Corner Christmas Carols

In past years my family has attended the St. Mark's Church Living Manger.  I was somewhat disappointed to learn that this year, due to renovations being done to the church, they would not be hosting it.  Members of the church however were also a little disappointed and wanted to do something for the community.  Coming up on December 2oth and 6:30pm they'll be hosting an evening of Christmas Carols in the Corner.  Come by the Sussex Corner Amphitheater on the Dutch Valley Road and lend your voice to the festivities. I'm betting it will be like an old fashion Christmas where members of the community can catch up, be merry, and spread good wishes.  If you can't sing, no worries, simply come for a cup of hot chocolate.

The amphitheater is Sussex Corner is a glow with Christmas lights and snow is on the ground.

Fly Tying Fun

It is now March and that means fishing season is right around the corner.  With the winter we've been having, cabin fever is likely in full force.  To help calm the summer time shakes I recently organized an event where local anglers could come out and socialize while possibly filling their fly box.  I've never before tied my own flies and so I thought it would be a great way for me to learn while we could all share fish stories.

Participants listen in while Robin Doull explains and demonstrates some tricks to tying on  the big screen.

 There was a fair turnout for the first, of what we hope will be regular, fly tying event.  I am fortunate enough to know a few people who are more than capable of tying fishing flies and I brought in three guys to help lead the evening's conversations.  With some capable mentors and a number of eager participants, it wasn't long until hackles and hooks met.

A first time fly tyer tries his hand while getting some direction.

Since this was the first evening the intent was to start with something easy.  "Wooly Buggers" were the fly we started with and by the end of the evening there was lots of examples kicking around.  I can't attest to the quality or style of the flies but as someone who tied his first fly that night, I'm certain that those in my position probably felt some level of pride.  To take raw materials and create, what some would consider, a piece of art that looks like an actual bait fish, nymph, mosquito, or other bug, is very rewarding.

Even if you are not an angler, you would likely appreciate the art of fly tying.  The fishing flies can readily relate the creator's mood and personality.  If you want to tie a bright colorful fly, there is no lack of chenille, or feathers to choose from.  If you want it to be flashy, there are shimmering threads and wires to help with that.  If you're in a dark place, there are shades of blacks, blues and grays that can be tied together in combination with various dark threads or simply use one color.  This can be especially easy to do if you're not worried about whether or not a fish would take your bait.

Ahhh.  The fish, when you add the elusive trout or salmon to the mix, that is what separates the true artist from the hacks like me.  I tied a greenish "Wooly Bugger" pattern that I have caught trout with, in the past.  This fishing season I will now have a new challenge; to catch a trout using my own "Wooly Bugger".  This will likely test my fishing skills and patience greatly as I don't think my fly is nearly as presentable as the ones I've used in the past.  When you have to worry about how the fly will present itself in the water that is when fly tying becomes the art of imitating nature.

I learned a great deal through my first wander into fly tying and maybe the biggest thing to remember is that it is not all about the fish.  Patience, an eye for detail, observation skills, and creativity are also a huge part of angling.  You need patience while tying the flies as working on small hooks is not something that is best done quickly.  You need patience while trying to present that same fly over a school of trout while fighting those same flies that are biting you.  Observing the feeding habits of the fish you're pursuing is as important on the stream as making sure you don't prick your finger on that small hook you're tying the fly onto. 

If you think you might like to learn some of these life/angling skills check out the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee's website or give them a call. 

A small fly pattern created by Chris McKnight.  Only his second fly. He tied his first earlier in the evening.

Winter Carnival Wrap Up

So it is, unfortunately, over for another year.  The Sussex Corner Winter Carnival wrapped up yesterday with a great fireworks finale. 

The winter celebration kicked off on Friday evening with a snow shoe trek to the Bluff escarpment.  With a clear evening the weather was cold but more than bearable and I wasn't the only one who thought so.  About 40 people accepted the challenge from Outdoor Elements to make the stomp up the Bluff and they all came with smiles ready to go.

The trek along the well beaten trail was peaceful, even with 40 people.  The snow was hanging thick off the fir, spruce, and hemlock and it muffled any sounds and gave the landscape a feeling of reverence.  As we walked up the trail, the tall white spires made it feel like we were walking up the aisle of a well decorated cathedral.  When we made the face of the Bluff, the lights of Poley were shining bright as were the lights of Sussex Corner and Sussex beyond.  The stars above were bright and you couldn't help but look up towards them.  It was a great evening and when it ended I was excited for the next day.

The next morning started off early for me as I volunteered for the Corner Cup Pond Hockey tournament.  We had 6 teams registered to vie for the Cup and they were going to earn it.  The temperature was a chilly -24C when a team from Home Hardware and one from the PotashCorp Civic Centre took to the ice for the first game.  When the tournament ended it was "The Boys" from Moncton who get to place their names on the Cup.  The action was fast paced despite the very hard and choppy ice.  By the end of the day the puck was bouncing a lot but the players all played on the same ice and the talent raised to the top.  Congrats to "The Boys"

By mid noon the hockey players needed a break so we turned the ice over to the kids and families.  The broad smiles hidden under large toques and hoods couldn't be hidden.  As I had a chance to take in more than the hockey game, I was surprised to see how many people had come to the carnival site.  There were kids clambering up and sliding down the large snow hills we had formed, Sussex Minor Ball had their barbeque cookin', the sleigh rides were gently sliding along, kids faces were glittering with paint, snowmen were popping up all over and hot chocolate was flowing.

