July, 2009

©Ian Coristine/1000IslandsPhotoArt.com

Our Islands come in all shapes and sizes

Greetings from the Thousand Islands

This was a busy month for receiving visitors. First to arrive was our 15 year old grandson Alex who flew in for a week from Washington State. We didn’t do that much, really. Except for a boat tour of the islands, of course. Well, we also did have Wayne volunteer to drag us around in his boat while I taught Alex how to water ski. This was my second attempt as my efforts two summers ago ended in a dismal failure. This time, at untold cost to my pride and dignity, after demonstrating all the ways that would result in a catastrophic failure, I finally got up and skied successfully.

To see video, click on arrow above on bottom left of the screen

With such a thorough demonstration, he was up in no time.

Then again, we did manage to take in our local yearly motorcycle rally and even spent some time working on my airplane. Of course we were not about to miss the air show at Ft. Drum, home to the 10th Mountain Division. These soldiers have been deployed from Afghanistan to Iraq for years so the area is very much a military town. We always make a point to thank them for their service to our country anytime we see them in public and I am pleased to see how much they seem used to being approached in this manner. It appears that it is something they are quite used to experiencing.

Alex in Alexandria Bay

We couldn’t very well let the kid die of boredom so we visited Ft. Henry also, Canada’s version of West Point. You know- lots of history, guns, explosions and all manner of things a boy loves.

Finally we spent a day in Ottawa (Canada’s capital) where we visited the Rideau Canal, the Parliament buildings and testosterone heaven, the National War Museum. Like all museums, many displays are narrated by people who lived what they are describing and this one was no exception. Incredibly, in one display, were photos and a recorded interview of my grandfather describing his war service in France during WWI. In the National War Museum!

WOW!

Like I said… we didn’t do much all week.

The magic carpet: CH2-2858

The significant amount of time I spent NOT building my airplane this month was a choice and I make no apologies for it. What a problem to have, so many things I want to do and so little time to do them all in. It’s my idea of having a life. Between inviting company and participating in social events, I still managed to sneak away tor a total of 54 hours to work on it. It was a little intimidating at first and often felt that like flying itself, aircraft assembly involves learning a whole new language.

I remember looking at the inventory sheets and seeing parts called “Ronny brackets". I was looking at 17 boxes full of parts and pieces and thinking “what the devil are ‘Ronny brackets’, much less ‘where do I put them?’ Then there was the ‘control horn’. You’re kidding right? Airplanes don’t have horns! Then I thought ‘maybe it’s for when you are taxiing and you want to warn other ground based airplanes’.

Wrong! It’s a part that controls the elevators. Elevators? An elevator in an airplane? Get out-a here! Do I look like I have ‘stupid’ tattooed to my forehead? ...and back to the instruction manual I would go. A month later I am hardly a pro at this but I am edjamakated to the point where I can scratch and spit and talk trash about root tubes, longerons and jury struts with the best of them. I am like a kid who plants a seedling then wakes up in the morning to see if there is a tree to climb. I can hardly wait...

Island Reflections

Last March I mentioned that another magazine article was being written about Honey Bee Island and was scheduled for release in June. True to her word, Kim’s article appeared in a magazine called “Island Reflections” The name change from the original “Island Treasures” series reflected that it was now under the auspices of a new publisher. With a run of 40,000 to 50,000 the magazine was included as a special insert in local newspapers on both sides of the river in the USA and Canada and in local marinas, tourist information centers, restaurants and other public venues.

You can read the article by double clicking on any page

Finally, shortly after we arrived, we noticed that a new viewing area had been built on the roadside between the US and Canadian custom stations between the two bridge spans that cross the river. The thing is that the only thing that you can view from this spot is Honey Bee Island (between the flags). We are flattered that they would feel the view justified the effort and expense they clearly went to. Maybe we could set up one of those big commercial binoculars that charge .50c for a peek!

Mandy

Next on the visiting schedule was darling daughter Mandy. She had flown in from the Netherlands to Washington DC the previous week after successfully completing this years exams. There, she was joined by her sister Kami where the two of them had volunteered to participate in the “People to People” program. Mandy had tacked on a side trip to get a little face time with us as we were unable to see her this past winter due to school demands.

Mandy is now an old hand here, knows most of our friends and has seen many of the local sights. Yet, aside from wanting to be with her wonderful parents, when it comes to the islands, like her brother Wesley and sister Cassie who have also visited several times, she ‘gets it’ too. For those who do, it is not just a cool spot to visit, it is a place you are drawn to be at.





Of course, she wanted to spend some time working on dads airplane, but with an eye to the future, was also interested in learning all about the various aspects of being able to be here on her own (or rather with Mr. wonderful in the future). To that end she learned to operate and dock the boat and worked at getting more familiar with the area so she could find her way back to the island once she leaves to go anywhere.

We had a blast driving to the Finger Lake area of upper New York State to go raspberry and cherry picking as well as lounging out on the dock, swimming and dragging her in the doughnut behind the boat. Finally, we spent a day in Ottawa, visiting my aunt and uncle Dave and Monique (a Federal Judge) who had arranger to have Mandy tour the Supreme Court. Very cool

Taking it to the next level

I have blathered in these pages many times about our numerous home exchanges. In fact, we have several more in the works for fall and winter. It is ironic that the best one to date was the one we did not use.

Last fall, we suggested to our daughter Amy and son in law Vance that perhaps we could set up a home exchange for them to use and offer our home in France in return. This was pretty much a shot in the dark since they require a home large enough for the two of them, their 5 children, two nurses who need to accompany them to help provide round-the-clock care for Christopher and enough room for a hospital full of equipment, wheel chairs, etc.

"The cabin"

We set them loose on our home exchange web site and they found a place that was perfect for them. It was a stunning 8 bedroom, 4300 sq. ft. (400 sq meter) lakeside log cabin in the Idaho mountains that sleeps 15. The master bedroom has a deck overlooking the white sandy beach on the lake on one side and a 4 story atrium inside the house on the other.

Believing that it was unlikely that these folks would be interested in exchanging for our modest little digs we decided to ask anyway and were thrilled when they enthusiastically accepted.

So last week the kids drove up there and had a great week paddle boating, BBQ'ing and hanging out at the beach.

TA-DA!

Last May, when we left France, I said that I would post some pictures of our "Juliet Balcony" when I got it installed at the Bee. This was what I spent way too many hours hand forging in France this past winter and dragging half way around the world. This was no mean feat when we (read I) had to drag this disassembled 50 pound (23 kilos) box in and out of the subway in Paris [up and down staircases] in and out of airports all over kingdom come- along with the rest of our luggage - from Europe to the West Coast back to Canada. Well worth it, according to my bride.



Obviously, it had to fabricated and transported in pieces as it could not be checked in at the airport assembled. Then, once on the island, I had to reassemble it for final installation. Now that the drudgery and hassle is becoming a distant memory I am very pleased with the result, including the detail of the leaves. The 'Juliet Balcony' is little more than a safety barrier, preventing someone from falling out the open second story door.

Why have a door with no outside staircase you ask? Aside from giving us a large screened open 'window' to the warm nigh time breezes, it is to allow us to bring in or remove large pieces of furniture from our bedrooms as our interior circular staircase is too narrow.