiasm enthusiasm for bike riding. Soon I was washed up and on my way again. I even had thoughts of joining the 'Tour de France' and giving Lance Armstrong a run for his title. A couple of miles down the road changed all that. I was riding along hell bent for leather at breakneck breakneck speed when I met a man and boy coming towards me on their bikes. I veered off and somehow a large burdock got caught in my front brake sending the bike end over end with me on it. I ended up with bucked shins and a lame back, 'stick tights' in my hair and everywhere they would stick. The man said he thought I was a goner after the third or fourth flip. I picked up the bike and limped back toward Orono knowing this wasn't what it started out to be. My journey journey was not quite over. A little further along a dog ran after me and tried biting me. His owners claimed the dog hated bicycle bicycle riders. Hell I was just walking along using the bike for a crutch. Some where along the way I stepped in some more dog poop and it really stuck to those mountain boot treads. With cowboy boots you can just wipe them off on the grass. When I got to the paved road I threw the boots in the ditch and walked home in my bare feet. Then, I leaned the bike up against the tree and thankfully thankfully someone stole it during the night. If they want the helmet they can have it too--it's the same colour as the bike. That's the end of biking for me, but I will be back walking on the Crown Lands and enjoying it. Jaworski Continued from page 2 electricity and water. When water prices went down, we started watering our lawns and cleaning our cars more frequently. frequently. With artificially low electricity prices, we didn't really worry too $ much if we left the lights on over night. With lower gas prices, we don't fret so much if our cottage is further and further away from our home. The same sort of thing happens happens with pollution. The problem problem with pollution is, in part, that it doesn't cost anything for me to pollute! No one owns the air, so no one really takes care of it. No one owns the water, so, likewise, no one really takes care of it. Some economists economists call this the "tragedy of the commons," when everyone owns something, paradoxical ly, no one does. It costs you a lot, in terms of an eyesore and possible health problems, to do nothing if your neighbour pollutes pollutes your backyard; but it doesn't cost you a lot if your neighbour pollutes at the local park, or in Lake Ontario, or something similar. It is a simple truth-people take care of their own. And they don't always take care of other -people's things, or of things that are owned by 'eveiyone in general.' That's why ownership makes so much sense, and private private property tends to be the best sort of environmental protection. protection. Likewise a free and open market makes so much sense, and fluctuating gas and electricity prices-in tune with changing supply, demand, and technology, that is, the market- is the best sort of protection against shortages and excesses. Beginner Watercolour Claeses six weeks starting Sept 8th Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays at the Burcombe Studio, Orono 905-983-5731 i i * \ 9 t f f ■\ - HAPPENINGS - Wednesday. September 3 Pineridge District Girl Guide Registration - 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Orono Town Hall. For more information call Donna Morrison 983-9107. Wednesday. September 3 Clarington Older Adult Association Annual Open House & Membership Registration at 26 Beech Ave., Bowmanville; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Call 905-697-2856 for more info. Sgp.temter4.-7. 151st Durham Central Fair at Orono Fairgrounds Saturday. September 6 Durham Central Fair Parade - "Agriculture in Motion". Parade starts 11:30 a.m. Sunday. September 7 Orono Fair Country Jamboree - A family afternoon show - 1 p.m. in the Arena Friday» September 12 Youth Video Dance presented by Kendal Community Centre, 7 to 10 p.m., $7.50 at the door or call 905-983-1081. Saturday. September 13 YUK YUKS - at Kendal Community Centre, 8 p.m., cash bar (must 19), DJ to follow, cost - $20/person. Tickets at Roaster or call 905-983-5204 to reserve. Saturday. September 20 \^rono Chili Cook-OIY* Main Street Orono ^ t * • ». y. s L^Z " t I