“Always ask an expert!”
The old man in the hat
I have been cursed since my youth with an affliction so troublesome that it has caused me untold grief. It has cost me friends and acquaintances. What, you may ask, is the nature of my grievous problem? I must confess that I have, I think, been accused, only occasionally with justification, of being that most accursed human, a “know it all.”
In fairness, I will acknowledge a “little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. Nevertheless, I feel most of my observations, most of the time, are valid, in some general, positive way. Maybe. You be the judge!
For those of you lucky enough to travel our local highways, I am sure it does not take a genius to acknowledge that asphalt patches on top of patches on top of patches on top…, well I think you grasp the concept, leads to a trail that goats would shun. In the divine wisdom of the Provincial Government That Could Have Been, decisions have been taken to refurbish a stretch of said goat trail, a few kilometers, each summer. At least, in previous years, an effort was made to provide an adequate fix. The resulting redone sections have been a joy to drive. Thus it is beyond comprehension that after such a good start, decisions would be made to implement a less costly renovation. Chip seal. Well, we are short on money, and perhaps a Volkswagen will do in place of a Cadillac, so it was with an open mind that I embraced the replacement method. All seemed well, at first. Demolition proceeded, grading was accomplished, traffic disturbance was reasonable. Then shortly before resurfacing, it rained. That sort of 40 days and 40 nights thing that we seem to enjoy here locally. Trouble. Heavy truck traffic, thankfully present do to our recovering forest industry, really did a fine job at recreating all the hollows and bumps that had been filled and smoothed with the consequence of a brand new road surface that instead of being smooth and quiet, pretty much resembles what was replaced. Therefore, it was not a surprise when the first patch appeared. Normally we get at least three to five years before the patching begins. I don’t think we are saving money here. I think we replaced a Cadillac with a very expensive Volkswagen. But, I am no expert. Just a “know it all”. You be the judge!
Being an acute observer, I think that our province is simply one of the most beautiful places on earth. I have been told by confidential sources, that we allegedly possess, as a population governed by somebody in that far of hamlet of Fredericton, a Tourism Department that is unaware of this fact. How do I know? Well now, let be demonstrate my infamous character trait.
It is my understanding that tourism is derived from the notion that people from a place foreign to ours would like to come and visit an attraction famous or notable in our humble land. Normally that would involve that the attraction or event be available to the tourist to enjoy. Note the connection, tour, tourist, tourism (the part we pay for). It is at this juncture that I would like to introduce the Department of Tourism to Mount Carleton Park. Provincial Park. Wilderness Park. Park with Trees. Trees that turn colour in the fall. A display so beautiful that it is breathtaking. Pretty trees that people, like tourists, like to see. This event takes place in the fall. Depending on the weather, usually peaking shortly before Thanksgiving. That’s in October. When the trees are pretty. I am sure that there is good reason that the park will be closed by then. When tourists would come to see our pretty trees. The tourists who leave money. Money to pay to fix goat trails. September 2 to be exact. This sounds really dumb. But, I’m no expert. Just a “know it all”. You be the judge!
