Spring/Summer Source 2014

Spring & Summer

Source Book

2014 A Special Supplement To The Manitoulin Expositor & The Manitoulin West Recorder

Page 2 - Manitoulin Spring/Summer Source Book

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by Joe D. Shorthouse MANITOULIN--One of the most welcoming signs that spring has finally arrived on Manitoulin Island is the appearance of the vivid yellow flowers of marsh marigold.

On days with clear blue skies, the golden flowers and shining emerald leaves of this beautiful flower are a sight to behold, as my family and I recently discovered along Green Bush Road south of Little Current and along Townline Road west of Sheguiandah, where the pictures that accompany this article were taken.

Marsh marigold (the scientific name is Caltha palustris) is a circumpolar plant which is also native to Europe and Asia. The large yellow flowers look like the cups of kings and the Latin name Caltha is derived from the Greek for ‘goblet.’ For this reason, it is known as ‘Kingcup’ in some parts of its range.

Marsh marigold belongs to the plant family Ranunculaceae, which was named by Pliny the Elder (23-79 B.C.) for plants that grow where frogs are found. Ranunculus is Latin for ‘little frog’ and Rana is the genus name for several Manitoulin frogs.

Marsh marigold does indeed grow where frogs can be found. It occurs in a variety of Manitoulin wetlands including the banks of streams and springs, vernal pools in low woodlands, and roadside ditches where its roots thrive in rich organic mud. Its glossy green, heartshaped leaves complement the bright blossoms.

The flowers have several unique features. What appears to us as petals, are really five yellow sepals which attract pollinators.

There are no petals and there is no noticeable scent.

While they look yellow to our eyes, the sepals appear purple to pollinating insects such as bees and flies. Insects see in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum which make markings on the petals look like landing lights along an airport runway and help guide flying insects to the flower’s nectar. Marsh Marigold flowers produce large amounts of nectar early in the spring which make them an important food source for bees and flies.

All parts of marsh marigold are poisonous to hu-

mans and touching any part of the plant may cause skin irritation. The acrid foliage contains toxic alkaloids and glycosides and is avoided by mammalian herbivores.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Joe Shorthouse is an Emeritus Professor at Laurentian University, focussing on insect ecology and insect-plant relationships in Northern Ontario. Dr. Shorthouse spends much of each summer on Manitoulin as a seasonal resident of Batman’s Campground in Sheguiandah.

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Steve Hall begins to prepare an apple tree graft at his farm on Poplar Road.

Poplar Road garden a treasure trove of Island apple delights

by Alicia McCutcheon POPLAR ROAD--Eightynine-year-old Steve Hall walks his garden, pointing out the successful grafts, both recent and from years gone by, on his beloved apple trees in his Poplar Road garden. The scars from the procedure of melding one breed with another evident to this day.

Since the 1940s, Steve Hall has been playing with nature, so to speak, grafting apple trees, both local varieties and well-known favourites, to create an orchard on the family farm.

The first tree Mr. Hall grafted, in fact, can still be found on the property.

Closer to home, in the garden located next to his

house, the gardener points out three trees he purchased from a nursery. When he bought them, he smiled, he was under the impression they were to produce yellow transparent, Macintosh and Melba apples. Six or seven years later, when the trees finally matured and began to produce fruit, he saw he had been well and truly fleeced with only the yellow transparent producing fruit as advertised. The other two trees, he said, were just your typical fence-line variety--nothing special. These trees, however, have been useful to graft better-known varieties to them, such as Cortland and even Snow apple trees.

Mr. Hall is particular-

ly fond of his Snow apple tree. It’s an old variety, he explains. “The flesh is very white with pink flecks throughout.”

One day, while his wife was out working in the garden, a woman drove by, stopped her car and approached the Halls. She wanted to admire the garden and purchase some produce.

