Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Monday, June 27, 2005
Bee
Baffin Island has bees. The bee may not be a true bee but everyone here calls them bees. Most refer to them as bumble bees. I believe that a true bumble bee is not capable of stinging. The Baffin Island bee is said to sting although I have never seen anyone get stung. The bee is a large insect bee-ing about 3/4" long. It has a spikey look to it as the yellow and black hairs jut outward from it's abdomen. On occasion I will spot a bee that doesn't belong here. It would be an insect that was brought here on a ship or aircraft as a stow away. I had seen a paper wasp in Pond Inlet. Pond Inlet is far above the arctic circle and far above the treeline. I do not think that these insects will survive after being unwitingly brought to the arctic. Those insects need forested areas and warmer temperatures. The arctic bumble bee is right at home on the tundra.
I was curious to know what has been learned about the local bumble bees and was astonished to find many interesting facts. First of all, there are five species described for arctic bumble bees. They all fall into the subspecies of "alpinobombus". Bombus is such a suitable name for a bumble bee, somehow. Bombus polaris is probably what the little creatures that can be found here are called. There is also species of bombus hyperboreus, bombus balteatus and bombus neoboreus buzzing around. There certainly is lots of bombus among us.
I am pleased with my new found knowledge. As I walk about our home made Tundra golf course, I shall surely take note of whether 'tis a bombus polaris or a bomus hyperborialis buzzing 'bout. I will assert that the bee doesn't have a stinger and cannot harm a human as is true with bumble bees of the south. I know that the people here, that run away in fear, screaming "Bee! Bee!", will not believe me. There are many falsehoods attached to the bee. Honestly, I will never understand how some of the Inuit men I know, run frantically away from the little arctic bumble bee. These men, most who would brave an arctic blizzard to hunt down big game with nothing more than a spear, fear these insects. Why? The bee seems to be an arctic boogieman. Tales of eggs being laid in your ears or of larvae growning under your skin and other such heebiegeebie stories that make you go ewww. I only see a bee collecting pollen. An arctic bee.
I was curious to know what has been learned about the local bumble bees and was astonished to find many interesting facts. First of all, there are five species described for arctic bumble bees. They all fall into the subspecies of "alpinobombus". Bombus is such a suitable name for a bumble bee, somehow. Bombus polaris is probably what the little creatures that can be found here are called. There is also species of bombus hyperboreus, bombus balteatus and bombus neoboreus buzzing around. There certainly is lots of bombus among us.
I am pleased with my new found knowledge. As I walk about our home made Tundra golf course, I shall surely take note of whether 'tis a bombus polaris or a bomus hyperborialis buzzing 'bout. I will assert that the bee doesn't have a stinger and cannot harm a human as is true with bumble bees of the south. I know that the people here, that run away in fear, screaming "Bee! Bee!", will not believe me. There are many falsehoods attached to the bee. Honestly, I will never understand how some of the Inuit men I know, run frantically away from the little arctic bumble bee. These men, most who would brave an arctic blizzard to hunt down big game with nothing more than a spear, fear these insects. Why? The bee seems to be an arctic boogieman. Tales of eggs being laid in your ears or of larvae growning under your skin and other such heebiegeebie stories that make you go ewww. I only see a bee collecting pollen. An arctic bee.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
mosquito
The longest day of the year. Yes, today is the longest day of the year. Each day shall be several minutes shorter from this point onward. It will not be noticable untill late July when it once again will start to become dark at night. Right now, we get about 22 hours of day light interrupted only by twilight. The midnight sun allows for me to play golf at any hour of the day or night. I anticipate the July 1st "Canada Day" holiday. We always have a tournament along with a picnic. I shall bring the tent down to the Sylvia Grinnel River along with plenty of food and fishing gear. The day will be full of fishing, eating and of course, golfing.
Along with the midnight sun, the summer brings on the hordes of arctic mosquitos. Skeeters, little vampires or call them what you will, will descend down upon us by the billions. I saw a mosquito this morning. It is +3C and the biting bugs are starting to come out.
Baffin Island has large mosquitos and each little critter has a fur coat. You can buy a souvenier mosquito "pelt" mounted on a tongue depressor at the local gift shop. Some T-shirts claim that the mosquito is our national bird. There is also a tiny leg trap sold as a mosquito trap. Catch a bug without ruining the pelt.
