All most spring like.

Took this panorama of the airstrip end of town this morning from outside the power [hydro] plant. Note: just above the large beige building [primary school] you can make out the latest avalanche event from earlier this week.
My avalanche man from next door was up there doing his readings in -36c...... it’s Ok he’s Irish descent.
While up there I took some pictures of inside the hydro plant, will so something with them at a later date.

Lock out northern style. The things a bloke has to do to get to do a little work. First ya got’a work like a dog to even get near the gate, then ya got’a unfreeze the lock and dig more before you get to the delicate instruments.
Under the pyramids are a neutron monitor and a magnetometer.

Continuing non story; sad man.

Another story on the closure of Atlantic Wholesalers in Lewisport. As it’s on the Island, and Lewisport has for it’s MHA a minister of the crown, and they are losing 70 odd jobs, so it's understandable the coverage.

What is a surprise for me is the total lack of coverage by the media or any politician of the effects on the Labrador.
Just like the long history on the Island, the company has just as long a history with Labrador and the Quebec Lower North Shore. Many retailers purchased around 80% of the supplies from this company; they will all be affected some way, as mentioned before by me to what extent is not known yet.
It is just incredulous to me that the status quo has kicked in again, most are sitting back to wait and see what happens, then bitch and moan when the negative does happen.

Up this way there is no chamber of commerce, no consumer group [except this one man show] to lobby on issues such as this. Our MHA seems to have gone further underground that usual, the NG seems either overwhelmed or totally unprepared for self government that they keep putting on the back burner issues that effect our every day lives. Not only this issue but transport of all types, postage rates, many health and social and women’s issues are continually pushed aside for the so called “big picture” issues, or other issues that may or may not be important and may or may not effect the people down the road.

There is a couple of store managers and one other who have done work on the closure of AH, but there is total lack of back up from politicians or the consumer.
It will be the consumer who gets the hit, for that reason I am continually bamboozled as to why there continues to be no one speaking out. Perhaps it’s because they are sick of being ignored, or know they will be ignored so they say “what’s the use”. I do have a little sympathy for that, but only a little.

I know the issue has been brought to the politician’s attention. It has also been reported locally by CKOK, so I just reckon I’ll have to continue to be bamboozled.

I do not have resources to pursue a story like this, nor does CKOK have the staff. But others do and continually ignore issues on the coast, except if its alcohol related. Same as the politicians; ignore and treat every body like mushrooms. Freak’n sad man.

Breaking on the above story.

I was going to hit the publish button on the above post tomorrow, but the editor in chief said go with it now.

I have just learnt that the company in question is cutting loose the majority of its smaller customers from the Quebec North Shore all the way up the Labrador to Nain.
My source tell me that the company will just keep about 27 of its own or lager retailers and the 250 odd others can go suck eggs.

This news is beyond anything any one anticipated, and it’s all bad especially for the consumer.

There is a lot of stuff comes into play here, surly the procrastinators with the power and the resources will have to do something now.

Electrical distrabution.

In reference to a PD query.

Our electricity{Hydro]is produced by diesel generators [3] in a plant overlooking the community. Operated by Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro it has become a reliable albeit expensive source for most purposes in our homes and businesses.
The plant is a new high tech operation; it is controlled by computers with just two local employers doing routine checks and maintenance. Any major problems with computers and engines repair crews fly in from Goose Bay.

The distribution [lines and poles] are quite the hardy types given the weather conditions and the soil conditions.
No high tech methods are used in erecting the poles. An excavator digs a hole, swings the pole in, crew throw in some rock, soil, tamp it down. In some cases were you have intersecting lines, or the pole has a transformer on it, or the soil conditions warrant, a wooden crib [using 6x6] is built around the bottom of pole and filled with large rocks.

The lines are all hung using manual labor as main source. Pole climbing is an essential skill for “line men” and general maintenance people. When the new lines need tightening the end of the line is hooked to a pick up and pulled on and stretched that way. Also hung on the poles are the Telephone and Cable TV lines.

