We have been wandering merely in Canada, and have been drawn back into the gravitational field of Montreal (on schedule). We've been lucky with the weather the whole trip--nothing worse than a very light intermittent rain parts of two days. We saw Niagara the other day,visited with friends in both Toronto and Buffalo, did some profitable genealogical research, and tomorrow's main objective is the Musee des Beaux Artes here in Montreal. (Surprisingly admission to the permanent collection is free--and it seems to be a very good one.) The corn up here seems stunted--maybe three to five feet tall; but they are talking about a very good crop--150-160 bushels per acre. I wonder if it is a different variety than I see near Fresno. Saw two-story turkey barns and lots of BIG silos in northern Ontario. Roadbuilding/rebuilding projects are all over the place. It looks like freezing weather is hell on (at least the older) steel-reinforced concrete highway structures. Remarkably fewer brick houses in Buffalo than in nearby canadian cities. The rest stops along the highways in Ontario and Quebec are rather like in Japan--lots of businesses, generally in a sort of mall or concourse. Along the toll road we took in New York it was similar. I can't quite put my finger on what it was, but the folks--both workers and customers--seemed generally nicer in Ontario and Quebec than in New York. Many Ontario, and perhaps to a lesser extent Quebec, drivers are INSANE. There are almost no police patrols on the freeways in either province, but Quebec has numerous warning signs telling you that Big Brother is Watching. Guess that's all for now.
As I mentioned before, dwarf corn is typical in the Midwest. Yields are supposedly better than with the old-fashion "high as an elephant's eye" variety.
And yes, I think most of us here can testify that freeze-thaw cycles are hell on both concrete and asphalt pavement.
Thanks for checking in, Alan! It sounds like you are having a wonderful vacation. Vermont has the tall corn, so I don't have any info about the short variety in these here parts. I agree that folks are nicer in Canada than in New York. You would have found even nicer folks in Vermont. :-)
Yes, freezing weather in Winter AND hot weather in Summer makes for lots of contraction and expansion. Such movement makes for "frost heaves" and cracks. Add to the formula the occasional 5 earthquake.
Alan, did you notice that there's a church on nearly every corner in Montreal? That's because people used to walk to church, before cars, so one for each neighbourhood was vital.
Howard would be most first!
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I was gracious at work today. It takes a lot of letting go...and it feels deeply good.
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ReplyDeleteWe have been wandering merely in Canada, and have been drawn back into the gravitational field of Montreal (on schedule). We've been lucky with the weather the whole trip--nothing worse than a very light intermittent rain parts of two days. We saw Niagara the other day,visited with friends in both Toronto and Buffalo, did some profitable genealogical research, and tomorrow's main objective is the Musee des Beaux Artes here in Montreal. (Surprisingly admission to the permanent collection is free--and it seems to be a very good one.) The corn up here seems stunted--maybe three to five feet tall; but they are talking about a very good crop--150-160 bushels per acre. I wonder if it is a different variety than I see near Fresno. Saw two-story turkey barns and lots of BIG silos in northern Ontario. Roadbuilding/rebuilding projects are all over the place. It looks like freezing weather is hell on (at least the older) steel-reinforced concrete highway structures. Remarkably fewer brick houses in Buffalo than in nearby canadian cities. The rest stops along the highways in Ontario and Quebec are rather like in Japan--lots of businesses, generally in a sort of mall or concourse. Along the toll road we took in New York it was similar. I can't quite put my finger on what it was, but the folks--both workers and customers--seemed generally nicer in Ontario and Quebec than in New York. Many Ontario, and perhaps to a lesser extent Quebec, drivers are INSANE. There are almost no police patrols on the freeways in either province, but Quebec has numerous warning signs telling you that Big Brother is Watching.
Guess that's all for now.
--Alan
As I mentioned before, dwarf corn is typical in the Midwest. Yields are supposedly better than with the old-fashion "high as an elephant's eye" variety.
DeleteAnd yes, I think most of us here can testify that freeze-thaw cycles are hell on both concrete and asphalt pavement.
Thanks for checking in, Alan! It sounds like you are having a wonderful vacation. Vermont has the tall corn, so I don't have any info about the short variety in these here parts. I agree that folks are nicer in Canada than in New York. You would have found even nicer folks in Vermont. :-)
DeleteYes, freezing weather in Winter AND hot weather in Summer makes for lots of contraction and expansion. Such movement makes for "frost heaves" and cracks. Add to the formula the occasional 5 earthquake.
Alan, did you notice that there's a church on nearly every corner in Montreal? That's because people used to walk to church, before cars, so one for each neighbourhood was vital.
ReplyDelete