POST # 10
It certainly hasn't been lonely living here in Bear Creek because most of the time I have five pairs of eyes staring at me wondering, "What's the human going to do now?" Roxie, Breaker, and Skidder the dogs, are always hoping for either a treat or a walk or both, but mostly they just want to be close, and as a consequence I am never short of their company.
Dusty and Trouble the cats on the other hand, are usually just in the market for a lap to lounge upon and purr away until the end of time. And in addition to that, Dusty has taken it upon himself to come in to the bedroom at night and curl up under the covers tucked up against my arm while I read before it's lights out.
And when I awake the next morning he hasn't moved an inch. Purring is the first sound I hear upon awakening each morning which by the way is a very nice way to start the day. (Apologies to all the dog lovers out there)
Each day seems to just fly on by and the animals and I have settled into a comfortable routine. I get out each day to walk the dogs as much as possible, however our planned route out back of the house has been interrupted with the generally mild winter so far. Usually by now the ice out back is solid, and we can roam wherever we like, however this year, what with the mild (for the Yukon) temperatures, and the heavy snow cover, there are holes in the ice, and the thought of breaking through keeps us from venturing very far. Two years ago when I was here I was walking on the ice and all was well and then one step later, I was in up to my waist with the dogs looking at me as if to say, "Hey human, couldn't you smell that the ice was thin in that spot?" As I recall the temperature was probably hovering around minus 30 at the time and fortunately it wasn't too far to walk to get back to the warmth of the wood stove, but by the time I got there my pants were as stiff as a board. It was a lesson learnt that only caused some minor discomfort, but it has helped me to be more aware this time around.
The lucky part was the depth of the water at the spot I fell through. In many other places it would be over my head, and I can't imagine what the struggle would have been like to get out if that would have been the case.
So instead we have walked down the road which the dogs don't like as much, because of the fact that I have them tethered to three leashes that come into one and join around my waist. When one of them stops for a pee, it inevitably causes the leads to tangle up, but it's all part of the fun. It takes a few moments to get everyone sorted out and then we are on our merry way. I find our evening walks the most enjoyable, especially if the stars are out which so far this winter has been a rare treat, what with all the snow we've had. When we return from our walk we head down to the frozen part of the pond behind the house where I have a chair sitting in the snow. This is the time that we all just stop and spend a few minutes to take in our surroundings. Especially on the clear nights it is a magical place to be, with the stars shining down upon us, and the Yukon silence to add the flavour of the moment. I think it is this silence which sets the place apart and one of the things that makes the Yukon such a magical place to be especially in the winter time. PURE SILENCE.
Once we have finished our daily commune with nature it's time to return to the warmth of the wood stove, and give the dogs a treat and settle in for the evening which is spent partly upstairs on the computer. Mr. Grey Cat (Dusty) and Mr. Black Cat (Trouble) now join our group of four, and what with the dogs licking me and cats competing for my lap, it's difficult at times to do any typing. (I guess I can use that as my excuse for not getting out as many emails as I could).
Soon enough it's time to shut up shop for the day and we all head downstairs and settle in for the night.
And speaking of the Yukon night. At this time of year the sun comes up around 11am and sets around 3:30pm, so there is no shortage of night. Of course now that we are past winter solstice the days are now beginning to get longer, and soon enough the valley will be filling up with sunlight.
By the end of this week I will be moving yet again but this time only just down the road into Dawson for my next housesit.
This will be my final blog entry for the year of 2011 and it has been quite a year indeed. I continue to be convinced more each day that this energy intensive life that we have all been born into and become so accustomed to is now beginning to change in ways that will have a profound effect on all of us in the years ahead. We're all going to have to get use to a more simple lifestyle whether we like it or not. However on the bright side, I think that somewhere down the track, that simpler future will bring back some of the things that we seem to have lost over the last century or so, like a sense of community, knowing one's neighbours, and locally grown food. Finding a community that works together to sustain itself quite possibly will be the most important decision many of us make and I think that smaller communities will be more resiliant to the changes ahead than the larger concentrations of people in the various cities around the world.