The excitement around the site was contagious.  Kids were laughing and parents were chatting amongst themselves and the sun was shining.  Maybe the magician spread some magic over the grounds, I don't really know, but like in past years, the atmosphere was electric.  As the championship game of the Corner Cup finished, night started to fall but the cake was keeping spirits high.  People were anticipating the fireworks and they would not be disappointed.  With the new amphitheater acting as the back drop for the carnival people milled around the cozy environs or waited in their cars babying their hot chocolate and cake.

As I wound down my day with my family, I admired the reddened cheeks and thought how blessed we were to be able to spend such a day.  Winter should be celebrated and in Sussex Corner they celebrate it in style.

Sussex Corner Has Cure For Winter Blues

This blog first appeared in the Kings County Record on February 3rd.  The Village of Sussex Corner puts on a great winter carnival that is packed with lots of fun and various activities for all.  You should check it out on Saturday, February 14th from 1-7 which is when the fireworks are scheduled to go off. 

 

Winter kind of hit us with a wallop recently and it now feels like a true Canadian winter.  Come on?  Admit it.  It had been a pretty easy winter before last week.  Now you are likely going to fall into one of two categories for the rest of the winter.  Where you fall might depend on whether you shovel your driveway or you plow it.

For some people you are already tired of winter.  You are counting down the days until spring or until your flight leaves for southern climes.  Your idea of recreation this time of year is cuddling up with a book or maybe going for a swim at the local pool.  People in this category usually can be identified by the multiple layers of clothing they wear to keep warm, even when the thermostat is set to 20°C.  For people in this category, cabin fever is a reality and by the time February rolls around they have stretched the cuffs and neck lines on every sweater they own.  Their desire to go for a run or cycle or their urge to cast a fly has them cleaning their bikes, their running shoes, or tying hundreds of flies just to calm the fever.  Take heart though, there is a cure, but I'll get to that.

The other half, are those who embrace the cold and the challenges it brings.  This group likes having frozen boogers dripping from their noses.  They enjoy seeing the cloud of steam come from their nostrils as they plough through another 5' snow drift with their snow shoes on.  Their wardrobe consists of more than one pair of snow pants and multiple sets of wicking longjohns.  To them a toque is an in fashion accessory from October to April.  When it snows they can't wait to get out and make tracks across the nearest trail and if they make the first tracks, it gives them bragging rights until the next snow storm.  For a good portion of this group, their ideal cruise wouldn't be in the Caribbean but rather in Alaska among icebergs.  The only thing this group struggles with is finding something new to try.  There is a solution to this dilemma as well.

If you think we are having fun here, the Corner Winter Carnival is even better.

Nowadays every municipality is hosting a winter carnival of some kind.  Lots of these are geared towards those in the second group but for those in the first group, take heart.  The Sussex Corner Winter Carnival will have a little something for you too.  There will be skating, hockey, snow shoeing, sliding, and the regular winter fun.  If you are more passive though in your winter recreation you can come out and enjoy a horse drawn sleigh ride, a magician show, and fireworks. If you don't want to cook come on out to the Carnival and support Sussex Minor Ball by buying some barbequed hotdogs and a drink.  There will be hot chocolate and cake as well.  This year's carnival will be held at the Sussex Corner Sports Field where better parking, facilities, and play grounds are available for a greater number of visitors.  A tug of war and the Corner Cup Pond Hockey Tournament will insure there is always something to keep you entertained regardless of which category of winter person you fall into.

See you in the snow drifts..

Old Roads

I had this entry published originally in the Kings County Record and it received some positive feedback.  This was one of those endeavors that came together nicely and I hope you enjoy the read.  I was inspired after I hiked along a couple of roads that would be hard to discern now.  The scenery and mature woodlands were peaceful and the remnants of days past added to the peaceful mood I found myself in.

New Brunswick has a long history.  Part of that history is wrapped up in our roads.  Our logging and forestry activities resulted in many roads being developed and, subsequently once they were no longer needed, abandoned.  Traces of these roads can still be recognized and I love wandering on these trails. 

Sometimes it is easy to tell you're hiking on an old road.

In the early 20^th century the larger roads were called King's Highways and now when I hike along them I feel like the king.  This time of year it is great to walk these roads as trees often hang over them and during the fall, as the sun shines bright in a crisp blue sky, you feel like you're walking a fragrant hall way in a colorful castle.

One such road runs between Sussex Corner and Waterford and I recently had a chance to walk a short section of it.  If you have ever driven the present road between Sussex Corner and Waterford you know that it is a beautiful drive but to walk the old road is another type of experience.  There is history embedded in the landscape, enormity in the topography, and excitement in the wildness.

As I started the hike my senses immediately heightened and my mind instantly slowed down.  I felt like I could see and anticipate everything.  As I approached an old meadow I instinctively slowed my pace and kept low.  As if on cue a couple of deer bounded away from the old spring they were enjoying.  I wished, rather oddly, that I could share the space with them, but I realize their animal instincts make that unlikely, and I wouldn't want them to lose their wild heart.

