Alberta trucker Mike Murchison shares his experiences on the road through music, photography and humour.
No one saw it coming. It came out of nowhere. Much like the attacks on 9/11. It was one of those surreal moments in your life. Everyone knows where they were on 9/11. But for the beef industry a more memorable day was May 20, 2003. That was the day the Canada/US border slammed shut with a shockwave that hit not only the aforementioned trading partners but 40 additional countries that trades with Canada.
Read MoreI’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I’ve travelled from one end of this country to the other and talked to many people from many walks of life, countries, ethic, and cultural backgrounds.
Rich, poor, middle class and those on the fringe of whatever edge they’re on. And one thing I I’ve learned is this: this is God’s Country.
Jammin’ gears, serving fries, diggin’ ditches. Whether folks are inputting numbers, selling products, or studying in the halls of our institutes of learning.
Read Moreby Mike Murchison On the north side of Highway 3 just east of Coaldale Alberta sits a series of bins, a complex set of conveyers and spidery looking pipes that reach 100 ft up into the air. Day in and
Read MoreKathy was the type of girl a guy like me could fall in love within a heartbeat. She was a much older woman: she was in grade 11, and I sadly was in grade 10. The rule back then was
Read MoreCan’t find anybody to work. Or no one wants to work anymore. It’s a common thread. Not just where I live, but seemingly every place I travel.
I cover Alberta and the Northwest US states, and this discussion has crossed my table a lot. Employers can’t find anyone to work.
I’m sure there are a variant of factors involved. The wage that’s being offered, the hours as well as the expectations. Tie that into the cost of living and you might just have a perfect storm brewing.
Read Moreby Mike Murchison So, let’s weigh in on the shape of the highways in Northern Ontario. I’m referring to Highways 11 and 17. The “Trans Canada” highway. The main east-west corridor that gets you from the Manitoba border down to
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"I started hauling cattle from feedlots to a processing plant in Utah about 2 months ago. It's hard work and I’m not sure why I’m doing it at my age. But I like a challenge. I also like working with animals." Photo: Mike Murchison
Loading cows into a trailer (a semi-confined space) is not natural to them. They get nervous and anything to calm them down helps.
Me! I talk to them, sing to them. Treat ‘em like I’d want to be treated. Then when I have them loaded, I ease on the accelerator, softly on the brake, gently round the curves.
We don’t want any cows falling. That’s called a ‘downer’. And if one goes down it can get trampled by the others. I’ve been lucky or smart. None down on my loads.
Read More“Deep Fried Medicare” Photo: Mike Murchison by Mike Murchison Nothing like the rhythm off the road. Wheels humming, pistons stroking…. but what happens when YOU have a stroke…? Driver health is often put on the back burner; it’s often neglected
Read MoreSo why now? Why haul cows at my age? Hell, I’m 61 years old. I should be looking for the least amount of physical stress that might be available to me.
But no!
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