Grannies Make Stand at Roadblock

 A group of gritty determined Grannies from near Falkland set up a barricade over the long weekend keeping vehicles from going up the Kelly Mountain Main Forest Road off of Yankee Flats Road because of the potential for human caused forest fires.

Organizer Pat Peebles told me the grannies did not have any legal backing to do this, but took it upon themselves to pleasantly ‘suggest’ people not go up into that popular area in these tinder dry conditions.

Most people respected the grannies stand and turned around..that was most. One guy and his girlfriend decided to go around the barricade and go up to the Kelly Main.

But who happens by…but a Park Warden and the grannies immediately send him up to deal with the intruder. Much to the grannies delight he sent the truck back where it came from and the driver was texting his friends saying the party they planned was off…and not to mess with the grannies and their barricade as they have official support from guys with stripes on their pants.

By that time the BC Wildfire Service said that no recreational vehicles of any sort were allowed in the back country adding some credence to the grannies stand.

The ‘suggestion’ was met mostly with respect and calm. It didn’t hurt that the grannies were serving cold beverages and cinnamon rolls…and the fact that no men were allowed to man the barricades. Peebles said that wasn’t the place for any excessive testosterone.

Peebles say the grannies will return today on the last day of the long weekend because the threat of wildfires is extreme and they’re still turning people away. She also told me that the Grannies movement has received some province-wide attention from other concerned seniors interested in following their example.

Photo: thanks Richard Rolke Vernon Morning Star.