These biting bugs will be with us for most of the summer. In July, they can be a plague. I have seen dogs completely covered in mosquitos. The bugs will swarm around the animals' nostills and make it difficult to breathe. I have seen groups of caribou running about trying to rid themselves of the torment of the bug. Many caribou will look for persistant patches of snow that they can stand on. Less mosquitos above the cooler snow patch. Even polar bears can be pestered by these little creatures. The bears will just jump into the freezing waters of Frobisher Bay in order to rid themselves of the bugs. As much as we all hate the mosquito, they are an important part of the arctic food chain. Fish will be jumping out of the water to eat them. Birds will feast upon the little vampires. Spiders will take thier fair share. For us humans, we will just have to tolerate them.
I think I have an itch.....
Where is that after bite lotion?
Along with the midnight sun, the summer brings on the hordes of arctic mosquitos. Skeeters, little vampires or call them what you will, will descend down upon us by the billions. I saw a mosquito this morning. It is +3C and the biting bugs are starting to come out.
Baffin Island has large mosquitos and each little critter has a fur coat. You can buy a souvenier mosquito "pelt" mounted on a tongue depressor at the local gift shop. Some T-shirts claim that the mosquito is our national bird. There is also a tiny leg trap sold as a mosquito trap. Catch a bug without ruining the pelt.
These biting bugs will be with us for most of the summer. In July, they can be a plague. I have seen dogs completely covered in mosquitos. The bugs will swarm around the animals' nostills and make it difficult to breathe. I have seen groups of caribou running about trying to rid themselves of the torment of the bug. Many caribou will look for persistant patches of snow that they can stand on. Less mosquitos above the cooler snow patch. Even polar bears can be pestered by these little creatures. The bears will just jump into the freezing waters of Frobisher Bay in order to rid themselves of the bugs. As much as we all hate the mosquito, they are an important part of the arctic food chain. Fish will be jumping out of the water to eat them. Birds will feast upon the little vampires. Spiders will take thier fair share. For us humans, we will just have to tolerate them.
I think I have an itch.....
Where is that after bite lotion?
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Igloolik Golfer
I just returned from Igloolik. It was a balmy 2 degrees Celsius and very sunny when I had first arrived in Igloolik. There are still many patches of ice and snow strewn across the tundra. The sea ice looked beautiful from the air as I approached the landing strip. The ice displays a myriad of colours and hues of blue and turquoise. The colours change as the sun moves around in the sky. The sun moves around in the sky, without setting, at this time of year. Igloolik lies well above the arctic circle. (See the map at:
http://www.hallbeach.com/map-of-nunavut-map.htm)
The land is very flat in Igloolik. You can look in all directions across vast expanses. Landmarks are few and distant. The local people are very friendly. Many of the local Inuit were out camping or waiting for the goose egg harvest. There were many hunters on the sea ice working on providing thier families with fresh seal or arctic char. It is a peaceful place in the late spring.
I was walking around the streets of Igloolik when I spotted a young Inuit boy walking in an open area with a 3-wood thrown over his shoulder. He was looking for a golf ball. I just had to smile and think that maybe this young boy shall find a piece of rocky, gravely tundra and build a golf course on it. Igloolik is very rocky but there are patches of moss and soil here and there.
After I had finished my business in Igloolik, I had to return home to Iqaluit. When I got home, I had to build this electronic thingamagink for this sparky to install in Igloolik. I had to ship it to him right away. I put a dozen golf balls in the package. Hey, Igloolik is a small town and I know that those golf balls will get into the right hands.
http://www.hallbeach.com/map-of-nunavut-map.htm)
The land is very flat in Igloolik. You can look in all directions across vast expanses. Landmarks are few and distant. The local people are very friendly. Many of the local Inuit were out camping or waiting for the goose egg harvest. There were many hunters on the sea ice working on providing thier families with fresh seal or arctic char. It is a peaceful place in the late spring.
I was walking around the streets of Igloolik when I spotted a young Inuit boy walking in an open area with a 3-wood thrown over his shoulder. He was looking for a golf ball. I just had to smile and think that maybe this young boy shall find a piece of rocky, gravely tundra and build a golf course on it. Igloolik is very rocky but there are patches of moss and soil here and there.
