The Squamidian Report – Apr. 22 / 17
Issue #778
Including:
The Ontarion
Hi All,
I was going to talk about the clearing of the snow from the Panorama
Ridge trail last week but they weren't done yet so I couldn’t. They are
finished now so I can, and therefore will. Just to refresh, they
dragged a mini-excavator up the back access road and walked it out the
trail to the lookout. That in itself was a challenge because they were
walking the machine on about 2 meters (6 feet for us old guys) of
packed snow. Care had to be taken because if the machine had slipped
off the packed snow it would have gone over sideways and become another
attraction point of interest. The intent was to start at the lookout
and work their way back. That meant a small machine fairly similar in
size to the one I had years ago, digging a trench the width of the
trail, down through all that snow, all the way back out. About half a
mile because the whole trail is about a mile to walk but they were just
doing it one way. It took them about 3 times longer than what the
operations manager expected but they did get it done. Walking the trail
is now like walking through a deep ditch. The sides are anywhere from 4
ft deep to way over my head in some places. So currently its a
'different' walk than usual but enjoyable none the less.
Many including myself disagreed with the idea of clearing the snow from
the trail. After all its supposed to be 'adventure by nature' and so
nature should have been left alone to do her thing. However, this is
the approach that most of the local facilities take. They want the snow
during the winter but as soon as they decide its time to switch over to
their spring activities, they want the snow gone. Its not uncommon for
places like Whistler and Grouse to shove 40 ft of snow from their
slopes in order to make ready for mountain biking season. Seems kind of
silly but thats how it goes.
And speaking of how it goes, I've been using the same barber for the
last 15 years and she has gotten a bit on the old side over the last
few of those years. She retired a couple of years ago but decided to
keep working a few days per week, then dropped back to a couple of day
per week and now just works one day per week. So, she is still working
in the barbershop owned by friends of ours. (You guys know who you
are). She's an interesting old woman with lots to chat about, BUT, she
has long since reached the state where her eyesight in not very good
and her hands tend to shake a bit. That however is part of the fun. One
never quite knows just how their haircut is going to turn out when she
gives said haircut. Two cuts ago I came away with my left eyebrow
missing and some rather shallow sections along one side of my head.
Last cut it was my right brow missing as well as part of my beard that
she had trimmed a bit too much. This time it was my left eyebrow again
and some rather interesting scalping along one side. However, I just
keep reminding myself that it will grow back, and, it always does,
frustratingly fast. And face it, if one needs a haircut once in a
while, and its always going to grow back anyway, why not make it an
adventure, a toss of the coin, a chance encounter with random results.
Life's too short to not see and enjoy the fun in this kind of thing.
Now if she could just do something permanent about the stuff that grows
out of my ears and nose, without removing said ears and nose, I'd be
quite happy.
doug
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THE ONTARION REPORT
Hello Everyone!
Today we likely had the rain that’s been plaguing the west coast for
the past 5 months! I’m sure you all will agree that what we had today
was enough to last us for a few months. There are however many days in
the next few weeks that are loaded with forecast sunshine and very
little chance of rain. I guess the month of April is traditionally one
of rain rain and more rain but we seem to have gotten a whole month’s
worth in just one day here in Waterloo Region. I guess we can handle
such a downpour once in a while without whining too much. It just seems
that days like this only happen when we have a load of things to do and
places to go. LOL! Looking back over the past week or so, things have
actually gone quite well. We managed to get our gardens cleaned out and
looking ready for major growth. I actually cut the lawn twice since the
spring has sprung and both times within the last week! Our lawn didn’t
suffer at all over this past winter so I guess I shouldn’t complain.
It’s nice and green with plush thick growth and no bare spots for a
change. Most springs I have to work at it to fill in the dead patches
and get the nitrogen going to green up the lawn but this year I guess
Mother Nature decided to do me a favour a start us off with a lovely
carpet of green that would make the Jolly Green Giant envious! Three
days ago I cut the grass and even managed to put the gas trimmer to
work cleaning up the edges around the lawn. It sure made the sidewalks
stand out against the clean-cut edges. I even received my first
compliment from a passing dog walker who said we have the nicest lawn
in the neighbourhood. I thanked him and watched to make sure his dog
didn’t piddle on the nicest lawn in the neighbourhood! LOL! Even the
side boulevard is coming along and hopefully the damage from the snow
clearing “Jigger” will fill in shortly with more green.
Most often people tend to leave any yard work until the 24th of May
before getting at it each spring but this year I just couldn’t leave
things that long. When the weather started to warm up, it got my motor
running and the cleanup just happened! What can I say? When the mood
strikes one bird is worth two hands in the bush! Or, something like
that! You figure it out! LOL! I never was much good at those quirky
sayings!
I even managed to get up the effort to change the oil in the lawn mower
the other day. Now I’ll have to do the same for the Snow Blower before
parking it for the summer months. I think the next item on the list
will be putting the MGB on the road for the summer. I discovered last
fall that I could insure the MG through an insurance company in New
Hamburg for a full year with complete coverage for only $98.00! How can
you beat that? Of course there are restrictions on how much you can use
the “classic” vehicle. I can drive it anywhere and as much as I like as
long as I don’t use it for everyday shopping. Just not allowed to take
it to the mall or grocery shopping. They prefer you only use it for
pleasure driving and attending special events such as Cruise Nights and
Classic Car Shows. I guess I can remember to use the Jeep for our daily
running around. Besides, there’s not much room in the MG for groceries
and that sort of thing anyway. It’s purely a fun sunny day vehicle,
kind of like a motorcycle! We’ve owned the MG since 1989 (it’s a 1979)
and some years we didn’t even put it on the road. Since my retirement
we’ve gotten more use out of it in the warm months and this year will
be a good one for our LBC or Little British Car. I put a hard top on it
last fall but just might pull that off again and install the new
convertible roof I purchased 15 years ago to replace the ripped and
warn original one that was on it when we bought it. Most summers I’ve
intended to install the new roof but wound up figuring “Why do that,
when we have the roof down all summer anyway?” LOL! Of course there are
days when we get caught in the rain and need the roof in the UP
position so it would be handy to have one on the car that’s not full of
holes! Guess I just talked myself into installing the new soft top
before putting the MG on the road this year. Good idea!
Guess that’s about all I have 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>
Where is the world’s most dangerous city to live in?
San Pedro, Honduras:
This city averages over three murders a day!
The violence stems from the city’s role as a major hub for illegal drug smuggling and prostitution.
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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.
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