Text 17952, 112 rader
Skriven 2011-11-19 23:54:00 av JIM WELLER (1:123/140)
Ärende: Repost 1
================
I don't think these propagated the first time around...

  Subj: Wedding Trip
ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
We were rather pressed for time so there was little in the way of
leisurely dining this time. Lots of take-out, delivery and drive
through stuff.

At our usual stop, the Big River Truck Stop, we picked up pre-made
burgers wrapped in foil and held under a heat lamp to go. They offer
bison or beef hamburgers and cheese burgers with 6 oz patties for
$5. And for $1 more a packet of lettuce, tomato and onion kept in a
drink cooler. Not bad for what they were. In High Level we hit the
A&W drive through rather than the elegant French place. They have a
new burger out, their standard Mama burger with jalapenos. A "Hot
Mama". The pickled jalapeno rings are not very hot but do add
a nice touch.

Along the way, as well as the usual bison in the NWT and mule deer
in northern Alberta, we caught a glimpse of an elusive cougar. They
are becoming more common in our part of the world but are rarely
seen as they are so wary. They are so elegant and graceful, it is a
pleasure to watch one in motion.

We overnighted in Peace River, 1000 km south of us, with Ray and
Neekha. Rebecca has moved in, along with Helen (6), Seth (barely 5)
and Jeremy (3 1/2) so Roslind now has three more kids calling her
"Grandma" which thrills her. They weren't sure what to do with me as
they had already met Roslind's Ex, who was passing through on his
way from Vancouver Island to Fort Mac the day before, and christened
him "Grandpa" the day before. Eventually they took Lexi's lead and
called me "Papa Jim".

The next day we pushed on to Fort Mac, bringing Neekha with us,
lunched in Athabaska at a middle of the road family restaurant. We
had a seafood platter for two and a Greek salad plated in three
portions with Roslind getting the sole, Neekha the shrimp and me the
scallops and oysters, which worked out just about right. The sole
was excellent, the breaded shrimp the usual, but the scallops were
tiny and very heavily breaded and deep frying is never the best way
to treat an oyster. But in small town Alberta it is the only way
you're going to get them (pre-breaded and frozen). For the rest of
the trip we survived on deli sandwiches, chips and drinks as we
didn't want to stop a second time. The weather and the roads were
great both days which is more than I can say about the return trip.

On Thursday we found Ray Senior already there and we all kept busy
icing 75 cupcakes, making 150 cookies, assembling and filling 75
"favour" gift boxes with cookies and chocolates, and purchasing
flowers etc. Ray Junior and family arrived that evening. Lexi and
Helen are new BFFs as well as sort of cousins. Lexi said, "This week
is so exciting... Helen, my totally completely BFF, is here. And
both my grandpas. And, oh yeah, Mom is getting married tomorrow
too." As the freezer and the fridges were all totally stuffed with
wedding food, one of us would go out for groceries at every meal,
some of which were just make your own sandwich buffets.

The wedding took place at Heritage Park Village which is an assembly
of old buildings arranged along a circular walkway including an old,
small church from the fur trading, pre-oil days and a nearby log
reception hall. One nice touch at the end of the ceremony was the
giving away a small bouquet of roses: first Raine and lyle exchanged
theirs, then Lyle gave one each to Lexi and Charlee while Raine gave
one to Lyle's daughter Melissa, and then the bride and groom gave
one to their MILs.

Now that the parents are married Lexi says that she is finally a
real aunt to Melissa's little Jackson.

The reception was interesting in that Fort McMurray is a 24/7 boom
town with lots of shift workers so we had an 8 PM regular crowd and
then a midnight crowd with people in their work clothes. I noted
that one young lady came twice with two different dates. It was
definitely a rye, beer and rye in your beer kind of crowd. I had
brought a case of wine, 6 reds, 6 whites, and there were 10 bottles
unopened at the end of the night. So I gave Raine and Lyle two, Ray
and Rebecca two and brought the rest back to Yellowknife.

There was no formal wedding supper. As it was an evening ceremony
and a late reception we just served appetizers, boughten sushi,
cocktail snacks and desserts, all finger food, buffet style.

Saturday was a lazy day with Lyle and young Ray whipping up a
massive bloody mary, bacon, egg and hashbrown brunch and then me
bringing out wedding leftovers throughout the day.

Older Ray, younger Ray and family departed around noon.

As the weather was getting worse and I thought I might need three
days not two to get back, Roslind, Neekha and I left Sunday morning.
We were on the road 12 hours for an 8 hour trip, with blinding wind
driven snow. I also most stopped several times enroute but
persevered and made it to Peace River just before midnight although
I went off the road and into a shallow ditch once, when I couldn't
see the road. Monday started off nicely enough but it started
snowing and blowing again about halfway home. At the Hay River
junction, I had to decide to spend the night or push on. The snow
and wind seemed to be letting up so I kept going. Then 100 km later,
just past the last village and hotel, the storm resumed and I had to
really slow down. We got in around 2 AM. 

All in all, except for the blizzard part, a most enjoyable week.


Cheers

YK Jim
                               

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