WORKING HARD

POST # 424

Bucking wood, splitting wood, stacking wood, making kindling, weeding, cutting grass, picking apples, hauling water, preparing trees for winter, and probably a few other things that I've already forgotten, is what has kept me busy this past week. By the end of each day I am knackered as the Aussies would say. It has been exhausting at times, but I'm glad that I have been able to help my friends get all of their chores completed, so that they can soon depart on their vacation.

As can been seen from the above photo, they have an extensive property, and this is only a small portion of the forty acres. Lots of land, and lots of work. I am amazed at just how hard John and Kim work, each and every day. They certainly have earned a holiday, in my opinion. By the time that I return to my cabin for the evening, I'm pretty tuckered out, but I feel satisfied with my effort.

grateful for every breath, Paul The Thoughtful Wanderer

BACK TO THE YUKON

POST # 423

MY CURRENT ABODE With limited Wi-Fi, coupled with the fact that Blogger, the platform I have been using to write on since 2011, has "upgraded" so that I have to re-learn it, I will be amazed and delighted if this post makes it to print. With all of that said, let's get started. After my extended stay in Vancouver, I boarded an Air North plane, and flew to Whitehorse, arriving back on Yukon territory on September 15th. I was greeted by my former brother-in-law, Pat, and we had a very pleasant visit over beer and a pizza. The time went by too fast, and soon I was bedded down for the night. Up early the next day, and back to the airport for my flight to Dawson. I met friends, Jannice and Myrna prior to boarding, and soon we were on our way. The flight to Dawson is about an hour, and on our final approach we flew over Bear Creek, and I recognized a few houses. The plane touched down around 9:30am. John was there to meet me, but prior to going back to his property, we drove to town, to do some shopping. I decided to go into the office at my former place of employment, The Dawson City General Store. That was a surprise for my former boss Mark, his son Kyler, and Bob the butcher. We had a pleasant visit and planned to catch up before I leave the Yukon. John and I departed for his property which is located across the Klondike river from Rock Creek. Rock Creek is about a half hour drive from Dawson, followed by two separate canoe voyages across the swiftly moving Klondike river. The first trip is to an island mid-stream, followed by the final float to the property. With John in command, I felt totally at ease. I'm not sure how confident I would be doing the journey on my own, however, that may be necessary at some point. Paddling a canoe in a river is way different to sailing a boat on the ocean, so my previous experience in that regard is of little help. We arrived at the property, to be greeted by John's partner, Kim accompanied by their three dogs, Oz, Dash and Maizie. At present, I am living in a separate cabin from the main house, and I would expect to be here until they go on their vacation. Then it's into the big house with the three boneheads, mentioned above. I feel totally comfortable in this cabin which is large compared to what "Snug" was. It has a great woodstove, and is only a short 46-step walking distance to the outdoor toilet. Who could ask for more? There has been plenty of work to do outside right now, so I have been helping out, however I have to admit that this ageing body isn't used to it. Still it is good for the soul. On Saturday, we went to town to set up on Front street at the farmer's market. It wasn't long before I was visiting with many old friends, and I had a wonderful time. Having worked at the General Store for so many years, I got to know most of the locals. So with the exception of the black flies that have been making a feast out of this non-local, It has been a memorable time so far. grateful for every breath, Paul The Thoughtful Wanderer

END OF QUARANTINE, SMOKE, AND DAWSON HERE I COME

 POST # 422

My 14-day mandatory quarantine ended four days ago, so I am now officially free to go about my business.  Because I don't own a cell phone, I had to provide an email address when I arrived at the airport in order for the "authorities" to be able to check up on me on day four, day eight, and day eleven in order to confirm that I was staying where I said I would be.  So what happened on those three days?  Crickets!!!  I never received any emails, which leads me to conclude that I and any other arriving traveller could just exit the airport and be on their merry old way.  So much for mandatory quarantine.

Now that I am free to move around as I please, thick smoke from wildfires across the border has enveloped Vancouver, so moving around isn't as enjoyable as it could be.  However, I still like to do my daily walk in spite of the haze. I'm fact, a couple of days ago, I took the Seabus across to the North shore.  I was curious to see what the Vancouver skyline looked like from that point of view.  Here it is:

And this is what it looks like on video:

I also spent time at my favourite beach in the West End.  More smoke, and the resident crows to keep me entertained.

Today is the third consecutive day with thick smoke. Apparently, at some point during this period, Vancouver had the worst air quality in the world.  Whether that is true or not is debatable.  All I know is that it is very bad, but at least I won't have to put up with it for much longer.  Why is that?  Because tomorrow afternoon I will be flying back to the Yukon.  Friends in Dawson City need me to housesit for them for a little while.  I arrive in Whitehorse tomorrow evening, stay over at a local hotel, and fly on to Dawson the next morning.

These friends live out in the bush, so I am not exactly sure what kind of internet connection will be available, but rest assured, as long as I can connect, there will be a blog post next Monday.

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

ROOM 211

 POST #421

 

Today is the eleventh day of my fourteen day mandatory quarantine.  So far, so good.

I certainly didn't expect that I would have a room with a window, and also have the ability to go out and buy groceries every now and again.  Simple things have become way more precious than before.

Normally, I may want to complain that I don't have a proper keyboard to write these words, and instead I'm forced to use my opposing thumbs, but now I am just grateful to have this Kindle device, and an internet connection.  When I watch the younger generations type on their smartphones, I am amazed at just how fast they go.  I'll never be that good.

Room 211 has everything I could want including a shower and toilet, a sink that also serves as my "laundromat", a firm bed, a fan to keep me cool, and of course, that wonderful window.  I am very content here.

In one respect, I feel like I'm back in India, as the majority of people staying at this hotel, are students from India.  Apparently they are stuck here until their classes resume, and who knows when/if that will ever happen?

I have stayed here at the Hotel Patricia, on other occasions in the past.  It has been here since 1913.  The staff are very friendly and helpful.  One of the people at the front desk is an Aussie from Melbourne, so we can relate on that front.  We both agree that we are happy to be here at the moment, instead of Melbourne.

This is the older part of Vancouver, and the years have taken their toll, on both the landscape and the poor souls who live here. Literally hundreds of people spend every night out on the street, and yet just one block from my hotel there is a huge abandoned building, that could be fixed up and used as a shelter.  As a visitor, I sit here and wonder why that hasn't happened?

If there is anyone out there who might be feeling hard done by, in light of our current world situation, they would only need to spend some time here in East Vancouver, to come to the realization that they don't have much to complain about, and neither do I.

I will continue to appreciate just how fortunate I am, here in room 211, even though I occasionally feel like this poor goat, that I came across while riding my bicycle back to Auckland, on a very rainy morning, decades ago.

 

 

MY ROOM WITH A VIEW

SUNSET

grateful for every breath,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer