The Squamidian Report – Aug. 18 / 07
Issue #273
Also in this issue:
Carol’s Nova Scotia Trip
The Ontarion
Hi All,
Back to work. Bummer. Time off, or vacation or what ever you call it sure is nice but it ends way too quickly. The end comes speeding up like a brick wall across a highway and there you are, facing the back-to-work reality. Suddenly and sadly, it is like you had never been away.
Frustratingly, those first few days back didn’t go all that smoothly. They had their share of challenges. First day back we had to locate a sanitary service to a building lot in an existing subdivision. The excavating company that did the foundation work for the house being built couldn’t find the stub and figured that it had either never been installed or had been broken back from the property line. Service stubs are supposed to be run to just inside property line. So the town sent us in to find it or install it if it wasn’t there. We had to dig down at the edge of the pavement between a large water main and the hydro duct bank to locate the line and prove that it existed. Then we had to dig down at the actual property line to where the stub should be, and there it was. Just one catch, we were two feet below the ground water level by the time we found it. Our pump could barely keep up with the water flow and the labor crew got a bit wet but we did manage to install a cleanout onto the end so the builder’s people could do their hookup.
Next day we needed to find the end of a 14-inch water main. It had been installed on a new street down town and the company that did the work was supposed to have connected it to an existing main. However, they didn’t do the connection and paved right over everything. We had to cut big holes in the street looking for the main, and when we finally found it, it was not where it should have been. Actually, it was it that found us. They had put a blow-off on the end with nothing marking it and I clipped the shutoff valve with the bucket. It blew water 40 or 50 ft straight up into the air. Sitting in the machine was like sitting under Niagara Falls.
Everything in every direction got well soaked. The shooting water took a lot of gravel up with it and the top of the machine was covered. However, once we got the valves turned off the water subsided and we were able to cap the blow-off pipe. I had pulled the valve off but hadn’t damaged the pipe at all so the repair was easy. If we had damaged things deeper down it could have been a real mess. That kind of thing tends to attract an audience so before long there we way too many people standing around watching.
*
Everyone who traveled out to Nova Scotia for the get-together has been home now for a week, at least as far as I know. It was a good time and needs to be done again. So here is the first notice to any and all that the next ‘official’ get-together of family and friends will be out here on the west coast in the summer of 2009. That’s 2 years from now so everyone has lots of time to make the necessary arraignments. No excuses. And anyone who is not sure they want to come out here can come sooner than that to check it out, find out they like it, and then come back for the reunion.
Like everyone, I took lots of pictures. I’ve posted a small sample on the web page at this address. Some Nova Scotia pictures:
http://www.thedougsite.net/Misc/nova.htm
*
We did have a chance to do a day trip on the bikes last weekend. Sue and I on the Harley and Ryan on the Virago. Left here and headed north up 99 through Whistler and Pemberton. This section is so ‘old hat’ to us that we don’t even bother with the scenery anymore. We just ride through it to get to somewhere else. 99 climbs up onto the Duffy Pass from the east end of the Pemberton Valley, great riding as long as you are not in a hurry. This peace of highway is in almost as bad a shape as the secondary highways in Nova Scotia, with potholes and patches. Some sections look like they are ready to slip away into the depths below.
When we dropped down into Lillooet we took the old #12 and headed south along the Fraser River. This road is pinned to the canyon wall with a drop straight down to the river on one side and the vertical mountainside on the other. There is so much scenery to look at that you almost wish you could park the bike and walk so you wouldn’t miss anything. The land is dry and sandy, covered with clumpy grass, open pine forest and sagebrush. There was a section of mountainside that looked like a giant farm field that had been worked into a smooth flat surface, and then tilted up to a 45% angle. You have to see it to believe it.
At Lytton the clear blue Thompson River joins the muddy Fraser, and highway 12 joins the Trans Canada on the way down to Hope. This was the first time I’ve been on this section of the Trans Canada since 1970. I would have been riding my ’69 Royal Enfield 750 at that time. The highway continues to follow the river and continues to be overwhelmingly scenic. There are several tunnels through the mountainsides, and high peaks towering above on catch your eye. It’s the kind of place where it would be more fun to be the passenger so you could spend all your time gawking instead of watching the road.
At Hope we jumped onto the 4-lane highway for the run into the city. Traffic drives very fast along here, that is until it starts to build near Abbotsford and then it is bumper-to-bumper, stop and go till you get over the Port Mann Bridge. Then it is still bumper-to-bumper but it speeds back up. Once through the city on the Upper Levels Highway we picked up 99 at Horseshoe Bay and half an hour later we were home. Great ride. Took a few pics, they can be seen at:
http://www.thedougsite.net/HD-rides/circle1.htm
doug
****
After 19 days on the road Al and I made it home late last night. It is always good to come home but the time went by too quickly and we miss our wonderful hosts, Sus & Peter, very much already. You will have read Doug, Ewan & Sus' tales of the reunion last week (I just finished reading the last 2 Squids to get myself up to date). I will just highlight some of our adventures not already spoken of.
Al and I love history and beautiful scenery/nature and managed to satisfy our urges for both on our trip. I hope everyone will send their best pictures to Doug so he can set up a Nova Scotia reunion page on his web for all of you to enjoy the way we enjoy Doug;'s bike trips vicariously. On the way to Nova Scotia Al, Nick & I stopped in Hartland New Brunswick to walk the world's longest covered bridge. We did the marine museum with Sharon in Halifax, took the boys, with Sus, to the museum of Industry in Stellerton (a hands on museum - great for kids of all ages) toured Churchill House & Marine memorial the Victorian mansion of a wealthy shipbuilder in Hantsport, toured a railway museum with miniature railroads and way too many artefacts in Middleton, and the Military Aviation Museum located on the airforce base in Greenwood. We had intended to see the sand sculptures in Charlottetown, PEI but it was raining so we headed over to see another Victorian mansion and stumbled upon Government House, the official home of the Lieutenant Governor of PEI. It was in front of this building that that famous photograph of the Fathers of Confederation was taken in 1864. They open it up for tours to the public in the summer but don't advertise the fact. So we got to be in the bedroom Queen Elizabeth slept in and enjoy seeing her private quarters. It makes me wonder where is Ontario's official residence for our Lieutenant Governor and is it open to the public? We've been to Rideau hall in Ottawa, of course but never thought about Ontario's. We also visited Woodleigh Replicas of great British castle's and cathedrals in the Cavendish area. On our way home we spent a couple of nights in Quebec city and enjoyed walking the cobbled streets of the old city. I nearly forgot we also spent a day in Pictou visiting their replica of the "Hector" which brought the first settlers to Pictou and the museum that tells the history.
Our time wasn't all spent learning and visiting (the visiting and music and laughter was the best part). Our father taught us at a young age that a holiday is not a holiday without ice cream and I have passed the tradition on to my children and grandchildren. There really is no better place for ice cream then right there in Scotsburn. The Co-op sells large Scotsburn ice cream cones for only a dollar. We made several treks there with (and without) the boys to taste the various flavours. Aunt Evelyn bought a huge 11 litre container of vanilla fudge plus 100 cones for all of us to enjoy at the barbecues. Not only did we manage to finish that off (I did the scooping so the cones were not small) but Sus and I had to go out and buy more flavours to use up the cones. Dad also taught me the joy of picking wild berries so I managed to climb the hill several times to go blueberry picking. We had enough for a couple of trifles and to have blueberry pancakes a few times and of course to just eat. I just hope the local high bush pick-your-own places are still in operation here as I only managed to pick twice before going on holidays.
We also managed to enjoy the natural beauty that is Nova Scotia. As Al & I have been to Cape Breton before we went in a different direction and spent 2 nights on Brier Island, which is off Digby neck at the other end of Nova Scotia. The view from our room was spectacular and the walks around the island were wonderful. (as were my many morning walks with Sus which I miss already). We went whale watching from Brier Island, out into the Bay of Fundy. We saw many humpback whales but no one warned us about whale breath. We thought the guide was kidding when this sickening stench - think dog breath multiplied by 100 with sulphur from a paper mill mixed in - came rolling over the boat and she called it whale breath. Seems one doesn't always get this experience but we managed to have it 3 times! Wear a face mask if you go. We also took the hike to balancing rock on long island - a spectacular view. If we figure out how we will send our pictures to Doug. There is a beach on Brier Island but the water was 48 degrees F so we didn't brave it. The North Shore is a different story. Peter tells us they have the warmest ocean waters north of the Carolinas there. We went to the beach a couple of times near Pictou and on our last day Peter & Sus took Al, Zane and I for another sail and we went swimming off the boat. It was a perfect afternoon and a perfect ending to our visit. Thank you again Sus & Peter.
On our way home we also spent an afternoon at Montmorency Falls park in Beuport near Quebec city. The falls is 30 metres higher then Niagara Falls (but not as majestic). Al watched me take the 487 steps up to the best viewing spot and then we took a gondola ride up to the top and spent a little more time viewing history in the shape of Kent House which was the home of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent form 1791-94 (he was Queen Victoria's father). We were able to walk on a board walk and then an extension bridge over the falls for a great view of the St. Lawrence and the citadel. By the way I didn't have time to write in and comment on Greg & Carole's trip to Kingston and their 1,000 island cruise but we thought about you guys as we passed that area. If you go again take the cruise out of Gananoque as it stops on Hart Island and you can explore Boldt castle there ( you need to go through customs as that island is on the US side but worth the stop). I've enjoyed reading about your summer jaunts and think that special seat you have for Bailey is a wonderful idea for pet safety. We had our one bad traffic tie-up just east of Bellville where a trailer tipped and burned - I didn't see anything in this mornings paper - we couldn't tell if anyone was hurt.
I cannot finish talking about Nova Scotia without mentioning Ward & May's place. For those of you who don't know Ward & May it is hard to begin describing this remarkable couple. They live totally off the grid. (except for Ward using Howard's place for his beer making) What electricity they do use is solar powered. They hand pump the water and take their baths in this large old fashioned tub in the woods heated by their woodburning maple syrup evaporator. Their outhouse (and in-house) are smell and fly free as it is composting. Their house was hand built using logs and lumber they cut themselves on their chainsaw sawmill. I want Ward to write an article which would describe this so much better then I am. We did take pictures and will get them to Doug soon for posting.
The next reunion is the same weekend 2009 on the west coast. It is the Brubacher reunion of family and friends so you are all welcome (I can say this as it will be Doug and Warren who will have to do all the work and planning this time - which actually means Sue and Janice). It was wonderful sharing this time with family - getting to see some of the younger ones like Ben & Chris again after such a long time and meeting Diane's daughter Heather for the first time. I loved seeing the boys, 3rd cousins, playing together. Diane, Howard and Terry may not have been there in person but I felt so close to all 3 again. We were able to quietly commune with them while sitting by the pond on the memorial bench. They live on in our hearts and in the faces of their children.
Reunions help us to revisit old memories and create new ones. Al & I will cherish those new memories forever.
Note: the ‘Ward’ that Carol is referring to is ‘Wild Wood Warren’s’ twin brother. They look, sound and act so much alike that only a very few can tell them apart. Here’s a hint, easiest way to tell which is which is that Ward plays a 6-string guitar, Warren plays a 12-string.
****
THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello
everyone!
Well,
this summer can’t be beat for it’s sunshine and heat and these are two features
of the weather that bring out the motorcycle riders by the thousands. It
started in the spring with the “Ride For Dad” here in Kitchener and in many
other cities across Canada. This year’s turnout in Kitchener was huge and is
destined to get even larger as the event continues. It’s an event that raises
money to find a cure for prostate cancer and is certainly a much needed
contributor to the research program. Motorcyclists used to be viewed as punks
or even criminals. I guess this is due to the early problem of thousands of men
returning from the Second World War as veterans and being discharged from the
different branches of the military and having no jobs to go to. So, they opted
to travel across the country on the cheapest form of transportation they could
find, the motorcycle. The original Hell’s Angels were formed by these men and
were not intended to be an “outlaw” organization. They say the Angels
eventually turned to criminal activities in order to finance their existence
because nobody would hire them when they found out they were members of “That
gang of hoodlums”! For years people automatically assumed that if you rode a
motorcycle, you were unsavory and probably a criminal. This belief continued to
plague the motorcycle riders through the 50’s and 60’s but started to change
when the Japanese introduced the “Groovy Little Motor Bike” in the mid 60’s.
