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Labrador Memories - 2
June 7th saw us off to Montreal with future stops in Quebec City and Wabush.
Ran into Fenton Scott there, small world as usual. Then onto Happy Valley Goose Bay where Terry met us at the airport. The company had over 4000 claims that needed to be looked at – much time was spent looking over maps and in discussion. Tom after a few months of retirement was certainly happy to be back in the saddle so to speak.
June 8th saw a crisp clear 3 deg. morning. Being the first crew on the ground - we spent most of the day putting together our camp outfit, groceries and map. Happy Valley /Goose Bay is an interesting experience – not much space between the two towns and speaking the double name becomes the norm. The main supply ferry had not yet arrived that spring from Newfoundland as the pack ice had not gone out - so many shelves in the stores were still bare and the prices exorbitant. I smiled when I saw one can of coke sitting in a whole long aisle of empty shelves. All in all we were able to find what we needed including a pressure cooker. There is a rugged dirt road as access but trucks need double fuel tanks for the long trek. Shipping by air is terribly pricey – if I remember correctly it was over $2000.00 for my return ticket back to Toronto – imagine where one could go with those dollars in less remote areas.
About 2 pm. The 2nd crew arrived Chris Wagg and his helper
June 9th- cloudy and cool Terry decided to start by setting up camps on some blocks West of town. At 11 am we left for Bravo Block in a Beaver Float Plane. Filled with two loads, us and the small canoe we journeyed west just over an hour and landed at a small E-W lake 2 miles long. Somewhere between Happy Valley/Goose Bay and Churchill Falls. I love traveling by float plane as they can dip down to view things and the view is close enough to be spectacular and you can converse with the pilot. Chose to set up camp on an island since we had the canoe as the lake shore line was quite rocky. Tent up quickly and we were quite organized before the sun set at 10:30 - not too bad for a first go round. Getting to know a new to you tent is always interesting - the tents for the summer had not yet arrived and like the canoe the one we were in was borrowed. We had not used an aluminum-framed tent before – this one was a bit different as the stovepipe hole was near the door and the door was an actual door – screen and all. Thus temporarily we had to change our normal tent layout and make it work best we could.
June 10th - Sun and Showers – thunder cells. The next morning we finished setting up camp. Brinco had previously sampled the area we were to traverse and we were to re-check and resample the showings noted and look for others. The “on loan” canoe turned out to be one of the tippy leaky boats from hell, in which one constantly held their breath. The water was far too cold to want to go in. I was happy that the shoreline we were off to that day was the closest. We definitely had to watch for weather and wind, as it was the touchiest unstable piece of equipment I had ever ventured in. Future destinations were going to be further away and weather readily changeable but I'll save those thoughts for later.. Snow patches are still about and even more important no flies ;-))
June 11th – Sun, showers in pm This day we covered the south shore of the lake; found and re-sampled 2 more known mineral occurrences – Tom was not too impressed and I was slowly learning that rusty red spots in a rock were good things. Disseminated sulphides in a meta sediment base. My education had begun. After 3 km of up and down wandering we were both beat – it takes time to revamp one’s winter muscles. Tom got a tad too much sun.
June 12th – Constant showers made this a rain day. Already I was ready for one. Tried out the wee Coleman oven and made bread; then roasted a chicken so it worked well – life is rough. Worked on maps. Did a bit of laundry – always many ways to fill a rain day.
Ran into Fenton Scott there, small world as usual. Then onto Happy Valley Goose Bay where Terry met us at the airport. The company had over 4000 claims that needed to be looked at – much time was spent looking over maps and in discussion. Tom after a few months of retirement was certainly happy to be back in the saddle so to speak.
June 8th saw a crisp clear 3 deg. morning. Being the first crew on the ground - we spent most of the day putting together our camp outfit, groceries and map. Happy Valley /Goose Bay is an interesting experience – not much space between the two towns and speaking the double name becomes the norm. The main supply ferry had not yet arrived that spring from Newfoundland as the pack ice had not gone out - so many shelves in the stores were still bare and the prices exorbitant. I smiled when I saw one can of coke sitting in a whole long aisle of empty shelves. All in all we were able to find what we needed including a pressure cooker. There is a rugged dirt road as access but trucks need double fuel tanks for the long trek. Shipping by air is terribly pricey – if I remember correctly it was over $2000.00 for my return ticket back to Toronto – imagine where one could go with those dollars in less remote areas.
About 2 pm. The 2nd crew arrived Chris Wagg and his helper
June 9th- cloudy and cool Terry decided to start by setting up camps on some blocks West of town. At 11 am we left for Bravo Block in a Beaver Float Plane. Filled with two loads, us and the small canoe we journeyed west just over an hour and landed at a small E-W lake 2 miles long. Somewhere between Happy Valley/Goose Bay and Churchill Falls. I love traveling by float plane as they can dip down to view things and the view is close enough to be spectacular and you can converse with the pilot. Chose to set up camp on an island since we had the canoe as the lake shore line was quite rocky. Tent up quickly and we were quite organized before the sun set at 10:30 - not too bad for a first go round. Getting to know a new to you tent is always interesting - the tents for the summer had not yet arrived and like the canoe the one we were in was borrowed. We had not used an aluminum-framed tent before – this one was a bit different as the stovepipe hole was near the door and the door was an actual door – screen and all. Thus temporarily we had to change our normal tent layout and make it work best we could.
June 10th - Sun and Showers – thunder cells. The next morning we finished setting up camp. Brinco had previously sampled the area we were to traverse and we were to re-check and resample the showings noted and look for others. The “on loan” canoe turned out to be one of the tippy leaky boats from hell, in which one constantly held their breath. The water was far too cold to want to go in. I was happy that the shoreline we were off to that day was the closest. We definitely had to watch for weather and wind, as it was the touchiest unstable piece of equipment I had ever ventured in. Future destinations were going to be further away and weather readily changeable but I'll save those thoughts for later.. Snow patches are still about and even more important no flies ;-))
Please keep in mind that if you click on a photo it will reload larger
- then use your back arrow will take you back to the blog.
