Rambling Rat

Today RamblingRat has featued on www.globaltv.com I have met up with CJ and Dylan Wilkins also working to benifit StreetKids International. I would like to thank the brothers for looking after me in Calgary and i have handed back the fuel can that they lent me in Germany, this fuel can i have carried around 7 countries and now it is back with Dylan.

Country Hills Toyota have been kind enough to sponsor me with fuel, thank you to Farid Shivji www.chtoyota.com

I would like to thank Pipe Stone Travel Store Mr Jim Broadhead for arranging with Tilley to replace my Tilley hat. www.travelstorecalgary.com  and thank you to all the team at Tilley www.tilley.com

Great fun today crossing the Canadian Lake Windemere at Invermere British Columbia.
The lake can be used in the winter when it freezes to get to other villages that would take longer to reach by road or would not be accessible by road in the summer.
The lake is also home to the www.tobycreeknordic.ca and that is the Toby Creek Nordic ski club and i spoke with Trail representative Joe Hildes who tells me that the 15klm trail for skaters and skiers is the largest of its kind in the world, but that has still to be officially confirmed.

I did a talk today at the Open Doors Rocky mountain school which is an alternative school in Invermere,
A really good bunch of kids with enthusaism for life, I want to thank Christine and Robin for letting me speak at their school.

RamblingRat Expedition use’s Puncture safe Gel inside the vehicle tires on our expedition vehicle, it prevents punctures and prolongs the life of the tires. Having travelling from the Uk and covering nine countreis we are using the same tires that we left with. Also the tires have been studded twice with snow studs and the car found itself in a ditch and a huge hole in Russia that broke the front axle, and have had temperature differences from plus 43oC to -50oC and are still rolling.

Thank you to Dave Matthew’s for being a RamblingRat sponsor.   www.pro-edge.co.uk

I am now in the lovely small town of Invermere in British Columbia Canada, and tomorrow i am doing a talk at the Open Doors Rocky Mountain alternative school. Also i am going to drive over a frozen lake to the town of Windemere that should be an experience.
Thank you to Nelson Toyota’s Cal Renwick for sponsoring me and also thanks to Tarynn, Jody and Erin from the “Sugar Shack” they kindly let me stay at their wonderful home.

I would like to share with you links to the websites of the two bands that came to “The Sugar Shack”

First, Glenna Garramone www.glenna-g.com and Jeff Andrew www.jeffandrew.ca

they are both outstanding and worth a look. Also check out “The Sugar Shacks” Jody who is Miss Qunincy

www.missquincy.net

I am staying at the Sugar Shack www.missquincy.net a roots home music venue in Nelson.
This is a lovely old private house home for Erin, Jody and Tarynn they participate in the coach surfing program and that is how i found them.
I am now traveling alone again as Kenny has gone to Vancouver to be with family.

We arrived in Penticton on thursday evening and Kenny and I have been staying with my cousins, Ian and Tiff, they are part of a family farm that grows grapes as part of the Okanagan wine area, Penticton is set in a lovely area and we were looked after very well by my family.
When we left on wednesday morning Ian filled up our fridge with all sorts of meat and bottles of wine, other family also joined in giving me other food stuffs so i have a collection of homemade pies and fruit in jars too, i am looking forward to sharing this with people i meet along my way.
Whilst in Penticton the RamblingRat expedition was sponsored with bio diesel by Barry Beecroft fuels and a lovely lady called Judy Poole, she had won Penticton business lady of the year, so that was kind of her.