Praising Mr. Hall’s orchard, he and the stranger struck up a conversation about all things apple trees and Mr. Hall shared that he hoped to one day acquire a Snow apple tree, or at the very least grafts from one. The woman said her sister, in fact, had a Snow apple tree in her front yard in London ...continued on page 8

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In Little Current, the Waterfront Trail stretching from the Manitoulin Welcome Centre by the swing

bridge, down along the waterfront to the one kilometre loop at Low Island Park is a good way to stay fit while taking in the beauty of the LaCloche Mountain range.

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Manitoulin made outdoors show to air fishing webisode Show’s stars give insider scoop on best fishing holes on Manitoulin

by Robin Burridge MANITOULIN—The made-on-Manitoulin outdoors show ‘Fuel the Fire TV’ won’t air until next January on the Wild Television Network, but the show’s hosts and creators Rob Seifried and Neil Debassige will be posting a sneak peak of the show in the form of a webisode later this month, tiding viewers over as the duo films for their official 13-episode series.

“We have just finished our opening credits,” explained Mr. Debassige. “It’s been held up on finding the right song and one that we could get the rights to.”

Thanks to an insider scoop (Sean McCann, formerly of Great Big Sea, is Mr. Debassige’s cousin), the Fuel the Fire TV creators were able to find the perfect song and the rights to use it.

“Sean has recently released an online solo album (Help Your Self) and we thought his song ‘Stone Cold Heart’ would work great,” continued Mr. Debassige.

Helping with production of

the show is award winning filmmaker Nano Debassige, who has been working closely with Mr. Seifried and Mr. Debassige to fine tune the show’s official opening credits and put together the debut webisode, highlighting Manitoulin’s ice fishing scene.

“We have been taking our time because we really want to produce a quality, professional outdoors show that allows us to share with others the adventure of hunting and fishing,” Mr. Debassige said. “We are very happy with our finished product

and will be airing it on our website later this month.”

The show’s main focus will be on Manitoulin Island and Northern Ontario, but will also include footage from northern Quebec (where the duo visited late last month for bear hunting and walleye fishing), Saskatchewan and southern Ontario (where they have recently filmed a turkey hunting episode).

“Manitoulin Island is home to some of the most pristine waters you can fish in,” said Mr. Debassige as he explained what makes Manitoulin fishing so special. “It

has an almost tropical feel because of the limestone beds and it is always blowing visitors (to the Island) away.”

As summer fishing gets underway on Manitoulin (with most fish species now open on the Island’s inland lakes (bass season opens June 20 inland and June 27 on the

big water)), Mr. Debassige revealed some of the Islands best fishing spots.

“The North Channel is amazing fishing for species such as walleye, trout and salmon, due in large part to the great work of the Fish and Game Clubs of the Island through their fish hatcheries,” he shared. “On

the south side of the Island, Providence Bay and South Baymouth had banner years last year and we are expecting the same this year.”

Mr. Debassige revealed that through his business Island Sunrise Cottages, Fishing and Hunting Outfitters, his charters brought in ...continued on page 13

The Show’s stars give insider scoop on best fishing holes on Manitoulin

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Trees provide a credible alternative for all your home building needs

by Michael Erskine K A G AW O N G — K e n Pearce of Providence Bay, a member of the Manitoulin Stewardship Council, wants you to consider building your next home out of wood—from the rafters to the very foundation.

“Wood is cozy—and cozy is a good word when building a home,” he said during a presentation on ‘Trees’ during the recent Green Living Expo in Kagawong.

As building technologies evolve, he noted, one material has always remained in high demand, wood. And for good reasons--wood costs less, economically and environmentally, is one of the most beautiful, versatile, durable and renewable raw materials available and, in a word, it’s cozy.

Historically it was wood that provided the foundations of empire, from the Phoenician, Greek and Roman vessels of antiquity to the Viking ships that propelled the Norsemen, later

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discovered these big beautiful straight trees—and took them all for the King’s navy,” said Mr. Pearce.

These days there is no competition for the wood from the surveyors of the Royal Navy, however, and the benefits of wood make it a good consideration.

