Polar Bear Season!!!

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Canadas flagPublished: October 13th 2009North America » Canada » Manitoba » Churchill
October 12th 2009

In the willows.In the willows.
In the willows.

Probably the biggest female I've ever set my eyes on!
Hey guys.
The highlight of the week this week was during a trip to the dump!!! It's not uncommon to see a big, dirty polar bear rummaging through the food scraps at the town dump, but I was super excited to see a wolverine! He (or she) was all straggly, gnarly and grumpy looking, and although the backdrop of plastic garbage bags and piles of Pampers wasn't visually inspiring, it was a very powerful experience! My first ever wolverine. So cool!

Buggy 17 got into a wee bit of trouble out on the tidal flats near Polar Bear Point. The driver (not me) hit a big rock (we speculate) and shattered the leaf spring centre pin, and as a result the entire rear axle moved about a foot back on the springs pulling the u-bolts back and popping the driveshaft out. The buggy was out of action! However, with a block and tackle and a couple of chains, we managed to get it straightened out and drivable, albeit, slowly and carefully! It was taken back to town and I believe it is now up and running again.

Out on the tundra things are getting white. We've had our
White spruce and tamarack.White spruce and tamarack.
White spruce and tamarack.

The beauty of the yellow tamarack hides a rather sad and unfortunate past... The era of the Canadian Governments terrible treatment of the Sayisi Dene people.
first snows of the season and the temps are more negative than positive now. And the wind is howling as usual. The town is slowly beginning to show signs of insanity as the mass influx of tourists bellow through the usually deserted streets. Polar bear season has officially started, everyone is going stir crazy here...!?
Also, some ice has formed around the edge of Hudson Bay??? Curious??? It would be fantastic for the bears if there was an early freeze up, but it would suck for the tourism industry... I wonder???
D.


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Theresa Crann and Dave Allcorn
We are world travellers who are living in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. We are both diagonally parked in a parallel universe and have a passion for the world and its amazing places and faces. We hope these blogs can be enjoyed by many like-minded people. You only spin around the sun so many times - get out there and see stuff before you miss your ride! ... full info
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Trips
Pre-blog Travels & Journeys Through Africa.
May 1st 1999 -» February 1st 2007
Canada Trip
March 29th 2008 -» September 1st 2008
On the Shores of Hudson Bay
September 3rd 2008 -» November 30th 2008
New York City
May 14th 2009 -» May 20th 2009
Iceland and Greenland
May 21st 2009 -» June 25th 2009
Churchill 2009.
July 1st 2009 -» December 4th 2009
Greece, Albania and the former Yugoslavia.
December 27th 2009 -» March 3rd 2010
Northwestern Ontario and James Bay.
March 4th 2010 -» May 31st 2010
Churchill 2010
June 1st 2010 -» January 10th 2011
Peru and Ecuador
January 12th 2011 -» April 13th 2011
Churchill 2011
May 1st 2011 -» December 10th 2011
Central American Journey.
December 11th 2011 -» April 24th 2012

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The Dene villageThe Dene village
The Dene village

This really is a terrible part of Churchill's (and Canada's) history! The treatment of the Sayisi Dene in Canada's north by the government is comparable to the holocaust! A small memorial stone and a few foundations are all that remain, from the days of mass segregation of the people in this area...?
Broken buggy 17Broken buggy 17
Broken buggy 17

The drive shaft has popped out and the axle has shifted back.
Out of alignment.Out of alignment.
Out of alignment.

Check out the rear axle!
Slipped axleSlipped axle
Slipped axle

The axles slipped back on the springs. causing the whole rear end to go out of whack.
Muddy roads.Muddy roads.
Muddy roads.

Driving in one foot deep, muddy clay.
A nice view.A nice view.
A nice view.

At least we had a nice view from the stranded buggy.
On with the chains.On with the chains.
On with the chains.

A couple of come-alongs (block and tackles) haul the axle forward.
A new style of U-bolt.A new style of U-bolt.
A new style of U-bolt.

Works perfect! Chains wrapped around the springs and frame to hold the axle in place. I felt very nostalgic from my days in Africa.
CloudberryCloudberry
Cloudberry

A single berry has survived the first few frosts and sub-zero temperatures.
Contemplating a closer look.Contemplating a closer look.
Contemplating a closer look.

He is seriously considering standing on his hind legs.
Curious!Curious!
Curious!

Against the side of our generator trailer. I also got a whiff of his breath!!!
Hi there Mr Bear.Hi there Mr Bear.
Hi there Mr Bear.

A close encounter.
Don't move the propane trailer!Don't move the propane trailer!
Don't move the propane trailer!

Protesting, he sets up a polar bear blockade.





Comments
Date: 8th January 2011


Pimple? Have you read “Night Spirits: The Story of the Relocation of the Sayisi Dene”?

From Blog: Polar Bear Season!!!
Date: 9th January 2011

It's a Great read
Yes I have read Night Spirits! It's a great read and it is even more powerful if the reader is familiar with the Churchill area.

From Blog: Polar Bear Season!!!




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