sipes23

First, things in town are very quiet on Sunday. Very. But of course that’s why you’re in Yellowknife. Things are also quiet on Labor Day (and likely other holidays), but not quite like Sunday.

Old town is like nowhere else I’ve been. New town could be most anywhere.

It can be quite cloudy in the fall because of the lake. This can make it difficult to see the aurora. The full moon does not make it hard to see the aurora—it merely changes the sky’s color (so a photographer tells me).

When it rains, the water pools up everywhere instead of soaking into the ground, since there’s virtually no soil for the water to soak into.

Cameron Falls is probably not in the guide book, but it should be. Drive the whole length of Ingraham Trail. The falls are about 38 km in. The trail is partially paved and partially gravel and well-maintained for such a remote road.

Rental cars bill out mileage, but it’s not crushingly expensive. The airport is tiny, but you’ll still need plenty of time if you’re checking bags.

Yes, it’s true about the biting insects. There are lots of them, even in September. The worst time seems to be sunset.

The 43places map says I’ve been to Saskatchewan because I’ve been to the airport. Ok, I did step outside to breathe some air after eight hours in airplanes and airports, but does that really count?

I don’t think so. I’ll just have to go back. I met a guy from Sask who said that Prince Albert National Park is like Banff without the mountains.

I had the lamb shank there recently. It was the best lamb I’ve ever eaten. Ever. The sangria isn’t bad either.

Finally off the list, because I’ve been. And it’s amazing. If you are at all interested in classical antiquity or architecture, take a stop by. J. Paul Getty built a replica of the Villa dei Papiri in California, which makes it a whole lot more accessible than the one half buried in lava in Italy.

Of course when I pulled into the parking garage, there was but one spot for me. 43.

The weather turned suddenly and the entire island was emptying out. Using my beach town ninja skills, I cut through the since-when-did-this-become-a-parking-lot traffic as if it weren’t there.

I sent a post card of the Park Central Hotel from the Park Central Hotel. I hope my wife is duly impressed.

As for architecture, it’s Art Deco all the way. And Art Deco rules.

I didn’t know that 43rd Street became Miller Parkway here.

Do you hear that? 43rd Street leads to baseball. 43!

Sonic? In Wisconsin? While I’m happy about that, it must surely be a sign of the end times.

It was kind of disappointing.

They have a no weapons policy, which somehow also includes pocket knives. If one has ever seen a knife that is a weapon next to a knife that is a tool, the differences are immediately clear. I was surprised since I have been to many, many other sporting event with the same pocket knife. Lame, but their house, their rules.

The food was also so so, which is forgivable. It was expensive even by stadium food standards, which is not ok when the food is so so. Even less ok, cash only and no receipts. Again, I’ve been to many sporting events where that isn’t the case (though it occasionally is).

The folks managing this place need to go check out some of the wonderful baseball places I’ve been to and see how it’s supposed to be done.

I’m no longer too surprised that the Pacers are struggling financially. This was really third rate and minor league for a major league team.

Just a tangled heap of concrete and rebar as of 4 April 2009. A strange thing to see. Last year at this time both the RCA Dome and Lucas Oil Stadium were staring each other down.