Wow Jo!!!!!!!!! What a great report. You make it sound as real as if we were there. Good thing it's so far away or your solitude would most likely be lost on a gang of us. ha. It sure sounds like a "magical" vacation trip. How lucky you are and how wonderful it is. Enjoy it to the fullest. The grind back home will still be there when you get back. And, oh!, I don't think you are too proud of Alan. ha. See you next month. Love . Don & Tonie ----- Original Message ----- From: "jmaclean " <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 3:04 PM Subject: Fort Simpson #2
> Hi All, > Sorry to be so long since we have been in touch, but until late > Saturday we were not near hydro, let alone a computer. > > At noon on Monday, July 14, we got a call from Charlene who flies > for Simpson Air (Alan's former company, Alan's former girlfriend) > to see if we were interested in flying to Virginia Falls, as there > was a couple there who wanted to go, and a second couple who were > going to share the expenses had cancelled out. I told her we were > very interested but were unsure about what plans to make since we > didn't want to interefere with whatever plans Alan had made, but > he would be back from a flight at 1 pm for a quick turnaround and > a bite of lunch. When he came in, he said that would be a great > opportunity and he would go and talk to Ted (Simpson Air) and see > what he could set up, and perhaps even include that flight with a > stay at Little Doctor Lake (the isolated cabin in heaven where we > stayed last time). He finished his lunch and was off, phoning us > at 1:50 to say that all was set, to pack and be ready as quickly > as possible for Virginia Falls and a stay at Little Doctor for 4-6 > days! What a mad scramble to get ready. Alan picked us up so we > would have a vehicle to do what needed doing. We then returned > home and packed a bin of tins that we would take to Little Doctor, > as our 206 would not have weight allowance for that as well as our > gear and passengers. Then to the Northern Store for some > groceries, back for lunch, repacking and were at Simpson Air for 3 > pm!!! Jean was an excellent pilot and guide as he described all > the mountain ranges, rivers, plateaus etc that we passed on the > way. The majesty of the mountains can not be related in words or > photos, but needs to be experienced in person to really appreciate > them. We finally circled Virginia Falls before landing at their > dock. Virginia Falls is twice the height of Niagara Falls and is > on the South Nahanni River. Only 800 to 1200 people a year come > to the park to see this wonder of nature, as there are no roads > into this area. We felt very privileged to have spent a couple of > hours there, viewing the falls from different vantage points along > the boardwalk. When we get photos developed, I will share some > when we get home,as Alan doesn't have a scanner. > > >From there we were flown over the Nahanni Mountain Range and Ram > plateau to Little Doctor Lake. Alan and Loren, his co-pilot, were > there already, and had gove fishing for our supper. As they had > no flights until late the next day, their boss had OK'd for them > to stay at Little Doctor overnight with us. As we landed, we saw > a mama moose and two little ones just at the mouth of the river > near the cabin. Alan and Loren met us in the boat as we landed, > with two good sized pickerel for supper. Our pilot, Jean, fileted > them for us, as I tried to remember how he did it, as I was hoping > to have opportunity to do it later. Then Jean was off with the > other two passengers and we were there with our two "tall, dark > and handsome" pilots. Interesting to watch Loren and Alan, and > easy to mistake one for the other from a distance,as they are > similar in colouring, stature, nature and movement. Our first > meal of pickerel was mouth watering!! At midnight, Loren > suggested we all go fishing, so off we went, for about 2 1/2 > hours, as it never got dark, dusk was was dark as it got. 6 > pickerel and many mosquito bites later, we headed back to the > cabin, having thrown back any fish that were less than 4 pounds. > Finally to bed. In the morning, Alan cleaned fish while I started > the rest of breakfast, and yes, we did have pickerel for > breakfast! A bit more fishing before Alan and Loren had to > leave. We sent the uneaten fish with them, as we were certain we > would be able to get more. As he was leaving, Alan did a "buzz" > with the Twin Otter over the cabin and lake. My goodnesss, but he > can operate that machine and make it perform. It was awesome! > > We spent 6 days at Little Doctor Lake, enjoying every moment of > it. The weather could not have been more perfect. We bathed in > the lake each morning, spent much time sitting on the beach in > disbelief at our good fortune of being in such incredible > surroundings, trying to drink in the beauty of the place, knowing > that we may never see it again. We went fishing frequently. We > threw back the pike, in preference for pickerel. We had 7 meals > of pickerel while we were there, enjoying the last as much as the > first. Yes, we did cut back to once a day after the first couple > of days. We had a propane fridge and stove so were quite > comfortable in our surroundings. In total we took 23 fish out of > the river. We did bring some back to share. I did become fairly > good at fileting, even though my process would be considered > inefficient and slow, but it worked for me :-))) It is not > something I have ever done before. Although we observed lots of > wildlife, and heard a variety of it, there were no signs of bears > this time at all! > > When Alan came to pick us up on Saturday evening, he was empty, > having done a drop off at the Falls. He invited me to sit in the > right seat, as I had never been in the Otter before. It was so > satisfying to see Alan in his element, having full control of this > big machine, doing what he loves to do. We lifted off and were up > in the air so quickly that it felt as though I was on a roller > coaster. He even encouraged me to fly the plane once we were up > and trimmed out. It felt much heavier and more solid than John's > plane. Wonderful experience. The flight was only about half an > hour before we started the descent. To conserve fuel, and to show > what it could do, we descended at half a mile a minute initially, > then faster to an immediate and smooth landing in the Mackenzie > River in Fort Simpson. What a pleasure to fly with Alan, as many > others in the community have already told us. > > Yesterday we caught up on laundry, resorting and organizing our > belongings and doing some groceries, in between walking to the > river to see Alan off or watch him land. It is only a short walk > (equivalent to about 3 blocks) to the river. We also watched the > 3 outfitter companies clean and sort gear to get ready for new > groups to canoe or raft on the river. Having seen what they do, I > would love to do that too, if we ever come up here again. Better > save my money, as it is not cheap. I believe a 12 day adventure > on the river is about $4000 per person, not including the flight > to Fort Simpson. > > Last night we were invited to Jacques and Laverna's (Alan's > bosses) for yet another BBQ. Lamb skewers for appetizers, ribs > and lobster tails for entree with salad and mixed veggies, while > beer and wine flowed. We are not starving here at all. As we > waited for Loren and Alan to get back from flying, we chatted with > Pete Cowie again, he has been a bush pilot up here since 1964, and > is so knowledgable and full of stories. We knew when Alan was > back, as he suddenly showed up at Jacques house, 100 feet up, just > atop of their trees, buzzing before landing in the river. I could > hardly believe my eyes at how low and quiet it was until it was > just over us. He is like a kid with a BIG toy, and Jacques is so > proud of how Alan handles his Otter. How great to see this > approval and acceptance. > > We are not yet ready to come back to reality and head home. Not > sure just when that will be, but want to experience a few more > things before we do. We will be in touch before then. > > So for now, goodbye from Fort Simpson, > John and Jo >
