Saturday eve while Carolyn was here we played Rumoli. I won 14 cents, which I will give to France for her garage sale adventures. With that she'll probably manage to buy a new coat for winter, if not an entire spring wardrobe!
Carolyn left Sunday morning. We're puttering around getting ready for the next leg of the adventure. Unhappily, I discovered that I don't have the camera USB cable with me, so until I find another one, I won't be able to post my photos.
Life on the road continues...
-- gmc --
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
AV2011 Day2: who knew?
I noticed that trains from both CN and CP were running in the same direction on each side of the river. I wonder if this makes all those sidings such as the one at Spence's Bridge, obsolete?
Here's the technical explanation: (from Trains magazine forum)...
Re: Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Sharing Tracks in the Fraser Canyon
williamsb replied on Sat, Nov 10 2007 9:15 PM
...
CN and CP use directional running from Basque, near Ashcroft to Matsqui / Mission, BC, about 160 miles. They go west on the CN and east on the CP. At Basque both lines are on the same side of the Thompson River, right beside each other. At Matsqui on the CN they use a CP bridge to cross the Fraser River to CP's Cascade sub at Mission. This is basically what they do but they have added a bunch of other agreements to Vancouver and Roberts Bank and you could find either railroad on each others line in a lot of places out there.
Barry, Regina
-- gmc --
Here's the technical explanation: (from Trains magazine forum)...
Re: Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Sharing Tracks in the Fraser Canyon
williamsb replied on Sat, Nov 10 2007 9:15 PM
...
CN and CP use directional running from Basque, near Ashcroft to Matsqui / Mission, BC, about 160 miles. They go west on the CN and east on the CP. At Basque both lines are on the same side of the Thompson River, right beside each other. At Matsqui on the CN they use a CP bridge to cross the Fraser River to CP's Cascade sub at Mission. This is basically what they do but they have added a bunch of other agreements to Vancouver and Roberts Bank and you could find either railroad on each others line in a lot of places out there.
Barry, Regina
-- gmc --
AV2011 Day2: Train Spotting
Many years ago I worked for CN Signals, wiring the metal sheds that contain the control equipment located at each siding along this rail line from Edmonton to Vancouver. I didn't wire each one myself, but I do seem to recall working on the one for Spence's Bridge.
I wonder if these are the same buildings in service today? The ones I worked on were being installed back in the mid '70s... the control relays being installed comprised large physical switches. There was little use of solid state technology then, and even though it was coming of age, Canadian National was notorious for being slow to adopt anything new. The rail cars and bunk cars we used when out on the line installing this equipment were all out of the 1940s and 50s. I'm not exaggerating.
I've got to guess that these have been updated to much more sophisticated technology by now - but who knows. There was something satisfying about the old relays. Each one was about the size of a large university textbook - or a copy of Victor Hugo's Les Miserable. It was a comfortable size to work with, and having clear plastic (how modern!) walls, you could actually look inside and watch the mechanical switches moving up and down, making or breaking contacts as controlled by the magnetic masters.
In those days, this equipment was being installed as part of the modernizing of the train control system. All the sidings west of Edmonton, up to Jasper or some such place were now to be controlled from a central control board in Edmonton. The next sector west was being routed into a control room located in Vancouver. All the bungaloes (as the control sheds located at each siding are called) were being wired in the CN Calder shops and then shipped out on flat car to the field for installation. I originally worked on one of these crews when I started with CN, but then later I was able to arrange a transfer into town after Paul was born. After doing this job for a couple of years I went back to University, but they re-hired me as summer help for a couple of seasons. As I was experienced already, the pay was much better than minumum wage, so it helped finanance my education - and my flight training!
-- gmc --
I wonder if these are the same buildings in service today? The ones I worked on were being installed back in the mid '70s... the control relays being installed comprised large physical switches. There was little use of solid state technology then, and even though it was coming of age, Canadian National was notorious for being slow to adopt anything new. The rail cars and bunk cars we used when out on the line installing this equipment were all out of the 1940s and 50s. I'm not exaggerating.
I've got to guess that these have been updated to much more sophisticated technology by now - but who knows. There was something satisfying about the old relays. Each one was about the size of a large university textbook - or a copy of Victor Hugo's Les Miserable. It was a comfortable size to work with, and having clear plastic (how modern!) walls, you could actually look inside and watch the mechanical switches moving up and down, making or breaking contacts as controlled by the magnetic masters.
