Tranquility Broken.

It’s just below 30c, with a warm westish wind that must make it over 30 for sure.

We have a Quebec chap staying with us for 3 weeks, he had opportunity to take a boat trip up to the Torngats last week, blew him away. Brought back some amazing char too.
Last evening after super he decides to take a hike up the pole line that runs up to the top of Nain hill. About 8 poles up he came across some clothing and other items plus some bear spore that gave him cause for concern. There has been a man missing for about 2 weeks, hence his concern. So after talking to my wife about his find he took them down to the RCMP.
Long story short, the remains of the missing person and cloths were found, apparently eaten by a bear, not the cloths the person. Ground search and rescue and cops are looking for the bear.
Not many people will be going into the woods behind our place for awhile I’d guess, not me for sure.
The details of what/how are still to come out.

Not complaining.

Man this weather is like that battery bunny, just keeps going and going. Days have not been below PLUS 17c for about 2 weeks now, most in the low 20’s, balmy days and balmier nights. Reminds me of late summers on the south coast of NSW. Even getting the rain showers, quite heavy Tuesday, we need that for sure.

The weather is lifting my spirits; need that as it is heavy going trying to get some one in a responsible position in Government, any Government, to pick up the ball on the transportation and fresh food issues that deteriorate here on the Labrador coast.
I’m going to keep plugging away, squeaky wheel and all that, even if it is one wheel it still needs greasing. I know there are more wheels out there, just need to figure out how to attach all the wheels to the one vehicle.

The Main Man.

Well OK, he jagged this one, but then don't we all at some time. One he broke rod on was larger, must have put up a hell of a fight.

This n That.

I must say I’m saddened by the death of the two RCMP officers out in Saskatchewan, for some reason I was under the impression they were badly injured but had good chance of recovery. Maybe I did not pay attention to the story, or perhaps the stories I read were not accurate, what ever, it is a sad loss.
There is a lot that can be done to improve policing and the laws that the police have to work by, but I always give officers on the ground a degree of lee way, there lot is generally under appreciated by many, me included.

It got up to 27.1 here yesterday, RDF and mid teens in St.John’s I see.

Our grandson went off fishing with his Nama and Papa yesterday, came back after 7. His mom and himself came bounding in with a big garbage bag, had half a dozen char that Matthew had caught, two over 3 pounds, he broke the rod on the largest. We were given two nice ones, be good with scrunchions tonight. I asked, “how come the fish are not cleaned”, his response was, “I just got back Grandpa”, like he was going to clean em, maybe in another year or two he will.

Some nice rain falling at moment, and about 15, good for the berries and the ponds.

Things are a bit slow at the fish plant so far this year. Only two boats doing scallops, the word is two more are on their way up. Char has been steady but not what you would call spectacular, more are coming in now, and I hear the Co Op received a large order for smoked char so this lift in char landings will help fill that.

I have many stories of the inequities of life here on the coast crashing around in my head, so many that my head hurts at times. I’m want to write about them, but I usually defer for various reasons, one of which is I like to get the facts first, and that takes time, then I like to approach the power brokers and the players to try sort things out that way. Alas that does not always work, just like the deterioration of the marine shipping and transport in general. Given time I’m going to write about some in next little while, and to hell with the local attitudes.

The heat goes on.

Up to 21.3 here yesterday. It's been 15 and above for about 15 days now, most days there is a brisk breeze, bugs sure get you if it drops though.
I hear the char are on the way in already, kind of early, but so is everything associated with the weather.

Being so hot I debated on having a BBQ or cooking in kitchen. Seeing I had to make bread anyway I decided on pizza and salad from the garden. My 12 grain is popular at moment, so did up 4 loaves with enough over for 2 piazzas. One was your usual salami, tomato sauce, 3 cheese. Other was chives, bok choi stems, asparagus, basil and 3 cheese.
The salad was bok choi leaves, spinach and the chive flowers with a honey/mustard/pepper vinaigrette.
A nice home made Bolero washed it down well.

Pity about St.John's getting all that crappy weather eh? Guess it's true, money cant buy everything.

Congratulations.