So with those final thoughts, I will wind this up. Today, I have one more dog to care for named Duece, a sibling of the other three, so it will be a crowded house here the last fews days. Otto the dog will be my next four legged friend starting this coming weekend in Dawson. I may not have regular use of the internet for January, however I will make every effort to get my blog completed on the scheduled days.
So let's bring on 2012 as it is shaping up one way or the other to be a year with plenty of change in the wind, and any way you look at it, I'm sure it will be interesting to say the least.
More thoughts to follow in 2012
Happy New Year
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
THOUGHTFUL: showing consideration for others; occupied with or given to thought; contemplative; meditative. WANDERER: moving from place to place without a fixed plan; or having no permanent residence; nomadic.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
SOLSTICES NEW AND OLD
POST #9
A jumble of disjointed and muddled thoughts were floating around in my brain until eventually one of those thoughts formed itself into a human voice that was attached to a hand which was gently nudging my shoulder. The voice said "Eh Canadian, wake up we're in Sydney."
I awoke from my stupor to find myself lying on a bench and staring into the face of one of the band members of the night before. My head was extremely fuzzy and soon things began to come back to me. Last night was our final one aboard the P&O ocean liner Oriana, because today we would arrive in the Australian city of Sydney after an eventful and fun filled 18 day voyage from Vancouver, with port calls in Hawaii, Fiji, and New Zealand along the way. The day was December 21st, 1977. My groggy condition was the result of the heavy duty partying the night before which no one wanted to miss out on, and it continued on late into the night and had plenty of duty free drinks to go along with it.
I stumbled out onto the aft deck and into the morning heat and humidity and I was staring at the Sydney Opera house, a sight that until this moment had only been one I had seen in glossy travel brochures. It took me a few moments to grasp that I really was finally in Australia, and once I was convinced that I wasn't just continuing the dream I was having a few minutes before, I headed down to "F" deck to pack up my things and get ready to disembark the ship. This process took some time as the ship had transported about 1200 souls, most of which had stayed onboard for the entire journey. Eventually though, it was my turn to clear customs, which back then was a short and pleasant exchange with the customs officer. My how times have changed. I asked him directions to the closest pub and he directed me to one in the Rocks area of Sydney, not far from where we had docked, and with that, I and two female friends Rhonda and Karen whom I had become aquainted with over the previous 18 days wandered over to the pub to find something that would both welcome us to this new land and also help cure our hangovers. The night before I had planned to stay up and be awake as the Oriana steamed through the heads and into Sydney harbour, but it was not to be. But once we were settled in at the pub, and having our first taste of Aussie beer, I was soon over that disappointment.
And so it was on December 21st, my Australian journey began, on a summer solstice and now all these years later I am still roaming around but this time I find myself far far away from any heat and humidity in the friendly little community of Bear Creek in the Yukon Territory on this December 21st, a winter solstice.
Winter solstice is usually a great excuse here in the Yukon to have a party. From now on, the days begin to get longer, which is certainly a cause for celebration. My first taste of this party atmosphere was on this date in the year 2000 which was my first Yukon winter. What sets the Yukon apart from other places, is that most of the partying that goes on, is oddly enough done outside, even with temperatures in the minus 30's or below. A raging bonfire becomes the centre piece of the celebration, and all the participants are like human moons, in other words, they have one side facing the sun (bonfire) and the other side facing the blackness of outer space (the surrounding bush). Occasionally it's wise to do a rotation or two, just to make sure that one is evenly roasted and to ensure that your beer doesn't either freeze or get too warm. It's a unique setting for a party but it is just one of the many memorable activities which makes the Yukon such a fun place to be.
Tonight though, I don't plan on going anywhere other than to walk out into the tailings piles with my three dog friends. With any luck it will be a clear night and we will take the opportunity to look skyward and admire the night sky. The big dipper is very prominent and I can marvel at the fact that one of the stars in that constellation is about 737 trillion kilometers distant. And while I ponder that, my dog buddies will be busy chewing the ice balls off the pads of their feet waiting for the moment that the human decides that he is ready to get up, so that we can all trundle back to the warmth of the wood stove.