To find an old road might not be as hard as you think, especially if you head out to the Fundy Coast or any of the hills that were historically logged around the Sussex area.  If they happen to have a small drainage, try along there and look for a hard pack shelf.  There might be some gravel still showing or some old tracks still slightly visible.  Depending on the last time the road was used, the vegetation will provide some tell tale signs it was a road as well.  Alders and young spruce indicate that the road had been used not long ago, likely as a harvest or farm road.  Older roads might have birch or maples growing up.  The trees will be leaning to the center of the road, not because of the shoulder but because that is where they readily could find the sunshine that feeds them. 

Old roads, like roads of today, connected logging camps to mills, farms to summer pastures, and neighbor to neighbor.  These anthropogenic land marks leave behind clues to their past vitality and with a little imagination you can picture what the road may have looked like in the past.  I have a pretty wild imagination so I readily enjoy this aspect of these types of hikes.

Exploring the landscape around you can be rewarding for so many reasons.  Gaining an appreciation of the past and of the value of the landscape of the present might be one of the best rewards.  If you struggled with history in school then maybe this will be a great way to catch up.  See you in the woods.

Bluff Memories

One of my favorite hikes is the Bluff near Sussex Corner, NB.  It is a leisurely stroll where almost everyone can take the road less travelled.  Hope you enjoy my little video.

Growing with the Flow

Communities come together in times of need and I have seen our community grow immensely in a short period, or maybe more accurately my appreciation of our community grew even more.  This past week has been challenging for many and many are likely still facing challenges in the days to come.  Through these challenges I have witnessed some amazing scenes.  The sights would restore even the most down trodden view on humanity.

I want to share with you a couple of the highlights I saw while trying to do my part.  I want to brag about the community we all call home and provide reasons why we should all be proud.

The first scene was a mother wading through knee high water to get her three kids off the school bus.  She then carried them, one by one, to dry ground.  Traffic waited, in water, while she made the three trips.  The maternal care she showed and the relief she demonstrated as she placed the last child on dry ground moved me and allowed me to push harder through my day.

Firemen are a special breed and we have some of the best volunteer firefighters around right here in our community.  In a time of high stress and continual action, a couple of them calmly aided seniors onto a bus as they evacuated the Lions Villa.  Each fireman was able to smile and infuse a sense of humor to reduce the stress in the entire situation.  As the bus stopped to drop off a couple of the seniors on board, the firemen piggybacked them to dry ground and again humor made the situation more bearable.  I was again left feeling blessed in the midst of chaos.

With homes fully surrounded by water, I could see neighbors gathered on small pieces of dry land, talking and even laughing with one another.  The sound of running pumps and generators prevented me from hearing the laughter but their facial expressions indicated that it was forced simply to help them keep their sanity.  They were leaning on each other as they sat scanning the floating debris and tangled pipes amongst their subdivision.  Their ability to face such a tough situation with a brave face made me realize how small some of my day to day problems really are.

Kids always seem to have a positive attitude and as our future that is a great thing.  As parents struggled with trying to minimize the damage to their homes, I watched kids playing obliviously to the ramifications of what was going on around them.  The link between youth and innocence was driven home as the kids splashed in a puddle at the end of his driveway.

Maybe the biggest testament to how strong our community truly is was how often I saw friends helping friends.  On a normal day, a household would sit lifeless as the home owners went quietly about their day.  Over this week this same home has 4 or more people milling about trying to put it back together.  Some of the people are family members while others are neighbors who are slightly better off.  This happened instantly and likely without even a call.

Witnessing all this made me incredibly proud to call this community home.  I wish every one a smooth road to recovery and can’t wait to see how we grow as we come through this.

Easy Wandering

This was a column I recently had published in the Kings County Record.  The hope is to inspire people to embrace the long winter as opposed to complain about it.  If you can get outside and enjoy the late March snow and warm winter time temperatures, then there is a ton of fun to have.

It is starting to look like we are in for a longer than anticipated winter.  This is especially true if you believe what the groundhog predicted.  One good thing about the large amount of snow that is hanging around this time of year; it makes for great snow shoeing.  The sun warms up the late morning and afternoon air to comfortable levels.  You now can easily convince yourself to make time to shake of the winter blues by getting outside.

I recently got out for a snow shoe across a large farm field and it was inspiring for how simple and easy the occasion was.  There was no need to drive far, I didn’t need to worry about getting lost, and for those who don’t like tough terrain; it was flat, almost barren.  When I looked across the field it was easy to see why some parts of the arctic are consider desert.  The trekking was so easy that my mind easily wandered to random stuff. 

The cold was biting at my nose and my ear lobes but the sun was fighting for its share of attention as well.  The bright blue sky and the light reflecting off the snow made it hard to ignore the sun and thus it warmed not only my face but my inside as well.  The wind, not to be out done, blew light wisps of snow around my collar and strangled me as the snow melted down the back of my neck.  The heat, with a big push from the inner heat, wins out and I push further across the field.

A large tree in the distance caught my attention and I alter my course to check it out.  The hardwood tree appears cold, despite being partially hugged by a large pine.  It is a maple tree with scaly grey bark and its outer limbs are partially covered in ice.  I couldn’t help but hug the tree and as I did I noticed a number of black capped chickadees flitting between the maple and the pine.  I came out of my own head for a minute and listened.  The birds were chirping and the wind was more brisk here now that the sun was behind the trees the cold was starting to win the battle.