“Stick with wood,” said Mr. Pearce. “It is low tech and you can build your own—oh yes you can—and it is good for more than 60 years.”

Although stick frame wood construction of residential homes is the norm, ...continued on page 15

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...Poplar Road garden a treasure trove of Island apple delights ...continued from page 4

and she would see to it that Mr. Hall received a specimen from that tree. The winter came and went and one day the following spring the gardener noticed a large package beside his mailbox. Curious, he opened it up and there, in full bloom, were entire branches from a Snow apple tree. The kindly stranger had come through

with her promise. The Snow apple graft grew beautifully and produces the whitefleshed apples for the Halls each harvest.

Mr. Hall’s orchard also includes a Lodi graft, which he took from the family cottage on Tobacco Lake. The green apples are “lovely cooking apples,” he says.

“I have had as many as 12 varieties on one tree,

but they never amounted to much,” he adds.

Mr. Hall’s grafting kit includes a sharp knife, a pair of pliers, a flat-headed screwdriver and some grafting paste, which is carried around neatly in a peach basket. For this reporter’s benefit, Mr. Hall shared his preferred method of grafting for this time of year (midMay), the wedge graft. After

sawing off one branch from an existing tree, Mr. Hall pulls out a bag with dormant hibernal branches he had kept in his freezer over the winter. They were a gift from friend and fellow field naturalist Judith Jones.

“This is a little late to do it, but the weather has been so damn cold,” he says.

The knife is placed on the ...continued on page 9

A healthy dose of grafting paste is applied to the graft.

Mr. Hall carefully matches the bark from both trees until they are touching.

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...Poplar Road garden a treasure trove of Island apple delights ...continued from page 8

freshly sawn branch of the tree and tapped with the pliers until a two to three centimeter slit is created in the tree. The hibernal branch, which has had its bark removed on two sides and angled, is then inserted into the slit, being careful to match the bark from both trees together so they are touching.

A healthy dose of grafting paste is then applied.

“This is the most important part of the entire process, keeping care of the little graft and making sure it doesn’t dry out--keeping an eye on it,” he says.

So why the love of apples?

“Oh I don’t know, they’re good to eat,” he smiles.

Mr. Hall first sent away for literature from the agricultural college in Guelph on grafting, reading up on it every chance he could before he grafted his first tree--a Melba.

The near nonagenarian was born and raised on that very farm and retired to it after living and working in the

Sudbury area for INCO for 30 years. The Halls’ garden near Whitefish was the envy of the neighbourhood too.

Come harvest, Mr. Hall sells some of his apples and friends and neighbours come by to pick them too.

A root cellar on the property allows the arborist to enjoy the fruits of his labour, literally, all year long. In fact, he says, he just finished the end of last year’s apples that week.

“A lot of people don’t like them, though, because there’s worms in them and scabs on them, but they’re all natural,” he explains, “not like what you see in the grocery store.”

There are no sprays or pesticides used in this garden.

Besides apples, rows upon rows of raspberry canes line the garden, as well as black currant, red currant and gooseberry bushes.

Hundreds of rows of garlic bulbs, too, have their vibrant green and leafy tops proudly protruding from the rich soil. Mr. Hall has been told

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Mr. Hall points out one of his early successful grafts.

it’s among the best-sampled garlic north of the border and he has repeat customers and a list of names waiting for the summer harvest.

Encouraging and helpful in his quiet way when her skills with the hacksaw weren’t so keen, Mr. Hall even allowed this writer to graft a tree of her very own

which he promises she can keep if it ‘takes.’

Should you take a drive down Poplar Road, just south of Gore Bay, keep an eye out for Mr. Hall in his garden and stop by and say hello. He has plenty of knowledge, and good eats, to share.

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Ready your bike and explore all Manitoulin has to offer this summer

by Alicia McCutcheon M A N I T O U L I N — Wi t h Manitoulin finally coming into its own as a destination for cyclists (thanks largely to the important work by the Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates), it’s important that Islanders too realize the full potential of what the largest freshwater island in the world has to offer and get out there and explore it by bicycle. Before you stray

too far from home, though, it’s crucial that your bike be in tip-top shape.

