Cultural Center Part 1.

For several years now I have been contemplating writing something on the proposed Cultural Center for Nain slash Nuntatsiavut.

Not so much the concept or the building itself (though there are reservations) but the site picked for the building.

When first announced (quietly) I thought, WTF!, are these people serious. Then the thought struck me that in time common sense would surface to the top and a serious re think and subsequent stable site would be sought.

No such luck.

Here is a concept drawing-photo of the proposed Cultural center and an news piece on the subject here.

And here is the site chosen. 

Right click on image and click open link in new window for larger view. 

In the larger image you will note that the site chosen is in the watershed that affronts the main part of town.  I have white circled that area. 

To gain access by a road (the finished product)  a house had to be removed (so it is claimed). 

Interestingly the house removed was the last remaining house of that type left in Nain and had a significant historical and cultural background. 
I have a blue scribble over the house.

The red circle above the site is what remains of the caribou plant that was attached to the fish plant. The caribou plant was condemned just a couple of years after it was built. You see they built it in the watershed, though not as far into the watershed as this Cultural center will be. 

Moving ahead to the present; Last winter attempts were made to do some geophysical drilling, a very half arsed attempt if I may so so, the drill and crew were inadequate and the drill became stuck on the first hole.  

Come the summer a marginally lager drill was dispatched and a series of holes drilled over a wide area of the site. It took forever and I hope the proponent was billed by the foot and not as a cost plus.

No solid rock base was found, permafrost frost was hit at varying depths in some holes from five feet to forty feet.  

Not surprisingly water enveloped many holes.  

Below is collage of the middle stages of drilling, the site is relatively undisturbed except that a fisherman's boat shed and small boat ramp had been removed. 

The site sits at 0 meters to 1  meter above sea level according to Google earth. There is one brook slash storm water drain that runs year round onto the site.  There are also at least 2 to 3 springs that run onto the site at verying levels of intensity depending on the time of year, rain fall and seepage from the above hills.

These water sources are met in the watershed by the seepage from the sea, plus storm surges and differing levels of tide from the sea.
In a NL government research paper from 2010 of past and present sea level changes it states that the coast of Labrador could undergo sea level rises of between 70 to 90 cm by 2099.

These sea level changes are particularly of concern to areas of low lying or low-slopping coastal areas. Of which we are one.

Historically there have been homes built along this water shed. A saw mill once stood in the area. All have long since gone and in my 32 years here the only structure built was the caribou plant that lasted 2 to 3 years plus the fisherman's shed that quickly developed a strange angle.

My memory may be fading but I seem to remember that the town council either past or was thinking on passing a by law forbidding any future structures right along the watershed of the town.

TBC.

Yesterday Siutik and I took a walk up the hills to check for good blue berry patches. It was quite breezy on the way up but as is usual soon as I started bending down the breeze dropped, never fails.

Any way found some good spots and the red and black berries are plentiful as well.

The Northern Ranger broke down again, and at Natuashish would you believe. This time she got into Nain at 6:30 pm, 6 hours late.

Some one commented on Facebook that we on the coast deserve as good a service as they have on the Island. 
Yawah forbid that our service ever gets as bad as that service is. Breakdowns weekly with the Provincial service, and the gulf service that is operated by the Feds has had the worst year for many a decade for breakdowns. 

Little cooler this morning so decided to do up a couple of jams, red berry and bake-apple, they don't last long in this house.

Weather has been on the balmy side and a bit windy, missed any real Wx as as usual moves to the south of us.

 Deja vu all over again with the Northern Range, taken from the official web site:

MV Northern Ranger (Passenger and Freight)

 

Wednesday, Aug. 29th - DELAYED

ETA Natuashish 07:00 am; Delayed due to mechanical - departure time to be updated 11:00 am

Speaking of turbot:

 Fishing vessel Abigail Grace came into port yesterday morning. She is partly loaded with turbot, came in to pick up a crew member arriving on plane. The plan was to then head out, pick up their gear and then head home to NS.

