april 08, 2009 09:15am
April 26, 2008 Kitchener Ontario Tour St
April 26, 2008.
Kitchener Ontario Tour Stop.
The Rally for Veterans was scheduled for Saturday April 26, 2008 and for two weeks leading up to the Rally the weather was great, but the weather forecast for the Kitchener area was calling for rain on the date of our first “Rally for Veterans”. True to form it was a dark and dreary day in Kitchener that morning but our hard core supporters came out to support the cause of raising video awareness to video taping our WW2 and Korean war veterans. The rally was attended by 35 riders including, Harry Watts our VP, a number of organizers of the Kitchener “RIDE for Dad”, plus most of the members of Kitchener A.B.A.T.E. I would like to thank Dave Jennifer and Wally, his wife, for helping me gather all the people for our first Rally. We had a great turn out despite the weather.
We started the rally at Veterans Green in front of a magnificent statue depicting a veteran in a wheelchair with his hand extending downward as if to be handing a poppy to the person standing in front of the monument. Behind the veteran is a column of soldiers marching behind him from WW1, WW2 and Korea. If you get a chance to stop and have a look at this monument, you will not be disappointed.
We rallied down King St. in Waterloo into Kitchener with a police escort. The 35 bikes were lead by an antique Fire truck courtesy of local firehouse and bringing up the rear was the Canadian Armed Forces with a military vehicle. As we rode to the Kitchener Auditorium people were standing along the roadside waving and clapping their hands in appreciation. The rally ended at the Kitchener Bike Show.
This rally accomplished what it was set out to do, that was to bring up awareness to our cross country tour to establish the “Online Veterans Video Library”
april 08, 2009 12:58am
July 25, 2008 The Push
July 25,2008
The push.
This day started with rain waking me up as it made that familiar sound on a steel roof. I had a 9 o’clock appointment with a local celebrity nick named Chub, so I got on my horse and headed to Mary’s Bake Shop for our meeting. When I arrived, the place was packed and I found Alex (Chub) Howard sitting at the biggest table in the place with all the good old boys from town. After a trip to the little boys room I sat down beside Chub. We all joked for awhile then got down to brass tacks.
Chub was in the 3rd field artillery 19th Battalion and after joining in February of ’42 he landed in Italy. He then headed up the Adriatic for more action, then France, Belgium and Holland. Chub is a good man and it was a pleasure interviewing him.
After competing our interview Chub and I parted ways. He went to take his wife to a hair appointment and I headed down the road to Fredericton.
I found the #4 Legion in no time and parked the Blue Bomber. I went upstairs and talked to the President Ardith Armstrong and 1st VP Jean Guy Perreauld and asked permission to set up a table at the Friday night dance. I told the two of them what we were all about and they thought that it was worth while for me to attend the event. I was grateful because we need the money. I ran over to the electronics store to pick up some more tapes for the Video-a- Veteran day that we are going to advertise at the dance tonight for Saturday afternoon. I have met some good people tonight.
april 08, 2009 12:54am
September 3, 2008 end of tour 1
Wednesday September 3, 2008.
A time to catch up on the Log Book.
april 08, 2009 12:53am
September 2, 2008 Three more Interviews
Tuesday September 2, 2008.
Three more Interviews, jumped on a Ferry for Saint John.
The day started with a trip to downtown Digby to pick up the booth that we had used all weekend. I managed to get everything loaded up and I headed back to the legion. Sue Dexter-White had set up three more interviews this morning for me before I was to take the ferry to Saint John. I did the interviews with Sherman Rice, Philip Dondale and Thomas Cleveland. Sue and I said our good-bye's and I thanked her for all of her help over the weekend.
I had my final look at Digby on my way to the ferry. If you ever get a chance to visit Digby, for that matter anywhere in Nova Scotia take the time, because the people are great and there is lots to see.
