The malign and malicious midges of Lake Maligne. Unbelievable. Unmentioned in any guidebook. Clearly a sinister conspiracy of silence orchestrated by the National Tourist Board of Canada or SMERSH or the Illuminati or some equally sinister organization.
Posted by DeLong at June 20, 2003 09:35 PM | TrackBack
Yeah right, you're either in gnat/midge/sketter country during the spring/summer in Canada, or you're indoors. 100% DEET for adults 15-30% on the kids and more protective clothing and you'll survive. It's the apes that'll do you dirty in the end...
Posted by: VJ on June 20, 2003 11:44 PMIt's no conspiracy, it's just that people up there are used to bugs. I once counted 29 black flies on my wife's back during a summer canoe trip to the Boundary Waters. Our midwestern co-campers were unmoved.
Posted by: j rossi on June 21, 2003 08:06 AMI was just in Maine, and damn if there weren't black clouds of biting midges -- Lake Maligne, Boundary Waters, and Maine -- Coincidence, or CONSPIRACY! You're the economist, you do the math.
Posted by: r janes on June 21, 2003 10:01 AM"It's no conspiracy, it's just that people up there are used to bugs."
We just got back from the Adirondacks a day or two earlier than planned, largely because our toddler was being eaten alive (you can't use the hard-core bug spray on the little ones anymore). As a Canadian, I felt a pang of regret: my son (born and so far raised in NYC) is clearly not being reared up to the standards of home...
Posted by: Invisible Adjunct on June 21, 2003 10:42 AMOf course there were bugs. It's JUNE. Things get much better in July and August.
Posted by: jt on June 21, 2003 12:10 PMHead south to Chateau Lake Louise where the scenery is magnificent, the midges few, the food good and the prices very exorbitant.
I would also advise that you stay away from Canadian beef as mad cow disease is currently doing the local rounds.
Posted by: Pooh on June 21, 2003 02:36 PMCan you smear yourself with mud, or eat a plate of garlic?
The bay area in California has no bugs. No ants, no mosquitos, no roaches, no fleas on pets. Yet, at least - I'm new out here.
Of course we Canadians have the good old 'Black Fly Song' to carry us through bug season.
Chorus:
"And the black flies, the little black flies
Always the black fly no matter where you go
I'll die with black fly a Pickin' my bones
In North Ontar-i-o-i-o, In North Ontar-i-o"
This is one of those "You ain't from 'round here, are ya boy?" moments. Canada, Maine, Michigan (Wisconsin, too, but without Michigan's reputation) and all the bottom land throughout the Midwest, the marshy areas of Florida and Louisiana, we all have our little buzzing problems. Other areas with which I am not familiar probably belong on the list. Those who come to visit probably are a little surprised. I can't speak for the rest, but we Midwesterners think our guests like surprises.
Posted by: K Harris on June 23, 2003 05:15 AM