the pickeral pond

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TORONTO AUGUST 03

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It was warm in Thunder Bay (TB) as I locked my truck in the long-term parking lot at the airport there. The new wheeled monster bag I had elected to bring rolled easily across the typical cracked and weather tarmac typical to northern Ontario. My laptop hung from my right shoulder and the digital camera around my neck I was all set for a connected foray into the biggest city in Canada.<o:p></o:p>

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It didn’t bode well for the trip when I was confronted with possessing 3 lighters at the airport security checkin. When I asked why it had been ok to fly on 16 April with those same three lighters, out of TB and return from Winnipeg, with no problems I was told that they had no control over Winnipeg. I calmly pointed out I had flown from TB first. I was told I can’t take 3 lighters�?I could however run back to the Air Canada counter on the floor below and see if my bag was still at the counter and put them in there. When I asked them how long I had they again said I could only take 3 lighters. Due to the fact that I had to be in Toronto (TO) the next morning I left the 2 lighters, one a Ronson lighter bought in 78 and the other a Zippo bought about 10 years ago.<o:p></o:p>

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The flight itself was pretty good, being on an airplane in April had prepared me for the minimum fit accommodations, there was enough room for your legs, not enough for my butt and luckily the seat next to me was empty so my shoulders could fit. On board I didn’t purchase the new meals, a 6$ selection nor the 12$ selection, I felt confident I could find something decent to eat in TO. I did however decide on some liquid refreshment�?.vodka and tomatoe juice seemed to be the right choice in the heat, two went down well. The decent into TO went real well until we were some 40 miles out, the captain had warned us there were thunder storms in the area and that turbulence could result. Turbulence resulted, between my ears popping and my stomach dropping and hopping I wasn’t all that sure I wanted to go to TO after all.<o:p></o:p>

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We made it down! The plane a Airbus 319 spent the next 25 minutes giving us a guided tour of the old and under construction portions of the TO airport as we taxied in the general direction of Terminal 2 at Pearson Airport. We hooked up to a discharge ramp finally at gate 202 and the heat rolled into the aircraft. As we slowly untangled ourselves from our flying positions and headed into the terminal I took final note of the young lady across from me, she still looked perfectly composed and happy in her seat. I couldn’t judge if she was a size 6 or a size 4, both in petite of course.<o:p></o:p>

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In the terminal an overhead sign indicated the direction we were supposed to find our luggage in. I started walking, along with the rest of our flight members, the sign kept repeating on each successive overhead board and we kept walking. I thought that with all this walking the taxi ride to the hotel should be cheap; I found out later we were walking in the wrong direction. We kept walking. Our group was now stretched out for the full 5 mile length of the terminal, in the heat it certainly felt like I had gone several miles. A sign overhead indicated a drastic change…a turn to the left…and more walking. This seemed to be an airport thing this walking but then an escalator dropped us one floor and there was a number of moving platforms that had luggage rolling past eagerly grasping hands. I looked it wasn’t for my flight�?more walking. Then I noticed miss size 6 and sure enough others from our herd were here too. My new bag was the last one to come. It was outdoors for a smoke�?.it was so warm and sticky I was just barely able to fire up a smoke. A shill wanted me to walk across the busy road to get a taxi�?more walking was not on my agenda. I finished my smoke and collected my stuff, and a taxi pulled up beside me. In the air-conditioned interior I was told that the next taxi in line would have been a smoking taxi. In some 20 minutes my hair colour went from sun bleached white to several shades below and I’m now not sure if I’ll ever live to collect old age, that ride cost me 10 years and 35$.<o:p></o:p>

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In the hotel check-in went well until I asked about the procedure to connect to the Internet. From the blank looks I got I figured we had hit a snag. Through the hotels best efforts I never got a connection to the internet until on Friday afternoon when I picked a ISP from the yellow pages and made a phone call. They were more than happy to connect me and did 45 minutes later.<o:p></o:p>