The  wheels seemed to have fallen off the best laid plans of the skipper a little, some of the crew acquired some beer and were enjoying the sights and roads of Nain while consuming same late afternoon.

She was is quite the boat at 90 feet with a wide arse beam.
In need of a haul out and some maintenance, the hull below water line is quite thick with marine growth.

The other boat in the picture is locally owned, she does the charter work up north for Parks Canada.

Still on boats: 

The mv Astron is on a very unusual schedule of late. She comes into Nain at a very ungodly hour of the early morning, unloads her cargo and is gone again without a by-your-leave.

No wharfinger is at the dock, no one who wants to ship anything out has the chance to.


This was going on last year and previous years. I thought people had worked a better schedule out with the minister responsible for transport, apparently not.

Update and corrections on above: The turbot survey is now approaching the Rigolet area just outside Lake Melville.

The crew on that boat sure is better behaved than the crew on the Abigail Grace. The men boys off the boat had quite the time I am hearing, much beer and who knows what else. I mention this just to highlight that it is not only Innu and Inuit who go a bit crazy when under the influence, media especially tend to forget this..

And a correction on the mv Astron, there was a wharfinger at the dock when she came in early Saturday morning.
This does not address why the early arrivals.

After a brief stopover in Nain the Turbot survey boat is now heading south, be interesting to see what they come up with at the end of the research, the fishery sure could do with some good news.

The outpost Magazine people are now back in touch with their real world, they had a brief stop over in Nain (refuel and drop off some Parks Canada people) on the way out yesterday.

Nephew Andrew was one of the parks folk, he is home for a week then goes back up to help shut down operations for another year.

Carters dad was the first officer on the Parks charter. We were down the strip to say Hi (Carter and his mom are here for a visit). As soon as Carter saw the plane landing he was revving to go and greet it, had a time holding him back. Soon as I let him go he high tailed it straight for the steps to board. 

Carter not happy to see his dad leave so soon but he recovered quickly what with all the attention he receives here. 


Warm one yesterday, up to 22 with light breezes.

This tin yacht motored into town yesterday morning. Couple on board not that friendly though the lady more so when hubby not around. Name of Glendel out of Burlington Vermont.

 When I queried the home port the lady gave a reasonable explanation. "It was where her hubby grew up but they live in Main".
OK, until we ran across hubby, he seemed evasive and in a hurry to get back on board  (they left 4 hours later). No skin off our noses buddy, just trying to be the typical friendly Nainimuks.

 Any way lady told us they had been up to Greenland and were in a hurry to get back south.

 So the question that remains unanswered is: why did this guy get customs clearance here in Nain (through the RCMP) when no other yacht or boat can. If buddy had been friendlier the question would not have entered my head.
There seems to some flags missing from the vessel too.

Now this next post is not meant to demean or be critical. It just seems to be very unusual and I feel for all involved.

There was a wedding planed for yesterday afternoon at 2 at the Moravian church (I am assuming the church).

Many guests of the groom to be arrive from Natuashish (grooms home town) starting on Wednesday and still arriving on Friday.

The bride to be is from Nain.

The hotel is booked for the reception and dance, around 120 guests I believe.

Hotel hires on more staff and start preparing the food for reception early Friday. Hotel dinning room is closed to the public so staff can accommodate hotel guests and the wedding.

Short time before the 2 pm church ceremony hotel manager receives phone call from the bride to be and tells manager the wedding is off, there will be no reception and no dance.

Now without further information ones head could start spinning with speculation as to why this could happen.

The truth is quite bizarre as it is. Seems people got cold feet with the possibility that the groom could be arrested if the wedding went ahead.

I am still shaking my head until it is revealed that the weeding went ahead groom would have been in breach of a probation order to stay away from the bride.

Ones head could still spin with possible scenarios of how things reached this stage, but why bother.