Jeff Brankley of Lightfoot Bikes, located just outside of Mindemoya across from Lake Mindemoya on Highway 551, says that one of the first things a cyclist should check when hauling their bike out of winter storage is to make sure the tires are holding air. (When topping the air up, the recommend-

ed pounds of pressure can be found on the tire wall.)

“If the tires are looking cracked, it’s time for new ones,” Mr. Brankley says.

A cyclist should also make sure the seat posts, handlebars and wheels are good and tight before setting out, as well as checking the brakes and ensuring that the gears change smoothly.

If your chain falls off, it means that the dérailleurs

are improperly set, Mr. Brankley explains. If you’re unsure of how to fix this yourself, get an expert to have a look.

“Improper sizing is probably the most important thing that people need to look at,” Mr. Brankley says, noting that most people are riding their bikes with the seat sitting much lower than it

should be for optimum comfort and biking efficiency.

The Lightfoot Bikes tried and true method of bike sizing is to drape your arm over the bike seat, placing the saddle firmly in the pit of your arm. Your middle finger should reach the middle of the crank (the piece the peddles are attached to).

“You want to be comfort-

able, first and foremost, and not overextending the knee,” the proprietor says.

For Island roads, Mr. Brankley says a road bike is best, but definitely not a mountain bike. “Mountain bikes slow you down,” he explains. “The larger the tread, the more friction and resistance.”

With a tuned up bike, there ...continued on page 19

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...Get fit while you explore the outdoors this summer on Manitoulin ...continued from page 5

The Cup and Saucer offers panoramic views in all directions.

plore the flora and fauna of Manitoulin around the Mississagi Lighthouse trails that take you along the beautiful Lake Huron shore.

Moving south along the shore is the Providence Bay Nature Trail, located off Firehall Road by the arena.

The two-kilometre walk guides you through cedar bush and breezy meadows to the shores of Lake Huron.

Also in Providence Bay is the new outdoor fitness park located at the beach. Take in the view of Lake Huron as you exercise, stroll along the

boardwalk or go for a post workout swim to cool down.

On Manitoulin’s south side, south of Manitowaning on Highway 6 is McLean’s Park located on New England Road. The trail features three kilometres of hiking trails along historic

logging roads and also doubles as a mountain bike trail.

Also located off Highway 6 is Gordon’s Park in Tehkummah. The diverse eco system of Gordon’s Park is located in the heart of a hardwood forest. The park offers hiking trails and an impressive Interpretive Centre.

Wikwemikong’s Bebamikawe Memorial Trail, located at the end of Beach Road in the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, is advertised as Manitoulin’s only professionally built trail system and is open during all four seasons.

The trail features an easy to moderate 14-kilometre trail with scenic lookouts complemented by an outdoor fitness park and a 1.5 kilometre double track trail.

Moving north back towards Little Current is the village of Sheguiandah and the Lewis Twin Peaks Hiking Trail, accessed from

the west side of Highway 6, across from the Paradise Motel. Offering views of Bass Lake and the North Channel, the two-kilometre hike features lookouts on quartzite outcrops.

These are just a few of the many amazing trails found on Manitoulin Island. For more information, pick up the Manitoulin Hiking Guide from the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) which features many of the above trails, in addition to others, along with maps, GPS coordinates, a history of the trails and ecological features. The pamphlet is available at the Manitoulin Welcome Centre in Little Current, the ChiCheemaun Ferry, Turners of Little Current or at the Garden’s Gate Restaurant in Tehkummah.

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land there are still more trails to enjoy from the Bridal Veil Falls Trail, Misery Bay Provincial Park, Nimkees’ Trail and the Mississagi Lighthouse Trail.

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The park features many trails that guide users through beautiful forests and offers some of the most wonderful natural features Manitoulin has to offer.