In those days, this equipment was being installed as part of the modernizing of the train control system. All the sidings west of Edmonton, up to Jasper or some such place were now to be controlled from a central control board in Edmonton. The next sector west was being routed into a control room located in Vancouver. All the bungaloes (as the control sheds located at each siding are called) were being wired in the CN Calder shops and then shipped out on flat car to the field for installation. I originally worked on one of these crews when I started with CN, but then later I was able to arrange a transfer into town after Paul was born. After doing this job for a couple of years I went back to University, but they re-hired me as summer help for a couple of seasons. As I was experienced already, the pay was much better than minumum wage, so it helped finanance my education - and my flight training!
-- gmc --
Autumnal Voyages 2011 - Day 2
Spence's Bridge in the morning... I'm up and slowly waking up at 7 AM as the sky lightens over the Thompson River. The canyon walls are steep here, but not quite so much as downriver 10 Kms at the Goldpan campground. I'm staying at the Acacia Grove site right in town. This is partly due to the fact that Goldpan is slated to close for the season today, Oct. 1, but more due to the fact that Acacia Grove has electricity and I didn't want to freeze my buttoskis overnight. I kept the little electric radiator running overnight and it was quite comfortable here for sleeping.
The morning peace in the canyon is refreshing. There's a constant background rush from a section of white water on the river starting here. This russshhh sound is puncutated by an occaisional crow call, and just now by the footsteps of some critter - crow? squirrel? on my rooftop.
Every 10 minuntes or so a train rumbles up or down one side of the valley or the other. This seems like a louder, more mechanical rapids of metal and technology that buries the gentler sounds of nature for a few moments, then is gone. The perpetual sounds of the natural environment return. Perhaps this serves as a good analogy for our human presence on the planet? Sound and Fury signifiying nothing, which momentarily seems to blot out the primordial earth, but is gone in a fleeting moment, as the underlyng, irrepressible nature re-emerges, proving once again what true might, power and staying force looks like.
-- gmc --
The morning peace in the canyon is refreshing. There's a constant background rush from a section of white water on the river starting here. This russshhh sound is puncutated by an occaisional crow call, and just now by the footsteps of some critter - crow? squirrel? on my rooftop.
Every 10 minuntes or so a train rumbles up or down one side of the valley or the other. This seems like a louder, more mechanical rapids of metal and technology that buries the gentler sounds of nature for a few moments, then is gone. The perpetual sounds of the natural environment return. Perhaps this serves as a good analogy for our human presence on the planet? Sound and Fury signifiying nothing, which momentarily seems to blot out the primordial earth, but is gone in a fleeting moment, as the underlyng, irrepressible nature re-emerges, proving once again what true might, power and staying force looks like.
-- gmc --
Autumnal Voyages - part 1
These are the Autumnall 2011 Voyages of the RV Ship, Westy. It's ten day mission - find 100 Mile House, then Edmonton and return safely to Nanaimo.
Day 1: Hitching a ride on the Good Ship Alberni, the Westy and its valiant crew left behind the comfortable climes of Vancouver Island and headed off into the terrible regions of City-Topia aka Vancouver City and Suburbs. This is a sprawling planet of endless, teaming masses of vehicles and peoples...
I dropped off a microwave and some housekeeping items for Paul and his new apartment. We had a short, pleasant visit during which questions of dog poop arose along with aroma of same. Neither of us could detect the source, of course checking carefully the soles of our shoes. Later however, I detected some brown foreign matter on the side of my shoe which idicated that some canine fecal matter had likely been encountered.
I eventually escaped City-Topia but not without one wrong turn, or rather a missed turn that sent me on a side trip along Marine Drive. I regained the outbound routing via Highway 99 and the Route 10 to the old Fraser Highway, connecting to Route 11 in Abbotsford. This took me across the Fraser river, over to Mission and then finally into the quiet country driving I enjoy.
At supper time I came upon my rest stop for the night at Spence's Bridge. I am almost the only vehicle in the RV campsite and enjoying views of the North Thompson? River as well as the CN and CP rail lines along the canyon... Here comes another train right now. Hang on!!
Day 1: Hitching a ride on the Good Ship Alberni, the Westy and its valiant crew left behind the comfortable climes of Vancouver Island and headed off into the terrible regions of City-Topia aka Vancouver City and Suburbs. This is a sprawling planet of endless, teaming masses of vehicles and peoples...
I dropped off a microwave and some housekeeping items for Paul and his new apartment. We had a short, pleasant visit during which questions of dog poop arose along with aroma of same. Neither of us could detect the source, of course checking carefully the soles of our shoes. Later however, I detected some brown foreign matter on the side of my shoe which idicated that some canine fecal matter had likely been encountered.