Recent years have seen very few outages due to weather, quite amazing really. We have had the odd downed line due to constant wind movement, and or freezing rain plus the occasional short due to aging connectors and the like, but overall we have been well served I would think.

Not so in years past, but those outage problems were due to aging generation equipment and bad regional management oversight.
Thanks to a study done by a local citizen over two years, and with the help of the local government of the day, we ended up with not only new generators but a new building. And some naughty boys in GB got a telling off or two.

So after the backgrounder I guess to answer PD questions re why we don’t have more downed lines in storms; not sure there is any one reason.
Could be that we do not have the amount of wet snow and sleet as down south. Our air gets colder quicker and stays that way for months and months. Our winds are constant at times but rarely do we get above the 90 to 100 KPH range. The poles are a lot lower than in the south for sure, and maybe a lot closer to each other.
I do know we do have some anxious times in storms, but given their intensity and occurrence we get off rather well. Another contributor maybe the high hills around the back [south and west] of the town and high Islands to the east all giving us some protection.

Oh Joy Oh Joy.

First day of spring, yipidydodarday.

Until I went outside to work in the greenhouse that is. If I could find the door and find the raised bed I’d have to go buy a jackhammer to turn the soil wouldn’t I? The raised bed is under that mound of white stuff against the shed.

Sun is out and not a cloud in the sky, a mean of -23 with wind chill of -40c at 10am.

So it will be a few days yet before we get to this I would hazard to guess.

Bloody hell daux.

I know, you are sick of weather subject, so are we.

But here are some more pictures taken this morning. Yesterday I had leveled out [as I had all year] to just below the bottom of the steps, nice fluffy light snow is a joy to work with, so I did not mind.

After the wind it is like this. Hard packed wind blown snow takes the joy out of moving it. First picture is from bottom of the steps. It was up to the division of the window, past years it has ended up almost to the top of the window, still time for that I guess. Third picture is from the top of the mound where I have the ski doo at moment.

So today I say bugger it, I’m just going to level out the pack and tamp it down for now until my attitude improves.

Thanks for the feed back from Anonn in previous post.

Uperty date: Now I feel better, after having to change the plugs on the ski doo, going to the post office and picking up all the bills and driving back into -38c wind chills I fell on top of the world.

Bloody hell.

Well it’s confirmed, god did make little green apples.
The wind hit about noon yesterday, bit stronger than I and Environment Canada expected. No bloody use putting a wind and blizzard warning up after the fact dudes, I can look out the window if I need forecasts after the fact.

For the first time this winter Fran called to be picked up from work. This was partly due to the fact she did not wear her wind pants to work, it was quite nice then. By 4pm the wind was gusting to 98kph, total white outs at times, it hit 100 over night. Nothing closed down though.

My eyes are glazing over and the head is spinning trying to make sense of this equalization mumbo jumbo from the budget. While no great fan of Danny boy I did enjoy him taking that sick bloody smirk of Flaherty’s face on dough boy Duffy’s CTV show. An ear I fort all us Irish bloods was as tick as feaves.

Monday morning coming down.

Heard about this on CBC radio overnight program. Seems like a new concept that is just under way for the NSW election.

It could be a nice way for raising money for charities over this way. From a provincial perspective some lucky charities would be looking at a not bad bonanza come October with promises for Labrador not kept. It would work well on the federal level as well. Only one term to come up with the goods.

It would stop politicians from promising the moon, but better still it would penalize parties who do not keep their promise when elected. What we have now is a large part of the electorate gullibility buying into the same promises at each election.

We had a weekend of ratty weather, Saturday clear but cold, Sunday flat in snow and or rain all day, but a lot warmer. Today snow but supposed to clear later with temperatures dropping. As long as the wind stays away, yeah right like god didn’t make little green apples.

Out shoveling snow this morning, started to get a sweat up, it reminded me of my first summer here back in 1978. I was outside my sisters house dressed pretty warm, it was about 10c, not quite what I was used to summer time. This guy walks past heading home from his boat, “almost too warm” was his comment after initial greeting. That’s how I felt this morning, almost too warm.

