ELECTED OFFICIALS CHALLENGE

I had the privilege of being asked to do a special route with the Mayor of Mayerthorpe, Ms Janet Jabush. When I got to the community Janet had me set up in the Haven Inn. With great parking and a super clean room I turned up the AC on high and off I went to meet Mayor JJ at local staple Pizza Napoli. This place had the home cooked

vibe! From the seating being just like sitting at your kitchen table at home to the comfortable environment and the amazing smells, this place is nothing short of perfection. Steve and Petra took over this pizzeria just

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2 years ago; Steve stating that after being a patron for the previous 10 years with the original owners selling, he said he could not let this place close. So he bought it and learned how to run a restaurant from the original owners and he has not looked back. Mayor JJ joined me for some amazing pizza and we chatted about the route we were going to ride in the morning.

After a refreshing shower and sleep at the Haven Inn, I met up with JJ and her friend Lynn. Dean and Michelle from the Deep Creek Market joined us as well.

We left Mayerthorpe and rode Hwy 43 west to Whitecourt to have brunch at the RoadHouse Pub and Grill. The food was nothing short of delicious and our waitress was friendly and fast.

Fed and watered, we then made our way to Hwy 32 toward Swan Hills, with smooth roads and little traffic, it was a very mellow ride to the Town of Swan Hills. We met up with Councillor Carol Webster who treated us to milkshakes at Sammy’s restaurant, with the day warming up this was a delicious if unexpected treat. We said our goodbyes to Carol and headed on Hwy 33 to Fort Assiniboine. On the route there we pulled off to a roadside turnout where there was a hidden attraction.

The Geographical Centre of Alberta.

Me, Steve McGean (L) Carol Webster (M) Mayor JJ (R)

A short 3km hike can find this point of interest. After a few pictures we continued to Fort Assiniboine. This community has a few rumble stops like the museum, the largest Pick and Wagon Wheel and also the Royal Canadian Legion.

We then Backtracked on Hwy 33 to Hwy 658 toward Blue Ridge, there was a lovely stretch of fresh paved road.

We took this Hwy all the way back to Hwy 43 and back into Mayerthorpe, JJ took me to and talked with passion about the Memorial of the Fallen 4 RCMP officers that were lost in that community in March of 2005. We walked the grounds and JJ passed on information about the Officers and the incident, as we were there there were workers there cleaning and restoring the statues of each Fallen Constable.

stop to end the day, it was the look out of the Rochfort Bridge which is a large trestle bridge that crosses over Hwy 43, truly an amazing view of great ingenuity.

We ended the day with Ice cream at the Rochfort Bridge Trading Post, which after the heat from the day was very much warranted.

Thanks to Mayor Janet Jabush (JJ), Lynn, Dean, Michelle, Carol for the amazing ride and memories that will not be forgotten! Shiny side up!

Stop in to the Mayerthorpe town office and ask to see Mayor Janet Jabush. Ask her to go for a ride/drive - at the very least get her photo!

Then submit the photo/s to the to rumblealberta.com You could win a cool bit of swag for your efforts!