June 21: Summer means ice-cream

June 21st, the first day of Summer.

What comes to mind when one hears "Summer"? Ice cream, of course, and these little darlings are ready and waiting outside of their favorite Summer haunt (money providing). Ah, the iconic ice cream truck, that for years has been plying their frozen wares across the world.

One hears that familiar ring-a-ding-ding, as the ice-cream vendor cruises the neighbourhood streets and parks, enticing the little ones of all ages to that open window and a tasty treat. Wait a minute, didn't a Stephen King villain drive an ice cream truck? Oh well, back to more positive thoughts.

When I think of the ice cream truck, I think of those beat up old step vans, that have been converted after being used up delivering whatever over the years. Oh, Barry, how wrong you are. These "works of art" are often built specially for the ice cream trade. Let's take a quick walk thru history, as I so love to do........

A very early vendor's ride shows where those folks across the pond at the palace, bought their ice cream. But what would a double scoop or float cost from this Rolls-Royce?

The traditional ice cream truck has come in a variety of sizes and shapes from tiny.......

........to gargantuan, with this self proclaimed, world's largest (over 1000 flavours and never out of stock?)......

From purpose built, like this old Good Humor from the '60's........

.......to a very personalized number from way back when.........

Love the idea of making people happy on those sweltering Summer days? Capable of delivering the goods, but staying away from eating all your profits? Then you may be a candidate to contact Whitby Morrison, the world's biggest ice truck manufacturer and have one of their custom trucks whipped up just for you. Cost? Variable, of course, but anywhere from the high five digits to nicely into the six figure range. And for those high rollers, they'll even supply a very nice Mercedes Benz, for trolling the better 'hoods.........

Your worse nightmare? Picking a location with a bit too much competition.......

Unlikely? Maybe, but one never knows what might happen, when great minds have the same idea at the same time on the same hot Summer's day.

So happy first day of Summer. Time to start looking for the nearest ice cream vendor on wheels. Sure, the line up is long, but that chilled reward is worth the wait.

Until next time.......