Clancy Tucker's Blog, page 107

1 September 2019 - GHOST TOWN IN BANKHEAD, ALBERTA

GHOST TOWN IN BANKHEAD, ALBERTA
G'day folks,
Once a bustling mining town operated by the Canadian Pacific Railroad, the crumbling ruins of Bankhead now lie abandoned up in the mountains of Banff National Park. Educational plaques and an interpretive trail tell the tale of what one historian dubbed “the twenty year town.”



Bankhead was established as a company town in 1903 to provide coal to CPR locomotives and Banff Springs Hotel boilers. By 1905 the frontier community was dotted with homes, shops, community buildings, even a school. In its heyday, 300 men worked the mines beneath Bankhead and excavated 200,000 tons of coal per year.




While the supply of coal underneath Bankhead was plentiful, actually getting at it was another matter. Much of the stuff lay in difficult to access folding and faulted seams that forced miners to dig an inefficient 185-mile-plus network of tunnels and ventilation shafts underneath the town.

 A historical brochure notes that the unusually brittle coal was far from ideal for the railroad. “As soon as it was exposed to the air, it began to crumble;” and at the end of the production line “nearly half of it was classified as ‘dust.”



 
Bankhead was ultimately undone not by its coal but by poor relations between the miners and the railroad. In a decade known for its labor strikes, there were several walkouts in Bankhead that won the workers higher wages, but exacerbated the mine’s cashflow problems. An April 1922 strike broke the camel’s back, and CPR simply closed the coal mine. Since Bankhead was a company town all economic activity dried up with the mine, and the residents drifted away. 

In 1930 the National Parks Act forbade future logging or mining in Banff, and Bankhead’s fate as a ghost town was locked in place.


Clancy's comment: Mm ... Another town bites the dust, eh?
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31 August 2019 - KAREN HENDRIKS - GUEST WRITER AND AUTHOR

 KAREN HENDRIKS - GUEST WRITER AND AUTHOR -
G'day folks,
Today, I present my interview with an author who was inspired to write after a serious illness.
Welcome, Karen ...



1.     TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
I started writing three and a half years ago after a serious illness. My intuition kept on calling me to write and I could no longer ignore the call. I now can’t imagine not being a writer.

2.     WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?
When I was studying teaching at university the children’s writing elective was full and I was really disappointed. However, in our subject Language 3 we had to write a story. The lecturer commented on my paper that I should write and made a point of speaking with me. It stuck in my mind. I was also involved with the making of the big book Gangmangang. Then as I teacher I loved children’s books and promised myself one day I would write them too. It was a dream stuck in limbo until I finally decided to make it real a few years ago.

3.       WHAT TYPE OF PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST SHOOT FROM THE HIP? 
At the moment I am a panster when I write.  But I do plan in my head when I am thinking of a new idea. Other times I just write until I get a draft done. I do research online and read lots of picture books. I shoot from the hip most of the time. I am hoping to venture into junior readers and want to try planning.

4.     WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?I love the freedom and the fun of writing.  I have lots of quirky ideas and enjoy the challenge of turning them into stories. Being a writer is a celebration of being me.

5.      WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
Everything about being a writer is slow and nothing can be rushed.

6.      WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?
I was a teacher. I loved Kindergarten and I specialised in children’s literacy.




7.      WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
It has not been achieved yet but I do have my first picture book Feathers hopefully coming out at the end of this year.

8.      WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?I have some quirky picture book stories that I am working on and I am thinking of having a go at a junior reader.

9.      WHAT INSPIRES YOU?Lots of things can inspire me from images, something someone says, a thought, our dog Elmo. Things my kids did when they were little.

10.  WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?        Children’s picture books

11.  DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
Keep going it is very competitive and challenging so just move forward and be true to you.

12.  DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?
Sometimes when I try too hard it all goes to mush.

13.  DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?
I get into a routine and then it gets ruined. My husband’s passion is travel so as soon as I get on a roll we go away. Then when I get home again I have to start all over again.

14.  DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?
Home, our local coffee shops or our library.

15.  WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?
The warmth it brings to my heart.




16.  WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
Too many to name.  One of my most favourite picture books is Cicada by Shaun Tan. It totally cracks me up.

17.  WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
Your story made me cry or I just love this. Just seeing someone laugh at one of my funny stories is gold.

18.  WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?
None because everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

19.  WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?
For sure. My first picture book Feathers is in response to my own serious illness.

20.  OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
Family and friends, travel, Elmo our dog, the sea, yummy food, stories, music, flowers, hugs.

21.  DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?
22.  All of my stories are edited if they are being published.


