July 1, Canada Day 2006

[SmokelessJoe]

Happy Canada Day to all Canadians from The Little Trailer That Could, Port Bruce, Ontario.

And, in advance, Happy JULY 4th Birthday to all Americans, the best neighbors a country could ever wish for.

Sergei

[silver 67]

Hi Joe and all of you other good neighbors -

Happy Canada Day to all of you!!!

We all long for the "good old days" when we could just wander back and forth across the border. It's amazing how just 12 idiots could screw up such a long trusting history.

I hope our countries can continue to work together and strengthen each other in these trying times. And God bless all our troops!!!

[SmokelessJoe]

Beth:

The Friendliest Border in the World is still Very Open, even if we need to be more vigilant now.

Here’s the cool, blacker than Toby Sprinter that will tow my Little Guy.

I bought him in Grand Rapids, Michigan last week.

The border crossing at PORT HURON was fast and friendly, in both directions.

Happy National Birthdays to All!

Sergei

[maxandgeorgia]

Yes, Happy Canada Day to all of you Canadian friends! One of the greatest days our family has spent was Canada Day at Fort William near Thunder Bay several moons ago. Wonderful food, music, dancing, families on holiday. . .followed by our own 4th of July-super! ~G

[Chaplain Kent]

Happy Canada day to all of our Northern neighbors. I remember crossing the border into Canada on July 1st then back into the US on the 4th. This was during the 60's and the Canadians were afraid I would not go back and the Americans were probably afraid I would.

[GlenCoombe]

Ah yes.... Canada Day! So many fond memories of Americans flocking over the border for one of the few holidays we really share.
As a refugee from the Canadian tax man I'm generally the first one to forget the date!
But it was just last night that I was on the CDN Passport site as it's time to get a new one.
I often tell folks in jest, "Canada... a great place to be from ...and visit... but you wouldn't want to pay taxes there!!"

[SmokelessJoe]

Glen:

I hope you are making enough down there to pay for your medical insurance.

Happy Canada Day.


Sergei

[GlenCoombe]

Sergei, health care is a stumbling block for sure. However I'm able to get it when I really need it here. My folks are still in Ontario and always have stories about the delays and screwups associated with medical care at home.
No system is perfect but I'm still in favor of a pay for service on demand type of health care.
I only pay 6% sales tax when the cash register rings too... and my tax rate is way lower here.
Don't get me wrong I'm still a Canadian citizen and proud of my heritage, I just prefer the situation here.... not to mention the weather.

[pmclemore]

Sergei -

Late best wishes for a glorious Canada Day, and thanks for your warm wishes to those of us south of 49 (-th parallel, that is).

I will be passing through some of your western provinces on the way to Alaska in a couple of weeks. I have my Canada (auto) insurance cards and a reasonable supply of Scotch. I'm a little bummed about the exchange rate, but you can be sure I'll have a smile on my face, anticipating the friends we'll meet along the way.

I've also been brushing up on my language skills. Eh.

Pat

[SmokelessJoe]

Pat:

Driving the Canadian Prairies, eh?

I’m from Saskatchewan and can tell you that it’s God’s Country out there, under the Big Sky.

Enjoy your time in Canada.


Sergei

[pmclemore]

Sergei -

I have been to Riverhurst on a couple of goose hunts and thoroughly enjoyed the people and the prairie. We hunted mostly between there and Morse, and stayed at the Mainstay Inn.

I am making a point to go by there with Page so she can meet some of my friends up there, and see the territory. You're a stubble-jumper, eh?

Pat

[SmokelessJoe]

Pat and Page:


About 100 miles due south of MORSE is GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK where a herd of Bison now freely roams.

At the south end of the park is the village of Val Marie, population 160, where the Park office is located.

British Columbian Robert Ducan stumbled upon Val Marie in 1996 and bought the many-years-abandoned 1936 Convent from the Town for $1.00.

He and his Danish wife Mette have restored it as a wonderful Country Inn.

http://www.sasktelwebsite.net/convent1/

You have your own first class mobile accommodation but next door to the Convent, the Town has free sites with hook ups.

When I get my trailer up and running, one of the first places I’m headed for is to that magnificent and unknown Badlands country that lies south of the Trans Canada in Saskatchewan.

Once I complained to my film editor brother who still lives in Regina “ They just zoom through here and never think to turn south”.

“They don’t turn North either” Norm laconically replied.

Robert is a real character, still the Mayor of Val Marie the last time I heard.

Sergei


( born and raised in Regina, left at 19)

[pmclemore]

Thank you, Sergei. I just pulled my map out and marked it just in case.

Pat