Old Pete's Tours

Old Pete's Tours
(It rhymes.)

I was sitting in January, thinking of May,
When the telephone rang on a blustery day.

“Cousin Barb, you’ve been picked, by mine and yours,
To have the last seat on Old Pete’s Tours.

We’re on our way to Canoose, on an apple pie run.
Leavin’ in the morning-it’s sure to be fun.”

Pete's Tours

The only non-Holder on a Fantasy Tour,
I was the chosen extra-couldn’t ask for more.
Travellin’ with Holders in a Dodge Caravan,
We set out early ‘cross the frozen land.

Winter Travel

A little added sweetness from my evil side--
I had usurped my sister to go on this ride.
She would be so jealous-it was worth a lot.
I grinned out loud in my backseat spot.

Barb and Kathy

Brother Garth Holder, was behind the wheel;
Peter beside him; behind him Neil.

Garth

Neil and Peter

Maureen, Garth’s wife, sat beside Neil.
She married into the family--has nerves of steel!

Maureen

And right beside me, in the rumble seat,
Safety Officer Sylvia made our group complete.

Sylvia

The first real challenge was the roundabout.
Sylvia was nervous; there was no doubt.

“Garth, watch out here! Do you know how to drive?
These people are crazy; I want to stay alive!”

Garth maneuvered round that, with not one hitch

And we drove all day without landing in the ditch.

Roundabout at Smythe Street

Politics were mixed in that GREEN van,
And no one was afraid to take a stand.
Neil’s from Alberta, Notley Land--
“Do you like Trudeau?” was his first demand.
Garth, the chauffeur, was locked in position--
Had lots of advice but chose not to listen.
Tiny Maureen, stuck in the middle,
Was impressed in Harvey by Don Messer’s Fiddle. 

Don Messer's Fiddle

Around York Mills, Peter phoned his son--
It was Dennis’ birthday on February One.
We sang Happy Birthday--sounded pretty good
For six senior citizens in New Brunswick's woods.
“Where’re you going, Dad?” he asked after the song.
“We’re all going crazy ---and it won’t take long.”

Pete's Choir(l-r: Garth, Peter, Sylvia, Barb,Maureen, Neil)

Heading Southwest along Route Three,
The sites we saw were mostly trees.
The road was rough; the stories outrageous.
Holder Personality is downright contagious.
We landed in Canoose at a Holder cousin’s-
Tea was on the table without much fussin’.
The stories got better around Jane's table,
Discussin’ folks, including Great Aunt Mabel.

Table that Discussion!(Jane, Sylvia, Neil, Peter, Maureen, Garth)

There was the Pearsonville wedding where the usher fell down.

Peter and Neil carried him out to the ground.

A cousin nurse did a quick examination--

“It’s the 40 Ouncer Flu, not an assassination.”

40-Ouncer Flu

And the tale of Elsie Holder--new teacher in Canoose--
Opened the schoolhouse door to a man on the loose.
He stood there bleeding, from a chainsaw gash--
In the midst of that crisis, Cupid flew past.
Elsie and Harlan soon were wed,
And in the following years, raised six kids.

Elsie and Harlan

We headed back on a different trail,

Detoured to McAdam, town borne of rail.
Drove by the train station, but we didn’t stop.
We were in a big hurry to find the Gun Shop.

McAdam Train Station

 

McAdam Gun Shop

“I’m not going in; they might shoot us all
And there’s probably antlers hanging on the wall!”

Sylvia was right 'bout the antlers, at least,
But we drove out of McAdam, still in one piece.

Safely back in Fredericton, we parted ways,
Thanking the gods for the eventful day.
Now I’ve done a lot of travellin’ to some distant shores
And NOTHING can compare to Old Pete’s Tours!

The Tour Bus

...Until Next Time...