It will be a quiet night this solstice, an opportunity for reflection and also an opportunity to spend some quality time with my four legged friends and think about the fact that starting tomorrow, the sun begins it's journey back north.
In any event, I am sure it will be a solstice to remember.
all the best
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
A jumble of disjointed and muddled thoughts were floating around in my brain until eventually one of those thoughts formed itself into a human voice that was attached to a hand which was gently nudging my shoulder. The voice said "Eh Canadian, wake up we're in Sydney."
I awoke from my stupor to find myself lying on a bench and staring into the face of one of the band members of the night before. My head was extremely fuzzy and soon things began to come back to me. Last night was our final one aboard the P&O ocean liner Oriana, because today we would arrive in the Australian city of Sydney after an eventful and fun filled 18 day voyage from Vancouver, with port calls in Hawaii, Fiji, and New Zealand along the way. The day was December 21st, 1977. My groggy condition was the result of the heavy duty partying the night before which no one wanted to miss out on, and it continued on late into the night and had plenty of duty free drinks to go along with it.
I stumbled out onto the aft deck and into the morning heat and humidity and I was staring at the Sydney Opera house, a sight that until this moment had only been one I had seen in glossy travel brochures. It took me a few moments to grasp that I really was finally in Australia, and once I was convinced that I wasn't just continuing the dream I was having a few minutes before, I headed down to "F" deck to pack up my things and get ready to disembark the ship. This process took some time as the ship had transported about 1200 souls, most of which had stayed onboard for the entire journey. Eventually though, it was my turn to clear customs, which back then was a short and pleasant exchange with the customs officer. My how times have changed. I asked him directions to the closest pub and he directed me to one in the Rocks area of Sydney, not far from where we had docked, and with that, I and two female friends Rhonda and Karen whom I had become aquainted with over the previous 18 days wandered over to the pub to find something that would both welcome us to this new land and also help cure our hangovers. The night before I had planned to stay up and be awake as the Oriana steamed through the heads and into Sydney harbour, but it was not to be. But once we were settled in at the pub, and having our first taste of Aussie beer, I was soon over that disappointment.
And so it was on December 21st, my Australian journey began, on a summer solstice and now all these years later I am still roaming around but this time I find myself far far away from any heat and humidity in the friendly little community of Bear Creek in the Yukon Territory on this December 21st, a winter solstice.
Winter solstice is usually a great excuse here in the Yukon to have a party. From now on, the days begin to get longer, which is certainly a cause for celebration. My first taste of this party atmosphere was on this date in the year 2000 which was my first Yukon winter. What sets the Yukon apart from other places, is that most of the partying that goes on, is oddly enough done outside, even with temperatures in the minus 30's or below. A raging bonfire becomes the centre piece of the celebration, and all the participants are like human moons, in other words, they have one side facing the sun (bonfire) and the other side facing the blackness of outer space (the surrounding bush). Occasionally it's wise to do a rotation or two, just to make sure that one is evenly roasted and to ensure that your beer doesn't either freeze or get too warm. It's a unique setting for a party but it is just one of the many memorable activities which makes the Yukon such a fun place to be.
Tonight though, I don't plan on going anywhere other than to walk out into the tailings piles with my three dog friends. With any luck it will be a clear night and we will take the opportunity to look skyward and admire the night sky. The big dipper is very prominent and I can marvel at the fact that one of the stars in that constellation is about 737 trillion kilometers distant. And while I ponder that, my dog buddies will be busy chewing the ice balls off the pads of their feet waiting for the moment that the human decides that he is ready to get up, so that we can all trundle back to the warmth of the wood stove.
It will be a quiet night this solstice, an opportunity for reflection and also an opportunity to spend some quality time with my four legged friends and think about the fact that starting tomorrow, the sun begins it's journey back north.
