October, 2024

                       

OPERATION TROJAN MOON

AUGUSTA GEORGIA

Just another day at the office

I know, I know, it's all old news to you. We have all moved on to more current events. All summer long, the forecast kept predicting that this would be a terrible hurricane season. While I was not hoping for it, I was always ready with a packed GO bag. I committed to being available to respond to disasters, as I was trained by TR (Team Rubicon) and they have not been shy in asking for help. It seems that Hurricane Helene had had its way with the locals and there were trees to cut and a huge mess to clean up. TR had started setting up operations in 7 different areas when the first call out was right at the time we were flying back from the island to our home in California. We barely got home when I got the call to fly back to the east coast. I was being deployed, just as I was getting comfy in my retirement rocking chair. So, I headed to the airport to meet my strike team. The poop had hit the fan in 5 states, and I was sent to Augusta Georgia, where I currently am. It was time to get to work.

I could post tons of pictures, but you have seen enough on TV

Right then, Milton reared its ugly head. TR is in the business or providing disaster response volunteers, not adding to disaster response victims. Many operations were called off temporarily, and some were shut down. While I am convinced that I am Seal Team 6 material, I have yet been able to convince anyone of  it. 😊 As the response to Hurricane Helene and Milton unfolded on our TV screens, we saw volunteer groups showing up to provide food, water, generators and Starlink satellite systems to help. That was great, but we cut trees, tarp roofs and gut flooded homes so they can rebuild.

It seems unbelievable that hurricane Helene hit right between Perry (my deployment number 7 last year) and Mexico Beach (my deployment number 4). This was in the Florida panhandle (Northwest corner of the state), in what is often referred to in the catcher's mitt. Personally, I think that Florida needs to move west, closer to California for better weather. After this deployment, I suspect that I will be sent back to  Florida in a few weeks to help with the damage Milton left behind. If this keeps up, I will spend more time in Florida than I do in California.

This being my 8th deployment, I wish I could say I have seen worse. I mean how bad does total destruction have to be for it to be worse? Helene was a category 4 hurricane with a storm surge of 9 feet (3M) and 30" of rain (76CM) in some areas and winds up to 140 MPH (225KPH). Think about it; that is twice the speed you drive on the highway. Trees become missiles that can embed themselves through a wall, and trash cans become bowling balls that break windshields. You can hide from the wind, but you have to run from the water. 

A 9-foot storm surge puts the whole ground floor of your house under water. Your living room, bedrooms and kitchen are now an aquarium. Your car is a submarine and your job is gone. Really gone. Within a few hours, you have lost power, water (think toilet), phone, internet, refrigeration, TV and lights. There are downed trees blocking your driveway and the roads and bridges are washed out. The grocery store, pharmacy, gas station, police station... all gone. Go ahead and call for help. Oh wait, I forgot! You don't have a phone. Besides, they have all lost their homes too. At this point, not wanting to be over dramatic, you realize that there is little that separates you from the life of a caveman. Few of us can really relate to that. 

Over 230 deaths in 5 states were reportedly attributed to Helene with flood waters, we are told, higher than they have been in 200 years. I am not quite sure how they could know that. They expect to find additional bodies until Xmas. Team Rubicon and other disaster response organizations do not get called out unless local authorities are overwhelmed, and this was clearly the case here. I was merely a little wheel in the giant cog of disaster responders, but a big deal to the people we are helping. My accommodations are a broken Red Cross cot in a brightly lit hallway (24-7) with 30 other people overlooking the basketball court in the community center.

Milton was a different story. Before I even flew to Agusta, it had grown from a category 1 hurricane to a 5 in a mere 18 hours. As it approached the Florida coast the sustained winds were 180 MPH (290KPH) with gusts over 200 MPH (320 KPH), prompting the weather bureau to suggest that a new category 6 designation might be called for. As incredible as the storm surge was from Helene, Milton’s storm surge was predicted to be up to 15 feet (5M). Have a look at the graphic above again. 15 feet is above the roof line.

I wanted to bring my partner (grandson) to get him out in the field, but his mom said "NO!". He had a play date.