After I had finished my business in Igloolik, I had to return home to Iqaluit. When I got home, I had to build this electronic thingamagink for this sparky to install in Igloolik. I had to ship it to him right away. I put a dozen golf balls in the package. Hey, Igloolik is a small town and I know that those golf balls will get into the right hands.
Monday, June 13, 2005
49...
Ok, so I shot 49 strokes in a nine hole round. I must explain that I had lost 3 balls in the muskeg. They shall be found in some future civilization, as fossilized impressions. Upon thier discovery in the distant future, further excavation in search of artifacts shall be inspired. They shall find many hundreds of globular dimpled mineralized impressions. I know because I have lost over 500 golf balls in the muskeg at the tundra course. Many other tundra golfers have lost as many. So three extra strokes were due to the lost ball in the arctic spring golf ball eating swamp.
Net, 46 strokes.
I must also explain that hitting a ball off of wet moss is akin to hitting a ball off of a half frozen wet sponge. Many good lies were actually the worst lie you could end up with. A normal golf swing would require the golfer to hit down on the ball. Hitting the ball with a slight downward trajectory is what actually gets the ball in the air. That is if you are hitting a golf ball off a fairway on a carefully designed and properly landscaped stretch of land specifically made for the game of golf. I have no such luxury. The tundra course predates any other golf course by several million years. This predates landscaping, botanical agriculture, engineering and Burmuda Grass Greens. The result is that in some cases, hitting down on the ball just drills it into what looked like dry grass but was actually moss with the consistancy of green mud. The ball simply gets driven underground never to be seen again. We allow moving the ball to a spot where the ball is at least playable. I could have exercised that option on two occasions. I was lying on the dreaded green mud moss but figured that I could just pick the ball off of the moss. The ball drove into the ground and had to be retrieved. I of course, moved off of the golf ball eating moss on my next attempt at approaching the hole. Experience should have told me that I could not hit that shot. I threw away two strokes there, net 44.
The "green" on every hole is made of different pieces of carpet. Some of the carpets are shag. Some are indoor outdoor types. All of them are soaking wet and splayed with sand and gravel. We allow a quick sweep to remove pebbles and sand from the carpet. We even allow time out when a squeegee is needed to rid the area surrounding the hole of water. I was putting on a wet shag carpet with many pebbles and simply didn't clean away the debris. I was impatient. The putt was only 10 feet or so but I really had to strike it hard. A tall rooster tail of water sprayed up from behind my ball. I saw that it was going too slow to reach the hole. Then it hit the pebble and just stopped. A foot from the hole. The hole was rapidly filling up with melt water. There is still plenty of large snow drifts melting. All of the snow is gone except for the reminants of great snowdrifts that formed during the winter, from September to May. I missed six strokes because of melt water and pebbles. Net 38.
38. That is more like it.
I am happy with 38. Not an exceptional score but a rather good one.
Net, 46 strokes.
I must also explain that hitting a ball off of wet moss is akin to hitting a ball off of a half frozen wet sponge. Many good lies were actually the worst lie you could end up with. A normal golf swing would require the golfer to hit down on the ball. Hitting the ball with a slight downward trajectory is what actually gets the ball in the air. That is if you are hitting a golf ball off a fairway on a carefully designed and properly landscaped stretch of land specifically made for the game of golf. I have no such luxury. The tundra course predates any other golf course by several million years. This predates landscaping, botanical agriculture, engineering and Burmuda Grass Greens. The result is that in some cases, hitting down on the ball just drills it into what looked like dry grass but was actually moss with the consistancy of green mud. The ball simply gets driven underground never to be seen again. We allow moving the ball to a spot where the ball is at least playable. I could have exercised that option on two occasions. I was lying on the dreaded green mud moss but figured that I could just pick the ball off of the moss. The ball drove into the ground and had to be retrieved. I of course, moved off of the golf ball eating moss on my next attempt at approaching the hole. Experience should have told me that I could not hit that shot. I threw away two strokes there, net 44.
