Professor C.E.S. FRANKS - "THE CANOE AND WHITE WATER" the treatise on Ontario paddling.

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Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada JAN/01/10

Records are falling daily. While sailors talk of "two footitis, I speak of 50 footitis. From my first day home I've been landmarking the terrain with mile-markers. Not the visible mile-marker, but a reference marker, like a tree or a sign post. Each day I add about fifty feet to my jaunt. Sometimes I feel like I could go further, but I resist, and keep it to my objective of adding just fifty feet to my walk. I've broken a record every day. Just that thought alone is enough to cause me celebration, and that helps burn in the success of each jaunt. I can tell you that the first day felt like I simply had no energy. At the time I was confused about what my body was saying to me, and all systems were on alert. So I was aware of any pain or other indicators anywhere. A slight rise in the road near the main, paved road seemed to just drain the tank on day one. However, in a matter of days, that has become just a passing spot on the road. In speaking with another man I'd met in the hospital, what I was describing in my multiple observations are exactly as described in a few of the books he was given from the Heart Institute. He was very surprised I hadn't got them, and that I hadn't got several follow-up phone calls, including automated questionaires by phone. Any "yes" reply to the automated call was followed promptly by a personal phone call by a nurse. He could hardly believe I wasn't getting that kind of attention. Just after talking to him, I did get a call for some follow-up apointments, so, it's all good. Anyway, I continue on the upward charting of success. I may be just doing a turtle pace, but fifty feet extra distance adds up to a hundred extra feet per day. Those measurements are solid markers in my projection toward spring. We celebrated New Year this morning at a neighbour's house, with treats, people, and fireworks. My son is visiting, and it was a good follow-up to our evening visit to Wesptort mountain, where the lighted Christmas tree stands guard over the town. The view was super. Any season, any time of day or night, the view of Westport and three bodies of water is a panoramic feast. Happy New Year to you all. Watch out for the "turtle and the hair" race. (And I mean "hair".)

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada JAN/04/10

RECORDS CONTINUE TO FALL! I shuffled across the County Line yesterday. A staggering distance compared to my first day as noted above. I have to make a conscious effort to keep it down to a pace of about two and a hald miles per hour. It's not hard to pick up the pace, but experience has taught me and countless athletes and workers that "nice and easy does it". The inspiration is in the visual reference of my mile markers. I wear my usual winter jogging aid, the Yak Trax Pro. For slippery snow conditions, this set of footwear add-ons cant't be beat. One unit goes over each shoe. It's like a web of rubber rope that envelopes the bottom of your shoe. Each strand of webbing, which is round in profile, is covered with springs, similar to those in ball-point pens only, of course, much heavier duty construction. The "Pro" is for running, but you can get a walking version. Once you've worn them, you don't want to go out in slippery conditions without them. It's not hard to maintain my regimen, as I'm sort of used to it from these years. My resting heart rate still seems to be around 48 - 50 beats per minute. I've tried to consider what happened that dark night, and I conclude that I must have fallen and got knocked out for quite some time before I rose and got to the phone. That, to me, might explain how my tongue got swollen and black, along witn my nice licorice coloured ear. Thanks for asking, it's getting more natural-coloured now. Not much exciting to report. Otters slither and squat on the ice, cavorting before doing a seal entry through the ice. My son't gone home to T.O. and it was great to have him here. We were house-bound, which may have got to him a bit. He helped burn branches that I'd piled to a height of over six feet, so most of that's gone now. He helped dig out the mouth of the driveway, too, and accompanied me on my "training runs". I finally hit a deer. Actually, the deer hit me. It broke out of the bush onto the road, and tried to pivot back, but slipped and fell onto the side of my truck. It got away, and when I got home, "She Who Knows All" felt resistance in trying to open the door. I examined the side of the truck, and part of the pretty petrochemical shrouding was gone. I went back to the scene and found it. I have to work slowly to fix this, just to be sure I don't overdo the physical exersion. I was doing less than 40 kilometer an hour when it happened. This is my first in nearly ten years, so I've done well, for this deer-saturated country. I believe that people should not be permitted to have deer feeding stations within a certain distance of roadways. It intensifies the concentration and risk of deer/vehicle collisions, which always have the potential for personal injury. There's much around here that's not being maintained properly, as I'm watching my activities to be sure I keep my recovery on schedule. Next year's soon enough, but it's difficult to not grab a shovel, pry bar, wood, etc. etc.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada JAN/09/10

