Ottawa, September 21, 2023

 Hello All; Well I have been home for about two weeks, so its time to travel again. This time, just a short flight out to Edmonton on September 30, and return to Ottawa on October 7. My youngest daughter Lisa, is travelling with me. She has not been back west for a number of years. We are flying Porter Airlines, and upon arrival Edmonton, we pick up a car at the Edmonton airport and drive north west to Grand Prairie, Alberta. WE will visit family there that afternoon and then drive to Dawson Creek the next morning. (Dawson  Creek is the start of the World Famous Alaska Highway). Later, we will drive the fifty miles up to Ft St John and visit family and the old homestead were I started life on the farm and walked two and a half miles to school...and back each day. On the afternoon of October 4, we drive back to Dawson, and return to Edmonton on the 6th. I have one sister and three brothers living  up there, and a number of cousins. When we get to Edmonton, we will be visiting great friends that we have known for about 40 years.

On a totally non traveling subject, I would like to draw to the attention of any Canadian reader to a new law that may be of use to them or someone they know. Just over two years ago, the Canadian Government changed the laws regarding Military Service so that now ANY person who served in one of the Canadian Armed Services, and received an Honorable Discharge, is now considered a Veteran, and is entitled to Veteran services. They must apply to the Department of National Defense, and submit forms which are available online. Just Google...CF Card. The first information states that you can order on line, or by mail. Not so. You download the forms and submit by mail. That is stated on page 2 of the forms. 

This new situation copies a similar law that President Obama passed for American Citizens in 2016. I only became aware of it last week. I was out of Canada when it happened, and it was not widely published...some say...A militarySecret!!!/ Take care

Ottawa, September 3, 2023

 Hello all.   I had a good trip home from Istanbul until I arrived in Montreal. For the third time in recent travels, Air Canada cancelled my flight from Montreal to Ottawa. It took me longer to get this 22 minute trip home than it took to fly from Geneva Switzerland to Montreal....eight hours. My one piece of luggage arrived home almost 24 hours later. Here is how my return trip went.

Because I had to be at the Istanbul  (IST) airport at four in the morning for my flight to Geneva with Turkish airlines, I went up to the airport at eight in the evening...by Metro train. I was able to check in at that time for the morning flight, and everything went great, until Montreal. I spent the time  at IST Airport chatting with other passengers in the same situation.

Upon arrival at Montreal at two P.M., I cleared customs in ten minutes and went to gate 9 for my flight to Ottawa....it was to depart at four. The Agent took checked my Boarding pass and Passport, then told me that my flight would be 30 minutes late, "due to severe weather in Western Canada". THERE WERE NO SUCH PROBLEMS . I walked about 100 feet on my way to get a coffee...and saw the Departures Board ...My flight was cancelled.....as were the next two to Ottawa. I went back to the counter to see if I could be booked on the seven P.M. flight...and was told..."You must go to another counter down the long hallway, as we only deal with Business Class here, for this issue.

I got to the Ottawa airport at eight, waited an hour for all the luggage to be unloaded, then found that my luggage was still in Montreal, and would come to Ottawa by truck overnight. It arrived at my apartment at two in the afternoon.

This is no joke...or maybe it is...but the name of the Company that delivers luggage for Air Canada is.called.....Wheresmyluggage.com.    I do not let this type of event get to me, but it is apparent to me and many others that Air Canada is trying to lose customers. I believe that before long, we will see AC only doing International and domestic long hauls, such as Montreal to Vancouver. The rest will be done by their partners  Jazz and Rouge which wear Air Canada colors.

All in all, it was a great trip, even when considering the 40 hours to do it. Take care. At this time, I do not have any trips planned, but will be going west to visit family this fall, probably before the end of October, and the snow.