The "green" on every hole is made of different pieces of carpet. Some of the carpets are shag. Some are indoor outdoor types. All of them are soaking wet and splayed with sand and gravel. We allow a quick sweep to remove pebbles and sand from the carpet. We even allow time out when a squeegee is needed to rid the area surrounding the hole of water. I was putting on a wet shag carpet with many pebbles and simply didn't clean away the debris. I was impatient. The putt was only 10 feet or so but I really had to strike it hard. A tall rooster tail of water sprayed up from behind my ball. I saw that it was going too slow to reach the hole. Then it hit the pebble and just stopped. A foot from the hole. The hole was rapidly filling up with melt water. There is still plenty of large snow drifts melting. All of the snow is gone except for the reminants of great snowdrifts that formed during the winter, from September to May. I missed six strokes because of melt water and pebbles. Net 38.
38. That is more like it.
I am happy with 38. Not an exceptional score but a rather good one.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Pre-season practice.
Today is a sunny day with light winds. An expected high of 8 degrees Celcius is in the forcast. I hear that there are three holes open at the Tundra Golf course. The rest remain buried in several feet of ice and snow. It is time to get out the golf clubs and dust them off.
I intend to play a nine hole round today. We shall play the three open holes thrice. The dress code of the day will include rubber boots, a good sweater, a cap and dark sunglasses. I will have to include a broom in my golf bag as the "greens" will undoubtedly be covered in sand and gravel. There will be lots of casual water and mud to deal with. I also must use fluorescent coloured golf balls in case I slice one into the snow.
The warm air may be uncomfortable at times as I am still climatized for the arctic winter. It has been a long and cold winter. There were days when the windchill was recorded at -76 degrees Celcius (That's -104.8F for you southern folk). Darn cold to be sure. So it is not a wonder that when I step out into the sun at +8C, I feel as though I am in the tropics.
This game we are going to play today is only a pre-season warm up. Snow and mud shall make some shots interesting. The constant sunlight may allow a midnight round as well. That depends on how many Rum and Coke I swill at the local Royal Canadian Legion tonight.
Now, where did I put that snow wedge?
I intend to play a nine hole round today. We shall play the three open holes thrice. The dress code of the day will include rubber boots, a good sweater, a cap and dark sunglasses. I will have to include a broom in my golf bag as the "greens" will undoubtedly be covered in sand and gravel. There will be lots of casual water and mud to deal with. I also must use fluorescent coloured golf balls in case I slice one into the snow.
The warm air may be uncomfortable at times as I am still climatized for the arctic winter. It has been a long and cold winter. There were days when the windchill was recorded at -76 degrees Celcius (That's -104.8F for you southern folk). Darn cold to be sure. So it is not a wonder that when I step out into the sun at +8C, I feel as though I am in the tropics.
This game we are going to play today is only a pre-season warm up. Snow and mud shall make some shots interesting. The constant sunlight may allow a midnight round as well. That depends on how many Rum and Coke I swill at the local Royal Canadian Legion tonight.
Now, where did I put that snow wedge?
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
More arctic ice golfing in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.
Click here to warp to Cambridge Bay Nunavut.
"FORE"
Golfing on the sea ice in Cambridge Bay. The Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament.
Here are a few pictures of the sea ice golfers. This year there were no polar bears to contend with.
There are many links to some of Nunavut's websites offering information and entertainment with an arctic perspective of life.
Here are a few pictures of the sea ice golfers. This year there were no polar bears to contend with.
There are many links to some of Nunavut's websites offering information and entertainment with an arctic perspective of life.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Stranded on an ice pan
One of Iqaluit's hunters was stranded on an ice pan today. Mr. Chris Gerioux was stranded on the sea ice when a section of the ice floe broke off from the ice pack and drifted out to sea. Mr. Gerioux was stranded along with his snow mobile for over 13 hours.
The ice pan was roughly 100 ft. by 50 ft. in size but began to break up as the water became rough. The ice pan broke in half and threatened to disintegrate leaving Mr. Gerioux to drown in the freezing waters of Frobisher Bay. Chris was eventually spotted by a passing hunter. He was rescued and his snowmobile was salvaged. Chris is very fortunate to be alive. The tidal currents would have surely floated him out into high seas where he would have met an icy fate.
The ice pan was roughly 100 ft. by 50 ft. in size but began to break up as the water became rough. The ice pan broke in half and threatened to disintegrate leaving Mr. Gerioux to drown in the freezing waters of Frobisher Bay. Chris was eventually spotted by a passing hunter. He was rescued and his snowmobile was salvaged. Chris is very fortunate to be alive. The tidal currents would have surely floated him out into high seas where he would have met an icy fate.
