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The
Squamidian Report – Oct. 21 / 23
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#1117 Russ Nova Scotia Sus The Ontarion
How’s it going….. We are home now. It was great being there and seeing everyone. My only regret is that I didn’t have a chance to chat with everyone. I’m not very good at doing that at the best of times so when you throw in a crowded party I’m really out of my element. We left Sue’s sisters place at 7:00 am last Sunday morning and headed up though Mono Mills on our way to the 400 and highway 69. Those highways are the worst part of the whole trip so I was glad to be getting them over with. Once past Sudbury it was open roads and colourful fall scenery with very little traffic all the way to Wawa where we spent the night in the same motel we were in going to other way. Monday morning was dark with rain but that cleared out after an hour or so. We like to hit the road and drive for an hour, then stop for a coffee and something to eat. There is a Hortons in Wawa but we passed on that as it was too soon. Google map reviews indicated that a Robins coffee shop in White River had fantastic coffee and food and service and was about an hour up the highway. Perfect. We got there and I went in and got a coffee and a couple of apple fritters. We ended up dumping the coffee and pitching the fritters. They were terrible. The place was dirty the service was terrible. I have no idea who wrote those reviews but I will never go back there again. We had intended to go as far as Virmilion Bay but we got there in the early afternoon after passing along the top of Lake Superior and passed through Thunder Bay so we kept going and ended up in Manitoba where we found an old but clean roadside motel in a place called Richer just east of Winnipeg. It was just a place to sleep which was all we needed. That put us on the Parries and well on our way. The only traffic we had to deal with was through Winnipeg and the other main cities. Out on the open road we had almost no traffic at all. The prairies can be dead flat or rolling, treed or bare, but always changing. The end of that day found us in Medicine Hat AB. just before nightfall. Next morning we hit the road just as the sun started to light the sky. Where we live a sunrise lasts only a few minutes because of our high mountain horizons. Out on the prairies the sunrise that followed us in our rear view mirror lasted 45 minutes and was stunning. We got through Calgary and on into Kananaskis country where the scenery is breathtaking as you approach the Rockies. Also as we approached the Rockies, the weather began to deteriorate. By the time we passed the Banff area it was raining pretty hard and the winds were howling. As we climbed higher into the mountains the rain turned to snow and we found ourselves driving through some fairly sever winter conditions. Glad we had the snow tires on the car. Eventually we ran out of the snow and back into rain, and, back into BC. Here we hit numerous construction delays that became a bit tiring but not much you can do about that. We made it all the way to Cashe Creek, west of Kamloops, where we spent our last night on the road. Next morning we were ready to go, knowing we were only about 4 hours from home. Our route took us down from the top end of Highway 99, through some of the most scenic country of the whole trip, to Lillooet. Then, over the Duffy. I must say we saved the best for last. The Duffy was cloaked in its finest fall colors and just plain spectacular. That is a drive I usually do on the bike so it feels a bit different in a car. Very tight turns, steep hills etc. We got home about noon and spent the rest of the day just relaxing. It was a great trip, put on over 9,000 clicks, saw the country and enjoyed seeing it. We’ll probably never do it again but I’m glad we did it this time. Now, back to normal life. Some observations….. * By pure chance, we hit the full splendor of the of the northern Ontario fall leaves. * Because of the time of year, tourist traffic was over with and we had most of the highways to ourselves. The only traffic we had to deal with was the normal city day-to-day commuters. * The winds in central Saskatchewan were high and dry, picking up and blowing the mineral salts from in and around the salt lakes making it look like it was foggy out. * The lowest priced gas in BC is more costly than the highest priced gas anywhere else across the country. * Alberta drivers, whether in Alberta or anywhere else, are the worst in the country. * Winter driving conditions can happen anytime in the Rockies. Looking across Duffy Lake.
Looking west at Duffy Lake.