I used the time on the ferry to catch up on my log book. As I am writing the ship is rolling a little. This makes me wonder what must have been going though the minds of all the soldiers, navy and merchant marine personnel that were headed for England during WW2. They must have been thinking of family and home. I know that is what I am thinking about as I make the turn for home on this sunny crossing of the Bay of Fundy. I'LL bet that when these men and women that crossed the ocean, from the port of Halifax, had a lot of things going though their minds. Will I come home? Will my wife or girlfriend wait for me? Is my mum going to be mad when she finds out that I joined the forces at the age of 14? By the way there was lots of men who signed up for combat that where under age. They left as boys and came back, if they came back, as men.
After typing for two and a half hours I decided to go up on deck and have a look see. The wind was blowing quite briskly. Standing there on the deck at the bow of the ship I realized that I liked being on the water and if I had to choose between the services, I would enjoy being in the navy. A stiff wind in our face, a rolling deck under your feet, the smell of salt in the air, it felt like home. Although flying in a spitfire over England during the Battle of Briton must have been exiting. But one thing is for sure, I would never go into the infantry. The mud and the cold the bombs and the primitive conditions, I respect all the guys that served in that branch of the military. I interviewed a infantry man who didn't take his uniform off from landing at D-Day until three months latter. Now that is commitment. Those men had it tough.
After we docked in Saint John, I drove the Blue Bomber to a side street in town to see if my remote Internet would get a signal. I got onto the Internet and proceeded to check my email. I had not been able to get onto the net for a week or so. I had over one hundred messages. I tried to answer them all. I received many letters of a-job-well-done, which is very encouraging.
I drove over to the Lancaster Legion in Saint John. I walked in and got a enthusiastic welcome. Everybody had seen the live at five interview that aired last week on CTV in Halifax about our organization. I heard about a dance that night for the big hall upstairs this night. I asked if I could offer some T-shirts for donations during the dance. Wayne, the manager didn't seem to have a problem with it, so I set up a little display.
I had a chance to give a little speech at the dance. I told the crowd of my trip and of my sponsor, without whom this trip would have never taken place. The Van Dyke family of Journey's by Gerry Van Dyke of Cambridge Ontario are great citizens of Canada. The evening went very well with the donation coming in. I talked with the cute bartender all night, but she is married, so I guess I'm still available Ladies. I turned in about mid night.
april 08, 2009 12:53am
September 2, 2008 Three more Interviews
Tuesday September 2, 2008.
Three more Interviews, jumped on a Ferry for Saint John.
The day started with a trip to downtown Digby to pick up the booth that we had used all weekend. I managed to get everything loaded up and I headed back to the legion. Sue Dexter-White had set up three more interviews this morning for me before I was to take the ferry to Saint John. I did the interviews with Sherman Rice, Philip Dondale and Thomas Cleveland. Sue and I said our good-bye's and I thanked her for all of her help over the weekend.
I had my final look at Digby on my way to the ferry. If you ever get a chance to visit Digby, for that matter anywhere in Nova Scotia take the time, because the people are great and there is lots to see.
I used the time on the ferry to catch up on my log book. As I am writing the ship is rolling a little. This makes me wonder what must have been going though the minds of all the soldiers, navy and merchant marine personnel that were headed for England during WW2. They must have been thinking of family and home. I know that is what I am thinking about as I make the turn for home on this sunny crossing of the Bay of Fundy. I'LL bet that when these men and women that crossed the ocean, from the port of Halifax, had a lot of things going though their minds. Will I come home? Will my wife or girlfriend wait for me? Is my mum going to be mad when she finds out that I joined the forces at the age of 14? By the way there was lots of men who signed up for combat that where under age. They left as boys and came back, if they came back, as men.
After typing for two and a half hours I decided to go up on deck and have a look see. The wind was blowing quite briskly. Standing there on the deck at the bow of the ship I realized that I liked being on the water and if I had to choose between the services, I would enjoy being in the navy. A stiff wind in our face, a rolling deck under your feet, the smell of salt in the air, it felt like home. Although flying in a spitfire over England during the Battle of Briton must have been exiting. But one thing is for sure, I would never go into the infantry. The mud and the cold the bombs and the primitive conditions, I respect all the guys that served in that branch of the military. I interviewed a infantry man who didn't take his uniform off from landing at D-Day until three months latter. Now that is commitment. Those men had it tough.
