Issue #909
Including:

From Russ
From Lorne
The Ontarion

Hi All,

An update….the replacement main cable has arrived at the gondola. It came from Germany by ship across the Atlantic, then by train across the country and finally by truck from the rail yards in the city were they had the required lifting equipment to load the spool onto the flatbed, a rather big flatbed designed for extra heavy loads. As well as the spool, there was all the required winches, generators, braces, pulleys and so on loaded onto that truck. That's a very big step forward. The engineering involved in getting it strung and spliced should be fascinating. Here’s some interesting math….I was told the cable weighs in at about 11kg per meter. The cable on the spool is about 4.5km long of which just over 4km will be needed as the replacement lift line. So, lets say the length of the loop will be about 4.1km long, that's 4,100 meters at 11kg/meter equals about 45,100kg or 45.1 metric tonnes which is about 99,220lb which is just shy of 50 imperial tons. Thats a lot of weight. And if your interested, here’s a couple of pics of the cable spool as they are getting ready to string the line up the towers.

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For whatever nefarious reason, our BC government has been pushing the idea of drivers switching over to electric vehicles. They, along with the Feds, have had various incentive programs to help with the rather outragesly expensive purchase of E Vs. And, there are starting to be a fair number of electric cars out there, given that even with the incentives, the cost is still way higher than the cost of an equivalent internal combustion unit. I must admit these vehicles interest me because of the technology behind them and have often wondered where E Vs would be today if GM and Imperial Oil had not killed them a century ago. Imagine if E Vs had enjoyed having the last 100 years to evolve, improve and advance. There is a lot of info available now about E Vs and just as important, the charging systems and availability of charging systems. I’ve looked in to some of them and here’s a brief rundown of the current (pardon the pun) situation….

There are obviously 2 choices, home chargers and public chargers. From an E V point of view they are interchangeable and both have the same class designations. The biggest difference is who is supplying the charge station and who is paying for the electricity. For a ‘home’ system, the home owner foots the bill to have a charger installed and said home owner pays for the electricity used. At a public charging station, the person charging their vehicle may be required to pay by using an App on their electronic device, or charging may even be free, but at some point free charging will start to be replaced by ‘pay’ as more E Vs become available. The public stations are usually installed and owned by companies or municipalities or various organizations. As well, some gas stations are starting to install charging points, those would be the ‘pay to charge’ type but would extend and expand the availability of charges and make it easier for drives to find chargers when on route to wherever. So, there are 3 categories of chargers / charge stations…..

Class 1: these are simple 120 volt outlets just like what you’d plug a toaster or table lamp into. They are very slow and would take several days to fully charge a typical E V battery. They would only be useful for someone rather desperate who needs just enough more of a charge to get to a Class 2 station. The up-side is that any and every standard 120 volt outlet is a Class 1 charger.

Class 2: these are the most common for a home charging system. They are 220 volt, the same as an electric cloths dryer or kitchen oven. They can charge an E V battery in anywhere from 6 to 10 hrs depending on the capacity of the battery being charged. This type of charger is common at the public stations as well as in homes.

Class 3: these use 600 volt DC and are therefor only practical in industrial areas where high voltage is available. Very few residential homes would have accesses to this level of voltage. Many of the public stations are of this type and many are currently still free. The Tesla ‘super chargers’ are this type and for many Tesla owners charging will remain free at the Tesla stations. Incidentally, Tesla’s can charge at public station by using an adapter but other makes can not charge at Tesla stations. Charging at a class 3 station can take as little as half an hour for an 80% charge. (All E V makers are recommending charging only to about 80 to 90% of battery capacity unless a full charge is needed due to a longer distance between stations).

As most know, the cost of electric vehicles is way too high, compared to a gas or diesel equivalents. In fact, the difference can be 10 or 15 or even 20 thousand dollars. That much money, spread over a 10 year lifespan of a vehicle, would buy a lot of fuel. In fact, gas would have to triple in price to make it worth while from a costing point of view, and, we all know that once enough EV s are on the road, electricity is going to go through the roof. Thats how it works. As well, once the provincial government starts losing out on too much of the taxes on gas that a EV owner would not be paying, they will come up with other scams to extract lost revenues. Its an interesting situation.

In order to encourage home owners to install a charging system, the BC government and Powersmart BC, a division of BC Hydro, have an incentive program that I’ll talk about next week so this section of this letter doesn’t get any longer or more boring than it already is.

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And now just to be different again, I’ve dug up another old song and you need not worry, I checked to be sure it’s not one I’ve done before. This one is from way back in the ‘play around the camp fire’ days and is pining about the potential loss of that one time most important of buildings, that little old shack out back. Follow the link and enjoy.

