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Camping in Quebec: 1959
This is my oldest brother and one of his buds, heading off for a weekend of camping, riding their bikes on two-lane blacktop and gravel back roads in the Eastern Townships, Quebec, summer of '59. View full size.
Railbikers response
510Russ
I appreciate your comment on my submitted photo. I can relate to your story about an abandoned railway, as in late 1950s Bedford, there was an abandoned rail line that led out of town, to an abandoned quarry...
I remember exploring down that line with my buds as kids, as in "Stand By Me".
It was really a remarkable, and never to be repeated, time to be youngsters.
But yes, this picture is from the late 50s. These bicycles were relatively new CCM 3-speeds, with British Stermy-Archer rear hubs. By this time, balloon tires were falling out of fashion.
I had, as a kid, a "Leave It To Beaver" experience in 1950s Bedford, Quebec, for which I am very grateful.
Days gone by...beautiful.
When kids were not micro-managed, and they could actually do a trip like the one you describe, sans adults!
The Railbikers
I have written a story about a couple guys like this who converted their bicycles to go on an abandoned railway. They headed west in search of adventures!
This picture look more as if it were taken when I was around the age of these boys -- in the mid-1960s. The tires on these bikes aren't the ultra-fat ones I think of from the 40s and 50s. (I got a Schwinn Typhoon for Christmas 1965 when I was 9. I had it restored a few years ago, and it is still at Mom's house.)
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