I picked a beautiful day for a drive out to visit Joy at her place at the end of Grantham road. That subdivision is roughly halfway between Telkwa and Houston on the Lawson/Walcott.
We were running about -10 C and the trees were covered in hoare frost. It does not get any better for a winter drive along the Bulkley. I have known Joy for several years and wanted to see how this quiet, somewhat shy young lady has settled into her new life married, with a son, and chairperson of the local northwest chapter of Backcountry Horsemen.
Joy Marie was born in Smithers and brought up on a busted to the seams five acre hobby farm just up the old Babine road. She was a 4H girl and developed a love for country life at an early age. They had it all, chickens, sheep, horses, and of course a big garden.
They never seemed to have a lot of money to buy all the necessary extras but Mom and Dad were handy and always able to make it work. After graduation, Joy headed to Olds college in Alberta but seemed to miss the mountains and eventually made her way back to the B valley.
Along about that time Joy was cruising the Internet and happened to meet Bart.
Just his name was western enough for Joy and it was love at first sight on their first date at Tim Horton’s. Bart was trucking for Bandstra at the time and had a chance to stop in to meet his future bride while heading south. Bart was from the Netherlands and had followed his sister to the Bulkley Valley to find some space. The Netherlands is a small country with alot of people. He was instantly in love with Northern B.C. and, it seems, instantly in love with Joy.
So as things go, it was time for Joy to reconnect with the back country.
She had been a member of the Backcountry Horseman group for several years and was attending meetings and events with her Dad. Her and Bart just happened upon an ad on the Internet requesting a couple to spend the winter in a cabin around Teslin in the Yukon. They were to keep a watchful eye on a guide/outfitters herd of horses. This could be a dream job come true and a chance to develop their personal partnership. Not something alot of couples would necessarily dive into but this opportunity would get Joy and Bart closer to nature and themselves. What an experience wrangling the horses, listening to the wolves at night and seeing many moose. “ It certainly strengthened our bond, says Joy and we enjoyed it so much that we were preparing to sign up for a second season.”
But as life goes with its many twists and turns, Joy became pregnant and little Hendrik was born.
Now it was time to set up their own cabin for the winter and a property came available at the Grantham road subdivision. What a beautiful spot, just below the Grizzley plateau country, room for her own horses and a chance to bring up their child in a rural lifestyle.
“Does it get any better than this,” I asked.
“No, it doesn’t,” said Joy. “Bart has got himself a good job in town working for Evergreen Industrial and is home every nite.
”I can be a stay-at-home Mom and work out my weaving skills to keep me busy and bring in some sales to help the finances. I started out making mohair cinches for saddles and it has grown into a full array of western items in leather and mohair. Bart and I have just set up a heavy duty single stitch sewing machine. I can make and repair anything right up to horse harness. It’s amazing.”
And what about the Backcountry Horsemen club?
Well, believe it or not Joy became the Chairperson for her group. “’The Right to Ride’ is our motto for this international organization and I have always felt that was important. The club position has helped with my confidence and I have met some outstanding people throughout the province. We have a horse camp up the Coalmine road in Telkwa and have organized many rides into the Telkwa mountains.
“You seem to really enjoy where you are at in your life, it’s pretty neat to see someone happy,” I concluded.
“My happiest moment is with Hendrik,” said Joy. “While we are plowing the driveway with the horse and he says’ lets do it again, Mom.’”
Check out Joy’s facebook page - backroadweaving - for some of her items for sale.