Photo credit: Doug Rawlson photo studios

Our end of day moonlight cruise

Operation Dragoon

On August 15, 1944, the allies led by the Americans, landed on the beaches of the French Riviera in what was code named Operation Dragoon. It  was intended to happen simultaneously with Operation Overlord (The main "D" day Normandy beach landing in June) but there was a lack of equipment, so they put it off till August. One of those beaches was in our little town of Les Issambres. The invasion and landing resulted in the liberation of southern France in just 4 weeks. "So what?", you think. Without knowing this, the rest of this story would be pointless.

There are a number of monuments in the general area dedicated to the landing, including one in a park in our little town. Last May, before our return to America, I noticed that the monument had two flag poles. One flew the French flag, the other was empty. Hmmm…. shouldn’t it have an American flag, I wondered? I began to ask around, but each time they just blew me off. So, I decided to make it a project.

I started writing to a dozen people with different titles and positions to redress this shortcoming, each time being polite and mostly diplomatic but was turned down. It was hard, but I avoided pointing out that had it not been for the Americans, they would all be speaking German today. I even contacted the mayor’s office but I got no response. To say that I was persistent and relentless would be an understatement, as every two weeks I would shoot off yet another email, asking why it could not be done. I was like a dog with a bone. Even the Patriotic Association weighed in, insisting the American flag could only be flown one day a year on the date of the commemoration.

Not good enough.

For 5 months, I escalated my request, demanding to know why young American men who came halfway around the world and died to liberate people they had never met and owed nothing to, were not worthy of having their country’s flag flown next to a monument dedicated to them? In truth, I was just getting warmed up.

I think they sensed that I was getting ready to approach the local newspapers, TV stations and who knows, perhaps the American embassy. I didn't expect that any of them would make it happen but with enough pressure, bad publicity and general brou-ha-ha, they just might relent. In the end, they saved me the trouble, caved and gave in. When we say our fallen will not be forgotten, we MEAN that they will not be forgotten. I think some big dog administrator decided it would just be easier to fly the bloody flag, then to have the relentless, annoying, damn American drive them crazy any longer.

After dozens of emails and phone calls, the following (translated) was what pushed it over the top.

" Dear Mr. Mayor,   

I received your response regarding my request that an American flag be raised year-round at our town monument dedicated to the American landing of Operation Dragoon which liberated Provence.

Your answer states that a flag can only be flown on the day of remembrance, once a year, on August 15th. However, on an adjoining flagpole, a few meters away, the French flag flies year-round which is entirely appropriate. It must be recognized that it was not the French who liberated Les Issambres and Provence, but the Allies led by the Americans.

The last 80 years of freedom have been marked by young American men who traveled halfway around the world and died to save people they had never met and to whom they owed nothing. I can't imagine that in return, Les Issambres would dedicate a monument in their memory and refuse to fly their country's flag next to it.

One way or another, Le Dramont (a local town) manages to keep the French, British and American flags flying all year round. The same goes for the restaurant "Le 44", as well as other establishments. Why would our town persist in not showing those young men the respect they deserve for the sacrifice they made ?

I would like to ask the Patriotic associations to review their unfavorable decision. Failing a reversal, could someone explain to me why the sacrifice of so many does not deserve a little recognition throughout the year?"

Respectfully,

Michael Laprade

Now, that's what I'm talking about!

Home sweet home

So, we have been back at the home base for a week. It is really nice to be at our local hideout for 5 PM cocktails at a local park with a firepit watching the sunset at the beach. We could sit at our firepit at home (and we do), but you know what they say, variety is the spice of life.

We are settling in with the usual maintenance needed after an 8 month absence. Janice is up to her eyeballs in landscaping and my first big project is to re-roof my workshop. A mere 42 years and already it needs to be re-done! A real indication of how great of a job I did the first time. It's time to catch up with friends and start prepping more projects like replacing a railroad tie retaining wall with a block wall, among others. Time marches on even if we are not here full time.

Two guys are sitting at the bar

One says to the other

"Look at the old fogies over there”

The other says

“That’s a mirror, stupid”

September, 2024

Life at  

Lat/ Long 44 20' 48"N - 75 58' 40"W

(Our home in the Thousand Islands) 

For some time, I have written tid bits about the area where we have spent our summers for over 24 years. It has occurred to me that I have failed to give much of an overall view or description of the area though.

