Last Day of September

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go ... once again - for a month only this time. In the meantime winter is approaching quickly. Nights usually below 0 degrees C. now, mornings I need headlights to drive to work and if I'm out past 7 PM need them to drive home (no lights needed in the summer!!!) The mountain tops are capped white and I'm sure by next week, so will the ground be white. Time to get the car tuned up for winter and the snow tires on.

The 2nd performance of the Art Series was last night with Mike Daisy - a monologist. He told a story for 1-1/2 hours. Luckily he is a good story-teller. He is also performing at the Arts Centre tonight, but I think one night of Mike is sufficient.

Also saw the new Matt Daemon movie Informant. I liked it and thought he was perfect for the part, but just sat with someone last night who didn't like it at all and walked out after an hour. Different strokes I guess.

Still at the cabin, right beside the dike, the beavers have built their home. They have been very busy dragging logs across the dike and creating grooves in it.

Above is one tree they chewed down, but I guess his wife told him they had enough as he left the tree just lying there.

And finally, above is a picture of my old driveway. It still looks about the same, less a few dogs staked at the edge and less a chicken coop, now completed gone.

Apparently SR is now the proud owner of the ol' cabin. Was invited out today for a visit - he wasn't there! But did take a stroll around to see what the old place looks like now, after I vacated it 20ish years ago (!! - wow does time pass quickly...it seems like only a couple of years ago I called it home). The road to the cabin - all 15 kilometers of it is rough and curvy and at times steep. The cabin sits 1,000 feet above Whitehorse. I can just imagine what my parents thought when they first came to visit me in the Yukon and I drove them "home" on that road. Now, since I don't drive it every day, I can hardly believe I thought it normal.

The inside has changed considerably. The old cook stove (which was stolen, then recovered thanks to Debbie, even though she didn't reap the "reward" that was offered) is now sitting in what was once my bedroom. The flooring has all changed, there is no kitchen table and there is a propane stove now, but no fridge. Interesting.

The poor sauna has seen better days. Must have been some windstorm to blow that tree on its roof!


The lake seems to be the only constant. Still looks like it did 30 years ago. Beautiful.

The Art series has started with Orpheus and Eurydice as the first performance. It was a 65 minute ballet in one act and premiered in Rome Italy in 2008. As the title suggests, it is the story of Orpheus and Eurydice done in dance (and very little clothing). As the program says "we are talking to you here about creation, transgression, derision-veneration, confusion - fusion, the manufacturing of meaning, the emergence of consciousness." That sort of says it all. Some loved it, some liked it and some hated it. It was very interesting .

The next night was once again Book Club. Just a small gathering this month but many books to choose from and lots of food and gossip to catch up on.

An Edmonton Weekend

Didn't have much to do this weekend, so flew to Edmonton, thanks to my share in Air North. I hit record breaking highs temperature wise - luckily I took a pair of shorts with me. One day of shopping - one day of visiting my niece and her family. Dawson is now in grade 4 - his current favourite thing is Corner Gas - he laughs so much at the episodes.


Hot, hot, hot and sunny - 30 degrees C and here we go to play hockey. Must be Canadians, eh?
Actually, it was power skating camp.



Took a drive to Beaumont with its large park and small lake which is stocked with trout. It was lovely to be by nature in this weather.


Dawson just learnt to tie his shoe laces. Above I caught him tying up in the bushes.

Back at home, Tia was busy with work, golfing and a stagette but I did spend one evening with her when her lifestyle caught up to her and she had to stay home to recuperate. The apartment looks great - thanks Tia! - I really do like living in it and love the area it's in.

The flight home was one of the best I've taken. Over the Yukon there were no clouds and with the trees turning the view was amazing. I would have taken a picture but the old lady...sorry, the elderly woman (I'm heading that way quickly, so I must remember to be respectful) got so nervous when I had to pass her once, she couldn't get her seat belt undone her hands were shaking so badly, I couldn't ask her to do that once again just so I could get my camera. So you just have to believe me that we followed the highway in and the view was great! So good trip from beginning to end.

The Hike

Our last day we took a hike up the Grizzly Lake Trail. I didn't look too closely at the details and later found that is was rated Difficult Level. I thought it would just follow the Grizzly Creek - wrong! It was a climb up the mountain at the top of which we ate lunch. In the photo above, you can just see our car park (in a t-shaped light yellow area). Below our group atop Grizzly Ridge eating lunch.
When you're in bear country, it is important to be aware of your surroundings. The trail was littered with tree roots and rock and slate so my eyes were always down to see where my next step would be. I did see bear scat once on the way up, twice on the way down. You know what that means.

At the top, there was another view of the tombstone mountains although Mount Monolith, the highest peak was clouded. It was hot and sunny at the bottom of the trail, and cold and raining at the top.

