This morning I took this photo while on a helicopter
ride out of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada. Can you believe it? I used my
telephoto lens, shooting out the little sliding glass window in the helicopter
door. We didn't want to get too close to the bears, because we sure don't want
to stress them any further. I took about 500 shots in one hour, and this is one
of my favorites. Hope you like it too!
As you may know, I've been on a Polar
Bear tour on Hudson Bay this week, and tomorrow I'll be speaking at the
Manitoba quilt guild in the morning (10-12 at the Victoria Inn next to the
airport), flying to Denver in the afternoon, and home by dinnertime.
At this time of year, large numbers of polar bears gather on the shores of
Hudson Bay, waiting for the ice to freeze so they can journey out on to the ice
miles and miles to hunt seals. They haven't eaten for months, and as they
wander through the little town of Churchill on the way to the ice, everyone
tries to stay out of the way of those hungry bears!
As the polar bear population continues to decline, more and more eco-tourism is
happening, as those who are passionate about these iconic animals are drawn to
see them in their natural habitat. Global Warming is an accepted fact up here:
the discussion is more about the impact on the habitat (loss of permafrost, for
instance) and which species are in decline as a result.
It has been an amazing week. I've seen not only polar
bears, but also arctic foxes, red and silver foxes, snowy owls, ptarmigan,
eskimo sled dogs, amazing Inuit artwork, and a whole lotta SNOW. I got to
try out the Canadian national
sport of Curling, which you've no doubt seen on the Olympics, and wondered
what the heck this sport is all about. It is strangely addictive, especially
when you at an indoor Curling sheet, and it is -20C outside! Apparently you
have to wear really bright
obnoxious pants if you are a serious player. The sport originated in
Scotland, and it is also popular in the Northern areas of the US.
I didn't see the caribou, who have left for the Boreal Forest. I didn't see the
Beluga Whales, who arrive en masse in the summer to shelter their calves in the
river, away from the Orcas in the bay. On two evenings, we went to hear the
Matriarchs of the Dene nation and the Metis people, telling stories about their
history and culture. It is hard to comprehend how these native peoples survived
for centuries outdoors in these harsh conditions.
Last night was our final evening in Churchill, and we went out on a Tundra
Rover for a nighttime dinner out on the tundra. It was a full moon, and being
out on the snowy stark landscape was surreal. We were lucky to have a clear
sky, but probably because the moon was so bright, we did not see any Northern
Lights. The moon lit up the icy snow-covered tundra as far as the eye could
see, and we took turns going onto the back deck to drink in the pure air and
the absolute silence.
I've been posting photos from my trip, and I'll post some more once I get home. Take a look
here and you'll see some of my favorites!
Inspired by my trip, I've put together a category of Polar,
Arctic, and Snow-themed fabrics. Perhaps some of you have taken a similar
trip, and would like to make a quilt about your experience?
Once I get home with a good internet connection, I'll be posting the rest of
the Houston Quilt Festival Videos, plus a couple clips from Quilting Arts TV. Watch our Video
page for updates!
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