Photos taken at Cod Island, September 1978.

Fantasy day over.

Back to reality Ti's.

OK it's semi reality.

No Guinness for us brown or otherwise. Bloody stupid idea this greening of the one of the best elixirs Yahweh blessed us with.

If you want to get your own weeme go here, kind of fun.

Tis St.Patricks Day is it?

Weather n Transport.

Looks like we are in for a weekend. This morning we have -24 with a wind chill of -38c. Forecast for Sunday is for +5c with chance of snow and or rain.
Nuff of the pleasantries.

Back to transport in de north shall we? At the start of the meeting on Tuesday some time was spent on discussing the Government Press release on the 12th. My co-presenter, in retrospect, thought maybe he wasted time on the subject, well it looks like not.

When you look at the PR and the accompanying 5 pages of passenger and freight rates [not on line] it’s clear this was a rush job and not very well thought out.

The PR emphasis a ‘road equivalency’ and an equal rate per mile for passengers, no matter what the route.
Well holes have been put in equal rate for all claims.

And I pointed out at the meeting that road equivalency would mean higher charges for all the longer haul runs. No car ferry is available, vehicles are sent as freight, passengers on a different vessel, or plane. The only runs that may make sense for the road equivalency would be the gulf runs and maybe some shorter car ferry runs in the south. This was dismissed by the other side, did not want to talk about it.

Minister Hickey confirmed the skepticism this morning on CBC morning show out of HV-GB.
Hickey said that it had been brought to his attention that some of the published rates were unequal, and that he would be instructing his staff to address these anomalies. He went on to say as far as the road equivalency was concerned, he had since leaned that on the mv Sir Robert Bond this would mean a fare of about $1400.00 from Goose Bay to Cartwright. Quite an increase from what it now is. So no change will be implemented on that run, as well as some others. FYI, Hickey is the member for the Lake Melville region that contains HV-GB.

Also raised at the meeting was the timing of the release, and the fact it was far from complete with no rates for the Lewisport-Cartwright-Goose Bay north to Nain.
This morning Hickey confirmed the omissions, said that this is a work in progress and that the longer haul runs will be addressed in due course, No mention of how long the due course would be.

This brings us to the timing of the PR. You would have to be a pretty wanked out junky not to conclude this was rushed to coincide with the bi-election in Labrador West on Tuesday, and the Federal budget due out this coming Monday.

The incompetence and incompleteness of the PR confirms this skepticism.

Another question that has not been asked to my knowledge; why has it taken this government so long to realize the inequities in the fare and freight structure.

To be fair many rates will go down, some substantially, but what gets on our goat up this way is that we are invariably left to last, or an afterthought, in many of these things. This is just another one in a long list.

History unshrouded.

Holy crap, Holy Yahweh. Came across some interesting history of Iqaluit, in Nunavut, and the attitudes of the colonialist. Site I came across them is on the links side bar now.

Matter of fact I came across some of that same attitude this past Tuesday. More things change the more they stay the same.

Some may say that that was then, attitudes change with the times, well in many cases they don't. People on the north cost of Labrador have been upset with colonialist type attitudes towards them by people and businesses in their own region, to wit Happy Valley- Goose Bay. This was strengthened on Tuesday by one persons attitude and by another persons confirmation that this stuff did and does happen.

Transport in de north.

WE finely got to sit down with some people from WST and the Woodward Group to discuss transport issues on the coast, to Nain specifically [see CKOK radio briefs below]. The meeting took place on Tuesday 13, one three hour session in the afternoon and another session in the evening.
I was only at the afternoon session; my self and a delegate from Nunatsiavut were the only presenters. I understand only two presenters at the evening session as well.
What we lacked in numbers we made up in passion and knowledge of the issues that effect our every day lives.
We did not get to mention we need a new terminal building at the airstrip, as these pictures show it is an embarrassment, not to mention an inconvenience for the outgoing passengers and the staff of the airlines. You should see it when freight is all over the floor and people are trying to check in. In going passengers do not have to enter the building, unless to use the bathrooms, if they are not frozen up, or out of order for other reasons.