The day is of course chilly, and spring is just a dream away. It's minus twelve. The sun is white hot, no hotter than the air and snow. The sky is sky blue. The river is Porcelain-clad and reminds us of the meaning of "hard water". Deer are everywhere, as usual. Last night I was returning from another hospital venture in Ottawa. One of those nice, contemporary trucks got up on my tail. He stuck within a car length or two. He had those wonderful fog lights that so many vehicles have now. These fog lights seem to radiate in every direction, so maybe they're not fog lights, but a driving light, albeit with lower power than a true driving light. Anyway, he was close enough that I was afraid of braking for any wildlife that might stray onto the road, as he probably was more aware of my bumper than what was in the ditches ahead of me. So he was posing a risk to me. I daren't overdrive my headlights, and his glare in my rearview, my side mirrors and lighting up the whole cab made it difficult to scan the roadway and shoulders. In order to minimize the risk of impact with, and to maximize my road scan under his lights, I reduced speed. Remember that just two days earlier a deer had "attacked" my car, causing bodywork and petro-chemical product add-ons damage. In other words it bent bodywork and cracked the plastic rocker covers and fender covers/flares. I was able to fix it myself, though parts were hard to find. Around here, stories abound of deer collisions, so I didn't want a repeat. It made sense to be careful in this blackout and snow and icy roadway. Anyway, he picked a turn in the roadway to start his pass, and hammered out ahead of me. It wasn't long 'til I came around another (there's ALWAYS another) corner to see a deer at the left shoulder, trying to step up and over the snowbank. Another deer was on the road edge, its eyes opening and closing. Bumper parts were in the middle of the road. The truck was at the shoulder, and the driver was out and checking his truck. So he was o.k. I decided it might be an angry individual, and since the lights were on, his engine was running and the electrics were operating. I slowly passed by, and in my rear-view I could see that the whole right side of the truck was totally blacked out. With my heart attack recovery status, I didn't need a confrontation or fist fight. I carried on home ... with caution. You're entitled to make judgements about driving, attitudes etc., but the main thing is: in this country, cautious and defensive driving is paramount, no matter what you drive, and no matter what season it is.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada JAN/14/10

The weather's mild. Nice for watching deer, nice for driving, but the forecast is for ice pellets and freezing rain. It makes me want to go out and drive somewhere. I just got an email about a lexan-hulled kayak, and a clear, fold-up kayak. Can you imagine the fun of paddling that? Both are made to let you see the bottom over which you're paddling. Still, I take it a little further, to the practical end of things and realize that rocks and algie are going to take their toll on the window, unless you're very careful. I'm not keen on taking extreme care of things like hulls, so I don't think it's the right thing for me.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada JAN/18/10