After we docked in Saint John, I drove the Blue Bomber to a side street in town to see if my remote Internet would get a signal. I got onto the Internet and proceeded to check my email. I had not been able to get onto the net for a week or so. I had over one hundred messages. I tried to answer them all. I received many letters of a-job-well-done, which is very encouraging.
I drove over to the Lancaster Legion in Saint John. I walked in and got a enthusiastic welcome. Everybody had seen the live at five interview that aired last week on CTV in Halifax about our organization. I heard about a dance that night for the big hall upstairs this night. I asked if I could offer some T-shirts for donations during the dance. Wayne, the manager didn't seem to have a problem with it, so I set up a little display.
I had a chance to give a little speech at the dance. I told the crowd of my trip and of my sponsor, without whom this trip would have never taken place. The Van Dyke family of Journey's by Gerry Van Dyke of Cambridge Ontario are great citizens of Canada. The evening went very well with the donation coming in. I talked with the cute bartender all night, but she is married, so I guess I'm still available Ladies. I turned in about mid night.
april 08, 2009 12:52am
September 1, 2008 Rainy day hunt for a
Monday September 1, 2008.
Rainy day hunt for a Dispatch Bike.
I had heard of a old Dispatch bike in the back of an old trailer in a place called Canning NS from a big guy the day before at the Worf Rat Rally while I was manning the booth. His name was Blaine. So I started out for Canning NS at about 7am.this day. The day was very gray and cloudy. But I was on a mission to see if I could find this old Triumph dispatch bike that Blaine seemed to thing was still in the back of this old trailer on a abandoned piece of land. I said to him the day before are you sure its still there he said “nothing changes much around here” so with that I was on the road.
Well wouldn't you know it, the rain started about a half hour into this two hour ride {one way}and I got a little wet. The weather had been s—t this year and why should today been any different. So I stopped for a cup of tea and talked with a couple of locals at the gas station. The rain seemed to be slowing down so I headed out. Canning was about 10 klicks down the road from the gas station, so it wasn't long before I was in town. I stopped at the corner store for directions and the lady told me that I had pasted the place I was looking for {that figured}. I went back to the street that Blaine had described to me as a dirt road( I knew I was in trouble because the road is now paved) and started knocking on doors. The first guy I talked to was at the rendering plant. This place stunk bad. I had trouble standing inside the door talking to this man. But he confirmed that I was in the right area. So I went to the next house on the road and asked the young man who answered the door if he knew of an old trailer in the area, he said no and he also told me that the road out front of his house had been paved for at least seven years. So I asked him if I could take a look in the back 40. I rode my bike back into the field, for those of you who have not seen my bike it is a show bike with a five thousand dollar paint job on it. As my friend Mel Fisher says drive it like you own it. Remember that the ground is wet, I got into the field as far as I dared and decided that I should turn around. I thought to myself if I get stuck back here I'm in trouble, then I thought of Harry our VP dispatch rider from WW2, he must have seen lots of days like this. He rode though the mud and rain from Italy to Holland but there was one big difference, no one was shooting at me.
I made it back to the road with a little fish tailing on my way out. So I went to the next house, it turned out that the lady was the daughter-in-law of the guy who owns the rendering plant. I thought, that is why they can live so close to the honorable smell, they own it. So I went to his house and he didn't know anything about the bike. But I had the name that Blaine had given me, I told him the name and he gave me an address of the family. So I went there, very nice people but no bike. They gave me the location of another family member that may know something, so off I go to his place. By the way the family invited me in for a cup of tea. So I'm off to the next house, he didn't know anything about a bike but he had a name of another family member that may know something about the wayward dispatch bike. So I head over to his house, nobody home. I went next door to see if he knew the man beside him, he told me that the guy had just left. So he called his Dad to see if he knew anything about this dispatch bike, he didn't. We exchanged phone numbers, just in case. A couple of times that day I thought I would get lucky put it was not to be. I wanted to surprise Harry with an old bike that he could ride in parades and to special events but it was not to be this day, maybe soon.
