Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Greater Moncton is a beautiful area


All in all Moncton is a beautiful city and I seem to be fitting in fine with the many wonderful people I have met here so far. All the pictures below are clickable for a full image.
I am intrigued by the history of Moncton and of the Acadian people who blended in easily with the native Miq Mac and traded freely with both the French and English conquers in the 15th and 16th century.

Tolerance


The Free Meeting House  an example example of the tolerance of east coasters and the people of Moncton.
The quote below the pictures is from http://www.moncton.ca/Residents/Recreation_Parks_and_Culture/Museums_and_Heritage/



The Free Meeting House, a National Historic site, is one of the city’s oldest structures and is restored to its original 1821 style. The building was used as a place of worship by all religious denominations prior to the establishment of their own churches. The adjacent burial ground includes headstones dating to 1861.


The Free Meeting House, a National Historic site, is one of the city’s oldest structures and is restored to its original 1821 style. The building was used as a place of worship by all religious denominations prior to the establishment of their own churches. The adjacent burial ground includes headstones dating to 1861
.

 The Free Meeting House, a National Historic site, is one of the city’s oldest structures and is restored to its original 1821 style. The building was used as a place of worship by all religious denominations prior to the establishment of their own churches. The adjacent burial ground includes headstones dating to 1861.







Thomas Williams House 1883



Built in 1883 by prominent Monctonian Thomas Williams, treasurer with the Intercolonial Railway, this heritage home stands as an elegant symbol of local life during the Victorian era. Home of the Vitorian Tea House open spring and summer. Also famous for it's strawberry shortcake which I will have to try next year.






Arrival of the Irish
No pictures but an interesting  history note for which I will create a new blog. But the information below from http://www.newirelandnb.ca/NB-Irish-Trail/ES-No-7-Irish-of-Memramcook-Valley.html


Many of the Irish families who settled here were unfamiliar with the terrain and ill-prepared for the Canadian climate. They were kept alive through their first winter in the colony because of the generosity of their Acadian neighbours. The Irish were forever grateful for this act of kindness and a camaraderie developed between the two cultural groups as a result. Sadly, sometimes history has forgotten that the Irish were part of the Memramcook Valley past.

Autumn  Colours of Moncton


















































The Moncton water towers new and old.



A leaf covered path in Centennial Park



A leaf covered path in Centennial Park



Centennial Park by St George street



Centennial Park by St George street



Centennial Park by St George street






The End


Moncton Oct and Nov 2009

Nov 17/09

Well I moved out the room on St George street as of Oct 16/09. I couldn't take anymore of the bullshit from the female roommate and the other female with no place else to go. Why is it some people think the only way to talk to people is by cursing and swearing at the top of your lungs. Oh well, the guy roommate was very relaxed even with all the chaos in the house. I'm glad I got out.
I then rented a room on Dominion street. The power kept going out and fried my Wifi. The shower was hillarious. It was so short that I had to bend over to wash my hair. Oh well at least no-one was screaming and cursing all the time but i just couldn't get comfortable.
Nov1/09 I moved into a main floor 1bdrm. $540/mnth plus utilities includes a washer and dryer. Which is a little pricey for Moncton. The Average price for a 1bdrm is $450 to $500 and usually includes utilites. There is an apartment above me but they seem to be very quiet.
The real shocker is that NB power wanted a $360 deposit. They state the average bill for this apartment is $170 per month. Holy shit!!!!! Oh well it's not a room in a rooming house so I'm happy. It's still cheaper than my two bedroom in Red Deer which was $900 plus electric of about $50-$75.
Nov 4/09 I finished my training at Rogers. Lots of perks with this job. Benefits from day1 $14.05/hour which is not much by Alberta standards but a more than fair wage for what i am doing here. As well there are quarterly performance bonuses from $300 to $1200. From what I hear you get $300 bonus just for showing up everyday. I can live with that. :-)
All in all things are going ok. I bought $210 worth of groceries & pantry items. I needed everything, Ketchup, relish etc, Tinfoil, saran wrap, etc, salt, pepper, sugar, spices, creamer, etc. I also spent $180 on a meat slicer, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, a computer desk and chair. I forgot to buy a roaster , spatulas, serving spoons, etc. oh I will get those on my Dec 11 payday. I also still need to get a tv, couch and chair, dining set, and a bed. After that I think I can consider myself settled.
Once I am completely settled in I will start concentrating on a motorcycle, van, and to purchase a house. I also need to make a trip or two ASAP to visit friends and family.

My next blog post will be a batch of photos taken in sept and october.  I am waiting for the snow to start flying before I add another blog after the pictures one coming up next. All in all Moncton is a beautiful city and I seem to be fitting in fine with the many wonderful people I have met here so far.

As Always
have fun
stay safe
Jim

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Moving again

My roommates mom has gotten sick and they need the room I am in.
So I am looking for a new place to live.Now that i have a reliable job I am looking for an apartment. So it may take a little longer to get settled in.
More news laterz.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Moncton Treego

I found the treego quite by accident while exploring Centennial park in Moncton. People tell me there is much more to see in the park. I will keep you up to date on my further adventures in the park.
From the moncton treego website.
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What Is TreeGO?


