Two city employees have an interesting "what I did on my summer vacation" story to tell.

Jim Lowrie, the city's director of engineering services, and Mitchell Edgar, manager of economic development, visited France during the Tour de France. The 97th Tour de France included 20 stages and covered 3,642 kilometres.

"I cycled one of the stages - not with the pros," Jim laughed. "It was fabulous. It was a wonderful experience."

Jim and Mitchell were among a group of cyclists who did one of the stages, about three days before the professional riders rode it themselves. Thousands of riders cycled through three mountain passes and narrow streets as part of the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"Every year they allow 10,000 riders to do this stage," said Jim. "All of the French people are on their doorsteps waving. It was a really neat experience, a lot of fun."

In addition to cycling a stage of the Tour de France, the duo also watched three stages of the event - including the finale in Paris. In preparation for their 180-kilometre ride, they've been riding local mountains for the past few months, including a ride of Seymour, Grouse and Cypress in one day.

Jim took 11 hours to ride his stage of the Tour de France route, noting that compares to the five-and-a-half hours it takes the professional cyclists.

TREASURE HUNTING

Diners of all ages recently got to enjoy a Pirate Pak at White Spot Restaurant.

White Spot Restaurants donated $2 from every kids and adult Pirate Pak sold on Aug. 18 to help send children to summer camp. The event raised $40,822 for Zajac Ranch for Children, which is a charity that gives children with life-threatening illnesses and chronic disabilities a chance to enjoy an extraordinary summer camp experience.

In addition to helping children, Pirate Pak Day marked the first time in history that the meals were offered to everyone - not just kids.

"We wanted to build upon previous Pirate Pak Day successes by offering a special edition 'adult' version of the Pirate Pak," said White Spot president Warren Erhart in a press release. "We were overwhelmed by the response and because of our guests' generosity, more kids will be able to enjoy all the horseback riding, kayaking and water sports that Zajac Ranch has to offer."

BANNED BOOK

Annabel Lyon's award-winning novel has been banned from a B.C. Ferries bookstore because its cover shows a bare bum.

The Royal City resident's novel, The Golden Mean, won the 2009 Rogers Writers' Trust fiction prize and was in the final five for both the prestigious Giller Prize and the Governor-General's Award.

A B.C. Ferries spokesperson defended the move as children visit the ferries' gift shop. It had suggested B.C. Ferries could carry the book if a "belly band" were wrapped across the photo, something the book's publisher opted not to do.

The cover features a picture of a naked youth on a horse. The book is a fictional account of the time the philosopher Aristotle was tutor to a young Alexander the Great.

Do you have an item for Around Town? Send ideas to Theresa, tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com. Visit her Only in New West blog online at www.royalcityrecord.com - click on the Opinion tab and follow the link under Blogs.