Hotel manager did not dump the food as requested (seeing as it was already paid for) but made sure the hotel guests from Natuashish and the bride to be family received what food was prepared, 5 turkeys as an example.

The end of an era.

The CBC free to air transmitters were shut down about a month or so ago, yesterday the final nail in the coffin of free broadcasts to rural and remote communities, well ours at least.

The parabolic antennas came down, the receivers and transmitters removed and taken to the dock for shipment to Goose Bay then on to who knows where, land fill most likely after any saveable bits removed.

APTN is included in the shut down and clean out.

Others communities have been cleaned out and others will follow. Will radio be next?

The two blue units in collage above are AM transmitters from the 60's.  They were in operation here until about a year ago before being replaced with digital transmitters.

The Harperization of a once proud country is not pretty to watch. 

More updates on the Northern Ranger mentioned yesterday.

Something weird is going on. It is ironic that only Wednesday a visitor from Goose Bay mentioned how well the N Ranger had been operating this year, no mention of any problems had been heard at all in GB.
 I mentioned the little blip in Opps with the one hour delay and how she seemed to be traveling under duress, but apart from that no known issues.

Spoke too soon we did. Chatter on social media from passengers on board on the run south revealed some disturbing (but as yet unconfirmed officially) reports of the ship being held up in Postville due to its Transport Canada Certification expiring.

Whatever the problem first word was she was to overnight in Postville. Then word was that she was to depart Postville around 8 PM.

 Official re schedule is. Whatever happened she is behind now, usually due in Makkovik at 7 PM Thursdays. And things were going along swimmingly.

She is now behind about 5 hours, no biggy to make up, but if she is operating on one engine that will be difficult to keep up and more likely to loose more time. Time will tell. 

Upertydates on the Northern Ranger via CBC HV-GB. 

According to a spokesperson for CAI-Nunatsiavut (who did not sound all that convincing)  the Passenger Safety Certificate (PSC) on the vessel had expired on the 15th August resulting in a five hour delay in Postville.
It was just a regulatory issue, one that could be corrected with a phone call or some other form of communication and acquiring an extension the PSC.
At no time where the passengers at risk yadd yadda.

When asked if this should have been done prior to the shipping season the spokesperson waffled and answered a non asked question.

Another visitor to the dock yesterday. The tug Molly M I took on fuel (lots) and water, she is on her way back to Hamilton Ont. from Iqaluit. The barge she is accompanying had lots of equipment and a large mobile crane on board, all this was to necessitate the unloading of what they took up. Stuff like large mats that are laid down on the mud at low tide, and other gear. Molly M has a new color scheme and most likely a new owner, she sure must have had an interesting life.

Funny that tugs and barges don't garner the same level of interest that 140 feet multimillion dollar pleasure boats do. 

The weekly arrival of the Northern Ranger was delayed an hour, she broke down back in Natuashish and she limped into town (by what looks to me like) one engine.

When Google gets done with Cambridge Bay we want the same done here. 

The turbot survey people are now in Hebron Fiord, and the outpost Magazine people are still eating lotuses up in the Torngat Park, hoping for a helicopter ride but if weather is like here don't think so. 

The Torngat Secretariat Turbot Survey is up shit creek without a paddle a fiord according to last position. Seems a strange place to be looking for turbot?  I was joking about the creek.
Not really, back when I first came here we caught loads of small turbot in char net up in a bay, dumped the lot as there was no way to process them, except some I kept and filleted. 

The brief visit of the T T Dorothy Ann and its fast outrider caused quite the buzz around town yesterday. 
The Yellow Fin center console with 1200 HP on the back gained the most interest, a number of locals were given a quick run around the harbor before it took off, literally, for the Park base camp, 3 hours was the estimate time to get there.
The 1200 HP at full throttle use approximately 400 liters of fuel per hour, about the same volume as the mother ship consumes per hour at cruising speed.

