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When Liz's husband's work took him to a remote area in the frozen north of Canada, he thought it would be a good idea if Liz and their baby son joined him...
 Liz and baby Jamie had to live in one of the remotest parts of Canada |
Clive Cunnington was a pilot and wanted to try his hand at flying in Canada where he could earn more money. Liz joined him with her infant son Jamie. To begin with, they lived in Vancouver while Clive worked in the Yukon. But one day, he phoned Liz to say he'd found somewhere for them to live closer to him.
But unfortunately, he didn't tell her much about the place. Liz found herself four hours down a dirt track road in the settlement of Atlin. The nearest large town, Whitehorse, was a long way off.
Liz describes Atlin as "a one strip road" and was a little dismayed by its remoteness and its lack of community. There were only about 30 or so other cabins in Atlin, one bar/caf茅...and bears!
The one shop used to get food flown in once a week. She says, "If you missed that day, that was it". There was electricity, but no radio or television. The mountains meant that they weren't able to receive a signal.
Problems occurred when Liz's water ran out. Water was delivered direct to the cabin and she hadn't realised that unless she indicated with a sign that she needed water, it wouldn't be delivered. It turned out it was only delivered twice a week. Jamie's nappies had to be washed in a freezing stream.
Liz only survived a month in Atlin. It was a relief to go back home to Vancouver. It wasn't all bad. She says, "I never regret the experiences we had at all. It was absolutely wonderful, but I'm not sure it actually bonded the marriage".