I moved back out into the field and the sunshine and smiled as my cheeks warmed once again.  My next point of interest was a corral on the sunny side of a tree line.  With the snow draping off of it, it looked older than what it likely was.  I felt like I was in an episode of “Little House on the Prairie” where my character was looking for a missing horse.  It was a cool feeling and I was now fully retreated back into my own head again.  Then it hit me….this easy field snow shoeing is a great place to come and recharge and get inspired.  I should do this more often.

If you’ve been stressed about this long winter season, or fretting about taxes maybe, or considering a job change; try going to a nearby field and snow shoe across or around the field.  Let your mind wander and listen to what speaks to you.  Without a doubt, as you walk, you will feel your body coming to life.  You’ll feel the cold breezes more vividly, you’ll feel that sun light pushing the cold aside, and you’ll feel your soul warming with the season.

Spreading the Cheer with Pride

Yesterday I was able to help spread some Christmas cheer.  I was over to the Sussex Corner Elementary School and helped kids decorate the trees outside the front of the school.  I was able to do this thanks in part to my municipal seat and the Village of Sussex Corner council all took part.  It was a great way to demonstrate to kids that municipal council seats can be fun and exciting while also helping get the community into the Christmas mood.

I was also confronted with some parenting reality.  Your kids grow up to fast...but my oldest isn't too old to hang out with his Dad :)  When I showed up at the school I was able to go to his class and bring them out to the tree we were putting lights on.  When I showed up in a Santa hat, which I have to admit, I thought might embarass him, he still ran up to me excitedly and gave me a big hug.  I was all to happy to hug him back and holler at his classmates to get their boots and coats on.  As I walked and chatted with him on the way outside, it hit me, "I don't have many of these moments left."

As his class mates slowly got bored of twisting bulbs, testing light sets, and passing lights up the ladder, they moved off to play in the playground.  Seth though kept with it until the end.  He worked with the adults and I was proud of him for wanting to hang with us silly hatted adults.

It was a good morning and I hope the kids had as much fun as I did.  I encourage you to take a drive by SCES and take a look.  It sure looks like Christmas at that school.  Mrs. Demerchant and Mrs. Cummings and their staff deserve a big pat on the back for making it all happen

Merry Christmas to everyone over at SCES, kids, staff, and parents of all the students too.

I'll be going over some evening soon to snap a photo or two and I'll post them here when I do.

I'm a Rink Rant who Needs a Rink

The below is from a column I had printed in the February 26, 2013 edition of the Kings County Record.  I softened it a little so it wasn't overly confrontational.  I strongly feel that in NB we all need to pull together to get our government to support more recreation, education, and health issues and leave the business up to business.  If we have the resources here and there is a market, business will come, either now or down the road.  In my mind down the road is likely more sustainable.  I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts on what we can do to overcome this issue.

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I am likely to raise a little ire with what I'm about to write.  This may come across more as an editorial than a simple column so if you aren't interested in hearing my opinion, I suggest you move on to another column today.

 As a parent, a player, and volunteer for many of this areas sports and recreation organizations, I find it tough to observe the ongoing debate and division over local rinks and recreational facilities.  This isn't just a local problem, similar problems are occurring across our Province.  Grand Bay-Westfield is the most recent example of where a community is struggling to keep their arena operational.

Our government continues to provide a number of grants, subsidies, and poor loan guarantees which our tax dollars fund.  More often than not we get little in return for these investments, especially anything sustainable.  My question is why does the government not invest more into the operation of recreational facilities?  The Town of Sussex has stated they can no longer afford to shoulder the operating deficit on their own due to changes in the municipal grant system, which they now receive less of.  This has led them to find other ways to increase user revenues to cover costs.  I appreciate their position even though it puts me into a tough situation as well, especially when my son and daughter want to play hockey next year.

It upsets me (to put it politely), that our Provincial government can not step up, with the funds raised through the Atlantic Lotto Corp, or through resource royalties, and fix this problem.  They continue to throw money into business development corporations that do the research and monitoring work that in my opinion should be paid for by business.  You hear commercials from our Province stating they support initiatives that will help curb childhood obesity.  Now when its time for the rubber to hit the road, where are they?

Here in the Sussex region we have been pitched against one another.  I think we need to start asking our provincial government to step up.  They need to be serious about creating a healthy future where recreational facilities and functioning ecosystems are considered the proverbial ounce of prevention.  We have to accept some responsibility and look at ways we can control and reduce costs as well.  Maybe our vision of Minor Hockey has to change and we alter the divisions so more kids can play in the same division.  Maybe we need to restructure Hockey NB so teams travel less, saving parents money so they can afford higher registration fees. 

This can only be done if the Province steps up and helps local sport.  The elite and highly skilled athletes now have numerous ways to fund their endeavors so let's provide them with less and give the developing youth a chance.  My fear is that if the Province doesn't step up for the communities they serve our current hockey and skating programs could crash or the non-profit agencies that aid people struggling to keep their kids in sport will crash.  If the costs for minor hockey increase, participation drops, and thus, more rate increases will be needed to cover the shortfall and a devastating cycle begins.  The worse case scenario is that our local arena will close.  On the bright side it could bode well for the sport as more kids will turn to the frozen ponds and remove the business side from the sport.

A Fun Winter Afternoon

What a great afternoon!!!  I took my two kids, along with my father and the two dogs, for a walk up along the ridge that overlooks the Newline Road.  It is a great spot with a spectacular view.  I mean spectacular.  The grey clouds were broken from time to time with vibrant streaks of blue.  The foggy horizon would sometimes rise like a curtain in a theater and reveal other scenes from a spooky mystery.