Monday, May 23, 2005
One Survives. Official Report.
Nunatsiaq News
Here is the official local news report on the tragic loss of one of our own. Previous information was retrieved from the grapevine. It sure is strange how many different versions of the story came out.
Facts VS the Grapevine.
Here is the official local news report on the tragic loss of one of our own. Previous information was retrieved from the grapevine. It sure is strange how many different versions of the story came out.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Walking home drunk in Germany.
Die Wagenschenke - Das Partyzelt am Albanifest in Winterthur.
Here is a funny little game that I found on the web.
As addictive as the German Beer
this guy is swilling.
"How dry I am"
(HIC)
Here is a funny little game that I found on the web.
this guy is swilling.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Frozen birdies but no polar bears allowed as ice golf takes off : Weird News
Arctic extreme golfing in Greenland. Looks playable to me. The caddie carries a rifle to ward off polar bears.
Frozen birdies but no polar bears allowed as ice golf takes off : Weird News
Frozen birdies but no polar bears allowed as ice golf takes off : Weird News
Friday, May 13, 2005
The Ordeal is Over
Ed Norman returns home safely. His friend and companion, Tod, did not survive. The rescue team found him outside the snow shelter with his gloves off. He may have been overcome with fear, hunger and cold.
We all extend our deepest sorrow to Tod's family. I shall let the Nunatsiaq news report fill in the details. Thank you readers for your prayers and support. The Nunatsiaq News is a weekly edition and this story may not make it into this weeks printing. Mr. Ed Norman is to be commended for his brave trek across the tundra. He walked across the barrens for over 27 hours to try and get help for his stranded companion.
We all extend our deepest sorrow to Tod's family. I shall let the Nunatsiaq news report fill in the details. Thank you readers for your prayers and support. The Nunatsiaq News is a weekly edition and this story may not make it into this weeks printing. Mr. Ed Norman is to be commended for his brave trek across the tundra. He walked across the barrens for over 27 hours to try and get help for his stranded companion.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
FOUND ALIVE AND WELL.
Here is what I know so far. None of this is official but Ed Norman has been found alive. He is hungry and tired but no worse for wear and tear. Ed had walked for 27 hours from the area where they were stranded, leaving Tod behind. The two men had run out of gas on the way back from thier Sunday outing. Deep snow caused them to use more gas than anticipated. The weather deteriorated after they were stranded. The two men built a snow house and decided to stay where they are. After 2 nights, Ed felt that one should attempt to go get help. Tod was exhausted and Ed felt like he could do it. Ed left Tod in the snow house and started walking. He was spotted by a Hercules aircraft. Ed had witnessed the plane flying in a search patern and waved frantically. The crew didn't see him at first.
Ed was rescued by snowmobile. I heard that he had gone back to the snow house to save Tod. Tod is still in peril but the team should be there in a few more hours. I hope that Tod stays in the shelter and doesn't wander as many people do when lost. He has been waiting for 30 hours or so and may be hypothermic or disoriented. The always present danger of a passing polar bear is still a concern.
More details and/or corrections as I get them.
Ed was rescued by snowmobile. I heard that he had gone back to the snow house to save Tod. Tod is still in peril but the team should be there in a few more hours. I hope that Tod stays in the shelter and doesn't wander as many people do when lost. He has been waiting for 30 hours or so and may be hypothermic or disoriented. The always present danger of a passing polar bear is still a concern.
More details and/or corrections as I get them.
Hope Fades as Time Goes by.
30 snowmobiles, 2 airplanes and 1 helicopter searched a wide expanse over Frobisher Bay and the surrounding tundra. There has been no sighting of the 2 missing men or thier snowmobiles. Not a trace of evidence has been seen. They have had to spend 4 nights out on the arctic wilderness without shelter or any type of survival gear. For 3 of those nights, wind, snow and whiteout conditions prevailed. The search has already resumed. I heard aircraft and helicopters at 4AM. The sun offers light in those early hours this time of year. The search will continue untill 10PM tonight. After 10PM, the sun has set and arctic twilight doesn't offer enough light for a visual contact from the air. Some of the ground crew involved in the search may continue to search after 10PM, but they themselves can be at risk of being lost. Only the most experienced hunters will continue the search during the twilight hours.
