New Work, Holy Spirit High School Christmas Craft Show This Weekend!

Christmas shopping? Come on out to Holy Spirit High School this weekend for their Christmas Craft Show! Sunday, December 4th, 2011, 10am to 4pm

Do you have someone special on your list to buy for? Think about giving a gift of art!
I'll have new note cards & canvas prints from Churchill, Manitoba, Canada for purchase.

Back in the states...

I've come to find I've learned more about Churchill than I ever thought I would. Although, I believe I can never learn enough.
Churchill is an incredible place. Alot of controversy was heard about what is happening there. As I had mentioned in previous posts, I had taken the VIA Canada train to Churchill as there aren't any roads that lead there. There is flight service, but weighing out the cost between the flight & the train, well, obviously, the train was the way to go for me. As many of you know, I get to the places I do because of the way I travel. I don't always have all the luxuries many other people do when they travel, but, for me, it's all about the experiences I have along the way. Besides that, I have no problem roughing it!
I met many fascinating people on the 2 day train ride to Churchill. There was a group called "The Great Bear Foundation", there were biologist, documentary film makers, naturalists, people whom embarked on a journey to the Churchill Research Center, photographers, a forester, people who have made it their lives ambition to see as much of the world as possible, the young, the old & all ages in between. ( this is only some of the people I met!)
The train does not travel at very fast speeds because of permafrost doing damage to the tracks. They are in constant need of maintenance. I got to bare witness to this as we passed a train wreck along the way.
We traveled through the Boreal Forest being made up of Birch, Popular, White & Black Spruce trees. It was beautiful!

On the day I rented my old Ford pick up truck, I traveled to the end of the road to The Research Center. (after I was chased by a bear down the road in reverse) It wasn't what I though it would be, but, an amazing place just the same. This image is of a missile launch that remains there from when the military did their research there.

 Global warming is very real. The North is one of the places that will give you much insight as to what is happening globally. The Hudson Bay has not froze yet, there hasn't been much snow, it's been warmer than usual & the polar bears are starving. There are predictions that the polar bears may be extinct within 4 to 5 years if things continue the way they are going.

The bears need the ice to freeze so as to get to their main food staple, the ringed seals.
There is an area called the dump where grain has been dumped & buried & alot of the bears go there for this grain. The grain ferments, the bears dig it up, eat it & then become drunk from ingesting it. It is not healthy for them.

As cute as these bears look, they are extremely dangerous. They can run 35 mph, humans can not. They can turn over a vehicle, destroy a wall to get into a house & after they are dropped off by helicopter between 200 to 500 miles away, can find their way back within 5 days. They are smart animals. (Although, most all animals are smarter than most humans give them credit for) Never underestimate them.

My last day there, I woke up to about 6 to 8 inches of snow & I had another opportunity to go dog sledding, only on a real sled this time. It was amazing! We went on trails through the Boreal Forest, it was so quiet except for the sound of the sled & the paws of the dogs mushing along. It was beautiful!

I'm thankful to be home again, safely, in my bed & to have all the luxuries of home!
Thank you for your comments & following my blog! I will keep you posted as to when there will be a viewing of the images from this incredible adventure!

Churchill, Manitoba, Canada...Polar Bears and More!

I began my journey flying out of Philadelphia to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I stayed overnight there for 1 night & caught a train the next day at noon. The train ride to Churchill is 2 days. Needless to say, you make some friends along the way!

We stopped at several places, The Pas, Thompson, Gilliam, Dauphin, to pick up & drop off people whom were not all going the entire way, but this seems to be the best means of transport between these towns & or villages. We spent a few hours in Thompson & were able to get off the train & walk to town. (this image is from the depot in Thompson)

The train went through fields of golden grasses, the Boreal Forest & then the Tiaga.

Upon arriving in Churchill, I caught a taxi with a couple I had meant on the train that were staying at the Blue Sky Bed & Sled as well. www.http://blueskymush.com

We were greeted by Miranda, from Hong Kong & Carys, from Whales, two of the delightful volunteers that work here, & escorted to our rooms upstairs. Shortly there after, our host, Jenafor Azure, came home from errands & gave us information on the house, a map, & told us of our gifts from them to us! She then asked if I had wanted to go to the dog sledding area as they had a dog sledding tour at 1:00. I went with her to pick up the guest & then off to the dog sledding area. There I met Gerald, Jenafor's husband, our other host. I had scheduled a dog sledding adventure for the following day, but as it ended up, I was there so I joined in for the fun then. Gerald gave us information on dog sledding, how they called their demands & such & then we went out for an adventure of a lifetime! There hasn't been any snow to speak of, so Gerald took us out on a sled he has designed that runs on wheels. You really can't tell the difference! We went around a loop a couple of times & then back to the yard. It was amazing! After that I went to dinner with the other dog sledding guest. We ate, drank wine & had an evening of great conversation!