- then use your back arrow will take you back to the blog.
June 11th – Sun, showers in pm This day we covered the south shore of the lake; found and re-sampled 2 more known mineral occurrences – Tom was not too impressed and I was slowly learning that rusty red spots in a rock were good things. Disseminated sulphides in a meta sediment base. My education had begun. After 3 km of up and down wandering we were both beat – it takes time to revamp one’s winter muscles. Tom got a tad too much sun.
June 12th – Constant showers made this a rain day. Already I was ready for one. Tried out the wee Coleman oven and made bread; then roasted a chicken so it worked well – life is rough. Worked on maps. Did a bit of laundry – always many ways to fill a rain day.
June 13th – sun & cloud with late showers. Today we traversed 5 km checking out the east side of Bravo Block; got down as far as the SE corner and traversed back further west. Found two rusty patches – took two samples but nothing too exciting. We were back in camp by mid afternoon with our asses dragging – this country is up and down not a great deal of flat.
Terry and John O’Sullivan arrived by helicopter at 5:30 pm to see how we were doing since we did not have any means of communication as yet. They landed on the shore of the lake since our island was too small and Tom took Tippy the canoe to see them – not much exciting news to exchange. The radios are not in yet but the new tents have arrived. The latter was good news for me ;-) as they are larger. I hadn’t missed not having communication but in an emergency it would be handy.
Terry’s third crew headed by Charlie Hartley was put in the bush today. Charlie had worked for Tom many years ago.
Please keep in mind that if you click on a photo it will reload larger
- then use your back arrow will take you back to the blog.
June 14th – cloud and scattered showers. Getting more limber we covered 6 kms. today with not as much agony. Muscles are awakening. We covered the SW part of the claim block. Nothing of interest – though did see some bear sign. After my bear phobia at Sturgeon Lake in NW Ontario a couple of summers previous I an happy it gas gone.
At 8:30 the Beaver visited with our expeditor Dwight Vokey. He also brought in some small pots I wanted and a SBX 11 radio. We will change claim blocks on the 17th. As always any visitor is a break from the absolute quiet of the wilderness. Tom does have a small pocket book size radio I gave him years ago, which has shortwave bands which works extremely well – so we do hear the CBC news in the morning and all sorts of interesting stations at night. Mostly short listenings as we generally are in bed early.
June 15th – frost over night – sunny with a west wind – Journeyed 5 km today walking over the NE corner of the claim block but no joy finding mineral out crops. The longest trip in Tippy so far – fortunately the wind was quiet and we managed just fine. A really interesting corner as the terrain was decidedly different – at one point we came to a cliff edge where miles below a river snaked through a deep valley. Very invigorating visually – I have to start taking my camera with me as we traverse. Our radio doesn’t seem to send through to Goose Bay - we hear the other camps alsotrying but are unable to raise them either.
June 16th – Light frost Sun then rain – Tom spent the day writing his report on Bravo Block – we both began prep for a move to Gulf 1 Block. Still no radio communication. Rain began at 1 pm. The plane is due at just after 7 am tomorrow for the move. The idea of a wet move is not appealing., but a new dry larger tent is on its way. Off to Gulf 1 – on Goat Lake next.
Life is good.
Sharon
Terry and John O’Sullivan arrived by helicopter at 5:30 pm to see how we were doing since we did not have any means of communication as yet. They landed on the shore of the lake since our island was too small and Tom took Tippy the canoe to see them – not much exciting news to exchange. The radios are not in yet but the new tents have arrived. The latter was good news for me ;-) as they are larger. I hadn’t missed not having communication but in an emergency it would be handy.
Terry’s third crew headed by Charlie Hartley was put in the bush today. Charlie had worked for Tom many years ago.
Please keep in mind that if you click on a photo it will reload larger
- then use your back arrow will take you back to the blog.
June 14th – cloud and scattered showers. Getting more limber we covered 6 kms. today with not as much agony. Muscles are awakening. We covered the SW part of the claim block. Nothing of interest – though did see some bear sign. After my bear phobia at Sturgeon Lake in NW Ontario a couple of summers previous I an happy it gas gone.
At 8:30 the Beaver visited with our expeditor Dwight Vokey. He also brought in some small pots I wanted and a SBX 11 radio. We will change claim blocks on the 17th. As always any visitor is a break from the absolute quiet of the wilderness. Tom does have a small pocket book size radio I gave him years ago, which has shortwave bands which works extremely well – so we do hear the CBC news in the morning and all sorts of interesting stations at night. Mostly short listenings as we generally are in bed early.
June 15th – frost over night – sunny with a west wind – Journeyed 5 km today walking over the NE corner of the claim block but no joy finding mineral out crops. The longest trip in Tippy so far – fortunately the wind was quiet and we managed just fine. A really interesting corner as the terrain was decidedly different – at one point we came to a cliff edge where miles below a river snaked through a deep valley. Very invigorating visually – I have to start taking my camera with me as we traverse. Our radio doesn’t seem to send through to Goose Bay - we hear the other camps alsotrying but are unable to raise them either.
June 16th – Light frost Sun then rain – Tom spent the day writing his report on Bravo Block – we both began prep for a move to Gulf 1 Block. Still no radio communication. Rain began at 1 pm. The plane is due at just after 7 am tomorrow for the move. The idea of a wet move is not appealing., but a new dry larger tent is on its way. Off to Gulf 1 – on Goat Lake next.
Life is good.
Sharon
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