With the G8 leaders summit fast approaching (June 25th & 26th), security seems to be on everybody’s mind, but the biggest threat to the safety and comfort of world leaders will probably come in six-legged packages.
The G8 summit will be held at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville which is in the heart of the Muskoka region in Ontario. Eons ago, back in the days when Shania Twain was a showgirl there, my wife and I spent our honeymoon at Deerhurst. But that was at the end of the summer when black flies were pretty much gone and the mosquito population was waning. The G8 dudes are going at the tail end of black fly season and right at the very peak of the mosquito season.
Last weekend, we were up at Port Severn which is on the south end of Muskoka. Things were fine when there was a breeze and we were standing in the open by the water. But there was one morning in particular when I went for a hike to take photos … Mosquitoes the size of dogs came out and attacked me. It didn’t help that some A-hole had swiped my Deet. I ended up running — not jogging or trotting, but running — to get back indoors.
Although the mounties are supposed to provide security, I expect people like Obama will arrive with their own spooks to lend a hand. The thing about newcomers is, if they’ve never been exposed to Muskoka mosquitoes beforehand, they break out in humongous welts. Normally, I’d recommend the following measures:
a. wear lots of insect repellant;
b. wear lots of dull-coloured long-sleeved clothing;
c. stand in open spaces;
d. get the hell inside, especially at dusk.
Obama’s spooks can probably do a. and b. and sometimes c. But as for d., I expect some of them will be required to do sweeps of the surrounding bush. All I can say is: “Good luck.”
And to the mosquitoes: “Bon appetit!” (A porker like Stephen Harper should make a tasty treat.)