In May I Paddle. May I Paddle In April?

Gordon Lightfoot wrote about clouds like that....think 'Edmund Fitzgerald'.

Dave, Alison and Enya paddle towards Hammond River #2 covered bridge.

Yes, there is a Hammond River #2 bridge as well as #3, but no #1 so far as I 

could tell.

Now this is Canada! It's mid-April and there's still ice along the shady banks of the river. There's a red canoe and one orange umiak (okay, so it's a kayak and I'm into it like an Inuit). The forecast daytime high was to be +6 but it was only +4 when we launched at 9:30 a.m.

Ffffffffffffff.......cold.

The Hammond River. It's the only river in New Brunswick named after an organ. Wait a minute! I forgot about Wurlitzer Creek!! Kidding.

We launched at a covered bridge known as Hammond River #3. One could presume there are others, but like Gate #3 at the Fredericton airport, don't assume anything logical. Our launch site was along the Damascus Road in Smithtown.

Damascus Road. Hmmm...doesn't sound terribly Canadian, eh? Are you  serious, Ian? Or Syrian, Ian? Blah blah blah.

And Hammond. What or who is a Hammond? I did some digging in the New Brunswick Provincial Archives (on-line) and here are the results...

William Francis Ganong identified the Maliseet name for the Hammond River as Nuhwig'ewauk: named for Sir Andrew Snape Hamond (1738-1828), lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia from 1780-1782 and a land owner in area:  in 1866 Hammond River was a farming community with approximately 52 resident families: in 1871 the community and surrounding district had a population of 300: in 1898 Hammond River had 1 post office, 2 stores, 1 tannery, 1 cheese factory, 1 church and a population of 100: Hammond River is now within the town of Quispamsis, a small community owned by Randy and Jennifer Wilson.

Therein ends our almost true history lesson for today, kiddies. Class dismissed. Grab your paddles and get out there.

P.S. re: William Francis Ganong. Mmmm...Ganong's.

Cool Hand Juke

With the encroachment of Alzheimers upon me Mootha, it's sometimes not easy to get the reaction from her that's desired. My best clowning around sometimes falls flat (tough crowd!). There is one exception. There's one interaction that always gets results.

Question: what would that be?

Answer: a cold hand to the cheek.

Inevitably, when I come from the outdoors into Pine Grove and hold me Mootha's hand, or put my hand on her face, I get the reaction that you see in this picture. It has a 'severe' look to it but she usually chuckles afterwards.

It works in both directions too...hot or cold. The other day I placed a perhaps-too-warm heated blanket on her and she immediately said 'oh my god!'.

And while I'm telling Mootha stories....something funny happened yesterday. I was sitting with Mootha, holding her hand with fingers entwined. She lifted both of our hands up to her lips and started kissing them. The great hilarity came when she said 'How'd 'ya like that?', especially since she was kissing her own hand, and not mine.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Windsurfing Again!

April 19, 2013...the first windsurf of the year. It felt good, even though I had very little right arm grip strength. Nevertheless I had some nice jumps and conditions were 9.5/10 for this time of year.

I rigged a 5.9 and used my 106 litre JP All-Ride. The air temperature was in the high teens...spectacular for mid April. The wind was a bit gusty but about 30km/h on average.

Joining me on the waters of the mighty Washademoak was none other than local windsurfing celebrity Robert Grant.

2013 windsurfing season has officially begun. Yippee!!

The Barn In Harvey Station: On Being 100

What's it like to be 100 years old? I couldn't tell you because I'm only halfway there. There are a few residents in my mom's nursing home who could tell you what it's like to be 100. If I'm not mistaken, they're all in wheelchairs.

In contrast, the barn which stands on Wendy's parents' property is still standin' (yeah, yeah, yeah) after 100 years. It was built in 1913 and it has the classic good looks of something built in the glory days of farm construction.

That barn survived World War One and World War Two. It survived one hundred Harvey Station winters. It survived gales and blizzards. It survived the Cold War, the disco era and it survived 11 years of eTalk. Pretty impressive, I'd say.........that eTalk has lasted 11 years.

