Old friends along the road south...

As always, I saw several small herds of bison along the highway near Ft Providence. It's kinda neat to see but these big boys have caused a lot of havoc with motorists as well... they have a tendency to fall asleep on the highway in winter evenings when it's very dark and can do a lot of damage.

There had been a large forest fire in this area and a lot of the herds were camped out in the burnt area.. still a bit smokey and I guess the smoke kept the horseflies at bay. I stopped a couple of times and within seconds of stopping, my vehicle was surrounded by hundreds of swarming horse flies. I felt sorry for the bison who don't have much alternative but to just deal with the bugs..

None of them were making comments about Life being Goooooood.

More pics from around sunny Yellowknife

On my last day of my YK visit I ran around the city taking pics and enjoying the warm sunshine. Old town, Frame Lake, Giant Mine, and the YK Golf course all looked mighty fine on such a nice day. Almost made me think I missed this place.

And a challenge to anyone that is looking at the photos... find the ball on the first pic... there may be a prize for the first to find it!!!

Life is Good.

A few sights out in Back Bay on a sunny evening...

Chris and I were driving around watching the water bombers do their thing.. it was such a lovely evening I took a few other pics of the house boats out on back bay.. a guy enjoying a BBQ out on a public dock all by himself watching the boats and planes go by... and finally a few fotos of a local landmark and tourist attraction, the Wildcat Cafe.

Julie and I had been listening to CBC news.. "As it Happens" one evening last week and were interested in a story from Yellowknife about how the Wildcat .. a cafe that has been in operation for about 60 years... was being dismantled.. board by board, and log by log.. each one numbered in order to be re-assembled once the foundation and footings of the building were replaced...

It's funny cause at the time we heard this story, I had no idea that within 10 days, I'd be up here and see this big rebuilding operation first hand.. but there they were.. piles of wood, all documented and accounted for and ready to be put back to work and house one of the city's most historic landmarks.. the Wildcat Cafe... I wish you were here with me Jewels.. it's been a fun couple of days just touring around.. enjoying the longest days of the year and the natural beauty of this city and the area.

And tomorrow I get to go golfing.. to celebrate my little girl's birthday.. Happy Birthday Jill... I Love you...

Life is good!

Big fire.. at the Yellowknife Dump....

Well, I travelled out west again and did a little job in Edmonton. Got to visit with Jesse and Nikki and had a nice dinner with them. I've made a little deal with Chris to buy his Chev Tracker off him.. It's 2 years older than my Dakota but has only 30K KM on it whereas my Dakota just passed 275K this trip. I also hit a deer just out of Edmonton which broke a light and the nimrods that hold the radiator in place so it really is time for a change...

I flew up to Yellowknife yesterday.. it's been two glorious days of +25C .. sunny and warm and the days are at their longest.. It's 1030PM as I write this and still bright with blue skies out there.

Chris and I took a load of garbage out to the dump today and before we got it all off loaded, a City truck rushed up to us and we were told to evacuate the dump as there was a fire on the property. It's been very dry here and the last fire got out of control and burned for a couple of weeks. We didn't think much of it but noticed tonite that there were water bombers circling the area so we took a drive to check it out and sure enough, they were hauling loads of aqua off Back Bay and depositing it on the fire at the mall..er... dump.

It was interesting to see and half the town was out on this beautiful evening watching the water bombers in action...

Life is Swell

Spring showers brought June flowers to Duluth!

I got back to Duluth after everyone here had suffered through a late wet windy cold spring and the past week has been warm and wonderful. Julie and I have put a lot of work into getting the yard into shape.. or a form thereof.. cutting and trimming grass, digging and planting the garden and flower beds, and everything else associated with the yard. We are getting older and can feel the effects of our work... like going to bed at 7pm and sleeping almost 12 hours a nite.. but its good.. the place is taking shape on the outside and looks nice.

It's also a great time for the fruit trees and what must be the official hedge of the city, the lilac trees. They are blooming everywhere and enhancing an already beautiful city. I love summer .. the greenery, the smell... Life is Good.

Heading back east .. soggy Manitoba!!

Last week, I headed home to Manitoba to finalize the house sale make sure all was set up for possession of June 1 for the new owner. So... Jim Eirikson of no fixed address!! That has an interesting ring to it.

I visited mom for a day/nite before heading south to Duluth. I was amazed by all the water at the Lake Manitoba Narrows. Fields flooded for as far as the eye cud sea! Got some neat shots of pelicans feeding along the way.

I had a very interesting time getting into the states this time. I was honest and told the immigration guys that I had just sold my house so I guess I looked kind of suspicious travelling into the states with my truck and trailor loaded to the nuts with household items as well as my work things. I was told I would probably not be allowed in but after some discussion, I was given entry with a limitation of being out of the states by June 20.

I was also told that I should have a bit more info regarding a fixed address before trying to re-enter the states so I guess it's time to get serious and find a new address. I will be in Thunder Bay early next week and perhaps will find my new home!

No big deal.. Life is still GOOD!