Congrats are in order to John Hickey, and to Danny, for Mr. Hickey’s appointment to the provincial cabinet. Now we will learn first hand if having a local in cabinet does makes a difference to Labrador.
Mr. Hickey stated on CBC local this morning that he will work diligently to ensure we get a fair shake, he did waffle on about IF the Province would ‘go it alone’ on projects that have an alleged 60 million of provincial monies budgeted but await funding commitments from the Feds. Mr. Hickey also committed that his first trip would be to the coast, to asses first hand some transportation issues.
This is the third minister of transport in the present government, kind of a revolving door, any one who has an interest in improving the transportation service up here will have to go through it again.

It is interesting the growing amount of animals that are finding their way into the community of late. Last night the big draw was a porcupine; it was hunkered down amongst large boulders in a rock quarry.
Two bears that hang around the dump and other areas are becoming really tame, not a good sign. No further sign of the moose or the musk ox sighted in the spring. A cross fox is hanging around the perimeter of town, no word of rabies’, could be just looking for cheap meal.

Rather predictably the weather has been great since the long weekend, sun and not much wind, up to about 15 yesterday and supposed to get to 20 today. Environment Canada keeps putting the wet cold front back each day, not many complaining about that. This pic was taken by daughter on way out to Black Island yesterday; they saw lots of fish but no luck with the rod.






Our garden is now producing some nice salad vegetables, sure is great to have that fresh produce and knowing what was used to grow it, all organic maybe slower, but has it’s certain rewards.

Summer Visitors.

Weather is not very summery today, and not supposed to be over the long weekend. Kind of predictable that, like it’s predictable that our politicians will always disappoint ya, collectively or individually.

So we have this cruise ship in for the morning, only about 40 odd passengers, it can take 122. It’s the Lyubov Orlova headed up to Kuujjuaq for summer cruises out of that port, if you can call it a port. Seems the powers that be are attempting to get some sort of mutual tourism gig going between the two Inuit areas. I took the shot over the deck of the mv Astron; she is on her second trip of the season.

The plane [Cessna caravan] is chock full of high tech gear, it does geophysics runs in an attempt to define further what eldorados’ lay beneath the earths surface. It is here for six weeks, does a run in morning and another in evening, weather permitting. The appendage aft is an add on………and you thought it was a male plane.

Pickling the pickled peppers.

What a pretty pickle we are in with this ever increasing scandal emanating out of the house of assembly in St. John’s. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2006/06/27/audit-companies.html Actually we have been in the pickle vat for some time. Some of us suspected, some of us were sure, that we long had a very mediocre bunch handling the affairs of the province.

I’d say many people here in the Torngat riding will feel very let down by our member being implicated in the scandal. I think many many people all over the province will feel anger and disappointment, or maybe some will even feel vindicated. For once we have bi partisan participation, what a way to get it eh?

It’s clear that a public inquiry is needed, so let’s get to it as quickly as possible. The air needs clearing, no need for these yo bo's to have their summer break, surly it is clear they have not earned it.
Some blogs are speculating on who would be best to sit on the inquiry panel, one name rings true for me, Lynn Verge would be ideal IMO.

Coincidence or not, this link from a friend in the states is appropriate. http://dingo.care-mail.com/cards/flash/5409/galaxy.swf
He is an old sin city hand, so I suspect it is not a big coincidence.

We was robbed mate!

Scum sucking near sighted referees of FIFA.

Tasted good too.

Made this pie using red berries [partridge berries] from last falls crop, baked it as usual and added some strawberries and blue berries from the store. Just the right amount of tartness overriding sweetness. A big dollop of Blarrrh ice cream toped it right off.

On the weather front, it sure has people baffled some what. Temperatures are on the whole higher for longer periods of time, we then get these south westerly winds most of the day and into the early evening that are more like fall winds. Yesterday this front threatened for some time, when it hit there was a loud, one crack of thunder, a big downpour, and then it was over.

The evenings have been nice enough to want to sit out side, alas usually the wind drops, so the mossies eat you alive. If I knew this weather pattern was going to go on for years I would invest in a bug proof gazebo or something.

Some people are even asking the question; where are all the hordes of black flies? My wife responds with, who cares as long as they stay there.

What a Wow of a day.

Wow, up to 26 at the house yesterday.

WOW. Aimee had her last day at Jens Haven Memorial yesterday. At least we hope it is, I’m still not up on how the system works, but it does look like it will be.


On the down side for JHM, fourteen teachers and staff will be leaving this year, that’s a big lose of experience, hope the new generation can adjust quickly, I’m sure they can with help from the community.
Bye the bye, that’s a nice flag up on the wall eh?