My father and I pulled the kids up the hill in their sleds and it was a heck of a work out.  The kids had a great time laughing and encouraging us along.  Needless to say, we took many breaks before making the top of the hill.  I think if the kids were in a poor mood I would have never made the top.  Once at the top we enjoyed the view and took a couple of sliding runs down the other side.  While the kids enjoyed the sliding I put together a small fire and prepped a snack of hot chocolate, crackers, and cookies.

Before the snack we built what ended up being a faceless and severely bruised snow man.  My son has a hard time leaving a snow man upright and without the hot chocolate and cookies, I don't think our snow man would have survived his onslaught.  The snack was enough to get his attention though and after the snack we prepped for the long slide back down the hill.

The snow was wet and packed, not great for sliding.  We didn't break any speed records for sure but it was still easier than the walk up the hill.  Regardless the kids enjoyed the trip down and we shortly made our way home.  Everyone a bit tired and thankful for this great area we live in.

Here is a quick map of our little family adventure.

View A Fun Winter Day in a larger map

Getting off the Trail in Sussex

What a fantastic day.  It is approaching mid November and the temperature today reached 16C according to the thermometer on my truck.  My wife and I took advantage of my rare day off and took the kids for a long walk along the nature trail from Sussex to Sussex Corner.  We met a friend and her two boys in Sussex and walked to Sullivan Park in Sussex Corner.  The warm temperatures meant that we could walk in t-shirts and enjoy the warm sun on our faces.

On every turn of the Trout Creek there were mallards swimming playfully and the kids loved watching them take flight.  Blue jays flitted low to the ground and their bright blue feathers stood out now with no leaves in the trees to keep them hidden.  The aging poplars, that are so abundant along the trail, provided a great lunch for a hairy woodpecker that my wife spotted while I was showing the kids the blue jays.  The whole day we were serenaded by chickadees but it took me a while to listen.

The trail was relatively dry and the older boys jumped at the opportunity to explore off the trail when I offered it up.  The flood plain was even dry and the well spaced ash, poplar, and birch allowed the boys to jump and climb what ever they could.  It was cool watching them explore.  The naturalist in me noticed how many poplar there were and how old they were.  I also noticed that there was very little undergrowth to replace the aging hardwoods.  There were lots of deer tracks around but I saw none but the number could explain the low understory cover.

It was a great day and it paid to get off the main trail.  We walked more than anticipated and it was a battle to put the kids to bed tonight.  When we have to battle like that it usually means they are really tired and it takes all of ten minutes for them to fall asleep.  That means that tonight I can do some writing.  I hope you enjoy what I wrote.

Perspectives on Ice

I wrote this sometime ago and it was printed in the Kings County Record.  As part of my day job I am contracted by the provincial government to perform "RiverWatch" duties and thus I get to observe river ice at various stages.  The late stages of thawing typically interest me the most as it provides some great angles for taking pics.  Hope you enjoy the read.

 

You can climb it, slide and skate on it, sculpt it, and even eat forms of it.  As a hockey player my favorite thing to do is skate on it but for this column I want to write about the natural beauty of river ice.  The ice changes minute to minute.  It heaves and moans as the air temperature rises and falls.  Depending on the light conditions the ice can appear angelic or depressing.  The diverse character of ice has led me to often stop and take pictures of it.  Like a good model it always takes a great picture.

Frozen waterfalls are like a room full of models.  Every icicle, every water drop creates an opportunity for a great picture.  Every frozen cascade or stranded ice sheet is a playground to explore.  The smooth, hard top surface of an ice sheet is a stark contrast to the brittle, rotting, rock carved, newly exposed underside.  Up close or from a distance the ice is attractive its white glare catches your attention against the dark slate bedrock that serves as its backdrop.  Your adventurous side wants to climb both the rock and ice and your appreciative side makes you take it in before tackling the challenge of scaling the slippery face.

The best time of year to observe ice is during the late days of winter or early spring days as it is melting.  As the sun and water work to naturally sculpt and smooth the ice it glistens as it succumbs to the natural forces.  This in no way means ice is powerless.  If you have ever sat on a lake shore and listened as it loudly cracks as it pushes against the shore, the sound will give you a haunted feeling.  Its physical power is easily demonstrated when, as water makes the change to ice it expands.  If the water was sitting in an old tree trunk or in a seam of a rock the ice will crack them both open.  The strongest man in town couldn't do that without the help or a tool of some sort.

One of the coolest features of ice is the way the water of a stream runs beneath it.  Now before you step out on a deep ice covered river, make sure the ice is thick enough, I suggest no less than 4", to hold your weight.  To be safer, and to see this cool feature better, I suggest wandering up a small stream where you likely won't get that wet if you accidently fall through the ice.  The thin, glass like ice, is the best for watching and listening to the stream gurgle below the ice.  From time to time air bubbles will move below you as the oxygen searches for a way to the open atmosphere.  This site can be a bit mesmerizing and like so many other features of river ice it can hold you in a curious gaze.  Fortunately for me, through my work with the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee I often get up close and personal with river ice and often I get to have lunch on a blanket spread over a stranded sheet in front of a covered bridge.  Get out there and explore the ice near you but be cautious and wander safely.

