Friday, October 17, 2008

Cop Out

Officer, Be Careful Of Woodpeckers

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


When I was in Haines Junction nine years ago, I took some panoramic shots of the mountains that surround this little town blessed with great views. At the time, I never thought I’d return. But when I was back in Haines Junction last month, I woke up early, just so that I could return to the same spot and take the same images from exactly the same vantage point.

It’s not often you can tell people that you just jaywalked across the Alaska Highway to take a photograph, but that’s exactly what I did here - after checking to see that there was no traffic and yes, I actually remembered to look the "wrong" way first.

I walked downhill, looking across the highway, when I noticed this police cruiser at the Shell service station. But, like one of those cartoon characters, I did a quick double-take and realised (even from about 50 metres away) that it was not a real cruiser, but a wooden replica.

I knew these had been tested in parts of Europe for the past few years, but it was the first time I’d actually seen one myself. I later found out that the students in the local school had created the wooden replica in their woodwork class. I’m sure they all scored A+ grades.

I guess I could have captioned this post "Mountie Everest".

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15 comments:

Anonymous said...

They just park an empty cruiser along the road here as an advertisement for police employment and doubling as a deterrent for speeding.

Maggie May said...

Some of the most unusual things just happen to come your way, David! brilliant mountain scene. Makes the little buildings look lonely!

virtualjourney said...

Wow, what a shot - police car or no police car!

Ryanne said...

Love the title! I have never seen the wooden fake cars either. Pretty impressive peice of work for a high school woodshop class!

Baino said...

I envy the places to which you've travelled. But wooden cop cars! GOLD

Hilary said...

I wonder if a real police car ever hides out behind it to catch speeders..

Wonderful shots.

tiarastantrums said...

beautiful mountains!

Pat - Arkansas said...

"Mountie Everest?" ::shaking head::

Saz said...

lucky you, it falls at your feet?! or do you just happen across these??
I really enjoyed this weeks PS friday...I took my pics with a mobile phone, I got so excited....LOL
this blogging gets under the skin eh!?

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

I adore that shot David, police car or not!!

Unknown said...

you got me good - was enlarging looking for birds

Cecily R said...

I don't know why, but that strikes me as seriously funny! It almost looks like a cartoon in the real world...

The most intersting things come your way...I suppose it has something to do with your talent for observing. :)

Sandi McBride said...

We just park an old cruiser at the intersection where the most tickets were given each month...sometimes an officer will go by and turn the blue light on the "undercover" unit...I was so glad when I didn't have to do that again, lol!
Sandi

Unknown said...

I have seen cruisers with fake people in them to slow people down but never a wooden car! Funny! Beautiful area!

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

It does look pretty real!
The fall colors in the background are stunning!