Triple Wow, Australia’s ‘socceroos’ are into the final 16. Did it ugly IMO. But then I’m not a big follower of football. I always enjoy the game every four years, but that’s about it. I think I do know enough to predict that the Pommy referee of that game won’t see much more of this world cup, not from the pitch any way.
Against Italy Australia will have to ‘finish’ way better than they have to date. They seem to be able to get the ball into the scoring zone but then it shuts down. They look like a reasonable team of ‘journey men’ with no brilliance that some of the other teams have, though Kewell is close to being in that league. It will also be interesting to see who the Oz goalie is for the next game, I’m sure the starter yesterday would have had to seek refugee status some place if the result was a lose.
All that said, I did get an emotional and physical work out, have to up the training for the next one.

Reward offered.

Town Council of Nain has notices up around town offering a reward for the return, or information on where a bouts, of two flags. The flags, a Canadian and a Labrador, were taken from the flag pole attached to the council building.

No reward offered for the Newfoundland flag………Narh boy, just joking on that one. Though it is telling that no Provincial flag was up at the time.

Please, no jokes about Wally having them squirreled away some place.

Ice Creamy diversions

Like many I like a scoop of ice cream at times. I have noticed that over the last several years the choice of available brands of tubed ice cream had decreased to the stage of just one brand [the same brand] in three stores. To me this brand is of inferior quality, I know other brands are available in Labrador
so last week I took around a letter to two of the managers asking why we are treated differently.
To the managers credit I got very quick responses, verbally. The rational was one of freezer space, pricing, and in one case, had not thought to request any other brand. Both mentioned that other brands come in smaller sizes than the one that is in stock. Both managers said they would approach upper management to see if other brands could be brought in.

I understand storage may be an issue, though not one that could not be dealt with by rationalizing other stock.

By trying to rationalize the lack of choice by using pricing and size of containers is one I take offence at. Sending in the cheapest of anything in the interest of the consumer does not wash with me, and I’m sure many other consumers.
I did a quick take on some food items in both stores to prove my case, these items have been available all winter, and have been selling.

Northern Store:

Sea scallops $58.79 a KG, in .275 KG packets.
Shrimp $56.49 a KG, in .210 KG packets.
Cod Fillets $22.79 a KG, in .507 KG packets.
T Bone $28.79 a KG.
Chicken Breasts $17.39 a KG.

Big Land grocery:

Price per KG not marked on any items, just the total cost of any item.
$3.50 for two very small chicken thighs.
$8.77 for 3 small cod fillets.
$8.50 for a small wing steak.
$8.28 for a t bone.
$17.12 for packet of pork ribs.
Much of the frozen foods in Big Land are of very suspect quality, lot of items look very much like it is old stock and or has been partly thawed and re frozen.

I know conditions are worse in Somalia, Darfur and other places in the world. We are in Canada and part of the so called booming province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Labrador’s resources contribute greatly to both governments coffers; all I’m hoping for is equitable treatment for the people of the coastal communities.

Upetydate: I just priced the Blarh brand of ice cream at "Big Land" grocery. $7.99 for 2 litres. $8.99 for 4 litres. So it's true, size does matter.

Mixed bag and on the streets.

It was a pleasant day weather wise yesterday, up to 17 or so, mainly sunny with a brisk west wind.
Did the usual shopping with Fran and Matthew. Then took a ride around town hoping to spot the black bear, no luck, or good luck, as only being on our bikes Matthew is a bit reluctant to get too close to where it was last seen, rightly so too. Then did a bit of gardening with Matthew ‘making something’ in the workshop.
On the streets was a different story. Couple of people complained about the fact that gas and oil had gone up [see yesterdays post] but before new supplies had arrived. We still have last years inventory, purchased at last years prices one would presume. After the price freeze is over we expect price to rise, or occasionally lower. This is not the first time that prices have gone up on the old stock. I wish people would put as much vigor into attaching the appropriate authorities as they do bitching about things on the streets.

Then while we were trying to enjoy the day in the yard our neighborhood was inundated with 20 or so youth, roaming around between several houses in the area, trying to get sorted as to what no good they were going to get up to for the rest of the day. I know a lot of them, from dysfunctional families usually; it’s unfortunate that they have not had a great start to life. It always puts me on high alert when they gather in such large groups, or pods as we are want to call them. I was especially alert as several of the males were sucking in tokes at a high rate. It’s no fun having a drug pick up joint next door to you.
Add to that the racket going on all day from about four loose male dogs hanging around a bitch on heat across the road. Added to the chorus were the dogs tied up in the area who wanted to get in on the action.