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Thursday and Friday mornings were spent being “evaluated�? What this was composed of was the positioning of my body into postures I hadn’t assumed since gym class in grade 6. Another gent going through some other stuff almost caused me to burst into laughter, until I realized that I most likely would look like him when it came my turn for that particular configuration.<o:p></o:p>

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I did survive it all and Saturday rolled around. I had the hotel people come in and give some order to the room; at home my dear wife keeps track of floor and bed space, before the time I knew Trap would show. In fact it wasn’t five minutes later that I thought I heard something at the door. A few seconds later it was confirmed�?why don’t people pound on a door? I opened it and there was Trap.<o:p></o:p>

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I was engulfed in a giant HUG! As best I could I swivelled my eyes about to see if anyone was looking. Where I come from you hug kids, the neighbours wife gently at Christmas and your own wife somewhat more…�?well let’s not go there. Trap picked up his ‘cooler�?a fold top plastic tote and came in. It seemed like Trap and I had just parted the day before, though I don’t recall the HUG, there he was just as I had pictured him. In short order lines were being cast, game was being skinned and politicians were being lambasted for their stupid laws and ideas. Oh yes, we had managed to pour several vodka before there was another timid tap at our door, for indeed Trap was staying the night.<o:p></o:p>

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Several peeks through the spy hole confirmed it wasn’t the gun control police and I grabbed my camera. Trap opened the door and a flurry in pink and wrapped in another HUG. I knew immediately this was ok though I did keep and eye on the tall gent still standing in the hallway�?.did I smell apples? I handshake with the gent confirmed he was indeed Camper and I had just been hugged by Trina. Come in .. come in.<o:p></o:p>

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In the course of the next few hours we managed to talk and laugh on many subjects. Mixing pork burgers was one subject as was the contents of a large box covered with Audrey Hepburn stamps, a few Wright Brothers stamps and several other official markings indicating it came from Virginia. It was, as I had suspected my Dalls Sheep ram head that had been shot in Tennessee by our very own Gray Ghost. This ram’s head had traveled from VA to northern Ontario, where it could find me, back to VA…on to New York…been found at a new address there and across the Canada/USA border in a Cadillac’s truck. It was a beaut. It did just fit into the monster wheeled bag I had brought for just reason. As I write the head is behind me on a shelf, I need to make a mounting bracket for it so it’ll be beside me on the wall.<o:p></o:p>

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We talked on the way to super, we talked at super, we talked on the way back from super, we talked as I tried to get connected to the Internet. My hard won connection had broken down and the support line was busy�?so we talked some more. Trina found that indeed vodka can taste great and Camper assumed his 10�?0 pm position, though by now it was 11�?0. His vocals hardly interfered with more talk as Trina and Trap didn’t seem to run out of words. A little after midnight Camper indicated he had had enough of Trap’s camp chair and needed to stretch out…Trina served as a guide to take him back to their room. Trap thought he had more to say to Trina so he called their room and right quickly Trina was tapping at our door. Seems Trina also had more words. An evening that started at around 2�?0 was over all too soon at some where around 4 am when we all finally ended up in our respective rooms and went to sleep.<o:p></o:p>

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The next morning saw Trap wake up to fresh brewed hot coffee. As we showered and slowly packed Trap made arrangements for our breakfast. We finished packing everything and made our way down to the restaurant. Some time after breakfast was over I found I needed to go for a smoke. As we left Trina found some boutiques that needed looking at, so us gents went outside and found a spot for some relaxation, surprisingly we still had more to talk on. We questioned Camper on what he had found so fascinating in the pool, our room on the 14^th overlooked the pool, but he was a bit short of facts. The grand opening of BPS’s TO store was discussed as a possible reunion time. <o:p></o:p>

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All to soon it was time to check out and find a cab for the airport and the flight home. We did find time to pose for a few pics in the hotel lobby. As we waited outside for my cab I found that I wasn’t really ready to leave yet. The cab had other ideas. Another HUG from Trap, again I surveyed the area, and more hugs from Trina�?was that apple smell in the air again? It was time for home.<o:p></o:p>

