Hay River is a very busy transportation hub to the northern communities all the way to the Arctic Ocean. On our two visits on the way to Wood Buffalo National Park and on our return visit we just got a small view into the goings-on in this vibrant community. With an extensive airport, train rail head and shipping by barge, semi’s come and going hauling fuel and goods there is always some action and we were waiting until the tugs moved. Following are my daily journal notes from day 39 of our trip a continuation of our previous blog so we could share some extra photos.
Day 39…continued. Luck was on our side after 3 days in Hay River to see the barges move. The action started around eight am with a small tug taking a barge out a distance on to the lake. A much larger tug with two large barges side by side left and out in the lake the third barge was added. The smaller tug returning to port while the large one headed for the Arctic Ocean via the Mackenzie River. Northern Transportation in Hay River owns and operates the tugs as well as builds and repairs vessels and barges. Being as the large Canadian Coast Guard ship was docked in Hay River I checked to see if we could get a tour, but was told that due to Covid protocol and they were working on repairs it was not possible. Before we left one of the fellows from the smaller Coast Guard quick response vessel offered to show us aboard and explain their role in keeping our waterways unpolluted. It was great for them to take the time and we soaked up the information. This stuff is exciting for a prairie boy something I have read about but now understand better after seeing. The north is a very special part of Canada and it’s great to see and experience their isolated lifestyle and the supplying of goods and services to these communities as well as mines in the far north. We are still shipping goods on the waterways travelled by the fur traders and early explores, just in a much larger way.
We totally underestimated Hay River as it is not one of your tourist go to places with fancy glossy brochures. We loved the lifestyle of the people here a very friendly and resilient bunch who were getting on with their lives after a major flood that spring. Hay River will definitely be a stopping place on our return to Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories.
One of the best features of the Northwest Territories is you will not find a NDP, Liberal or Conservative sign anywhere as they have NO political party’s…how refreshing.
Well our next stop will be Fort Smith and the Queen Elizabeth Territorial Campground on our way to Wood Buffalo National Park. Join us if you will, welcome to the new subscribers your interest is appreciated and now you will be notified by email when a new post goes up. I guess you all have figured it out by now we are not in Hay River, I’m writing and really enjoying the memories of our trip as we winter in our little cabin on the lake in cold old Saskatchewan Canada. Just a little behind but hey who in the prime camping and travelling season has time for computer work, I will eventually catch up. I am now computing our cost of our 10,000 plus km trip and will share that in a later post along with our over all impressions of the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
That’s it please comment if you will on any post and I would appreciate your thoughts from those of you who have travelled Alaska in a RV. Email gerry@studiowest.ca Enjoy wherever you are and may 2023 find us all healthy and ready to discover more of our beautiful countries’ nature and lifestyles hope to meet and see you down the road.
Gerry and Charlotte
hi Gerry, when i was working in Tuk. for a summer in 80;s , i engineered one of those flat bottom tugs. we were removing the islands that were built for drill rigs. enjoyed seeing them here. cheers allan