Old Ironmaker

I have to pick up my boat Friday. The tank is absolutely empty, had all the old gas pumped out. I am filling it, the 5 gallon kicker tank to the brim with hi test. I am filling all my gas cans and plan to go into CTC and buy a few of the biggest they have, if they have any. I'm sure we aren't the only ones taking advantage of these prices. CDN dollar below 70 cents today, not good. I was in Proctors Marine last week. They have a brand spanking new deep and wide 19.5' Crestliner on a tandem trailer there with a big arse 4 stroke bolted to it. 200 HP Merc. List price was $65,000.00 on sale for the high 40's. That is a deal for that boat. Last year I saw a 17 footer there with side council and a 90 Evinrude 4 stroke for 40K. Do they even sell 2 strokes any longer? If anyone is thinking about pulling the trigger on a new boat last years models are the ones to get. With the very low dollar anything coming across the boarder is going to cost big time. They had a massive 250 HP Evinrude there on a stand. Those things are bigger than the 1st car I bought when I was a kid in high school, 67' MGB.

Did got to Sobeys today in Dunnville. It is next to Canadian Tire. It sure looked like business as usual with the number of cars in each lot. In and out ASAP. 99% of pasta was sold out and frozen veggies and cans of soup other than that the shelves were full. Plenty of everything. The lady there said stock was very low on Monday before their big Monday shipments came in. My wife gave me a bottle of hand sanitizer. I am to use it before getting into the car each and every time. A good habit for us all. I had to drop the boat off today for a new cover, the fuel tank is empty. The only plus to this entire thing is the price of gas, saw 87.9 today, I can't remember when it was below a buck. When I pick it up Friday I will fill the main tank and the kicker tank to the brim as well as all my gas cans. I may even go to CTC and buy a few 5 gallon cans, if they have any. I'm sure many are stocking up with the way gas prices are today. Oil even lower per barrel than yesterday. CDN dollar below 70 cents USD today. Our PM is actually doing something for everyone and Ford has impressed me as well. Getting the relief will be a chore I'm sure. Try getting someone on the phone at the bank, good luck. I was told on the recording wait times were 2 hours for Scotia Bank. It's been a few years now that you can't call a Scotia branch directly all calls go through a main number. When I don't show up for my appointment I think they will know why. Big Cliff, I am so happy you made it back safe and sound. Welcome home big guy.

That's why you always travel with a few sleeping bags, and of course Gold Bond.

Just thought about this today as we were talking about a trip north to Lady Elenore Lodge (sic) Great prices. My BIL law went last spring and loved it . I'm sure they are getting hit as much as any other business. Call. Get 1st hand info. We need to support all Ontario businesses. That are open!

These hotels above sound like 5 star establishments compared to some of the dives I have stayed in around the World. I''ll tell about a few. The list is long. Quinte Hotel, circa 87'. Had a weekend off and decided to go to our camp on the Ottawa. It took 10 hrs to get to Bellville. It's a long weekend and it's 11PM. The only place I could find was the Quinte Hotel downtown. The guy at the desk was hammered, and not on booze. His drug kit was sitting on the counter he forgot to stash. He asks how many hours do I need it for? I ask about a room, 50 bucks cash. I asked for a key, no lock just use the dead bolt. But the rooms not ready because the guy in it has it for another 1/2 hour. I didn't pay him and slept in the car at the Mall. Niagara Falls NY. 2 couples, dates not wives, we were cheap recently divorced guys doing a winter weekend in the Falls, 1989, it's 2AM and too under the influence to drive . I must have passed this hotel hundreds of times on my way to my Grand Parents in North Tonawanda since I was a kid and thought it might be nice and took a cab to this place which I knew was close and described it to the cabby, he made a double take and asked " You sure pal?". The foyer looked nice and we get 2 rooms, cash only I can't remember how much but cheap. The clerk hands us sheets, blankets and pillows and some kind of menu over the counter and a flashlight each. The elevator is out and walk the 3 floors up. Not many lights work in the hallway thus the flashlights. The rooms, OMG. The mattresses were against the wall and had to put them in the frames. The tub, sink were full of stanky, skanky water, kind of matched the dates. Toilets OK. No toilet paper, paper towel roll, 2 grey towels hanging. The phone rings and the guy asks if we have chosen anything from the menu, I tell him we don't want room service at 2:30 AM. I set the clock for 6AM and we got out of Dodge before we sobered up. I forgot to leave the menu and found it in my bag a few days later. It was a menu for drugs with code names. Wowza. I'm glad the Customs guy didn't find it. We would have had some esplainin' to do. Went for breakfast at the Space Ship and stayed in a nicer hotel on our side that night.