Ode To The Little Old Shack Out Back

doug

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From Russ

Sad

“One out of 21 collisions that occur on Ontario highways involve a wild animal venturing onto the roadway. Motor vehicle-wild animal collisions have claimed 42 lives in the past 8 years”. Motor Vehicle Safety, Transport Can. Stats. Only Quebec has a worse reputation.

“The number of animal strikes on Ont. Roads has increased from 8,964 in 1999 to 13,152 in 2014, resulting in 2 fatalities and 410 personal injuries”

Ontario Road Safety

But, what is REALLY sad is that governments keep the deer population high in order to collect the revenue hunters bring to their coffers!

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I was born not far from here, and remember playing with my twin brother along the shores of Lake Huron before our long, skinny legs could properly support our very light weight. We had great respect for our parents and always obeyed their wishes. Our father was very strict and he sometimes frightened us when he wanted us to run and hide in the long weeds or bushes. We never could run fast enough to suit him! When he lifted his head and sniffed the air, as he often did, he looked magnificent standing over 6 feet tall. Our mom was small, gentle, and loving but equally aware of dangers – now that I look back, I guess we were siblings of “over-protective parents”.

Now I have met my mate and have twins of my own (they’ll be 6 weeks old tomorrow), anxiously waiting for me to come home. You see, I have to walk a long ways in the dark to find good places to eat. For safety reasons I always follow the same paths my parents, and their parents before them followed; down in the ravine where there’s more cover.

At dusk, I left my twins sound asleep, and headed out in the bottom of the ravine. I had to again cross that terrible highway with its fast-moving traffic (doing 100 klicks in an 80 zone). I wish there were a tunnel under the bridge instead of just a duct!

Climbing up out of the ravine, I stop and assess the situation – usually, I’m able to see the traffic coming toward me from both directions, and time my sprint accordingly. I nearly died of fright this evening (and ‘we’ can die from severe fright) as I didn’t see the car that pulled out to pass (in a “NO PASSING” zone) just as I started my leap to cross. Should I keep going or turn around and try again? I kept going!!

‘WHEEO’ Just made it by inches!!

I’ve been eating greens and hiding for a day, now it’s dusk and time for me to head back to my twins. They will be scared and hungry, but I can’t risk returning to them while it’s still daylight for fear of being seen. If our ‘secret hideout’ becomes known – it’s move or die!!

Here I am at that dangerous crossing again – traffic now, just as heavy – but moving faster! Looking left – looking right – no break in traffic – too dangerous to remain here – it’s now or never! Luck is with me - - nearly across!

S M A C K!!

He’s been working hard all day, and it’s been a particularly hard one. His home is in Ripley and he was working in Owen Sound all day. He must be on the road by 7AM or he’ll be late for work – he’s never late for anything! He has a “heavy foot” ( by his own admission), and drives a powerful NISSAN pick-up – always sets his speed at 19km over the speed limit – police will never charge a driver who keeps his speed at no more that 19km (he claims).

He left Owen Sound, traveling south on Highway #21 just 53 minutes ago – it’s now 6:30Pm and dark – and he’s already in Kincardine – still on same highway – with posted speed limit of 80K’s – everyone doing 100.

W H A C K !!!

What the hell was that!? He slows down, pulls over to the right – safely off the roadway, and stops his truck.

“You got a deer!” some guy shouts from behind. He says he saw the animal crossing from east to west, right in front of NISSAN!

“I think it’s a doe – impossible for you to see it – can I have it?”

“Sure – you can have it, but I’ve just called the police – let’s wait for them”, NISSAN says, trembling with (let’s call excitement). He loves all animals and wouldn’t hurt one if his life depended on it. He’s still ‘hurting’ having to ‘put down’ his own pet, Harley, a few weeks ago.

Another car pulls up behind them – “Can I have the meat?”

“NO! I’ve already spoken for it”

“Can I carve off a chunk? I’ve got my butcher stuff with me in my car?”

“No, let’s wait for the police” cautions NISSAN.

The police arrive, do their thing, and find ‘no blame’ on NISSAN who can’t drive his truck due to the “extensive damage” to the front and left side .

Police say “This is the 3rd deer killed at this same location yesterday, and now this makes 4 in just 48 hours”

It’s now Thursday, October 24th, NISSAN is driving a rental, “RAM” while his truck is in the repair shop.

“I didn’t see what had hit me – didn’t know it was a deer until the guy who was following me, told me I’d hit a doe – and he was awarded the body of the full-grown deer”.

Maybe two fawns, only 6 weeks old are/were still waiting for their mom to come home when they can again snuggle up to her warm belly and suck the hot, rich milk - - - their only life support - and protection. Sad.

The driver of the NISSAN pick-up is my son.

Uncle Russ.

