The Lansdowne Letters: Human Refuse 5 Revisited ~ Heading Out

I didn't dare mention how long I'd be traveling,
first to Alaska and then to Nova Scotia;
but the end of my trips are in sight!

Here is a repost of my Human Refuse 5 post,
first published on 4/15/13:

Hi Darling: 
wrote my father to my mother
on Thursday, September 8, 1960.

Well, the convention is all over,
and tomorrow morning 
I set off for Nakina at 6:15 a.m.

I catch the Algoma Central Railroad train
from Sault Ste. Marie to Oba
and then catch the CNR to Nakina.

Stops Along ACR:Source:  Wikipedia

The distance from Sault Ste. Marie to Hearst is about 344 miles (553 km) by road.

Oba is about 90 mi (145 km) SSW of Hearst.

Nakina is about 190 mi (306 km) NW of Oba.

(Maps are hard to come by!)

                                                                                 

                                                                                             

        Nakina to the left.
        Ontario Highway 584
        between Geraldton
        and Nakina above.


    Canadian National Railroad Station, Nakina
    http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nakina_ON.JPG
    http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hwy_584_ON.JPG

I will probably be one or two days in Nakina
before a plane can be chartered
to take me in to Lansdowne House.

A charter plane will be necessary
because I will have missed 
the regular weekly mail run
which flies every Friday.

Bush Plane with Pontoons for Landing on Water

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FQI_Fly.jpg

You will only be hearing from me
once a week after I get in there 
because of the weekly mail run on Friday.

However, each weekly letter will be quite long
because I plan to write some every night or so.

I would like you to mail letters regularly, Darling.
If you only sent one a week, 
and it didn't happen to to catch the mail run,
I would be heartbroken.

Mom and Dad

Before Kiddos!

As for me, there's no chance
that I would miss the mail run.
From what I can gather, 
the arrival and departure of the weekly mail run 
is the zenith of excitement at Lansdowne House,
and all events are referred to as
before mail plane
or after mail plane.

Tell the bank manager that I will be paid 
on a 10 month basis and will be sending
more than $300 monthly down to N.S.
I have to send it all, or nothing,
so my whole salary will be sent to Digby,
and I will write a cheque 
once a month to cover my expenses.

A World Away from Northern Ontario

 O'Neil Fisheries Ltd., Digby

However, Darling, you carry on as planned
with your $200 per month.
We will just let the rest accumulate
to live on in July and August.

Tell the bank manager that I have arranged 
to have all my cheques sent to Digby.
However, tell him that it will be 
God only knows when he will receive
formal notice to that effect
because all such notifications have to originate 
with the Treasury Board at Ottawa,
and you know how long anything takes
to get through Ottawa.

Canadian Money

Source:  Answers.com

Now there's a big woops!

Thanks for the LOL comment to set me straight,

She Who Seeks!

Let's try a real iconic Canadian coin,

even if it wasn't around in 1960:

You've Got to Love Loonies!

Should Have Gone to Wikimedia Commons

in the First Place!

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_loonie.jpg

After the convention was over,
I wandered down to the river
and watched the Great Lake water traffic
going through the Sault Ste. Marie locks
which were built to navigate
the Ste. Marie rapids
between Lake Huron and Lake Superior. 

Soo Locks and International Bridge
Source:  Wikimedia Commons

                   

Sault Ste. Marie

Source:  Google

There is a rise of about 28 feet between
Lake Huron and Lake Superior.  
There are (I think) 
five steps in the locks,
and when I was there,
there was a boat in every step up the river side
and two lakers and an ocean going freighter 
tied up and waiting their turns.
There were also three boats coming through the locks
in the downstream side.
It is all very fascinating.

A Boat Pulls into the Poe Lock

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_boat_for_2012_%287011598655%29.jpg

When we come up next year,

I believe we will fly to Sault Ste. Marie

and spend a couple of days sightseeing.

There are little boats that take you on a tour

of the locks and the rapids.

I believe that the children and you would enjoy it.

I was too busy to take the trip myself.

Talking about next year,

Mr. Foss told me that the material 

for the new teacher's residence 

is going to be hauled in this winter,

and that it will be built and ready

for occupancy next year;

so I will be able to have you all up with me.

Unfortunately, I don't think they build

residences with three bedrooms,

so we might have to double up some way,

but it will be better than being separated.

The rent for a furnished residence 

is somewhere between $40 or $60 per month.

That's even better than PMQs.

(Permanent Married Quarters ~ military)

Alfred Hitchcock's movie "Psycho"

is playing in the theatre right next to the hotel,

and I am going to see it tonight.

They say it is terrific,

if you can stand the suspense.

Wish you were here with me.

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho Trailer

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alfred_Hitchcock%27s_Psycho_trailer.png

You can start writing to me, Darling.

My mailing address is

Lansdowne House

via Nakina, Ontario.

Well, I must sign off now and get this mailed

and get off to see "Psycho."

Bye now, Darling,

Love,

Don

Somehow things never go according to plans!

To be continued...

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue