The Travelling Roadshow

I suppose it was unlike any other trip we have made. Sure, we took our trailer and truck, sure we stopped at RV Parks, sure we worked hard doing Computer Training Workshops for the priests and laity when we got there, but we have never been so far north with our trailer, into the Arctic. And it was fun. Bishop Larry Robertson (+Larry) had invited us to come to Hay River and Yellowknife to do Training Workshops for Arcticnet, and to help several parishes learn to create their own Websites. It was a delightful invitation. Come and do all that work for us, and we will pay your diesel. And so we went.

It was a delightful sunny day when we left in August, north on Hwy 97 from Kelowna to Vernon, and then northwest to Kamloops. Delighted to find diesel there for $1.32 which was 15 cents less than Kelowna. Delighted to also stay at an RV Park next to a Zoo, where we enjoyed ourselves immensely, looking at the animals, and watching the feeding of the bears.

We also took in a train ride called the Spirit of Kamloops. It was a steam train, run by retirees, who had rebuilt the rusty locomotive over a number of years. Fascinating ride, across the Thompson River bridge and up to a small RC church on an Indian Reservation.

Next day, it was north on Hwy 97 to Quesnel for our second nights stop. The next day we take a side trip to Barkersville, the gold stampede town of the turn of the century, with a wonderful day exploring old houses, watching how water was funnelled into boxes of gravel to wash out the gold (if there was any), riding on top of a horse drawn carriage, and eating in an old saloon. Barkersville is a place to be experienced.

Then on to Prince George, and more inexpensive diesel, $1.32 -- nice. No stopping here, but northward we drove, as the trees got smaller and the roads became rolly, until we were going through the rockies for real. Spots were very beautiful, and we revelled in the scenery until at last we reached Dawson Creek, BC. We abandoned Hwy 97, and found a pleasant RV Park for the night, Mile 0 RV Park. That's Mile 0 of the Alaska Hwy, but we were not going there.

We were intending to head east to Peace River, Alberta, and then north to the Northwest Territories, but found we were 4 days early in our schedule, so southeast we drove to Edmonton, AB, and the West Edmonton Mall. We spent 3 days there exploring, eating, shopping, and enjoying the Seal Show, the Pirate ship, watching the skating, and just playing the tourist. By the next Monday, it was time to journey on, and we headed back to Peace River, where we stayed the night, and on and on. The highways in northern Alberta are good --- straight and mostly flat.

The trees were smaller, and small lakes more frequent. We could drive for miles and not see another car. Occasionally a truck would roar by, but for the most part, it was just long and --- should I say it? --- boring driving. Miles and miles of trees and road, with hardly a town and never a store. I'm glad we carry extra diesel.

We crossed the border (60th parallel) into Northwest Territories, (that Sean admiring the "Welcome to the Northwest Territories" sign) and resumed our northward push. Passing a park that revealed a beatiful sight of Louise Falls, we took pictures.

Eventually, we reached a junction in the road, and turned northeast to Hay River, our first working stop. Into the town, right turn past the City Hall, and left turn into the Parking Lot of St.Andrew's Church. Parked, unhooked, plugged into electricity and water, and we were warm and comfy. The Rev'd Vivian Smith walked over to greet us, and took us under her wing for the next 5 days. If you have a Canadian Church Calendar, look at the November page to see St.Andrew's, and imagine our trailer parked between the Thrift Shop and the Church. Imagine it without the snow, of course.<grin>

The people of Hay River warmly welcomed us, and we responded happily to them. The Training Workshop was a bit of a bust as far as attendance, but there are other things. We repaired the Church computer, had a new hard drive and wireless router added, and arranged for a better internet connection. We designed a website for the Church, and trained Carrie to maintain it. www.arcticnet.org/~hayriver On Saturday night, there was a Fish Supper at the Church, and Vivian (being Newfie) had brought some excellent "fish & brews", but there was baked salmon, arctic char, local whitefish, and trout. A wonderful feast --- the Fishery on Great Slave Lake used to be the main industry of Hay River.

Monday, we left Hay River, and headed north towards Yellowknife, a full days drive. First there was the ferry across the Mackenzie (Deh Cho), the 2nd largest river in North America, and one that flows north to the Arctic Ocean. Crossing on the free ferry was a fun experience. Then as we pushed on, we drove for hours through the Wood Buffalo Park Reserve. I hoped we would see one or two --- but was quite unprepared for bison by the dozen. When you see them, you slow down on the highway and stop to let them cross the road (they are like an immense crowd of very large old ladies jaywalking at a very slow pace --- and usually a large bull stops in the middle of the road, and turns his big head to face us as if to say: "Keep your distance and be patient, or I will put my head and horns into your front grill rendering your truck immobile". Wood bison (buffalo) are larger than prairie bison, big ones coming close to 2 tons.

They are marvelous magnificent furry beasts, capable of great speed and power, who find it nice to just eat grass. We enjoyed seeing them several times on our trip. Then on towards Yellowknife, while the road turns rolly and bouncy --- so much so that we really had to slow down on the highway.

