Kathleen Thomson has travelled millions of kilometres across North America while leading bus tours during the last 42 years, visiting many interesting places and meeting many famous people.
With retirement in sight, though, she is planning one last bus tour to Branson and Hannibal, Missouri, and Iowa City and Kalona, Iowa. The trip will include the Mark Twain Museum, a cruise down the Mississippi River, an Oktoberfest get-together, a trip to an Amish colony and sightseeing at the Quilt Capital of the World in Kalona.
Anyone interested in joining this tour can call 306-692-2370.
“I’ve been up to the Yukon and Alaska 31 times,” laughed Thomson, 87. “I enjoy (it) no matter where I go because the scenery is fantastic, the people are terrific, and you’re working with people that are on holidays and they’re in their best mood. It’s just been a wonderful, wonderful life for me.
“I’m really winding down, but it will be difficult to give it up completely … . I am retiring as far as putting the tours together myself.”
The touring bug bit Thomson in the late 1970s after she took a trip as a passenger. During a second excursion, she helped the tour guide since the woman was elderly and needed assistance on the bus. This proved to be an enjoyable experience.
Thomson’s first career was as a hairdresser in Govan, Sask., but after her kids grew up, she began working for a touring company in 1980. She worked for several such companies during the next three decades, but the grind of several tours a year grew heavy.
“I just wanted to do one tour a year, and I kind of got tired of being with the tour companies, where we always had to report everything if we had problems or whatever,” she said. “And you always do on a lot of the tours. And you write it (down) and you tell them. And you go back out the next time and you’ve got the same problems all over again.
“… If you want happy people, you have to listen to them.”
So, Thomson and her husband Bill started a tour company 12 years ago called “Let’s Go Tours” and have experienced “wonderful, wonderful success” with 80-per-cent repeat business.
Having crisscrossed North America many times, there are not many places Thomson hasn’t visited.
Asked if she has a favourite destination, Thomson replied that while Hawaii was always enjoyable, she liked almost every place she went, including the Yukon and Alaska.
“Canadians sell ourselves short because Yukon has absolutely beautiful scenery and wonderful people and our history there around Dawson City. It really is a nice place to tour and see,” Thomson said. “But Hawaii, that’s still on my bucket list to go back there and visit again. I’ve been there nine times.”
During her first trip to Alaska, it rained so hard that it washed out the bridge. The bus passengers spent time in a nearby café so small that only half could be inside to grab food and drinks. Meanwhile, the other half spent time on the coach playing games.
A detour was finally found and the bus headed to Watson Lake.
“This was way back in 1980. The facilities up there were practically nil. When we stopped at a coffee shop, there was only one washroom for men and women,” said Thomson. “It was quite an interesting experience. We lived through it and the facilities are now better.”
Thomson’s favourite place to visit in the United States is Branson because of its many theatres. This is why she usually takes her tours there every three years.
Perhaps the most famous person Thompson met during her touring career was country star Roy Rogers.
“I was very blessed,” she said.
Her tours used to stop at his museum in Victorville, Calif., where Thompson took a picture with the country star five times. However, she missed out on meeting Rogers’ wife, Dale, one time by a few minutes.
After the couple died, their son Dusty moved the museum to Branson since that was his mother’s wish. He installed a theatre in the new building to perform with his band, while he also told stories about the family.
“I’m still in touch with Dusty. He’s now with the Sons of the Pioneers. He’s been to Moose Jaw; before COVID, he was here two years in a row. And we were invited down before the show started to visit with him and his wife,” said Thomson.
Added Thomson, “I don’t think I could have had a better career … . It has been a real experience. But most of all, I enjoyed the people.”