So a mixed bag, the good, the bad, the ugly. Oh for the days before ‘progress’ found this beautiful place.

Time to hit the woods.

Very un northern like yesterday. Day started off very normal with temperatures in the low teens. Then mid afternoon this front came in from west, warm winds, became very dry, and got up to 27.6 at the house. Then in the evening, out of no where, rain showers and a couple of heavy down pours, it reminded me of summer evenings back down under. Bring on more of those evenings I say, or should I be careful for what I wish for?
Thursday gas went up from 128.4 a liter to 143.3 a liter. Heating oil from 130.8 to 139.1. Alas with the heating oil you have to add the taxes and delivery charges.
I’m pessimistically optimistic that the increase in gas will curtail the idiot joy riders on their 4 wheelers, and in some cases cars. Seeing the authorities are incapable, or unwilling, to deal with things like public safety, not to mention public nuisance issues, perhaps gas gouging and government taxes may do the trick.
Not a lot of good happy news up this way of late, what with the Justice Minister getting involved with the latest case of alleged bad policing. Guess there is no sense of conveying happy news where there is none. Oh, I know there is lots of good things going on around town, sadly the bad news and thoughtless incidents are on the increase, no dought about it. Until this is dealt with in a pro active way by the majority, the negatives will continue eating away, making it very difficult to live a normal life. So it's time to hit the woods and clear the head.

Update on mv Northern ranger crane balls up.

I hope there is more to say on this, I always wanted to say ‘uppity date’.

Seems the ranger did not leave the dock until around 11.30 to midnight last night, some 8 hours + behind schedule.
Worse still was it took about 20 pallets of freight with it, freight that could not be unloaded due to crane breakdown.

I have sent e mails off to WST minister as well as the PC member for Lake Melville. Don’t see the point of sending one to our member, he never responds to written correspondence, and I here he is a lame duck anyway. Having said that, last time I criticized him in print he did contact me, only does verbal contact stuff does our member.

Mixed bag.

The mv Northern Ranger was in on time yesterday [12.30]. With the wind, and ice south of here, I thought it may be delayed.

She had a mixed bag of freight for the stores and residents. Not a lot of local passengers, I did notice at least six tourists.

She was also still at the dock 2 hours after schedule departure time, not sure the reason for that.

On the ice situation, it seems there are quite a lot of Icebergs around Makkovik area, some quite large. Tourism has a web sight up showing iceberg locations for tourists http://icebergfinder.com/iceberg-map.aspx I’m wondering why the Bergs around Makkovik are not listed on this sight. It could be that the Satellites are not asked to cover Northern Labrador; if that is so one must wonder why not. I have been trying to use contact info on the sight to ask those questions, but cant seem to get mail contact.

Normalized.

Jolted back to reality with temperatures normal, only 13 high yesterday.
Lots of people went off in boats; some were fishing along the shore.







Later in the day our granddaughter brought us a duck, all plucked and ready for the pot.

We went to the stores, down to dump to watch a black bear feeding.
Then I rode around town with grandson to try wear him out. I succeeded, but he recuperates quickly and had his grandmother on the go later in afternoon.

I'm a lonely little tuka-a-tuka

Took this shot yesterday afternoon, Fran calls these boats tuk-a-tuka’s. When a kid Fran used to go off with her grandparents in their trap boat with single cylinder Briggs and Stratton engine. They do make a noise like she describes. I'm not sure what type of engine this boat has.

Back to reason for photo; when I first arrived in Nain back in 1978 the harbor was full of these trap boats, now there is one. Most of the boats back then just had a cover over the engine and maybe a little house up near bow. People used them to go to their summer fishing places from late July till September. Arctic char was the main fish then, with some salmon.

It’s sad to see the more traditional life style disappear, now it seems every body and his dog has a speed boat, not that there is anything wrong with that. It’s just that it represents a further erosion of a culture and way of life, more speed to get to less recourses to get to where???



It managed to get to PLUS 30.8 c here yesterday, put the old Hawaiian shirt on after work was done for the day, very appropriate for the temperature, bit out of place here sure.


Did I mention the roads are dusty and Council has not put dust suppressant down yet?