Cast of Characters

Crash, bang , metal on metal, " ooouch my hand," " mon epaule "... "excusez-moi madame... c'est ma faute... je regardais les canards ". So began a bike ride one Sunday morning with nary a soul in sight. Joe Cool meets Gramma Moses on a narrow bridge near the locks on the bike path. No blood on the ground but Joe is looking more like Moses as he bends over to clutch his leg and shoulder. Gramma is cool. " Are you alright ? " He is thoroughly embarrassed. " Oui, correct " although he looks pretty shaken up .I am holding my hand but able to ride. Au revoir ! Bye ducks.!

There is an old friend riding along the path in his Indiana Jones hat..no helmet for him. He used to be a costume designer for Radio Canada and knows how to put it all together. The old gentleman on roller blades passes using a broom for balance..." Hi Mr.Broom." he waves and nods. A voice behind me says " 20 ks a l' heure..solid..pas pire " and hands me a bonbon..Mr.Candyman..a regular on the bikepath.

At the point , a young mum and dad on blades with a boy of about seven on a bike and a little girl of about five on a trike ( exhausted and close to tears ) have stopped to talk. Dad is looking at his watch and saying to mum "I cant watch them, you will have to" , she doesnt hear as she is on her cellular. The boy says " look at the boats ,dad " but there is no response. The little girl looks lost. When does the fun begin ? I see the little boy a bit further on and point out the huge ship passing with the smoke stacks higher than the steeple of the church in the indian village across the river . He gives me a look that says "I dont talk to strangers " especially ones that talk nonsense. He didnt look at the ship but rather to his parents to protect him.

Heading back along the path past the big heavy legs of "Les courreurs de bois "..my legs tiring against the wind..back to see if the three Snow geese are still there ..if there is a Great Blue Heron fishing along the bank and I can watch the fish move down his long thin neck. Early Sunday morning in Lachine.

Chickadee