Picture #1 is of the check in area/freight storage area. #2 is of waiting area. #3 is of bathrooms. #4 is of smoking room. # 5 is part of the ramp area, the fuel tanks are behind the Deere.

I will write further on the meeting in a later post. The sun is out and so am I.

CKOK radio briefs: 1:59 PM
Transportation Concerns

The meeting to discuss operational issues on marine and air transport finally took place.
Representatives from the Department of Transport and the Woodward Group of Companies arrived in Nain yesterday and held two sessions with concerned citizens.
Issues of concern varied from mechanical breakdowns of the vessels to the quality of food on the Northern Ranger.
One of the most discussed issues was the “food by mail subsidy” program.
No representatives from the program were present.
Residents were concerned that the businesses were subsidized for the goods but the savings weren’t being passed on to the consumers.
And a request was made that the program be in place all year round and not have a cut-off date.
A point was also made that the shipping costs for dry and chilled goods be more equitable.
It was raised that wholesalers were shipping the two together to save on shipping costs.
A lot of discussion also took place regarding manifests and weigh bills on freight.
It was pointed out that the information on the manifest is incorrect quite often leaving business’ owners and residents out in the cold waiting for items that weren’t even there.
The representative from Woodward’s, Dennis White said he’ll look into the issue.
A number of issues with the Northern Ranger were also brought up.
They varied from the numerous breakdowns last summer to the quality of the cafeteria food.
And for the sake of tourism and passengers these problems need to be addressed.
Another issue brought to the attention of the representatives was the shipping of freight through Cartwright.
It was said that when freight originated from Lewisporte the business owners had better shipping costs so was the choice and quality of goods.
It was also recommended that a freight vessel originate from Lewisport to ports to Nain.
As of now a vehicle is treated as freight and much too expensive to ship.
The government representative said these points will be reported to the Minister, who will come at a later time to meet with residents.

Ice fishing and rowing???

Matthew went off with his Nama and Papa last Sunday.
Caught the one in his hands. It was up Anaktalik. photos by S. Ford.

This story rings familiar to many who follow the St.John's summer time news, and who can avoid that in this province. I hope he makes it for the kids in Mumbai. I mean him no grief, but one has to wonder who pays if he has to be rescued.

More answers for PD.

Radio is by AM. Both CBC and Okalakatiget Society have transmitters in the 10 watt range. Am because there are lots of cabins in outlying Island and bays and when people there they like to hear the weather forecast, plus other shows.

Telephone is operated by Aliant. They supply the dial up internet and the high speed broadband as well.
Signals run through the usual wires, strung on the hydro poles in town, up to a control center where it is digitized and sent down to Goose Bay by a series of micro wave towers.
We are well served in the communications field over all, better than many rural areas in the south, no cell though.

TV is by two free through air channels, CBC and APTN. Cable by Persona, satellite TV by Bell ExpressVu or Star Choice. Majority of homes have satellite TV most use ExpressVu.

No local transmission of TV. Okalakatiget Society tapes all their programs and these are shown on APTN.

Questions asked, questions answered.

Paradise Driver asked some pertinent questions about Nain, So for him and others interested here are some details.


Nain’s population is about 1300.

Local transport modes are: Winter; snowmobile mainly, if conditions permit four wheelers can be used.
Summer; around town normal vehicles, four wheelers [ATV], shanks pony.
Out of town speed boats, motor boats.

Transport into and out of Nain. All year round by air from Goose Bay. Air Labrador or Innu Mikun.
Winter ground is by snowmobile only. Summer is by boat from the south and the coastal communities.

Nain has a health care clinic staffed by about 4 to 5 nurses [RN] and assistance. Doctors rotate in from Goose Bay on a one week a month schedule as a rule. Any specialist or problems beyond a RN scope you have to go to Goose bay. Same for any non traditional health care, plus eye, dental. There is a once a year visit by an optometrist, but they are the pits.

