Yellowknife Airport

I was fascinated by this decor at the Yellowknife airport when I first saw it nearly over a year and a half ago. Real polar bear and seal (obviously stuffed) greet you while you wait for your luggage.

Oh, and if you feel like ranting about the seal hunt OR the polar bear hunt...do it elsewhere. I'm not interested. Hunters are hunters are hunters...enough already. I support both hunts.

City of Yellowknife

Or so I thought. Then I walked over this manhole cover. WTF?

Went for a walk with my friend K. tonight after work. Damn near killed me, but I made it! I didn't have too much trouble walking...it was once I stopped for a few minutes here and there that got in the way of going again...nice to see the signs of spring everywhere, like little girls with brand new bicycles that have streamers flowing out of the handlebars, people vacuuming the grit out of their cars, bbq smoke floating down the street, and street sweepers cleaning up the mounds of filth that accumulated over the winter.

There's plenty of rock in Yellowknife, for sure. I didn't even wear a jacket...spring!

Siriusly....

Well, I did it. I bought a Sirius radio. They were on sale at The Source (formerly Radio Shack) cheap enough, so I jump off and bought one. It only took about an hour or so to install (taking care to hide the wires as much as I could within the trim) and I was rockin' the tunes. Great for long road trips and with the dust up here, I was wrecking my cds. Now I can't wait for my next road trip!

Spring's Holding Pattern

Well, we had a few days of really mild weather...and then it was gone. The days are longer and the temps are not frigid, but there is little snow melt happening. Sunrise is before 6am....ugh...and sunset is after 9:30pm now. Makes for lots of sunlight hours, but it also gets Henry up and at it rather early.

K. and I hope to get out to walk after work this week, at least 3 times a week if we can, depending on whether or not the sidewalks are in fit shape to walk on. I can't wait to get into the walking trails near me, as there are plenty of them.

Had a gang of women over on Saturday for beading, turkey, drinking, movies and outright overindulgence...it was terrific! The beading was a challenge for most, however they all went home with something they made, so I think they were happy. The turkey was wonderful, and I sent most of the leftovers home with K. who appreciates them. I still have a fridge full of food, as it usually is after a big gathering where everyone brings stuff. Lotsa laughs, good time. We had dubbed the event Spring Fling...and I flung myself alright...K. was making everyone cocktails with fruit and crushed ice...yummmm....

The cats are enjoying being on the balcony when it's warm enough to leave the door open. Henry's favorite spot is up in the kayak, as leans upright against the railing. He sits on the back of my seat back. Weirdo. I should take him in the kayak someday...heh heh...

Vacation planning most of Sunday, for camping in southern Alberta & BC for late June, and then to Ottawa and east for August. Seems early, I know, but I had to book flights and now am trying to determine who is home when, so I can plan my trek somewhat. At least all my flights are bought now...whooo hoo!

Summer will here and gone before I know it...sniff...

Spring Has Arrived...

The temps have been up above -10C for over a week, and now they have been up over 0C at night for a few days. Water is running all night long, so the snow is going fast and furious! Whoo hoo! I can't wait to see what is under all that snow. I've only been to Yellowknife once in the summer, and then only for a few days. I have no idea what my apartment building looks like with grass...

So spring comes the brassy reveal of all manner of sins the snow has been hiding for months. Every size of liquor bottle from a simple beer bottle to a plastic 60 pounder...the gang's all here. The plug end of my block heater cord that I dropped in the parking lot...old carpet a neighbor stored next to his car trailer...and forgot about and moved away, so it has rotted...there are also mounds of crushed stone that had been spread over the snow they didn't plow all winter. Now comes time to shovel the streets. A street sweeper isn't enough for the first pass. And then there are the landmines one local quoted in the paper this week refers to...you can find dog poop just about anywhere. People in the north don't typically have small dogs either...plenty of retrievers, shepards, huskies, and other large dogs that come with large steaming piles...

The temperatures are a divine departure from the frigid days we spent this winter. I've traded in my down for denim, and before long I'll be in sandals...I can't wait! The kitties have been permitted access to the balcony. I open the door now and then to let in some fresh air in the warmer days and they love it. Until the coward Henry comes tearing in and heads for the bedroom, flattening his puffed up body to the floor. The Ravens. They frighten him...I don't blame him...he may resemble lunch...

Ah, spring has arrived.

