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PEOPLE: Retired woodworker combining writing and travel in new careers BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com hen Don Wilkinson decided to pack up his benchdog and turn off the jig saw for the final time, the custom wood- worker found being a man of leisure was not for him. For the first six years of his ‘retirement', the Stouffville resident remained in the woodworking busi- ness by regularly helping out at Century Mill Lumber on Stoufiville Road. But with the encouragement of his wife ,of 33 years, Kelly, Mr. Wilkinson decided it was time for yet another career change. Prior to being a woodworker, Mr. Wilkinson was an energy program oflicer for the Yukon government, a gold miner and home builder. Now, he was going to be a teacher. (I did it) because it was in a foreign country," Mr. Wllkinson said. “I wanted to travel and that was a great excuse to do it.” “‘1 gét bdred not only with my location, but with what I do," he said. In early 2005, Mr. Wllkinson, who turned 55 in September, decided to take a course in how to teach English as a second language - in Prague. ' “If any of my (Stoufiville Distn'ct Secondary School) teachers exist, they'd be amazed I became a teach- er," he said. ' After completing the course, Mr. Wilkinson returned to Canada and puttered around a bit deciding his next move. A creative writing course in Uxbridge taught his we. “That got me' really interested in writing,” he said. ‘ But Mr. Wflldnson also wanted to utilize his newfound teaching skills. In early 2007, Mr. lekinson headed back to Prague to teach. While in Prague, Mr. Wilkinson made time to do some sightseeing and having completed the writing course, he decided to write a travel book on Prague. DaytripsfPrague and the Czech Republic was released in Czech mate “It’s probably one of the most beautiful cities I have been to," he said. “It’s a safe city, it’s a clean city. It has so much history and archi- tecturally, it’s just exquisite and it's inexpensive to visit." From May to June of 2007, Mr. Wllldnson travelled around Prague and the Czech Republic by RV. V Cesky Krumlov, in the south Bohemian region of the Czech Republic, quickly became Mr. Wilkinson's favourite destination because there was very little devel- opment, despite it being hundreds of years old. “I picked plabes that had the most interest, that would keep the average tourist interested for at least a full day,” he said. Cesky Krumlov is also home to the Czech Republic’s second largest castle - the Cesky Krumlov castle, which still has its 1766 baroque the- atre, complete with original stage machinery, scenery and props. Carlsbad Karlovy Vary in the western Bohemian portion of the country was another favourite loca- tion for Mr. Wilkinson. “It's beautifully maintained and restored," Mr. Wilkinson said. Carlsbad Karlovy Vary is known as the spa city because of its natural hot mineral spring in the middle of “Kings and other royalty from all of Europe have been going there for hundreds of years,” he said. This was also where Daniel Craig filmed his first James Bond movie, Casino Rayale. For every one of the 57 day trips in the book, Mr. Wilkinson details the area’s history, how to get there, indigenous food and drink, as well as providing suggested itineraries. “It’s for people who like to wan- der around the town looking for the ‘lf any of my (Stouflville Distn'ct Secondary School) teachers exist, they’d be amazed I became a teacher! Don Wilkinson Stoujfville resident From May to June of 2007, Don Wilkinson travelled around Prague and theCzech RepublicbyRMHistravel adviceis in abookreleasedthis fall. unique aspects that most tourists aren’t going to spot,” he said of the book that took about 13 months to write. “I applied myself to it as if it was a full-time job,” Mr. Wllkinson said. “It was like a full-time job, but a very enjoyable one." When Mr. Wilkinson set out on his mission to write Daytrips, he had no publisher for it, but thanks to some key information gleaned from his writing class, Mr. Wilkinson was able to source out a publisher - Hasting House Books. MLWllkinson has another project already completed - a Bill Bryson- like book on the Nazi occupation of the Czech Republic. He also has two other books in the works â€" one is a travel log to Germany and the Czech Republic and the other is a humour book. Throughoutall of his travelling to Prague, Mr. Wilkinson never strayed far from his woodworking roots. Since 2007, he has been a regular columnist for Canadian Woodwork- 1ng. Daytn'ps: Prague and the Czech Republic is available at amazon. com. CrImeStopporssoeldng Do you know who cracked the safe at a Gonnley golf course last summer? Whitchurch-Stouffville News Digest Four suspects broke into the Station Creek Golf Club at about 11 pm. on July 23. While inside the club, at 12657 Wood- bine Ave, the suspects removed a safe, opened it and removed a small amount of cash. Images of ‘the suspects can be viewed at www.1800222TIPS. com. If you have any information about this or any other crime, contact Crime Stoppers anon- ymously at 1-800-222-TIPS, www.1800222TIPS.com or text TIPYORK and your message to 274637. Idol performer at church Guitarist lay Leach, who has appeared on American Idol and 100 Huntley St., performs at Stoufl'ville Pentecostal Church, 6853 Main St., Wednesday at 7 Have something to say about these or other ston'es? Patients weren’t without doctor at Stouffvllle cllnlc A story in last Saturday’s Sun- 'Ih'bune on the recruitment of new doctors to Stoufiville con- tained an error. p.m. Call 905-640-5696 for more information. E-mail us at jmason@ynng.com One of two new physicians at the Stouffville Medical Centre arrived at the time of Dr. Don Petrie’s retirement last spring. Patients did not have “to look elsewhere for medical atten- tion”. The Sun-'Ifibune regrets the enon Visit yorkregion. com for more on these and other stories :rime Stoppers would like to CORRECTION SOUND OFF