Then she is 256 gross tonnes and has twin 1,350 Hp diesels.
No wonder she has 35,961 liter fuel capacity.

I had some information on the owner sent me by interested persons, Mr. Devaney is quite the colorful character and has created quite a bit of coverage in financial and other circles over the past few years.

There are reams of other stories covering this guy, mainly financial deeds or misdeeds depending on your view. 
Fogy and rain overnight, fog and drizzle this morning.

The Nain fish plant is to close today, shipping out the last of the char to Goose Bay, what a disappointing season it was for all involved. Lets hope some out of the box thinking is done before next year, cant keep sinking money into a loosing operation.

Here is the momma bear of the the *little boat* with the 1200 HP of thrust.

Nephew Andrew is back at base camp in St. Johns harbor, guess the intrepid travelers will be leaving tomorrow, or staying to do some paddling.

Maybe they will run into the big oh boat from Florida, for sure they will get to meet the big guy who is capt of the fast boat. 

Another warm one yesterday, up to 22 and calm for the most part.

Nephew Andrew and the intrepid hikers have reached the point of pick up back to the base camp by the look of things. Hope the black bear did not cause too much trouble.

Aimee and Carter are coming for a visit within the week, that has got everybody excited.

This baby came into dock last evening, took pics this morning.

Brand new and no sign of boat manufacturer, or owners. She is rigged for sports fishing with rod holders and outrigger, an anomaly in these northern waters sure.

With 4 300hp mercs she would be a floating fuel tank one would think.

Sort of a muggy, wet, foggy day yesterday. Fog came in later in day and stuck right flat.

My original assessment of the Outpost Magazine crew hiking with nephew Andrew has not changed yet.

I am sure they are nice folks but some of the correspondence is over the top IMO. But then I am getting older.

Just an example:

Sitting on top of à mountain in Canada's Torngats with my lady watching THE NORTHERN LIGHTS:) it's a hard life being Outpost's Thrillseeker!
And:  Just another hum-drum day: Parks Canada chopper brought us à resupply of food. Stunning route through thé mountains and now camped in the clouds! 13.4km tday!

They have not far to go now before getting picked up.

And the turbot survey folk are up in Nachvak Foird at the moment.

 The Ocean Delta anchored off yesterday, no idea where she is going but she was photographed in Quebec City on the 13th. 














 Was finely able to capture( Image) of the two Morning Doves together, usually feeding singular.

Nephew Andrew and the intrepid adventures are on the move southward again.

Some excepts from the hikers Facebook page:  Day 2 in the Torngats trekked 14km through wild moonlike landscapes! Great guiding by Parcs Canada Inuit! Hiked where none havé before!
 And my favorite: Day 3 pt2. - The Torngats 3km Climb up à peak with our Half Inuit and half Australian Guide! Diet of arctic char and dried foods! Mystic fog in the tornfats!

Nice spot of light rain overnight and morning, gets too dusty and hard to breath for many when  hot for any extent of time.

I had this on my (to do list) but thanks to Rick, arguably one of my cultists, I will put it up now.

The Lazybank Productions video called Till We Meet Again, Moravian music in Labrador, enjoy.

Nigel Markham of Lazybank has done some great work on Issues involving aboriginal people in Labrador over the years, going way back to the 1980s right through to today. Eye Of The Storm is one film that resonates with me sure.

The Torngat Secretariat turbot survey is still at the dock according to spot me.

But up north nephew Andrew and the the intrepid urban adventurers are making fast time across the mountains and tundra between Ramah Bay and Saglek Fjord.

Gota put this link up of an ex CKOK trainer (in between CBC gigs) who now resides in Gander.
Nice to see some reporter skills are still evident after years of working for CBC with their 30 second clips.

Update on Andrew and the Torngat hike.  Looks like they had a base camp at a pond, took a hike up to 3000 feet or so and returned to base camp.

