Miles Canyon

Beautiful sunny summer day, so we went for a wee hike along Miles Canyon.

For those that lived in Whitehorse, you will remember that the rapids (in 1898) were large, so large in fact that the RCMP decided that those thousands of stampeders on their way to Dawson City to make their fortune, couldn't travel it without an experienced river guide. So those same travellers, who rafted from Bennet Lake to this point, had to set up camp and wait for a guide - thus Canyon City was born. The stampeders saw the white water of the rapids, thought it looked like a horse's mane, hence the name Whitehorse. Today the rapids are mild, due to the fact that a dam was constructed in 1958.

Although tamer, it is still very beautiful and peaceful.

Kristin jumps down a small ledge to test the temperature of the water. "Not too cold" according to Kristin.

Weenie Wagon

After a wee hike at Miles Canyon, we stopped at the Weenie Wagon for lunch. Once touted at the best little place to eat in Whitehorse (it is a trailer set up in the industrial area), after my burger I must say I believe it is not as good as it used to be. I didn't even have the option of fried onions on my burger!! Having said that, although we arrived about 1:15 pm, after the normal lunch hour, it was very very busy. Perhaps I should try their fries next time.

The Big Eight "O"

My friend Helen is celebrating her 80th birthday today. I visited her yesterday with a few gifts and cupcakes to celebrate. We are finally getting some summer weather and it is perfect timing as an additional birthday gift for Helen.

We enjoyed coffee and cupcakes outside beside the greenhouse. Other than the mosquitoes, it was wonderful.

Some of the early blooms are out now in her garden. By next month the yard will be a myriad of colour, all of which she started from seed in early March.

Visitors

Deb's Mom and Dad are up north visiting and I was invited for dinner and a chat. Deb made a great meal including a great dessert (my favourite part of the meal) and the sun even came out at the end of the meal. Hope they get a bit of sunshine before returning to rainy Calgary!

Haines Junction

A day in Haines Junction. Luckily it wasn't raining - most of the time. The first stop upon arrival is the Bakery for lunch...three potato soup and homemade sourdough buns...mmmm, mmmm, mmmm.
Oh yeah, picked up a loaf of whole wheat bread to take home too.
Then off to the Visitors Centre across the road with the spectacular view of the Auriol Mountains of the St. Elias Range. Drove up to Kathleen Lake, where the rain began, the wind kicked up a few notches and it felt like November.


Saw this fella just outside of Haines Junction. Viewing wildlife never grows old, no matter how long you have lived in the north!

Golfing in December

Where did summer go??? I thought a cold winter meant a hot summer??? I have even missed my golf night due to the wet stuff. Perhaps I should save my money and go to Florence in December to golf on the River Arno!?!

What ????

Watching TV last night, I could hardly believe this scene was from Canada, let alone beautiful Vancouver. The first time I had seen a car set afire was at the G20 in Toronto in June of last year and I was shocked. These are things you see in the middle east, NOT in Canada. Well, Vancouver topped that! I am so glad I didn't recognize anyone partaking in the senseless, disgusting, disgraceful violence. Who are these people that think it is OK to act this way, especially due to a sports team losing the final prize (although I don't think that is the cause, but merely an excuse). For more photos, Click Here. I am shocked and feel sorry for the people in Vancouver that now have to live with these images as representations of their city.

I didn't see this one on TV. Make love not war?

Beringia Centre

Love these Yukon Days. Another venue to enter free of charge. And the only centre in Whitehorse with a 5 Star rating for their powder room, and let me add, I have never been in such nice washrooms (I should have taken a photo to show you). You can check powder rooms across Canada at http://www.powderroom.ca/en/ . But I digress.

So we visited exhibits about Beringia and the life and climate at that time.
Above, Kristin is using an adl adl, a type of spear used to hunt animals for food. She practiced with the adl adl and then decided that she would let someone else spear the animal, she would cook it!

During that time, there were giant bears, giant beavers, giant sloths and of course wooly mammoths. Lots and lots of very large animals.

Above you can see how far our spears travelled. We even missed the rabbits, let alone the larger mammals in the back!

Sunday

And off we go again today. The Dog Show was on. I love watching dog shows on tv and love attending the dog shows here. It is so fun to see the grooming and showing of all the different dog breeds. (I also love the silent auction they hold).

Brooke and Lily joined us for dinner tonight. Steaks on the Barbie. Brooke has been super busy at work, so I hope serving her dinner helped her relax if only for a short time.

