Mike just called this morning for a quick hello.
They are pleased enough with his driving abilities that they are putting
him onto B-Trains of diesel.  He's a tad nervous about this.  (Much heavier, and
he isn't used to hauling that type of load--I'm sure he will do fine.)

So, he will be calling tonight if his schedule permits.
I will try to put a little note in about how his day went if I get time to.

Thanks for checking in!

-debby

Saturday, February the 10th, 2001

Greets all!

Well, yes I know I haven't been making very good updates to this, but hey!  I've been busy!  The first week was all orientation and some skills training.  Dangerous Goods, First Aid, WHMIS (or something like that!)  Mike was in a little rinkydink motel for the first 5 nights.  After that, RTL put him up in the Best Western with a roommate.  He still ended up being by himself, cuz his roomy went home (to Red Deer, I think).

Was a real "waiting and seeing" kind of thing. 

You'll all be heading up to Yellowknife on Monday or Tuesday...
You'll all be heading up to Yellowknife on Friday...
You'll all be heading up to Yellowknife on Monday or Tuesday...

Well, Mikey went up on Monday.  His first run was with a co-driver.  They could trade off driving and sleeping.  No ice road stuff going on here... Went from Edmonton to Grande Prairie, and then up to Yellowknife... Guess What!  Mike says its COLD up there!  duh!  tee hee...

I received a video of a program that aired on satellite  History Channel the week before he left.  Dunno if I felt better or worse after seeing it!  But it was interesting.  Ice Road Rangers, and Ice Road Warriors... the whole thing had a very ominous, dangerous tone to it.  I just kept reminding myself  "it's TV, of course they are going to make it dramatic.

Anyhow.  Mike called that evening... the Monday that he left.  He is doing quite fine.  His partner had taken some photos while they were driving, so I should be getting some photos as soon as Mike figures out how to send the camera back.  (he's pretty clever, I have faith)  =)

Now he in a routine of going from Yellowknife to (arghhh, I can never remember the name).  That is a 12 hour trip.  Sleep.  Drive from there to (no, I can't remember that either) which is a 6 hour trip up.  Unload, reload, drive 6 hours back.  Stop and sleep.  12 hours back to Yellowknife.  Sleep.  Get up and do it again.

He is really enjoying it.  It was such a relief to hear he had been over the ice, and done the full run, and was not nervous or uncomfortable.  He sounds very excited when he talks about it.  He made a silly attempt at quitting smoking.  I told him that I thought MAYBE this wasn't the best time for him to create a whole lot of STRESS in his workday, by having no cigarettes or coffee.  (Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of Tim Hortons donuts and coffee shops out along the middle of Canada's vast Northern Wilderness.)

So, the one camera is all done.  As soon as I get it, I will scan them and put them up for you all to see.

That's it for now!  I have to get busy with my Saturday.  Thanks for checking in!

-debby, Nicholas, Neil and Laura
x0x x0x x0x.

http://www.diavik.ca/html/body_ice_roads.html

http://www.echobay.com/operation/lupin.html

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business1/stories/001122/4913915.html