I started back to Digby from Canning and wouldn't you know it , RAIN all the way back. I arrived to find that I had missed an appointment that Sue had set up and the day was over at the Rally. It was all OK because the ride had taken a round out of me and I was beat. Before I had a little nap I watched some old Red Skelton shows on disk. Let me say this don't go back and watch old shows that you liked in the past, let the memories stay the way you remember them. I made my entries and hit the sack.
april 08, 2009 12:51am
August 31, 2008 There's a reason for ev
Sunday August 31, 2008.
There's a reason for everything.
The weekend had slowed down quite a bit on this Sunday morning. The day started out kind of gray and damp I arrived at the booth about 9 am and took up my post. It was slow to start but it picked up when the sun came out. Sue Baxter-White came in at noon so I could go to Bear River for Three interviews she had pre-arranged.
I don't know what I would do without volunteers like Sue, she has set up interviews with local veterans and relieved me at the booth so I could take a break for speeches and dinner. Thanks so much Sue you are one of the good ones.
The Interviews went great. But one in particular stands out in my mind. The man's name is Donald K Buckler. Don was a mid gunner on a Halifax that was shot down in WW2. He was captures and put through HELL. I wish I had a day to spend with Don because I could tell that this man had a lot more to say. I will be talking with Don again soon to have him fill in more of the blanks that we could not fit into one section. I then interviewed Robert Isles. Robert was in the Air force when he first signed up and then was transferred to th Army. He is a interesting man with a good sense of humor. The third man is named Max Barker Max had a little trouble remembering some things but turned out to be a good interview.
I was late getting back to relieve Sue but she knew what I was doing so she didn't mind.
I settled in for the rest of the day, and just as I was thinking of packing it in a big dude started a conversation with me about knowing where there may be an old army dispatch bike in a place called Canning NS. I got the directions from him and gave him a T-Shirt for the information. I got all excited about the possibility of finding an old DR bike to surprise our VP Harry Watts. Harry was a DR in WW2 and I thought if I could surprise him and bring home a old bike for him, it would make his day. So for all you young people out there, stick it out to the end you never know what will turn up.
I stayed until about ten, and headed back to the Blue Bomber for a early night because I wanted to be on the road to Canning at 7an to see if I could find this old bike that I was told about.
april 08, 2009 12:50am
August 30, 2008 Busy day at the Worf Ra
Saturday August 30, 2008
Busy day at the Worf Rat Rally.
I set up early at the rally. The day was filled with many interesting people and lots of interest in the Friends of Veterans. Canada It's hard to describe the way east coast people are. I will just say that we are all lucky as Canadians to have a group of people on our east coast that represent us so well as a whole.
april 08, 2009 12:49am
August 29, 2008 Set up at the Worf Rat
Friday August 29, 2008.
Set up at the Worf Rat
In the morning I usually go to the Timmy's or the Micky D's because they have the cleanest washrooms. I rarely eat at the place but I will grab a tea. So I'm outside the Timmy's and I get talking to some of the locals outside the place. I was talking to a guy about my bike and he tells me that his dad Vaughan, is a veteran of WW2. As we are talking a guy pulls in with The Worf Rat on the side of his truck, before I could say anything the guy I was talking to said “that guys a thief” I didn't ask .I asked if that was Peter and he said “yes”, and I said I have to talk with him, the man I was talking to looked at me funny. I find if you get involved with local politic you will regret it, so I don't.
Peter was very nice and told me to set up at the cenitaph downtown right next to the show office. That was great because at some shows, being a charity we get a lousy spot. But not this time we would be set up right in the middle of things. I looked at where we would be and went to got the booth and set it up. When I was done I thought what the heck I mide as well set up shop. So I did. I spent the day there and talked to lots of people about the Friends of Veterans. Canada. I went up to the Blue Bomber about ten and turned in.
april 08, 2009 12:49am
August 27, 2008 Arrived in Digby from H
Tuesday August 26, 2008
Wednesday August 27, 2008.
