www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, August 8, 2013 | 4 Cyclist keen to see the other side of the hill by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff An Oakville market researcher is preparing to embark on an 800-kilometre bike ride around Lake Ontario to commemorate a similar trek made by his grandfather in 1913. Gerald Bramm, 61, said he has been training hard for the ride, set to begin Saturday, Aug. 17 and conclude Sunday, Aug. 25. Bramm's grandfather, George Bramm, rode around the lake 100 years ago at age 19, recording his experiences in a diary, which was passed down to his grandson. "I think I'm doing this partly for the same reason he did it. There's that desire to see what's on the other side of the hill," said Bramm. "As a younger kid, I biked a fair bit and I still love that feeling of getting on a bike. There's that sense of freedom and doing something under your own steam. At the same time, I'm interested in kind of rekindling that relationship with my grandfather and trying to imagine what things would have been like in 1913." Bramm said his grandfather's journal indicated interesting sights and stops from his trip, as well as details like how he wore a suit when he started his nine-day ride -- Bramm said there was not a wide variety of leisure wear at the time. The journal also revealed George's interest in prisons as he wrote about Kingston Penitentiary and took a tour of Auburn Correctional Facility Gerald Bramm is preparing to make the same 800-km cycling tour around Lake Ontario that his grandfather, George Bramm, made in 1913. | photo by Hannah Yoon Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) in the U.S. According to the pages of the journal, George had a sweet tooth for ice cream and would often stop to take in an outdoor Vaudeville show. He took no maps, instead following telegraph wires. Bramm said his grandfather went on to work as an accountant at a car dealership and said he has many fond memories of him. "He died when I was about 22, so I knew him quite well," said Bramm. "He was a very interesting guy. He had a great sense of humour. He continued working into his 80s. He ended up being a bookkeeper at a gas station in what is now Mississauga. I never heard any stories about his trip around the lake growing up, which was kind of strange." While Bramm is unsure what adventures await him, he said two things are certain. First, there will be considerably more cars than there were in 1913 and second, the trip will cost a lot more. According to his journal, George spent $25 during the entire trip. However, purchasing a bike to take the distance has already set back Bramm about $1,000. Bramm is going to follow his grandfather's route as best he can after 100 years of development. From Oakville, he'll follow the lakeshore to Kingston and cross at Wolfe Island, as did his grandfather, to the U.S. The ride will continue through upper New York State and through Lewiston, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, and back to Oakville. Besides honouring his grandfather, Bramm is also riding to raise money for Youth Assisting Youth (YAY), a charity that provides a peer mentoring service to improve life prospects for at-risk and newcomer children. YAY matches youths aged six to 15 with volunteers aged 1629, who act as positive role models. Anyone interested can visit http:// bikearoundthelakeblog.com/our-charity-ofchoice. AUGUST 16 OPENS Alert: Your ash trees may be at risk from the Emerald Ash Borer ® TruGreen, Canada's leading lawn and tree care company, has been contracted to treat ash trees on public lands in the Town of Oakville from June through August. Look for your CNE Guidebook in today's paper! If you did NOT receive a CNE Guidebook in today's paper, please call 416.774.2354 or e-mail cneguidebookdelivery@insidetorornto.com The CNE Guidebook is also available onsite at CNE Information Booths and online at TheEx.com! Ash trees in the Oakville area may be at risk from Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive pest that destroys ash trees if left untreated. Avoid the costs of removal and replacement by treating your ash trees today with help from TruGreen. Special pricing available for Oakville residents. Call or visit TruGreen online for details. 1-866-294-7962 TruGreen.ca Learn more about protecting your ash trees. Join the Oakville Canopy Club. For more information visit oakville.ca