MY CANADA #8
The Unexplained
Some things can not or shall never not, be explained. They are the Unknowns.

They land and maneuver around, gathering in their numbers, filling the lands, till when all is in place, they await that........ 'command'..

Without warning they rear their heads in a fit of rage and march on the Earth. This is 'The War Of The Worlds.

Humans, through their fortuitness have some capacity to engage these creatures and through preserverance they capture some of them and learn their weaknesses. Here's one we captured earlier.

The Earth will be saved. Victory will be ours (if we don't stuff the world up first).

MY CANADA #9
A town called MADDEN
Well, through my travels I have finally found somewhere I can call Home!

It's off the main road a bit, just follow the directions and you to can find it.

There's not to much here but the bare essentials. It's got a general store;

A fire station;

A Community hall;

Oh, that's my Yukon GMC truck on the left.

And cows as well.
A big hello to two locals in Madden......Dylan & Cal ( Cal hit a deer yesterday, quite common in these parts)
Thanks for visiting a Town called Madden with me.

MY CANADA #7A
I Love Beaver

Each of our countries has an animal, or two, that inspires you to like it. In Australia it was both the Koala Bear and the Kangaroo, both for obvious reasons. In Canada, it's the Beaver, This animal is a 'workaohlic'.

I have driven along roads when the next day you pass the same spot, the site has changed. The beaver decides it wants to renovate, needs a new room for the kids and needs some supplies. So no, it's not off to Home Hardware or Mite 10, it's to your backyard. Lets go get some timber.

We are taking all grades of timber here but this Mr Beaver needs a new extension for the kids, they have outgrown the Bedroom so we new a rumpus room. This is going to require some heavy grade posts and rail. Hmmmm, this should do.

A lot of work and some time later, mind you no council building permits required ( That's what we know. There could be a whole committee of beavers giving out building approvals, having site inspections and issuing infringement notices for demolition if the construction is not right) here's the finished product.. So here, there you go. Here is the new extension. Not to bad Mr Beaver. Imagine the home Reno shows, on TV, for beavers. Backyard dam blitz in two days, damn (sorry about the pun).

And I got to see the star of the show. Not that close but close enough for him to dive down and slap his tail to warn us away.

MY CANADA #6D
Hockey - It's a Canadian Game
THE ZAMBONI

The Zamboni is Ice Resurfacer which is a machine brought onto the ice, between periods of play in all hockey games, to remove the 'snow' ice that builds up during play. It will leave the surface 'smooth as'. This then gives the players a new surface for the next period.
The Zamboni has spurned it's own cult following, with songs dedicated to it, models in team colours, here's mine......

apparel and websites. Try this one
www.zamboni.com
It even has lego made after it:-

Smoothing Things Over

"Now ever since I was young it's been my dream
That I might drive a Zamboni machine
I'd get the ice just as slick as could be
And all the kids would look up to me."

- Gear Daddies, "The Zamboni Song," bonus track from Billy's Live Bait

MY CANADA #6C
Hockey - It's a Canadian Game
The FANS
With all major sports there are the hoard of fans that support the game and takes it all to a whole new level.

Beer is served in plastic cups.

Three fans, three sticks and a puck

Some fans get....... confused....!!!???

Who are these three fans????

LATE BREAKING NEWS
Late braking news... Edmonton's "The Oilers", in their first matchup up of the semi-finals (called 'Conference Final') against the Anaheim "Might Ducks", have won last night's game. The heading in today's paper reads........

Think about it!
Check the puck out between the goal keeper's legs.

MY CANADA #6B
Hockey - It's a Canadian Game
Then there are the RULES.
From here we get the goals, the scores, the penalties and the 'Power Plays' drawn from the penalties.

Above we see a pair of players facing each other , hence the name for this penalty position, a 'Face-off'. They are in a circle, to the right of the goal net, waiting for the umpire to throw in the 'Puck'. The other players are in a set position pending the outcome of this Face-off. There are 4 of these circles, two at each end, one to the left and the other to the right of each goal net.
So, then you have the usual 'offside', the 'cross checking', (see picture below), 'icing', 'sticking', 'high sticking', 'hooking', 'interference'

The average penalty is two minute, the player who is penalised goes to a box and sits there all by himself, unless another player from his team gets penalised as well. There is a four minute penalty for drawing blood and a five min penalty, plus a standard 2 min penalty, should you take your gloves off for a bit of biff.

MY CANADA #6A
Hockey - It's a Canadian Game
This is a post I've been palnning to do for a while. The reason for the delay...there is so many aspect of the sport that is generated from the game, like all large 'fan' based sports, and I want to cover the lot. So here goes.
The game
The game is a winter based sport but played out, at the top level, in enclosed sports domes. I have had a taste of a 'live' game and it makes me want more!!!!

