Random Games

This entry was originally published in the Kings County Record on March 17, 2015.  It was heavily influenced by the enjoyment I got from watching more than 60 kids playing simple games with simple toys.  It demonstrated that kids still know how to have fun and that computers and i-pods and the like haven't completely ruined their imaginations.  A huge thanks to the staff at Atlantic Community Church for organizing "Super Kids."

 

Random games are a wonder aren't they?  Have you ever thought "Who the heck thought to put a rope through two golf balls and throw them at a ladder?"  Maybe you question the mental state of the person who first threw a lawn dart.  Recently I have been helping out at the Atlantic Community Church with their "SuperKids" program and it is amazing how entertaining and how much of a workout small random games can be.

For a number of Wednesdays now the super kids at "SuperKids" have been engaged in random games.  These games include props from beach balls to rubber chickens and we have been able to engage up to 40 kids at a time.  Now, I admit, these games may not engage an overly serious adult, but if you can embrace the inner child you have lurking deep down inside, these games will get you laughing and exercising.

Next time you and your friends are hanging out and having some social drinks, why not blow up a couple of balloons, place some glow sticks inside them, turn out the lights and see how many long you can keep hitting the balloon up in the air.  With the right mind set this game can be very fun and requires very little investment in equipment or materials to play.

That game didn't interest you, then this summer when you're enjoying the beach, take a couple of rubber chickens from the "Dollar Store" and have chicken races.  I know rubber chickens can't actually run, but if you put the chicken between your knees and race your buddy 50m down the beach without dropping the chicken.  I bet before you get half way, you'll be wondering why it's so difficult while laughing so hard you can't keep your knees pinched together to hold the chicken.

Seriously, how bored do you have to be to think of the multitude of card games that exist?  How do you think of a game like volleyball, which I love by the way? When you put people on the banks of river, how long is it before someone picks up a rock and throws it, but who threw the first stone?  I've killed a lot of time, and likely threw out my shoulder a couple of times skipping stones but I find it almost therapeutic.

I know, I'm asking more questions here than I'm answering but it is a sense of curiosity that likely led to a great deal of these games.  Some games were derived out of a necessity.  I would even hazard a guess that lawn darts may have been derived from a need to practice spear throwing by a hunting tribe or clan.

 I don't think I have ever invented a game but after "SuperKids" tonight I have decided to challenge myself to create a game.  Since I like being outdoors I am going to create a new game outside for winter time.  It might be a race to see who can stack snowballs to a certain height from ten feet away.  Hey I think I just invented a new game.  Now I challenge you to get outside and invent your own game.  Don't do it alone though, engage your friends to help you.  I like solitaire but I love 45s.

One of my faves - FALL RUN by Todd Moen

I don't normally share someone else's stuff but I couldn't resist here. This is one of my favorite fly fishing videos to date.  I love how they talk about team work and simply fishing for the joy of being on the water.  The river backdrop reminds me of one of the rivers I love to fish so I can easily picture myself chasing trout in that same situation.  I can't say though I've ever chased a fish that big and envy them for that.    I've watched other videos by Todd and I love them all.  Let's be honest....right now in eastern Canada (where we are under more than 100cm of snow and fishing season is less than a month away) all of us anglers are itching to get out from under this snow and pursue our own fish of choice.

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.

Midland Ice Caves

One of the best things about a long winter is that towards the end, the warmer days tend to be excellent for outdoor adventure.  Today our family took advantage of a warm day to get outside and play in the snow and on the ice.  The Midland Ice caves have been receiving a great deal of media attention lately and that led to my wife wanting to visit them for the first time.


We loaded the kids and the dog into the van and headed from Sussex Corner towards Norton and in 25minutes we were starting up the well beaten and hardened trail towards the ice caves.  The first part of the hike was all up hill and the kids needed to stop a couple of times before we made the forested portion of the trail.  There were a large number of people enjoying the weather and trail with us.  This is normal for this trail we guessed because there was a large snow packed trail the whole way to the caves.  There was no need for snow shoes and we even saw some kids wearing sneakers.


The kids loved playing in the cave and worked hard to get to the top section of the cave and slide back towards the bottom.  The large crowd was full of people who were visiting the cave for the first time and lots of joyful discussion was had.  This indicated to me that everyone was loving the day and location.

Here is my quick video of the short adventure.

A Good Day Gone Awry

There are times when one moment of weakness can ruin an otherwise great day.  That happened to me the other day.  My wife and I took the kids for a snowshoe trek.  It was a beautiful day and the winter time temp was a glorious -7C and when the sun shone on your back you could readily feel it.  We were all laughing and having a good time.

Then it happened.

My plan was to have a nice little fire and snacks along with some hot chocolate.  I thought the kids would love to have hot chocolate made over a fire.  The idea had the kids excited and when I quickly got a fire going, it was looking promising.  The excitement translated to no patience and the kids started bickering with one another.  My fire fell deeper than I anticipated and my pot tilted, spilling some water.  What was once a promising start, quickly turned to a disaster in the making.  Now I was losing my patience too.

The kids decided they wanted to forgo the hot chocolate and instead have it at their grand parents.  They then decided it would be good to ignore their mother and me when I tried to back her up.  This set me off and I lost it.  I hollered at both the kids and insisted they stand in front of me while I verbally disciplined them.

What was a great day and relatively warm for winter, quickly turned to a cold day.  The rest of the hike out I felt as big the downey woodpecker I saw flitting through a stand of poplars.  I knew I had over reacted but I also didn't think I could apologize without undermining my own authority.  I pulled my toque down and weathered the storm.

By the time the hot chocolate was done I think all the hollering was forgotten.

Snow is Deep in the Holler

Today I went on a short snowshoe trek with my daughter and youngest nephew.  It was such a great day to be outside and we enjoyed as much of it as we could.  The snow was clean and deep and we were fortunate that the trail we planned to trek on was beaten down by snowshoes and other snowshoers.  The kids started off quickly, at times running up the trail ahead of me.  As I paused to take a photo of them I could hear a familiar tapping noise.  It took me a minute or two to locate the noise maker, a pileated woodpecker.  I was able to snap a couple of quick pictures of him before the dog scared it beyond our range.

We carried on our way with the Cotter Holler stream running quietly to our right and would only show itself occasionally through the snow pack.  The kids little legs managed to trek all the way up to the ice walls that are always there this time of year.  The kids were not as enamored with the  blue icy sheen on the ice as I was.

From here we turned around and made our way back.  I felt that if I pushed the kids to much further I might have a rebellion on my hands.  Along the way we passed a group of 4 cross country skiers and they seemed to be really enjoying the day too.  Shortly after they passed we found a sunny spot in the deep valley and sat for a small bonfire and simply enjoyed being outside.

No doubt this will be a day the kids remember and I know I will.  I hope that you all enjoyed your day today as well.

Here is a quick video I made to help remember the day or check it out on my YouTube Channel.

What is Wandering?

This entry was published in the February 17th edition of the Kings County Record.  I've now been writing for the record going on 8 years and every now and then it is good to remind my readers, and my self why I write.  This was the point of this entry.  As you read, let your mind wander, and when you get a chance wander with your body somewhere too.  Don't get completely lost though.

Capstick is a small fishing village in Cape Breton.  An easy place to wander.

 

Wandering?  What is wandering?  I was asked this question the other day and it got me thinking about what "wandering" is to me.  Ironically it took me some time to figure it out.  It led me to think that maybe I need to fill readers in on why I write this column.  You might consider this edition a bit of a reminder as to why I wander.  Many people would likely, for good reason, assume that for me wandering means me being lost in the woods.  Sometimes it is simply that.  More often though it is more than that. 

A walk across a snow covered field is not simply a way to get cold feet.  When you let your mind go free it can become a great deal more.  When you can look and use your imagination you can almost see every snow flake.  You can hear them gently land on the curling drift.  When I write, I try to take the reader to a place, not an actual physical place, but rather a place in their mind.  I want the reader to let their mind wander to a wooded path along a fast running, boulder strewn, fish bearing stream that rumbles loudly as it pours over a large, mossy, emerald green boulder.

