In my last post I mentioned that we got 90% or more of our freight by ship. That usually meant that two ships per year called. But sometimes we had 3 or 4 ships call in one summer.
One summer an icebreaker , the D'Iberville, showed up to sound the end of the bay.
I'm not sure that this project ever happened.
But what did happen is that we were invited out to the ship to have dinner with the captain. Horror of horrors! I was on the same level as the captain. It didn't matter that I was a village administrator and he was a ship captain we were supposedly equals. That has hard to get through a prairie boy's head where everybody was equal. I had never experienced status before.
They sent a helicopter to pick us up. As we flew out to the ship we saw five belugas swimming in the bay.
I still remember looking at the ship from distance and how small it looked. when we got closer I saw the circles on deck where we were to land. the circles looked smaller than ever.
We had a fine dinner with the very formal old captain and then they took us back home by helicopter.
Approaching the settlement by helicopter. It really was a very small place.
And don't worry I did not let my dinner with the captain go to my head. I still look as people as people rather than what title they are given.
What an exciting experience that must have been for you both. I am amazed at the picture of the settlement from the helicopter. It really was a very small community.
ReplyDeleteThere were roughly 200 people in 67.
DeleteIn your two years at Wakeham Bay did you ever see an igloo? I have the idea that eskimos building igloos is just something that belongs in cartoons. The settlement did look so tiny from the air didn't it?
ReplyDeleteYes, igloos were built and used when they wee travelling or hunting. I'll never forget when they showed us how to build an igloo. Remember that this was 67. the other teacher build an igloo. the test of a good igloo was to be able to stand on top of it. He did stand on top of his igloo.
DeleteThat is quite an experience, flying in a helicopter and have a captain's
ReplyDeletedinner!
It was something that I could never have imagined.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteA helicopter ride to dinner sounds exciting. I would have loved seeing the beluga whale. Take care, have a happy new week!
I had seen belugas on the water but never from a helicopter.
DeleteYou were exalted in more than one way considering the airlift.
ReplyDeleteOnce you mentioned belugas, the song Baby Beluga started playing in my head.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great adventure, helicopter, lunch with the captain.
Now I'm going to have to look that song up. I've never heard of it.
DeleteThis is so neat to see all these memories of yours come to life. Thank you for sharing these, Red.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's stuff I had totally forgotten about.
DeleteI like that world. In my world, people rank themselves by importance, and since my view of things is rather the same as yours, I give unintentional offense by my lack of deference. It's a strange thing. At 63, you'd think that I'd have figured it out. I'm better off as an amiable hermit, really.
ReplyDeleteI like amiable people!
DeleteWhat an interesting experience. I love that you photographed the journey from the helicopter. The photo of the village really does capture how small it was.
ReplyDeleteThere wee about 200 people and the houses wee incredibly small.
DeleteWhat adventures you have had!
ReplyDeleteLife is still and adventure.
DeleteLoved your photos of the experience. I would have been too afraid to look down, I think! Glad you didn't let it go to your head and you can still hang out with us! LOL!
ReplyDeleteMy SIL and BIL lived in Bethel, Alaska for quite a while and I remember when they bought a truck that had to be delivered by barge to them. The delivery cost more than the truck!
The north brings about some strange situations. I have no problem looking down from and airplane but some from balconies I have stress.
DeleteJust catching up on your blog! What an amazing life you've led. So many interesting stories.
ReplyDeleteI have been fortunate. I could have stayed in the house there and seen and done nothing.
DeleteWhat a great experience and memory to have.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you can identify with lots of this.
DeleteIn my experience, people who always think of themselves as equals, rarely think otherwise even when given a temporary status change.
ReplyDeleteI was a teacher. Nuff said! I did try in some way to work together as I would say "Let's. "
DeleteIt is tiny, isn't it. And comforting to look at.
ReplyDeleteWe had about 200 people. The isolation is the hard thing to get your head around. We never felt lonely.
DeleteQuite an experience.
ReplyDeleteI'd do it over again in a heart beat.
DeleteWhat a great post to come back to from my absence. That was one of the things I discovered when I came to live on Lewis 45 years ago: titles meant little compared with where I had come from. Status came more from age and the respect you earned.
ReplyDeleteI think we accomplish more when everybody can pitch in and be rewarded.
DeleteWhat a treat! You have had many adventures in your years in the north and I enjoy reading about them.
ReplyDeleteI could have stayed in the house and done nothing! Not us. We got out there.
DeleteAww so much fun!!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed reading about this latest experience of yours Red. What an adventure that must have been.
ReplyDeleteHi Red, Can't believe how small that settlement was. Interesting! Great story about dinner with the Captain.
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience! The Village looks quite small:)
ReplyDeleteI just can't get over all you've experienced, Red. What truly amazing memories. You need to write a book.
ReplyDeleteto avoid experiencing status i refused five time to people who came to ask for my hand from my parents
ReplyDeletei never believe in status but i knew people do .
i so enjoyed this story of dinner you had with captain ,i loved the images !