1. I was chatting with Gordon last week. He mentioned he had a call from former chief James Ross from Fort MacPherson, NWT. Ross apparently purchased the audio version of A Metis Man's Dream; From Traplines to Tugboats in Canada's North from Audible and plays it in his truck, over and over, as he makes the 4-hour drive to Inuvik or off into the wilderness toward Dawson City. I guess he likes the story.

2. I have started on more in depth stories of the history of northern marine transportation, which so far includes Captain John Mattson's story, some history on the 1956 boat sinkings in Lakes Athabasca and Great Slave Lake, including some information on Captain Cecil H. (Cec) Kirkland and the sinking of the YT Sandy Jane, a northern memory of Captain Ken Simpson and a brief introduction to the Camsells.  What is amazing about all these reports is the sense of the north being a small world, and a place of deep connections. Initial readers are not sure who the stars of my little stories are. Some know the heroes are the captains, some the ships, and others know it is the north itself. You can decide for yourself in due course.

Of course, if any of you have stories, photos, or connections that you would like to share or explore with me, please get in touch.

​I am pleased to invite you to a book signing event this Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Chapters West Edmonton (99 Ave & 170 St) between noon and 4 pm.

Both Blue Sky, Red Canoe and the last few copies of the glossy, colour, deluxe edition of A Metis Man's Dream will be available.

Blue Sky, Red Canoe is a memoir, a history and an exploratory journey of 40 years paddling the Red Deer River. This is my second book of western Canadiana.

I have been really gratified by the good reviews and comments on what is a very personal book.

I am preparing a story about the northern tugboat "Husky" hitting a rock in the Mackenzie River. Three northerners who had at least some  involvement with the incident told me the story.

The basics of the event were the same...Captain Ken Simpson, piloting the Husky through very fast rapids, hit an uncharted rock. The result was a serious gash on the Husky's lower bow. Simpson steered the boat to shallow water and prevented a sinking.  So far, so good, but here is what fascinated me - not the story itself, but about the telling of the story.

Gordon, who had wanted to be a mechanic and welder since he first saw a guy fixing a Caterpillar Tractor in the 1940's and who became a welder and shipbuilder in his own right, told me in good detail how the Husky crew dealt with the hole. It is complicated but included plugging the gash with mattresses and boards and then covering the outside of the hull with a big tarp, held in place by long ropes. Gordon said the forward pressure of the ship kept the water pressing the tarp against the hull and diverted the water. Then he explained how the ship was beached and they were able to weld the gash together and get it on its way. Pretty cool, I thought, but in Gordon's engineering mind, it was all about stopping the flood, and getting it welded and back in action.  

Then a long time friend who worked on shore, and ultimately was responsible for moving freight all over the north explained to me where in the Mackenzie the ship bashed itself on the rock, that is, how far from port it was. 

But he suggested I ask Captain John Mattson, a veteran northern sailor, what he knew.

I did. Captain Mattson told me all about the difficulty in seeing rocks while running that particular rapid in a tug with barges. He mused about the plethora of hidden rocks a master had to avoid, and how charts alone could not predict the best route. He even told me he knew approximately  where the actual rock was that likely caused the damage. 

Each talked about the same incident, but from a different, and very specific point of view. 

And when I asked Captain Simpson's widow about it, she answered in detail - around 60 years later - just how far the ship was from civilization and how her husband and crew came to be rescued.

Interesting.

I was reminded today of how humans learn and process things differently, how everyone has talents, if we just look for them. Some come to mind in surprising ways, whether it be by a quick understanding of math concepts, which Gordon Gill had, despite his lack of reading skills. Another was how our friend Jim DeLancey didn't learn anything in his business classes until he actually started doing bookkeeping, or how he couldn't stand to listen in school but could read a book and understand computer programming. He also told us about Inuit people he worked with in the Arctic who could, apparently instinctively, do so much mechanically without having any experience with machinery.  We all had stories of people being brilliant in their own ways, even if teachers despaired of them..

Many thanks to the Ceyana Canoe Club for warmly welcoming me to make a presentation about my book "Blue Sky, Red Canoe" last night. It was fun, and a great evening.

Thanks to Sylvia Lee, Vicky Wirth and Mark Lund! We shared photos, laughs, experiences and reasons for paddling, generally, and for paddling the Red Deer River specifically. I loved how members of the club freely explored their special feelings about being on the river.

It is with heavy heart that I tell you Gordon's son Trent passed away in early February.  Gordon and other members of his family were with Trent. I had coffee with Gordon on February 20th and we got to discussing all those who we have lost recently. I was feeling quite down. Gordon said two things to me, twice: "You just have to keep going" was one of them. The other, pure Gordon: "You just have to think of how bad some other people have it, and your problems don't seem so big."

Reminder! A Métis Man's Dream is available on Amazon (paperback and audiobook).

​Neil will be presenting on "Blue Sky, Red Canoe" and Reflecting on the Red Deer River - nature, pioneers, prairies, and paddling the badlands - on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 7:00 pm to Ceyano and Northwest Voyageurs Canoe clubs at Lendrum Community Hall, 11335 57 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB.

Blue Sky, Red Canoe is now available on Kindle (eBook) and Amazon (Paperback).
If you like it, please leave a review on Amazon.

A friend asked me why anyone would want to read a memoir of someone they don't know, about paddling a river they won't experience.

The answer, I think, (because I love well-done memoirs, often of people I don't know!) lies in the writing, the description, the sheer enjoyment of exploring something new, something outside our normal day to day. Properly revealed, a memoir connects us.

In this case, a mountain/prairie canoeing memoir will, I hope,  bring out our shared history and latent memories.  I think it takes us beyond ourselves. 

I do hope to interest people in Blue Sky, Red Canoe, which observes pioneer life, and paddling the Red Deer River over the past 40 years.  

Thanks to you who have emailed me. One of the best was the compliment about enjoying the reflective style and  personal stories found in Blue Sky, Red Canoe.

Many thanks for giving it a try. 

Now on Amazon/Kindle E-book and very soon in paperback there too.