If you look back to the 12 January '24 posting 'The Old Dredge Hole Ain't What It Used To Be - II' you can see a small turbulence at the end of the docking on the right. This is an aerator churning bubbles and water which keeps the water from freezing solid around the docks and being lifted and cast asunder by the ice. For a good number of years now the river has not frozen as solid as it did in my growing up and early adult-hood days when fishermen would come in droves to cut holes through the ice and wait patiently in the cold open-air while flashy copper ice-minnows would be jigged expectantly. When I find some of my mom's old photos from the late 50's I'll post a couple of my father doing this along with some of his happy catches. The aerators keep enough open water for local water fowl, ducks, gulls, geese, etc, which no longer seem to migrate south. These in turn add to the churning of the water so that nice large open areas remain for their feeding and ablutions.
I have begun to read some of your postings. Needless to say there is such an abundance of information.
ReplyDeleteI do share your sentiments about Cape Breton. I had thought for years that I would retire there. Sadly so many of my relatives have passed on. I shall continue to navigate this most interesting sight.
Doug Braga
ReplyDeletehello Doug, I didn't notice your comment while looking at my blog earlier but luckily when I checked my mail there was a notice there. When my first marriage broke up while I was living in Grand River, I came back here to Maryland (for as much as I love Cape Breton it is a tough place to live when you are down on your luck) but my intentions were always to return to the island when I got things back together. But as you well know I'm sure, life always plots a different course than we might expect. I am happy that Carol loves Grand River and Cape Breton and that we return every summer - "so you've come back home, eh Steve?" is one of my favorite greetings - and the ruralness and the old ways still dominate but they, as so much else in Canada, are slowly giving way to what I call the American way of life - drugs, lawsuits, developments (Buddie's old 100 acres split up into 17 lots with a locked gate across the road for one), L'archeveque with boats owned by people from away fishing on rented licenses, small stores closed never to re-open, family homes either sold to strangers or setting awaiting ruin. Luckily there are people like Stewart MacKay and Sue, still in good supply and the Mointeach, the Bras d'Orrs, the highlands, etc. Often though when I pass the old homes and like you say people I knew well and drank tea with are gone - getting old is tough if I pause to reflect too much. I find it best to keep hacking away doing the blog, and trying to keep two old houses going (I remember reading once in the Ellsworth American where I lived for awhile before seeking out an even more rural environment, an article by The Country Gardener I believe it was - "Having a summer home as well as a permanent home is like having a wife and a mistress - you can't do justice to either one." Thanks for looking the blog over - it's small potatoes compared to some, but for such a bland presentation it must have some appeal to people that like to see scenery and passing the time conversation. Steve
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