Well Holy Shit, Spring is Here

The temperatures finally rose above 0C and it was +7C today, with water running everywhere, and tonight it RAINED! For the first time this year. I am excited. Of course, spring also brings its own mess. They plowed the parking lot I park in for work (I pay $45/month) today for only the SECOND time this winter and now it is a big fucking sea of water. My stall was completely submerged in about 10 inches of water. Nice. I shall have to don rubber boots tomorrow and strap on my kayak to paddle across to shore...perhaps if they had plowed when it ACTUALLY SNOWED and not 3 months later, we could have avoided this mess...I don't get it, I just don't get it and no one has been able to explain to me why no one in this city chooses to plow the roads and parking lots during the winter. Weirdos...

But Holy Shit - spring has arrived...

Northern Beauty

I took a peek out at the northern night sky again tonight and saw that the aurora borealis was active, so packed up my camera gear, dressed warm enough for the balmy -4C weather out there tonight and headed out to the Dettah ice road once again. Stopping just a short distance onto the Great Slave Lake, I parked and set up my gear. The lights were stunning, and keeping in mind the wise advice of my good friend R. I turned the lens towards a horizon to give the shots some perspective in the night sky. Yellowknife presented a nice backdrop, however the lights were not as active in that portion of the sky. They were most active when looking in the opposite direction, actually...so then I thought I might use my car as the perspective, and included the top of it, mostly my roof rack, in the same way I often used the tip of my kayak while shooting paddling photos.

I had to turn off all the car lights, however it was kinda spooky, so I turned on the stereo for some background noise. The Tragically Hip (also compliments of my good friend R. or his fiancee A.) played as I happily snapped away. You can actually see the glow of the stereo in one of these shots. If nothing else, it masked the thunderous ice cracking sounds that were well on their way to freaking me out...even though I KNOW better, that the ice isn't going to collapse under me, and plunge me into the icy waters below.

Halfway to Dettah, I parked and shot some more, and with the darkness surrounding me, it was easy to feel the adventure and isolation of the night...and then I tripped over some beer cans...sigh...welcome to the north...I tried to get some shots with Dettah in the background, however the lights were not real noticeable in those frames.

Such brillian photo opportunities exist just about anywhere, I'll reckon.

Sunday Drive

My friend K. and I went out after our supper of roast beast I cooked for a Sunday drive on the Ingraham Trail, which is just outside of Yellowknife. We drove past the old Giant Mine, where nine replacement miners were killed in an explosion back in 1992 during a heated strike. It closed in 2004. We also drove out to Cassidy Point, where this big lake house is. Pretty little spot, can imagine it is quite nice in the summer.

Northern Lights of Yellowknife

I had already gone to bed, and was watching Will and Grace on the PVR, when I heard what sounded like either firecrackers or gunshot...it could have been either given the neighborhood. When I got up to check, I saw the northern lights were out in full force again tonight, so took a short stroll out on to the balcony with my camera. Noticed the RCMP were down below, driving around...likely for the firecrackers/gunshots, lol.

I didn't care that it was well after midnight, -25C and I was in my jammies, I was determined to get out for more photos, so I bundled up in my down jacket and took a drive on the Dettah Ice Road. The beginning is just down the road from me and lets me get a more unobstructed view of the aurora, with no lights to distract from it. The photos I was able to get before my battery died are stunning (to me anyhow).

Now if I just had a big tripod, I could do even better. I have just my tiny one, as I donated my big one to the college in Fort Resolution before I left for their video project.

Northern Notes

Well, it's sunny again today - yahoo! It is also only -7C. Another yahoo. The snow is melting...let's make it three yahoos. I am very impatient for summer to be here and to be able to go camping, hiking, paddling, you name it. I am going to EMBRACE summer again this year and wring what I can out of it. Winter has been so DAMN LONG up here this year, that I need more memories to get me through the next one.

I am also looking forward to the opportunity to take more photos. There are only so many photos you can take of snow, ice, and the sun. I also don't much like going out in -30C weather with my camera either. I have my eye on a photography course the city is offering, so may take them up on it, and get into photographing something different. It is beyond the basics, so just what I need.

I'm sorry there isn't more exciting news to post lately, but there hasn't been much happening to blog about. I'm hoping that will improve soon enough...

Holiday Weekend Musings

So here we are, the longest holiday weekend so far this year, and the first day of spring is behind us. The temperature is still cold, but tends to warm up some during the day. Only -13C yesterday...downright balmy...

My friend K. is heading south today to Mexico...and I am insanely jealous...she'll come back all tanned, and refreshes, and I'll still be here, pale and tired....lol. Actually, I think I did get a little tanned from my trek back east, shopping in the sun all day.

I'm cooking up a big scoff for myself today - roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, apple crisp, you name it. I had thought about inviting folks over, but then I would have to clean my apartment...