The RCMP has a detachment of six on two year rotations.

Nain Volunteer Fire Brigade has a nice building housing winter and summer vehicles plus equipment. There are fire hydrants at regular intervals around the town. Hydrants are below ground in special chambers that are kept clear of snow by the local government workers.

Now getting to Happy Valley Goose Bay is another story. All year by road up from Quebec. Summer by road and ferry from Newfoundland [see above].
By air you have choice of Air Labrador and Provincial Airlines [see Innu Mikun]from Montreal or St.John’s. Air Canada from Halifax.

Adventurers.

Came across these two outside the hotel on Monday lunch time. The guy is from Quebec, I recognized him from couple years ago, and when I broached the subject he feigned ‘no speak a de English’.
There is a story behind stories here, not sure of the intricacies, but this is the third time the guy has tried to get from Nain to George River [Kangiqsualujjuaq] in Northern Quebec, each time he has returned short of destination. He has the large sled, a smaller one behind, the dog and himself as power.
I only pulled up to see the dog, a beautiful friendly animal about a year old, don’t really give a shit about the intricacies, but if they do fall into my hands I’ll pas them on.

Monday morning blue,

as in the blue sky.

Man it was nice, -16c, perfect. Just had to throw caution to the wind and go for a ride. Only a few miles to test the back, I’m still walking to date.
I came across this tent and sign at ‘southern point’. The sign is to warn people of when the ice breaker vessels are moving in and out of Voisey’s Bay mine mill. Not sure why the tent, might be manned when the ships are around.

The other views are of Nain on the way back home, come on up folks, it’s the best time of year to be here.

The good n the bad.

A couple of anxious days and nights ended positively for some Hopedale families.

This should not have been a news item at all. The guy who left Hopedale for the 6 odd hour ski doo trip to Nain, on his own, in a white out, with the forecast for deteriorating conditions, is a few crayons short of a box.

Doing things like this only endanger his life, put undue worries on family, and endanger the lives of the GSAR [ground search and rescue] who go out and look for these fools.

Follow up on the closure of Atlantic Wholesalers in Lewisport.

I notice some media activity around the effects this will have on Lewisport. No chance of a reversal but at least people are talking and looking at what effect this will have on the area.

Not a bloody peep, one word, whisper, sweet bloody all from the powers that be in this region.

I have spoken to several retailers in town; all use this company extensively for their supplies from food to hardware and other items.
I have spoken to the first Minister of Nunatsiavut, he promised to get back to me. I’m not hanging by the short and curlies on that.
There has been no word from our MHA, no word from any one.

This is going to negatively affect the consumer on the North Coast. To what extent is not known, but surly it makes sense to start looking into the ramifications, and come up with some sort of a strategy that may offset the negative.

For Christ sake, even to just show an interest would be a break from the norm.

Comfort food, Greek style.

My buddy eating lotuses over in Greece keeps reminding me how relaxing and warm that part of the world is. Though spring can be quite wet from my experiences there.

So for a nice Mediterranean break I cooked up this dish last evening.
Crumbed chicken [kotopoulo]. I whipped up a light beer based tempura batter and dipped some potato slices [patates], egg plant [meldzanes], zucchini [kolokithakia] and fried them. Topped them off with some feta and brie cheese. Sautéed some portabella mushroom [manitaria] in butter.

Fran even enjoyed the klokithakia, most unusual.
If we can’t be there at least we can eat like we are.

For them what’s interested: you can get information and track the racers in this years

Cain’s Quest snow mobile race. 2,000 kms of spine jarring ridding I do not need, but for some it’s fun.

It’s like the energizer bunny!

Some years ago I was having a chat on photography with a guy from the south. I mentioned that I had some great photos of the wind. The guy laughed and said, “you can’t take photos of the wind”.
Yeah right!

While these were taken yesterday morning, I defy any one to run out into that lot. We would see in short order what happens to your short and curly’s.

And you know this weather pattern is prolonged when Fran comes home from work and says “everybody is getting pissed off with this weather”, or words to that effect.