23.  DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.
Each day is perfect because it is new.

24.  IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE? WHY?
My husband, he gets me and because we are so different we would come up with a solution together to get off the island.




25.  WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO WORLD LEADERS?
This is hard but world peace leads to world harmony.

26.  WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? 
To keep on writing and doing the best I can.

27.   WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON BOOK TRAILERS? DO THEY SELL BOOKS?

I love watching book trailers and I am sure they help sell books but word of mouth is still the best way to sell books. That includes on social media.

28.  DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
There are bits of me in everything I write so yes.

29.  DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
Yes, but so does learning my writing craft. As they both go together.

30.  DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING? 
No. It is not an option.

31.  WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MANUSCRIPT TO WRITE? WHY?
This is a hard one. Feathers was a story that also helped me heal.

32.   HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER. 
Success as a writer is every time you believe in yourself and put pencil to paper.
33.  WHAT SHOULD READERS WALK AWAY FROM YOUR BOOKS KNOWING? HOW SHOULD THEY FEEL?   
Readers should feel uplifted, empowered, enriched or just plan happy.  Each story has its own message so there is not one thing a reader should know. It is what the reader wants to know from the story.
34.  WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOOKS MADE INTO MOVIES? EVER WRITTEN A SCREENPLAY?
 It is not a goal but it would be wonderful.
  35.  HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO DESIGNING A BOOK COVER? 
A book cover is vital so lots.
  36.  WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?To be a successful children’s author with my books published.


37.    WRITING IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT MARKETING YOU, YOUR BOOKS AND YOUR BRAND? ANY THOUGHTS? 
You are your brand and marketing hugely important. Once the story is published the hard work begins. As an author you need to promote your books.

38.   ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?
 No
  39.  DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS.
kind, lovable, quirky, fun, independent
40.  WHAT PISSES YOU OFF MOST?   
Meanness for no reason.



41.  WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? GOOD ONE? 
Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey.


42.   WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D WRITE?
Ooh this is hard. Magic does happen if you believe.
43.   WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPIER THAN YOU ARE NOW? CARE TO SHARE? 
A picture book contract.

44.   ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD? 
I write daily inspirational quotes for writers on Instagram.  Check them out and my other pages.



SMASHWORDS




Clancy's comment: Go, Karen. Good luck with a picture book contract.
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30 August 2019 - INSPIRING QUOTES

INSPIRING QUOTES 
G'day guys,
It's time to share some inspiring quotes. Pass them on to those who might need them.






















Clancy's comment: I hope they fired you up. I loved the one about silence. So true.
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29 August 2019 - TIN TOY MUSEUM IN YOKOHAMA, JAPAN

TIN TOY MUSEUM IN YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
G'day folks,
I've included a few collections and museums on this blog but here is something different. Yep, more tin toys than you can shake a clapping monkey at. 



A random walk through the narrow residential streets of Yokohama can often lead to unexpected discoveries. Like stumbling on an unassuming little house that’s a toy museum, home of one of the world’s largest vintage tin toy collections.



In the tight space of a couple of rooms the club director’s “Kitahara Collection” can fill you with nostalgia, and maybe a touch of the creeps.




The toys range from the 1890s through the 1960s, a kind of “golden age” for tin toys. Most of them were made in Japan, and all were amassed by Teruhisa Kitahara, the author of several books on vintage toys and one of the world’s preeminent collectors. Kitahara has been hunting down tin toys and wind-ups since the 1970s, and the examples on display in his little museum are all part of his personal collection.




 The museum, which includes a small shop where you can buy some tin toys for yourself, was opened to the public in 1986. It became a way for Kitahara to share his spinning acrobats, chiming monkeys, toy planes, and mini railroads for all toy fans. There are some quirks in the collection too, like the Creature from the Black Lagoon staring out at all the toys from a glass case on the floor. Maybe he’s the security guard.



Clancy's comment: Yep, shake, rattle and roll.

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28 August 2019 - OLD SNAPS OF THE TOUR de FRANCE

OLD SNAPS OF THE TOUR de FRANCE
G'day folks,
Ever watched the Tour de France? I love it, and the youngest ever cyclist has just won it. So, I thought I'd post a few old photographs of this famous race. These snaps were taken in the 1930's. Today, athletes are pampered like babies and they ride very expensive bikes, but it would have been a tough job in the old days.



























Clancy's comment: It would have been fairly rugged, eh? Love these shots.
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27 August 2019 - AMAZING FRENCH PUBLICITY CARAVANS OF YESTERYEAR

AMAZING FRENCH PUBLICITY CARAVANS OF YESTERYEAR
G'day folks,
Well, here is a walk back in time. Some of the weird-looking caravans pictured here were first developed for the Tour de France cycling race which began in 1903, established by a French newspaper to increase sales of their newspaper. So, check out some of these vehicles.


