Thursday August 28, 2008.
Arrived in Digby from Halifax.
I went to the legion in town and talked to the bartender about setting the Blue Bomber outside for a couple of days, she thought that it would be OK. I set up and took the bike off and set out for a look see in the big town of Digby. Digby is a quaint little town on the shore of the ocean that was about to have 40,000+ big burly bikers roll into town, at least that is what some of the towns people thing. You know there is an impression of “Bikers” that some people have. If you think about it there is an very small element of bikers in the motorcycling world, and I do mean small ( they call themselves 1%er's but in truth they are less than one tenth of that) that are involved in less than legal activities. That small percentage of people ruin it for everyone else. Peter the organizer of the rally said that the town was concerned about this when he was doing the first Worf Rat Rally, but after the towns politicians seen first hand that motorcyclists are their brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers and all just regular folks, the rally was a go. This years rally is the forth, and I hope, the best so far.
I rode around town for a wile and decided that I should go back to the Blue bomber and make my Log Entries for the day and turn in. I need my rest because I will be standing for 12 to 15 hours at the booth for the next few day's
april 08, 2009 12:48am
August 24, 2008 Show Time!
Monday August 25, 2008
Show Time!
This day started with rain. That seems like the norm this year. I went to the CTV studio for the live broadcast to be aired at 8:12 east coast time. I met the camera-person in a small back room at the studio. You would think that there would be a big broadcast centre, but this room was very small and dank. The camera-person put in my ear piece and the producer from Toronto did a sound check for the broadcast. I don't know if people out there know how the news business is in the big city but as a subject of an interview you are alloted a curtain amount of time on air. Keep in mind I can hear in my ear piece the guy being interviewed before my interview. He is talking about American politics, he is going on and on and He is cutting into my time. I keep looking at the clock and this person is talking and talking about nothing. So it comes time for my segment and the A-hole before me used about 2 minutes of my 4 minute time slot. I wanted to mention my gas Sponsor, Journey's By Gerry Van Dyke from Cambridge Ontario, but all I could talk about was a overview of our charity. I managed to get in a good line about my son. The Commentator asked me how I felt about the possibility of my son joining officer training and the possibility of him going to Afghanistan. My answer was “I trust that the Canadian government make the right decision with my son's life”, I hope that the audience out there got the message. I thought about what I said and how can we trust a government that got us into this mess in the first place.
We rapped up the interview with me almost begging for donations. I will do what is necessary to make a success of this mission even if it means swallowing my pride.
april 08, 2009 12:47am
August 24, 2008 Back down to the bust s
Sunday August 24, 2008
Back down to the bus station.
I have been waiting for a shipment of T-shirt from my good friend in London named John Bentley. I don't know what I would do without friends like John. He has been a great help with both getting me the shirts to taking care of the apartments that he lives in..
april 08, 2009 12:46am
August 23, 2008 Fund raiser in the sun,
Saturday August 23, 2008.
Fund raiser in the sun, finally.
Today is sunny, at long last. I set up out front of the Vimy Legion for the fund raiser. Ducky showed up shortly after I got set up and he got the BBQ ready. The day started out slow with lots of people checking my booth out but the only people that donated $20. for a free shirt were legion members and the guy next door who let me plug into his house. I gave him a shirt for giving me power for the RV. The guy 's Mum bought a shirt, so for the day I received $80. in donations. I spent the time wisely, I used the time to catch up on my log book. I stayed out there until 7:30pm. I wonder what we have to do to raise money, this day was advertised on the news and no one showed up. I have talked to lots of Veterans on this trip and they must feel, as I do that the veterans have been getting the dirty end of the stick for years. I hope our mission of gathering videos of our veterans stories will change that fact
april 08, 2009 12:45am
August 22, 2008 Ryan Anderson Canada AM
Friday August 22, 2008.