Folks, I'd like to say thank you to my neighbours who so kindly interupted their lives to help out during this blip in my life: Tim and Liz: Thank you, Tim for giving our laneway a snow ploughing and your offer to Lynda to assist in any way, due to my recent health issues. Barrie and Shirley: I want to again thank you for your invitation to your New Year's open house, and express regrets that we didn't attend. Thank you as well, for your offer to Lynda to assist in any way, due to my recent health issues. John and Sheila: Thanks for answering the phone on that mysterious night. I'm not sure why I didn't think to phone 911. Your advice to dial 911 was smart, and I was cognitive enough to recognize that. I daily wonder what actually happened, and in what order. I may have been unconscious for quite some time. All I remember was being dizzy, and my speech impaired. We later learned that my ear was liquorice black, as was the whole right side of my tongue, which explains my perception of some speech impediment as I spoke with 911. I've only just learned that you had no car available that night, John, and that you walked that forsaken, slippery roadway in the dark. Just getting up that mountainous driveway of yours is enough to stop the faint of heart. It's hero stuff, John, and I thank you for being there. Thank you Sheila for correcting my mispronounciating (how do you like THAT one?) of "stint" to "stent". Another addition to my new-found medical vocabulary. John and Carolyn: Thank you for taking Jake, for keeping the home fires burning until Lynda returned; for being the keeper of the key until that time. Don't forget, we have a pair of black leather gloves which may be yours. Bill and Ellen: Thank you for coming with John that hideous night. We still don't know why the local emergency folk didn't come to the house that night. With slurred speech, I reported to 911 that I was dizzy. Both are indicators of stroke and heart attack. Thank you for attending with John, for straightening my lamp, which was damaged along with other things in the house, while I swirled about the house trying to get to the phone. Your experience in emergencies was a great resource to have on hand. Thank you for being Jakes first overnight home away from home, and for the hillarious tails (!) of Jake, your dog and your cat. Jeff and Sue: Thank you for your visit to me whilst in hospital. Considering your own circumstances, it was a grand gesture which greatly impressed me; not that it should have, for it's consistent with what I've seen of each of you. Thank you for the treats, they added pleasure and fun to my home away from home. As it stands: This was possibly a tripping hazard, or possibly it was a family thing; what with my mum having heart trouble, my dad (died of heart attack age 42) and several uncles died of heart attacks. Both granddad and grandma died of heart attacks. So all my years of weight training, then running hills before cycling to work as a pedestrian messenger in Toronto, plus my routine of regular paddling, helped me beat the family traits for a while. (I'm not nearly as active since moving to Snow Road.) Apparently all my veins and arteries look really good, and the only indication, at all, of my having a heart attack was one enzyme in the blood. Otherwise, they would not believe I'd had a heart attack. Three doctors each said "You're a mystery." While the health professionals haven't given me any program or definitive advice, I've been on my own little program of walking just fifty feet further each day. With the return distance, that's 100 feet extra. In the next few days, I intend to jog at little more than a walk pace for fifty feet each day. I hope that by spring thaw, I'll be doing my usual walk/stretch to Adam's Hill, where I run up to the top, then jog past the Gemmill's maple syrup shack. I'm a little nervous about it, but hey, life's an adventure, and it's a mind thing. If you see me lying at the roadside, I'll have my nitro and medical i.d. somewhere on my person. I'm thankful for good health. I am thankful for each of you stepping into the breach. I am thankful that each of you, by gesture and act, have extended the hand of, and defined community. Yours truly, Dave Martin

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada JAN/25/10

Well, the sad, and somewhat confusing news is that my personal physician gave me the o.k. to start jogging and some weight training. Then, from conversations with friends, I checked with the internal medicine specialist, who advised: no jogging, no weight training. I'm going with the latter. In conversation I learned that just this week a local farmer was sent home, understanding that he was given the "o.k." from his medical authorities. He had a fatal heart attack within days. The river is an oily black, with a skim of clear ice. Popcorn ice crystals sit atop it. Closer to shore, the ice is snow-topped. Jake the Flying Dog is cautious. When the ice is slippery, he heads back toward shore. Deer are out on the ice most days, but I haven't yet seen one go through. I did hear some go through a few days ago. I assume they got out. One neighbour here slid off the road, braking to avoid another as that one came off the island bridge. No personal injuries. The party coming off the bridge apparently kept on going, seemingly oblivious to the fact that his neighbour was stuck in the ditch. That's consistent with the reports I've heard of this one neighbour. He tends to be a little speedy, and seems to be not all that aware. I know I've come off the bridge and moving slowly. Because he was moving quite swiftly, he had to hit his brakes and slid to a stop in a cloud of dust. I can't believe it. The story is that "he can't see". I don't know, maybe he's licensed in another country.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada JAN/30/10

