Off The Beaten Track

Dunno About Snowmobiles, Where's That Caribou?

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

If you're wondering where this shot was taken, let me give you a clue. Yes, we have snowmobiles in Australia. But no, we don't have caribou. So you're thinking I took this shot when I was in the Yukon last year? Yep, you're right.

This was taken on the picturesque Coal Road outside Whitehorse and even though there was a cool breeze blowing off the mountains that were capped with the previous season's snow, there was brilliant sunshine on the autumn foliage all around me.

But here's a grammatical question. Does the sign apply to the caribou, as in the command "Caribou, stay on trail"? No, it takes a second or two for my brain to realise the command is for us humans, as in "Take it easy, mate, there are caribou here - so it's safer if you stay on the track."

Yup. I knew that.

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Handle Bard

Not Your Average Doorknob, Is It?

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

These shots were taken in Chicken, Alaska, a few days ago, as we traversed the Top Of The World Highway. The early afternoon light provided an interesting shadow against the wooden door of one of the washrooms.

Yup, that and the fact that the door handle isn't exactly one you could buy in a store.

And the handles were similar to those on the two facilities below - where the shadows they cast on the wood are strangely redolent of elk or caribou too. Just for the record, the sign on the ladies' toilet says "Hens" and the one on the right says "Roosters".

Which is kind of appropriate when you do a Chicken run.

(The Odd Shots concept came from Katney. Say "G'day" to her.)