A Father Daughter Picnic

What a beautiful day it is out there.  The sun is shining, the temperature is above seasonal, and you could easily say spring is in the air.  I come out of the hockey rink this moring and instantly felt a bit happier as the sun shone brightly on my face.  Coaching hockey this morning was a bit difficult as my son wasn't there as he and his mother went to Saint John to take in Ray's Reptiles.  This however, meant that I could spend some quality time with my daughter.  After I picked her up from some generous friends who baby sat her while I was at hockey, we went home and packed a lunch for a picnic and play day.

We hiked a short distance to the nearby Sullivan Park.  It shouldn't have taken much more than 10 minutes to get there but since we went her pace, it took close to 40minutes.  Needless to say by the time we got there we were both pretty hungry.  I pulled out the veggies, fruit, and her favorite PB&J sandwiches and chowed down as the sun glistened off the snow covered fields next to the park.  We watched Canada Geese feed on the left over corn in those same fields as the dog barked.  The more the dog barked the harder Shaylee would laugh. 

After some Oreo cookies it was time to get to playing and swinging and as we finished eating we were surprised to see a good friend of Shaylee's stop in at the park to play as well.  We all played "you can't catch me" and laughed away the afternoon.  On the way back home Shaylee once again jumped in every mud puddle and climbed every snow bank.  She played hard enough to earn a cup of hot chocolate and a movie when she got home.  As she is only two I thought she might fall asleep after that hard afternoon but instead she danced to every song on the cartoon movie.

It was a great father/daughter day and I hope we get to spend many more just like it.

Like Father Like Son

I've had an interest in writing for a long time.  I can remember being in Sussex Corner Elementary School and writing a "Hardy Boys" type story in my writing journal.  I loved writing but as a kid I suppressed this desire to be cool as I felt young boys were to play hockey and explore outside.  I don't regret these decisions I made as a young boy but I sometimes wonder how my life would be different if I had focused on my writing instead of athletics. 

Recently I have recognized a similar battle taking shape within my six year old son.  He has taken a strong interest in reading and writing while trying to get him to hockey in the morning is a bit of a challenge.  It was made even more apparent recently when he had one of his stories published in the Sussex Corner Elementary School Newsletter for March 2012.  I'm a proud father so I'm going to share it here.  To be accurate I'm not going to correct the spelling mistakes as I think it shows his true mind.  Keep in mind he is six years old so many of the words are well beyond his expected reading level.

Here is what he wrote:

"Have you ever gon skating?  One day I went skating.  It was on Sunday at my aunt Beckees after cherch.  My aunt Beckee put on my skates.  When I got on the ice I slipt and fel.  I hit my head.  I thot I should of had my helmet on.  I didn't beecos my Dat thot I didn't need it.  So I sat down.  My aunt Beckee found a helmet so I put it on.  I went to play hockey with my kosen Kiele and somebody els.  Then I saw a side by side.  I stuck my stike in the snow and climbed on.  We foload coyote tracs.  Everee tiem he foload the coyote tracs into the woods he saw a rabit.  Beefor I went home I had another ride.  I had alot of fun."

So now that he is writing and communicating like an adult I have to be more cautious as he can rat me out when I make a mistake, such as not putting a helmet on him.  In my defense I opted to put a thick hat on him to keep his head and cheeks warm.  Thankfully he wasn't hurt to badly and he still enjoyed the day well enough that he wrote about it.  I will be making an effort to encourage his creative side while hopefully balancing it with his more active side.  I believe that each benefits from the other.

Dad is proud of you buddy.  Keep it up.  Love you.

Dispatch from the Sussex Corner Winter Carnival

I submitted this as a column in the Feb 21, 2012 Kings County Record.  I wrote it the evening of my deadline because I really wanted to get word out about the Sussex Corner Winter Carnival.  Since writing the piece, the Carnival has ended with a joyful bang and honking horns.  I will provide more on that in a follow up blog.  Enjoy.

 

During the Corner Cup Hockey Tournament play was, at times, humorously impacted by ice conditions.

The first night of the 4^th Annual Corner Cup has just wrapped up.  The outdoor ice was slow and choppy but the cool night air was great for the occasion.  The players cursed the ice when it worked against them while everyone else laughed politely knowing that the next time it would very likely be them who fell over or missed the break away.  As we tidied up the ice for the night the coyotes yipped off towards the Bluff and I started thinking about the trek I will be taking out there tomorrow night.

Back to the hockey though, after all it was pure Canadiana around Sullivan Park tonight.  From the Tim Horton's coffee steaming in cold hands to the red maple leaf design toques being worn by the team calling them selves the Isotopes.  The St. John's Ambulance volunteers were there and so were a few true hockey fans.  Straw bales, lawn chairs, snow banks and the odd cooler provided the seating for players and fans alike.

The hockey was competitive but relaxed.  Players quickly realized that, with the poor ice conditions, it was better to play with control than with reckless, competitive abandon.  Young kids played on the snow banks around the ice surface while young and not so young men played like kids on the ice. 

Worth playing for.

The ice didn't only impact the pace of the play but it also impacted the players.  Simply to skate on the ice tonight required twice the effort it would if you were skating at the 8^th Hussars Arena.  The snow and the bumps forced you to keep more weight on your feet and thus you couldn't glide like you would on artificial ice.  Many times the puck jumped and hit players in the shins or they would trip on one of the many ruts and no doubt they left with bruised elbows and knees.  When they fell though they quickly got back up and at that moment you could see their true competitive nature flash in their eyes.  You could see they were proudly Canadian and hockey was their game.

Likely the most interesting aspect of having a chipped and rutted ice surface was the manner in which it evened out the play.  Those that could normally stick handle in a phone booth, tonight, had to learn all over while, those who usually struggled to push the puck ahead of them, were still simply struggling.  

As one of the organizers of this event it was great to see the players having fun.  Being outside during the winter and taking advantage of one of its great offerings.  I'm excited for tomorrow evening and all the events planned for Saturday.  I hope I get to see you there and I hope you get to enjoy our great Canadian outdoors.  If you didn't make the Sussex Corner Winter Carnival then I hope you are out somewhere else building snowmen, digging quinzees, throwing snowballs, snowshoeing across a scenic ridge, or sliding down a great hill.  Don't just think about it.  Take your family and do it, my son and I tonight stayed out well past not only his bedtime but mine too and it was so fun. 

See you on the ice or in the woods.

Small Village Canadiana

The Sussex Corner Winter Carnival is fun for everyone, not just skaters and skiers.

There is a modest Village in the southern part of New Brunswick.  It's tree lined streets are typically quiet with comforting light shining from the tidy homes.  During a weekend in February, this year it will be the 18th, this small Village of just over 1400people gets a bit rowdy as they celebrate with pure Canadiana.  The Sussex Corner Winter Carnival is a growing event where people can come and participate in various outdoor winter activities.  From pond hockey to snowshoeing, from sculpting to sliding, games to sleigh rides.  Of course what is a Canadian winter carnival without maple candy made right on the snow.

I know where I'll be on the 18th.  How about you?  Why not sign up a team and compete in the Corner Cup, or come out Friday night and take part in an evening snowshoe trek to the Bluff, hosted by Outdoor Elements.  This is a great evening event that is topped off with some laughs and hot chocolate while watching the pond hockey games.

There is lots of snow in Sussex Corner right now so snow sculpting will make a great family experience, as will the snow man competition or the Amazing Race on Saturday.  For food connesiours there will be our fireside chowder and a barbeque canteer offering hot dogs and hamburgers.  At the end of the night the entire Village anticipates the fireworks display and I hear this year's event will not dissappoint.

Hope to see you there.

A Ward's Creek Surprise

This is an article I had published in the January 24, 2012 Kings County Record.  It was inspired by a hike I took with a work colleague.  We were investigating the topography around a watershed that we have been working at restoring as part of my job as the Project Manager for the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee.  It is days such as this one that drive home the reason why I don't work for money but rather for the enjoyment of my job.

 

This porcupine was one of many we found in this scenic area.  A small but rewarding wilderness area.

Nature is always full of surprises.  That is one of the bigger reasons why I love getting out and enjoying it.  Sometimes the weather changes suddenly and a summer shower changes the whole outlook on a day and makes it, strangely, more enjoyable.  Maybe you're walking across an expansive farm field and a large buck prances out in front of you leaving your heart racing and short of breath.  I could go on and on but I want to tell you about a surprise I recently received.

If you read my column regularly you'll know that I often am looking for ridges to hike and during the summer of 2011 I spotted one while driving along Route 111.  It took me until January of 2012 to get there.  From the road the ridge looked like it was hiding a ravine but I wasn't sure and the topographic maps and on-line map sources didn't show a great deal.  This really had me curious and so I headed out one afternoon with a colleague.

We parked along Route 111 and then worked our way across Ward's Creek.  Once across the Creek the terrain becomes very steep and as we work along the side of the hill large boulders are strewn through the woods.  They serve as an indication as to what lay ahead.  We aren't following any specific trail but we do find a farm road that heads in the direction we think we need to go.  We decide to move off the road and head further up the hill as we feel we need to actually crest the hill to find the hidden ravine,  I think is there.  As we stumble onto another farm trail I see the rock face that I spotted from Route 111 and it is much bigger than what I imagined.

Looking down the valley along the top of the ridge.

The rock face is not extremely high but does stand well above the surrounding landscape and extends more than 100m in length.  Beech, maple, and birch trees dominate the narrow valley floor while spruce and pine stand along the top of the face.  Scree is scattered along the foot of the rock wall and makes walking difficult.  The conglomerate rock is solid with large boulders imbedded into its cement like texture.  The whole scene stands out in front of me and leaves me feeling a bit giddy.  It was so much more than what I had anticipated and it was going to throw another surprise.

I explored the barren looking rock and some of the cracks in the wall seeking for a route I could climb up over the face.  As I looked up one such crack I noticed a large amount of porcupine scat, then as I looked up further I saw three porcupines sleeping while wedged into the crack.  I moved down to the next crack and actually climbed up approximately 30m to the top of the ridge.  As I took in the scenery below me I heard some rustling to my right and when I turned I saw another porcupine.  I was able to snap a number of great pictures and take some video of it as it made its way down the rock face.  To be honest, I had no idea; porcupines were that comfortable on rock. 

From the top of the scree the rock face was pretty much straight up.

We circled to the top end of the ravine and worked our way back to the valley bottom.  There would be no more big surprises for the hike but a cool spring on the descent was mildly surprising.  We followed its waters down to the road we had walked earlier and made our way back across the nearly frozen Ward's Creek.  The hike left me wishing I could find more time to take more such wanders through the woods. 