Couple boat loads of Canadian Rangers stopped off for fuel and some catch up with local rangers yesterday. On there sovereignty patrol I guess, one boat out of Goose Bay and the the Island.  Its amazing how many Canadians don't know about the Rangers, even people from the Island.
 

Everybody and their dog is into spot me it seems.

A team from the Torngat Secretariat is doing a Turbot survey on the coast, they have a spot me so people can track where they are at. Just near or at Makkovik the last update.

Then there is this group from Outpost magazine who are doing some stuff up in the Torngat Park after doing other parts of the province.. 

The magazine and the crew (well one of them) is a bit glossy and glitzy for my taste and the only reason I mention them is that our nephew Andrew is guiding them on a multi day hike in the park.  The crew flew into the base camp, then with Andrew flew or boated north to be dropped off for the hike south.

The Torngat Park base camp is at the little dip to the left on the tracking line. 

I hope they don't give Andrew any aggro and they listen to what he tells them. My reason for apprehension comes from watching the bit on *a sailor in St. Johns* and the interview they did on CBC Labrador morning.

I have no trouble with people doing these adventure type things and publicizing themselves and the areas they visit.
What does piss me off is the ones who do it on the tax payers dime, and this is clearly one of those tax payers dime trips.

To their credit they don't try to hide that fact, unlike many others (and there have and still are many) who do the Torngats and neglect to mention who paid for the bloody adventure of a life time.

Another warm one yesterday, 20 official and 23 at the house, no wind to speak of so flies were an issue.

This story broke (in its latest form) yesterday.  27 thousand animals out of what was estimated to be the largest herd in the world back in the 1980s of around 800 to 900 thousand animals.

Well the people of Nunatsiavut are doing there part in conservation, if they come across any at all. Why just this week NG were on the look out for one animal to help feed the people at the Nutak relocation ceremony, no luck at all.

Speaking of spot me, updated. This is the latest from Torngat secretariat turbot survey just happens to be at the dock here.

The boat there on was up north recently fishing turbot.

By about 10:30 yesterday the sun had all but burnt off the fog and planes started landing. Not long after the charter that had left Goose Bay with intentions of going straight to Nutak diverted to Nain and picked up a handful of people from here.

Years gone by planes on floats were a common sight, not anymore. It was a rarity that peeked many folks interest. Id forgotten how long and low the approaches on landing are, and it seems to take forever to prepare for take off, but when it is a go the twin otter is not long getting air born.















Above is the second flight taking off.

The first landing engorged some of the passengers for a brief leg stretch ashore, then re boarded with the extra passengers. 

Meantime the tide had gone out further so the passengers had to disgorge into the speed boat, plane taxied out a little, passengers re boarded.

I will have links to stories from Nutak later in the day.


Here are a couple of pod casts from CBC Labrador.

Not had time to listen but more from CKOK.

Of all days for the fog and sun to be uncooperative. The movement of people to Nutak for the relocation ceremonies is on hold. The Twin Otter on floats is holding at Otter Creek in Goose Bay. It is supposed to do multiple trips from Here to Nutak with some of the older relocatees and some politicians and officials.  The picture shows what it is like at 8:15.

Some folks have already gone up by speed boat and some were leaving this morning.

I guess we will just have rely on the old Inuit patience and wait it out. 

After much angst and tweeting the twatter Twin Otter seen taxing for take off from Otter Creek around  9:30. It contains some elders, media and three ministers of Govt.

Heading direct to Nutak then back to Nain later, fog is taking its time burning off but by mid day should be OK.

Photo by @AirLabrador.

The small gassy bit at the front of the house has had some busy little feeders this summer. Sparrows for the most part but other varieties as well. There must be plenty of sparrow nests close by as up to 8 are feeding at any one time. We buy these discounted crackers at the store (discounted because they are way passed best before date) and Fran, and some times I, crush them up and sprinkle them around in the grass. Its hard to keep up with the feed.