Email from Ryan Anderson from Canada AM.
The day started with completing the gathering of the materials for the six signs that we need. I got on the bike and headed over to Dartmouth NS. The vinyl was being done at FXViynl. The owner there gave us a good price to cut what we needed. The day is sunny for a change. I have a hard time getting used to paying tolls. As I crossed the bridge into Dartmouth and paid the toll to go over and after picking up all of the materials for the signs, and then paid to get back over less than an hour latter. Something is not right about having to go to another city that you can see to do business and have to pay a toll. Oh well thats the reality no the east coast.
I made six nice signs for the fund raiser at the legion on Saturday. I made the signs up out front of the legion on a table that I set up on this sunny day.
After finishing up the signs, I got to work going though my footage to find something that CTV can use for there segment on our charity. I had an appointment set up by Ryan in Toronto to go into the editing room this afternoon. So I started reviewing all the tapes. It dawned on me as I was going though the tapes I thought to myself, boy, I thought I would have more footage.
I have been interviewing many veterans and it seems like I should have more. But I guess all filmmakers feel the same way. Anyway I got a few clips together and headed over to the CTV broadcast centre in Halifax. I met with the editor and we decided, after about a half an hour, that I would come back at 9:30pm and we could take a little more time to pick the clips we would use for the show on Monday morning and for the Live at 5 news broadcasts. I went back to the CTV office at 9:30 and I had cued up the tapes of our vets to be transfered quickly. We were done in no time and I went back to the Blue Bomber for an early night.
april 08, 2009 12:44am
August 21, 2008 CTV Live Five Filming
Thursday August 21, 2008
CTV Live Five Filming.
Today started with a call from CTV to make sure our schedule's are on the same page. We set a time of 10am for the filming of our segment to be aired on Monday August 25th for the news program is called Live at 5. I called my navy vet, John Cortes, to tell him of the tapping and he said that he would be there. In the mean time I called a couple of sign places to see if I could get there best price on cutting some vinyl for a couple of signs that we need. I called a couple of places and finally got in touch with owner of a place called VinylFX in Dartmouth. He agreed to cut the vinyl I needed to make six signs. I have a little sign cutter at home that we use to make up any signage that the charity needs, so I know how to lay up signs. I got a price of forty bucks to cut the vinyl from FXvinyl in Dartmouth NS. Then I called Nd Graphics for a price on a piece of sign board. They quoted me a price of fourteen bucks for one piece of 4x8 sheet. So for just under sixty dollars I can make six signs for the F.O.V. Any way that we can save money for this mission, I will try to do it.
As I was finishing the email to the sign company, of what I wanted on the signs it was time to film the segment for Live at 5. I met the host and the camera operator, we did a walk through of where we will be shooting the segment. I introduced James Cotes, our veteran subject for the segment to the host. The host asked if she could start with a few questions of our veteran and myself. After we finished with the filler spots the host had a few questions for the ex-president of the Legion and some of the Legion goers. I started my interview with Jim as the camera person filmed us. I had a great interview with Jim, he started as an ordinary seamen and ended up 25 years latter as a leftenant Commander in the Canadian Navy, quite a story. I found that a lot of veterans are not part of a Legion. They don't drink or smoke and feel that they won't fit in at the Legion. This is a untapped segment of my veterans search. I will try to get connected with some of these vets outside the Legion.
When the segment shoot for CTV's live a 5 was over, the host told me that she could use some tape of our veterans that I had shot of the tour. I said that I didn't see a problem, and that I would try to find some appropriate footage for them to use.
After all the hubbub was over I got back to arranging getting the signage together for this weekends fund raiser. Ducky is the currant president of the Vimy Legion. I told him that we need to get some donations flowing in and I suggested setting up a table out front of the legion on Saturday. He said that would be OK. I hope that we have some people giving to our cause, because the bank account is getting low.
The staff at the Vimy Legion has been very helpful, with answering the phone and taking messages for me, plus putting up with me.