Occasionally we saw a lone bull, who had been evicted from his harem by the younger more vigorous bulls. Wonder if he dreamt of his younger days with "his gals"? Of course, we saw deer and bear, and later even a beautiful fox crossing the road right in the town of Yellowknife.

Finally we crossed the bridge that led out of Wood Buffalo Park, and headed us towards Yellowknife. The road became increasingly bouncy, and slowing down was the order of the day. On reaching Yellowknife, we checked into the Information Centre to get directions to Bishop Larry and Sheila Robertson's home. We had been invited to stay in our trailer on their driveway. It was a tight squeeze, but we did it; and you can see the results in the picture.

We lived there for a week, thanks to the wonderful hospitality of +Larry. It was nice for the 4 of us to get together for a glass of wine before dinner, everyone talking at once, sharing the fun things of the day. Thanks for the memories.

The next day +Larry and I reported to the Diocesan Office (Diocese of the Arctic) where we met Debra Gill, the Diocesan Administrator, and Igah Muckpaloo, the Inuit Secretary. Elaine Coumont, the Diocesan Treasurer, was on holidays. Arrangements had been made for a Training Workshop that evening, using the computer at the Baker Street Seniors Centre --- since I teach computers at a Senior's Centre in Kelowna, this was pretty familiar territory. However I went there ahead of time, because as I suspected there were passwords that needed to be discovered, so I could add the latest FirstClass Clients to each of their computers. Glad we did, because there was much we had to do. That evening, we had our first Training Workshop with 5 people plus +Larry and I. It was a good one. On Thursday evening, we held another Workshop there, but this time for the Design and Creation of Church Websites. They worked on a new Website for Holy Trinity Church, Yellowknife. It is going to be a fine website when finished by the 3 Webmistresses. www.arcticnet.org/htyk The rest of the time was taken helping Debra Gill and +Larry.

On Friday afternoon, Bev and I explored sections of Yellowknife (like the Old Town pictured to the left) and other parts we had not seen, like the beautiful NWT Legislature Building and the Museum (display of kayaks pictured), both of which were excellent. Oddly, our guide to the NWT Legislature omitted how important the Church had been in opening up the North --- but there seems to be a desire of the Government to ignore the work of the Church amongst Inuit and Indian, which is a shame.

We also had lunch at a Tai Restaurant, then supper and lunch with Bishop Larry and Sheila Robertson at Le Wildcat, which is a super tourist place. Over the week I had bison tenderloin, and cariboo stew, and Bev had "Arctic Char on a Cedar Plank", a very tasty way to enjoy a lovely fish --- she gave me a piece and it was the best I have ever had. Prices were high, but this was tourist season. On Saturday, we went shopping, and Bev bought a lovely Parka complete with mits, made right there in Yellowknife. She is rightly pleased, and will be cosy and warm when the weather cools off.

On Sunday, I preached at the 8am Eucharist, and celebrated and preached at the 10am Eucharist. Quite a privilege. The Rev'd Captain Ron McLean is the rector, and Carol McLean is in charge of the Cathedral Funding (for Iqaluit) and the new parish website. A great team --- who surprised us by taking us all out to a big lunch at the Hotel after Church. A fitting ending to a wonderful week. Even more surprising, both Bishop Larry and Debra Gill, the excellent Diocesan Administrator, asked me to renew the Diocesan Website in the FirstClass mode, and include with it a Website for the Cathedral and a website for the Arthur Turner Training School It. Quite a job for a volunteer, but one that I loved; it has taken me two weeks to build it, but I am proud of it. Check out www.arcticnet.org I think it is one of the best that I have done.

Monday morning Sept 1st saw us leaving Yellowknife, and heading south. We stopped to fill up with diesel at Enterprise, and were stunned by the greedy prices at the Service Station - $1.57 per litre (about 16 cents more than Yellowknife father north, and 30 cents more than our average cost.). Tourists be warned. We stopped for the night at High Level, AB, at a lovely RV Park in the woods, then on to Edmonton.

Skirting Calgary, we headed for Banff and the superb Canadian Rockies in BC. Even though it was cloudy for much of the time, the view of the Rockies is spectacular--- they are immense; if you haven't driven through them recently, you should. I had forgotten how wonderful they are.

We pulled up tired but happy into a really nice RV Park at Golden, BC. Friendships were struck with a young couple from Switzerland, and we enjoyed a nice campfire outside of our trailer as the sun set and darkness enveloped us in the cool mountain air. Just great. The next morning, I was treated to the sight of 2 mountain sheep romping right through the RV Park past our trailer.

Thursday, it was a short drive, through Revelstoke, turning south at Sicamous, past Vernon, and home to Kelowna. We arrived in the middle of the afternoon, unpacked, glad to be home. It was a Trip never to be forgotten. A total of 6453 kilometres, costing $2025.36 for diesel. Worth every penny. And so are those wonderful priests and people we met. God Bless the Diocese of The Arctic.