I did see a grizzly though... on the way home on the Mayo Road. Unfortunately I wasn't driving, so didn't stop to view it.

Two Moose Lake

Love the name of this lake - at km 102 on the highway. And behold, we spotted two moose, although to see them well, you needed binoculars.

Can you spot the two moose in the photo above?

Demptster Highway

Our destination was the Tombstone Campground up the Dempster Highway. I've often seen photos of the Demptster area in the autumn and they were breathtaking. Hoping the our timing was right, we chose the Labour Day weekend to visit the area. We were not disappointed. The colours were vivid. In the photo above you can see the ribbon of a road in the centre of the picture.







The road was good and dry. The campground was 71 km up the Highway and each kilometer was breathtaking. Our eyes weren't big enough to take in all the beauty. I took photos knowing that none would replace actually being here - not only seeing, but smelling and viewing the vastness and as a German touring the north told me, the emotion one feels when in the midst of all of this splendor.
This is grizzly country. I was a bit sceptic as even my son wanted me to call him on my return. At the campground there is a whiteboard with grizzly sightings - Aug 29, grizzly with caribou carcass - Aug 27, grizzly with wolf carcass, - Aug 38 grizzly in campground. But, while we were there we didn't see one grizzly (whew!). That's not to say they didn't see us.

Moose Creek

On my way to the Dempster, we stopped at Moose Creek for a cuppa. It's such a cute little place and reminded me a lot of my home way back when.

The wood stove was hot and to the eyes of someone who cooked on a wood cook stove for 10 years was beautiful. So, if you're on your way to Dawson City, make a stop here, about 25 km north of Stewart Crossing. I think it's worth it.

New Driver

If interested in golf, here's a video on the TaylorMade Burner Driver. It gives a good comparison with other drivers. I don't understand the choice of music though ...

Oh what a night!

The rain has stopped and my foursome was once again all together (after holidays and illness). And what a beautiful evening to be on the golf course. And the course is in good shape as well.

Thanks to SR we had a new driver to try - the new Taylormade Burner - a big honker of a driver that is as light as a feather and makes the most wonderful "ping" when hit. As it turns out, this driver is made for Debbie.

I never tire of gazing down on the Yukon River from the many viewpoints offered along the course. We can all imagine ourselves in a canoe drifting north to Dawson City. It is so peaceful.



The pictures tell it all - what more can I say...

Ted Harrison

Ted Harrison, whose colourful paintings depict rugged landscapes from Canada's North, who, by the way is celebrating his 83rd birthday today, is in Whitehorse this week with the launch of his official biography which took place at the Yukon Art Centre on Wednesday. His book was available there as well as a short dvd on his work, a panel consisting of the aurthor as well as Ted, who answered questions and a bar-b-que feast for all the guests.

Ted Harrison: Painting Paradise by Katherine Gibson chronicles the longtime Yukoner's life, from his humble beginnings in an English village to the 25 years he spent in the Yukon.

I've loved his paintings since I first set foot in the Yukon. Because I was moneyless (not poor) I didn't have the $200 to purchase his work at the time - if I had, I would own a masterpiece today. Ted was so cute when answering questions. If you know his work, his answers were very interesting. His favourite colour: aquamarine (you see it in all of his works), the little white dog was his dog who used to lie under his easle while he painted and he had him cremated. The black dog, also his dog that had to be put down due to illness. He was told in art school "never paint red and blue together" - he does that all the time now.

It was a pleasure the attend the launch of this book and see the "old Yukoner" once again.

Travelling through the eyes of another

My cousin, who has now finished his cruise and is taking a side trip in Alaska, took this photo this morning. What a site to behold first thing in the morning. Here's what he said:

I woke up today and went to get coffee in the main lodge and saw basking in early morning light Mount McKinley or as it is better known here in Alaska- Denali (the great One). At just over 20,000 feet it dwarfs the other mountains that stand at around 10,000 feet. Denali is over 40 miles away but it dominates the skyline.

Almost forgot to put this on my blog. This is for the Ancaster people as a reminder of what you miss when you do not come north for a visit. Bring back memories??

Rain Rain Go Away

Drove to Skagway Friday morning to meet my cousin who was making a stop there on his way to Whittier Alaska on a Princess Cruise Line. Unfortunately the weather was rainy, rainy so the drive there was a bit boring. Instead of mountains I saw rain clouds. The White Pass was extremely socked in, so the drive was very slow.

But, alas I arrived. The first thing we did was shop. His wife needed warmer clothing than she brought, so we went into a local sports store and she picked up a fleece vest and long sleeved shirt. Second thing we did was snack and drink coffee. Shop & eat, two of my favourite things!