For Owners Repair Daily. It's old but still applies. Every F-150 I see is different the last one I saw or the next one I will see. I saw a show on TV and they said new F-150 buyers have over 950 choices of trim and options to make their truck unique. That is kind of cool this Chevy driver must admit. The major reason I chose a Silverado was the price. More than 10K less than my next door neighbours F-150 he bought a few months new before I did, basically the same options etc. other than the plastic wood grain. GM gave me $3500.00 for a retire your GM product. 89' GMC Sierra that was worth scrap price.

I was always getting upset at my wife when she found good sales on stuff at her store, Shoppers, and loaded up on the stuff from dry food goods to cleaning products and yes, toilet paper. There isn't 1 case of Corona Virus in Haldimand Norfolk county. SDM gives daily updates to their employees and I am very happy about that, so many rumours. SDM is taking the Health and Safety of employees and customers very seriously and that's a good thing. What isn't a rumour is today the CEO Dalen Weston sent a letter "to Shoppers employees saying they will have a period of time during the day where Sr's only will be allowed to shop in the stores depending on demand. I can see it in the big cities but not out here in the boonies. Something to pass onto friends and families. Thousands will be laid off this week in Ontario, 10's of thousands. If for some reason employees hours are cut or "temporary layoffs" are given employees have rights in Ont. not often common knowledge. Any cut in hours is deemed to be "constructive dismissal" and the employee can demand severance. There is NO such thing in Ontario as a "temporary" layoff. An employer has no obligation to rehire an employee unless it is a clause in a collective bargaining agreement or employee contract. The employee can demand severance as well when given the pink slip. I recommend consulting a labour lawyer before applying for E.I. Many offer free consultation today. This can all be seen on the MOL website, don't take my word for it. Also if hours are cut back, shift schedules change drastically or layoffs are handed out I would consult a reputable Labour Lawyer immediately, never sign anything before seeing a lawyer. I recommend Ed Canning in the Hamilton area, he was offering the 1st consult at no charge. The name of the labour lawyer in the GTA that impresses me is Lior Samfiru. I predict current legislation may be temporarily changed during this unprecedented time in our business world. edit: Now they are urging Sr's to shop the 1st hour the stores are open. along with anyone else. It is the least busy hour of the day and they are offering bonus points and some discounts of up to 20%. Johnny D.

400 cases reported in Canada this afternoon, this morning was about 370. With a population of 37 million what is the percentage. My arithmetic isn't what it used to be. .0001%? What CBC reported as to what the PM was going to say during his presser was not accurate whatsoever. I won't even repeat it, that's how rumours start. Trump actually sounded like a normal person during his press conference. Mike Pence is impressive to me. I have never heard him speak since elected. Good move to have him head up this task force, he seems to be a good organizer. Dr. Tony Fauci is a Superstar. He isn't afraid to correct false statements. No matter who said them.

There are going to be little bumps and bangs in a new 4X4. I had the same thing with my Chevy Silverado when new. A definite bang shifting into reverse, a little hesitation in some shifts in the tranny. I took it in when it had less than 500KMS for that 1st service and the dealer said it was normal. It all stopped at around 5K or so if I can remember that far back. No worries. I have no idea how many Lts/100k's I get. It's a 350 V8 4X4 full size 1/2 ton truck. When the fuel gauge says I need gas I fill it up. Don't become one of these guys that are consumed by gas mileage. I was glad it didn't have the onboard mileage thing. What are you going to do if it isn't great, trade it in nearly new? It isn't a VW Bug. Enjoy.

We will find out at 1PM. My wife works at a Shoppers. I'm sure they aren't going to keep the make up counter open. Man I'm not prepared for her to be sequestered with me for more than a few hours at a time. It's not like when she's off or on vacation but we have to suck it up and do our part. If you have elderly neighbours reach out to them, they need our help. I am going to the store latter to get my 88 year old next door neighbours who lives alone list of stuff she needs. IA small gesture that means a lot to her, her son lives in Florida. I have a few Comfo 2 respirators with type 2 and 3 cartridges, nothing is getting through those bad boys. Want to bet masked criminals will start jacking up pharmacies now as wearing masks is normal.

Cliff come home, what are you waiting for? My brother lives in St. Kitts and said the Lewiston Queenston bridge had cars lined up as far as he could see from the Parkway. CNN reported this AM we are 6 months from repealing some of the measure the Govs have made up until now. The "shot" for Corona virus is about 12 months away down from 18 months last week.

I had to extend my health insurance once when it was going to run out in the US, Blue Cross, did it over the phone in a few minutes. Don't worry.

Impossible with the 3' minimum distance suggested by all the Docs. Unless things have changed with all this online romancing.

Congrats on everything Geoff. About time is right! Love that ride. I have always been a GM kinda guy. Dad was a GM man from day 1 as Mom and his main ride. The very 1st memory I have of our family car was a beautiful 55 Chevy, 2 door hardtop. Predominantly Forest Green with a white roof and white body accents. Would that be nice today or what?. I know it had leather interior because I remember I liked the taste of leather and I would chew on the backs of the front seat. Come on I was 2. All those Ram Rodders and Foolish-150 owners are jealous of that beauty you have now. That colour I used to call Blackberry, on black it is a head turner. I am still driving my 011 Silverado my wonderful wife bought me brand new, my 1st ever brand new vehicle I ever had. With all this talk of doom and gloom last night we were talking and we said maybe it's time to trade her in and get into a nice new Caddy SUV. I've had a few huge Caddies, my wife called the 81 Eldorado "The Love Barge." You will love her, the new bride too, good luck to you both. edit: Be careful backing up, those tail lights ain't cheap. Please don't ask me why. I paid 200 bucks less for my 1st car, a 66' MGB. I just looked at the pics again. That is one mean machine Geoff me boy. Maybe a Sierra. I had a 89' Sierra short box step side before this Chevy, traded her in on the Chevy with 400,000 miles on the 350, couldn't kill it. Think hard about the underbody protection. I didn't get it but now think I should have. Maybe not from the dealer, shop around with the aftermarket guys if you are interested.

Why not? Just as the US administration waved or at least shorted the red tape required for approvals normally requiring months minimally to approve the testing methods quickly developed by Roche Pharmaceuticals in a few days the same can be done for building new hospitals. Not buildings we would normally refer to as traditional hospitals but more in line with military M.A.S.H. units. No need for the endless permits required under The National Building Codes, traditional permits and requirements normally associated with building a "hospital." Simply areas where those suffering the conditions of Covid 19, areas where the afflicted can be isolated from the general public. Those elderly patients with severe conditions due to the pandemic are basically on death beds unfortunately from what I have learned. Individuals of the average age of 65 suffering severe raspatory failure, severe pneumonia. There is no cure at this time for Covid 19 and severe patients are being kept as comfortable as can be. There was no cure for an 85 year old with severe pneumonia before this pandemic ever started. If a cure came out today the severe cases of those in critical respitory failure may not pull through regardless. It becomes a matter of triage. Isolation of the afflicted is the key right now and the best medical treatment must be given to those that have the best chance of survival. Just as is done in battlefield medicine. John, where did you come across the chart "Disease Deaths per day Worldwide?" Is it fact or something someone made on a Word program? Give me a few minutes and I can make any chart showing any data I want to. We have to be careful. My wife came home with some information that would normally boggle the mind. People hear something from someone whos brother in law is a Government official and not to tell anyone else and before anyone has left the lunchroom it is a fact that they will say they heard Dr. Sanjay Gupta say it on CNN. We all have to be responsible.

We have plenty of Maple leaf's sitting on the ground so we won't be needing toilet paper if we run out. Besides we have a huge pile of washable micro cloths and plenty of water in the lake behind our shack. People make me shake my head sometimes. Don't touch my Charmin!! If this virus morphs into something that gets into the food chain we won't need anything bathroom related because there won't be anything to eat anyway. Are we so language lame that we need an acronym for freeking toilet paper too? Acronyms are the real threat to the human race not a lack of TP.

