And now for something completely different

Route 66 Still Kicks. Driving America's Main Street is the title of the latest book by Rick Antonson, co-author of that famous book Slumach's Gold and author of the less known but fabulous book To Timbuktu for a Haircut.  Writes one reviewer: "Route 66 Still Kicks is an exhilarating, heartbreaking drive  down a forgotten road through unknown America. Author Rick Antonson and his travel nemesis, the inscrutable Peter, patiently journey 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles through eight states seeking (and finding) all the old parts that remain of Route 66." Warmly recommended. 
On Saturday, July 14, as from 11:00 in the morning Rick Antonson will be at Murdoch's Bookshoppe in Mission as Brian Murdoch puts it: "...to chat and sign copies of his book." Of course Murdoch has Route 66 Still Kicks in stock! 

Bill Barlee

From Brian Antonson:
Bill Barlee passed away last Thursday, June 14 at the age of 80.
Bill was the guy who brought "Canada West Magazine" to life in the late 60s, and many books, including Gold Creeks and Ghost Towns.  Along the way, he was elected to government and was for a time Minister of Tourism.  His television show, "Gold Trails and Ghost Towns", was a nation-wide hit over many years.
And it was HIS recounting of the Slumach story in "Canada West Magazine" that sparked OUR interest in doing a more thorough rendering of the legend, which resulted in our 1972 version of Slumach's Gold. Our 2007 offering was dedicated to him, and to that interest he sparked in the tale being told well!
Here's a Wiki on him. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Barlee
And an obituary from the Times Colonist. Click here. 
 

BC Winter Games 2014

Brian Antonson, of Slumachs' Gold fame, found his treasure right in Mission. He has been nominated president of the BC Winter Games that are slated to be held in Mission in 2014. They are now working on recruiting community leaders who are interested in forming a board of directors. Brian writes "I'm really pleased to be asked and thrilled to be involved in this exciting event." 
Click here to read a recent Mission Record item about the announcement!

Don Waite Talk

Gold hunters and historians (some forty in total) gathered to hear Don Waite speak about and show his discoveries and they were not disappointed. The photo shows Don and Tina (in red) as the chairs are filling in the room.

Donald Waite Talk

The Maple Ridge News dedicated their Looking Back column of Wednesday February 22, 2012 on Don Waite's talk, tomorrow, Thursday. For those not getting The News here is a cut-up version of the article. Unfortunately the story did not make it to their Web site. Click on the image to enlarge!

Donald Waite showing his nuggets!

At a meeting of the Maple Ridge Historical Society on Thursday, February 23, Donald Waite will talk about this new project: a book about British Columbia and Yukon gold hunters. He will show a selection of his nuggets, reproductions of great vintage photographs he collected for the book.

The meeting starts at 7:30 pm and is open to the general public at a $2 drop-in fee for non-members The meeting place is St. Andrew’s Heritage Hall, 22279, 116th Avenue in Maple Ridge—just off the Haney Bypass.

Members of the Lost Mine of Pitt Lake Society are particularly welcome.

Duncan McFadden

Don Waite found this story in the Lethbridge Herald of 26 February 1950. Click on the image to enlarge. Duncan E. McFadden was the gentleman to whom we owe (through Don) a transcript of the court records of the preliminary hearings of the Slumach case on 3 November 1890. The originals seem to be in Ottawa. Click here for more about that.