Begin forwarded message:
From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>Subject: EPISODE 99 LAST FLIGHT OUT ON A CRIPPLED BUSH PLANEDate: August 25, 2020 at 10:04:17 AM EDTTo: Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>, Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com>, John Wardle <john.t.wardle@gmail.com>
EPISODE 99” LAST FLIGHT OUT … ON A CRIPPLED BUSH PLANEalan skeochAugust 2020EPISODE 99 LAST FLIGHT OUT ON A CRIPPLED BUSH PLANEalan skeochaugust 2020PILOT “Listen boys, I do not like this little lakeso do your work fast. The water is going downand landing will get difficult.”“Take less per load.”“Possible but soon there’ll not be enough water to land.”“These are the last off our anomalies…we will work fast.Come back for us in three days.: (I do not remember this time line exactly)The summer of 1964 was hot. To many that means heightened fire danger which wastrue. We had a no fire rule for much of the summer. But the real danger was the slow butsteady evaporation of water from the lakes. A lot of waterwas gone between June and September. That fact is apparent in the photograph ofour fly camp (Episode 97). Looks like the water has gone down five feet or more.Flight pontoon landings that were easy and safe in June became difficult and dangerousin September.This picture was taken in mid August. Take a look at the high water mark on the shore. Seems water had gone down aboutfour or five feet by then. On our last job the water level had dropped more. Very dangerous for water landings and takeoffs aswe discovered.It was our last job.we Were finished. The crew had returned to Paradise Lodge to pack up.Marjorie had caught the ACR to Sault Ste Marie. “Meet you atthe airport, Marjorie…maybe around noon.” My part of the job was finished. I had to beback in school by the end of the Labour Day Week End.The plan was neat. We had finished work on an anomaly close to a small lakesouth of our Wart Lake camp. All that was left was a pile of gear….tents, cookinggoods, some wire frame cots, axes,shovels.,Coleman stoves, fuel, etc. I don’t really remember what wasin the pile of goods. Maybe 200 to 300 pounds ofeuipment.“I don’t like this lake…too shallow,” said the pilot when he dropped us a few days earlier.“And it will get worse.”We did the job as fast as we could and had arranged a pick up. Don’t remember much about the first flightbut I do know I was feeling quite nostalgic. This would be the last bush job of m life. I knew thatand wanted to savour my exit alone. Crew out first. The flight wentwell although the distance from touchdown to the end of the lake was short.That was not the problem. I did not expect a problem for I was wrapped inmy memories of so many bush planes on so many lakes. Mostly Beavers but a fewCessnas and one Seabee which was just a visitor being dropped off. “ThoseSeabees are really dangerous. Motor at the rear. Pushing. If the motor quits thegoddamn thing drops like a rock. No ability to glide. Cessnas glide best.”The Cessna 170 came in at tree top level. Had to. Landing strip of water was shortas evaporation created shallows where once there was two or three feet of water.The pilot cut power early and the plane settled down harder than usual. Bigger chevronof water. And something different. Slightly lopsided. The plane turned and idledits way to our landing site. Slight slant. Odd.“Hit a fucking deadhead. Ripped the pontoon…goddamnit.”Submerged objects terrified bush pilots. Often they took a run at landingthen circled. Looking for objects. Like dead heads…old submerged logs ortrees sometimes angled upwards.“I’m going to pump out the water while you load. Could be tricky. Putload as far forward as you can…need the weight for extra lift.”Took no time at all. Ignition. And we worked our way to best takeoff positionand he gave it full power. We flumed our way down the lake with an increasingslant as the pontoon filled with water. Fast but not fast enough. The far shoreand tree line got closer and closer. “Can’t make it!” and the pilot cut power and the plane settled. Slightly off centre. And closeto shore. Too close.