Just a few days ago, the roadside was damp, the snow was slushy, green grass showed like a spring day. The temperatures were around the zero mark. Then today it dropped like an anvil to sub-snow temperatures. The day was chilly yesterday. I couldn't get my "wood" trailer tire inflated. The bicycle pump just didn't do the job, and it was a bit of a challenge to keep ramming the cylinder, what with the bent over posture and the chill of the air. So I got out the electric pump and plugged it into the cigarette lighter. It hummed and buzzed away for a while. No luck with that either. So "She Who Knows All" went down with a wheelbarrow to bring wood up to the house. The chill air has shrunken my truck tires as well. Algonquin Park's heading for minus thirty-five on the Canadian yardstick. I remember spending Christmas in Algonquin. That year, some couple slept in their car. Brother! I'll bet they learned a lesson. All I had to see was all the frost on the windows, and I knew every bit of cloth and insulation in their car was going to be damp, if no wet. The morning would be a chill awakening ... if they ever got to sleep. A crowd had gathered on one of the lakes. They were gathered 'round a car. Some clown was down on the lake with his car. I saw the all-season tires and left. Maybe not a nice thing to do, but there is no excuse for that, especially in a remote area with few winter visitors. We've been enjoying the cavorting otters. They look like slimy sausages, browned to perfection. They slide across the ice like said sausage in a frying pan. The sunbury jam was excellent this night because of a couple of new players. One was a laid back, very super guitarist who has the rare installation of that strap operated whammy. It's usually a do-it-yourself job, if you can find the hardware package. You operate it by pushing and pulling the guitar to and from the strap. I don't know how you play and do that. Tomorrow's a visit to "the Best Barbershop in Lanark". Usually there's at least on musician. There's a "house" guitar and fiddle. Some of Canada's best fiddlers live here. They get to play with me ... well, no, because I play that funny stuff nobody knows. Last night's jammers said "I like all those jazz chords you play". I told them that's the only song I do with that. Anyway, the pleasure will be mine, because a haircut isn't just a haircut, in Lanark. It's really an experience ... including the Shop Vac that removes the loose hairs from your scalp. That action is accompanied by certain comments by the barber. No, I won't put it in print. Just as I won't tell you everything that happens there. It's a community hub, and it's all in a building about the size of an ice fishing hut. I love rural Canada! My neighbour has sent me a photo of his grandmother in a canoe, about 1930 in Quebec. He asks if I can identify the make. I'm a kayak guy, with a little knowledge of canoes, and I suspect it is a Chestnut Cruiser. Now, there's a rare canoe these days. I actually paddled one. Talk about log rolling, and you'll know what this boat's like empty. A good amount of weight might stabilize it, and that's probably it's intended use. As well as being heavily rockered, it was a round profile. Dance, anyone?

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada FEB/03/10

This is a photo taken about 10:27 am on Feb 1, 2010. You can see the truck heading off the island. At this point it was spreading sand/gravel. On it's way in, about a half hour earlier, it had its blade down, plowing snow. This is ridiculous, given the amount of snowfall that was on the road. You can see the overnight snowfall on the hood of my truck. It was less than half an inch. No doubt the billing will reflect nothing of the snowfall, but for certain, the fact that the roadway was plowed again. It's a consistent pattern. There's no check on this carte blanche cash cow. Meanwhile, the season carries forward. Longer days are inspiring, and we feel maybe just a little more energized. The last few days have been followed by full moon nights and Jake, the Flying Dog, has had wakefull nights, wherein he peers from his perch to cast a gaze across the domain before him. While this isn't about Jake, it is about a small dog, and their manner of living. On a personal level, I'm hoping to join friends this weekend for a little cross country skiing. I'm restricting myself to going out for maybe a kilometer out. With the return, that's about a mile, which, even if I'll just be shuffling along, (which is my target for that day) I'll have done nearly a mile. If I just do that much, I'll be encouraged for the paddling season, which seems just around the Mississippi River corner here in Palmerston Highlands, Lanark / Frontenac country.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada FEB/05/10