Yeah, lazy. So sue me...it's a holiday weekend and I have other things planned. Shortly I'm going to haul out my correspondence course and get moving on that again, and after that, a jaunt on the treadmill, now that I've bought a cheapo dvd player for the bedroom and can satisfy my ER addiction on the treadmill. I need to find a routine for myself, or this treadmill will also become a dust collecting clothes hangar...

The animals are restless, particularly Henry...any wonder? He is just one hyper kitten. His nuts may be gone, but his personality remains thus far. He is seeking out more affection now, which is new. He also hangs out with Stormy a great deal, and Stormy doesn't seem to mind. I woke the other night to see Henry looming out of the dark, on top of my vcr, which is on top of my tv, which is on top of my dresser at the foot of the bed...he was about to dive into my garbage can which is on top of the vcr...he has a fascination for garbage cans (he sees them as toy boxes).

I am hoping to go for a drive this weekend, maybe to Prelude...there are roads out of town that I haven't even been on, so might be up for some adventure, depending on the state of the roads I choose, as some are just ice roads.

Now it's time for breakfast...Happy Easter one and all...

Top 'O The Marnin' To Ya

Ok, St. Patrick's Day is nearly over...and I didn't have a single green beer...I worked until 9pm tonight and have just a bottle of wine here. Blarney! My ancestral roots are in Ireland, through my maternal grandmother. I don't know how many generations are Canadian born though, several...for sure. I have been to Ireland, and LOVED it. I even kissed the blarney stone at Blarney Castle, near Cork. This is what I'm doing in the above photo...you have to lean over backwards to kiss the stone behind you.

Speaking of mornings...our days are getting much longer now, quickly at the pace of 8-10 minutes of gain per day. Our sunrise today was at 7:46am, and sunset at 7:46pm...weird eh? Today only, we have exactly the same amount of time as daylight. We'll continue to gain until we have 22 hours of daylight, and no black night. I was in Fort Resolution last year, so being farther north, it is expected to differ somewhat. Finally, it is daylight both going and coming from work, and then a little sun leftover for good measure.

The temps are warming at a much slower pace. We did have mild temps last year, but we're back down to -24C tonight. However, with shorter days, the temps are down for a shorter amount of time, as the sun is gaining power fast, and the days can warm enough to make the difference.

Slán agus beannacht leat!

Northern Airlines FEED YOU

Yes, that is actual flatware and glass supper plate on my tray. For no additional cost, Canadian North actually feeds its passengers a hot delicious meal - chicken breast or salmon (I chose chicken, of course). Air Canada charges for nearly everything and serves no hot meals on most of its flights (those you pay for as well). The supper was terrific! So if you're looking for a good meal onboard the aircraft - choose north!

Northern Bound

Well, after a couple of days of power shopping in Halifax, I'm headed back across this great country of ours, pointing northward in Edmonton. I'm exhausted from the shopping and putting furniture together for my parents, but feel like I've had a very productive week. I have to say, the short trip south has been rejuvinating, even if it did snow like hell the night I arrived. I have shopped 'til I damn near dropped, but scored some awesome deals, some brilliant finds, and the timing was perfect. Tax refund on Monday, free trip home on Wednesday, a few days with the parents, and my winter doldrums are over! It's been a long, cold, dark winter in Yellowknife this year, but there is a promise of spring as the temperatures rise every few weeks above -10C. They have dropped again to mid twenties (minus) but with gaining ten minutes of sunlight (approx) per day, the sunlight is gaining fast, and the dark of winter has passed.

Northward bound on Air Canada today, hoping for no delays, and smooth flights...back to the zoo.

The Edge of Night

Or the edge of town at night...my friend K. called to invite me out for an aurora viewing just at the edge of Yellowknife with our friends C. and M. They were spectacular to say the least. Very brilliant, and I was able to capture some of the magic through my lens...I just need to work on learning how to focus in the dark. I have the exposure time sorted out, but it's hit and miss with the focus for now until I figure it all out. This is my first time photographing the northern lights. I'm having issues with blogger right now, so will post the rest later.

Aurora Borealis

Was out barbecuing tonight for the first time this year, and it was FABULOUS! It was -0C tonight and the aurora borealis was spectacular, even from where I live in the city. I am next to Tin Can Hill (the trees are on the hill) and there is nothing beyond that, so the sky is dark until it lights up with the stars and northern lights. I even saw a shooting start tonight! Fabulous...bring on the spring...

This was my first time shooting the northern lights with my new camera. Imagine if I was out on the lake, and there weren't any wires in front. Of course, I had to use a tri-pod as the lens is open for several seconds, soaking in the aurora. I swear, I'll be sleeping out there one night yet! Time to hunt down two hammock hooks and a place to attach them on this rickety old building, covered in vinyl siding...even the underside of the balcony...now I'm off to shoot them outside of town.