1000 Islands 2010 - PHOTOS
08-10-2010 | 07:14 AM
#81
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The back story to this event is that some local tree huggers have convinced some councillors in Kingston to push for the poker run to not happen in their town.
The issues are what they are but if you attended last weekend there is no way you come to the conclusion that the public doesnt want it there.
The crowds from beginning to end were enormous. When the poker run left Kingston the audience was 5 deep at all viewing locations. When we arrived in Brockville they were 6 deep.
It was evident at the drivers meeting that PRA is very well organized and in contact with all the authorities insomuch as having the head police officer talk directly to us as has been happening for 22 straight years.
This has been the grandaddy of poker runs in Canada and deserves the support of all of us in preserving its existence.
If in the past there had been a history of poor behaviour or unsafe boating one could make the point of curtailing this run, but that is not the case.
There are other towns along the river waving their hands to welcome the run as the home base but no community has the requisit infrastructure that comes close to Kingston as the start/end point.
The 1000 Island Poker Run is deserving of all of us fighting the good fight to make sure that 3 years from now we all get to celebrate the 25th year of runnin the river in Kingston Ontario.
Kudos to the PRA Team and all the volunteers in the communities that made 2010 another great day of boating.
The issues are what they are but if you attended last weekend there is no way you come to the conclusion that the public doesnt want it there.
The crowds from beginning to end were enormous. When the poker run left Kingston the audience was 5 deep at all viewing locations. When we arrived in Brockville they were 6 deep.
It was evident at the drivers meeting that PRA is very well organized and in contact with all the authorities insomuch as having the head police officer talk directly to us as has been happening for 22 straight years.
This has been the grandaddy of poker runs in Canada and deserves the support of all of us in preserving its existence.
If in the past there had been a history of poor behaviour or unsafe boating one could make the point of curtailing this run, but that is not the case.
There are other towns along the river waving their hands to welcome the run as the home base but no community has the requisit infrastructure that comes close to Kingston as the start/end point.
The 1000 Island Poker Run is deserving of all of us fighting the good fight to make sure that 3 years from now we all get to celebrate the 25th year of runnin the river in Kingston Ontario.
Kudos to the PRA Team and all the volunteers in the communities that made 2010 another great day of boating.
08-10-2010 | 09:20 AM
#84
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From: oshawa ontario
looks like a great time btw good weather too.....went there to watch a few yrs back, pretty awesome but it was frustrating because there were so many people it was hard to get a decent spot to watch........D
08-10-2010 | 12:39 PM
#85
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From: North Carolina
As Alec said in his post at #81, there were a ton of people out watching the event. A staggering number.
Huge crowds at the marinas and hundreds of spectator boats all up and down the river.
I've never seen anything like it. Very damn cool, Canada.
Huge crowds at the marinas and hundreds of spectator boats all up and down the river.
I've never seen anything like it. Very damn cool, Canada.
08-10-2010 | 12:44 PM
#86
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From: North Carolina
08-10-2010 | 12:45 PM
#87
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From: North Carolina
A couple of Canadians arguing over whose turn it is to get the beer.
08-10-2010 | 02:25 PM
#88
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From: Toronto, ON
The enviro-nazi's as I call them don't have a clue what they are talking about quite honestly. After attending last year's poker run and seeing a "stop the poker run" pamphlet at some woman's stand at the local flea market, I did a search on the internet to see what the problem was all about.
In short, because of the addition of a few very controversial wind turbines on the adjacent island, certain people in Kingston believe that it is a very "sustainable" community - whatever that means!
These same people also believe that the poker run burns the equivalent amount of fuel as all idling traffic in Kingston on an annual basis. This is an impossibility right there - the boats couldn't hold even close to that amount of fuel. Anyways, in doing the numbers, I figured that the boats barely made an impact on the overall pollution of the area, and that these people did not have their facts straight and were in fact propagating "mis truths". Unfortunately they/she is a loud enough voice to at least be heard out by her local councillor.