There has been no significant snowfall for days now. In the last two days, about a half inch of snow has accumulated. The other day, Feb 03, when the snow plow came in, it didn't touch the bus turnaround. However, this morning a red pickup truck came in and did move the one inch of snow in the bus turnaround. No other work was done, and it lasted less than two minutes, probably it was a minute. There's a pattern here. I hope that the island community sees and understands that. It would seem that any visit onto the island can be charged as a service fee of who knows how much, if the blade is dropped for something like moving one inch of snow from the bus turnaround. I would hope that a daily log is turned in on a daily basis for each and every service call. That way, whomever signs for the work will be more aware of the frequency of charges, and be able to look out the window and see the conditions that warrant such a charge. Obviously, as well, this person could simply drive the roadway to confirm whether significa nt work was done. The work done today, in my opinion, was not required and is insignificant. I heard that last years billing was up several thousand dollars. It's time to put a management plan in place. It's a fine, cold morning out there. The clouds have flushed away, and the sun is painting the snow, ice and trees different colours. Shadows are no longer black as the moonlight painted them, but a shade of blue. Jake had a great expedition with me on my daily jaunt. He's so compliant. There's a couple of old, I mean ancient, beagles we pass on these tours. Normally there is one who gives that elderly bark at me. But with Jake along, that one stays quiet while another elderly statesman asserts his territorial bugling whilst bluff charging toward us. Then he keeps the message trumpeting. Jake looks mystified, casting looks over his shoulder as we pass. Just another bit of sunshine of life in the country. It's Friday alright, but I think I'd be smart not to attempt the cross country ski th ing this year. Next year is soon enough. Actually, with this sunlight, and the odd patch of black water on the otherwise solidly frozen river, I'm looking forward to paddling season again. I can smell it. FLASH !! About forty-five minutes after the little truck did the bus turnaround, in came the big plow. What a gravy train for this contractor. Apparently it's not on a basis of snowfall, because there's been none.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada FEB/06/10

I arrived home from a jam session well after midnight. To unwind for sleep, I had a couple of slices of peanut butter with honey on bread. MMMMMM! I flicked on the t.v. and after about an hour I heard some sort of sound. Jake, of course, was already listening. I shut off the t.v. sound. I could hear wolves. So I opened the window to better ascertain what I was hearing. Wolves! Yipping and yappiing in a collossal chorus. I guess they got a kill. I know that across the river is a place where deer love to bed down. So I imagine that's where the story was told. It was an extremely close choir this night. It had to be just across the river. Jake started a high-pitched whine in a series of modulations. He wanted out and jumped off the chair. I got close and sort of hugged him and quietly told him "It's o.k.". Just for interest, I did my imitation of a deep-voiced wolf howl. Now, I'm not able to tell you how good is my rendition to the ears of wolves. Anyway, they heard me do a couple of these. After my third voicing, the forest went completely silent, never to be broken again that night by the shouts of the pack. At about 7:30 this morning, I let Jake out. As usual, he headed toward the river, where the action usually is. Winter, spring, summer or fall, the river is the bandshell of performing arts here in the wild. I went around to the river side after a while, jus to see what he was up to. He was already at the rivers edge, sniffing at weeds and things. Out on the river ice, nearer the far shore, a wolf was heading upstream. Jake started toward him. He saw Jake and turned his gaze and broke stride, settling into a stance with his body facing upstream, with his head turned toward the near shore, seemingly fixed on Jake. Jake stopped heading toward the wolf, then returned to his explorations of shore weeds, sampling some. The wolf completely turned to face Jake and then simply sat down. I would guess that he was wondering what is this black thing over there. I watched for ten minutes or so, while Jake carried on gnawing and occasionally glimpsing at the wolf. I was concerned that the wolf could only watch for so long before he approached, so I called Jake home. And I called and I called. I was somewhat urgent because I was afraid that Jake wouldn't be alarmed at the approach of a wild canine. Even if he would be, the wolf would get him before he got to the house. I went inside to get on my "big downie" with hood. I'd been standing with just a pair of fleece knickers and a Sierra Designs fleece shirt. Returning, I called and called, to no availe. Jake sauntered downstream toward the deer feeding station next door. He disappeared. I'd kept watching the wild canine while I called. He moved downriver on the far side, possibly watching Jake. Having viewed the way bears stalk prey, I kept calling. Suddenly Jake appeared running up the back ramp toward the deck. We headed inside, and I don't know where that wild one went. But I know he's out there ... check this out.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada FEB/22/10