 I have heard that when one arrives at the pearly gates you receive a bowl of these pictured below.
Unless of course you are a Harper Government fan, then you get a bowl of tar sands. 

Some of the relocatees who were removed from Nutak back in the 1960s will be returning to there old homes this week for a reading of the apology and plaque laying ceremony.

This is a follow up to similar (but larger) ceremony and apology made in Hebron in 2009.

 There is nothing left of the original buildings in Nutak now, it was mainly a trading post and a few houses. There were some outlying families with homes in Okak Bay who were also affected by the relocation.

For some reason this story from down the other end of the world resonates with me. It has similar connotations to the relocation apology here,  we have become far too complacent and comfortable with the wrongs of the past, this in my opinion only allow similar wrongs to bestowed on us in the future.

Some foody stuff: A light lunch of Jacobs crackers with cheese and bake-apple jam accompanying a cup of tea.

Fran and I are Jacobs crackers fans, They remind me of the famous SAO I grew up with.

The popular Purity brand cream cracker does not do it, too bland and crumbly and soft, lacks the thinness and crunchiness of Jacobs. 

 If memory serves I have never seen beef ribs up here before. Some nice looking fresh ones in Northern last week, @ $8:49 a kilo I am not sure of the value but what the heck once in awhile.

I did an Asian style rub and put them in refrigerator for a day and a half. Then slow cooked them in oven for 3 or so hours. 

The  piece de resistance was finishing them off on the BBQ with charcoal and smoke for about one and half hours.

One would think the end product would be on the dry side, surprisingly the ribs were moist and tender. Sure beats pork spare ribs to our mind.

What the start of a beautiful day looks like. Once the shallow fog burnt off it was warm with a nice in wind.

It is difficult to predict what weather will be a day or a week from now, cant rely on the official forecast as it changes daily.No complaints as their miss forecasts have turned out OK to date.

The ice melt continues in the arctic, this time speed-ed up by a cyclone would you believe
.

I had a hit from a reader in Hong Kong via Newfoundland Blog Roll, I was unaware that I was blogger of the week for part of last month, humble it is I am.

Another hot breezy day yesterday, though it was not as pleasant near the water with the wind more off the land.The forecast WAS for more of same for several days but now the forecast has changed indicating more RDF type stuff and cooler temps.

Not to be outdone our nephew Andrew gets a mention in this glossy adventure magazine (hat tip to Greg for mentioning it on facebook).
Though a more accurate genealogical description of him would be Aussie-Inuk. 

Down by the dock yesterday. A grumpus was frolicking away in the harbor but did not come over our-side while we were there.

At airstrip in afternoon.

What a nice day yesterday, 18 near water and 22 up the house.

That’s if you don’t count the fact that a digging crew seems to have busted through an old septic tank up beside the arena and stinking out that part of town.

Further to yesterdays mention of an unsuccessful fishery this year CKOK has expanded on that.

I was also interviewed by CKOK, asked for my views on the Nutrition North Canada program.

I was reluctant to do the interview at first but after reflection, and since no one in a position of authority would do one, or was not available (my money is on the first option) then someone had to say something.

Because of time restraints there was more I wanted to add. I will add some of it here.

I don’t have the evidence, just my observations, but it seems the fresh fruit and vegetables are reasonably priced in comparison with Goose Bay.

The variety could do with improvement, especially at BigLand but then you have to consider the logistics of getting fresh foods in here. That is where discussions have to take place on the shipping issue, both air and sea. That area has regressed back to the dark ages.

The main beef I have is in the pricing of meats and chicken, both fresh and frozen. Plus dairy and pasta and other items covered by NNC and piggy backed by the Provincial subsidy (I neglected to add in the winter months only, except milk all year)

Other communities have more fish to fry with NNC and the Provincial subsidy judging by anecdotal evidence.

There are no checks on eligibility and quality and condition of foods prior to shipping out of GB. There was under the old program.

