Beluga whales in Churchill, MB!

So I made my first trip to Churchill from Gillam a couple of days ago. I had been looking forward to this since getting the job. The train ride up was really neat itself. The thick Boreal slowly transformed into tundra shrub and webs of muskeg seperated by ponds and lakes. There were ducklings and goslings along the way marking the first time I had seen Canada Goose goslings in the wild.

The photos were all taken at a beach close to the hotel we stayed in. I found a crack in the rocks with a width that held my phone securely (albeit on an angle) for a self portrait by "atlantic" waters.

The vertical pano was taken on the rocks along the shore where I hopped, ignorant of the sign I later discovered warning people that polar bears often nestle in between the rocks. Just another tourist.

The large stucture is the grain elevator we deliver to. I wasn't feeling well this trip so I didn't get to see as much as I wanted. I am looking forward to the next time I get here.

And the video. The narration says it all. I was actually just walking to the beach hoping I might see a glimps of a Beluga. I had no idea they would be so numerous or active. I was leaving a voice message for my mom when mid-sentence I noticed them from the road. Definately one of the most memorable experiences so far.

No polar bear sightings. I hope I do get to see one this year (from a safe distance, of course). They are around, though. As we departed Churchill, we saw a conservation truck on the road pulling a bear trap behind it. No doubt setting up to catch a problem bear to put behind (temporary) bars in Polar Bear Prison.

Bye for now!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Gillam

So here I am in Gillam. Very small town owned almost entirely by Manitoba Hydro. The video is of a dam wide open. This one of many dams in the area that produce alot of energy. I am told much of it is sent to the states.

The ride up to Gillam from the Pas went a lot quicker than I thought it would. I caught a ride with another trainee named Adam (seen momentarily at the end of the video). We stopped for a quick bite in Thompson before taking the only road - a 294km gravel road - to Gillam. Many flats have been reported. Aside from a few surprise bumps, it was a fairly smooth trip.

We found the bunkhouse, pictured above, without too much searching, despite being in fairly well hidden by trees and located in the outskirts of town. My room is bigger, has a softer bed, thicker pillows, a closet and a desk with drawers. So far so good.

The next picture is the Gillam train station where we take the trains either south to Thompson or north to Churchill. There is a Via passenger train that passes through here and I've already trained on it.

Someone got internet here and are kind enough to let my phone on it. I am going to Churchill for the first time on late Monday night or early Tuesday morning which I am really excited about. There will most certainly be updates following that trip.

Until then!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2

Flin Flon

The first picture is what appears to be weed or hemp being grown in a garden outside the Chicken Chef restaurant. I wont eat their chicken but people say it's good and I think I've stumbled upon their secret recipe. Note the finger in the photograph. Yes, I once worked as a photographer.

The second picture is a memorial erected to honor those from FlinFlon who gave their lives during WWII. The neat thing is, it's built on top of a mine turned bomb shelter. I was hoping I could go inside but it's locked up.

The pictures of steps is somewhat of an attraction. The steps lead from the bomb shelter's entrance to the memorial on top. The picture of the door is the entrance to the mine. Only a 2x4 is nailed accross door to keep it closed. It would be tempting to come one night with a claw hammer and take a peek inside. I probably won't be comimg back here so that idea is out the window. That I am too chicken to do someting like that.

So that's all that I have to report. Not much has transpired over the past couple of weeks. Two things I hope to get pictures of: a man in the Pas who rescued a crow fledgling and bonded with it and Lady Slippers - dozens of them along the track to the paper mill. There are yellow ones along with the normal pinkish ones which I found interesting.

Good night, internet.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2