You may or may not have heard of it before, but the Thousand Islands is a serious tourist attraction in the country. Let's start with where it is. If you are geographically challenged, picture the great lakes on the east coast. Together, they are larger than the state of Texas and they are pretty much split between the US and Canada. 

The top right lake is lake Ontario. The city of Kingston would pretty much be the start of the islands on the map.

Obviously, Lake Michigan is not in Canada. At the Eastern end of Lake Ontario is the St Lawrence river that leads to the Atlantic ocean. Where the river starts at the mouth of Lake Ontario, are the 1864 islands of the Thousand Islands. Over the years many rich folks (clearly not us) have built mansions in the area. Wildlife is abundant, with ducks, geese, osprey, blue heron, loons, beaver and bald eagles to name but a few. 

The Canadian span of the bridge

The area was named by the French in 1615, but after the war of 1812 many islands were named by the British. Today we have the Admiralty group named after some admirals, the Lake fleet after some ships and gunboats, the Navy group after famous captains, and the 30 Brock islands near the town of Brockville. Nearby is the town of Iroquois with one of my favorite airfields, requiring flying low over lakers (big ships) in the river and come in on final mere feet over terrified golfers before landing on a runway barely as wide as a sidewalk. But I digress.

Some of the islands and bays have historical names and unique stories like Dumfounder, Deathdealer (not to be confused with Deadman's bay), Bloodletter, Psych, Scorpion, Molly's Gut, Smugglers Cove, Fidler's Elbow and Horse Thief Bay. A number of unnamed islands only have numbers. At one time ours was 101G. Real sexy, huh? I spent two years having it officially and legally changed to Honey Bee Island. You can Google it, it's on all new maps and charts.

The border meanders between the islands with half on each side. Ironically the largest island (Wolf) does not have a bridge to it. Only two do, one Canadian (Hill) and one US (Wellesley), linking the US and Canadian mainland's. Honey Bee is in the international rift between both. We are in Canada, but when we dive off our dock, we come up in US waters 20 feet away. This a grennie's, environmentalist and tree hugger paradise, with noise, light, disturbance and trash restrictions of all manner. There are approximately 20 US and a similar number of Canadian provincial parks on islands accessible only by boat.

Serious rafters

Many locations in nearby bays encourage 'rafting' with other boats to share the space or to form little communities for the day. There is no dock, so everyone anchors and ties off to each other and walk from boat to boat to visit. It's a big river with depths ranging from 2 to 280 feet, so unless you know the area, you have to be on the lookout for shoals. Your depth finder might indicate 20 feet on the stern (the back of the boat) while the bow (the pointy end at the front of the boat) might be on the rocks. Then, that pinging sound you hear, is the sound of $100. bills being torn up to replace your propeller and outboard lower end.

Most islands are lived on seasonally. Some are big with hundreds of homes, some are the size of your living room with everything in between.

I could write all day about this magical place but you can judge it for yourself by sampling a spectacular short video by clicking HERE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YziwZF8ViUU  

The tale of two chairs

Have you ever wondered if all of the stories I write about are true? Well if you do, this one will surely make you wonder. We have all heard stories about cats or dogs that "disappear" only to show up on the owner's doorstep years later. Well, we don't have either so already you can see that this story might have legs.

Some 15 years ago we were having cocktails with our neigbor's a mere 300 feet (100M) from our dock when a storm quickly blew in. Thinking it would be safer to ride it out, we opted to stay and not boat home immediately.  A mini squall of sorts blew in the area and was gone in a matter of minutes. We returned home only to find two of our 4 heavy Teak dock chairs were gone. We had often wondered why people in the area chained their dock chairs down, thinking that perhaps there had been theft in the area. We soon realized that anything not nailed down on the dock is as good as gone with the occasional winds.

We immediately jumped in the boat knowing that they would float and would be nearby for sure, where we could retrieve them. We boated an ever-larger area for over an hour but never found them. Finally, we gave up and chalked it up to experience.