It's been like spring here. Although there's more snow than elsewhere, it's certainly been mild, even in the mornings. I go out for my constitutional and I have been able to run on the sand/gravel shoulder, with only occasional patches of ice. Here within the island, however, it's a little different. As the ambulance driver found, getting traction on the driveway is hard. Underfoot is slick with snow on ice. Once you make it down the drive you're onto the roadway, Carson Trail, and it's packed. Out on the civilized pavement the world changes. South of here, that is, south of highway 7, the world is much akin to the fall season. A little snow, a lot of grey countryside. The river is open for a great distance. While an ice shelf protrudes from the shore, the pitch-coloured water is good from here at Snow Road Station to well into Stump Lake. Music jams around here all seem to suffer the same dilema. It seems that anyone with an amplifier sets it up at a jam and tunes up. They strum a few notes and then trun it up. At home there's probably restrictions from various sources. At a jam, however, its as though they are on the stage of the Grand Ol' Opry, by request. The next party tries to be heard, so the sound person boosts the new person up. The amp guy now can't hear it as it had been, so turns it up. I've never heard any sound people tell the loud amp guys to turn it down. Yesterday was a landmark day. At the Piccadilly Jam, the M.C. basically read out "the riot act". The same thing at the Sunbury Jam. So change is in the wind. What we really need is a totally unplugged acoustic jam. Seems to me, it's gonna hafta be me to start it up. Hmmmm. Processing.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada FEB/23/10

Last night was another wolf night. I could hear a tremendous chorus out there. I opened the window and heard them very close. I think it was across the river. There were a variety of voices. One was particularly (excuse the pun) note worthy. It was a deep, deep howl which separated it drastically from the rest. They kept up the ruskus for quite some time. Then there was silence. The only thing that remained was Bandit the shepard next door, and some other dog, probably the Rotweiler on the main road. Jake was whining, barking and it was interesting to hear his high-pitched howl in reply at the first vocal volley. I opened up the back door to listen and they started up again, but this time much further upstream on the far side of the river. I suspect that the spot across the river from us is going to be a favourite killing ground for the wolves, as this is the second in a month or so. Why it hasn't happened in previous years, I don't know. A couple of nights ago I shuffled up Carson Trail in the dark. I scattered a few deer who were plodding along as they often do. In the mornings, the centre of the road bridge is pock-marked with deer tracks. You'd think Santa had done a runway taxi trip there. Bandit had been barking, probably at deer, but who knows. He's really used to the deer in our yards. Anyway, I could hear a peculiar sound, and it took a "stop and listen" to determine that it was the owl, which I haven't heard all winter. The ice that has remained on the road would crunch with every step, so it was hard to hear clearly if you just boogied along. Descending the steep lane at my neighbour's place was interesting, as I was concerned about the climb back up. I haven't climbed anything that steep for some two months or more. Each day, on my walk, I take a glimpse up at Adams Hill, prospecting the future when again I'll be running up Adams Hill as part of my constitutional. It looks monumental at the distance. When I run it, it seems to come down a couple of notches. It's time some cyclists and walkers take a tour of that little backroad. See my map, and think about the Shabomeka Lake trails and this 6 kilometer loop for this spring to fall outings. Don't forget that nature provides a cornucopia of wonderful trailside snacks for your enjoyment. How 'bout some fresh-wrapped chocolate chips, au naturel? The river itself is a glossy black enamel finish, with a frosty coat of gel moving ever so slowly downstream. In time, it passes under the bridge, and where the Snye meets the Main Mississippi River, it begins to bulk up and jam the waterway. With a lowering temperature it might ice up there. It's usually the first place to freeze. How 'bout that Canada / USa hockey game the other night, eh? Poop!

