Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/53603
we've got mail To Wetaskiwin with Love RE: ROADSIDE – "THE MAKING OF A MONUMENT" (NOVEMBER 2011) Seeing the water tower brought back a fl ood of happy memories. Our grandparents lived in Wetaskiwin many years ago. Driving there from Edmonton on unpaved roads in a car packed with seven children and two adults was quite an ordeal. Us siblings had one goal on those trips: be the fi rst to see the water tower. It was the light at the end of a long trip. When the tower came into view, we knew what was coming: Grandpa, Grandma and lots of good food. Good times, happy memories. Thanks! –Linda Aronyk, via email It was a pleasure to see my old friend the Wetaskiwin water tower honoured in your magazine. The story catapulted me back to my childhood, to driving there from Falun with my mother and siblings. The kids' favorite game was to be the fi rst to spot the water tower. Sometimes one of us would holler, "I can see the water tower!" when there was no possibility, resulting in a huge commotion and demands for mom to referee. –Judy Paterson, via email I read Westworld cover to cover, and the Wetaskiwin water tower article caught my eye. When I was seven years old, I would look out from upstairs in our old farmhouse and use the water tower as a landmark for where my mom was buried. She died in 1948 and was laid to rest just across the road from the tower. I am so glad that it has been saved and is in use again. I am 70 years old now and still visit Wetaskiwin regularly. –Lola Zbukvich (Johnson), via email Caught Sans Cash Re: Travel Smarts, "Paper or Plastic" (November 2011) I recently learned the hard (and expensive) way that carrying even a small amount of cash is a good idea when visiting another country. My wife and I were in a rented car in Orange County, California, seeing the sights. I had my Garmin Nüvi GPS, but somehow forgot to set it to "avoid toll roads." Long story short, I ended up without cash on a Keep Your Kits Close Re: Up Front, "Winter Kit List" (November 2011) There were two references to emergency roadside kits in the November issue. I agree that it's a good idea to get one of these before venturing out on our highways in winter. However, I would recommend that this kit be carried inside the vehicle and not in the trunk. If you slid off the road into a snow- bank, or were rear-ended, it's quite likely that you would be unable to get to the kit in the trunk. Even if you're just stopped on the highway in traffi c, it's so much easier to reach into the back seat than to go outside. –Tom Robinson, via email From Rick Lang, AMA Driver Education: AMA recommends that all heavy objects, such as emergency kits, be secured inside the trunk for safety. In a collision or rollover, these objects can become airborne and injure a vehicle's occu- pants. If you are going on a trip in winter, it doesn't hurt to throw a warm blanket into the car, but you should also be dressing for the weather. Spare Care Re: Behind the Wheel, "Warming Up for Winter" (September 2011) I thought it would be worthwhile to remind readers to check the spare tire once or twice a year. Test the air pressure and ensure the tire can be easily removed from the vehicle – especially if it's stored underneath, like it is on my truck. Loosen the bolt and spray some oil on it to help prevent rust, then tighten it back up. I ran into problems last weekend when no-exit toll road. Because we were on a tight schedule, I missed the 48-hour window to pay online and I arrived home to a $62 fi ne, plus an additional $15 charge from the car rental company. Lesson learned. –Deryle Penner, via email I punctured a tire. If it weren't for my AMA membership, I'm pretty sure I would still be in that gravel parking lot trying unscrew the rusted bolt that was securing my (almost fl at) spare tire! –Ryan Rainkie, via email Send your comments to: Letters, Westworld Alberta, Box 8180, Stn. South, Edmonton, AB, T6H 5X9; fax 780- 430-5676; email westworld@ama.ab.ca. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity. View the digital ver- sion of Westworld Alberta online with a computer or mobile device. You'll see all of the stories that appear in print, plus exclusive online content. ama.ab.ca/Westworld WESTWORLD >> FEBRUARY 2012 5