North American Football

For all you "north american" football fans, I saw this clip on the news last night and was truly impressed. In case you didn't count, that was 15 laterals to win the game!

More visitors to the Yukon. In the early '70's, Bill, Bev and I worked together at the CP Air reservations office in downtown Toronto. That was at the time when working for an airline was fun, and I mean fun. We had free air travel all over the world whenever we wanted, hotels were deeply discounted to us and we were all young and full of spunk. Bev, now residing in YVR worked for the airlines for 31 years (!) and Bill, moved from Toronto to run the CP Air office in London England where he still resides. Well, after all this time, we finally reunited in the north (quite fitting for former CP Air employees as this is where Grant McConachie sold his Yukon Southern Air Transport to Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1941).
Quite fittingly, one of our first stops was to visit the largest weather vane in the world, at the Whitehorse airport. If you look closely, you can see Bill and Bev standing under the plane. This is an ex-Canadian Pacific DC-3 (CF-CPY) that has been converted into a weather vane. It only takes a 4 knot wind to move it on its pivot point. CP Air regularly ran this aircraft between Whitehorse, Dawson City and Inuvik in the old days.

We did a bit of touring, but being the middle of October, most of the attractions were closed. In fact, there was absolutely nothing opened in Carcross during our visit but the ride down and back was very pleasant, with of course stops at Emerald Lake and the Carcross Desert (the smallest desert in the world!). Above are the visitors at the SS Klondike Paddlewheeler which is one of the largest sternwheelers to ply the Yukon River and now has been restored and opened to the public (for tours during the summer only) as a National Historic Site by Parks Canada. Originally launched in 1937, it now sits along the Yukon River at the southern entrance to the city.

So we ate well (lots of salmon, thanks to Shaun) - (the candied smoked salmon was delicious as was the barbequed salmon), ate at local establishments, watched Coronation Street - (Bill, being from England and a year ahead in the story line didn't let too much slip , thank you for that Bill), shopped and caught up on about 30 years of separation.

It was so much fun having them visit and I hope they come again, perhaps in the summer months when most exhibits and buildings are not boarded up.

Seems we've been trying forever to get together for book club. Finally we just set a date and whoever could make it made it. As it turned out one member was in Vancouver, one in Red Deer and one out dancing. Even with our small group, we caught up on local news, ate wonderful appies, talked books and laughed a lot. Our next book will be Peony in Love by Lisa See - ordered and on its way to us.



Shaun made it back from his weekend in Vancouver - he attended the Vancouver International Film Festival to view his friend Adam Scorgie's film The Union: The Business Behind Getting High. This film was nominated for the CFB Best Canadian Documentary Award (although it didn't win) at viff and did win awards at the Winnipeg and Rhode Island International Film Festivals. He said it was an excellent movie, well done, interesting and well worth seeing. To find out more about this Canadian film click here for the viff's coverage of the movie or click here for the films promo (which is very interesting).

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day and with it comes the first skiff of snow, a couple of days early. The first skiff is usually October 11 (SR's Birthday, which is how I remember it). We needed it. The nights were getting very dark without the snow. Hope this doesn't discourage my next allotment of 2007 visitors, who I hope will come sometime within the next two weeks. I know Vancouverites don't like the snow, but I'm not sure about Londoners (England). Anyway, the temperature is lovely and the sun is shining today which is a change.

Just finished my week on the Cabbage Soup diet. I know it's a fad diet, but had to jump start my weight loss regime somehow - lost 6 pounds, so that is good. Was a little tired of cabbage soup by the end though. With all the company, I've had many late nights drinking beer and talking, drinking beer and talking, drinking beer and talking, thus my need to diet. So back to healthy eating (and just the odd beer).

For those that know Wally, he made it back to Ontario safe and sound. He had quite a trip, from Ontario to the Yukon, then south to Nelson, west to Vancouver/Victoria, then south to California and back to Ontario again, all by car with his dog.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I have much to be thankful for, luckily.

And Happy Birthday to SR, who turns 25 on Thursday!!! (Man, the time goes fast!) Many happy returns to you.