In any event, I am sure it will be a solstice to remember.
all the best
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
GOODBYES AND HELLOS
POST #8
It's about 6:30pm on December 14th and I am only now just getting an opportunity to write my blog. My mind is tired as it has been a long two days and I am quite sure I will have a good sleep tonight.
Yesterday, after 3 weeks in Nanaimo with Myrtle dog, I had to say goodbye as it was time to move on to my next home. I was up early getting the house tidied up and trying to maximize my last few hours with Myrtle. Bill arrived at 11:30am to collect us and take me to the ferry terminal. As Bill and Myrtle drove away my thoughts were on the day ahead. I had plenty of running around to do during the few hours I had in Vancouver, and before long I was on the skytrain for the journey to the airport in preparation for my flight to Whitehorse.
The Air North flight departed right on schedule at 9pm with arrival anticipated for 11:30pm in Whitehorse.
I used the time on board to do some reading and jot down some notes of things to do once I get to Dawson.
Still wearing my shorts when we arrived, I got a few strange looks even though it was only about minus 9 degrees when we landed. A quick shuttle bus to the Yukon Inn, time to brush my teeth, read a few paragraphs and then drift rapidly into la la land.
I was up this morning at 5am and had a brief visit with my Dawson friends over breakfast at the airport, and soon I was on the twin prop plane on our way over the frozen north land to Dawson airport. A Dawson friend was sitting next to me on the journey so it was an opportunity to catch up on what's been happening in town since my last visit in the summer of 2010. We made our final bank over the village of Bear Creek, which will be my home until the end of the month and landed smoothly a few moments later. With a temperature of minus 24, the shorts got a few more comments than they did the night before in Whitehorse.
My friend Myrna was there to meet me and drive me to my new home, where I was greeted warmly by Skidder, Breaker, and Roxie, the border collies, and Dusty and Trouble, the two resident furballs.
Today just flew right on by, and was filled with visits with friends and walks with the dogs.
I find it hard to believe that a year and a half have passed since I was last here, and at that time it was midsummer, so it's a whole different ball game now, as we approach the winter solstice.
It will take me a day or two to get into a routine,and I'm looking forward to yet again, getting re-aquainted with my Dawson friends. The days now, are short indeed so the dogs and I will have to make the best of them with plenty of walks around the town and in the bush around Bear Creek.
It is a rather short blog today, but it has been a long day and so my brain isn't really as clear as it could be, so it's probably best to just say "that's a wrap" and see what I can come up with again next week.
Bye for now from the frozen Yukon.
Paul
The Thoughtful (but tired)Wanderer
It's about 6:30pm on December 14th and I am only now just getting an opportunity to write my blog. My mind is tired as it has been a long two days and I am quite sure I will have a good sleep tonight.
Yesterday, after 3 weeks in Nanaimo with Myrtle dog, I had to say goodbye as it was time to move on to my next home. I was up early getting the house tidied up and trying to maximize my last few hours with Myrtle. Bill arrived at 11:30am to collect us and take me to the ferry terminal. As Bill and Myrtle drove away my thoughts were on the day ahead. I had plenty of running around to do during the few hours I had in Vancouver, and before long I was on the skytrain for the journey to the airport in preparation for my flight to Whitehorse.
The Air North flight departed right on schedule at 9pm with arrival anticipated for 11:30pm in Whitehorse.
I used the time on board to do some reading and jot down some notes of things to do once I get to Dawson.
Still wearing my shorts when we arrived, I got a few strange looks even though it was only about minus 9 degrees when we landed. A quick shuttle bus to the Yukon Inn, time to brush my teeth, read a few paragraphs and then drift rapidly into la la land.
I was up this morning at 5am and had a brief visit with my Dawson friends over breakfast at the airport, and soon I was on the twin prop plane on our way over the frozen north land to Dawson airport. A Dawson friend was sitting next to me on the journey so it was an opportunity to catch up on what's been happening in town since my last visit in the summer of 2010. We made our final bank over the village of Bear Creek, which will be my home until the end of the month and landed smoothly a few moments later. With a temperature of minus 24, the shorts got a few more comments than they did the night before in Whitehorse.