Doug ****
From Russ
Green Bread During Doug's visit to Ontario I was fortunate to have him visit, in person, for several enjoyable hours. He's a great conversationalist, being learned in many interesting fields. When it came time for lunch, I would like to have taken him to a restaurant in Kincardine, but neither of us was blest at that time with 'wheels'. My suggestion we could take my 3-wheeler and Doug could ride in the rear carrier, went over like a lead balloon. "Do you have bread?" asked Doug. Yes, I do. "Do you have peanut butter?" Yes, I do. "That's good enough for me" replied Doug. I keep my bread on the counter in a special container that keeps it nice and fresh - for weeks! Doug proceeded to remove a couple slices while I brought out the peanut butter from the fridge. So far, so good. When the toast pooped up, Doug quietly announced, "Your bread is mouldy". Sorry about that - and I was honestly sorry, and ashamed that I stuck him with 'Yucky', green bread, but I recovered quickly and suggested he simply cut off the green part. He did, and that left him with 2 half slices of toast. And that is all he wanted for his lunch - for some reason. I can assure you Doug, that if you ever visit me again I will have 'non-green' bread for you. Uncle Russ (who is badly in need of a 'keeper'!) ****** Wasn't that a party Wasn't that a party on Saturday, October 14th! It was an 'open house' for Doug and Sue who travelled all the way from Squamish, BC to the Homestead in Kirtchener where we wished them a happy 50th Wedding Anniversary. We, all of us, had a wonderful time, except Doug, who said, "There were too many people here". Hey Doug - it's "many people" who make for a successful party. Friends, relatives, and Squamidians were well represented. Even my "introverted" son, Greg said , "It was a great day" (twice!) He also spoke a few words as he drove back home to Ontario's West Coast, "Rare to see so many guests when it's neither a wedding or a funeral". How true! Our congratulations to our hosts who made us welcome in their newly-decorated home, and kept us nourished by the spread laid out on the table in their beautiful sun-room. I was given a soft chair in said room where the food was displayed, but as we had eaten on the way, I wasn't hungry - neither was Greg, but I noticed he sat right next to the food, and kept eating potato chips until he got hungry, then began to do a 'serious' job of helping himself to the rest of the food on the table! (twice!). And yes, we stopped at a restaurant on the way home where Greg had a regular supper. No doubt, he had a snack before going to bed as well. (He always does!) Greg complains he's 'getting fat' - but he's not, he works hard and 'burns-off' his caloric intake. Greg is a wonderful son - a best friend who I love, and cannot do without. To those of you who were absent, we missed you and you missed a great party! Many thanks to all who made the event such a great success. It was an unexpected pleasure to see Carol who, as most of you know has undergone horrific pain and suffering due to a "botched" operation which she now has to undergo once more. Pleas know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and Al as you bravely face your trials. Uncle Russ. ****
From Nova Scotia Sus
As I write this I'm thinking Doug and Sue must be close to arriving home. I'm not sure I could drive that far day after day. I'm not that good at sitting for long periods of time. It must be because my profession as a hair stylist required standing day after day. I'm sure that home is looking pretty good to you guys by now. Wonderful you were able to visit family and friends. Things are very busy here between gardens and chickens and all things to do with harvesting and preserving. It makes me wonder why our grocery bill is so high when we eat so much of what we grow. At least it's all healthy. We lost a few more trees that were weak and just waiting for a big wind to take them down. Our path around our pond is still blocked at one end. We are not sure how to approach that cleanup since there is not enough room to get a tractor between the pond and a stream of water. A few weeks ago I went to see Valdy at a show in Pictou. I've always been a big fan and anytime he makes it to the Maritimes...I'm there. The extra bonus is he has good friends here and I was invited to go with them. When the show was over he sat with us. What a pleasure it was. He is getting up in age but just as great as always. He encourages his audience to sing along and he loves that we all know his songs. Good to have the Squamidian back. Sus ****
The Ontarion
Hello everyone We’ve slowly recovered with our bout with covid and are feeling much better! I Don't believe anyone that says it’s just like having a cold! Covid is a heck of a lot worse for sure! The three of us were very sick with it! Thank goodness it’s over-with for good we hope! Other than that we’re all set for winter! We finally got Carole’s garlic garden all planted and she Should have a bountiful crop This spring! I cut the lawn this week and hopefully it won’t grow any more this fall! It’ll soon be time to get out the snow blower and cover the MGB! We missed our usual trip to the largest British car show of the year because of our covid weeks laid up! Maybe we’ll get better weather next year and consequently will be able to take more Drives in the MG! What’s this world coming to? The regional police just arrested 5 young people at a local high school sitting in a car and wearing masks and waving hand guns at passersby! I guess they thought it was cool but now they’ll all have criminal records! What fools, they just affected the rest of their lives with this dumb move! Oh well there’s no fixing stupid as they say! That’s about it for this week! I’ll look forward to talking to all again next week! Thanks for tuning in this week! Goodbye and good health to all!
Greg ****
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