Monkey Swing, Monkey Play, Monkey in the Trees all Day...

Fun, freedom and personal reward are what TreeGO is all about. These aerial adventure courses offer a diverse and exciting experience within the comfort of knowing you're ...attached to continuous safety cables (the red ones in all of our pictures). No matter what your age or fitness level, our courses are designed for your pleasure in a unique outdoor environment.

TreeGO's self-managed courses for children, teens and adults allow you to move through a series of surprising and progressively challenging tree to tree activities. With multiple activities in a course, you get to decide how far and how fast to exercise your agility, endurance and confidence.

In the highest courses, you can choose to ascend up to 70 feet up in the trees, discovering new levels of focus and physical skill. Share this thrilling experience with friends or family and be rewarded with a sense of well-being and great memories.
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Random pictures of people in the trees.
 






























Hope you enjoyed them. :-)

Moncton Tidal Bore

Some pictures of the tidal bore. The Tidal Bore is much like the Reversing Rivers Rapids in Saint John, but is on the Petitcodiac River. Years ago the Tidal Bore was a very impressive high wall of water that surged in through the narrow river opening. You could see the wave pushing ...the river to reverse. However, a causeway built across the river has blocked the bore, and usually the river-wide wave is only a few inches high! The river still reverses, but it is not very dramatic. Around the equinox, when the tides are especially high, the moving wave is much more visible. Some tourists who expect more have referred to it as the Tidal Boring!


What is impressive is that the river rises the empty river bed to completly full in  few short hours.


During low tide


During low tide


River at %50


River at %50 the tide is still pushing the river back


On the right are the one way storm drains. The river is at %50 but it has not fill this outlet.




Storm drain outlet. River is at %50

Storm drain outlet. River at %90


Storm drain outlet. River at %90

River at %90

More pictures please see archives for sept20/09

Sept 20/09 A good first week.



I've had a good first week in moncton. Adding some pictures from my trip to moncton from Montreal. As well as pictures of some sights in moncton.


St Foy, Quebec and the St Lawrence river


The rolling countryside in Quebec


The rolling countryside Quebec


St Lawrence river and mountains in the background




Riviere du Loup, Quebec


Riviere Du Loup, Quebec


Footbridge/Gazebo in Edmundston, NB


Countryside New Brunswick


Countryside New Brunswick

Please also see Moncton Tidal Bore post and Moncton Treego post for more pictures

Friday, September 11, 2009

My first day in Moncton

I was up by 06:30am. Went looking for Timmies but couldn't find it. So I settled for a coffee at at a conveniece store. I went to Universal Staffing and start work Monday.
It's been great my roommates are friendly and relaxed. Later today I will go for a walkabout Moncton.
What a ride? It has been a whirlwind two weeks. Now to get back to working for a living.

Safe and Sound in Moncton

Sept 10/09
Leaving Quebec and into New Brunswick on a beautiful sunny day. Left Montreal at 6am arrived in St Foy at 9am. Then 10 minutes later onto Riviere du Loup. Arrived in Riviere Du Loup 11 am. 15min later onto New Brunswick. I was so upset while I was checking google maps for the NB border we went past the "Welcome to New Brunswick" sign. I arrived in Moncton at 8pm. I was safe and sound with Tammy and Wilfred (my roommates) by 08:30pm.
Sept09/09
I have had a good visit with my brother and his family. Church and a tour of chateauguay on sunday. A guided tour of Ft Lennox and a drive through the countryside of the south shore on Monday. On Tuesday a trip to Mont Royal and Schwartz's for their ...famous Montreal smoked meat sandwich. Golfing with my bro today and I leave tommorrow.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

On my Way

I leave Red Deer, ab at 08:15pm. My flight leaves Calgary at 01:05am Sept 6th. I arrive in Montreal, PQ at 07:05am.

It almost surreal and I am getting both nervous and excited. When I wake up tomorrow I will be 3/4 of the way across the country. It will take a few days to get used to the fact I will no longer be in Red Deer, AB.

As Always
Have Fun Stay Safe
Jim

Thursday, September 3, 2009

I'm moving to Moncton.
Woohoo! I have a place to live. I am renting a room from a couple i can relate to. She likes to talk and he appears to be pretty quiet. I get the best of both worlds. :-)

It has been a happy whirlwind couple of weeks. Ask me about my daughter surprising me by travelling from ontario for a visit.
My trip took two years of planning but Two weeks to achieve. It's all good ... but I am sad there are so many I would like to say goodbye to, even so it appears they are all happy for me too.

I was pleasantly surprised tonight that my daughter and grand daughter plan to attend my good bye hotdog cook out. I have made plans for Sept 5th @12pm (noon to 2pm) for friends and family I am leaving behind I was worried I might be alone but very proud i get to shoe off my daughter and grand daughter to any and all friends who plan to attend.

What more can a man ask for than good friends that wish him well. I'm glad I have good friends. And I am glad there is facebook.
Maybe this time i won't lose touch with anyone. LOL and i've been told i had better not. :-)
I won't lose touch because good people are hard enough to find in this world I would hate to lose even one of you :-)

As always
have fun stay safe
OKOK just have fun
Jim