BEHIND THE SCENE

Mr. B received a call from his neighbour on Hulme Creek Road that the Rock Creek fire was coming up the hill and threatening his home.

Mr. B went to assist with his pick-up and loaded water tank.

After battling for a while, very efficient fire bombers flew in and took over.

No longer having electricity for water pumps on the road, Mr. B decided to go down to the highway and travel west one kilometer and re-fill his tank at a neighbour’s. On the way he offered refreshment to the firefighters on the highway.

Upon returning to Hulme Creek Road he was blocked and informed by the Environment Police (officially known as Conservation Officers) that he was not permitted on Hulme Creek Road; it was an evacuation area.

Mr. B explained that he was fighting the fire, that his home was in danger and he had just gone to get more water.

The Environment Police would hear none of it and remained adamant that he would not be getting onto Hulme Creek Road.

Another neighbour, whose house was in far more serious danger, also tried to enter onto Hulme Creek Road at the same time, but was met with the same obstinance.

The situation appeared to be heading into a state of mass inflammation and ugliness as protocol was trying to prevail over people, and regulation was trying to rule over the rights of people to save their homes. To the common man it seemed insanity.

The two blocked men, however, handled it in typical Rock Creek fashion. They left the two over-paid zealots stewing with their inflexible rules and proceeded west to Conkle Lake Road and travelled up to around the 13-km marker. From there they travelled on a narrow, seldom used trail that threaded its way over to Hulme Creek the back way.

Back on their home turf, they fought the fire for two days with many others and saved much.

Rock Creek residents have a history of not wanting government regulation in their lives, particularly when the rules are cumbersome and idiotic.

Sometimes they think it is better to turn their backs on the government and just “shoot, shovel and shut-up”.  

Liberty and common sense still live there.

Some call the ones that fought behind the evacuation lines “rebels”.

Others might call the armed gunman authorities that tried to prevent people from saving their own homes the real criminals, even if they are “legal” ones.

Oh Oh

Sigh

There's nothing better than having a good friend around when you're down and out.

Bookkeeper Trickery

Sense

Poll

Who is Obama's character most like?

http://polarb.com/polls/227124

Illegal WildFire

A wildfire crossed the border illegally from the US near Anarchist Mountain two days ago.

First, it had no valid passport.

Second, it didn’t cross at a sanctioned border crossing.

And third, it didn’t pay duty on its smokes and everyone knows you must pay a lot of duty on smokes when crossing the border.

If caught, it will probably appeal to the Refugee Board and never be sent back.

So Close

Excellent job by fire-fighters.

Suddenly Change Came

This picture says it all to me. Quiet, peaceful, relaxed Rock Creek on a hot summer day --- when suddenly on the horizon of time a massive firestorm erupts from nearly nowhere and rips a community into a mess of destruction almost instantly.

Tomi's Unexpected Final Thoughts

Not Too Far

I had a pleasant encounter with a 73-year-old woman on the steps of city hall.

She said she was born in 1942 in the hospital that was kitty-corner to us. She said it burned down and the senior’s center now sits in its place.

Directly across the street from us is where she went to school. That building has since become the fire hall.

Now we were on the third corner. It was a delightful meeting. And it was very local!

GOOD FORESIGHT

Long ago someone had the foresight to plant these trees, which provide a pleasant barrier between the highway and the ball park.

In Search Of The Town Square ... Part Two

Today’s search was across the highway from the ballpark. Two quiet picnic tables nestle happily under a tree, a third one sits across the field. There are washrooms nearby. There is a lot of space though it looks very dry, which is ironic because it can pool and flood in the spring. Some vehicles stop along the lane and creek behind, and there is some foot traffic, a definite must for a town square. (The ballpark visited earlier had no people.)

Birds sing and it is very pleasant, but noise from the highway disturbs. There is nowhere to shelter from the rain. There was once an old bandstand here, but the city tore it down. They put up no replacement. In an area rich with wood and construction people, one would think that would be a simple task. 

There is talk about moving the city campground here. There is plenty of room but there are no trees, which would make it very barren. One can see the current campground in the distance, off to the south. It seems busier this year than it has been in a decade.

What’s missing is an attraction, a focal point. A concession stand would do the job, but there is nothing.

It is no town square. It could be. It would take some additions and a lot of will.

Saline Abortion Survivor

Woman survives Saline Abortion and tells her story.

Quote Of The Day

When a woman walks into Planned Parenthood to have an abortion, two lives and two separate dna's enter the building. When she leaves, one life has ended and the other life will never be the same.