Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Public Safety Message

Ok, so I go to the gas station for a Tim's, they sell Tim Horton's coffee. There's a girl smoking out in front but far away from the pumps. And although she's far away from the pumps, she's standing under the vent pipes. For everyone's information, those pipes sticking out of the ground going straight up to 8 to 12 feet high are vent pipes. They are usually located further away from all the happenings of a gas station. Vent pipes allow air to go in or fumes to escape when filling up the big tanks. These fumes can be more dangerous than the gas itself as it's the gasoline in gas form that readily ignites. So although this girl is conforming to the smoking laws around the pump, she's endangering herself and everyone around. She's probably not even aware of the dangers, but they are there. Many times it's the placement of these pipes, I've seen some near restaurant entrances and many along the drive thru's. So someone could be ordering a double double, smoking in their car and parked underneath the vent pipes of a gas station. The pipes are high and usually vent with enough air by wind, but under certain circumstances, the fumes can linger and form a cloud just above the ground. Certainly smoking within this clouds could have catastrophic results. So if your a smoker and you just need your nicotine fix, keep away from gas stations and especially the vent pipes that are always a safe distance from the source.

Friday, July 23, 2010

What's your Motto

There comes a time in every ones life where they come across something that gives them a purpose, a reason, a motto to live by. It could be something a friend tells you, something from a mentor, come from a song or a poem, a life experience or even something from TV. Whatever or wherever, you know right there and then, that's the way your gonna live your life by. Mine came from a poem I read somewhere (don't even remember where anymore) but I copied it, framed it and been living by it ever since. Didn't even know the author of it and when I finally Google'd it just a few years ago, found out there was even more to the poem. There is still many different variations and it was believed to be written on someone's cell wall, but now claimed to be written by Dale Wimbrow, (c) 1934, Whoever, whatever and whenever doesn't really matter to me, all I know is the first two verses have been my motto, words that I live by.

Man In The Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self


And the world makes you king for a day,

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself

And see what that man has to say.



For it isn’t your father or mother or wife

Whose judgment upon which you must pass.

The fellow whose verdict counts most in you life

Is the one staring back from the glass.


Basically my take on it is:
that you have to live with yourself, so make sure you do things that you can live with doing.
Others can have influence and guidance, but you have to do what you think is right.
You don't have to please everyone, you have to please yourself

And with that being said, I like to keep within these guidelines. I've sometimes did somethings that others don't agree with or approve of, but they can deal with their own feelings, I'll deal with mine. It's hard sometimes (Ok, lots of times) because people don't really know the whole story, so sometimes you seem like the bad guy, but your not, but you may be the only one who knows. Sometimes you want to explain, but then again, that could only backfire and then they think your just covering your own ass. So it's easier to do like the poem says,"what you think and know is all that matters". It sometimes seems like the "nice guy" finishes last, and when you try to help someone, you end up being the bad guy. It seems no matter what you do, someone got pissed at you, but then again, it's what you know that counts. I don't try to cover up or make excuses, as I know the truth, but that sometimes makes it even more complicated, but like I said, they can deal with their own problems.
Now at the same time it gives me a different perspective on others, like when I see a homeless person, I think, what was it in life that brought this person to be where they are today. Or a suicide, what sadness could of lead to such a fate. We should never judge others, as there is usually many circumstances that lead to such circumstances, sometimes things that are even beyond our realm. So it doesn't always excuse people, but it does give an different perspective.
This blog may of not been to everyone's satisfaction, but then again, as long as I'm satisfied, that's all that really counts.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Common (uncommon) sense


