I’ve always respected heights. But while I’m not afraid I fully understand that it hurts bad (or worse) should we fall. Whenever we were working high on scaffolding I always tried to remember that the end of my career was only one short step away. Even so, we still did some pretty crazy things through the years.

As I scanned some old pictures lately I was reminded of some of those adventures. Back in the late 70’s my brother phoned me from the Okanagan to tell me of these crazy guys who were driving on railroad tracks with their vehicles. And not just any tracks, they were driving the spectacular Myra Canyon of the famous abandoned Kettle Valley Railroad. I had long been a huge fan of this railroad. I had read the books about its creation at the turn of the century through some of the most rugged geography on earth. It sounded like the perfect opportunity to experience the historic railroad first hand before it disappeared forever.

I jumped in my truck and test drove it on the local train tracks. The wheels fit perfectly! It was time for a road trip in the name of hands-on research! When I got to my brother’s place we headed into the hills to find the abandoned tracks. I let little air out of the tires and we cruised the rails in style. I drove slowly for I certainly didn’t have a death wish. Some of the bridges and trestles were hundreds of feet high. The scenery was nothing short of spectacular! I used the opportunity to shoot lots of film which I used in the next years as inspiration for many pen and ink drawings and prints.

Those were the days...

-grampa dan