Fast forward 15 years and we meet a couple at a little neighborhood get together (we call them mandatory AA meetings) and invited them over for, ...well you know. They also live on the river about a mile from our island.  As they were leaving, they remarked that they had two Teak chairs exactly like ours.

Really? Hmmm... And where did they get those chairs, inquiring minds asked? Well, they found them floating in the river 15 years ago and retrieved them. I couldn't decide if I should charge them for 15 years rent or if I owed them for 15 years of maintenance. In the end, we decided it was a wash.  In any case, they are now safely repatriated back to where they belong.

August, 2024

UPDATE

Last month I included a picture of the Fair Jeanne below. I was asked for another shot, so here it is by Singer Castle nearby.  (Yes, of Singer sewing machine fame). I was also asked how high the crow's nest I climbed was. Being a pilot, you would think that height would not scare me, but with the ship swaying to and fro, the pucker factor sure set in. Let's just say it is a lot higher than it looks.

I was also asked about our beaches. Below are two of our favorites. This beach is called Potters Beach and is in US waters.

This beach below is on Thwartway island in the Lake fleet group of islands in Canadian waters. Although within spitting distance of each other, you are required to check in with customs if you are crossing the border. Even on the water.

Officially...

Photos courtesy Ian Coristine

The whole Fam Damly

From the left: Em and my cousin Michael, my uncle Pierre and favorite aunts Monique and Kimberly, and herself. They, on a visit from Arizona and Los Angeles.

RIP CF19473

For the second time in two years, we had a Jet Ski that died. I mean deader than a door stop. A never can be revived dead soldier. So, like I did the last time, I will sell it for parts. To be fair, they were both 20+ years old, so they had served their time.

 

This left us without a PWC (personal watercraft) so off we went and drove 600 miles round trip to bring back our new (to us) See Doo Spark. It is lighter, smaller, cheaper and without many of the bells and whistles of $20,000+ machines. Still with a top speed of 50 MPH (80KPH), it is faster on the water than I am willing to fall off, so it will do just fine.

Worlds tallest Cathedral Ceiling

For the past 127 years, Half Moon Bay has been a place of worship that has the highest cathedral roof in the world. Glaciers carved a tranquil bay where boats are church pews, and the cathedral walls from enduring granite. As a bay on Bostwick Island in the Thousand Islands, there is of course no roof at all, open to the heavens, as it were.

Boaters beginning to arrive

The story goes that one long ago summer day, a boating party was caught out on the river in one of those fierce and sudden squalls that can sweep through the islands. Apparently thankful and inspired by the fortunate refuge in the bay, the idea for an open-air church was born. On Sunday afternoons during the summer, people who come to the bay, remain in their boats to sing hymns, listen to guest speakers and participate in a non-denominational Christian service.

The bay's name comes from its crescent shape, a small glacier-carved fiord rounded and polished by those abrasive rivers of ice over millions of years. The steep slopes of the north shore are forested with shady, overhanging trees. It is always tranquil in the bay, regardless of the tempests that rage outside, be they those of Nature or world events.

Before the appointed afternoon hour arrives, boaters idle and paddle into the bay gathering in front of the rough granite block pulpit, gently interlocking, puzzle like. A pianist, and sometimes a choir, share the space on the granite block. In days past, the preachers voice rang out across the rafted congregation, but today microphones are used. Hymnbooks and a donation basket are passed from boat to boat. It's a casual affair, the various denominations taking turns throughout the July and August services.

Full disclosure: I did not write this story but I did edit it. Does that count?

July 2024

                                                AGGGH!!!

3 years ago, Janice got tired of my antics greeting folks passing by boat. So, we opted to enlist Tecumseh to protect us from marauders and pirates who might try to invade us. Some people thought it was just silly and pointless. We got the last laugh though, as in 3 years, not a SINGLE pirate has managed to invade us. So there.

The projects

What? Us doing more projects? How can it be? Surely there is an end. Apparently just not today.

