ELORA – If you can’t dangle from a rocky outcropping yourself, there’s still a thrilling adventure story in someone else’s experience.
If you used to ride a bike long distance but now you can’t, there’s still a thrilling adventure story in someone else’s experience.
If you are ready for your own adventure but not sure how to proceed, there’s still a thrilling adventure story in someone else’s experience.
Ian Evans and Rick Goodfellow know from experience that people love to hear these adventure stories.
And for the past 12 years the group they founded, Elora Adventurers, has been meeting monthly to listen to a guest speaker talk about theirs.
The Elora Adventurers are resuming in-person meetings with the next meeting on Nov. 17 and Evans will be the guest speaker, talking about his 2021 expedition to cycle 8,000 kilometres across Canada, connecting with all 10 provinces.
Raymond Soucy, executive director of the Centre Wellington Community Foundation, will introduce Evans as Evans raised some funds for the organization on the tour.
Evans and his friend Rick Goodfellow have had a few adventures – together and independently – which is how the Adventurers began in the first place.
The duo circumnavigated Iceland by bike in 2009, made a short film, and screened it at the Gorge Cinema in Elora upon their return.
The response was so favourable, they decided to bring other adventurers to town to talk about their adventures. And the club was born.
Club is not the right word as there is no membership and no obligation to go on an adventure or to talk about it if you do.
“We really just provide a forum for people to share these stories,” Goodfellow said in an interview.
“And over time, they have become an integral part of the Elora/Fergus social scene in the winter.”
“I think it’s timely. People are looking for something like this,” added Evans.
Guest speakers range in age from 17 to 85 and the talks have featured adventures on every continent, such as cycling through India, volunteering in Africa, and even life as a local vet in Ontario.
The talks are about 45 minutes and often include a visual component, followed by a Q&A.
Tom and Caroline Skimson, who live in Elora, have attended almost all the presentations over the years.
“What we derive from this is being exposed to the ideas and people with an adventurous spirit,” Tom Skimson said.
“When I look back, I can identify things I’ve done that don’t match Ian’s adventures. But I’ve been inspired to try things with my kids and grandkids. And there’s a solid group who come to the meetings and come back, and back again.
“They want to expose people to learn about things they might never otherwise think about.”
Evans and Goodfellow want newcomers to Centre Wellington to learn about the group as well. While they started in Elora, it is open to anyone to attend.
Sessions are held at the Elora Community Centre on David Street from 7:30 to 9pm. The next one is Nov. 17. Cost is $5, which basically covers rental of the hall.
For more information visit eloraadventureclub.com.