The match was at Calgary Saddle Dome, which is the home ground for the Galgary "Flames", at the national level and the home ground for the "Hitmen" at the WHA level. This was the team I saw play. These are good games to watch for it is from this level players for the national level a picked, so they 'go hard'.

There are three period of play, each 20 min's long and then there is a 20 min' break between each period. Total time = 100 min's. However, if a game is at a draw at he end of a game, you go into overtime which is set in lots of 20 min's. The first team to score, wins the game. However, if at the end of overtime it is still drawn, you go into another 20 min period. The first team to score wins the match. However, if at the end of this extra overtime the game is still drawn, you go into another 20 min period. This whole routine goes on till eventually someone scores. I watched a game like this last week. It was between the Edmonton 'Oilers' and the San Jose 'Sharks'.
The game went 12 mins into the 3rd overtime period. That's 112 mins on the ice and a total game time of 192 mins. The Oilers won!
The national league is made up of teams from both Canada and USA. They are playing for the Stanley Cup. We have just gone through the quater finals of the national league for the season, which is called the 'Play-offs'. Each team in the Play-offs plays 'the best of 7' games against one other team. Canada has only one team in the semi's. GO THE OILERS!!!

MY CANADA
Part #4B. The Holey, The shoe.

As to how light weight these shoes are, they are very light, only a Few grams.

--------------------------And they float to.---------------------



...................Mine........Maria's........Thom's..............

A NEWSPAPER CLIP OF INTEREST

No, not the article about 'Swingers', the one about the Bear chasing the cyclist!!!!



Click on the image to enlarge it for reading.
In the Banff area, all the ski fields have electric fences around them with cattle style grids on the roads between the fence line to keep the bears out, not sure who's safety that is for????

MY CANADA
PART #5.


WHAT THE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY CANADA
Part #4A. The Holey, The shoe.

It is customary here that when you enter a home you take off your shoes. Cool but what if you just need to pop outside for a brief minute and not go through the hassle of 'donning' the shoe on again. What you need is a quick, comfey slip-on for such a purpose. Enter the "Holey", a light weight slip-on and available in a large range of colours. These are mine. Looking like a Birkenstock, not costing a 'burking lot'. $30!!!!max!!!

MY CANADA
Part #3. Bear Proof Bins

Now here is one of those things that are created out of necessity because of the environment. It is the "Bear Proof Bin". Bears used to raid the park bins and eat everything, glass, plastic, cans and whatever food may have been present.

As a result many bears died of stomach ailments. So the 'Bear Proof Bin' was developed, not to protect us but to protect the bear. Insert fingers into handle all the way, lift catch, open bin & deposit rubbish. Catch handle to small and to tricky for bears.

Australia does not have big bears therefore, no "Bear Proof Bins'

MY CANADA
Part #2C The Rockies
Here are some interesting points on the Rockies that I have so far come across.

This picture shows the position of the 'Continental Divide'. A 'not so mid-way' point for all of Canada's rivers.
The flag on the left is that of the Provence of British Columbia at it's boarder. All rivers on this side of the flag all flow to the west, only some several hundred kilometers away, into the Pacific Ocean. The flag on the far right is that of the Provence of Albert. All rivers on this side of the flag flow to the east and into the Atlantic, some several thousand kilometers away.

When 'white' man first started colonizing this land, the area to the east of the Rockies was deemed to be impenetrable but to this massive ('missive' if you are from New Zealand) mountain range.

They knew that there was great lands to aid their expansion but the only access was from the East coast and was weeks of travel. However, a couple of smart trackers found a great crack it the range. This then was the 'break-through' and it was like a hole in a dam wall after that. The East was conquered.

That's only one small part of this great mountain range called "The Rockies". Mind blowing!

MY CANADA
Part: #2B The Rockies
As I mentioned in Part #2A, there is so many astounding mountains along the Rockies, which makes it hard to stop at any one photo. So here's some more mountain 'eye-candy' for you all to enjoy or relive.

In the photo above, the different layers of rock strata have been shoved straight up and are level with the valley floor. The photo below you can see the sedimentary layers at nearly 90 degrees to the valley floor.

Here you can see the devastating effect of fire. All theses trees are burnt and dead. This area is now closed to walkers in fear of falling dead trees.

Not a bad backdrop to play golf. The person I played golf with is 85, Doris. It Doris at the wheel of the golf cart. Shot 4 pars on this course (it's only a par three course).

More on Doris and of golf to come..............

MY CANADA - PART #2A The Rockies (See below for part #1, if you missed it). I have to do this in a few parts, here's section 'A'.

I have now traveled across the western backbone of Canada, The Rockies. This mountain range is huge, it goes on and on and on and on, forever!

