Povey Prattle

Son, brother, husband, father, friend, deacon.  Faithful in each of these vocations. How I always miss this man of God, but especially today on his birthday.

Ann and I  traveled those 9,500 miles around the U.S. and Canada together in September 1975. The photo' must have been taken sometime between October 1975  (I had grown my beard during the summer of that year), and July 1976 when I returned to the U.S. to begin my ordained ministry. I found the photo' in one of those formal folders which suggest it was taken at a wedding or some other celebration, an event of which I have no memory!

We left Calgary at 8:00 a.m. on  Monday.  We arrived in Toronto at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, all on the same flipping 'bus.  It  was a brutal ride. Ann suggested that we should break our journey for a restful night in a hotel/motel.  I in my "sweet reasonable dominant male" voice replied that we'd still have to complete the journey by 'bus.  I wish that I had been kinder and more understanding. I liked the endless Prairie and the Prairie towns,  Ann was not impressed. We had a break in Regina and ate pizza with another traveler, an Irishwoman named Mary. We got to Winnipeg at 5:15 a.m. and were turfed off the 'bus so that it could be cleaned and serviced.  We were off the 'bus for over two hours.  It was bitterly cold.  There was not a coffee shop or cafe in sight.  I have never forgiven Winnipeg. Historic picture of the 'bus station in Winnipeg. It says Greyhound but I suspect that Trailways u...

We  moved on from Bellingham WA to Vancouver BC. At the borders I declared my occupation as Ordinand (one who plans to be ordained) to the Canadian Immigration agent.  He was confused/bemused/amused. We had enough time in Vancouver to visit Grouse Mountain and wander Gastown before getting a midnight 'bus to Calgary.  Of course we sat up front and as I think I have said before,  I refused to sleep a wink so that I could  enjoy the Rockies on a moon lit night. I wrote in my journal of "the unutterable beauty of the Rockies with mountains, steams and lakes...........I wish that I had words to describe the beauty". Mt. Revelstoke Crowfoot Mountain and Glacier And yes, we saw one of those l...o...n...g trains as it snaked its way through the mountain tunnels. A home awaited us in Calgary.   We stayed with Marilyn D and her husband Dave.   Marilyn and I had attended the same Plymouth Brethren Assembly in Brist...

After our whistle stop tour of Seattle  (thanks to Bret) Ann and I took yet another Trailways 'bus ride, this time to Bellingham, WA. There we were to be the guests (sight unseen)  of Les and Grace Nelson, upon the recommendation of their daughter Mary Ellen who I knew as a student at my Theological College, St. John's, Nottingham U.K. Bellingham. Ann and I were yet again feted with gracious hospitality. The highpoint was when the Nelsons took us in their little boat to nearby Lummi Island. What a gorgeous, semi-wild, and (then) unspoiled  place.  We loved it.  Les and Grace made a barbecue one of the Island's wee beaches  (just like the one above). Ann and I, city folks to the core, could never have imagined a barbecue on a wee island off the coast of the State of Washington. We savoured our hosts, the food, and the natural beauty.  It was unforgettable.   Oh how blessed and grateful we were. Back to Bret....

Edited and re-posted from yesterday Our 1975 Great adventure continues. My girl friend Ann and I left Flagstaff for the thirteen hour 'bus ride to Salt Lake City. There we were met by the delightful Eric and Penny  (Penny is the sister of my seminary classmate Jay). Eric and Penny did us proud. I remember: *  Going to a supermarket at about 11:00 p.m.  It was a 24 hour store, quite unlike anything we had seen in England. *  The very wide streets which astonished us.  Eric said that they had been planned so that a wagon train could make easy U-turns in the early days of the Mormon settlement. *  Visiting the S.L.C. Tabernacle where I signed the guest book.  Later that year and back in the U.K.  Mormon missionaries visited me at my Theological College.  There's follow up for you! *  A visit to the Utah State Fair. *  A most wonderful visit to the beautiful mountains near Salt Lake City. They were resplendent with ...

My girl friend Ann and I left Flagstaff for the thirteen hour 'bus ride to Salt Lake City. There we were met by the delightful Eric and Penny (Penny is the sister of my seminary classmate Jay). Eric and Penny did us proud. I remember: * Going to a supermarket at about 11:00 p.m.  It was a 24 hour store, quite unlike anything we had seen in England. * The very wide streets which astonished us.  Eric said that they had been planned so that a wagon train could make easy U-turns in the early days of the Mormon settlement. * Visiting the S.L.C. Tabernacle where I signed the guest book. Later that year and back in the U.K.  Mormon missionaries visited me at my Theological College.  There's follow up for you! * A visit to the Utah State Fair. * A most wonderful visit to the beautiful mountains near Salt Lake City. They were resplendent with wild flowers.  We had a picnic by the side of a sparkling stream.  It was a splendid visit.  S...