First out of the box was a much-needed renovation of our 12-year-old Fairie house. Years of harsh Canadian winters had taken its toll on it. The Fairie house was built for our 4-year-old granddaughter Kayla who had spent the summer with us at the time. 83 days, 13 hours and 11 minutes to be exact, but who was counting? Whoever said you can't get too much of a good thing, didn't have a clue as to what they were talking about. But I digress.

Sometime during her stay, we had a writer and camera crew spend three days with us, as they were doing a feature story on the Bee for "Cottage Life Magazine". Kayla stole the show with her cute antics and insisting that "we have real Fairies on our island"

Kayla blowing bubbles on our dock at passing boaters. Did I mention she was here for 83 days, 13 hours and a full 11 minutes?

The article, should you want to read it, is HERE

The text can be enlarged by clicking on ctrl +

Meanwhile..

After 12 years, the front door to the Fairie 

house was looking a little long in the tooth.

Remodel components in my poor mans 

workshop. It's where the magic happens.

                                         The view out of my shop could be worse.

Ready for her return visit. It's important that memories not be disappointing. I hate to repeat myself, but I remember all 83 days....

:)

OK, project #2 was building a wall. You see, we have two bedrooms at the Bee. The problem was that you walked through the first bedroom to get to the second. Not real cool when you have company. So, Janice had the bright idea that ... I ... could build a wall and a barn door to provide privacy. Piece of cake... for her. This allows for a short 'hallway' of sorts and two completely private rooms. 

Previous view from the top of the stairs, crossing bedroom one to access bedroom two.

New and improved view from the top of the stairs in little hallway to go to bedroom two.

Summer fun. Swimming off our boat at a local Canadian beach in one of the 20 odd Canadian park islands accessible only by boat or float plane. There are about the same number or American islands accessible in the same way.

Janice, and friends Bud and Bev.

Our floating living room.

The Fair Jeanne

A 110-foot 2 masted schooner that anchored nearby for the night. The crew (teenagers) were jumping ship on the other side to swim. It is a training ship for Canadian youths who set sail for the summer months.

Here she is under sail in all her glory. Several years ago, our friend Ian, who knew the owner, invited Janice and I  for  a private (only 20 of us on board) afternoon sail in the islands. We were served refreshments and a catered luncheon. Not one to miss an opportunity, I was allowed to climb up to the crow's nest.

We have a daughter who in spite of not having 

kids of her own, totally gets it. 

I received this card for Father's Day.

And in the news...

June 2024

 

Every once in a while, I have to pinch myself. Over the years, I have met some pretty incredible people. Little old us has had dinner with a supreme court justice. (Details which I was asked not to reveal and haven't and won't) We have also been fed by a neighbor chef who is renouned in our wider area of the Riviera. 

Then, most recently, a friend who happens to be a priest, who speaks at least 4 languages has celebrated mass with the Pope. (Father Maroun is in blue in the pic above) Michel, a retired French two-star army general, is on the right. His wife Soizik is to Janice's left.

A 'little' chocolate egg our neighbor and friend, Christian, made for a city function

Rubbing elbows with and picking these kind of people's brains is a pretty amazing experience, reminding me that whatever I might think I have accomplished pales compared to these folks.

Ta Da!

Daughter Kami in a photo shoot promoting the Rampart streetcar which started running again. Its been closed for slmost 5 years since the Hard Rock Hotel collapse in New Orleans.

France 2.0

I recently read a ditty in the Economist magazine that was bang on, so I have recopied it here.

"Want to get anything done in Europe?  Avoid May. The month kicks off with workers day, which is celebrated by not working. The end of the second world war on the continent (May 8th) warrants another day off. The Christian festivals of Orthodox Easter, Ascention and Pentecost result in yet more long weekends. All this time off can have a paradoxical effect. The French government had planned a big conference on promoting the 4-day work week but then realized that Wednesday and Thursday were 'jour ferrier' (days off) Which were supplemented by most people with a 'pont' (bridge day) on Friday. The confab was postponed. Only in France would it be a struggle to get people to attend a meeting on working less."

It's a wrap.

Once again, the season is over, and we have moved over the pond. If my math is right, this is our 60th such trip from one home to another since my retirement in 2004 and it is just as exciting as ever. As is our habit, we left things better than we found them, with more to look forward to upon our return. So far, our health is good, and we haven't run out of money so I guess we will just carry on.