I have learned over the years that one should never give up hope for the safe return of a person lost on the land. I also know that as every day goes by, the chances of a safe return dwindle dramatically. A person can survive for 7 days on the tundra without food, shelter or water. That is if the individual has the land skills required to know how to survive. Any longer than 1 week is usually a hopeless endevour. These men, one a friend of mine, if found, will be in bad shape without a doubt. I will still pray for thier safe return, but as time goes by thier chances of returning to us fades.
I have learned over the years that one should never give up hope for the safe return of a person lost on the land. I also know that as every day goes by, the chances of a safe return dwindle dramatically. A person can survive for 7 days on the tundra without food, shelter or water. That is if the individual has the land skills required to know how to survive. Any longer than 1 week is usually a hopeless endevour. These men, one a friend of mine, if found, will be in bad shape without a doubt. I will still pray for thier safe return, but as time goes by thier chances of returning to us fades.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Missing.
Today is a sunny Wednesday morning with little wind. It has been a mix of snow, blowing snow and temperatures dipping down to -10C since Sunday afternoon. Typical May weather. The sunshine today is especially welcome as many people have been trying to be involved in a search effort for 2 missing men. One of them is my friend. His name is Ed Norman. He and his room mate, whom I only know as Tod, had decided to go for a snowmobile outting Sunday morning. The weather looked nice. The snow, inviting. The trip was only to be a few hours of joy riding. Ed never came back Sunday afternoon. The weather changed to reduced visibilities in blowing snow.
Ed and Tod are still out there somewhere on the sea ice or on the tundra. No one knows as they did not have a planned route nor did they tell anyone of their intended destination. They did not bring any survival gear, food, water, flares, radio or G.P.S. Ed knows that there are survival shacks on the land and he also knows the southern Baffin area around Iqaluit quite well. The ice conditions can be dangerous in some areas this time of year. There is so much snow this spring too. Snow can cover open water or cap the top of a deep hole. There is also possible avalanche hazzards near some of the steeper slopes. Nunavut is a very dangerous place.
I can only hope and pray that Ed and Tod are found alive. As each day passes, this becomes more and more unlikely. Today is a sunny day. Good day to resume a search for a friend.
It is always this way. In the spring, the weather may be inviting for hiking or snowmobiling. It is important to let people know where you intend to go. It is important to bring survival gear. It is important to aquire some traditional Inuit knowledge. It is important to understand that the landscape changes with the wind and the sunlight. It is very easy to get lost on the tundra.
All of these facts are well known to Ed. I guess that he didn't want to spend the morning packing gear when he only intended to go out for a short tour. A few hours at best.
I am praying for you Ed. I hope you come home today. You can bring Tod with you. We can sit down with a hot cup of coffee and you can tell me all about your adventure. I am looking forward to your arrival.
Ed and Tod are still out there somewhere on the sea ice or on the tundra. No one knows as they did not have a planned route nor did they tell anyone of their intended destination. They did not bring any survival gear, food, water, flares, radio or G.P.S. Ed knows that there are survival shacks on the land and he also knows the southern Baffin area around Iqaluit quite well. The ice conditions can be dangerous in some areas this time of year. There is so much snow this spring too. Snow can cover open water or cap the top of a deep hole. There is also possible avalanche hazzards near some of the steeper slopes. Nunavut is a very dangerous place.
I can only hope and pray that Ed and Tod are found alive. As each day passes, this becomes more and more unlikely. Today is a sunny day. Good day to resume a search for a friend.
It is always this way. In the spring, the weather may be inviting for hiking or snowmobiling. It is important to let people know where you intend to go. It is important to bring survival gear. It is important to aquire some traditional Inuit knowledge. It is important to understand that the landscape changes with the wind and the sunlight. It is very easy to get lost on the tundra.
All of these facts are well known to Ed. I guess that he didn't want to spend the morning packing gear when he only intended to go out for a short tour. A few hours at best.
