July 2, 2009 by Rae

Winter Plans

The cat is out of the bag and I can now announce my plans for the winter! I will continue working in Dawson until the end of August and then return to Watson Lake for as long into October as I can stand it. I will then travel south to Vancouver Island. I had briefly mentioned this destination as being a possibility for this winter and one of my readers picked up on it. He offered me a great opportunity.

So, it is with great pleasure that I can say that for the 2009/2010 winter, I will be parked in Croft‘s driveway in Campbell River, house sitting for him and Norma by parking my RV in their driveway. Retired RVers go to Mexico for the winter while non-retired RVers housesit for the Mexico-bound. 😀 Their generous offer will give me a good chance to get my finances back on track, provided I can find a good contract or job in Campbell River! Thanks, Croft and Norma!

I will be able to take a different route to Vancouver Island than I took north from Vancouver, so my journey back to the Vancouver lower mainland and across the water to Vancouver Island will make for interesting blogging. Depending on the work situation on the Island, I should be able to explore quite a bit, if only in the toad. I also plan to fully utilize Croft’s workshop to make some much needed personalizations to Miranda now that I’m fully committed to full-timing in her!

With winter plans firmly squared away, I now know what I’m doing straight through to the late fall of 2010. I don’t think I’ve ever before planned so far ahead!

July 1, 2009 by Rae

Why I Like Working in an RV Park

My manager’s husband asked me today why I so obviously enjoy this type of work. This is what I replied:

I did a diploma with a focus on outdoor recreation and campground management, so working in an RV park is definitely ‘in my field.’ Why did I pick this field? Well:

1) I enjoy the outdoors and camping;

2) I like the social aspect of meeting people from all over;

3) Duties are varied and fast paced, making for days that fly by without being monotonous;

3) The work is both mental and physical, offering a variety of challenges.

Camp hosting is not my favourite way to work in this field, but in this particular location it works. I like to live near work, but not AT work! My first job in this field, I lived about 10 minutes from work and that worked out perfectly. Here, I am at least allowed a life outside of work, so living on site is not a problem.

July 1, 2009 by Rae

The Ridge Road Heritage Trail

Last night’s hike took us to just a few km from Dawson to the Ridge Road Heritage Trail. This trail used to be the first government-built wagon road in the Yukon. It was built in 1899 as a major supply route to the mines on Dominion and Sulphur creeks, not far from Bonanza Creek.

Quoting from the brochure:

Roadhouses, stores and freighting companies operated successfully along the route despite spring glaciers and a steep descent to the placer mines. Gold miners along Bonanza Creek ridiculed Commissioner William Ogilvie for supporting the project and lobbied for a more convenient route. After good roads were completed up Bonanza and Hunker creeks, the Ridge Road was abandoned in 1902.

This trail takes approximately two days to hike end to end and there are campgrounds within a day’s hike of each trailhead. We only got to about 3km UP the Jackson Gulch trailhead before the mosquitoes had us running back to the van for cover!

Jackson Gulch trailhead

I never tire of the sky up here. About 7:30PM.

grouse

abandoned equipment

Some would find this land ‘monotonous’ but it never fails to take my breath away.

About 8PM

grouse

spot mama and baby grouse!

about 9PM

July 1, 2009 by Rae

A Taste of Quebec!!!

real, honest to goodness POUTINE!!!

6,000km and 10 months from Quebec, I’ve once again found authentic poutine, at Dawson City’s Triple J Hotel‘s restaurant. Sweet, properly cooked French fries; thick brown gravy; salty curds that squeak satisfactorily under tooth… heaven (and a heart attack) on a plate!

Just need to find some decent falafel, pad thai, and injara with lentils and Dawson will be confirmed as being the perfect place for me. I’m such a glutton. 😀

June 26, 2009 by Rae

The Paddlewheel Graveyard

The reason I crossed the Yukon last week was to visit Dawson’s paddlewheel graveyard, where the great old ships of yesteryear were beached and left to die once their usefulness ended. The end of the steamboat era marked the end of an age for the Yukon, as the road network became larger and more reliable. The proverbial nail in the coffin were low-lying bridges under which these ships could not pass. It’s sad to know that this was the insurmountable obstacle for ships that made it through the Five Finger Rapids. Access to the graveyards is from a trail that starts at the Yukon River Territorial Campground; most easily found with a local guide.