We made a massive amount of progress on our pool project this season but did not get it all done. The previous story would explain why. As always, Janice was ready to hang the curtains before we build the wall. In this case it was getting some plants going, in some massive pots before the pool was finished.

Pots. Go big or go home.

Just another 125 more feet to go.

Little ducklings taking sailing lessons in our bay.

We're backkkkk!

Once again, we left by emptying whatever was left in the fridge, got on the plane, got off and went to get everything to fill the fridge here. We do this 3 times a year, so it is safe to say not much gets a chance to get too old.

We have since gone through our arrival ritual. That is getting the water system up and running, putting all outdoor furniture in place, removing all tarps covering the BBQ, Tecumseth, the chimney, launching the flower boat full of flowers, outdoor plantings and, needless to say uncovering and launching our two boats and the jet ski.

Whew.

This year was different though. Every year can have a challenge or two when we arrive. This year we had 5. Toughest year opening in the past 20 years. First, the composting toilet did not work. This does not make for a happy household. Then, the motor on the small runabout boat did not start, making us temporarily marooned. Sounds sexy, but it is not really. The dishwasher was on the fritz and the washing machine leaked like a sieve all over the floor. No hot water, temporarily. I expected Janice wanting to return to France at any minute.

Little by little we resolved each issue and the place started to look better day by day, but it took a full two weeks.  Soon, we will forget all about it and get back to living the dream.

Meanwhile, in the not all that important news dept., few people would think of me as much of a greeny environmentalist. Over the years, we have had deer run all over the island, muskrat, beavers swim nearby and threaten our trees. Then, a few days ago, I found this...

What the....? Last time I saw this was in our garden in France where wild boar would dig things up. But here? Then the full picture was revealed. Mama, a full 12" across had just laid her eggs, so we must now stay away from the area until we leave in October when they will hatch. It is the price we pay for living in a turtle preserve. I pay the taxes, she moves in. Typical woman.

Look, I would love to write more but it's 5 o'clock. Time for our daily boat ride and cocktails on the water. Gotta go.

                                            Oh boy...

The post office had to recall all of its

 famous politician commemorative

 stamps. Seems that people just 

couldn’t figure out what side they 

should spit on.

May, 2024

 

So, where are we?

Here

Swimming weather here, 

snowcapped mountains in the distance

Meanwhile, we had important company. Like our aunt Monique who flew in from Ottawa. (For the geographically challenged, that's in Canada, north of the US, and south of the North Pole) for weeklong visit.

 

Monique and Janice at the entrance to Saint-Paul de Vence. Note the welcoming committee to the right of the photo

Inside the medieval walls

Officially, it is called 'Les Plages the Salin'

 but we call it 'Beer on the beach'    

Shop located inside a cave

 

Then, undeterred, we had friends Tom and his wife Renee fly in from California to spend a week with us also.  If only we could get the kids here.

Visiting the remains of the Roman city of Glanum

 

        Visiting the medieval town of  St Paul De Vence

 Filling 5-liter poly bags with premium wine from a 3000 gallon stainless tank behind the wall. This allows us to get $16. wine for $3. a bottle by bottling it ourselves. In France, wineries are only allowed to sell so many bottles with their label on it. The rest must be sold in bulk.

Filling the bottles the old school way

See it in motion here

Corking the wine bottles 

Restocking our cellar 

Project update

OK, so another month has flown by and we are moving forward. Sort of. Will we be swimming before we leave? Not on your life. This is France after all, where patience is a virtue and "Inshallah" (Arabic for 'when God is willing') is the order of the day. All drop dead cast in concrete contractual deadlines are mere suggestions.

Still, we are moving forward, albeit slowly. We are progressing in plumbing, electrical, pool finishing and grading work. The only guy who shows up every day without fail to work is me. I am currently stuccoing nearly 200 feet of exterior property wall, 6 feet tall. I will do the interior wall when we return in March. Meanwhile, I am wiring landscaping lights. I can hardly wait to get deployed again for a change of pace and get back with my type A personality strike team.