Everyday people started to ride for the fun of it and the ads on TV promoted
motorcycle riding as a way of have fun on cheap vehicles that anyone could
operate. The industry exploded and the image of riders was changed forever.
Students by the millions bought up these little bikes and the industry grew by
leaps and bounds. The Japanese soon learned of the passion North Americans had
for speed in their vehicles and increased the size of the engines on their
motorbikes until they produced the fastest vehicles one could drive. This
foreign investment in USA and Canada had such an affect on the motorcycle
industry that it almost forced the American producers out of business. The
Harley Davidson Co was sold to a company that made sports equipment such as
surf boards, bicycles, water skis, boats and a host of winter sports equipment
as well. The name of the company was AMF and the life of Harley Davidson was
mishandled in such a way that the company dwindled to a mere shadow of its
former self. The quality of the product was so poor that there was a running
joke that AMF was supplying tool kits and repair manuals with every motorcycle
so you could fix your bike WHEN it broke down every time you took it out of the
driveway. I believe it was a group of HD employees that finally purchased the
company back from AMF and basically started over. They have come a long way
since the mid 80’s and their motorcycles are world renowned for their design
and appeal these days, not to mention their reliability. Although the Japanese
manufacturers still have a huge market and an amazingly well made product, the
Harley Davidson Co is giving them a real run for their money all over North
America once again. Every where you look you see Harley’s rumbling down the
streets and highways. I find it hard to believe that people would prefer to
spend two to three times the amount of money on a Harley than they would have
to on an equivalent Japanese bike but then, is there such a thing as an
“equivalent” Japanese bike? LOL! If you ask any Harley owner, the answer is a
flat “NO”. Grant it, Harleys do have an irresistible appeal when you see and
hear them coming down the road. Everyone turns to take a look as they rumble
past. There’s a generation of people called the “Baby Boomers” that have worked
hard all their lives and are now retiring by the thousands that have denied
themselves personal toys while raising their families over the past 30 or more
years. These people are now spending their savings on the toys they’ve waited
for and these toys seem to be in many cases that special Harley Davidson
motorcycle. It’s still in my mind one heck of a lot of money for a vehicle that
you use maybe 8 months of the year depending on the weather. I have nothing
against anyone owning a Harley or touting their special appeal because they
certainly do have that special something. I’m just pointing out the evolution
of this wildly popular machine since the days of the “outlaw biker” and how
they seem to be gaining ground every year as a ubiquitous mode of
transportation. It’s incredible!
This
whole write up was inspired by a movie that we watched last night. The movie is
a new release called “Wild Hogs”. It stars John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin
Lawrence and William H Macy and is about four hard working middle aged men that
own Harleys and decide that they need a road trip to refresh their lives. This
is one funny movie and I have no doubt whatsoever it will sell millions of Harley
Davidson motorcycles for the HD Co. I thought of Doug and Tim all through this
movie and I’m sure it’s a pretty accurate portrayal of the feelings of many
guys that are in that age bracket and have worked hard all their lives.
Watching this movie makes you want to trot right down to your local Harley
dealer the next morning and take off on your own personal road trip by noon the
same day. LOL! I’m sure such a trip would be a lot of fun and this movie sure
makes it sound appealing. Doug’s write ups of the runs he’s taken so far this
summer on his new HD are fun to read and I’m sure he’ll have many more to tell
us about. Maybe Tim will give us a little insight into his ride to the east
coast this past couple of weeks.
Who
knows, there may just be a “Brubacher Hogs” movie in their somewhere!
Gotta go
for now!
Thanks
for tuning in and I look forward to talking to you all again next time in The
Ontarion Report.
Bye for now… Greg.
PS:
Something To Think About>
“I am
indeed rich since my income is superior to expenses and my expense is equal to
my wishes.”
Edward
Gibbon 1776.
****
The Family and the Squamidian sites:
http://members.shaw.ca/doug_b/ and http://www.thedougsite.ca
Have a good one..
the
doug
The Fine Print!
The articles in these issues are the sole property of the persons writing them and should be respected as such.