Personally, I think this whole "eco" movement is nothing more than the latest fad and that we will not solve the world's environmental problems by slapping up a few windmills and solar panels. While increased fuel economy is a win-win for everyone, single handedly (with eroneous facts) targetting an event that is a big revenue generator for the community is just plain dumb.
There is no such protest when the Snowbirds perform in Kingston and burn even more fuel in a much more sensitive region of the atmosphere. Hypocracy at its finest.
In short, because of the addition of a few very controversial wind turbines on the adjacent island, certain people in Kingston believe that it is a very "sustainable" community - whatever that means!
These same people also believe that the poker run burns the equivalent amount of fuel as all idling traffic in Kingston on an annual basis. This is an impossibility right there - the boats couldn't hold even close to that amount of fuel. Anyways, in doing the numbers, I figured that the boats barely made an impact on the overall pollution of the area, and that these people did not have their facts straight and were in fact propagating "mis truths". Unfortunately they/she is a loud enough voice to at least be heard out by her local councillor.
Personally, I think this whole "eco" movement is nothing more than the latest fad and that we will not solve the world's environmental problems by slapping up a few windmills and solar panels. While increased fuel economy is a win-win for everyone, single handedly (with eroneous facts) targetting an event that is a big revenue generator for the community is just plain dumb.
There is no such protest when the Snowbirds perform in Kingston and burn even more fuel in a much more sensitive region of the atmosphere. Hypocracy at its finest.
08-10-2010 | 02:32 PM
#89
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The enviro-nazi's as I call them don't have a clue what they are talking about quite honestly. After attending last year's poker run and seeing a "stop the poker run" pamphlet at some woman's stand at the local flea market, I did a search on the internet to see what the problem was all about.
In short, because of the addition of a few very controversial wind turbines on the adjacent island, certain people in Kingston believe that it is a very "sustainable" community - whatever that means!
These same people also believe that the poker run burns the equivalent amount of fuel as all idling traffic in Kingston on an annual basis. This is an impossibility right there - the boats couldn't hold even close to that amount of fuel. Anyways, in doing the numbers, I figured that the boats barely made an impact on the overall pollution of the area, and that these people did not have their facts straight and were in fact propagating "mis truths". Unfortunately they/she is a loud enough voice to at least be heard out by her local councillor.
Personally, I think this whole "eco" movement is nothing more than the latest fad and that we will not solve the world's environmental problems by slapping up a few windmills and solar panels. While increased fuel economy is a win-win for everyone, single handedly (with eroneous facts) targetting an event that is a big revenue generator for the community is just plain dumb.
There is no such protest when the Snowbirds perform in Kingston and burn even more fuel in a much more sensitive region of the atmosphere. Hypocracy at its finest.
In short, because of the addition of a few very controversial wind turbines on the adjacent island, certain people in Kingston believe that it is a very "sustainable" community - whatever that means!
These same people also believe that the poker run burns the equivalent amount of fuel as all idling traffic in Kingston on an annual basis. This is an impossibility right there - the boats couldn't hold even close to that amount of fuel. Anyways, in doing the numbers, I figured that the boats barely made an impact on the overall pollution of the area, and that these people did not have their facts straight and were in fact propagating "mis truths". Unfortunately they/she is a loud enough voice to at least be heard out by her local councillor.
Personally, I think this whole "eco" movement is nothing more than the latest fad and that we will not solve the world's environmental problems by slapping up a few windmills and solar panels. While increased fuel economy is a win-win for everyone, single handedly (with eroneous facts) targetting an event that is a big revenue generator for the community is just plain dumb.
There is no such protest when the Snowbirds perform in Kingston and burn even more fuel in a much more sensitive region of the atmosphere. Hypocracy at its finest.
The council needs to be talked to.
I'm reticent to participate in the conversation as are a few I have talked with because it would be unfair to intervene in whatever PRA's strategy is, and its their event and their business.
