Canadiana Backpackers Blog

Old Freddie rocked up at the hostel today! It’s his third visit to Toronto. Not the Freddy from the “Friday the 13th” movies (although it could be argued that there are certain similarities). And perhaps “rocked up” is a poor description. It’s more like he roared up!

Freddie came to town on a BMW 1150cc touring bike. It’s a silver, gleaming little beauty – except for the front which is well spattered with the corpses of a multitude of insects, both large and small.

Since we last saw him (about a year ago) he has travelled the width of Canada; the length of the United States and Mexico, through the troubled Chiapas Province and into Guatamala then onto Belize. He’s got the wanderlust pretty severely and has a healthy thirst for adventure.

Some of the places he has visited are not exactly safe areas of this world and the places that he’s been are too many to list in this short blog. But Freddie (an award-winning broadcaster in his day) is rather uniquely equipped to survive dangerous situations.

He once sported the Red Beret of Britain’s famed and feared Parachute Regiment before finally joining the “Hooligan’s from Hereford” – the legendary Special Air Service. He appears quite benign and avuncular; but don’t let that look fool you! In a crisis situation, Freddie can be about as benevolent as a Wolverine!

We meet a lot of interesting characters here at the Canadiana and even among them, Freddie is rather unique and unusual. We plan to sit down with him for a few drinks and hear all about his latest adventures.

Fast Freddie.

Freddie and our very own “Biker Chick” Dr. Sharon.

Sharon has been a staff member here at the Canadiana for the past seven years while she worked her way through school. Sadly (very sadly) she’s about to move on! It’s been a long, hard climb for our little (five-foot nothing) Sharon but she’s made it!

Sharon is now a qualified Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. There are simply not enough superlatives to describe her. She’s smart (obviously); efficient, good natured and, at the risk of sounding sexist, an absolute stunner! The hostel will be just a little less beautiful without her.

She’s just had a birthday too! She’s now, in my humble opinion, the perfect age for a woman! All I’ll tell you is it’s twenty-something. We had a little party here for her – sort of a dual celebration!

It’s a growing field she has chosen enter. The tone and tenor of the times has spawned a growing movement of informed people who resist the “drug therapy” upon which western medicine is so reliant.

I believe that she intends to hang her shingle out in a different country. I think in the United Kingdom, but I could be mistaken. It would be an excellent choice anyhow because I’ve heard that in the UK it has found acceptence in high places.

I believe even Her Royal Majesty seeks Naturopathhic treatment for certain ailments. And you’ll have to admit that the Queen is a pretty spry and healthy octogenarian.

Dr. Sharon wth Canadiana staff members: left to right; Myriam; Kyle; Sandra (Mgr.); Sharon; Lesley; Simon; Michel

I’m typing this blog today using the “Hunt System”; that is, I hunt for the keys. The time was that Gender Bias was so firmly entrenched in western society that typing was a skill not even offered to males in the school system.

Things have changed since I was in school; and boy, have they ever changed! Gender equality has made quantum leaps in Canada. Women can now go topless in public (three cheers for equal rights!) and even command troops in combat.

We are not the only country that has made great strides in gender equality. Oz (Australia) appears to have opened as many doors to women as any other place. Take our recent guest Amanda, for instance. Amanda drives a truck!

No big deal you say? Wait until you see the truck! It is a six-wheeled, ore-hauling behemoth capable of carrying a whopping 240 tons – that’s about the weight of two Blue Whales! I’m not sure just how big the tires are but I’m guessing somewhere around 10 – 12 feet (three or four meters) in diameter!

Amanda is pretty small – as in, small and pretty. It isn’t the safest occupation one can find. Try stopping a vehicle on a sloping mine track in the rain while hauling 240,000 kilos of ore! As a consequence, it is a highly paid occupation!

When not driving heavy equipment Amanda supervises “shots” at the mine. “Shots” refer to the detonation of explosives. Also very dangerous, but lots of fun I imagine!

So to women like Amanda the world over all I can say is: “You’ve come a long way baby!”