I wonder what the barn would say if it could talk? It might say 'hey, Paul, how come I didn't get a Super Roof™'. It might say 'looks like Dick Corey has some bicycles for sale across the road, better call Ian in case there's a CCM Mustang'. Or, it might simply say 'moo' or 'hay!', that's probably what it heard for its first few decades of use. I'm not sure when it stopped being a functioning barn, but I think it hasn't seen any cattle for over half its life. That's the truth. For once, my story involves no bullsh__!

Ducking Vultures

I spent my last day in Toronto photographing turkey vultures as they sailed past my 20th storey condo windows. The vultures arrived in Toronto in late March, though those who practice law are there year-round. The vulture is an interesting bird to watch, or be watched by. They're constantly riding the wind and grabbing updrafts, all the while looking below for dead meat. Sometimes they'll settle for the bloodless victims of Ben Mulroney (local broadcaster and vampire), but in general they prefer roadkill.

Upon arriving home in New Brunswick I was greeted by a pair of wood ducks who have shown interest in the nesting cavity in the oak tree in front of my house. They were checking it out last year too. It's a definite sign that spring is underway.

I Don't Wanna Live In This Boom Town No More

The year was 1992. It was May 30, I believe. As I drove out of Toronto, heading for New Brunswick with all my Earthly possessions, the radio blared out a song called Boomtown by a musician named Andrew Cash. I actually requested the song from the local radio station, CFNY. I sang along as Toronto faded away in my rear view mirror. I was happy to leave.

Tomorrow I'm doing the same thing, in a seasonal sense. Toronto is more of a Boomtown now than it was in 1992. Take a look at the image that I borrowed. It's a simulation of all of the new condo developments that are proposed (or already started) to be built by 2020. The boom in this town is hard to fathom, and I Don't Wanna Live In This Boomtown No More! Or at least not for the spring/summer/fall. I suspect I'll be ready to come back in November. It wasn't that bad, truth be told, but I am a country boy at heart. Country Roads...take me home. How ironic that it's the 401 that will take me home...the least 'country road' imaginable.

So why didn't Andrew Cash want to live in this boomtown no more? Let's take a look at the lyrics to  Boomtown. For me they're as relevant now as they were then.

Looking at a shop display of fancy james from the south of Spain
A Lady says "Ma'am can I help you" I just say NO
I walk back out again, into the morning rain
The Smell of MOCHA CREME on my brain
I put my hands into my pockets and what do I find?
Just two cold hands kinda looks like mine

I don't wanna live in this Boomtown no more!
I don't wanna judge my life by what I can't afford
I don't wanna live in this Boomtown
It's busting down my door {Chorus}

The Landlord called last night, he said he's selling off our home
He says he's sorry but neighbourhood has changed
They'll renovate this old dump and put us out with last weeks's JUNK
Some trendy folks gonna have a new place to play
Joey take me away from here
Give me your hand and wipe my tears
This is no place for us my dear

Chorus

They're closing down the Old Shops
The Air is filled with groovy talk
of high class Art for condos on the way
Joey I spend all my days looking at these shop displays
Sometimes, it makes me feel so bad

Just For Laughs - Toronto Edition

Wendy and I were 'entertaining' two friends last night. The two 'victims' were Will L. and Cara B., both of them alumni of CNU (Cambridge-Narrows University). They both, at various times, have been to Cambridge-Narrows to work with Wendy. They have also both been to St.Andrews to attend Wendy's opera workshop.

Will and Cara have the ability to laugh, and not just regular laughter, but hide the crystal laughter. Plus they're always more than willing to go along with my pranks/ideas/artistic concepts. When the Rhino showed up at the party, they were quite obliging to partake in a photo shoot. Needless to say, the Rhino was a big hit.

It's nice to have gifted friends who take their music seriously, but not themselves. They are a reflection of Dame Wendy and me. Wendy, it goes without saying, takes her music seriously. You know where that leaves me...in the corner playing with my action figures.