1.  In the sunny summer of 1934 Alex Johan  Van Dyk  was born in the 
beautiful city of Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.  Already as a boy Alex had only one desire, namely to become a long distant runner. 

Although we don't blame Alex's parents, we regret they didn't realize the potential of Alex's athletic abilities to become an Olympic champion. For his three brothers he was a champion. Sometimes he was a nuisance as well.

One day brother John and Bill decided to go biking in the hills. Younger 
brother Alex wanted to come along. How to get rid of him was not too 
difficult. We suggested playing an Indian game. Alex would be the prisoner 
who had to be sacrificed on the totem pole. Alex was happy to play along. 
After being securely tied to a clothe line pole, his brothers took off.  An 
hour later they noted someone following them behind the trees. Yes, it was 
brother Alex. He had wriggled loose and ran all the way into the hills and 
caught up with his biking brothers without a sweat. 

Brother Alex, many times you showed yourself a champion runner.  You deserve the gold.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.  Not only long distance running, but also long distance driving had the 
love of Alex's heart.  A number of times Alex crossed our continent in his 
beloved Chevrolet. 
In the seventies he and his brother John drove from Ontario to California to 
attend the wedding of brother Joop. Alex was best man. 
    The most remarkable long distance trip took place in June of 1964.  Alex 
and his mother who suffered from advanced cancer, drove from Duncan, British Columbia via the USA to Orillia, Ontario, a distance of over 5000 km. 
     On June 10 they arrived at Cody, Wyoming. At a coffee shop mother 
noticed some nice picture postcards.  "Let us send a card to John and Paula 
in Duncan," mother suggested. Alex picked a nice card with a famous mountain pass. On the back of the card mother wrote;

"This Cody way through the mountains was closed due to heavy snow  at higher elevations. We had to take a detour and we will loose a day traveling.
I feel very well and love to sit in the car. Alex is doing fine. Love from 
both of us."

This was the last unforgettable long distance trip of Alex with his mother.
Mother died in January 1965. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. For years Alex enjoyed his job at Pontiac Motors in Orillia. He loved his 
customers who came in for gasoline or minor car repairs. One of his co-worker and friend was Harvey, the bookkeeper.  Harvey was a work alcoholic who could always  be found in his office. Harvey never married. He loved travel as well and spent most of his summer holidays in Europe. He always sent Alex postcards, calling him  Big TEX. 
The cards always carried a funny message. Here is the message on the card 
from May 12, 1982, sent from Morocco, Africa:

   Dear Alex, I am now in the land of Morocco. The flowers are blooming, the flags are waving. But the flamingo dancers would only say: Where is BIG TEX? 
 Harvey.
 

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