Late in the evening on this day I checked my e-mail and there is a note from CTV Toronto with Canada AM. I will call back tomorrow.
I turned in
april 08, 2009 12:43am
August 20, 2008 Chronicle Story
Wednesday August 20, 2008
Chronicle Story.
The day started with a trip to a copping place to laminate the Chronicle Herald Newspaper clipping from yesterday's paper. The article was pretty good. The picture was of me and my camera siting on my bike. The article explained about the tour so far and I got a number of e-mails following the story.
After getting back from the copy store I received a call from Liz from Live at five. We made arrangements to met at the Vimy Legion in Halifax to tape our segment. She wanted to film a veteran being interviewed for the library. I had an appointment with a navy vet named John Cortes set up for Thursday,. so I called him to see if he would mind being on the news, he said that he didn't see a problem with that.
After I had the next day set up I turned my attention to my computer problem. In my life I seem to meet the right people at the right time. Down the street from the Vimy legion there is a book shop, I thought that the owner my know of a computer repair shop close by that I could take my New lap top to because it fell onto the floor and the screen doesn't work any more. He said that just around the corner there was a place that did repairs. I got on the bike and went to the place and went in. If first impressions were the end all and be all the ordinary customer may have turned around and left. But from my experience seeing as cluttered shop doesn't necessarily mean that the owner is a bad person it just means that he is to busy to clean up. There was a man in the back with a large red beard. I told him of my problem and he had a couple of suggestions and we talked about the tour. He seemed impressed so he was trying to help. I then found out that he was not the owner and that the owner was still not in. So I asked if I could use his Internet connection and he said, sure. As I was checking out Kijiji the owner walked in he looked a little puzzled about who this big dude was sitting at his computer. I introduced myself. You know how sometimes you know right away if you are going to get alone with someone right off the bat, well this was one of those moments. His name is Ken Porter of K-PC Ltee, a very talkative man with many good idea's, but it was red beard that came up with the idea to plug in a exterior monitor to my Lap top. Ken unplugged one of his monitors and plugged it into my lap top and low and behold it worked. Boy was I relieved. If you recall I had been given the lap top to replace my original one that I had brought from home. I have not been having the best of luck with electronics lately. Anyway red beard said that they didn't sell used monitor but there was a charity place around the corner called The Parker Street Furniture Bank. So after giving the guy's a free t-shirt I went looking for the place. When I got to the Parker Street Bank they were having a yard sale. I bought a couple of things and the owner came up to me and asked what I was up to and I filled him in and he offered me a free monitor, I dropped five bucks in the donation bin. I went upstairs to the electronics section and the young man up there showed me a monitor, we checked to see if it worked, it did and I was on my way.
When I got back to the Blue Bomber I started in, to catch up on my log book and my email's. When the hard drive ceased on my original computer I lost all my entries up to that ceased that I had not sent into our web master. I lost about ten days of entries and all my email contacts. I should have known better and back up all of my stuff but it was one of those things where I said that I would do it tomorrow and tomorrow never came. I learned my lesson, I am know learning to “back it up”
I got an email off to the rally at months end called the “Worf Rats Rally in Didby NS. I talked with Peter down there and got a spot for the weekend for the “Friends Of Veterans. We will be there with our t-shirts trying to raise donations, so come down and see us.
At ten O'clock PM, I received a email from The producer of Canada AM. He expressed an interest in The Friend of Veteran Awareness Tor and wanted to know if we would be interested in doing a segment on our cross country tour. I said yes. This national broadcast will help us spread the word on our “National Video-A-Veteran Contest. We are asking teachers and students to video tape the veterans that will be speaking at their schools during remembrance week. There will be a number of veterans with stories to tell. We feel that this is a great opportunity to to gather Veterans testimonials for the :”Online Veterans Video Library”.
After a day of catch up, I turned in
april 08, 2009 12:42am
August 19, 2008 CBC Interview
Tuesday August 19, 2008.
CBC interview,105.7 On air interview. Chronicle interview
april 08, 2009 12:41am
August 18, 2008 CBC Radio 1 Interview
Monday August 18, 2008.
