Dateline: Mississauga in March 2018, and Yukon Territory in summer 1961
Tonight we celebrated our daughter in law Julie’s birthday at a fancy and fine Italian restaurant in Mississauga. All the trimmings…real knives, forks, spoon, bruschetta, wine, beer, spaghetti with shrimp, Irish coffee…in short THE WORKS. Happy birthday, julie. I have a recipe for you below.
Then I came home and was combing through my mining days pictures, now converted to digital. And what to my wondering eyes did appear but a supper in the bush. Candlelight, dinner in a washbasin (double duty), a bed made of balsam poles and a bit of luxury with a real mattress. This was the only job where a real mattress was provided. Never had one that summer so do not know how this fellow, Bill Dunn, got this one. Stole it probably, he was good tat that kind of ting. And he is all dressed for a fancy meal in long John;s…then ready for bed after a basin full of slop.
I am amazed at the number of people who wish they had the adventures that came with mining exploration. Maybe this picture will change minds.
I think this is Bill Dunn, one of our Yukon Crew. Became a good friend for that short Yukon summer. How did he get there?
He was engaged to be married to a girl in Peterborough or Lindsay. The night before the wedding his friends put him on a plane to Whitehorse as an ‘end of wedding’ gift. We hired him. Dirty trick, right? Not so sure Bill was the marrying kind really. He left her standing at the altar but I don’t think he would have been the best kind of husband. I could say more but won’t unless pressed by a reader. He found another girl in Mayo Landing…another disaster. In a drunken rage she tried to knife him but failed. Much more to that story that is also better not told. Bill was quite happy eating out of this wash basin. Then again it may not be Bill…all I have is a corner of his nose, his hairy lower legs and his supper. How come has new boots? That is a real mystery. Most or our boots were gum rubbers braided so baldy by the low growing brush that they were full of holes for water to rush in and rush out. That is why his feet are so clean. Maybe he stole those boots from someone….maybe a new guy on the crew that did not stay long…a lot of guys drifted in and out of our bush camp. Why? Well it certainly was not the food. Fine five star dining every night providing you had a wash basin.
alan skeoch
March 2018