<p>Rick Ranson has collected stories from all over North America, from the DEW Line and the drill ships of <i>Working North</i> to the raging waters of the Mississippi in <i>Paddling South</i>. Now, join this engaging raconteur as he ventures to one of Canadas most talked-about locations: Fort McMurray, home of the oilsands.</p><p>In <i>Bittersweet Sands</i>, Rick Ranson recounts a twenty-four day shift at an oilsands operation undergoing a shutdown, giving us a glimpse at a world most of us only know from the evening news. Along the way, he encounters a group of engaging roughnecks, including a husband and wife welding crew, a petty fascist safety inspector, and the tough-as-nails secretary that keeps them all in line.</p>