Merlyn Project Update

I am in Hay River collecting stories and photos of Merlyn Carter.

The journey to Hay River was an adventure. Minnesota has had an unseasonably cold November and as I drove across Minnesota and North Dakota the temperature continued to drop. I had removed the passenger seat of my Subaru so I could sleep in the car, but the first night was a bit chilly -17 F. The next day and not long after I drove into Saskatchewan the snow and wind began. It was white knuckle driving bashing through drifts and straining to see the road with only a brief stop for a Thanksgiving hamburger. I did make it across the entire province and spent my second night in Lloydminster, Alberta (in a motel). It snowed all night and by morning the town was blanketed. With high winds predicted for the afternoon I timed my drive ahead of the winds but hopefully after the plows had a chance to clear the Yellowhead highway. It was a whiteout when big double loaded trucks passed me but really not too bad until I hit Edmonton. The Yellowhead through the city was more of a jeep trail than a highway, but I persevered and made it to my old friend Jim Maher’s house just before dark. Jim  and Ella Mae were helpful with some information and we had a great dinner together. Conditions were better on the drive to Peace River but still often a snowpacked road and ten below cold in the Swan Hills. I think I found the only hotel room in Peace River and the next day made the final 350 miles to Hay River.Crossing the border as dusk a big old wolf loped into the uninterupted black spruce forest and I took this unusual sighting as a welcome home. Randy and Kandee Carter and family had a fine fish dinner waiting for me and a chance to see children I remembered only as babies. Now busy arranging interviews and getting a feel for the direction the book is taking.

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