August is flying by and for Yellowknifers it has come to soon by far. Our summer was way behind schedule arriving and unless we have a long drawn out fall snow will fly before we know it. Not until the end of October but the way the days are going by this will be here before we know it.

We are actually getting darkness before midnight and until we hit the winter equinox our days grow shorter. We still have lots of light but dark nights here are a sign of summer starting to wind down and I for one could use some more. The end of August and September can be fairly blowy on the lake and many folks will stop paddling before the end of September. Being foolish I carry on as long as possible. I usually give up when the ice begins forming. The lakes freeze from the shore outwards and when the new ice is thick enough to walk and there is stil plenty of open water out there. Getting on and off the ice can be very touchy and mistakes lead to very cold swims. Canoes however are a little less risky and the house boaters in Yellowknife travel between their floating homes and mainland all the time during freeze-up and break up, They drag their canoe along until near the open water, then push the canoe into the water jump in and paddle across the open water and reverse the process when they hit the ice.

Today I managed to reach Elk Point. Ab, in my Virtual stroll across the Trans Canada trail. My next waypoint should be the Saskatchewan border northof Loyldminster, AB. First town in Saskatchewan looks like it will be Bigger, Sask. Lucky I have an aunt that lives there or did at one point. I met Aunt Vera for my first time in1997 and that unfortunately was the only time that I met her. She was very tight with my mother and came to visit Rose while she was visiting post transplant. They had a very nice visit which was a special treat for Rose. I completed my daily ride to the airport and back which covers around ten kilometers and excersize wise I had a great day.