Common sense, I used to think that it was something everyone just has, but as I've learned, it seems, more people don't have it than do. You know simple things, like if you walk into a solid object, it's not gonna move, so you could be hurt. Or what goes up, must come down. Simple things that shouldn't need to be taught, but just known by all as obvious. But these obvious facts of life seem to elude so many. Sticking your tongue on a 9 volt battery, you'll feel a small shock. So obviously working with electricity in the house must be that much more dangerous. Walking into non movable objects hurt, so moving on bike or vehicle at faster speeds would do more damage. Raising your voice to a loved one, get's them upset, so arguing with a stranger, could provoke an attack. So why is it when someone is brought up with an alcoholic parent, they become an alcoholic parent. Knowing that it upset and embarrassed them, why would they put their kid through the same abuse. Or doing drugs and ruining thier life, and then getting their own kid to do drugs with them, helping ruining their life. There's so many examples and this is obviously just a blog, so I won't right a book. But why is this not common sense, that everyone just has common sense. People seem so oblivious that there have to be so many laws, just to try to stop people from doing what would be considered common sense. Don't text while driving, hmmm, so driving at 100kms an hour and not watching where your going, could be dangerous, and not only for you, but anyone who may be near or in your path. Or smoking with young kids in the confined area of a vehicle, may not be healthy for your kids. The government has to go to such lengths like a fire ban. No one is aloud to have a fire, be it a camp fire or for cooking. Now how much common sense would it take to know that fire spreads, so keep your fire pit in an cleared area and contained. Then there's some a little more complicated, like pouring chemicals down the drain can pollute the water, Hmmm, where did they think the plumbing goes to, some way out place in another galaxy. To if an oil well ruptures in an ocean, the oil will spill in such ocean. Even the so called experts didn't see that one.
So are laws the answer to the lack of common sense? Should we ban and outlaw anything and everything that people can't seem to figure out on their own, or do we let common sense weed them out on it's own. I am not totally sure but common sense tells me if we keep making laws for things that should be common sense, common sense and our freedom may just be lost forever.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Superior Sunset


So today was to be a somber day, on this day, we were to lay to rest my brother in law Rene Leclair. We had geocached our way to the Sault for this reason. We left Wednesday, stayed overnight in a tent at the Serpent River Campground, then arrived after a day of caching thursday evening. Friday we decided to go caching Stateside. Another great day was had. So now it was Saturday, the burial day. After a few days of freedom, just doing whatever we wanted to do, today was a planned day. We got up, had breakfast, got our showers and got dressed. It wasn't long before we were off to the cemetery. Meeting family members is always nice but akward, it seems like it's always when someone passes away. The ceremony was beautiful and then we took turns placing dirt over the urn. In my head I said my goodbye's and God Bless. Then we went back to my sister in law's for a little gathering and lunch. We enjoyed some food and conversation. Slowly people began to leave. After the last of the guest were gone, I was in need of something, it was a great day but it was a somber one, so I needed something, not to take my mind of what happened, but something that may help make this day a happier memory. So I started to look for a spot along Lake Superior where we could watch the sunset. I found a cache that seemed to have the perfect spot. We got in the truck and cached our way to this cache. We ended getting quite a few caches, and then it was getting close to sundown. We arrived at the spot, walked through a short trail that opened up to the Great Lake Superior. It was a perfect spot. I grabbed the cache and got that stuff out of the way. Then we started to take some pics. I also wanted to swim in Lake Superior, so I put on my swimsuit and went for a swim. What a great feeling, first time swimming and watching the sun go down on Lake Superior. Monique took more pics while I swam. Got out and dried off, and then joined her in taking pictures. Being there, with the love of my life, watching and photographing what I would call, the best sunset I've ever seen, on a day we just said our last goodbye's to someone we loved, made it a day that I will definitely never forget. It was and ending to all endings.
RIP Rene Leclair

