Friday 11th July
Unfortunately when we rechecked the weather this morning, there was a wind warning. So we will not travel today as the Lake is no place to be in windy conditions....this, Tony and I know from experience!!
Leonie's bag has finally arrived and she is now a much happier camper.
Whilst in Hay River, I've had the opportunity to update the Blog and there are many new details that I've added. You may want to revisit previous postings.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Suncor admits it wrongly evicted canoeists
Followup Article in Slade River Journal - Many thanks to SRJ for their kind permission to reproduce.
By GABRIEL ZARATE, SRJ Reporter 09.JUL.08
Two Australian campers evicted by a Suncor employee from an island in the middle of the Athabasca River should never have been bothered.
A spokesman for Suncor said the company “regrets the inconvenience” to the two Australian canoeists who were evicted from an island at 10:00 p.m. as they were about to go to sleep on an island just offshore of Suncor’s industrial operations.
“I think this is a case of good intentions misapplied,” said Brad Bellows of Suncor.
On June 20, Tony Chounding and Terry Bolland (featured last week in the SRJ as “Visitors of the Week”) were canoeing down the Athabasca, on a journey from Jasper National Park to Tuktoyaktuk. After a long day on the river they set up camp on a small island just upstream from the bridge linking Suncor facilities on both sides of the river. The two made supper and were about to go to sleep when a security guard using a blowhorn ordered them off the island. They protested, saying it was night and they did not know the river. But the Suncor employee would not listen.
Oilsands leases end at the banks of the river. Suncor had no legal right to evict the campers.
Asked why the action took place, Bellows explained the island was in the middle of an industrial site. “The foremost concern of our security people is the safety of our employees and the public,” he said.
Bellows indicated Suncor would review its security procedures to ensure recreational users of the river were not interfered with.
By GABRIEL ZARATE, SRJ Reporter 09.JUL.08
Two Australian campers evicted by a Suncor employee from an island in the middle of the Athabasca River should never have been bothered.
A spokesman for Suncor said the company “regrets the inconvenience” to the two Australian canoeists who were evicted from an island at 10:00 p.m. as they were about to go to sleep on an island just offshore of Suncor’s industrial operations.
“I think this is a case of good intentions misapplied,” said Brad Bellows of Suncor.
On June 20, Tony Chounding and Terry Bolland (featured last week in the SRJ as “Visitors of the Week”) were canoeing down the Athabasca, on a journey from Jasper National Park to Tuktoyaktuk. After a long day on the river they set up camp on a small island just upstream from the bridge linking Suncor facilities on both sides of the river. The two made supper and were about to go to sleep when a security guard using a blowhorn ordered them off the island. They protested, saying it was night and they did not know the river. But the Suncor employee would not listen.
Oilsands leases end at the banks of the river. Suncor had no legal right to evict the campers.
Asked why the action took place, Bellows explained the island was in the middle of an industrial site. “The foremost concern of our security people is the safety of our employees and the public,” he said.
Bellows indicated Suncor would review its security procedures to ensure recreational users of the river were not interfered with.
Thursday 10th July
The canoe has arrived but Leonie's missing bag hasn't.
Have finished last minute shopping and tonight we're busy packing with the hope of leaving Hay River paddling the lake and towards the MacKenzie River tomorrow.
We have two or three days on the lake to paddle before we reach the river. Fingers crossed the weather will be to our benefit.
We were invited by the Groenewegen family to join them for 'smokeys' (sausages) and coffee.
The canoe has arrived but Leonie's missing bag hasn't.
Have finished last minute shopping and tonight we're busy packing with the hope of leaving Hay River paddling the lake and towards the MacKenzie River tomorrow.
We have two or three days on the lake to paddle before we reach the river. Fingers crossed the weather will be to our benefit.
We were invited by the Groenewegen family to join them for 'smokeys' (sausages) and coffee.
Wednesday 9th July
Today was a busy day, we spent all day shopping.......definitely not my favourite pass time, but shop I did. I called into Superior Sound to see if I could have the images from my digital camera uploaded onto a disk. Craig Kovatch very kindly took the time to do this for me, thanks Craig.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Stephen Prior of Freeway Communications in Abbotsford, BC for the personal time he took, to input and upload and register my SPOT messenger. The spot messenger has been a valuable way of giving our location to family and friends at home. I sincerely recommend this tool for anyone considering travelling into the wilderness.
Brett Murdoch from Valhalla Pure Outfitters, Abbotsford, BC for downloading all the maps onto my GPS, again impossible for me to do without a computer. I know it took a considerable time to do. Thank you Brett. The GPS with maps of the river has been another fantastic aid, which has made travelling along the river much easier.
Doug Swallow of Canoe North, Hay River NWT has also been a big help. We've had many an email from Doug answering Alaine and Leonie's questions over this past 9 months of planning. He has been very generous with his time and knowledge. Thanks Doug.
During our stay here at Hay River, we've met many friendly and helpful people who have been happy to share their knowledge and experiences of this vast area.
The hire canoe is still to arrive, as is Leonie's missing bag.
Back at Harbour House we began to pack the food into day packs, seemingly a never ending job. We're (well I am) worried that we wont be able to fit every thing into the canoe.
Today was a busy day, we spent all day shopping.......definitely not my favourite pass time, but shop I did. I called into Superior Sound to see if I could have the images from my digital camera uploaded onto a disk. Craig Kovatch very kindly took the time to do this for me, thanks Craig.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Stephen Prior of Freeway Communications in Abbotsford, BC for the personal time he took, to input and upload and register my SPOT messenger. The spot messenger has been a valuable way of giving our location to family and friends at home. I sincerely recommend this tool for anyone considering travelling into the wilderness.