Come and read my meter

Mr. meter reader.

Who knows, maybe there is one under there some where?
Well I have 3 weeks to clear away some of the snow before the next read. Don’t like to make life too difficult for people.

The sky’s are clearing but the wind is blowing the snow some fierce down town and out on the harbor, will put some pics up later.

30th anniversary.

It’s International Women’s Day. Send a butterfly.

My thoughts go out to all women, especially Fran, Stephanie, Aimee, me mom and sisters all.

Not long back in from digging out, against the advice of the better half. Snow was a foot up the storm door and the ski doo was in jeopardy of being totally covered, so out I went, crapped back or no.

As an addendum to the previous post. If my back was not in the shape it is, and we have weather like this, I would be saying-You beaudy, misses winter is back!

First photo is of neighbors, second is of ours with the machine sitting high, for now. Could not see much down centre of town with the wind really blowing down there.

For those that don’t know, we have a petroleum prices freeze up here in the winter months. It’s crappy when prices go down [not often] and great when prices go up.
As you can see by the graph we are still way too bloody high, we are at the bottom, Northern Labrador.

Mister bloody winters back.

We did not get hit hard yesterday, today is another story with snow and blowing snow. -35 wind chill. With all the snow we now have on the ground you don’t feel the wind and the cold in the house. Vastly different early in the season I tell you.

Ingutuk was sick yesterday, so grandma stayed home to look after him.
Matthew makes a big deal out of not getting his picture taken. It took me many tries to get this one, and then I was just holding the camera in front of me pretending to be disappointed that he kept hiding his head in the cushions. These young guns got a long way to go yet eh?



Had some bread dough left over from the bread making so knocked up these. Very thin crust with sautéed onions, portabella mushrooms, tomatoes, egg plant, polish salami, ham, cottage/feta/mozzarella cheeses.

Bread making time today, almost out ourselves, plus had to make some ‘ice climber specials’.

The stages are shown, add mode, mix mode, finish, resting. Notice the Ozzies have it over the kiwis again.






‘ice climber specials’

There is some things in this story that resonate with me, or would be relevant to Labrador.

While the Inuit situation may not parallel the first nations, similar issues face both groups, as pointed out in this report.
The formation of Nunatsiavut arguably could run on similar lines as a reserve, minus the sales tax exemptions. It is certainly paternalistic and a top down hierarchy.

So the first point in the report could do wonders in sorting out inefficiencies, especially in the health area, but in other areas too.

Traditionally Inuit did not leave home towns, only a minority has over the past decades for different reasons. Now, with more and more people going on to post secondary education, and no increase in economic development in the communities out side some mining and quarry operations, what are these educated people going to do with the skills they obtain? Maybe they will be more inclined to move to urban areas or to the lake Melville area to pursue economic opportunities, or to just get way from personal issues.

The micro lending idea could do wonders in Inuit communities IMO. First off decades of neglect in educating people in the pros and cons of a “co-operative” mentality would have to be undone. The concentration has been on joint ventures with larger outside businesses, and the codling of a few politically connected families.
Any one who is not connected, is from the wrong area or is not aggressive or schooled in the art of flannel mouthing have little chance of getting a small business on the go. There are untold talented arts and crafts people who could benefit from a co operative. Also people are talented in repair of small engines; the potential is endless if only some leadership would come along.

I have been reading some news reports around the globe on the Al Gore mansion energy consumption. This one puts more of a perspective on it.

I am still troubled by these “carbon offsets”. On the face of it, it looks like it’s a great way for the affluent to clear there conscience without too much personal discomfort.
It may benefit the less developed areas, but human nature what it is there will be some sort of scam some where, depends on the scale of the scam I guess.

In the absence of Lunar eclipse pics.

Did a little walk out on the harbor yesterday morning, about -15c but with no wind and the sun reflecting off the snow it felt like about 0. Lots of people taking off to enjoy the country.

First pic shows the wharf, looked like it was close to low tide.




