Big Advancements

29 Jun 16
06:35 hrs.

     Today there will be some movement at the Wayward Inn. Our First Born Loin Fruit is Graduating. I know that it is hard to believe that he has survived twelve years if schooling without any serious injuries. Both myself and my Better Half are extremely proud of his achievements. He is probably unaware of that fact but we are very happy that his pimary schooling is done.

01 Jul 16
07:15 hrs.

     Happy Canada Day!

     Yes, it is Canada Day. The day we celebrate the forming of our nation and most of all the day we celebrate the fact that we are are not Americans.

     Do you want to know the difference? Check this out. So, I'm watching the arrival of the US president in Ottawa. Airforce One. But the day or two prior two C-5B Galaxy aircraft landed in Ottawa. Inside each cargo plane was a presidential limo (The Beast), an armoured ambulance complete with a trauma team, a communications vehicle that can (and does) block all cell phone activity for several hundred yards around the motorcade (most roadside bombs are triggered by cell phones)and several armoured SUV's with armed troops. These vehicles are identical in every way including the licence plates. When travelling from Point A to Point B each motorcade takes a separate route and does not stop for anything. Of course, an advance team has inspected all bridges, sewers, roof tops and overpasses on the proposed route for anything untoward. Lots of work to protect the Leader of the Free World.

     Now compare that to our Governor General who left the Ottawa Airport immediately after the Prez. He had one car, a driver, an Aide deCamp and a couple of Mounties, who probably drove in the other direction. You gotta love this country.

     The two Loin Fruits worked yesterday.  That's right finish school one day and straight into the brick pits. Teaches them tolerance.

     There's a slight drizzle here at the Wayward Inn. Which is good. The bush needs it. I heard the TCH was closed from Hope to Cache Creek yesterday due to a wild fire. Tis the season. Only one has been reported on The Island thus far which is good.

Rainy Daze

18 Jun 16
09:21 hrs

     It's a rainy day here in the Valley.  For all the heat we had in the spring, summer has proved to be cooler and wetter. Traditionally, the weather patterns here on the Left Coast were cycles of rain and sun as the system bands blew in off the Pacific. In the summer there would be two weeks of glorious sun followed by a couple three days of wet then back to the sun. This pattern shortens in the winter till it was reversed with precipitation almost every day and very few clear days. And you can forget about the sun. As anyone who lives north of the 49th Parallel knows,  if work in an office you can forget getting your vitamin D because you're into work before the sun comes up and you're leaving after it sets.

     Have I not stated this all before? Please, Dear Reader,  if you notice that my scribblings are becoming repetitive then for heavens sake let me know.

     A former coworker is arriving today and leaving tomorrow.  It would seem that 407  (The Demon's) Sqn is having a reunion this weekend. I am not attending as I would never a base myself to be a member. Just kidding. The Demon's have a rich and honoured history dating back, as most other RCAF squadrons, to WWII. Currently, they are flying the CP-140 Aurora (Block 4). The USN is now in the process of replacing their P-3 Orion maritime aircraft, which  is essentially the same aircraft as the Aurora, with the P-8 Poseidon. This new plane is using the Boeing 737as the platform.

14:00 hrs

     I saw something interesting while waiting for my friend. Actually, I heard it first and then I saw it. I heard the sound of a pair of CF-18's taxiing on the flight line. From my position I should have been able to catch a glimpse of them but the bird bath was in operation. The bird bath is a huge water spray platform with a dozen or more high pressure nozzles. Aircraft that may have flown through salt spray or that have operated within 500 feet ASL will taxi through the bird bath to remove the corrosive sea salt. The Auroras, Cormorants and Buffaloes all use this service regularly. On this day the wash was running. I could see the water shooting high in the air but I couldn't see an aircraft in the spray. Then, I spotted the taxi lights of a CF-18 coming out of the mist. Holy Crap!  They had taxied a fighter through the bird bath! Well, that was a first for me.

19 Jun 16
07:25 hrs.

    HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !!!
     Yes, Happy Father's Day. The day whereby a father will traditionally get tools s gifts to complete tasks the wife wants done or ties to wear to events the wife wishes to attend. My Better Half pointed out that Mother's Day is a week-long EXTRAVAGANZA whereas Father's Day only lasts the week-end. Regardless if you are close to your father, if he is physically here or has passed on, please celebrate your father. As with all father-child relationships I'm sure you butted heads with him. So what. For one day set your differences aside and give him a hug. The results might surprise you.

another YEAR gone

02 Jun 16
10:05 hrs.

     Yes, another YEAR has passed.
      And a lot has happened here at the Wayward Inn.

     My Lobster's father is now at rest after many decades of aches and pains. It hasn't been easy for those he left behind especially for The Oma. But, we will all try to help her as much as we can even though we are 3,000 miles away. 

03 Jun 16
16:05 hrs.

     Tomorrow Chef Blaine and Sous Irene will be laying out a fine table. Ribs, skewered chicken, salad and stuff. Elric the Stalwart and his Better Half  will be dining at the Wayward Inn. My buddy from Over the Hump is going to be joining us as is the Fair Gail. Chef Blaine will also be making a pan of Johnny Cake as a side dish. It's kinda like corn bread and it's important to pull this one off perfectly. You see, Elric the Stalwart once served the Chef a batch of corn bread that wasn't quite up to scratch. He tried to redeem himself with a second offering but unfortunately seconds are just that seconds.  So Sorry.

     The surveyors are mapping out the new roadway from Vanier Drive to Piercy Road. That will include replacing the old Bailey bridge across the Tsolum River. Time for completion is supposed to be the same time as the opening of the new hospital. Well, we'll see about that.

09 Jun 16
02:50 hrs.

     Midnight shift sucks. But what is a person to do? Earlier yesterday morning I witnessed a doe defend it's new fawn from the daring attack of an eagle. The doe actually ran towards the approaching bird rising up and kicking it's front legs. The eagle departed leaving the doe to shepherd it fawn back into the brush.

      The day after my birthday celebration and feast, my friend From Over the Hump and I headed out to the Mighty Mohun to drown some worms. We camped at nearby Morton Lake and over the next couple of days we brought in 18 wild cutthroat trout. Mohun Lake has yet to fail to produce. We kept the first four for supper Sunday night and released all the rest. We are planning to bring the fly rods the next time we go out there. 

12 Jun 16
05:55 hrs.

     Wow! This blog is really drawing out.  Sorry about that.

     Preparations are coming together for our Senior Couch Monkey's graduation. Of course, we know nothing of the order of events because he will not involve himself. We do know that there is some stuff happening and have pulled that info off the schools website. But, as to any particulars that a graduating student would be keen on knowing...nothing. We will have to ensure that he requests five tickets to the awards ceremony as The Sages may be coming to the event. At our suggestion he finally invited them. I don't know what to get him for a graduation gift. A heartfelt letter and a kick in the ass?

     Anyways, Dear Reader,  I will close this delayed rant and look for new stuff to pen.