2013/06 NWT trip - Hay River |
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Friday June 21st Aboriginal Day
We were off into town to see the festivities. Aboriginal Day is observed by the various Inuit and Indian communities all over Canada but in NWT it’s actually a government holiday. Unfortunately although the tents and tables were out the locals had slept in; town was very quiet. So we headed back towards Hay River, 180 miles away, hoping to pick up the events there.
Along the way we stopped at a few of the park’s displays, but these are mainly just to break up the rather boring scenery with stories of the exciting stuff that happens in the other parts of the park which are not accessible by road. We did however meet a couple of bull bison, one of them very large and possibly sick, weaving its way down the road towards us and then diving into the bush. We could see the difference now from the plains bison; this guy didn’t just have a hump, his whole back was raised up, making him heavier.
It was 29c or about 84F. Fires would be breaking out soon. The park is notorious for its gigantic fires; they are only fought if they threaten property or the highway.
We arrived in Hay River to find it similarly quiet; we had arrived too late! We decided on a lazy day, booking into the campground, which was nearly full, and cooking dinner over the fire.
Saturday June 22nd
We had latish start as we wanted to visit the fish fry at nearby Fisherman’s Wharf, a big crowd for a little place, mostly locals, a mix of white and Indian. 
Sandie had the local whitefish cooked while she watched, and I had the moose chili and bannock. The marquees were much needed; we were in the mid 80s already. The locals were feeling the heat. The flies were ecstatic.