This year marks the first time that I have participated in that most American of traditions,
Black Friday. Attracted by the low price offered by our local Target for one of the gifts we had decided to buy for the kids, Tracy and I decided to go shopping. Accompanying us on this expedition was our friend Donna. Thanksgiving night, we heard news of 300 people waiting outside the local CompUSA to be first in line once the store opened
the next morning. It seems that the flame that attracted these moths was a $99 laptop computer. I don't know how many of the units they had in stock, but I am sure that there were not enough to go around. I later found out that a neighbor of mine parked himself in line at 6:00PM last night in order to get one of these low-priced units. He made the cut. I read the ad and I wonder how many of the prospective buyers realized that included in the price was a required 12-month subscription to
Vonage priced at $300?
I did not expect to see anyone outside the Target, but after we arrived at 5:30AM this morning, there was, indeed, a snaking line of people outside desperate to feed their hard-earned money into the coffers within. So, after privately ridiculing my Brother in his failed overnight attempt to give the local Wal-Mart an absurd amount of money for a Sony PS3, here I stood at O dark thirty outside a retailer, trying to get in to drop my own cash. Ironic, isn't it.
Tracy, Donna, and I stood outside for 30 minutes watching the line triple in size. We were about 70 people back in line and I don't know how long some of these people were queued up. Promptly at 6:00AM, the doors opened and the crowd streamed in desperate to grab the $4 DVDs, the $180 LCD TVs, and assorted other items of interest. To make matters worse, I found myself sprinting to the section of the store that held the items I wanted to get. I had scouted the store Wednesday night, so I knew where everything would be. Tracy grabbed a cart, and obviously not trusting my ability to pick up the items of most interest, grabbed the two units we were looking for herself.
The reason for all this was news outside the store that Target only had 21 of the sub-$100 items we were looking for. It turns out they had more, and we got what we wanted. Most everything we went to buy was sold out in less than 15 minutes, so the day was a success.
Kara turns 9 today! The baby of the Clark Clan is 9! Shocking, but true. While I struggle with the obvious signs that I am getting older and older every year, it still surprises me that the youngest of my children is 9. I can't possibly be this old can I? A question for another day.
Tracy had an unavoidable medical procedure the day before Thanksgiving and given her condition our options for travel were somewhat limited. In the continuing saga of her kidney problems, young Tracy had a Lithotripsy done on Wednesday. It was an outpatient procedure, but we couldn't travel because if a stone was to be passed or dislodged it would be within a few days. Relief came in the form of our good friend Molly who was kind enough to invite us into her home for Thanksgiving dinner. Speaking for myself, I had a great time. Molly is consistently good company and on top of that proved to be an outstanding cook.
The bikes at James Bay - Mission Accomplished!
James Bay.
Local fishing boats at the Bay.
Abandoned snowmobiles.
James Bay parking lot.
Cultural center - Chisasibi.
Cree - Chisasibi.
The day we left. Look at the size of the gas can mounted in the CBR1000RR to the left!
The sprawling village of Radisson.
A sunny day it was not.
The spillway carved out of the Canadian shield.
Rock filled damn to contain the reservoir.
Dad and Raphael on the power plant tour.
A map of the hydro power plants in Northern Québec.
Laughing it up on the tour bus.
On the bridge atop the spillway.
This is not your typical I-95 gas station. Did I mention that the gas was $6/gallon?
The cafeteria.
Lunch at the 381KM marker.
This is a fellow traveler we met at the gas stop. We were not the only crazy ones out there.
This is a great shot of the Canadian sky taken at another rest stop along the way.
Are we ready to go yet?
Radisson, Québec. Inukshuk info.
Getting ready to sample the culinary delights of Radisson.
Closeup of the fury.
A little farther back.
Gassing up to get to the gas station.
Group Shot.
About to leave.
Dad and I on the James Bay Road. Take a look at these shots. You have just seen what the entire 400 mile trip looked like.
The daily task of unloading the bike.
Our 5-Star hotel in Matagami, Québec.
Dinner with the crew.
Getting ready to hit the James Bay Road. Next gas stop 236 miles away!
Information sign at Rupert Rapids.
Stopping to look at the rapids.
Picnic area at the rapids. This is what passes for a rest stop on the James Bay Road.
Upper Rapids.
Lower Rapids.
Dad at the rapids. The sheer number of photographs taken here show how impressed we all were.