Poker Rally

Inuvik Volunteer Fire Department at the 2011 Poker Rally

Today was the poker rally in Inuvik.  One hundred and fifty or so people set out on a 40 mile course around the town.  There were several stops with bon fires, hotdogs and poker cards.  I rode my little skidoo with the fire department rescue team, although there were no calls for us. The weather today roughly zero degrees... I went sledding in just a long sleeve shirt at one point.  The weather is beatiful, and everything is starting to melt.  I'm starting to look forward to warmer weather and much long days.  Today the sun set around 915pm!

Beautifully blazed trails.

...we didn't win 10grand...

Andrea, Jack and Lynn trying to win at Bingo.  No luck today, but sooo much fun.

What to do on a Saturday night in Inuvik with a 4 year old.  Well TV bingo sounds like a good idea.  After a long day of hiking with Rukus, and skidooing to airport lake, we ate fajitas and tried our luck at $10 000 jackpot.  No winners here.  Then Lynn and I went to the Trapper for a few beer saw a bar fight, and listened to great music.  It was a really good time.

Skidooing on Airport Lake.

Hiking with Rukus

About 10 minutes ago, Lynn and I woke Jack up at midnight to see the super moon (in lieu of the Northern Lights which did not cooperate).  He's pretty sure he saw an astronaut.  (I remember once seeing the Easter bunny in Ottawa from Auntie Annes basement with Lynn and Wendy). 

Pete and Poppy-Wish you were here!



Andrea and Lynn at the Mad Trapper... not as bad as it's reputation.



Dogsledding with Lynn and Jack

Yesterday Lynn and Jack and I went for a great walk around boot lake, climbed in igloos built by a German "amazing race", and went dogsledding.  This was one of my favorite days so far in Inuvik.  I drove our sled with Jack tucked in the front "bag".  Our dog team  had Baffin as the lead, Polar, Kiska, Snowshoe and Gumboot (Snowshoe's puppy).  Our dog team was the biggest and we had the smartes lead dog (according to Jack).  His favorite dog was Kiska, because he owns a book about dog sledding and the dog's name is Kiska.  Here are my favorite photos of the day.  Enjoy!

Inuvik Storm of the Century and Kelsey's Leaving Inuvik Party

This past weekend the town of Inuvik, Tuk, McPherson and Aklavik were cut off from the rest of the world.  Many of the locals said it was the worst wind storm they have seen in dozens of years.  The roads were closed, the ice road to Tuk nearly disappeared due to blowing snow, all flights were cancelled, cell phones didn't work, satelite TV was down, long distance was unavailable, and so was the internet.  This lasted for four long days.  Such an odd feeling to know that there is no way to communicate with the outside world exept by satellite phone ($$$).  You can imagine how difficult this made things at the hospital for doctors fielding community calls and arranging medevacs to Yellowknife. They had to take their paper work out to a car, plug in the sat phone, and sit in the cold while the car warmed up dealing with critical situations.  Oh yes, and all the bank machines and credit cards were down, so the town of Inuvik was running on cash only.  I now have a nice little reserve.  I hope my house doesn't burn down. 

So during the storm, what were we to do but have a party for one of our greatest friends leaving town? Kelsey Assmusen.  Some say we confused the party with a bachelorette party since we had a stripper, penis cake, mechanical bull and twister game in the kitchen.  None the less, it was a riot.  Here are a few photos...