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From Lorne

Strange things happen and why? Part of my recovery is getting out and walking with the aid of a walker and the assistance of someone. In this case it was Cindy who kindly accompanied me as usual. So we were on the sidewalk moving slowly and carefully when a BMW stopped and the man and women began talking to us. I had no idea what they were saying and they appeared to be from some other part of the world. Cindy, wondering what they wanted walked to their car while I sat on the seat of the walker remaining on the sidewalk. There seemed to be some conversation, then the woman in the car gave Cindy a gold colored ring, necklace and a bracelet. She accepted and latter wondered why. I wasn't sure I wanted them in the house. I meant the gifts, not Cindy. Why and who were they?

Lorne

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THE ONTARION REPORT

Hello everyone!

Well, it’s that time of year once again where the air conditioners get covered for the winter and the furnaces get a test run most evenings. It’s reaching single digits in the nighttime and barely reaching double digits during the day! In fact I’m sitting at the computer tonight with my Duraflame Portable electric heater next to my chair. It’s a much appreciated Christmas gift from a few years ago and it’s gotten lots of use since it’s unwrapping! It’s one of those round radiant heaters that blast you as you walk into Costco during the winter months. In fact we were in Costco the other day and I took a minute to stand in front of their display model and warm my chilly bones. Although the weather was sunny the wind that blows from the west directly into you face as you cross the Costco parking lot was actually bitter cold in the October afternoon sun and the display heater was a welcome detail upon entering the store! I guess I’m going to have to break out my lined blue jeans tomorrow, as the days get cooler. I’ve already worn my winter coat to the Doctor’s office yesterday for my monthly visit and the wind was quite cutting even with the coat on. I may just have to get out and wear my WW II style pilot’s fur lined hat with the earflaps on it if this cold weather keeps up. I was and still am in hopes of one or two more warm days that will enable us to take the MG out for one last spin before having to put the roof up for the winter and disconnect the battery. It’ll be sad to see it tucked into the garage for the next five or six months but that’s just what has to happen with that sort of hobby vehicle.

Back in the 60’s I had a couple of friends that drove their MGBs through the entire year, snow and all. I guess if their heater works well enough it’s possible to do now that our winters are supposed to be getting milder. I don’t think that the so called “climate change” is all that mild if you ask me! Whatever happens this winter, I’ve already got my TORO snow blower tuned up and ready to go. It’s been sitting in front of the MG all summer so I won’t even have to dig it out of the shed when the snow flies! I did cut the lawn one more time the other day and I also spread the winter fertilizer on the lawn. I’m in hopes that mowing the grass that day will be the last time I’ll have to do that this year too! However, I have had my picture taken in shorts and standing on the front lawn behind the lawn mower in years gone by on a mild December day. That particular day was in the late 80’s if I’m not mistaken. I also remember taking my motorcycle for a ride in January about 6 or 7 years ago as well. I guess we get the odd winter that isn’t all that bad and I hope this coming one will be one of those. Just in case my hopes of a mild winter don’t pan out, I’m going to install my snow tires and wheels on the Jeep sometime in the next week or so. No sense in taking a chance that I’ll get caught having to do it on a cold and blustery day!

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Well, on a political note, the Liberal fans did it again eh! It was at least good to see that a majority vote didn’t elect Justin this time. He’ll at least have to depend on the other parties for support when he tries to shove one of his Liberal schemes through parliament. They say that minority governments have a habit of only lasting about 6 months to a year as history shows. So there may just be another election in the not too distant future! There was a lot of mud slinging done during this years campaign and I wasn’t too impressed with either Trudeau or Scheer in the way they handled themselves. The one leader that showed a lot of class during his speeches was Jagmeet Singh. He was indeed a class act when compared to the other two front-runners! Although I’m not a fan of the MDP party, I think they’ve got a good leader heading their party and he’ll be a good influence on the Liberals when it comes time for them to ask his support. He’s at least going to be able to attempt to have them support some of his ideas on climate change and other efforts to do good for the people of Canada.

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One further note on winter and keeping warm is one of the best features they offer in vehicles these days. That would be the advent of heated seats! We have them in the Jeep and I wouldn’t have another vehicle without them! I thoroughly enjoy hopping into the Jeep on a cold winter day and even some cool days in other seasons and turning on the heated seat beneath my butt! It’s also a pleasure to have the back of the seat heated on a cold day. With leather seats in the Jeep they tend to be very cold and hard during winter. So the heaters in the seats are a real blessing.

With all this talk of heated seats and lined clothing etc I think I’m going to hop into bed early tonight and pull our heavy duvet up around my neck to enjoy the warmth of a cozy bed for the night.

That’s about all for this week folks!
Thanks for tuning in and I’ll look forward to talking to you all again next time in The Ontarion Report!

Bye for now … Greg

PS: Something To Think About>
Curling up in front of a crackling warm fire on one of these cold evenings and forgetting about the temperature outside!