Winter has set upon Ignace

Last week we left Ignace for a week of what we call research and development – really.  We have to experience tourism hospitality elsewhere to  fine tune our product here in Ignace.  As we basked… I mean researched in the sun somewhere near salt water and sand - there really is a correlation to remote fly in fishing – our winter arrived with vigour in Ignace. I am not sorry I missed the arrival. 

Last week when we left Ignace the lake was frozen but the snow had not really set in yet. 

When we returned last night the drifts had piled up and snow banks were set in position for the next 6 months or so. Joe had to plow snow in our yard 3 times in three days.

This week we will be getting our annual newsletter up on line.  We do not mail it out anymore so if you want to receive the notice of our newsletter posting be sure to sign up for our e-mail list on our website.  Ignace Outposts 

We are in the office for a few weeks now so if your 2011 fly in fishing adventure with Ignace Outposts is not set up yet, give us a call.  We are happy to help plan your trip.

In case you were wondering, yes I did see some fish (on my plate) and I did think about work a little while researching and developing. 

New bird? Nope!

Now that the season is over, not only am I lax in updating my blog, we have been able to take a little time to get “out of Ignace”.  We just retuned from a family wedding in Niagara Falls ON.  We also had a little time to visit our youngest daughter, Jo, in the big city -Toronto. 

We had a great time “down south”.  While in Toronto I hooked up with an old college buddy.  Many of my college classmates are airline captains, chief pilots and operations managers.  I have to remind my self that I am not only an aircarrier President but also the chief outhouse hole digger. Funny how career paths suite the one taking the journey.  Back to meeting Pete.  My classmate Pete is now Senior Training Captain on the Airbus for Air Canada.  He brought Karen and me into the Air Canada training center and let me fly the Airbus 320 simulator. 

At first glance, it looks simpler than a Beaver but full motion and visuals makes it a very realistic and demanding experience.  Notice the joy stick in my left hand to control the aircraft.  That is all it is.

The Airbus is a very sophisticated aircraft.  In fact it has all the latest technology.  It is fly by wire and has a glass cockpit.  Unlike in the Beaver you are more a systems manager than a stick and rudder pilot. 

Karen performed admirably as my co-pilot.  She handled the auto-pilot, landing gear and flaps.  The Beaver has no auto-pilot, the landing gear is always down and secure, and the flaps are rather simple so I have no need for a co-pilot…  most of the time.

Three landings didn’t make make me re-consider my career path.  It was a lot of fun even if the Airbus doesn’t land as smoothly as the Beaver.  But then 30 years landing the same aircraft can not be compared to a couple of “impressive” first attempts.

My regular office.