Clancy's comment: Wow. They would be worth a fortune today.
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26 August 2019 - Znesinnia Park Rail Tracks in L'Viv, Ukraine

Znesinnia Park Rail Tracks in L'Viv, Ukraine
G'day folks,
The largest park in Lviv is surrounded by a network of disused rail tracks.    The tracks weave their way around Znesinnia Regional Landscape Park and run for more than two miles. Following them provides panoramic views of the green hills surrounding Lviv, as well as an unusual look at ordinary people’s homes and abandoned industrial buildings. All you need is a pair of good walking shoes and a willingness to plow through high grass at some places. 
 The abandoned train tracks of Lviv are actually visible on Google Maps. They show as a thin grey line weaving around Park Znesinnya. A good starting point is the overpass on Polova Street, which is a 45 minute walk from the city center (or a 20 minute bus ride on bus number 20 towards Severyna Nalyvaika St) . From the overpass on Polova street the abandoned tracks go east, actually running parallel to tracks that are still in use for a few hundred meters (no worries, they’re still at a safe distance).  You can reach the abandoned tracks from various points, just look at Google Maps where the tracks run near a road. If you decide to walk the whole length of the tracks (and starting on Polova Street) you will end up right next to Lyckakivska Street, a couple of miles east of Rynok Square.    There are bus stops at regular intervals along this street so getting back to the city center is a piece of cake.  Clancy's comment: Wow. Yet again I've found something that has fallen by the wayside. Sad, eh?I'm ...       

25 August 2019 - STUNNING CAVES OF HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK IN LOGAN, OHIO

STUNNING CAVES OF HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK IN LOGAN, OHIO
G'day folks,
Welcome to another great place to visit. Rare recess caves fill this unbelievably beautiful Ohio park.
 People don’t believe the pictures are from an Ohio park, but many who know of this incredible landscape consider it the most beautiful land in the Midwest. Striking rock formations speckle the park, which is filled with gorges and caves waiting to be explored.



 These caves and gorges are more than just intriguing slivers of land to explore. They also speak to the park’s long geologic history.





Thousands of years ago, when the Wisconsin Glacier began to melt and recede, its waters bled across the land that’s now part of the park, rushing through cracks in the ground and scarring the earth with deep, winding gorges and recess caves, which are rock shelters carved into the soft sediment. The caves are certainly large enough to wander within—The Rock House cave has a ceiling that’s 25 feet high, and the main corridor is 200 feet long and up to 30 feet wide.




 The human history is interesting, too. Old Man’s Cave is the most popular attraction and was named after a hermit from the late 1700s who lived in the cave. Ash Cave was named because when the colonial settlers first discovered it, they found mysterious, massive piles of ashes created by Native Americans waiting within.


Clancy's comment: Worth visiting if you get the opportunity.
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24 August 2019 - BRILLIANT PHOTOGRAPHY

BRILLIANT PHOTOGRAPHY
G'day folks,
Welcome to some fine shots taken by clever photographers.
























Clancy's comment: Excellent, eh? Loved the photograph of the kids watching television.
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23 August 2019 - A COLLECTION OF LOST TOYS IN THE UKRAINE

A COLLECTION OF LOST TOYS IN THE UKRAINE
G'day folks,
Here is an interesting tale about a Ukraine alleyway that has become its own little island of forgotten things. 


  This typical urban courtyard in one of Lviv’s oldest neighborhoods has become a makeshift museum, and home to an unlikely exhibition of toys that were tragically forgotten and left behind. The collection began when a resident of one of the surrounding apartment blocks at 1 Mukachivska St found two lost toys nearby, and placed them under a small roof in the shared courtyard, in case the owner returned to collect them. 
The owner never did come back, and an unlikely shrine to lost things was born. Ever since, the little corner has attracted all manner of junk and former plaything, creating a melancholy little space that is nonetheless fascinating for its bittersweet looks.   




In the years since, the collection has grown as residents of the apartment blocks surrounding the yard have given a temporary home to hundreds of plush animals, dolls, musical instruments, figurines, and bicycles. One of the things that makes this amazing little found museum all the more stunning is the fact that all of the found items are arranged like they  are part of some little shrine. Rather than being carelessly tossed into a pile in the corner, the various toys and tchotchkes are placed on rickety shelves and pieces of furniture. 




 The collection at the yard is constantly changing, as new toys are added to the collection, and existing ones are collected by their owner, or find their way to a new home. 
Clancy's comment: I know a few kids who would spend hours playing here. Did you notice that this area has a sandpit?
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