Next morning Gerald took me out for sunrise & then on to the grain dump.

There are alot of polar bears hang out there.

We drove around for parts of the day scouting for more bears, viewing the incredible landscape & eventually ended at the marina with the dogs for sunset.

Thursday was my scheduled day for my Tundra Buggy tour. A bus collected me at 8am & we then set off to the Tundra Buggy launch site. We seen 5 bears, including a mother with 2 cubs along the way.

The Tundra Buggy was filled with about 30 of us & is like a school bus / tank with approximatley 4 feet between the 2 rows of seating, has a heating element like a fireplace of sorts & a viewing deck on the back so we can go out & photograph from there.

We drove over the Tiaga & the Tundra & at times seems as if we would roll over, but these vechicles are specifically made for travel on this area.

We had seen polar bears & artic fox.

I rented an old ford pick up truck yesterday & went on my own for awhile. I then had made plans the night before to meet up with a friend, Jodi, from the train in town. She had let me know about a bear lift / drop that was going on at the bear jail at 1:00. These are bears that have repeated offenses in town, are jailed in "bear jail"for a short time, tagged & then air lifted to a safer area further up north.

We then traveled as far as the road would take us up to the Research Center. I had met a gentleman the night before at a culture talk that our hosts, Gerald & Jenafor had given at their tent where the dog sledding is held, & he had invited us to go along on a lecture that was about to begin of the missel launch area out there.

My time here has seem to have passed way to quickly. I have made some awesome new friends & Gerald & Jenafor have treated me like family they have not seen in along time. They could not have taken better care of me. I already have plans for my return in the summer to see the beluga whales.

Tonight I board the train again for another 2 days into Winnipeg. I'll stay for 1 night, then back to the airport for my return home.

If you ever get the itch to come north, come & see Gerald & Jenafor, you won't go wrong! Jenafor will make you an incredible breakfast to last you for the day & stear you in the right direction for all of what Churchill has to offer as it is not just all about polar bears here!

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I awoke at 2:00am this Saturday morning & left for the Philadelphia airport at 3:20am. The airport was interesting, as usual. Getting through security has always been a problem, but since September 11th, it's more trying than ever. Canon has loaned me their 800mm lens & I think security thought I was looking for that long shot, never having a photograph in mind. I made it through to Denver in a little more than 4 hours with the next big hurtle being the smaller plane to Winnipeg. They weren't going to let me on the plane with all my equipment. They wanted me to check the suitcase with all my gear, the other held only the 800mm. I was guarding the 800 with my life so I couldn't let them take that, I would never want to let canon down. They even took me onto the plane I caused such a fuss to prove it to me that there was no way it was going to fit on that plane. They were right. I shed a few tears, still, that wasn't going to make it fit on the plane either. The man at security did say he would personally take my case & put it on board himself, but he couldn't account for it on the other end. At some point I was told I had to check in at another desk. When I went down there, I suddenly came up with the idea that I should take the backpack out of the suitcase, fill it with my other things, coat, scarf, pillow, a few chargers, flung it around on my back, held onto the 800 & gave them the suitcase. I pulled it off! Where there is a will, there is a way! Positive thoughts go a long way too!

Flying into Winnipeg, I seen a few miles of wind farms, surrounded by many food farms. I was also told by one of the locals on the plane that the government was looking to extend a road from Winnipeg to Churchill which would elimnate the need for the train. I would say be careful of all those changes. I think it would take away from what makes one so curious to want to be there in the first place.

In a little less than 2 hours & I was in Winnipeg. Going through customs was a breeze, especially now I know the answers they're looking for. Learned alot of those mistakes along the way!

I exchanged my currency at the airport, then I called the hotel shuttle & they were there within 5 minutes. There was a group of us all going to the same hotel. I asked if any of them were going to see the polar bears & all of them were. Only difference was that they were flying into Churchill in the morning & I'll be headed for the train station. Hugh difference in price & time traveling. They'll be there in 1 to 2 hours, it'll take me 2 days by train. As much as I would love to see Churchill by air, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to the train ride.

My room at the hotel is like a small condo & I feel like a princess being in it! I went down to the lounge, ordered dinner, & brought it back up to my room & watched a movie. Life is good! Tonight, I'll retire early, wake up early, have breakfast downstairs, then catch a cab across town to the train station & embark on the next part of my journey.

Till then my friends, stay well & be happy!