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I finally arrived back home amidst a flurry of black dogs at about 8 pm. After nearly missing my flight to TB because of Air Canada bumbling, an almost hour wait in the plane as ‘lightning�?forced the workers to shelter before they could get us off. Lightning from a clear blue sky? The landing in TB was again rough but I have to hand it to those flyboys; they sure know their job.<o:p></o:p>

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The faint of heart missed a great time. My dear wife was wrong…I didn’t scare anyone away with my ‘wild look�? I had a super time with dear friends that turned a big city stay into a great time. We did try our best; we only lost less than 4 hours outa the 24 we had.<o:p></o:p>

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I’m already looking forward to the next ‘meeting�?of outdoors site members�?wonder who will come and where will it be?<o:p></o:p>

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Seems in response of Bigguys story about the Toronto Trip I must fill you in on some details that seemed to have failed him . So heres mine which is the complete unbiased version . LOL .

On Saturday morning at 7am I got up and went online to find the Bigguy already there . I wanted to clear my e-mail and then leave on trip . While online I chatted with Bigguy and lo and behold he had a shopping list for me . Well let me tell ya that was a long shopping list . Seems these items could only be bought in my part of Ontario . LOL

After stopping in Huntsville on my way down to the big city and getting Bigguys shopping list filled I put the pedal to the metal .

Arriving at the Holiday Inn in Toronto I lugged and slugged all my rigging and Bigguys list of items up to the front desk . There I was greeted by a friendly young lady who got a strange look on her face when she saw that I was also carrying the local Quikway with me . She informed me that they didn't rent out commercial space , only rooms .

Well I said to her that I was here to see my bud the Bigguy and just brought some supplies for him . She said " supplies , that looks like a store " . I then informed her that we were just good ol countryboys and all would be used cause we learned at an early age not to waste .

So to the elevator I go slugging and lugging . I managed to push and shove all into one elevator and squeeze myself in to push the button to the 14th floor . On the way up I could feel the machinery straining under this load . It never did make the 14th floor and after many attempts and worrying about the cables giving out I thought I better use the service elevator that would handle this load . So into the the service elevator I went . This one went right to the 14th floor with the Quikway store and all .

Out of the service elevator I go , slugging and lugging . By this time some huffing and puffing too I might add . To room 1432 . I pounded and pounded on that door thinking the whole time I was gonna have to haul all this stuff back down again and go on a scouting mission for the Bigguy .

After a bit I hear movement and the door opens . There he is our friend the Bigguy . After a quick handshake and falling into his arms from all the strain of hauling this rigging up to the room we got down to a drink .

Well let me tell ya the Bigguy pours an eye opener of a drink . Now being regenerated we got down to trying to solve all our provinces and country's problems . Over the next couple of hours we came up with many solutions on federal and provincial policys and such . While resolving these issues with our politicians we also caught alot of fish and hunted every critter under the sun .

A knock comes on the door . Could this be Camper and Trina I wonder . Being a careful man with supplies to protect I look through the peep hole first . There is Trina and Camper patiently waiting for someone to open the door . Making sure no one else is with them I open the door .

Into the room dance Trina and Camper with pies in hand . Now I grab pies from Camper right away and put them in a safe place cause we know precious items such as these cannot be trusted in his care .

After the usual polite how do's some drinks and beer are poured again . Then the darn cameras appear and after having posed many times and feeling like a model for Cabela's another round is called for .

Anyway by now our stomaches are growling and after making the executive decision of where to eat , off we go to a place called the Keg . The food was great and we had more laughs . We managed not to get thrown out and made it back to the room safely again .

After a couple of after dinner drinks I notice something furry sneaking in the door and over beside Camper . Dang if it isn't our national animal THE BEAVER . Well off he flys down the hall carrying our pies with him .

I give immediate chase to the beast with the trusty knife Bigguy so generously gave me . I run that big critter to ground , wrestling tooth and nail wondering where my friends are to give me a hand . I finish the brute and skin him right there cause I know Camper said it was cold and needed a fur hat .

