Project update

I've been busy digging out and recovering from a week of hard labour in Halifax so no posts for a few days.

Things are slowing down for the holidays, but back here at Project Ojibwa HQ there has been continuous activity.

A steady stream of membership applications are coming in and we are up to about 50 members to date. Only 49,950 to go and we will have the project paid for  .....well we can hope anyway. I think 500 members is reasonable.  Once the local community learns that the only way to get a peek inside the boat before the public opening (which could be more than a year away)  will be through the membership route, things will pick up dramatically.  In fairness we haven't really launched the membership program fully yet.

We have seen the quote for transiting the boat and it's looking as if the move by floating drydock is the most practical, and surprisingly not much more expensive than a traditional tow (much less risky as well).  Soil testing will be done soon on the site and hopefully any questions about ground stability will be put to rest.

Thursday evening found us meeting with the town council of Bayham.  Council passed a resolution to generate letters of support for the project to the political players in our little drama and to encourage neighboring municipalities to join in.


Everyone is very supportive and eager to get the wheels turning on the project.  We're all asking the same question at the moment  "WHERE'S THE BEEF?.....hoping that CAF/Candev is listening, because we've done all the T crossing and I dotting we've been asked to do and all that stands between us and a hard launch of the project is for the cash that was promised over a year ago to begin flowing... hopefully once the holidays are over, the bureaucrats will run out of excuses to delay and get this show on the road!

Where's My Car?

Yesterday was a travel day so no post.    Woke up in Halifax and scraped an 1/8th inch of frost off the windshield and came home to this.

We managed to shift the last of the sonar and radar components, every bunk we could find on all three boats and I left the crew to carry on and headed to the airport. 

What a blast this past few days has been.  Thanks to everyone who helped and especially those who are carrying the load, especially our Cox'n  Sylvain Rouillard.  Looking forward to getting back soon to help secure the boat for see.

Will keep posting as things evolve here at Elgin Military Museum. I have a bit of catching up to do.  . We have an Open House on Sunday and folks here will want to hear about my recent adventures.

Bye for now

Weather Bomb Defused

 

Well the storm passed, and the only damage was to Project Ojibwa's proud pennant, which is no doubt gracing the shoreline of Bedford Basin or some inland high point.  So it goes.

On board, all is in good shape and we have transferred quite a few small parts.   Olympus's Radar and Sonar components are waiting for strong backs to show up and handle the sub to sub transfer.  Unfortunately, I'm heading home tomorrow and will have to leave the dockside leadership in the hands of my good mate Sylvain.  He will have help I'm sure since a few volunteers have yet to make it aboard due to work or family commitments.  The crew will continue working without me until Dec 10 and I'm pretty confident it will be "Mission Accomplished"  for this phase.  

I will be aboard tomorrow before I fly out, to inventory the work to date and say goodbye to the crew.  I have mixed emotions about leaving.  I'm really grateful to have this chance to do this and reconnect with old shipmates and make so many new friends. (Actually don't tell the museum, but I would have paid good money to do this) 

Hopefully next time I see Ojibwa will be about the time the tug is preparing to take her home.  

Stand down the Work Party

DND observing high winds and strong tidal surge today. Harbour ferries have been canceled and the Angus L. MacDonald bride is swaying like a drunk.   Action on the boats is too lively to work safely, so we wait for tomorrow.  Forecast is for fair skies and calm waters.

Family Day at NAD Dartmouth

Today, Project Ojibwa's flag flies proudly from the jackstaff on our submarine's bow.

More volunteers on board and a family atmosphere is developing.    We shifted a tremendous amount of gear from Olympus, recovered many torpedo control parts, telegraphs and tallies and disassembled her periscope roundabout.  Tomorrow we attack the soundroom.

I have to say that every day I can see visible progress In Ojibwa.  With more parts coming home, it looks to me as if the mountain we are climbing is not quite so high today.

Pictured here are L to R  Laurie Custance, Keith Estabrooks, Rick Bodden, Sylvain Roulliard, Art Bodden, Rob Arbor, Bert Houde and his son Corey.  Not pictured is Peter Weis , John Madison, Lucky Gordon  and Tim Kramble

No posting yesterday as it was the Submariners Association of Canada's AGM, and I was able to make a presentation to the membership on the project's progress.  I got a very favourable response and many good wishes and much support from those in attendance.  We'll be working hard to build a firm partnership with all chapters of the SAOC across the country, thanks to the Executive Committee for making it possible for me to tell our story.


Tomorrow is another full day with more of the same.  I hope we will have the Olympus's Forward Torpedo Room mainly cleared by the day's end.

Cheers for now from Halifax

It's Good To Have Friends

 The work began this morning for real...finally.  Arrived thursday, met by Lucky Gordon and after a great meal and a great evening  catching up, we met up with a small group of Volunteers.  Lucky and Gary Hopkins both old shipmates and Keith Estabrooks and Sylvain Roullard  both submariners, toured all three boats with   myself and our navy rep, Tim Kramble.  After a quick inventory we worked  out  some kind of a plan,   spent a few hours on an easter egg hunt and collected a good volume of smaller parts, gauges, etc to fill in some of the many holes in the control room panels.  Lot's more of this to do, but it's obvious we wont find it all. Afterwards off to Home Despot to pick up some required tools, flashlights and such and home for dinner.

Sunday will be the big day  and with any luck we'll have a larger crew who can hand to hand the larger pieces and work on more dismantling of good parts for Ojibwa.   Lots left to do, but we're feeling pretty good so far.  

Will post more after Sunday

My Bags are Packed, I'm ready to Go!

Finally,  the work can begin..

I'll be arriving in Halifax late tomorrow and will do a survey of Ojibwa Friday AM.  Looks as if I'll have enough help, thanks to our old shipmates.  These British bolts need some specialty tools, because the Brits, being an insular culture, have their special way of doing things and it will be hard to find a nut or bolt that can be handled with tools from the local Canadian Tire.  Fortunately there are some British car nuts in North America, and having owned a vintage jaguar  and a few British motorcycles at various points in my life,  I was able to find a source for Whitworth spanners and Posidrive Screwdrivers.  If you are wondering what I'm talking about just google "whitworth"  or "British Fasteners" on Wikipedia.

Stay tuned as I will be posting pics and videos as the next week unfolds

Cheers