23 May 2007


Keno

Thought I had better check in - even though there isn't much different going on in the world at Keno Hill. Every day seems like a mirror image of the one before.

The rises about 5.30am and sets at 10.45pm and it really isn't that far into summer yet, except there a re a few mosquitoes who already think so.

Up by 5.30, breakfast by 6.30, at the desk checking emails and the headlines in the NZ Herald before 7am. More coffee. Start looking at the computer screen and if I am lucky and remember after my sandwich and fruit lunch I will go for a walk down a dusty road, then more computer screen until about 6pm when its time to walk the kilometer to the cook shack for dinner, then after that here I am again staring back at the pixel place.

For breaks I go annoy Muntzert and look at drill core.

The snow is virtually gone from camp - a few patches on the south faces on the ridges, the deciduous trees are breaking out into a shimmer of light greeen that is mirrored through the forest and the bears are out I am told.

In fact I forgot to say that my drive up the other day was a one black bear, one porcupine and 3 squirrel event.

Off for an early night


Cheers
Big Ears

18 May 2007

Whitehorse

Near the end of the 30 hour transition from Katikati to Whitehorse, I suddenly remembered when at midnight I noticed we were flying into a lightening sky - I was returning to the land of the midnight sun.

And now have had a couple of days to adjust - the noise of a bunch of drunks on the street below my hotel window didn't help much though. But have spent a few hours walking in the sun and with it still high at 9.30pm I snapped some backstreet shots on the way.

I will leave driving for Keno tomorrow morning - the roads will be good - as evidenced by the 30 odd campers I saw parked up in the Wallmart parking lot on my way past at 2am the other morning as I arrived - the summer tourists are out.

There is a relict Canadian national holiday on Mondoy - Victoria Day - are these guys one or two generations removed from today?

I watched a beaver swimming in the swift current of the Yukon River tonight and realised that - yes - you could cover a lot of distance in a day kayaking down that.

Part of the baggage I must pack in the morning is the swathe of tourist brochures on kayaking and hiking in the western parts of the country - essential reading to make a plan before Lynne gets up here in 4 weeks time - for my next break!

Think it will be water and glaciers and mountains and wine.

I will give you an updated weather report from Keno in a couple of days.

1 - 16 May 2007

In New Zealand

on break

Sunshine most of the time but nice to light the fire in the evenings as the dew settled on the grass and the clear sky threatened fosts to come. Some Mortons in the warmth.

Amongst the debris of scattered lumps of baby food and Noa toys over the floor.

And some time for beach walking, gardening and dinners out; but alas we didn't get to the kayak stage since there was school travel, babysitting, and a work trip I had to make to Central Otago for a couple of days. Saw the artist, the uncs, and the olds.

It all went too fast - as usual.

But it was good to see everyone on the way.