2017 at the Hammond Barn

[Keith Webb]

Really enjoying your posts as I'm sure a lot of others are as well. The coldness of your Canadian winters is almost impossible to imagine to most of my countrymen here in Australia - I see minus 26 a couple of weeks ago... we're going for a top of plus 35C here today!

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on the Cab 11 roof.

[Bob Carriere]

Had to split the Massey in two lasy week to replace the PTO clutch.......

......was so cold one morning..... when I entered the barn I could hear metalic noise coming from the tool chest..... at first I though it might be squirrels.... but to my surprise when opened a drawer...... the pliers were all huddled in a corner and their jaws chattering loudly........
\
Some days it gets so cold...so cold that we have frost on MicroSoft's Windows.

Once Lucifer gets fired up we can get it up to a balmy 60 degrees F and even see the odd pet mosquitoe that flys around.......

Stay tuned for some before pictures......

Cheers

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Really enjoying your posts as I'm sure a lot of others are as well. The coldness of your Canadian winters is almost impossible to imagine to most of my countrymen here in Australia - I see minus 26 a couple of weeks ago... we're going for a top of plus 35C here today!

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress on the Cab 11 roof.

The impressive thing is how productive we can be in spite of the wretched weather. I'm reading a story by a modern day explorer who canoed down a never-before recorded river in Northern Ontario. It was too isolated and black fly infested for normal people to attempt, and because it lies across the Ontario/Quebec border, I presume every surveyor expected it had been done by someone else.

We cannot imagine living in such abject dryness or in a place where everything either wants to sting you or start a fistfight. (The Youtube video of the fellow right jab punching the buck kangaroo got everyone's attention here!)

[rob love]

Personally I have just about had it with winters, and in particular this one.

With the limitations being put on immigration into the US right now, it seems Manitoba is experiencing a bit of a migration from the US. The news reported that Manitoba had 22 refugees sneak across the border on the weekend alone and had this quote from one refugee:

"Farhan Ahmed says he couldn't feel his fingers or his toes as he walked about 12 kilometres along a road."

Get used to that Farhan...that is life in Manitoba. Heck, it was only -20°C out....what is he going to do when it gets cold out.

[Bob Carriere]

.........but Spring is around the corner, most of the snow has turned to mud and will get worst once the ground thaws out and the mud turns to chocolate cake icing.

Positive signs are........ first...

Phil Waterman, lives about 400miles from here, was contacted by someone wishing to save some CMPs from the scrappy....... happens to be just an hours drive from the Barn........ nice how the system works. One Chev, One Ford and one M43 radio truck....... all put away soaking wet many years ago but still they are a source for parts. Plans are to visit soon with a camera and make an offer so we can truck them home.

Second sign of Spring .....

Was referred by Jim Fraser...... a new CMP hobbyist, recently bitten, has brought home what seems to be an early Chev cab 11...... with circular air vents but no marker lights on the front fenders and sporting a woven Ford grill just like mine. Truck was found on a farm North of Toronto....... parked for over 40 years but very complete.....as usual the cargo box was replaced with some other late 30 box but has a 261 engine installed. I will be posting some of his needs pending his membership being approved by MLU moderators.

Third sign of Springs......

...... I am looking forward to returning to the barn for active duty.

I had an unexpected urgent quadruple by-pass on February 16th and so far I am still vertical. Happened so fast had no time to think or get scared.

Getting your breast bone cut open with tin snips, plumbing repaired then sown together with stainless steel wire is an experience. I vaguely remember lying under a Xmas tree holding over 12 tubes all connected to me........ best one is I could pee anytime and not have to get up. Still quite sore but according to the surgeon mending quite well. For a week I hugged a pillow affectionately called "your teddy" ........ no jokes....laughing is a pain..... coughing really gets to you, sneezing unexpectedly like child birth and vomiting.... well would rather not remember. Been over 6 weeks which is about half way but true recovery probably by next Fall in time for felling trees for firewood.

But all this is in the past. The post surgery medication was possibly worst than the operation with all the side effects and that to is gradually improving.

Plans for this year are to finish or refinish and install the roof on my truck..... needs some skin surgery and possibly start repro/reverse engineering a 2B1 cargo box.

Cheers

[Peter Duggan]

Bob,

I was wondering about the low profile from the Hammond garage gang. The joys of our 'golden age'. Glad to hear that you are vertical once again. Hope to see you at some of the events.

Speedy recovery, Peter

[Little Jo]

Hi Bob

Glad to hear you are making a full recovery and I am sure you will be back to normal very soon.I wondered why things were a bit quiet form the barn as I always look forward to your updates. You will have a nice big scar to show off. My best wishes to you Bob and I know you will be straining at the bit to get back to work.

Cheers

Tony.

[rob love]

Geeezuz Bob, take care of yourself. Were you to exit this earth, I would have to suffer the rest of my days knowing I still owe you for your help last fall.

Glad to hear you are on the mend.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Bob,

I hope you are feeling better in the meantime....and you soon have the energy again to work on the hobby again.

Please take care!

Alex