Wandering, for me, is a manner, in today's terms, to reboot my mind, body, and soul.  It is a way to see things again for the first time. Google defines it as "traveling aimlessly from place to place."  I like most of this definition but I can travel aimlessly in one place too.  When I sit at the atop an old tree stump on the top of a ridge looking over a clear cut to small settlement below I can wander through time.  Back to when homes were more often heated by a wood stove and we travelled using a horse and buggy.  Or I can wander to the time when the clear cut in front of me was a mature stand of softwoods full of deer and squirrels.  So I don't need to travel from place to place to wander, in essence, I can wander in my own back yard.

One of the reasons why I started writing this column was to encourage people to get out and "wander" in their own backyards.  I don't simply mean in your half acre building lot but if that is where you feel comfortable then it is as good a place as any to start.  I have to be honest, that is how I started.  When I was a boy, 3 or 4 years old, I would wander around my parent's backyard, by the time I was 5 or 6 I was in the neighbor's yard and exploring the brook at the edge of our lot.  The progression and growth is great to see in yourself and just because you might be older now, it doesn't mean you can't wander and grow in new places.  Sometimes you might find a new place right outside the backdoor.  Suddenly you may have a bird's nest in a nearby tree or maybe a squirrel has found access under your back deck and you take note and let your mind and soul wander or even ponder these new places. 

Where ever you might wander I hope it brings you adventure and happiness.  I hope that you grow spiritually stronger as much as physically stronger.  As deep as the snow is this winter I hope that you can still find a way to appreciate all that nature has to give us.

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..

Good Relations Mean Weathering Storms

I have been slack over the winter holiday season and have not been doing a great deal of writing.  That does not mean that I haven't been busy though.  My full time job allows me to spend time outdoors and I feel grateful for that.  One of the more recent things I have been tasked with is monitoring precipitation amounts here in our region and honestly it has brought me more enjoyment and thought than I anticipated.  Below is the thoughts I placed on paper for the Kings County Record recently.

Weather is a very popular topic and it is a versatile topic that generates both joyful and depressing conversations.  People like to watch it from the comfort of their homes or while browsing the internet but only a few people develop a true relationship with weather.  To do this you have to get to know it, you have to understand the ups and downs of its personality.  In some cases you have to stand strong in a storm.  Over the last few months I have more fully tried to get to know the local weather more intimately. 

I haven't been alone in my pursuance of this relationship.  Others also wanted to get to know their weather better and so together we have been studying it.  In fact there are a lot of people who watch the weather closely, many, much closer than I do.  My relationship with weather started, like many modern relations today, online.  Following some field work two summers ago, there was a data gap on precipitation that was falling in our region.  It was important to my work that we get to know the weather better and thus the courting began. 

Through some friends I was directed to a website for COCORAHS or Community Collaborative Rain Hail Snow Monitoring Network.  This website was chocked full of information but more importantly it provided me with the tools needed to get my relationship off on the right foot.  Through COCORAHS I was able to get a rain gauge, a snow board, a meter stick, and access to a broader database.

Now part of my daily routine is a morning visit to my rain gauge where I measure the rain fall from the night before and if there was snow I take measurements of that as well.  There is something old fashioned about watching the weather.  It takes commitment which is something that, in my opinion, is missing in many aspects in society.  Honestly, I don't make my trip everyday, but I make an honest effort to get there no matter the weather.

By entering the data it has led me to look back on the history of weather in the region and I'm starting to to see some trends.  Watching the weather is not a one night stand by any stretch, it takes time to get to know its moods.  Don't worry though, if you're worried about getting bored with the relationship, it will change from season to season so there will be something else to understand. 

 

For me, the precipitation data that I'm collecting will be tracked and contribute to river flow, discharge, and water level data.  This data will allow me and my colleagues to better understand changes to the river due to climate change.  It has provided me with a moment to slow down each morning and my walk to the gauge does feel like a walk down a country road and it there is a relaxing moment that allows me to get my day off on the right foot.