Further down Highway 540, Sheshegwaning First Nation has 20 kilometres of trails to be enjoyed between the Nimkees and the Little Thunder Hiking Trails.

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Parents you can help teach children to swim MANITOULIN—What would summer be without days spent frolicking at the beach or afternoons spent splashing in the pool? Fun in the water makes hot days more enjoyable and bearable, and few summertime activities do not involve water play in one aspect or another.

Although time spent in the water can be refreshing and entertaining, water does present certain hazards, particularly for those who do not know how to swim.

Learning to swim, especially at a young age, is advisable and a great way to remain safe around the water.

The World Health Organization says drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death across the globe, accounting for 7 percent of all injury-related deaths. Children, males and individuals with increased

access to water are most at risk of drowning. In general, children under five years of age have the highest drowning mortality rates in the world, though adult males in Canada and New Zealand drown at higher rates than children.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should consider swimming lessons for most children between the ages of one and four. New research has revealed that swimming instruction for children between the ages of one and four may decrease drowning risk. However, parents should be advised that swimming lessons do not remove all risk. Children still need constant supervision when in and around water.

Additionally, learning CPR can be a life-saving measure.

When enrolling children

in swim lessons, parents should look for safety-certified instructors who have first aid and resuscitation training and certification.

Many programs offered are sponsored by the Red Cross, the YMCA or municipal recreation departments. Private swim clubs may have their own instructors.

Children between the ages of one and three typically do not have the motor coordination to swim effectively.

These children can benefit from swim lessons that emphasize getting used to the water, safety and learning some swimming readiness skills. Instruction may involve teaching children how to move their legs and arms and strengthen muscles used for swimming. Children between the ages of four and five may be more developmentally ready for swimming. Such youngsters may move from water-safety lessons to actual swimming with or without support.

A study titled “Children’s readiness for learning front crawl swimming” published in The Australian Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport showed that whether kids “started lessons at two, three or four years of age,” they learned to swim well at “approximately the same mean age of five and a half years.”

In addition to swimming lessons, parents and other adults can ensure water safety by taking the follow-

ing precautionary measures: • Children should never be left unattended in the water.

It takes mere inches of water for a youngster to drown.

• In the pool or another body of water, caregivers should be within touching distance of young swimmers to provide help if needed, even if the child is wearing a floatation device.

• Keep rescue equipment by the pool.

• Remove toys from the pool when it’s not in use.

These toys can attract children who will go in after them.

• Know your jurisdiction’s regulations regarding swimming pools. Most will mandate a fence around pool area. The fence should feature a self-latching gate.

• Even adults should be watched while swimming.

It is always a safe idea to swim with a buddy, so that the other person can get help if something goes wrong.

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Page 12 - Manitoulin Spring/Summer Source Book

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...Manitoulin made outdoors show to air fishing webisode ...continued from page 6

12,000 pounds of fish.

“Walleye also just opened up recently, but the water temperature is still cold so we might push things (catching fish) back a bit,” he added. “I’ve also heard that bass in the inland lakes is starting to improve again.”

If you don’t have access to a boat, Mr. Debassige said there are still lots of good

fishing spots in and around Manitoulin.

“Anywhere off Goat Island seems to get fish and the docks in South Baymounth and Providence Bay are good for rainbow (trout) and salmon,” continued Mr. Debassige. “I’ve also heard that people have good luck catching rainbow off the dock in M’Chigeeng.”

“There are just so many

options here,” concluded Mr. Debassige. “No matter what kind of fishing you’re interested in, the possibilities are endless.”

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Manitoulin Spring/Summer Source Book - Page 13

Safety tips for outdoor meals and entertainment MANITOULIN—The warm weather is finally here, so it’s time to get ready for that first backyard barbecue bash.

CSA Group, a leading certification and testing organization, offers these important tips for a safe, seamless summer soiree -- try saying that three times quickly!