I am praying for you Ed. I hope you come home today. You can bring Tod with you. We can sit down with a hot cup of coffee and you can tell me all about your adventure. I am looking forward to your arrival.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
The Big Melt
The snow is melting. Slowly but surely. So are the roads. When you live in a place that has snow 9 or 10 months of the year, you tend to overlook the amount of snow that has accumulated. Most of the roads are not paved. The paved roads lack sidewalks and curbs. There are no drainage catch basins or street sewers. No traffic lights. No parking meters. A black layer of asphalt strewn thinnly atop a bare stretch of hardened dirt road at a cost of 1,000,000.00 (CN) per Kilometer. The unpaved roads gather a thick layer of a plastic-like ice, sand and gravel concreation that can be graded and plowed. In essence, the roads are "paved" 9 months of the year. Now, the everpresent sun is melting the snow. It is still -5 degrees Celcius and yet the snow melts.
Potholes are given thier name due to thier pot like shape. Potholes are shaping my life. There are so many potholes on some of the roads that top speeds of the local taxi cabs, who are notoriously speedy drivers, reach up to 3 or perhaps 4K/hr. I have to leave early to get to work. The driving makes my back ache so I take long hot baths. I drive a different route to the store to avoid potholes.
Potholes have an impact on my life as well as my back. Potholes change all the rules.
In Canada, we drive on the right side of the road. The exception would be in May when everyone drives 3K/hr, zigzagging along all the while trying to avoid potholes. On a typical day, you may observe four vehicles travelling south and three travelling north on a pothole infested stretch of road. The lead vehical on the southern bound lane is driving where the sidewalk should be. The next one is driving with two wheels upon where a curb would be if there were curbs. The other two vehicals are snowmobiles. The northbound lane is simillar in appearance with respect to the vehicals positions. As the traffic proceeds, the vehicals try to ride thier wheels around the potholes. The vehicals may crawl around, crossing into the other lane here and there avoiding potholes. After a few seconds, all the northbound vehicals are in the southbound lane and all the south in the north. No collisions occur. It is very easy to avoid a collision when you are travelling at 3 K/hr. Moments later they weave themselves back into thier respective lanes.
The drivers, when observed from the pedestrian's point of view, sway to and fro and bounce up and down. The front left wheel finds a deep pothole and the car jars suddenly. Everyone in the car leans into the direction of the pothole. The front wheel climbs out as the rear wheel finds another pothole. Everyone swings quickly to the right then the left. Then they bounce up then down hard. The next bump causes the two front passengers to bump thier heads on the top of the car. I find that a procession of vehicals driving at 3 k/hr, veering in and out of oncomming traffic that may be veering in and out of oncomming traffic, full of people bouncing around inside the cab like so much popcorn, somewhat amusing.
Potholes are given thier name due to thier pot like shape. Potholes are shaping my life. There are so many potholes on some of the roads that top speeds of the local taxi cabs, who are notoriously speedy drivers, reach up to 3 or perhaps 4K/hr. I have to leave early to get to work. The driving makes my back ache so I take long hot baths. I drive a different route to the store to avoid potholes.
Potholes have an impact on my life as well as my back. Potholes change all the rules.
In Canada, we drive on the right side of the road. The exception would be in May when everyone drives 3K/hr, zigzagging along all the while trying to avoid potholes. On a typical day, you may observe four vehicles travelling south and three travelling north on a pothole infested stretch of road. The lead vehical on the southern bound lane is driving where the sidewalk should be. The next one is driving with two wheels upon where a curb would be if there were curbs. The other two vehicals are snowmobiles. The northbound lane is simillar in appearance with respect to the vehicals positions. As the traffic proceeds, the vehicals try to ride thier wheels around the potholes. The vehicals may crawl around, crossing into the other lane here and there avoiding potholes. After a few seconds, all the northbound vehicals are in the southbound lane and all the south in the north. No collisions occur. It is very easy to avoid a collision when you are travelling at 3 K/hr. Moments later they weave themselves back into thier respective lanes.
The drivers, when observed from the pedestrian's point of view, sway to and fro and bounce up and down. The front left wheel finds a deep pothole and the car jars suddenly. Everyone in the car leans into the direction of the pothole. The front wheel climbs out as the rear wheel finds another pothole. Everyone swings quickly to the right then the left. Then they bounce up then down hard. The next bump causes the two front passengers to bump thier heads on the top of the car. I find that a procession of vehicals driving at 3 k/hr, veering in and out of oncomming traffic that may be veering in and out of oncomming traffic, full of people bouncing around inside the cab like so much popcorn, somewhat amusing.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)