There are strange things done...

Last summer, a friend in Dawson City moved his house from one side of the river to the other.  A local expert in building stabilization and relocation did the work, which included getting the house onto and off of the not-that-big vehicle ferry that crosses the Yukon River.

The relocation was a success and the home now sits happily in downtown Dawson City.  But I can't but wonder: During the ride across the river, was it a mobile home? Or a houseboat?

Dawson City Caption Contest Winner Announced!

After nearly forgetting to have it judged, I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Dawson City Caption Contest can now be announced!

There were some interesting entries, both on the Official Michael's Meanderings Blog, and on the facebook.

On the blog, the leading entry was Opa's "deceptively realistic paint job", but the overall winner is Jerome Stewart, with his entry that evokes the wonderfully-sometimes-themepark-ish feel of Dawson City.

"You are now leaving the wilds of Dawson City, please exit through the Daycare...."

Jerome receives heaps of praise and a link to his blog, Yukon Science Fiction Writer.

Looking at that picture, I can just imagine the conversation that happened before the exit sign was installed...

Worker: Hey, boss!
Boss (very busy): What?
Worker: Where should I hang this exit sign?
Boss: Over the door! Where else would you hang an exit sign?!
Worker: Uh, okay...

Caption Contest!

Notice anything... unusual in this picture, taken outside the daycare in Dawson City?


If you do, you're eligible to enter the Michael's Meanderings Caption Contest! There are no prizes, but the winner - to be determined by a judge who will be designated by Meandering Michael - will receive heaps of praise (the size of the heaps will remain at the discretion of Meandering Michael)!!!

Caption away!

Over the Top

If you eat, sleep, and breathe the exhaust that is the sport of snowmobiling, you should probably check out Trek Over the Top, an annual 200 mile snowmobile run from Tok, Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon.

It attracts a few participants...

The Art of the Klondike

While in Dawson City, I dropped by a painting workshop at the Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture. Paints were supplied, but participants had to bring their own surfaces to paint on. I found a piece of box outside one of the local grocery stores.

The workshop was overseen by Mary Dolman, whose artwork you really should check out.  Go on, I'll wait.

Mary Dolman (right) and a participant discuss a painting.

There is a lot of talent in Dawson City, so it's not surprising that the community can have it's own institute, gallery, and be the catalyst for the creation of the Yukon School of Visual Arts.  If you know a budding artist, get them to check out that site.  Go on, I'll wait.

It had been a couple of years since I had done any painting (other than house painting).  While the other participants were using acrylics, I stuck to watercolours.  One day I'll get past my monochromatic, non-acrylic mental block.

Here's my painting.  I call it "Fresh Medjool Dates".

Bird in a cage.

I saw this beauty on my way into Dawson City last week.