Have Passport, Will Travel!: September 2014

It is impossible to say all of the wonderful things I feel about the friends I made in Churchill, Manitoba, during the winter, spring, and summer of 2014. Being a part of Churchill is a truly special experience. Churchill is so beyond friendly. It is way beyond caring. It tops fun, funny, smart, interesting, surprising, and goes right into fake words like fantabulous and real but unused words like phantasmagorical.

Life isn't a bowl of cherries in Churchill at times like when the train doesn't run, the planes overfly or are late and running water is not available but freezing cold or bat-sized bugs are but people are happy, in high spirits, mirthful, upbeat. Maybe that's because they have absorbed the grandeur in the habitat around them like the brilliant Aurora, the crystalline, frozen winter white, the bountiful and myriad spring birds and wildflowers, the bodacious belugas, and the world renowned Kings of Churchill, the Polar Bears. Maybe they are just happy in the peace and quiet. Or because they can and do make it through all the challenges that being in the North means. Whatever the reasons, the Churchillians are incredible people and I am so appreciative for the warm welcome and genuine friendship I have received.

I don't have photos of everyone but I am sure my friends know I love them and think often of them and smile. I know because I have told them and shown them how much they mean to me and I hope I will get the opportunity to see them all sometime soon.

Jackie's eyes

Steve Mamet, winter

Bluesky- Edgar, Jennifor, and Gerald Azure

Sharon, Heidi, Sarah, Laura, Jackie, and LeeAnn

Brian and Linda Friedmann

Sharon and LeeAnn and Patsy on Sharon's B-day

Phil, all round fix it man

CNSC Bookkeeper and extraordinary gal

Lindsay Hurst

Scarlet, Roger "Starman" and daughter, Jill

Luana Sciullo, polar bear researcher

Brian doing what he does best!

Laura and Peggy

Sharon, Patsy, Rene, Cathy, and Roger with Laura and Peggy cooking for us

Lorraine, curator at the Eskimo Museum

Mike, the CNSC director and our protector

Myrtle

Sarah Robinson and Brian Friedmann

Steve Mamet, treeline expert, summer

Steve inside

Earth Watch crew with Angnieszka's Polish vodka, Kumar and Kumar, Steve , and
Geoff with ice shot glasses!

Best Earth Watcher team- Jim, Kumar, Jamie, Agnieszka, Dick

Sharon's birthday cake with Heidi and LeeAnn

Rudolf Koes, awesome Birdman of the North

Linda and I are frosty after a winter walk.

Me with Pierre Richard, our great instructor for Belugas in the Bay

Damien, the Ladoon's and Laura at Rene and Betty's bbq on the lake.

At the fort with Rhonda, one of my first Churchill friends

Mel, me, Peggy, Cathy, Roger

Rene, Betty, me, and Sharon at the airport before my departure

Tobi and Carol

The Best!!!!! Jean Michel, Tobi, Laura, Nicole, Jackie, Ryan, Carol, Tori, Jill, Kyle,
Daniel, Kat, Gillie, Becky, Hannah, Coren, and Alex

Laura's big find on the way to the Tundra Inn

Tundra Inn fun Laura, Nicole, Jill, Mel

Laura, Nicole, Jill, Mel ready to sing

Some of the best times we had were at
the Tundra Inn on mic nights.

Rock me Mama! Kyle and Laura

Ryan and Gillian - Lime smile!

Peggy, Greg, and Mel at open mic night

Coren and Carol

Coren, me, Hannah, and Daniel my last open mic and last night in Churchill.

I miss you all!

The second learning adventure I had in Churchill this summer was called Belugas in the Bay offered by CNSC during July when thousands of Belugas (that is not a hyperbole!) come in from the sea to stay and give birth, remain safe from Killer Whales, feast on capelin, socialize, and make humans happy! If you have never been in contact with Belugas you are missing one of the most enjoyable experiences you will ever have with another creature. Dolphins and puppies are not even close seconds.

One of the smallest whale species, the social and playful belugas live in pods that vary in size from a dozen or so members to hundreds. I witnessed so many Belugas together in Hudson Bay (really, miles and miles) while in a zodiac with three friends during a two-hour feeding and playing frenzy. Lindsay Hurst knew exactly where to take us following the birds, who were following the capelin. We floated around watching Beluga behavior as mothers with recently born calves, sometimes two babes, juveniles alone or still with mom, big males, wild masses of frolicking, cavorting, curious splashing creatures who sometimes looked up at us giggling, slipped by us with their "fart" sounds or sweet chirps, and then creamed us with a tail full of water. It was the only other adventure I can say was on par with watching Mountain Gorillas close up.

Here are a few of my beluga photos but they really don't do justice to this awesome animal. You really have to be there. I hope some time you will. I know I will do this AGAIN and AGAIN!!!!