Churchill, MB: Wapusk Sled Dogs (8/4/2023)

Friday, August 4, 2023

Our last day!

At Wapusk Adventures, we had to quickly get in our
dog "sled" rides before it became too hot for the dogs;
nevertheless, the dogs all wanted to run

Harnessing the sled dogs video

Kent and Pete take off

The dogs left behind howled in disappointment

The Kent and Pete cart returns

A water break for the dogs

The Big Dog, Dave Daley, is a major player in
the dog sledding world 

Now Dylan and I take off; these American Huskies are
pulling a wooden cart with a dozen people

The dogs left behind (KSS)

The luxury outhouse, a log structure built by the
Wapusk staff in the traditional way (KSS)

Inside the outhouse (KSS)

The Dylan and Tamiko cart returns (KSS)

Another water break

The lead dog (KSS)

Building a living fence from willow branches

Dave Daley has 73 dogs, many of them were rescued

A few dogs joined us during a presentation by Dave Daley

Rhea is a favorite, and the granddaughter of
the dog matriarch, Venus

Karen gives Rhea a belly rub

A juvenile Haliaeetus leucocephalus/
Bald Eagle on the greywacke rocks

Churchill Cemetery contains identical gravestones (paid for
by local churches) for the many indigenous children who died
during a flu epidemic; indigenous families were brought to
Churchill (and other towns and villages) so that the children
could be educated and assimilated into Western culture;
however, not having been exposed to diseases of the local
 people, they had not built up any immunity against the flu 

Another look at the Drowned Victims Monument to
three local children: a 13-year old in 1967, and
an 11-year old and 13-year old in 1995 (KSS)

Churchill Beach; the Hudson Bay water temperature
is about 16^oC/61^oF (KSS)

Sandwich and Soup of the Day (roast beef on focaccia bun
and tomato soup); Kent and Dylan had this daily special
two days in a row, and it was the very same sandwich
and soup each day; however, today the sandwich changed!

We were then transferred to the airport and said goodbye to our driver, Joe. We patiently waited for our flight, which was delayed. We filled out surveys about our Frontiers North Adventure.

Upon arrival in Winnipeg, we collected our luggage, and literally walked across the street to the hotel; the Lakeview Signature Trademark Collection.

The view from our hotel room, onto the tarmac of the airport!

Our official adventure ended with a Farewell Dinner, where we were still getting to know our fellow participants! It was our first time having Angèle at our table, and we did not want to say goodbye. As Pete remarked, it was a good group.

But we had to get up very early, so off to bed.

Next: Museum of Illusions, Toronto, ON.