Road Trip to Grande Prairie

Last weekend we decided to take Hermoso to Grande Prairie, Alberta.  The weather in Fort St John is much warmer right now than Yellowknife, and the snow is starting to melt! 

We've had a long winter...almost 6 months of snow.

Hermoso is growing really fast, and getting lots of exercise outside.

Peace River, Fort St John

 

 

New Member of Our Family

Hermoso!

On my birthday last week, we picked up a new member of our family: Hermoso!  His name means 'handsome' in Spanish.  He is a 2 1/2 month old Black Lab/German Shepherd cross.

Wow he has LOTS of energy.  We have his pee-pads spread around our place, and we're working on getting him potty-trained as soon as possible.

His favorite chew toy is his pig's ear.  He's been out in the snow a couple times already, driven in the car with us, and he was even left alone at our place for the first time the other day, with no problems. 

Arrival in Fort St. John, BC

This was taken in Northern Alberta, after driving the ice roads

After two and a half days on the road, we made it from Yellowknife to Fort St. John, BC.  Janier drove the uHaul truck with all of our stuff in it, and I drove our little car.

The roads were really icy, so we took it easy.

The Peace River in the Peace Valley

Provincial Government buildings in Fort St. John, BC

On the Road Again

Janier dressing for the cold.

We have some exciting news: We're moving back to BC!

Recently, I landed a job with the City of Fort Saint John, in the Peace River area of Northeastern BC.  This will be my first municipal job, and also the first time I will be a unionized worker.

Fort Saint John is the second largest city on the Alaska Highway, after Whitehorse.  It is the oldest European settlement in BC, being established in 1794 as a trading post with the Hudson's Bay company.

After much discussion, Janier and I decided to take the jump.  It seems like housing is much cheaper there than in Yellowknife, and there are definitely more amenities.

We both gave notice to our employers last week, and I have organized housing in Fort Saint John through the same property management company that we are renting from in Yellowknife.  Eventually we'd like to get a house (and a dog!) but the first thing to do is get settled and make the move.

This time of year, the Mackenzie River ferry crossing is out of service, because the river is frozen.  The ice roads have been put in place, and we should have no problem crossing.  It'll be just like the TV show. 

New Socks

Here's a photo of the new socks I just made.  They each took about 3 days to make. 

I learned how to make them from Youtube clips, and online tutorials.

Ice Road Over the Great Slave Lake

Today Janier and I took one of the kids from Janier's work on a road trip to Dettah.  To get there, we drove on the ice road over Great Slave Lake.

Ice Road

Someone exercising their dogs on the ice road

Frozen boats and docks

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Church, Dettah

Abandoned mining equipment on the drive back

It's Getting Cold!

Janier likes to cook with his thermal underwear

Temperatures in Yellowknife have been getting down to -40C lately with the windchill, and we've had to be creative on ways to keep warm.

The first time it got down to -30C, we decided enough was enough, and went on a trip to pick up some thermal underwear.

I'm also learning to knit.  So far, I've finished my first scarf!

Janier modeling my first scarf!

Cross-country skiing with a co-worker

This is what -40C looks like

View over Frame Lake, Yellowknife