CBC Radio 1 Interview
Set up at the Vimy Legion in Halifax after talking to the producer of the morning radio show on Sunday. We had made arrangements to be on at 7:00 am. I started driving at 5:00 am to make the radio show on time. I got setup at the Vimy Legion and headed over to the CBC. I was on the air for about 2 minutes. I never get in everything I want the public to know, but I got a number of e-mails after the show.
I couldn't do any computer work so I started for the waterfront in Halifax to put some money in a buddies bank account that is sending me some more t-shirts from London. As I was waiting for the bank to open I got a call from another radio station call 95.7 news for an interview. We talked for 10 minutes or so. Then I walked up to the bank and made the deposit for the shipping of the shirts via the bus.
april 08, 2009 12:41am
August 19, 2008 Computer failure
Tuesday August 19, 2008.
Today is the day that I take the bike back to Moncton to see if I can have the Pioneers have a look at my computer, hopefully they will know how to fix it.
Sunday August 17, 2008.
I spent the day wondering how I would make my log entries. You see I didn't put my computer away properly and it fell on the floor as I was driving and the screen is kaput. Without my computer I am not able to make entries or check my email's.
I felt as if I was not filling my duty's to the charity by not being able to work. I have a plan to ride back up to Moncton and see the Pioneers to see if they could fix my computer. So I watched the Olympics.
april 08, 2009 12:40am
August 16, 2008 Leaving PEI
Saturday August 16, 2008.
Leaving PEI
The day started with breakfast with Louis and Frances. On this morning we, to my surprise, no sting beans. We had a good breakfast and we finished up with a video shoot were the two brothers gad a chance to talk about the two brothers that they lost in WW2. Walter was in the army and was killed in France. He was o guard duty and was attacked and was shot in the head. As Louis told the story he made a point of saying that Walter died instantly. James was killed in the same plane as Harold La Pointe was wounded in. If you recall from another entry, Harold is my old scout leader that was a big influence in my life and one of the men that inspired the “Online Veterans Video Library”. James was a gunner on the Halifax that Harold was also a gunner. Harold was the only surviver of the seven man crew. Harold introduced me to the brothers Louis and Francis in London Ontario.
After the shoot Louis and Francis Lead me to the ferry over the Northumberland Straight. We said our goodbyes and I drove the Blue Bomber onto the ferry.
This is my first time on the ferry and on the ocean. What a great experience. I stood on the upper deck and enjoyed the voyage. I met a man on board that was in the peace time navy. We had an interesting conversation and he gave me some pointers on were to go in Halifax. As we pull into the dock I was the last one on the upper deck. I didn't want the crossing to be over. I hurried down the the RV and got her started for the disembarkation. As we got onto the highway I had a smile on my face because the day was sunny, for a change and I was on my way into NS.
My first stop was Pictou NS. I stooped at the legion and got two interviews. The first was a man that played hockey for the army during WW2. The second man was a Korea war vet who had some good stories of combat. After taking a few pictures I headed for my next stop.
I arrived in New Glasgow around noon and met the president and the executive officer. They let me sell a couple of shirts and I walked out of there with 160 bucks, not bad for a short stop. From there I started down the highway to a small legion in Westville. I met the bartender and she showed me around. But no donations for t-shirts there.
I stayed the night in Truro at he legion. I was there about ten minutes when I gave away a shirt for an interview with a guy who was in the arm in 44 or 45. Then I hit gold, I met Charles McLean. Charles is one of the most inspirational men I have ever met. He is a ma tee man on a life mission to be a good Canadian. He served in Korea and rouse up the ranks very quickly and fought in Korea. He stayed in the army for a while and then spent some time in the Navy. Then after the CF he became a chartered accountant. He lost his first wife and remarried a great gale. He is very active in the Legion, to the point of taking a shot just to march in a parade. Quite a man.
After walking back to the RV with Chinese food ,that I got ripped off for, I turned in for the night.
