For Me . . . It Is a Miracle

This afternoon I did my research to find a place to stay this coming winter, as a snowbird. I chose to reserve space at the Desert Gem RV Resort in Oliver BC. I was lucky to get the *last* available site in the park with occupancy to begin on October 1st. I then turned off my computer and when I glanced down at the floor, in the motorhome . . . there, in plain site in the middle of the floor, was my wedding ring. I had searched every inch of the floor time after time while remembering, that if you keep repeating the same action over and over, while expecting to get different results . . . it’s a sign that you are an idiot. Last night I gave up looking and accepted the fact that it was lost for good. Tomorrow it will be in my safety deposit box along with Aggie’s rings.

Fresh Sweet Peas; From China

This morning I went shopping for a few groceries. There were some nice looking peas in a package in the produce section of the store. Upon closer inspection I saw that they were “produce of China”. Produce of China? How long did it take to get to the store shelf in Whitehorse, Yukon? Are there no “fresh” peas available in Canada, or the United States? How safe are they? Can I place my trust in our food inspection agencies that they are safe? Why . . . why purchase fresh peas from China? Is it because there are none available in North America? Or is it because the “corporation” can make more money by selling fresh peas from China? Did I buy them? Of course not . . . I would rather do without. As I do without canned mushrooms. I have never, for years now, found any canned mushrooms available, in any store, that are canned in North America. I do, however, buy *fresh* mushrooms. Are the *fresh* mushrooms that I buy also from China? I have never seen any documentation as to their origin.

Aggie of the Ring

I was warned many times, when my wedding ring would fall off my finger . . . each time my mind would tell me, “put it away, or you will lose it”. Well I was warned for the last time. Today I woke up with no ring on my finger. I looked everywhere. I retraced my walks, and I searched the motorhome over and over. It’s gone! It makes me sad to lose it. I wore it for more than 40 years. It still *feels* like it is on my finger. We were married for 39 years. “Aggie . . . I’m sorry!”

But I know in my heart I do not *need* anything to remind me of her. Even without the ring, she is, and will always be, a *part* of me. But I really do wish I still had it. I take solace in believing that whatever *is*, is as it should be at this time. Not having the ring will not make me miss her any less. I don’t need any *thing* to remind me of her. Every day with her, then and now, was and is, a wonderful day!

Quebec Is Not Part Of Canada

In my opinion Quebec either *pretends* to be a part of Canada or *wants* to separate from Canada. According to “Notes for an address” by Stephane Dion (click here to see), Quebec benefits from the “real Canada” (my term, which does not include Quebec), by receiving 47 percent of the provincial equalization payments. This is apparently a “fair” number for which I have no reason to dispute. If the equalization payment was less than 47 percent, it would make no difference to the separatists. Either way they would use the number, according to Dion, as proof that “Canada doesn’t work”. I *really* don’t care. My experience, travelling through Quebec, has shown me that the “real Canada” should *not* include Quebec. They have already “crossed the Rubicon”. The solution at this point is for Canada to not “allow” Quebec to separate, but to by *decree* expel Quebec from Canada. Unless the Quebec government agrees to make changes to make the rest of Canada experience Quebec as an *equal* part of Canada, there can be no other solution that works.

I have driven through Quebec on “goat trails” called highways, with construction zone detour signs directing traffic with 100 percent French signs that included French acronyms. That is *dangerous*. I believe that is purposly done with *total* disregard of visitors to Quebec. I have visited stores in Quebec where there was not a single sign in English. I have had clerks that I can only think are *pretending* to not know a word of English in spite. I have experienced being *unable* to order breakfast from McDonalds because I wasn’t able to order in French. I was forced to bypass towns, where I wanted to stop at an RV Campground, because I could only guess at what the signs were about. I have experienced the *spread* of this *attitude* outward from Quebec in neighboring provinces.

Don’t think that I *dislike* the existence of the French language within Canada. I do not oppose that any more than any other language being used in Canada, including the aboriginal languages. There must be, however, some commonality within Canada as a whole, where we can travel and *appreciate* the diversity of our population without being regionally alienated by it. Of course at this time I believe I will *never* visit Quebec again unless I am accompanied by a Quebecer. If I lived in Quebec I might even want to learn to speak French. In the Yukon, or for that matter in most of Canada, I have other priorities. I will *not* ever, be *forced* to become a Quebecer. I don’t think the “real Canada” should be forced to conform to Quebec any more than being forced to conform to any other nationality.

Miles Canyon, Whitehorse

You don’t have to go far to see beauty in the Yukon. Miles Canyon, shown below, is within the city limits of Whitehorse, Yukon . . . about a 5 minute drive from the Pioneer RV Campground.

Go Yukon!

I have now had a couple of days to rest up from my marathon drive, so I am ready to begin another chapter in my life. Unfortunately, *very* unfortunately, this chapter is going to be broken by another trip to the south, for the winter, after it gets too cold here. That will be *really* too soon.

It’s hard to relate how *great* it felt to be back in the Yukon. A nice visit to Tagish was a great way to begin being back. Right now I am in Whitehorse, at the Pioneer Campground, putting the next chapter of my life together. Of course one of the priority items is to paint more. My trip across Canada and back didn’t allow for much painting time.

Even now, 20 months after Aggie died, I find I have no compass to guide my life with a solid purpose . . . other than my art. And as long as I am not settled in one area, for a long enough period of time, my art also suffers. I think, and hope that this coming winter, I will at least be painting more often.

Trip Summary

New Brunswick – Whitehorse Yukon
Kilometers traveled: 6,212
Liters of gasoline used: 1,945
Fuel Cost: $2,099
Average MPG: 9.0
Maximum MPG between fill ups: 11.14
Minimum MPG between fill ups: 7.87
Average fuel cost per kilometer: $0.34
Total Trip
Total kilometers traveled: 14,565
Total fuel cost: $4,730

Travel Days 8 And 9

Travel Day 8:
A *very* long hop from Chetwynd BC to a place about 50 miles from Watson Lake YT. My first drive in the dark. *Very* dark. Why didn’t I check the Headlight alignments? They *definitely* need adjustments.

The long hops between credit card usage prompted Visa to put a hold on my card. I had to call them and confirm that it was indeed me that was using the card. I didn’t mind . . . I’m glad they are on the ball.

Travel Day 9:
The *last* hop to get back home! Oh how I *love* the Yukon!

Chetwynd’s 2007 Chain Saw Carvings

Garry gave me a tour of Chetwynd to see the carvings produced by this year’s chain saw wood carving competition. They seem to have improved from those of last year. But last year’s carvings are also excellent. This year Chetwynd *invited* 12 carvers to enter the competition, provided the logs and venue and promised a minimum $1000.00 to all the participants. The winner of the competition received $4000 and a new chain saw, 2nd place $3000 and 3rd place received $2000.  Other participants received $1000 each. The “people’s choice” award of $1000 also went to the winner this year. Chetwynd gained ownership of all carvings produced in the competition.

I put some photos of last year’s carvings on my blog last June. They can be seen here. Some of the results of the competition *this* year are shown below. There are also two new murals shown below.

Travel Day 7

It was refreshing and relaxing to have a short travel day for a change. I arrived in Chetwynd BC before noon and had plenty of time to get caught up on things that needed to be done. I am looking forward to spending this evening with Garry and Annie before another long hop north from Chetwynd.

Below are 3 photos of my favorite campground. It is located at Langham Saskatchewan. I don’t know exactly why it is my favorite. Maybe because it is very clean, quiet, and well kept. And the price is very reasonable.