Outdoor gas barbecues • Before firing up the grill for the first time, carefully inspect burners and burner tubes for blockages due to dirt, grease, insects or rust build-up. Clean or replace any blocked parts with certified replacement parts (or have a licensed technician

do it).

• Check for cracked, brittle or leaking hoses by applying a 50/50 solution of soap and water to hoses and fittings.

Turn on the main gas or propane valve while leaving burners off. Any leaks will show up as bubbles. Replace any damaged hoses or fittings.

• Propane cylinders must be replaced every 10 years.

A date stamp on the cylinder indicates when it was purchased. Do not use a rusty or damaged cylinder. If in doubt, replace your tank.

• Keep grills and barbecues away from combustible ma-

terials such as fences, trees, buildings, awnings and carports.

• No matter how hard it’s raining, never use a barbecue in a garage.

Decorative lighting • It’s time to remove the holiday lights. These lights are designed to be temporary and can be a fire hazard if left out too long.

• When installing decorative lighting on patios or along walkways, inspect the packaging and electrical cords to make sure that it’s certified and marked for use in an outdoor or wet location.

• Turn off the electricity

supply before the work begins and unplug lights when possible.

• Carefully inspect lights and lamps to make sure there are no broken or cracked sockets or housings, and no bare or frayed wires.

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Community garden in Expositor Square, downtown Little Current NEMI councillor Melissa Peters and Wendy Gauthier organize community gardeners to plan and care for the town’s flowerbeds. This year The Expositor staff mounted a living window display with their Seedling Identification Challenge. Most of the resulting seedlings are now in this community garden. There were twelve different plants and the top entries with nine correct were Carol Hill and Natalie and Gino.

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...Trees provide a credible alternative for all your home building needs ...continued from page 7

people tend to shy away from preserved wood construction when it comes to foundations—but that comes mostly from being unfamiliar with the concept.

“You can build a wood structure of two, three or four levels,” said Mr. Pearce. “You can build it out of two-by-sixes or twoby-eights with five-eighths plywood—that’s about as technical as it gets.”

Among the benefits of a preserved wood foundation, constructing a wooden foundation, is that the construction takes up about 100 square-feet less in space, leaving more space equal to a good-sized room available within the walls.

The wood framing of the basement also means that a second interior wall does not have to be constructed

within the concrete shell— that makes drywalling and finishing the basement lower level a snap.

“Even if the construction of the building is wood log, it can still look beautiful and smooth with drywall on the inside, with nice floral wallpaper if you like.”

Mr. Pearce went on to note that the ubiquitous and literally ‘green’ tree performs a number of functions that make our lives better while it grows in the forest as well. “Carbon sequestration,” he said. “The tree works very hard for you to reduce pollution.”

But the indirect benefits of utilizing alternative methods of construction don’t end in the field or forest.

“It takes about 6,000 megajoules of energy to produce one ton of concrete,” he said. “It takes 115 megajoules to produce one ton

of straw. One ton of straw goes a lot further than one ton of concrete.” Those old English cottage roofs have a lot going for them.

“Everybody knows that to build a house you first put down a pad of concrete,” said Mr. Pearce. “In my mind, that is just because of fashion.”

Wood flexes under the stress of shifting ground, he noted, making wood construction a better bet in earthquake prone regions.

In an energy-starved future, the renewable resources of wood and straw will come back into favour, predicts Mr. Pearce.

“We need to go back to the past to find the way we did things before we developed cheap fossil fuel sources of energy,” he said. The benefits? “Well, cozy is a good word in a home,” he said.

“And wood is cozy.”

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The Diary of an Old Fellow LOVE’S LABOUR LOST

The big barn shifted just a foot or two And she screamed and groaned like lost ships do As she slowly lost her lines so true Standing square and alone in the blast.

The crumbled concrete stable cracked, The snow on her roof pushed down on her back, And the relentless wind wailed through the cracks As the snow drifted in on the mow...

