april 08, 2009 12:25am
July 30, 2008 Good-bye Fredericton, hell
Wednesday. July 30, 2008.
Good-bye Fredericton, hello Saint John.
This day started with the drive to Saint John. I stopped at Gagetown for a look see. I drove around the base taking pictures and getting some strange looks. But nobody said anything so I kept taking pictures. As usual I took a wrong turn and as I was leaving the base and drove the wrong way for about five Km's. I got back on the highway for the trip to Saint John. As I was driving I had a little tape left over so I decided to make a little segment on the trip so far. I found that enjoyable. But I must polish my on camera skills.
When I arrived in Saint John I started looking for my first Legion stop. I found out that in Saint John they have a toll bridge, my first. I paid the toll and set out across to downtown Saint John. I had a little trouble finding the Legion, but eventually I found it and it was closed for good. I called command and apparently the branch was closed because of a mismanagement issue. As I was going to the next Legion on my list I pasted the Saint John Chronicle Herald office. So I stooped in and asked to talk to someone in the newsroom. A young enthusiastic reporter came out to talk to me He turned out to be a bike enthusiast who also owns a very rare Norton, called a Highboy. We talked about his bike and some other bike stuff. He took down all of my information and gave me some contact names in the area.
I headed across the bridge and paid another toll. I asked the girl in the booth where the legion was, she gave me good directions and I found it. It was closed for the afternoon, so I headed for the next one. I pulled up in the parking lot and talked to the bartender. He said it was OK with him if I set up the blue bomber in the upper parking lot. After setting up, I went back into the Legion. I asked if I could join the table of people sitting in front of the bar. I latter found out that this table was called the B--- S--- table. I sat down and it felt like home.
I met a guy how was a vet of the peace time army named Jim Irving and a guy who was spent a number of years in the navy and then became a Montreal cop. The first guy invited me to a weekly meeting with a bunch of veterans that get together every Thursday at noon for lunch called “Ex Service Members Lunch Crew” In Saint John. He asked me if I was ever in the military, I said no and he said he would not hold that against me because in order to attend this luncheon you must have served in the military. But because of the mission that we are on, he said that I could attend.
Saint John is a great city. I met lots of great people on my first day in town.
When I latter went up the hill to the RV I found that I could not get on the Internet. The Rogers remote Internet does not work in small towns. But Saint John is not a small town so I must be in a dead zone. I will try again tomorrow.
It's time to hit the hay aHHHHHH. Good night.
