Big Cliff

From the looks of it there are plenty of us checking every few minutes LOL.

LOL. and I amaze you???????

Good for you for having the foresight! We don't get old until we stop growing! At 68 I can't do as much as I did when I was 58 but I can still do a lot more than many that are only 48!

How many of the members here have made radical changes in their careers after they have raised their families? I spent most of my working life in middle of senior management positions eventually starting my own company, In 2003, I sold my business thinking that retirement was the place for me. Well, that lasted for about 6 months, all my friends were still working and I had never been without a job since I was 15 so now I fished, hunted, gardened, did what ever I wanted 7 days a week. That didn't work out so well, I would get up in the morning and had nothing to do, no one was counting on me, no one missed me when I didn't show up, I wasn't needed! I got bored! To be honest I started to become depressed, someone had always needed me or wanted me. I guess that's where I found my selfworth, now it seemed that if I didn't show up, no one cared. Not a good feeling for anyone, even worse when you are the one feeling that way. I tried a bunch of different things; went back to school, worked at and got my license as a small engine technician, it was ok, I liked it but I didn't LOVE it. Then one day as I was sitting reading the local paper I saw an ad for a truck driver. Nothing special, just driving pickup trucks doing what they called expidite runs. You could get called anytime to go wherever and pick up whatever and take it to wherever. The very next morning I applied and much to my amazement I got the job. Oh it was a rough go at first, getting called at 10:00 pm to be in Brampton by 1:00 am to take a load to Tottenham, I never knew where I might havre to go from there. There were some nights that I just kind of shook my head but I did them anyway. It has been a little over a year now, this has to be one of the best jobs I have ever had and it is without a doubt the best company I have ever worked for. They treat me like gold, in fact last week they asked me if I would be comfortable driving a 5 ton (I drove transport for years when I got out of the army LOL. A 5 ton is just a bigger sports car). They leased one for a week just to make sure but after a few runs into TO at night in the rain with no issues, it looks like they are going to be buying it for me. So, after all the years of doing what I had to do to take care of my family, now at 68 years old I am finally doing what I love to do more than anything. I could and have been the president of corporations; I could and have been a licensed small engine technician; I could and have been a lot of things but I LOVE being a truck driver! So, what about you?

Good for you Bernie, us old dogs are never too old to learn a new trick or two! In fact I think we often learn them quicker than the young dogs (now if we could only remember them LOL.) My son works at a camp as the matinance manager in MB, it is a much smaller operation than what you are working with, they just do the core drilling. Three weeks on, one week off and he loves it so much and the money is fantastic. He has asked me a couple of times now if I would be interested in working there as the small engine mechanic but I kind of want to stay here with Sue or I would take him up on it in a heart beat! Anyway my friend it is always nice to hear that someone has finally found their niche in life. We have tried it all, done most of it, and now we have earned the right to do what we want!

Oh Wayne, I can't believe the nonsense Jen (and you guys) have had to put up with in this wonderful medical system we have! My heart and prayers go out to you all and we wish you all the very best!

I have the 2006 450 Sportsman and it has been nothing but fantastic as a work horse.

"Birth control pill threatens fish populations" Look at what it has done for human populations though!

Many years ago just after we had moved to Milton I met up with some guys through a mutual friend. I often heard stories about how this one guy would go into a stream and catch trout with nothing but his bear hands. I just sort of laughed it off as being a good story, I mean who goes trout fishing with nothing but his bear hands but I wouldn't call him a liar. One day he and his brother invited me to go trout fishing with them, boy was I excited, both these boys were legends in the community so I was ready to accept before the words were even finished being spoken. The day came and away we went, all three of us had fishing rods and we started working this nice little stream. We came to a hole in the stream and the one brother tossed his rod onto the bank and started feeling around un the streem under a stump. I watched with great intrest and he suddenly jumped back and said there was a snapping turtle under there! This was a little stream, I had never seen a snapping turtle in such a small stream. Needless to say we didn't catch any trout at that hole and as time went by, I moved further ahead and grew more doubtfull about the stories I'd heard. A while later I back tracked and found the two brothers, they had a couple of small trout which I figured they had just caught on their rods although they both assured me the one brother had caught them bare handed. To be honest I was suspicious but again I had no proof so I kept my mouth shut. Then it happened, we came to a log jam in the creek. Bill got down in the water and started feeling around under the logs. Then he came up and asked me if he could borrow my knife; there was a BIG brown trout under the logs. I thought to myself; sure and this will be anopther one that got away! Well, I have to tell you, it didn't! It was a real beauty! On the way back up the stream we stopped at the hole where he had said the snapping turtle was and sure enough he reached under and came uo with what had to be a 5 or 6 lb snapping turtle! I never doubted their word again when it came to anything related to fishing and hunting and we fished and hunted together for many years after that. Saddly we parted company many years ago, I really don't know why exactly, it was just one of those things where we grew apart, they went their way and I went mine but I still remember many wonderful trips we had together over the years.

Sounds like good fun especially when you aren't doing anything wrong LOL! I did ask a rather cute border guard if she would like to strip search me once, (note to self, DON'T EVER try to joke with border guards, they do not have a sense of humor).

Did you read my post? IT IS FLEMING COLLEGE STUDENTS! It is part of their course and has nothing to do with being native or not.

They don't come any better than Bruce!

It is Fleming college students doing surveys. I have two of them staying with us doing their second year in fish and wild life. I'll talk to them about the "throwing fish" and ask them to pass it on to their instructor that the public isn't impressed.

Yup, you could sharpen chains on my skidway anytime because YOU KNOW how to!

If you think you are going to meet anything other than a tired old man who enjoys sharing some of what he has learned over the years then you are in for one big disapointment my friend!

Keep my number handy and give me a shout anytime you can get up here. Bring your saw with you and I'll show you how to dress your bar properly and go over some tips and tricks for keeping your saw in perfect running condition too.

It isn't rocket science but you are right there is a technique (and a feel) that you have to learn. If you want to take a drive over to Lindsay next weekend, I would be happy to sit down with you and show you how to do it, then it is just a matter of practice. I worked on a skidway in the bush for a few years and one of my jobs was to make sure that all the chains were kept sharp all the time. The electrics are nice and they do a great job (have one myself) but they aren't much good to you when you are back in the bush cutting wood and hit a nail or a bullet in a tree. I should be around all next weekend so if you want to drop by just give me a call. 705-328-0577.

Sounds like you have the baiting figured out Beans. At this rate they will be an endangered species in no time!

That is some beautiful work there! Wood looks good too!

So how goes the mouse hunting?

There is a small island on Sturgeon Lake, it use to be lush and green now it is barren and white. The only life on it is cormorants and a few trees that are fading fast. Every year we see more and more of them, I guess we'll just have to wait until they take over the area before someone does something about it.

The result is the same Bill and if left unchecked they will both have a serious effect on our native fish populations!

MNR will tell you to kill a round goby if you catch one, they are an invasive species. I asked about shooting cormorants and I was told that if I was caught, I'd be charged. When I pointed out that they were also an invasive species the conversation ended right then and there. Anyone know the logic behind that?

I remember seeing something about airboat rides in the Kawarthas last summer I did try searching for information on them but didn't have much success. Hope you get this jerk!

OK, now these traps have the V on them, the first pictures didn't. Did you end up getting different traps? The ones in the above pictures are the ones I always use.