Plus the fact that food freight and passengers sometime are on the same plane.  Who ya gunna accommodate, the passengers comfort or the freights temperature, cant do both.

Then we come to personal orders. In all other jurisdictions covered by NNC people have the option of making personal orders with retailers or wholesalers in the south.

Not so here, no retailer outside the coast has signed up for NNC, and the two wholesalers in Goose Bay do not do personal orders. Why one could be excused for thinking conspiracy theories as to why that is.

I will finish off  by linking to this decision by the James Bay Cree. That is not far from Nunatsiavut, it raises the question of what the Nunatsiavut Government will do come decision time on uranium mining here.  

Nice temperatures and mainly sunny yesterday, all sun today and looking good for the next some days. I say some because things can change in a wink.

Sunny is not on the cards for Torngat fisheries this season. After a non scallop fishery and not having a market for more than 20,000 Lb of char at the Nain plant things are not going well at the Makkovik plant, but for different reasons.

The snow crab season was cut short due to poor harvests. There is a study under way to try identify why and if there are other stocks in the area. 

Now the turbot fishery is poor with low landings and it will be cut short too.

Adventures in shopping,

Nain style.

 Every now and then I get my back up about the prices and state of the stores here. One day last week was one of those days. I was not in best of moods what with the back and knees playing up, plus the weather was not kind.
 I was putting off doing a post on it then these photos appeared on facebook of prices and a some what dodgy looking hunk of roast beef taken at the Northern store in Rigolet. 

Now my back is up again.

We had taken the 4 wheeler down to see someone off at the airstrip and on the way back decided to do some shopping. (we usually walk to the shops).

Had a few items on our list and stopped off at Northern and while there I decided on something simple to prepare for the evening meal.

Jane’s battered cod is tasty ( at $18:79 is not something we would purchase everyday) so put one in the basket anyway.
Folgers coffee was on the list and was $17:69 for 2Lb but Fran suggested that it would be cheaper up at BigLand. The packet of cod was slightly thawed by the way but what the heck
After checking out we headed to BigLand, lo and behold the same Jane’s battered cod (truly frozen) was priced at $15:99.
At the coffee section Folgers coffee was $18:99.

Seeing we had the 4 wheeler I said to self, bugger this and decided to take action. We took the Jane’s battered cod back to Northern for refund, purchased the Folgers coffee there then back to big land to buy the Jane’s battered cod.

Saved ourselves over 5 bucks and reinstalled some self esteem at same time. Of course I did not raise this with any of the managers or staff, that would be a total waste of time.

While on the bitch fest, potatoes and onions have been in short supply of late. And in one stores case a bit dodgy when they are in stock.

Fresh supplies of spuds were flown in, a 5Lb bag of good quality white selling for $6:39 at Northern.

At BigLand a 5Lb bag is going for $7:55, and the quality is poor, spuds pitted and bruised and were sweaty, and had obviously been stored in a very cool near freezing environment before being put on the shelf, if you can call it that.
Couple weeks ago the same root vegetable cooler was giving out heat only, all the produce ( what little there was) was warm to the touch. On that occasion I pointed this out to the manager and corrections were made.

The moral or point of the post is, well that is confusing as the people elected to represent us (at all levels) have abandoned the little guy in the interest of businesses in the region. The one exception I see is the MHA for the area, Randy Edmunds, who is taking an interest and getting involved with exposing many of the inequities. Alas he is on the opposition benches, but times change and we look forward to that.

It does point out that we here in Nain are not the hardest done by with shopping options and pricing along the coast.

Noah arrived back in town, by plane, yesterday. Noah and his two companions paddled around 640 K, but alas due to unforeseen circumstances did not make there original goal of George River in Northern Quebec.
A learning experience in many aspects for Noah but the most important aspect is he gave it a shot and will be better equipt for the next adventure. 

This rather small Aviat Husky A-1B arrived  in windy conditions yesterday. I had a heads up of its pending arrival, the pilot and his wife had been in Hopedale for a couple of days camping out on an island.