The big barn sang her death song well And she sang it long before she fell For it’s hard to break the “standing spell” Of love and labour’s hand.

Charlie Smith (Adapted) As always, Northern Ontario’s Charlie Smith writes with acute imagery and an abiding interest in everyday events. Written over a decade ago about the ruin of the great Island barns, the image he portrayed so tellingly then is now becoming all too apparent to others.

Increasingly across Manitoulin Island the derelict remains of barns, brought down through lack of maintenance and changing needs, speak of a disappearing way of life. Many residents feel

a keen of regret over the loss of those wonderful old hand-crafted structures that once challenged the winds sweeping across this broad, open island. ****** Offered in the words of one who was there, the following examines the other side of the story. Here we look at the craftsmanship and dedication that went into the construction of the great barns in the days when they were monuments to progress. ******

by Doreen Bailey live with an oldster who lifts barns.

My husband, Les, who is closing in on his 87th birthday, just came in to discuss his day and casually announced, “Well, I lifted the barn at Dad’s place this afternoon. A cedar post at the north end of the stable was starting to go at the butt, and needed the wooden plate at the bottom replaced - so I lifted the barn and put in a new plate. Those posts are over 65 years old and any one of them has done well to hold up for this long!”

I was stunned at his having performed what seemed an unbelievable task. “You did what - lifted a barn? And all by yourself? How ever did you do that!!!”

“Yep,” he replied, “I’ve done it before in other barns.” (In other words, ‘No sweat!’) “All it takes is a barn jack under the sagging corner. Today with nobody else there I put a long lever in the jack and pumped on the lever myself until that corner of the barn lifted up.”

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Page 16 - Manitoulin Spring/Summer Source Book

“Oh, really!!!! That’s awe- inches across. I remember some!” the winter he cut them. It “What is awesome,” he was down at the Blackburn said, “is how Dad cut the field. I’d do up the chores logs for the stable all by every morning while Dad himself with a one-man saw. would go to the bush. When They were oak (good heavy, I’d arrive with the horses hard wood - and good heavy he’d have that day’s logs all hard work to cut way he 1cut, trimmed and Candy Cakes SSBthe 2014_Layout 14-05-29 12:52 PM ready Page 1to did.) They were at least 20 use. We’d roll them up onto

is on

the sleigh’s bunks and head for home. Our barn was getting underway!!”

“Yep, those oak tree trunks, joining butt-to-top in a long single strand down the length of the barn, form what is called a mudsill. It stretches from the top of the ...continued on page 18

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...The Diary of an Old Fellow ...continued from page 16

cement foundation at one end of the barn right down to the other end. Its job is to hold the walls apart and prevent the foundation from falling in. Inside those walls you put the stable to keep your cattle, and above it you build the big wooden part of the barn where you store your hay for the winter. In our barn we put two strings of mudsills down the length of the barn and they are still there doing their job today.”

“Naturally you have to keep the mudsills from sagging through their long stretch, so cedar posts are wedged under them to prop them up from below. As I said, the posts have been jacking up our mudsills for over 65 years and only now one post is finally starting to show some rot at the butt.

So, a “lift” today and a fresh wooden plate and up goes the barn, straight and true again.”

Then he went on, “Taking out the spruce for the barn that year turned out to be pretty awesome too. Now spruce isn’t known for use around moisture like you find in stables because it rots easy. But those were “old growth” spruce, which makes them very resistant to weathering since they don’t have much sap. So we wanted them to make window casings for the stable. They were huge trees and Dad cut them with a one-man saw too.

They were down in the swamp behind Sharkie’s place but the snow was so deep down there that year Dad couldn’t drive

the sleighs through to get them. So he dropped off the sleighs and stood on that system of harnesses behind the horses called the “double trees,” and in that way got the timber out. All the work was worth it though, because today our spruce window casings are still standing up to the moisture that always collects inside stable windows.”

“Now that’s timber. And that’s Dad. And that’s awesome.”

