Spent the first 21 years of my life in Welland, Ontario, Canada (90 minutes
from Toronto) a small industrial town that most of my friends couldn't wait
to get out of.
Travelled for a year in Europe (70-71), mostly Spain, where I too went to a
party down a red dirt road but a few years too late to meet Joni.
Back to Canada briefly then off to Seattle to visit the woman who was to
become my first wife (we had met in Spain). Stayed there one year as an
illegal alien (I loved being both illegal and an alien.)
Both of us back to Welland (via the Appalachian Trail!) where we married in
order for her to be able to stay in Canada (The things you do for love!)
In 1974 we moved to Calgary, Alberta, which was the Canadian boomtown where
everyone went to look for work. Spent six years there having two children
until my wife decided to take up with a log cabin builder in the interior of
British Columbia.
Followed her and the kids to B.C. where I lived in a small one-room cabin in
the woods for three years and did most of my growing as a person.
After several years of visiting and letter writing moved to Vancouver in
1983 to eventually marry my soul mate (the susan in my return address).
And that's how I came to live in Belcarra (close to, but hidden from,
Vancouver) working in a beautiful park, to become this entity known only as
Ranger Rick