My friend Myrna was there to meet me and drive me to my new home, where I was greeted warmly by Skidder, Breaker, and Roxie, the border collies, and Dusty and Trouble, the two resident furballs.
Today just flew right on by, and was filled with visits with friends and walks with the dogs.
I find it hard to believe that a year and a half have passed since I was last here, and at that time it was midsummer, so it's a whole different ball game now, as we approach the winter solstice.
It will take me a day or two to get into a routine,and I'm looking forward to yet again, getting re-aquainted with my Dawson friends. The days now, are short indeed so the dogs and I will have to make the best of them with plenty of walks around the town and in the bush around Bear Creek.
It is a rather short blog today, but it has been a long day and so my brain isn't really as clear as it could be, so it's probably best to just say "that's a wrap" and see what I can come up with again next week.
Bye for now from the frozen Yukon.
Paul
The Thoughtful (but tired)Wanderer
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
MY MORNING WALK AND A LOOK AHEAD
POST #7
I had a restless night last night and I can't really work out why. The only things on my "to do" list for today was to write this blog and put the garbage out. Nothing in other words, that would disturb my sleep in the feather bed, but by 4am, sleep was no more. So as I write these words, waiting for the coffee to brew, my head is a bit fuzzy. I'll have to add one more item to my "to do" list which is to make sure I have an afternoon nap.
So Queen Myrtle and I were out for our regular morning stroll this morning and while she was finding the perfect pooping location, I was thinking about what to write today. As we rounded the corner past a local business, a worker was out in the yard driving a forklift, which automatically made me think of a time long since past, when for a while I myself was a forklift driver. The year was 1978 and I had a job working at a trucking depot in Adelaide Australia. I had been there at this point for a few months, and so I already had the opportunity to use the forklift on many occasions, and by now considered myself somewhat of an expert. I'm not sure how expert anyone can be at the age of 22, but that's another story. Anyhow, with all the dexterity of an expert I picked up a crate about one foot square and about twenty or so feet long which contained the main rotor blade for a helicopter. It needed to be moved out to the main street which entailed going through the opening of a chained link fence which surrounded the depot. One of the traits of being an expert forklift driver is the ability to continue driving while at the same time lifting the load. As I approached the opening in the fence while lifting the load, I was at the same time calculating in my head whether I would have the crate high enough in time to clear the top of the fence. It was all looking so good and I was feeling so confident. And then just as the crate arrived at the fence line, the left end of it grazed the top of the fence and the crate slid sideways. Oh shit!!! I stopped the forklift right away, but the crate continued to tilt precariously down and to the left. What made matters even worse was that my boss's Mercedes Benz was parked just off to the left and the crate was now perfectly lined up like a long arrow ready to shoot right through the car's back window. If it goes, then I may as well go collect my final pay and start looking for another job. As I sat there sweating bullets, luck was on my side in the form of a fellow employee who happened to see my dilemma and come with another forklift to help save the day. Lesson learned? Confidence is great but overconfidence can have some very unintended consequences. This time though, I was lucky.
Myrtle and I continued on our stroll as the morning sun broke the horizon which was a pleasant change from the previous overcast days. We walked past the site of "The Number 1 Esplanade Coal Mine" which in the late 1800's according to the sign had "over 1000 men and 150 horses and mules employed there". On May 3rd 1887, an explosion in the mine killed 150 of those miners. It would have been a very sad day for the local community I'm sure. Yet today, except for the signage, there is no indication that a coal mine once existed there.
Shortly after we passed this spot Myrtle found the perfect spot to have her morning poop and then have her human servant scoop it up in a bag and then we were on our merry way.
Too soon though, these Myrtle walks will be coming to an end as my time here in Nanaimo winds down. By this time next week I will be in Dawson City and Myrtle will be a pleasant memory. Maybe sometime in the future I will have the opportunity to take care of her once more.