Second pic is of the bellycaters [heaped chunks of ice created by the tide] with some of the many contrails.






The yellow vehicle in the third is the 10.50 to Kuak Harbor……OK it’s not. It’s an old Bombardier the gas station uses to haul av gas to the tanks at the airstrip.


I had the camera ready for the eclipse, it was large and low in the sky, partly visible through the increasing cloud, figured it not worth the effort.

Our road the day after the "Grooming".

The moon, 6.30 last evening.

The sky looks the same out there now, minus the moon.

Chilly.

Is this an epiphany on the way to an early retirement package for the lot of them, let’s hope so. But not before an independent inquiry to find out the truth.

Yesterday I heard [CBC radio and TV] Judy Foote say at least four times that, “the $2,875.00 would be paid back “out of our own pockets”.

Now I may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery draw, so I may need some help here.
Is it not true that 2875 was offered, and received with no questions asked?
Is it not true that the 2875 came with no invoice asked or offered, no receipts asked or offered?
Is it not true that the 2875 was made out to each member with no strings attached? Sort of repeating myself here.
Is it not true that we do not know where any of this 2875 multiplied by 46 ended up?

So help me out here eh. How the bloody hell can these #@/$#@*\@$ ers now claim that they are paying the 2875 back out of there own pockets? I’m not in the habit of swearing at women, but if you run with the weasels.

Let’s see the facts jack. The horse is out. You reap what you sow. Yo Hoe time to go.

Looking good out there, -21.8c and the sun is just showing red and purple hues over the hills. Should get at least one more clear one in before some white gets in the way again.

Hot dam

it’s bloody amazing out. -11c with the sun splitting the rocks, not a cloud in the sky, all that crap the last weeks are forgotten.

Can’t ride the Polaris, but still got good legs, old shanks’ pony eh? Well we will all be using them a lot more down that short road, so everybody better get out and get the shanks built up.

Can’t keep up with counting the planes coming in from Europe, trails non stop, usually is weekends.

Old Dogbait down in aerial ping pong county must have been bitten by one of these one time. He is doing a great job of rounding me up and getting to cleaning up the blog page look.
The ping pong crack came from my father’s generation; I’d never say things like that.

Trail groomer par excellence?

Well it may not look hot shit, but it works, better than nothing as they say.
Some years back I lobbied the council for a trail groomer, when we get lots of snow [like this winter] the roads end up like frozen Pacific Ocean swells, hard on old backs and machines.

So after first doing nothing, then buying some dinky little thing that was towed behind a ski doo, some one came up with this idea. Saves about ¼ million bucks by not getting a fancy groomer.
This little Cat and the part of a floor frame of a mobile home do’s the trick.
Time consuming though, takes at least six runs on each side of road before it’s done. He makes first run knocking the high points down with the blade, or when needed. Rest of runs with just the rear frame.

Then in about 2-3 days it’s back to the humps.






In the absence of any public input on the previous post I urge all in the area to read this.
‘Cat got your tongue’ is an issue in Labrador, probably more than else where.

Atlantic Wholesalers closure.

This story is being bandied about some what, but little from the perspective of the North Labrador Coast.
The NLC has a long historical relationship with Lewisport and different owners of Atlantic wholesalers, so it is surprising that all stories to date revolve around effects on Lewisport and Cartwright [insert puzzled face here], not that there is anything wrong with that.
Since this was announced I have been in contact with all CBC NL programs by e mail, plus spoken to several people in town, the last one being the First Minister of NG. To date nothing of any substance has come out of it. Some may think that time is not of the essence, well it is!

This morning CBC St. John’s had a small piece on the issue, mainly directed to effects on Lewisport. They had a clip of Minister Hickey of WST. Hickey’s words only muddied the waters as to what really goes on with the marine service to Labrador. Mr. Hickey claimed that the ferry service between Lewisport and Cartwright [?] is safe for the next three years. He added that the people on the north coast want the ferry service to stay as is, so they should not worry either. [insert puzzled face here].