I am getting a new Sunbrella travel cover done for my StarCraft Superfisherman 190 next week for $750.00. That is a very fair price after pricing one for a few years. If anyone is interested in getting a new cover PM me and I will give you their number. They are in Dunnville. I have nothing to do with their business other than as a customer. I have seen the work they do and was impressed. Johnny D

I can count on 1 hand the number of times I wet a line in the last 2 years for one reason or another. I too thought I was retired. If I wasn't out on the boat I was wading in the water in our back yard catching Smallie, Perch, Rock Bass, huge Carp or Farm animals. So I decided to make a comeback this year, body is feeling better. So since the StarCraft hasn't had the bottom of the hull wet for 2 years I took it into the area Marine dealer to make sure she is ready to go. My marine guru and buddy as well with my assistance I haven't had to see a Marine dealer for years. The ""Boat Whisperer"" Ted's health has gone for a bad turn this past winter and he sold his shop where we did all the work. He is doing better but not up to helping me or anywhere to do it nice and warm and dry. Dry as in not getting wet. As they say use it or lose it. From draining old fuel and looking into a bilge pump problem those 2 little jobs turned into a $975.00 bill I paid on Monday. But look at all the money I didn't spend in the last 2 years. It is what it is. Now I can take Ted out for a few Erie Walleye this summer. He is also "" The Pic Whisperer"" Can't wait to hit some Perch 1st at Georgina ASAP.

My thinking exactly Fisherman, postpone for now. Even if the risk of a large gathering has diminished by the time her day has arrived the couple will need to make a decision ASAP. Not something one can postpone a week before the event without huge ramifications and associated costs for both the couple, the Family and guests. Her Father told me today that she is devastated. In the scheme of all things it's easy for someone to tell her that her nuptials are not as important as the Health and Safety of her loved ones that are to attend. But try telling that to a 24 year old bride to be. We will be visiting them this Sunday.

This is a historic time in our modern society. Most of us are boomers or of later generations. The last time in history that society has been effected this much would be WW2 in my estimation. Cancelling any function where large numbers are involved is prudent. My God Daughter's wedding is coming up in mid April. 300 invited, what to do?

I haven't been to Hamilton for a month. I drove a neighbour to the Ham. airport yesterday to go back to Florida. The airport parking lot was full to the brim. Someone is travelling somewhere. I went to my club after I dropped him off and James St. N. was thriving, people everywhere, strolling shopping whatever. I didn't see one person in Hamilton with a mask on. They make them tough in downtown Hammertown. My wife is a manager at a national brand pharmacy. She said there was a near riot in her store with people hoarding paper products. They started limiting tissues and toilet paper and customers were losing it. Boomers are the 1st generation that did not have to go to war. I was just old enough to go to Viet Nam in grade 12. My many American cousins were too young to go as well. I believe this is the 1st time many of us my age, 65, and everyone younger has had to deal with a Global wide situation as in this pandemic that has the possibility to effect everyone on the planet. Not just something seen on the 24 hour news cycle half way around the globe that does not effect someone each and every day. It is now and most of us have never felt vulnerable in such a way. Without getting political there is no assurance from our leaders to quell the panic that is setting in. It isn't going to get better just yet. But I do believe in the brilliant scientists we have across the globe. This may just be the type of thing that brings us all a bit closer together as a species, I hope it does because we have never been so divided religiously, racially and politically as we have been as of late. . I heard every conceivable theory from North Korea spreading the decease by exploding missals in the atmosphere to aliens spreading it globally to exterminate us all to take our natural resources. We have cancelled our trip to the Dominican Republic at the end of the month. If mankind survives we will go in the Fall. In the meantime I'll just do what I do all winter, stay home, read a book and delete all my international and national news channels. I'll check in next month.

Good point Paul. You always have a good point. I hope they can help your young friend. As you may know I have family and friends in Youngstown and I am told that the Cleveland hospitals are top notch. One of my pals lost both legs when a woman putting on her makeup came around the corner and pinned him against a cement truck, airlifted to a Cleveland hospital where they saved his life.

I agree BOQ has bigger as in fatter fish, through the ice. We fished Big Island for years evert spring and the sizes averaged 2.5 pounds. Any day on Erie the average size is 5 lbs. Probably more. This past year however sizes were down but the # of fish caught everyday even by newbies were ridiculous.

Not sure where Huzz lives, T.O. I think. 30 bucks in gas for 12 cars $360.00. Probably more like 50. $600.00. Yep charter a bus. Maybe 2 if Brian tags along.