After the long travel session from Grand Falls-Windsor to Port aux Basques to Sydney to Baddeck and then the Cabot trail, we decided that today was a good day not to drive anywhere. I (Greg) took advantage of the morning to check a few things on the truck, replace a couple of burnt out bulbs and lubricate the ratchet systems on the ratchet straps that secure the motorcycle to the deck.
We walked through town to the Alexander Graham Bell museum. Although we had been there about 20 years ago, we were looking forward to being there again. There had been a lot of changes in the way things were displayed.
It was so exciting to re-read about so much of our Canadian history that most Canadians are not even aware of. Example, I say “Wright brothers”, I expect most people will know who they are. However, if mention the name “John McCurdy or Silver Dart” most will not know the reference. Tsk, tsk tsk. John McCurdy was the first Canadian to fly a plane in Canada, the Silver Dart in 1909 (4 years after Alberta became a Canadian province). Not only was he the first in Canada, but he and his associates dramatically improved the aircraft by adding a tricycle undercarriage whose wheels provided for better take-offs and landings. His team built the first ailerons in North America and the list goes on.
For my motorcycle riding buddies the name “Curtiss” should ring a bell from the infancy days of motorcycling. So what does this US motorcycle builder, 1907 motorcycle speed record holder and aircraft builder have to do with Alexander Graham Bell? Glenn Curtiss, John McCurdy, Casey Baldwin, Thomas Selfridge and Alexander Bell, formed a group called the Aerial Experiment Association, which was Canada’s first aviation company. It is so cool to see this connection between the simultaneous development of both aviation and motorcycling.
Then of course, there is the development of the hydrofoil boats. Some years ago, Marion and I traveled across the Mediterranean from Gibraltar to Morocco via a hydrofoil. As we blasted across the top of the water at the amazing speed of 100kmph (which on water is staggeringly fast), I remember thinking that we made that crossing at that speed because of the work that had been done in Baddeck. What a rush! For more about the Alexander Graham Bell Museum (click here)
After several hours of rattling “those little grey cells”, off we trotted to an ice cream shop that was closed, then a bakery where we didn’t buy anything but took really really deep breaths, then to a Home Hardware to get some silicone lubricant, followed by a stop at the CO-OP to get some supper and breakfast for the next morning.
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