So let’s get a bit of perspective and history: First off; ferry in the Labrador service context means a vessel that carries passengers as well as freight. Two are on the runs, mv Sir Robert Bond and the mv Northern Ranger. The Bond does Goose Bay-Cartwright-Lewisport in different configurations. The Ranger does Goose Bay-Cartwright-Black Tickle-Cartwright-all points north to Nain on a weekly basis.
There is also a freight only vessel that does Cartwright –all points north Nain, or it’s supposed to.

The history is; them days all was fairly copasetic with the shipping, with the odd little exception. Then the Province took over the operation, so we are at where we are today.

The road from Cartwright to Blanc Sablon was completed; all hell broke loose with lobbying, political decisions taking precedence over common sense and economics.
First off the Ranger was moved from Lewisport as home port to St. Anthony. The freight still came out of Lewisport, but then with the road to Cartwright the decision was made to bring the freight into Cartwright from theIsland by road and have that local as the distribution point for the North Coast. As well the Ranger was being moved to Cartwright.
All this interference and ridicules decisions had a negative effect on the North Coast.
Retailers were getting shipping quotes up to 800% higher than the previous year.
The Ranger was not going to be operated efficiently out of Cartwright. There was no infrastructure in Cartwright to handle dry or freezer freight.
North Coast made representations to the then minister of WST, who was as stunned as a dead mullet.
As fortune had it the Minister changed, the new minister listened, came to the coast and met with concerned citizens, though reluctantly I heard later. Sanity was maintained to a degree.

What the North Coast asked for then, and still does today is a dedicated freight boat for the NC from Lewisport to Cartwright then all ports north. Better yet it could run out of St. John’s, as it did before being moved to Lewisport, but that was not pushed by NC.
The Ranger was not as important where it left from, but Goose Bay or Lewisport were the preference.

What happened then and what we have today is: Bond picks up freight in Lewisport, drops off NC freight in Cartwright. It then goes to Goose Bay and brings NC freight back to Cartwright. The mv Astron loads the freight for north and away it goes.
This has not been received very well by people in Goose Bay and Cartwright; it is a compromise that pleases none of the users of the marine service.
The Ranger has the configuration as mentioned above. It is under utilized most trips for freight to the NC.

Many things are wrong with the freight configuration. The Astron sites idle for days waiting for the Bond. Only one boat can be at the dock at once. Freight gets lost or stolen, pushed back with fresher freight in front, resulting in delays.
It is impossible for customers to get any tracking from the operators as to where their freight is. Most times you know where it is only when it arrives [hopefully].
The mv Astron runs on a regular schedule all summer, but in the early days of the season it comes in with little freight on board. NC has suggested less frequent runs in those months, nope.

Then in the busy freight months it is total chaos, with little to no rhyme nor reason as to how freight is loaded off loaded.

Granted not all the problems getting freight into the communities lays with WST and the operator. What has been asked for is a site down with the minister and try sort and identify the problems, have people take responsibility if things are not working as they should, who’s on third? That sort of thing.

No meeting to date even though the minister is on record stating that the NC was a priority when he took over the portfolio. Now minister is insisting that NC meet with his staff before meeting with him. Several meetings were scheduled but called off for various reasons. The next try is for the 13 of this month, it’s not a Friday.

It may turn out that the people of the NC will not be affected in an overly negative way, but if we don’t talk about it, and if it is not looked into, how the bloody hell will we know?

That’s it from me, and that’s it from him.

A Steal.

Toady's question of the day from VOCM. Some of the comments are pertinent, some not so.

Thay are still there.

It was nice to see the stars on arising this morning. Great to see the red hues across the top of the hills as the sun rises too. Of course along with that come the cooler temperatures, -21c but no wind. Hope it lasts for more than one day, forecast says no though.
My lower back is giving me hell last few day’s, all that shoveling and little bit of ridding around on ski doo has taken its toll.
I have been religious in doing my stretching and strengthening exercises, but as the chiropractor said, my spine is a mess. Maybe a trip to Goose Bay for him to straighten it out will be sooner rather than later.