We arrived back home and once inside, Myrtle received her after walk liver treats, and I put the coffee on so that I could try and rid myself of the fog in my head from my restless night's sleep.
As I write these words, the coffee has performed it's magic, and even though Myrtle is now snoozing in her favourite place next to the bay window, I am already planning our lunchtime walk, which is the long walk of three we do each day. And with the sun shining brightly, I think today will be an especially long one as I want to take advantage of the mild weather, because next week in the Yukon, it will be anything but mild.
And so the journey continues.
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
I had a restless night last night and I can't really work out why. The only things on my "to do" list for today was to write this blog and put the garbage out. Nothing in other words, that would disturb my sleep in the feather bed, but by 4am, sleep was no more. So as I write these words, waiting for the coffee to brew, my head is a bit fuzzy. I'll have to add one more item to my "to do" list which is to make sure I have an afternoon nap.
So Queen Myrtle and I were out for our regular morning stroll this morning and while she was finding the perfect pooping location, I was thinking about what to write today. As we rounded the corner past a local business, a worker was out in the yard driving a forklift, which automatically made me think of a time long since past, when for a while I myself was a forklift driver. The year was 1978 and I had a job working at a trucking depot in Adelaide Australia. I had been there at this point for a few months, and so I already had the opportunity to use the forklift on many occasions, and by now considered myself somewhat of an expert. I'm not sure how expert anyone can be at the age of 22, but that's another story. Anyhow, with all the dexterity of an expert I picked up a crate about one foot square and about twenty or so feet long which contained the main rotor blade for a helicopter. It needed to be moved out to the main street which entailed going through the opening of a chained link fence which surrounded the depot. One of the traits of being an expert forklift driver is the ability to continue driving while at the same time lifting the load. As I approached the opening in the fence while lifting the load, I was at the same time calculating in my head whether I would have the crate high enough in time to clear the top of the fence. It was all looking so good and I was feeling so confident. And then just as the crate arrived at the fence line, the left end of it grazed the top of the fence and the crate slid sideways. Oh shit!!! I stopped the forklift right away, but the crate continued to tilt precariously down and to the left. What made matters even worse was that my boss's Mercedes Benz was parked just off to the left and the crate was now perfectly lined up like a long arrow ready to shoot right through the car's back window. If it goes, then I may as well go collect my final pay and start looking for another job. As I sat there sweating bullets, luck was on my side in the form of a fellow employee who happened to see my dilemma and come with another forklift to help save the day. Lesson learned? Confidence is great but overconfidence can have some very unintended consequences. This time though, I was lucky.
Myrtle and I continued on our stroll as the morning sun broke the horizon which was a pleasant change from the previous overcast days. We walked past the site of "The Number 1 Esplanade Coal Mine" which in the late 1800's according to the sign had "over 1000 men and 150 horses and mules employed there". On May 3rd 1887, an explosion in the mine killed 150 of those miners. It would have been a very sad day for the local community I'm sure. Yet today, except for the signage, there is no indication that a coal mine once existed there.
Shortly after we passed this spot Myrtle found the perfect spot to have her morning poop and then have her human servant scoop it up in a bag and then we were on our merry way.
Too soon though, these Myrtle walks will be coming to an end as my time here in Nanaimo winds down. By this time next week I will be in Dawson City and Myrtle will be a pleasant memory. Maybe sometime in the future I will have the opportunity to take care of her once more.
We arrived back home and once inside, Myrtle received her after walk liver treats, and I put the coffee on so that I could try and rid myself of the fog in my head from my restless night's sleep.
As I write these words, the coffee has performed it's magic, and even though Myrtle is now snoozing in her favourite place next to the bay window, I am already planning our lunchtime walk, which is the long walk of three we do each day. And with the sun shining brightly, I think today will be an especially long one as I want to take advantage of the mild weather, because next week in the Yukon, it will be anything but mild.
And so the journey continues.
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
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