Page 90 - ARCTIC_Atr&Culture_eng_3
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Kayak loaded on to the trailer.
This particular skill set eagerly sought after by aviation invader , daring to approaching its very
aircraft I believe to companies this far North. I have seen first heart, the Great Slave Lake. It does not
take long before it appears. The horizon
hand how they check the tyres, refuel the
be a De Havilland aircraft, top up the oil then guide you to the begins to free itself of any silhouette, an
expanse is opening up before me. The
aircraft, carry out the preflight brief “in the
Beaver, affordable event of an emergency etc.” “hope you have west shore to my left gives way to the
lake but refuses to part with its debris,
a nice flight”. Then they scramble into the
and one of the most pilots seats and fly you to your destination. collected from the frequent s and annual
popular around. I find Only to be the first one you meet again at ice melts. Tree stumps and limbs jut out
the bottom of the stairs when alighting.
at obscure angles and lay littered for as
myself yearning for a These guys are the “Swiss Army knife” of the far as the eye can see Northwards out into
the lake. I was advised to head well out
aviation world. Hats off to them.
different past... into the lake before attempting turn along
This particular aircraft I believe to be a its south shore, I now know why. The
De Havilland Beaver, affordable and one problem I have is the wind is building up
of the most popular around. I find myself from the north and I am having to muscle
shore it can be come life threatening with yearning for a different past... my strokes and push off my feet to remain
recorded waves reaching 10ft in minutes. effective. This is not good as dark clouds
I pass more of these floating icons and start to dance around the once bright sun
Not your everyday form of transport eventually the river gives way to the I feel I should be more dressed for such
back in Scotland. Being an ex-Aircraft effects of a larger force. I can’t see the lake an occasion. I have on my South Korean
Engineer I am fascinated at the simplicity yet but I can feel it, the water has changed standard kayaking dress consisting of
of these amphibious aircraft. Single engined, from the calm pleasurable exterior to a Palm Neoprene shorts, Dundee FC
very light, and fragile in appearance but stronger more resistant entity. Waves football top, half neoprene 2mm Light
immensely strong, they form the back have formed from nowhere and not as I am Surfing Jacket, PFD and Nookie soft
bone of all communication in the NWT. accustomed to. I have trained on the deep gloves. It was 24 deg C when I set off just
The “Bush Pilots” as they are referred to waters of the Tay estuary and the Yellow 1 hour earlier, how can this be. I have been
are highly skilled individuals. Landing Sea off Korea. No these have come up deceived by a formidable adversary, the
on regular tarmac, water and skis is a rare very quick, silently as if to checkout this Hay River and Slave lake are in cahoots
88 Arctic Art & Culture • №1 (3) • 2018 Arctic Art & Culture • №1 (3) • 2018 89