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada FEB/25/10

We've had snow for the last couple of days. About 2 inches, maybe. It's gone off the trees already, but it was beautifully winter-like for a while. I even fired up the snow blower, because the snow plow came and plowed the two inches off the roadway, leaving a few chunks of the heavy snow across the driveway mouth. Not that it couldn't be driven over, it was just to keep it from piling up. I mean we may get another inch or so yet. HATS OFF TO CANADIAN WOMEN - I think the CBC broadcaster has a very good point about our usage of English. He seemed to be concerned about calling the womens bobsleigh a one man or a two man Bobsleigh. The twisting of language notwithstanding, my hat is off to the 4 women who placed their sleight in first and second on Wednesday the 24th. Gold and Bronze. Most of all, I appreciate that each of the four switched quickly from the question of "how do you feel about winning" to take the focus off themselves and thank all the people who got them to the top. They even thanked the people who laboured to make the ice of the bobsleigh track the best it could be. One member is committed to going to Haiti to assist in some way. This in the wake of such success in such a sport venue whose couple of weeks of hosting cost millions. These are extraordinary womenfolk. We are to the better for such dedicated winners who remember the despairing and pledge to help. Such a contrast: the rubble of Haiti, the suffering, as against the gold, the celebration of personal best. HATS OFF TO THE CANADIAN WOMENS BOBSLEIGH TEAM. The Canadian men did a grand job as well. The hockey was fast-paced, strong, and seeing Canada win was great. It was a different style of hockey for the Russians from the seventies. Now they're more North American in style. I remember being at the rail back in 72, having waited many hours for the team to come home. After another delay, I had to head home, saddened to have put in the hours and not been able to have that front row seat. I hope I get to see the Canada / U.S.A. game. WAHOO!

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada FEB/26/10

Another snowfall, and the snow is staying on the tree branches again. It's mild, just around the freeze/thaw mark. It felt quite warm to be out walking/jogging. No wildlife to report, just a still, quiet air with light snow still falling. I'll gather a load of wood for the fireplace tomorrow or late tonight. I just ain' in the mood. Sometimes it's nice to take a break from the routine.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada FEB/26/10

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WOMEN'S CANADA HOCKEY TEAM ! GOLD! All that running, weight training, practise and mental focus, along with keeping on keeping on. You made it, you made Canada proud. SNOW PLOWING has come to our neck of the woods again. I was visiting a friend who has to plow about a mile of extremely twisting and undulating laneway. His wife was doing the plowing when I went in, at about 2 pm. Snow came all day, starting early. Given the fact that the road here is plowed when there's less than half an inch, imagine my surprise to find that the road hadn't been plowed. This morning, at 7:30 am I looked out and saw my neighbours Jeep parked across the road. Then another neighbour came down with his own plow. At this point we have about 6 inches of snow and neither the large plow nor the small plow truck has come in. Wow! What consistancy. When there's a dusting of snow, plow. when it's deep, don't plow. Isn't it time to think this whole thing over? Especially with the $10,000 plowing cost over run of last year. Weather forecast:

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada FEB/26/10

Another snowfall, and the snow is staying on the tree branches again. It's mild, just around the freeze/thaw mark. It felt quite warm to be out walking/jogging. No wildlife to report, just a still, quiet air with light snow still falling. I'll gather a load of wood for the fireplace tomorrow or late tonight. I just ain' in the mood. Sometimes it's nice to take a break from the routine.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada MAR/01/10