I eventually escaped City-Topia but not without one wrong turn, or rather a missed turn that sent me on a side trip along Marine Drive. I regained the outbound routing via Highway 99 and the Route 10 to the old Fraser Highway, connecting to Route 11 in Abbotsford. This took me across the Fraser river, over to Mission and then finally into the quiet country driving I enjoy.
At supper time I came upon my rest stop for the night at Spence's Bridge. I am almost the only vehicle in the RV campsite and enjoying views of the North Thompson? River as well as the CN and CP rail lines along the canyon... Here comes another train right now. Hang on!!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Mt. Corriveau
Mt. Corriveau (bottom left)... On the map.
And looming over the north end of Chilliwack lake...
Another view... Mt. Corriveau is to the right, behind the closer peak...
And looming over the north end of Chilliwack lake...
Another view... Mt. Corriveau is to the right, behind the closer peak...
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wander or Wonder?
Sitting here watching morning rush hour on the Harrison river...
Accompanied by a local beach cat who must live nearby
Wondering if I'll just hang out in Kilby campground today or go a wanderin' ...
Accompanied by a local beach cat who must live nearby
Wondering if I'll just hang out in Kilby campground today or go a wanderin' ...
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Yale, Hope, Harrison and Kilby
My favorite fuel stop in Yale. This marks the southern end of the Fraser canyon. Paddle wheel boats used to chug up this far during the gold rush.
I dropped into the Yale museum but it was closed today. The parts of the display outside gave some background of the local history:
So artsy... rails and trains are kind of neat - and inescapable all along the valley as both the CN and CP mainlines run through here. I saw one RV park that advertised "No Trains" ... indicating they are far enough away to escape the rumbling train noises I guess. But that's just music to my ears along with airplane noises.
After a false start at one very unsatisfactory campground I ended up at the "historic" Kilby campground. I'll explore their historic stores and buildings on the way out tomorrow. Today I'm enjoying the sandy beach, shady campsite, and ...
Of course "Trainspotting!" as some campgrounds call it - a great attempt to make the most of it! (The rumble of the train fills the background as I type. Amazing how sound carries over water.)
I dropped into the Yale museum but it was closed today. The parts of the display outside gave some background of the local history:
So artsy... rails and trains are kind of neat - and inescapable all along the valley as both the CN and CP mainlines run through here. I saw one RV park that advertised "No Trains" ... indicating they are far enough away to escape the rumbling train noises I guess. But that's just music to my ears along with airplane noises.
After a false start at one very unsatisfactory campground I ended up at the "historic" Kilby campground. I'll explore their historic stores and buildings on the way out tomorrow. Today I'm enjoying the sandy beach, shady campsite, and ...
Of course "Trainspotting!" as some campgrounds call it - a great attempt to make the most of it! (The rumble of the train fills the background as I type. Amazing how sound carries over water.)
Monday June 20 - Goldpan Campsite near Spence's Bridge
Goldpan campsite is 10 KM south of Spence's Bridge, right next to the Thompson river. Like all the water around here this year, the river is running high! I have a video of a mother Loon swimming along the wild water with a chick on her back and a few more skipping along behind her. I'll see if I can post it somehow. In the meanwhile, here's my kitchen window view Monday night (June 20):
CAZ5 and a nice CH601XL
A reminder that there was a time when the Canadian government actually supported and helped grow our network of local airports. Not now.
Monday, June 20, 2011
100 Mile House Airport
Where's the rest of the runway? Just over the hill... That's the top of the windsock located at the far end. The 100 Mile House airstrip has a definite slope and is generally used as a one-way runway, landing uphill and taking off downhill.
Bridge Lake
Some images from Bridge Lake, Cottonwood campground. Deb and Tony barbequed a lovely meal for Bill for Father's Day and I got invited ;-) ... The weather's been cool and rainy. Which is fine for me, but some folks who favor heat and sunshine, not so much...
Boat Launch
Gramma says "hi"
Bill by his 'rig' ... next to Westy
Continuing Chaos...
Boat Launch
Gramma says "hi"
Bill by his 'rig' ... next to Westy
Continuing Chaos...
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Catching Up
So, where am I now?
We've been back in 100 Mile House since Wednesday night. Carolyn pushed on home Thursday. This weekend there's a family camping weekend planned which will include some father's day stuff for Bill. The weather was poor Saturday, so today, being Sunday should see me back on the road at least as far as Bridge lake, then .... who knows...
Monday, June 13, 2011
If it's Monday this must be Camrose...
Today we're off to Camrose for lunch with some Vars cousins...
Then home to Sandy's in time for pizza and the hockey game.