The map below shows the route we hiked on this day.  If you go out make sure you treat the land with respect and leave it better than you find it.  

 
View Ward's Creek Lookout Hike in a larger map

Farm Field Hike

The Bluff is photogenic from anywhere you can see it.

It has been a bit too long since I last posted.  I've been just to active to sit and write about anything.  I did take some time recently to take a couple of walks outside.  I say "outside" because I have been looking for good hikes to take with my family.  They have to be close by and of easy to moderate exertion so that the kids can handle it.  This means they aren't likely wilderness.



I liked that spruce so much I photographed it twice, but I truly love this farm road.





One such exploration led me up over a farm field that I haven't visited since I was a young kid.  My brother, our friends, and I used to bike or walk up this hill after biking to "Mac's Corner Store" for some treats.  We'd hike up the hill and sit on hay bales or on the corral that was there to enjoy our treats.  My brother, his two boys, my father, my kids and I were hiking on this day.  It was a calm but gray day, with above normal temperatures, a great day to be outside. 



We left around 3:00 in the afternoon and I anticipated to be out about 1.5-2 hours.  I was hoping to be finishing up near sun down so that I could possibly get some nice light for photos.  To my surprise, the old corral was still there and my brother and I reminisced together about our childhood.  The walk seemed a bit shorter somehow, although my son likely felt it was plenty long enough.  We hiked on past the corral and continued to follow the field road to the top pasture.  At the tree line we could sit and look back over the fields we had just crossed and also look over most of Sussex Corner.

This was towards the end of the walk and provided a perfect ending, beyond the singing, which was so appropriate.

We sat and enjoyed the view as we ate a small snack and drank some water.  The pace back was leisurely and the conversation light.  My daughter rode joyfully in the backpack and sang songs for a good portion of the trip home before falling asleep.  The dogs ran wildly enjoying a bit of freedom before we had to put them back on the leashes, even a cut pad on my shepherd/husky couldn't slow her down.

It was nice to just get outside and enjoy being there.  We don't have to go far to enjoy the wilderness and we truly had a great day.

Shaylee finally succumbed to the fresh air and likely serenaded herself to sleep.

A Near Perfect Sunday Part I

NOTE:  This is a column I wrote for the Kings County Record which appeared in the June 21st edition.  My brother and I had an amazing afternoon hike across some well forested, deeply carved hills.  It was a very rewarding day that left us in awe of the great  Trout Creek valley in which we get to live.  Every time I explore a new wilderness in this area I find something beautiful and scenic and if you live in this area, I strongly encourage you to get out there and explore, no matter how old or young you are.
 
Sometimes all the planning in the world just doesn't prepare you for your day.  You can pull all your maps together and plan a great route.  You can pack all the gear you need and the food to see you through.  You get the right team together and organize drives and meeting times but still it all falls apart.  Every now and then though it exceeds all your expectations and a near perfect day results. 

The view from Friar's Nose looking across the Parlee Brook Valley.

  Two Sundays ago my brother and I had planned a day hike across the Parlee Brook watershed, a distance of 11.6km.  We planned to bush whack along ridges and down small streams from Friar's Nose to Hawkes' Bridge on the Trout Creek.  It had been sometime since my brother and I had been out together on a hike and neither of us had followed the route we laid out before so we were both excited and edgy about what the day would hold.

Even small wonders were amplified on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

It was sunny with a light breeze as we reached Friar's Nose and we took a moment to enjoy this familiar, yet inspiring location.  The Nose is one of those places you have to see to fully appreciate.  From the open rock face we started a steep descent over the south east face of the Nose.  We followed a dry stream bed until suddenly it was a babbling stream.  Shortly it entered into Purtill Spring Brook which we only descended for a short distance before climbing a steep ridge.  Using my GPS we navigated towards what we hoped would be another rock face.

At the top of this unnamed ridge there were 5 raptors floating on thermals.

The climb up this ridge was steep and required some scrambling on all fours just to stay upright.  The hard work paid off as we managed to find our way to a high rock ledge which looked southward over a forested valley as a number of raptors flew below us.  We sat for a time and took in this new vista, scanned the area with our binoculars and snapped a few pictures.  We would have stayed longer but the black flies were pushing us off the ledge.

A small shelf acted like a walkway that led directly behind the falls.

The next leg of the hike took us from the Purtill Brook drainage and into the main stem Parlee Brook drainage area.  We planned on accessing Parlee Brook via a small tributary that flowed off the east side of the Donaldson Road.  On the map there appeared to be nothing special about the stream but we were in for a great surprise.  As we worked our way down the stream the valley became steeply incised and we scrambled over some small chutes.  Suddenly we looked down over a 20-30' drop off and we had to work our way out of the ravine and around the drop off.  As we did this we noticed that a rock shelf led back towards the bottom of the drop and we were able to walk directly behind the waterfall.  It was a great discovery for the both of us and a spot we will be sure to bring others who will appreciate it in the future. 

I had to get my brother to snap this shot of me beside the small falls

We lingered at the newly found waterfall for a while and quietly enjoyed each others company and the natural beauty God put in front of us.  Maybe the best part of the moment was that the day was only half over and we couldn't wait to see what else He had in store for us on this near perfect Sunday.  You'll have to wait for my next column to hear about it though.