“Dump the load on the beach. We’ll try once more but empty. Got to get offthis fucking lake. “ He cursed and pumped out the pontoon water.“There. Let’s give it another try.”He taxied down as far as he could without getting tangled in weeds. Thenwe were moving. The pontoon filled with water as we went full throttledown the lake. Far shore became the near shore. No lift yet.“Move your body forward…gut more lift.”Then we had liftoff. To me it seemed just in time. Seemed we werejust skirting the swamp and maybe touching tree tops Not true ofcourse. Imagination played.The rest of the flight was easy. In an hour we had landed at Sault SteMarie where Marjorie was supposed to be waiting. I had said noon butwe were late, very late. She was not there.Her turquoise VW beetle was in the parking lot but no sign ofMarjorie.Then she walked into the holding lounge from the aircraft side.“I pretended to be sick.”“A man offered me a tour of the city from his plane. I did notknow he was just a pilot in training. Scared me near to death.Only way we got back on the ground fast was I pretended tobe about to vomit”And so it ended. Our days of mining exploration were over. Theyended with a bang.alan skeochAugust 2020P.S. I know this sounds hard to believe. Writing from memorycan result in exaggeration. So here are the simple factsof that last flight.1) Water levels had fallen dramatically (see picture)2) Pilot did hit something and punctured one pontoon.3) I watched him pump out the pontoon4) We failed to get liftoff on our first attempt and jettisonedthe cargo on the beach.5) Second attempt was just barely successful and I rememberthe pilot asking me to lean forward.6) Our baggage? Do not know what happened.7) Marjorie did take a joy ride that scared her enough to feign vomit8) This was not my final job. The next summer we flew to MerrittB.C. on a short seismic job. But this Paradise Lodge job wasmy last bush job.
EPISODE 100 BEST CROP IS FLAX…FOR THE MOVIE INDUSTRY
Note from Alan…ON MY 99TH EPISODE
HI,
SOME of you actually read these Episodes. Some of you do not because your lives are full or you think I am a jerk…or both.
I just sent Episode 99.
Why am I doing this? Several reasons but foremost is the fact that many of you are stuck in isolation and I felt these stories might break the boredom. Another thought is the stories might trigger your own memories and thereby make the tedium less onerous. Maybe you might even record moments in your lives that were memorable.
Another reason is that I hoped my grandchildren might read them and see their grandfather and grandmother in a different light. Not sure they even read them sadly.
alan august 2020
P.S. I am not finished. The stories will keep coming.
EPISODE 99 LAST FLIGHT OUT ON A CRIPPLED BUSH PLANE
EPISODE 98 FOOD…good and bad, AILMENTS, VIOLENCE and ISN’T THAT FUNNY…AN OVERVIEW
EPISODE 97 FLY CAMP BUILT AT DUSK: SUPPER WAS A BIT DISGUSTING 1964
EPISODE 96 CAUGHT IN A CYCLONIC STORM…LIGHTNING STRIKE KNOCKS US OUT
EPISODE 95: SPRUCE LAKE CAMP AT PARADISE LODGE GETS A FEMALE VISITOR SUMMER 1964
This picture is backwards but does show you how bleak the Mile 71 flagstop appeared. Marjorie
With an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand
I’m a long way from home and I miss my loved one so
In the early morning rain with no place to go
Out on runway number nine big 707 set to go
But I’m stuck here in the grass where the cold wind blows
Now, the liquor tasted good and the women all were fast
Well, there she goes, my friend, well she’s rolling down at last
Hear the mighty engines roar – see the silver bird on high
She’s away and westward bound – far above the clouds she’ll fly
Where the morning rain don’t fall and the sun always shines
She’ll be flying o’er my home in about three hours time
This old airport’s got me down – it’s no earthly good to me
‘Cause I’m stuck here on the ground as cold and drunk as I can be
You can’t jump a jet plane like you can a freight train
So, I’d best be on my way in the early morning rain
You can’t jump a jet plane like you can a freight train
So, I’d best be on my way in the early morning rain
SORRY…DID NOT MEAN TO SEND THIS…IGNORE…EPISODE 91 PUT YOUR WARM AND TENDER BODY NEXT TO MINE (School Dance Oct. 1963)
On Aug 18, 2020, at 1:51 PM, ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com> wrote:
On Aug 9, 2020, at 1:05 PM, ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com> wrote:
EPISODE 91 PUT YOUR WARM AND TENDER BODY NEXT TO MINE (school dance, Oc.t 1963alan skeochAugust 9, 2020
EPISODE 95: ALGOMA…LAND OF MYSTERY AND WILDERNESS AND THE ACR 1964
ACR Local Timetable
Effective May 12th to October 13th, 1975
* No. 1 Daily |
Miles from Soo | Km from Soo | SAULT STE. MARIE – HAWK JUNCTION | * No. 2 Daily |
---|---|---|---|---|
0800 lv. 0833 0850 0904 0914 0925 0940 0953 f f 1012 f f 1032 f 1047 f 1117 f 1128 1146 1209 1224 f 1242 f f 1308 f 1330 1343 1400 ar. |
0 14 25 32 36 42 48 56 57 62 64 69 71 73 75 80 85 92 93 96 102 114 120 122 131 132 138 141 148 150 156 165 |
0 22.7 39.8 50.7 57.8 67.3 77.4 90.5 91.7 100.4 104.0 110.7 115.0 117.3 121.8 128.4 137.4 148.5 149.6 153.7 165.1 183.1 193.3 197.1 210.7 212.9 222.8 226.6 238.9 241.2 251.9 264.9 |
SAULT STE. MARIE Heyden Northland Goulais River SEARCHMONT Wabos Achigan Ogidaki S. Branch Chippewa River Maskode Trout Lake Pine Lake Mekatina Pangis N. Branch Chippewa River Spruce Lake Summit Mongoose Batchewana Batchewana River Rand Montreal Falls Montreal River Mile 93 Hubert Frater Agawa River CANYON Eton Mile 122.5 Agawa Millwood Sand Lake Tabor Anjigami Perry Michipicoten River Limer HAWK JUNCTION |
ar. 1800 1735 1720 1703 1653 1643 1630 1615 f f 1600 f f 1540 f 1523 f 1455 f 1446 1430 1405 1347 f 1327 f f 1308 f 1249 1234 lv. 1225 |
No. 1 Daily |
Miles from Soo | Km from Soo | HAWK JUNCTION – HEARST | No. 2 Daily |
---|---|---|---|---|
1415 lv. 1435 1450 1504 1513 1525 1535 f 1545 f f 1605 f f 1639 1659 1712 f 1741 1747 1757 1811 1821 1830 |
165 173 178 184 188 195 201 206 208 210 212 217 221 233 239 245 253 262 273 275 281 288 294 296 |
264.9 278.7 286.2 296.4 303.0 313.8 323.5 331.5 333.9 337.9 341.1 349.7 356.4 375.6 384.7 393.8 406.8 421.6 439.5 443.1 452.1 462.0 473.3 475.9 |
HAWK JUNCTION Alden Goudreau Dubreuilleville Wanda FRANZ Scully Wabatong Hilda Mile 210 Mile 212 MOSHER Price Oba River Akron Langdon OBA Oba River, Albany Branch Norris Hansen Horsey Mead Coppell Stavert(Jogues) Mattawishkwia River Wyborn HEARST |
ar. 1200 1140 1131 1119 1107 1057 1042 f 1030 f f 1010 f f 0935 0927 0908 f 0836 0832 0819 0805 0753 lv. 0745 |
Reference Marks
f – Flag. Stop on signal.
* – Dining Car service between Sault Ste. Marie and Canyon Only.
Baggage
Personal effects, such as clothing, etc. (except liquids and fragile articles), when contained in suitable sturdy luggage, trunks, etc., may be checked as baggage in accordance with tariffs. Up to 150 lbs. personal baggage may be checked without charge on an adult fare ticket, and 75 lbs. on a child’s half-fare ticket. Single pieces over 250 lbs. must be shipped in rail freight service.
A reasonable amount of personal hand baggage may be carried into the rail coach.
The railway assumes no liability for baggage other than as specified in its tariffs published and filed pursuant to law.
Train Tours for All Seasons
- One Day Wilderness Tour to Agawa Canyon, Mid-May to Mid-October
- Ride the Snow Train – One day Winter Wonderland Tour. January to March
- Tour of the Line – Visit the Frontier North. Available year round.