A two seater, it reminds one of a ski doo with wings, but going by the web site is used extensively for adventures in remote places.

They are headed up to the Torngats, the pilot in his day job is normally at the controls of a 747 for a European based airline.

Noah has made it to the park base camp. Wonder what is in  store now, keep paddling or a ride back to town. Depends on his injured wrist and perhaps his companions time frame.

Boy what a bizarre weather day yesterday. Thick fog until around 2, then lifted to cloudy allowing planes to come in like flies.
Then around 4 thick dark clouds threatened, this time they did not pass to the south, thunderstorm with heavy rain hit about 5 until 6, then cleared off to cloudy.

 Nunatsiavut seems to becoming more and more a region non grata with the provinces media.

Many many stories both positive and negative are ignored by media, even CBC in Happy Valley Goose Bay, the only outlet that is mandated to cover all of Labrador.

A tiny example is the recent shut down of the analogue TV service that CBC used to provide.

While our local regional media posted a story the larger outfits that cover all of the province just neglected us, while at the same time making a big deal out of the effect this is having on the Northern peninsular region and St. Anthony in particular.

Why is this so? could it be that our local elected officials are reluctant to speak publicly?
Is it due to budget constraints within these media outlets, but in this day and age phone and data transmissions are the work horse of the workplace, so that argument does not fly.

Could it be out of site out of mind?

Up in Nunavut there is great coverage of that region by two outlets. Here we seem to be still the poor cousin who is barley tolerated and paid little respect.

There is no shortage of potential stories and actual stories. The freight boat service is still not up to what it should be, yet not a peep out of anyone on that. Cost of food is not going down just up, not a peep.  Goods that used to be marine shipped are now regularly air freighted, not a peep.
How is tourism doing in this region?, Crab landings in Makkovik are down by hundreds of thousands of pounds,what happened to the promised scallop fishery for Nain. Why is it that only 20,000 Lb of char is being processed this year. Where is the promised wind testing for potential wind generation for the coast. On and on it goes, not a peep.

Further to the above rantings:

There is eclectic coverage of various topics here at CKOK.  You can always count on CKOK to meet its mandate, unlike CBC who is increasingly shrinking coverage of small and out of the way populations.

Foggy drizzly day for good part of yesterday, cleared off a bit around 2.

A couple from NY were scheduled to leave on morning flight. Had a call to get them down to airstrip, no one really thought they would get out.

A coast guard vessel in the harbor and the mv Astron at the dock was a good indicator of what was going on, they kept appearing and disappearing into the fog, ceiling never lifted over the top of the hills, for the most part they were obscure.

Innu Mikun was the plane, very dodgy approach just barely visible through hole in fog over the harbor. Did one approach and pulled out for a second run around and landed.

Not sure the passengers on board enjoyed it. All flights on hold after that but some did get in later in the day.

Noah inches closer and closer to the park base camp in St Johns Harbour. It has been windy up there I hear, his latest spot was sent late last night and he should make it today if conditions allow.

But it is a warm fog. Thick and light rain this morning, same for most of yesterday, but it is warm.

Noah has reported latest location west of his last spot on Sunday. Looks like following the shore, the Park base camp is south east and the other side of the bay to them now. I wont speculate as to why, just to wish a safe journey.

Its Noah birthday today, have a good one (relativly speaking)

 One of life’s mystery’s:  No market for frozen fresh or smoked arctic char from the pristine (relatively speaking) waters of Northern Labrador.

Yep, that is the spiel being used to justify the fact that only 20,000 Lb of char was this years quota.

The fish plant ceased taking fish last evening, processing what is on hand and clean up will take who knows how long.

Very short season for harvesters and fish plant workers, and very frustrating for potential customers who do not live in Nain (until closure) or Goose Bay (who can purchase at the Torngat Fish Producers Co Op office).