Monday night Curling in Red Lake

Curling has a long history in the north. The smallest of towns always built a curling rink often with voluteers doing the work. The ice was natural with crazy variation, the weather sometimes very cold, sometimes too warm but always the rink was a place to gather. Now the rink is air conditioned. The sport originated in Scotland but today, Canada boasts the best curlers. World champions are required to belong to a local rink and win all the way up to the top.

The Strategy, Very Complicated

The Shot

I'll be blogging about the Ladies Bonspiel in a couple weeks.

Sports Shows

Craig and Roseanne are just home from the O'Hare Sports Show in Chicago. Over the years we have met so many good people from the Chicago area and, at each show, we meet up with old friends and new ones. Here Roseanne and Craig visit with future fisherwoman extraordinaire, Rosemary Wennlund.

Her grandfather, Billy Wennlund (the goof in the middle) has been fishing at Viking since he was a kid. Craig's mum, Florence, traces his group back to 1951 when Ron Peterson brought his wife and 3 of his daughters fishing to Viking Island. Ron introduced VI to Roy Fitzer and Merle Crouse who took the news to the local bar in New Lennox. For many years, trips were planned and booked from The Village Tap. Billy got caught up in one of those trips. Now his sons, Trent and Billy bring their friends and Dad tags along.

For more pictures of their fishing trips with Viking check out their website http://canada.wennlunds.com/

Friday Night Meat Draw at the Legion

What do you do on a Friday after work in Red Lake?
Well... that's easy. Drop in for the meat draw.

People plan to meet for a drink on their way home from work. Buy a few tickets and you might win MEAT for supper. Proceeds go to charities.

A definite Northern tradition!

In this picture, Harriet and Kurt are happy to visit. Behind them, Kim and Denis from Pakwash Lake Camp (Kim's blog is http://pakwashlakefishing.blogspot.com/), and Elizabeth Hagerdorn from Chimo Lodge are out for the meat draw. Robert Partridge is giving away the meat as usual.

Meet you here on a cold winter night.

Sports Shows 2009

Craig and Roseanne are at the O'Hare Sports Show in Chicago this week.

If you would like to contact them,

phone Criag's cell phone at 1-941-726-3089

A White Moose

This moose is from NE Ontario and is feeding her with her calf. I remember as a kid in Longlac hearing that albino moose were sited around Jellico. Interesting that this moose is doing so well.

Skidooing

The weather has warmed up a touch. Hurray!

Time to get outside!

Aima is skidooing down the shore of Lake Superior.

-40 for weeks and the lake is still open.

Ice Road

Each winter somebody ploughs a road past my office, down Red Lake to McKenzie Island. Used by everyone, it simplifies life for islanders and shortens the trip to the airport in Cochenour.Harriet was up for a visit, so these are her pictures. Thanks Harriet.

Deep Freeze

Yesterday morning at 8am, the thermometer read -37 degrees Celsius (-31'F). With windchill that's -44, but we aren't accustomed to talking windchill- just too dramatic. It's just cold up here! By lunch time, it "warmed up" by ten degrees, at which time we took the photo.




On the bright side, our sky is the brightest blue you can imagine, the snow is clean and so so white. The trees are covered in snow.

I must say I like this season. I can stay home and slow down a bit or finish projects. I like my wool sweaters and long underwear. I like short walks and a bit of snowshoeing.

Winter really is beautiful!!

My Brother lives right on Lake Superior

Peter, Johanne and Aima live near Rossport, a feet from Lake Superior. Their house faces west and each sunset is unique; even the cold winter presents a beautiful view. Sometimes the lake freezes over at least partialy but rough weather can keep it open.

Aima, my neice, is an avid dirt bike rider and skidooer (Canadian for Snowmobiler) BUT for now as the temperature dips to -42'F, she's content to take a few pictures. Even the dog is happy by the fire !

Babe Winkleman

I've been getting calls about the show, Babe Winkleman's Good fishing. He came to Telescope last July and fished with his family and with Hugh. I haven't seen the show yet but people are phoning with reports!
It is on Versus this week and on Fox this week or next. Also on Canada's WILD TV.
The following link shows a preview of the show and a Recipe for Walleye that I think is fine.
http://www.winkelman.com/index.php
If anyone has seen the show, please send a comment on the blog or via email to me.
Thanks
Enid

Showshoeing on White Horse Island

From our house I can see White Horse Island. During the winter, Hugh and Arthur showshoe over there.......great exercise, good fresh air and some scenery worth the snowshoeing. Hugh and Arthur make their own trails. Arthur's trails can get extreme. He likes the high cliffs and grand views. Hugh likes to count the Red Pine and look for deer beds.

Babe Winkleman's show is on this WEEK!

Yikes! I thought that Babe Winkleman's Good Fishing show with Hugh was going to show the week beginning Jan 17 BUT this morning, I came home from taking Florence to church and there were 21 messages on my phone!! One message started, " I am watching Babe fishing at your outpost. He's catching fish after fish!! " It seems that Versus aired the show early. It will also be on Fox this week or next (who knows) and also on WILD TV, a Canadian TV channel.Hugh went fishing with Babe and he said that the man does know how to fish!!! He was impressed with Babe and his family and had a fun day fishing. They stayed at Telescope and fished there and on Embryo, but came to Viking Island for supper just for fun. Thank you to Babe for the visit!