Then home to Sandy's in time for pizza and the hockey game.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Other Side of the Mountain
Hanging out in Edmonton this weekend, after a pleasant drive over from 100 Mile House.
-- gmc --
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Texture of Reality
A day for wandering and wondering. Then supper with Mom & Bill to celebrate her birthday.
Lillooet airport...
Chasm near 100 Mile House...
Lillooet airport...
Chasm near 100 Mile House...
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Taberwet, Hot & Dry in Lillooet!
Today I visited the airport at Pemberton, which is home to several gliders and parachute operations.
I came upon a BC Hydro campsite provided free of charge and as it was time to make camp for the night decided this would be 'it.' This is a remarkable challenge for several reasons. First the bear and cougar warnings will be of interest to France ;-0
Second, there is no WiFi and NO cellular telephone service!! I'm cut off from civilization!!! Oh noooo!!! heh heh. Well, fear not, I do have an iTunes movie downloaded and here I am writing my blog... so I'm not totally roughing it.
The weather is very hot and dry here near Lillooet. At one point my thermometer on the RV said it was 29 degrees...
then we climbed up into the mountains and the temperature dropped to about 21C .... and there was still 3 feet of snow on the ground. ??? crazeee.
Enough to make a person start seeing things!
That's all for now sports fans ... I'll post all this tomorrow (Tuesday) as soon as I find a WiFi hotspot.
I came upon a BC Hydro campsite provided free of charge and as it was time to make camp for the night decided this would be 'it.' This is a remarkable challenge for several reasons. First the bear and cougar warnings will be of interest to France ;-0
Second, there is no WiFi and NO cellular telephone service!! I'm cut off from civilization!!! Oh noooo!!! heh heh. Well, fear not, I do have an iTunes movie downloaded and here I am writing my blog... so I'm not totally roughing it.
The weather is very hot and dry here near Lillooet. At one point my thermometer on the RV said it was 29 degrees...
then we climbed up into the mountains and the temperature dropped to about 21C .... and there was still 3 feet of snow on the ground. ??? crazeee.
Enough to make a person start seeing things!
That's all for now sports fans ... I'll post all this tomorrow (Tuesday) as soon as I find a WiFi hotspot.
Airport Meandering
Sunday, on the way to Victoria, I stopped in at the Duncan airport. It's a compact private airport surrounded by a gravel pit, which makes for some challenging approaches at the best of times. The runway is about 1500 feet long, so depending what you're flying, you may need to be very accurate on speed and touchdown point.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Augering In...
An auger is a tool used to dig holes for fence posts, or holes in the ice on a frozen lake to go ice fishing.
"Augering in" is an expression used by pilots to describe what an aircraft does when it spins out of control and hits the ground.
Today as I was helping patrol the aircraft parking area at the Nanaimo Fly-In & Airshow, I turned at the sound of a very low-flying plane behind me just in time to watch the aircraft in the opening act of the airshow, auger in. It was a sickening sight. At my first glimpse I was aware that something wasn't as it should be, and in the space of about five seconds, it was over as the plane snap-rolled to the right and plowed into the grass on the far side of the runway. A sudden squelching of the engine roar. A dust cloud kicked up, and the silence.
That was a few hours ago now and according to the CBC news report "a 71 year old pilot was airlifted to Victoria Airport with life-threatening injuries..."
At least it seems, he survived the impact - he may still live... That's all I know right now.
And in the age of youtube, here's your chance to share the moment. Appropriate comments supplied by shocked spectators.
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=QwM_pqgJlWA
"Augering in" is an expression used by pilots to describe what an aircraft does when it spins out of control and hits the ground.
Today as I was helping patrol the aircraft parking area at the Nanaimo Fly-In & Airshow, I turned at the sound of a very low-flying plane behind me just in time to watch the aircraft in the opening act of the airshow, auger in. It was a sickening sight. At my first glimpse I was aware that something wasn't as it should be, and in the space of about five seconds, it was over as the plane snap-rolled to the right and plowed into the grass on the far side of the runway. A sudden squelching of the engine roar. A dust cloud kicked up, and the silence.
That was a few hours ago now and according to the CBC news report "a 71 year old pilot was airlifted to Victoria Airport with life-threatening injuries..."
At least it seems, he survived the impact - he may still live... That's all I know right now.
And in the age of youtube, here's your chance to share the moment. Appropriate comments supplied by shocked spectators.
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=QwM_pqgJlWA
Friday, June 3, 2011
CYCD Fly In Preps
I'm hanging out at CYCD, getting my RV ready to roll, and taking in the preparations for the annual Nanaimo Flying Club fly in.
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