Friday, July 9, 2010

The More I Cache, The More I Love It

So we've been caching the last few days for our holidays. And it's been taking us to some of the most amazing places. Like the first day, we ended up at the Serpent River Generating Station. Well this marvel was just amazing. They've constructed a wooden pipe to travel almost 1 mile through the woods from a lake above to the generating station down below. It's 9 feet in diameter, basically a huge barrel with steel straps to hold the wood together. There are some leaks here and there but it is completely full of water at all times. It's up north of the hwy a little ways, but never would of known about it if not for Geocaching. Even the guy at the campground we stayed at nearby never heard of it. Yesterday we saw some beautiful waterfalls and a bridge that was built in the early 1900's just off the highway, but never would of saw it without a cache being placed there. Saw some amazing beaches along Lake Huron, and there was not a sole around. And now today we were high above Lake Huron in Michigan,USA at Castle Rock. An amazing natural feature with an amazing view and history. Then we were at this old military museum. This place had so much history that it would take another lifetime just to digest. Then we were of to a cache I had no idea what it was about. Turns out it was some old army storage bunkers, well that just took us back to another place and time. These bunkers housed nuclear weapons and I was here today looking inside with no one around when it must of been well fortified at one time. These are just some of what a few days of Geocaching can bring, and the reason why the more I Geocache, the more I love it.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Beauty in The Back Yard


So we went canoeing today, we as in my wife and I. It was her first time, but I've done it quite a few times now, I even have a new multicache along this river route. We start off at Onwatin, about 13 km from home. It starts out west along the lake, a nice 1km paddle with beautiful houses and landscaping along the shoreline. The lake is only 200m wide so it's usually pretty calm on the water. Once you arrive to the river, the current starts to flow. As the houses disappear behind you, the river begins winding through the forest, narrowing down to between 10 and 25m . It's actually only 4.5kms from beginning to end "as the crows fly", but following the winding river is almost 11kms long. You have to pick lines to follow as the water gets shallow and there are rocks, fallen trees, sand berms and other obstacles along the way. The current helps keep you going most of the way, so you just mainly need to steer and avoid the obstacles. Some parts pick up more speed but it never last that long. As you zigzag along, you'll see some wildlife like Blue Herons, all kinds of ducks and geese, turtles, fish and if you're lucky, maybe a moose or bear. There a few spots along the way to stop and cool off, camp if you like or just take advantage of the picturesque surroundings. There is no major rapids, but when the water is higher, it could move faster and wash down more obstacles. A few spots, if you don't pick the right line down, you'll run aground and have to get out and help it along the way. The key is not to get sideways and make the canoe act as a dam, because the force of the water could pin and even flip the canoe. The good thing is even if you capsized the canoe, you would be able to stand up in the shallow waters. So after just a little over 2 hrs moving time, you arrive at the bridge for the take-out. The take-out and put-in are at different locations so arrangements for pick-up are needed. All in all, we usually take 3 to 4 hours for the whole ride, stopping for lunch and pics. You can continue down river to Chelmsford, but would have one easy portage over Kettle Rapids and another 30kms to go. I plan on doing it some time before the summer is over.
And to think, this is right here close to home, pretty well right here in our back yard. So check out your back yard, you'll be amazed what's there.

Camping Memories

KICX got me thinking about this and we talked about it the other day when camping. One of our most memorable and funniest camping stories.
One of ours was years back. Went with my brother, his son, a friend and his son, my son and I and our dog. Well my dog got a hook caught in his lip and my son wasn't feeling well, so I told my brother and friend to take my boat and go fishing where we usually catch our fish. He asked how to turn on the fish-finder, and I told him to push the power. I went and napped with my son and dog in the tent. I wake up cause I hear them talking and wonder why there so close, but was groggy and fell back asleep. Wake up again later (almost 3hrs) and still can here them. Got out and seen them fishing not very far from the dock. Asked why didn't you go fishing where our spot was, they replied "We're marking lots of fish right here. I said "did you catch any" to which they said "no". I asked how deep it was showing and it was way off, that's when I realized that when he turned on the fish-finder, he held the power button which puts it in DEMO mode. They fished for three hours on Demo mode.
My poor dog was exhausted from our attempts to get the hook out, that when she finally fell asleep, I grabbed the hook with pliers and pulled it out as she awoke startled.
We had a good laugh and still do today.