To which opinion I added my own, “Well, we all have our heroes, and I know an old fellow who’s pretty awesome himself.” ****** We leave the last words on barns, dreams and a changing way of life to Charlie Smith--an awesome fellow in his own right.

Dreams die hard in Ontario Where the western gales so steady blow And the land is six months under snow.

Mortality’s at hand.

****** I am particularly pleased to showcase Charlie’s work with this article not only because he happens to be my brother, but because he is a consummate weaver of words whose insight cautions the complacent. He uses ordinary street-corner language to interpret ordinary events that, like all such things, vary from the warmly humane to the shockingly brutal. That he portrays the lovely and the ugly, side by

side, sharpens both aspects, and makes him an anomaly among writers. Ultimately, with its multiple strands, his poetry celebrates life in our very special part of the world.

Addendum: Although written some years ago, Charlie’s words below resonate with global issues of grave concern today.

LULLABY FOR TODAY Don’t you worry, we’ll keep you safe Go to sleep and dreaming The Bogey Man won’t get you here We’ve foiled him in his scheming.

We’ve bombed the cities where he hides, We’ve turned the hills to burning And while we watch - you darlings rest, We’ve stifled all his turning.

We’ll root him out of the rocks and caves If we turn the earth to sorrow; We’ll open up the mail and we’ll listen in...

Don’t worry about tomorrow...

Charlie Smith Enjoy more of Charlie’s poems, written from his farm on Birch Lake Rd., Massey.

The barn poem is from his book ‘The Beast that God has Kissed’ (The reference of course is to ordinary man, the creature God has blessed

with a human spirit.) His other books are ‘Through Ten Long Miles of Night’ and ‘Tag Alder Tales,’ all published by Your Scrivener Press, Sudbury.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Doreen Bailey is a retired educator and a lifelong field naturalist. She is a member of the Manitoulin Writers’ Circle.

Ms. Bailey and her husband Les Bailey (the barn lifter) live in their country home near Evansville in BurpeeMills.

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Ready your bike and explore all Manitoulin has to offer this summer ...continued from page 10

are a few things a cyclist should pack before hitting the road, including water, a snack, a spare tire tube and a pump.

There are many different tour options available through the Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates-published map, which can also be purchased on their website at www. manitoulincycling.com for $2 and is also available at stores throughout Manitoulin.

Tours titled ‘short and sweet’ by the advocates, here are good suggestions for beginners.

Beginning on Government Road in Tehkummah, turn south and ride along the winding Manitou River on Michael’s Bay Road. It will bring you down to beautiful Michael’s Bay on Lake Huron.

Another option is nine ki-

lometres west of Evansville, on Highway 540, where you can take the Murphy Point Road south to Mac’s Bay Provincial Conservation Reserve and back along Highway 540.

Sticking to the West End, four kilometres east of Silver Water, also on Highway 540, take the Cook’s Dock Road to Cook’s Bay, and then back to Highway 540.

While in the vicinity, at Silver Water leave Highway 540 and take the road straight ahead to the Silver Lake Road. Turn north and follow the road along the east side of the lake back to Highway 540 “through some of the most fascinating cottage land.” Turn right and take Highway 540 back to your starting point.

Or, you can start in Sandfield and ride north to the East Road. Follow this winding, country road through enchanting, mixed forest to

the Silver Bay Road. Turn left and then right at Mill Road and follow the signs to Timberlane Rustic Lodges.

As for Mr. Brankley’s preferred sojourns, he recommends summiting McLean’s Mountain (just west of Little Current), heading the short distance east on Green Bush Road then taking a right onto Burnett’s Sideroad. This leads you into the village of Sheguiandah care of Townline Road, which he enjoys exploring.

“The quiet roads of Tehkummah are a favourite of mine too,” he adds.

As for cycling as transportation, Mr. Brankley, who does not own a motorized vehicle and only uses pedal power, wouldn’t see it any other way.

“I try to convey to people that it can be done; it’s a different mindset and state, but it can be done.”

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