Brett Murdoch from Valhalla Pure Outfitters, Abbotsford, BC for downloading all the maps onto my GPS, again impossible for me to do without a computer. I know it took a considerable time to do. Thank you Brett. The GPS with maps of the river has been another fantastic aid, which has made travelling along the river much easier.
Doug Swallow of Canoe North, Hay River NWT has also been a big help. We've had many an email from Doug answering Alaine and Leonie's questions over this past 9 months of planning. He has been very generous with his time and knowledge. Thanks Doug.
During our stay here at Hay River, we've met many friendly and helpful people who have been happy to share their knowledge and experiences of this vast area.
The hire canoe is still to arrive, as is Leonie's missing bag.
Back at Harbour House we began to pack the food into day packs, seemingly a never ending job. We're (well I am) worried that we wont be able to fit every thing into the canoe.
Tuesday July 8th
Alaine and Leonie have arrived. Tony and I met them at the airport, we had ridden on bikes lent to us from Harbour House. Alaine looked like she need some exercise so I got her to ride the bike back, it was only a 15 minute ride.
Unfortunately Leonie has one of her bags missing. It's one that has her paddle, sleeping bag, sleeping mattress, a few clothes (we're a bit tired of seeing her in the same top now) and a few other bits and pieces.
Alaine and Leonie have arrived. Tony and I met them at the airport, we had ridden on bikes lent to us from Harbour House. Alaine looked like she need some exercise so I got her to ride the bike back, it was only a 15 minute ride.
Unfortunately Leonie has one of her bags missing. It's one that has her paddle, sleeping bag, sleeping mattress, a few clothes (we're a bit tired of seeing her in the same top now) and a few other bits and pieces.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Interview with Slade River Journal on 2nd July
Hi, Zarin here, CDU Web Developer Extraordinaire
I have just received permission from the Slade River Journal (http://www.srj.ca) to reproduce the 2nd July photo's and article on our boys. Quite interesting reading I must say!! Here goes:
I have just received permission from the Slade River Journal (http://www.srj.ca) to reproduce the 2nd July photo's and article on our boys. Quite interesting reading I must say!! Here goes:
Reproduced curtesy of Slade River Journal
By Don Jaque 02.JUL.08
Thank you Slade River Journal for your kind permission. Don Jaque has also informed me that they are following up on the Suncor debacle as they take the view it was illegal to kick them of the Island. The story will run, probably front page, this week So keep posted to the blog and find out what happens!!Tony Chounding and Terry Bolland are pleasant older Australian canoeists who started their river trip in Jasper National Park and are paddling down the Athabasca, Slave and Mackenzie Rivers to Tuktoyaktuk and the Arctic Ocean. They were in Fort Smith for a brief one-day stop June 27 and lucked into the Francophone St. Jean Baptiste Day pig roast with all its fun and hospitality.
The most notable experience of the two men so far was getting kicked off an island in the middle of the Athabasca River adjacent to the Suncor oilsands mining property. They had run some of the class III rapids upstream of Fort McMurray and portaged the very large ones. After a long day of paddling through Fort McMurray, they found a nice island, set up their tents, made supper and around 10:00 PM were about to crawl into their sleeping bags for the night. They had observed traffic moving about routinely on the Suncor property for some time when a truck stopped across the water from them and turned on its flashing red and blue lights. The driver, using a blow-horn, ordered them off the island. They tried to reason with him, calling out saying they did not know the river and did not know where to go to camp at that time of night. The Suncor employee ignored them, and continued to order them off. Finally they packed up camp and left. Chounding said ironically, as they departed the island the Suncor employee called out, “Have a good journey!”
They continued on past the Suncor plant, which they said was an extraordinary spectacle and a unique experience with all the smoke and lights and pipes of the industrial installation. Chounding likened it to seeing Hades. He said the fumes from the plant were so noxious he could taste them.
Aside from the Suncor incident they have enjoyed their trip so far. They saw a great deal of wildlife upstream of McMurray, including cow moose with calves almost every day, but had seen nothing but eagles on the Slave River.
Bolland is an experienced canoeist and this trip is his third on major North American waterways. He had already done the Mississipi and the Missouri Rivers. His website (canoeingdownunder.com.au) describes him as “the most qualified and respected Canoe/Kayak Instructor in Western Australia.”
They are in a bit of a hurry, with a plane ticket leaving Vancouver in mid August, so they cannot tarry long in any one place. Chounding said when they see a community, “they drop in from nowhere and make up their mind in a hurry what it is like.” He said Fort Smith has a “strong sense of community” and they were impressed with how helpful people are.
Monday 7th July 2008
We scouted around town for all the things that we would need for when the 'girls' arrived. We ended up being invited to have dinner with Jordan Groenewegen and his wife. Jordon is the son of Rick and Jane Gorenewegen who own the Harbour House the bed and breakfast where we're staying.
We had an enjoyable evening that was made even better by the large amounts of icecream (my favourite dessert) that was being dished up.
We scouted around town for all the things that we would need for when the 'girls' arrived. We ended up being invited to have dinner with Jordan Groenewegen and his wife. Jordon is the son of Rick and Jane Gorenewegen who own the Harbour House the bed and breakfast where we're staying.
We had an enjoyable evening that was made even better by the large amounts of icecream (my favourite dessert) that was being dished up.
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