The skies have now cleared, so maybe, if it keeps up we will have a bit more summer tomorrow.

Saturday, Continued

Finished with coffee, finished with the Wildlife Preserve, now it was on to the Takhini Hotsprings.
The natural mineral waters of Takhini Hot Springs flow from deep within the earth. They are uniquely odourless, no sulphur smell. The main minerals are calcium, magnesium and iron. The iron gives the water a red or brown hue.
There are two connected pools. The water flows naturally into the pool at 340 litres per minute at 40°C (104°F). It gradually cools to about 35°C at the outflow.

Then to the "marge of Lake Labarge", not to cremate Sam McGee but to have a wonderful dinner prepared by Terry. As you could see from the above photo, we had the rain clouds on our doorstep so to speak and did have a steady down pouring on the way home. But have to admit the dinner was a wonderful ending to a very full day. Thanks Terry!

Yukon Wildlife Preserve

Love Yukoners' Days. That means free admission and a free tour of the Wildlife Preserve. It is fun to see the animals in their natural settings and to learn interesting animal facts as narrated by the bus driver. Of course, the bus tour is shortened, but still lasts almost an hour.

There were two lambs (one pictured above). What is cuter than a lamb? They are afraid to be left alone so in the enclosure were two volunteers who stayed with the wee ones.

There was also baby bison. Love the little ones.


The first animals we saw were elk - the first nation name is wapiti which apparently means white rump. This is how you can tell it is an elk.

And who did we meet here but my old neighbours, Helen and Ev (with David). It was fun to join them for a tour of the preserve as well as the new research facility on the property.

Kristin got to sit with some preserve relics.

Bean North

Where else would you see a weather vane like that above?

Saturday was an active day for us. We were a little early for Yukoners' Day at the Wildlife Preserve, so we stopped off at Bean North for a fine cup of java, certified organic and certified fairly traded coffee. In fact we had a new arrival, Honduran Coffee ... very very good.

With the cool weather we have been having lately, it was nice that the sun poked out enough for us to enjoy our mid morning snack outside.

A Day of Art

A day of Arts for us.
Visited Yukon Artists at Work, a co-op of local artists displaying and selling their crafts.

Then up to the Yukon Arts Centre Gallery to see the new exhibit 50 Women Over 50, which was superb. It is a remarkable exhibit which has been made into a book: http://www.yukonwomen.com/

Wandered the grounds a bit. Below Kristin is standing by one of my favourite reverse sculptures.


The Art Gallery setting gives you a great view of the city.

Thursday's Arts in the Park

Once again, saw some local talent in the park. Also saw Michele and Sue, two people I used to work with, so sat and had a good chat with them while listening to the fiddle music. Just too bad the weather wasn't a bit warmer and sunnier. Oh well, at least it didn't rain!

Joe Loutchan

Arts in the Park today featured Yukon's favourite fiddler, Joe Loutchan. Love that fiddle music!

An Eagle Story

Yesterday, one eagle was seen flying with a fish in his/her mouth. A second eagle was seen either playing with the first, or trying to get the fish from the first eagle. They flew around and around doing this dance in the air, whether playing or fighting, the person that was watching them could not discern. All of a sudden a loud electrical noise was heard. One of the eagles had flown into live electrical wires and was zapped to death. Very sad to lose such a majestic bird.

Two eagles mate beside the Yukon River. Kristin and I went to see them today. It is not known if the dead bird is one of the family at this site, but when we were there, a lone eagle sat on a pole looking very sad and crying out at intervals, as if calling to or lamenting its mate.

You can hear to sad story from a CBC radio interview: Click Here

Still Summer Weather

Arts in the Park began last week. Another season of music and art in the outdoors. On a day like today it is hard to resist. So Kristin and I purchased our sandwiches and made our way to LePage Park for some entertainment. Today it was the children at Holy Family School providing the music. The young ones were so cute. Reminded me of the days SR would sing in his Christmas pageants. Was hoping for some of our adult musical talent to show (off) to Kristin, but this was fun too.


Kristin now has one interview under her belt. We are just waiting to hear if there is a position. She is sending a resume around town, so hopefully something lucrative will evolve. In the mean time, we wandered downtown today then went to the pub for dinner and to watch Vancouver win the first game - YEAH YVR!! Perhaps Friday is a day trip to Skagway. But, of course, jobs come first.

Here we were enjoying a morning coffee beside the Yukon River.