Clouds or no clouds, we hopped on the White Pass & Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad (the one I used to be dispatcher for) and took the summit tour, which is a 3 hour ride from Skagway, elevation 0, up to the White Pass Summit, elevation 2865 feet or 888 metres (remember the fog I drove through up there ... yup, still the same unfortunately). The ride was still very interesting for the guests and below the summit, the scenery was visible.


They were travelling with friends so I flicked a pic in front of the parlor car we rode in. Made our way to the Red Onion Saloon - established in 1898, it was originally a dance hall and bordello - for appies and Alaskan Brewing Company refreshments.

We meandered over to our dinner spot via some shops (saw the $26,000 totem pole which was already purchased by some [rich] individual) and supped at The Starfire restaurant, the new Thai food eatery that everyone in Whitehorse is talking about - one word about that restaurant - EXCELLENT.

I then bade them farewell as they had to board their cruise ship and made my way back home. Interestingly for the first 110 km, the only things I saw were 2 bicycle riders, one black bear and one big rock in the middle of the road. I did have one truck pass me between Carcross and the Alaska Highway, but didn't really see cars till I hit the AK Hwy. Still raining but made it home safe and sound.

Anchorage on my mind

I usually fall in love with the places I visit. Anchorage is no different. Remember this song??

The Slow Drive South

We took our time driving home (the drive to Anchorage was fast with a destination in mind). We stopped wherever we wanted and found it most enjoyable. The scenery was lovely, the fireweed painted bright pink against the greenery and the mountains, of course, magestic.

The Matanuska Glacier is easily seen from the road. It is apparently 27 miles long and 4 wide.

We stopped everywhere ... drove around Beaver Creek and Burwash Landing (population 84), something probably very few people do as they whiz past these towns on their way north or south. Stopped at sheep mountain (saw only two sheep). All in all, a very enjoyable trip home. The temperature kept getting hotter and hotter as we drove. Had to stop and change our jeans into shorts and our sweaters into t-shirts.

Now home, we're almost breaking record highs (perhaps we will this week as it will continue to get hotter as the week goes on). We are surely having summer this year - and we deserve it!

The Drive Home

No, we didn't camp here. We also didn't see any bears when we drove through the camping area. This always reminds me of Lisa who didn't sleep a wink for fear of bears when she camped with me at Kathleen Lake - she certainly wouldn't have camped here - neither would I!


I did get close to a bear, but this one was friendly and standing in the Burwash Landing Lodge.

Still Anchorage

Sorry, but you have to turn your head to the right to see this photo. Went to the Saturday Market today. Here is a photo of the radishes that they sell ... the biggest I've ever seen in my life!! They are the size of potatoes.

This is the vegetable stand (see the radishes on top??) As you can tell, I was impressed. The market was huge. Lots of locally grown food,honey, food stands and lots of crafts and artisans. It was not only impressive, but the prices were all so reasonable. Unexpectedly, we spent more than three hours there. We also wanted to see the artists fair on two blocks of closed streets downtown so had to leave. The artists fair was also fabulous. These Alaskans are so original it was difficult not to buy everything in sight.

We heard that Sarah Palin was holding a bar-b-que in Delaney Park Strip so, in the pouring rain, and after visiting two fairs, several art shops, a quilt shop and of course a stop for food and beer, we headed to the park in the rain. Above is what was left of Sarah Palin's party - the one at which she was retiring from her post as Governor of Alaska. Oh well, you can't be everywhere at once.


This is our favourite restaurant - Phyllis' Salmon Bake. We met Phyllis' daughter-in-law, Sarah Dickinson. She has been our waitress since we arrived (we eat there all the time - the food is soooooooooo good). Phyllis is a First Nation from Champagne Yukon as is her son William Dickson (Sarah's husband) and has relatives living in Whitehorse. She is so cute and looks about 30 years old but when we found she had two children in university found out she was actually 52 years old. She is originally from North Carolina. We know her so well now, she brings us food to eat while we are waiting for the food we ordered. As you can tell, we will be about 50 pounds heavier by the time we leave this city.

We love Anchorage. The people are so friendly, the sales are so great ($134.50 sheet set purchased for $32!!), the art work is so unique, and the mountains are so great to see when it is not raining. Unfortunately, we must bid farwell to the city tomorrow.

Anchored down in Anchorage

Sales, Sales, Sales. How can you not purchase things when they are up to 75% off!!! And considering where we live, and there is very little to purchase there, we are having a hey day!

Stopped at Nordstroms for a quick refreshment, then went on to the stores once again...

Oh yeah, there's an ulu factory here, so went to visit that. At day end, went into a small wine bar called Crush and met the nicest people. They told us about some restaurants and activities to do, so instead of leaving tomorrow, we will stay on - but I think we are now shopped out so will start to live like the locals a bit.