Upon returning to the room with fur hat for Camper and the precious pies I find my absence has not even been noticed .

Camper is asleep in my camp chair and Bigguy and Trina are laughing and taking pics . Myself having just risked life and limb for our precious pies need another beer . Who said this was gonna be a holiday . LOL

Well to bring this story to a conclusion I must say I had fun . The time was way too short but we made every minute count .

I found my friends Bigguy , Trina , and Camper to be just like they are online . Their honesty , generosity and humour are the same in real life as they are on the web .

I am looking forward to our next meeting and hope some others here can come too . It was a blast and for once I didn't have to interpret through a screen the laughter and joy we have as friends .

Ah yes, Toronto, an international city of intrigue, the melting pot of Canada. Perversely we were planning a trip to the north and then on to Nippogon,,,, In November?

When we heard that Bigguy was planning a trip to toronto for tests, we decided that would be the best time for a visit.

The first thing we had to do was chase down a box from Virginia that had been circling the globe for some time. We caught up with it as we were on our way to Canada. Getting through customs with a scull was easy because we both looked so inasent. Trina slept most of the was missing all the sights such as the beached ship and the harbor at Hamilton. The traffic wasn't to bad , ( yea right ) reminded me of rush hour around Rochester. Except for a slight discrepancy in directions , everything went smoothly. Good thing Trina remembered the name of the road

I dropped Trina off at the door to see if it was the right hotel, it was,and I parked the car. After checking in, we took our luggage up to our room, carefully checking under the beds for beaver. You know how beaver are with pies.

Trina could hardly wait to go in search of out of town canadians so off to the 14th floor we went. Now being a little out of town myself, I like to compare the elevator with the transporter on Star Trec. You push a button and zap,,,, your there.

Well, we found the room all right but not knowing how canadians knock on doors, we tried some tapping and scratching with no results. We then pounded on the door and yelled ( GUN INSPECTION ) at which time the door flew open and there was Bigguy and Trapper, permits in hand, white as a ghost. Hmmmm, Trapper looks a little like my nephew Eddy

Hugs and hand shakes were exchanged and drinks were poured to calm there nerves ,lol,. Coolers, cameras and pies were brought in, at least I think the pies were brought in, Trapper was acting a little suspicious at that time

Since Bigguys room overlooked the pool, I tried out my telephoto camera, got some decent shots too.

With all the talking going on, Bigguy, Trapper and I could hardly get a word in edgewise

It almost took an act of congress to figure out what we were going to do for supper. With a vote of 4 to 1, we decided to go out to " The Keg " leaving Trappers pet beaver there to guard the pies. I offered to drive but Bigguy preferred the close packed in feel of a taxi.

Now for those who have never been to The Keg, Its one of those restaurants with atmosphere, which means, they turn out all the lights so you cant see the prices on the menu. They do have candle light so you can see something on your plate, and it was good. I thing we had prime beaver rib or something like that

Back at the hotel, more drinks and conversation till way past midnight, at least that's what I was told. At one point, I think I had to fight off a beaver with a lamp shade on its head and sweet potato breath, hmmmmm.

8 o'clock came early. I could get useto sleeping in that long. Breakfast was in the hotel restaurant which overlooked the pool, hmmmm. Afterwards, we hung around out doors while trina checked out the shops. Show a woman some shops and she'll be happy for hours, he he he

As we were packing, the pies turned up from under Trappers pillow. Poor Bigguy still doesn't know what sweet potato pie tastes like.

More pics were taken while we were waiting for Bigguys taxi plus more hugs and handshakes. Time sure flies when your having fun

I was advised to take 401 back instead of going back through Toronto. I just love fore lane traffic speeding along at 10K. I didn't know that there were that many cars in Canada.

Back at the boarder, or at least close to it, we had a 2k line that took 2 hours to get through. We were going to stop at the duty free shop but thought better of it and kept going. Cant wait till next time. Sure would like one of them beaver hides, ( HAY SANTA )

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