Visitors Popping By and Listening In

JULY 20

We had a nice morning. We puttered around and had breakfast. Naomi and Diana soon found their way to Michele and Ike’s trailer to draw pictures. Kurt and Ike and Estelle went for a walk down by the river. Yesterday, we heard engines roaring down there, and we could see a couple of people zipping around on the water-on snowmobiles!! It was all fun and games until one ran out of gas, and started to sink. You should have seen the huge billow of smoke.

Bronwyn has been practicing her violin in the laundry room, by the ‘potty house’ (as Ezra calls the campground washrooms). It keeps her out of the bugs and wind but she has found playing there disconcerting, nonetheless. One fellow came in to do laundry, but he never left. He sat down to listen to her, and she could feel his presence behind her. She turned around, and he said, “Don’t mind me. I’m just listening. Keep playing.” Another time, an older lady was sitting on a bench outside the laundry room. A friend came up and Bronwyn overheard her ask, “What are you doing?” The lady replied, “O, I am just listening to that girl play her violin in there.” Bronwyn, unnerved, thought she should find a new spot, but I told her if people were enjoying it, she had more reason to stay put.

Michele and Ike wanted to run some errands and tour around so they took Josiah, Diana, and Naomi along for the ride. While they were gone, we had some unexpected visitors. The mayor of Inuvik and the photographer from the local paper, The Inuvik Drum, showed up. They wanted to welcome us and feature us as ‘Tourists of the Week’ in the newspaper. I guess my acquaintance, Paul, from the pool did tell them about us. They brought an assortment of gifts from the town: a water bottle, a camping water bag, key chain, pins, posters, two T-shirts, 2 bags, a promotional video of the Dempster Highway (featuring all the places we’ve been), and a 2-for-1 coupon for an Arctic River Boat Tour. They took our names and our picture, and left. Too bad for the three who missed it. Kurt will have to pick up a paper on Thursday when he comes back here for work. We told Ike and Michele they should use the boat coupon, so tomorrow they are going to try and arrange a tour.

Later in the day, a group of local kids came and did jumps with their bikes on our hills. It is a regular occurrence and causes Josiah quite a bit of stress. "Mom, those kids are in our campsite and they're biking right through!" And Ezra yelled so loud today, I'm sure the boys heard. "MOMMMMMMMM! Those boys are BAAAAAAACK!" We've got a rubber mark all along our driver door where someone got a little too close and dragged their handlebar across as they were going by. It's not too bothersome but I do keep an eye out for Ezra and Evangeline. There is the chance that they might take a wheel to the head if they are not visible. Today, the older boy said to Jo, who was standing on the hill, "Hey little dude, could you move out of the way please?" He did. Josiah decided to take a different course of action today. He took 11 of Mackenzie's freshly baked gingersnap cookies and shared them with the boys. Ah, yes, placate them sugar.

Michele made us a tasty Mexican meal. Then she went for a walk with Kurt and a buggy full of kids. While they were gone, another visitor showed up. Sam Bird, from Calgary, just arrived in Inuvik to work with the same company as Kurt. I met him last time we were here and Kurt has worked with him before. Kurt had invited Sam and his family three times this winter to our house to go skiing, but it never worked out. It was funny to meet him again here, 3500 km from home. Kurt and Michele returned before Sam left, so we all sat outside and visited. When Sam left, we put the little kids to bed and we finished off the evening with Bronwyn playing her violin for Ike and Michele in their trailer, and then a late night movie with the kids.