OH, CANADA!! More OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS than any country in the history of THE GAMES. Alexandre Bilodeau is the most outstanding athlete to me. Given my many years of childhood to youth hospital visits, and my volunteer time at the Toronto Crippled Children's Centre, I was deeply, deeply moved when I watched and listened to his celebratory news interview just moments after his winning. He was well composed and joyous in the moment of glory, confident and radiating the adrenal mood. Until the interviewer asked about his brother Frédéric. In an instant his eyes began to well, and he spoke of how this brother, suffering under multiple sclerosis, is his inspiration. He commented how that at times he might have felt disappointed in his previous Olympic standings, but that Frederic reminded him "you were at the Olympics!" Alexandre is an athlete of extreme ability, as are all Olympians, but his emotional attachment and concern and love of his brother bespeaks an exemplary compassion which we should all note and apply. I consider myself, even with my most recent, life-threatening affliction, to be very, very fortunate. In the light of this, I view the game between the U.S.A. and Canada as a wonder, and applaude Sidney Crosby for that explosive goal. But Bilodeau exemplifies the human spirit and the significance of humans versus animals. Thank you, Alexandre Bilodeau for showing the world that men can care so deeply.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada MAR/2/10

A pair of Trumpert Swans came in early Sunday morning. They lay around Izat Lake's west end for a while. They were a vivid contrast to the black water, but when they sat on the ice, they were difficult to see. It was a refreshing reminder that spring is indeed on its way to eastern Ontario. On Sunday, again on my constitutional outing, I heard the classic sound of a trumpet. Looking around on the ice, then the water, I gazed upward to see a swan do a great arec around one of the islands, spread its wings, stretch its legs outward and start to descend. After "splashdown", it chortled about sulkingly, for it was alone. In the afternoon I took another look for the pair, and still there was only one. The river is a wide span now. It's no longer a trackway for the wolves. We scattered a flock of about eight deer when we came back from Poland. Jake got a dunking. He'd been out on a walk with "She Who Knows All", and had dined on the nice chocolate chips that the deer leave for visitors. (see photo above, Feb 23). Not only did his breath need a freshener, but I think he'd rolled in the stuff too. Lucky me. I got to have him on my lap during our Poland ride. That's why he ended up "in the tank". He's a sweeter-smelling dog today, but the deer yard is Jakes yard, so he'll soon need a refresher.

Kayaker's Blog: Snow Road Staton North Frontenac Ontario East Canada MAR/7/10

It's spring. There. I've officially declared it. Next week or so we adjust the clocks forward, and that's it. Summer mindset. The roadway has had some soggy sections, then it turns to ice, and back to earth again. The river is open, with a sine wave of ice on each shore. Summer residents have begun to re-visit. Real estate seekers are plodding about in the snow. An American Bald Eagle swooped and circled the river this morning, then settled onto the ice on the far shore for a while. After strutting about, he turned and leaped into the air to settle on the near shore, next door. After a while he repeated his behaviour and jumped upon the air wave and surfed upstream, disappearing behind the black spruce. A former paddling neighbour stopped by and we exchanged talk about towns and riverside haunts. He's got a place in Costa Rica as well as his place in Ottawa and Merrickville. It's supposed to reach ten degrees Canadian today. That's the temperature we have here at the riverside for much of May right through to July. Yet, with the snow still lingering, one feels that it's still too cold to get outside in a boat. Most years I do slide off the ice, however, and leave a rope from the water's edge to a tree. I grab the rope and hand-over-hand my way back onshore. There's time enough for that, though, so maybe this week ... I haven't seen the Trumpeter Swan. It's a lonely place, when one of our wild friends is missing. The Piccadilly jam session is on this afternoon, so after my morning tour of the line I'll head out and saw through my fingers with my guitar strings.

Just ANOTHER REMINDER of what a terrific place this is, here's a link to potential development of an observatory just a short distance from Snow Road Station Ontario WELCOME CYCLISTS. SNOW ROAD STATION TRAIL PALMERSTON HIGHLANDS SHABOMEKA PATHS.

Link here to view Class Action Lawsuit Submission against the Province of Ontario: .