Wednesday, December 23, 2009


We used to take the Hollyburn ferry to the North Shore and hike out to Whytecliffe park. Sometimes we would walk along the railway tracks. The train didn't run during this time. It was when I was fourteen or fifteen. If we wanted to catch a ride we would walk along Marine Drive and get a ride easily. The walk along Marine was easy because along each side of the road there was a strip of concrete. It was surprisng to see it covered up by blacktop. Along the road one of the few houses we'd see on the waterfront was the one now for sale for 7 million dollars, near West Bay. There wasn't much else on the water, the entire way to Whytecliffe Park. Captain Snoddy built the house in 1929. He was a harbour pilot who was fired when he ran a ship aground. He had been drinking. At Whytecliffe we'd camp overnight under the water tower, then hike home the next day.

Sunday, December 13, 2009


After the War, I visited Dad on Skye. He had been there for a few months and I was on leave from my outfit that was stationed in Holland and waiting to be shipped back to Canada. I took a bit of a chance leaving them as any day we could have been sent home. I got back to Holland before they left. We returned on the Queen Mary, or maybe the Queen Elizabeth. I can't remember. I know I've travelled on both boats. Once going over to Europe and the other returning to Canada. My dad was stuck in Europe. He had to wait until the troops all got home before he could sail home himself. While I was with Dad on Skye, a friend of his and I, along with Dad, visited Dunvegan Castle and the McCrimmon Cairn. While we stood by the cairn, a McCrimmon stepped from the house on the hillside and began piping. The McCrimmons are legendary pipers.