The funny thing about it is that as a visitor from Australia, where the overall land is so flat, these mountains are incredible. You get you camera out and start shooting for the pictures, then around the next valley and more of the range, it's snap, snap, snap. Then around the next valley and it's snap, snap, snap, etc.

Then around the next valley and it's 'see the previous two sentences' After two hours, 'see previous sentences', although none the less, magnificent.

This country is also the home to a great array of wildlife, including the 'Bear', although the closest I have come to a bear, is bear poo. But I have seen the 'Big Horned Sheep'.

Then, there is the 'famous places of the Rockies', like Lake Louise. Discovered by a Swiss mountaineer. It not only has the mountains but also a lake AND a glacier.

The lake is frozen. There is a glacier right behind me and it is call "Victoria Glacier". It's about half way up the mountain to my right shoulder, as you look at me.
Section 'B' to follow.

AN ANNIVERSARY
There are heaps of love songs for those loves lost or those loves found but not that many for 'where you are in life or how you got there'. However, every now and then you hear a song that seems to fit your mould, what's happening to and around you, what is applicable to you and how you got here. I have found one such song and it comes from my past library of music (and many thousands of other people's back catalogue') and it is me! It is an anniversary of events as to where I am.
An anniversary is a recurrence over time, time can ramble on.
Now, however, I give you Mr Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.


Ramble On
(Page/Plant)
Leaves are falling all around, It's time I was on my way.
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay.
But now it's time for me to go. The autumn moon lights my way.
For now I smell the rain, and with it pain, and it's headed my way.
Sometimes I grow so tired, but I know I've got one thing I got to do...

Ramble On, And now's the time, the time is now, to sing my song.
I'm going' 'round the world, I got to find my girl, on my way.
I've been this way ten years to the day, Ramble On,
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams.

Got no time to for spreading' roots, The time has come to be gone.
And to' our health we drank a thousand times, it's time to Ramble On.

Ramble On, And now's the time, the time is now, to sing my song.
I'm going' 'round the world, I got to find my girl, on my way.
I've been this way ten years to the day, Ramble On,
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams.

Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear.
How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air.
T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair.
But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her....yeah.

Ramble On, And now's the time, the time is now, to sing my song.
I'm going' 'round the world, I got to find my girl, on my way.
I've been this way ten years to the day, Ramble On,
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams.

Gonna ramble on, sing my song. Gotta keep-a-searching' for my baby...
Gonna work my way, round the world. I can't stop this feeling' in my heart
Gotta keep searching' for my baby. I can't find my bluebird!

Thank you Mr Page, Mr Plant for the lyrics and years of 'top shelf' music.
To those about to ramble, I salute you.

MADDO AT WORK


Well, here I am ready for another day at the office. This is the typical office attire and this is the typical mode of transport, a truck. There are trucks like this very where, it's the main mode of transportation. This is Red Neck country, (they are called 'red neck' because the get red necks when sun burnt?!)
Damn, trucks everywhere, by golly, damn, chew tobacco, damn, spit tobacco, by golly! You ant' nobody unless u got a truck. I like the RAM 1500 dual cab, just like this. I ant' had time to hot probe yet as the ground has now thawed, so it's a renovating we go.

CANADA - MY OUTROSPECTIVE
Canada, what a great place. I mean all places on Mother Earth are great. Each has there own greatness that makes that part of the Earth great. When we live in that particular part of that greatness for some time, we may lose seeing that bit of Her greatness. We become complacent with it and our brain then filters it out to make more room for things that are important to our every day existence, like; 'Have I put the bin out tonight', or, 'those windows are dirty I should clean them', where's my drink? Yet, there is a sunset in front of you that many only dream about and you don't see it. Boo Hah to that.
Here is Canada through my 'virgin' eyes, (ha!) and remember, 'This is just one man's opinion'.
Over the next few publications I will list/outline things about this great land that I find fantastic, unusual or just damn right interesting. Some of these items/things arise through adaptation to one's environment or remoteness. So, when you have an environment that is not anywhere else, items/things develop to meet that situation/environment and therefore may not be seen anywhere else on Earth, especially Australia.
Firstly, lets start with Part #1

The flag. Part #1
It is the identity of the/a nation. It is flown here everywhere.

You notice this because it is flown everywhere in Canada! On Buildings, commercial or domestic, cars, trucks, tractors, boats, really anything a flag can be attached to.

You can feel a great sense of patriotism and I believe Australia can learn from this. We should not be patriotic just when an 'Olympic Games' comes to town or when Australia hosts the 'World Cup soccer' or any other International Sport. We can be Patriotic at all times. Fly the flag from your home, have a bumper sticker on your car, fly the flag at work, (Oh, by the way, there is no mention, or shall there be, as to what the flag should look like, that's irrelevant to this comment as the flag could be anything design. It's about the FLAG!), fly it from your houseboat, fly it anywhere but always remember what it stands for.