Home Again
After two good days of travel, lost luggage, delayed luggage, flight changes, and all that makes travel what it is, we all are basking in the afterglow of our wonderful adventure.

With 37 bears one day on the tundra, 20 plus on another, Arctic Fox, Willow and Rock Ptarmigan, Snowy Owl, Spruce Grouse, and Common Ravens galore, one must say that the wildlife certainly was all that we had hoped. Our sled dog experience was superb, the two young boys very pleased that they got to ride the snow machine too.

The food was great as was the service in Churchill. Pat, our local guide, was, as always, the king pin of our trip. Above all, the travelers were a wonderful collection of interesting people, resulting in much stimulating conversation, endless humor, and moments of great delight. I wish we were all still there! I will miss each one of them (you) but trust that we will be together again in the near future. Thanks to all for being such patient, kind, easy to please participants, and good friends.

Cheers,
Andy

The Bear

Tony and Pattsy

Tony

Sam "Little Dog"

Sam and Gray Jay

Paul

Pattsy and Chuck

Pat "The Fearless Guide"

Marilou and Charmagne

Marilou

Linda

Joan

Hatsy

George

Duke and George

Duke

Delice

The Chirico Family

Charmagne

Alex and Sam

Alex

Yours truly,

Andrew

Winnipeg: Gateway to the Canadian West
Our first sop today was Manitoba's provincial capitol building, a stunning example of the Free Masons' astounding abilities. The detail of the carvings in the fossil laden limestone, enormous bronze statues of bison, and shear elegance of the building were captivating.

With early winter grayness, raw, windy conditions, a day at the museum was a great way to introduce ones self to the environs of the Canadian north. The natural history and cultural museum here in Winnipeg is one of Canada's hidden gems.

This museum embraces the aboriginal cultures, early European influences, and northern ecology with superb focus and delivery. Displays include great information about the Hudson Bay Company and its early endeavors to tame the Canadian wilderness.

Dioramas were among the finest I have seen and rival the best New York and Boston have to offer. It was hard to pull tour participants from the very informative, entertainingly diverse exhibits offered by this museum.

This inukshuk is an ancient navigational aid used in the arctic and still used today, apparently more reliable than modern aids.

And apparently the gift shop was good too.

Early flight to Churchill tomorrow.

AG