[Gord Thompson]

Well, the Prime Minister opened the Canadian side of the border with a few things that visitors need to do.  President Biden then had his rep keep Canadians north of the border for another month.  Canadian rates of infection from Covid is far lower the U.S. rates and our rate of vaccination is higher than the U.S. rate.  So much for doing what you are supposed to do.  Can’t win for losing.

[Gord Thompson]

As you all know, it was March 2020.

[Gord Thompson]

Rose this is a sad time for this DIV’er.  I am hoping that this mess goes away before any 2021 hunts are scheduled and run.  Our government here in Ontario and Canada are holding firm on keeping the border between our countries closed.  Only essential service workers are allowed to cross from Windsor to Detroit and the United States.  1000’s of Canadian nurses cross the border daily to maintain services in Detroit hospitals.  1000’s pf commercial truckers also cross the border weekly to deliver auto parts and other products to the U.S. and bring back food, auto parts and many other products to Canadian consumers.  Anyone other than essential workers who return from the United States must at a minimum spend 14 days in self- isolation and self report if they develop symptoms of covid19.  If there isn’t a vaccine developed soon,  those Canadians who participate in DIV hunts will not be able to cross the border to join in those hunts.  At 76 yrs of age and one of those in the category most likely to be impacted by covid, this old Canuck may have seen his last DIV hunt.  I certainly hope that isn’t the case but I must be prepared to accept the fact that it is possible.  The same thing has happened to our family annual vacation to Hawaii.  This year it was cut to 11 days from a planned 21 day trip.  When the Mayor of Kauai tells tourists to go home or stay home because of this pandemic our lives have changed.  All we can do is wish everyone a safe and healthy life.  All the best to all DIV family members.

[Gord Thompson]

I managed to find three individual pieces in three different holes to make a complete but rather crusty shaler at Ratrie.  I was also able to watch the recovery of the almost 1000 complete shalers from one very deep hole at the same farm.  Imagine bringing handfuls of those bullets to the surface after being in a case dumped in a hole almost 150 years ago.  It was an amazing recovery.  I think the value of an individual shaler dropped dramatically when that news went out.

[Gord Thompson]

Nancy and I were in Kauai when the Canadian government declared the pandemic. Then they told all Canadians that were travelling outside the country to get home as fast as possible as they were considering closing the borders.  Being non believers in border closings, we only paid it a little attention.  Then Kauai closed all the restaurants to sit down dining.  Only “TO GO” meals were available.  They then added a “stay in place” rule and closed all beaches and parks.  Finally, the Mayor of Kauai issued a notice in the newspaper telling all tourists that Kauai was on “vacation”,  no more tourists should come to the island and those already there should go home.

So, ten days early we called the condo rental people to tell them that we were leaving to go home because of the pandemic.  They promised us a full refund for the days we didn’t use, made flight arrangements and headed home.  At the border, the Canadian Customs agent told us to go straight home and self isolate there for 14 days.  What a fun 14 days that was.  No close contact with the son, daughter-in-law and 3 yr old grandson, no grocery shopping.  And to make matters worse, I find out that DIV has been postponed til the fall. Oh, and did I tell you, my daughter-in-law was expecting to deliver a baby girl in early May.

Last Friday after a nervous wait, Cora Mae Thompson  made her appearance weighing in at 9 lbs 3 oz.  The wait was worth every minute and every day.  We even got to see her and hold her for the first time last Sunday. And that’s what we did so far during the pandemic.

[Gord Thompson]

Well, i am a day late getting here but happy to see the site is up and running.  Congrats and thanks to John and Rose on this new adventure.  Looking forward to seeing old friends and lots of new posts.

[Author]

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