Hiking from Kinkora to Albany on The Confederation Trail

Trekking westwards, we picked up the Trail again at Kinkora. This branch of the old railway runs to the old port of Borden and will eventually bring us to the bridge to the mainland. We had encounters with ATV drivers and a miscellany of disused farming equipment but otherwise the 9km hike was only notable for long straight sections under glorious sunshine.

Hiking from Emerald Junction to Kinkora

 

The temperature was barely 2c when we hit the trail last weekend. Nonetheless we kept warm by maintaining a good pace, as you can hear from the rhythmic crunching of our boots! A notable sight along the route was a large collection of truck plow blades and an old wasps nest, which Susan carefully prized apart. The living quarters were incredibly intricate and contained hints of what once lived inside.

The Last Full Measure

 

War films often place over-reliance on action to maintain your attention but last weekend we watched an example where less is more. The Last Full Measure is based on the true story of William H Pitsenbarger, a US Air Force Para-rescue-man whose heroism in the Vietnam War had never received the recognition it deserved.

Pitsenbarher’s story is told through the research of Pentagon staffer, Scott Huffman who is ordered to shelve his fast-track career and instead follow up a request which has been receives for an Air Force Cross to be upgraded to a Medal of Honour. Very reluctantly and without much enthusiasm Huffman interviews former comrades of Pitsenbarger and demonstrates his lack of compassion and indeed lack of knowledge about their sacrifices in the Far East.

Gradually he is drawn into a conspiracy which has prevented Pitsenbarger from getting his true honour. The stories of selfless heroism which are shown in flashback and reveal Pitsenbarger to have been truly a man ready to lay down his life for his fellow fighters, most of whom were army soldiers and not even known to this Air Force man.

Much of the story takes place in offices and living rooms and the scenes involving the airman’s father played by Christopher Plummer are poignant indeed. Huffman puts his career on the line and takes the case to the highest level where eventually he succeeds and at the conclusion, amid stirring speeches, Pitsenbarger’s award is rightfully upgraded to The Medal of Honour.

The Jungle combat scenes are short but realistic and the enduring effects of what would then have been called Shell Shock are plain to see in his surviving colleagues. I can highly recommend this as thoroughly absorbing look at a piece of history and of justice done.

Hiking from Breadalbane to Emerald Junction on The Confederation Trail

Susan was tired after only four hours sleep the night before but insisted she was up for a hike and we completed a round trip of just over 6km, somewhat shorter than our usual jaunts.

This weekend took us from Breadalbane to Emerald Junction. Just before the junction itself, where the line continues west to Kensington and sends a branch line south to Borden Carleton, is the site of the Emerald Junction Station. The station building was saved following closure of the railways and is now home to Bedeque Bay Environmental Association which probably explains a nearby hut with a placard reading Monarch Way Station.

Hiking from Elliotts to Breadalbane on The Confederation Trail

After a summer of cycling we have switched to hiking and although we rode this section of The Confederation Trail only a few weeks ago it was good to take it more slowly and on foot. When the snow comes the Trail will be handed over to the Snowmobile Association who lease it for the winter months but for now it's ours and today we covered 10 km on it.

The trees lining the Trail rustled and creaked under a stiff wind, while here and there patches of ice from a recent snow flurry lingered and autumn birch leaves like gold coins scurried across our path. The sun shone and the sky was blue, belying the single digit temperature. Bovine and equine company abounded. Some very large cows were curious about us from the start and two placid horses ambled over to greet us near our turnaround point.

Susan regaled me with stories of her childhood and at the start of this film she is heard explaining how they ran barefoot through fields of cow pats (patties over here). I feel as though I haven't lived!

You rather wish that farmer would be made to have his ancient rusted machinery hauled away. It is a blot on the landscape and at one point even encroaches on the shoulder of the Trail. The cows didn't mind though and thoughtfully chewed their cud.